[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent One of the quibbles i have with the Moffat era is the depiction of Churchill as being a kindly leader. I don’t share that view of Churchill. My mother certainly did, having gone through the war being drip fed pro British propaganda. She did not even see him as the person who was willing to sell out Australia, not allowing the  tropes to come back to defend Australia when there was a threat of invasion until he was persuaded by the Australian P.M. But then when I was a teenager Mum began reading Churchill’s autobiographies and she was horrified by the arrogance and racism that seeped through the narrative. Apparently (I never read them myself) he was eager to join any little “scrap” out on the fringes of empire, keen to take “pot shots at the natives”.  For that reason Victory of the Daleks is not an episode i particularly like either, (that and the absurd space planes).  I don’t think that Moffat ever grinds a political axe and that is fine. I just don’t like it when a historical person is sugar coated.

I love the historical stories but don’t like them to mess with actual history. The “giant stompy robot” at the end of The Next Doctor really annoys me. If London was trashed by a massive cyberking in the mid 19th Century it would be written about. The dinosaur in Deep Breath gets a pass, just, because the Doctor explains, (albeit implausibly) why it isn’t mentioned in history. At least he acknowledges that it should be recorded, remembered. I prefer historical stories that tread lightly which Robots of Sherwood at least does right.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Yes. The problem with heavy handed moralising is that you loose the people you won over with the message in the story even if they are totally “on board” they will be offended because they feel as though they are being patronised and if they don’t agree they might have been influenced but the moment they realise that they will turn against the message so the heavy handed moralising looses all sides of the audience. For me the glaring example of this is Rosa which packs a narrative punch through the story then totally undermines it at the end with the heavy handed moralising. My heart sank at that moment, sitting in a room of people who had been completely engaged with the story. The heavy handed ending lost them even though they were totally in agreement with the sentiment and quite a few never watched another episode of Dr Who. If only the writers had trusted ot the ‘show” and not felt the compulsion to “tell”, because the story sold the message so well. Another one of my Chibnell gripes.

I found a lot of U.S. tv series were very heavy handed. Noticed that with kids shows when the boys were young. Australian and English shows packed the message into the story whereas the U.S. shows tended to have to tell the audience and it was just so off-putting. (and the message was usually great just the delivery that was the issue)

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Great reviews, both of them. I must have read the review a year ago but really enjoyed reading it again. It is an excellent episode, great characters, great story, great dialogue. The concept of the Doctor being trapped in a tiny Tardis is unique as are the 2d “monsters.” Lots of original ideas. Rigsy is a well written character and I was glad that he appears again. Having someone in peril that we are already invested in really pays off in the next series.

This episode also does a good job of humanising welfare recipients and was made at a time when the government was demonising those on welfare. It is a good example too of show not tell. We don’t need some heavy handed moralising at the end to get the message. We have absorbed it though the mechanisms of the story.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Sorry to hear about the fires. So terrible, heartbreaking and infuriating because this should not be happening, not like this. I hope that you are OK @nerys.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Though the Doctor worked for UNIT he was always anti military, and continually ribbed the Brigadier for his “five rounds rapid” approach to problems. The Doctor was always a little anarchic but also clever, using “science” (inverted commas because science in Dr Who isn’t always scientific) rather than brute force, as per the military.

I think the Doctor as non military even anti military is a theme in this series working towards the final episode where he has to make that choice, take on a army or not and i think Danny calling him Sir is written to preempt that. (Danny is being rather offensive in that scene)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Was pondering the episode while prepping dinner. Soldiers are very much a theme of this series. In Into the Dalek the Doctor rejects Journey Blue because while she might be a very nice person she is a soldier. Soldiers are not evil but they obey without question which makes them easily manipulated by evil. The Mummy is simply following orders, a mindless robot being manipulated by the evil Gus. Weary of war it is a creature to be pitied though it is also a killer and an object of fear and loathing. Danny is a solider for a reason. He is in some ways a opposite to the Doctor. In Listen the Doctor asks, “am I a good person”. Danny describes him as a warlord, and we know that he was once the War Doctor. In some ways this harks back to the end of the first AG series with Ecclestone when he opts to be a coward rather than a killer. The Doctor is still working out who he is, and Danny accusing him of being an officer highlights just who the Doctor is not because he rejects the entire military ethos.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Yes this is a cracker of an episode. It is well written and beautifully designed. The tension between the Doctor and Clara is perfectly balanced. I think he is able to relate to Perkins and Moorehouse because they are scientists at work. It isn’t a personal interaction. Love the touch with the jelly babies. The twenties look suits Clara. I am not surprised that she went onto a major costume role after leaving Who. Some actors fit period roles better than others.

