Donna is my favourite modern Who companion, not just because of her humour but also her humanity and how she influences the Doctor. I also appreciate that unlike Rose or Martha, she's just a close platonic friend. (I really wish the writers had not had Martha pining for the doctor although I'm glad Martha finally stood up for herself and concluded she deserved better - which she did.) Donna calls out the Doctor occasionally because she doesn't idolize him. Plus her grandfather, Wilfred Mott is one of Who's greatest characters.
At this point, the thing I love about Donna is she is a companion who is like most of us. She’s the first one to be really, properly horrified at the notion of leaving people to die.
I'm absolutely team Donna but Rose was horrified at the whole concept of "the end of the world," it's just that the Doctor explains everyone's moved on already and she wasn't immersed in the event directly... and similarly she's disgusted at Cassandra's pure-blood nonsense too, and there's that whole bit where she's pushing back against the Doctor even as she's realising how powerless she is in the situation if she disagrees with him. She was as "like most of us (at 17)" as it got. I think Donna gets this really brutal wakeup because more than any of the others, she needed it as a character to force a particular style of growth and we needed to see it as an audience to forgive her annoying side. As a result we see her as more explicitly horrified than most, but even if they deferred to the Doctor more easily, I feel like Rose would still be mouthing off and Martha would be in internal agony just the same.
Fun Fact - Caecillius, Matella and Quintus are all characters in the Cambridge latin course textbooks used to teach latin in schools (named for real people from Pompeii) - basically if follows their day to day lives before it ends with the destruction of Pompeii (unfortunately the doctor does not show up) - Also "Petrus Dextrus' Literally means sone right arm in latin
I love this episode because it perfectly shows the value that Donna adds to the show. She holds the Doctor to his mark. The doctors aim, their promise is to save people. Even if the rules can’t be changed, the Doctor should strive to push the rules (proven by him Saving Caecillius) to help as many people as possible. In this post time war universe the doctor needs the reminder of his identity, that’s why his pairing with Donna works so well.
It’s a common theme with the doctor, specifically 10. He’s very proud and If he can’t save every single person exactly the way he wants then nobody should get saved. It doesn’t always occur to him that he can ‘just save someone’ and that’s good enough, that’s why he needs a companion to remind him sometimes.
I've always assumed that the Tardis being sold as art is a nod to the Fourth Doctor story City of Death (written by some Douglas Adams guy) where the Tardis is parked in the Louvre and mistaken for modern art by John Cleese and Eleanor Bron.
Hadn't considered that. It would also tie in with the "from Barcelona" line, which otherwise seems a completely out of the blue Fawlty Towers reference.
"The London Blitz is nice for self-cleaners. Pompeii's nice if you want to make a vacation of it, though. But you've got to set your alarm for Volcano Day." --Captain Jack Harkness in The Doctor Dances. ""Pompeii. We're in Pompeii, and it's Volcano Day." --The Doctor in The Fires of Pompeii.
This was when I realised Donna was going to be an amazing companion. Brilliant episode, great writing, great acting and chemistry and great effects and staging. All in all a fantastic start to Donna’s journey. PS did you notice who the red haired woman in the sisterhood was??
I think the Doctor was supposed to save the family as at the start of the episode they mention they have no word for volcano, then when they save the family the father comes up with the word volcano suggesting he is the origin of the word. I think every companion has a 'pompei' moment were they understand what travelling with the Doctor means and what dealing with time means. I would say Rose's was Fathers day. I think as well that because Donna isn't enamored with the Doctor like the last 2 actual companions she's more free to see who the Doctor is and the environments they find themselves in. She's better placed to call him out on his higher than thou bullshit at times.
Yeah, the Doctor said he was the one who does it (he was always the one who does it, they were always the two), so Donna always argued with him and they always saved the family.
The butterfly effect usually doesn't affect much in Doctor Who, and only is a thing for *very* big events that massively disrupt time streams. Wibbly wobbly and all that. The whole thing with Ruby only happened because the Doctor forgot to turn on the Butterfly Compensation Switch hahaha
i think most people are a bit too harsh on Donna. yea shes rally loud and manic in the christmas episode..... but we need to keep in mind its her wedding day.. imagine all this crap going down the moment you are supposed to be getting married. she does calm down a bit after the wedding time had passed even to the point of messing with her family pretending to have a break down to get them all to stop hounding her for answers. just throw on some crocodile tears that will shut everyone up
"Yeah, she's definitely on the third season of 'Snowfall' right now!!" LMAO!!!! THANKS for this!!! I'm sure your Patreon folks have told you how important this episode is--maybe they've even told you why. But I won't 'cause.... :)
Do there need to be ramifications of the survivors? Pompeii, and the other towns engulfed by the most famous Vesuvius eruption, had survivors. It could simply be that those four were always saved by the Doctor, and that was always the timeline. It may be just that, until then, the Doctor didn't know they were four of the survivors. Or it could have significant impact on world affairs for millennia to come. "Lucius Caecilius" will be seen again. And according to Big Finish, classic companion Mel - who you have seen in the 60th anniversary episodes - also saved someone in Pompeii. The Doctor did well not to meet his sixth self.
