IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM STEVEN MOFFAT: "Helo heebiee wholmes viewers im glad you liked my new doccy who episode and i'd like it even more if you supported heebiee on patreon at this link: www.patreon.com/harbowholmes Thank you so much besties and i'll see you at christmas x" Aw, isn't he sweet
I would have said A rank. Two things hold it back for me: - The child acting, good lord - The AI dad taking down the entire algorithm, that needed to be built up more. A scene of the AI acting uncharacteristically human due to the presence of his daughter, or maybe the Doctor using his forced connection to the Twistbulance to weaken Villengards protections in some way. With that said, I'm okay with S rank too!!
@@joeswift1064 what are you talking that's just his quirks thats like saying 11 didn't have any presence on scene because he was constantly moving and being distracting like a child. Ncuti has performed greatly in every episode and has looked amazing and has had the most presence out of any actor in series 14 and have been looking fantastic
The Ai hacking the algorithm made a ton of sense to me IMO, there have been many cases where hackers were able to breach the firewalls and shut down companies for a while (from where I am, London Drugs shut down their stores because of a cyberattack).
You know an moffat ep is good when HARBO WHOLMES says he doesn't mind the power of love ending it has XD Anyways what I wanted to note, that I founds REALLY clever that no one seems to address... is how this landmine situation manages to also take away the sonic... WITHOUT TAKING AWAY THE SONIC. Normally the doctor would use the sonic to disable something like a landmine, but in this case *he can't do that*, he can't reach into his pocket to grab the sonic. *Because that would shift his weight too much* his go to tool against weapons is RIGHT THERE... but he *can't use it* because that would set off the mine. Its a BRILLIANT explanation that I feel is going underapprecieated and I think we need more eps like this that find a way to take away the sonic's value without actually stripping the sonic from the doctor physically.
This episode reminded me of why Steven Moffat used to be such a acclaimed writer and reminded me how solid how work was especially in Series 9 and 10 I liked Ncuti from the start but this one has really won me over and gave us the commanding presence and just how clever The Doctor is it and how fast his brain works
The doctor telling Ruby to look where she steps when the mines are invisible Mixed message on faith Having the doctor cry in every episode The new companion appeared in this episode and I wasn't impressed Taking your child to a battlefield Surely in the battlefield you go out there in groups It's the least bad episode of series 14 and one of the least bad episodes from 2018 to the present but that doesn't make it good imo
@@CriticalCommentatorDrama Yes it’s invisible, but it’d be weird to not say “mind your step” to your friend when you don’t know what else might be there It’s meant to be a mixed message on faith, Moff literally said the Doctor reacts a bit extremely but he’s also a bit stressed at that point Okay I’ll give you that one, but this episode it felt very natural at least We don’t know that that’s the new companion, and at the time, neither did the writers, so don’t worry (I thought she was solid though) Would’ve been nice to have had a proper reason to bring the kid, but it doesn’t detract from the story Seems like an odd criticism given that Mundy goes after Splice and is shown to be hotheaded
@@CriticalCommentatorDrama With the crying, that's on RTD, not Moffat. And when it was filmed, Mundy wasn't the new companion, she was only cast basically a year after the episode was filmed. But yeah, Season 1 and/or 14 is so far the worst Season 1, but the fact Moffat was able to do this after what we'd gotten so far, should show how competent he is.
@@mickys8065 It's an improvement on the last 2 episodes but it shouldn't be judged on that. A DW episode should be judged based on it's own merits and due to the issues with the writing it's a 3 or 4/10 for me.
In Doctor Who "thoughts and prayers" once literally saved the world. Martha Jones went all over the world telling people to think of the Doctor and give him good vibes or whatever the hell. The Doctor regained his youth and defeated the Master. So...
Moffat always be like "what tiny insignificant throwaway line or moment from the Classic series can I turn into a full 50 mins"😂 we wouldn't have him any other way though!
@@Jayforeman3047 tbf, one 50 minute episode is a huge difference from 4 to 6 (or like 10 for war games) 20ish episode parts for a single story. And now even episode counts per season is going down.... 😢. Modern TV is dying because TV shows just have so little room to breathe now.
A lot of Maffat's episodes were solved by 'Parent Power' (Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Closing Time, The Lie of the Land) so it's Moffat's go-to sometimes
I was hoping that the Vanguard algorithm made the decision that the doctor exploding on the mine would be too costly and then shut it down, leaving a bitter sweet ending
I wonder if this was a rejected Capauldi episode. I dont mean this in a bad way, just based on how similar it is to his episodes. Thought that may just be becuase its a late moffat episode
@@cinemagoose nah i see 12th and 9th doctor standing on the mine for the longest and easiest out of any doctors They definitely have the patience and coldness for it 10 and 8 would have an outburst on war For 11 this would be constant agony imagine him not being able to move Most classic doctors minus 6th,1st i think can do it as good as 15
@@ranjanasharan4051 Now I want to see 11 on the mine - after how stir crazy he went in 'The Power of Three', this seems like the situation where Matt would have delivered comedy gold in his facial expressions and moaning alone 😂
I didn't realise it initially because I hadn't really followed the media running up to this season. But the decision to have Ruby's death in an episode that also features the actor pegged for the _next_ companion was pretty smart.
1:50 ish I'm really shocked to hear there this episode was filmed entirely on sets with no location shooting. I 100% assumed the alien planet was another Welsh quarry. 😂
I didnt really mind the power of love ending compared to other episodes since it was forshadowed that Vaters personality was recompiled into an AI, maybe meaning he was debating relinquishing his faith, or distrust in the technology they fight with
While I enjoyed it, I feel this is an "age like wine" episode, where even if it's not someone's thing now, I can see it holding up stronger on rewatch, given most of the recurring criticisms do have retroactive explanations or thematic justification. Maybe not an all time classic but hopefully one, we look back on with fondness.
I think it might be the opposite. I watched it, thought about it for a few hours and rewatched it. The more you think about it, the more obvious the shortcomings are. This episode wants you to not think about it, as the deus es machina ending becomes extremely hollow. And the rest is just a companion death fake-out.
@@larsg.2492 Personally I feel Deus Ex Machina is the wrong word given most elements are setup and paid off, the ambulance can save people but it's cheaper not to Vater would've been fine but not in enough time, same for Ruby except treatment was withheld for not being a marine (probably as a dig at privatising healthcare) the idea I believe is to show how pointless the conflict is.
