Going with the Rani. Weren’t there hints of a relationship between her and the Doctor in the old series? We could easily discount Dimensions in Time, leaving her last seen trapped with the t-rex. She takes on other personas (impersonating Mel for instance). Missy carries an umbrella, a nod to the last Doctor she met: the Seventh.
That’s one of the things I didnt like. I mean, sure we have to suspend disbelief to an extent. But a Lesbian anthrophagus Reptilian creature, living in Victorian England, calling people “human scum” and bossing around the police- all of this being accepted by Victorian society?:dubious: And why would a Silurian be attracted sexually to a human anyway? (Yes, I know she kinda hides her “marriage” but still…)
And then, if you think about it, her “rescue” did nothing.
I don’t think it’s common knowledge that Vastra is not human, let alone that she sometimes eats people. Most people probably assume that she’s got some sort of disfigurement, like Joseph Merrick. Which also gives her a lot more latitude for being an independent woman. Nobody would expect her to get married, after all, looking the way she does. Her relationship with the police relies entirely on her relationship with the chief inspector, who just needs to be open-minded enough to realize that Vastra is routinely able to close cases that the police barely even understand.
As to cross species romance, isn’t it the aspiration of every horny adolescent sf geek to someday fuck a green chick? I don’t see why that has to only go one way.
Oh, good catch! More fuel for the “Master is back” fire!
I’m taking the spoiler box off seeing as the episode aired some weeks ago.
It’s not just a feeling - the false face he peels off when dropping his disguise is a actually a cast of Matt Smith’s face. It’s a re-enactment of the regeneration, him literally taking off an old face to reveal the new one.
Strax “died” in “A Good Man Goes to War”, being revived with advanced medical technology. Perhaps some brain damage occurred? Currently he’s neither a nurse nor a soldier, it may be working for Vastra and Jenny are a sort of disability retirement for him.
She has seen other regenerations, but not really lived with them. Her saving of him was typically a very brief encounter, sometimes without the Doctor even being aware of her and her actions. Capaldi’s Doctor is the first one other than M. Smith’s that she has interacted with extensively.
Immediately post-regeneration he tends to be disoriented, as well as sleeping/passing out a lot. This was established as far back as the Third Doctor. Memory lapses are part of the baggage.
[QUOTE=Broomstick]
…the false face he peels off when dropping his disguise is a actually a cast of Matt Smith’s face. {snip}
[/QUOTE]
Says who? (“Who”? Get it? 
) But for reals, where does that info come from? Because if you’re talking about the disguise he was in when Clara reached her hand back, then that actor doesn’t look anything like Matt Smith. I’m confused…
[QUOTE=Broomstick]
Strax “died” in “A Good Man Goes to War”, being revived with advanced medical technology. Perhaps some brain damage occurred? {snip}
[/QUOTE]
IMO, could very well be. I also suspect that the character of Strax is a comic reversal of the “noble savage” trope as seen with the fourth Doctor’s companion, Leela. Or something. I think Strax is hilarious, but I agree that he shouldn’t be overused.
I did notice that as well.
The Doctor’s escape and abandonment of Clara at least led to the exposure of information. What better way to get information than be taken prisoner? (He actually said that last week.)
But Madame Vestra, Jenny, and Strax are supposed to be the back up rescue squad, but all they manage to do is get themselves inserted into the middle of the death zone. Meanwhile, the Doctor is off chasing the leader up the elevator shaft.
I watched this on the Player last night and found it to be another convincing parable by Moffat on discrimination (this time, specifically age and judgement by appearances) and, as ever, a discussion on relationships – although now the shift is towards a more general ‘friendship’ rather than the flirty besotting of the era just passed.
Also, Clara’s journey to acceptance was rather wonderful. All my adult life I’ve observed with some awe the huge emotional journey women make when moving from one man to the next, and it was nice to see it portrayed in a gentle, positive way (rather than the usual ugly way relationships end). So unusual, so smart. Loved that moment when she tested him – and his hand was there: the beginning of trust: game on.
She is now an independent young woman, here on her own terms.
Then there was the lesbian marriage and even a close up kiss – sorry, ‘breathing help’.
The educational agenda sometimes seems so subversive in Dr Who – until you remember it’s a BBC kids show, so part of its remit is exactly that. It really is very modern, and subtle.
Kudos Moffat.