This episode for me really changed me view on Donna. Her viewpoint to save someone reminds me of the 9th Doctor in the “can you be my mummy” episode where he is determined to save someone if not all. I think the 10th Doctor forgets this or is pessimistic to this view which is a great conflict to bring to this season overall. Also, like others, I found Donna quite annoying in the special but over the course of the season, I warmed up to her and still remains to be in my top 3 companions. She doesn’t just bring humanity to the doctor, she brings realism, dynamism, philosophical conflict and pure banter. One of the most impactful characters to be written in the show (as you’ll come to find out in the end of S4). One of the Main reason why this season is superior to others in the show is because of Donna arc. Of course the Doctor’s arc is hugely impressive (not seen since the 12th Doctor imo) and the writing of the episodes obvs. If the season falters in any way, it’s because of the audiences perceptions of Donna. If they do not warm up to her, then a lot of these stories will not be as appreciated like it should. All in all, I hope Syntell and Rekai have a fun time watching this season as the show arguably is never the same after this. 😊
People say the Ninth Doctor is damaged and angry, but I think the Tenth is more so but tries to hide it. Like he carries every bit of damage Nine had and just keeps piling more on top of it. Lost Rose, the Master, Martha. Every failure, every misstep. Pebble, pebble, pebble. There's something on his back too.
@@HuntingViolets oh I defo agree with all you said. He defo tries to hide it, suppress it almost. I feel like if he talks about it he’ll combust. He’s worse than the 9th doctor which really affects his ego and mindset to the point where he may or may not crumble at the end of the season haha).
If I wasn’t already sold on Donna this one would have. She’s one of the most passionate character this show has ever produced. It only gets better from here, not one bad episode going forward.
It seems like Rekkai gets it at the end of the episode, that this is Donna’s first adventure and it’s a lot, especially for someone so compassionate and strong minded. But this was a bit of a frustrating watch during the episode, and felt like y’all were writing her off entirely, through a pretty rough first adventure. Been following you guys’ Who journey since the beginning so no hate, I know some things take time or can be misunderstood on first watch, but maybe try to keep in mind for this season that Donna isn’t as young as Rose/Martha, or starry eyed over the Doctor, so she won’t let him talk down to her, ignore her agency or brush things off without explaining. And she isn’t afraid to disagree! Not trying to change you guys’ opinions at all, just trying to remind you that she may not react the same in certain situations, and a lot of the time that’s the good that she brings to the show but can’t wait to see y’all venture forth regardless🫶🫶
It's crazy how Peter Calpadi was in Doctor Who before he got the role of the Doctor in this episode. It'd be funny if the 12th Doctor went back in time and ended up here again, and he had to avoid running into Lobus, because he looked just like him.
I’m loving the consistency with these uploads. Is there a upload schedule for the episodes or is it more whenever your free kinda vibe. Deffo gained a new subscriber 🥳
My theory about "fixed points in time" and generally how Time is handled in Dr Who begins with the metaphor of a "time stream" instead of "timeline". I mean, they mention timelines all the time, but a timestream just seems to make more sense. Smaller changes can be made, but it's a lot harder to make big changes. Generally, the effects and implications of smaller changes tend to just get smoothed out, and the future kind of ends up where it was going anyway. If Babe Ruth gets run over as a kid, maybe someone named Abe Booth takes up an interest in baseball about the same time. As for "fixed points", they're kind of like big rocks or islands in the stream, and the "more" fixed/significant an event is, the "bigger" the island is. The more inertia it has, and the more force it would take to displace it. A significant enough event CAN change the course of the timesteam, but it takes a lot. But if it IS changed, some future Fixed Points might suddenly stop being fixed, or even existing at all, because the formerly downstream Fixed Events might now not even be in the new course of the river. If the Chula nanobots DID rewrite all of humanity in the early 1940's, its highly unlikely that there would be any significant events that happen on a relatively-near-by-planet a hundred-or-so years later. That said, one more stonemason in Rome probably won't matter at all (at least on an historical level). Anyway, that's how I timey-whimey away the contradictions...
Regarding conequences of saing the family, it's actually addressed subtley in a Torchwood episode. Peter Capaldi returns to play a civil servent in 'Children of Earth', and meets a less fortunate fate than his Roman ancestor.
@@fayesouthall6604 But he's also told people without the N, so I'm not sure he adjusted after finding out he was saying it wrong. There's a cute video about it, though.
For some great British sketch comedy, check out Catherine Tate's old show "The Catherine Tate Show". She's even more talented than she gets to show off in Dr Who. Also, Fawlty Towers, which is what the "from Barcelona" line is referencing.
I agree with many of the points in your discussion. Traveling with The Doctor might be fun, but people also need reminders to understand the consequences of tinkering with time, destiny, and established events. Donna's first adventure traveling, and you're right, she's worried about saving a few people, but he pointed out the choice is between 20k or 20m. It's just a fact of life, sometimes you're forced to choose between bad and very bad.
