The Doctor’s Companion Ep. 23 – Dream a Little Dream
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Scott and Randy have been dreaming about discussing the seventh episode of series 5, “Amy’s Choice”. The Doctor, Amy, and Rory have been trapped between two worlds by a mysterious new enemy known only as the Dream Lord. Can they decide which world is a dream before they die in reality? Who is the Dream Lord and what is his connection to the Doctor? Who or what will Amy choose? Find out, in the newest episode of The Doctor’s Companion! And remember, BEWARE OF SPOILERS!!
Next Week: The Hungry Earth!!
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Tagged under: Amy Pond, Amy's Choice, Doctor Who, Dream Lord, Karen Gillan, Matt Smith, Simon Nye, Toby Jones
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Hmm. I hadn’t even considered that the Doctor was lying about the identity of the Dream Lord. That definitely has to be revisited if it’s the case.
If the Doctor is, in fact, the Dream Lord, I think that it’s a dark place that we’ve yet to see Matt Smith’s Doctor go to, even if it was only indirectly. It was kind of creepy, but I like it. Just the fact that a part of the Doctor would make Amy choose between Rory and himself, shows a side of him that I’d really like to see more of.
I have been hearing that a lot of people over seas did not like this episode at all. I have not watched it yet being in the US and catching it on BBC america.
Hmmm….I have to disagree with you guys about Amy and Rory’s chemistry. I have a feeling that I’m in the minority here, but I actually like the chemistry between the two, and I can totally see that she loves Rory. I just think that it doesn’t have the grand romantic adventure feeling to it that her relationship with the Doctor has. I’m not sure exactly why Amy’s “choice” rang true for me and not you guys, but it did.
I have to agree with you guys that Toby Jones was the best part of this episode. He had so many good lines that he made even better with his delivery. I really hope that we get to see him again, no matter who or what he ends up being. Personally, the first thing that popped into my mind while watching (before the Doctor’s explanation) was the Master for some reason. Doesn’t really seem to make sense the more I think about it.
As an animator, I loved the Doctor’s line about looking for motion blur and pixelization early in the episode. However, my favorite line from the episode was “Whack her!” from Amy, probably more for the stern look on her face and Rory’s goofy reaction.
Also, loved the “hello, hello” bit from Scott in the middle of the podcast. ;)
The ‘chemistry’ isn’t the problem. They have great chemistry. And certainly they ‘love’ each other. But I just get the feeling that Amy has more of a ‘brother’ love for Rory, and Rory has more of a passionate love for Amy.
I’m curious how others felt about it.
He’s definitely more into her than she is into him, IMO.
This is my least my favorite so far, but I did really like it. However, I do agree that is seemed more like an old Davies’ episode than this new season has felt.
Also weird, but I also liked how they made preggers Amy look. It always annoys me when a pregnant character is skinny everywhere but her belly.
And the frozen Tardis looked pretty cool (set design) and creepy.
I also think Amy and Rory have something of a subtle chemistry, very much “lifelong friends” rather than something more fiery and passionate. (Amy used to make Rory dress up as the Raggedy Doctor, remember, which I take as childhood games of pretend rather than weird sexual roleplay.)
I do think the portrayal of the Amy/Rory relationship is still a bit “off” though. When Upper Leadworth Rory has been killed, Amy mourns that she never told him she loved him. Really? They were going to get married the next day. (Even weirder, in *that* dream-reality they had already been married for five years, and seemed to have at least sufficient memory-fragments of that life to make the illusion plausible.) Likewise, Rory reacts to every kiss as an amazing reward, again something you’d expect to see earlier in the relationship rather than on the day before the wedding.
