Acting Coach Reacts to Doctor Who 'The Empty Child' | A Deep Dive into Mystery and Performance
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
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Join me as I dive into the eerie and captivating world of Doctor Who with a first-time reaction to "The Empty Child." This episode is a masterclass in suspense, character development, and the art of storytelling. From the chilling catchphrase "Are you my mummy?" to the intricate plot twists, I break down the elements that make this episode a standout in the series. Witness my genuine reactions, get insights into the acting performances, and explore the nuances of this iconic Doctor Who story. Whether you're a long-time Whovian or new to the TARDIS, this reaction video is your gateway to understanding the depth of one of the most memorable episodes of Doctor Who. No spoilers for future episodes, just pure, unfiltered analysis and appreciation for the craft of storytelling and acting in the world of Doctor Who.
Article:
The episode "The Empty Child" from the first series of Doctor Who stands as a significant milestone in the show's long history, marking a turning point in how storytelling and character development are approached in science fiction television. My first-time viewing of this episode brought a mix of anticipation and curiosity, especially given its reputation among fans for its eerie atmosphere and compelling narrative.
From the outset, the episode establishes a haunting tone with the mysterious child in a gas mask asking, "Are you my mummy?" This simple question, repeated throughout, becomes a chilling refrain that underscores the episode's exploration of fear, loss, and the human instinct for connection. The performance of the cast, particularly Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose, brings a depth to the characters that is both engaging and emotionally resonant. Their ability to convey complex emotions and reactions to the unfolding mystery is a testament to their skills and the episode's direction.
The production values of "The Empty Child" also contribute significantly to its impact. The blending of historical settings with the fantastical elements of Doctor Who's universe creates a visually striking backdrop for the story. Moreover, the episode's use of suspense and horror elements, balanced with its character-driven moments, showcases the series' unique ability to mix genres effectively. As an acting coach, I found the episode to be a rich text for analyzing performance, direction, and the use of narrative tension.
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“Ohhh, no, he’s trouble. I think I like him.”
Never, in my life, have I _ever_ seen such an admirably succinct and accurate summation of Captain Jack Harkness. God damn. 😆
That was spot on.
Oh I agree, those were my exact thoughts back when I first watched it.
Works great for both Captain Jacks - Harkness and Sparrow. And I, too, was thinking the same thing... that sums up Jack perfectly!
You cut one of my favourite pieces of dialogue:
Dr Constantine: "Before this war began, I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither. But I'm still a doctor."
The Doctor: "Yeah, I know the feeling."
One of my favorite quotes for sure.
I think that a lot of new fans lacking knowledge about Susan and such don’t really grasp the importance of this line, so he probably didn’t have much of a reaction to it, hence it was skipped over in editing.
@@Longshanks1690 That's fair (and I know that not everything can be included anyway). I think it stands, though, just as a quiet statement of how brutal war is.
For the family with extra food. Rationing was quite ingrained in British collective memory - it didn’t fully end until 1954.
In WW2 it was seen as part of the countries national defence, helping ensure that people fighting had enough food. It was seen as everyone doing their part and working together (some inequality existed, country vs town, restaurants avoided restrictions at first).
Criminals that sold rationed goods on the black market were called Spivs (from police Suspected Persons and Itinerant Vagrants), could be sentenced to 5 years in jail.
John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack, was born in Scotland but grew up in the US and therefore can do both accents. The empty child and the gas mask zombies are one of the creepiest and most horrific creations in NuWho (many of which came from the imagination of Steven Moffat).
“Come on, Rose! You were a gymnast…apparently.”
Ahh, she only got bronze. 😆
Doctor Who seems to hit just the right level of scary for you. That gas mask scene is supposed to be horrifying (Richard Wilson, playing Dr Constantine, is a very well known British, specifically Scottish, actor), but it was originally worse.
In the original cut there was apparently a "bone crunching" sound effect as the gas mask emerged which BBC said was too scary for the early evening time-slot and they cut the sound effect.
Spock is a Star Trek character, yes. He's a main character, an alien scientist.
yes so canonically rose is a trekkie and i love it ❤
@@toestealer In the DVD commentary, scriptwriter Stephen Moffat says that recurring "give me some Spock" references were originally to lead up to the scene near the end of the episode where Rose introduces The Doctor to Captain Jack as Mr Spock and then Rose asks "don't you ever get tired of Doctor? Doctor Who?".
