#episode the crimson horror

[variousqueerthings]

Into the canal with the rejects

it's! The Crimson Horror! they're in Yorkshire in Victorian Times

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 4/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored, or given agency to her emotional interiority): 4/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 6/10

furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 5/10

companion matters (the companion doesn’t always have to be there, but if the companion is there, can they function without the doctor– and overall per season how often is the companion the focus or POV of the story): 5/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 7/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 6/10

isn’t trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 4/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 6/10

Politics (how conservative is the story): 5/10

FULL RATING: 52/100 (if I can count….)

ohhh this episode. OOOhhhohohooo this episode. it COULD have just been a fun little romp that was a bit silly, but ooh nonono. it had to do a THING. infamous THING!

OBJECTIFICATION: this is the episode that includes one of the most infamous fucking bits of sexism in the show

this being the Doctor grabbing Jenny, a lesbian, and kissing her without her consent (then when she slaps him, he says "you have no idea how good that felt") OH BOY

this episode also includes another between-the-legs shot of Jenny, and the Doctor reacting by his screwdriver pointing upwards (get it, like he's got a hard-on *fucking siiiiiiiiiighs*)

it's actually not more than this on the whole, but my goodness! bad and bad, this episode was written by Mark Gatiss, why did he think that was a good idea?

PLOT-POINT: Clara is mostly there to be captured and saved and then the others are like *gasp* it's Clara, who should be dead and the Doctor tells them nuh-uh-uh she's a different Clara. I'm not sooo much against this, considering there are quite a lot of female characters in this episode, including Jenny and Vastra, who lead a lot of the action part, and Ada and her mother, who lead the other action and the emotional stuff, including one great scene of Ada discovering her mother experimented on her and going Absolutely Ham, whacking her with her cane and screaming that she'll never forgive her

COMPLEXITY: it's kind of an over-complicated plot for what it is, but I don't hate it technically. it's a bit silly, but Doctor Who can be a bit silly

CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: sooo we get more Vastra, Jenny, and Strax which will matter for later in the season (in that the Doctor cares for them)

and at the end of the episode Clara finally has a little moment of wondering if something isn't going on, because the two precocious kids she cares for have discovered pictures of her from all over the past! but there's one she doesn't recognise, from Victorian London! who is that??? we wonder...

COMPANIONS MATTER: ehhh Clara doesn't do much, although she does get to smash a rocket control thing with a chair, good for her, but Jenny in particular does, and so does Vastra to an extent, and also Ada

“GODLIKE” DOCTOR: the Doctor also doesn't do so much, he also gets captured and then saved by Jenny, and then Jenny and Vastra save the earth, and Ada finishes off her mum

PREVIOUS DOCTOR WHO: uhhh not that I noticed, but it's not really an episode for Stuff

“SEXINESS”: THE AFOREMENTIONED KISSING SHIT! AND THE LEGS SHOT! AND THE SCREWDRIVER SHIT! listen, should this one bit of sequence judge the entire rest of the episode? maybe not but fuck iiiiiit

INTERNAL WORLD: it's not... reaaaally entirely... sensical. it's Doctor Who sensical, so it's fine, but this little town of perfect people encased in glass, it's yeah. it's fine

POLITICS: technically I feel like this episode ought to be political, considering it's set in Victorian Yorkshire (did it say where in Yorkshire, I'm trying to remember. me being lazy for a second and not just checking) and its themes of "purity" and luring desperate poor people in... but it's kind of not really important in the end

we do get some great female characters on the whole, but yeah. feels like a missed opportunity

FULL RATING: 52/100 (if I can count….)

this episode is not on the whole super offensive, it's mainly That Fucking Scene! it's mostly just a There episode. However I think it's elevated by genuinely quite fun female characters on both the good people and the villainous side

[the-force-awakens]

Oh, haven't you heard, love? There's trouble at mill.

[seaweedstarshine]

This part of The Crimson Horror novelization lives rent free in my mind:

‘I could materialise the TARDIS around her on stage!’ cried the Doctor. ‘No—’ he concluded bitterly. ‘Too conspicuous. Blow pipe?’ ‘What?’ ‘Use a blow pipe dart to knock her out. Just for a bit. Long enough to get her back here. Strong cuppa. Two rounds of toast. Gentle interrogation…’ ‘Right,’ I sighed. ‘Or—’ ‘Befriend her as a child! Easy! I can nip back in the TARDIS, make a huge impression on her when she’s just a nipper then reappear in her life and then it’ll be all bunting out, hail the conquering Doctor, all that. It’s worked before!’

He liked the results on Amy, so he tried it on Kazran Sardick, until causing lasting childhood trauma is one of his go-to solutions for easy compliance! That's my eleven. My eldritch horror.