I think Danny is trying but he has his own demons to overcome, such as being abandoned as a child and PSTD. I feel that Danny is better written in Moffat’s head than he is on the screen.

Perkins is a good character, and would have been a fine companion.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent you are braver than me. Agreed many episodes improve on second watch. I did not particularly like Time Heist the first time I watched it but now really enjoy it. I have no intention of ever giving Kill the Moon a second chance however. I don’t think it has a single redeeming quality.

Regarding subconscious memory, I often find that something I have just written i had already wrote almost word for word a year or two before which leads to the editing nightmare of “which version is best”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Another enjoyable review.. I was not overly enamoured of Time Heist the first time I watched it, (perhaps because it follows Listen), but it has really grown on me on re watches. It is an excellent episode in most aspects though the skull collapsing because the brain is melted does bother me because that would not happen. (For the same reason that the flooded valley in “Before the Flood” annoys me. It doesn’t work that way.) I liked the characters Psi and Saibra and Keeley Hawes was delightfully evil as the banker.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. I am getting a bit excited about the anniversary specials too. We recently re-watched a few RTD episodes just as a reminder of his show runner/writing style. Also I watched Years and Years which is basically a non sci fi 6 episode version of Turn Left. I did have a sneak look at the trailers and they however somewhat dampened that  enthusiasm but trailers nearly always tend to do that.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I had not seen the Regency pics so went hunting at once. Nice costumes. I do like it when the Doctor and Companion dress for the period. I’m guessing that when not going to period times the Doctor will have a iconic outfit, or how could fans cosplay him?

Only six months now, (roughly) to wait for the 60th Special.

@dentarthurdent Looking forward to reading your reviews.. We re watched The Caretaker quite recently. As you say not one of the best but it has some nice moments.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I it is cold and dreary here. I am looking out at the garden which is in need of pruning and weeding and trying to muster the energy to get out there and overcome my aversion to the cold and damp. So I am envying you the warm weather but not the mosquitos. Those I think anyone can do without.

I like the Guardian fantasy house hunt and last night I spotted a familiar abode. It’s “Scooby Doo’s House”, Wester Drumlins. (I always thought the name was West Drumlins.) It has been refurbished since 2007 when Blink was filmed there. Interesting house.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I was trying to asses the costume and not the Doctor hence listing Capaldi’s amongst the fails. I always felt that they did not “nail” it and the stary jumper was up there with the question marks. (or should I say down there?) Capaldi is one of my absolute favourite Doctors though. Likewise I liked Whitaker’s costume but was not a massive fan of the stories. In the case of Peter Davison the costume definitely influenced my reaction to him as Doctor. I think I would rate his costume as worse than the misfire that was Colin Baker’s. There were no redeeming aspects to that era. We have just been watching some first series AG and I don’t like the costume though it does suit the more sombre character of “EcclesDoc”. It lacks the sense of playfulness that made SmithDoc’s costume so perfectly in tune with his character. Also SmithDoc’s costume harks back to BG costumes, not Pertwee’s thankfully, that gives the character a sense of history which I like.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. Another enjoyable review. Thank you.

One of the best episodes of AGWho and I can’t think of an old Who episode that was better. It is one of my “go to” episodes.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent, @blenkisnopthebrave and @devislishrobby

We had a round table family discussion last night about the costumes and divided them into three catagories, the good, the bad and the indifferent.

