The new theme tune is absolutely brilliant.
Am I the only one who thought it was crap? The Dr can go anywhere in the whole of time and space, and her first adventure is in England in the present day? That's bollocks!
Am I the only one who thought it was crap? The Dr can go anywhere in the whole of time and space, and her first adventure is in England in the present day? That's bollocks!
I'm not saying it's the first time it's ever happened. I'm just saying it's not good enough.
Am I the only one who thought it was crap? The Dr can go anywhere in the whole of time and space, and her first adventure is in England in the present day? That's bollocks!
... there's a long list of actors almost none of whom I've ever heard of...
just because they've made the same mistake 11 times before doesn't mean it's the right thing to do this time
My only criticism is, I was expecting something more different from what has gone before; a really new style.It wasn't a full overhaul, no, but there were some big changes from Moffat-era Who: the new characters were actually people, and not cyphers designed to become puzzles; it was about a group rather than an all-domineering figure who can basically be a god; and the dramatic build-up was smartly done, in a manner Who had become very poor at. For me, it was solid rather than amazing, but, importantly, I felt it was promising for what would happen next.
[stuff]Your prejudices are showing. Frankly, if you thought that was "gender politics", you have problems. There were scant few references to gender in that – more throwaway lines that the production itself used to essentially say: "This isn't actually that important". As for the lines bout being Scotsman, that's basically identical to what the Doctor has done after a bunch of previous regenerations. And, yes, women have higher-pitched voices than men, although most people's favourite new-Who Doctor did the squeaky gurning thing for a ton of time and that never seemed to bother anyone else. Then again, he had a penis.
Some alien pulsing blue thing was a threat but was dispatched somehow.
And, yes, women have higher-pitched voices than men, although most people's favourite new-Who Doctor did the squeaky gurning thing for a ton of time and that never seemed to bother anyone else. Then again, he had a penis.
Did he, though?I'm reasonably sure that the actor did, yes. I don't know about the actual Time Lord. For all we know, 'male' Time Lords don't have a cock and 'female' ones have three. Man, I really want to be true now, just to fuck with the haters.
If I've seen one shibboleth that defines male prejudice in the workplace, it's this fixation on higher-pitched voices: it's used to shut women's contributions down in meetings, it's used to imply women are "becoming emotional", it's used to imply immaturity and weakness. And it's balls. If you don't enjoy women's (vastly diverse) voices, then I reckon you just don't like women.Quite. I recall recently reading about a university study into meetings and estimations about time. Everyone overestimated the amount of time women spoke, often significantly, and that included the feminist creator of the study, who seemingly felt like shit because of this. In short, if women speak for over about 25 per cent of the time, men think they've dominated. See also things like appearances in movies/crowd scenes/etc.
I just don't see how recognizable actors can be either a measure of inherent quality or a measure of how much the production company cares about the production. I would say the quality of the actors would be the measure in both cases. Example: Attack the Block.
And I don't buy your Eastenders argument either. Unless you can point me to the Easties episode where weird murderous aliens crack out of space-eggs and a flying electric spaghetti monster plants a DNA bomb in Dot Cotton's neck.
Anyway: loads of great British sci-fi is set on Earth. This makes it easy to relate to and easier to produce. I'm not sure which is the major factor, but it doesn't make them either inherently rubbish or like a contemporary soap opera. Look, a list:
Humans
Black Mirror
Misfits
The Prisoner
The Quatermass Experiment
Day of the Triffids
The Tripods
War of the Worlds
Sapphire & Steel
Also, setting things off-planet doesn't make them good. (See Survivors or Hyperdrive. Or don't.)
People might not be surprised to hear I thought it er... wasn't very good. Pretty much as I expected. Gender politics masquerading as Dr Who
Gender politics masquerading as Dr Who ... Whitaker also sounded as if she'd inhaled helium or something with her squeaky voice.
just about all the men were shown as a bit cowardly and the women as clever and brave
I can honestly say the only bit that annoyed me was when The Doctor said 'would of' ...
I can honestly say the only bit that annoyed me was when The Doctor said 'would of' ...
Hah, forgot that bit! Nearly had me hiding behind the couch.
I'll need to see more before I can make my mind up, but the writing wasn't great on this one.
In fairness, she's from Gallifrey so English isn't her first language. Also she couldn't even remember her own name at the time, so remembering English grammar was a tall order.
I won't pretend to know who half of the guest stars listed at the end were but the Beeb obviously think they are worth shouting about. But Alan Cumming! Yay!
