Dr Who

[Mr Mystery]

First part I struggled with, mostly because I was knackered from moving house and Halloween partying.

But what a second half. Absolutely glorious stuff.

[Erik Setzer]

It's amusing that they refuse to answer the question about which Osgood is which. I think that might be poking a bit at the fans who keep asking.

I liked the episode, aside from the one point with pretending Clara is more special than she is. One question that came to my mind is, "Do they really give every companion of the Doctor access to all that secret stuff?" And my friend immediately pointed out, "Wait, they've had FIFTEEN attempted revolutions?!?" Guess he didn't think earlier to actually have someone remember what nearly happened.

But yeah, pretty much summed up war really good there. You get a bunch of people killed until you finally sit down and talk like you should have in the first bloody place.

[Mr Mystery]

Bit a damp squib this week for me.

I was left with too much of a 'huh?' feeling throughout.

Still, that's the first episode this season that's been duff, and 8 out of 9 is not bad going at all.

[Mr Mystery]

A much better episode that!

[Darren Richardson]

to be honest, I've only really liked the Dalek Episodes and Zygon Episodes so far this season, I've felt the other episodes have been a bit mehh.....

[Erik Setzer]

The weird space station episode was... odd. I'm not sure what the resolution actually was?

This past weekend's episode, though... brilliant, IMO. I like Ashildr/Me. My friend thinks she's kind of a b****, but I recognize that she's in a tough spot and, honestly, the Doctor does leave a bit of a mess around (because saving the world does result in collateral damage). The thing that really surprised me, though, is what she's doing with a drug last seen in use by Torchwood.

Clara's death would have been a much better scene if she hadn't done this whole thing before it where she acted like her death would change the Doctor and all that. She's not even the most important companion he's had. He's had to say goodbye to a LOT of people, and had to kill a lot of them. And his going absolutely nuts on someone wouldn't really be him "changing" that much (since he's done it before). So she's basically just acting like she's so much more important than she is, and it's just annoying with how far they go with it. She saw the whole Time War thing and should have an inkling what he's been through, she went to Trenzalore with him and saw him say goodbye to his wife's ghost (and saw the littered battleground that was his potential grave), she saw him obliterate a bunch of Daleks who were threatening Christmas, she's apparently read a lot of his journals. So why does she think she's so much bigger than anyone who's ever been in his life, and that him unleashing rage would make him different? For heaven's sake, the Daleks keep pointing out that he's incredibly like them in how much anger he has. That's one thing I won't miss about Clara. That self-importance and smugness was getting to be way too much.

If Missy was indeed meant to show up again this season, it seems like she might be involved in the coming episodes, but I'm not sure how.

I'm trying to run through theories of who might have set up the trap. One of my first thoughts was the Gallifreyans, but they did give him all those regenerations and all. Then again, I don't think the leadership changed, and even if it went back to how it was, they were always pissed off at him, and they'd have the technology to summon his old ghosts to mess with him. Too subtle for Daleks, or even Cybermen. Missy screwing with his head doesn't seem right given what happened earlier in the season (and given how he acted when she almost led him to kill Clara, he'd really go off if she did lead to Clara's death). Maybe with him saving Gallifrey, he also saved other Time Lords who really hated him.

So many possibilities... Have to wait to see what really happens. Gah!

[Mr Mystery]

Well, I believe River Song is coming back into it - though I think that's the Chrimbo Special.

Ah well. Only a few days until we know more!

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

That was actually alright, reasonably interesting, found Clara as boring as any of the other modern-who companions so glad to be rid of her. Would personally have a japanese feudal Onna-bugeisha (Female samurai) but itll probably be yet another modern british girl mary-sue that loves the doctor.

[Mr Mystery]

*flails his arms right out the window*

[eldargal]

That was actually alright, reasonably interesting, found Clara as boring as any of the other modern-who companions so glad to be rid of her. Would personally have a japanese feudal Onna-bugeisha (Female samurai) but itll probably be yet another modern british girl mary-sue that loves the doctor.