Then again, maybe that’s the deal. Still stuck in dull little Leadworth and deprived of the Doctor for a second time, Amy agreed to marry her best pal and kinda-boyfriend, but without much real enthusiasm. When she got the chance to run off with the Doctor the night before her wedding, she jumped at it (even knowing the Doctor’s terrible track record for returning on time). Possibly the dual dreams of “Amy’s Choice” were exactly what Amy feared her only choice was — a dull, normal Leadworth life with Rory or adventure with the Doctor. Over the course of that episode, she realized that she really couldn’t imagine life without Rory, but also that those weren’t the only two options. Likewise, Rory realized that he didn’t absolutely have to have his quiet dream life as long as Amy was along for the ride. Thus they have redoubled their commitment to each other while still joyriding space-time with the Doctor.
I do wonder what’s going to happen, if Rory is only a TARDIS passenger for another couple episodes, though.
What hello hello bit? I must have a really bad memory because I can’t remember that at all haha
There’s a part where Randy drops out and you say “Hello, hello” like it was a dropped cell phone call or something. I just found it amusing. ;)
I personally really liked this episode, for a moment I really thought that whatever world Amy would choose will become the real world. Since I didn’t know that Rory would be appearing after this episode I thought that something on this episode would made him leave. His last words before he died were “Protect our baby”. Which was something that alas she didn’t do because she goes to crash the ban against the house. I thought that he would leave the TARDIS since she didn’t protected their baby, since all three of them shared the same dream.
However, the ending took a lot from what it could have being. I loved the “Dreamlord” it looks like a brilliant villain.
Maybe this episode will be better when we get to episode 13 and we see everything comes full circle :D
I wanted to add that I like the interplay when Rory, Amy, and the Doctor are together. In fact, I think it would be great if the Doctor had at least two companions at a time for a while since it is a much different dynamic than when there’s only one.
I’m little sad to hear that Rory doesn’t hang around forever after this because I think he’s hysterical, especially with awkward physical comedy. I wonder if he’ll get any more opportunities like the sword fight, getting thrown, or whacking old ladies with a giant stick.
I suddenly got some crazy theories regarding Rory, what if Rory is a part of the Doctor. Also, are we ever going to meet Amy’s aunt?
I thought that old lady who in the 11th hour was her aunt the one they were in her house.
I saw this early and i’m glad I did I love everything about Amy’s choice I think is’t the best one of the season so far and I love the season so that saying something , 5 stars out of 5
the only thing that could have made it better is a crack or some other clue to do with the crack maybe it was there and i missed it .
I love the dreamlord and I didnt see the end coming with the doctor being the dreamlord .
This is one i need to see again and again in a good way .
One other bad thing i didnt like was Amy think both worlds felt real i’m with Randy on that one it was funny at first but the joke got old fast but it need to be there becouse it wasn
t just a joke it was to make us think one of them was real .
sorry this is so long
Just finished listening to the podcast, and I have to say you should have stayed away from the comments about false labor. Guys, if you haven’t been pregnant, don’t make observations about what “true labor” feels like. I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess you’ve not had much personal experience, so I’ll offer some of mine. Most women have what are called “Braxton Hicks” contractions late in pregnancy. They feel like the real thing because they are real contractions they just don’t develop into a pattern and strengthen. When you finally go into real labor, it’s the exact same feeling. Two thumbs down for judging Amy. It made you sound like male chauvinists. Also the museum in Paris is the Louvre, not the Luge.
Art history and obstetrics aside, I’m really enjoying the podcasts. I’d like to see the full uncut by BBC America episodes. Where can I find them, and how do you see the episodes the same week they air in Britain?
Cheers!
Appreciate the comments. I don’t agree, but I appreciate them. I don’t know what we said that got you upset about false labor. However, just because we haven’t had a baby we aren’t permitted to comment on those scenes?
By that line of reasoning, this scene should have never happened. The writer is a guy, and Karen Gillian doesn’t have children. It’s probably likely the director could have some personal experience, but she neither wrote or acted in the scenes.
Anyway, I don’t recall “judging” Amy at any point in that episode. In fact, in most cases, I applauded the realism involved with the dream pregnancy. If you’d like to bring up a specific complaint before declaring us to sound like male chauvinists, I’d be happy to discuss that further.