When RTD Broke the Doctor Who Universe - Doctor Who: The Devil's Chord (2024) REVIEW
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- Опубликовано: 26 май 2024
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What struck me as especially weird about how little The Beatles were in this episode was how heavily they've been marketing this episode as "Doctor Who finally meets The Beatles". Like, historical figures aren't always hugely prominent in the "Celebrity Historicals", but at the same time, the BBC didn't spend six months leading up to The Haunting of Villa Diodati screaming "WE'RE DOING A MARY SHELLEY EPISODE!".
Tbh even Mary Shelley had a more prominent role in that episode than The Beatles did in this one.
My thoughts exactly, I was rather disappointed with how little the episode actually used them. I don’t George or Ringo even got lines.
seems like another instance of corporate marketing not lining up with the actual producers of the show.
Yeah George and Ringo didn’t even get lines what the fuck
It’s also hilarious that they advertised the hell out of the Beatles for this episode and yet didn’t spring for “Twist and Shout” for the ending dance number that it was obviously choreographed for.
Weird side fact: There was no dubbed version of this episode in Germany till after Boom was already released in German (for me further indicating that this episode wasn't originally supposed to be released this early)
On a side note, I wish 12 faced Maestro, especially since he has been the more "rock n' roll" Doctor whipping out his guitar every now and then. He probably will in Big Finnish.
Jinx was an absolute delight in this episode. They have that near perfect range of being a legitimate threat as well as charismatically charming and I hope we see more of Maestro in the future. They could be like the next big original recurring villain of RTD2 or at least Ncuti’s era of the show.
Also, I do like the musical number at the end. The money and passion is clearly on the screen though I will say that maybe a musical number is how Maestro is defeated. Would that work or is there a similar and better way to do such a climax?
I hope Maestro comes back for a full musical episode, especially since Jinx can sing very well and I’d love for them to get an iconic villain song.
I see the musical number at the end as the heroes and everyone celebrating that the evil has been defeated and reclaiming their joy and passion through a big number.
I think if said number was used directly to defeat Maestro it would ironically lessen the impact of its inclusion.
A threat? What marshmallow world do you live in for Christ's sake?!!!!
Widow Twanky climbs out of a piano and the faux Dr cowers in a basement....
Pitiful 🤦
Favourite is a strong word but this eoisode really did soeak to me. Yes its about music, but i think it has something to say about media in general, and how we're living in an age where the powers that be want to suck all of the creativity, love and passion that goes into making art. Its an idea even I've had for a story where a world exists where robots and AI make all the art, tv shows, music and human are relegated to the menial jobs that we wanted to create machines to do. Yeah its not a perfect comparison to The Devil's Chord, it doesn't have any real connection to AI like Wild Blue Yonder did, but it's in that ballpark and has inspired me to finally make that story idea of mine in some capacity
This premise of yours is making me think of The Happiness Patrol and how Helen A would have jokes released that were meant to be bad and the Doctor was even questioning if they made her happy at all. It makes me question if lack of passion is something that can actually be identified in art and whether that is even a thing to truly determine between good and bad (cause we know passionate people can make some bad content). It feels like there's an element of subjectivity that has to be addressed somewhere.
If this were the case they should have explored it more. Or instead of meeting the Beatles, meet a prominent member of the Dada movement that shared similar beliefs to what you said above. But no, we get the Beatles because RTD can't be bothered to research important historical figures outside of the UK and its territories.
@@dylanotto949 You know who else can't? Our schools, because I have no clue what you're referring to
I personally loved the Devil’s chord. It’s because I’m a huge musical fan and music is so personal to me. I love how campy it is plus Ncuti, Millie and Jinx are fantastic. P.S I love there’s always a twist at the end
I love music too,
But what their done with Dr. Who is beyond comprehension.
It does feel as though things are out of order, and I wonder if that's deliberate...
even if you're right, i dont really like it. its a similar thing as shows that are self aware that they are bad, and try to play off of that. you see comedies do it a lot, where they claim to be aware that they're using a bunch of cliches and just unfunny jokes. but being self aware about it doesnt make it any funnier. I would feel the same way if there IS some narrative reason for everything feeling out of order. sure, there might be a reason for it, but its still making the show worse
This is the episode that convinced me it was a bad idea only having 8 episodes in the season. I think this season is hurt by not having more “conventional” Doctor Who episodes early on, and the 6 month time jump feels like RTD’s way of saying, “Those fun lower stakes adventures that flesh out the Doctor and Ruby’s relationship happened, you just don’t get to see them.” It’s frustrating because even though I’ve enjoyed the last few episodes, they would definitely be more effective if we had some more straightforward romps first, (like The Unquiet Dead, The Shakespeare Code, Robot of Sherwood, etc.) just so we could see The Doctor and Ruby’s dynamic develop in a more natural way.
This Episode wasn't supposed to be Episode 2 Rumors say...
I agree with your point, but not your examples. We don't need filler.
I see where you are coming from as I have similar issues with this season as you. I like fantasy and musicals, so this scifi-fantasy-musical-thing was great, I did enjoy it, but some of the episodes didn't feel like Doctor Who. And while I was drawn into the stories, at one point I found myself thinking I could use a more typical Doctor Who scifi-episode again. In regards of the few episodes in this season it felt like one day I was happily awaiting the upcoming season and the next I was sad it was already over. It felt really short.
