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Doctor Who

937 replies

Deborah54 · 11/05/2024 08:54

This will be my 12th Doctor. I’m a big Doctor Who fan. Happy memories of Sat with my dad watching cyber men and darleks.
But what the hell has happened? I’ve just finished, well I managed 25 mins, before I couldn’t take it anymore the 1st episode with the new Doctor and sidekick. Awful acting with a ludicrous plot (yes I know it’s fantasy) but it’s never been this stupid. Can’t help but think the BBC aren’t bothered and think they can put out anything and we’ll watch. Russell T Davies should have his pens taken off him and spare us anymore pain.

I can’t be the only Doctor Who fan who thinks like this. Absolutely Gutted 😞

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TryingToSeeTheFunnySide · 27/05/2024 05:43

The front door of her older neighbour's house looked a bit like a TARDIS too.

ladyflower23 · 27/05/2024 07:47

And the door behind Roger ap Gwilliam when he is being questioned by journalists about why he resigned.

TryingToSeeTheFunnySide · 27/05/2024 07:54

ladyflower23 · 27/05/2024 07:47

And the door behind Roger ap Gwilliam when he is being questioned by journalists about why he resigned.

Ooh, I think I'll have to re-watch, and look out for more TARDI (if that's the correct plural for TARDIS?!) I definitely missed some...

GardenMusings · 27/05/2024 09:02

Is didn't see any of the tardises. So clever. I don't tend to rewatch but might now!

Magicpaintbrush · 27/05/2024 12:51

I've caught up now on all four episodes - didn't like 1-3, but I did like episode 4. Although it felt a bit disjointed going from rural Wales and the creepy pub to London and the political sphere. I liked the concept of the creepy old lady following Ruby, and I thought Ruby was excellent in this episode and I have definitely warmed to her as the new companion, I think she's terrific. I'm halfway there with the Doctor. I think what is bugging me about this series is all of the crying, hugging and singing - there was less of that in the 4th episode and it was better without it, it had more of an edge. I liked that Kate L.S was in the episode (albeit not that helpful to Ruby as it turned out). I would have liked to see more of the Doctor, but having said that I thought Ruby having an episode to herself gave her a chance to shine and she really did. I also would have liked to see some things explained - why did people run from the old lady? Especially Ruby's mother, what on earth happened there? No explanation of why she turned on her daughter like that? What I would like to see in future episodes is more of the creepy stuff, less of the Doctor having tears streaming down his face at the drop of a hat, less hugging, less space babies type crap, and the whole series to be a bit more Capaldi era, which imho was the best ever era of the Doctor. I think he had the most emotional depth of all the doctors, the most heart despite the grumpy exterior and he did it without bursting into tears every five minutes - his devotion to his companions (which only became obvious in moments of great peril), the struggles of his conscience over whether or not to help the young Davros, the Puzzle Castle, punching the racist Victorian man who insulted Bill, his attempts to present as more empathic to people (the hilarious prompt cards that Clara made for him with appropriate responses written on them for him) and lots more besides. And some of the best one liners in the whole of Doctor Who, with impeccable delivery, whether gravitas or comic timing was called for. His voice also occasionally sounded just like Tom Baker, which was a weird coincidence. If we could have more of that in the next series I would be very happy! And I never ever want to see another hideous song and dance routine in Doctor Who - wtaf is that all about. A bit less moral posturing and bit more good old story telling would also help.

CallMeDuringDrWhoAndIllKillYou · 27/05/2024 13:05

Magicpaintbrush · 27/05/2024 12:51

I've caught up now on all four episodes - didn't like 1-3, but I did like episode 4. Although it felt a bit disjointed going from rural Wales and the creepy pub to London and the political sphere. I liked the concept of the creepy old lady following Ruby, and I thought Ruby was excellent in this episode and I have definitely warmed to her as the new companion, I think she's terrific. I'm halfway there with the Doctor. I think what is bugging me about this series is all of the crying, hugging and singing - there was less of that in the 4th episode and it was better without it, it had more of an edge. I liked that Kate L.S was in the episode (albeit not that helpful to Ruby as it turned out). I would have liked to see more of the Doctor, but having said that I thought Ruby having an episode to herself gave her a chance to shine and she really did. I also would have liked to see some things explained - why did people run from the old lady? Especially Ruby's mother, what on earth happened there? No explanation of why she turned on her daughter like that? What I would like to see in future episodes is more of the creepy stuff, less of the Doctor having tears streaming down his face at the drop of a hat, less hugging, less space babies type crap, and the whole series to be a bit more Capaldi era, which imho was the best ever era of the Doctor. I think he had the most emotional depth of all the doctors, the most heart despite the grumpy exterior and he did it without bursting into tears every five minutes - his devotion to his companions (which only became obvious in moments of great peril), the struggles of his conscience over whether or not to help the young Davros, the Puzzle Castle, punching the racist Victorian man who insulted Bill, his attempts to present as more empathic to people (the hilarious prompt cards that Clara made for him with appropriate responses written on them for him) and lots more besides. And some of the best one liners in the whole of Doctor Who, with impeccable delivery, whether gravitas or comic timing was called for. His voice also occasionally sounded just like Tom Baker, which was a weird coincidence. If we could have more of that in the next series I would be very happy! And I never ever want to see another hideous song and dance routine in Doctor Who - wtaf is that all about. A bit less moral posturing and bit more good old story telling would also help.

