REACTION | DOCTOR WHO | 4x2 | The Fires of Pompeii

[@kivimik]

What I find sweet about Peter Capaldi is that he was such a fan of the show that had he just played Caecilius, he would have perfectly happy. That he would eventually play the Doctor was beyond his wildest dreams.

[@Venemofthe888]

he is also in torchwood

[@BritanyBinges]

Oh, I didn't realize he was such a big fan of the show prior to being on it. You're right. That is really sweet. :)

[@dylanburton4955]

@@BritanyBingesI think he was the head of fan club or something like that when he was younger

[@avocadothecat]

​@@BritanyBingesHe wrote so many letters the BBC secretary wished him ill just so he'd stop xD He also got invited to set twice. Once from the 3rd Doctor and once by the 4th Doctors companion. Peter was a proper massive fan.

[@SeedFactoryProject]

Besides Peter, there is another actor in this episode that later gets a leading role.

[@robvanriot]

That whole prophecy-off scene still gives me chills now but it blew my mind on first viewing. Things just escalated so rapidly!

[@jburditt6028]

"Where did he get a water pistol?" It is canon that his pockets are bigger on the inside, using Timelord science.

[@bananasaregood8655]

There was a reference to the first doctor story ‘the romans’ at the start when the doctor says ‘that fire had nothing to do with me, well a bit’. 😅😅

[@BookNomming]

Donna is just everything, so compassionate and will fight for what is right

[@JustJames83]

I can’t imagine how amazing and hard it must have been to visit the site of Pompeii, David Tennant went as well it’s a behind the scenes extra I feel like it gives the episode some depth and weight oh and I love how Donna shared that moment of pressing that button that destroys Pompeii with him.

[@BritanyBinges]

It was a very somber experience. However, I actually found my visit to Herculaneum to be even more somber. Pompeii has casts of some of the people (and they're tough to look at), but Herculaneum has the actual skeletal remains of a few hundred people. I visited both on the same day so, let's just say, there were lots of tears shed that day. :(

[@JustJames83]

@@BritanyBinges Yep! That’ll do it

[@kemmdog4444]

“Who frowned me this face?”

[@musicron2740]

jealous that your just starting your journey with Donna Noble. She is literally the BEST companion.

[@bryn6411]

man Catherine Tate's acting in this one always gets me i literally started tearing up watching your reaction 😭

[@BritanyBinges]

Yeah, she really surprised me in this one. I was crying while I was editing it. lol

[@godmagnus]

Fun fact: The guy who plays Caecilius is Peter Capaldi, who also plays other characters in other things because he is an actor.

[@helenkan]

😂

[@dupersuper1938]

One of the prophetic sisters is Karen Gillan, who also plays other characters in other things because she is an actor.

[@thepandorica1660]

The Doctor in this story is David Tennant who also plays other characters in other things because he is an actor.

[@campagnollo]

@@dupersuper1938 she plays other characters? Wow!!!

[@MattHurst100]

I often think, if you could go back and tell Karen Gillian she’d be a household name, staring in MCU and Jumanji if she would believe you

[@thepandorica1660]

Also being one of the show's biggest companions is a great feat too

[@mattperiolat]

@@thepandorica1660 To me, horse race between her and Sarah Jane for greatest. But we get ahead of ourselves.

[@BritanyBinges]

It's still SO hard for me to believe that she's Nebula. It's absolutely wild to compare that character to Amy Pond. It shows just how talented she really is.

[@mattperiolat]

@@BritanyBinges You’re telling me! I will put my hand on a Bible and swear a solemn vow - I had never seen Karen outside the Nebula makeup until I saw The Eleventh Hour four weeks ago. I knew she had red hair and that was it. So that pan up reveal on Amy was the first I really saw her. Disassociation is a hell of a drug, I assure you. But miles to go yet. You’ve got all that to come.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

Oh totally. I think it totally would’ve blown her mind.

[@elliottnoad1270]

Considering newho (production wise) is based mainly in Cardiff, and technically the circuit was (release wise) first mentioned in newwho (classic Who never really mentioned it & the one time they did, it was a Timelord gift, instead of a TARDIS feature. In later classic era expanded Universe stuff from 2005 onwards, the translation circuit started cropping up more), love how the translation circuit defaults to speaking Welsh.

[@Will-nn6ux]

I've never visited Pompeii, but I've visited the museum containing the salvaged shipwreck of Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose. It sank almost 500 years ago, so the people on it would have been long dead anyway, but it is pretty heartbreaking to see the salvaged personal belongings of all those doomed people, most of whom were probably pretty young.