18:55 I, for one, appreciated that the episode wasn't just 45 minutes of the Doctor being an obnoxious hype-man for a historical figure who probably wouldn't deserve it in retrospect. I think there are far better ways to handle it (The Haunting of Villa Diodati comes to mind.) but it could have been worse (The Shakespeare Code comes to mind).
Additionally, a few other members of the supporting cast seem to have said that they were disappointed their scenes were cut (I believe the woman dancing with Ruby at the end was one of them) so maybe the Beatles were first on the cutting room floor for the Beatles episode.
I had really hoped for a proper musical episode, not an episode centered around music. Millie and Ncuti can obviously sing! And yea, the end could've fit in FAR more organically.
I think it could be interesting! Though after the Goblin song I pray that if it ever happens RTD is let no where near it (decent music but god awful lyrics!) Love RTD's writing but after The Giggle and Devil's Chord it's clear that beyond exploring the emotional effects of it he just doesn't know how to include music in a plot!
I would kill for a jukebox musical Doctor Who Christmas episode where they sang classic Christmas tracks with, like, Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby or someone.
I've never really liked drag acts or musical episodes... but I thought this was fucking fantastic. Maestro brought something really different to the Doctor Who rogue's gallery and it's a rare gift to be fun and entertaining at the same time as powerful and terrifying. Just the way they clamber out of the piano is haunting.
I absolutely loved John and Paul saving the day with the almost, but not quite, A Day In The Life final chord. (A Day In The Life ends on E major but Maestro is defeated with C Major - and their hands on the piano are completely wrong for either... :p)
It's a shame they couldn't get the Beatles rights, because Twist and Shout would have made a far better musical number at the end, while still nailing the Susan Twist reference.
Speaking of, I think Susan Twist is going to literally turn out to be a Susan twist...
I’d love if Maestro returned for a full on musical episode, a chase though music history, meeting all the icons, maestro controlling them to into musical number’s.
Now they have established as a character it would work.
Maybe they could make a pantomime giving Widow Twanky a chance to shine.....
Whatever the hell this is... Just admit it is not Dr Who....
Keep in mind, it’s just as possible (and imo increasingly likely) that Ruby and the Doctor didn’t really spend a lot of time together in the months between Space Babies and Devil’s Chord.
I don’t think they’ve been “traveling together for months”. I think months have just passed for Ruby on earth while the Doctor’s been doing things on his own.
I never thought that of all the people who were and worked on Dr Who they got June Hudson in this, The same June Hudson who was a costume designer in the late 70's including the Doctor's new costume in 1980, Can't believe she's still alive after all these years.
I'm gonna make a wild prediction - The Doctor is a sibling of Maestro's. The Timeless Child being a wild abandoned offshoot of the Toymaker's pantheon would explain a lot.
Tbh, I think their chemistry did feel rather sibling-ish now you mention it.
The 4th wall breaks yes been done before but not to this extent & I've been saying that they are in the TV with Susan Twist thing getting Shirly Ballas & Johannes Radebe & the TARDIS is trying to smash the wall to bits . Rubys theme tells me we are going to have our hearts broken. I also think the episodes are out of order AND I live by the actual Church on Ruby Rd. UNIT scene in 73 yards was also filmed in my hometown
Someone in your livestream pointed out that the Doctor and Ruby very nearly travel to 2150 in Space Babies, until Ruby gives the 5th number. Of course, that's the year Susan was left on Earth. She's coming back 100%
i feel like all signs are pointing toward ruby being susans daughter. there are a couple weird things here and there, like the scan at the end of space babies saying she's human, but the scan never completed so perhaps it just hadnt determined she was half time lord
If, per chance, she DOESN'T, we're gonna look like a bunch of crazy conspiracy theorists, literally going crazy over a bunch of numbers.
@@Mayeur000Donz I remember being 100% sure Omega was gonna return in series 6..
another interesting thing i just of; if i recall, she rattles off 2150 fairly quickly but then pauses a bit before saying the 5th number, almost as if she instinctively said 2150 for some reason but felt that 100 years into the future wasnt quite extravagant enough
'The Devil's Chord' is definitely out of place. Each of the four directors of this season has their two episodes right next to each other in the order, except Julie Anne Robinson's episodes are separated by 'The Devil's Chord' and Ben Chessell's other episode, 'Rogue', is sitting by itself after 'Dot and Bubble.' TDC must've originally been before or after Rogue.
Maestro was so well performed, it's great to hear people praising a distinct new role that landed.
I believe Song for Ten was done by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy
My theory about the time skip is that this episode was originally intended to be later in the series and we'll see those 6 months during 73 Ya..... What? That episodes already out proving my theory wrong? oh well
09:24 yeh! and we have the cat!
Why does everyone forget the Five Doctors? Susan Foreman was in that, I think it would be good to reintroduce her, just as its been so long, but also we have to assume that Susan Foreman wasn't her real name. I'm not sure she would have a 'Title' because I don't think she was an actual Timelord, but I do think she probably had a Gallifreyan name, although that's not hugely important given she was only ever called Susan Foreman in the show. We know very little about her really.
Who forget? Mr Tardis cited 1985 as Susan's last appearance.
@@pious83 I only listened to it once, thought I heard differently.
@@lloroshastar6347 To be honest, Susan should have been the "mystery woman" that 10 saw in the End of Time. It would have been a better payoff than some ambiguous hint at a parent. That Chibnall rendered null and void anyway,
14:28 Man with the return of Sutekh in the latest episode that has to be a big coincidence that you were referring to this story!