I won't pretend to know who half of the guest stars listed at the end were but the Beeb obviously think they are worth shouting about. But Alan Cumming! Yay!
As King James VI / I, apparently. That means high likelihood of witchy goings on.
If you don't know who the guest cast are, this may help if you're so inclined to find out...
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/feature/g25501/doctor-who-season-11-cast-guest-stars/? (http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/feature/g25501/doctor-who-season-11-cast-guest-stars/?)
Does that mean there's going to be a Thanksgiving episode was well?I won't pretend to know who half of the guest stars listed at the end were but the Beeb obviously think they are worth shouting about. But Alan Cumming! Yay!
As King James VI / I, apparently. That means high likelihood of witchy goings on.
I'm sure I read somewhere that this series would see Doctor Who do a Halloween episode for the first time. Perhaps this is it?
Does that mean there's going to be a Thanksgiving episode was well?
I wasn't inferring that you were implying. I was referring to von Boom's implying about the Thanksgiving...Ask a silly question...Does that mean there's going to be a Thanksgiving episode was well?
Okay, she was perhaps a little manic, but cut her some slack, like all actors playing the Doctor, they usually take a few stories to find their feet. I honestly think shell be just fine.
... there's a long list of actors almost none of whom I've ever heard of...
Does one need recognizable actors to make something good? (Rhetorical: I already know the answer.)
For all intensive purposes Trout is correct: this pacific form appears in literally every single line of TV dialogue, no different than alot of other modern speech, and this phenomena has fewer affects on comprehension then most
For all intensive purposes Trout is correct: this pacific form appears in literally every single line of TV dialogue, no different than alot of other modern speech, and this phenomena has fewer affects on comprehension then most
Sorry, I couldn't let it lie
That was very entertaining.
Especially if you imagined ABCwarBOT’s peeved little face as he sat there watching it with his pre-prepared checklist of things to complain about, desperately sucking on his weak lemon drink every time a woman or POC appeared on screen.
Sorry, but this is just patent nonsense. As I said in my first post on this thread, one of the things I really liked about this episode was how few mentions were made of the fact that the Doctor had changed genders, making for a clear signifier that this wasn't a big deal.
I can honestly say the only bit that annoyed me was when The Doctor said 'would of' (one of my mum's pet hates so it's always really noticeable to me).
Huffster- If I'm correct then the crane bits were all from an actual place just north of Sheffield. I'm sure I've seen it whilst on the rout to Thought Bubble, where there are just loads of Cranes standing around...
Colin? Can you confirm?
And I don't buy your Eastenders argument either. Unless you can point me to the Easties episode where weird murderous aliens crack out of space-eggs and a flying electric spaghetti monster plants a DNA bomb in Dot Cotton's neck.
Other Earth-based SF shows like Black Mirror are perfectly good too, but that isn't really the point -- they're entirely different shows which aren't about someone who has a TARDIS that can take them anywhere and anywhen.
And I don't buy your Eastenders argument either. Unless you can point me to the Easties episode where weird murderous aliens crack out of space-eggs and a flying electric spaghetti monster plants a DNA bomb in Dot Cotton's neck.
You asked for this. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQCeMIQpFBc)
Huffster- If I'm correct then the crane bits were all from an actual place just north of Sheffield. I'm sure I've seen it whilst on the rout to Thought Bubble, where there are just loads of Cranes standing around...
Colin? Can you confirm?
Yeah. Imma agree. Itsa mute point.
And I don't buy your Eastenders argument either. Unless you can point me to the Easties episode where weird murderous aliens crack out of space-eggs and a flying electric spaghetti monster plants a DNA bomb in Dot Cotton's neck.You asked for this. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQCeMIQpFBc)
Sorry, but this is just patent nonsense. As I said in my first post on this thread, one of the things I really liked about this episode was how few mentions were made of the fact that the Doctor had changed genders, making for a clear signifier that this wasn't a big deal.
Quoted for truth - this is the 21st century, not the 19th!
Sorry, but this is just patent nonsense. As I said in my first post on this thread, one of the things I really liked about this episode was how few mentions were made of the fact that the Doctor had changed genders, making for a clear signifier that this wasn't a big deal.
Quoted for truth - this is the 21st century, not the 19th!
