"It feels different this time..." - The new Doctor Who Thread

[Kirin]

Yeah, it was a bit surprising that the Doctor just straight-up sent the antagonist off to get blown up, though the script went out of its way to make him deserving of a bad end, having recently committed single-handed genocide. Definitely not an episode for nuance.

 

[Kirin]

A Town Called Mercy - Well, someone wanted to do a Western and there we are. Not a bad episode. But this one straight up makes explicit in dialog the idea that the Doctor gets murdery when he's away from companions for too long. Which to be fair isn't a new theme for Who, but I feel like the Tennant era handled it with a bit more nuance.

The Power of Three - This season just can't stop teasing back and forth about whether/when the Ponds are leaving and honestly it's getting a little tiresome. I love them but I'd rather they just be around until they're not rather than being all coy about it. As for the actual episode plot, the cubes were a neat device while they lasted, but ended up being extremely anti-climactic... an automated extermination system that can just plain be turned off within a couple minutes of figuring out what it is? Almost felt like the episode ran out of time for an actual climax.

 

[Kazin]

I'm really enjoying your reactions to these episodes, Kirin. It's fascinating seeing what someone not embedded in DW fandom thinks of them - neither of those episodes are particularly beloved. I do have some affection for A Town Called Mercy, even if it's not my favorite - and I don't like Power of Three very much (which probably won't surprise you, as that's another Chibnall episode).

 

[Phantoon]

I'm really enjoying your reactions to these episodes, Kirin. It's fascinating seeing what someone not embedded in DW fandom thinks of them - neither of those episodes are particularly beloved. I do have some affection for A Town Called Mercy, even if it's not my favorite - and I don't like Power of Three very much (which probably won't surprise you, as that's another Chibnall episode).

I'd go so far as saying that the one- two of Dinosaurs On A Spaceship and A Town Called Mercy is the lowest point of the entire Moffat run for me. I don't think Doctor Who has ever managed a good Western episode, and it would probably have to be a Yojimbo remake to work.

 

[Kazin]

Depends on how you define "good" - I absolutely adore The Gunfighters, fandom has been wrong about that one for decades as far as I'm concerned. But it's a comedy - if you're looking for a "serious" western, you'll hate it, yeah. I find Hartnell's performance to be one of his best in that one, and there's some good lines and it's really Dodo's only good story as well (that we can actually see, anyway).

I actually like some of the later series 7 stories less than the ones Kirin has watched so far - but it's my least favorite Moffat series by a mile, at least if you don't count the anniversary stories.

 

[Phantoon]

I've never seen The Gunfighters. I ought to watch more of the old stuff.

I think I like all of the second part of season 7. There's the desperately unfortunate casting choice in Journey To The Centre Of The Tardis and The Crimson Horror is Gatiss being Gatiss but it's generally pretty good for me.

 

[Gaer]

Now this is interesting.

The entire study is fascinating, give it a read.

And I’m still gonna die mad about how they did Donna dirty in the end.

 

[Kazin]

...why would they leave out Clara?

EDIT: Oh, because it's old.

 

[Gaer]

Yeah 2014. I still thought it was interesting! I have an urge to rewatch series 4. Looking back it’s my absolute favourite in the series (old or new) and that’s surprising even to me.

 

[Kazin]

It is, especially for the point Kirin is at! I just wondered why they'd leave out Clara since her era seemed like a course correction on Moffat's part, then I realized my error.

Donna DID get done dirty, though, and I'm still mad about it, too.

 

[Gaer]

FOREVER MAD

SHE FINALLY GOT WHAT SHE WANTED

 

[Kirin]

Yeah, I was not happy about Donna's fate either.

Meanwhile, catching up to do since I didn't get on TT over the weekend but I did watch a lot of Who.

The Angels Take Manhattan - Speaking of fates of companions, I guess this one was pretty okay as "needing to definitively write people out of the show" goes. Though I wish we'd gotten to see just a glimpse of their epilogue other than only hearing it narrated. Also I feel bad for Rory's dad. But also, the beginning of the episode made me realize it had been a while since Who just bowled me over with something straight-up ludicrous like Weeping Angel Statue of Liberty so that was fun.

The Bells of Saint John - Clara seems cool. The hacking stuff is of course completely ridiculous, but fun episode anyway.

The Rings of Akhaten - Ooh, this one was very pretty. Zombie mummy god was a little cheesy but actual star parasite god was delightfully over the top and I really enjoyed the episode overall.