@@larsg.2492 Fair though I wouldn't necessarily call it a Deux es Machina as they do setup and pay off most of the story beats, Saving Ruby is a possibility but is withheld, part of the whole war is pointless/ for profit theme but if the death is easily preventable but almost happens anyway, I appreciate they didn't undo Vater's death, that would've been anticlimactic.
I think that’s the main difference between this and the last few seasons. There’s a PLAN. Sure chibnalls knew where he wanted to end up but every series arc by Davies and Moffatt is so meticulously planned and implemented
Let me tell you that I had to deactivate one of these once... At a LESBIAN gymkhana. What the point she was a lesbian? Nothing. I'm black and non straight and if I say this (as a non straight, it's clear) my fans will love me. Because this line is absolutely not discriminatory. No no, it's full of love (but only because it isn't said by a straight man❣️)
The Doctor Who fanbase is infuriating, even after Boom was a really good episode I've *still* seen so many people complaining and saying the series is unwatchable, this was a classic RTD era-esque episode written by Moffat and I don't get what else people want
They just want to hate. Because the Doctor is a gay man and the last villain was a cross dresser. Theyre just on a hate train and will despise anything DW releases because they hate change.
I loved the episode but I can't get over the landmine's algorithm. When it feels a weight, it checks to see if there's a living victim, and blows up if it does. But if it doesn't, it.....waits and blows up later? Would it have "unset" if the doctor stayed more still? Because if not it should just always immediately blow? Idk, small nitpick
It *could* be that it tries to either confirm that it has a living victim or confirm that it has a dead object, and when it can't confirm either then it blows up
I thought that the concept of the mine was explained poorly by the soldier, but the concept of a smart mine would be that it would try and tell if it's an enemy or a friendly, and then react based upon that, but if it doesn't come to a determination within a set time parameter, it blows itself up. (I think that the fact that it's adjusted it's programming because the world had no actual enemies, might have led to confusion from the soldier when she explained it to the doctor) (considering it blew nearly immediately at the beginning, that means it's programmed itself that the soldiers are "enemies" but since the doctor isn't one of the soldiers, it didn't know how to classify him)
What an episode! Moffat!!!! This was so good, I was on the edge of my seat, feeling tense and nervous want sure what was going to happen. He did such a great job, definitely a favorite so far. Glad to hear your thoughts on it.
My prediction is 73 yards would be better or at least on par with boom because it seems like it's going to be a classic ghost story and I'm super excited to see that come into doctor who, only time will tell.
15:39 "honestly, even though this is only episode 3, you never actually know for that it isn't going to be a real death" sure, not like we're on... episode 3, or anything.
Well, it's a Moffat episode and he's a Moffat fan. I can't see him being that optimistic with other writers. Yes, the episode is fun, if you don't think about it. It's popcorn entertainment, if you switch off your brain.
Huh... I never would have guessed they'd used anything other than a green screen. It still looked fake AF in the background. My 15 year-old daughter even referred to it as a matte painting. The sets were great, but TBH, I'd rather see less ambitious but more convincing backdrops. Remember that basement hallway they used a ton during the first six series or so? Never thought I'd miss it, but....
I was taken out of the AI dad bit, reminded me too much of Let’s Kill Hitler, when 11 tries to convince the voice interface hologram of Amelia Pond into helping him while he was dying
Biggest question I have from Boom: Ruby is 3000 (and change) years old, born in the 21st century. Vilengard is introduced with Cpt Jack as the biggest arms dealer ever. #9 didn't like guns. He went to Vilengard once. That site now grows bananas. He likes bananas. How did #9 know that #15 destroyed Vilengard?
i could be wrong, but i think 9 destroyed vilengard at a later point in time, after 15 steps on the landmine. since vilengard is a huge corporation, they have factories and such. i think in boom, this was just some of their tech that had been sent out with the anglican marines. kinda like how destroying one batch of guns in a battlefield wouldn't put the gun factory out of business. 9 is the one who destroys the actual factory or corporation or whatever.
Moffat and RTD really need to pen a series together where they trade off every other episode. I honestly think they bring out the best in each other and stop each other from going in to some of their worst tendencies.
Sorry, but I can't get behind this episode. I like it IN CONCEPT, but there were three big things holding it back for me: 1. The stupid little girl (the character, not the actress). Most everything goes wrong because she's there to do something stupid. I DESPISE how doctor who tries to shoehorn in dumb kids, especially when all they do is make things worse. Plus, WHAT FATHER WILLINGLY BRINGS HIS CHILD INTO A FUCKING WAR ZONE??? 2. The "love story" between the two soldiers. Not only was it unnecessary, but its the same thing we've seen time and time again in doctor who: a shy, effeminate male likes a tough female who is completely oblivious to his feelings! I don't know why Moffat has a hard on for this kind of story, but it's getting really old! 3. The father's AI defeating the algorithm. Not only was it yet another "human emotion saves the day" resolution, but it once again removes all agency from the Doctor, resulting in him being saved by something out of nowhere. It really makes him less imposing than he was before: less of an amazing genius and more of a crazy guy with impeccable luck.
The devils chord wasn’t that bad in my opinion, though the musical number at the end felt sorta weird for the show. As for space babies, if the didn’t animate the mouths and said something like “the prams have future tech that lets the communicate through thought”, it would have been a pretty solid episode.
I really love the Hitchcockian vibes in this one. You get this great sense that being stuck on a landmine plays with the Doctor psychologically, and as you say he's just putting on a brave face for Ruby. When you make the Doctor vulnerable, it brilliantly highlights how precarious the situation is.
This episode was so refreshing! Although, I would be lying if I said the whole land mine concept didn't distract me. It felt inconsistent in its implementation. Felt like it should have exploded about 5 or 6 times after a certain point based on what we knew about it. It really took me out of the episode. The stuff against faith was also upsetting to me. I get that what the doctor said applies here, but it felt like the show trying to make a more general statement about faith that I personally did not appreciate. But besides that, this was a very good time! Gave me hope for the future of the show! The tease for next week's episode also has me intrigued.
RTD as showrunner with a story written by Moffatt is always going to be a recipe for success. The best episode in at least seven years, maybe longer. Not a top 10, I don't think - Moffatt has written much better episodes, and there were quite a few misteps here - but it certainly shows the potential of the new series.
I didnt watch space babies or devils chord because everyone was saying they were a bit weird (something us fans say when we dont want to outright call something bad) but when I read the description of this episode and saw "can the doctor save the day while stuck on a landmine?" I was all in.
