6: But Ive Been Dieting!
As Ive mentioned more than a couple times before, Im a huge Donna Noble fan. And one of the things thats always struck me about her character is that for someone being played by a woman primarily know for her comedy, the character of Donna doesnt swing broadly for laughs terribly often. (Yes, I am fully expecting to get a debate about that in the comments, but if you go back and watch her run, what can be read as a broad comedy character is really a fairly interesting combination of character moments that serve to underscore her essential vulnerability and lack of self worth. Honest.) Besides which, genuine funny doesnt come out of broad character traits, it comes directly from finding something essential and true about the character or situation. Donna shouting Oy! is a character beat, not a punchline, or at least not a funny one. However In Forest of the Dead, in addition to having one of the most heartbreaking romantic storylines the show has ever seen (and the fact that I didnt include Lees Am I real? moment as he faded away genuinely haunts me) she also gets hands down her funniest moment. Miss Evangelista is explaining in fairly dry terms that they are all in a virtual reality. But its all nebulous and theoretical as communicating plot functions often is. So when Donnas reaction is to be upset that it doesnt matter that shes been dieting its not only funny, it also makes the virtual reality concept real for the viewer. I like me some humor that accomplishes more than one thing at a time.