“We wanted to live forever. So the Doctor made sure that we did.” Very chilling words, and the Doctor didn’t say a thing, which is always the worst thing!
My favorite reaction to this (Blind Wave) when Brother Mine is describing their punishment, Eric had a shocked look on his face and was like "He just went ham!"
This two parter has always been considered one of the best in the series. Emotional, scary, sad, triumphant, and so very human...everything that Doctor Who is at it's best.
I've just noticed something for the first time. When Tim has premonitions of the war and then runs off with the watch a classmate calls him a "filthy coward" and he says "Yes sir, every time", and he perhaps echoes what the ninth Doctor says when questioned by the Emperor of the Daleks as to whether he is "coward or killer" and he responds "coward, any day." It's not exactly the same words but it suddenly seemed resonant.
Time for a few long fun facts: this two-part story is actually based on a novel featuring the 7th Doctor, published in 1995. It follows mostly the same plot, with the aliens trying to capture 'John Smith' as he, the Doctor's companion (Bernice Summerfield) and Nurse Redfern have to evade them. What's especially noteworthy is that the writer of the original book, Paul Cornell, is actually the one who adapted it into this two-parter, basically giving it a seal of approval as an adaptation of his own excellent story. Not only that, but there's one small detail in the book version that I always loved: the boy with the watch, Tim Latimer, is plagued by visions of the future and fears the First World War starting the following year, mostly because he's afraid of killing, and doesn't want to become that sort of person. He knows he can't do anything to stop the war, and when it hits, he's going to have to go and fight and main and murder. In the epilogue, once the main story is over, we see another character from the story who enlisted when the war broke out who has been badly injured, and is essentially dying where he lies. But just as all hope seems lost, someone finds him. Tim Latimer... who never enlisted with the army, and instead joined the British Red Cross. Tim didn't want to kill, so he became an army medic instead. In a technical, round-about sort of way... Tim became A DOCTOR.
As good as this story is, and make no mistake it is great, the book is even better IMO. And I think it suits the seventh Doctor better than the tenth. The tenth is already quite a romantic character, so when the distant, calculating seventh Doctor is put in the John Smith role it is a huge contrast and the distress Smith feels having to return to being the Doctor is even more appropriate.
@@TheBrainOfMorbius Oh totally, the 7th is my personal favourite Doctor, and his presence in the story really added a lot. For anyone who hasn't read it, the book is still worth a read since there's a few parts that were changed for the episodes, so you can still read the original story and be surprised by how it goes. Plus, it's just genuinely well-written throughout.
Falling in love... That didn't even occur to him? What sort of man is that? The fury of the Timelord is a reminder that we are lucky he is as... good... as he is.
One of my favourite exchanges in this episode: "Latimer, you filthy coward!" "Oh, yes, sir! Every time!" It perfectly mirrors the Ninth Doctor and the Dalek Emperor in 1x12: "What are you, coward or killer?" "Coward, any day."
This episode helps highlight two of the Doctor's main character traits. , The first is how he can often act silly to put his enemies off-guard, which is very bad news for them when he gets serious (though it's something that's more prominent with a few incarnations like the Second and Seventh Doctors), and the other thing is just how ruthless he can be when the situation calls for it and he's pushed too far.
They could have called this episode the Doctors Mercy and it would have been a perfect reveal for how the family of blood met their end. Dude was glacially cold when passing sentence and it still gives me chills when the son is doing his voice over. Especially that bit about sister of mine and the mirrors. Man this was a great two part episode. How he does not have more credits on show scripts is beyond me. All of his episodes were bang on. And his big finish stories are some of the best around. Friggin' love that guys writing style. That bit with John Smith not wanting to die still has me in tears all these years later, you were not alone in your reaction Jules.
Honestly, I never pictured that the Doctor would have left Martha behind if he'd taken Joan with him as a companion- he's had more than one companion at a time before after all. I did always find it significant that he seems to have not asked Martha's opinion on the matter or even given her the heads up about it. I don't think he meant to make a unilateral decision there, I think it just genuinely didn't occur to him that it may be something Martha might not be happy with- as far as the Doctor is concerned, Martha is a cool person and Joan is a cool person therefore of course they'll get on and like travelling together. Gods love him, but social cues (especially human social cues) seem to fly over the Doctor's head a lot.
Martha seemed aware he was going to ask nurse redfern to come along. She even offered to go back and talk to her. Given how Martha feels that is fantastic and shows what an amazing companion she is.
@@CrankyGrandma Martha deserves better than she gets so often, but it does seem she might have been willing to have Redfern come along. That story could be interesting. I wouldn't like Martha getting reduced screen time, though.
I like how they show how ruthless, and dangerous, The Doctor could be, if he were to ever go down that path. And, it also gives us a glimpse into why so many beings throughout the universe fear him so much.
First coloured Doctor in the UK was Dr James Horton, a liberated slave from America who made his way to England and graduated as a Doctor in 1837. I thoroughly recommend giving his life history a read, it’s quite fascinating. First female Doctor in the UK was Dr Elizabeth Anderson. She became a Doctor by exploiting a loophole in the UK’s legal system regarding Apothecaries and passed her exams first try. She set up her own medical practice became a Dean of medicine and successfully campaigned for women to be allowed to practice medicine, resulting in women being legally allowed to train as Doctors by 1876. By 1914 there were roughly 1000 women working as doctors in England. The point I’m making here is that Doctor Who got the discrimination against Martha sliiiiightly wrong around 4:00. People of colour and women were legally allowed to train as doctors and their fight for that right was quite famous.
The Fury of the Time Lord speech is one of the most powerful things I've ever heard. Upon my first time watching this, I immediately committed it to memory. All these years later, and I still have it memorized, but I can't get through it without bursting into tears.
The Doctor's scene where he asks Joan to travel with him is staggering to me for the sheer fury and disgust she has for the Doctor and his cold, cold stare back at her. This one really is a blessed story - great actors, a fantastic piece of source material in Paul's book and supperb direction that makes an assault by scarecrows look threatening rather than ridiculous. Frankly, a perfect story that only strikes a slight off note thtat the Doctor's treatment of the family is comming from a darker place than we've seen for this Tennant's Doctor so far. There's five truely superb stories from the first four years of DW - and this is arguably the best of them.
Tennant's acting when Joan asks her question at the end might be my favourite performance from him in the role, he's wordless but does so much with his face, the coldness, the ugliness, the weight of it, it's all there, it really is something
This show sure knows how to play up the Doctor's ferocity. Some of my favorite episodes are ones where we get to see the Doctor we know and love, but from the eyes of his enemy.
A truly heartbreaking story, with amazing performances from everyone, I can't praise this enough. And when we see just how savage the Doctor was with his punishments - chilling. Previous quotes like 'no second chances' and ' I used to have so much mercy' hit home here. In the classic series the Doctor (especially McCoy) always had a ruthless streak, but this took it to another level - it seems the Time War really did a number on him. As always it was a joy to to watch you experience something so many of us grew up on, keep it coming.
This is just fabulous. Such a meaningful, emotional and tense episode. It reveals more than any other what it means to be the Doctor. I love the coda where they visit the elderly Latimer. And the Doctors sad, angry vengeance on the family. Just magnificent. 10/10 Tennant is great in this. As are Freema and Jessica Hynes
This story actually originates as a novel from the "wilderness years" after the original series was cancelled in 1989. The details were slightly different (McCoy, the 7th Doctor for one.) There are so many things i'd like to say, but i'm afraid it would spoil things. There have been so many little bread crumbs setup throughout this series as we come towards the final run. It's a wild ride, Jules. Some say this is the peak of the series here. (My personal favorite is series five, but I digress.) A great two-parter. The Family of Blood were great villains, and the mirroring of the young boys fighting off the scarecrows to what the reality of war would be like for them in a very short period... Lots of great visual symbolism going on.
