'The Church on Ruby Road' Review - Doctor Who
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2024
- A Christmas tradition returns to our households, and we didn't have to wait all that long for Ncuti Gatwa's first full outing as the Fifteenth Doctor. So did this return to the festive season continue the return to form so far for Russell T Davies?
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#DoctorWho #NcutiGatwa #MillieGibson 
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One theory I had(but don't think is the case) is that Ms. Flood is an older version of a companion that the Doctor hasn't met yet.
Honestly, that's a really good idea, and even if she isn't, it's something they should totally do.
Why do I keep seeing this everywhere 😂
Im sure RTD is playing games with the name - we’ve had a Pond, a River & now we have a Flood.
YEEEEES!!
They kind of did that with "A Good Man Goes To War" and we never did get to see that companion the Doctor hasn't had yet come back.
The G in Millie’s name in the title sequence never bothered me before and I never really saw it… I’m never gunna unsee it now 😭😭😂
wait till you find out the letters appear a frame late
I really aren't bothered by stuff like that, a title sequence is not the show
The scene with the police officer was added last minute after previews by Disney. They wanted the Doctor to appear earlier in the story than originally written and shot and it has the feeling of something shoehorned in last moment.
The problem with the Goblins is that the King had no personality other than being a scary monster (which was well done). The King is supposed to be in charge of all the little ones, but really just sits there looking gross. I thin they needed to have the Doctor interact with the Boss and outsmart/defeat it in some way... Maybe using the vocabulary of the ropes? Anyway, it would be like Bad Wolf/Rose meeting the Emperor of the Daleks and then ignoring each other until the ship blew up.
I can't believe Im saying this but...Disney....made a good call here? Ugh my god that feels gross to say
@@DSS712Yeha I know crazy ahh, it explains why those scences were filmed 8 months after the epsiode wrapped
@@nathanielfarkas4431 yeah, the episode as a whole was filmed in February but the added scenes were filmed in October just prior to Series 15 starting filming.
My only gripes are
1 we learned noting about goblins other than they eat babies.
2 when it looked like they were gonna attack the house and the dr just brushed it off, with no explanation of where they had gone all of sudden.
But other than that enjoyed it greatly. Dr and Ruby so good together.
We never learned noting about Satán or the Tricksler.
I think that the Goblins don’t need to be expanded. They’re goblins, that’s it. It’s that simple. They’re just embracing the fantasy side of the science fantasy genre.
They also went back in time and the Doctor destroyed their ship. It’s not like they’re gone, they’re dead
@@captainawesome0711 Don’t ask questions just consume product and move onto the next product
@@richiemazze5141 that’s not what I’m saying, I’m saying understand the genre you’re dealing with and consume it accordingly. The idea is that after the Toymaker appeared, the universe is becoming more magical. Things that can’t quite be explained with ordinary science are now happening because the Toymaker opened the floodgates of imagination, with the Goblins being the first of his “legions”. So with that in mind, the Goblins don’t require too much explanation because they’re indicative of a shift in the cosmic paradigm. There’s a new era of the show and the Toymaker ushers that new period of new storytelling in with a fantastical edge.
Maybe you should understand nuance before responding to someone? There’s a thing called good faith in argumentation, and if you don’t apply it then you look like an idiot. So I provided a solid explanation of the episode that lines up with the creator’s vision. Learn how to understand a story and we can chat again like big kids, okay? I understand that it’s a big challenge having ambiguity in a story, but that’s what life has most of the time. Being able to state the simple answer of “I don’t know” without protest, instead only desiring to learn more, is the most base level of intelligence. The goblins and their story are kept ambiguous, which doesn’t hurt the overall story because the focus of the episode was introducing us to a whole new cast of characters. Do we know what was under the blankets in Listen? What was the origin of Satan or the Trickster? What is the Fenric’s origin? It’s almost like not having an explanation there makes the idea scarier, because it leave it up to your imagination. Then again, I am speaking with someone who clearly lacks any creative thinking in their psyche
I don't need to know anything about them. Not even how planks held together (loosely) by rope can manoeuvre through Earth's atmosphere.
Reminded me of the Sea Devils. Remember the leap? 😠
I'm in agreement with you on most things here. The way I feel about this is it isn't a Christmas episode - it's an episode set at Christmas. It just didn't have that... showiness, I guess, that Doctor Who Christmas specials usually have. I mean when you compare this to the likes of Voyage of the Damned or A Christmas Carol or The Next Doctor it just feels kind of flat to me. Hell, even Twice Upon A Time felt more special than this and that was even less Christmas-focused than this one. I feel like this suffered from the same issue the 60th episodes did, which is that aside from The Giggle they didn't feel like specials, they just felt like normal episodes.
The big buzzkill for me was the goblins. Their whole deal just felt really convoluted and kind of seemed like a convenient plot point to introduce Ruby into the story - like they weren't after her, they were after the baby, which just so happened to result in her taking on companion duties. I know there was the whole coincidence and luck theme threaded through the episode, but that feels a bit lazy. Also while I get that Russell has said the new series leans more into fantasy, the lack of backstory to the goblins was super weird to me. Like, are they aliens? Are they ancient creatures who've always been here, akin to the fairies in Torchwood? Are they something else completely? To me they just seemed kinda half-baked which was a bit of a letdown.
All that said, I still enjoyed the episode. I don't think it was bad, and if Russell was a completely new showrunner I'd probably be more favourable towards it. It's just that knowing what he can do with Christmas specials, new companions and general storytelling made this one feel like it left a bit to be desired.
I think the problem with the way the goblins were presented, it didn't look like there was any credible controlling intelligence behind them? The Doctor really needs an equal, but opposite villain to outwit to make a good episode.
The vashta nerada, autons, cybermen, daleks. None are rather intelligent beings. Some having a more intelligent overlord, but so did the goblins, in their king. I personally don't think there always needs to be a battle of minds.
