1.7: The Long Game
Synopsis: On Satellite 5, an information hub for the human race in the year 200,000, the Doctor, Rose and Adam discover a broadcast system wherein a network of humans with computer implants broadcast “news”. The Doctor and Rose (with the help of Cathica, a woman who has a CPU-like brain upgrade) discover that all information is controlled by the Jagrafess and his zombie drones, whose stranglehold is causing a slowdown on the development of the human race. The Doctor ascertains that the Jagrafess is being maintained by channeling cold air into its habitat, and hot air away.
Adam goes off on his own and gathers intel on technology from the 21st century up to the present. In order to interface with the computer system, he gets a CPU-like upgrade of his own. He sets about flooding his mind with information so as to leave a self-serving voice mail in 2005, via Rose’s universally-roaming mobile phone, concerning future technology.
Inevitably, the Doctor and Rose are captured by the Editor, the Jagrafess' chief minion. The Doctor gives no meaningful information, but when Adam begins to interface, vital intel leaks into the system and becomes accessible to the Editor, including the key to the TARDIS. Cathica begins an interface, overriding Adam, and uses the knowledge of the heating and cooling system, which she learned from the Doctor, to channel heat back into the chamber and kill the Jagrafess. Without its manipulating information, the human race can begin to develop at a normal rate now.
To punish Adam for attempting to abuse his privilege as a time traveller, the Doctor sends him home to mum.
Golden Comic Moment: When Rose says to Adam, “Judging by the architecture, I’d say we’re around the year 200,000. And if you listen: engines. We’re on some sort of space station. Yeah, definitely a space station,” after the Doctor has just given her all this info, it’s not funny per se, just plain cute. As her character tends to oscillate between a woman of the universe who is wise beyond her years and a child, it’s rather a coup to see Rose just behaving like, you know, a teenager (that is, after all, what she is). Just a girl trying to impress a boy by being cute and clever. And it’s rather lovely to see the Doctor trying to help her out.
Golden Fangirl Moment: Having been told by the Editor, “You’re no fun,” the Doctor in chains replies, “Let me out of these manacles, you’ll find out how much fun I am.” We are constantly reminded of how brilliant the Doctor is, but this nice, deadpan delivery is a subtle reminder of how a righteous temper boils just beneath the surface, and that he’s a living, breathing being, a man, for all intents and purposes. He is passionate, fiery and powerful. The line, and Christopher Eccleston’s blue eyes, leave us hoping that the Editor will unshackle him just so that we get the see the Doctor fell him with one well-timed backhand, delivered with full-force but never showing on his face. Then he sonics Rose out of her manacles, grabs her hand and says, “Come on!” Later he makes an inadvertently dirty wisecrack about how it was fun being shackled with her, and she clumsily retorts that they should do it again sometime…
Not that I’ve given it much thought.
Cringeworthy Moment: After Adam’s upgrade, he becomes ill, but the Vomitomatic kicks in, and nanotermites in the lining of his throat (installed as a special offer along with his operation) freeze the waste. He spits out a no-fuss-no-muss ice cube composed of his last meal. It’s an intriguing idea, but honestly, ew. Did they have to show us the broccoli Adam had for lunch?
Golden Moment: It is truly golden when Cathica comes up with an idea of her own, and uses what she knows to defeat the enemy. In a world where no one thinks or asks questions, this is golden indeed.
But objectively, a good hero achieves greatness and saves the day. A great hero does those things, and inspires others to self-sacrifice, bravery, ingenuity, enquiry, and enables them to help save the day. Over the next few years, we will see the Doctor do this a multitude of times with Rose, Jack, Martha, Donna, Mickey, Pete Tyler, Lynda with a “y”, Harriet Jones, Lady Cassandra… Doctor Who is appealing partly because it inspires us to be better people, to be more like the Doctor himself.
Why I Beg To Differ: Just after the Doctor lectures Adam about how time travel is like visiting Paris, it’s meant to be experimented-with and appreciated, Rose and Adam run off, and the Doctor’s smile drops completely. DWM names this moment as its Golden moment of The Long Game. This is because it is a reminder to the Doctor of why he travels, for the excitement and adventure, but also for the self-imposed responsibility and desire to set things right. It is a moment of reflection, obviously contained within the Doctor’s great brain.