You remember when I was saying Murray Gold was stepping up his game this season? This is what I meant. He delivers his best in these two episodes and paired with the BAFTA level writing and brilliant acting, the music carries perfect emotion and progression. The Family off Blood is one of my all time favorites. In parts to the Doctor's bravery in exchanging his faux life but Martha stepping forward, especially when demonstrating she's more than a color but a brilliant mind.
Something of note, both the youngest boy, played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Baines, played by Harry Lloyd, the older boy in the "family," were in "Game of Thrones" (along with many other "gigs"). Thomas played Jojan Reed and Viserys Targaryen, respectively. AND on top of that, in this Thomas refers to The Doctor as being "Fire and Ice," which is the name of the book series (A Song Of Fire and Ice) Game of Thrones is based on. Foreshadowing? Possibly? WIbbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff? Probably.
The ending gets me everytime. The cut forward to remembrence day always makes me tear up. And rhis episode really hammers home how dark WW1 was, reminding us that many of the soldiers were young teenagers.
@julesreacts The Doctor’s had more than one companion before, even before Adam Mitchell from series 1. Of Joan did come with the Doctor maybe she and Martha would’ve been off the a rocky start, but the fact that these were both nurses meant they could’ve got along as friends in the end. By the way when there are more than one companions in the TARDIS we call that a TARDIS Team, just something to look out for in the future.
I submit that Martha knew about the proposal, they had discussed it, and she even offered to go to Joan and talk her into joining them. But he dismissed the offer, as he just knew it would be futile. Her last words to him stung, but they were very true and he knew it.
This has and will always be my favorite two parter. David Tennant is phenomenal in it because he was playing not just the doctor but John Smith and played them with so much distinction that they were clearly different people without being jarring And this episode had such impact on the doctor as a future episode shows that redferns memory stayed with him.
“He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing. The fury of the Timelord. And then we discovered why. Why this Doctor, who had fought with gods and demons, why he’d run away from us and hidden. He was being kind.” “We wanted to live forever. So The Doctor made sure that we did.” CHILLS EVERY SINGLE TIME 👏 I have rewatched Doctor Who more than 7 times and have seen pretty much every RUclips reaction to it (I have been loving your reactions btw! ❤) and this episode never fails me. This is THE episode. If I had to pick just 3 episodes to watch of Doctor Who for the rest of my life, this one is 100% on that list. And that line at the end when the nurse goes “If The Doctor never visited us, and never chosen this place on a whim, would anybody here have died?” They’ve been saying for a while that The Doctor is brilliant and terrible all at the same time, but this is the episode where we really see that and that’s why I love it so much. It somehow manages to encapsulate who The Doctor is perfectly and I just- I’ll never get over it no matter how many times I watch it 😂 I’m looking forward to the rest of your reactions and I’m really glad you’re enjoying the show 😊 I always love seeing new people getting into Doctor Who. I love seeing them experience the humor and the emotions all for the first time. It always makes me feel like I’m watching it for the first time again XD
This is one of my favs… the next one is most people’s favs (although mine is different)… doctor who is unstoppable in this era… it’s just so well done, acted, directed, written - the golden age
This episode is a fantastic demonstration of everything that Dr Who can be. It's terrifying, poignant, offers moral questions that the Doctor sometimes can't answer and despite the sci-fi/fantasy elements it's rooted in human emotion and history and god does it make me cry every single damn time. And on top of all that, Martha is just awesome, but then she always is. I totally agree, Jules, these two episodes are amongst my favourite in the whole of Who.
Before streaming happened, I had Doctor Who box sets on DVD (well, they're still in the cupboard) and this two-parter and the next episode were on one disc, and it was the best DVD I owned. Just a brilliant story. I do watch this and try to place other Doctors in the role. The original book featured Sylvester's Doctor, and I can see that; I can also see [redacts name of next Doctor though I'm sure you know it] doing it. The one after that? Not so much. But David got it and he was magnificent. What an interesting take on the punishments delivered to the Family of Blood. I think we're meant to be alarmed and a little bit horrified! Never mind! As I said last time, Golden Age.
I remember watching this as it aired in 2007 when I was 9! This story is still one of my absolute favourites of the show. So beautiful in many ways. Martha really shines in this one, truly love her! Series 3 as a whole really hits different for me, I just adore it
17 years on and still an all time classic. A masterpiece that goes beyond a just being a great Doctor Who episode . I have always found it fascinating that the one thing to invoke the fury of the Doctor was not fighting with gods and demons, or loosing beloved companions - but having the chance of starting a family taken away from him, experiencing being a human (the species he most loves and admire) and then having to go back to being the Doctor. This two parter is such an insight into the Doctor’s psyche.
It seems my comment didnt go through... I am really glad to see how much you liked this episode! And how emotional you got. I truely love how a reoccuring theme is that the Doctor is basicially a superpower everyone should fear... but because of that, he is weaker than any human... and he knows... and he knows he will never have that 'human' element to him... which is why I think he keeps around humans all the time (of all the millions of planets and species he basicially only picks humans as companions) I can't wait to see you react to our favourite painter... that episode is the only thing ever that made me laugh and cry like three times in rapid succession.
John Smith realises he's 'just a story', the Doctor sometimes realises this too. One of the strengths of this series is that it's often touching on levels not usually met. Star Trek has dealt with someone discovering their life was as an actor in a play, and others have had 'psycho-dramas' of people confronting their own minds, or evil natures. Doctor Who has even visited 'The Land of Fiction' in the story 'The Mind Robber'.
Your reactions are why we watch! They're so pure and heartfelt that it feels like I'm watching again for the 1st time. I think Tim's speech about the doctor sums up the show perfectly and is why we continue to watch: He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and can see the turn of the universe. And... he's wonderful.
Phenomenal two parter this. Knew they would hit you hard Jules, haha; these ones get us all! I also absolutely love the idea that he became a human to hide away because he was "being kind". Amazing when we see the families fates for their crimes.
The very end will always, always hit men hard. The lad lived a long life because of a simple warning, and in the end seeing his benefactor standing there, unchanged… and the music in this was so heart rending. Uplifting. Foreboding. Inspiring. Every emotional thread is thrummed and I will never not shed a tear or twenty when watching this.
I don't think any of us (ie your viewers) want you to feel like there's a particular positive or negative review you 'should' be giving. You're reacting honestly to these episodes as yourself, and that's a wonderful thing to see. It helps some of us view these episodes in a new light. Thank you.
Another comment: Do not ever feel bad for liking what you like. Speaking as the person who liked and enjoyed the "John Carter" movie, who cares if others think something "rubbish." If you found enjoyment in it, that's what matters.
Take comfort that you are not alone: I also liked John Carter. (Although, as a big Burroughs fan since childhood, I did have a few quibbles about some elements.)
