BBC APPROVED SPOILERS...

@MissRori

Perhaps he will find a way to work with/around his disability, however long it lasts.

I expect so- it would be too good a narrative opportunity to pass up with a quick resolution, and a positive story about disability if he is still bad-ass regardless. So I suspect that the Doctor may be blind until he regenerates.

Another strong episode for me. And the line on needing to watch out for the “suits” was a clever one- it left we wondering what the genesis of this episode was- I could imagine it all stemming from that line. Though it seems more likely that it was all to put the Doctor in a situation where he could be left blind from oxygen starvation.

The Doc…[Read more]

@thane15

Was the oath and promise one and the same? Also, was the oath made with regards to the vault, specifically? Someone who has a much better memory than I could clear that up for me?!

I’m not claiming a better memory- I remembered how to look up a transcript for what that’s worth…

BILL: One question. Little fella said you made an oath?…

[Read more]

@missy

None of the people I can think of, would be thrilled about children being eaten.

I don’t think it’s essential that they’re happy about children being eaten. Their interest is in a new story about children being eaten- possibly with the presumption of a happy ending, as the Doctor is choosing to tell the story. I enjoyed this story, but to…[Read more]

@blenkinsopthebrave

Oh, go on, you’re among friends!

If you insist…

The idea I’m fondest of is that Moffat will do something new with the regeneration story- it’s something that’s been done fairly similarly many times. So perhaps it’s a future version of the Doctor who is in the vault. Hints suggest that the vault-dweller may not be quite a pri…[Read more]

I enjoyed this as a standalone story. I actually got a strong vibe of an old X-Files standalone episode, more so than of BG Who (as one or two people mentioned). And David Suchet was of course a brilliant choice for his role and he more than made up for one or two less stellar performances amongst the supporting cast.

Having said that, I’m ready…[Read more]

@thane15

The subtitles on iview can go awry -I think it’s the Butterfly Effect

I’ve been caught out by that in the past. I don’t know why the ABC can’t use the BBC subtitles for Doctor Who and instead seem to redo them. The iView subtitles certainly aren’t a reliable source of truth 🙂

@thane15

I’d never look to wreck your fun. I hadn’t realised that you heard it as “River” initially. I thought you’d gone back looking and primed yourself to hear it. I tend to leave the subtitles on in iView, in part so that I don’t have go back if I do somehow miss something. So with those showing “Bill” and an expectation of that being what…[Read more]

@thane15

We’re all going bonkers.

No need for that- ordinary psychology is plenty. Priming is a powerful phenomenon and the expectation of what you’re hearing can most definitely colour your perceptions. And your sense of hearing is definitely affected by what you’re seeing.  Take a look at videos of the McGurk effect for examples that may ma…[Read more]

@thane15

If I recall, he explained the “off” switch; then “it has a knack to it” is the Doctor expressing little interest in saving those who profit from the exploitation of vulnerable citizens.

Unfortunately, earlier on he appeared as interested in saving his screwdriver as he was the innocent Spider. He certainly “moved on” very quickly a…[Read more]

@mudlark

The two versions are either showing different takes of the same sequence, or in one of them  – more probably the iPlayer version – ‘River’ (or ‘Bill’) has been over-dubbed.

I took a look at the scene and Peter Capaldi is facing camera and watching his lips, he definitely says “Bill”- that’s in the iView version (ABC catchup servi…[Read more]

Not too much to say about the episode proper that hasn’t been said- a relatively simple plot line that I thought worked quite well. As much an introduction to Bill to how the Doctor works as anything.

Regarding “Black Jesus”, the quote is Bill: “Regency England’s a bit more black than they show in the movies.” Doctor: “So was Jesus. History’s a w…[Read more]

@thane15

thought I’d move the conversation here

Sure- should have done so myself at the point I noted it was getting off-topic

As far as the ABC, the govt needs even tighter controls.

I don’t think I get what you’re saying here. The government would like to exert more control over the ABC. It’s because successive governments (part…[Read more]

@janetteB
Yes- commercial interests risk rule by accountants, but with existing tight budgets, I think it’s fair to say that’s probably already the case.

@pedant
Let me explain why I don’t think the TV licensing fee is a good way to be funding the BBC. It was conceived as a modern, progressive tax, since the relatively wealthy with TVs were…[Read more]

@missy

All this streaming and ipads are beyond me I’m afraid, I don’t even possess a mobile phone.  What if you can’t stream or haven’t got an ipad? Then what?  Wait until you can buy the series?

It’s not essential to have a tablet. A media box plugged into your TV can provide access to streaming services (there are good options there, eg Chrome…[Read more]

@JimTheFish

I wouldn’t overstate the strong position of the Beeb. It’s been on the ropes politically for a decade now and if the next general election goes the way it’s looking it’s going to get worse.

If it can get off the public purse and pay for itself, it can hopefully cease to be a political football. It seems to me it would be better…[Read more]

@JimTheFish

The future of commercial-supported free-to-air television is bleak, if it’s not already in its death spiral

Well, it’s not quite the end of days yet but I think you’re right. The future is definitely online and streaming and I’m guessing eventually Who will find a home on a BBC equivalent of Netflix.

Getting off-topic, but it’s so…[Read more]

@craig @mudlark

It was after a quick edit to fix a typo that my post disappeared. But I think that I tried posting the same again soon after to no avail (which might have triggered a duplicate post filter).

If it were the spam filter somehow, I did have a double pound symbol in my post, which might well raise it’s spamminess level to an…[Read more]

Sorry if this comment is duplicated- I posted it earlier and for some reason it didn’t show up…

@thane15

… but I really saw that the ‘rent’ was satire.

I recognise that this is largely a throwaway line essentially to camera and the ££ eyes were a joke the writers couldn’t resist, but did the Vardies know that it was a joke? :-). Honestl…[Read more]