See that's an interesting point, because there could well be an episode set in the 19th century, and the Doctor will face heretofore (thentofore?) challenges on her knowledge and authority, the shrill, bossy cow.
it's at lot easier to have a series of cheaper companions if you start on earth than if you start on an alien planet that's going to require loads of expensive, time-consuming and sometimes challenging makeup and special effects.
Whitaker also sounded as if she'd inhaled helium or something with her squeaky voice.
minus points for the talky cloth scene - what was that all about?
I think you're being a bit harsh. There were certainly some minor niggles but slightly rubbish robots and wonky science shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of Dr Who of all things.
As for the voice thing - I just don't get it. She sounds typical of a woman from the north of England - I wouldn't say her voice is particualrly shrill or anything.
The 'physical presence' thing doesn't make much sense to me either. I've never thought of the Doctor as being physically imposing and this episode went to lengths to emphasise the Doctor's 'brains over brawn' philosophy. Gravtias doesn't necessarily come from an imposing physical form either.
There's actually been a pleasingly practical feel to the problems and problem-solving, with companions getting stuck into mechanical repairs and jury-rigging rather than the Doctor just twiddling her rather suggestively-shaped sonic penknife and fixing everything remotely.
From a practical point of view nobody (sober) goes up close against people with 8-10 inches on them - short men, short ladies don’t. Your central nervous system knows not to.
I think you're being a bit harsh. There were certainly some minor niggles but slightly rubbish robots and wonky science shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of Dr Who of all things.
As for the voice thing - I just don't get it. She sounds typical of a woman from the north of England - I wouldn't say her voice is particualrly shrill or anything.
The 'physical presence' thing doesn't make much sense to me either. I've never thought of the Doctor as being physically imposing and this episode went to lengths to emphasise the Doctor's 'brains over brawn' philosophy. Gravtias doesn't necessarily come from an imposing physical form either.
‘ Woman popping off and invading space’ when
Also, you're talking about a character who forgot they'd changed gender
I’d ask you not to pretend to change my words.I think you're being a bit harsh. There were certainly some minor niggles but slightly rubbish robots and wonky science shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of Dr Who of all things.
As for the voice thing - I just don't get it. She sounds typical of a woman from the north of England - I wouldn't say her voice is particualrly shrill or anything.
The 'physical presence' thing doesn't make much sense to me either. I've never thought of the Doctor as being physically imposing and this episode went to lengths to emphasise the Doctor's 'brains over brawn' philosophy. Gravtias doesn't necessarily come from an imposing physical form either.
‘ Woman popping off and invading space’ when
Fixed that for you. :lol:
FWIW I would have preferred the Tardis to remain elusive for a few episodes longer, with the gang hitchhiking around trying to find it or get back to Earth someone other way.
FWIW I would have preferred the Tardis to remain elusive for a few episodes longer, with the gang hitchhiking around trying to find it or get back to Earth someone other way.
Yeah I really hoped they'd do this, think it would have been great fun. Alas not and I can see why they might have gone that way. After all its a key concept to the show and I'm assuming they want lots of new folks tuning in so best to get it established asap.
Still shame as it would have been a good setup. Mind that said the redesign now it is here is great.
I’d ask you not to pretend to change my words.I think you're being a bit harsh. There were certainly some minor niggles but slightly rubbish robots and wonky science shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of Dr Who of all things.
As for the voice thing - I just don't get it. She sounds typical of a woman from the north of England - I wouldn't say her voice is particualrly shrill or anything.
The 'physical presence' thing doesn't make much sense to me either. I've never thought of the Doctor as being physically imposing and this episode went to lengths to emphasise the Doctor's 'brains over brawn' philosophy. Gravtias doesn't necessarily come from an imposing physical form either.
‘ Woman popping off and invading space’ when
Fixed that for you. :lol:
‘Popping off’ is very much a junenile activity and I know what I wrote. I’m trying to voice problems I find with how this portrayal of the doctor is coming across to me, a person who has no problems with a woman being the doctor. You can go trough my posts here and see I have never expressed any issue about the appointment of a female doctor. I’m all for this one being successful and the next one being a female too.
Give me a break - one minute the Defense is she’s not in full awareness of her body yet, the next is she’s a space ninja.
And pretty much all genre TV that has featured a woman since 1995.
In 'The Woman Who Fell to Earth' the Doctor, while still in 12's outfit, repeatedly makes it clear that she has nothing in her pockets, after which she picks up her new outfit from a charity shop and heads immediately off to the planet in 'The Ghost Monument'. So...where exactly did Audrey Hepburn's sunglasses appear from?