Donna is an underrated companion, but I think of the modern ones only Martha was particularly interestg (and also adawble). But yes can we please, please, please have a non-modern companion? No more modern wimmins please.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Joseph Marcell as a talking amorphous blob too please. Basicly his character from fresh prince in the form of a small blue liquid creature the doctor can keep in a jar if need be.

not sure what to think of this saturdays episode so far. Had some interesting ideas but felt like it was trying too hard to be a tom baker serial, again with those hinchecliffe and hammer horror influences. Would of been better with more science fiction elements imo. Will be happy if gallifrey is brought back properly, if it is just another "visit" like the awful last of the time lords I will be annoyed.

[Erik Setzer]

Looks like it's brought back properly.

I can't even wrap my head about doing what's basically a 200,000,000,000 year version of "Groundhog Day." That has to be a mess. Though apparently it was kind of "all in his mind" as he was still in the device the whole time. (Wasn't that his confession dial?)

I'm a bit more concerned about this "Hybrid" talk. Please, please, PLEASE don't make the throwaway line about being half-human an actual thing.

[Mr Mystery]

He was indeed inside his confession dial.

I think.

I dunno.

[Wildeybeast]

It seemed like a clever twist at the end until I thought about it properly and realised the moat would fill with skulls long before he punched his way through the wall, resulting in his death before he figures out to get back to the transport room. At least get your own internal logic consistent Moffat.

[Mr Mystery]

Not if its functionally bottomless.

[Erik Setzer]

It seemed like a clever twist at the end until I thought about it properly and realised the moat would fill with skulls long before he punched his way through the wall, resulting in his death before he figures out to get back to the transport room. At least get your own internal logic consistent Moffat.

Unless it wasn't really happening, the skulls weren't real, and it was just a trap inside the device, a psychological prison... which would explain how he could keep dying and being reborn without needing regenerations or anything. The device marked the passage of time in its internal world, but not everything else. And if the rooms and all reset, why couldn't the area under the water?

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

That would involve some science fiction, and SF is something moffat has little knowledge or respect for.

I rewatched Castrovalva this evening. Way f**king better.

[Wildeybeast]

Not if its functionally bottomless.

It isn't cos it's filled with skulls. We saw them.


Unless it wasn't really happening, the skulls weren't real, and it was just a trap inside the device, a psychological prison... which would explain how he could keep dying and being reborn without needing regenerations or anything. The device marked the passage of time in its internal world, but not everything else. And if the rooms and all reset, why couldn't the area under the water?

It was filled with skulls, so it clearly wasn't resetting. As for being a psychological prison, I guess it could be, but if that's so why couldn't he break out quicker? The whole thing made no sense.

[Erik Setzer]

It was filled with skulls, so it clearly wasn't resetting. As for being a psychological prison, I guess it could be, but if that's so why couldn't he break out quicker? The whole thing made no sense.

It could have been pre-filled with skulls, something to trick him, much like how everything was resetting.

Why couldn't he break out quicker? Well, again, the passage of time might have been different than real time. And it was probably a part of the "prison" to keep him unbalanced so much that every time he himself reset, he forgot about his plan until the end, even though he kept leaving subconscious clues.

[Darren Richardson]

Yes he was in his Confession Dial, which had two zones which appear to not reset, room 12 and the moat, which also appears to have been a reverse Tardis effect, bigger on the outside of the castle rather then on the inside.

I think it works a bit like a cross between a teleporter and a Timelord Matrix, which if you's watched this weekends epsiode, you'll have heard about again....

Hell of a twist on the Doctor's part to suffer a similar fate as poor old Donna Noble.

Ohh and the Doctor's been Half Human since the 8th Doctors TV Movie by the way, which in turn was a take on the old Peter Cushing's Dr Who movies Doctor who WAS human.