This as well as the next upcoming episode are my favourite episodes in series 3, I've seen this countless times and every time I end up with tears and snot all over my face
I knew you'd love this two-parter, Juliette!😊 Great plot that tears at your heartstrings. Great performance from Tennant... AND a special nod to Harry Lloyd (very creepy as Baines). Also we get to see Freema shine as Martha!! You mentioned that the Doctor would never abandon Rose for another, like he possibly seems willing to do to Martha, but I do have to remind you about The Girl In the Fireplace. Yes, the circumstances were different, but he did willingly try to save Madame Pompadour, believing that he could never return to Rose and he did seem to forget her rather quickly when he believed he was stranded in 18th century France. I think the Doctor is a bit fickle.😉 I've never seen you check on how a Doctor Who episode was rated before. This is quite a coincidence as the next episode is rated the best ever of New Who
I don't think he would have left Martha behind in exchange for Joan, I think he woulda tried to take both of them, but it never would've worked. He knows Martha is in love with him, and he only still feels anything for Joan because he met and fell for her when he was human, without his centuries of experiences, including the recent loss of Rose, blocking him from that. And asking her, knowing the trainwreck that that would have been, how much he would have hurt Joan and Martha both, was very selfish of him, and still entirely understandable. That's what's so good about this one, though. The Doctor feels like a real person. He makes selfish choices and John and as the Doctor, despite his best intentions. Even becoming human to hide shows a crazy amount of nuance. It was, end of the day, because he had to, because it would have been a disaster if the family had found him and his technology, but he still chose to let some die to save many more. Even the fact that this episode shows the bigotry of the era in ways that most Who doesn't go out of its way to shows how far out of their way the writers went to give this one nuance.
Something to consider in regards to the Doctor inviting Joan, in classic who the TARDIS crew was often more than just the Doctor and one companion, and frequently the larger groups did change in parts, with some characters leaving while others remain, and new characters joining the existing crew, all the way back to the first shakeup when susan left and Vicki coming in while Ian and Barbra remained, so if Joan had said yes and travelled with the Doctor, it wouldn't nescisarily mean Martha leaves.
Don't feel bad about crying at this episode. I've seen it countless times, including when it came out, and I still cry at it. Honestly, I don't know why these episodes haven't won an award of some sort.
Aw, I get the desire to be in sync with the crowd, but never let what other people think about something you love tarnish your love for it. It just means you see something differently than everybody else, and there's nothing wrong with that (unless you're hallucinating; in that case, you might want to see a doctor).
I think that when the Doctor offers to take Joan with him at the end he's doing so not just for her, but for himself too - in a kind of hope that he might maybe recover what he gave up when he opened the watch. But he doesn't really sell the offer, because he knows in his heart that it's an impossible dream and what John and Joan had can never be recovered. Then when she criticizes him he has no words, because he knows she's right. The look he gives her is the look of someone who accepts responsibility and knows there is nothing he can say or do to undo the damage he's caused. I don't think he's being cold, as another commenter said; I think he's accepting who/what he is, and understanding that that means that there are some nice things he doesn't get to have. Later with Martha he seems to make light of it all, but I think he's repressing all of the hurt inside himself - which is a very Doctor thing to do, IMHO.
I love Jessica Hynes, I'm always surprised she's not more well known. Especially considering how well known her old cast mates and director are, ie Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. PS If you ever get a gap in your reacting schedule, you should check out the TV show SPACED
Jules, don't feel bad that this story broke you - it does it to me and others every time... and yes, I've rewatched this many a time over the years because it's just so good! Glad you rate it!
This episode is so sad for Joan cause while the doctor is standing in front of her with the appearance of the one she fell in love with, he's gone for good in her eyes and its really sad even with the glimpses of their future makes it hurt even more. A interesting detail is that the family of blood when they took over their bodies they either dont blink at all or barely blink. The Doctor when he comes back he never says a word but you could tell he is angry essentially trapping them because they wanted to live forever so doctor they made sure they did.
Little bit of side trivia: It is *amazing* how much David looks *exactly* like his dad (The Very Reverend Alexander "Sandy" MacDonald, who was such a sweet guy) with the makeup on to look older.
The Doctor can have more than one companion. Hell, there was one time I think he had something like...four? Back in the 80's. Four was too much, though. What a mess. Especially since three of the four were either bratty or sullen. It was like a mom and dad taking their spoiled kids on a road trip. Bless Nyssa, because otherwise I don't think I could have handled a good chunk of the Fifth Doctor's time.
Oh wow... I've not seen his dad! A quick trip to Google confirms 💜 I try not to google too much due to spoilers, but it is wonderful to learn more about the man behind the Doctor.
“We wanted to live forever, so the doctor made sure that we did” Remember, the hero we trust and travel with is ruthless if you piss him off. It’s a solid reminder that he lives up to the legends that his enemy’s say about him.
One of the most beautifully acted episodes in modern Who. Tennant rightly won awards for playing essentially two very different parts, giving an extraordinary performance as the human John Smith struggling to understand what was going on around him and realising his whole identity was a lie. Heartbreaking stuff. The World War I references are beautifully and powerfully done too. Phil Cornell also won an award for adapting his original 1990s Doctor Who novel into this script. Phil wrote another tearjerker in series 1 - 'Father's Day'. This two-partner and the next two episodes after it, make up just about the best four-episode run in the whole of modern Doctor Who. Really glad you're enjoying it. Regarding the end of this episode - the Doctor was inviting Joan to join him as a travelling companion, but alongside, not in place of Martha. It's a sign of how the Doctor doesn't understand human emotions that it never occurs to him that Joan could never travel with a stranger who wears the face of the man she's just loved and lost (John Smith). Martha meanwhile continues to carry a torch for the Doctor, even though it's unrequited love. At least he's beginning to trust and value her input now. The reason she was so upset in the Shakespeare episode was because he said, out loud, "Rose would know what to say or do." - instead of even asking Martha for her opinion!
I think everyone has been waiting for your reaction to Human Nature/Family of Blood. I predicted it to be your favourite episode, right back since your reactions began 😊
Yes, one of my favorite Ten episodes, and Thomas Sangster delivers one of my favorite Doctor Who monologues (and there's a lot of really, really great ones). A lovely exploration of what it means to be the Doctor as well as the life the Doctor cannot have.
Another excellent reaction to a fantastic, and hearts-wrenching, episode of Doctor WHO. One of the reasons why I watch your reactions, from Doctor Who all the way to the X-Files, is down to the fact that you are a very genuine and compassionate person. You are absolutely a comfort-watch. Also, occasionally a cat shows up, and that's a bonus. LoL Sometimes I wish I could comment with a little more substance than I often do, but I don't always have the spoons for it. Regardless, you're doing such an excellent job with your channel, and I'm going to keep right on watching. Allons-Y!
I have a non functional replica watch of the doctors that I bought at a convention in Randers Denmark one or two years ago and I plan on going this year too there is an entire booth just dedicated to doctor who stuff
Such brilliance. You are in the middle of one of the best run of episodes of the show since it came back. Love that you are getting to watch it fresh. Enjoy!
One of my favourite Doctor Who episodes, the way The Doctor punishes The Family is so shocking and dark it’s easy to forget that The Doctor was a solider and when pushed has the capability to take up arms
"He's like fire, and ice, and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and he can feel the turn of the universe. And... he's wonderful" Nearly 17 years since this episode aired and I still get chills from that speech.
I am so so happy you appear to love these episodes as much as I do, these will (for me) always be the best episodes in all of NuWho. I'm crying all over again watching you cry lol! Beautiful episodes, thank you for the video Jules!!
I cried with you , again, brilliant editing as always, thank U. Also ..there is a animation story BBC, tells the story of the cat sister ( who looked after face of Boa) and what happened to her,
I genuinely think this is one of the most powerful episodes, it is SO good. Tennant’s acting, those times he switches between Smith and The Doctor so instantly and seamlessly, it’s fantastic. His punishments for the family are chilling, but they pale in comparison to ‘you can go’. She calls him out on the damage he’s caused and shuts him down so completely. John Smith is the alias he used last time he was a teacher in School Reunion, and as Sarah Jane pointed out then, it’s one he used many times before :). John Smith MIGHT have left Martha behind, The Doctor would not. Thank you so much for your reactions, so pure me heartfelt and sweet.
