@Craig

Yes its turning out to be pretty good, after a slightly uncertain start. Having read the book, it was easy to pick up, but I do wonder if the casual viewer will cope. I also like that they’re adding to the book, filling in things I had thought had happened. It is certainly quite non-linear. I was quite surprised by this weeks dive into…[Read more]

@Missy

you might try “Unforgotten” which also starred Nicola Walker in a police role. It was shown against the River on British TV. Unlike the River, it was also commissioned for a second series.

Depending on your taste in crime programmes, the first series was actually pretty good. I havent seen the second series.

@Craig

Have you caught American Gods ?

@phaseshift

Fear. Thought proving idea. Following your train of thought, I suppose the vault would essentially contains the Doctor’s death. The oath could be to himself (or to River as @janetteB suggested) to keep it sealed, to protect himself from the inevitable.

I suppose it depends on how you interpret what’s going to happen in thew Christmas…[Read more]

@phaseshift @bluesqueakpip

Re the punch. It does seem that PC is referencing Jon Pertwee. Could this be another tie back (JP’s venusian aikaido) albeit in a subtle way ?

I think you’re both spot on with respect to the punch. That scene (and perhaps the later one with the foreman who drowned) seems particularly out of character, not just because…[Read more]

@Bluespeakpip

🙂 yes that’s the perfect metaphor. I missed that analysis unfortunately. If its still around can you point me to it. I’d love to read it.

@Thane15 @pedant

Hi Thane and Puro

I don’t think I’m pithy much either. It’s not easy to be concise if you really want to explain your reasoning. Stating conclusions without explanation “opinionating” is a modern curse, which can only cause arguments along the lines of my opinion is better than yours. Explanations permit debate.

I’m glaf you…[Read more]

@pedant

This is what I wrote, in the second post to @janetteB a couple of posts ago:

“The denouement of the Impossible Girl arc was one of the most frustrating things SM has done, so far as I’m concern. Nothing was that clear, but the inference (as I saw it) was that the Intelligence interfered across his time line – to kill him in the most pai…[Read more]

@thane15 Puro

🙂 life would be so boring if we agreed on everything. I always (well mostly) find reading other people’s reasons for liking something I hated illuminating.

Since I can’t resist right now (too much free time at the moment) – do we actually know very much about timelord society to assign a class to the Doctor ? The Deadly Assassin…[Read more]

@thane15

Hi Puro. we all agree to differ in our opinions (politely for the most part here fortunately). I would tend to say the Doctor has always been rescued or helped by his team. Whilst they are there to be danger monkies and for plot exposition and a lot of trust me I know best etc (or do as I say not as I do).

The relationship is more equal…[Read more]

@thane15

You know the answer to that question better than me. However, if you are paying your nurse, you employ them, they have to always go where you want, then I’d suggest nurse more than companion (you could choose paid companion).

Obviously Companion isn’t a familial relationship, but can be some form of paid or paid in kind relationship…[Read more]

@mudlark

It’s hard to be precise about the impact of the Great War on UK population, although it is certainly detectable. Total population in 1911 census was around 38 million or say around 19 million men. Average life expectancy was 51 for a male, 55 for a female. Total UK war deaths were about 725,000 over 4 years. That’s about 3.5 % of the…[Read more]

@redlemons

I had thought both of those were possible, but I think a word that describes a close, friendly relationship is needed. Neither of these imply that. A better description than Companion, which is more meaning neutral, might not exist.

@pedant

Understood and agreed. Back then, even mid-30s would have been considered Old to be an unmarried women.

@ichabod

I’d say that I’m his carer = keeper, is a recent invention courtesy of the Moff, not one that has very much history. I’d also say that “we can be back before the kettle boils” is also relatively new (mostly came in with Amy/Rory I think) as a convenient way of having the companion have a non-Doctor back story/life. In season 2, Rose had…[Read more]