@@Smakka13420 I get that method of thinking and that is the optimal way to watch things but just the headspace im in now, i much prefer to wait to see if somethings worth watching before giving it the time. But yes, im sure theyre not bad
So you're saying because this episode was better than the previous two, the whole series is saved? This episode might have been better, but it was still miles below 2005-2017
The day is saved by Parent Power! Next time he writes he'll probably save the day by everyone learning the true meaning of Christmas!! 😉😅 I really loved Boom though. That line about Faith being the magic word that allows you not to think for yourself, that was FIRE! I love this Doctor!!🎸🤘😸
The one thing I wish they could have addressed was how the Sonic "Screwdriver" (looks more like a Sonic TV Remote at this point), is unable to be used. A simple line like "if the Landmine detects any sonic signals it will automatically detonate" would have been easy to do.
didn't realise it was Moffatt until you mentioned it. So good. The Moffatt thing makes sense though as it does use his idea of the old Anglican Marines which I thought was just another bit of Doctor who's kinda consistency its got some but not much the few I can name are the Cyberwars, Dalek wars, the solar flare & the idea of the Anglican Marines.
New Companion that isn't Millie is Announced. New Companion appears early. Millie Dies. Aaaaaaaargh!!! Me panics. Moffat! Moffat! Panic! Help! Wut? Millie Lives! Brilliant!
The thing about Ruby though is that as long as there is the mystery with her mother, her death isn't going to happen. They have pretty much made it clear that they have a goal in mind with her mother, and absolutely plan on explaining it. It's actually one of the two flaws with this season so far (the foreshadowing of the big bad is another... it's too over the top...to the point that I hope that he who waits is ultimately revealed to be just a minion for a bigger bad)
I was distracted during the generic and didn't who write the episode. I'm a fan who decided to stop the show after the last episode of serie 12 and knew I would come back after Chibnall departure. And boy by the end of this episode I knew I was watching the Doctor Who that I loved still without knowing who the writer was. When I learned it was Moffat I just had tears in my eyes. Him and RTD succeed to make an older Whovian very happy.
Can I just say, it wasn't really 'the power of love' that saved them. The ai hologram of vater was designed to reflect his last moments alive and mimic what Vater would say and do. So, in fact the ai was just following it's primary function which was to 'comfort and protect' Splice
Can I just say, this episode really made me appreciate the others, because this one actually had me at the verge of tears (then again, midnights with a whiskey and a zoot I become fragile) so you can imagine how I went from one week dancing and laughing to quite literally witnesssing one of my new CLASSIC docotor who episode! BOOM came in with a BANG!
The thing that makes this A tier instead of S for me is… they literally talked about this. How do you end the war? You lay down your weapons. “Surrender”, as the Doctor says. That’s what should’ve resolved the conflict, not magic dad AI zipping in.
1:53 Actually, because it looks so good, some people have wrongly stated that the episode was filmed in a quarry and in front of a green screen. Neither was used (apart probably for the holograms)
I really did like Boom but for me the ending with Dad AI magically overcoming being deleted to hack the Valenguard system was such an eye roll moment, it wasn’t built up enough imo, there was no scene somehow showing the power of the AI to the point where we can believe the death hologram of a random captain is strong enough to take down the entire algorithm. However I loved the episode up until that point and the epilogue was touching, very interested to see the continuation of the series and whether it can continue to improve after the strange first episode
The thing is, we know Ruby wasn't going to stay dead, because we've seen trailers of later in the season where she was in it. Perhaps if this was the penultimate or last episode that would be a different story. Plus we know Moffat can't just kill companions and have them not have some sort of happy-ish ending. He gave Amy the chance to grow old with her husband, Clara the chance to live in the last second of her life forever, Bill the opportunity to be amongst the stars with her girlfriend, and River being downloaded into the library's computer. That last one is also where we know Vater's "AI" would be able to prevail. We've seen the techology to preserve someone's memory already (in a Moffat story no less), so it makes sense he was able to win save everyone.
When I tell you I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for this review. You are my favourite Whotuber now, just so you know. Please never stop being awesome! ❤
Hands down the best episode since the Doctor Falls. (I personally think that Twice Upon A Time, Rosa, Spyfall, Wild Blue Yonder and the Giggle were all good but I don't think they outperform the Doctor Falls or Boom)
I thought it was a great episode. I loved Moffat as a writer and the Capaldi era is my favorite. However, I was hoping for an evolution in this series but so far we are doing a 'best of' RTD era, in some cases without the 'best'. I would have liked to see the new era treated as such. I miss the new music style that Segun Akinola gave us and the title sequence, one of the few positives from the Chibs era. I would have liked a memory loss story line, taking the Doctor back to a re-formed Gallifrey, to watch him rediscover who is again, helped by a companion he picks up on a mission to earth, given to him by the Time Lords. He could meet characters who know him and drop in many easter eggs for long term fans while introducing a new audience.
@unknowngamer9566 I thought the theme was fresh and modern. I don't know who decides how much music is used, the composer, showrunner or editor but there may have been times when more could have been used but also, sometimes less is more.
@@daver9819 the theme is one thing but most of the music during his era was just ambient sound. It made most episodes feel dull and uninspired. Murray gold just is Dr who. Without him u can tell.
Don’t think anyone has made this comparison yet, but the whole “there is no war” twist pretty much is taken from an old Sarah Jane Adventures story, Warriors of the Kudlak
I remember watching Warriors of the Kudlak with my sister when we were little, we were both scared as hell lol. It was a pretty dark storyline for a kids show.
Given how it’s been talked about I’m really intrigued to see if 73 yards can top this. If Russell brings his Turn Left writing chops to it it COULD be.
This episode proves my theory - Moffat works best when he is a writer alongside RTD as showrunner. Whilst myself and a good chunk of the fans enjoy his more complex series arcs, it can confuse a lot of fans too, and is very polarising. However, when he writes a handful of episodes alongside RTD's series design, they're always near perfect to masterpieces. He is the writer of every episode that many put in their top 3 - Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Blink and Girl in the Fireplace
i think this is genuinely the only Dr W review channel on all of youtube that doesn't think the show is garbage. i'm sure you're right and everyone else is wrong.
I was watching genesis of the daleks right before I saw this, and it opens with a similar ish scene of the doctor stepping on a land mine but he was a lot more composed than 15 was so early on in the episode when 15 was freaking out I was really confused cause like, you’ve been here before, but as it becomes revealed what the actual stakes were and how it seemed like the doctor knew that it was a great realization. Made rewatch even better
anyone know what the theory he mentions about Eleven is called? the one where Eleven goes back after Amy and Rory die to have adventures? that sounds fascinating.
