Oh, Doctor Who, you make my Saturday nights so much fun! Join the Mark Watches community as we flail and shriek at the newest episode of Doctor Who, “The God Complex.”
I hope that for series seven, we aren’t given an experience where it’s split in half because I want thirteen episodes in a row. It’s weird that the season will be over in two weeks! Then lots of waiting! Then Christmas-y stuff! Then more waiting! Still, there’s plenty of time to enjoy what we have, so let’s all liveblog “The God Complex”!
This liveblog starts relative to you. So if it is airing on your television, start liveblogging away in the comments. Same for if you happen to be watching it online by less-than-legal means. (Though I would just time it with another time zone so you can comment with other people!) We already do this with Fringe and it works rather nicely. To avoid seeing spoilery comments regarding the episode from past livebloggers, I merely stay on the first page of comments and comment away, only going back after it’s over in order to comment on what other people said.
Sound fine? Just make sure not to post spoilers before this episode airs.
Review goes up Monday, BSG season two finale goes up Tuesday, and a prediction post for season three of BSG goes up on Wednesday. See you tonight!
Okay whose the actor playing the alien with the ears? He looks so familiar.
David Walliams
Bahahaha. Poor Rory. "Somebody hit me! Was it Amy?"
Ohhh room 11. Nice one writers.
I'm really liking Rory and the Doctor's moments together this season.
Damnit I was really starting to like Rita…of course she dies.
*really upset over all the hate comments on the "Amy Williams" line* Really guys? I know Amy's the stronger one in the relationship and all, but after all Rory's done for her (and yes, she's done a lot for him too, but he's still always her protector), and even showing how strong and deep her love is for her husband, we've still got to have "No. Just, no." comments on this? Is it just feministic things about how the idea that a woman has to take the man's name all the time is offensive (because I've seen people actually try to use this theory for 'Rory Pond' before) or do you really think that Amy being called something that probably (and sadly) won't be brought into consideration again after this one moment where it was used to show her that she can't play this fairytale-esque companion role forever is really going to destroy her character entirely? Just asking….
Thank you for that. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
Because Amy has consistently referred to herself and answered to Amy Pond even after she got married. That's how she sees herself. When the Doctor and Rory call her Amy Williams it makes them look like paternalistic douchebags who don't respect her wishes. She can (and does) love her husband without having to take his last name.
Besides, how many female characters on popular tv shows get to keep their last names when they get married? I can't think of any other than Amy. If you're into women taking their husband's name, there's plenty of that out there for you to enjoy, but for those of us who found it refreshing to see a woman keeping her name being treated as normal (mostly… sort of), it's frustrating to have that taken away.
But…it's not like he's saying "I DUB THEE AMY WILLIAMS". She can still go by "Amy Pond" all she likes.
I saw it as more like a way of telling Amy that the fairytale had to end: That they couldn't be Amy Pond and the Doctor, in the TARDIS, having fantastical adventures, anymore. That it was time to grow up.
Just a different interpretation, I guess. *shrugs*
It's like when someone calls you that nickname that you've never really liked, with centuries of paternalistic implication on its back.
If she called herself Amy Williams at any point in time no one would really mind.
Why does the symbol/signifier of Amy growing up adopting someone else's last name? Why is that the only presented change?
I don't think it was specifically taking Rory's name. They metioned earlier how her name sounded like a fairytale, and she said herself that the last name of Pond fit a superhero. It was simply symbolic of letting go of the fantasy mindset she'd instilled in herself that, not taking on anything. She's still got her own strength, it's just The Doctor making it clear that she's got to focus on that now instead of her wishful and carefree (besides the possible death and all) life she had with him.
Amy was Amy Pond before the Doctor was ever in her life. And apparently, focusing on the now is… well, specifically, taking Rory's name. Why is THAT chosen, above ANY other possible symbol, as her 'growing up'? It was not necessary for the Doctor's point to drive home.