Honestly, I feel similarly, but for me the negatives weigh on me more than the positives, and even some good things for you didn't work for me as well. Like, for example, I definitely think Jinkx Monsoon did a great job, but that kind of obnoxious bombastic character gets old really fast for me, it was just exhausting (I kinda feel the same about the Simm Master in Series 3, I know RTD likes to be extra but that isn't always it for me), as well as the absurdly high stakes for the second episode (again, more fuel for this maybe originally being intended to be later). I know RTD likes his high stakes, but if THIS felt too much, then I dread to think what the finale is gonna pull. It just felt so excessive in everything that it was exhausting.
The meta stuff too - I'm not used to Doctor Who being this meta, and while I'm not inherently against the idea, I felt like it was a bit too on the nose. Like, "there's always a twist at the end", really? A song like that would be amusing in something like Phineas and Ferb, which often has very silly and absurd meta lyrics in their songs, but that's normal for it - for Doctor Who, it's just ??? It's also major tonal whiplash, IMO. Lots of reasons that song just doesn't work. Also everyone just suddenly participating, I hear it's explained as the remaining Maestro energy in the Universe or whatever and all the music coming back is causing a mass expression of it, but yeah it's too much.
I also found so much of the story arc teasing excessive too - I feel like RTD is dropping mystery on top of mystery to the point it's getting exhausting. Like, people go on about JJ Abrams for always having mystery boxes, this is how I feel about RTD right now. I like The Giggle more than you do, but I agree that the fact that the 60th specials and it essentially are trying to be both an ending AND a beginning make it kind of awkward. RTD claims this new season is supposed to be like a fresh start and people can just join in from Church on Ruby Road, but I feel like he's not doing a very good job of that, and episodes like Devil's Chord with suddenly throwing all of this stuff at everyone while also connecting so heavily to other RTD2 episodes is doing the opposite of what RTD wants.
By the way, very curious to see your 73 Yards review, even if Boom is next. I struggled a lot with it and didn't have much of a reaction to everything, and seeing you feel similarly makes me curious to see if you can help articulate some of that beyond me just feeling like it's too abstract for me to "get" it.
2:30 50th Doctor?!?! I think I must have missed alot :D
He definitely says "Fifteenth" lol, you can literally hear the "eenth" at the end. Not to be rude, but you might need your hearing checked 😅
This episode is like spaghetti 3 minutes before al dente but with a delicious cheese sauce with little pieces of fried bacon. The base is undercooked and hard to chew up but the coating is amazing.
It's not the first time Murray Gold has made a cameo. Last time was in the voyage of the damned.
I loved the episode even though the nitpick ps of what ruby says to the doctor about not running away and the doctor asking ruby where they are from in the timeline are hard to ignore saying like the video suggests that it wasn’t meant to be episode 2 but got moved up for whatever reason cause to me the maestro is the best villain of the season so far
With all due respect to Murray Gold, I think he's a great composer for film and television. He should not be writing broadway-style songs.
Ruby and the Doctor are such a delight doing their song and dance, though, that I can almost forgive the song for annoying me. 😂😂
They should have played morning dew by bonnie dobson when they go to the trashed future / present day. Since that's an early 60s song about the aftermath of armageddon
I disagree big time about this story not having much to say beyond “without music people would be sad,” and it comes back to the final moment with John and Paul. I think once you look past how convenient that moment is logistically and structurally, THAT is what the story is trying to say about music; that music is a primal force that humanity feels an instinctual pull toward, deep in their souls. It’s a story about how music shapes our universe by shaping us, and how even a being as powerful as the Maestro can’t destroy that inherent aspect of humanity.
I find it interesting and poetic in a way that the Pantheon characters are these cosmic entities that are extremely powerful but the way you defeat them is specific to the theme of character and something extremely simple
The Toymaker: Beat them in a game
Maestro: Play the correct chords
The Trickster: Go back on your agreement
The major thing that irks me the wrong way is that solving the Maestro problem in 1963 instead of 1925 means that music was basically shit for 3 and a half decades😭😭😭
What was the reference to Sam Raimi and music battles? I associate Raimi with the Evil Dead and Spiderman and there is nothing that pops into my head where I'm thinking about Music Battles.
Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
@@pious83 Thank you
10:12 You’ll pay for this!!!
I like the musical number. It's permanently stuck in my head.
Imma be 100% honest, I didn't blink twice when the show implied Ruby has been traveling for the Doctor for a little, I didn't even think about it, it always seemed normal they have off screen adventures
Its usually 1-2 boring adventures, but this was 6 bloody months when we've hardly seen the 2 together on screen. So like 95% of their bonding is cut and skipped like nothing i didnt even realise it happened at first.
When they saw the subpar Cilla, they should have said "surprise surprise".
I wish they'd gotten someone who sounded more like Cilla, because she really didn't sound like her.
Boy, the discourse on this episode seems pretty quaint compared to the talk about 73 Yards right now.
So first off, highly disagree that 11 only seemed to care about Clara for the mystery. True, it was something he wanted to find out and he might have pushed himself a little far sometimes but he clearly cared for her well-being and was pretty accommodating, going along with her request to come back tomorrow in Bells of Saint John, giving her first pick of where to go in Akhaten, offering a chance to try and fly the TARDIS in Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS. Like all of this does not read as someone who strictly wants to have someone around as a means to an end.