The Bad, (not necessarily in worst to least bad order) Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Ecclestone and Capaldi, the indifferent, Tennant, the Good, Ist, 2nd and 3rd, 7th, 8th, Smith and Whitaker. The Best of BG is 4th Doctor, Tom Baker and the best of AG is Matt Smith’s. Loved the bow tie. The new Doctor’s costume looks good but I feel as though it is too soon to include it.

I think the costume should be distinctive, a bit eccentric which is why Ecclestone’s and Capaldi’s costumes (though i loved the coat but he did not wear it enough) didn’t really make the grade for me and Tennant’s is an indifferent. Matt Smith was capturing the essence of the Doctor in his costume and I feel that Whitaker got close. it doesn’t have to be stylish but it needs to convey the sense that this individual is not conventional. The Doctor should not blend in but nor should they be clownish.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

there could be a costume spoiler in there so mods please note and move if you consider it to a more appropriate thread.

 

[janetteB @replies]

Some Dr Who whimsy to bring a smile to the face today and hopefully inspire some discussion.

I have to rush off to record a podcast but when I get back I will be compiling my own list as I agree with some but certainly not all of this one.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent I was looking forward to your review of Robot of Sherwood. It is a fun episode, the kind that cheers me up if I feel a bit down, and has a lovely meta line at the end but it has that one glaring fault, the golden arrow. It does not work in a “real world” sense but nor does it work as fantasy. It just doesn’t work which is a shame but there is so much to enjoy in this episode. The banter between Robin and the Doctor is a delight, the Doctor is wonderfully eccentric and wrong about so many things, the highlighting of the relationship between myth and reality provides a hint of depth. If only there were a better resolution.  It is one of those stories where the writer has good set up, good complication, good setting and characters but no idea of how to resolve the story and so it fizzles at the end.

Last night we watched the Puss in Boots movie and Puss reminded me of Robin and used the same line. “Puss in Boots laughs in the face of death.”  I don’t know if that is an old line from the golden days of Hollywood. IT sounds like a 1940 Swashbuckler type of thing to say.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Back in the long distant days of 1963, and what a year it was.. it was considered too risque to have a young woman travelling alone with and old man in a cosy police box so they made her his granddaughter. It was done for convenience sake and many fans have questioned the relationship. It seems that RTD and the Moff both decided that Susan was his granddaughter because they often refer to the Doctor as having had children, “Dad Skills”. Nothing is really set in stone when it comes to Doctor Who so Susan may or may not be the granddaughter. I “like to think” she is, at least until there is a convincing story to indicate otherwise then I will have to re write my “head canon”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Thanks for the link. I saw the image on the Guardian this morning. Interesting, very interesting. I like her costume and it is nice to see the companion in period costume and just not contemporary street wear which is boring. His/their? costume not so sure. Blue is not my colour but at least it is a costume, something bold and different. The Doctor should stand out a bit. It was one aspect of the J.W. years that I did like, the costume. It was entirely consistent with the Doctor’s character, trying to fit in and not quite getting it right. I also liked that she/they patched it together in an opp shop though it turned out to be another break with tradition, finding things in the Tardis wardrobe which on its own is fine but became a consistent theme which I now feel was more due to Chibnell not caring about what was established prior and not just doing some “refreshing”.

Interesting that the episode is set in the 60s, maybe we are revisiting the early years of the series?? Hopefully this signals a return to what sketchy continuity there is in Dr Who.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Robot of Sherwood will do that for sure..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Some sad news for those of us who have been around here for a while. I was looking through my tabs while talking to an old friend on the phone and noticed that Ichabod passed away earlier this year.  I had noticed that she has not posted for a while. For those who are not aware Ichabod was a sci fi writer who had won numerous awards including a Hugo. I have been intending to look for some of her work, hence having the Wikipedia tab open.  I think she told us her actual name at once stage when she talked about her writing. You can read about her here.