[Erik Setzer]

I'm still not so sure he is half-human. But they'll just leave that one as an unanswered question because it's better than dealing with potential continuity issues (though with Doctor Who, continuity issues are just part of the program).

I'm interested to see what happens with Me next, especially as she now has a TARDIS. I wouldn't mind more of her in the show. I am interested, though, to know how she knows so much about Missy (and to even call her that).

The Doctor's fate is also a bit different from Donna's... supposedly he can't remember Clara at all, and nothing can change that. With Donna, all the memories are intact, just sort-of blocked, but could come bursting out if they're triggered.

[Mr Mystery]

I really enjoyed that one, and I'm looking forward to the Chrimbo Special, in a mere 18 days.]

Favourite bit? In a relative split-second, they've thrown open the casting door for the inevitable Next Doctor. Gender, skin colour - it doesn't matter. It's 100% canon now that such things don't matter to Timelords.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

YAY Time Lords and Gallifrey back....

...and it ends up being mostly about f**king clara who should of been left dead 2 episodes ago. Well I knew moffat couldn't kill off one of his dull mary sues. "Everyoneeee livessss" seems to he mantra of moffat *yawn*, Rassilon defeated too easily - what a waste of a great actor! no references to Lungbarrow either, another lost opportunity.

on the positive - the production values and acting are superb this season, everything looks really good - dug all the gallifreyan imagery (bar the peasants which look too earth medieval for some reason) they just need writers that don't suck like moffat.

Xmas special looks like a terrible mix of Douglas Adams and Little Britain with another one of Moffat's Mary Sue's thrown in so a horrible combination there.

[Erik Setzer]

Not so sure it's "everyone lives" with Clara. It seems pretty clear she's a goner, and is only delaying the inevitable, which she can't put off for long, especially as she messed with the Doctor's brain specifically so she could do it without it bothering him too much. Why do that if you're not actually going to fix things and might well break them?

And in Me's case, "living" seems more like a curse at this point. She's now literally lived to the end of the universe, and now has the ability to go through it all again and again. But at least she *can* die at some point, if someone incinerates her entirely. So not as bad as Jack (who ultimately died anyway, despite being a mostly fixed point in time).

[eldargal]

Moffat leaving Doctor Who (http://www.themarysue.com/moffat-leaves-doctor-who/), being replaced as showrunner by Chris Chibnall

[Kirsten]

I keep reading that as Chris Cannibal

[eldargal]

I read it as Chip Crapnell lol, must be one of those names.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Oh dear, well can't say it was unexpected as I knew it would be someone from that "pool" of writers. I've not liked any of Chiballs episodes so i'm not gonna get my hopes up as he's just another fan like Russel and Moffat so itll probably still suck, but I suppose I'll give him a fair chance and watch a few of his episodes. Never watched "Broadchurch" but I see it has David tennant in it I won't even bother with that.

[Gotthammer]

Moffat leaving Doctor Who (http://www.themarysue.com/moffat-leaves-doctor-who/),

https://31.media.tumblr.com/150e3ac457da6e4bd74e0a25fffe61ea/tumblr_inline_nlnm5t785a1qjubbz.gif

[eldargal]

I'm hoping at least the overall plot might be more coherent and we might start to see more women whose life doesn't revolve entirely around the Doctor, or who get killed off just to make male characters sad... Though to be fair apparently Moffat did really well with Clara in the end but I'm like 10 episodes behind so I'm just going with what other people have said.

- - - Updated - - -


https://31.media.tumblr.com/150e3ac457da6e4bd74e0a25fffe61ea/tumblr_inline_nlnm5t785a1qjubbz.gif

Nice lol.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

I'm hoping at least the overall plot might be more coherent and we might start to see more women whose life doesn't revolve entirely around the Doctor, or who get killed off just to make male characters sad... Though to be fair apparently Moffat did really well with Clara in the end but I'm like 10 episodes behind so I'm just going with what other people have said.