I feel like RTD has got to be careful with future appearances of these Pantheon guys cause both the solutions to this and the previous being's defeats were pretty basic and involved some weird stretches in places. Also, wasn't super crazy about the musical battle cause much like Multiverse of Madness its pretty hard to tell how well any side was doing since its kind of hard to WIN music given its subjective. This is also kind of why aspects of this music-less world feel weird to me as well cause quote on quote BAD music is still music, a form of expression, so even if less people are into it its not like it was completely off the cards (and you think Maestro would still have wanted to not have it around). Also, feel like if humanity couldn't express itself properly through music they would find some other outlets before reaching nuclear devastation but who could say?
Yeah, that “bad music causes a nuclear war” aspect felt a bit… off to me. I don’t know what the right word is, cheesy?
I half agree with your post. But music is inherently human. It can't be replaced. Yes, there are other forms of creativity, but those are all human.
Removing music is a butterfly effect. It changes human society for the worse.
Great review!
I'm honestly starting to think that media criticism is obsolete, and its ironic because I once wanted to be a film critic. But when so many people have such diverse opposing views in the modern world, I honestly just think its nice to have anything for everyone. That doesn't mean I think anyone can be a filmmaker, or anyone can write a good script, it's more that media criticism is largely just down to personal preference now and is less objective or intellectual, it's more about nitpicking or personal validations.
I went between the Mr Tardis reviews and Council of Geeks reviews for the latest episodes because frankly I don't really trust anyone else because almost all the others just complain about 'wokeness' and have nothing of worth to say, they are just angry Doctor Who doesn't pander to their personal politics.
Council of Geeks hated the Devils Chord and especially Jinx Monsoon but loved 73 Yards, Mr Tardis was the exact reverse, I liked both stories lol I guess I'm just questioning why I bother listening to criticisms at all when I usually just come to my own conclusions anyway that usually differ from most critics.
That being said I agree with the insertion of the Beatles in this story and the role they play, very bizarre choice, as well as the final music number I was not a fan of that either.
Me and my friend, PyramidHead45, have discussions of this every now and then cause it really starts to make you think "Must I listen to what others say is good/bad or go with my own take and get revered/detested for it because I didn't 'pick a side' on the matter?"
Why should it be the norm to go after people for liking/hating something? If anything, I prefer having all these different takes cause people are people and (aside from hatred and bigotry affecting others being big no nos) should be allowed to have.
@@RevanNaut yes I hate the way it makes us all go tribal as well. Like I had a lot of issues with Star Trek Discovery despite being a longterm Star Trek fan, but whenever I shared my issue with people who also disliked the show it quickly turned into rants about 'wokeness' and I soon regretted sharing my opinion at all.
Hi, for some unknown reason I have only just found you, I am definitely a Doctor Who geek, I started watching in about 1965 ish , absolutely s##t scared of the Daleks!!! I have a couple of Dr Who tattoo’s, looking forward to binge watching 🤣🇬🇧
0:39 Shtudios
new video? Noice
I think it is out of order. Probably meant to be around Rogue. This I can blame Disney for. I don't put much blame on them like some people who blame them when it rains, or is too hot outside, but this, yeah. I can see them reshuffling and asking an exasperated RTD if it was fine and he was like... "I guess it's ok," while forgetting about the 2 points where it isn't.
I don't want Susan back cause I'm gun-shy after the awful Tegan and Ace misusage, and Mel too relating completely unnecessary lines about Sabalom Glitz that screw with continuity. Can RTD get this one right? The Mel thing especially gives me extreme doubts.
That the Maestro said "the one who waits is almost here" and we haven't seen them yet I fundamentally agree. It feels like it was definitely ep 6 and that was setting up a ep7-8 two parter. Otherwise why say that SO EARLY in the 8 ep run if we're not going to see them till ep 5 at the very least. That's not almost here, that's 3 episodes away. Even if we streamed the whole thing, that's some weird baiting to not address for several episodes. Also why did Maestro even say that to the Doctor? Did Toymaker say in advance "I'm gonna tease the one who waits to the doctor, be sure to mention it." What a weird threat, to a reference the Maestro can't know Toymaker said.
I really liked the episode. The ending musical was weak lyrically, but I like the idea of it at least. Maestro was fantastic.
I think your S1 comparison with the Doctor running away is definitely a clue that the episode order got swapped around clumsily, but also it reminds me how often Eccleston loses and needs saving in that first series. With everything that's gone on, I don't think the timeskip matters much to me- but it certainly makes their relationship a little more generic if this is how they are right out the gate.
Plus, moving it to come out in sync with Eurovision is one of those clever moves on paper...but hardly justifiable or likeable this year. If it really was a sudden change, it's a shame that they misstepped and bigged up the dodgy TV event nobody I know watched.
I finally watched this last night and I made the exact same comparison to the Child Catcher.
I wish that the big musical number was a villain song that explains maestro’s motives for stealing music from the world. I feel like that would have been better than throwing the big musical number at the end. But that is just me.
I wish this was a full musical episode tbh, like Doctor Who’s version of Buffy’s Once More with Feeling. Imagine if instead of taking music away, Maestro forced everyone to sing their feelings. Through song, The Doctor might have even revealed aspects of his past that he didn’t want Ruby to know about.
The motive is a power trip. Consuming music from the universe to make their aolient sounds and getting all that music energy for themself.
8:22 yes she did, she told all three of them about the Fugitive Doctor in Fugitive of The Judoon and she told Ryan about the Timeless Child in Revolution of the Daleks
No? None of them knew about the Fugitive Doctor, which is why Yaz was confused about who she was when her hologram appeared in 'The Power of the Doctor'.