Also the bit with old Tim at the end brakes me, every time. As the lady is saying the ‘age shall not weary them’ bit he looks up and there they are, The Doctor and Martha, no older than when he last saw them, so brilliantly done.
@@kitwestlake2088 I also like that this was 7 years before the 100th anniversary of the First World War, when everyone got in to thinking about that conflict more.
The Doctor unleashed his darkness here. Really showed the valeyard. If you don’t know what that is it apparently The Doctors darkness that been predicted since the six doctor era.
My take on the Doctor offering Joan the opportunity to travel with him, is that he thought he was genuinely being kind to her. As for Martha, I don't know if there's anything in the episode to contradict this, but it struck me when you were talking about her that maybe the Doctor had told Martha he was going to invite her to travel with them, and that Martha had then perhaps avoided either encouraging or discouraging the idea as she could guess what Joan's response would be anyway.
An absolutely amazing story and I forgot that powerful line asking if The Doctor never went there would anyone there have died Also the absolutely phenomenal acting in the scene where he petends to still be human and the brilliant "you really shouldn't have let me press all those buttons" and you realise everything was on purpose showing the brilliance of The Doctor and David simultaneously
Knew this one was going to hit heavily. It's probably one of the biggest emotional gut punches the show has ever pulled, and that's not something that can be said lightly. Thing that only just occurred to me now is how many different perspectives there are here. I kind of remembered it as exposing all the flaws of the 10th Doctor at their worst, with what he ended up putting everyone, including Martha and even including John Smith, through in an attempt to avoid directly fighting. But I'd somehow managed to forget that the episode acknowledged that and still managed to depict him as a positive force of nature, and still found time to keep all the human characters grounded in the very real tragedy of the war. I feel like I've ended up rediscovering this episode all over again.
This is a classic, but don't ever worry about liking a generally-unpopular story - everyone's entitled to their opinion, and anyway the more you like, you more you win! If I don't like a story that others rate highly I'll try to find out why people enjoy it, and sometimes I'll then get more out of rewatches, which is all to the good. I have trouble with the cruel & unusual punishments meted out by the Doctor here, but it's not enough to spoil an excellent story - it just knocks it down to second place for the season.
*Lightbulb moment* Of course! The story all starts because of one of the Doctor's mis-judged attempts at kindness... ands with another one (the offer to Joan).
I find it difficult to take those punishments seriously, except as a piece of stirring rhetoric - I mean, how exactly is sister of mine "trapped as a reflection inside every mirror" or brother of mine trapped in a moment of time but also condemned to be a living scarecrow (or lots of scarecrows? He said "put me to work in the fields of England") - I mean the Doctor is not meant to be some kind of wizard.
What a great reaction, thank you Jules. You feel the emotional aspects of these shows you watch so deeply and I love that (because I'm the same). I'm not saying I enjoy seeing you cry, but when you cry I cry too and it can be so cathartic. I like a good blub at least once a day. 😂
I weep every single I’ve watched this episode- every single time. This two-parter - especially this incredibly moving episode - is one of the absolute highlights of nu-Who ever.
A glorious episode. The part from when The Doctor returns to the end, is brilliant, emotionally devastating and so poignant. No surprise you were so affected Jules.
I had to wait for both episodes reactions to come out before watching cos this two parter is my favorite 2 parter episode for how brilliantly written it is. Sci elements Check, Historical Elements? Check. Amazing Acting? Check, and then the emotional assault!! 😭Check! Such a great episode, we get to see how the intimate struggle and burden he holds as the last of the timelords and it crushes your heart. But then because the writer wherent finished making us cry the heart warming moment at the end with the memorial day tribute to the war and the lost soldiers and how that connected to the historical aspect of the story! Pure Brilliance! This is the perfect episode for me! From a story writing point and a directorial point of view! Top notch! Oh and can i just say the doctor was being kind moment too that was such a crescendo moment too cos they wanted to live for ever so he show them how much of a curse it can be! So FRICKEN GOOD!!
This two-parter is one of my favourite stories for sure, though like Father's Day, one to reserve for days when I need a good cry! It's beautiful. Thanks so much! ❤
Sadly, despite knowing his life would turn out great as a human, The Doctor did choose to be alone. In his hearts he knew even though he offered for her to come with him she wouldn't, He is forever the lonely traveler, picking up companions along the way, but she was right as well, if the Doctor had never hidden there, no one would've died. There are alot of surprises to come, and I can't wait to share them with you, until next reaction!
“We wanted to live forever. So the Doctor made sure that we did.”
Very chilling words, and the Doctor didn’t say a thing, which is always the worst thing!
My favorite reaction to this (Blind Wave) when Brother Mine is describing their punishment, Eric had a shocked look on his face and was like "He just went ham!"
this moment. this goddamn moment....I was like, I love the Doctor, but goddamn that was the coldest thing I ever seen
The switch back from human to time lord is my favourite thing ever. It really shows David’s phenomenal acting in this amazing episode.
He was just incredible, wasn't he!
He fool me. 😂
Brilliant! Also scary how he captured them.
Did I mention that I HAVE the watch? 😅
I got it as a christmas gift. I carry it around in my pocket everywhere I go.... 👍
@@julesreacts David is a PHENOMENAL actor. One of his best performances here.
The ending scene with the Doctor and Martha visiting Tim on Remberance Day is touching.
It really is!
I think this season aired the year that the last Tommy from world war 1 died. Or around that time.
This two parter has always been considered one of the best in the series. Emotional, scary, sad, triumphant, and so very human...everything that Doctor Who is at it's best.
I have to agree! It's my favourite two-parter so far!
Probably my favourite story in the series. Many other episodes come close but this one is even more special.
I've just noticed something for the first time. When Tim has premonitions of the war and then runs off with the watch a classmate calls him a "filthy coward" and he says "Yes sir, every time", and he perhaps echoes what the ninth Doctor says when questioned by the Emperor of the Daleks as to whether he is "coward or killer" and he responds "coward, any day." It's not exactly the same words but it suddenly seemed resonant.
Especially resonant with Joan's charge that the Doctor ran and hid by changing into John Smith, while John Smith was brave enough to die.
Time for a few long fun facts: this two-part story is actually based on a novel featuring the 7th Doctor, published in 1995. It follows mostly the same plot, with the aliens trying to capture 'John Smith' as he, the Doctor's companion (Bernice Summerfield) and Nurse Redfern have to evade them. What's especially noteworthy is that the writer of the original book, Paul Cornell, is actually the one who adapted it into this two-parter, basically giving it a seal of approval as an adaptation of his own excellent story.
Not only that, but there's one small detail in the book version that I always loved: the boy with the watch, Tim Latimer, is plagued by visions of the future and fears the First World War starting the following year, mostly because he's afraid of killing, and doesn't want to become that sort of person. He knows he can't do anything to stop the war, and when it hits, he's going to have to go and fight and main and murder. In the epilogue, once the main story is over, we see another character from the story who enlisted when the war broke out who has been badly injured, and is essentially dying where he lies. But just as all hope seems lost, someone finds him. Tim Latimer... who never enlisted with the army, and instead joined the British Red Cross.
Tim didn't want to kill, so he became an army medic instead.
In a technical, round-about sort of way... Tim became A DOCTOR.
As good as this story is, and make no mistake it is great, the book is even better IMO. And I think it suits the seventh Doctor better than the tenth. The tenth is already quite a romantic character, so when the distant, calculating seventh Doctor is put in the John Smith role it is a huge contrast and the distress Smith feels having to return to being the Doctor is even more appropriate.
