Kathira

I liked this episode quite a bit. I have been on the edge of giving it up, but this one breathed some life into it.

I thought that Levon being his son was pretty cliched. Of course, as soon as Becca left, another kid shows up. And I am very tired of Hank's eternal mooning after Karen. I really don't care any more if they get together, and frankly, I hope they don't. Although inflicting either of them on other people seems mean, so maybe they do deserve each other.

Donna was amazing - and she was really the best match for Tennant's Doctor. They made each other better. More than Rose, she healed him and her loss set him on the path that led to his regeneration. Jacob's recap of Season 4 on TWoP makes me cry as much as the show itself does. "She was his best friend and he took her in his arms and killed her, while she begged him not to." I thought Jacob had written that, but I can't find it. In my head, Donna found her strength on her own in the end. That when she had enough money from her lottery win, she was finally able her to look beyond her shallow life, and be moved by the poverty and suffering of humanity, just as she was moved by the Ood, and by the people of ancient Pompeii. I like to think that she set up a foundation to help, and that she became known as a great humanitarian, an advocate for the downtrodden. I've read fanfiction where the 11th Doctor comes to her on her deathbed, touches her and allows her to remember everything as she is dying. I like that idea - that at the last, she knew how important she was and that she was remembered. That I can't help but think about what happened to her is the hallmark of a great character. The truly great ones live beyond the page and screen in our hearts.

Four was my first Doctor, so he will always have a special place in my heart, along with Sarah Jane. I loved Five, too and mouthy Tegan. "My Doctor" now though is Ten. He just does it for me. As far as I'm concerned, he's the whole package. My favorite companion for him is the fabulous Donna, with a side helping of Captain Jack. I wish they'd had more episodes together. Rose and Martha are fine, too, although I like the Doctor better with just "a mate" rather than the love stories.

SilverStormm, that's me exactly. I started with Tom Baker, loved Peter Davison, and fell away in the 80's. By the time Sylvester McCoy came along, I was done. I was dubious about NuWho and the first few episodes (farting Slitheen etc.) didn't impress me. I gave up for a long time and only came back in the Matt Smith era. I enjoyed it again it and figured I'd give the earlier seasons a try. I caught a few Ten episodes in repeats on BBCA and I was hooked. More than hooked, I was in love, both with Ten and David Tennant. Maybe obsessed is a better term. LOL. I love Ten's energy and his humanity, his rage and intelligence, humor and sadness, all wrapped up in a perfect body (that face! that hair! those eyes! the glasses! that bum!). Tennant's career has really been interesting since Who, and he has definitely proved what a fantastic actor he is. That said, I enjoyed Matt Smith's Doctor, and Smith himself is very charming, although I think he was poorly served by the writing, particularly in Season 6. I'm looking forward to seeing what Peter Capaldi will be like.

I agree, Sherlock not knowing until after the funeral was very realistic. I had that happen to me with a friend who I wasn't in constant touch with (this was in pre-Facebook days) I hadn't heard from her in longer than usual, and when I did reach out it turned out that she had died. I didn't really know her husband or family that well, so they didn't think to notify me. As for Mary Morstan, I'd like to see Joan with a female Mary, but so far she has only been shown dating men. Maybe they think that would be taking gender-bending too far. And Sherlock's interest in Joan's potential "Sapphic dalliance" could be seriously icky.

I rewatched Broadchurch this week, and one thing about the reveal of Joe as the killer struck me. How much did he really confess? We see him tell Hardy that he's the one at the shed, plus he has the phone (and there's all the other evidence, like the computer records). Then we see the recreation of the event as it was happening, with no voice over from Joe, as if he was telling Hardy what had happened. It just plays out like a flashback. Then we see Hardy questioning him about the nature of his relationship with Danny, the money, etc. So Joe confessed, right? Except that Hardy never says this specifically to anyone. He tells Ellie it was Joe and that they have him in custody. He tells Danny's family that they are "fairly certain" they have a right man. He also hedges in the press conference. Why doesn't he say someone has confessed? Is this just legal reticence to make sure he doesn't' harm the case against Joe by making definite pronouncements about his guilt? Is there some element that they're not sure of? That maybe Joe's confession isn't true? Anyway, it was just something I noticed on rewatching, maybe it doesn't mean anything. I hope they don't go with Joe's trial as a main plot. I'm thinking there shouldn't be one, since he's not pleading innocent, but I'm not that familiar with the British legal system. I would love to see a return to the Sandbrook case. Maybe the Sandbrook killer sees Hardy in the news and moves to Broadchurch to continue to taunt him. I know they've said it won't be another murder, but that doesn't rule out kidnapping, etc. I could see a scenario where Hardy gets his operation (or his condition stabilizes) and he stays in Broadchurch. Miller is still on the police force, but with a new DI. A child is kidnapped and the kidnapper sends notes to Hardy, taunting him. This brings Hardy into the case whether he wants to or not. Miller is on his side, but he's in conflict with the new DI as they race to save the kidnapped child. Sounds good to me. I could probably write it as a fanfic.

Damn you, Jonny Lee Miller, for making me cry. Another not-very-exciting case overshadowed by the intense personal side. I'm sad that they brought Alistair back only to have him die. The quote at the end from Waiting for Godot, was perfect, though.