The next line was originally The Doctor replying "I'd rather be Doctor Who than Star Trek" and it was changed to "nine centuries in I'm coping" as everyone but Stephen Moffat thought the joke was a little on the nose.
Get used to the cliffhangers. Classic Who ran week to week, cliffhanger to cliffhanger. One of the things the show is famous/infamous for. Enjoy the ride
You can really tell how much they want you to feel like you’re watching a horror movie in this episode. Not just because the subject matter of children repeating things in a cutesy yet threatening way is creepy in and of itself, but from the way everything is framed and shot, you can see a lot of influence from classic horror movies. Low angles to create a sense of unease and uncertainty, a nighttime setting to create a sense of dread and so on.
It very successfully makes the Empty Child into one of the most memorable and iconic monsters of the revival by making you deathly afraid of what is really just a small child in a gas mask crying for his mummy.
Captain Jack is iconic in the DW universe and you got his personality right away. You can actually easily identify a fan of DW just by saying Captain Jack - they will immediately think Jack Harkness. The rest of the population will probably think of Jack Sparrow. 🙂
John Barrowman is a singer and was a leading man in the London West end before venturing into acting, you probably know him from Arrow. He is Scottish but his family moved to the US when he was a kind and to avoid being bullied for his strong Scottish accent he teached himself speaking in an American accent. He lives with his husband both in the UK and US. He can effortlessly switch between a Scottish, British and American accent.
That one is one of the best episodes of series one and is remembered as the first time we meet the one and only Captain Jack Harkness.
I love how spot on you got Jack
It's a little detail not many pick up on, but the hospital in this episode (Albion Hospital) is the same one they took the pig to in the Slitheen story.
Only one hospital in London just like Coal Hill is the only school. 😂
That frustration one feels with a two parter is so a universal experience 😂 Just be glad that you are not watching these episodes as they were aired initially. The wait must have been torture.
I disagree I don't think it's torture at all infact it builds the excitement up of what happens next and keeps you guessing for a week and gives you something to look forward too patience is a virtue.
@@joshuajoshua2732 agree with you but when a story is this gripping, patience is a tall order
@@joshuajoshua2732 except, when you're a child and you need closure to keep the nightmares away, then... *in best David Tennant voice* oh yes it can (be torture)
John Barrowman, who plays Jack, was born in Scotland but grew up in the US early enough to pick up the accent, so he's not putting on the accent for the role (although he has a Scottish accent as well which he doesn't put on when using). The things you might recognize him from, since you thought you did, would most likely be the TV series Arrow, though he also has a role in Shark Attack 3: Megalodon.
John Barrowman (Captain Jack) born in Glasgow, family moved to US when he was 8. Aclor, singer, dancer, theater, concterts records, movie,and tv. Usually sounds American but when speaking with his family drops back into his natural Scottish accent.
Notable film & TV - 2005 Producers (lead singer), Desprarte Houswives (Patrick Logan), & Arrow, Flash, & Legends of Tomorrrow (Malcolm Merlyn).
If you enjoy the Doctors Monologues, the only get better and better. Eccleston is great at the Dramatics but wait until you meet Tennant- now he has got some iconic speeches to be remembered. This episode is truly not a favorite of mine, but I get through the rewatches because I look forward to Jack’s introduction, great character. Can’t wait for you to get to the finale of this season, it’s crazy. Enjoying your reactions so far. 😄
Speaking of Rose liking men older than her, something I don't see talked about is when in Father's Day, we see Mickey. He is an actual child when Rose is an infant baby. Rose is nineteen at the beginning of the series and they seem to be in a well established in a relationship. We never learn Mickey's age (I don't believe) but I think it's safe to assume he's too old for a nineteen year old.
Ordinary thing like a gas mask which doesn’t scare people: _Exists_
Steven Moffat: *Challenge accepted!*
John Barrowman who plays Jack is probably most well known these days for his role as Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow and it's associated shows. In the UK her definitely is still Captain Jack Harkness
This episode always gave me the creeps as a kid for sure
Was Rose talking about Star Trek: yes, absolutely.
Does the Doctor ever meet himself: yes, first in the early 1970s (which I watched as very small child), and occasionally ever since. It’s always a big deal.
BBC's Merlin would be a great series for you to react to. A number of the cast have appeared in Doctor Who such as Richard Wilson in this episode (playing Dr Constantine). Merlin is my favourite series because of the score, the acting, and the relationships between each character. It also has Anthony Head who was in Buffy and an episode of Doctor Who in series 2.