Besides that, they're clearly intelligent enough to create time and space jumping technology.
Most 'new doctor' episodes post regeneration tend to be quite light on the smart enemies though, as we're usually way to busy setting up the new doctor and their companion. My fav episodes though are totally the ones where the doctor is getting thumped by smarter beings
@@baaron7 an individual dalek or cyberman doesn't pose much threat more often than not, but they're a collective, and in almost all stories with them in, theyre always a battle of minds. Theyre hiveminds, and i see what youre saying, but you cant use them as examples
@leighton6907 but they don't think for themselves. They have an objective embedded into them. They don't outwit the Doctor, or even try. Sometimes they have a master behind the plot, but not always and even when they do, can we really say they're on an even playing field with the Doctor's mind? There's probably like 4 beings in the entire DW mythos that can match it intellectually with the Doctor.
So my point was that a good episode doesn't need to be a battle of minds, RTD does simple but effective stories quite well
@@baaron7 no I understand your point and agree to a certain degree, my point is that you cannot use the Daleks and cybermen here as an example because they're intelligence doesn't stem from 1 individual, but rather than a collective.
Also as for the intelligence of the dalek race as a whole, they have a super computer hivemind so complex that not even the doctor can hack into. There's a reason that the timelords fought them to a standstill, it's weird to say but nowadays the daleks are seriously underestimated
The moment with the police officer reminded me of the Eighth Doctor in the TV Movie, when he would give people glimpses at their future. To me it came off as a cheeky time traveler
This was totally the feeling that I got from that scene.
The Eighth Doctor was a breath of fresh air - the possible start of a new era.
With Ncuti in the lead role, the show is embracing that fresh approach - there's a positivity that probably hasn't been felt on the show since the Mat Smit era.
Why do the goblins exist?! Definitely requires some sci-fi exposition rather than “hey goblins are real now… and they time travel for some reason”
It’s meant to be the overall arch, toymaker + flux in tandem have left the universe sorta buggered. Next season is leaning a lot into the mythical, it’ll probably lead to some kinda reset to fix ‘mavity’ and other stuff like that
There’s not a sci-fi explanation. Russel has said that the Toymaker’s involvement in the Giggle and how he abides by different laws than our universe typically dictates means that things that would typically not exist, legends and myths, etc. are being brought into reality. He’s going for a fantasy heavy style for this second run and that means we’re probably not going to get much in the ways of explanation for these things. Suspension of disbelief will be a powerful ally moving forward.
@@realmaximouse What you described would be a sci-fi explanation. Ruby is the audience surrogate and she should be asking "why the hell do goblins exists". The Dr should be explaining that.
@@trg8858 Hopefully the full season does a better job of making that clear.
As for the flux, they either need to genuinely show the impact or just ignore it. Once you start casually saying half the universe is gone and yet there's no on-going humanitarian crisis to speak of, it stops making sense.
@@Antonioplus I suppose but I don’t really see the Toymaker’s universe as sci-fi. As soon as something becomes virtually unexplainable to the viewer, it falls pretty firmly into the land of fantasy for me which I don’t mind but it’s something I will have to get used to seeing as Doctor Who has 90% of the time opted for the hard sci-fi route. Having the show operate on a different set of rules could be refreshing or alienating depending on how Russel handles it. I’m an open minded guy though so time will tell
I think that Mrs Flood may be River Song. We know that she can regenerate the name fits with the whole Melody Pond/River Song thing. Can't make up my mind whether Ruby might be River's daughter, or River in her first generation (the initials seem suss and there's a lot of similarities between River's and Ruby's costume designs). I also think there's a chance we'll find out that was supposed to be Alex Kingston dropping the baby at the church.
River died when she met the 10th Doctor
@@trashboat5388 Yes but there are still instances mentioned by River Song that hasn't been on screen or that the doctor hasn't experienced yet (Jim the Fish) as the timelines are never in line. We can still see a past River Song from ages ago.
Does Ruby not having a match with any DNA record anywhere mean that we finally have a New Who companion who isn't a 21st century human?
That's what I'm hoping!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻
She's the impossible girl! Oh, wait...
Maybe. A lot of 21st century humans don't have their DNA on record, though.
I love the especial, I just missed The Doctor actually giving a chance to the goblins, like communicate with them offering piece before actually going and defeated then. I know the Globins are awful, and everytime that the Doctor offered a pacifist path to a villain they just denied and go ok with their plan, but it would be cool to see it.
Yeah, it felt strange to me he went straight to impaling lol
Yes, that bit was somewhat un-Doctor-ish. The Doctor's standard MO is to give the villain a chance and an alternative, and only destroy them after they've denied the offer. The only exception I can think of is the 9th Doctor immediately trying to kil the Dalek in the vault in "Dalek" -- and even then, he eventually looks in horror at himself for doing that. (I should note that I've I watched most, but not all, of New Who, and only bits and pieces of Classic Who, so there might well be exceptions I'm unaware of. I somehow suspect the 6th Doctor was capable of simply destroying his enemies, but that's based more on what I've read about him, I haven't actually seen any of his episodes in full)
If the Goblins really are awful though then why did the doctor engage them with the dance number (especially the way he spoke to Janice as though they were old friends)?
@@quintuscrinis8032 well to me they are awful because they literally are eating babes lol
@julio-uv3uw oh yeah, that isn't great. Although most carnivores, including humans, do tend to eat the young of their prey species as well, so on that note they are no worse than us.
But what I mean is the Doctor is able to have a nice song and dance with them so they aren't exactly a massive threat or ultimately evil per se.
Loved this style of video, I agree with pretty much everything you said. I felt it having to be both a pilot and a Christmas special meant it couldn't focus on doing either very well
I thought it did both very well, it was one of the most festive feeling Christmas specials we've had in a few years and was a great story for his introduction to the role.