[@markdavidson9100]

The scene where the family are rescued always hits me…more raw emotion that the series excels at

[@BritanyBinges]

Yeah, Catherine really blew me away in that scene.

[@neilfreedman2537]

One of my favourite episodes. The prophecy scene is electric, and the moment when Donna places her hands on the plunger to share the Doctor's load, is the moment she became my favourite companion. Her emotion at the end - Wow! Been so waiting for you to post this incredible series.

[@davidcrazyrides]

His pockets are bigger on the inside. Think about it someone survived the name it volcano

[@islaythejabberwokky]

I love this episode so much. I love how much it humanizes the ancient Romans, who are usually envisioned through the lens of poetry and grand works of art, into just a regular family with the same sort of regular family squabbles that we do in modern times. I especially love that Donna is so headstrong with the Doctor and won't take no for an answer when it comes to what's right; it creates a really balanced dynamic between the two of them. I *love* the moment where she puts her hands on the lever with him and shares in the enormous burden of *causing the Pompeii disaster...* That moment, as well as her breakdown with "just save *someone"* really cemented her as a companion for me-- she absolutely belongs in the TARDIS.

[@MarkWardReacts]

I honestly love this episode and think it’s really underrated. I LOVE the ‘prophecies’ scene and I also LOVE Donna convincing the Doctor at the end. It makes me cry every time. They balance each other out so so well. And Catherine Rate’s performance in this one is where I decided she was going to be my favourite companion of all time. She just plays it bloody brilliantly.

[@BritanyBinges]

Yeah, Catherine really caught me off-guard with her performance at the end. She did such a great job with it.

[@Aleswall]

God, from the moment they enter the volcano to the very end, this episode is such an emotional rollercoaster for me. I think this is our first taste into what a smart, emotional, considerate companion we had; when many considered she'd just be frustrating and annoying. Such an amazing episode, but so often forgotten.

[@ftumschk]

16:06 Where did he get the water-gun? The Doctor has an uncanny knack for producing all kinds of handy items from his "capacious pockets", as the Doctor Who novelisations invariably referred to them. I think the tradition goes all the way back to the 2nd Doctor.

[@TheZebbga]

This episode is failry iconic and and as you are aware since you are on series 11, it has been mentioned a few times. I remember at school we were learning about the Romans when this episode was released and one of the teachers showed us this and I was more than happy to watch it again but really I think she just wanted an excuse to watch it. And obviously Peter Capaldi and Karen Gillan were in this episode. Who knew they would be important characters.

[@mattperiolat]

I’m not sure what I love more about this episode, the two biggest examples of The Who producers reusing actors - one obvious, the second I missed on the first pass, but now standing out (metaphorically) like a road flare - or watching your eyes getting bigger and bigger during the prophecy battle, especially the ‘Man from Gallifrey!’ line. It’s a real ride and treat on rewatch as much as the first watch.

[@joepagram8287]

I love this episode and it never fails to make me well up😢 This episode is the one that truly sets up the combative but platonically loving relationship between the doctor and Donna. Catherine state really showed here that she was a brilliant dramatic actor, while before this episode she was known solely for her comedy. Donna was my favourite companion from this season and remains to be to this day. From this point onwards season 4 is utter gold!

[@Ragnarok345]

The Doctor didn’t listen to Jack’s advice, and it nearly proved fatal. He didn’t set his alarm for Volcano Day. For shame.

[@kennethiain]

Holy heck, I forgot how good this episode was!

[@SeedFactoryProject]

Time Lord Science: The TARDIS isn't the only thing that is bigger on the inside. So are the Doctor's pockets. It is a running gag all through Doctor Who that they can pull out random items from their pockets.

[@sallyatticum]

Who knew in Episode 2 Donna Noble would have us crying? I love her! The Confidential behind the scenes episode for this one is great. It is worth seeking out. I think you would like it, especially as you have been to Pompeii.

[@BritanyBinges]

I'll be current with NuWho by the end of January, so maybe I'll do it as Patreon reaction to help fill the gap until series 14 comes out.

[@robertwareham8466]

The sooth-off scene always gives me chills :)

[@zipadeedooda7938]

This is the start of Donna becoming my favorite NuWho companion. Before this she was funny. This showed how big her heart was. Her joining the Doctor to push down the lever gets me every time. I honestly don't think Rose or Martha would have done it. Donna only gets better and better. Her character development is kind of amazing.

[@Vaillle]

Donna holds a special place in new whovian’s hearts. She’s such a fresh dynamic from Rose and Martha’s love struck selves.

[@matthewpreston28]

Amy pond also in this episode

[@jeanine6328]

You asked about the water gun, his suit is probably Time Lord technology, bigger on the inside, he can fit an army in there. At least, that’s my theory.

