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This episode was fun for the whole family. Mrs. P and PJ saw Jonathan Groff in Merrily We Roll Along a couple months ago, and of course we’ve all seen Hamilton and Frozen. So when I said, “we have to watch this episode, it guest stars Jonathan Groff,” everyone was here for it. And it did not disappoint!
Spoilers below.
So, look, I have never seen a single episode of Bridgerton. Like most women in my demographic I have seen a fair few film adaptations of Jane Austen novels, though, and I feel like that’s as close as I need to get for purposes of enjoying this episode. And enjoy it I certainly did. I was a bit disappointed in “73 Yards” when it turned out that “Mad Jack” wasn’t Jack Harkness after all. Wouldn’t have thought I would feel this way after first meeting him, but I do kind of miss Jack Harkness and he must certainly be eating his heart out somewhere over not getting to meet Fifteen (or for that matter Fourteen). But “Rogue” sort of re-enters the Harkness Zone from a different angle. This time it’s the Doctor who’s “here for fun,” finding himself improbably and somewhat inconveniently attached to “the most serious man in the universe.” I enjoyed that reversal. The rest of our party had to content themselves with enjoying the witty banter, the hot men dancing, and the somehow both bonkers and entirely appropriate appearance at the Regency ball of a bunch of hyper-entitled bird-headed aliens bent on cosplaying people to death. The Chuldur are absolutely *nuts* but in a very aristocratic way. Somehow, the bird heads really work with the ballgowns.
Anyway. Regency romance has never been All That to me–I’m more Romantic with a capital R–but it was fun watching Ruby have fun with it, and I have to say you’d need to go a long way to find a historical era with better men’s fashion. Both Gatwa and Groff look great in their outfits, separately and together. And while it’s always a challenge selling a romance in a single episode where there is necessarily a lot else going on, this episode pulled it off. ‘Rogue’ is a great foil for Fifteen, who seems to have found a whole new groove after sloughing Ten/Fourteen off and whose irresitible desire to enjoy himself even while in peril of death eventually wins over his opponent. The whole “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” thing is just genius. I watched that bit at least three times just because it was so funny. Their dance at the ball is genuinely beautiful and Rogue’s just…utter inability to play along with the scene the Doctor is making won my curmudgeonly heart. So the kiss at the end is credible, and meaningful, and so is his last-minute sacrifice.
Now.
I have seen all the hints floating about re how Rogue is “not what he seems.” PJ’s comment on that was, “I hope not! I like what he seems!” I feel the same way. I really liked the character and the pairing and I don’t want the rug pulled on it. Specifically and in particular, if Rogue turns out to be the Master, I’m going to flip tables. But I guess we shall see.
So, not a lot to say here that’s Deep except that I’m really glad this episode could be made, the way it was made, without a shit-ton of Controversy…and brought to us by Disney. Used to be RTD had to do his m/m romances on his sideblog, a.k.a. Torchwood; but not any more! And problematic as it can be, I’m going to enjoy this whole era of rainbowtainment while it lasts.