I like that, thank you
@@TheBrainOfMorbius Oh totally, the 7th is my personal favourite Doctor, and his presence in the story really added a lot. For anyone who hasn't read it, the book is still worth a read since there's a few parts that were changed for the episodes, so you can still read the original story and be surprised by how it goes. Plus, it's just genuinely well-written throughout.
Falling in love... That didn't even occur to him?
What sort of man is that?
The fury of the Timelord is a reminder that we are lucky he is as... good... as he is.
One of my favourite exchanges in this episode: "Latimer, you filthy coward!" "Oh, yes, sir! Every time!"
It perfectly mirrors the Ninth Doctor and the Dalek Emperor in 1x12: "What are you, coward or killer?" "Coward, any day."
This episode helps highlight two of the Doctor's main character traits. , The first is how he can often act silly to put his enemies off-guard, which is very bad news for them when he gets serious (though it's something that's more prominent with a few incarnations like the Second and Seventh Doctors), and the other thing is just how ruthless he can be when the situation calls for it and he's pushed too far.
Yes! Well said.
This . . . IS the quintessential, ‘Doctor Who’
This . . . is why we watch
This three episode run is the zenith of New Who.
They could have called this episode the Doctors Mercy and it would have been a perfect reveal for how the family of blood met their end. Dude was glacially cold when passing sentence and it still gives me chills when the son is doing his voice over. Especially that bit about sister of mine and the mirrors. Man this was a great two part episode. How he does not have more credits on show scripts is beyond me. All of his episodes were bang on. And his big finish stories are some of the best around. Friggin' love that guys writing style. That bit with John Smith not wanting to die still has me in tears all these years later, you were not alone in your reaction Jules.
This is one of the best episodes of the entire series. I don’t even know why, but that Remembrance Day scene at the end has me tearing up every time.
If it didn't you wouldn't be human!
I liked Tim. He would've made a great companion.
And he can shine the Doctor's converse! What's more to want 🤣
Honestly, I never pictured that the Doctor would have left Martha behind if he'd taken Joan with him as a companion- he's had more than one companion at a time before after all. I did always find it significant that he seems to have not asked Martha's opinion on the matter or even given her the heads up about it. I don't think he meant to make a unilateral decision there, I think it just genuinely didn't occur to him that it may be something Martha might not be happy with- as far as the Doctor is concerned, Martha is a cool person and Joan is a cool person therefore of course they'll get on and like travelling together. Gods love him, but social cues (especially human social cues) seem to fly over the Doctor's head a lot.
Ahhh yes, you are very right! I love your explanation!
The Classic Doctor has been known to have three or possibly even four companions at a time, some times.
Martha offers to go talk to her for him when he comes back alone and sad- I bet there’s a conversation we didn’t see.
Martha seemed aware he was going to ask nurse redfern to come along. She even offered to go back and talk to her. Given how Martha feels that is fantastic and shows what an amazing companion she is.
@@CrankyGrandma Martha deserves better than she gets so often, but it does seem she might have been willing to have Redfern come along. That story could be interesting. I wouldn't like Martha getting reduced screen time, though.
I like how they show how ruthless, and dangerous, The Doctor could be, if he were to ever go down that path.
And, it also gives us a glimpse into why so many beings throughout the universe fear him so much.
First coloured Doctor in the UK was Dr James Horton, a liberated slave from America who made his way to England and graduated as a Doctor in 1837. I thoroughly recommend giving his life history a read, it’s quite fascinating.
First female Doctor in the UK was Dr Elizabeth Anderson. She became a Doctor by exploiting a loophole in the UK’s legal system regarding Apothecaries and passed her exams first try. She set up her own medical practice became a Dean of medicine and successfully campaigned for women to be allowed to practice medicine, resulting in women being legally allowed to train as Doctors by 1876. By 1914 there were roughly 1000 women working as doctors in England.
The point I’m making here is that Doctor Who got the discrimination against Martha sliiiiightly wrong around 4:00. People of colour and women were legally allowed to train as doctors and their fight for that right was quite famous.
The Fury of the Time Lord speech is one of the most powerful things I've ever heard. Upon my first time watching this, I immediately committed it to memory. All these years later, and I still have it memorized, but I can't get through it without bursting into tears.
Coupled with Tim’s description of the Doctor being like ‘ice and fire … and wonderful,’ this episode really does feature some phenomenal writing.
I think the music adds so much to the atmosphere and emotions of the story... murray gold is an exceptional composer...
The Doctor's scene where he asks Joan to travel with him is staggering to me for the sheer fury and disgust she has for the Doctor and his cold, cold stare back at her. This one really is a blessed story - great actors, a fantastic piece of source material in Paul's book and supperb direction that makes an assault by scarecrows look threatening rather than ridiculous. Frankly, a perfect story that only strikes a slight off note thtat the Doctor's treatment of the family is comming from a darker place than we've seen for this Tennant's Doctor so far. There's five truely superb stories from the first four years of DW - and this is arguably the best of them.
Tennant's acting when Joan asks her question at the end might be my favourite performance from him in the role, he's wordless but does so much with his face, the coldness, the ugliness, the weight of it, it's all there, it really is something
This show sure knows how to play up the Doctor's ferocity. Some of my favorite episodes are ones where we get to see the Doctor we know and love, but from the eyes of his enemy.
A truly heartbreaking story, with amazing performances from everyone, I can't praise this enough. And when we see just how savage the Doctor was with his punishments - chilling. Previous quotes like 'no second chances' and ' I used to have so much mercy' hit home here. In the classic series the Doctor (especially McCoy) always had a ruthless streak, but this took it to another level - it seems the Time War really did a number on him. As always it was a joy to to watch you experience something so many of us grew up on, keep it coming.
This is just fabulous. Such a meaningful, emotional and tense episode. It reveals more than any other what it means to be the Doctor.
I love the coda where they visit the elderly Latimer. And the Doctors sad, angry vengeance on the family.
Just magnificent. 10/10
Tennant is great in this. As are Freema and Jessica Hynes
This story actually originates as a novel from the "wilderness years" after the original series was cancelled in 1989. The details were slightly different (McCoy, the 7th Doctor for one.)
There are so many things i'd like to say, but i'm afraid it would spoil things. There have been so many little bread crumbs setup throughout this series as we come towards the final run. It's a wild ride, Jules. Some say this is the peak of the series here. (My personal favorite is series five, but I digress.)
A great two-parter. The Family of Blood were great villains, and the mirroring of the young boys fighting off the scarecrows to what the reality of war would be like for them in a very short period... Lots of great visual symbolism going on.
You most certainly are not alone thinking this is a great episode, its objectively really well written and performed.
One of the best so far, for me. So emotional!!
You remember when I was saying Murray Gold was stepping up his game this season? This is what I meant. He delivers his best in these two episodes and paired with the BAFTA level writing and brilliant acting, the music carries perfect emotion and progression. The Family off Blood is one of my all time favorites. In parts to the Doctor's bravery in exchanging his faux life but Martha stepping forward, especially when demonstrating she's more than a color but a brilliant mind.
Something of note, both the youngest boy, played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Baines, played by Harry Lloyd, the older boy in the "family," were in "Game of Thrones" (along with many other "gigs"). Thomas played Jojan Reed and Viserys Targaryen, respectively. AND on top of that, in this Thomas refers to The Doctor as being "Fire and Ice," which is the name of the book series (A Song Of Fire and Ice) Game of Thrones is based on. Foreshadowing? Possibly? WIbbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff? Probably.
The ending gets me everytime. The cut forward to remembrence day always makes me tear up.
And rhis episode really hammers home how dark WW1 was, reminding us that many of the soldiers were young teenagers.