You are finding it difficult to follow what is going on and that is exactly how the producers want it, that is the beauty of Dr who it is supposed to keep you guessing right to the end, it is brilliantly written.
Loved your reaction. You had Captain Jack's worked out right away, you might recognise the actor John Barrowman as he's been in various UK and US sci-fi shows and was a recurring character in the Arrowverse shows. He was really well known in theatre the story goes his agent tried to get him to do more TV right about the time Doctor Who was casting so was considered a good 'get' for this story as he had the 'matinee-idol' looks that fitted the period.
🧐"It's not even a real phone, it's not connected..."
📞"Are you my Mummy?"
😨😨😨
This was my first Doctor Who episode, so it holds a special place in my heart.
It was first one too.
This is a story that absolutely needed 2 episodes to tell - it was torture originally when I had to wait a week to see the next one.......and its going to be torture again waiting to see your reaction to the next episode. LOL These are the 2 episodes I've probably rewatched the most. I just love everything about them.
I LOVE your reactions!! It’s so refreshing to see your affection growing for our show. And you absolutely had Jack dead to rights from the second you saw him!!
I genuinely cannot wait for you to react to Pompeii, such an emotional episode but it's ages away from where you are now 😭 I'm patient it's fine 😅
Thanks for the review. This is my favorite of Steven Moffat's stories. Can't wait to see your take on the second part!
This was a super creepy episode, but it lead to my favorite Dr Who moment.
And i say that as someone who started watching in 1980
You left out one of my favorite bits of dialog in this episode between Nancy and the Doctor where he says he used his nose to follow her and it has magic powers, and she starts to ask if that's why his nose is so big but she stops short of actually saying it, then she asks if his ears have magic powers too, implying that his ears are also big. The quick glance the Doctor gives at the mirror is a perfectly understated way of showing Nancy's jibes hit home some, but the mischievous smile on her face shows that she's not really being mean, just teasing. In between all the mystery and scary goings on, this bit of levity is a great breather before the serious horror at the hospital.
EDIT: I do hope you return to Buffy. There is so much fantastic acting in the show!
Loved this reaction
For someone who has a machine that can travel anywhere in time and space, Doctor Who sure does have a thing for modern-day London. 😅🤭
(And before you complain, yes, I know this isn't "modern day". I just wanted to use this quote. Basically no episode will feature "modern day" anymore, the older it gets, but here they obviously traveled to the past. 👍)
The first Moffat episode. The good memories.
You'll notice a few references to Star Trek on your Doctor Who journey.
No need for a massive CGI monster - just a little boy in a gas mask repeating an innocuous phrase over and over to build the tension and fear. Great writing, and one of the most iconic stories of modern DW.
After Series One of Doctor Who, you might consider reacting to the spin off Torchwood, it kind of follows on from this. Depending on how much time you have, and where your heart lies. Cheers from a new subscriber
Yes, those are Star Trek jokes. Originally when she says “what am I suppose to call you; you don’t have a name. Doctor who?”He was going to say “I’d rather be Doctor Who than Mr Spock”. 😄. But Moffat decided that line would be too much. Fantastic episode. Next one is even better. Good job on picking up in Jack’s character so quickly!
Has the Doctor ever met himself? Yep, since the Classic Series! #1 & #2 met. Then #1, #2 & #3 met. There was even a special called The Five Doctors, in which something summoned the five in existence, at that point, except Tom Baker (#4) wasn't available so his appearance was a clip from a never finished episode; & the character was stuck in a time loop!
It happens less often in New Who, but it's fun when it does!
I don't know why you're confused by the Star Trek reference. It's a TV show: why wouldn't it be syndicated & aired by BBC, ITV or any other British station to appear on the telly? I firmly believe the Doctor hears about Battlestar Galactica, too! After all, a British actor plays Gaius Baltar; & BBC America surprised me by airing the first 2? seasons!
This is Captain Jack Harkness, a time traveler from Earth's future. He's a recurring character. The fun thing is, by this point we'd already met a version of him, but it's like with the Doctor: he doesn't look remotely the same!
Your reactions are excellent. I love watching you, watch my favorite show 😂
Glad you like them!
Are you my mummy?
Very curious about your feelings about your pre-episode speculation both at the end of this video and the next.