The ending sucked imo. The dad taking it out was rly random. Would've been way better if the Doctor convinced the ambulace to calculate what would happen if he exploded with the mine or smthn. The rest was great, the ending just left me unsatisfied.
A character standing on a mine 4 a long time: will he be saved or perishes? Wait... Didn't we have it in S09E1 "The Magician's Apprentice" with much more effect? Now THAT was... Do I need 2 say more?
Steven Moffat is such the best when he has a supervisor. My problem with him grows when he is in charge and goes overboard, without thinking much about rest of the world he creates or goes overboard with puns. This episode was easily the best of Ncuti, even though there wasn’t much surprises in the story but thinking about it, this series actually feels as if it’s for young people, new possible fans and its also great
I just don't like how they never let the daughter morn or cry for her dad. It makes the death of the dad seem meaningless when she looks more concerned for Ruby getting hurt than her own dead dad. Mabe if at the end they gave her time to cry and feel sad about losing him, it would then be much more realistic to what its like losing the only family member she has left. P.s. love you videos i always watch them when ever a new episode, thanks for the reviews.
Space Babies put a very sour taste in my mouth for what this season could end up being like, The Devil's Chord was better but by a small amount. Boom however completely blew me away and had me on the edge of my seat the entire run time. This episode alone restored my faith in this season being really good and it's a contender for one of my favorite episodes in the entire show. Yes it's THAT good.
I wish that Ncuti got his I am The Doctor moment in his first episode like David and Matt did but better 4 1/2 episodes late than never I suppose? 🤷🏾♂️
I would give this episode an 8/10, or an A rank. I tend to multitask while watching TV these days, but I was completely glued to the screen while watching, which I can't say about either Space Babies or The Devil's Chord. My criticisms: -- It got a little bit too characteristically Moffat-y at points (e.g. the frankly uncomfortable romance plot line) -- Some character reactions did not feel realistic to the situation (although that could be put down to shock, I guess) -- The child acting
My biggest problem with this episode is that it's just another episode that centers around the doctor being scared and crying. Episodes with the Doctor scared are really good- when used sparingly. But so far this season has done this every episode. Boogeyman? "I'm scared." Meister? "I'm scared." Landmine? "I'm scared." It's becoming overused and making him seem like a coward. I just hope we get some episodes which let the Doctor have some new emotional highs than just being scared soon.
I can try to give him a pass because he's supposed to be the Doctor without all the desentitization of his previous lives (i.e. 14 got left with that in the bigeneration).
I might be nitpicking but my only problem was that I felt the episode came too soon. Like I feel like I’ve barely had time to warm up to the doctor and ruby just yet to care that much whether they die. That may just be me but I was struggling to care
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM STEVEN MOFFAT:
"Helo heebiee wholmes viewers im glad you liked my new doccy who episode and i'd like it even more if you supported heebiee on patreon at this link: www.patreon.com/harbowholmes
Thank you so much besties and i'll see you at christmas x"
Aw, isn't he sweet
I would but im broke lol💀💀💀💀💀💀
Whats a lesbian gymkhana?
Hey Harbo the N in Ncuti Gatwa is silent, his name is pronounced Shooty,also great video as always.
@PlanetNateGaming actually he confirmed recently that the N isn't silent, his mum told him he was pronouncing it wrong :)
@@HarboWholmes BRO WHAT 💀. Why was he not told sooner
This episode is proof of what happens when Moffat writes with both of his hands 😂😂
Hahaha
HAHAHAHAHAH
LMFAOOOOOO
I've never seen anything as accurate as this!
that’s crazyyy 😭😭😭
First time I actually laughed out loud at a RUclips comment in a while.
I would have said A rank. Two things hold it back for me:
- The child acting, good lord
- The AI dad taking down the entire algorithm, that needed to be built up more. A scene of the AI acting uncharacteristically human due to the presence of his daughter, or maybe the Doctor using his forced connection to the Twistbulance to weaken Villengards protections in some way.
With that said, I'm okay with S rank too!!
Ncutis lack of screen presence for me. Interrupting every sentence with a babes or honey in a Jamaican accent is very off putting
The child actor was entirely miscast. The dialogue seemed to have been written for a 5 yo.
@@joeswift1064 what are you talking that's just his quirks thats like saying 11 didn't have any presence on scene because he was constantly moving and being distracting like a child.
Ncuti has performed greatly in every episode and has looked amazing and has had the most presence out of any actor in series 14 and have been looking fantastic
@@joeswift1064ridiculous comment, and you're dangerously close to saying the quiet parts out loud.
The Ai hacking the algorithm made a ton of sense to me IMO, there have been many cases where hackers were able to breach the firewalls and shut down companies for a while (from where I am, London Drugs shut down their stores because of a cyberattack).
You know an moffat ep is good when HARBO WHOLMES says he doesn't mind the power of love ending it has XD
Anyways what I wanted to note, that I founds REALLY clever that no one seems to address... is how this landmine situation manages to also take away the sonic... WITHOUT TAKING AWAY THE SONIC.
Normally the doctor would use the sonic to disable something like a landmine, but in this case *he can't do that*, he can't reach into his pocket to grab the sonic. *Because that would shift his weight too much* his go to tool against weapons is RIGHT THERE... but he *can't use it* because that would set off the mine.
Its a BRILLIANT explanation that I feel is going underapprecieated and I think we need more eps like this that find a way to take away the sonic's value without actually stripping the sonic from the doctor physically.
This episode reminded me of why Steven Moffat used to be such a acclaimed writer and reminded me how solid how work was especially in Series 9 and 10
I liked Ncuti from the start but this one has really won me over and gave us the commanding presence and just how clever The Doctor is it and how fast his brain works
The doctor telling Ruby to look where she steps when the mines are invisible
Mixed message on faith
Having the doctor cry in every episode
The new companion appeared in this episode and I wasn't impressed
Taking your child to a battlefield
Surely in the battlefield you go out there in groups
It's the least bad episode of series 14 and one of the least bad episodes from 2018 to the present but that doesn't make it good imo
Another reminder that he's a far better writer than a showrunner
@@CriticalCommentatorDrama
Yes it’s invisible, but it’d be weird to not say “mind your step” to your friend when you don’t know what else might be there
It’s meant to be a mixed message on faith, Moff literally said the Doctor reacts a bit extremely but he’s also a bit stressed at that point
Okay I’ll give you that one, but this episode it felt very natural at least
We don’t know that that’s the new companion, and at the time, neither did the writers, so don’t worry (I thought she was solid though)
Would’ve been nice to have had a proper reason to bring the kid, but it doesn’t detract from the story
Seems like an odd criticism given that Mundy goes after Splice and is shown to be hotheaded
@@CriticalCommentatorDrama With the crying, that's on RTD, not Moffat.