IMO to fix it :

1) the show needs to not revolve around the f**king companion all the time like it has done constantly since "Rose".
2) Better more interesting companions, have a japanese onna-bugeisha, an alien or even just someone thst isn't from comtemporary london.
3) Better monsters, proper bizarre and non-humanoid creatures, DW gave us the daleks so there is no excuse for the poor, unimaginative crap they make. Hell, I'll even work for free for them :P
4) more sense of ADVENTURE, it's just felt like a bad soap drama for ten years. More alien worlds, more focus on other cultures and civilizations. The Hartnell, Troughton and Davison eras all accomplished this just fine and with their excellent production standards could do so again.
5) Coherant writing, would be f**king nice.
6) Fresh writers that are not fans and for god sake employ more women, DW is such a damn sausage-fest.

[eldargal]

1) Agreed
2) Agreed
3 Agreed
4) AGREED! Need more alien planets, and plots that revolve around the struggles of aliens the Doctor gets involved with and less paternalistic 'Doctor charges in and fixes Everything through the power of his white maleness
5) Agreed lol
6) Agreed.

In short, I agree.:p

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

4) AGREED! Need more alien planets, and plots that revolve around the struggles of aliens the Doctor gets involved with and less paternalistic 'Doctor charges in and fixes Everything through the power of his white maleness and magic wand penis for when writers can't think of a way to conclude the junk they've written.

Fixed for you :P

Also Idris Elba for doctor.

[Erik Setzer]

I think the companion's been viewed as a surrogate for the audience (who are, of course, primarily Brits, even if not majority Brits), and the recent showrunners think, "We should write it like we're on adventures with the Doctor, and we're so much more important than this guy who's saved the universe countless times and is practically a god!"

I don't want to be spoilery, but Clara's ending probably won't satisfy you once you see it, digest it, and really think about it.

However, I do like Me (and yes, that's her name now, if you watch the show you'll know that's what Ashildr calls herself and that's the name I'll use*), and I hope to see more of her in the future, especially given that she has the perfect way to keep showing up. I'm imagining her and Missy causing all sorts of trouble for the Doctor... though probably not together, as Me seems to be not entirely in line with Missy's ideology or actions. Heck, Me isn't really a bad person, it's just that her chosen role puts her naturally at odds with the Doctor, and her being entirely too pragmatic also means she's not going to earn favors with the Doctor.




*Sorry about the mini-rant there, I commented on a photo of some Doctor Who characters and called her that, and someone went off insulting me saying "You aren't in the show!" and calling me an idiot and stuff. I have to remind people that Me is what Ashildr chose to call herself, which is a bit odd, given that they only person who doesn't call her Me is the Doctor, who irritates her by using her birth name.

[Mr Mystery]

Dear Mr Chibnall.

27 years.

27 bloody years.

Ace is still owed a send-off.

Get on with it then,

Love and hugs

Mr Mystery, aged 35 and 2/3rds

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Ace is awesome in both the new adventures books and audio dramas. You should at least give the audios a listen, Sophie is amazing in them.

[Mr Mystery]

And we have a new companion (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4929530/)

Can't say I'm familiar with her previous work, but looking forward to seeing her on Dr Who :)

[Erik Setzer]

And the video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaLficIRInM

Name's a bit intriguing. But you can shorted Billie (name of the actress who played Rose) to Bill, so hey, it can make sense. Or there could be some other explanation. Who knows? Let's just get the new season here!

[Mr Mystery]

Moffatt on diversity, and why it very much does matter to Dr Who (http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/doctor-who/41135/doctor-who-lead-role-was-offered-to-a-black-actor-moffat-reveals)

Potentially encouraging comments there, including some self-reflection.

[Psychosplodge]

Can't the doctor just solve it with his magic wand like everything else?

[Mr Mystery]

Basically just do this.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5daywo40p1r9auk5o1_400.jpg

[Psychosplodge]

Is he a vampire? He really looks like he should be.