Can you imagine being 5 years old and watching this? there isn't anything that scares me anymore lmao
Just on the subject of cliffhangers i have to highly disagree with you there because the beauty of cliffhangers is it keeps you guessing what happens next like how will the Doctor and his assistant get out of this terrible situation or how will they escape etc etc and it keep the theories going for a week and gets you more excited i love a good cliffhanger infact Classic Who was famous for cliffhangers it also gives the stories time to breathe and flesh out and the characters more developed because i think with 1 parters the story gets resolved far too quickly.
As for the creepiness and ugly monsters thats Dr. Who for you that's part of the charm and the nature of the show the special effects aren't really the main importance it's the stories and the characters.
You: "Maybe this one will be more uplifting."
Your audience: 😬
Fantastic reaction 💯👍👍
Welcome to the writing of Steven Moffat..... He loves playing with the narrative structure and time... Lookout for more of his stories going forward
Ugh you only did part one. Doctease!
I'm today years old when I found out other people pronounce mauve as muv 😂
Mmmuuuummmmmyyyyyy
Thought that microphone was your hand
Are you my mommy?.... 💀☠️
(Damn.... My phone REALLY does not have a gasmask emoji???... 😔🙈)
I have watched a few American reactors do this episode and every one of them says “Mowv? Does he mean mov?” Ain’t English great? 🤣
lol, yeah it is!
Hi sir! Just wanna ask, are you gonna stream the Baftas? I'd be really happy if you do it🥺 🙏 I live in other country so we're not allowed to watch it in here! We're gonna be really happy uf you will stream it. Thanks🎉
You have a long Whovian road ahead of you. There’s the spin-off Torchwood which you should watch when all is said and done. Although I’ll be honest, the last season of Torchwood was awful.
😊
This isn't "Series 1"....That happened in 1963/64
This is "Season 1" Nu-Who has Seasons.
You have that exactly backwards! "Season 1" was 1963-64. 2005 was "Series 1".
@@andrewgwilliam4831 That makes no sense as season is an Americanism that wasn't used in the UK until the 90s at the earliest and the Classic show ended in 89!
@franohmsford7548 I believe the original terminology was used by an influential American fan living in the UK, and it stuck. Even the BBC uses it for the classic era. When the show was revived in 2005 they used the standard British terminology. Unfortunately the 2024 series/season will officially be referred to as "Season 1" because of Disney now being involved...
No one in the UK would have used the term ‘seasons’ back when old Doctor Who was broadcast. However we are now used to using season/series interchangeably.
I believe the BBC have created confusion by using ‘seasons’ when old episodes were released on physical media.
There was no such things as seasons during the 1960's atleast not in the UK it was just simply referred to as a "break".
This got so creepy so quickly.
💣
Most of us:
This episode: "huh, I don't understand what is happening, love the dialogue and all, but what the heck?"
Next episode: "oh my goodness, this storytelling was awesome."
Hiiii how is it going?? I want to ask you that,will you stream the Bafta Awards this Sunday? We'll be really happy if you! Thanks❤
I’ll look into it. Can’t promise but I’ll see.
@@tna_ thanks sir! I just wanna sk that, will you stream today? Maybe you decide about that. I don't really mean to bother you, sorry. Just wanna know🥺⭐
Sir if you're gonna stream I will be very happyyyyy
❤❤👍
I want to say soooo much but us whovians say Spoilers
Hi brother, were waiting for the bafta stream, you're gonna do it?
Hi brother were waiting for the bafta awards stream, are you gonna do it?
Rose is a bit naïve, at this stage. She is acting this way so that new Who watchers get some info as to what/why the Dr is doing things.
For those that have not seen Classic Who, there is hundreds of hours of history. Rose , as a foil is a convenient way of spoon feeding viewers info.
Keep going, you will enjoy the ride!!!
💣*for engagement*
This episode made me want to buy a gas mask
Hi sir, you're gonna stream the baftas?
Sir pleeeeeeaseeeeee Stream the bafta awards, we reallyneed it
Fat suits stupid smells, all forgotten this is what Dr Who is about mystery, still for all the family because the doctor will lead you out of danger : eventually
Are you gonna stream the bafta awards mate?
Hi Mr, can you please, please, please stream the baftas
Please stream the baftas sir
Sir please, please stream the baftas
"Promo SM"
💣*for engagement*
💣*for engagement*
💣*for engagement*
💣*for engagement*
💣*for engagement*