There are many example of Who casting actors for smaller roles only to bring them back for larger parts. Colin Baker, the Sixth Doctor, famously player Gallifreyan guard captain Maxwell in the fifth Doctor story Arc of Infinity. Multiple actors have played multiple roles through the years. Freema Agyeman played Martha's cousin Adeola in Army of Ghosts/Doomsday. As is the case here, two actors come back in much bigger roles in coming seasons, but I won't give details that could be spoilers.
I just love Peter Capaldi. I think his best acting he did was in Torchwood: Children of Earth. I wish he had better scripts when he was The Doctor. I love him but not many of the plots. But Heaven Sent and Hell Bent are brilliant.
There are a few spoilers fans could bring up specifically regarding this episode, and I don't think I will. Nothing to see here... *whistles, walks off*
'mission' I really wouldn't call them that. They are just visiting places and adventuring. It is a vacation but the doctor does have a job and he sometimes gets so in his head that he forgets to be human (cause he's not but still) Donna is the kick in the butt he needs to realize he's not all that.
"you will go back to London" i mean they are called "companions" not employees, Doctor is not authoritarian regime to punish for opinion. If his ego is so big he will send her away for empathy towards human life, then maybe she would be better not to travel with him But this also goes back to "Don't travel alone Doctor" cause he needs companions not for funs to share adventure but exactly for keeping his "humanity" in check and do not become a big head almighty godlike figue. So Donna does exactly what doctor needs
you’re a ways away from this, but make sure to come back and watch this one before right before you watch Waters of Mars (the second of the Tennant goodbye specials). They are very much linked.
Ah yes, Peter Capaldi's 1st appearance on Doctor Who was very memorable. I believe he was originally going to become The Doctor after David Tennant, but that didn't happen.
Yeah but this episode shows that’s all nonsense since his very actions are what causes Pompeii to erupt. He initially says it’s a fixed point but then turns around upon discovering he’s the cause saying “That’s the choice Donna, it’s Pompeii or the world.” which means it was never a fixed point or there’d be no choice.
@tempusspiritus you could argue that its still a fixed point but with 2 options of enacting that fixed point... alternatively you could argue that it is a fixed point and it's the pyrovites meddled with it and so the Dr had to intervene.... thirdly you could argue its make believe and as we don't yet understand the laws of time or physics ourselves, we can try not to be too judgemental regards the shows stories....
"We are a part of the Rhythm Nation!" 🤣 The one major retcon that happens is in Series 12. Not gonna go into it, no spoilers, but you know, you said, it is coming. I'm interested to see how you both see it because it is more a retcon of Classic WHO than New WHO, but at the same time there are worse things about that season than just the retcon. Ncuti/15 is MILES better, Series 14 blows the doors off the previous 3 Series before it.
not that stuff in this show cant have an impact on the future but i hate to say it but the whole butterfly thing with Ruby was honestly just for a cheap laugh. though imagine if stuck and we just got a straight up whole different companion cause of the butterfly effect. theres only 1 show ive seen thats really done that and i dont think it was a very well received show
and thats why you shouldn't of jumped ahead to the latest season... Everyone's view on doctor has shifted, therefore how its made/progresses through the story has been shifted. New who is nothing like the show you're watching now. You shouldn't make comparisons as Chibnalls era pretty much retconned everything you're seeing now
Such a great story and phenomenal acting from David and Catherine. Supporting cast was also great, especially from the father, Peter Capaldi (wouldn’t he make a great Doctor?) Although appearing in a non speaking part, one of the sear women is Karen Gillian, a future companion (no spoilers as to when!)
I really hate the youtube algorithm. My following you is more wibbley wobbley than doctor who. Do you follow the show out of order or am i out of order?
The butterfly thing was so awful and ridiculous in so many ways. So she turns into a completely different species, but it's still her, right there and then with the alleged Doctor? That's not how the butterfly effect works. At all.
One of the girls in this episode is the next big companion in doctor who. She is played by Karen Gillian who also plays nebula in guardians of the galaxy. And the father in this episode is one of the next doctors.
I think it’s implied that The Doctor and Donna saving the family had always happened, what with the father (Peter Capaldi) coining the term Volcano, plus Ten/Donna causing Pompeii to erupt. Pompeii always erupted because of them and they always saved this family. Keep up the great reactions!!!
15:14 Catherine Tate acted her butt off in this moment and made me really love Donna. The Doctor goes to throw the switch and she puts her hand next to his. Who is cutting onions up in here?
The volcano WAS the butterfly. Without the doctor human history stops - with the Doctor and Donna Pompeii is consumed to kill the lava monster. We are all children of that butterfly.
Yeah it can be quite frustrating to see this. What she brings to the doctor this episode is very valuable. I think they feel that the doctor is so benevolent and smart, what he does is always right and the “new” companion should shut up. I think they recognised that a little too late. But hopefully over the course of the season, they’ll grow to like her. I actually feel if they don’t like this season, it might be because they don’t grow to like Donna because the stories this season revolves around her presence and actions.