I always wonder what had become of members of our community when they stop posting. Hopefully everyone else is fine and just busy with R.L. I look forward to seeing some old faces on the Forum when Who’ returns to our screens and some new ones too.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent To be fair to Danny was not actually telling Clara what to do, just asking her to be honest about it. she was lying when she said he was being territorial to cover the fact that she was lying to Danny. I did feel sorry for him. Yes he dislikes the Doctor but the Doctor dislikes him initially. they do grow to respect each other, though that did not perhaps come across as well as it could have. Re’ the connection to Susan, there is no reason for it at all other than Orson saying he had an ancestor who time travelled and it is not Clara as she has no children. It was just a bit of nonsense that I devised to explain who Orson was. I would like to see Susan feature again as she is a Timelord left on earth. What becomes of her? Presumably she can regenerate. Surely she will tire of being stuck in the one place and time for eternity. I want to know what becomes of Susan. I have a few ideas for stories but have not got around to writing anything yet.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

From the opening scene of the copper passing the fence of Coal Hill School to the final big reveal it is one delight after another. We have watched it many, many times and it never fails to bring that smile to the face and that bit of moisture to the corner of the eye. It is a wonderful tribute to a much loved tv show. I don’t think this episode will ever be bettered.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Yes it does have a steampunk look and that works well in Dr Who.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

And another enjoyable review @dentarthurdent. Good observation regarding Capaldi’s lines and the way he delivers them. just reading those quotes makes me want to re watch the episode and that is why I find even the “dud” episodes enjoyable. (with the single exception of Kill the Moon whose premise is too absurd)

The story suggests a but of “future history” which, at least in my imagination” might form a loose continuity. I would like to see more story continuity. Hopefully RTD will endeavour to resurrect some.

Danny is a problematic character. I feel that Moffat did not really succeed with the character, perhaps because the requirements of the story arc restricted what could be done. Still I felt very sorry for Danny and would like to have seen a resolution of the mystery of his childhood and future. (ie Orson) I have a theory that he and Orson are the children or grandchildren of Susan, scattered through time, and the toy soldier is circular.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I love that costume.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I feel your pain regarding the loss of trees. It always saddens me to see a tree removed and I hate the sound of chain saws. For that reason we have kept the peppercorn this long. It is a lovely tree, but but, it has many many problems, roots getting into drains, white ants, and it sucks out all the moisture from the soil. Interestingly they sell them as ornamental trees in Victoria where perhaps they are less of a problem due to the cooler climate. Here in South Australia they are considered a menace. They are originally from South America and not related to actual pepper plants. This is the best image I could find for one. Ours has given us a lot of shade but the neighbours complain about it with good reason and sadly its time is up. In its place I will pant fruit trees and a carob which is smaller and more manageable.

I am not so keen on the Avengers movies but last week we went to see the D&D movie which is of the same ilk essentially, lots of action. It was fun. We have also been rewatching some Studio Ghibli movies after the boys bought me the toy of the cat from Kiki’s Delivery Service for my birthday. He sits looking over our dinner table now.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Hi all. It has been quiet around here of late. Must be the long Dr Who drought.

I was looking for The Sofa but could not find it. Are we sans sofa?