And when it was filmed, Mundy wasn't the new companion, she was only cast basically a year after the episode was filmed.
But yeah, Season 1 and/or 14 is so far the worst Season 1, but the fact Moffat was able to do this after what we'd gotten so far, should show how competent he is.
@@mickys8065 It's an improvement on the last 2 episodes but it shouldn't be judged on that.
A DW episode should be judged based on it's own merits and due to the issues with the writing it's a 3 or 4/10 for me.
In Doctor Who "thoughts and prayers" once literally saved the world. Martha Jones went all over the world telling people to think of the Doctor and give him good vibes or whatever the hell. The Doctor regained his youth and defeated the Master. So...
Moffat be like:
"What if The 4th Doctor got stuck that whole time?" 🤔
Moffat always be like "what tiny insignificant throwaway line or moment from the Classic series can I turn into a full 50 mins"😂 we wouldn't have him any other way though!
Harry I’m on a Landmine
LOL it reminded me of Genesis of the Daleks too.
@@Jayforeman3047 tbf, one 50 minute episode is a huge difference from 4 to 6 (or like 10 for war games) 20ish episode parts for a single story. And now even episode counts per season is going down.... 😢. Modern TV is dying because TV shows just have so little room to breathe now.
A lot of Maffat's episodes were solved by 'Parent Power' (Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Closing Time, The Lie of the Land) so it's Moffat's go-to sometimes
Just because something is a trope doesn't make it bad though.
Tropes exist for a reason
I think it’s cute; has build up, (normally) works well, and is a good story for kids
That was the least objectionable part of the episode 😂😂😂
Ngl, this episode's Parent Power ending landed better than both Closing Time and Lie of the Land.
"a lot"
Lists 3 out of a decade of stories.
The only thing that bothers me: the two have apparently been travelling for about 6 months, and shes never been on an alien planet in all that time?!
I was just thinking about this, thank you!
This basically confirms to me that Devil's Chord was supposed to be much later in the season, not the second episode
Yea its pretty obvious the episode order was rlly messed with this season
I was hoping that the Vanguard algorithm made the decision that the doctor exploding on the mine would be too costly and then shut it down, leaving a bitter sweet ending
Yeah, I was expecting the doctor to do the same thing that he did in ‘oxygen’.
@@spiritomb8I think that's why they didn't do it lol
@@vcom741 fair enough
Oooh, that would’ve been so good!
I wonder if this was a rejected Capauldi episode. I dont mean this in a bad way, just based on how similar it is to his episodes. Thought that may just be becuase its a late moffat episode
We know it’s not because Moffat said he came up with the idea during discussions with RTD about this new era.
Also there's no way that the guy who runs like a "penguin with his arse on fire" could balance on a mine for 20 minutes.
@@cinemagoose nah i see 12th and 9th doctor standing on the mine for the longest and easiest out of any doctors
They definitely have the patience and coldness for it
10 and 8 would have an outburst on war
For 11 this would be constant agony imagine him not being able to move
Most classic doctors minus 6th,1st i think can do it as good as 15
@@ranjanasharan4051I immediately thought of War stepping on it, and just going "oh for fu- *explodes*"
@@ranjanasharan4051
Now I want to see 11 on the mine - after how stir crazy he went in 'The Power of Three', this seems like the situation where Matt would have delivered comedy gold in his facial expressions and moaning alone 😂
I didn't realise it initially because I hadn't really followed the media running up to this season. But the decision to have Ruby's death in an episode that also features the actor pegged for the _next_ companion was pretty smart.
1:50 ish I'm really shocked to hear there this episode was filmed entirely on sets with no location shooting. I 100% assumed the alien planet was another Welsh quarry. 😂
“Freema Agyeman situation” that happened with Karen Gillan too. She was in Fires of Pompeii.
And Peter Capaldi! Same episode! (though that at least was given a nominal in-universe explanation)
I didnt really mind the power of love ending compared to other episodes since it was forshadowed that Vaters personality was recompiled into an AI, maybe meaning he was debating relinquishing his faith, or distrust in the technology they fight with
Immediately thought this could be a 12th doctor episode.
Boom’s theme is really similar to Oxygen.
While I enjoyed it, I feel this is an "age like wine" episode, where even if it's not someone's thing now, I can see it holding up stronger on rewatch, given most of the recurring criticisms do have retroactive explanations or thematic justification. Maybe not an all time classic but hopefully one, we look back on with fondness.
I think it might be the opposite. I watched it, thought about it for a few hours and rewatched it. The more you think about it, the more obvious the shortcomings are. This episode wants you to not think about it, as the deus es machina ending becomes extremely hollow. And the rest is just a companion death fake-out.
@@larsg.2492 Personally I feel Deus Ex Machina is the wrong word given most elements are setup and paid off, the ambulance can save people but it's cheaper not to Vater would've been fine but not in enough time, same for Ruby except treatment was withheld for not being a marine (probably as a dig at privatising healthcare) the idea I believe is to show how pointless the conflict is.
@@larsg.2492 Fair though I wouldn't necessarily call it a Deux es Machina as they do setup and pay off most of the story beats, Saving Ruby is a possibility but is withheld, part of the whole war is pointless/ for profit theme but if the death is easily preventable but almost happens anyway, I appreciate they didn't undo Vater's death, that would've been anticlimactic.
I think that’s the main difference between this and the last few seasons. There’s a PLAN. Sure chibnalls knew where he wanted to end up but every series arc by Davies and Moffatt is so meticulously planned and implemented
Harry im standing on a landmine
Just don't stand on a landmine and you should be fine xx
And that was just one scene, not dragged out over an entire episode
@@Aurora_Lightbringer i see what you did there
Let me tell you that I had to deactivate one of these once... At a LESBIAN gymkhana.
What the point she was a lesbian? Nothing. I'm black and non straight and if I say this (as a non straight, it's clear) my fans will love me. Because this line is absolutely not discriminatory. No no, it's full of love (but only because it isn't said by a straight man❣️)
@@rockessence
Stop crying my dude, it's a throw away line. The straights aren't getting attacked.
Boom should've been episode 2, The Devil's Chord should've been episode 3
The Devil's Chord should have been a CBBC spinoff episode!