I could actually pinpoint the moment your heart seemed to break, which caused mine to break...
bloody hell.
Holly crap that was awesome! Thanks so much Juliette🥰 Going to have to agree with you 13:44 🤨What about Martha?!🤷♂
I don't think Martha would be all that pleased, to be honest 🤣 Thank you, Texman 🤗💜
@julesreacts The Doctor’s had more than one companion before, even before Adam Mitchell from series 1. Of Joan did come with the Doctor maybe she and Martha would’ve been off the a rocky start, but the fact that these were both nurses meant they could’ve got along as friends in the end.
By the way when there are more than one companions in the TARDIS we call that a TARDIS Team, just something to look out for in the future.
He doesnt have to leave Martha behind. Doctor have had multiple companions in the past.
I submit that Martha knew about the proposal, they had discussed it, and she even offered to go to Joan and talk her into joining them. But he dismissed the offer, as he just knew it would be futile. Her last words to him stung, but they were very true and he knew it.
This has and will always be my favorite two parter. David Tennant is phenomenal in it because he was playing not just the doctor but John Smith and played them with so much distinction that they were clearly different people without being jarring
And this episode had such impact on the doctor as a future episode shows that redferns memory stayed with him.
“He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing. The fury of the Timelord. And then we discovered why. Why this Doctor, who had fought with gods and demons, why he’d run away from us and hidden. He was being kind.”
“We wanted to live forever. So The Doctor made sure that we did.”
CHILLS EVERY SINGLE TIME 👏 I have rewatched Doctor Who more than 7 times and have seen pretty much every RUclips reaction to it (I have been loving your reactions btw! ❤) and this episode never fails me. This is THE episode. If I had to pick just 3 episodes to watch of Doctor Who for the rest of my life, this one is 100% on that list.
And that line at the end when the nurse goes “If The Doctor never visited us, and never chosen this place on a whim, would anybody here have died?”
They’ve been saying for a while that The Doctor is brilliant and terrible all at the same time, but this is the episode where we really see that and that’s why I love it so much. It somehow manages to encapsulate who The Doctor is perfectly and I just- I’ll never get over it no matter how many times I watch it 😂 I’m looking forward to the rest of your reactions and I’m really glad you’re enjoying the show 😊 I always love seeing new people getting into Doctor Who. I love seeing them experience the humor and the emotions all for the first time. It always makes me feel like I’m watching it for the first time again XD
And this episode is where we learn why he's referred to as "The bringer of darkness" and "The oncoming storm" by his enemies.
This is one of my favs… the next one is most people’s favs (although mine is different)… doctor who is unstoppable in this era… it’s just so well done, acted, directed, written - the golden age
When the Doctor gets Mad....Look Out...=))
This episode is a fantastic demonstration of everything that Dr Who can be. It's terrifying, poignant, offers moral questions that the Doctor sometimes can't answer and despite the sci-fi/fantasy elements it's rooted in human emotion and history and god does it make me cry every single damn time. And on top of all that, Martha is just awesome, but then she always is. I totally agree, Jules, these two episodes are amongst my favourite in the whole of Who.
Scary scarecrow came alive in Doctor Who series 3 sometimes
Before streaming happened, I had Doctor Who box sets on DVD (well, they're still in the cupboard) and this two-parter and the next episode were on one disc, and it was the best DVD I owned. Just a brilliant story.
I do watch this and try to place other Doctors in the role. The original book featured Sylvester's Doctor, and I can see that; I can also see [redacts name of next Doctor though I'm sure you know it] doing it. The one after that? Not so much. But David got it and he was magnificent.
What an interesting take on the punishments delivered to the Family of Blood. I think we're meant to be alarmed and a little bit horrified! Never mind!
As I said last time, Golden Age.
I remember watching this as it aired in 2007 when I was 9! This story is still one of my absolute favourites of the show. So beautiful in many ways. Martha really shines in this one, truly love her!
Series 3 as a whole really hits different for me, I just adore it
I too watched this when it aired. We were spoiled
I love Martha. My heart breaks for her in this.
This is one of the reactions I've been waiting for since episode 1.
I'm glad to see that you had a very emotional experience. There are more on way.
17 years on and still an all time classic. A masterpiece that goes beyond a just being a great Doctor Who episode .
I have always found it fascinating that the one thing to invoke the fury of the Doctor was not fighting with gods and demons, or loosing beloved companions - but having the chance of starting a family taken away from him, experiencing being a human (the species he most loves and admire) and then having to go back to being the Doctor. This two parter is such an insight into the Doctor’s psyche.
It seems my comment didnt go through...
I am really glad to see how much you liked this episode!
And how emotional you got.
I truely love how a reoccuring theme is that the Doctor is basicially a superpower everyone should fear... but because of that, he is weaker than any human... and he knows... and he knows he will never have that 'human' element to him... which is why I think he keeps around humans all the time (of all the millions of planets and species he basicially only picks humans as companions)
I can't wait to see you react to our favourite painter... that episode is the only thing ever that made me laugh and cry like three times in rapid succession.
I miss David Tennant!! I need to do a full rewatch one day... this episode was so well done 💜
John Smith realises he's 'just a story', the Doctor sometimes realises this too.
One of the strengths of this series is that it's often touching on levels not usually met.
Star Trek has dealt with someone discovering their life was as an actor in a play, and others have had 'psycho-dramas' of people confronting their own minds, or evil natures.
Doctor Who has even visited 'The Land of Fiction' in the story 'The Mind Robber'.
Your reactions are why we watch! They're so pure and heartfelt that it feels like I'm watching again for the 1st time.
I think Tim's speech about the doctor sums up the show perfectly and is why we continue to watch:
He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun.
He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and can see the turn of the universe.
And... he's wonderful.
Ahhh thank you 🥰
Phenomenal two parter this. Knew they would hit you hard Jules, haha; these ones get us all! I also absolutely love the idea that he became a human to hide away because he was "being kind". Amazing when we see the families fates for their crimes.
Ive been looking forward to seeing this reaction for so long. Brings tears to my eyes every time. Glad you loved it too.
It is one of my very favourites! SO brilliantly done!
@@julesreacts there are still so many more episodes of this quality to come and look forward to enjoying these with you
"Oh my God, that is beautiful" - interesting choice of words there ....
The very end will always, always hit men hard. The lad lived a long life because of a simple warning, and in the end seeing his benefactor standing there, unchanged… and the music in this was so heart rending. Uplifting. Foreboding. Inspiring. Every emotional thread is thrummed and I will never not shed a tear or twenty when watching this.
I don't think any of us (ie your viewers) want you to feel like there's a particular positive or negative review you 'should' be giving. You're reacting honestly to these episodes as yourself, and that's a wonderful thing to see. It helps some of us view these episodes in a new light. Thank you.
I appreciate you saying that 😊💜 thank you, Sam!!
Another comment: Do not ever feel bad for liking what you like. Speaking as the person who liked and enjoyed the "John Carter" movie, who cares if others think something "rubbish." If you found enjoyment in it, that's what matters.
🥰🥰
Take comfort that you are not alone: I also liked John Carter. (Although, as a big Burroughs fan since childhood, I did have a few quibbles about some elements.)
"We wanted to live forever. So the Doctor made sure that we did." Chills.
It's a fantastic line from the perspective from the villains without the doctor ever saying a word
SO GOOD 😱
This as well as the next upcoming episode are my favourite episodes in series 3, I've seen this countless times and every time I end up with tears and snot all over my face
This is a classic! I really enjoy this one. As it was based on a novel, Cornell had lots of material to work with here. It's great.