Having said that though, the Christmas invasion was done way better and that was the same situation. It was just too cheesy and a bit boring
@@lewisharvey9109for me it was the least festive Christmas special
@mohzayd1234 how so? Just wondering.
@@AyoAYO-cm6hbChristmas Invasion is good but it’s not my fave
Loved that it was different but familiar. All I’m saying is Pond, River, Flood…I don’t believe in coincidences…
Not believing in coincidences is dumb. Coincidences are hugely commonplace; less so in fiction than in real life, but still even in fiction, especially a fiction as complex and big as Doctor Who hugely commonplace.
Dude chill lol op likely meant coincidences in fiction are hardly ever unintentional lol.
Hi Rich. Good style video no worries! Just FYI, Russell mentioned in the episode commentary that he didn’t actually write that scene with The Doctor and the policeman. That was mandated by Disney after a test screening showed that people wanted to see The Doctor sooner in the episode so that was added later on per their request.
I believe he did write it but it wasn't originally there but he added due to it being requested.
@@friendlyotaku9525 Yes I watched it back a second time the commentary you are correct.
Is the G misaligned as a nod to Gravity not yet being gravity but Mavity?
I think the goblins are coming back. I think there are villans who operate under new rules being introduced.. the language of games, the language of luck/ coincidence... I think that opens lots of windows.
Also the Dr was wearing different outfits, which says to me he was coming back over Ruby's timeliness to see her, or save her. There is an arch building that I think we've just gotten a taste of. So exciting... questions to be answered: Who is Ms. Flood, who are Ruby's parents, why was the Dr crying when he saw her walk away... he could have gone after her, but somehow, he knows who she is....more to learn and I'm here for it.
Ruby Sunday is a season one companion. Whose story will be wrapped up by the end of her first season. Then there will be a new companion for season 2. Who has already been cast.
Doctor#15 said it was two carats of diamond. My immediate thought was "Dude, that's a shedload of ice for an engagement ring. Of course, she's going to say yes."
Who is the lucky girl ?
I think it's rather unfortunate that the toxic trope of the size of the diamond being a valid corollary for the depth of someone's affection, and the strength of the relationship, was trotted out when RTD is going out of his way to place himself on a plinth as the champion of progress and inclusivity. In my experience, the larger the diamond the shorter the marriage. When the foundation stone is a small, shiny rock, rather than genuine partnership, then the marriage is doomed.
Thanks Rich! Your stream of consciousness is very much more coherent than most of the eejits reviewing Who on RUclips so I appreciate you getting it done. As usual I agree with pretty much all your points - well spotted on the G of Gibson! I am absolutely loving Ncuti already and can't wait to see how Russell constructs a whole series! Looking forward to EK returning now that all your weddings and movings etc are done. Slightly selfishly I hope 2024 is a lot less stressful for you and your good lady wife than 2023 was!!
I loved this episode and I think my only big gripe is that bit in the middle you were talking about, which even Russell stated on the commentary that he felt was too dialogue heavy and that the scene we got was not the original scene, which intially featured the goblin king chasing them down the hallway but had to be cut due to budget. Other than that, I really enjoyed this episode.
And, absolutely wild theory, I think Mrs Flood is the one who waits. Russell has stated that she is going to be a slow burn reveal (I don't even know if it will be revealed in the up coming season) so that could go hand in hand with the one who "waits"
Just me that felt it was meh? The editing in the very first scenes felt so off. Half the screen time off the goblins we saw in a preview weeks ago. And they just exist out of coincidence?
No doubt 15 and Ruby will be a great duo going forward but it felt like it was missing something or needed more time.
Have missed the Christmas specials though.
My completely batshit theory about Mrs Flood and Ruby. Anyone that’s watched Dark on Netflix will know how this works. Ruby’s mother is also her daughter. It’s crazy but it’s doctor who, it might just work.
I had similar thoughts along the line that Mrs Flood is actually Ruby.
**Philip J Fry's jaw drops**
Murray Gold's score totally made this episode. I agree with you 15ths theme is amazing, I loved the way it even matched the doctor as he was running along the roof top where the "trills" matched him jumping over the walls. I'm really looking forward to this new series
I think the reason the goblins didn't come across as a threat, is because The Doctor and Ruby didn't treat them as one for the majority of the episode.
The Goblins kidnapped a baby, which was clearly something they regularly do, but the Doctor and Ruby didn't really seem that bothered. Then, once they got the baby back, The Doctor was happy for them to sail away and eat another one - the only reason he stopped them was because they went for Ruby.
It was OK, that's as much enthusiasm I can muster.
I've been waiting for this upload, hope you had a great Christmas. The main thing I took from this episode was 15s energy, he just seems perfect for the role. Looking forward to more content ahead Sir.
11:17 The goblins need coincidences, and they lampshaded the coincidences so much in that conversation between Ruby, The Doctor, and Carla with the thunder representing the goblins ramping up for serious intervention in the timeline because now it's personal. It was a bait and switch, we thought they'd they were gearing up to attack at that moment, but then we realise what they did instead, how much more cunning and cruel they are. They're not stupid, they're not animals, they're scheming little blighters!
Mrs Flood is Susan. Mrs Flood says she hasn’t seen a police box in London for 50 years which was 1973. Where was Susan in 1973? 🤔
She is the one who waits.She waited for her grandfather to come back. It also feeds into the family/identity theme.
Did you notice that both the dr and Ruby were mirroring each other’s costume in the club scene? Both wore tartan a white T- shirt and black leather jackets with boots plus two necklaces and rings on their fingers? Coincidence! Are Ruby and the Dr two peas from the same pod- like connected by family.
The Girl Who Waited was Amy Pond -- a companion. So it makes sense for The One Who Waits to be a companion. I like that theory.