@Syntell, some _Good Omens_ reactors have instituted a policy of asking people to post fake spoilers, and I think maybe you could benefit from that because there are several people in the comments section who love to tell you stuff before you've gotten there, for whatever reason.
I don’t know if you missed it, or if anyone has mentioned it in the comments, but after the Ruby/Butterfly incident, when they get back into the TARDIS he turned on the “Butterfly Compensation Switch” to stop the Butterfly Effect from happening. It would normally have been turned on except that the TARDIS had new controls and it must have defaulted to “off”. 😁
I'm enjoying your reactions. The supporting cast was superb in this episode. I love this episode and The Doctor knows he needs a companion and the end of this episode is beautiful because he saved that family.❤
I am absolutely blown away by your perceptiveness, when you guys were talking about ramifications of the doctor's interference in events, I think is a recurring theme in Doctor Who - we see it in earlier episodes surrounding Platform 9 (I think it was) with the Daleks and Rose taking the time vortex into her head. It had been the same location of the Anne Droid episode where the housemate told him about the 100 years of hell when he had shut down Satellite 5 and the one episode with the brain interface with computers and the mighty jagrafess guy.
i honestly think because pompeii wouldn’t have happened without the doctor, that whatever choices he made would’ve always happened so the butterfly effect doesn’t apply in this situation. i don’t think anything would change cus if the doctor never went there the world would’ve ended.
Regarding the comment about there being consequences for saving the family, given The Doctor was always destined to be the one to trigger the eruption in the first place, one can safely assume he was also always going to rescue the family, making their survival a part of the normal time line.
This is the first dislike from me to this channel, mainly due to Rekkai, but that was really annoying the way you talked about Donna without getting her perspective. The reaction was too annoying for me because of how you viewed her without understanding her compassion.
Not the first time a guest actor winds up playing the Doctor. Back in the 80s, Colin Baker played a Time Lord in the story Arc of Infinity. A couple of years later, he was THE Time Lord.
Have you seen Rekkai's deep dive on this? - ruclips.net/video/RTJ2Ewi3_rI/видео.html
Thanks bro! Gotta a great deep dive on this one!
Yep!
Donna is full of passions, but that means, she is also full of heart, which is something that does help the Doctor.
"Not the whole town. Just save someone."
Love that line so much
He'd already did that by letting Pompeii go, and saving the world.
Catherine Tate is always used for comedy but when she gets the chance to show emotion she can go all out. Love her.
Donna is my favourite modern Who companion, not just because of her humour but also her humanity and how she influences the Doctor. I also appreciate that unlike Rose or Martha, she's just a close platonic friend. (I really wish the writers had not had Martha pining for the doctor although I'm glad Martha finally stood up for herself and concluded she deserved better - which she did.) Donna calls out the Doctor occasionally because she doesn't idolize him. Plus her grandfather, Wilfred Mott is one of Who's greatest characters.
Donna is my favorite because when the Doctor throws something at her, she throws it right back at him.
"Time Lord. TARDIS. Yeah."
"Donna. Human. No."
1:54 That's actually the actress who plays Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy! 💪
What a good way to put it.
👀 Good job here 🙏🏼
At this point, the thing I love about Donna is she is a companion who is like most of us. She’s the first one to be really, properly horrified at the notion of leaving people to die.
I'm absolutely team Donna but Rose was horrified at the whole concept of "the end of the world," it's just that the Doctor explains everyone's moved on already and she wasn't immersed in the event directly... and similarly she's disgusted at Cassandra's pure-blood nonsense too, and there's that whole bit where she's pushing back against the Doctor even as she's realising how powerless she is in the situation if she disagrees with him. She was as "like most of us (at 17)" as it got. I think Donna gets this really brutal wakeup because more than any of the others, she needed it as a character to force a particular style of growth and we needed to see it as an audience to forgive her annoying side. As a result we see her as more explicitly horrified than most, but even if they deferred to the Doctor more easily, I feel like Rose would still be mouthing off and Martha would be in internal agony just the same.
Fun Fact - Caecillius, Matella and Quintus are all characters in the Cambridge latin course textbooks used to teach latin in schools (named for real people from Pompeii) - basically if follows their day to day lives before it ends with the destruction of Pompeii (unfortunately the doctor does not show up) - Also "Petrus Dextrus' Literally means sone right arm in latin
I have those textbooks on my desk beside me, right now lol
I love this episode because it perfectly shows the value that Donna adds to the show. She holds the Doctor to his mark. The doctors aim, their promise is to save people. Even if the rules can’t be changed, the Doctor should strive to push the rules (proven by him Saving Caecillius) to help as many people as possible. In this post time war universe the doctor needs the reminder of his identity, that’s why his pairing with Donna works so well.
It’s a common theme with the doctor, specifically 10. He’s very proud and If he can’t save every single person exactly the way he wants then nobody should get saved. It doesn’t always occur to him that he can ‘just save someone’ and that’s good enough, that’s why he needs a companion to remind him sometimes.
