I was very pleased with this episode and it felt like a return to form for the show after several underwhelming years. RTD managed to make the social issues tie in with the story, which was good to see after the somewhat clunky approach taken in the previous era. I enjoyed this and thought it looked slick, with humour and emotion. The soundtrack was a bit intrusive though and I don't like the new title sequence, which is uninspiring. But overall I'm a Happy Whovian tonight and looking forward to more new episodes.
So The Doctor getting berated for being a 'male presenting time lord' is a return to form? Somehow I don't think so. When Tennant was on the show last time, The Doctor's gender was never called out like that because it never mattered. He just showed up, did what he had to then left. His gender was superfluous to what was going on so why is it a factor now? And there's the issue of Donna. I haven't seen the full episode but from the clips I've seen, she was acting out of character towards The Doctor, considering that the last time we saw her sans End of Time, she was begging The Doctor not to take her memories of him away because how much he meant to her. That Donna would have never treated him the way she does in this episode. Not to mention it completely negates the ending of series 4 and makes it meaningless. The stakes set up for Donna's character if she met The Doctor again were completely swept under the rug for the sake of identity politics and that was a bad move in my opinion.
@@IndenturedRUclipsSlave It was hardly that bad, it 100% wasn't a 8/10 but its rewatchable (more than I can say about Chibnal era). I'd give it a 6/10 (by a rater that uses numbers below 5) it wasn't fantastic but it was fun. The metacrisis stuff wasn't handled that well and Rose was kinda a pointless character though the Donna and Sylvia dialogue about her was the best dialogue i've heard in doctor who about the subject. basically I'd say it was a fun episode minus some things but I'm an adult and can ignore things i don't like if its a minor inconvenience. I will agree that Yasmin Finley's acting wasn't fantastic in this episode though (not really sure what else she's been in but I swear she had an american accent in some scenes)
I enjoyed it, thought it was well paced and Tennant was on top form. Some jokes didnt find that funny. Ending felt a bit rushed but overall a great episode. Solid 9/10
I’m doing a rewatch before I vote cos I always do that if I feel iffy bout episode cos I wasn’t enjoying it until the last 10 mins but hope a rewatch will change that
7/10, better than chibnall very decent episode, was absolutely beautiful to look at throughout, but not a scratch on the heights russel/moffat has reached with the show previously script wise, looking forward to ep 2
First half was really good especially Donna’s conversion with her mum the second half was really forced the placing of the line in the scene of assuming the Beeps gender was weird and being a male time lord you won’t know how to let go even though Donna new he was female in his previous generation didn’t make sense basically mum and daughter both talked about assuming pro- nouns then doing it to the doctor poor writing there.
I feel like this is something I'd have to reserve full judgment for until after The Giggle, but I will say for now that that was a real fun opener, and Tennant and Tate effortlessly slipped back into their roles after so long. The new screwdriver's ability to create things out of energy like viewing screens or shields was an interesting concept, although it begs the question, does it make it feel too OP now? Special mention goes to the new TARDIS console room, I really love it; might end up being my favourite one yet. Got rather mixed feelings on the new opening titles, though. I don't know how to feel about the resolution of the DoctorDonna either, but I guess RTD had to pull something out, although part of me thinks this might not actually be the end of it, and it might be when NPH comes in to play.
The BBC logo in the title sequence was crazy intrusive, and I don't like the "WHOniverse" sequence, a la Disney Marvel. Very commercialized. The actual title sequence wasn't too bad, imo, other than the BBC logo.
They sold out everywhere before the show aired. As yet there is no law that says you must buy one. Shows distribute merchandise licenses to both raise it's profile with audiences as commercial advertisement , and produce revenue. Kids like toys, you know, fun.
I loved the imaginative words this episode came up with. Soon as Meep said "Deadlocked" I was like "Yessss now that's a callback." Been a while is all, you know?
I loved everything, so much better than the Chibnall disasters. My only gripe is I couldn't understand the Deus Ex Machina about Donna and her Daughter. But the TARDIS, OMG!