And she didn't tell Ryan anything in that story. She talked through metaphor.
@@MrTARDIS At the end of Fugitive of the Judoon Yaz asks who was the fugitive? The Doctor replies it was Ruth. But Ruth was me, Yaz, Graham and Ryan were all in the scene. In Revolution of the Daleks the Doctor tells Ryan that she wasn't born on Gallifrey and she doesn't know how many lives she's lived
@@MrTARDISdoesn't make sense Yaz confused about her hologram in "the power of the doctor". She knows Ruth, she should know that hologram is Ruth, and even with that, the Doctor explicitly told her "the fugitive was Ruth, but Ruth was me", so she should know the hologram was the Doctor. And maybe Ryan doesn't know exactly about what The Timeless Child means, but The Doctor explained to him that she doesn't know her own past now, and is Ryan the one who encourage her to go and find about her lost past.
@@MrTARDIS Without mentioning the last minutes of _"The Vanquishers"_ episode, in which Thirteenth apologises with Yaz and promises her to explain the reason why she was kept in the dark about the Doctor's quest in tracing Karvanista for his connection with Division (including, supposedly, the Timeless Child story). So, yes: you clearly forgot about those lines.
@@sergiocastro1636 Yaz wasn't necessarily confused by the hologram because she didn't know Ruth was the Doctor. What she says is: "It's weird; you were a tour guide last time I saw you". She says its weird because... its weird. A random tour-guide you met one time walking in and being the Doctor is a weird situation to be in. Doesn't mean she didn't know.
I have enjoyed Maestro and the Toymaker as the more lavish and bonkers kind of god like beings, but I'm curious to see how Russell will write/present a more straight faced evil god. Especially if the one who waits turns out to be Sutekh or Fenric. I couldn't imagine Sutekh jamming to Disco Inferno.
While not technically a god, the Dalek Emperor was definitely written by Russell as a godlike figure. I imagine that's the same sort of blueprint he would follow for a more traditional god.
I really enjoyed the Devils Cord but I kinda feel like I was promised a different episode, the Beatles really seemed like an afterthought in the episode I also think they could’ve gone further into the musical aspect having only one musical sequence feels like a lil bit of waste
nice beard trim.
When did George Santos take over Dr who?......It's like they were separated at birth....
I just wish that Always A Twist was a good song.
Ruby's song is lovely though.
Edit: 'Broadway run in Chicago'
Wait, wha?
Perhaps it means “Broadway run of Chicago” or something
It was a fantastic episode. Just amazing
Hope the suit gets annother outing
A decent episode , as usual a great review. I am getting the impression these episodes should be longer but maybe im excusing some sloppy writing/editing
Wait, YOU bought the monkeys paw?! Now I know who to blame😂. At least we have a dog named Fred
I do really resonate with how without music that they turn spiteful and hopeless as someone with depression I often listen to music to calm me. It works really well and without I probably wouldn't still be alive. Also to be noted Jinkx Monsoon only uses she/her pronouns in their drag persona and when referred to outside of it you should use they/them is was an honest mistake and I don't blame you.
Thank you for giving Jinkx the credit she deserves! I’ve been a huge fan of her’s for a while, and to see her appear in my favourite show with all her wonderful talent on display was such a delight!
The episode could have used a Sean Lennon and a Mark Ronson to fill in the 60’s mood formthe beatles and cilla black. Compaare with Last night in Soho.
Theo! ❤
I don't really like Jinx's characterisation there. The episode was a bit too light and silly in my opinion, whereas it had potential to be ominous. I put this episode was quite poor and cartoonish, the cartoon notes came across is a very Disney thing like from one of their live action adaptations of their animated films.
Its weird chucking a "super dimensional threat" akin to the toymaster, but then have them not actually feel threatening in their actions and just by the words of characters around them. Fine episode otherwise, but im still yearning for a proper terrifying villain, or one thats even trying
I think my opinion on Devil's Chord is partly influenced by release order. I think, at least of what we've got so far, Boom probably would have made a much better season opener. It's pretty grounded, relatively simple premise, Ruby's first time off world apparently, and fairly serious. It has its problems too, granted, like maybe they should have cast a younger daughter, or better sold how normal that world was for the daughter and it influencing her reactions. However, it's well enough written, and a typical adventure to ground things before getting the RTD1 series 1 feel of Space Babies, or the fourth wall break after fourth wall break episode this was, and fighting another god so soon after Toymaker, plus musical number at the end.
For me, it just feels like a big ask in terms of suspension of disbelief. In the previous episode, the season opener at that, what has to be inherently off-putting babies' CG mouths moving for actual words, repetition of the title, a snot monster as it turned out, and basically fart propelled space station. It's not as in your face as farting aliens in Aliens of London and World War Three, but I think even those episode had more going for them, which isn't saying much. To then follow that up with Devil's Chord, it's just a bit much back to back.
Fighting gods more often works on something like Hercules and Xena back in the day, because we start off with the gods showing up to meddle all the time, and the one show has a demi-god as its lead (though I far prefer Xena, of the two shows). Whereas in Doctor Who, it feels, or I kind of think it should feel a bit more "this is a big deal" and happen much, much more rarely. I don't think we necessarily needed any children of the Toymaker to be upcoming threats, because it sort of makes that level of threat less of a special event. That or you make them demi-gods, and less of a threat, but still a bit more perhaps than random monster of the week.
