Class is in session at Coal Hill Academy
Welcome,Class-mates!
Having a couple of aliens in its ranks doesnt hurt, either.
(Is Autumn Prom a thing at any high school?)
Credit: BBC America
But while Tanya and Ram study and April wonders what prom is short for (promise?
), both girls are separately attacked by shadowy beings one of which followed Tanya all the way home.
Thinking quickly, she turns on every light at her disposal.
April is both more and less lucky, as her math teacher,Ms.
Quill(Katherine Kelly) steps in to save the day by giving her an alien gun.
Just as April pulls the trigger, school chumCharlie(Greg Austin) pushes her to the ground.
Killing one would effectively kill the other.
April just horcrux-ed herself.
The whole planet was slaughtered.
They arent sure they believe her, but theyve got bigger problems theres a dance to get to!
April is a bit sad because no one wanted to go with her.
She succeeds, but she does have to write a paper about it.
The night isnt fun for too long.
He attempts to fight against the Shadow Kin but loses his leg in the process.
(Ms. Quill called him.)
He only took the cabinet out of sentimentality.
Corakinus isnt being too cooperative, so April threatens to kill herself for take him down.
Tanya switches on the lights instead.
So Ram knocks him out with a chair…
WHILE STANDING ON ONE LEG.
He promptly passes out.
Or even Beacon Hills.
With that pep talk, the everybodys favorite Time Lord is off.
And were left with one big, Tanya-posed question: Does this make all of them friends?
The small box is filled with lights, which indicate souls and its clearly bigger on the inside.
Independent Study
KELLY:Here we are at Coal Hill!
Lets talk first impressions.
And as we all know, no one takes teenagers seriously.
So its working perceptions to its advantage; I just hope people will tune in to see that.
What did you think?
Then again, our expectations might differ because its a more recent show.
Who knows what we might have seen Buffy tackle had her series been set now?
It felt like she was invoking the Doctors reputation for destruction.
Was it just me, or did you get that sense too?
KELLY:Agreed, on both counts.
Its definitely notTorchwood-level mature (hoo boy, no).
But now Im wondering if maybe part of her buys into that legend more than shed want to admit.
I could see her appreciating his sort of renegade heroism.
And Im glad you brought up Quill, because I want to talk about her dynamic with Charlie.
who feels like violence is the only language she has left.
Thats pretty heady (and relevant) stuff.
Do you feel like were meant to question Charlie as much as I was?
I still like the kid, but hes got learning to do.
NIVEA:First of all, LOL at the unexpected title pun.
Second, I totally agree that I actually empathized with Quill when she talked about their rebellion.
And I wonder if thats because all the shows within theWho-verse prime us to root for the underdog.
I didnt realize it until you brought it up, but hes an oddly fascinating character.
What do you do when youre literally responsible for the fate of three billion souls?
Also, whats the master plan?
Is he going to try and find another planet he can use to bring them back?
Given all these questions, I can see why Quill is so angry and frustrated.
She doesnt have half this knowledge.
She thinks shes stuck tethered to her worst enemy, with no way to leave.
Worse yet, she has to teach high school math.
KELLY:The Shadow Kin are like a more proactive Vashta Nerada.
As if death should be anything but terrifying.
Speaking of which: Time never forgets.
We got a shout-out to Clara (and Danny) in this episode, which is only fitting.
What do you think is the Doctor remembering, or did he never fully forget in the first place?
NIVEA:That line from Charlie is also soDoctor Who.
Like the Doctor himself.
As for death mattering, we see that in the Doctors pause when he sees Clara and Dannys names.
But Im kind of torn about whether it jogged his memory or was a sad reminder.
Though conversely, it would have been interesting to see him go through it after what happened with Donna.
It also makes her tougher than anyone knows.
Before the prom, she complains to that people mistake her niceness with fragility.
Jackie objects: Youre not nice.
We like her already.
Comments
And you just made us fail the Bechdel test.
Of course you would like it.
Its a bunch of white people being nice to each other.
My deeply religious parents are very happy Im going to dance with a boy.
This has been an evening of love and warmth.
You know I never thought that was possible: dying well.
Who wants to die well?
Surely the aim should be not dying well.
You think you know what waits for you here.
You think the same plan will work.
But I am what waits for you, and I am war itself.
If youre reading this, your night is a failure.
Did you hire a band?