I loved it, reminds me of my childhood, watching doctor who every Saturday on the dote. I only wavered after the writing went down hill during the last doctors run after giving every episode a watch for a glimmer of the old magic. I still tunned in hoping, but with every episode for 3 seasons my ever burning love for the show was smothered bit by bit with despair. It's like it's been hibernateing for years with only the last series starting to show signs of it waking up again with classic designs and alright episodes carried by Jodie's acting and classic inspired monsters returning. But now doctor who has emerged refreshed. Russell Davis has relight my burning passion for Doctor Who and has for the first time in many years, given me hope for it's future. 9. 5/10 episode
I found it an enjoyable enough romp, not over excited about it; didn't love it, didn't hate it, just... nice. I think for me it didn't feel 'special' enough for a 60th, it was more like a standard but decent episode of RTD Who. But as there are 2 more specials to come and assuming its meant to be viewed as a trilogy of specials I will reserve judgement for now. I'm slightly frustrated at time of typing that we still don't have an explanation for the changes (his old new face, the clothes, the new sonic, the new Tardis, why he didn't suffer any post-regen swiss cheese brain) so I have fingers crossed those things will be addressed and not just hand-waved away as something that happened without reason - again waiting and seeing.... 👀👀 The note about the music made me chuckle, perhaps we've got used to the quieter score of Segun and now hearing Murray with his full on bombastic 'you will be happy in this section' is a bit of a jolt! 😂😂 That's what it was like when I first watched NuWho after a childhood of Classic and the Wilderness Years. Not bashing on the Gold here btw, just an observation.
Surprised at all those loving it ...I know I'm not a huge RTD fan ... But I honestly thought it was extremely meh typical RTD Christmas special fare crammed together stuff ...bar a couple nice moments and aesthetic overall the story was so thin ...paper thin and 56 minutes of screen time it felt so cobbled together ... Worst post Regen story I've seen since twin dilemma ... It's difficult to not compare to previous eras ...so jarring to the tone of something earthier grounded and ominous in direction the previous era back to ....story second style and whackiness over compensated aesthetic ...RTD did well with Rose here some touching scenes of Donna being protective mother ...apart from that ...in still processibg whst I've just seen ... Awful episode ...the humour so cringe the action shooting and stuff was just too much ..mconsidering Talalay directed this that emotional clarity of her big amazjng Capaldi finales was mostly absent here which is gutting .... Overall despite nice moments this was so so bad ...can't believe those overhyoing it in reviews ...in time it'll mostly get forgotten about ....rise, eleventh hour, deep breath and woman who fell to earth are far far superior to the star Beast ... 2/10
It was a good episode overall, not in general. But fans (me included) are so happy to see Tennant and Donna back. Their chemistry is still phenomenal. So that makes what it would be a just good episode of Davis era like a FANTASTIC one. There were some cringy stuff. The cop with the bulletproof turban, I guess? Why is he the only one without a helmet? And the trans subplot was good with the scenes of bullying and the sweet conversation between Donna and Sylvie. But the hundreds of times every character says "the beautiful daughter", the "I AM SO LUCKY" father, the Doctor asking pronouns to an alien (so is he going to do it with every next alien he will meet?) and the resolution felt very pandering. Tennant still feels 10, not 14. There are some subtle differences in his performance, but I would love to see it more obvious. Maybe in the next specials. The TARDIS interior is much better than Whitaker's but, like hers, it doesn't feel like a home. It felt cold and too vast. Like a fridge. It looks like Professor X's Cerebro. Capaldi's TARDIS is still my favourite. I loved the villain. I loved everything about it. The design, the voice, the evil expressions. A fun villain.
So you didn't see an issue with Donna telling The Doctor he knows nothing and treating him like her worst enemy when he misunderstood about where Wilf was?
9:40 reminds me of the beginning of the 2008 Christmas special when the doctor walks around.
My fav part was Donna’s arc in how her memory kept slipping out naturally, her realization and all of her interactions with the Doctor ❤
With the sonic - Clark‘s Third Law definitely applies here, same with the TARDIS.
Very true!
I was very pleased with this episode and it felt like a return to form for the show after several underwhelming years. RTD managed to make the social issues tie in with the story, which was good to see after the somewhat clunky approach taken in the previous era. I enjoyed this and thought it looked slick, with humour and emotion. The soundtrack was a bit intrusive though and I don't like the new title sequence, which is uninspiring. But overall I'm a Happy Whovian tonight and looking forward to more new episodes.
Oh he matched Chibnall's clunkiness and then some, imo
So The Doctor getting berated for being a 'male presenting time lord' is a return to form? Somehow I don't think so. When Tennant was on the show last time, The Doctor's gender was never called out like that because it never mattered. He just showed up, did what he had to then left. His gender was superfluous to what was going on so why is it a factor now? And there's the issue of Donna. I haven't seen the full episode but from the clips I've seen, she was acting out of character towards The Doctor, considering that the last time we saw her sans End of Time, she was begging The Doctor not to take her memories of him away because how much he meant to her. That Donna would have never treated him the way she does in this episode. Not to mention it completely negates the ending of series 4 and makes it meaningless. The stakes set up for Donna's character if she met The Doctor again were completely swept under the rug for the sake of identity politics and that was a bad move in my opinion.