[CoffeeGrunt]

To be fair, Dr Who has made a decent crack at diversity in most instances. It just hasn't had a female or non-white Doctor. The story does, at times, center on non-white supporting characters and give them a good moment or two, (like Mickey The Idiot or Martha.)

Then again, I haven't watched it since midway through the Matt Smith era, so I dunno if it's changed. Ironically, I think the non-white supporting characters got the most memorable roles, like the guy who blew himself up in a last stand with some vampires.

[Mr Mystery]

The supporting characters are usually fine - as the article says, they're relatively diverse.

Interested to see where the new show runner takes it though.

[Cutter]

Is he a vampire? He really looks like he should be.

The Marquis de Carabas? Don't think he's a vampire, he's modeled on Puss-in-Boots...

[Psychosplodge]

The outfit just cries ageless undead aristocracy of the night

[Cutter]

The outfit just cries ageless undead aristocracy of the night

All the best ones do.

[Erik Setzer]

I don't think there's a burning need to make the Doctor change skin tone or gender as long as they keep up the good cast around the Doctor. I wouldn't be offended or quit watching or anything if it happens, but it feels like most of the calls for it are just people wanting to check off some boxes on some kind of diversity Bingo or something.

At least if the Doctor became a woman for a while, it'd make more sense than James Bond becoming a woman. (Though, again, I'd totally watch a 00# movie with a female secret agent getting into her own brand of escapades.)

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

A move like that might actually get me back, allthough if it has the same writing team as the past decade it will still be the worst sh1t ever.

Always thought Rudolph Walker had a great troughton-esque feel to him though ;
http://www.blackpresence.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/rudolph-walker.jpg

[Mr Mystery]

Minor Threadomancy, but preferable to starting a new one.

The Power of the Daleks is about to be re-released, 50 years after it first aired. Whilst the serial didn't survived the BBC Archive Purges, the audio did. So they've re-created it as an animated adventure using the original audio.

Other sad Gits like me will have seen this approach used where there were episodes missing. I am excite!

And a further word on diversity in Dr Who....for all his faults, Mr Moffatt did play a bit of a sneaky blinder in Hell Bent. He'd already established that a Timelord's gender can be changed by Regeneration (Missy), but in this he went one further, by showing an old white dude regenerate into a young woman of colour.

So if/when Mr Capaldi hangs up his Eyebrows, the casting is about as wide as you can get. Gender. Ethnicity....they aren't canon restrictions anymore. Literally any actor is now in with a shout. Well played Mr Moffatt. Well played. Even if not all is forgiven from this single act, the sentiment is appreciated I'm sure.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

animation? I wasn't impressed with the other "animated" ones they did, they looked pretty awful :/ Hope they've improved since as it's one of my faves.

[Mr Mystery]

Early ones were by Cosgrove Hall, but this is a different animation house.

And to be honest, I'd rather have slightly shonky amination than no story at all :)

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

will it be out on dvd? was shocked last time I went to the bbc shop to see all their physical products had gone completely (I hate digital downloads)

[Mr Mystery]

Yup. DVD release confirmed after the digital one. As a completest weirdo, I'll be getting the DVD to add to my growing collection.

How completest weirdo? I'll even be adding the frankly lack lustre David Tennants seasons. And I really, really loathe what they did to the Doctor in those.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Yup. DVD release confirmed after the digital one. As a completest weirdo, I'll be getting the DVD to add to my growing collection.

How completest weirdo? I'll even be adding the frankly lack lustre David Tennants seasons. And I really, really loathe what they did to the Doctor in those.

phew, ill probably get it then. Glad to hear it's a different animation studio too. They deserve to be done properly and to a good standard, id happily buy all "lost stories" if they were animated to a decent standard. Fury from the Deep and Marco Polo please.

I'm not a completist at all, I only like specific eras/doctors (1 and 2 and 7 and 8 mostly, but I like 3, 5 and 6 to a degree too)