"Besides, how many female characters on popular tv shows get to keep their last names when they get married? "
The Halliwells. 😀
But Rory wanted to keep his name and only agreed to "Rory Pond" because he knew how pushy Amy can be. You saw how he wanted to keep it when it came to Melody. And again, woot for the name thing, but I think it's silly to try and add gender things on here. I'm not saying she should take his name because she's a woman. I'm saying that we shouldn't instantly hate one mention of "Amy Williams" because she is woman and hear her roar. Besides, Rory's gone through a lot of stuff just because he loves Amy so much. He's finally starting to get the treatment he deserves and sorry if I get upset over fans disagreeing with that.
Rory agreed to being called Pond… once… last season. Probably in jest. And note that he agreed. And ever since Amy, the Doctor, and himself have referred to him as Rory Williams. Because that's what Rory wants to be called.
Amy never asked to be called Williams. And all the things Rory's gone through is because he chose to stay. He chose. He chose to wait 2000 years, he chose to say "okay Pond" that one time, etc. Amy almost never gets a say in what happens to her, especially this season, and the name is just another example.
I'm fairly sure this line was a call-back to the 'like a fairy tale' bit about how much he enjoyed her name, and also as a way to needle her (he's trying to break her faith in him, after all. He's always made sure to call her Amy Pond beforehand, because that seems to be what she wants).
That said, that last bit is what's important to me. What AMY wants. Which is really what the feminist argument on this is, in a nutshell. Amy should be able to have her name be what she wants it to be, be it Williams or Pond or Pond-Williams-Pond-Murphy. But because it's society's expectation that the woman take the man's last name when they get married, it's been pretty nice to see a character who chooses not to (and for that reason, seeing Rory Pond would be most excellent too).
The line doesn't bother me at all, because I don't think it had anything to do whatsoever with Amy's marital status beyond 'you need to be an adult and stop believing in me because there's a minotaur looking to eat your face off'. But I can see where it would tweak other people, and I'm kind've side-eyeing the implication there's no reason to be a little peeved if it turns out to be more than a one-off thing. (for instance, if it gets played later as Amy going by Pond = childish, and Amy Williams = she has accepted Rory for true or some such shit.)
I had the same interpretation as you initially did – that the doctor calls her that intentionally to distance her from him more, to prove to her that he isn't worth being around if he can't even respect her decision to name herself. And I agree, if she decides to start being called "Williams" now then that's definitely problematic, and I definitely understand why people are upset by the line, but I'm going to try to reserve judgement until I see more.
But I think that *is* how it was played – the Doctor was basically implying that she was going by Amy Pond because she didn't want to let go of childhood and her belief in the Doctor and he was encouraging all that, so now she needs to grow up and be Rory's wife. According to him, "Amy Pond" is the Doctor's version of Amy and "Amy Williams" is Rory's version of Amy, so where is Amy's version of Amy in all this? She's just being passed off from one man to another.
It would be worse if Amy ends up buying into this, sure, but it's bad enough that the Doctor is pushing it on her, as if going by her husband's name despite her stated preference (as recently as the previous episode: "Amy Pond and Rory Williams in the TARDIS") would be a sign of maturity, whereas choosing to keep her own name is silly and childish and needs to stop.
It's not about it destroying Amy's character, it's about playing into a notion that in order to grow up and be properly married the woman has to give up her identity and change her name. There are other, better ways the doctor could have expressed the sentiment the show was going for.
And, you know, I wouldn't have so much of a problem with it if it weren't for the fact that just about every female character in film, television and literature changes her name to her husband's when they marry without a second thought or without any consideration to what that character would ACTUALLY do.
But like myself and others have said above, it wasn't about how, to be an adult, she had to conform to society's traditions and all that. It was symbolic in that he was basically saying that she couldn't continue the life of a woman without responsibilities and ties, that she had to shed off that fairytale-superhero mentality of everything and handle things in the way of her own life, not the Doctor's. She controls Rory a lot, so it's not like being "Amy Williams" is a sign of her taking "the role of a woman" or anything (I think that we can all agree that Amy has and always will wear the pants in the relationship, even in her miniskirts). It wasn't a sexist thing at all, though I do agree with a lot of you guys in that, if they kept her as Amy Williams, I would find fault with that. Not because she needs to be strong and in control cause the rest of women in the media aren't (seriously guys, this is kinda a cheap thing to use), but simply because, as said, that would sort of be OOC for her considering how in charge she always is.
