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Who is watching Doctor Who tonight

886 replies

Firefly2009 · 25/11/2023 17:13

And if you've now seen it, what are your thoughts?

I'm predicting I will love it no matter what. But look forward to discussing it.

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Onethingafteranother12 · 03/12/2023 15:48

Loved It!

I feel like there is so much to get through next week though! Toy Maker, Unit Towers, goodbye to Donna and David ect. Hope its not too rushed!

Ocani · 03/12/2023 18:05

It was awesome! Running around, snappy dialogue, a gloriously stretched ending that still managed to be nick of time AND the beautiful, marvellous Bernard Cribbins. I think this will be one that people remember. RTD really has a great creative gift - able to physically realise situations that are satisfying to watch and he's making the most of his increased budget.

Does anybody want The Timeless Child??! Word from the Whovian I know is that it's deeply unpopular. Listen to your fans, Russell!

SurelySmartie · 03/12/2023 20:27

Wow last night’s was really brilliant. That felt like proper doctor who. It was very clever and well done. Even though it was mostly the two of them it kept me gripped. Good story telling and acting.

greengreengrass25 · 03/12/2023 21:00

Reallly enjoyed this episode

No preaching either

greengreengrass25 · 03/12/2023 21:00

Yes and Bernard Cribbins

Rummikub · 04/12/2023 01:50

This was scary. Did not lie running on all fours.

My arms are too long. So simple!

pickledandpuzzled · 04/12/2023 07:09

I guess the Timelss Child allows an ethical Dr, and power crazed TimeLords- if I remember correctly. And extra regenerations, if the restrictions are only on those who aquired Tardis energy.
Im more interested in the personhood of all the tardises, shown in Matt Smith’s.

Angrycat2768 · 04/12/2023 07:48

pickledandpuzzled · 04/12/2023 07:09

I guess the Timelss Child allows an ethical Dr, and power crazed TimeLords- if I remember correctly. And extra regenerations, if the restrictions are only on those who aquired Tardis energy.
Im more interested in the personhood of all the tardises, shown in Matt Smith’s.

The Doctor isn't always all ethical and nice though. And he left Gallifrey a long time ago because they were evil. The new regenerations were explained in Matt Smiths final episode, which they do seemed to have retconned even though it was less silly than the Timeless Child!

TrashedSofa · 04/12/2023 09:59

I really liked this week's, having been a big 00s fan then gone off the whole thing in the early Capaldi years

TripleDaisySummer · 04/12/2023 10:15

I thought it was a much better episode though slow at start.

I immediately thought robot was on a self destruct mission and the kids and me were confused DH didn't immediately pick up conversations were happening at same time with doubles - did like fact he picked wrong Donna first time and had to go back and Wilf at end was nice touch.

I had thought it had been previously announced that they were keeping Timeless Child as cannon so wasn't surprised by that.

Most portrayals of Newton tend to show him as cold and distant - the remote genius - here he was affable and friendly though gravity/mavity gag and Donna changing word didn't really land for us - probably didn't help we watched behind scene after which had over long explanation of joke.

TrashedSofa · 04/12/2023 10:25

It did take a while to get going yeah. I wasn't too engaged in the first 10 mins or so.

Binglebong · 04/12/2023 15:54

Can anyone explain the timeless child plot pretty please- I don't want to watch it but it sounds as if it will be referenced in the future.

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Firefly2009 · 04/12/2023 16:11

Binglebong · 04/12/2023 15:54

Can anyone explain the timeless child plot pretty please- I don't want to watch it but it sounds as if it will be referenced in the future.

Timeless child plot ret-conned the entire original history of the doctor. Instead of William Hartnell being the first doctor, he/she discovered she was originally a black little girl who had originated elsewhere, fallen through a portal (or something), found by a time lord who then experimented on her (by killing her over and over )and by so doing copied his/her inherent ability to regenerate. Therefore the time lords abilities were taken from the doctor who isn’t a time lord after all. He/she also had regenerated countless times before the First Doctor.

It creates many potholes. Eg. Matt smith (11) was granted extra regenerations and it was a big story arc. Well that wasn’t necessary as it turns out if the doctor wasn’t really on his 11th/12th regeneration.

I could go on but the whole thing is stupid and that’s an understatement

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BigDahliaFan · 04/12/2023 16:16

I enjoyed it. I'm not a huge fan...and stopped watching anything like reliably after Christopher Eccleston left (that dates me) popped in occasionally but found the original Tennant doctor annoying, quite liked Matt Smith, never watched Capaldi (but think I may go back and watch it now having recently caught the episode of him on his own in the puzzle castle, which was excellent), and recently watched a couple of Jodie ones...not as bad as I'd heard but a bit annoying.

But these, with an older more reserved Tennant - I'm really enjoying the 2 so far. I like the character development and the humour. Yes it's deeply silly, doesn't bare any close inspection, but I'm enjoying them.