In 'The Woman Who Fell to Earth' the Doctor, while still in 12's outfit, repeatedly makes it clear that she has nothing in her pockets, after which she picks up her new outfit from a charity shop and heads immediately off to the planet in 'The Ghost Monument'. So...where exactly did Audrey Hepburn's sunglasses appear from?
They just didn't show the bit where she travels back in time a few decades and persuades Audrey Hepburn to donate a coat with sunglasses in the pocket to a Sheffield charity shop. Simple.
So far I've struggled to get to the end of each episode. Feels nothing like Dr Who and Jodie's like an irritating comedy act though she's not funny.
So far I've struggled to get to the end of each episode. Feels nothing like Dr Who and Jodie's like an irritating comedy act though she's not funny.She comes across much like Smith and Tennant did, to my mind. As for feeling nothing like Doctor Who and being irritating, she didn’t burst into the room on the back of a tank, wearing shades, and playing guitar, like a deranged mash-up of Malcolm Tucker and Poochie.
So far I've struggled to get to the end of each episode. Feels nothing like Dr Who and Jodie's like an irritating comedy act though she's not funny.She comes across much like Smith and Tennant did, to my mind. As for feeling nothing like Doctor Who and being irritating, she didn’t burst into the room on the back of a tank, wearing shades, and playing guitar, like a deranged mash-up of Malcolm Tucker and Poochie.
Very few of the Doctor's incarnations have had ANY concept of personal space, at least not since No. 4. Squishing their face right up against people and lecturing them is what the Doctor does. Also, she's not a woman any more than that Tardis is a police box: she's a quasi-immortal alien busybody with two hearts, and her power has never been about her physical size. And she knows kung-fu.
One thing, that strikes me as curious, from the inside POV, the police box seems to now be the porch of the tardis. I.e you don’t just see the front door, you see three walls, to the extent that when the Doctor first entered I wondered if there was something wrong and the inside had been displaced somehow. (I do remember that happening before in a previous episode.) But then she walks further literally through the space the fourth wall would be, and there it all is.
I always liked that Mid-Tom Baker era console room (pictured above), though it was sorely lacking a time rotor (which might have looked glorious had they made one in stained glass to match the theme of the room).
I remember HATING the Tom Baker 'victorian' control room at the time because it just wasn't sci-fi enough and didn't have the up-and-downy thing, I just thought it was silly. The Tardis is obviously capable of almost limitless changes, but in the past only changed in small ways - maybe it's some kind of Time War PTSD that made the Doctor start going for these underlit cavernous monstrosities rather than the former simple functional style
I think he had a point, given how overlit the studios were at the time.
Does anyone remember the Baker episode when they were being chased around the endless passageways of the TARDIS? I loved that storyline, and always feel the true hugeness of the TARDIS interior has never really had a script befitting it.
Was this not simply a by-product of the way many studio scenes were shot…?
Rather than multiple takes for wide, close-up and reaction, they would simply stick three or more cameras on set and shoot once, with one camera taking in the wide, another for Doctor close-ups, a third for Companion #1, and so on. Of necessity, this meant the lighting had to be as flat and bland as possible to work with multiple cameras shooting simultaneously from different angles.
Does anyone remember the Baker episode when they were being chased around the endless passageways of the TARDIS? I loved that storyline, and always feel the true hugeness of the TARDIS interior has never really had a script befitting it.
Didn't Peter Davidson unravel Baker's long scarf as a way of finding his way around the Tardis? I think that's the first time I realised there was more to it than just the control room.
The TARDIS interior and Paul McGann were pretty much the only good things about the TV Movie. I do still kind of consider the TV Movie interior to be my favourite of them all.The TV movie was wretched, but I could quite happily live in that TARDIS interior. And with Paul McGann.
I think he had a point, given how overlit the studios were at the time.
Was this not simply a by-product of the way many studio scenes were shot…?
Rather than multiple takes for wide, close-up and reaction, they would simply stick three or more cameras on set and shoot once, with one camera taking in the wide, another for Doctor close-ups, a third for Companion #1, and so on. Of necessity, this meant the lighting had to be as flat and bland as possible to work with multiple cameras shooting simultaneously from different angles.
I could quite happily live with Paul McGann ;) . . . erm . . . I mean I liked his version of the Doctor - including the short webisode when Paul McGann returned and regenerated into the War Doctor.The TARDIS interior and Paul McGann were pretty much the only good things about the TV Movie. I do still kind of consider the TV Movie interior to be my favourite of them all.The TV movie was wretched, but I could quite happily live in that TARDIS interior. And with Paul McGann.