The devil's chord should have been scrapped the only good thing about the ep was the costumes
The Doctor Who fanbase is infuriating, even after Boom was a really good episode I've *still* seen so many people complaining and saying the series is unwatchable, this was a classic RTD era-esque episode written by Moffat and I don't get what else people want
They ain’t fans anymore
They just want to hate. Because the Doctor is a gay man and the last villain was a cross dresser. Theyre just on a hate train and will despise anything DW releases because they hate change.
Shit acting doesn’t help
It just felt , off . Maybe I'm too old ? Idk , I hear what people are saying about it , I don't see it .
They just get more satisfaction and enjoyment from the hate itself instead of the actual thing.
I loved the episode but I can't get over the landmine's algorithm. When it feels a weight, it checks to see if there's a living victim, and blows up if it does. But if it doesn't, it.....waits and blows up later? Would it have "unset" if the doctor stayed more still? Because if not it should just always immediately blow? Idk, small nitpick
It *could* be that it tries to either confirm that it has a living victim or confirm that it has a dead object, and when it can't confirm either then it blows up
I thought that the concept of the mine was explained poorly by the soldier, but the concept of a smart mine would be that it would try and tell if it's an enemy or a friendly, and then react based upon that, but if it doesn't come to a determination within a set time parameter, it blows itself up. (I think that the fact that it's adjusted it's programming because the world had no actual enemies, might have led to confusion from the soldier when she explained it to the doctor) (considering it blew nearly immediately at the beginning, that means it's programmed itself that the soldiers are "enemies" but since the doctor isn't one of the soldiers, it didn't know how to classify him)
Yes, agreed quite convoluted didn't make sense
What an episode! Moffat!!!! This was so good, I was on the edge of my seat, feeling tense and nervous want sure what was going to happen. He did such a great job, definitely a favorite so far. Glad to hear your thoughts on it.
10:51 I also got that vibe, like Splice was meant to be 4 or 5 instead of 10.
My initial thought on how this would resolve was that, like Oxygen, the algorithm would realise that killing The Doctor would be cost ineffective.
The guy who wrote this episode should be showrunner.
I wouldn't say no to Moffat2 but I'm being greedy
Well, he was!
My prediction is 73 yards would be better or at least on par with boom because it seems like it's going to be a classic ghost story and I'm super excited to see that come into doctor who, only time will tell.
15:39 "honestly, even though this is only episode 3, you never actually know for that it isn't going to be a real death" sure, not like we're on... episode 3, or anything.
23:09 THANK YOU!!! I was so waiting for the moment in this video where you'd point that out!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the most npc runs I’ve ever seen in my life 😅 and I love this ep felt like I was actually watching doctor who again
Glad to see a positive review from you Harbo. It’s been a while 😂
Well, it's a Moffat episode and he's a Moffat fan. I can't see him being that optimistic with other writers.
Yes, the episode is fun, if you don't think about it. It's popcorn entertainment, if you switch off your brain.
the tension ratcheting up every five minutes really is what made this episode great to me.
Huh... I never would have guessed they'd used anything other than a green screen. It still looked fake AF in the background. My 15 year-old daughter even referred to it as a matte painting. The sets were great, but TBH, I'd rather see less ambitious but more convincing backdrops. Remember that basement hallway they used a ton during the first six series or so? Never thought I'd miss it, but....
I was taken out of the AI dad bit, reminded me too much of Let’s Kill Hitler, when 11 tries to convince the voice interface hologram of Amelia Pond into helping him while he was dying
Biggest question I have from Boom: Ruby is 3000 (and change) years old, born in the 21st century.
Vilengard is introduced with Cpt Jack as the biggest arms dealer ever. #9 didn't like guns. He went to Vilengard once. That site now grows bananas. He likes bananas.
How did #9 know that #15 destroyed Vilengard?
i could be wrong, but i think 9 destroyed vilengard at a later point in time, after 15 steps on the landmine. since vilengard is a huge corporation, they have factories and such. i think in boom, this was just some of their tech that had been sent out with the anglican marines. kinda like how destroying one batch of guns in a battlefield wouldn't put the gun factory out of business. 9 is the one who destroys the actual factory or corporation or whatever.
9 was talking about a specific factory belonging to Vilengard, if I remember the dialogue right.
Moffat and RTD really need to pen a series together where they trade off every other episode. I honestly think they bring out the best in each other and stop each other from going in to some of their worst tendencies.
That would be so good.
A Moffat classic - simple premise, complex characters 👍
Sorry, but I can't get behind this episode. I like it IN CONCEPT, but there were three big things holding it back for me:
1. The stupid little girl (the character, not the actress). Most everything goes wrong because she's there to do something stupid. I DESPISE how doctor who tries to shoehorn in dumb kids, especially when all they do is make things worse. Plus, WHAT FATHER WILLINGLY BRINGS HIS CHILD INTO A FUCKING WAR ZONE???
2. The "love story" between the two soldiers. Not only was it unnecessary, but its the same thing we've seen time and time again in doctor who: a shy, effeminate male likes a tough female who is completely oblivious to his feelings! I don't know why Moffat has a hard on for this kind of story, but it's getting really old!
3. The father's AI defeating the algorithm. Not only was it yet another "human emotion saves the day" resolution, but it once again removes all agency from the Doctor, resulting in him being saved by something out of nowhere. It really makes him less imposing than he was before: less of an amazing genius and more of a crazy guy with impeccable luck.
The devils chord wasn’t that bad in my opinion, though the musical number at the end felt sorta weird for the show. As for space babies, if the didn’t animate the mouths and said something like “the prams have future tech that lets the communicate through thought”, it would have been a pretty solid episode.
I really love the Hitchcockian vibes in this one. You get this great sense that being stuck on a landmine plays with the Doctor psychologically, and as you say he's just putting on a brave face for Ruby. When you make the Doctor vulnerable, it brilliantly highlights how precarious the situation is.
This episode was so refreshing!
Although, I would be lying if I said the whole land mine concept didn't distract me. It felt inconsistent in its implementation. Felt like it should have exploded about 5 or 6 times after a certain point based on what we knew about it. It really took me out of the episode.
The stuff against faith was also upsetting to me. I get that what the doctor said applies here, but it felt like the show trying to make a more general statement about faith that I personally did not appreciate.
But besides that, this was a very good time! Gave me hope for the future of the show! The tease for next week's episode also has me intrigued.