I'm a queer woman, and I grew up on Disney musicals. And drag isn't new to me, though I didn't watch RPDR, so I wasn't familiar with Jinkx (she was fantastic in this though). Is this my least favorite musical episode of anything? No. But musicals in general, either work for me, or they really, really don't (be that Disney or otherwise, live action or animated). Star Trek SNW did a musical episode that I went from, "This isn't bad" quickly to "I'm never going to watch this episode again." 😆Whereas this one, I could see watching again at some point, but not like I'm rushing to it either. The cast did a great job, Jinkx chewed the scenery, and the people could sing just fine in the musical number. Do I think we needed a musical number that episode? No. That one specifically? Also no. Would it have landed a bit better after a few episodes more with Susan Twist in the credits? Maybe.
I almost think this one maybe should have followed, of what we've got so far anyway, 73 Yards (personally, if using any of that title, I would have just called it Seventy Three, to hold off on pointing out a key thing that episode). Slightly spooky episode, followed by this one. You'd also benefit from spending more time with the Doctor as the opener, then after the silliness of Space Babies, an entire episode focused on Ruby. Then you jump into this. Unless there's something coming up that would have worked better before it. Especially with Maestro's line teasing how close the big bad of the season seems to be. Which feels like it should have come later. As does Ruby's assertion of the Doctor never running, when so far we've only seen them together versus goblins and a snot monster (which the Doctor initially ran from).
Honestly I loved the musical number at the end, I loved the vibes and it was a lot of fun and that number and the piano crosswalk made sense to me since it was very much an after-effect of Maestro's meddling, similar to what happened after the Toymaker was defeated!
This episode was so much fun in general imo and I loved it however TWO things did annoy me: the "June 2024" comment which implies the Doctor and Ruby had been travelling for 6 months which doesnt make sense as in the next episode Ruby visits her first alien planet, if they had been travelling for 6 months where were they going in all that time? And secondly the Doctor says to Ruby that he told her about the Toymaker when they met but actually NO he didn't in the version of Church on Ruby Road we saw, in this scene he is referencing a CUT line which was in the script but cut from the eposode itself which means this reference to that no longer makes sense... that's just baffling to me.
I suspect RTD been given a rough broadcast date around June 2024, so wrote that line to make a connection with the audience, who would be watching around that time. As it was, this episode debuted in May 2024, so it's not too far off.
@@ftumschk yeah but it makes no sense. It'd be better if Space Babies-73 Yards happen in close proximity and then have there be a gap where they've had plenty of off screen adventures (this is where the novels can slot in) so by the finale that takes place in June 2024 (which is when the finale episodes air!)
I don't think it's a problem not picking up exactly where the last episode left off. I don't really need to see her trip home. I do think the time skip was awkwardly done, since it's not explained until after some stuff like 'you never hide'.
The Giggle is a great episode.
Maestro was a great villain. My only complaint is how they're defeated. While I did love the music battle, I'm not really sure how the Doctor managed to get most of the chord right and then not. Seems like The Beatles should have featured a little more and have them come up with it. Or at least a little more explanation of how the Doctor got so close.
I liked the final musical number. Yeah, maybe the song could have been better. But I still think it worked. And the choreography was pretty good.
Honestly, I think it's my favorite of the 4 episodes so far this season.
Man, the crap ending killed it for me, still 2nd best. And 73 yards had an equally wack ending but it felt like that is gonna be explored more, unlike maestro who is cut and dry simple.
@@generalpork I'm the opposite. The end of 73 yard hurt it a little for me because there's no real explanation of how she became her shadow and it looped around and all that. The magic chord, less important to me.
Very much agree: amazing production, but the story doesnt really go anywhere. This is pretty much my criticism of every episode this season.
Its been bugging me till I realised just now what it was, genuine question, as SEASON ONE for the new D+ era, why should new viewers watch this show? Why should they invest in this era?
Would you really say "you should watch it because theres a lady in the background evey episode and maybe she'll be important eventually" or "its got some really nice shots in it" or "there's a dance sequence at the end, pay the D+ subscription just for the fun of it."
Like, if I wanted to get you into Season 1 of Eccleston, I'd say "a mysterious alien has become standoffish after a war, and you get to feel a sense of escapism as you follow a rebellious girl who follows him on a whim and slowly finds out who he really is." If I wanted to get you into the start of Tennants Era, "the doctor is really charismatic and flirty and he has a lot of drama with his companions, he falls in love with one, has a rebound fallout with another, and then makes a really loyal friendship which takes him to really challenging places." If I wanted to get you into Smith era "the doctor shifts from light to dark when his new found-family is threatened, and goes on fantastical adventures with someone who grew up thinking he was an imaginary friend, and mysteriously her boyfriend keeps dying and coming back to life."
If I wanted to get you into the Capaldi Era: "The doctor is an alien who went through a war and has just started healing. He really goes through the ringer as his gruffer side comes out and he learns to be a kinder person. Admittedly theres a companion they couldnt quite decide the character on, but through some development she goes from bossy to toxic and their relationship pushes the doctor to his limits. Then there's a really supportive trio towards the end."
Whitaker Era suffers from this too. "if you feel obligated to stick around out of loyalty to the show" or "if you want to understand the backstory of a season that claims to be a fresh start..." or "the doctors a woman now, thats neat." But i cant tell you what her core character was or core dynamic with the companions were. "If you want three planks of wood and a doctor that goes from happy go lucky to a moody butt with no warning and a lot of sudden lore changes"
Like I really enjoy Gatwa and Millies energy, but whats the dynamic here? Whats the character development here? Whats the core hook? "You should watch doctor who, its light fluff fantasy now so if you watch it just don't think about it." "The doctor is adopted and Ruby is adopted and they both enjoy each others company. Also the doctor cries a lot." Is it fun or just flashy? Etc. Etc.