I knew you'd love this two-parter, Juliette!😊
Great plot that tears at your heartstrings. Great performance from Tennant... AND a special nod to Harry Lloyd (very creepy as Baines). Also we get to see Freema shine as Martha!!
You mentioned that the Doctor would never abandon Rose for another, like he possibly seems willing to do to Martha, but I do have to remind you about The Girl In the Fireplace. Yes, the circumstances were different, but he did willingly try to save Madame Pompadour, believing that he could never return to Rose and he did seem to forget her rather quickly when he believed he was stranded in 18th century France. I think the Doctor is a bit fickle.😉
I've never seen you check on how a Doctor Who episode was rated before. This is quite a coincidence as the next episode is rated the best ever of New Who
Always ready to pick up the next blonde. ;)
The part where he just leaves son of mine standing over the fields is one of the darkest moments in DW history.
I love those dark moments!
I don't think he would have left Martha behind in exchange for Joan, I think he woulda tried to take both of them, but it never would've worked. He knows Martha is in love with him, and he only still feels anything for Joan because he met and fell for her when he was human, without his centuries of experiences, including the recent loss of Rose, blocking him from that. And asking her, knowing the trainwreck that that would have been, how much he would have hurt Joan and Martha both, was very selfish of him, and still entirely understandable.
That's what's so good about this one, though. The Doctor feels like a real person. He makes selfish choices and John and as the Doctor, despite his best intentions. Even becoming human to hide shows a crazy amount of nuance. It was, end of the day, because he had to, because it would have been a disaster if the family had found him and his technology, but he still chose to let some die to save many more. Even the fact that this episode shows the bigotry of the era in ways that most Who doesn't go out of its way to shows how far out of their way the writers went to give this one nuance.
Something to consider in regards to the Doctor inviting Joan, in classic who the TARDIS crew was often more than just the Doctor and one companion, and frequently the larger groups did change in parts, with some characters leaving while others remain, and new characters joining the existing crew, all the way back to the first shakeup when susan left and Vicki coming in while Ian and Barbra remained, so if Joan had said yes and travelled with the Doctor, it wouldn't nescisarily mean Martha leaves.
Series 1 of the revival has Adam and Jack come and go without Rose leaving, he also invited Lynda!
@@SeanS102 Indeed
"We wanted to live forever...so The Doctor made sure that we did."
The surface of Pluto is warmer than that line. Absolute chills.
Oh, brilliant comparison! Love it!
Don't feel bad about crying at this episode. I've seen it countless times, including when it came out, and I still cry at it. Honestly, I don't know why these episodes haven't won an award of some sort.
Aw, I get the desire to be in sync with the crowd, but never let what other people think about something you love tarnish your love for it. It just means you see something differently than everybody else, and there's nothing wrong with that (unless you're hallucinating; in that case, you might want to see a doctor).
This is one of the episodes that really show how great an actor David Tenant is.
I think that when the Doctor offers to take Joan with him at the end he's doing so not just for her, but for himself too - in a kind of hope that he might maybe recover what he gave up when he opened the watch. But he doesn't really sell the offer, because he knows in his heart that it's an impossible dream and what John and Joan had can never be recovered. Then when she criticizes him he has no words, because he knows she's right. The look he gives her is the look of someone who accepts responsibility and knows there is nothing he can say or do to undo the damage he's caused.
I don't think he's being cold, as another commenter said; I think he's accepting who/what he is, and understanding that that means that there are some nice things he doesn't get to have. Later with Martha he seems to make light of it all, but I think he's repressing all of the hurt inside himself - which is a very Doctor thing to do, IMHO.
Ahhhh yes, I do like that thought! I think you're right!
This two-parter is one of my favorite stories! I watched it numerous times and watched dozens of reaction videos- I always cry 🙂
I love Jessica Hynes, I'm always surprised she's not more well known. Especially considering how well known her old cast mates and director are, ie Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright.
PS If you ever get a gap in your reacting schedule, you should check out the TV show SPACED
Jules, don't feel bad that this story broke you - it does it to me and others every time... and yes, I've rewatched this many a time over the years because it's just so good! Glad you rate it!
This episode is so sad for Joan cause while the doctor is standing in front of her with the appearance of the one she fell in love with, he's gone for good in her eyes and its really sad even with the glimpses of their future makes it hurt even more. A interesting detail is that the family of blood when they took over their bodies they either dont blink at all or barely blink.
The Doctor when he comes back he never says a word but you could tell he is angry essentially trapping them because they wanted to live forever so doctor they made sure they did.
Yes!! SO sad. I cried so much 😭😭
@@julesreacts honestly I really love your passion for the episodes and honestly on the rewatch I was crying with you 😭
Little bit of side trivia: It is *amazing* how much David looks *exactly* like his dad (The Very Reverend Alexander "Sandy" MacDonald, who was such a sweet guy) with the makeup on to look older.
The Doctor can have more than one companion. Hell, there was one time I think he had something like...four? Back in the 80's. Four was too much, though. What a mess. Especially since three of the four were either bratty or sullen. It was like a mom and dad taking their spoiled kids on a road trip. Bless Nyssa, because otherwise I don't think I could have handled a good chunk of the Fifth Doctor's time.
Oh wow... I've not seen his dad! A quick trip to Google confirms 💜 I try not to google too much due to spoilers, but it is wonderful to learn more about the man behind the Doctor.
“We wanted to live forever, so the doctor made sure that we did” Remember, the hero we trust and travel with is ruthless if you piss him off. It’s a solid reminder that he lives up to the legends that his enemy’s say about him.
YES!! I love the Doctor's evil side!
One of the most beautifully acted episodes in modern Who. Tennant rightly won awards for playing essentially two very different parts, giving an extraordinary performance as the human John Smith struggling to understand what was going on around him and realising his whole identity was a lie. Heartbreaking stuff. The World War I references are beautifully and powerfully done too. Phil Cornell also won an award for adapting his original 1990s Doctor Who novel into this script. Phil wrote another tearjerker in series 1 - 'Father's Day'.
This two-partner and the next two episodes after it, make up just about the best four-episode run in the whole of modern Doctor Who. Really glad you're enjoying it.
Regarding the end of this episode - the Doctor was inviting Joan to join him as a travelling companion, but alongside, not in place of Martha. It's a sign of how the Doctor doesn't understand human emotions that it never occurs to him that Joan could never travel with a stranger who wears the face of the man she's just loved and lost (John Smith).
Martha meanwhile continues to carry a torch for the Doctor, even though it's unrequited love. At least he's beginning to trust and value her input now. The reason she was so upset in the Shakespeare episode was because he said, out loud, "Rose would know what to say or do." - instead of even asking Martha for her opinion!
Thank you for such a sincere reaction! This two-parter is definitely in the top tier of New Who episodes. And you're about to experience another one!
I think everyone has been waiting for your reaction to Human Nature/Family of Blood. I predicted it to be your favourite episode, right back since your reactions began 😊
Like he said John smith is still inside him so where that’s why he wanted Joan to travel with him John was still influencing him
Yes, one of my favorite Ten episodes, and Thomas Sangster delivers one of my favorite Doctor Who monologues (and there's a lot of really, really great ones). A lovely exploration of what it means to be the Doctor as well as the life the Doctor cannot have.
Another excellent reaction to a fantastic, and hearts-wrenching, episode of Doctor WHO.
One of the reasons why I watch your reactions, from Doctor Who all the way to the X-Files, is down to the fact that you are a very genuine and compassionate person. You are absolutely a comfort-watch.