“There’s not rules, but there are rules” is actually a pretty good way of describing Doctor Who’s writing
I've always assumed that the Tardis being sold as art is a nod to the Fourth Doctor story City of Death (written by some Douglas Adams guy) where the Tardis is parked in the Louvre and mistaken for modern art by John Cleese and Eleanor Bron.
Hadn't considered that. It would also tie in with the "from Barcelona" line, which otherwise seems a completely out of the blue Fawlty Towers reference.
I met Catherine Tate at a convention a few years ago. She was so nice. She used to have her own comedy show playing different characters. So talented
Loved the Catherine Tate show. “Am I bothered, but am I bothered tho, face bothered” 😂😂
This is the moment when Peter Capaldi became Peter Cepaldi
"The London Blitz is nice for self-cleaners. Pompeii's nice if you want to make a vacation of it, though. But you've got to set your alarm for Volcano Day." --Captain Jack Harkness in The Doctor Dances.
""Pompeii. We're in Pompeii, and it's Volcano Day." --The Doctor in The Fires of Pompeii.
This was when I realised Donna was going to be an amazing companion. Brilliant episode, great writing, great acting and chemistry and great effects and staging. All in all a fantastic start to Donna’s journey.
PS did you notice who the red haired woman in the sisterhood was??
In that episode where Ruby changes, the doctor says he forgot to turn on the anti butterfly switch in a throw away line.
Martha brought up the butterfly effect in "The Shakespeare Code" and Bill in "Thin Ice." The Doctor basically blew it off all three times.
The father of the family looks familiar ..can't put my finger on where I've seen that face before...
It was probably Lair of the White Wyrm with Hugh Grant.
(I know what you were actually saying😂)
The Thick of It?
I was thinking of Local Hero,myself.
He’s the thinker in The Suicide Squad! I’m sure that’s where you’ve seen him!
This one's a classic, one of my favorites.
I think the Doctor was supposed to save the family as at the start of the episode they mention they have no word for volcano, then when they save the family the father comes up with the word volcano suggesting he is the origin of the word.
I think every companion has a 'pompei' moment were they understand what travelling with the Doctor means and what dealing with time means. I would say Rose's was Fathers day.
I think as well that because Donna isn't enamored with the Doctor like the last 2 actual companions she's more free to see who the Doctor is and the environments they find themselves in. She's better placed to call him out on his higher than thou bullshit at times.
Yeah, the Doctor said he was the one who does it (he was always the one who does it, they were always the two), so Donna always argued with him and they always saved the family.
Doctor saving that family will have an effect on the future, but not in the way y’all are expecting.
The family in this episode is based on the family from one of the French Asterix books, Asteria and the Laurel Wreath.
The first handmaiden is Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy!
Really? That was Karen Gillan? i didn't even notice! Good pull!!!!
@@technofilejr3401 SHHH!!!! :)
@@IsiahBradleyD’oh. Deleted it. 😉
Is it just me or are you both very misogynistic?
The butterfly effect usually doesn't affect much in Doctor Who, and only is a thing for *very* big events that massively disrupt time streams. Wibbly wobbly and all that. The whole thing with Ruby only happened because the Doctor forgot to turn on the Butterfly Compensation Switch hahaha
Or because the writers are sht and don't understand the butterfly effect at all.
So you're saying it depends on the mavity of the situation?
i think most people are a bit too harsh on Donna. yea shes rally loud and manic in the christmas episode..... but we need to keep in mind its her wedding day.. imagine all this crap going down the moment you are supposed to be getting married. she does calm down a bit after the wedding time had passed even to the point of messing with her family pretending to have a break down to get them all to stop hounding her for answers. just throw on some crocodile tears that will shut everyone up
“There’s something on your back” 😁😁😁😁😁😁 great reaction 💯👍👍👍👍👍
Oh yeah 😮
Gentlemen, I love your takes on the Doctor Who episodes.
Carry on please!
"Yeah, she's definitely on the third season of 'Snowfall' right now!!" LMAO!!!! THANKS for this!!! I'm sure your Patreon folks have told you how important this episode is--maybe they've even told you why. But I won't 'cause.... :)
Do there need to be ramifications of the survivors? Pompeii, and the other towns engulfed by the most famous Vesuvius eruption, had survivors.
It could simply be that those four were always saved by the Doctor, and that was always the timeline. It may be just that, until then, the Doctor didn't know they were four of the survivors.
Or it could have significant impact on world affairs for millennia to come. "Lucius Caecilius" will be seen again.
And according to Big Finish, classic companion Mel - who you have seen in the 60th anniversary episodes - also saved someone in Pompeii. The Doctor did well not to meet his sixth self.
This episode for me really changed me view on Donna. Her viewpoint to save someone reminds me of the 9th Doctor in the “can you be my mummy” episode where he is determined to save someone if not all. I think the 10th Doctor forgets this or is pessimistic to this view which is a great conflict to bring to this season overall.
