Doctor Who 5x10

[kenobi]

I loved the Doctor Who episode from last week "Vincent and the Doctor" I thought it was beautiful that they never backed away from his mental illness. I am also on the very small boat of people that enjoyed the "monster of the week" the Krafayis. I understood that it felt hokey and out of place at points, especially with the monumental fantastical storytelling that was going on with Vincent Van Gogh. To sum up for those that haven't seen it, the Doctor and Amy travel to meet Vincent Van Gogh and to see about a monster in one of his paintings. The monster is a Krafayis, who can't be seen by anyone except Vincent. The Doctor only sees it through the aid of a device he has in the TARDIS (that his two headed godmother gave him).

I felt the Krafayis, while a bit on the silly side, was a beautiful metaphor for anyone who has ever dealt with depression. Each of us has our own Krafayis, each of us deals with our own demons. There are people in our lives that really *do* want to help, and make that difference. There are days that no matter what differences are made that we have a hard time getting out of bed. Its something we face, and most of the time, despite the sincerest of love, its something we face alone and in the dark.

We all battle our demons. We all can hear the kind words of loved ones. Sometimes people help us, like the Doctor and Amy, even if they can't see. Even when they try really hard. Its why it had to be Vincent that saw the Krafayis, not because he was "special" or because an "alien" was causing his depression. He really had his problems, but he had to face it. He used his easel as a weapon to battle it off. Just as he used it to experience life. To paint the sky and sunflowers and make a name for himself that he would never actualize in life. For a moment he was able to see the stars in the sky, no matter how dark it became again afterwards. For a moment he was able to feel joy before the demon came back, and they usually always do. But for a brief shining moment, there were people that tried, and loved, and attempted to understand.

It moved me. I felt for Vincent. I deal with depression. I have my own Krafayis. I suppose its not some awkward looking chicken from outerspace, but its there. There are times I fight it off with the kind words of friends, and loved ones. There are times were it over powers me and I don't want to go out in the world. In the end I still try to see a beauty in the world around me, to lift my spirits. As Vincent does with the brush, I attempt to do with the written word. There is such beauty, and Vincent Van Gogh saw it. Its one of the reasons he is one of my favorite artists. Maybe not *my* artist, but definately a favorite.

The scene in the meadow with the three of them looking up at the stars was beautiful, poigant, and one day I hope to be able to do the same.


It was beautiful. I liked it. :)

Comments

[qkellie.livejournal.com]

This is 100% why I loved that episode, too. It was so beautiful, so nuanced, and so much more about the characters than the too-often hokey alien-of-the-week business that Doctor Who can get mired in. This episode, I felt like, was actually IMPORTANT, and it was neat that it was able to do so with one of the episodes that is usually the type that is sort of comedic, every season's requisite Wacky-Historical-Figure romp. There was that, but it was so much more.

[kenobi.livejournal.com]

I've realized I need an 11 icon stat.

The episode was about the invisible things we face. Such as Amy's loss of Rory, while she doesn't really see it, she can't help but feel it. This episode was just... ugh. I love it. I also like that it wasn't BEATEN into our heads. I love the RTD era, but man he was a bit over handed sometimes. This was subtle. This was beautiful.

[qkellie.livejournal.com]

Ditto times twenty.

I was sobbing at the final museum scene, and yet it was exactly as you said, just so much subtler. RTD would have still made it powerful but it would have been bombastic.

Obviously, I like to vid some of the episodes. This is the only one I don't think I can do because I keep coming back to using Don McLean's "Vincent," and while that's very predictable and apropos, I feel like combining that song with that show would be too hard for me on an emotional level. I just think I would sob through the entire creation process and not be able to do it.

[kenobi.livejournal.com]

I call the 10th Doctor "Prozac" for a reason :P

<3 I would soblet too my dear. I would soblet too.

[qkellie.livejournal.com]

10 is peppy happy. 11 is almost more real. I love them both.

<3 I would soblet too my dear. I would soblet too.

*HUGS YOU SO HARD*

[kenobi.livejournal.com]

I love them both dearly, for some odd reason 11 has just edged ahead.

I still want to do ungodly things to 10 tho :P

I loves my prozac doctor yes i do.

*SNUGGLES YOU*