Cold War - Ah, Russian submarine times. Fairly disposable episode, but fine, and it was interesting to sneak in both the Stoic Ancient Warrior archetype and the Scuttling Alien-esque Horror archetype in the same dang character.

Hide - Ghost story time again. I liked the resolution of the "ghost", though the resolution of the monster was kind of abrupt and weird. The Doctor is being kind of a shit about not knowing what's up with Clara.

Journey to the Center of the TARDIS - I guess the thing Phantoon was talking about is that the most prominent black guest stars we've seen in ages are a group of mostly amoral shits? Yeahhhhh, that's... unfortunate. Interesting to finally get to see so much TARDIS interior that had only been referenced before though (presumably thanks to expanding budgets). Annnnnnd this is where I realized I totally missed an episode because the Doctor referenced seeing other versions of Clara die *twice* and I only remembered one of them and oh crap, the xmas episode came halfway through a season this time? Geez. Well, I'll go back and find that.

 

[Kazin]

Yeah, I was not happy about Donna's fate either.

Meanwhile, catching up to do since I didn't get on TT over the weekend but I did watch a lot of Who.

The Angels Take Manhattan - Speaking of fates of companions, I guess this one was pretty okay as "needing to definitively write people out of the show" goes. Though I wish we'd gotten to see just a glimpse of their epilogue other than only hearing it narrated. Also I feel bad for Rory's dad. But also, the beginning of the episode made me realize it had been a while since Who just bowled me over with something straight-up ludicrous like Weeping Angel Statue of Liberty so that was fun.

Check this out - I like it a lot, and Chibnall wrote it! It's an unshot followup for the Ponds, specifically Rory's dad:

The Bells of Saint John - Clara seems cool. The hacking stuff is of course completely ridiculous, but fun episode anyway.

The Rings of Akhaten - Ooh, this one was very pretty. Zombie mummy god was a little cheesy but actual star parasite god was delightfully over the top and I really enjoyed the episode overall.

Cold War - Ah, Russian submarine times. Fairly disposable episode, but fine, and it was interesting to sneak in both the Stoic Ancient Warrior archetype and the Scuttling Alien-esque Horror archetype in the same dang character.

Hide - Ghost story time again. I liked the resolution of the "ghost", though the resolution of the monster was kind of abrupt and weird. The Doctor is being kind of a shit about not knowing what's up with Clara.

Journey to the Center of the TARDIS - I guess the thing Phantoon was talking about is that the most prominent black guest stars we've seen in ages are a group of mostly amoral shits? Yeahhhhh, that's... unfortunate. Interesting to finally get to see so much TARDIS interior that had only been referenced before though (presumably thanks to expanding budgets). Annnnnnd this is where I realized I totally missed an episode because the Doctor referenced seeing other versions of Clara die *twice* and I only remembered one of them and oh crap, the xmas episode came halfway through a season this time? Geez. Well, I'll go back and find that.

Meanwhile I don't like any of these very much! I've recently been converted a little bit to The Rings of Akhaten by this Black Archive book about it (it's a very good book!), but it still isn't my favorite...

 

[Kirin]

Check this out - I like it a lot, and Chibnall wrote it! It's an unshot followup for the Ponds, specifically Rory's dad:

Oh man, this is exactly the sort of thing I was wanting, thanks for posting it!

(*sniffle*)

 

[Phantoon]

I guess the thing Phantoon was talking about is that the most prominent black guest stars we've seen in ages are a group of mostly amoral shits? Yeahhhhh, that's... unfortunate.

That's the one!

Seeing your reviews reminded me I liked all of these, even Cold War which used the Ice Warriors pretty well. I don't think I'd argue any of them are classics, except perhaps Hide, which I really enjoyed.

 

[Kazin]

Oh man, this is exactly the sort of thing I was wanting, thanks for posting it!

(*sniffle*)

There's a lot of "minisodes" from the Moffat era. That and one that you should watch immediately after the series 7 finale (that I absolutely don't want to spoil) are the only must-see ones, imo. The RTD era had only a few, of which only this absolute garbage quality one, seemingly the only version of it on Youtube:

 

[Phantoon]

That and one that you should watch immediately after the series 7 finale (that I absolutely don't want to spoil)

That's honestly one of the best Doctor Who things I've seen. Amazing stuff.

 

[Kirin]

There's a lot of "minisodes" from the Moffat era. That and one that you should watch immediately after the series 7 finale (that I absolutely don't want to spoil) are the only must-see ones, imo. The RTD era had only a few, of which only this absolute garbage quality one, seemingly the only version of it on Youtube:

Okay I don't have the Davison-era experience to fully appreciate that, but the line "No beard this time... well, a wife.", oh my god.