Yeah, she did take his name, at least Rory alluded to it after their wedding. It's the Doctor that went "Pshh, no." and continued calling Amy "Pond" and Rory too since their now married. But legally, she took his name.
No, Rory just rejected the notion that he would have taken her name ("that's not how it works"). There's nothing to indicate she took his – in fact, I'd say the fact that she gave her daughter her name (and rejected the notion of doing otherwise) indicates that she didn't take his.
Though actually, given the timing of when they first ran away, and the way all of them talked about it., it also seems possible the issue just hadn't been decided on yet. Though I don't know how that works in the U.K. But regardless, the show has never confirmed it either way.
"I'm not a hero. I'm really just a mad man with a box." Matt's face when he says that and little Amelia. I can't, I just can't. Oh, my heart. *wibble* ;___;
Oh damn you Doctor Who making me cry two episodes in a row. TWO EPISODES IN A ROW.
Considering the title for the last episode(it's been out for a while now) I suspect Amy and Rory will be back for that one if they aren't in the next episode.
So we have Craig and cybermen next week. That should be a blast.
Oh man, when the Doctor gave his little speech to Amy about how she shouldn't believe in him anymore, I totally started crying. THE LOOK ON HIS FACE. You can just tell he completely believes everything he's telling her about himself, and that just stabbed me in the heart. Ugh, Matt Smith is so good at doing that.
YESSSS THIS IS ALREADY SO CREEPY
ahhhhhh this already rules.
cheese plant omg what
That was the part that made me suspect that the Doctor is an Earth fetishist.
OMG IT'S WHAT THEY MOST FEARED.
it's okay they're nice. BLESS YOU RORY.
GLORY TO [INSERT HERE]
hahahaha i love this so much.
doorwalls.
BIG DAY FOR A FAN OF WALLS.
THINGS! HELLOOOOOOO. sassy doctor
WELL THAT KILLED THE MOOD.
OH MY GOD THE DIALOGUE IN THIS EPISODE IS SO PERFECT
oh my god WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS ROOM. WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
WELL THIS IS FANTASTICALLY CREEPY.
this is seriously so fucking eerie.
OH. OH MY GOD. THIS IS FUCKING TERRIFYING.
oh my god oh my god OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD THE WEEPING ANGELS YOU ARE KIDDING ME
i'm sorry when did Doctor Who become a horror show
holy shit.
Didn't you know? The origin of the name "Moffatt" is an old word from the Scots language meaning "horror-maker"
For quite a while in the 70s it was regarded as horror first and sci fi second.
what the holy fuck is going on.
Hahahaha, I'm watching it a day late, but I'm going back through the comments now, and can I just say I love reading your comments in rapid succession when you end up being about the only person in your timezone watching? It's like reliving the episode in a two minute burst.
i……i….. oh
I think my brain exploded with feelings.
there was wee Amy which is pure joy. and everything else I am still processing.
omg i love that they made tea.
The prison tried to collect Iroh once, but his faith in tea was too powerful to be broken.
You win everything. Oh my god, best comment in ages!!
omg could this woman be another companion. i love her.
I wanted her to be a companion! My heart is broken!
I think we all did, Mark. *sniffs*
Why is this show so good at making one-shot characters who immediately die?!?!
So they have to "worship" that beast thing by being frightened?
howie omg what is going on with you
GOD I LOVE THIS SHOW.
what is matt smith wearing in the Confidential
oh god i love the doctor's theme so much.
what the fuck, this is a prison???
NOOOO AMY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DON'T OPEN IT
oh god rory. rory.
omg. the doctor is full of guilt what is happening.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
11. it's his door OH GOD CLOSE IT.
oh my god this is so sad 🙁
oh god angry doctor 🙁
WHAT. WHAT. FAITH. FAITH. WHAT THE FUCK.
oh god this is breaking my heart.
oh you are killing me Doctor Who.
NO AMY. NO. NO. NO. NO.
AHHHHH THE MINOTAUR CAN RUN. WHAT THE FUCK.
NB0OSDJF;JASD;LFJASDKL;J
NO
IT'S AMY AS A CHILD.
OH MY GOD. HE IS APOLOGIZING TO AMY. HE IS FACING WHAT HE'S DONE. OH MY GOD. MY HEART.