[sundry-whovengerslocked]

things we Don't Really Talk About in the Doctor Who fandom (although we really should):

this Scooby-Doo scene, mainly because it takes place in the same episode as this:

and this:

-

this interspecies couple:

and their children:

-

this creepy lady and her leech:

and how she turned The Doctor into this:

-

those few episodes with this kid who was sort-of-not-really a companion:

and The Doctor was essentially on the future space version of Big Brother:

and this was the bad guy:

also Scotty was in it:

-

these awful dolls that came to life and turned other people into dolls:

-

that time The Doctor and team saw this message on the surface of Mars:

only to discover Victorian soldiers there:

and the baddass Empress Martian:

-

that time everyone got sucked into the tv:

and promptly lost their faces:

and The Doctor went all Mary Poppins on a misogynist:

-

my least favorite, the first time Mark Gatiss appeared:

and turned into this:

-

and my most favorite, that time there was a (presumably) cis pregnant man:

and when asked if it was a girl or a boy, said that both male and female people of his species could get pregnant - and that men gave birth to boys, and women gave birth to girls.

and the bad guy of the episode was Just A Little Guy who ate everything:

(including a bomb. and not only did it survive, it was finally sated!)

-

these are out of order but there are definitely more. and the point is, like... Doctor Who is weird. it always has been. this isn't even counting Classic Who, as I haven't watched much of it.

and I think we should talk about the underrated episodes more. because they have some really poignant moments:

and also...

it's just fucking hilarious, dude

(evil vampire lady drinking life force through a straw)

[faithandbuffy]

Thinking about the dynamic of The Name of The Doctor where clara can see river and the doctor is pretending he can’t see river and how funny that would’ve been if they’d stretched it for the whole of 7B.

[heatwa-ves]

thinking about elevenclara it could've been So Good like it has a lot of potential but sadly a) series 7b sucks and b) they don't have much chemistry they don't work with eachother the way any other doctor and companion do I find it really odd. anyway so im living in my dream world where the main dynamic of their relationship is that the doctor doesn't fully see her as a person he sees her more as something to study he's fascinated with her because she keeps dying he keeps seeing her die all over the universe (and on that note she should've appeared in more episodes pre being a companion) but his fascination with her is much the same as it would be with a science project he sees her as a puzzle to solve. and I think that aspect of their relationship would really nicely parallel twelves "you don't see me, you look at me and you don't see me" in deep breath. and clara is enamoured with this man she wants nothing more than to run away across the universe but she has to stay in control she can't just follow her impulses so she says come back tomorrow. and he does and they travel but she starts to see how he looks at her and he says things that don't line up and he doesn't tell her he's seen her die. and now she's not in control anymore and it's messing her up and then name/day/time of the doctor happens and suddenly she's faced with a man she doesn't recognise and who no longer looks at her like she's a puzzle he needs to solve and she doesn't recognise him at all. and that leads to the insanity that is twelveclara

[jennyandvastraflint]

The Crimson Horror turns ten today. Feel old yet? 😂

[yahoo201027]

Day in Fandom History: May 4…

The Paternoster Gang (consisting of Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax) investigate something odd going on in 1893 Victorian London and must find The Doctor, who became a victim of the mysterious "crimson horror". “The Crimson Horror” premiered on this day, 11 Years Ago.

[dent-de-leon]

cANDELA OBSCURA TOMORROW,,

It is almost Leo Amicus day—

[spookytuesdaypod]

spooky tuesday is a (now not so new!) podcast where we’re breaking down all of our favorite slashers, thrillers, monster movies and black comedies on the new scariest day of the week.

it’s official, spookies: love is in the air, and we’re celebrating the season with a whole slate full of haunting, horrifying heartbreakers. for all of february, spooky tuesday is combining the paranormal with passion for romance month, and we’re kicking things off with crimson peak (2015). this guillermo del toro flick not only delivers on the ghosts and gore, it also explores the true meaning of monstrous love. so what do you say — will you be our valentine?

give spooky tuesday a listen on apple podcasts, spotify, iheart radio, or stitcher

[variousqueerthings]

several people telling me nightmare in silver was going to be the best episode of season 7 and I've gotta be honest...didn't do it for me. if it weren't for warwick davis I'd have rated it lower, but it's not going to be that high I predict

[malewifehenrycooldown]

it would be nice if actually NMH4 was smart and pulled a whole 'actually the real villain was inter-generational trauma all along!' and that it re-contextualised the overarching narrative of NMH to be about the about the Touchdown Family's struggle to end the toxic cycle of violence that their family has been stuck in.

