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I got last week’s episode watched finally and was thinking about how the season has overall been mediocre. I don’t know that I like Jodi? Maybe it’s just the writing? Got this week’s episode watched and it was much better I think. Not entirely sure where I sit overall.

I think they’ve one too many companions, it always feels like someone is being sidelined.

Now, I like all three, so not going to offer thoughts on who is the fifth wheel. Each has positives, and none are Clara.

Though mentioning Clara? These are the first companions other than Bill who haven’t simply been starry eyed in The Doc’s presence. That does being a different, and since the relaunch, new dynamic. It’s subtle enough to be noticed, but also overlooked?

Yeah, they're definitely having issues fitting all three companions (plus various hangers on) in each episode.

I wouldn't be surprised if one leaves by the end of the season, probably the younger guy as he does seem to be questioning whether this whole companion thing is a good idea at the moment.

First companions since when? Ian and Barbara? Clara lost her stars after the regeneration. Amy's (if any) was more a last fling before marriage, and her and Rory's relationship dominated their whole period. No infatuation from Donna. Jack's infatuated with everybody. So are we still talking about Rose and Martha?

Current companions - yes too many. Graham's become more likeable with his failed attempts to blend into history or get with the space jargon. Ryan has been dull from the start - his attempt at the 'needs of the many' argument the only thing of interest.

Yaz - chronically underused. At the start she was a trainee police officer, possibly a bit of a hero complex, I feel she should be doing more (and we got a taste when she went on her own in Praxeus), but she didn't contribute to the saving lives debate and seems willing to let her chance of becoming a full-time police officer slide.

Still, I feel like some or all these companions might move on at the end of the season. We've had indications they are missing their 'real' lives and that it's dawning on them that the Doctor, as much as she is a good guy, is an ancient alien being they could never possibly relate to. Plus, from a meta point of view, if Jodie does the 'standard' three years the show runners might be think of getting a 'handover' companion in.

I don't mind the current number of companions as they share their story and origin; Graham was married to Ryan's grandmother, while Yaz is a friend of sorts to that family. They live in Sheffield which is acting as the Doctor's current surrogate home as her's(The Planet Cambridge) lies in ruin. Unlike the Peter Davison era, the characters are written as a family unit in mind and bring different perspectives to each adventure; wisdom, responsabilty and...ummm...wonder. Ryan is pretty much this series companion where they have street smarts and there to ask whats going on as cue for the Doctor to then explain things. He was also in Star Wars, so shaddap!

Thats compared to Peter Davison's Adric, Nissa and Tegan who had no connection at all and were little more than a bunch of young people loitering the Tardis.

Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

His name is 'Adric' and you leave him alone!

Do you have a badge of mathematical excellence? No? Jealous much?

SamusDrake wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

His name is 'Adric' and you leave him alone!

Do you have a badge of mathematical excellence? No? Jealous much?

No but I didn't kill all the dinosaurs either so I'm still the better person

 Turnip Jedi wrote:

SamusDrake wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

His name is 'Adric' and you leave him alone!

Do you have a badge of mathematical excellence? No? Jealous much?

No but I didn't kill all the dinosaurs either so I'm still the better person

LOL, do you remember Matthew flinching at the terminal, knowing there was going to be a bang?

SamusDrake wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

His name is 'A***c’' and you leave him alone!

Do you have a badge of mathematical excellence? No? Jealous much?

I’ve got an Inquisitorial Mandate. That’s better!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

SamusDrake wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Never mention A***c and his stupid star for being a crap companion!

His name is 'A***c’' and you leave him alone!

Do you have a badge of mathematical excellence? No? Jealous much?

I’ve got an Inquisitorial Mandate. That’s better!

No. It is not.

Flipping blinking well is!

Grants me genuine, real-life authoritah!

Maths for the Maths god! Sums for the sums throne!

Goodness me, lightning strikes twice!

Looking forward to next week's season finale.

Yep. Very good. Intrigued by the period Irish stuff.

Agreed. And what was happening to that Cyberman?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Mind you, Ser Barriston Selmey is there, so I reckon all will be well!

Thoughts

..so

Just over an hour to go.