TrashedSofa · 04/12/2023 16:32

Firefly2009 · 04/12/2023 16:11

Timeless child plot ret-conned the entire original history of the doctor. Instead of William Hartnell being the first doctor, he/she discovered she was originally a black little girl who had originated elsewhere, fallen through a portal (or something), found by a time lord who then experimented on her (by killing her over and over )and by so doing copied his/her inherent ability to regenerate. Therefore the time lords abilities were taken from the doctor who isn’t a time lord after all. He/she also had regenerated countless times before the First Doctor.

It creates many potholes. Eg. Matt smith (11) was granted extra regenerations and it was a big story arc. Well that wasn’t necessary as it turns out if the doctor wasn’t really on his 11th/12th regeneration.

I could go on but the whole thing is stupid and that’s an understatement

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That sounds pretty shit.

TripleDaisySummer · 04/12/2023 16:50

It was shit - and amazingly got worse with whole reunion with Tecteun (adoptive mother/kidnapper) who was running experiments on universes and seemed to hate the Dr.

Then there was some weird shit about Time itself taking Dr Who's appearance and getting in her face - I don't remember the details I think I'd stopped caring well before that point.

PuttingDownRoots · 04/12/2023 16:52

Was the Newton stuff actually relevant in anyway?
It felt more like a Comic relief gag.

Angrycat2768 · 04/12/2023 16:54

Firefly2009 · 04/12/2023 16:11

Timeless child plot ret-conned the entire original history of the doctor. Instead of William Hartnell being the first doctor, he/she discovered she was originally a black little girl who had originated elsewhere, fallen through a portal (or something), found by a time lord who then experimented on her (by killing her over and over )and by so doing copied his/her inherent ability to regenerate. Therefore the time lords abilities were taken from the doctor who isn’t a time lord after all. He/she also had regenerated countless times before the First Doctor.

It creates many potholes. Eg. Matt smith (11) was granted extra regenerations and it was a big story arc. Well that wasn’t necessary as it turns out if the doctor wasn’t really on his 11th/12th regeneration.

I could go on but the whole thing is stupid and that’s an understatement

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Agree. It was stupid and unnecessary and completely destroyed all DW Canon for no good reason. If it had been The Master who had been constantly experimented onnit would have explained his madness, his resentment of The Doctor, why he was angry at the Timelords etc.

TrashedSofa · 04/12/2023 16:58

Angrycat2768 · 04/12/2023 16:54

Agree. It was stupid and unnecessary and completely destroyed all DW Canon for no good reason. If it had been The Master who had been constantly experimented onnit would have explained his madness, his resentment of The Doctor, why he was angry at the Timelords etc.

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Yeah, that sounds like it might actually have made sense!

BigDahliaFan · 04/12/2023 16:59

PuttingDownRoots · 04/12/2023 16:52

Was the Newton stuff actually relevant in anyway?
It felt more like a Comic relief gag.

Kind of agree, maybe it gets relevant, or is there for people who don't know the programme to say 'look stuff like this happens!', or, more likely, they just fancied doing it.

MelsMoneyTree · 04/12/2023 17:20

I like the actor who played Newton. He was in It's A Sin. The gag was silly and oddly anti-science for a sci-fi show ie Newton didn't coin the term gravity. Usually DoctorWho at least tries to get the science right.
The timeless child was rubbish. I read something (can't remember where) that said Chibnall saw his run as self-contained and that each showrunner could change the lore as they wanted - as though he didn't realise there were some strands of the storytelling that had been running for 60 years!

Binglebong · 04/12/2023 17:29

Ffs that sounds ridiculous. Thank you for answering my question. I think. Not 100% sure I needed such stupidity.

Angrycat2768 · 04/12/2023 17:37

MelsMoneyTree · 04/12/2023 17:20

I like the actor who played Newton. He was in It's A Sin. The gag was silly and oddly anti-science for a sci-fi show ie Newton didn't coin the term gravity. Usually DoctorWho at least tries to get the science right.
The timeless child was rubbish. I read something (can't remember where) that said Chibnall saw his run as self-contained and that each showrunner could change the lore as they wanted - as though he didn't realise there were some strands of the storytelling that had been running for 60 years!

What nonsense! He was on some TV programme when he was a child talking about Doctor Who. He knows it's not self-contained! I think he just thought of some way he could make his mark, but the show is bigger than him and his ego. He should know how Sci fi/fantasy fans feel about vorticity and Canon!

Angrycat2768 · 04/12/2023 17:49

DS has decided he 'actually hates' RTD, as he should have just consigned it to the dustbin of Doctor Who history but by mentioning it again he has made it Canon 😅

TripleDaisySummer · 04/12/2023 18:17

The gag was silly and oddly anti-science for a sci-fi show ie Newton didn't coin the term gravity.

Did think this and I thought whole sketch was only there to show how out of control TARDIS was - though maybe it will have more relevance later - who knows it would be nice if the writing was that clever.

Did lead us to googling origin of gravity as a word as assumed Newton didn't coin it as implied - Latin meaning weight and likely evolved from earlier language -so did learn something. Did annoy DH though as we were talking about that as slow pace wasn't gripping our attention - did get better as it went on though - so was more a distraction at start which probably wasn't the aim.