I’m really happy Doctor Who is experimental again. I’ve enjoyed every episode to varying degrees and I love the new Doctor, hope he stays for a very long time.
I am here 100% with how varied and diverse these episodes have been. I completely agree, though, that episodes 2 and 3 should have been swapped around.
Just inconsistently off...like it's lost it's identity. As for Space Babies- if I was in the meeting with that story being pitched, I'd have laughed the writer out of the building. As for the finale villain....the giant CGI RAT snarling from the TARDIS was sheer COMEDY. It was a brilliant build up, the wurling thing around the TARDIS had me gripped.....then the reveal😂😂😂😂😂😂
Season 1's biggest problem was the fact that there wasn't enough of it. 8-episode seasons are not a good formula for this show. At least give us 10 like we had in the Chibnall era.
8 episodes are not the problem, I think. But compensating with extending the length of those episodes, maybe 10 more minutes per ep. The most stories of this season had been so great, but messed up by a too faster ending, that doesn't take much time for answering some more questions. For me it gave a feeling like "Nice story, but what's the point here?"
The writing would work better, if there was more time. Add 5 more minutes to Boom, and let us explain, why the Doctor lands in Valengard in the first place. Add 10 more minutes to 73 Yards to explain us, why the old woman is old Ruby? And why did the Doctor disapear? Add 5 more minutes to Dot and Bubble and explain us, how did the Doctor and Ruby to this planet? Why especially do they help that Lindy and no one else in Lifetime? Those 3 episodes have in common to be so amazing, but take no much time to explain some more details. If we get 8 episodes or 10, doesn't change it, when they are always in such a rush.
Last time around RTD had more episodes to at least try to sprinkle the info throughout and it felt much more natural. I understand the need for it though
@@edwardrizer8505 a literal bogey monster That is there because of "stories" JUST PULL UP A BLOODY STORY BOOK They could have at least made a classic monster return Kind of unrelated but the other day I asked Chatgpt to rewrite "Dot and Bubble" and it wasnt great.... But it made a heck more sense than the real one
I'm seeing a lot of talk about changing the episode order to fix some issues, and I find that really interesting. Someone suggested swapping The Devil's Chord with Rogue, which I thought might have made sense. But I do think the real issue is that no status quo was really established, and I think that does fall to the episode count. The reason episodes like Blink and Midnight worked so well is that they were a change of pace from a usual DW episode, and that works when there are 10 other episodes before the finale to tell you what an episode should look like
Devil's Chord is definitely too early in the season, but putting it right next to the finale two-parter wouldn't work with certain elements. We need time to digest Susan, and Henry Arbinger. Maybe put it between 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble; would break up the Doctor-lite episodes, too.
I agree with Crispy completely. Like a lot of people are saying, there was no time given to establish the world and relationships for new viewers. If this was “series 14” with a pre established Doctor and companion, I don’t think it would matter too much. This approach makes no sense for a “season 1” with brand new characters aimed at a new audience. I was really looking forward to introducing my friends to this shiny new version of my favorite show on Disney+ but with the way it’s started, I’m not going to bother hyping it up. As a long term viewer, I have really enjoyed some of this year’s episodes. It’s not my favorite season but Ncuti and Millie’s performances make me excited for every week. Even if we don’t get a lot of time dedicated to their relationship. Fingers crossed for a killer finale!
@@Comicbroe405 Yeah, the finale didn’t help. I would argue that Series 5 with Matt Smith was a better reintroduction to the show than this. I guess it was just for marketing this time around.
Just treat it like the Twitter Problem - new management wants to name it ONE way, the old farts using it since forever, stick to the old established branding: New Who = S 14 😛 Better for our new Doctor too - he is still listed as the 15th Doctor, synchronizing his "name" with the next season, just as Jodie's 13th Doctor survived until season 13. Or the 10th Doctor changed his face in 2010 and the 11th Doctor had his run in 2011... and there are the uncounted Faces in Doctor Who: the War Doctor for the 50th anniversary, The fugitive "Ruth-less" Doctor - accepted (by the TARDIS and others) but not explained, the Master Doctor on his fake techno-moon that got chucked out by a returning 13th Doctor and the 4 versions of David Tennant. The "14th Doctor" set himself up and intercepted a UNIT official, just to get granted a new number - without his confession, everyone would have held him for an older version of (10th.2) his previous face and the bi-generation would have played out a bit differently (but the numbering would have gone to hell - even more). Switching "Boom" with "The Devil's Chord" would have spared the audience two "Doctor light" shows in a row... But the way of presenting "loosely linked" stand alone shows instead of the timy-wimy flux series that needs a lot of rewatching to be understood at all, this short season got better and better with each episode. An honorary mention of the Osiran plotline in "The New 10th Doctor Adventures" in the graphic novel range would have made Sutekh even more dangerous - there he was able to recreate himself from small slivers of his personality (told the Doctor he "sidestepped" a bit in the time-tunnel to get trapped somewhere in the void, with the hidden sliver to set him free later. IF part hof him was always clinging to the TARDIS, he probably started acting out after visiting the Osiran Mothership - or "hopping TARDISses" on every trip through the time-vortex? How else explain 1066...
