I was so bored watching this episode. I didn't care about anything that happened or about any of the guest characters, I couldn't see the alien as a threat either, there were a lot of times when the characters were talking to each other and I just stopped listening. This episode was definitely a new low in my opinion...
My DVR glitched and stuttered a couple of times in the middle -- something it only seems to do during Who, possibly because it hates me -- and I'm not sure I even care enough to bother finding out what I missed in the minute or two I probably lost. Sigh.
Well, apparently Chibnall isn't writing the next one, finally.
He's written every episode bar one so far, hasn't he? That does seem excessive. Either he's someone who finds it hard to delegate, or the budget is too small to allow them to hire enough decent writers. Or I suppose it could be that too few decent writers want to do it
( ... )
He's written every episode bar one so far, hasn't he?
Yes, and the one he didn't write all by himself, he co-authored. My guess, if I had to guess, is that it's just him wanting to put his stamp on the show right from the beginning, or maybe being excited about being able to write as many episodes as he wants and biting off more than he can chew, or something along those lines. Regardless, I hope he's gotten it out of his system now. Maybe he can hire other people to write, and then add in some character-based scenes of his own. That would work much, much better.
but I found myself enjoying it more than I had expected.
I wonder if a lot of it was just that I was in completely the wrong mood to give it a chance, somehow. Not that I think I was ever going to think it was great, but I feel like I should have liked it at least a little better than I did.
I do wish that they would cut down on the moralising a bit, though.I like a nice, meaningful theme in my Who -- if it's one I agree with, of course -- but really dislike being
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On the whole, I liked this one more than you did. Yes, it was slow and boring in parts, and didn’t seem to have enough story for its running time, and took forever to give us a clue what the PTING’s motives were. Yes, we got another bout of Ryan’s mainpain, and him pressuring that guy into making a decision that really might not have been the best one. And yes, the PTING looked ridiculous (I’d say ridiculously cute, but maybe that’s just me.) But I wanted to find out how the Doctor would stop the creature, and she did so in a way that was clever and satisfying - for me, anyway. And a convincing future society was sketched out in the episode. I get bored with so many stories in NuWho being set in Britain in the 21st century, so I was very pleased with this
( ... )
I suspect a lot of people will have. Hell, maybe if I rewatch it sometime, I'll like it better, myself. Although I'm not in a hurry to do that.
took forever to give us a clue what the PTING’s motives were
To be honest, I'm not sure it ever occurred to me to imagine that it had motives, beyond wanting to eat things.
But I wanted to find out how the Doctor would stop the creature, and she did so in a way that was clever and satisfying - for me, anyway.
It was, at least, a neat and tidy solution that actually wrapped up the story, which is more than you can say for, say, the previous episode. I think I was too busy finding the whole thing silly and implausible to think it clever, though. Which I have no doubt is partly on me. They were using very familiar SF ideas that I have had no problem accepting on numerous other occasions.
I get bored with so many stories in NuWho being set in Britain in the 21st century, so I was very pleased with this.I also look a little bit askance
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I enjoyed the episode, was reminded of the Vorc, was interested in the world-building (mini-particle accelerator, neuro-piloting, automated intergalactic ambulances) and the people (not so much Ryan pushing his dad-issues, but talking about his mother to Yas)--competent Astos, nervous Mandley, the general and her brother and the clone. Graham watches Call The Midwife, learning new life skills instead playing on Youtube all the time, heh). Boys have boys, girls have girls, anything else is weird!
Yes, I think I was thinking of the Vorc, too! But I liked what Farscape did with it better. :)
As noted above, though, I really do appreciate the world-building stuff and the way in which that was all handled, even if it was in service of an episode I was entirely meh about.
At least the Pting got a happy ending, unlike the Vorc--I enjoyed its happy, glazed expression as its belly glowed warmly, replete for a long, long time.
Honestly I still haven’t got around to watching the last episode, I’m finding it really hard to get into Chris Chibnall’s DW I’m sorry to say :( I was trying to stay positive and hope that he would be a better showrunner than writer in terms of having a strong overall vision and bringing some talented writers together, but instead every script so far has been dominated by his voice. But then the viewing figures and audience appreciation figures seem higher than ever, so he must be doing something right with the general public I suppose
A lot of people seem to be a lot happier with these stories than I am, and I'm glad for them, but, yeah. There've been things this season I've really liked, and things I really haven't, and unfortunately at this point the things that don't work for me are annoying me enough to start overshadowing the things I love, which is not good at all.
The thing is, though, it's not just that every script has been dominated by his voice, it's that he's actually written all of them himself, with the partial exception of "Rosa," which he had a co-author on. But it looks like the next few episodes are actually by other people, though, so I'm hopeful that voice will change.
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it so much. I found it fluffy and heavy-handed, but overall, I enjoyed it. It helps that I'm a sucker for cute, and I thought the Pting was adorable.
