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Christmas Day Dr Who

145 replies

boatyardblues · 25/12/2023 18:26

What. Da. Fuq? As DS just said after the musical number “did that just happen?”

It’s Dr Who Jim, but not as we know it.

Edited for typo.

OP posts:
whirlingdevonish · 26/12/2023 15:56

There's definitely more to come on Ruby. The lack of DNA. She's otherworldly or maybe comes from the future.

Love the eagle-eyed and ears spots of watery name references.

Also loved the fostering message. Nicely done.

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 26/12/2023 16:07

I didnt get how if they could all goback in time to take young ruby they didn't just go back 5 minutes earlier/have another go.

Why was it once and foiled and done?

Impalation of the Goblin King by the church spire obliterated the whole pack of them didn't it?

Lisbeth50 · 26/12/2023 17:56

"They never addressed where Ncuti was when Jodie turned into Tennant. He was in a white room asking where the hell he was. Was that supposed to just be some kind of limbo or something more sinister."

When did this happen? I don't remember that.

I quite enjoyed the Christmas special but found it a little odd in places. The goblins singing was quite un- Doctor Who like. I also thought it totally unrealistic that a foster carer would have a new baby and immediately leave it to go to the shops!! The social worker left straight afterwards too!

Topseyt123 · 26/12/2023 18:02

It was rather meh, but with a couple of interesting aspects. The storyline was much too Disney-esque for me, and rather weak.

I think Ncuti Gatwa has the potential to be a good Doctor, if the writing improves.

The intriguing questions from the episode will hopefully be developed further when the new series starts, like who Ruby actually is and why there is no DNA footprint of her relatives.

Also, who Anita Dobson's character, Mrs. Flood, actually is will presumably be explored. There is bound to be more to come there, especially after the "never seen a TARDIS before?" comment. I don't think she is quite who or what she originally seemed.

I think the problem with this episode is that it was the first one I have seen in which the influence of Disney has been blatantly obvious, such as the goblins and their ship in the sky with the baby-eating king. I know Disney is pumping a fair chunk of money in but some of what is appearing just isn't Doctor Who at all. I hope it isn't in danger of being totally consumed by Disney and losing much of what gives it its identity and actually makes it Doctor Who.

I'll give the new series a chance in May. I hope it can improve on the "Christmas Special" though, and it has a way to go to achieve that.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 26/12/2023 18:54

When did this happen? I don't remember that

I'm sure it was just after the regeneration. I've probably got mixed up.
Maybe they played a sneak peek at ncuti's series just after the episode which is what I saw, but it's clear as day in my head.

I thought at the time that David's reappearance had maybe been forced by an external source for nefarious reasons and the proper regeneration doctor was sent somewhere else as a prisoner. Clearly not as the daft bi regeneration was in the toy maker episode.

Nevermind.

cakeorwine · 26/12/2023 20:14

I am just a bit concerned that no one saw a giant Goblin ship flying over London or Ruby and the Doctor on the ladder

SoupDragon · 26/12/2023 20:17

I've just watched it. I loved it, singing goblins and all. I think as a Christmas episode it worked - pure entertainment, not too deep, sets up the next series and the new "team".

CoffeeWithCheese · 26/12/2023 20:49

Hated it - felt like watching an Asda Smart Price Labyrinth.

But I actually liked Jodie Whittaker's Doctor (and I loved the Ryan character - because dyspraxia gets fuck all airtime and it was nice to have it acknowledged) and I also quite liked Peter Capaldi to be fair.

Loved the David Tennant return episodes though.

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 26/12/2023 21:11

cakeorwine · 26/12/2023 20:14

I am just a bit concerned that no one saw a giant Goblin ship flying over London or Ruby and the Doctor on the ladder

It was above the clouds.

Puppytrashedmysofa · 26/12/2023 21:18

Not seen it for years but we loved everything about it .Disappointed about May though.

Kannet111 · 27/12/2023 11:58

ShitIforgothelves · 25/12/2023 19:21

I liked it. Never watched the jodie whittaker series, what was wrong with it?

Just bad writing. Too many side characters and just never found its feet.

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/12/2023 12:28

I enjoyed it. Ncuti Gatwa is great.

Not sure why they set it in Notting Hill. There was not point really, especially as it was actually shot in Bristol. Then they had to retrofit this storyline about the granny being a rent control tenant to explain how a single mother foster carer could afford to rent a large period flat in Notting Hill.

IClaudine · 27/12/2023 12:55

I absolutely love Ncuti's Doctor. He feels fresh and modern.

I liked the goblin song, but the whole episode was a bit too Disney-esqe. Looking forward to the new series, though.

TripleDaisySummer · 27/12/2023 13:08

Kannet111 · 27/12/2023 11:58

Just bad writing. Too many side characters and just never found its feet.

Show quote history

I also though her way of playing the Dr was wrong - as a ditzy little girl- she really struggled with anything dark or authoritative - Dr Ruth played by Jo Martin- a different version of Dr Who acted her off the screen with even less to work with.

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/12/2023 13:16

@IClaudine indeed, r
the syrupy family stuff was very Disney. It was nice to see fostering presented postively but I thought it was horrible that Ruby not exisiting turned the two women in to selfish, depressed people with the mum only fostering when she needed cash.

