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You are here: Home / TV & Movies / Television / The God Complex

The God Complex

by Sarah, Proud and Tall|  September 17, 20118:30 pm| 75 Comments

This post is in: Television

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The Girl Who Waited is one of my favorite Who episodes ever. It was beautifully filmed, visually amazing and had a tight script that was funny, gripping and sad. All three leads acted their pants off. Karen Gillan was subtle and convincing in a difficult role, while Arthur Darville made my heart melt. Nonetheless the moment that will stay with me is the look on Matt Smith’s face towards the end as he closed the TARDIS door – the expression of a man who has to make decisions every day that wipe out lives and entire histories.

Now, the God Complex, complete with scary clowns…

ETA: Episode airs in the US at 9pm Eastern. No spoilers until it’s over please…

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Reader Interactions

75Comments

  1. 1.

    Ben Cisco (mobile)

    September 17, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Right there with ya, Sarah. Loves me some Who.

  2. 2.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    I’ve already watched it. Has everyone else seen this week’s episode already, or do we still need to avoid spoilers for a couple more hours? I’m not sure when it airs on BBC America.

    .

  3. 3.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    @JGabriel: 9pm eastern. Yes, please wait.

  4. 4.

    Certified Mutant Enemy

    September 17, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    9:00 PM Eastern…

  5. 5.

    hildebrand

    September 17, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    Starts in 15 minutes. I have remained spoiler free thus far, though it is has been quite difficult to resist the temptation to peek at spoiler filled reviews.

  6. 6.

    hildebrand

    September 17, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    So many good episodes this year, but the Doctor’s Wife and the Girl Who Waited are my two favorites.

  7. 7.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): @Certified Mutant Enemy: @hildebrand: Thanks, I will wait then.

    I will say only this: it’s a pretty good episode. You won’t be disappointed.

    .

  8. 8.

    Dee Loralei

    September 17, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Watching football, but am DVRing Who. Loved the Girl Who Waited and The Drs Wife!

    Oh and Boomer Sooner!

  9. 9.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    I thought The Girl Who Waited was ageist.

  10. 10.

    Cliff

    September 17, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    SPT, why aren’t you doing funny stories any more?

  11. 11.

    Geoduck

    September 17, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    I was rather unmoved by the finale of TGWW, because it was pretty much a foregone conclusion which one was going to be continuing on. If nothing else, there was no chance they’d have Karen Gillan wearing old-age makeup for the rest of her run on the show.

    But, that said, it certainly wasn’t a bad episode.

  12. 12.

    Three-nineteen

    September 17, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Right now I’ll post what I thought about last week’s ep:

    Amy knows that The Doctor and Rory both love her and would do anything, even blow up the universe, for her. They have proved this on more than one occasion. She also knows that The Doctor has problems getting the TARDIS in the precise time and place he wants. The fact that she knows all this and still gives up hope and decides that The Doctor and Rory have abandonded her is totally in character. That’s one reason why I don’t like Amy.

    Rory feels massive guilt over what was The Doctor’s mistake. He doesn’t throw his 2000 years over Amy’s 36 in her face. He is willing to live with two Amys and almost destroys himself, both Amys, The Doctor and the TARDIS because he isn’t willing to abandon future Amy. These actions are all in character. That’s one reason why I love Rory.

    I don’t know anything about this week’s ep – we’ll see in about an hour.

  13. 13.

    Johannes

    September 17, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    OK, count me among those who do *not* like the “Amy Opening.” Loved TGWW, enjoying this one so far. But that opening is–mawkish, at best.

  14. 14.

    Paddy

    September 17, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Kinda on topic, watching “Torchwood- Miracle Day” and underwhelmed. Also too, what the hell is the story with all the make up slathered on Barrowman? Jeebus.

  15. 15.

    Cat

    September 17, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @Paddy:

    The problem with playing a character who never ages is the fact you do.

  16. 16.

    fleeting expletive

    September 17, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    Hey Dee, Boomer Sooner back atcha.

  17. 17.

    fleeting expletive

    September 17, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Also, too, in this Dr. Who episode, is there some significance to the fish in the fishbowl? I guess there will be.

  18. 18.

    Sarah Proud and Tall

    September 17, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    @Cliff:

    SPT, why aren’t you doing funny stories any more?