... and then I saw some of the comments, and was reminded how we've still got such a long way to go.
That was a fucking great episode. Yes, absolutely, there’s stuff you could nit-pick at but there were so many ways that could have gone horribly wrong and yet they ended up with something smart and affecting and (depressingly) still so desperately relevant. What a fine bit of TV. Well done, all.
Well, after a poignant episode I thought I'd read some online reviews which were mostly very positive... and then I saw some of the comments, and was reminded how we've still got such a long way to go.
After the chat last night I got curious and decided to straight to the horses mouth and looked at the comments on the Telegraph's website. Dear lord is that a world of entitled hate and fear! It really was quite breathtaking.
after the chat last night I got curious and decided to straight to the horses mouth and looked at the comments on the Telegraph's website. Dear lord is that a world of entitled hate and fear! It really was quite breathtaking.
Plus it looked like they spent a fortune on it.
Personally I think they could have excised the villain entirely.
Simply have the doc inadvertantly cause an issue with the bus driver causing him to be off work before they realise who he is and the part he has to play in the drama. Rest of the episode spent trying to put it right in time.
However, I reckon Ryan has set up a villain for the future...
His motivation felt completely pointless and tacked on. How can civil rights make him a criminal several thousand years in the future?
How can civil rights make him a criminal several thousand years in the future?
Then why didn't go back and kill Moses to keep him from getting the 10 Commandments? None of that pesky 'Thou shalt not kill' business to deal with then.His motivation felt completely pointless and tacked on. How can civil rights make him a criminal several thousand years in the future?
While I thought he was a really poor villain, isn't that about the level of thought applied by such people. 'I committed a crime but it must all be someone else's fault, especially someone who doesn't look or act like me'.
Quit poking holes in my bubble. It's nice and quiet in here.How can civil rights make him a criminal several thousand years in the future?
He specifically says “This is where it all started to go wrong”. One can fairly infer from what he says that his crime was some kind of race hate crime that would never have happened (been ‘necessary’ in his view, I imagine) if all the black people had been kept in their proper place to start with. Whilst, yes, this sounds pretty simplistic, as Taryn notes — if you’ve ever spoken to (or had to listen to) a racist, pinning complex issues on simplistic causes is pretty much their entire schtick.
Fizzled out, that did.
I hope we see him again in the future, as president. Also, he hates Trump, so he can't be all bad.Stalin hated Hitler, so make of that what you will.
3. Ryan teleports villain into the past.
Some very minor niggles, such as wondering why Yaz was back in Sheffield so soon after the Spider episode (we've already established time isn't passing at a consistent rate back home, so no rush for Nana's birthday)
Some very minor niggles, such as wondering why Yaz was back in Sheffield so soon after the Spider episode (we've already established time isn't passing at a consistent rate back home, so no rush for Nana's birthday)
It was a flashback.
...but Graham preparing Prem for the ceremony bought a tear to my glass eye.
Loads of OH MY GOD SJW WHO online right now, and people bleating that it shouldn't be a history lesson.
Is it really 'another SJW nightmare' for them just because because most of the participants are non-white Muslims and Hindus, and they appear to be ordinary people?Or that they are there at all. Also: women. There are quite a few of them. The show multiple times per episode passes the Bechdel Test. Clearly, that is not on either. Or something.
There was criticism of the handling of the partition by Mountbatten et al. That hardly seems controversial, unless you're some sort of Niall Ferguson-type revisionist.
remember RTD served up farting Slitheen and deadly… wheelie bins.
remember RTD served up farting Slitheen and deadly… wheelie bins.
Paving. Slab. Blow. Job.
you are definitely in a minority with that opinion.
... the things everyone got sick to death off during Moffat's run?Not me - personally, I loved all those complicated plots, but I'm getting the sort of enjoyment from this season I used to get from Sarah Jane Adventures - enjoyable, but very conscious that it's not aimed at me as an adult, whereas previous seasons had enough action, laughs and scares to keep the younger ones involved, with deeper layers of plot for the adults.
Maybe multi part stories would work better
remember RTD served up farting Slitheen and deadly… wheelie bins.
Paving. Slab. Blow. Job.
I have no idea what this refers to...should I know?
I have no idea what this refers to...should I know?
“It’s a relationship, of sorts, but we manage. We’ve even got a bit of a love life.”