@@JulieAiken yes Amy pond was the girl who waited but if you look up Susan she also waited for her grandfather who thought she should make a life on earth and chucked her out of the Tardis. There are various different story lines for her via big finish that have been written into Cannon. I stumbled onto something yesterday about where she was in 1973 and it also ties up why Anita Dobson would be playing her rather than the original character and her birthday was given as 23 June 1948 - and was left in Shoreditch- which is East end London so she would have an east end accent and just one year older than Anita Dobson plus Susan had a daughter who Susan thought her boyfriend was none other than a regenerated doctor! There’s a lot there that stacks up - in one account she married an EC Commissioner not named and they also had a son. Susan’s story needs to be looked. As she left Gallifrey with the doctor she would know what a Tardis would look like not just the Tardis having seen more than one. She was very the person who named it a Tardis. So I think this is Susan - not 100% she is Ruby’s mother but think she could be connected maybe a grand mother. I’m wondering if the mother is the recurring character played by Susan Twist who was the housekeeper of Isaac Newton and the heckler requesting the 16th century Carol Gaudete. Who knows 🤷♀️
Carol Ann Ford is still with us , so if it is her character Susan than surely she would play that part , who knows just my thoughts on that theory.
@@richarddavey9547 i know she is still with us but if you look where Susan is on 1973 it relates to Anita Dobson and why she could be playing that part instead. Who knows maybe the actress didn’t want to come back parts have been recast before? Also if she’s the doctor’s granddaughter can’t she have regeneration energy?
Another thing I'm super excited about is that Davies finally got back to doing representation WELL in this episode. I was really disappointed when the moment (give or take 5 minutes) Rose Noble's character was put on screen, she was basically just used as a blank slate for trans activism rather than depicting her as a fully fleshed out character first. The new Doctor however, is obviously gay as the day is long (which I honestly didn't expect since I wasn't familiar with the actor) yet they didn't make his sexuality (or race) front and center, or worse, add in some plot element related to gay/racial discrimination. If they focus on gay/racial discrimination in future episodes, I think that's awesome - but my point here is that they didn't do that in the episode that serves as his character introduction. That's really what they messed up about Rose Noble - not the fact that they overfocused on her trans struggles, but that they did so during her debut episode.
Thank you Davies for restoring hope in what this season has to offer! IMO true representation is about showing minorities who they genuinely are as humans, not about who they are through the lens of bigots.
Always a fan of your reviews, even if i don't always fully agree with you.
The snowman scene i believe RTD said was to appease Disney+ which is why it felt soo out of place. Also how reckless are we being with dematerializing the tardis in front of folks?
I know you're not a fan of the Mavity thing, but something I've not noticed you mention is that there's another recurring character. The Susan Twist character who was there for the Mavity scene, was also there when Ruby was playing with her band. She even shouts out. I think that we're getting some really big set-ups for some classic RTD multi series arcs here and the Mavity thing will perhaps tie into how reckless the doctor is or something, I dunno, but I'm convinced the Mavity thing is going to be something. Also Mrs Flood - My theory, she could be 'the one who waits' or 'the boss' - I don't know why, just a feeling.
TS a great theory. Tha
I saw this special on Christmas Day, in the evening after it premiered live on iPlayer. I don't know about you, but holy hell, this was such an improvement after a disappointing birthday. The characters and acting stole the show here; Fifteen is a solid Doctor with Gatwa being a fantastic actor, and Millie Gibson's Ruby is a simple, yet welcome return the simple companions of the 1980s and 2000s. The people around these two characters were also pretty endearing, my favourite being Ruby's foster grandma with a pretty funny gag involving tea. And sure, there were flaws, notably the goblins not being all that fleshed out, but the special feels like a can of air refresher after someone took a nasty shit!
So yeah, I found this to be pretty solid, warts and all. It's surprising to finally have good televised Doctor Who after years of gunk.
The direction is a real problem for me. Why does everything need to be a tight close-up?? Drives me mad.
Nothing about the Giblins made sense to me... They can go back in time, but they're not time travelers, they feed on coincidences, but also babies? You'd think that a lot of infants going missing would spark some sort of panic, but no - so they maybe only do it once a year on Christmas? And if Ruby had more coincidences around her, why would they take Lulubelle? why not go for Ruby to begin with? Why did their energy create a crack in the ceiling? how come they just disappeared from the Church's tower after their ship got impaled? And also - very nitpicky but it drove me insane - that the prosthetics of the singer Goblin did not move enough, so it seemed like the song was just played on speaker and she was dancing to it with a microphone aimed at her open mouth with not lip movement whatsoever...
THIS! You've summed up many of my own issues with the story!
I think the doctor saying they're not time travellers was a bit of a joke tbf because he doesnt want to be roped in with the goblins and he says time travellers are "the best, like, wow" so it's just meant to be a little fun but they are time travellers
First, I agree about the goblins. Normally the human companion would indicate something along the lines of "but goblins aren't real" and then the doctor would have a conversation about them that would help solidify their significance. Instead it is as if the goblins were just a normalcy of life on earth....and they don't make sense exactly - do coincidences make the human food more tender or nutrient dense? Couldn’t figure it out. Then the neighbor....didn't the toy maker say his minions were coming? Could she be connected in some way?
Exactly! It really wouldn't have taken much to fix this episode just by getting the basics right.
Pretty decent review, Rich. I also love Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and I do agree with the title sequence needing to be changed. And tbh I personally think the lack of Christmas stuff isn’t that much of an issue (even if it is meant to be a Christmas special).
As for my theory on who Mrs Flood is..here it is. She’s The Rani.
With regards to the Old Companion Theory, I've seen some suggest Dodo, which might work as a recasting as Jackie Lane sadly passed away in 2021. And Dodo was one of the companions to go up against the Toy Maker the first time around.
Then there's some thinking it's River because of the water connections, River, Pond, Flood... But this would mean somehow freeing River from the library and getting her a new body, which is possible I guess.
I doubt it's the Rani, because why would she stick around in London since the 1960's? Same goes for Romana. Romana would more likely team up with UNIT while waiting for the Time Lords to pick her up, and the Rani would find some way to live in the lap of luxury while doing her very immoral science experiments.