The moment we got a good look at the Pting, Progeny said, "It's Stitch!" (from Lilo and Stitch), and she was absolutely right.
Maybe I am just not enough of a sucker for cute. I could believe that. :)
What's interesting is that I'm often perfectly OK with fluffy and heavy-handed in my Who. But this one, and a lot of this season, to be honest, just didn't strike me in the right way to engage my sit-back-and-just-enjoy-it responses. Whereas a lot of Moffat's stuff, while I am perfectly capable of intellectually recognizing it as flawed, totally hit the right buttons for me to not care at all if it didn't make any sense when you stopped to think about it, or whatever. I guess this stuff is pretty much idiosyncratic. Sometime it hits the right notes for you and sometimes it doesn't, and what works fine for one person might not for another.
I think I was also in kind of a bad mood for this one, which surely didn't help.
Whereas I am a total sucker for many kinds of cute. I have a stuffed Adipose.
Yes, a lot of it is very personal. I grew increasingly frustrated with Moffat, and quite possibly you were enjoying some episodes that made me gnash my teeth.
It helps that Progeny is very excited about this season, this Doctor, and these companions, and it's the only show right now we all watch together.
Yep, one person's Worst Episode Ever is another person's great good time, and that's fine, even if it's always disappointing when its your turn to be the one who's unsatisfied.
I will say that I always have a deep love for Who, even if I don't always have a deep liking for individual pieces of it.
And whatever my own opinion on those pieces, I'm always delighted to see kids excited about the show.
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Well, apparently Chibnall isn't writing the next one, finally.
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Yes, and the one he didn't write all by himself, he co-authored. My guess, if I had to guess, is that it's just him wanting to put his stamp on the show right from the beginning, or maybe being excited about being able to write as many episodes as he wants and biting off more than he can chew, or something along those lines. Regardless, I hope he's gotten it out of his system now. Maybe he can hire other people to write, and then add in some character-based scenes of his own. That would work much, much better.
but I found myself enjoying it more than I had expected.
I wonder if a lot of it was just that I was in completely the wrong mood to give it a chance, somehow. Not that I think I was ever going to think it was great, but I feel like I should have liked it at least a little better than I did.
I do wish that they would cut down on the moralising a bit, though.I like a nice, meaningful theme in my Who -- if it's one I agree with, of course -- but really dislike being ( ... )
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I suspect a lot of people will have. Hell, maybe if I rewatch it sometime, I'll like it better, myself. Although I'm not in a hurry to do that.
took forever to give us a clue what the PTING’s motives were
To be honest, I'm not sure it ever occurred to me to imagine that it had motives, beyond wanting to eat things.
But I wanted to find out how the Doctor would stop the creature, and she did so in a way that was clever and satisfying - for me, anyway.
It was, at least, a neat and tidy solution that actually wrapped up the story, which is more than you can say for, say, the previous episode. I think I was too busy finding the whole thing silly and implausible to think it clever, though. Which I have no doubt is partly on me. They were using very familiar SF ideas that I have had no problem accepting on numerous other occasions.
I get bored with so many stories in NuWho being set in Britain in the 21st century, so I was very pleased with this.I also look a little bit askance ( ... )
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As noted above, though, I really do appreciate the world-building stuff and the way in which that was all handled, even if it was in service of an episode I was entirely meh about.
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The thing is, though, it's not just that every script has been dominated by his voice, it's that he's actually written all of them himself, with the partial exception of "Rosa," which he had a co-author on. But it looks like the next few episodes are actually by other people, though, so I'm hopeful that voice will change.
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The moment we got a good look at the Pting, Progeny said, "It's Stitch!" (from Lilo and Stitch), and she was absolutely right.
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What's interesting is that I'm often perfectly OK with fluffy and heavy-handed in my Who. But this one, and a lot of this season, to be honest, just didn't strike me in the right way to engage my sit-back-and-just-enjoy-it responses. Whereas a lot of Moffat's stuff, while I am perfectly capable of intellectually recognizing it as flawed, totally hit the right buttons for me to not care at all if it didn't make any sense when you stopped to think about it, or whatever. I guess this stuff is pretty much idiosyncratic. Sometime it hits the right notes for you and sometimes it doesn't, and what works fine for one person might not for another.
I think I was also in kind of a bad mood for this one, which surely didn't help.
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Yes, a lot of it is very personal. I grew increasingly frustrated with Moffat, and quite possibly you were enjoying some episodes that made me gnash my teeth.
It helps that Progeny is very excited about this season, this Doctor, and these companions, and it's the only show right now we all watch together.
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I will say that I always have a deep love for Who, even if I don't always have a deep liking for individual pieces of it.
And whatever my own opinion on those pieces, I'm always delighted to see kids excited about the show.
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