    I’ll be back, dear. My rage at US politics was so great there for a while I couldn’t bring myself to joke. However, we had a very interesting afternoon at Shady Pines with both Bachmann and Palin, which I’ve already started writing about. I think you will be pleased.

  19. 19.

    CaliCat

    September 17, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    I don’t watch the show but that picture reminds me of The Shining.

  20. 20.

    Sarah Proud and Tall

    September 17, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @Katie5:

    I thought The Girl Who Waited was ageist.

    Really? Why?

  21. 21.

    Sarah Proud and Tall

    September 17, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    @Paddy:

    Kinda on topic, watching “Torchwood- Miracle Day” and underwhelmed.

    Where are you up to? I wouldn’t hold out much hope of being whelmed any time soon.

  22. 22.

    Yutsano

    September 17, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    In the bathroom of a tiny Thai restaurant picking up an order. And ut’s subtle, but I saw what you did there Sister Sarah. :)

  23. 23.

    Dee Loralei

    September 17, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    @fleeting expletive: Boomer Sooner!

    I’m kinda chewing my nails.

  24. 24.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    @Geoduck: Well, I generally try not to be disappointed that the Doctor escapes at the end of every episode, even though I know it’s the outcome.

  25. 25.

    Woodrowfan

    September 17, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    had its moments, but not my favorite. I suspect it’s setting up several episodes to come…

  26. 26.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    @Three-nineteen:

    The fact that she knows all this and still gives up hope and decides that The Doctor and Rory have abandonded her is totally in character.

    RE: TGWW, Amy had been stuck on that planet for over 30 years.

    Rory’s 2000 year wait was, indeed, much longer, but he knew he’d be waiting that long, and he chose it. Amy neither chose her wait, nor knew how long it would be. It hardly seems fair to be judgmental in that circumstance.

    .

  27. 27.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    I’m hoping that Rory & Amy show up in two weeks in that red car.

    .

  28. 28.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    On the other hand, it would be typical for River to steal borrow her parent’s new car for an adventure.

    .

  29. 29.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Show ended 15 minutes ago. Where the fuck is everyone?

    .

  30. 30.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    September 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Oskeewowow!!!!!!!!!!

  31. 31.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    @JGabriel: They had to go back and watch the end again. I, on the other hand, had to deal with a youngest child who thinks he can take swings at his brothers.

  32. 32.

    fleeting expletive

    September 17, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    So, the goldfish apparently didn’t mean anything, at least this time around. Who knows, could come back in some future episode.

    Overall, not bad. Is Amy really out?

  33. 33.

    Southern Beale

    September 17, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    OMG. We’re watching a rerun of Law & Order SVU because nothing else is on and my cousin who is an aspiring actor is in this episode. It’s hilarious. I think it’s the only thing “of note” he’s done yet. He’s just starting out.

  34. 34.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    @fleeting expletive:

    Is Amy really out?

    Everything I’ve read to date indicates that Matt Smith’s contract has been renewed, with no word on Amy & Rory. I suspect that means Amy & Rory will be back before the end of the season, but that the Doctor will have a new companion next year — maybe River?

    .

  35. 35.

    Three-nineteen

    September 17, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    @JGabriel: Nope, sorry, don’t buy it. Either she has faith in The Doctor or she doesn’t. If she has faith in The Doctor, she wouldn’t think The Doctor and, more importantly in my thinking, Rory, would abandon her. I get the fact that she waits over 30 years for them, but if she truly loves and believes in either one of them she shouldn’t lose her faith. Especially since the very next episode supposedly hinges on her faith in The Doctor.

    Both Rory and The Doctor have shown Amy multiple times that they would reorder the entire universe for her. If she can’t wait 30+ years for them, that is her failing. And Moffat shouldn’t put an episode that has her faith in The Doctor (not Rory?) as the main plot point when the previous episode shows that she doesn’t really have faith in either The Doctor or Rory.

  36. 36.

    Yutsano

    September 17, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    @Southern Beale: Your career has to start somewhere. And the fact he can put a major show acting gig on his CV will be HUGE for his career.