Thing is River is moving in time backwards from The Doctor, so if anything she would be getting younger I think
Iris Wildthyme, is the best theory I have heard. She is a multiverse character who is able to break the fourth wall because she knows (believes, I guess, from anyone else's point of view) that she is a fictional character in a fictional universe.
This actually would track really well...
@@markpostgate2551
I thought dodo too but she wasn't cockney....
Mrs Flood being Ruby's birth mother is my prediction but I'm not 100% committed to it
Mrs. Flood could be a reworked version of the Doctors human mother Penalope Gate from the books
When capaldi regenerated into jodie whittaker, her outfit came in her first episode. Rtds 2nd stint has a fantasy storybook era feel to it. Different era, different style.
Some of the monsters looked great for season 1
Moffatts first series (Series 5) also had a fairytale/story book feel and managed to do it without being internally inconsistent.
Now, I did really like Ruby in the episode. She hit all of the right notes that I expect a companion to hit, and as you mention, she had a really genuine feel to her - she was played really well.
My main thing was, that at no point in the episode was I really convinced that Ncuti was *The Doctor*. Like, he played the role, sure, I just didn't feel he had the.... gravitas? That the role demands. Like, the quiet confidence, the 'hey you should listen to me because I'm the only one who's gonna get you out of this alive' that The Doctor generally has. Like... I don't even know. Like this episode hit the plain text of what was expected of 'The Doctor', but missed all the subtext which really made him 'THE DOCTOR'? It's hard to put into words. I suppose, most previous doctors have felt like... The Doctor we know, but with some different skew of the one before. But Ncuti.... just sort of feels like he's playing Ncuti. He doesn't feel like he is playing a character with the.... weight that the role deserves, at least to me? But I'm not even 100% sure that's what felt off to me. Something just felt off to me - like, if you removed the title sequence and the Tardis, I could have completely missed the fact that it was a Who episode? It just didn't feel like Who to me. It wasn't BAD, it just... wasn't the show I expect to see, I guess? idk!
I love the throw back on empty fridge to the 13th resolution special with the free beef and beans coupons
Honestly, I’m still on the fence. I get the feeling this era could be one where the acting elevates the writing regardless of the quality of said writing. The writing in this episode was fine, but the cast made the episode worth the watch. My biggest issue was the goblins not being interesting at all. No information given about them outside of the fact they relied on luck.
I'm actually in the opposite camp. Think the acting was meh. The Dr lacked mavitas and Ruby should already be showing why she was picked as a companion - he doesn't just travel with anybody. The writing showed hints of something good but let itself down with silliness.
Hopefully, RTD's talent for story arcs shines through and he gets some super talented people in for those one-off episodes, which was the winning formula of the past. And perhaps the actors will grow into their roles.
@@Antonioplus let itself down with silliness yet here you are referencing said silliness 😂😂 the acting was far from meh.
@@adamburke4738 That wasn't the silliness I was speaking of. Hence me referencing it. When you go back and watch acting from prior seasons (not Chibnall era), maybe you'll see what I mean. If not, you're entitled to your opinion.
@@Antonioplus but it was silliness. It was a silly joke that honestly wasn’t needed. I’m fully aware what you mean 😂😂 you’re being hyperbolic about this era.
@@adamburke4738 A joke isn't always silly.
There's no hyperbole. I was describing what I saw. As I said, you're entitled to your opinion.
Fun Fact: The scene with the police officer/wedding ring/new sonic screwdriver was an additional scene shot just recently at Disney's request. After a test screening, the execs asked if we could see 'more of the title character earlier...?' and RTD said, 'Okay'.
I'll leave the theorising of Disney-Interference and the Portent of it Increasing to others...
My theory regarding Mrs Flood:
In Water of Mars, we have the above quote about THE FLOOD: "Water is patient. Water just waits"
The Toymaker then references "The one who waits"
We now have Mrs Flood who sits waiting outside her house.
Been waiting on your video. Thanks for putting it out. I thought the episode was hit and miss, with the low rent gremlins. Also confused how Rubys family were concerned about the massive crack in the ceiling and how they would freeze, however ruby just buggered off with the doctor. That made me laugh. In regard to Mrs Flood, I don’t think she is prior companion, or the Rani… maybe another time lord but trapped on earth… keep up the good work
I don't quite agree with your take on the policeman scene, if I'm honest.
Yes, he was being a clever git, but he used this cleverness to go out of his way to be kind to the man where he had no reason to. He just *cared*. The policeman was evidently being an akward turtle and beside himself and in stead of just leaving him be, the Doctor levelled his anxiety by telling him: don't worry so much, she will accept your proposal.
For me, that's a very defining 15th Doctor moment. Being clever to be kind and touch the lives of his surroundings in a positive way.
I have to think the “Mavity” thing is the result of someone manipulating things from the shadows … because the word “gravity” - to describe the weight or seriousness of something - predates Newton by more than 100 years (the first known written use was in 1509 - although I believe that was the French version, gravité - and Newton was born in like 1640 or so), and gravity is derived from the Latin word “gravitas.” Newton just came up with the theory of gravitational fields. If it’s not some shadowy force playing tricks, then it’s just stupid
Disagree. Whilst Production Values were high, there was a very thin plot, little to no background on the Goblins, poor storytelling, random characters. Ncuti is Strong Lead though & managed to hold it together. Disney probably looking at its flaws already, don't blame the Actors. Eight Episodes like this isn't going to cut it.
I agree about the goblins! Russell said the king was supposed to spawn in the flat on the commentary and threaten them which I think would have stitched that part up
Well put! Excited to see how RTD incorporates what has happened to the Doctor since he last ran the show
The show has sunk into the toilet pan, a staggering low point in 60 years.
This needs to be quietly put down and the show rested for about 25 years so we can all forget about it.