Also, like others, I found Donna quite annoying in the special but over the course of the season, I warmed up to her and still remains to be in my top 3 companions. She doesn’t just bring humanity to the doctor, she brings realism, dynamism, philosophical conflict and pure banter. One of the most impactful characters to be written in the show (as you’ll come to find out in the end of S4).
One of the Main reason why this season is superior to others in the show is because of Donna arc. Of course the Doctor’s arc is hugely impressive (not seen since the 12th Doctor imo) and the writing of the episodes obvs. If the season falters in any way, it’s because of the audiences perceptions of Donna. If they do not warm up to her, then a lot of these stories will not be as appreciated like it should.
All in all, I hope Syntell and Rekai have a fun time watching this season as the show arguably is never the same after this. 😊
People say the Ninth Doctor is damaged and angry, but I think the Tenth is more so but tries to hide it. Like he carries every bit of damage Nine had and just keeps piling more on top of it. Lost Rose, the Master, Martha. Every failure, every misstep. Pebble, pebble, pebble. There's something on his back too.
@@HuntingViolets oh I defo agree with all you said. He defo tries to hide it, suppress it almost. I feel like if he talks about it he’ll combust. He’s worse than the 9th doctor which really affects his ego and mindset to the point where he may or may not crumble at the end of the season haha).
"that was just a 4.1" honestly this is how it is living in Christchurch New Zealand 😂 if it ain't above 5 we're not gonna get up for it 😂
If I wasn’t already sold on Donna this one would have. She’s one of the most passionate character this show has ever produced. It only gets better from here, not one bad episode going forward.
It seems like Rekkai gets it at the end of the episode, that this is Donna’s first adventure and it’s a lot, especially for someone so compassionate and strong minded. But this was a bit of a frustrating watch during the episode, and felt like y’all were writing her off entirely, through a pretty rough first adventure.
Been following you guys’ Who journey since the beginning so no hate, I know some things take time or can be misunderstood on first watch, but maybe try to keep in mind for this season that Donna isn’t as young as Rose/Martha, or starry eyed over the Doctor, so she won’t let him talk down to her, ignore her agency or brush things off without explaining. And she isn’t afraid to disagree! Not trying to change you guys’ opinions at all, just trying to remind you that she may not react the same in certain situations, and a lot of the time that’s the good that she brings to the show but can’t wait to see y’all venture forth regardless🫶🫶
It's crazy how Peter Calpadi was in Doctor Who before he got the role of the Doctor in this episode. It'd be funny if the 12th Doctor went back in time and ended up here again, and he had to avoid running into Lobus, because he looked just like him.
I’m loving the consistency with these uploads. Is there a upload schedule for the episodes or is it more whenever your free kinda vibe. Deffo gained a new subscriber 🥳
I've only recently come across your channel but I've found myself really enjoying your analysis of the series.
My theory about "fixed points in time" and generally how Time is handled in Dr Who begins with the metaphor of a "time stream" instead of "timeline". I mean, they mention timelines all the time, but a timestream just seems to make more sense. Smaller changes can be made, but it's a lot harder to make big changes. Generally, the effects and implications of smaller changes tend to just get smoothed out, and the future kind of ends up where it was going anyway. If Babe Ruth gets run over as a kid, maybe someone named Abe Booth takes up an interest in baseball about the same time. As for "fixed points", they're kind of like big rocks or islands in the stream, and the "more" fixed/significant an event is, the "bigger" the island is. The more inertia it has, and the more force it would take to displace it. A significant enough event CAN change the course of the timesteam, but it takes a lot. But if it IS changed, some future Fixed Points might suddenly stop being fixed, or even existing at all, because the formerly downstream Fixed Events might now not even be in the new course of the river. If the Chula nanobots DID rewrite all of humanity in the early 1940's, its highly unlikely that there would be any significant events that happen on a relatively-near-by-planet a hundred-or-so years later. That said, one more stonemason in Rome probably won't matter at all (at least on an historical level). Anyway, that's how I timey-whimey away the contradictions...
Regarding conequences of saing the family, it's actually addressed subtley in a Torchwood episode. Peter Capaldi returns to play a civil servent in 'Children of Earth', and meets a less fortunate fate than his Roman ancestor.
Donna and I share a similar personality. We are both very intense, but also very passionate about caring for others.
Omg peter looks so young
Apparently the N in Ncuti isn't silent, and Ncuti only found out how to properly pronounce it at 26 when his mother corrected him.
No way 😂
@@fayesouthall6604 But he's also told people without the N, so I'm not sure he adjusted after finding out he was saying it wrong. There's a cute video about it, though.
For some great British sketch comedy, check out Catherine Tate's old show "The Catherine Tate Show". She's even more talented than she gets to show off in Dr Who. Also, Fawlty Towers, which is what the "from Barcelona" line is referencing.
I agree with many of the points in your discussion. Traveling with The Doctor might be fun, but people also need reminders to understand the consequences of tinkering with time, destiny, and established events.
Donna's first adventure traveling, and you're right, she's worried about saving a few people, but he pointed out the choice is between 20k or 20m.