Today I was rewatching series 2 it was my first rematch of it I only started watching doctor who last year and if you just wayfh the first 8 episodes it's probably better than the new 1 it has k9 it has 2 two parts
8 episodes are not the problem, I think. But compensating with extending the length of those episodes, maybe 10 more minutes per ep. The most stories of this season had been so great, but messed up by a too faster ending, that doesn't take much time for answering some more questions. For me it gave a feeling like "Nice story, but what's the point here?"
My main issue with this, as a casual Who watcher, just comes down to that in every episode... feels like the Doctor was just as passive watcher instead of an active investigator. When I think of the character, he's someone that shows up where he's needed and is typically trying to puzzle out what the problem is before anyone else even knows there is one. This season, it feels like RTD and company just... wrote the Doctor coasting along, looking for fun past times and accidentally falling into a problem that gets solved by the other characters around him. And I could maybe understand it if the point was for this Doctor to avoid the issues at hand in favor of putting on a happy front but that itself seems antithetical because it wasn't built over multiple episodes. tl;dr - They wrote the Doctor as young, human, and looking to be happy when he's meant to be a thousand-year-old incredibly crafty alien that looks out for humanity because he finds them interesting and the disconnect makes it less engaging. Also as an aside, the reason for the ratings spike was probably from airing after the FA Cup. As a footie fan, the end of season championships are a very very big deal!
@@R.senals_Arsenal I look forward to when we get to the next 7th Doctor then cause 5 and 6 were ehhhhhhhh. Personally I think we need a new 3rd Doctor style season though where the Doctor is stuck on earth and basically works with the Brigadier and gets all restless being stuck in one place for so long.
5:39 in all fairness, I think Disney considers Church on Ruby Road the first episode, Even though it was a Christmas episode, And that was a good jumping off point.
Here's a thought or two. Episode one, make it The Devils Chord, start off with the same cold open with the piano lesson, cut to credits and show Rubys first steps into the Tardis and the brief trip to Dinosaurs to show of the Butterfly Defect (not my term) Principle and then once back on board have Ruby suggest seeing the Beetles! This would mean the Doctor would be building more on the Butterfly circuit (or whatever it was called) and we'd get a very lively episode that's mostly the same as we actually got. There's things I'd change about the end to allow the musical bit to feel less shoe horned in, like have the duo dance on the Zebra crossing first as their hint the Maestros capture ahs freed music so much that they can have everyone dancing like that as a tension relieve after years of suffering. A bit like how the Toymakers influence faded allowing two Drs and two Tardis's. Also just rework the date reference to Ruby being from December 2023. Bump Birderton up to before Space Nazis... I mean, Fine Time, then bump Space Babies up to say, after the Space Nazis... I mean Fine Time, so we have something a little light and fun before the two part finale. And maybe have a line added to Space Babies to hint that their program was a result of depopulation due to a death cult and have S Triad Technology logos hidden almost out of sight on the space station and maybe even in Nazis Time - Fine Time! Hell, Ricky September could reference the death cult as well when telling Lindy about the things he's read about why Fine Time was founded. So my preferred episode order list would be something like: 1. The Devils Chord (with the early introduction sections of Space Babies there) 2. Boom 3. 73 Yards 4. Rogue aka Birderton 5. Dot And Bubble (aka Planet Of The Nazis) 6. Space Babies 7. The Legend Of Ruby Sunday 8. Empire Of Death
I just wish there were more two-parters with cliffhangers. The old Russell T Davies series each had at least three two-parters. Mid-season two parters like the Empty Child story, the Family of Blood story and the Forest of the Dead story were sooooo good
Ive realised one of the issues of this season is that RTD is writing his usual 12 episode season just with 8 episodes, and because it's the first time some issues are prevelant like rushed moments, undeveloped relationships etc... Hopefully going forward he's able to adapt better to the 8 episode format. Having said that. I still think this is one of the better seasons of the show and might even make my top 5 depending on the finale. Edit: Yes the finale came and I hated it and it retroactively makes the other episodes poorer.
I'm going to be the odd man out, as usual, but I had only one issue with this season. It's too damned short. As for changing up genres, being experimental, I have zero problems with that. I've been watching Doctor Who since the late 70s, with Tom Baker being my first - and favorite - Doctor. I grew up on Classic Who, and it always tried new things. I think the whiplash that some viewers got from the changing themes and ideas really came from the fact that it went entirely too fast. That's the true crime here. I'm not saying that every episode has to be liked by every fan, but I feel like some folks were just dead set on hating it no matter what.
It does feel like the devil's chord wasn't supposed to be the second episode 🤔 I wonder if they switched it to Ep2 to air straight before Eurovision with the music themed story!
bro I though you were gonna make a coherent argument :( biggest problem is this the stark change of the doctor's character. this doctor isn't solving problems, giving up too easy, passive, can't control his nerves. fundamentally a different person.