I totally agree. The main issue I have is for the licence fee payers who don't like what this show has become, what is their recourse? Would the public who like this version be happy to pay per view?
Love the theme for 15. Only trouble is it reminds me a bit of James Bond. Loved this episode loved Millie & Ncuti ❤
I enjoyed it well enough but only in a kind of "this isn't really Doctor Who" way. My problem was that even when there have been elements in the past that were sort of fantasy-ish it's always remained rooted in science fiction not fantasy and the Goblins weren't portrayed as aliens that happen to look and behave like goblins but actually as supernatural creatures that belong in Harry Potter or Peter Pan rather than Doctor Who. No matter how outlandish previous antagonists have been they have been given a science fiction explanation even if it was just hand-waved away with a line of dialogue. (They even managed to explain away Santa Claus.) Everything about the episode was well done - the acting, the characters, the settings were all good but that element of fairy tale fantasy undermined the whole thing for me. I'm hoping it was just a bit of seasonal frivolity and this tone won't carry through into the series. It's definitely not a direction I'd personally like it to go in.
I enjoyed the aesthetic of the Goblins when they were introduced, a big fan of the low/hi-tech thing they had going on though I was kind of pulled out of it when they started singing for no discernible reason. It felt like the musical number was just there because they wanted to put a musical number in the episode.
That was the point at which I switched off: enough is enough. I know that it was a Christmas special, but all that jumping around like it was a pantomime, it isn't Dr.Who and I just don't like all this cocky behaviour like Ncuti has been watching it forever which is blatantly obvious is not the case.
They should never have gone back to RTD as most of his era's better stories were written by other people. When the pile of shit had ended I had friends calling me up asking how far I got before I turned off.
Ncuti is just a poster boy that RTD fancies the pants off,because he doesn't have the range or vibe of a Doctor and I came to that conclusion when he started whacking two Tardises in the last special, which again was ruined by unnecessary singing and dancing. RTD is the modern JNT. Why they can't just stick to writing stories without all this garbage in the background was bad enough but when it's forced into every single story its just too much....
@@bendream544 I mean, I'm fine with musical numbers if they fit within the episode. I thought it worked quite well in The Giggle, showing how the Toymaker wasn't taking things seriously.
It just felt like there was no real set up for the Goblins to start singing. They had been established as a fairly crude enemy and the band just didn't feel like it fit within that aesthetic.
I feel like you're perhaps expecting too much from what a Christmas themed episode should include- there were enough things here and there to contextualise the time around Christmas, and quite rightly, is not focussed on and instead we just got a fun little largely inconsequential romp.
Regarding your mild criticism that the Christmas special was not very Christmassy, I have two words.... "Runaway Bride" (Catherine Tate's debut on Doctor Who). RTD has a history of Christmas specials that are not very Christmassy. Par for the course with RTD.
But the Runaway Bride did have robot Santa's, bawball (spelling?) bombs, and Xmas music at Donna's reception.
Nothing is more Christmassy than murderous robots dressed as Santa. Lol ... There were just as many Christmas decorations in "The Church on Ruby Road"... as well as "Voyage of the Damned." That's my point about the RTD Christmas specials. They are stories set within the season of Christmas as a backdrop, but the story has little or nothing to do with Christmas and could be set at any time of year. Par for the course with RTD Christmas specials.
Doctor Who has always been a show that tries to capture what it's like to Time Travel. Do I think this show deserves the negativity? Not exactly. I think Disney are responsible for making the show worse though. That is something that I heavily agree with.
wondering what your thoughts are on the sonic click remote i mean screwdriver.
Aww Rich go get a hot lemon & honey. You did good. Thankyou for doing your review even though you're unwell & it's Christmas.
I think it's adult Ruby putting baby Ruby back by the church & Mrs Flood could be anybody. Clearly shes going to be somebody important or an enemy of The Doctor & it's all going to be slow burning with a fantastic reveal at the end. I enjoyed it loved Ruby & the Doctors dynamic. Looking forward to May. Get well soon. Happy New Year🎉
To be completely honest, I turned this episode off half way through. I don't usually do this, infact I've only ever done this once and it was Jodie's Sea Devil episode. But I just didn't understand the goblins, yes I haven't watched the full episode so I can't really complain when I haven't gave it a fair chance, but if I feel this disappointed half way through an episode then I feel like I'm justified in my feelings.
I'm not familiar with Ncuti or Millie as actors which is why I've been looking forward to seeing them in Doctor Who, I was excited to see what they were like on-screen and couldn't wait to see what they would bring to Doctor Who, and I'm not disappointed by them at all, I loved their chemistry and their acting, genuinly pleased with their characters. For me, Ncuti's Doctor feels like all of the previous [modern] Doctors combined;
The revived, freshness of 9
The confidence of 10
The playfulness of 11
The determination of 12
The heart of 13
And the emotional honesty of 14...
Which to me is fantastic, I love this portayal of the Doctor and I can't wait to see more of him.
But the writing just felt so off at times, Ruby randomly mentioning it's her birthday (when they were tied up) to the Doctor when it had no relevance to the situation just felt a bit off to me, like they just needed the Doctor to know so they just slid it in there.
The whole coincidence being what the goblins feed off is honestly not a bad idea in my mind, but the execution was just that, an execution, the idea was killed by the haphazard writing. The goblins fucking with Ruby isn't a coincidence, they are purposefully making things happen so the coincidence aspect doesn't make any sense to me? Maybe I just misunderstood it, which I hope I have so I can go back and watch it all the way through and enjoy it this time, but I just didn't understand what the coincidences were meant to be, the goblins pushing the tree over and moving the table so Ruby drops her glass etc. They weren't coincidences they were just little green bellends being arseholes. I don't underatand what the coincidence was meant to be, but again I haven't finished the episode so maybe I just didn't give it enough of a chance to explain itself.