My point being, whats the clear direction here to suck people in? Why should new viewers care? Why should older viewers care? Genuine question, i feel like im back to watching out of obligation and loyalty and curiosity as I did Chibnalls era just better cast and better production but no clear thing of focus to anchor my investment in.
I was hyped for this one as a Beatles fan and I felt a bit let down with how little they were utilised. I didn’t like the villain either. I don’t like characters who are at 100 all of the time and I also didn’t really buy how powerful they were despite the episode showing it. It’s weird, this just didn’t really feel like an all powerful being the way the Toymaker did. No hate to Jinkx Monsoon though.
Really didn't like this episode. It felt rewritten like 3 or 4 times, with no cohesion between scenes. One minute Doctor is too afraid to confront Maestro, even almost lashing out at Ruby. The minute next he is like "yeah, let's go". This episode was packed with moments that felt so disconnected, that I got the feeling literally nothing happened.
The duel with Maestro felt as unticlimactic as the duel with the Toymaker. Like father like child, I suppose
Acting was still great, loved everyone. Jinkx, Ncuti, Millie, loved them all.
This is easily my favorite episode in years, barring Wild Blue Yonder, it’s my favorite episode since the Capaldi era. It had energy, themes, good characterization, a fun clever story everything I want in Doctor Who story
While I enjoyed the episode and Maestro was brilliant. I would have left that dance number on the cutting room floor. Completely derails the ending of the episode. For no real purpose whatsoever.
I legit might skip the slug episode. I suffer Hemophobia and it was shocking to see how much blood (even if it's blue) there was in the episode.
I just don't get the tone or direction of this season at all. Space Babies and Devil's Chord try to make the show upbeat and happy but then Boom and now this upcoming episode have some of the darkest imagery I've seen in Doctor Who since Turn Left and some of the stories from the 6th's second season. 73 Yards is a literal nothing episode since the ending prevented anything of importance from happening so ai can't even rate that on the mood scale.
It's just sad. I'm not against experimenting but this feels like a lot of assorted ideas being forced into a single season/mold. As much as I and others ragged on Moffat, Series 5 had every story connect back to the main arch/plot in some manner. Or there's the 5th's first sesson where each adventure was referenced in later episodes/plots.
While i still don't like the beatles ex machina, i do think i understand what's going on. the doctors explanation for why he was able to figure out the chord in the first place was that he has experienced so much and has felt so much. and since thats where music comes from, he can find the chord. not sure i like this logic, but its perfectly fine and doesnt have too many flaws on its own. I think the reason that HE couldn't finish the chord, but the beatles could, was that he HASNT experienced everything. There's one aspect of music that the entire doctor who series has made a point of saying time and time again that the doctor CANT have. and thats humanity. the doctor is not human. he does not live like a human. he hasnt experienced a normal, everyday, human life.
While not perfect, I keep comparing this episode favourably to Pyramids of Mars, and I actually think it's better.
One comparison is that the resolution in both is kind of an asspull, but in Devil's Chord it at least has thematic, emotional catharsis.
Great cast, photography and production but I’m not too impressed with the series so far and I’ve been a fan since the first episode in 1963. However, this episode was just a bit too meta and didn’t work for me. Great channel and commentary as ever.
👍
That final musical piece was so out of place, basically I've just ended up not caring about it.
The episode could have ended with the Doctor winking to the screen, and nothing would have changed in terms of storytelling. That sequence is so randomic, it becomes absurd; and not in a good way.
What I've found interesting, however, is the Doctor's line about the Bigeneration: _"he_ [the Toymaker] _literally tore my soul in half"_ , almost implying Fifteenth is not actually a future version of Fourteenth, but a half of the Doctor. Basically, Fourteenth split into two: an A version with his face and his trauma still in place, and a B version that does not have any trauma left.
That's so intriguing for me: the Doctor tore in two different people.
It made me wonder if Ncuti's eventual regeneration (or whatever the hell it is at that point😂) will involve 14 and 15 sort of recombining. Sounds insane, but so does running around with half a soul for the rest of time.
@@bennettnez4711 That's exactly what I was thinking too.
The end of their lives as a rejoining. Rather poetic, in a certain way. Eh, eh...
It's a metaphor. An unfortunate one that RTD used that makes 15 seem less legitimate.
Nice rickroll
What is wrong with The Giggle? It is a great episode and Neil Patrick Harris stole the show with his incredible performance.
I was also surprised by the giggle hate, BUT this guy can generally be trusted about Who, so I'll have to go watch his original review. I loved The Giggle. It did have a few things to be explained if you aren't caught up on classic, I guess, but that is always a plus for me.
He posted a review of the episode a while ago, but I'll summarise:
The first 2/3 are pretty strong, but Donna and Unit both don't really do much. The social commentary of the episode feels half-hearted. The Bi-generation feels sloppily executed and conceptually broken. And introducing the new Doctor of the rebooted Season 1 in an episode that is so, SO heavily tied down by the shows previous lore was just a silly idea.
@@tTaseric It's a fair point, but I think it actually works better for new viewers to have the new doctor introduced before the first episode. Starting as a new viewer with a regeneration would be really confusing. It's part of what made the original reboot work so well. Being introduced to a 9th doctor that's already on the ground running. Plus, after new fans become established, they can go back and watch the 60th anniversary specials from before the first episode.
