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 lord_blackfang wrote:
I was under the impression the point was to set up Tennant as the filler arc doctor for while they wait for Gatwa to finish his current project.

I expect one season of Tennant, then they meet again the finale and Tennant somehow sacrifices himself, as is tradition, and then we switch to Gatwa full time.

RTD revealed that they are recording the 2025 Christmas Special now... which will be (brace yourself) the 20th Anniversary of David Tennant's first appearance (sit down, catch your breath). That might be a good to resolve the 14th Doctor's recovery arc.

Where the blinking flip did that time go???

I was disappointed we didn't a proper multi-Doctor story for the anniversary - but RTD might have been keeping his powder dry for a '20 years of Nu-Who' shindig instead.

True, true.

At least we’ve thus far been spared John Simms ruining the Master again.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
True, true.

At least we’ve thus far been spared John Simms ruining the Master again.

For the record, I like John Simms and think he's a good actor.

But Last of the Time Lords was another great example of Russell showing that he can provide a great beginning, but then turn it into annoyingly flamboyant crap by the end.

I've enjoyed the three specials but I'm really concerned with what bi generation says about Ncuti.

It smells of bet hedging, keeping an old favourite around in case your new guy doesn't do well. It prevents Ncuti from truly taking on the role because he now has to share it contemporarily, rather than historically.

He's the first black man to play the character and also the first one not to get to be the sole doctor in current media.

I was excited to see Ncuti regenerate but instead got a chunk of the episode with him having to fight with Tennant for screen time.

RTD is in danger of George Lucas/Peter Jackson ing and getting high on his own farts...

The Church On Ruby Road

2023 Christmas Special, and Ncuti Gatwa’s first full outgoing as everyone’s favourite Timelord.

Original monsters, and well realised ones.

RTD song and dance number.

Overall a solid episode I reckon. Certainly a satisfying Proper Debut episode. Though I for one could’ve comfortably done without the song and dance bit. But then, I’m a grumpy old git.



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Ooooh!

I thought it was garbage and wish I'd left it at Jodie's era, as I did with Star Wars' Rise of Skywalker.

I enjoyed what I saw of it - missed part of it due to having to supervise the dogs in the garden (due to a new puppy).

What about it made you think it was garbage, Samus?

That was a pretty enjoyable episode, even the singing and dancing bits, the new guy looks like he's going to make a decent Doctor.

I'm just hoping they're not building up to Ruby being super special or anything, I've kinda accepted there's always going a bit of a romance angle going on nowadays, but please no more super special companions.

 Dysartes wrote:
I enjoyed what I saw of it - missed part of it due to having to supervise the dogs in the garden (due to a new puppy).

What about it made you think it was garbage, Samus?

The labyrinth influence was painful to sit through, the Doctor going beyond boyfriend material to "my gay bestie" material, and that it felt overall like I was resitting an updated Open University social science module.

I found it very enjoyable. Not many quibbles, especially if you apply the 'Christmas Episode' filter, which why the song gets an allowance, although it might have been great if Neil Hannon had written it. And I'm up for a happy, angst free Doctor.

MarkNorfolk wrote:

Spoiler:

Anita Dobson as the Master? I hope not.

Ruby's mother: The obvious twist (if that is such a thing) is that was Ruby herself, placing her baby self at the church. The short-cut trousers and hooded coat did have a 13th Doctor vibe, but that is either a red herring or lead-in to a multi-Doctor episode in 2025. So probably a red herring.

MarkNorfolk wrote:
. And I'm up for a happy, angst free Doctor.

So much this. The trauma porn since Capaldi's run turned me off on the show. I really wanted a fresh start, so I groaned during Special #3 for the resurgence of the self-guilt-trip and existential crisis doctor.

I groaned the rest of the time for Doogie Howser's bad attempts accents and 'acting,' as well as the shaky premise of nothing. (And both Special #2 and #3 felt like a retread of old material that didn't quite land the first time around. Special #1 just felt like the didn't actually explore anything they introduced, just handwaved everything off at the end.)