Last two episodes were pretty ace. Here’s hoping the ending isn’t Moffat.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well, that was rather cool.

Completely suprised by tonights season final.

Not only has the last three episodes been the best of Jodie's run as the Doctor, but also that of the show since its return in 2004. Tonight was a great gamble as it takes away the mystery of the Doctor, but it finally explains why the Doctor was able to regenerate more than 12 times, and for the first time in the show's history I honestly thought it would be curtains for our beloved Time Lord.

Its easy to over-analyse these things, but deep down I feel this season has contributed something substantial to the lore of the show which I have not felt in a very, very long time.

I’d agree with that.

Whole main cast have found their feet, and whilst quality varied, I wouldn’t call any of the episodes stinkers.

Okay, so 'The Brain of Morbius' has been bothering Chris Chibnall for a very long time....

...but I liked it a lot. More of this please.

I don’t think it’s the last we’ll see of the time lords. They’ll only be gone until they want to use them again, and then they come up with a reason to bring them back, like just getting some from the past from before they were killed.

I've been very "meh" about this season so far. I didn't hate it, but I thought it was kind of keeping it's head above water and I could take it or leave it.

That final episode though - wow. Definitely one of the best i can remember in a while and the companions finally seemed to click into place.

I might also go back and rewatch this season as it seems a lot of things were teased throughout that culminated in the big showdown, so those episodes I thought weren't offering much might actually deserve a second look.

It does feel like the first real development of The Doctor we've had in a while.

Other than The War Doctor, we've not really had much in that respect since the revival. And given where they were going with McCoy's incarnation, I'm interested to find out more. Including exactly where The Doctor came from....

Not as pleased with the finale as others it seems.



Overall though, I thought it was a pretty good season despite some poor patches of writing and I'm looking forward to the Christmas Special.
Hopefully the BBC continue to let Chibnell do his thing and not panic over the supposedly poor viewing figures.

One thing I do like?

With The Doctor having previous, unremembered lives, it does help paint the Time Lords as ever more selfish.

See, clearly the fixed number of regenerations is artificial in nature. Which means someone set it. And why do governments set such limits? Control.

Yeah! Why can't I drink as much as I like and then go for a spin in my car?! Stupid government and their 'limits'!!

Ahem.

Well, they might have thought that a race of immortals growing in number wasn't a good idea. I mean, look at The Five Doctors.

As much as I really liked this series (bar Orphan 55) the fact there is untold incarnations roaming around opens up the idea that any guest star could turn out to be an unknown Doctor a bit, well, easy. And lame.

And how does Susan fit in? And didn't the Chameleon Circuit malfunction on trip from Foreman's Yard 1963 to 100,000 BCE? So why is Jo Martin's Doctor travelling around in a Police Box? Was The Brain of Morbius that big a deal?

These aren't criticisms mind. An inquiring fan would like to know how it all goes together, if the writer tries to fill in some blanks.

On a broad note, I think this has been quite an ambitious season.

It’s harkened back to both the Davison and McCoy era, without being overly slavish to it. It’s tried (and pretty much pulled off) a major update to the background story.

That took cajones. I mean, sure RTD introduced The Time War. But, for my tastes, took far, far too long to tell us much about it. Personal taste, but I was expecting that to be a couple of season type thing. Have to be honest though and say when it did get round to it (Gallifrey Stands!) it was a decent pay off. Possibly the only decent pay off Moffat provided, much as I liked his run.

I really thought at a couple of points Jodie’s incarnation wasn’t going to make it out. Or was going to do a Tennant and partially regenerate. Kinda glad they didn’t go down that route.

Very, very intrigued by Revolution of The Daleks. Got all my fingers, all my toes, both legs, both arms, eyes and delicate flobbilydobblies crossed that it will live up to Genesis, Destiny, Ressurection, (yes, even you) Revelation and Rememberance from the original run. Those are all stone cold classics for good reason.

They took ultimately a rather one dimensional enemy, and fleshed them out nicely. Giving us Davros (everyone’s favourite pepper pot dictator) was just a bonus. So given Revolution, to me, promises some form of similar continuation, I’ve high hopes!

Just wish I didn’t have to wait so long.