I argue that Cathica’s actions give him all of this, because everyone who puts themselves on the line for the Doctor, he feels, is his responsibility. But it means that he gets to see the best in people and watch them grow under his guidance. But, at the same time, it gives the viewer something to relate to and strive for!
Adam goes off on his own and gathers intel on technology from the 21st century up to the present. In order to interface with the computer system, he gets a CPU-like upgrade of his own. He sets about flooding his mind with information so as to leave a self-serving voice mail in 2005, via Rose’s universally-roaming mobile phone, concerning future technology.
Inevitably, the Doctor and Rose are captured by the Editor, the Jagrafess' chief minion. The Doctor gives no meaningful information, but when Adam begins to interface, vital intel leaks into the system and becomes accessible to the Editor, including the key to the TARDIS. Cathica begins an interface, overriding Adam, and uses the knowledge of the heating and cooling system, which she learned from the Doctor, to channel heat back into the chamber and kill the Jagrafess. Without its manipulating information, the human race can begin to develop at a normal rate now.
To punish Adam for attempting to abuse his privilege as a time traveller, the Doctor sends him home to mum.
Golden Comic Moment: When Rose says to Adam, “Judging by the architecture, I’d say we’re around the year 200,000. And if you listen: engines. We’re on some sort of space station. Yeah, definitely a space station,” after the Doctor has just given her all this info, it’s not funny per se, just plain cute. As her character tends to oscillate between a woman of the universe who is wise beyond her years and a child, it’s rather a coup to see Rose just behaving like, you know, a teenager (that is, after all, what she is). Just a girl trying to impress a boy by being cute and clever. And it’s rather lovely to see the Doctor trying to help her out.
Golden Fangirl Moment: Having been told by the Editor, “You’re no fun,” the Doctor in chains replies, “Let me out of these manacles, you’ll find out how much fun I am.” We are constantly reminded of how brilliant the Doctor is, but this nice, deadpan delivery is a subtle reminder of how a righteous temper boils just beneath the surface, and that he’s a living, breathing being, a man, for all intents and purposes. He is passionate, fiery and powerful. The line, and Christopher Eccleston’s blue eyes, leave us hoping that the Editor will unshackle him just so that we get the see the Doctor fell him with one well-timed backhand, delivered with full-force but never showing on his face. Then he sonics Rose out of her manacles, grabs her hand and says, “Come on!” Later he makes an inadvertently dirty wisecrack about how it was fun being shackled with her, and she clumsily retorts that they should do it again sometime…
Not that I’ve given it much thought.
Cringeworthy Moment: After Adam’s upgrade, he becomes ill, but the Vomitomatic kicks in, and nanotermites in the lining of his throat (installed as a special offer along with his operation) freeze the waste. He spits out a no-fuss-no-muss ice cube composed of his last meal. It’s an intriguing idea, but honestly, ew. Did they have to show us the broccoli Adam had for lunch?
Golden Moment: It is truly golden when Cathica comes up with an idea of her own, and uses what she knows to defeat the enemy. In a world where no one thinks or asks questions, this is golden indeed.
But objectively, a good hero achieves greatness and saves the day. A great hero does those things, and inspires others to self-sacrifice, bravery, ingenuity, enquiry, and enables them to help save the day. Over the next few years, we will see the Doctor do this a multitude of times with Rose, Jack, Martha, Donna, Mickey, Pete Tyler, Lynda with a “y”, Harriet Jones, Lady Cassandra… Doctor Who is appealing partly because it inspires us to be better people, to be more like the Doctor himself.
Why I Beg To Differ: Just after the Doctor lectures Adam about how time travel is like visiting Paris, it’s meant to be experimented-with and appreciated, Rose and Adam run off, and the Doctor’s smile drops completely. DWM names this moment as its Golden moment of The Long Game. This is because it is a reminder to the Doctor of why he travels, for the excitement and adventure, but also for the self-imposed responsibility and desire to set things right. It is a moment of reflection, obviously contained within the Doctor’s great brain.
I argue that Cathica’s actions give him all of this, because everyone who puts themselves on the line for the Doctor, he feels, is his responsibility. But it means that he gets to see the best in people and watch them grow under his guidance. But, at the same time, it gives the viewer something to relate to and strive for!