Plenty of child free people foster and are loving, fulfilled and caring people.

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 27/12/2023 13:50

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/12/2023 12:28

I enjoyed it. Ncuti Gatwa is great.

Not sure why they set it in Notting Hill. There was not point really, especially as it was actually shot in Bristol. Then they had to retrofit this storyline about the granny being a rent control tenant to explain how a single mother foster carer could afford to rent a large period flat in Notting Hill.

Yes, why is Dr Who so often set in 'London'? wtf if they are shooting in Bristol don't they have it set in Bristol? They could do some super scene setting shots with drones nowadays of the SS Great Britain and if that confuses Americans, tough. Maybe it made sense in the Tennant era when Rose and her family and Donna were very much Londoners but they surely don't need to carry on with that.

It was great that they had the sense to set Torchwood in Cardiff!

TrashedSofa · 27/12/2023 14:11

Especially as it meant they had to explain away Millie's accent. And Michelle who plays her mum is northern too!

beguilingeyes · 27/12/2023 14:47

cupcakesandt · 25/12/2023 18:59

First episode of Dr Who that we have ever seen, not sure on the musical scene but it kept our attention. I wonder if it's worth binge watching past series'?

Absolutely. Start with Christopher Eccleston and work forward. Billie Piper is a revelation.
I'm one those rare people who can't bear David Tennant but I loved Matt Smith from the off. He's my favourite Doctor now.
Ruby's accent was too reminiscent of Clara's for me.
Not crazy about the episode and didn't think the Specials were particularly special. Especially when compared with the 50th Anniversary ep which was fantastic.

Angrycat2768 · 27/12/2023 17:42

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/12/2023 12:28

I enjoyed it. Ncuti Gatwa is great.

Not sure why they set it in Notting Hill. There was not point really, especially as it was actually shot in Bristol. Then they had to retrofit this storyline about the granny being a rent control tenant to explain how a single mother foster carer could afford to rent a large period flat in Notting Hill.

Yes the London obsession is really stupid. And weird considering none of the main actors are from London and RTD is Welsh, and it's filmed in Cardiff and the surrounds. I don't think it's just a Disney thing either. RTD has done it a lot. I think they are insulting the intelligence of Americans who watch Doctor Who if they think they can't imagine anywhere outside Notting Hill existing!

SausageCasseroles · 27/12/2023 18:02

Yes nr the beginning there was a huge panning shot of a London bus.

We instantly said.... yes showing the Americans its set in London...

PuttingDownRoots · 27/12/2023 19:59

Who was the actress playing the social worker?

Mintymintymintymint · 27/12/2023 20:08

PuttingDownRoots · 27/12/2023 19:59

Who was the actress playing the social worker?

Gemma Arrowsmith. She teaches sketch comedy - I did one of her courses and it was great.

FreshWinterMorning · 28/12/2023 17:05

Biggest load of shit I have ever seen. Badly written, all over the place, naff, badly produced, badly casted, awful stupid story, and embarrassingly 'woke' - (again!)

Doctor Who has sadly lost its way, and after 50 years of watching it, I am done. Utter tripe. Obviously aimed the younger Millennials and Gen Z. And they are welcome to it. It's fucking crap now.

I was watching the clock, and I checked how much of the show was left 4 times. It just seemed to drag as it was so bad! Never watching it again. I shall only be watching old episodes. I am currently going through all the episodes that have been made since the year 2005, and am halfway through the second series with Matt Smith in it. It was SO much better then. I shall stop when the Matt Smith ones are done, as it went downhill a bit after that. It's utter crap now though.

This Christmas day episode only had 4.7 million viewers too. Piss poor. In the noughties (with David Tennant) the Christmas episode had 14 million viewers. Very telling. Wink

How sad. R.I.P. Doctor Who. Sad

TripleDaisySummer · 28/12/2023 17:44

I just rewatched Strange New Worlds musical episode ( I like Strange New worlds and Lower decks and even Kenneth Branagh take on Agatha Christie ) - it's so clever (and fun and many other emotions) advancing the series plots and the episodes and making warped sense. It's very like I remember the musical Buffy episode doing (though haven't seen it recently) - so really hard to see this Dr Who Christmas special as any kind of tribute to Buffy musical.

DH says RTD and quite a few others keep referring to Dr Who as a children's program a move away from what we always thought it was family viewing - something we do struggle to find and do look out for. Children's TV that stuck with my teens tended to be the drama with good writing and Horrible Histories - fun and informative. Millennials and Gen Z tend to like good writing as much as other generations it seem to be writers perceptions have shifted.

Special affects and Dr Who have a long history of being bit crap - though re-boot they've been really good - but the crack on the ceiling was distractedly bad at looking like a crack and odd given how much seems to be spent in other areas on effects. It does increasingly have feel of it's for kids no-one with notice if we half arse it.

On-line it seem divide how good 4.7 million is as how we watched TV has changed - but I do feel Christmas TV hasn't been great generally.

Hepzibar · 28/12/2023 20:48

Love Ncuti - yes you Are The Doctor, reminded me of CE (my favourite).
Stopped watching Capaldi and Whittaker both dire. So thus is an improvement.

Will be interested to see what happens with Mrs Flood.

Just glad I'm interested again.