  37. 37.

    jaywillie

    September 17, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    re: the look on the Doctor’s face…that’s just the Doctor being the Doctor. We’re talkin’ about a dude who locked his granddaughter out of the TARDIS and left her on an apocalyptic future earth ravaged by a Dalek invasion, telling her it was time for her to get on with her life. He’s also the could who broke his own time machine intentionally just so he good explore an abandoned city in “The Daleks,” despite the protests of his companions, who just wanted to go home. Of course, the difference between Doc #1 and Doc #11 here is that #11 at least feels bad when he dicks someone over.

    I like Matt Smith’s Doc, especially since I grew tired of #10’s “living god” roadshow. He had become a superhero, and that’s just not the Doctor.

  38. 38.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    @Sarah Proud and Tall: Because it was obvious the writer would have them ditch the old, experienced Amy in favor of the younger one.

    I’m not a fan of Moffatt or Davies. Gothic horror, which is largely what Dr Who has become, cannot substitute for SF (although I’ll give them TGWW was the first SF story they’ve had in a while). And I think TGWW has a cheap writing trick, to show how gritty the new-age Dr is by having him kill the people he loves/is supposed to take care of. This is after all the second time he’s heartlessly killed off Amy.

  39. 39.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    @JGabriel: My wife has said that Karen and Arthur have signed up for next year as well.

  40. 40.

    Paddy

    September 17, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    @Sarah Proud and Tall: Halfway thru the third ep. Best thing so far was Gwen clocking the CIA chick for calling her English.

  41. 41.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    @jaywillie: I put it in more British terms: The tenth Doctor was Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond, and The eleventh is Daniel Craig’s.

  42. 42.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Katie5:

    This is after all the second time he’s heartlessly killed off Amy.

    I tried to heartlessly kill someone once, but it’s bloody difficult to wield a knife when your blood pressure is basically 0/0.

    .

  43. 43.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    My wife has said that Karen and Arthur have signed up for next year as well.

    Ah. Well, there goes that theory.

    .

  44. 44.

    Southern Beale

    September 17, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Every time we go to the theater in NYC we always get a kick out of adding up the cast’s combined Law & Order credits as listed in the Playbill. Seems like everyone who is anyone in the theater has at least a few Law & Order gigs on their resume.

  45. 45.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    @JGabriel: And they are definitely back for the last episode.

  46. 46.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    I like how, when the Doctor and Amy were embracing at the end of this week’s episode, it looked like he was comforting her at first, and then there’s a subtle shift in Amy’s expression where she realizes she’s comforting him.

    They seem a little more equal now.

    .

  47. 47.

    gnomedad

    September 17, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    @fleeting expletive:

    Also, too, in this Dr. Who episode, is there some significance to the fish in the fishbowl?

    Another of River’s regenerations?

  48. 48.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    @JGabriel: A Møøse once bit my sister.

  49. 49.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    September 17, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    Here’s Karen’s statement about her return next year.

  50. 50.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    @gnomedad: I’m hoping that River regenerates into Dr #9, Christopher Eccleston. Now that would make for an interesting relationship with Matt Smith. Or at least some good slash fiction.

  51. 51.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Thanks.

  52. 52.

    JGabriel

    September 17, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    Katie5:

    I’m hoping that River regenerates into Dr #9, Christopher Eccleston.

    That would be … nonplussing. Which I’m sure was also true of the Møøse thing for your sister.

    .

  53. 53.

    Yutsano

    September 17, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    @Southern Beale: L & O (every iteration) is well-known for seeking out local New York actors since they really need fresh faces just about every episode. It really is a good gig for them. I found out an old friend from college is in Noo Yahk trying that as we speak.

  54. 54.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    @JGabriel: I dunno. A bit of Monty Python and slash fic is a good antidote for the dead seriousness and trolling going on in the other threads.

  55. 55.

    Jules

    September 17, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    Well, that episode has left me a bit distressed and with something in my eye.

    Matt Smith is a brilliant Doctor, just brilliant.

  56. 56.

    Katie5

    September 17, 2011 at 11:38 pm

    @Jules: Don’t BLINK.

  57. 57.

    Bruuuuce

    September 18, 2011 at 1:15 am

    MUCH better than TGWW (which I found contrived, manipulative, and repetitive of several prior episodes over the past couple of seasons, and with which I had exactly zero emotional connection).

