Who is watching Doctor Who tonight

[Firefly2009]

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.

Thoughts here.

The idea that DT is commando... yes, please.
NG with no trousers? Also yes please.
NG was robbed of a regeneration. Not fair.

Will DT now die of old age?
NPH dancing to the Spice Girls may be the best thing ever.

Oh and to the friend who posted spoilers on SM. Fuck off. Some of us have things to do and shouldn't have to avoid SM.

I LOVED that and I am very excited about Ncuti’s series. I like the idea that DT could come back one day.

Do you remember a few years ago we met The Curator? Maybe that's who DT will regenerate into eventually.

Loving Ncuti's Doctor already.
Great Dr energy

That was the 50th. Oh yes that's true. It could explain the two Doctors there too.

It feels so so different to previous who it's a bit jarring, but honestly the last two episodes were wildly engaging and entertaining. I didn't really like first one tbh, weirdly paced and odd. I'm on board though and looking forward to Christmas ep. I really wonder how chibnall feels rn tbh. Not in a bad way, but he must be comparing and contrasting (eek). Tbf I really liked power of the doctor and eve of the daleks and he had to contend with covid. I'm so glad Russell acknowledged the flux and timeless child, would have been a kick in the tits if he ignored/retconned it like people wanted.

RTD has just made a change crazier than the timeless child and people generally seem to be raving. Fandoms are fickle.

I loved Matt Smith's doctor. I'd liked Eccleston, and really liked Tennant but found him a bit manic and really thought his regeneration build up was overly soppy. (I don't want to go!) So I was worried we'd be in for a soppy regeneration today. So for that reason I'll be happy with the bi generation idea.

NG seemed charismatic from the start, so I'll watch and give the storylines a go.

I found Capaldi enjoyable enough but struggled to get into Jodie's episodes. Initially it made me stop watching, but I've since dipped in and enjoyed some of them - the New Year time loop in particular.

I mean, I do love DT, and he's in my top 3 favourite Doctirs, and I make a point of watching him in most other things, but he is one of many actors who have played the part. It just seems RTD is making him into more than the sum of the show somehow

I agree, the last time DT left they made such a huge, emotional episode out of it, with the Ood singing and all the visiting and tearfulness. DT does seem to be given more fanfare in general.

I wasn't wild about the bigeneration, but I'm not a huge fan in general of this constant retconning of established Doctor lore that every modern showrunner feels obliged to do to make their mark.

@Angrycat2768 I agree on all counts but I guess DT is the one willing to keep returning.

I do think RTD suffered a bit from the (never let a subtext exist) chibnall shit in the beginning, was rolling my eyes at the start, where did subtlety go? Then it took a turn for the bizarre and the better. Genuinely creepy shit. Then kept it up, nice, NPH was a scene stealer (not sure about the musical number).

So looking forward to Ncutis first proper episode, I like the seeding of the big bad and a hand picking up the master, epic callback. I think he will knock it out of the park at Christmas, he always did great introductory episodes.

Bit odd these eps for an anniversary, but I'm not complaining.

The toy shop totally referenced Pollocks Toy Shop. www.pollocks-coventgarden.co.uk

At the end I was also thinking of when Poirot retired...

Overall there were bits I loved and lots that had my eyes rolling.

Yy I loved the callback to the Master's ring with the red-nailed woman picking up the gold tooth.

@MelsMoneyTree i noticed during the episode that they were all wearing the same colour varnish and now I realise that it’s so that we don’t know which woman picked up the tooth! Good one.

Do you think that they get one heart each? (apologies if someone already raised this)

I loved the Spice up your life bit. I thought it was brilliant. Entertaining but sinister at the same time! Like a Joker moment but sanitised for kids TV!

I asked DS that (he's a total Whovian). He said "noo?????"

I did wonder that, but then you get into them only having half of any organ that the Doctor just has one of, so I went with it being a complete bi-generation in the same time and space. That caused a wardrobe glitch as the new Doctor generated inside the existing one, so there was nowhere for new clothes to be. As a result the existing Doctor’s outfit had a very quick committee meeting and divided itself in a way to best preserve both Doctors’ modesty… Or something.

Not entirely sure about the bi-generation. Overall a proper weird scary DW episode. Loved NPH and the plot concept worked.

It's kind of bet hedging isn't it? Feels like they want the option of bringing DT back for a reset and viewing figure boost if things are ever a bit underwhelming.

DT looked old and tired for most of these episodes. Do we think that was deliberate make-up to support Donna's 'you're exhausted and need to rest' ? Or is it just because DT is almost 20 years older than when he first played the Doctor and those 20 years showed?

I would have preferred if DT's Doctor had just regenerated when the Toymaker was boxed up as though that undid the game and left Ncuti as the only Doctor. I've had enough of DT's Doctor now.

I'm also wondering if they have left the door open for DT to return at a future date. Just in case this new one fails. I am not sure about him yet. We shall see in the upcoming episodes with him in, how he works out.

These last 2 episodes have been amazing. (With the first of the 3 - I am still on the fence...) But these past 2 have been the best since DT was last the Doctor, and DT is certainly the most popular Doctor. Everyone I know in real life loves him.

Also, he certainly does NOT look 'old and tired' as a pp very rudely said. He's only 52 FFS. Some actors have been older than that when they started as Dr Who.

William Hartnell, Peter Capaldi, and Jon Pertwee were all in their 50s when they started as Dr Who.

I enjoyed this one more than the other two, less preachy and more Whovian.
NPH was superb, awful exaggerated German accent and all. And his joyously hostile dancing was wonderful. Agree, lovely nod to Pollock's.

I noted the reference to the (Celestial - RTD dropped this, as thinks it racist) Toymaker having spent years mucking about with the Doctor's history, so I am hoping that puts paid to the Timeless Child bollocks.

Also noted another reference to salt, when Kate LS instructed some UNIT member to bury the Toy box in salt.

Not that happy about bi generation and DT's Doctor sticking around on Earth. With a Tardis.
If he has really “retired”, why keep it?
I suspect this is really about a potential spin off, with him and Donna's child going off on jaunts.
I think it is unfair for NG who has nice legs has to make the role his own, without the previous Doctor hanging about in the same timeline, stealing/sharing his thunder.

What happens if something big and alien threaty kicks off on Earth? DT won't be able to prevent himself from showing up, will he?

… unless the mavity thing indicates that this is still in an alternate universe and DT can stay there as Donna's lodger and NG zooms off back to the original one, where gravity is gravity.
Also, when all the short lived humans get older and start dying off, DT will abandon them all, as is the Doctor's wont, so there will still be another loose Doctor… unless the shared clothing thing was a visual representation of there being less to go round between the two Doctors? Less life force, less Time Lordiness, or something. So he might fade in the end.

Anyhoo, for his first brief appearance as the Doctor, I thought NG had both presence and charm, and I do hope that the writing continues to reflect this.

This episode’s resolution felt a bit rushed but WOW I loved the new dr. Outrageous charisma.

I'm not totally convinced by the bigeneration but in the best case scenario I wonder whether it will allow Ncuti Gatwa a bit more freedom to make the role his own away from the 'tortured soul' vibe.