New Who Review for "Love & Monsters"

[puppetmaker]

This is the episode that probably sparks more division in Doctor Who fandom than the re-edited Shada. It polarized a number of the Doctor Who fan boards where people either loved it or hated it with the passion of 1000 suns. Some found it totally pointless and a waste of time and money. Others thought it rated as one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever. I think this is an episode that is very personal as to how you react to it.

A couple of things you should know. An English schoolboy named William Grantham as part of the Blue Peter Doctor Who competition created the villain's design for the Abzorbaloff. I am a die-hard Electric Light Orchestra fan. They were one of my first bands as a teen and I can't tell you how many times I danced around my room to "Mr. Blue Sky" or "the Diary of Horace Whimp" or even "Rock and Roll is King". ELO has deep meaning for me. (On a side note: Yes, the Monster ad does bother me). Shirley Henderson is an amazing character actress who really needs someone to give her the lead. Some of you might recognize her as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.

Spoilerish stuff behind the cut and in the comments.



This is an episode about fans as in fanatics not fanciers. These people are brought together because of the Doctor and through this they find friendship and comrades. One wonders if Clive was part of the group at one time. This episode is told from one character's point of view that being Elton Pope and in doing so you have to "forgive" some of the illogic of the episode.

For me it worked on so many levels, both as a fan and as a pro. I mean how would you react if you found out that the Doctor is real? I could sure empathize with all the member of LINDA which is a bunch of people who would have never met in real life except this one thing that brought them together. Reminds me of a number of fan groups I have belonged to over the years.

Yeah the villain was a classic over the top Doctor Who rubber monster but considering what the episode was about it made the sense.

The biggest complaint seemed to be where was the Doctor and Rose in this episode but I really think they didn't need to be in it any more than they were. This was not an episode about the Doctor but more about how people are affected by him without his knowledge, as he is the Oncoming Storm. It works because the Doctor is the b-plot in this one. The a-plot is what happened to Elton and the rest of LINDA.

And the "just because our love is different" subtext to Elton and Ursula after the Doctor brings her back is just a stitch to me. They have found a way to make their relationship work despite the odds against them. I found that delightful when I consider a number of fans who have gotten together against the odds and are much happier for it.

This episode just hit all the right notes for me. Not my absolute favorite of the season (that would be School Days) but close to the top.


Now pardon me as I go off and dance to ELO with Caroline.

I am grateful that this episode renewed my interest in ELO.

Comments

[ex-albee437.livejournal.com]

I felt much the same as you did about this episode. I thought it was a unique twist that paid as much tribute to Who fandom as it did to the idea of the Doctor as a catalyst in every life he comes into contact with.

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

I liked it (for the reasons you mentioned), my missus didn't. She thought it was a waste.

[readinggeek451]

I guess I can see why this episode polarized the fan-base, but I'm right in the middle. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. It was reasonably entertaining and had some very amusing bits, but I thought it dragged in spots. *shrug*

[querldox.livejournal.com]

I thought it was excellent, primarily for all the little side bits that worked. Did wonder if LINDA had gotten together back in the previous Doctor's existence if Mickey would've been in it. And wonder if Elton and Ursula ever get together with Jackie for tea.

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode.

I only know of ELO because of Xanadu. But I think I'll queue up some music on Rhapsody and have an ELO day soon.

[billritch.livejournal.com]

I love this episode. It reminds me so much of DW fan clubs and other SF fan clubs in my life. In particular it reminds me of MRAP.

MRAP (The Mighty Rassilon Art Players (http://www.m-rap.org)) is a theatre group that formed out of Doctor Who fans in the Atlanta area. We started by doing various Doctor Who skits at local conventions. puppetmaker40 was our first director! We didn't form a band. We formed a theatre troupe.

I remember when I watched this episode with my friends and they started playing ELO we all shuddered at the déjà vu. The writer really understands fans. Their good points and their bad. It is so easy to see the bad points of fans ("Get a life!") but not so easy to see the sense of community built on the social outcasts of the world.

So what if the Doctor is barely in the episode. It is interesting to see the ripples in the giant wake that the Doctor leaves behind.