Was feeling a bit down tonight for no reason whatsoever other than the weather having taken a doleful turn and reading that we might be in for a killer La NIna summer, exacerbated by Global Warming. We are planning on establishing a vegie garden this winter, depending on the removal of a peppercorn tree but if we have a super hot summer nothing will survive. But I am digressing. The point I was going to make is, having been watching various Star Wars series the S/O put on Dr Who which we have not watched for at least six  months, and I had forgotten just how much I love it, even one of the lesser episodes. Just that theme music is enough to lift my spirits.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. The War Doctor is a classic example of writers responding to the failure of their plans. Good writers do something remarkable when they find a spanner in their grand design. What would have been if C.E. had agreed to return for the anniversary special would no doubt have been good but it is hard to imagine anything better than the story Moffat spins in response to his refusal to join in and that begins in this episode which draws in so many threads, Madame Vastra meeting up with River Song for instance. It is a worthy lead up to the brilliant episode that follows.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent I agree that this episode stands up well on re-watching. It has a lot of qualities, such as the characters, the children and Porridge/Emperor. Angie is acting just as a kid would in the circumstances and I like the setting. I also like the sense of world building in this story. We mostly only see Cybermen and Daleks in relation to the Doctor or Earth. It is interesting to see their impact on other parts of the universe. It puts them in perspective, reminding us of just who dangerous they are. Out in these regions they have conquered, and this is the result of not having the Doctor constantly popping in to save the day.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent It is a fun episode with some good moments. I liked the reveal that the younger brother was not an android but human and I have always enjoyed those rare episodes that show us a little of what lies behind the console room. They certainly do it much better than old Who did with the very obvious warehouse or factory interior. We never really did find out what it was that Clara read in the book though.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Greetings all.

Well I finally got around to watching Devil’s Hour which is very much a dark alternative Dr Who story. At one point a character offers another a jelly baby just to make the connection clear. There are shades of Heaven Sent about it and Capaldi is fantastic as always. I was initially a little put off by the “Kitchen sink” setting with elements of police procedural (neither of which is my “thing”)  but it is certainly not that kind of show though drawing upon aspects of both. Good scripts, great characters all of them, and a teasing mystery and very obviously to some degree inspired by Dr Who. Dr Who in negative perhaps.

Also we have been watching Andor (The Scottish Star War’s series as I am beginning to think of it). It is surprisingly good and stands alone. It need to be set in the Star War’s universe to “Land”.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@auntie8nay6 Hi Welcome to the site.

I began watching during the Tom Baker years when I was in my teens though I think I might have been frightened yb an old episode when I was very young, watching TV at my grandmother’s. My family did not have tv at the time.

Tom Baker is “my Doctor” though I really love all the re-boot Doctors. I was very wary when I heard the show was coming back after the trainwreck attempt in the mid 90s but by the end of Rose I was totally convinced. My beloved Dr Who was indeed back and in excellent hands

Now we await the new series once again under the helmsmanship of RTD with all digits crossed.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave. It could be good or it could be another Torchwood but then it could be a Sarah Jane Adventures. Hopefully he will get old pals Moffat and Gatiss on board rather than Chibnell. That would help. (and of course plenty of fresh talent too.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Hope the kidney stones are dealt with soon. Dr Who also works as a good painkiller one i Have used many a time.

The S/o did see a dentist who quoted $5,000 for root canal and crown. He opted to suffer it out and hopefully see a more affordable dentist in Vietnam next year. Might end up costing as much but that includes a holiday. We went to a dentist in Ho chi Min a few years back and he was affordable and superior to any dentist I have ever visited in Oz.

it was never the dentist that frightened me, only the bills. If only dental was covered by public health, and veterinary.  (We have an aging cat with health issues.)

cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

It is so quiet here at the moment. I simply had to post something, a shout to break the silence. Hope everyone is ok.

I am sorry I have no news Dr Who related or otherwise. It has been very quiet here too. the S/O has been laid low with toothache for the past couple of weeks, kids are doing what kids to, going to school/uni, looking for jobs etc and  I am doing the referencing for the social history which involves a lot of swearing and shouting.

Meanwhile we have not been watching any dr who at all. we watched one episode of Andor but could not hear what was being said, maybe due to bad speaker positioning or sound levels.  Still watching the Star Wars tv series does give me hope for the future of Dr Who. Hopefully they have learnt that put someone who is passionate about the show/series and it is far more likely to be good.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Local Hero has become one of my favourite films over the years after the re watch discussed above. Peter Capaldi is so young and fresh faced it it. One thing  I noted is that he runs like a penguin. He is clearly not athletic, young or old. In other regards however he has changed completely, from that fresh faced boy who did not seem to know what to do in front of the camera.

There are so many things I love about the film, setting, actors, script which I know almost off by heart and the music. I saw Dire Straights perform below the old walls of Jerusalem. That was a memorable night.