DOCTOR WHO STOP MAKING ME CRY TWO EPISODES IN A ROW.
YOU STOP IT.
this episode, y'all. good god.
oh my god he just made a reference to his own death. just seriously. so sad.
RORY IMITATION. OH MY GOD.
Why now?
Because you're still…breathing.
oh my god the ponds broke up with the tardis.
hold me, internet.
Hugs for all are needed in here.
Really, the TARDIS broke up with them.
I guess he doesn't want another Donna/Adric/etc.
You got it, bud.
So many hugs 🙁
NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE SO PERFECT!!!!
ButButBut…how can it be perfect with NO PONDS?? D:
Seriously, I'm so depressed! Craig is great and all, but I need my Ponds! Ugh, I'm dreading the day they leave for reals. Heart will be broken, guys. Into itty bitty pieces.
Puppets, goddamn. FUCKING PUPPETS. I can't take puppets on TV.
Indian girl!! Indian and MUSLIM!!! OMG BE NEW COMPANION PLEASE!! Oh no, you died. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
That ending. I can't. I can't. What?
Does this mean no more beautiful Arthur Darvill? My heart can't take it you guys.
So…. the hotel had "doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending." and "It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot." ? HMMMM….
And the monster was a boggart. I kept yelling "Riddikulus!" whenever someone got confronted with their biggest fear.
Also, a bit of 1408 sprinkled in.
My thought was "OH GOD HOUSE OF LEAVES AND HOTEL CALIFORNIA COMBINED." D:
I'm pretty sure that the Minotaur's room would contain Rory Williams.
Totally agree.
the thing that was in my opinion the most heartbreaking was when Amy was talking to the Doctor in the prison-room.
She said something about how the Doctor had faith in something, too, and the Doctor doesn't answer.
Now, I might be wrong, but doesn't that mean that the Doctor also had to lose his faith in order to escape the prison (i.e. cut the food supply off), since he'd seen his own room, so he'd be connected as well?
And now think about what the Doctor places his faith in. Think about how the Episode is called. "The God Complex."
I think The Doctor stopped believing in himself.
Which is why he brought the Ponds home. He didn't think he could take care of them anymore.
Oh my god, yes. THIS.
He lost faith in himself. He knows he's going to die and he knows he can't protect his friends.
Oh that's so sad. You're brilliant.
And if you're right, which I think you are, then I think he was probably breaking the last vestiges of it at the same time he was trying to break Amy's.
"I'm not a hero, Amelia. I'm really just a mad man in a box."
Ouch.
His delivery on that line kills me. I just want to hug him.
You are BRILLIANT. It didn't even occur to me…
finally getting to watch. ugh, i hate clowns.
"Amy, with regret, you're fired." i love it!!
6 minutes in and there's already so many good lines i don't know where to start.
I had this experience. BUT AT LEAST YOU ARE MUSCLING THROUGH and actually liveblogging
hahaha. the doctor has a degree in cheesemaking. that is all kinds of awesome.
so much sad. Part of me kinda loves the Doctor saying goodbye to the Ponds while they're "still breathing." But what am I gonna do without my Rory?!?!? Someone is going to have to give me Arthur Darvill wearing a big red bow for Christmas this year. Who can make this happen?
Wait, I need to check this, because WHAT.
Apparently when BBC America aired this episode, they cut the end goodbye scene with Amy, Rory and the Doctor. My sister, who watched it on BBCA the night it aired, didn't even know that scene existed until she found it on the internet later. Apparently, they just cut to the credits after the Doctor got into the TARDIS in the Tron room.
Is it just my area? Anyone else see this?
Mark, you saw the goodbye scene, right? D:
Oh god please say you did.
Hmm…scratch that. Apparenly no one else seems to have had this.
It is possible my sister was a bit confused on the airtime.
Probably couldn't see the screen properly through her tears….or maybe that was just me.
Not true; I watched it on BBCA and saw the whole thing, although there was a commercial right after TRON room so it would have been easy to turn it off then.
I need to rewatch this episode.
Also, I'm going camping next week. I WILL MISS OUT ON CRAIG-AWESOMESAUCE. DDDDX
This episode made me cry like crazy at the end. I really hope next week's episode is a nice little laugh riot or something.