[@kenmercer8112]

Donna grows on you. "she is returning"

[@BritanyBinges]

This was definitely a turning point for me with her character. I loved seeing this side of her.

[@asterix7842]

Good episode, and the first look at two actors’ first DW appearance.

[@BritanyBinges]

How wild that two different actors who would go on to have massive roles in the show got their start in the same episode.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

This is a brilliant episode and probaly one of my favourites of the Tennant era. I've been to Pompeii in 2007 on a school excursion and it was a very emotional experience particulary seeing the victims which are now historical monuments. David Tennant also visited the site which is shown in "Doctor Who: Confidential" if your interested in checking that out. Donna takes awhile to like but she became stronger as a character as the series goes on the next episode is also my favourite I look forward to your reaction on that one as well. Also the bit where The Doctor explains to Donna about when he was in Rome and stated "that he didn't start that fire, well abit" was a reference to a First Doctor story "The Romans" which the First Doctor accidentally caused but with history taking its natural course same situation as this episode except "The Romans" was taken in a more comedic tone than this episode. I also look forward to your Classic Who reactions particulary the Pertwee era as he is one of my favourite Doctors growing up so I can't wait to see what you think of his era as a whole.

[@Jaserocks2]

3:39 I love the positions line. It is very Mary Poppins-esque.

[@BritanyBinges]

I've actually never seen Mary Poppins.

[@Jaserocks2]

@@BritanyBinges Hope you get a chance to watch it.

[@annaschwirian7548]

The soothsayers did give quite a few hints. Also did you catch that Peter Capaldi played in this.

[@BritanyBinges]

I did. I made a note about it in the video. :)

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

Spot on. Sci Fi, particularly that of the variety that goes well beyond empirical reality, is not historical nor realistic, though it has representations of both.

[@Tejiknasten]

Thanks for a fantastic reaction and review to a great episode. Donna really shines through in this episode, her emotions always makes me cry. Very good acting skills from both Tate and Tennant. 🎉

[@BritanyBinges]

Well, thank YOU for watching and commenting! :) Yeah, she really was the star of this episode for me.

[@jessetorres8738]

I will always remember when The Doctor was Peter Ca...oh wait, we're not there yet.

[@finleyjennings6051]

She is

[@thepandorica1660]

In real time, she's actually seen all of his run and is now starting Jodie's

[@BritanyBinges]

Finleyjennings and thepandorica are correct. I have seen Capaldi's run as The Doctor. I'm actually record the final two regular episodes of series 11 today for Patreon.

[@tc-tm1my]

Doctor is notorious for poor navigation. Always misses location and time

[@amandacheevers9678]

Donna's my favourite companion. She comes to the Doctor as an equal whereas Rose and Martha idolise him. I like how people keep thinking they're a couple and I think it's because they have this healthy relationship as equals. Not wanting to get into spoilers territory with subsequent companions Donna is the companion who breaks my heart

[@thepandorica1660]

She's really far ahead on Patreon, so you don't have to worry about spoilers for companions of Series 5-10

[@BritanyBinges]

thepandorica is correct. I'm wrapping up series 11 over on Patreon this week. So, if it's a companion prior to that, feel free to share away. :)

[@scottredding7357]

We haven't had some good psychic predictions since The Unquiet Dead.

[@12chapin]

You better save that guy or…….. Hello 👋🏻.

[@obiwankenobi687]

3:15 and a good job too as you sure as hell know somebody would have told you in the comments anyway even if you hadn’t

[@BritanyBinges]

Oh, for sure. Multiple people commented with hints that could've led to spoilers and they clearly didn't realize I was so far ahead.

[@phtevenj]

This episode always makes me cry.... 'the most terrible choice' .... so sad

[@BritanyBinges]

Same. I was crying as I was editing it. :(

[@gaaraofthefunk2011]

You should see Catherine tate and David play off each other outside of doctor who those 2 are funny af

[@IsiahBradley]

THANKS for this!!! Hi, Peter!!! Hi, Karen!!! I have two views: View 1: too bad they have now retroactively overshadowed such a great episode but View 2: it's a Who classic for obvious reasons :) !!!

[@YourBeingParanoid]

Still my favourite season overall - very strong episodes

[@smashstuff86]

I just noticed something that I can't say until the end of the season.

[@BritanyBinges]

I appreciate the caution when it comes to spoilers! :) I'm actually wrapping up series 11 over on Patreon this week, so feel free to go ahead and share now.

[@smashstuff86]

@@BritanyBinges Donna tells the family to go out of town, take a holiday, and in a few episodes later Rose tells Donna the same thing in "Turn Left." I'm currently watching a reactor who is on season2 and I've noticed that in almost every episode, someone has to deal with a loss. It made me wonder if this was a hidden theme in S02. And this line of Donna's makes me wonder if there are other hints/themes in S04 that aren't obvious.

