[tv show] Doctor Who

[Garacesh]

The Pting was kind of adorable in its own weird way, and I really don't mind the fact that it was an episode where the 'big bad' isn't actually a big bad. As I've said previously, I like having one of those episodes every once in a while, but I do think they should've waited a few more episodes instead of broadcasting it right after Arachnids... which similarly didn't have a typical big bad. This one should have been a bit later in the season, maybe around Ep 8 or 9.

 

The pregnant man was clearly only there to provide another bonding moment between Graham and Ryan and to pad out the cast, though I do think the fact that it was just 'a pregnant man' and not a 'proper' alien species was a bit weird.. I get what they were going for it but it came off as a bit lazy or bizarre. I am still enjoying the character growth between those two though. It's incredibly well-written. It feels real.

 

Honestly, I feel like Doc Brown (Ben Bailey) stole the episode. I've never actually seen him act, only doing stage comedy and Taskmaster, so I didn't expect him to nail his role so well but he really did. The subplot between him and his sister was pretty good, but having them both so conveniently being neuropilots and being able to fly the ship felt a bit of a deus ex machina.

 

Overall, it was enjoyable, but it was still a bit m'eh. It wasn't terrible, but there wasn't really much substance to it either. The sister was forgettable, the doctors were forgettable, and Yaz didn't really do all that much either (though I think that's just an intrinsic difficultly with giving three different companion proper pacing, character growth and screentime) It certainly won't be one of the more fondly remembered ones from this series.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Garacesh

[AJWhite1970]

She's SO mannered and over the top - I can't see me sticking with it if the rest of it is like that

 

On the plus side, just discovered there are only 10 episodes this series rather than the usual 13

[LeMarchand]

It may have been the alcohol consumed at the christening of The Little Baby Jesus the grandson in the morning/afternoon/early evening and/or the boredom of having to deal with the m-i-l wittering on about her 2 favourite topics (herself and Cornwall), but I dropped off during this episode. Only, I think, for a couple of minutes - but I have no desire to go back and find out what happened.

 

Not awful, but I don't think it's destined to be a classic.

[elsiegee40]

Nice joke about seeing all 900 casts of Hamilton, but apart from that it was poor last night

[Ephelyon]

Another thing I didn't like was that Astos gets one over on the Doctor quite early on about "being selfish", which just isn't very Who. It's widely acknowledged throughout the series that the Doctor does have faults, but she's not supposed to get out-moralled by a random side-character in about 30 seconds flat.

 

Anyone else feel that?

[6Foot2]

Nice joke about seeing all 900 casts of Hamilton, but apart from that it was poor last night

Easter Egg in Tsuranga Conundrum:

 

Link: https://twitter.com/gavinworby/status/1059182084504334337 [Picture Tweet]

 

 

1. Each episode is standalone without reference/throwback to previous stories?

2. How/where did they get an image of a Silent/Silence?

 

[Garacesh]

2. How/where did they get an image of a Silent/Silence?

That bit can actually be explained.. They said all the medics had those ocular implant thingies that recorded everything they saw.

[6Foot2]

That bit can actually be explained.. They said all the medics had those ocular implant thingies that recorded everything they saw.

Fair enough.

[AJWhite1970]

So is Stitch a ptang or is a ptang a non union Mexican distant cousin...?

[6Foot2]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50790[/ATTACH]

So is Stitch a ptang or is a ptang a non union Mexican distant cousin...?

 

[Pedant Mode]Pting. Ptang is something else entirely[/Pedant Mode]

 

[Rob_D]

On the plus side, just discovered there are only 10 episodes this series rather than the usual 13

And (apparently) no Christmas special.

[pooley]

And (apparently) no Christmas special.

 

 

New Year special instead, they seem of of run out of Christmassy ideas

[Garacesh]

New Year special instead, they seem of of run out of Christmassy ideas

 

Fine by me.

