Mark Watches ‘Doctor Who’: S03E11 – Utopia

In the eleventh episode of the third series of Doctor Who, the TARDIS picks up a familiar passenger while refueling on the Rift in Cardiff, which causes it to fly to the literal end of the Universe to get rid of him. There, the Doctor finds a most horrifying discovery. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Doctor Who.

This certainly might be a complete mistake, as I am prematurely stating this, but after the mind-melting revelations of “Utopia,” I might be about to witness the best series-ending set of episodes yet. This entire revival has had the emotional base of the Time War behind it, always seeming to be at the edge of the Doctor’s thoughts.

How many times have we seen the Doctor’s eyes glaze over with sadness as he thinks about being the very last of his kind? After almost a thousand years of existence, he’s been so very, very alone since his ninth incarnation. (Possibly before that, as I’m still unsure when the Time War actually happened.) How many stories have we seen over the course of these three series that parallel what has happened to the Time Lords? Hell, even in this episode, we meet Chantho, who is the last of her insectoid species.

For people like myself, my only real experience with the Time Lords has been The Doctor. If I hadn’t seen “The Three Doctors,” I would have believed that all Time Lords were called the Doctor. In that sense, I feel like “Utopia” caters more towards fans like myself, who have no experience with other Time Lords and also don’t know if The Master is someone from the past. DO NOT SPOIL THIS FOR ME BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE MASTER IS OR WHERE HE CAME FROM OR WHY HE SCARES THE DOCTOR SO MUCH.

I’ll understand if there are other people who don’t particularly like this three-part story arc. I initially believed this to be a story set aside from the traditional two-part finale, so as this episode’s story began to fall apart and I realized what was happening, my mind exploded and i may never recover. So there’s that. I was even unprepared for how long this arc would be.

It’s nice to see Captain Jack Harkness again, especially as he moves his way from person to person (to creature) and hits on them immediately. Ah, I totally missed his pansexual joy. But “Utopia” certainly didn’t ignore a pivotal point: the last time we saw Jack Harkness, the Doctor had abandoned him. While there is a giant, distracting (in a good way) and fascinating plot going on in the foreground, I couldn’t seem to get past this. Why on earth would the Doctor leave someone behind? He is notorious for doing whatever he can to save people? Why does he talk to Jack with such disgust in his tone?

I’m not sure it is even possible for me to conceive of the end of the universe. 100 trillion years in the future? How does a universe end and there’s still some place left for everyone to go? How does a universe even end???

I don’t know if this is going to be answered in this three-parter, as there is a LOT left to explain at the end of “Utopia,” but I would like to ask permission to do what I have wanted to do since last night, as the episode’s credits began to roll and I shut off the television. Is that ok? Is that fine with you folks? Yes? Ok.

;SLKADFJ;ALSDKDFSHSADHF;ASDLFHKAFJA;SHDF;ALSHDDFHADS

ASDFH;LKASDF;LKAHDSFLASHFDKLAJSDF;LKAHSDF;LAHSFDA

AS;DFLKAHJSD;LFHASD;LFHA;LFHA

THE DOCTOR IS NOT THE LAST TIME LORD. PROFESSOR YANA HAD THE SAME WATCH THAT JOHN SMITH HAD IN “HUMAN NATURE”/”THE FAMILY OF BLOOD.” OH MY GOD THERE IS ANOTHER TIME LORD.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Y A N A

OH MY GOD THE FACE OF BOE

;saldkkl;adfsdfjkasaskljfa;slkdfjls;lkdfjlajs

CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS CANNOT DIE OH MY GOD THAT IS WHY HE WAS ABANDONED

AS;DLKFHAS;HLFDFHLS;AHSDF;HASDF;LHLAK;SDFJKAS DFL;FKL;DSH ;ASLDFH;ALFHDJS

THE FUCKING MASTER STOLE THE TARDIS. HE STOLE THE FUCKING TARDIS. I CAN’T EVEN WHAT A;SDLFHA S;LFHAS;FLHASDF;LH

;ALSKDFHKL;DS;ASHFD;ALSHFAFHA

ASGHA;SFH;LAKHSHKL;DFS;ASFDLL;FSA;

A;SLDFHA;SLDFKHASODIFASF;LKASHDFA;SLHFD

THOUGHTS

  • I laughed so hard when the Doctor had a look of utter doom on his face, repeating that he and Martha need to leave this planet, and then his face breaks out into a smile and everything is wonderful.
  • OMG Chantho is ADORABLE and my face did a sad when she died. 🙁
  • “Was someone kissing me?” ILU CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS NEVER CHANGE
  • Oh my god HE SAVED THE DOCTOR’S HAND. what the fuck
  • So, just thinking aloud…why did Yana hear the sound of drums specifically? Why that sound? John Smith didn’t seem to experience it.
  • JOHN SIMM!!!! OH MY GOD YES.
  • “Everything she did was so human. She brought you back to life, but she couldn’t control it. She brought you back forever. That’s something, I suppose. The final act of the Time War was life.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.
  • How does this episode work if Cassandra is technically the last human in 500 billion?
  • “Hermits United. We meet up every 10 years, swap stories about caves. It’s good fun. For a Hermit.” ILU DOCTOR NEVER CHANGE
  • i can’t even. I CAN’T EVEN. Two more parts? I AM GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

About Mark Oshiro

Perpetually unprepared since '09.
This entry was posted in Doctor Who and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

693 Responses to Mark Watches ‘Doctor Who’: S03E11 – Utopia

  1. flamingpie says:

    I HAVE SO MANY COMMENTS FOR THIS EPISODE

    except I fear saying them because of possible spoilers. So they will wait for the end of the story arc. for now I will just say

    HOLY SHIT MASTER

    HOLY SHIT JOHN SIMM ILYSM

    OHAI JACK GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK

  2. Pingback: Mark Watches 'Doctor Who': S03E11 – Utopia | Mark Watches | Beer For Beer Drinkers

  3. swimmingtrunks says:

    I don't have a lot to say for this episode, but I do have something to offer. I've said earlier we need to make You Are Not Alone into some sort of macro because it seems like people around here use it a lot to agree with people who think their opinions are unpopular.