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--etRThW7Q--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_900,q_80,w_1600/18lp3s54cbki8jpg.jpg)
("Love & Monsters" — S2E10 of Nu Who)
Also: abrupt, weirdly edited ending. Man, do they need better script editors.
I'll admit I didn't have very high expectations for this episode but it turned out better than I thought it would. Possibly the most traditional episode this series so far.
Yeah, but would you? I mean she's supposed to be his girlfriend, but WTF is she getting out of it? It's either a rather disturbing view of a woman's role in a romantic relationship, or it's basically Deep Throat remade for a tween audience. I believe the usual phrase is "poor taste", but given the circumstances, I think we'll settle for "badly judged".
(I accept the counter argument that it could be meant to show that people with physical disabilities can have meaningful sexual relationships, but the overriding comedy twang of the whole episode makes it impossible for me to agree).
Maybe they just kiss?
Main issueYep to all of that. And it's precisely the sort of thing a good script editor should be sorting out.
YouTube, despite my efforts to massage its view of my tastes ...
....Today it was Bowlestrek, who spent 10 minutes ranting ...
Maybe they just kiss?
"We've even got a bit of a love life", says Elton, with the slab resting on his lap.
"Oh let's not go into that", says Ursula.
Hmmm. You're a more charitable man than I, Mr. Low!
Desperately wanted to enjoy the new Who series but apart from the first episode I've found almost the whole thing dreadful.Put that in the correct order for you. :)
The only 3 things I like are; Walsh, the opening credits/theme tune and Whitaker.
But the most annoying thing about Kerblam! was the over use of the sonic screwdriver. I wish that was all.
Lifelong fan. Can't be arsed with it after three episodes
Just reminding everyone that nostalgia is definitely rose-tinted.
That's likely the first time Berwick has ever been mentioned in a televised episode of Doctor Who, so...score one for the home team. :D (I live ten minutes from Berwick, so this was as exciting as seeing Sheffield was to some of you.)
That's likely the first time Berwick has ever been mentioned in a televised episode of Doctor Who, so...score one for the home team. :D (I live ten minutes from Berwick, so this was as exciting as seeing Sheffield was to some of you.)
Sorry to potentially burst your Berwicky bubble, but I think it needs pointed out that King James VI/I was likely referring to North Berwick (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Berwick_witch_trials), and not Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
If you watch the average episode of something like Star Trek TNG, they fit a lot of story in 45mins.
I'm just remembering watching that episode on broadcast with a bunch of friends just before we all started college. A different life!
I'm just remembering watching that episode on broadcast with a bunch of friends just before we all started college. A different life!
Same cardigan.
Differenthair, that's for sure.
Differenthair, that's for sure.
FTFY
My favourite of the season so far. It could still be improved by slightly more complex/twisty plots and a more take-chargey Doctor, but at least this week I didn't know exactly what was going to happen from halfway in.
I may have local bias - you can see Pendle Hill* from my mum's garden (one of my schoolmates' families has lived in Whalley, near Pendle for generations - his mum complained when one of the local souvenir shops was selling a Pendle Witches tea towel that listed her ancestor as being among the women convicted - when in fact she was one of the few that were acquitted. She kicked up a fuss and made them withdraw it)*one of those place names that has evolved and actually means hill-hill-hill
My favourite of the season so far. It could still be improved by slightly more complex/twisty plots and a more take-chargey Doctor, but at least this week I didn't know exactly what was going to happen from halfway in.
I may have local bias - you can see Pendle Hill* from my mum's garden (one of my schoolmates' families has lived in Whalley, near Pendle for generations - his mum complained when one of the local souvenir shops was selling a Pendle Witches tea towel that listed her ancestor as being among the women convicted - when in fact she was one of the few that were acquitted. She kicked up a fuss and made them withdraw it)*one of those place names that has evolved and actually means hill-hill-hill
That's likely the first time Berwick has ever been mentioned in a televised episode of Doctor Who, so...score one for the home team. :D (I live ten minutes from Berwick, so this was as exciting as seeing Sheffield was to some of you.)
Sorry to potentially burst your Berwicky bubble, but I think it needs pointed out that King James VI/I was likely referring to North Berwick (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Berwick_witch_trials), and not Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
EEEK! I missed that :o
never mind its where I live, but 'The "witches" held their covens on the Auld Kirk Green, part of the modern-day North Berwick Harbour area' is at the end of my street!