[badxwolf]

The directing in A Town Called Mercy is so good omggg

[facetheravenwood]

i love mr sweet so fucking much he looks like the pt sink baby

[makingqueerhistory]

Harvard's Secret Court: The Savage 1920 Purge of Campus Homosexuals

William Wright

In 2002, a researcher for The Harvard Crimson came across a restricted archive labeled Secret Court Files, 1920. The mystery he uncovered involved a tragic scandal in which Harvard University secretly put a dozen students on trial for homosexuality and then systematically and persistently tried to ruin their lives. In May of 1920, Cyril Wilcox, a freshman suspended from Harvard, was found sprawled dead on his bed, his room filled with gas--a suicide. The note he left behind revealed his secret life as part of a circle of (cut young) homosexual students. The resulting witch hunt and the lives it cost remains one of the most shameful episodes in the history of America's premiere university. Supported by legendary Harvard President Lawrence Lowell, Harvard conducted its investigation in secrecy. Several students committed suicide; others had their lives destroyed by an ongoing effort on the part of Harvard to destroy their reputations. Harvard's Secret Court is a deeply moving indictment of the human toll of intolerance and the horrors of injustice that can result when a powerful institution loses its balance.

(Affiliate link above)

[b0ng05]

Pretty In Red - Amber Freeman

Smut MDNI 18+

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Word Count: 1630

Prompt: Amber Freeman comes home from her recent kill to find her girlfriend waiting for her with a pretty surprise.

Warnings: strap-on usage, fingering, oral, degradation, mentions of murder, lingerie.

Masterlist

Also, Not Proofread 💅

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A quiet almost inaudible dripping sound echoed through the large bathroom. The main light buzzing as it sheds luminosity on the horrors below. The once white tiles of the floor stained and puddled with crimson. Walls and mirrors splattered with fresh blood that sprayed along it. The metal clunk of a knife hitting the tiles brought Amber from her haze where she stood admiring her art in depth. Each slash and stab articulately placed along the man’s body, almost perfect. A sense of pride filled her chest knowing she took out the guy who had the audacity to flirt with her girlfriend. A smirk pricked the corner of her lips as she pulled the mask back over her face and picked her favorite knife up from the tiles. The knife had been a gift from Y/n, who was waiting for her back home. Amber rushed out of the house and into an alleyway nearby where she had hid her backpack. Hiding behind a dumpster, she stuffs the costume into her bag, successfully concealing both the costume, knife, and effectively, her identity. Once she got home, she didn’t bother sneaking her way upstairs like she normally would. Knowing her parents were both out on business trips, she had no one to question her whereabouts except her girlfriend, who was already aware of her homicidal tendencies. As she opens her bedroom door, she’s met with the sight of Y/n laying on her bed, half-asleep as she watches an episode of Criminal Minds. Amber can’t help the smile that crawls up her lips, seeing her girl cozy in her bed was one of the best feelings in the world. A privilege that she was proud and honored to have.

“I missed you,” Y/n mumbled tiredly, outstretching her arms for Amber to come cuddle. Amber lets out a quiet chuckle, walking over to her closet to switch into sweatpants and a different shirt before crawling to bed next to her girlfriend. Amber lays on her back and pulls Y/n into her arms, laying the woman’s head on her chest, softly stroking her hair. “I missed you too,” Amber whispers, kissing her girlfriend’s forehead. “What took you so long?” Y/n asks, nuzzling her head into Amber’s neck. “Things didn’t exactly go to plan. But I took care of it.” Amber vaguely answers, softly rubbing small circles on the woman’s back as a means of distraction. Y/n placed a soft kiss on Amber’s neck, leaning into her embrace. Her hand subtly trailing under the hem of Amber’s shirt to caress her stomach. Craning her neck up, she presses her lips against Amber’s in a slow but passionate kiss. Amber’s hand trails down from the slope of her back under the blanket to grope at her girlfriend’s ass. Thinking she would be wearing the pajama shorts that she normally would to bed, but in place was a lacy feeling that had Amber smirking into the kiss as she gently flipped their positions, pinning the woman beneath her. As their lips separate, Amber tugs the blanket off the woman’s lower half, revealing a dark red set of lacy panties. Ones that Amber had picked out for her on a trip to the mall weeks ago. “What’s all this for~?” Amber teases, a hum of amusement in her tone as her finger slips beneath the waistband to snap it back against Y/n’s skin. The sensation of Amber’s fingers trailing her exposed skin as well as the nip of the cold air had her feeling more awake, and more aroused. “Well it was supposed to be a surprise for when you got home~” Y/n muses, a playful mood arising. Amber lets out a soft chuckle, leaning over the woman to kiss her neck, her tongue trailing up to her earlobe that she took between her teeth in a playful and gentle bite. “How about you take off your shirt and let me get a refresher on how pretty you look in that matching set?” She whispers before kissing her jaw and leaning back, looking at Y/n with expecting eyes and an hungry amused smirk. Y/n bites her lip as she sits up, pulling the shirt over her head, revealing the matching lacy red bra. Small lacy embroidery just barely hiding her nipples beneath, making Amber go feral at the sight. Her girl lying beneath her, in lingerie that she picked out, looking so desperate yet still so shy to the feeling of eyes feasting on her.