This was good, really good. Finally an ep were we can see more of Gatawa acting and Moffat writing was on point.
RTD as showrunner with a story written by Moffatt is always going to be a recipe for success. The best episode in at least seven years, maybe longer. Not a top 10, I don't think - Moffatt has written much better episodes, and there were quite a few misteps here - but it certainly shows the potential of the new series.
I didnt watch space babies or devils chord because everyone was saying they were a bit weird (something us fans say when we dont want to outright call something bad) but when I read the description of this episode and saw "can the doctor save the day while stuck on a landmine?" I was all in.
space babies was a bit stupid/ funny but adds to the overall story.
the devils chord is one of my favourites literally just because of the music.
Dude, watch the episodes and form your own opinions.
Imagine missing out on life just cause a bunch of people said it wasn’t their cup of tea.
@@Smakka13420 I get that method of thinking and that is the optimal way to watch things but just the headspace im in now, i much prefer to wait to see if somethings worth watching before giving it the time. But yes, im sure theyre not bad
So you're saying because this episode was better than the previous two, the whole series is saved? This episode might have been better, but it was still miles below 2005-2017
This was the first episode since 2017 that I came out of feeling excited and giddy.
The day is saved by Parent Power!
Next time he writes he'll probably save the day by everyone learning the true meaning of Christmas!!
😉😅 I really loved Boom though. That line about Faith being the magic word that allows you not to think for yourself, that was FIRE! I love this Doctor!!🎸🤘😸
Steven Moffat once again proving that he's the best individual Doctor Who writer! I CANNOT wait for the Christmas special this year!😄
The one thing I wish they could have addressed was how the Sonic "Screwdriver" (looks more like a Sonic TV Remote at this point), is unable to be used. A simple line like "if the Landmine detects any sonic signals it will automatically detonate" would have been easy to do.
Maybe Moffat saw everyone complaining that it was used too much as a plot device
He couldnt reach for it without shifting his weight enough to risk detonating the landmine
didn't realise it was Moffatt until you mentioned it. So good. The Moffatt thing makes sense though as it does use his idea of the old Anglican Marines which I thought was just another bit of Doctor who's kinda consistency its got some but not much the few I can name are the Cyberwars, Dalek wars, the solar flare & the idea of the Anglican Marines.
It’s so nice to see a happy Harbo Wholmes 👍
New Companion that isn't Millie is Announced. New Companion appears early. Millie Dies. Aaaaaaaargh!!! Me panics. Moffat! Moffat! Panic! Help! Wut? Millie Lives! Brilliant!
The thing about Ruby though is that as long as there is the mystery with her mother, her death isn't going to happen. They have pretty much made it clear that they have a goal in mind with her mother, and absolutely plan on explaining it. It's actually one of the two flaws with this season so far (the foreshadowing of the big bad is another... it's too over the top...to the point that I hope that he who waits is ultimately revealed to be just a minion for a bigger bad)
I was distracted during the generic and didn't who write the episode. I'm a fan who decided to stop the show after the last episode of serie 12 and knew I would come back after Chibnall departure. And boy by the end of this episode I knew I was watching the Doctor Who that I loved still without knowing who the writer was. When I learned it was Moffat I just had tears in my eyes. Him and RTD succeed to make an older Whovian very happy.
This is the best episode so far
Can I just say, it wasn't really 'the power of love' that saved them. The ai hologram of vater was designed to reflect his last moments alive and mimic what Vater would say and do. So, in fact the ai was just following it's primary function which was to 'comfort and protect' Splice
Can I just say, this episode really made me appreciate the others, because this one actually had me at the verge of tears (then again, midnights with a whiskey and a zoot I become fragile) so you can imagine how I went from one week dancing and laughing to quite literally witnesssing one of my new CLASSIC docotor who episode! BOOM came in with a BANG!
The fact she was brought back by the end seriously impacts the dramatic effect.
The thing that makes this A tier instead of S for me is… they literally talked about this. How do you end the war? You lay down your weapons. “Surrender”, as the Doctor says. That’s what should’ve resolved the conflict, not magic dad AI zipping in.
1:53 Actually, because it looks so good, some people have wrongly stated that the episode was filmed in a quarry and in front of a green screen. Neither was used (apart probably for the holograms)
Hold on... They built a set to look like a Welsh quarry???
Such a change in tone for the message of this episode compared to Kerblam with its whole "the system isn't the problem". I'm absolutely here for it
I really did like Boom but for me the ending with Dad AI magically overcoming being deleted to hack the Valenguard system was such an eye roll moment, it wasn’t built up enough imo, there was no scene somehow showing the power of the AI to the point where we can believe the death hologram of a random captain is strong enough to take down the entire algorithm. However I loved the episode up until that point and the epilogue was touching, very interested to see the continuation of the series and whether it can continue to improve after the strange first episode
As important as Vator was to the story, it felt like Joe Anderson was so underutilized
Honestly, I was just super happy to see him again. (I love 'Across the Universe', though)
It's "Vater", not "Vator". It's significant because it's German for "father" which describes him both as a literal father and a religious rank
@@xGOKOPx I understood the significance but spelt it wrong..my mistake.
This episode MAKES Gatwa's Doctor, and the next does the same for Gibson as Ruby in my eyes
Agreed
The thing is, we know Ruby wasn't going to stay dead, because we've seen trailers of later in the season where she was in it. Perhaps if this was the penultimate or last episode that would be a different story.
Plus we know Moffat can't just kill companions and have them not have some sort of happy-ish ending. He gave Amy the chance to grow old with her husband, Clara the chance to live in the last second of her life forever, Bill the opportunity to be amongst the stars with her girlfriend, and River being downloaded into the library's computer.
That last one is also where we know Vater's "AI" would be able to prevail. We've seen the techology to preserve someone's memory already (in a Moffat story no less), so it makes sense he was able to win save everyone.
When I tell you I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for this review. You are my favourite Whotuber now, just so you know. Please never stop being awesome! ❤
Hands down the best episode since the Doctor Falls. (I personally think that Twice Upon A Time, Rosa, Spyfall, Wild Blue Yonder and the Giggle were all good but I don't think they outperform the Doctor Falls or Boom)
Spyfall appreciator 🙏
Spyfall part 1, part 2 kind of falls back into the general mess of that era imo
@@zarrg5611 it does, but it is still probably my favourite episode in the Chibnall era, either that or Power of the Doctor
@@SebTheNoob314 I think The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Resolution beat all of those for me.
@@Comicbroe405 Spyfall part 1 was great, and I loved Jodie in that suit
19:33 editing error?