It's just a fact of life, sometimes you're forced to choose between bad and very bad.
There are many example of Who casting actors for smaller roles only to bring them back for larger parts. Colin Baker, the Sixth Doctor, famously player Gallifreyan guard captain Maxwell in the fifth Doctor story Arc of Infinity. Multiple actors have played multiple roles through the years. Freema Agyeman played Martha's cousin Adeola in Army of Ghosts/Doomsday. As is the case here, two actors come back in much bigger roles in coming seasons, but I won't give details that could be spoilers.
a doctor and a companion, If you know you know.
I just love Peter Capaldi. I think his best acting he did was in Torchwood: Children of Earth. I wish he had better scripts when he was The Doctor. I love him but not many of the plots. But Heaven Sent and Hell Bent are brilliant.
I dk if anyone mentioned it but Kylie Minogue was the waitress in voage of the damned look her up not sure how big she is in the USA.
Fun fact (apologies if this has already been said): Doctor Who was originally intended as a children's history and science show.
There are a few spoilers fans could bring up specifically regarding this episode, and I don't think I will.
Nothing to see here... *whistles, walks off*
Yeah, the temptation to spoil here is GREAT... :)
Too late lmao
@@NJH01 Rekkai's channel, as of this writing, is a safe space for spoilers.
'mission' I really wouldn't call them that. They are just visiting places and adventuring. It is a vacation but the doctor does have a job and he sometimes gets so in his head that he forgets to be human (cause he's not but still) Donna is the kick in the butt he needs to realize he's not all that.
People just can’t help themselves in the comments 😂
They could if they tried.
"you will go back to London" i mean they are called "companions" not employees, Doctor is not authoritarian regime to punish for opinion. If his ego is so big he will send her away for empathy towards human life, then maybe she would be better not to travel with him
But this also goes back to "Don't travel alone Doctor" cause he needs companions not for funs to share adventure but exactly for keeping his "humanity" in check and do not become a big head almighty godlike figue. So Donna does exactly what doctor needs
Karen Gillan and Peter Capaldi's first appearances on the show, crazy foretelling here.
In an episode about prophecy
The real surprise comes later not going to say which season it is
"You Shall Not Pass" 😅
you’re a ways away from this, but make sure to come back and watch this one before right before you watch Waters of Mars (the second of the Tennant goodbye specials). They are very much linked.
Ah yes, Peter Capaldi's 1st appearance on Doctor Who was very memorable. I believe he was originally going to become The Doctor after David Tennant, but that didn't happen.
It's also Karen Gillan's first appearance as well
Well, 12 does come after 10.
poppet caught me off guard
Beware the comments section: lots of people posting spoilers.
Don't forget the doctor can see the turn of the universe (as said In rose and also family of blood) he knows when he can meddle and when he can't...
Yeah but this episode shows that’s all nonsense since his very actions are what causes Pompeii to erupt. He initially says it’s a fixed point but then turns around upon discovering he’s the cause saying “That’s the choice Donna, it’s Pompeii or the world.” which means it was never a fixed point or there’d be no choice.
@tempusspiritus you could argue that its still a fixed point but with 2 options of enacting that fixed point... alternatively you could argue that it is a fixed point and it's the pyrovites meddled with it and so the Dr had to intervene.... thirdly you could argue its make believe and as we don't yet understand the laws of time or physics ourselves, we can try not to be too judgemental regards the shows stories....
9:42 I know right?! 😂
"We are a part of the Rhythm Nation!" 🤣
The one major retcon that happens is in Series 12. Not gonna go into it, no spoilers, but you know, you said, it is coming. I'm interested to see how you both see it because it is more a retcon of Classic WHO than New WHO, but at the same time there are worse things about that season than just the retcon. Ncuti/15 is MILES better, Series 14 blows the doors off the previous 3 Series before it.
i love donna
“ello guvnor!”
not that stuff in this show cant have an impact on the future but i hate to say it but the whole butterfly thing with Ruby was honestly just for a cheap laugh. though imagine if stuck and we just got a straight up whole different companion cause of the butterfly effect. theres only 1 show ive seen thats really done that and i dont think it was a very well received show
and thats why you shouldn't of jumped ahead to the latest season... Everyone's view on doctor has shifted, therefore how its made/progresses through the story has been shifted.
New who is nothing like the show you're watching now. You shouldn't make comparisons as Chibnalls era pretty much retconned everything you're seeing now
this always breaks my heart... "the most terrible choice" ....
Donna isn't saying the Latin right in the first place.
Such a great story and phenomenal acting from David and Catherine. Supporting cast was also great, especially from the father, Peter Capaldi (wouldn’t he make a great Doctor?)
Although appearing in a non speaking part, one of the sear women is Karen Gillian, a future companion (no spoilers as to when!)
Is it bad taste to remember Cassandra? Moisturize me
As much love as I have for the other doctors and companions- this is my favorite duo.
It’s also fun to spot the future Doctor and Amy
I really hate the youtube algorithm. My following you is more wibbley wobbley than doctor who. Do you follow the show out of order or am i out of order?