There is no obvious local hero, no obvious hero for that matter. The rabbit? I think the hero is the town itself and the landscape, or maybe it is Ben the beach comber, a thoroughly un-heroic character.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@thane16 We have had a remarkably cool summer. Thus far the mercury has only hit 40c once.  I see that QLD is in for some dramatic weather.

@dentarthurdent Hope the head it ok. Cars can be dangerous like that.  I was not a huge fan of the way the Nefertiti was written. She was fun but I found her a little over the top and the end with her going off with he man is weak. There is no real justification within the story for it either. Also the white hunter guy was a superfluous character. He served no real function within the story. I did not hate Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. It introduced Brian. There was some good dialogue which I suspect might have been added in by Moffat. It is a so so episode.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Glad to hear all is well. Hopefully will continue to be so.

It is one am here. Like you, since the s/o retired we have been keeping unconventional hours. I find nights to be the best time for writing, less disturbances.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Oh and I forgot to mention that there is a discussion thread on Local Hero in the Film section. It is a delightful film, one i re watch fairly regularly.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

“What colour it it?”

“Sorry all the good questions were taken.”

Sorry but you missed that one. 🙂

And hearkening back to the discussion on the Spoilers thread, this is what is lacking in the Chibnell years and why only the best episodes are re watchable but none really shine.

It is a wonderful episode with heart break and laughter. Seeing Amy and Rory breaking up hurts because we have invested so much in them. It is a fitting acknowledgement however of the trauma they have suffered with the theft of their child.  Love the little scene at the end.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Just read the posts on the previous page, which I missed.

re having too many companions. I think the problem comes down once again to the writing, though I would be loath to say that the scrip writers of the first ever episodes were any better than Chibnell, because they probably weren’t they made having three companions work. Perhaps it was due to the deft touch of Verity Lambert at the helm and skilled directing of Warris Hussien but that combination of Doctor, Barbara, Ian and Susan/Vicky worked very well. Ian and Barbara were excellent companions though. I don’t think the combination of Doctor and three companions however has ever worked since. It certainly didn’t with Davison but that was a low point script wise and I don’t think he really ever had the authority required to carry it off.

The combination of authority figure, in this case human, and three young companions worked very well in Sarah Jane Adventures. Though the stories themselves were not great the dynamic of the characters made it very watchable. Sarah Jane/Elizabeth Sladden had the authority to carry it off. This is why I felt that having an older male companion in some way diminished the authority of the Doctor. IT should not be that way but due to conventions that most of us at least have grown up with, it just felt wrong to me.  I might well be misremembering about Graham telling the Doctor what to do, it felt that way maybe just because of my cultural background. All the companions in SJA were young and that made her the clear lead in the group as the more experienced person though they were able to bring skills and a fresh point of view that contributed to the dynamic.

As with every series there were good episodes through the Chibnell years and some bad ones but there was something missing that made the bad ones (mostly) re watchable and the good ones really stand out. Incidentally I would say the same of the Davison years.

cheers

Janette

(hope you are holding out over there on the North Island.)

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. All the best. Thinking of you and Mrs Dentarthurdent and sending well wishes across the water. (straight?) Too long since I did high school geography.

Meanwhile will enjoy reading the review

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent You must have really offended the weather deities up there in the North Island. First the rain and now a cyclone. Thinking of you and keeping fingers crossed all will be well.

@thane16 It is hard to pinpoint why Chibnell’s writing lost me. In part perhaps it was just following the Moffat years which I loved so any other show-runner was bound to be a bit of a let down. There were no terrible episodes but none that stood out. There are several  I have re watched, but only a few. One of our sons remarked that the series lacked “charm” and that is certainly part of the problem. There was none of that Dr Who “twinkle” in the writing. I don’t think any of the episodes which  I enjoyed were scripted by Chibnell. I disliked the story arcs, I disliked the way he trashed the lore. Moffat restored Gallifrey because it gives the universe a bit of depth which it lacks. Chibnell trashed it with glee. That was the point where I stopped watching. As a writer it annoyed me. He is reducing the playing field for other writers. The reason Moffat argued for letting the Doctor’s Daughter live was that it was a potential story for a future writer. It enriched the world. Destroying planets and other races deprives the world and other, future, writers.