Also Cumming's aunt and cousins live in the town :D
Should say I thought the idea of the frog was a piece of genius. It was the special effects only that let it down.
After weeks of dispiritingly surface level stories, in which everything has been exactly what it appeared to be and plot twists have been almost entirely absent, we finally...finally...have an episode with depth.
If we don't get to meet Granny 5 at some point I'm going to be very disappointed. Loved that bit.
Speaking of Grannies, I was surprised how much of an impact fake Grace had on me - the original was barely in the show, and yet I deeply and personally resented this impostor. That's a strong character.
The Doctor seems to be an infodump device this series.
No series next year either, just the New Year's episode...
In fact, having given it a bit more thought, I'm genuinely considering that episode as a new entry in my top (or bottom) ten all-time worst episodes of Doctor Who. I loathed everything about it.
In fact, having given it a bit more thought, I'm genuinely considering that episode as a new entry in my top (or bottom) ten all-time worst episodes of Doctor Who. I loathed everything about it.
I’m not sure I’d be that harsh on it, but I’d agree it was terrible — it made literally no sense whatsoever. I’d be happy to keep Whitaker, but Chibnall will kill this show within three years.
...but Graham preparing Prem for the ceremony bought a tear to my glass eye.
That was powerful stuff alright, Bradley is MVP for me this series. I confess I was hoping the Doc .
Loads of OH MY GOD SJW WHO online right now, and people bleating that it shouldn't be a history lesson.
Somebody on twitter rather sharply noted the lack of previous outrage at Victorian England episodes, the Shakespeare episode, the Pompeii episode… just the Rosa Parks and Indian Partition episodes. Funny, that.
Yes, it's my fault for watching at all and feeding the click economy (acknowledged that in my previous post), but it's hard to ignore literally rows of thumbnails of hate. Everytime I get one, I ask not to get any more from that channel and on that topic and give my reason. And tomorrow there's another selection (plus anti-ST Discovery and anti-TLJ Vids... Hmm, what do they have in common?) overwhelming the stuff I do want to watch.
Hence my whine that it's hard to enjoy - or judge - the show in isolation. It exists in a monetized warzone. The only option seems to be to stick my fingers in my ears and leave the shits to rant unopposed, and claim overwhelming consensus. It's not exactly a pleasant idea.
Betting on Grendel for New Years Day.
Fair enough. I probably would have liked the captured miniaturised planets as well, had they not been lifted wholesale from Douglas Adams' Doctor Who.
Heh, that was a great piece! Cheers Taryn. It does make me realise the source of our contrasting reactions: I really don't care enough, which is probably a big failing for the series as a whole. For me, sitting down with the kids after an early tea, the episode moved along, Graham had some good dramatic moments, the Doctor was fine, it was fun. But on the terms discussed in that Eruditorum review, it was a disaster.
There's been plenty of bland, pish Doctor Who, both new and old, before now. So I can't see it as suddenly being reduced to this level.
There's been plenty of bland, pish Doctor Who, both new and old, before now. So I can't see it as suddenly being reduced to this level.
There's been plenty of poor Doctor Who in the past, but there was at least a sense that they were trying to do something good. The reduction in quality has been sudden. Compare this years series finale to last years finale and the gulf in quality is enormous. While there have been huge dips in quality between stories before - for example, Caves of Androzani being followed by The Twin Dilemma - they still existed in series where something new and exciting was just around the corner. Unfortunately, with Chris Chibnall in charge of the show, there is no sense that anything even passably good is just around the corner. 'It Takes You Away' feels like it was a success in-spite of its producer, rather than because of him. Ultimately, the problem with the show now is Chris Chibnall, and that's why there's genuine concern about the show so long as he's in charge.
Yes, Season 24 was pretty poor (aside from Paradise Towers), but in both Delta and the Bannerman and Dragonfire I could at least see that they were trying to do something worthawhile. Bear in mind that Season 24 was a season rushed to production so that the new script editor, Andrew Cartmel, didn't have enough time to turn the show around so that it reflected his future vision for the programme. He was, however, able to sow a few seeds which would later blossom into the, ultimately curtailed, Cartmel masterplan. So while Season 24 was pretty bad, there was light at the end of that tunnel, a sense that the show was in a transitionary phase; although I will grant you that the show was cancelled not long after. As of now, there is no light at end of the tunnel. All we have is Chibnall and his surface level scripts and basic ideas.
I'm quite sure I'm not alone in not wanting to bash either the show or production team to this degree. But, ultimately, it's because I care, and it matters to me that Doctor Who should be quite this vapid.