Even as a Matt Smith stan I agree with every single word of this except
His voice also occasionally sounded just like Tom Baker, which was a weird coincidence

Capaldi was a huge Dr Who fan for decades, maybe even more than David Tennant. If he sounded like he was channelling Tom Baker at certain moments then I'm sure it was deliberate.

SheilaFentiman · 27/05/2024 13:16

“His voice also occasionally sounded just like Tom Baker, which was a weird coincidence.”

As per PP, it was entirely deliberate. Especially when he had the jelly babies in “Mummy on the orient express”

Treaclewell · 27/05/2024 16:33

Two episodes of treading on something altering something.
Also, someone talking about someone being a herald - similar function to a harbinger.

KomproMatilda · 27/05/2024 16:53

This is the first time I’ve rewatched in such quick succession.

But clearly my powers of observation are poor! I only noticed the TARDIS references on Ruby’s front door, Mrs Flood’s front door, the door at the end of the street behind the Old Woman as Carla approached her. Then Roger’s door as he resigned.

Ruby wore various plaid jackets - the one during the meeting with Kate was particularly noticeable as it looked like little Tardises floating in a sea of red. Then the bold plaid as she discovered her life’s purpose. Then the shawl collared coat when she was 80, to visit the TARDIS.

I wouldn’t have noticed the reflections in the windows if it hadn’t been pointed out here.

But I did like her snow crystal print pyjamas at the end of her life.

Wonderfully I think the episode was even stronger on a second viewing. Some reviews speculated that we might see Roger ap Gwilliam again (because the actor is a big star), I wondered also about Marti as she seemed so sharply drawn. The funny thing is, everything the people said in the pub as a joke, to frighten Ruby, was ‘true’. The Doctor was talking about Roger as he stepped on the fairy circle - and that released Roger into that timeline. So much to be intrigued by …

SheilaFentiman · 27/05/2024 18:37

I love Vulture recaps

AprilPoisson · 27/05/2024 21:52

Treaclewell · 27/05/2024 16:33

Two episodes of treading on something altering something.
Also, someone talking about someone being a herald - similar function to a harbinger.

Good call

  1. Stepping on a butterfly
  2. Stepping on a landmine
  3. Stepping on a fairy circle
JaninaDuszejko · 27/05/2024 22:40

I was the only one in my family who enjoyed it. The 16yo was very confused and grumpy, DH didn't like it, the 12yo was terrified. Having watched Blink last night Blink is still a better episode but I loved the creepiness and lack of explanation of this.

Why didn't she ask Mrs Flood for help after her Mum abandoned her?

SheilaFentiman · 27/05/2024 22:43

Mrs Flood is just a neighbour, what would she help with ?

Rummikub · 28/05/2024 00:10

AprilPoisson · 27/05/2024 21:52

Good call

  1. Stepping on a butterfly
  2. Stepping on a landmine
  3. Stepping on a fairy circle
Show quote history

Oo so it was! Plus Don’t step.

thecatsthecats · 28/05/2024 13:15

Been thinking about the "what did she say" question, and I think it links to the psychic force/projection filter thing.

Ruby is so fearful of rejection that she pushes people away - you see that through the series of dates. Maybe this manifests into a psychic force beyond words.

Her mum actually does speak to her over voicemail telling her that she's unlovable. So maybe it's Ruby's own fear manifesting in other people.

SoupDragon · 28/05/2024 14:28

There might not even have been any words, just a strong psychic compulsion to run away.

KomproMatilda · 28/05/2024 14:37

Quite, @SoupDragon.

I much prefer the writers to offer an invitation to the imagination rather than a roadmap with every detail filled in and no room for speculation!

Macbeff · 28/05/2024 18:30

I assumed the people who spoke to the woman realised it was the older Ruby, and assume that the younger Ruby wasn’t really her - it was something else with her appearance. Hence her mother saying that it wasn’t her when she was banging on the door.

SheilaFentiman · 29/05/2024 07:41

That’s a good review

Minimammoth · 31/05/2024 20:33

Only watched first two episodes. Just awful, very Disneyfied. Clean and manicured, no depth, so far.

TryingToSeeTheFunnySide · 31/05/2024 20:36

Minimammoth · 31/05/2024 20:33

Only watched first two episodes. Just awful, very Disneyfied. Clean and manicured, no depth, so far.

Episode 4 is way better.

Foggyfield · 01/06/2024 05:41

Eurgh.

I actually stayed up for this one, because I quite liked the last two.

What shite. Don't think I'll even bother trying to get dc or dh to watch this with me.

Time to finally let go...

BritishBeatleMania · 01/06/2024 08:55

I like the premise of this one. Very black mirror, but suitable for the target age demographic.

But the story just didn’t feel fleshed out, I didn’t feel engaged. Why did the doctor care. How did they he and Ruby end up there, what for. Why was there no consequence at the end.

The doctor wasn’t part of this really he was weirdly in the edge.

I've been watching some of the earlier Doctor Whos, Ecclestone onwards, and the relationships the doctor builds are established much better. Those 10-30 seconds at the start of each episode showing the rapport between doctor and companion really build up over time to show their specific relationship. I’m missing that in this writing.

And where they went overboard with the explaining and telling with JW’s doctor, here I feel like I don’t know the doctor’s voice. All the other doctors had a clear voice from the start. NG was just reacting and not really involved this episode

Are the writers just running out of steam?

i enjoyed it enough I’ll keep watching but I’m not in love yet.