The butterfly thing was so awful and ridiculous in so many ways. So she turns into a completely different species, but it's still her, right there and then with the alleged Doctor? That's not how the butterfly effect works. At all.
one of the priestesses is Karen Gillan who went on to be Matt Smiths companion Amy Pond
A future Doctor (Capaldi) and a future companion (Karen Gillan)!
SPOILERS!!! SHH :)
Please stop spoiling this for them and for new viewers
Please delete that comment that is a spoiler. Some people just can't keep their mouth shut.
One of the girls in this episode is the next big companion in doctor who. She is played by Karen Gillian who also plays nebula in guardians of the galaxy. And the father in this episode is one of the next doctors.
Don’t forget this episode includes the doctor from WHO that becomes the Doctor in a few years
I think it’s implied that The Doctor and Donna saving the family had always happened, what with the father (Peter Capaldi) coining the term Volcano, plus Ten/Donna causing Pompeii to erupt. Pompeii always erupted because of them and they always saved this family. Keep up the great reactions!!!
It happened this way because this was always the way it happened.
15:14 Catherine Tate acted her butt off in this moment and made me really love Donna.
The Doctor goes to throw the switch and she puts her hand next to his.
Who is cutting onions up in here?
These people putting spoilers in the comments section are idiots. Maybe they just want to deliberately ruin it for the reactors.
yep
The ending makes me tear up everytime with Donna begging and screaming at The Doctor to save someone
The volcano WAS the butterfly.
Without the doctor human history stops - with the Doctor and Donna Pompeii is consumed to kill the lava monster.
We are all children of that butterfly.
God the way you’ve been condescending every time Donna speaks is so annoying.
Yeah it can be quite frustrating to see this. What she brings to the doctor this episode is very valuable. I think they feel that the doctor is so benevolent and smart, what he does is always right and the “new” companion should shut up. I think they recognised that a little too late. But hopefully over the course of the season, they’ll grow to like her. I actually feel if they don’t like this season, it might be because they don’t grow to like Donna because the stories this season revolves around her presence and actions.
@@jafrulislam7529 Yeah it was very annoying especially Rekkai. Like come on, cut her some slack for fuck's sake. She was showing compassion lol
@@LauraGS564 agreed. Donna’s compassion is what makes most of these episodes work this season. Hopefully they won’t be as flippant then
Met Catherine Tate at a Con. She was so nice and normal.
Donna was such a breath of fresh air after watching Martha pine after him for a year 😂
Fr. As much as I love Rose and Martha something about Doctor romances just got old and really isn’t what it should be about
@Syntell, some _Good Omens_ reactors have instituted a policy of asking people to post fake spoilers, and I think maybe you could benefit from that because there are several people in the comments section who love to tell you stuff before you've gotten there, for whatever reason.
This episode is what solidified Donna as my favorite companion. Her begging the Doctor to just save someone makes me cry every time.
I don’t know if you missed it, or if anyone has mentioned it in the comments, but after the Ruby/Butterfly incident, when they get back into the TARDIS he turned on the “Butterfly Compensation Switch” to stop the Butterfly Effect from happening. It would normally have been turned on except that the TARDIS had new controls and it must have defaulted to “off”. 😁
'ello poppet!
Love that sooth-off scene, gives me shivers every time!
I'm enjoying your reactions. The supporting cast was superb in this episode.
I love this episode and The Doctor knows he needs a companion and the end of this episode is beautiful because he saved that family.❤
Dont really have much to contribute here, but enjoy the ride, always great to hear your takes. :)
this episode is always a trip. those who know why, keep it vague
I am absolutely blown away by your perceptiveness, when you guys were talking about ramifications of the doctor's interference in events, I think is a recurring theme in Doctor Who - we see it in earlier episodes surrounding Platform 9 (I think it was) with the Daleks and Rose taking the time vortex into her head. It had been the same location of the Anne Droid episode where the housemate told him about the 100 years of hell when he had shut down Satellite 5 and the one episode with the brain interface with computers and the mighty jagrafess guy.
i honestly think because pompeii wouldn’t have happened without the doctor, that whatever choices he made would’ve always happened so the butterfly effect doesn’t apply in this situation. i don’t think anything would change cus if the doctor never went there the world would’ve ended.
Regarding the comment about there being consequences for saving the family, given The Doctor was always destined to be the one to trigger the eruption in the first place, one can safely assume he was also always going to rescue the family, making their survival a part of the normal time line.
This is the first dislike from me to this channel, mainly due to Rekkai, but that was really annoying the way you talked about Donna without getting her perspective. The reaction was too annoying for me because of how you viewed her without understanding her compassion.
Fun fact this episode has two future doctor who actors in it. One doctor and one companion
17:55 Aye!! 😂💪
🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩❤️❤️❤️
Not the first time a guest actor winds up playing the Doctor. Back in the 80s, Colin Baker played a Time Lord in the story Arc of Infinity. A couple of years later, he was THE Time Lord.
Isn't this a spoiler?