With the exception of a couple of episodes, I seem to enjoy them while I'm watching them, but ultimately feel rather unsatisfied afterwards. That's been this series as a whole really...
There's been plenty of bland, pish Doctor Who, both new and old, before now. So I can't see it as suddenly being reduced to this level.
What was Moffatt's series finale? If we are talking about the one where he shat on the First Doctor from a great height, then I'm reckoning the Chibnall Era a resounding success in comparison.
I liked the determination to free all the prisoners, I liked the weirdness of the Auchs (sp?) pair, I liked seeing Tim Shaw again, I liked the development of Graham and Ryan's relationship, I liked Graham's dilemma, I liked the captured miniaturised planets, I liked almost all of the Doctor's monlogues/dialogue. The action felt purposeful, and the story felt like it traded on what we'd seen of the characters over the series.
As usual the logic of the plot was incoherent, the villain caved far too easily, and Yaz had little or nothing to do.
What was Moffatt's series finale? If we are talking about the one where he shat on the First Doctor from a great height, then I'm reckoning the Chibnall Era a resounding success in comparison.
That wasn't the series finale; that was the Christmas special which followed on from the end of the series finale. The series finale was 'The Doctor Falls'.
it felt very Pip and Jane Baker
Convenient? That poor man had been pointlessly carrying a microwave oven with him all day.
Thought it was weirdly less than the sum of it’s parts, liked the new use of the dalek but I’d actually have preferred it if it was an all new foe (I mean, for me, the “Oh it’s a dalek” just made me go “Oh it’s always daleks”)
The Dalek was pretty disappointing looking when it turned up in full dalek-armour
The resolution was rubbish (esp the let’s just run around a bit and creep up on it? - are daleks only good with frontal assaults or something)
Also: it felt like a recycled bone kickers script, which annoyed me because i’d Rather have new bone kickers...
I'd still give her another couple of series to settle in before Making my mind up.Again, if the rumours are true, it's another, what, ten episodes and she's gone?
I'd still give her another couple of series to settle in before Making my mind up.Again, if the rumours are true, it's another, what, ten episodes and she's gone?
As for gender flips, my understanding is most of the scripts were in place before her casting. Regardless, any issues from this New Year's Day episode again showcase the need for a decent script editor.
So much of that didn't work for me. And the bits that did, I got the feeling I had seen before.
I know the fact seven people were lined up against the dalek at the end was kind of the point but I think it just shows how little idea they have for what to do with the core companions.
Yeah I like Yaz, but they really need to do more with the character.
Yeah I like Yaz, but they really need to do more with the character.
TBH, the only way is up.
It may be of interest to know the scrapyard Dalek was completely robotic and didn't have an operator inside like the usual ones do.'Unidentified Kaled Mutation in bagging area, please remove abomination to continue'
Convenient? That poor man had been pointlessly carrying a microwave oven with him all day.
Yeah I like Yaz, but they really need to domoreanything with the character.
Well, given the current state of police budgets, maybe she's as well trained as they can make these days.Yeah I like Yaz, but they really need to domoreanything with the character.
Corrected that for you! (well, alright, there was the one episode when she went back to the partition of India, but for a police office who wants to prove themselves, the character just doesn't seem to act or give the impression of being a figure of authority).
Should make an episode with the Autons - if only for that referenceYeah I like Yaz, but they really need to do more with the character.
TBH, the only way is up.
New Auton story for next series - Yaz and the plastic population.
I am little late to the party just finished series 11. I hoped that I would enjoy it but that was not the case. I will give the next series a go because I do think there is some protentional in the new doctor.
My biggest problem is the stories. It mostly feels dark and sombre (where is the fun and silliest gone?). The companions I do not care for at all. The companions are always an important part of the series. At least I liked Jodie Whittaker more than Peter Capaldi as the doctor.
This. The stories were awful. Example: why was the Dalek in three pieces, not one? I guess script editors aren't used any more
Or possibly the series as a whole, with it going into hiatus.
Twitter awash with rumours today that Chibnall has been sacked and Whitaker has walked in protest. Some talk of a press release from the BBC later this afternoon…If so, not a great move by Whitaker, frankly. Another Colin Baker moment?
... the new rumours originated on a popular Doctor Who message-board
Twitter awash with rumours today that Chibnall has been sacked and Whitaker has walked in protest. Some talk of a press release from the BBC later this afternoon…