The curious thing is that one’s ability not to have to do this, not to have to prove one’s assumptions every single time one writes anything, is the luxury of power. Let me give an example. Economics – the great power discipline of the moment. Economic theory is based on certain assumptions about human action, how a “rational actor” will allocate resources under certain conditions. These are just premises, they were never originally tested, just assumed. Recently some psychologists decided to see if they were true, and created experimental tests. It turns out people almost never really act the way economists predict and the basic assumptions about human nature are actually wrong. What effect did this have on economics? None. The economists just ignored the empirical studies and carried on just as they had before. Where, on Amazon, do you have readers giving economic theory texts three-star reviews saying the material is interesting but they are based on flawed theories of human nature? As far as I can make out, nowhere. If you’re running the world, the fact that all your equations are based on premises that we know to be wrong is simply irrelevant. Meanwhile, if you’re challenging the prevailing orthodoxy, if you don’t prove every aspect of everything, you can just be rejected out of hand. So while I appreciate the reviewers’ efforts and am glad he found the overall historical argument compelling and interesting, I’m afraid in this way he really is playing the same role of ideological police as so many others – setting standards for non-mainstream views that no one ever sets for other ones.posted by Estragon at 1:38 PM on August 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Amy-Robot: Their core belief is that silence will fall when the Question is asked.....If this doesn't result in some kind of a Hitchhiker's reference later on in the season, I will be very, VERY disappointed.
The Doctor: What question?
Amy-Robot: The first Question. The oldest Question in the universe, hidden in plain sight.
The Doctor: Yes, but what is the Question?
Amy-Robot: Unknown.
but by changing history, the current you would blip out of existence.Almost no one would say "yes" to that choice, out of self-preservation.
Another question: why aren't the Ponds interested in finding their daughter anymore?Because it was a weak plot line [...] I'm OK with forgetting it because I get better Who as a result.
At the beginning of the season, Amy and Rory are at home, with no way of contacting the Doctor, and have been there for an indefinite amount of time. They are called out by the mysterious invitations to Lake Silencia, where they meet up with The Doctor and break out the champagne. We then discover that The Doctor has been running for 200 years since he last saw them, and that he called them there to watch him die.If we can get crazy-ass theories moving on this I'd love to read them.
And then, "The God Complex" ends with him leaving Amy and Rory at home, indefinitely, with no means of contacting him, and the Doctor running off, distraught, knowing that his death is coming sooner or later now.
So... are we back at the beginning of the season, now? And if so, how? Was it a new home the Doctor was giving them along with the new car? (The scene feels deliberately ambiguous about this, to me.) And how can that work when Amy references River being her daughter at the drop-off pont, while only learning about her pregnancy at Lake Silencio (or there abouts)?
Oh, also the Doctor was notably chowing down on an apple last night, as well as solving a Rubik's Cube, two things he has called "rubbish" in the past. What is going on?
On the more solid emotional ground, I'm glad that there's no way we've seen the last of Amy and Rory, as both of them, but Rory in particular, have been growing like crazy this season (which I'll have to respectfully disagree with some of you about - it hasn't been perfect, but the highs have been amazingly high) At this point I'm watching more for Arthur Darville than for anyone else, even as I love all three leads, and I couldn't wait for Rory to be gone last season.
Quite an accomplishment, really.
There’s this issue you’re not allowed to discuss: that women are needy. Men can go for longer, more happily, without women. That’s the truth. We don’t, as little boys, play at being married - we try to avoid it for as long as possible. Meanwhile women are out there hunting for husbands. [...] The world is vastly counted in favour of men at every level - except if you live in a civilised country and you’re sort of educated and middle-class, because then you’re almost certainly junior in your relationship and in a state of permanent, crippled apology. Your preferences are routinely mocked. There’s a huge, unfortunate lack of respect for anything male.posted by jeather at 6:28 PM on September 20, 2011
the quote generally referred toYou know I was a little dismissive about PhoBWan's tirade against Moffat's misogyny but fucking hell that quote is offensive. I apologise for my (unspoken) lack of respect and I believe it's not so much a feminism fail as a humanity one.
not-ridiculously-hotReally? I think mine is broken. *bangs hotometer*
which episode are you saying it has the same ending as?Night Terrors.
But come on, how can anyone not love "Stormageddon: The Dark Lord of All" and the Doctor and Craig as "partners"?I think that's where the frustration lies. There has been glimpses of some truly outstanding writing for this series but it seems to have been suffocated by THE ARC and (if rumours are to be believed) production constraints.
« Older Hurricane Irene is the worst hurricane to hit the ... | As is well known, having six l... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by the noob at 12:13 AM on August 28, 2011 [12 favorites]