Doctor Who is so back, but Nathan Gibson is not back 😢
I thought it was a great episode. I loved Moffat as a writer and the Capaldi era is my favorite. However, I was hoping for an evolution in this series but so far we are doing a 'best of' RTD era, in some cases without the 'best'. I would have liked to see the new era treated as such. I miss the new music style that Segun Akinola gave us and the title sequence, one of the few positives from the Chibs era.
I would have liked a memory loss story line, taking the Doctor back to a re-formed Gallifrey, to watch him rediscover who is again, helped by a companion he picks up on a mission to earth, given to him by the Time Lords. He could meet characters who know him and drop in many easter eggs for long term fans while introducing a new audience.
U thought chibnalls era music was good? There was barely any music.
@unknowngamer9566 I thought the theme was fresh and modern. I don't know who decides how much music is used, the composer, showrunner or editor but there may have been times when more could have been used but also, sometimes less is more.
@@daver9819 the theme is one thing but most of the music during his era was just ambient sound. It made most episodes feel dull and uninspired. Murray gold just is Dr who. Without him u can tell.
14:20 Beerus from Dragon Ball Super can answer this question. He blows up half a planet in his literal first appearance
Don’t think anyone has made this comparison yet, but the whole “there is no war” twist pretty much is taken from an old Sarah Jane Adventures story, Warriors of the Kudlak
I remember watching Warriors of the Kudlak with my sister when we were little, we were both scared as hell lol. It was a pretty dark storyline for a kids show.
Given how it’s been talked about I’m really intrigued to see if 73 yards can top this. If Russell brings his Turn Left writing chops to it it COULD be.
This episode proves my theory - Moffat works best when he is a writer alongside RTD as showrunner. Whilst myself and a good chunk of the fans enjoy his more complex series arcs, it can confuse a lot of fans too, and is very polarising. However, when he writes a handful of episodes alongside RTD's series design, they're always near perfect to masterpieces. He is the writer of every episode that many put in their top 3 - Empty Child/Doctor Dances, Blink and Girl in the Fireplace
i think this is genuinely the only Dr W review channel on all of youtube that doesn't think the show is garbage. i'm sure you're right and everyone else is wrong.
I was watching genesis of the daleks right before I saw this, and it opens with a similar ish scene of the doctor stepping on a land mine but he was a lot more composed than 15 was so early on in the episode when 15 was freaking out I was really confused cause like, you’ve been here before, but as it becomes revealed what the actual stakes were and how it seemed like the doctor knew that it was a great realization. Made rewatch even better
14:19 look for pictures of Alderaan. Oh, wait.
anyone know what the theory he mentions about Eleven is called? the one where Eleven goes back after Amy and Rory die to have adventures? that sounds fascinating.
The ending sucked imo. The dad taking it out was rly random. Would've been way better if the Doctor convinced the ambulace to calculate what would happen if he exploded with the mine or smthn. The rest was great, the ending just left me unsatisfied.
canto and mundy are literally Rory and Amy reborn lmao
A character standing on a mine 4 a long time: will he be saved or perishes?
Wait... Didn't we have it in S09E1 "The Magician's Apprentice" with much more effect? Now THAT was... Do I need 2 say more?
Moffat and Davies have a special relationship,
and Moffat was showrunner too, so he and Davies can talk about episode ideas on that same level.
19:33 Were you blinded to the repeating line in the editing?
Damn, no idea how I didn't pick up on this before! Oh well, I guess it was bound to happen with how quickly we have to get these videos edited hahah
Okay but that’s definitely a roomba right?
Steven Moffat is such the best when he has a supervisor. My problem with him grows when he is in charge and goes overboard, without thinking much about rest of the world he creates or goes overboard with puns. This episode was easily the best of Ncuti, even though there wasn’t much surprises in the story but thinking about it, this series actually feels as if it’s for young people, new possible fans and its also great
I have a feeling mundy flynn will return.
26:37 Oooh I’m really excited for that!
1:47 and that was obvious, especially because the camp wasn’t shown to us fully
LOVE THIS EPISODE. SO GOOD I CAN'T WAIT FOR 73 YARDS
I love this episode but maybe have to rewatch as still not convinced on Ncutis doctor
I really did not expect to hear this man to use the words “tsundere” and “uwu” in a review but here we are 😂
timestamp?
23:24
maybe episode 6 deserves an A in the future if it's kinda good to you
I just don't like how they never let the daughter morn or cry for her dad. It makes the death of the dad seem meaningless when she looks more concerned for Ruby getting hurt than her own dead dad. Mabe if at the end they gave her time to cry and feel sad about losing him, it would then be much more realistic to what its like losing the only family member she has left.
P.s. love you videos i always watch them when ever a new episode, thanks for the reviews.
Space Babies put a very sour taste in my mouth for what this season could end up being like, The Devil's Chord was better but by a small amount. Boom however completely blew me away and had me on the edge of my seat the entire run time. This episode alone restored my faith in this season being really good and it's a contender for one of my favorite episodes in the entire show. Yes it's THAT good.
I wish that Ncuti got his I am The Doctor moment in his first episode like David and Matt did but better 4 1/2 episodes late than never I suppose? 🤷🏾♂️
I would give this episode an 8/10, or an A rank. I tend to multitask while watching TV these days, but I was completely glued to the screen while watching, which I can't say about either Space Babies or The Devil's Chord.
My criticisms:
-- It got a little bit too characteristically Moffat-y at points (e.g. the frankly uncomfortable romance plot line)
-- Some character reactions did not feel realistic to the situation (although that could be put down to shock, I guess)
-- The child acting
8 out of 10 is a B minus
I feel alone in saying I prefer the devil’s chord! Both episodes are superb.
My biggest problem with this episode is that it's just another episode that centers around the doctor being scared and crying.
Episodes with the Doctor scared are really good- when used sparingly. But so far this season has done this every episode. Boogeyman? "I'm scared." Meister? "I'm scared." Landmine? "I'm scared."
It's becoming overused and making him seem like a coward. I just hope we get some episodes which let the Doctor have some new emotional highs than just being scared soon.
I can try to give him a pass because he's supposed to be the Doctor without all the desentitization of his previous lives (i.e. 14 got left with that in the bigeneration).
I might be nitpicking but my only problem was that I felt the episode came too soon. Like I feel like I’ve barely had time to warm up to the doctor and ruby just yet to care that much whether they die. That may just be me but I was struggling to care
6:21 Rory, where *are* you looking at???