    Kids, feel free to use this (But don't kill my photobucket account please!):

    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/SwimmingTrunks/ca390464.gif"&gt;

    • maccyAkaMatthew says:

      The easiest way not to kill your Photobucket account is for anyone who wants to use this to download it and upload it to Photobucket or Imageshack or similar and then link to the copy they've just uploaded. With Imageshack you don't even need an account to upload.

      Doing that should share the bandwidth around.

    • psycicflower says:

      TinyPic is another one where you can upload without an account.

  4. flootzavut says:

    JOHN SIMM IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

    And I believe Cassandra considered herself the last purebred Earth human who hadn't mutated or interbred or whatever to fit a new planet.

    YOU ARE STILL NOT PREPARED 😀

  5. EmmylovesWho says:

    John Simm! Is there life on Maarssss *ahem*

    I.love.this.arc. All will be revealed. The face of Boe thing makes so much sense now, aye 😉

  6. Nikki says:

    I wasn't a big fan of this episode, despite it bringing back Captain Jack.

    Also.. it has kind of cemented my dislike for Ten. Sorry fans. When he first showed up, I was still bitter about Nine leaving, but I thought I would be helpless against loving him because his first two episodes were great. But as time went on he got worse and worse for me. He just rubs me the wrong way.. =/

    His callous disregard for a former companion leaves too bad a taste in my mouth to just ignore. If it was because he didn't want to be reminded of Rose I could understand. But no, it's all over something Jack had nothing to do with and can't control. And I am so sick of everyone continuing to adore him and travel with him despite knowing that's he's going to dump them eventually and never look back. I'm waiting for someone who won't put up with that shit. This is why I loved Donna so much. She saw just how messed up the Doctor could be and straight up said she wanted no part of it. I'm so tired of everyone chasing after the Doctor as if he's the best thing ever, while he gets away with treating people like crap.

    • FlameRaven says:

      It's okay. The more I rewatch the seasons with Ten, the more I keep thinking how much of a dick his character is. I love David Tennant, he's a fantastic actor, but Ten is just a terrible person with way too much of an ego. The first time I saw the episodes I liked his bravado, but the more I see him again, I just get really upset with him. Someone needs to smack him.

      I like that in this episode Martha's face kind of sets, as she sees how the Doctor treats her and Jack and, I think, has realized just how unhappy she is with it.

    • arctic_hare says:

      Oh no, don't apologize, you are not alone (lol). I can't stand Ten most of the time, he never had a shot at being "my" Doctor. I have nothing against Tennant, but the way Ten is written, urgh. Do not want.

    • __Jen__ says:

      No apologies necessary! On my first watch through of NuWho, I loved all of the Doctors. I was caught up in just what a crazy, inventive and fun show it was. I had liked Eccleston already from Shallow Grave, and Tennant is just so charming that I was swept up.

      On rewatches though, Ten really grates on me. There are definitely plenty of moments where he's a blast to watch, and I really do like his seasons, but man, he is a jerk a lot of the time. I do like asshole characters when they are meant to be assholes, but this is the Doctor. The new series has framed him as a hero (the old series seemed to portray him more as a madcap adventurer so I could handle a bit more dickish behavior there), and to a whole generation of kids he is one. Even when he's criticized in show, it's not really for the behavior that I have a difficult time putting up with. As you said, for the most part he gets away with treating people (not just his companions) like crap. For the purpose of this kind of show, I really don't see how that's a character decision that makes any sense. It is clear that he is hurting over Rose this season, but that can be shown in other ways that don't make portions of the audience detest the title character. I am very probably being too harsh, but I almost think I love these seasons in spite of the Doctor at times. I love him at other times, but it's an uphill battle.

      In summary, I wish someone's mum would give him a slap about every other episode. It could just be an innocent bystander's mum, I don't care; I just want some sense knocked into him.

      • jackiep says:

        There's always been an element of jerk in the Doctor. He's never quite operated correctly on human emotions. He's expected his human companions to get over things quickly, from the First Doctor to the Eleventh. 4's apparent callous reaction to finding the body of somebody he'd got on well with in Pyramids of Mars, 5's lack of reaction to the carnage around him. In Ten it's more noticeable, because he tries so hard to blend in with humans, making it more noticeable when he just doesn't.

  7. ArrogantSage says:

    But can we talk about Martha's fantastic jacket?!

  8. clodia_risa says:

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! I have been waiting for this episode since the beginning of this season. 😀

  9. Sierra says:

    “Everything she did was so human. She brought you back to life, but she couldn’t control it. She brought you back forever. That’s something, I suppose. The final act of the Time War was life.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

    I don't even remember this line. Who is speaking, and to and about whom?

    Oh, the Doctor is talking to Jack about Rose. Never mind, I get it now.

    And Cassandra wasn't really the last human, she was the last (self-styled) "pure" human, the rest she regarded as "mongrels" remember?

  10. Peter Popper says:

    I think he looks gorgeous. Wish we could have seen more of him in those clothes!

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