I was in two minds about this one. The good Doctor actually looked younger and more energetic; but he also seemed to have taken on a more background role as if to showcase Clara and co. Then we take a leap from spiders spiralling out of control to some strange bird-like[?] creature that erupts from the moon like a phoenix, only to have another moon 'magic' itself back to replace the old one - just like that.. oh I dunno! I feel like I went to the loo and missed a substantial piece of the story line; never mind the character development = it felt too rushed, bits cut out. Like they were trying to condense too much action, drama whatever in too short a space of time. About the only thing that looked spot-on was the clock at the start counting down the 45 minutes of action.[lol]. I really am beginning to miss the old cliffhanger episodes where more exploration of people and plots was permitted. I guess budget constraints play a big part [sighs]...Kiashi
I feel like I went to the loo and missed a substantial piece of the story line Yes, that was how I felt for a lot of it! Bits seemed to skip somehow. Interestingly, I read somewhere when I was glancing at other reviews that this story was actually written for Matt Smith's Doctor, so it's funny you should say he seemed younger! I didn't have a particular problem with the character development in this one (except for Courtney, but even that was more that it seemed contradictory to other things we were told about her), I don't think, it was more that the story itself felt rushed and as if we kept missing bits of it that would mean it made better sense. Even the focus on Clara didn't bother me too much, because it was on Clara's interaction with the Doctor, and it's not as though we've not had similar eps with the other Doctors. But... yeah, I liked the older, longer cliffhanger-episode stories too! *g*
Yeah I thought young Courtney's character was rather lacking in ... character as well. I guess I was kind of expecting [hoping] to see shades of take on all comers - Rose to some degree. I wanted to see her play up a bit, question and demand answers rather than sitting quietly in a corner playing on her phone. Not so sure about the dynamics between her and Clara either as teacher and student..hmm. I guess we can interpret the Doctor as we see fit. You and so many other Pros writers have a good enough understanding of the 'flavour' of that show to be able to write excellent fiction based on what you've watched and a genuine love of the characters; so maybe that is all DW needs too - a little more love.
I was mainly sad to see Tony Osoba of Pros (and other!) fame as random, not-very-inspiring astronaut who then got eaten by a spider :( I liked the look of the ep though - the cinematography and colour. Putting myself into the shoes of a younger watcher who hasn't seen a billionty DW eps I thought visually and atmosphere-wise the bacterial spidery things were quite scary. Capaldi was good, but I think I'd like his doctor to move on a bit now, not be so... I dunno, dislocated from humanity, or from his humanity whatever it is. Really hated the whole baby/right to life thing, and that Clara ended up being more wonderful than the whole population of the earth. And what about all the people who didn't get to their lights, or didn't have any lights... Ha! I wasn't too distracted during it though, so I think I enjoyed it overall more than most of what's come before. All of which has to be said in the context of my not really knowing the whole DW world and backstory very well. I can appreciate that for more loyal and long-lasting fans
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Oh, I'm rubbish, I didn't recognise Handsome Man at all! And it does look like him! I never do recognise people though - Peter Capaldi could probably stand in front of me to buy coffee and have a chat with me about the weather, and I wouldn't cotton on that I knew him from telly... *g*
I'm definitely not a loyal and long-lasting fan (except that I totally am, but not to remember everything and analyse it the way fans do), and I'm always aware that DW is for younger newer people than me these days, but... I think I would have liked it more if they hadn't thrown me with the Courtney thing to start with (and ha - I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was what's up with my current housemate, someone's told her she's special once too often... /totally-off-topic... *g*), and then the whole baby/right to life thing, and yeah, I wondered what about people who didn't have lights, or weren't watching telly at the right moment for the broadcast, or who didn't have telly or the internet (even in 2049...) or were on the other side of the world
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Oh, it was awful, wasn't it? Contrived conflict right from the word go and a dilemma manufactured not for the sake of this story but to push Clara over the edge (- h, and surprise surprise, it happened just the week after Danny dropped the anvil, warning her it would happen. Horrible characterisation, even more horrible character dynamics. I don't believe in any of these people - they are all merely devices to get the Seasonal Plot where it is supposed to be going, with no reasoned logic or consistency driving their actions or reactions whatsoever.
And the thing is, on paper it sounds reasonable enough - a brave choice, perhaps, but it should be interesting and something new to see a companion who doesn't cope with regeneration and rejects the new Doctor afterward. But the way it's played out has been awful, sidelining the Doctor in his own show - for the story to work, we need to see both sides. Especially if Clara is leaving anyway! We need to engage with the Doctor, 'cause he's the one we'll be sticking around for! Bah humbug. I
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Four thumbs down in this house. Lack of logic, silly storytelling, and yes - all that baaaaybyyyy nonsense. And is the show about the Doctor or Clara now? I don't think I've seen more egregious Companion worship since... since ever. And I wanted to continue to like Clara, which I'd got into the way of doing, but this was ridiculous.
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Yes, that was how I felt for a lot of it! Bits seemed to skip somehow. Interestingly, I read somewhere when I was glancing at other reviews that this story was actually written for Matt Smith's Doctor, so it's funny you should say he seemed younger! I didn't have a particular problem with the character development in this one (except for Courtney, but even that was more that it seemed contradictory to other things we were told about her), I don't think, it was more that the story itself felt rushed and as if we kept missing bits of it that would mean it made better sense. Even the focus on Clara didn't bother me too much, because it was on Clara's interaction with the Doctor, and it's not as though we've not had similar eps with the other Doctors. But... yeah, I liked the older, longer cliffhanger-episode stories too! *g*
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I'm definitely not a loyal and long-lasting fan (except that I totally am, but not to remember everything and analyse it the way fans do), and I'm always aware that DW is for younger newer people than me these days, but... I think I would have liked it more if they hadn't thrown me with the Courtney thing to start with (and ha - I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was what's up with my current housemate, someone's told her she's special once too often... /totally-off-topic... *g*), and then the whole baby/right to life thing, and yeah, I wondered what about people who didn't have lights, or weren't watching telly at the right moment for the broadcast, or who didn't have telly or the internet (even in 2049...) or were on the other side of the world ( ... )
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And the thing is, on paper it sounds reasonable enough - a brave choice, perhaps, but it should be interesting and something new to see a companion who doesn't cope with regeneration and rejects the new Doctor afterward. But the way it's played out has been awful, sidelining the Doctor in his own show - for the story to work, we need to see both sides. Especially if Clara is leaving anyway! We need to engage with the Doctor, 'cause he's the one we'll be sticking around for! Bah humbug. I ( ... )
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