Other minor quibble was that I began to dislike Graham. I liked the character at first but feel that he would have been better as an occasional character, like Jackie. (Rose’s Mum) It annoyed me that the female doctor needed an older male to tell her what to do all the time. It felt it was becoming patronising. Maybe just me anyway the character of Graham began to grate a little. Ryan was poorly written so he was totally inconsistent. Yaz was under utilised in the first series but was by far the best of the three companions. I would like to have seen more of her family as well. There was potential there that was never tapped into. And as for the Master. Well  I am still disappointed at the casting of Sacha Dhawan. He would be perfect as the Doctor. I had my heart set on him being the Doctor one day and then he showed up as the Master.  (There was a lovely little snippet about him in The Guardian the other day on his experience of playing the master. It was part of an article about actors who have played villains.)

These are all minor quibbles that would not matter if the heart of the show was missing. I don’t expect perfection in my favourite show but I have not yet watched the last season in part because  I am afraid of not enjoying it and not wanting to be disappointed. I would like to see the final and feel that I owe it to Jodie Whitaker who was always good and  I greatly admire and appreciate her courage in tackling the role. Now the Doctor can be male or female. She established that with Chibnell’s support and so  I appreciate that he had the courage to run with a female Doctor. IT was more than time. I just wish I had loved the stories more.

And lastly, the Tardis interior. Second son looked at it, did not like it, too cold, too busy and evenly lit, but asked if it is just the 3d model for the design. So as a concept artist he would create a basic 3d model then add textures, lighting effects etc. I suspect that he is correct and the final design will be a lot more interesting. Still I like the concept and look forward to seeing how it ends up.

cheers

Janette

 

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Sympathy for your loss for you and your family.

Your Christmas gifts sound lovely. I did not get any Who related merch’ this season but instead got a Babylon Five figure, the last bit of b.5 merch’ in the shop. It is my favourite character, and the actor passed away last year so it especially meaningful for me. I am currently looking for a Dr Who calendar for our youngest to replace the one we got him last year. Unfortunately I don’t think I am going to find one locally so will have to go online.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thank you for posting that @blenkinsopthebrave. I hope that is the new design as it looks fantastic. Quite excited by the concept. It is futuristic, clean and a bit fantastic. Just what a Tardis interior should be but with the traditional elements too, the iconic “round things” and the console, looking more like an evolution of the original that many of the more recent consoles have.

I have only really liked one of the AG Tardis interiors, Capaldi’s book case design which had warmth and character, which this design lacks but makes up for in “cool”. I was never a fan of the “grunge look” or of Smith’s Tardis which looked a bit like a Play School spaceship. Whit’Doc’s Tardis interior was just a mess.  I dislike the attempt at organic spaceship as it does not “fit” with Timelord culture. So this design is very good. Right up there with the Book cases. (Because nothing can be better than walls of bookcases.)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Hope you are ok and got though the dramatic weather without harm.

Hope @everyone else is well  and just busy at the moment. there is not much news on the Dr Who front and November is still a long way away. I am assuming that filming this year’s specials would be underway by now.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent saw the flooding on the news earlier. Hope your place remains flood free.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent I am surprised to by the lack of comments. I thought these episodes are quite watchable, not stand outs by any means but not bad either. “Workmanlike” i think a poster above said and that really sums them up. I would not choose these episodes as a stand alone re watch but I will happily watch them when working through the series. It is hard to really care too much for the characters, human or flesh copy and I think that is part of the problem and as you say, there is probably not really enough “story” for a two-parter. That final reveal though is a “belter” and of course that is the point of the entire story.

It may not have been one of the greatest stories but it had one of the best endings.

Cheers

Janette

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