I have a theory that the Maestro is the Master's latest incarnation. Basically, when you lose against the Toymaker, you become one of his "children". The Master, who challenged to Maestro and lost, had their regeneration altered by the Toymaker to become Maestro. There is a hint there where the Maestro played the sound of drums for a split second.
RTD actually shot that one down pretty quickly, stating that he knows Maestro and Master sound similar but that they are totally different characters with no relation to each other.
Nah. Doctor Who would be really lame if every villain was just the Master. It's the worst instinct of every fan fiction. What if this new person was actually this already established person?
5:19 wait, are those real or made-up?
Those are the brand new BBC Books novels with 15-Ruby.
@@MrTARDIS ooh cool! ☺️
I'm ok that the theme of the episode was simple. Its was a style over substance episode, something Doctor Who has done before and will again. RTD is building something wirh Ruby and the Toymaker, and he created a very entertaining episode while doing so. It doesnt have to be the best Doctor Who of all time to be good Doctor Who
2 episodes in and the disappointment rises. Once again a great series is ruined when Disney gets involved.
Do people pay for this as Patreons to watch it first. First for what? Most v,iewers would watch ‘whenever’
First two episodes were indeed bad.
Docotor feels out of character (not Ncutis fault he is amazing). Story feels like doctor is not even neccesary part of it and he seems weak and cowardly.
I felt like the stories were not cohesive. I like Ncuti as a doctor and Rose is also played extremely well. Their chemistry works and episodes 3 and 4 show it.
So far the series was bit dissapoting to me, espicaly comments done by Ncuti. Nevertheless it is miles better than Whittakers era.
With some comenantors I feel like they are disliking doctor who just beacue there are black and gay people. With some comenatnors I feel like no matter how bad the episode is, they like just because there is some representation despite the episode being bad.
Great review, agreed on pretty much everything.
With this episode, The Giggle, and now 73 Yards, RTD2 is making a very bad habit of random, frustrating, nonsensical endings to otherwise good episodes. Endings were never RTD's strongsuit but it feels like he's not even trying with them anymore. The way Maestro was defeated made absolutely no sense and completely took the wind out of the episode's sails. Then we had that godawful musical number, which was simultaneously easily some of Murray Gold's weakest ever work for Doctor Who and one of the low points for Doctor Who in general.
Doctor Gay*
Funny and original
I think your titles became too clickbaity lately
Hi again William, & thanks for another well edited review, I've given a Thumbs-Up though I think you should maybe consider NOT playing with your cat on camera. It looks unprofessional IMO, & ditching your cat may increase your views.
I have a few issues with your review, which although detailed in part, ignores certain disturbing dialogue in what is ostensibly still a “Family Show” screened on prime-time Saturday evening BBC1 before the watershed.
BEFORE the opening credits we got “Heartbroken Lesbians” from the pantomime drag queen, then the creepy as f*** “That's my Daddy” quote from the little boy. Yet you chose to ignore both of these. Why?
You must realise that by continually NOT calling these out, you do come across as a BBC-Disney Shill.
You also kept referring to Jincx Monsoon as a “she”, when he's clearly a Drag Queen. I did think he was very good as The Maestro as an over-the-top pantomime villain (traditionally played here in the UK by men). Maybe you didn't realise it was a man in drag?
You also didn't discuss that when The Doctor referenced being in a junkyard in 1963 (as 1st Doctor Hartnell), he was also at Coal Hill School in 1963 as 7th Doctor McCoy, which the Gatwa Doctor DIDN'T reference. I know you know this, & so does RTD, so why not reference this glaring omission?
You mentioned the anachronism of Lennon's 1966 glasses - we also had the infamous 281F white Volkswagen appearing 5 years before it was registered in 1968.
I agree with you about the closing musical number being cringe, & then we got the awful parody reference to McCartney’s “Ebony & Ivory” piano duet with Stevie Wonder on the Abbey Road crossing. Beautifully shot, but … just painful to watch.
Best wishes.
You act like most normal people would "call these out." Just because you take issue with mentioning gay people, that doesn't mean it's not family friendly. (And the other line isn't creepy, the two characters are literally related, I think.)
@@peterkorman77 Thanks for your comment, but you seem to be confusing me with someone else. Where did I take issue with gay people?
As for "That's my Daddy", indeed The Maestro could be the biological Father of the little boy, or... some other relationship? RTD is a clever experienced writer. Stretches "family entertainment" though...
@@hartnellsghost 1. Maybe I did confuse you with someone else. Are you the commenter who thinks the phrase "heartbroken lesbians" is somehow dialogue that makes it inappropriate for its pre-watershed timeslot?
2. It's definitely not "some other relationship." You're seeing things that aren't there.
I've tried watching this episode acouple times but, I just can't get passed the villain. As a trans person, I just can't with that hateful parody of queerness in maestro's presentation and delivery. I'm happy to see so many people love it and that performance but to me is it boxtrolls but worse because it's coming from doctor who.
The costuming, sets, everything in this episode, atleast from what I've seen is fantastic and beyond the quality of usual Dr Who, or any show so that's fantastic and the actors are great I just, can't get through it with what feels so much violence and hate coming out of it.
He.
Mr tardis say something is bad about doctor who challenge (impossible)
they ruined DR Who
This show sucks I can't finish any of the episodes for how stupid and boring they are
RTD broke the Dr. Who universe....
Utterly destroyed it more like.
😂