@craig — I think you’re probably spot on as to the vibe we’ll hopefully get from Whittaker. There’s something of your quirky best friend in first year of art school vibe about her.

@wolfweed — Yes, it’ll be interesting to see how they do the earrings thing. Maybe she’ll just arrive with them on a la Troughton with his gear. Maybe she’ll do the…[Read more]

I have to say I just don’t like the coat. And I think largely on the fact that it’s too costumey looking. Would much prefer it to have looked like a ‘found’ object. Won’t someone think of the cosplayers? (Not that I’m ever planning to cosplay as 13. Although I’m not ruling it out….)

@wolfweed —

That’s a curious edit. Wonder why they did it? Was it the porn reference maybe?

@wolfweed — video’s back up and it’s very good indeed.

Cheers for posting…

I’ve been looking at Capaldi’s first episodes again in the past few days and it’s certainly striking how different he looks, but he’s certainly more comfortable in the role at the end, it seems. But what’s been striking me is how Twice Upon A Time calls back to so much in those first stories. His scepticism to Bill’s ‘reality’ mirrors Clara’s…[Read more]

@missrori — I think the idea that Moffat hates women is patently nonsense but it’s a drum that the Mary Sue is obviously going to refuse to give up.

Rather on rewatching I think he’s doing something rather clever with the First Doctor. I suspect he might have deliberately ramped up the sexism as a pointed comment against the old stick-in-the-mud…[Read more]

@ichabod — well said. Although I’d have said innovatory rather than gimmicky. Who survives by trying things out — regeneration, Earth exile, etc. This is just the latest.

But @Scaryb is right. This really has very little to do with companions past or present. We’ve had a long and varied 13th Doctor discussion and there doesn’t seem much to add…[Read more]

I hope you all good lots of cool reading material for Chrimbo. But just in case you didn’t and are in need of some SF-related material to get you through to the Doctor’s return, I’d heartily recommend the first two books in Becky Chambers’ Wayfarer series….

@ichabod

That red TARDIS is on Sauchiehall St and is usually a coffee kiosk. And yes it is annoying in its wrong colour. (Though could be worse, the one on Buchanan St was a hideous lime green for a while….)

@wolfweed — loved the After Show. That’s a very nice interview with Moffat. I’m going to miss his interface with the Who world, no matter what he gets up to in the future. And I’ll look forward to the extended interview in the new year….

Some thoughts on second viewing–

Generally great and a fine end to both Moffat’s and Capaldi’s time on the show. As others have said, it’s definitely more of a character piece than a full-blown adventure — which I think is wise — just how often has a Christmas episode had a memorable or enduring plot? Moffat, I’d argue, has always seemed…[Read more]

Liked it a lot. Although it felt more like a coda to the real drama and near-perfect ending of 12 in The Doctor Falls. The actual regeneration was very affecting though — I’m so glad they used the theme from Heaven’s Sent, which to me will always be Capaldi’s finest hour. Think this will require a second viewing before more detailed comment…[Read more]

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@craig

Saw it this afternoon and have to say that I was left not exactly loving it either. Definitely preferred Rogue One. It’s too long for starters definitely. And there’s a few nonsensical plot moments. It’s a shame because it does go out of its way to correct some of the bloodline supremacist nonsense that had crept into Star Wars lore and…[Read more]

Think I’m with @bluesqueakpip and @whisht that the animated version is preferable and enables a greater appreciation of the narrative.

So in this episode Cutler goes proper mental before getting offed by the Cybes. Unlike other antagonistic chiefs of base in this type of story in the future, it’s interesting that he never becomes an ally but is…[Read more]

@craig

The Big Sick is definitely one of the gems of the year.

Interesting to hear your thoughts on Last Jedi too. Hearing wildly conflicting reports on it. Some love it. Some hate it. Will probably check it out next week though have to see I am feeling a little bit of Star Wars fatigue at the moment. I wonder if Disney’s production line…[Read more]

@whisht

Yes, the Doctor is rather shouty here. I wonder whether that was to do with Hartnell’s ill health in any way.

In general, I’d say this is possibly the most ‘modern’ of all his serials. As I said before, it’s setting the template for a big chunk of the Troughton era and also has that Quatermass-ey vibe of early Pertwee too.

And I’ll be…[Read more]

Fascinating to watch this again. A bona fide piece of Who history on so many levels. I always feel that BG Who was at its best when ingenuity and commitment trumped budget limitations and I feel this is absolutely one of those times. The rocket sequences are a bit static and the ‘space acting’ is a bit odd but for me it works — although I agree…[Read more]

Apologies to all for not being near a computer to save @craig having to do this. Crazy time.

Sorry to hear about the redundancy btw, @craig. That sucks. Must be something going around at the moment (and we all know what it is) cos while you can’t make a freelancer redundant, you can tell them that there’s no more work for them come January. Do…[Read more]

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