Cat People! Kittens! Rose-angst! Martha-angst! Doctor lying because he just can't share with Martha what he shared with Rose! Martha saving herself! Kittens! Face of Boe don't die! Martha putting her foot down, you go girl! The Doctor talking about Gallifrey!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this ep, the whole backstory of what happened to the city, the devestation of seeing the senate turned into a tomb, that there was no nefarious plot, just an attempt to save humankind as best the senate could, and the danger that those rose out of that gesture. The city singing was just beautiful, and made me think that this was the commuters only way to feel connected as a people and society despite being physically isolated in their sardine tins. And the singing was especially lovely --the whole of the scene, really-- when the Doctor finally tells Martha about Gallifrey.

It's the easiest threat to make in the world: "If you cancel this show, I'll never watch your channel again." It's also empty. They know it's empty. All they need is one show that you like, and they know they'll get you back. Don't even try to deny it.

The blog writer is rubbing me the wrong way with this, because when I said in 2004 that I wouldn't watch the WB until they aired Mutant Enemy shows again I meant it. And I didn't tune in until their final day of broadcasting, when they aired the Buffy and Angel pilots. Accusing one's readers of being weak-willed or not knowing their own minds (and adopting the lecturing tone of a kindergarten teacher while doing it) does not work for me as a writing style. And just managed to put me off of Blood Ties by association.

Just saw Gridlock.

I have not seen the rest of the season, but I have a prediction that I will make in whitefont, as I have seen episode titles, and it depends on old-series knowledge: The Master. If anyone else would survive, it'd be him. Bit crappy for "not alone", but what are you going to do.

Still waiting for him to actually say "Gallifrey". And it does seem very odd that the Daleks emphatically did not all die, whereas the Time Lords all did.

There's a really nice parallel to the Senate dying and the Time Lords dying (It's like the Asgard on SG-1!). And then the chaos below (cf the Reapers back in Series 1). Heaven help us if it's Torchwood stepping up to fill that void(I assume them to be precursors to the Time Police).

Yup. Enjoyed Gridlock. Thought it was interesting that the Doctor took Martha to where he took Rose, but Martha's experience was so different.

My favorite bit was the sunlight falling through the windows and the mom uncovering the kittens so the sun could play across their faces.

Actually, I found the hymns very jarring. Not sure I can articulate why.

I think both he and we are being hit hard with "She is NOT Rose," to make sure we get the message before we move on.

That was lovely. I liked that they were saying "ma!", as well. When they first referenced them, I was very "oh, shit. How are they going to do this?" But it was cute.

I felt like they were getting at something with the hymns and I wasn't quite getting it, because, in the first instance it was a sort of "opiate of the masses" thing. But, at the end, that doesn't really work. I was chalking it up to a frame of reference thing (which, I think, me watching BBC shows benefit from. I just assume some things are reference I'm not getting.)

I'd love for us to go back to New New York someday again, see what they've done with the place.

IT'S FATHER DOUGAL!

I totally recognized the voice right away, and called megan. Who has a cat named after Dougal.

I also liked that they brought back a "devolved" villain from Doctor #2 (Patrick Troughton). The Macra.

I read that as "devoted" villain... which is kinda sweet, actually.

Another Doctor Who tie-in. The man of the couple with Rose also played Oliver on Footballers Wives Over [or Extra] Time.

FW fans will understand when I say that vacuum cleaner jokes flew around the house while that ep was on.

Hmm. Finally got around to watching the DW episode "Blink" (310).

HMOG, that was awesome.

t shudders