Everything else, however, I enjoyed, the acting was great, the production value was amazing, Ncuti's outfits made me hard. And the chemistry between Ncuti & Millie was lush. I look forward to series 14 [a.k.a the thrid series 1] and I will eventually finish this episode so I can have an actually fair opinion of it, but for now this just felt a bit weak because, even tho I loved everything else about the episode, the whole premise just didn't make any sense to me and I couldn't stay interested in it.
Yeah I’d recommend a rewatch - they never said those things done by the goblins were coincidences they said the goblins would make someone who they’ve found to have a coincidence in their future have lots of accident and ‘bad luck’ which stitches them into the days and in turn their time stream ( seasoning their prey ready for the coincidence to come and then eating )
@@matthewchurchyard8552 ahh okay so I did just misunderstand what was going on, thanks for explaining this. I'm still not 100% following but I think I'm getting a slightly better understanding
My Theory about Mrs. Flood is that she could be a future verison of Susan.
I legitimately animated a slow turning Dorito with the words Doctor Who onto it in Premiere with my friend to prove how cheap that animation really is in comparrison to all the others, as it took me literally 5 minutes to do, besides that i love how the rest of the intro looks and for this episode i'd day it was a solid 7, Fun, camp, but still interesting, everything I want out of both a Christmas Special and an opener, although a bit more action near the climax might've been nice. Great review Rich, always love watching em and EK. ❤
The Toymaker referred to "the one who waits", Mrs Flood was sitting waiting on her front steps to see The Doctor leave, RTD has stated that Mrs Flood is a "slow-burn" character... Could be misdirection. But, to be honest, like Vera Wylde, we're only 4 episodes into RTD2 and I've aleady got mystery box fatigue. Mrs Flood will be who Mrs Flood will be. To paraphrase Queen Victoria: We are not engaged.
It felt like a pandorica moment with the memory stuff.
Thanks for the review. I do feel like finishing off Davina McCall with a Christmas tree felt pretty festive to me, but who am I to judge? 😅
I really enjoy your reviews and find myself agreeing with every point you make 😂 it was fun it was a Christmas episode. No real gripes about it. Love 15 already. We are in for a great ride l reckon.
The Church on Ruby Road is an episode that felt like it had potential. All that potential was soon taken away because I lost focus on the episode. My boyfriend was giving my feet a lovely massage. Next thing we know, I'm laying on the couch & he starts tickling my feet while telling me if I like the episode. I told him "No" & he continued to get me to say I liked it. In the end, he ended up with a nose full of fluff & I ended up with a delicious meal.
The Goblins feeding off coincidence as opposed to "the Trickster's Brigade" feeding off chaos seems a little too similar to be... "coincidence"- at least that's my "chaos theory"!
when you were talking about the Christmas stuff you misspoke at first saying that it had too focused on Christmas stuff
You saying “sixfeilds” in a video blew my mind.
Maybe Mrs Flood is an ex-UNIT employee (from the Brigadier era)
tbh i thought this special was just so boring, nothing gripped me at all and ruby just didn't feel like a real person to me. Cherry Sunday was the saving grace for me, without her I probably would've just zoned out for the whole episode.
I enjoyed it looking foward to the new storylines
I like the title sequence. It's one of the few things about this show that is still good.
Russell T Davies has said that Mrs Flood will be a slow burner, and we will find out more about her during the new season.
Really enjoyed this review, as I do with most of yours. I was really happy to follow you after leaving what culture, as I got very tired of their... "Style" too. Honest reviews will always best up/down gimmicks and, latterly, presenters who I don't really believe reading other people's scripts. Like many obsessed fans I have a lot of subscribed whotubers, but alongside MrTardis, Council of Geeks and Joe Brennan, yours is one of the opinions I always look forward to the most, because they are balanced, and honest. Of course Xmas is always going to be punishing for releasing content as It is for any work that has to be done by an adult living in the real world with family and commitments, so don't beat yourself up about it! Happy New Year to you and your family.
10:43 in the commentary for this episode RTD says that the goblin king himself was gonna attack them in the house, which is why the set is mostly a long corridor because it was gonna be chasing them down it. This was then replaced by the ceiling cracking to save… money, I think.
I do really love the new Doctor and Ruby, but am I really the only one concerned about the change in rationality? Is the Doctor Harry Potter now?
Before watching your take:
Ncuti Gatwa's first full outing as the Doctor had a real sense of adventure and Wonder, and did a great Job of establishing the enthusiastic dynamic of the Doctor and his new Companion.
It was exciting and action packed, tiptoed into horror but was also at times reflective and thoughtful.
It even had a musical number.
I might have faltered under the weight of these genre shifts, but was able, by and large, to pull it off, thanks in no small part to the two leads. Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson sold everything with such conviction and skill and that you just kind of accept everything that was happening around them.
Of course, a big part of that is the dialogue they're given. The script bounces along at a merry pace, the lines and deliveries quick and frenetic, but slowing down when needed. It all just felt natural. This is most evident whenever The Doctor and Ruby are interacting, but honestly the entire Supporting cast surrounding Ruby were amazing, from her Mum & Nan to her mates. She came to us a full character with an immediate and obvious place in the world.
Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor is also brilliant, full of wit and oozing charisma. I will say though that one of my criticisms for the Episode would come from the opening sequence when he admonished the poor woman for having a pram out at midnight. It just seemed uncharacteristically judgemental for The Doctor ( Sometimes you'll do whatever it takes to get them to finally sleep). Regardless, I loved the new Doctor/Companion Relationship. They come across as Kindred spirits, bonded by shared experience, and similar child like excitment in the face of the unknown.