[@BritanyBinges]

@@smashstuff86 Oh, interesting. I don't think I up on Rose telling Donna the same thing she told the family here.

[@t123a698]

TheDoctor can't save [or change the timelines of] leveryone or just anyone. Only ppl in history that aren't important. And Donna remembers: "Weird. I mean, you're not special. You're not powerful. You're not connected. You're not clever. You're not important." So,

[@10thdoctor15]

You're on series 11 now!? Wow, nearly caught up.

[@BritanyBinges]

Yeah, I'll be caught up (even with the 60th Anniversary specials... which I know nothing about) by the end of January.

[@10thdoctor15]

@@BritanyBinges You'll be able to enjoy the new era with us!

[@murdomaclachlan]

I really like this episode (the prophecy scene is one of my favourites in this series) but I do have one big problem with it, which is, "The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano, not until tomorrow". There are tons of volcanoes in Italy and across the Roman Empire. They knew what they were and they had plenty of words for them (e.g. mons ignifer, mons ignivomus, mons Vulcanius). Some important examples were two eruptions of Etna in 122 BC and 44 BC (the first one in particular seriously damaged Catania, a Roman city), as well as Stromboli, which has been continuously active for over 2000 years. It just really gets to me that they characterise Romans as somehow being these ignorant people who had no idea that volcanoes are a thing until Vesuvius erupts. It's such nonsense. Humans have known about volcanoes and what they do for as long as humans have been near volcanoes.

[@solitarymaninblack]

There is a video from The Kavernacle about how much Conservative men think about the Roman empire.

[@BritanyBinges]

Yeah, it's a popular topic on TikTok over the past month or so. lol

[@hothotheat3000]

TARDIS TIME LORD YEAH DONNA HUMAN NO

[@heatherqualy9143]

I guess I need to pay more attention to your intro and outro commentary. I can’t seem to figure out you’re timeline for watching shows. A lot of us have been waiting and waiting for you to get to this series…and now the reaction videos seem to be longer and longer between episodes, with you watching everything else before another Doctor Who. Apologies if this is my ignorance that I’m not catching on to the pattern. I know Doctor Who isn’t the only thing people come here to watch you react to. Just seemed like we used to get an episode once a week at least. 😢 It’s my own impatience for you to get further along! I try and save up a few reactions at a time before I watch. I have no patience.😂 I binged this series in two days, I can’t imagine waiting so long between! Kinda loses the emotional momentum.

[@BritanyBinges]

I record two Doctor Who reactions for Patreon every single week (four if you count Classic Who). I'm wrapping up series 11 over on Patreon this week. There aren't extended breaks between me watching the episodes. There are only extended breaks for publishing the shortened version on KZbin. It takes about 8 hours to edit just one episode for KZbin (and that's IF I don't run into issues with the copyright on the episode and end up having to make additional edits). I have an unrelated full-time business that I run and I put out anywhere from 9-12 reactions per week on Patreon so it equals the amount of time of a part-time job. I only have so much time. Since the people on Patreon pay for the videos, my priority is to make sure they get the reactions they're paying for. I edit videos for KZbin as I have the time to do so. I would absolutely love to put out a reaction on KZbin every single day but, until I'm able to retire my other business and do reactions full-time (or until I earn enough money from the reactions to pay for an editor), I can only do so much.

[@j9lorna]

Capaldi must be like a human standard template. "Who frowned me this face?" "I'm the Doctor and I SAVE people. And if anybody has anything to say about that....to HELL with you !!:

[@glenns7252]

This is an episode that peter Capaldi's doctor will reflect on, he says something like "but why this face". Also this is Karen Gilan's (Amy) first taste of doctor who, as one of those women that foresee the future

[@godmagnus]

"first taste of doctor" Phrasing

[@BritanyBinges]

I'm actually is series 11 over on Patreon so I've seen Karen and Peter's runs on the show. It's still difficult for me to spot her in this episode, though. How wild to have them both in this one.

[@psionicdreams]

I really had doubts when Donna joined the Doctor. I didn't like her in the bride special, I found her a bit unlikeable, to be honest. And yet she became my favourite companion of the Doctor. I still wonder why sometimes, I guess she was relatable, she was... ordinary, she acted like people I know in real life.

[@BritanyBinges]

I found her extremely unlikeable to begin with and was really worried when he became the companion in this series. I never would've guessed that I would be crying at her leaving and then crying again when she came back for the 60th specials (of, which I've only seen the first one so far).