    For one thing, I love direct references to Old Who episodes. The insane “hotel” (which reminded me a bit of the castle at Hogwarts and a bit of the hotel in Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones, and which ultimately turns out to be a Star Trek-esque holodeck was brilliant.

    I also wonder who or what was in Room 11, and like so many other people, suspect it was the Doctor himself, though possibly in his Eighth incarnation. That was the one who (offscreen) destroyed both the Daleks and the Time Lords, ending the Time War that we hear about at the beginning of New Who (Nine/Eccleston). It could, of course, just be filled with all the Time Lords he’d killed; that would be almost as effective.

  58. 58.

    MaximusNYC

    September 18, 2011 at 3:16 am

    @Bruuuuce: Yes, this was better than TGWW. TGWW got points for the surrealistic/timey-wimey setup; and since I gather you’re an old series fan, you might understand why it reminded me of “Warriors Gate”, one of my favorite 4th Doctor stories. But in terms of character dynamics it was somewhat of a heavy-handed retread.

    The God Complex was weird… I didn’t feel like the premise that was supposed to explain the ’80s hotel and the minotaur was actually all that strong. But it was creepy, and the character interactions were very strong.

    And yes, the cloister bell in Room 11… who else could it be but the Doctor himself? I don’t think we even need to know which incarnation. But it could have been all of them.

  59. 59.

    Cliff

    September 18, 2011 at 3:36 am

    @Sarah Proud and Tall:
    My rage at US politics was so great there for a while I couldn’t bring myself to joke.

    I understand completely.

  60. 60.

    Joseph Nobles

    September 18, 2011 at 4:41 am

    There was nothing in Room 11, because there’s nothing worse to the Doctor than being alone.

  61. 61.

    Suicidal Zebra

    September 18, 2011 at 8:16 am

    For those who saw the episode and are wondering what’s in Room 11, we have heard those ‘bells’ before:

    Click to listen: (and perhaps chuckle) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkJplUIJcH4

  62. 62.

    hildebrand

    September 18, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Room 11, with the cloister bell tolling, was obviously ‘Sexy’ dying. The cloister bell only tolled in the series when imminent disaster for the tardis was in the offing. Clearly the Doctor’s worst nightmare would be the destruction of the tardis. As the doctor said in the The Doctor’s Wife (paraphrasing) – ‘you can’t be a mad man in a box without the box’.

  63. 63.

    Fleem

    September 18, 2011 at 9:56 am

    Many Being Human references and in-jokes (says the Being Human geek), including the thing with the goldfish.

  64. 64.

    lol

    September 18, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    Keep in mind that Billie Piper was saying the same thing during the lead up to series 2 right up until she suddenly wasn’t returning.

  65. 65.

    Mark B

    September 18, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    I avoided reading this thread until this morning, since I DVR’ed the episode while I was playing poker. Not my favorite episode. I thought the pacing was kind of choppy and a lot of the dialogue was hard to catch and/or understand. They did some setup for the future development of the Doctor and foreshadowed his upcoming death, although I find it hard to believe the writers are actually going to follow through with it …

    Amy has become a character who is almost a co-equal with the doctor, to the point where she is the one who introduces the episodes instead of him. While I love the Amy character, I’m glad they are taking a break from that for a while and giving the doctor his own show back.

  66. 66.

    Mark B

    September 18, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    ***Reposted with my correct email address–stupid cookies***

    I avoided reading this thread until this morning, since I DVR’ed the episode while I was playing poker. Not my favorite episode. I thought the pacing was kind of choppy and a lot of the dialogue was hard to catch and/or understand. They did some setup for the future development of the Doctor and foreshadowed his upcoming death, although I find it hard to believe the writers are actually going to follow through with it …

    Amy has become a character who is almost a co-equal with the doctor, to the point where she is the one who introduces the episodes instead of him. While I love the Amy character, I’m glad they are taking a break from that for a while and giving the doctor his own show back.

  67. 67.

    Canuckistani Tom

    September 18, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Did anyone else think that it was Matt Smith underneath the clown makeup? There wasn’t anyone listed in the credits.

  68. 68.

    Mark B.