Also, occasionally a cat shows up, and that's a bonus. LoL
Sometimes I wish I could comment with a little more substance than I often do, but I don't always have the spoons for it. Regardless, you're doing such an excellent job with your channel, and I'm going to keep right on watching. Allons-Y!
What a incredible ep I can’t believe 2007 is so long ago . I remember being 9 years old watching this two parter and it was a masterpiece 🫡
I REMEMBER watching this when transmitted as it was shown on the day my mother died
I'm sorry for your loss 😔
@@julesreacts NICE OF YOU TO SAY IT WAS IN 2007
I have a non functional replica watch of the doctors that I bought at a convention in Randers Denmark one or two years ago and I plan on going this year too there is an entire booth just dedicated to doctor who stuff
SO cool!!!
Such brilliance. You are in the middle of one of the best run of episodes of the show since it came back. Love that you are getting to watch it fresh. Enjoy!
This episode was incredible! One of my favourites!
One of my favourite Doctor Who episodes, the way The Doctor punishes The Family is so shocking and dark it’s easy to forget that The Doctor was a solider and when pushed has the capability to take up arms
An absolutely superb and amazing episode of New Who.
And your reactions were absolutely perfect too, Jules.
Thanks for sharing this video.
One of the best Doctor Who reaction videos. It's nice to see the episode hit perfectly with someone.
Wow, thank you so much!!
"He's like fire, and ice, and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and he can feel the turn of the universe. And... he's wonderful"
Nearly 17 years since this episode aired and I still get chills from that speech.
I am so so happy you appear to love these episodes as much as I do, these will (for me) always be the best episodes in all of NuWho. I'm crying all over again watching you cry lol! Beautiful episodes, thank you for the video Jules!!
I cried with you , again, brilliant editing as always, thank U. Also ..there is a animation story BBC, tells the story of the cat sister ( who looked after face of Boa) and what happened to her,
Thank you so much, Brian!!
An episode that shows how brilliant of an actor David Tennant is. It's also one of the best written of the entire Who-verse.
It really was!!
I genuinely think this is one of the most powerful episodes, it is SO good. Tennant’s acting, those times he switches between Smith and The Doctor so instantly and seamlessly, it’s fantastic.
His punishments for the family are chilling, but they pale in comparison to ‘you can go’. She calls him out on the damage he’s caused and shuts him down so completely.
John Smith is the alias he used last time he was a teacher in School Reunion, and as Sarah Jane pointed out then, it’s one he used many times before :).
John Smith MIGHT have left Martha behind, The Doctor would not.
Thank you so much for your reactions, so pure me heartfelt and sweet.
Also the bit with old Tim at the end brakes me, every time. As the lady is saying the ‘age shall not weary them’ bit he looks up and there they are, The Doctor and Martha, no older than when he last saw them, so brilliantly done.
He also used the John Smith alias in Martha's first episode, "Smith and Jones."
@@kitwestlake2088 I also like that this was 7 years before the 100th anniversary of the First World War, when everyone got in to thinking about that conflict more.
The Doctor unleashed his darkness here. Really showed the valeyard. If you don’t know what that is it apparently The Doctors darkness that been predicted since the six doctor era.
Which is probably why this episode my favourite of series 3.
My take on the Doctor offering Joan the opportunity to travel with him, is that he thought he was genuinely being kind to her.
As for Martha, I don't know if there's anything in the episode to contradict this, but it struck me when you were talking about her that maybe the Doctor had told Martha he was going to invite her to travel with them, and that Martha had then perhaps avoided either encouraging or discouraging the idea as she could guess what Joan's response would be anyway.
It would be an interesting fanfic dealing with that conversation (or maybe a Big Finish audio, extending to where they went afterwards).
A true Doctor Who classic this two parter. Brilliant writing.
An absolutely amazing story and I forgot that powerful line asking if The Doctor never went there would anyone there have died
Also the absolutely phenomenal acting in the scene where he petends to still be human and the brilliant "you really shouldn't have let me press all those buttons" and you realise everything was on purpose showing the brilliance of The Doctor and David simultaneously
And why did he go there? To avoid killing the Family of Blood, apparently. Was that a good reason?
Knew this one was going to hit heavily. It's probably one of the biggest emotional gut punches the show has ever pulled, and that's not something that can be said lightly. Thing that only just occurred to me now is how many different perspectives there are here. I kind of remembered it as exposing all the flaws of the 10th Doctor at their worst, with what he ended up putting everyone, including Martha and even including John Smith, through in an attempt to avoid directly fighting. But I'd somehow managed to forget that the episode acknowledged that and still managed to depict him as a positive force of nature, and still found time to keep all the human characters grounded in the very real tragedy of the war. I feel like I've ended up rediscovering this episode all over again.
This is a classic, but don't ever worry about liking a generally-unpopular story - everyone's entitled to their opinion, and anyway the more you like, you more you win! If I don't like a story that others rate highly I'll try to find out why people enjoy it, and sometimes I'll then get more out of rewatches, which is all to the good. I have trouble with the cruel & unusual punishments meted out by the Doctor here, but it's not enough to spoil an excellent story - it just knocks it down to second place for the season.
*Lightbulb moment*
Of course! The story all starts because of one of the Doctor's mis-judged attempts at kindness... ands with another one (the offer to Joan).
I find it difficult to take those punishments seriously, except as a piece of stirring rhetoric - I mean, how exactly is sister of mine "trapped as a reflection inside every mirror" or brother of mine trapped in a moment of time but also condemned to be a living scarecrow (or lots of scarecrows? He said "put me to work in the fields of England") - I mean the Doctor is not meant to be some kind of wizard.
What a great reaction, thank you Jules. You feel the emotional aspects of these shows you watch so deeply and I love that (because I'm the same). I'm not saying I enjoy seeing you cry, but when you cry I cry too and it can be so cathartic. I like a good blub at least once a day. 😂
I adored this episode... It's got to be one of my favourites!!
@@julesreacts It is amazing and happily there are many more just as amazing ones to come. 👏👏😊
I weep every single I’ve watched this episode- every single time. This two-parter - especially this incredibly moving episode - is one of the absolute highlights of nu-Who ever.
It's been one of the best episodes for me so far!
A glorious episode. The part from when The Doctor returns to the end, is brilliant, emotionally devastating and so poignant. No surprise you were so affected Jules.
I had to wait for both episodes reactions to come out before watching cos this two parter is my favorite 2 parter episode for how brilliantly written it is. Sci elements Check, Historical Elements? Check. Amazing Acting? Check, and then the emotional assault!! 😭Check! Such a great episode, we get to see how the intimate struggle and burden he holds as the last of the timelords and it crushes your heart. But then because the writer wherent finished making us cry the heart warming moment at the end with the memorial day tribute to the war and the lost soldiers and how that connected to the historical aspect of the story! Pure Brilliance! This is the perfect episode for me! From a story writing point and a directorial point of view! Top notch! Oh and can i just say the doctor was being kind moment too that was such a crescendo moment too cos they wanted to live for ever so he show them how much of a curse it can be! So FRICKEN GOOD!!
Wasn't it an INCREDIBLE episode!! One of the best I've seen so far!!
This episode just goes to show you don’t need cgi monsters or robots to have a terrifying villain, all you need is great writing and acting.
This two-parter is one of my favourite stories for sure, though like Father's Day, one to reserve for days when I need a good cry! It's beautiful. Thanks so much! ❤
Sadly, despite knowing his life would turn out great as a human, The Doctor did choose to be alone. In his hearts he knew even though he offered for her to come with him she wouldn't, He is forever the lonely traveler, picking up companions along the way, but she was right as well, if the Doctor had never hidden there, no one would've died. There are alot of surprises to come, and I can't wait to share them with you, until next reaction!