Plus, like Hellebore, bi-regeneration feels... dubious to me. Executive meddling wanting some way to roll things back. The new guy didn't need a shadow hanging over his run.

Yup, thoroughly enjoyed that. New doctor is great, and the goblins were pretty much as expected for a Christmas special, which have generally tended to be more light and silly in the past (flying sharks, anyone?).

Ruby so far really feels like a blonde Clara - same character, same styling. Will be interesting to see how that progresses, though.

You wot?

Ruby can act!

Arise thread, arise! For the new season is upon us

Fun fact? This our fourth Scottish Doctor (McCoy, Tennant, Capaldi and now Gatwa)

Now, two of those four happen to be my favourite incarnations, Tennant was fine, and Gatwa of course we’re just getting to know.

RTD is of course back at the helm, which for one am dubious about. Forever thankful he got it back on our screens, but he’s responsible for some right guff.

Example here? Talking Baby. FFS. Did the world learn nothing from Superbabies???

That being said, there’s some immediate parallels to the Mechanicus and Not Really Knowing What You’re Doing. Also, this Sad Old Git needs to remember he’s 43, nearly 44, and this show is primarily aimed at a much younger audience. And so the overall value of my opinion is highly questionable.

Plus it’s all about the underlying story and its moral.


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So..erm…that was a Kid Friendly version of Alien.

And better than Prometheus and Covenant.

RTDness is there, which means as is tradition I’m unlikely to give it a second watch. But it’s quite enjoyable overall.


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Second episode was good….up until The Shameless Selfish Indulgence At The End.

The less said about the baby episode the better (Apart from that oh so casual name drop of The Rani).

Really enjoyed the second one though, the Maestro was weirdly terrifying and I'm looking forward to seeing more members of The Pantheon (Although it speaks to Nu Who's obsession with ever increasing stakes that it takes god-like, other dimensional, reality-warpers to trouble the Doctor now), although I'm not happy the era of super special Companions has returned.

Space Babies (uuuuggggggh) really wasn’t as bad as I feared at first. I mean, it’s not still no great, but it could’ve been a lot, lot worse. And a good chunk of my distaste is talking babies creeping me out. Not “Looks Who Talking” style. But the digital mouth style. Doesn’t matter if it’s a movie, tv show or advert, it just creeps me right out.

Also, they massively over used the “SpAcE bAbIeS” line.

The Devil’s Chord though was really really enjoyable. The Maestro was a terrific villain, but the whole thing was nearly ruined for me by the superfluous ending.

I’m still in for the rest of the season, as I want to see what the injection of Disney Cash does for it. Better effects seem certain, but that’s not the only way one can spend cash on a kid’s science-fiction show.

First off, love the exuberance of Ncuti and the chemistry with Millie.

It seems like Rusty is retreading the 2005 launch and we're in prime 'animated wheelie bin and plastic Mickey' territory. We've had a present day adventure as the start, a 'celebrity historical' and a comedic adventure in the future. Therefore I'm sure things are going to 'darken up' as we progress.

Space Babies. Not my thing. when I saw the infants in jars I thought 'phew'. But then....
Still, the language filter gag and the literal bogey gung was funny.

The Devil's Chord This is better. The scene of ruby at the piano was sweet and we get out first old backstory reference for new viewers. Maestro was a pantomime villain of an enemy but they worked.

Roll on next week....

Like Tegan, I'm not fainted to go any further with Dr Who after the Christmas Special. Talking with some mates it's apparently got worse with the new episodes and I think I'll be better waiting until they get a new show runner.

Boom

Yup, a decent episode! Disney money seems to have been put to good use on costumes if nothing else. And some interesting concepts I might nick for Necromunda….

I found it to be more of a stereotypical Moffat episode:- Have interesting premise, write yourself into a corner, pull the solution out of your bum.

Next weeks looks interesting though.

Space Babies were indeed quite bad.