Amber reaches her hand beneath the woman’s back, “You look so fucking sexy baby, but I think we need this gone.” She whispers, kissing Y/n’s chest as she unclasps her bra with ease. Amber’s lips greedily kiss at the woman’s chest before wrapping around one of her nipples, sucking and swirling her tongue around the nub as her other hand toys at the other. Smirking at the whines and moans emitted from the woman beneath her. She kisses down the woman’s stomach right to the waistband of her panties. Her hands teasingly and slowing trailing Y/n’s thighs. Her tongue playfully jolts out, licking a slow swipe down to the edge of her panties. “You look so pretty in red, Y/n/n,” Amber smirks, letting her hand trail higher to the wet patch that grew in the lace panties. Her fingers run along the soaked fabric. Y/n lets out a whine at the teasing feeling. “T-thank you, Ambs,” She breathes through a soft moan. Amber lets out a breathy laugh as her eyes dilate, she leans down to kiss her hip before tugging her panties down her legs. Amber licks her lips she leans down, and licks a broad strip up Y/n’s wet cunt.

Y/n lets out a soft moan, her hand reaching down to push Amber’s hair out of her face. “Taste so fucking sweet, baby.” She hums out against Y/n’s clit, the vibrations making a shiver run up the woman’s spine. Her hand tightens around Amber’s dark locks as the woman wraps her lips around her clit, sucking and licking with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes as she stares up at Y/n. Amber’s other hand trails up Y/n’s thigh, slowly teasing her entrance with a finger. Y/n let’s out a whimper, “Please, Ambs,” She whines. Amber smirks, suddenly thrusting two fingers into the woman beneath her, smug as she writhes at her actions.``So pretty, baby~” Amber whispers, speeding up her fingers to match the pace her tongue had set. Y/n’s hips bucked up in pleasure, which Amber ends by holding her waist with her free hand. “F-feels so good, Ambs~” Y/n whines, her thighs twitching as she grows closer to her release. “Feels so good Ambs~” Amber mocks, her tone high as she mimics the woman’s moans before letting out a cruel laugh. Her fingers leave the woman’s pulsing walls. “You think I’m gonna let you come that easy?” Amber chuckles, flipping Y/n onto her hands and knees. Amber pushes Y/n’s face into a pillow, giving her a better view of the woman’s soaked cunt.

Amber bites her lip and spanks her ass, Y/n letting out a surprised whimper. “You’re getting my strap for being such a good fucking slut for me.” Amber leans over to the bedside table, grabbing out a large strap, one that Y/n hadn’t taken before. Amber secures the strap to herself, letting out a soft moan at the smaller dildo on the inside of the harness that slipped inside her. “I need you so bad, baby~” Y/n whines, arching her back to try and gain the woman’s attention back. “Oh you’re gonna have me baby.” Amber smirks, rubbing the tip of the cock along the woman’s slit. She slips into the other woman with ease, but slowing down as she gets close to the base. Y/n’s legs begin to shake as Amber goes impossibly deeper inside her. A heat in her stomach that desperately needed to be satiated. “Please baby~ Fuck me~” Y/n whines, pushing her hips back against Amber’s. “Good fucking slut.” Amber chuckles before speeding up her thrusts, angling her hips to hit spots that made the other woman's vision go fuzzy. The sound of the skin colliding, moans and grunts filled the room as the bed hit the wall. Amber’s hand showed no mercy on the woman’s ass as she spanked her, the sight of her red skin driving her into a frenzy. She goes faster as she feels a heat begin to build up in her own core. “Fuck, you’re so tight.” Amber groans as she feels it get harder to thrust, but doesn’t let it deter her as she goes even faster. Y/n’s legs tremble as she feels herself on the edge of release. “Please~! Please let me cum~! I’ll be such a good girl for you~” Y/n blabbers, unaware of her words, only thinking about the pleasure that Amber was giving her.

“Be a good girl and cum for me, princess,” Amber grunts, feeling herself about to reach her own release. Amber speeds up her thrusts impossibly faster, Y/n cums around Amber’s strap with a loud cry of her name. Amber doesn’t stop, continuing to chase her own release, and with two more deep thrusts, she comes with a groan. She lays on top of Y/n, strap still buried in her cunt as she breathlessly kisses at the woman’s spine. Her hands softly soothing over the red handprint on the woman’s behind. “Round 2?” Amber whispers with a shameless smirk, reaching up to push the woman’s hair out of her face.