    September 18, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    I avoided reading this thread until this morning, since I DVR’ed the episode while I was playing poker. Not my favorite episode. I thought the pacing was kind of choppy and a lot of the dialogue was hard to catch and/or understand. They did some setup for the future development of the Doctor and foreshadowed his upcoming death, although I find it hard to believe the writers are actually going to follow through with it …

    Amy has become a character who is almost a co-equal with the doctor, to the point where she is the one who introduces the episodes instead of him. While I love the Amy character, I’m glad they are taking a break from that for a while and giving the doctor his own show back.

  69. 69.

    Jennyjinx

    September 18, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    I just got a new job that requires me to work Saturday night, so I can’t watch the Doctor when it airs. I’m forced to use nefarious means to see it. I haven’t watched it yet this afternoon, but I wanted to say that I love that there’s a discussion about it on this blog. That is all.

  70. 70.

    lol

    September 18, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    @Canuckistani Tom:

    People had been saying that every since the clown showed up in the series trailer, but I think they found out who the clown was.

  71. 71.

    elmertfudd

    September 18, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    Was the rat-like alien character a nod to Monty Python? He was quite a “Sniveling Little Rat-Faced Git”. ;)

  72. 72.

    dlw32

    September 19, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    re: TGWW — I wasn’t convinced that the “old” Amy wasn’t coming along… I did suspect. But at one point when she’s talking with such spite about the Dr, I began to imagine her in a spacesuit.

    re:Torchwood — I reluctantly watched most of Miracle Day. It doesn’t get better… or rather watch the last two eps; you won’t miss anything interesting in between.

    re: TGC — It was moving. And the eps where a companion leaves are usually emotional (I cried both times Sarah Jane was left behind). But they’re always a little scary too… the Doctor needs a companion. The show is built on him seeing things through their eyes.

    re: Room 11 — I was assuming from the end that Room 11 had Amy’s broken body… or Rory’s. but the Tardis’ broken body is good too…

    Speaking of, is anyone else annoyed that we ended last season with the big mystery of who took over and exploded the Tardis and then started this season with who killed the Doctor and we haven’t made any noticeable progress on either?? Maybe the goldfish knew…

  73. 73.

    Surreal American

    September 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Nimon reference FTW!

    (Yeah, I’m a Classic Who fan)

  74. 74.

    Fax Paladin

    September 19, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    The Doctor says the same thing when he opens Room 11 as he said/will say to the “Astronaut”: something very like “I thought it would be you.” Which suggests that what he sees in Room 11 is what he will see when the faceplate opens.

    It being River seems a bit obvious at this point, and therefore to be discarded as an insufficient twist. If what he sees is in fact the same (if it’s a red herring, I like the destroyed TARDIS idea), then it’s something he fears most — and whose holographic image got him bent most out of shape back in “Let’s Kill Hitler”?

    So, my dark-horse candidate for the Person in the Spacesuit (not necessarily who I think it’ll actually be, mind), the person who would need just that kind of suit to be able to walk about Earthside with her memories of the Doctor intact: Donna Noble.

    Or maybe it’s Isaac Davner.

  75. 75.

    Jado

    September 20, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    @Katie5:

    I’m a fan of Moffat. Here’s why

    Amy: I wish I could tell you that you’ll be loved. That you’ll be safe and cared for and protected. But this isn’t the time for lies. What you are going to be, Melody, is very very brave.

    Madame Kovarian (Frances Barber): Two minutes.

    Amy: But not as brave as they all have to be. Because there’s somebody coming. I don’t know where he is, or what he’s doing, but trust me. He’s on his way.

    Amy: There’s a man who’s never going to let us down. And not even an army can get in the way.

    Amy: He’s the last of his kind. He looks young but he’s lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. And wherever they take you, Melody, however scared you are, I promise you, you will never be alone. Because this man is your father. He has a name, but the people of our world know him better… as the last Centurion.

    This is an intro that makes the hair on your arms raise. And it’s very easy to blow past this point into hyperbole and camp, or shoot too low and not quite hit the arm-hair-raising point, but Moffat hits it.

    And Arthur Darvill nails his part during and after the intro.

    Contrast this part with the “So say we all.” speech from Battlestar Galactica, which didn’t quite hit the mark

    (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314979/quotes?qt=qt0505025)

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