Doctor Who (Spoiler/Episode discussion)

Yes! Especially the HP/Dumbledore KX thing, which immediately occurred to me too. Didn't think about the possible frog re-appearance, but can definitely see it now you've mentioned it.

On the whole, a good episode.

I said further back in the thread, in the responses to ep1, that SDC would probably re-appear.

From an article on Digital Spy today, it looks like we will be getting an animated version of the 1960s lost story The Macra Terror to be released next March with a special screening at the BFI before it gets released (March 16 for the screening and 18th for the dvd and digital download). I’ve got high hopes for this as the previous animated stories release I thought were very well done.

As series finales go, that was a complete mess. It was so confused as to the narrative, the motivation of the characters. The plastic boxes containing planets made zero sense and looked so cheap.

Poor writing and poor directing.

3/10

And as for the next series, I can see them starting it with the 2020 NYD special and going on from there

Having had 24hrs to have a think about my thoughts on yesterday’s season finale, I’ve got to say that I was definitely disappointed with what was offered. While I thought the cinematography and location work was good, I’m definitely in the camp with the storyline being messy. There where lots of ideas thrown around in the episode, but none really fully developed.

I certainly felt this was more of a “normal” episode rather than being a season finale one. I think that this ultimately as a direct result of having a season of singular episodes rather than having a story arc season. For me this meant that you couldn’t have a build up of tension over the season to see it culminate in a big final episode. I appreciate that the new production staff wanted to get away from the story arc idea of previous years which to some sextent I agree with as certainly I found the SM era arcs a bit too much. Though the going back to basics approach of having a series of stand alone episodes as in the classic era certainly had mixed results. For me personally, looking back over the entire season, there wasnt an episode where I thought there’s story I’d like to watch again in the future. Nice to watch as a one-off but not enough to make me want to order the box set.

Did the idea of having a series of episodes exploring social issues intertwined with sci-fi payoff? Well, if the idea was to get back to the core idea of what DW was intended for when It was first conceived, then yes it probably did. I thought the Rosa Parks episode was a thoughtful and written piece, though the sci fi element certainly wasn’t. Though maybe having the “social issue” of the week approach was a bit too much. The main issue for me is that there hasn’t been a villain in the episodes where I thought, I’d love to see them back in future episodes for a rematch. Certainly there wasn’t exactly a baddie this year that for me would be memorable in years to come.

For the new TARDIS crew, certainly JW has a brought a new energy to the series and the companions were certainly more enjoyable to watch this series than some of the previous TARDIS crew, though for me Bradley Walsh has been an absolute revelation and a real joy to watch. His scenes, particularly with Sharon D Clarke have been some of the best in the season, though I just feel having 3 companions just doesn’t work. You get the situation where one of the characters as a result suffers in terms of character development. For me sadly this has been Mandip Gill as Yasmin. A lovely actor but her character really hasn’t had much impact for me.

Overall, not a bad season, though certainly I would like to see the return of some of the classic villians in 2020 if we don’t get the Daleks in the new year episode, as well as having at least a 2 parter to bring back the cliffhanger element that has been missing this season.

I had a sort of slow puncture of enthusiasm about this series. I loved the opening episode, it started things on a high but the graph then had a shallow downward slope from there, with a slight pick-up at the end and a high blip for the one with the pregnant bloke. It was a bit like one of those albums where the opening track is by far the best one and makes you hope the rest of it is as good, when it isn't.

I hope they stick with the no story arc but make more of an effort to build some tension and a genuine sense of danger, both of which were missing from this series and which I don't think can be ascribed to the lack of a story arc. I was pleased they went with the standalone stories approach of the classic era and I want them to make it work better than it has here, and show that you can achieve that sense of tension and jeopardy without the arc, which should be possible.

Having three companions has, I agree, to some extent diluted the Doctor-companion relationship and also created a sense of Graham being the strongest and most stand-out one. That in turn has skewed the dynamic despite the stories' attempts to show the four of them working as a team. But overall I think they made a fair stab at changing things around in light of the bold move to a female Doctor. She was good and very watchable but just a bit too manic. She was at her best when she slowed down a bit and became a little darker, but it didn't happen enough. But it'd be too jarring to change that now.

So we have the new year's day one then nothing until some time in 2020.

Wow, Dr Who has finally delivered! This New Year’s Day episode was a triumph and a wonderfully fresh Dalek slant.. A real treat and thrill after the up and down nature of the recent series. Cracking story, delivered very well indeed.

Some genuinely funny moments, too, worked in fabulously: loved the random family coping with the implications of internet down. And the suspension of UNIT. 

Loved it!

I agree with the above posts on the NYD episode. It's the sort of level they need to sustain for future series, especially now there'll be such a long interlude.

There were two credible characters in this episode - the two archaeologists in the opening scene. They had a genuine dynamic and were worth watching.

After that we really had nothing. Far too much build up and not enough pay off.

Too much time on father/son stuff that added nothing to our understanding of anything and just filled air time. And then there was Chekhov's microwave which was shoehorned in with no respect for proper dramatic construction. We also got a shoehorned reference to dyspraxia - something that has hardly been a factor other than the bike-riding sequence in the first episode.


Does Jaz have any real personality or contribution to the team/show as a whole?

It is poorly written, poorly plotted, poorly paced. It was a 45 minute story arc with padding to make it fit the timeslot. I hated the random family scene - that was weak, lazy writing.

Chibnall has made some very bad calls since taking over. The fact that he is having to defend the direction he has taken the show is not encouraging for the long-term health of the programme.

I have no issues with Jodie Whitaker - she is finding her feet in the role. But I have major issues with the writing (character development is very poor), the plotting and the pacing of episodes.

It is seriously misfiring. If the start of the next season shows no improvement, I will be another who gives up until a new showrunner is appointed.

I loved the death by microwave.
Charlotte Richie’s character would be a terrific companion, the archeology background could bring something interesting to the story that we don’t get with the current trio, who are feeling increasingly irrelevant.

Or in fact Graham! Or whatever his name is.

I'm so dimwitted with these things sometimes. I had no idea the helpline scene was a dig at brexit.

Brexit deserves to have pops made at it, and Doctor Who has *always* been a socially and politically conscious show.