Revolution Man

[Original blog post on Tumblr: November 18th, 2015]

Some highlights of the last EDA I’ve read (Revolution Man).

This isn’t exactly a review, more like some sort of retroactive liveblogging, since I took these screens while reading, along with my reactions. As usual, this is full of spoilers.

Finally a genuinely good book again. Not stellar, mind you, but interesting, well-written, with a competent characterization of all the regulars, and a plot that packs a couple of twists, plus pretty cool imagery. Sam hasn’t been this likable in a long time (I mean, she was incredible in Beltempest, but you know why I can’t really write “likable” about that particular Sam)... since The Scarlet Empress, probably. The Doctor, well, is the Doctor, and is confronted to something at the end of the book that will clearly change Sam’s opinion on him. And for the first time ever, I didn’t want to punch Fitz, not even once. 8/10

Well, I already have a few suspects on my list.

I love the fact that Sam herself immediately thought of the most obvious twist possible and that it was dismissed instantly.

We are off to a good start.

Meanwhile, Maddie the hippie is having slightly too realistic hallucinations.

Don’t do drugs kids.

This little scene is making me absurdly happy.

Well then JOIN THEM, FITZ. HAVE FUN WITH THEM.

GOOD. VERY GOOD.

Fitz is channeling my exact reaction.

DOCTOR YOU ARE A F█CKING TROLL

Oh my god

Also how much do you want to bet that Sam is going to stop seeing that anarchist guy like some sort of hero very, very quickly?

GO GET HIM SAM GO GO GO

I wish this conversation would go on with things like “Yes but you’ve never been shot” “I have been shot, burned, cut, almost melted alive, nearly asphyxiated, literally frozen to death, directly exposed to the VOID OF SPACE, DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE SCARS SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH THIS ISN’T A CONTEST OKAY”

Meanwhile Fitz is flirting with the waitress. Who happens to be Maddie.

Or people having access to SPACE DRUGS LIKE MADDIE

SHE’S BEING VERY UNSUBTLE ABOUT IT TOO

Oh no help this is cute

Sam, please give a good punch to this guy.

I know that this was done with the space drug that gives you telekinetic powers, but all I can think of right now is...

You know, like most young couples do.

NOT OKAY

GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE AND STOP ARGUING

I need to make a text post meme right now this instant.

There.

SHE IS DEAD YOU WALNUT

Oh. So she was dead, but only according to 1967 standards. This is a clever and simple solution and I approve.

WAIT IT’S ACTUALLY A DRUG FROM ANOTHER PLANET? I WAS ONLY JOKING ABOUT SPACE DRUGS

Holy shit

They are so casual about everything that has happened so far I’m laughing

Yes, how dare he leave like... like Susan, and Vicki, and Jo, and a lot of other classic Who companions? HOW DARE YOU FITZ KREINER

(fun fact: in the French version of the Pokemon anime, James from the Team Rocket is voiced by the same voice actor who dubbed the Tenth Doctor in the French version of Doctor Who)

HOLY SHIT ARE THEY AT WOODSTOCK

That’s on my mental list of the things I really want to happen.

“SHINE A LITTLE LOVE ON MY LIFE AND LET ME SEEEEE” - Sam I Am

Sam Jones’ patience in that book is a thing to be admired.

Meanwhile, Fitz and Maddie are going to Kathmandu.

Monks using space drugs, everybody.

Why am I laughing so hard

I’m sorry, usually I hate it when people use natural selection as an excuse for people dying, BUT if they die just because they refused to listen to a woman telling them they are getting shot because she’s a woman, they clearly deserve a Darwin Award.

Ooooooooooooh boy this is going to be awesome.

TEN OUT OF F█CKING TEN

Meanwhile Fitz has been captured by the army, and his new friend the monk is dead, and they’ve lost Maddie, and I’m sorry but I just want to hug him and rock back and forth

Also Pippa almost cut EigHT’S THROAT WHAT THE HELL

NO NO NO FITZ NO

NO  NO NO NO

Okay okay the dying monk used some of the telekinetic drug to slow Fitz’s fall and crash the helicopter but he’s still in the middle of nowhere and in pain and this is not okay at all.

Well I certainly wasn’t expecting the pathetic anarchist from the beginning to be the Revolution Man?!

Ho don’t do it.

OH MY GOD

ON THE 1-10 SCALE OF BAD IDEAS THIS SCORES A 7

Literally and metaphorically I suppose

This is a very useful item and it’s a shame it isn’t used more often.

I’m cackling

This is equally epic and hilarious and terrifying.

Eight you are far too adorable and you need to be stopped.

Meanwhile but technically also one year later Fitz has beEN ALMOST COMPLETELY BRAINWASHED BY MAOISM

WAIT WHAT I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT GUY

AND HE’S ALSO THE ACTUAL REVOLUTION MAN, WELL PLAYED

AND HE’S ALSO FOUND A WAY TO USE THE DRUG TO CONTROL SOMEONE ELSE’S THOUGHT PROCESS THIS ISN’T GOOD

Hmmmmmmmm nope

Fair enough, that makes sense.

Asdfghjk no

YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYONE WITH THAT MIND-CONTROL TELEKINETIC DRUG AROUND SO DON’T BE SO SURPRISED

That’s only a 6/10 on the Jones-Richter scale from the EDA Genocide. Chill, Fitz. It could be much, much worse.

That’s it, I’m cackling again

Oooooh, so Fitz was actually brainwashed by another user of the drug.

Well usually that works for the Doctor.

This is making me a lot sadder than expected, for some reason.

Really cool imagery, I love it.

They are reaching the stage by walKING OVER THE AUDIENCE THIS IS SO COOL OH MY GOD

THIS FINAL ACT KEEPS ON GETTING BETTER AND BETTER

Good point Ed.

WELL THE GUEST OF HONOR HAS ARRIVED

Holy shit, Fitz.

Holy shit, Doctor.

HOLY SHIT, DOCTOR.

YES CLEARLY THAT PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY EVEN MORE ALIEN DRUGS

...sometimes.

So... Sam discovering her anarchist hero wasn’t as cool as she hoped, at the beginning of the story, was foreshadowing this, then. Well played.

Yeah, I don’t think anything will be able to restore her faith in him now. Which is good, because the Doctor isn’t a perfect hero and he shouldn’t be. Sometimes he isn’t even a hero at all. And I think Sam really needed to realise that because it’s long overdue. But it’s sad that it happened in such a brutal way.

And now she’s accusing Fitz of having forced the Doctor to shoot that guy. Maybe I spoke too soon.

And now I’m sad too.