Which brings us to the villains of the piece. Though they don't pose much of a threat to our heroes, The Goblins are pulled straight from folklore, and not sanitised kid-friendly folklore either, but proper, Baby stealing to feed to their King folklore. They're great because of it. I will say though, that the Musical number did raise an eyebrow from me, but not because of it's presence; It felt entirely in keeping with the overall tone, but mainly because of the quality of the singing, which is pethaps overly critical. They were hissing and screeching the whole time, but suddenly one of them is belting out tunes like [insert popular female singer her]? It was just a bit disarming. But aprt from that? Great villains, and I feel like a good indicator of the direction this coming season is going.
Often, the Doctor is at their most compelling when they're out of their depth, when they're working things out. With the release of Elemental forces at the edge of the universe we'll see more that. As they said in the episode, things which operate "different laws of Physics" or simply "Magic". Watching them work it all out promises to be very entertaining.
Overall, maintained the high standard of the specials, introduced a fanatastic Companion and had me thoroughly entertained.
[Edit] It felt to me like the Goblins were partly sidlineed to give the The Doctor and Ruby time to shine. Perhaps it was deemed unnecessary because everyone knows what Goblins are? Would agree that they perhaps could Have been fleshed out to put a whoniverse stamp on them.
I think think the Goblin's targetting of Ruby was kind off explained by the prior conversation. As they named all the coincidences and similarities between her and the Doctor it made both of them an eligible target. Thay'd targetted Lulubelle for the same reason.
You should start a channel... Didn't read any of that but the time you spent you could have made a video
@@dantheman1337 based on how long any kind of video has historically taken me and my complete lack of editing skill or proper equipment that's unlikely to happen, but perhaps one day
@ksnot thank you! I'll take that as a compliment!
@@samuelharmssambamsjm269 once you've written it, all you need to do is read it out :)
I didn't see anything about it, so I'm gonna say it, but the biological wiring was from Girl in the fireplace, with the clockwork people, which only adds to the slight moffatisms to the episode, which isn't too bad
But, anyways, another awesome review Rich, and still seemed very though out regardless of script and willpower!
Great review Rich
The goblins were not thought through enough.
It's like rtd wrote the emotional stuff and went over it a few times but didn't bother with the Sci-Fi stuff and this was the first draft it didn't really make a lot of sense.
Way too many questions about the whole goblin ser up.
For example the ship sailed away from the house but when they came back with the baby they were at the house again.
Why didn't the goblins grab them off the conveyor belt when they interrupted the king about to eat?
Ruby's bad luck wasn't bad luck it was deliberate Sabotage by the goblins
Tom Baker not only played Holmes, but did also wear the deerstalker cap in TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG.
Everything was so in this episode expected the day to be Sunday Christmas Eve I think but I think it ended up being broadcasted on Christmas day either that Sunday joke
Apparently, in the Victorian era, Christmas goblins were a thing.
Christmas special looked like it was shot in the summer.
Great episode. Sound mixing was a bit off though. Struggled to hear the dialogue in parts of the episode. Although is too much of Murray Gold a bad thing??
When the gobling king was impaled I was a bit surprised because the doctor was against killing
I thought the stuff with the Police Officer was more reminiscent of the TV Movie, but I prefer that the Doctor worked it out rather than as it was played with McGann where he just seemed to be omniscient.
Good catch with the misaligned "G".
Did you spot the bad kerning between the first three letters of "DAVID" at the start of the three specials?
Goblins + song = Muppet Show. King/Chief Goblin = Jabba the Hutt. Goblin Ship = Time Bandits. Mrs Flood - interesting and CHANGED. She didn't know what a Tardis was at the start and complained when it appeared. At the end she knew exactly what a Tardis was. She was the only interest in the episode.
Disliked almost everything except Flood. Ncuti is far to happy/cheerful/bright. Nowhere near dark and mysterious enough.
People keep talking about Mrs Flood talking about a TARDIS, but she might just be tlaking about the time the Doctor was in Albert Square.
The biological wiring bollacks you were thinking of was probably from utopia, professor yana's whole kitbashed lab
Or that episode of doctor who with the clockwork Android that started using humans as parts for the ship
I dont think the officer scene was supposed to make the The Doctor look smart, I think it was supposed to make he seem kind. Like he could've noticed it and said nothing, but he made the mans night
8:12 actually he didn't, he's confirmed this, that was actually the BBC's decision - in fact Chibnall wanted Spyfall Part One to air on Christmas Day but the BBC said it was "too dark".
I suspected for a lonh time now you were previously on another channel. I like channels (like yours) that have nuance. Hate channels are horrid and sycophantic fanish one are just fo childish. Crtical but fair analysis is what I as an adult viewer want and you do this justice. Well done. Keep up these balanced and true reflections of DW. Happy New Year.
Overall thought is that the sum of the parts are less than whole. i.e. lots of little things to like, but left feeling unsatisfied with the overall episode.
we got a lot of hints about what kind of person 15 is and who Ruby is, but nothing concrete like we got for 10 and 11.
I think Flood is a former companion but she's a companion of one of the other Doctors introduced as part of the Timeless Child seeing as RTD is sticking with that narrative
ive only seen like 5 episodes of dr who all the way through, and i intend to watch gatwas doctor, but i liked that the sonic detected that diamond and he stopped to that random man the good news/his guess abt the proposal! “im a lover, not a fighter”, that gesture said. and the song and dance number?!? so fun!! tennant doctor’s therapist worked wonders 😆😆
i thought it was strange/incongruent he KILLED them in the end, rather than cleverly banish them somehow. i wonder what ms floods deal was
Yeah, the coincidence and luck thing was pretty hazy. Did enjoy the episode overall, but I thought it was the weakest of the four specials.
Oh, and I'd certainly be down for a DW theme ranking!
I enjoyed the episode far more than anything the Chibnall era put out, that being said.
I found the Doctor's outfit to be a bit too gaudy, his line delivery of the rope tech felt a little off, the baby eating musical was not to my liking, and their improv singing to the king felt forced.
I think Ncuti has great potential and I look forward to seeing more of his adventures alongside Millie.
I felt Millie was playing as if Ruby had read the script.. with a pre knowledge.