Solid 8/10 episode.
I am most excited for Wild Blue Yonder.
a solid 2/10, the look was great and the acting was great except rose(who was she talking too?). The script was garbage
Wild Blue Yonder certainly has the most potential. I hope it's just as weird and strange as we've been lead to believe!
@@IndenturedRUclipsSlave It was hardly that bad, it 100% wasn't a 8/10 but its rewatchable (more than I can say about Chibnal era). I'd give it a 6/10 (by a rater that uses numbers below 5) it wasn't fantastic but it was fun. The metacrisis stuff wasn't handled that well and Rose was kinda a pointless character though the Donna and Sylvia dialogue about her was the best dialogue i've heard in doctor who about the subject.
basically I'd say it was a fun episode minus some things but I'm an adult and can ignore things i don't like if its a minor inconvenience.
I will agree that Yasmin Finley's acting wasn't fantastic in this episode though (not really sure what else she's been in but I swear she had an american accent in some scenes)
@@Logicalleaping that’s fair
@@Logicalleaping I agree :) As for Rose's accent, I saw Yasmin in Heartstopper and thought she was great, her accent is the same in that too :)
7/10. Nothing incredible, but it establishes a new baseline for the show, which I feel is important.
I enjoyed it, thought it was well paced and Tennant was on top form. Some jokes didnt find that funny. Ending felt a bit rushed but overall a great episode. Solid 9/10
I’m doing a rewatch before I vote cos I always do that if I feel iffy bout episode cos I wasn’t enjoying it until the last 10 mins but hope a rewatch will change that
7/10, better than chibnall very decent episode, was absolutely beautiful to look at throughout, but not a scratch on the heights russel/moffat has reached with the show previously script wise, looking forward to ep 2
First half was really good especially Donna’s conversion with her mum the second half was really forced the placing of the line in the scene of assuming the Beeps gender was weird and being a male time lord you won’t know how to let go even though Donna new he was female in his previous generation didn’t make sense basically mum and daughter both talked about assuming pro- nouns then doing it to the doctor poor writing there.
Superb review, Richard! :)
I feel like this is something I'd have to reserve full judgment for until after The Giggle, but I will say for now that that was a real fun opener, and Tennant and Tate effortlessly slipped back into their roles after so long. The new screwdriver's ability to create things out of energy like viewing screens or shields was an interesting concept, although it begs the question, does it make it feel too OP now? Special mention goes to the new TARDIS console room, I really love it; might end up being my favourite one yet. Got rather mixed feelings on the new opening titles, though. I don't know how to feel about the resolution of the DoctorDonna either, but I guess RTD had to pull something out, although part of me thinks this might not actually be the end of it, and it might be when NPH comes in to play.
The BBC logo in the title sequence was crazy intrusive, and I don't like the "WHOniverse" sequence, a la Disney Marvel. Very commercialized. The actual title sequence wasn't too bad, imo, other than the BBC logo.
And it was all just a simulation/dream.
Clever.
The clues were there.
But which doctor is dreaming or in a situation
They overuse the sonic so we can see it a lot and they can sell some.
They sold out everywhere before the show aired. As yet there is no law that says you must buy one. Shows distribute merchandise licenses to both raise it's profile with audiences as commercial advertisement , and produce revenue. Kids like toys, you know, fun.
Cynical! Tbh, I think the overuse of the sonic is just laziness, rather than merchandising placement. It is a bit like Green Lantern's ring now!
RIPDrWHO
I loved the imaginative words this episode came up with. Soon as Meep said "Deadlocked" I was like "Yessss now that's a callback." Been a while is all, you know?
I loved everything, so much better than the Chibnall disasters. My only gripe is I couldn't understand the Deus Ex Machina about Donna and her Daughter. But the TARDIS, OMG!
I LOVE the new abilities of the Sonic.
Underwhelming, decent enough but my expectations were too high and the magic screwdriver fixed most of the problems
I loved it, reminds me of my childhood, watching doctor who every Saturday on the dote. I only wavered after the writing went down hill during the last doctors run after giving every episode a watch for a glimmer of the old magic. I still tunned in hoping, but with every episode for 3 seasons my ever burning love for the show was smothered bit by bit with despair.