 

[Kazin]

Haahaha right?!

 

[Kirin]

Went back and found The Snowmen, which was the mid-season special I missed.
So... okay, lesbian-married Silurian Sherlock Holmes with a sword? I mean, very yes? Just, wow, I love all these people here. Also I immediately thought that snow voice sounded familiar, oh right of course it's Sir Ian. Nice.

Conveniently, I got to just keep watching all these awesome characters in The Crimson Horror. I get the feeling from comments above that people weren't too hot on this one but eh, it's okay in that slightly-creepy/mostly-just-weird niche and anyway it has Vastra and Jenny and Strax in so who cares I just want to watch them faffing about even if they only got to do a few things in this ep.

And oh hey, I've just noticed I'm about to get a second Gaiman episode, I'd forgotten about that, neat. And then a season ender and.. oh shit, I'm almost at the end of Eleven huh? I wonder if I already own the necessary specials in some pack or if I need to hunt those down too...

 

[Kazin]

No idea if you own the specials, but they are some of the best Doctor Who has to offer (at least Day does, anyway - I like Time more and more as time goes on). Also, after Name, search Youtube for an mini episode called "Night of the Doctor" (DO NOT EVEN LOOK THIS UP THIS BEFORE YOU WATCH NAME OF THE DOCTOR).

I adore the Snowmen. The image of the Doctor living on a cloud is Moffat's fairy tale Doctor Who imagery at it's best.

 

[Phantoon]

No idea if you own the specials, but they are some of the best Doctor Who has to offer (at least Day does, anyway - I like Time more and more as time goes on). Also, after Name, search Youtube for an mini episode called "Night of the Doctor" (DO NOT EVEN LOOK THIS UP THIS BEFORE YOU WATCH NAME OF THE DOCTOR).

I adore the Snowmen. The image of the Doctor living on a cloud is Moffat's fairy tale Doctor Who imagery at it's best.

I agree with all of this so much. I love almost all of the Moffat Christmas Specials, but the Snowmen is a good one. And Night Of The Doctor is a must watch after Name.

Time Of The Doctor is a very strange special, but I love it as an end to Eleven. Can't wait to see what you make of it, Kirin. It could be anything on the emotional spectrum, really.

 

[Kazin]

Time Of The Doctor is a very strange special, but I love it as an end to Eleven. Can't wait to see what you make of it, Kirin. It could be anything on the emotional spectrum, really.

Spoilers for Time of the Doctor, Matt Smith's final episode: The back half of it is fantastic, whereas the front half(ish) is dumb nonsense. I can't stand the Doctor not telling Clara that her holographic clothes would be seen through by the church; it's yet another example of Moffat's inability to understand that his dumb joke invokes consent issues. I wish it were cut out of the episode entirely.

I also wish we'd seen Tasha Lem before this episode, but you know, whatever. Old Matt Smith dying in the basement of Christmas surrounded by the toys he'd repaired for the town's kids is moving. Also the joke about him not getting the Christmas cracker is great.

 

[Phantoon]

Yep, that's the bum note of it, but the rest is fantastic and moving.

I also like that the regeneration limit was given the respect it deserved i.e. none whatsoever. It's nerdy crap that was never going to make for an interesting story, and gives the episode meaningful stakes.

 

[Kazin]

I also like that the regeneration limit was given the respect it deserved i.e. none whatsoever. It's nerdy crap that was never going to make for an interesting story, and gives the episode meaningful stakes.

Yeah, there was literally no way to make that dramatic, I agree. Plus, the Master got around the regeneration limit in nineteen seventy goddamned six so it's not like the writers weren't going to wriggle out of that one anyway.

 

[Zef]

Yeah, there was literally no way to make that dramatic, I agree. Plus, the Master got around the regeneration limit in nineteen seventy goddamned six so it's not like the writers weren't going to wriggle out of that one anyway.

"And I did it without turning into a CGI snake!"

 

[Kazin]

Right, that too. Ugh, I'm not looking forward to watching the TV movie again...

 

[Phantoon]

Life's too short to watch really crap Doctor Who again, dude. Do something else you'd find more enjoyable, which is a pretty big list of options.

 

[Kazin]

I must watch it all in order at least once. TV movie is months away, anyway. About to finish Brain of Morbius today.

 

[Phantoon]

You're going to watch all of the Sixth Doctor in order? You poor soul.

Are you blogging your enjoyment / torment? Would be an interesting read.