Fugitive of the Judoon
When I reviewed Spyfall I said I had enjoyed it very much but wasn't convinced the story I enjoyed was actually the one transmitted. There was lots about Fugitive of the Judoon that I enjoyed but I'm not sure I'd even describe the scaffolding it hung off as a story - I mean yes, there was a beginning, a middle and an end but the beats didn't really fall where you would expect and frankly most of what was happening here was clearly middle of a different story altogether.
I don't think I'm going to dignify the ostensible story further. I mean it served its purpose. Instead let's talk about the funky stuff.
1. Captain Jack. I love Captain Jack in Doctor Who, though I never much took to him in Torchwood. I'd seen all the BBC hints that someone was returning but it had honestly never crossed my mind that it would be Jack. Given I'd seriously considered Martha a possibility, I'm not sure why it hadn't. So I was very happy to see him here and then, progressively, well is this it? as I realised that his entire purpose was apparently to get the Fam out of the way (much as they were shuffled to one side in Spyfall part 2). Loved his scene with Graham, was getting a bit fidgety during the scene where Ryan and Yaz turn up, and after that I was just desperately hoping we were going to get something more. I'm still hoping we will see more, though showrunner pronouncements are not encouraging.
2. The reveal of the Ruth Doctor was up there with the reveal of the Jacobi Master, but followed up by some really interesting character work. The fact the we don't know this Doctor threw into sharp relief how readily we believe that the Doctor might be considerably more nastier than we've often seen and, in fact, that the Doctor really doesn't trust herself at all. But, actually, both Doctors were fundamentally trustworthy. I liked the little scene with the Fam at the end - even though its message was that it didn't matter to them what the Doctor had been or might become but that they trusted her now. But there was definitely some interesting stuff going on here around the changeability or otherwise of the Doctor's character and the extent to which some good core can be presumed: Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin both doing sterling work. And then, of course, there are the theories about where the Ruth Doctor might fit
a) Pre-Hartnell which many are ruling out because the Tardis is shaped like a police box - but let's face it the time that would have been wasted explaining why her Tardis wasn't a police box probably wasn't worth it.
b) Season 6B (i.e. between Troughton and Pertwee). I like this theory best, if only because there is a plausible space there and a space in which Time Lords can be presumed to be meddling. People have also pointed out that her Tardis is distinctly sixties-ish though this is probably because they are re-using their pre-existing set of a 1960s Tardis interior.
c) The Valeyard. The Valeyard was never a good idea, but maybe it can be rescued. She didn't seem very Valeyard-ish though.
I love her Tardis. Best Tardis interior of NuWho.
3. The Lone Cybermen. *pffft* sounds cool we shall wait and see.
Given series 11 was supposed to be old monster free in order to welcome in new viewers, series 12 is a bit of a whiplash change of direction. I can't help wondering what casual viewers who were drawn into the show by series 11 made of Fugitive of the Judoon - it relies on a lot more than just a knowledge of series 11 and a bit of cultural osmosis to follow, or at least to really derive enjoyment from, I would have thought.
This entry was originally posted at https://purplecat.dreamwidth.org/658970.html.
I don't think I'm going to dignify the ostensible story further. I mean it served its purpose. Instead let's talk about the funky stuff.
1. Captain Jack. I love Captain Jack in Doctor Who, though I never much took to him in Torchwood. I'd seen all the BBC hints that someone was returning but it had honestly never crossed my mind that it would be Jack. Given I'd seriously considered Martha a possibility, I'm not sure why it hadn't. So I was very happy to see him here and then, progressively, well is this it? as I realised that his entire purpose was apparently to get the Fam out of the way (much as they were shuffled to one side in Spyfall part 2). Loved his scene with Graham, was getting a bit fidgety during the scene where Ryan and Yaz turn up, and after that I was just desperately hoping we were going to get something more. I'm still hoping we will see more, though showrunner pronouncements are not encouraging.
2. The reveal of the Ruth Doctor was up there with the reveal of the Jacobi Master, but followed up by some really interesting character work. The fact the we don't know this Doctor threw into sharp relief how readily we believe that the Doctor might be considerably more nastier than we've often seen and, in fact, that the Doctor really doesn't trust herself at all. But, actually, both Doctors were fundamentally trustworthy. I liked the little scene with the Fam at the end - even though its message was that it didn't matter to them what the Doctor had been or might become but that they trusted her now. But there was definitely some interesting stuff going on here around the changeability or otherwise of the Doctor's character and the extent to which some good core can be presumed: Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin both doing sterling work. And then, of course, there are the theories about where the Ruth Doctor might fit
a) Pre-Hartnell which many are ruling out because the Tardis is shaped like a police box - but let's face it the time that would have been wasted explaining why her Tardis wasn't a police box probably wasn't worth it.
b) Season 6B (i.e. between Troughton and Pertwee). I like this theory best, if only because there is a plausible space there and a space in which Time Lords can be presumed to be meddling. People have also pointed out that her Tardis is distinctly sixties-ish though this is probably because they are re-using their pre-existing set of a 1960s Tardis interior.
c) The Valeyard. The Valeyard was never a good idea, but maybe it can be rescued. She didn't seem very Valeyard-ish though.
I love her Tardis. Best Tardis interior of NuWho.
3. The Lone Cybermen. *pffft* sounds cool we shall wait and see.
Given series 11 was supposed to be old monster free in order to welcome in new viewers, series 12 is a bit of a whiplash change of direction. I can't help wondering what casual viewers who were drawn into the show by series 11 made of Fugitive of the Judoon - it relies on a lot more than just a knowledge of series 11 and a bit of cultural osmosis to follow, or at least to really derive enjoyment from, I would have thought.
This entry was originally posted at https://purplecat.dreamwidth.org/658970.html.