It's like it's been hibernateing for years with only the last series starting to show signs of it waking up again with classic designs and alright episodes carried by Jodie's acting and classic inspired monsters returning. But now doctor who has emerged refreshed.
Russell Davis has relight my burning passion for Doctor Who and has for the first time in many years, given me hope for it's future.
9. 5/10 episode
Just 10/10 for me it doctor who from my childhood 😀
I found it an enjoyable enough romp, not over excited about it; didn't love it, didn't hate it, just... nice. I think for me it didn't feel 'special' enough for a 60th, it was more like a standard but decent episode of RTD Who. But as there are 2 more specials to come and assuming its meant to be viewed as a trilogy of specials I will reserve judgement for now.
I'm slightly frustrated at time of typing that we still don't have an explanation for the changes (his old new face, the clothes, the new sonic, the new Tardis, why he didn't suffer any post-regen swiss cheese brain) so I have fingers crossed those things will be addressed and not just hand-waved away as something that happened without reason - again waiting and seeing.... 👀👀
The note about the music made me chuckle, perhaps we've got used to the quieter score of Segun and now hearing Murray with his full on bombastic 'you will be happy in this section' is a bit of a jolt! 😂😂 That's what it was like when I first watched NuWho after a childhood of Classic and the Wilderness Years.
Not bashing on the Gold here btw, just an observation.
Yes, that’s definitely it with the score, the whiplash! As you say, not necessarily a bad thing, but very different.
Best episode since twice upon a time
Low bar, but definitely achieved!
It was a checklist. :/
Fun nonsense. 7/10
Surprised at all those loving it ...I know I'm not a huge RTD fan ... But I honestly thought it was extremely meh typical RTD Christmas special fare crammed together stuff ...bar a couple nice moments and aesthetic overall the story was so thin ...paper thin and 56 minutes of screen time it felt so cobbled together ... Worst post Regen story I've seen since twin dilemma ... It's difficult to not compare to previous eras ...so jarring to the tone of something earthier grounded and ominous in direction the previous era back to ....story second style and whackiness over compensated aesthetic ...RTD did well with Rose here some touching scenes of Donna being protective mother ...apart from that ...in still processibg whst I've just seen ... Awful episode ...the humour so cringe the action shooting and stuff was just too much ..mconsidering Talalay directed this that emotional clarity of her big amazjng Capaldi finales was mostly absent here which is gutting .... Overall despite nice moments this was so so bad ...can't believe those overhyoing it in reviews ...in time it'll mostly get forgotten about ....rise, eleventh hour, deep breath and woman who fell to earth are far far superior to the star Beast ... 2/10
It was a good episode overall, not in general. But fans (me included) are so happy to see Tennant and Donna back. Their chemistry is still phenomenal. So that makes what it would be a just good episode of Davis era like a FANTASTIC one.
There were some cringy stuff. The cop with the bulletproof turban, I guess? Why is he the only one without a helmet?
And the trans subplot was good with the scenes of bullying and the sweet conversation between Donna and Sylvie. But the hundreds of times every character says "the beautiful daughter", the "I AM SO LUCKY" father, the Doctor asking pronouns to an alien (so is he going to do it with every next alien he will meet?) and the resolution felt very pandering.
Tennant still feels 10, not 14. There are some subtle differences in his performance, but I would love to see it more obvious. Maybe in the next specials.
The TARDIS interior is much better than Whitaker's but, like hers, it doesn't feel like a home. It felt cold and too vast. Like a fridge. It looks like Professor X's Cerebro. Capaldi's TARDIS is still my favourite.
I loved the villain. I loved everything about it. The design, the voice, the evil expressions. A fun villain.
So you didn't see an issue with Donna telling The Doctor he knows nothing and treating him like her worst enemy when he misunderstood about where Wilf was?
@@BradLad56 Donna has always been a bit asshole, to be honest.
So who else noticed the opening credits time vortex now being in the colors of the NonBinary flag
I mean its just not true though is it. As the doctor once said- “I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren't there”
If it’s the color of any pride flag, it’s much closer to Bisexual.
@@adamcharlie3151^^ What AdamCharlie said.
@@djdee6386who cares it doesn't matter it's a time vortex not a flag
I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to rename it the "Time Woketex" ;)
It was more of a Doctor Who 60 Anniversary: The Woke Agenda. No need to shove the TS agenda down our throats.
EXACTLY OMG IT WAS SO ANNOYINGG UGHH
@@Jack-lb7pn Way annoying and took away from the whole story.