I'm sure there'll be plenty of moaning that there's no Doctor Who on Christmas Day 'cause people like to pretend every little inconvenience is the first sign of the apocalypse, but ah well. It's a bit of a shame, I always watch it with Mum, but it's no big deal. Life goes on, we're still going to eat our body weight in pigs in blankets, and completely ignore the Queen's speech. C'est la vie.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Garacesh

[Rob_D]

To be honest, I don't see why the Christmas-day special has to be based on a Christmas story anyway. Some of the better ones have only been tangentially related to the holidays (like the Titanic one - I can't even remember how that's Christmasy).

[6Foot2]

To be honest, I don't see why the Christmas-day special has to be based on a Christmas story anyway. Some of the better ones have only been tangentially related to the holidays (like the Titanic one - I can't even remember how that's Christmasy).

 

The understanding of the passengers of the space-faring Titanic in connection to Christmas traditions on Earth is somewhat corrupted.

[Garacesh]

To be honest, I don't see why the Christmas-day special has to be based on a Christmas story anyway. Some of the better ones have only been tangentially related to the holidays (like the Titanic one - I can't even remember how that's Christmasy).

 

Easy! They sang that one Christmas song on it before the androids decided to get their murder on

(Plot wise, the episode was actually taking place on Christmas Day, though, IIRC, just everyone except Wilfred Mott was in hiding because weird alien-stuff keeps happening at Christmas)

Edited November 5, 2018 by Garacesh

[gshaw]

Another thing I didn't like was that Astos gets one over on the Doctor quite early on about "being selfish", which just isn't very Who. It's widely acknowledged throughout the series that the Doctor does have faults, but she's not supposed to get out-moralled by a random side-character in about 30 seconds flat.

 

Anyone else feel that?

 

The portrayal of this Doctor's personality thus far comes across like she doesn't seem to know quite what she's doing. For an episode or two it's the usual regeneration effect but by now it comes across more like a lack of self-confidence and knowledge. Maybe that's a character growth thing that'll get resolved later in the series but doesn't really do JW many favours imo.

[sigma]

I've not watched it yet. Having been advised not to watch the previous episode because of a particular phobia, I've kind of lost the momentum to bother. That hasn't happened for a looong time.

[6Foot2]

Link: Doctor Who to take on witch trials and intergalactic retailer as new episode synopses are revealed [Radio Times]

 

...Penned by Pete McTighe, episode seven, entitled Kerblam!, sees the Doctor receive a mysterious package.

 

“"Delivery for the Doctor!” A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy’s largest retailer: Kerblam!”

 

The episode features former Coronation Street and Broadchurch star Julie Hesmondhalgh and comedian Lee Mack, and is directed by Jennifer Perrott – who also helmed the Tsuranga Conundrum.

 

The eighth episode of the series will see the gang head back to the past, observing a witch trial in England in the 1600s.

 

The Witchfinders is written by Joy Wilkinson in her Doctor Who debut.

 

The synopsis reads, “The Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz arrive in 17th century Lancashire and become embroiled in a witch trial, run by the local landowner. As fear stalks the land, the arrival of King James I only serves to intensify the witch hunt. But is there something even more dangerous at work? Can the Doctor and friends keep the people of Bilehurst Cragg safe from all the forces that are massing in the land?”

 

The episode stars The Good Wife favourite Alan Cumming as King James I, with Downton Abbey’s Siobhan Finneran also guest starring.

[Arthur]

[mavhc]

I liked ep 4 more than the previous ones, but not really sure why

[6Foot2]

Link: Doctor Who moves to earliest timeslot yet to make room for David Attenborough documentary [Radio Times]

 

Jodie Whittaker’s adventures are being shifted in the schedules for an upcoming episode.

 

Jodie Whittaker’s first Doctor Who series will have its earliest timeslot yet for an upcoming story, with the Sunday 18th November episode Kerblam! set to air at 6.30pm.

 

So far this year Doctor Who has tended to air at or around 7.00pm on Sunday nights, with a couple of episodes landing at 6.55pm and the series’ first episode (which was around 12 minutes longer than usual) kicking off at 6.45pm...

[unixman_again]

In the 1970s Dr Who went out at 17:30 a good hour earlier than this "earliest yet" time slot.

[Arthur]

[sparkeh]

Just watched Episode 4 and loved it. Great doctor and enjoyable episodes. Really good start to her reign. [emoji3]