I wouldn't compare space babies with 11th hour, Church on ruby road is a better comparison as its 15s first full episode where he meets the companion etc..
I struggle with the twist at the end. The threatening and incapable of speaking Bogey monster, was as alive as the babies. I get they can both be alive, but it just didn't behave like more than an animal. Rather like the 'Arachnids in the UK', not necessarily villainous, but still a danger due to their simple motivations. But, there was a danger there... and the fart propulsion Deus Ex Machina felt like the expensive face/mouth swapping tech was wasted on a childish and too simplistic story. Bad isn't better, but it's cheaper and allows you to make more mistakes, and allow more bites at the cherry, to create something imaginative. I just wish things were cheaper...
I agree. This season has been great. Genuinely think there hasn’t been a more consistent season in modern Who. Space Babies was rough, but okay. The rest has been great.
*season 14 And ngl, this whole season had issues. I mean, the 60th had some issues too, but the only big one was a character saving the world entirely on their sheer trans-ness, and I'm gay, but if a gay character saved the world just by being gay, I'd be pretty upset about it. Even so, this season somehow made it worse, the Moffat episode, Boom, was really the only good episode. Dot and Bubble could've been good, but that ending bit came out of nowhere, and Russel's reaction to people not getting where the sudden random racism came from jist made it worse. 73 yards is ok, but it's an obvious timeloop that lacks the 3rd loop that would've made it make sense. Rogue was very, "You have to know what Bridgerton even is to get it", and Rogue himself was an obvious, "So we fused Jack and River, and you have to like it", it was kinda meh ngl. Then we have the finale, which kinda flopped, I mean, they killed Mel and Kate, which could've been an Adric style impactful move, if it weren't undone, but then Sutehk was crazy, and then they just flopped all over him, like, wtf is death + death = life, that math doesn't even check out, ya know? I think The Devil's Chord was probably the best one, save for Boom, except for that dance number at the end. Space Babies was pure cringe, and definitely the worst episode of the whole lot.
Honestly, I don’t think the experimentation isn’t the issue. I think the genre shifts really add to showcase the diverse nature of the show. I genuinely think the issue stems with Ruby herself (the character, not Millie’s portrayal). She has no agency, and no real distinctive personality traits that make you compelled to understand the journey she goes on. A lot of this is due to the reduced episode count and the lack of breathing room these episodes have, because they have to include all these threads that will probably be important to the story arc. But the main reason is how Ruby is introduced: as a mystery box (ala Clara Series 7). But Clara still had a defined personality and motivation to be on the TARDIS that could be explored further once the mystery box was revealed. Does Ruby?
I think that’s hindered by the reduced episode count. There’s only 8 episodes for the season, so she’s been reduced to a role similar to Clara’s in Series 7B. Realistically, I think the Christmas Special did a good job introducing her personality as an 18 year old that’s creative with a small group of friends. I think the issue is that a lot of her character development had kind of stopped with that first introduction, instead being used to experiment-which is great in theory, but harmful to her growth in practice. I think 73 Yards was the most development she’s had, but it’s wiped away by the ending
@@captainawesome0711 I agree but what’s interesting is that Series 7B also had 8 episodes and started with a Christmas special. And yet I still think even though the episode quality in Series 14 is better, Series 7B takes more time to establish Clara as a character (Bells of Saint John, Rings of Akhaten, Cold War, Nightmare in Silver, Name of the Doctor)
@@NickName183 Series 7B didn’t experiment nearly as much as this new season did. Season 1 tried a lot of new things, which I enjoyed to be fair, but they did come at the cost of Ruby’s character. Clara barely had an established character in series 7B, that’s why she became a teacher out of no where in the 50th. She was a color by numbers special companion that only become developed because she had time to stick around. When you color by numbers enough, you get a nice colorful picture but I don’t think she’s particularly distinct as a character. Ruby has potential to be more distinct, if she gets more focus as the story continues
@@captainawesome0711 I agree about the colour by numbers statement. Like I’m not saying that Series 7B was the epitome of character development (she wanted to travel the world but chose to prioritise taking care of the Maitland kids, and constantly seeks the Doctor’s approval during dangerous situations). But you still need to give something if you’re going to make the companion a mystery box. And apart from being in a band, and helping foster children, all that’s left is the arc of her wanting to know who her mother is. And that’s not enough IMO.
I respectfully and strongly disagree, Ruby starts off wanting to find her mother and she has some serious realistic and emotional range. 73 Yards for instance showed how she can stand on her own two feet and personally I feel deeply she is one of our better companions. In the most recent episode The Legend Of Ruby Sunday was amazing to show how real she is as a person, her getting her hopes up only to be crushed was astonishing. I do agree with the episode count and we could of had more with her but I am still satisfied with how Millie portrays Ruby and I love how special this companion feels.
the wide net wouldn't be so bad if there were just MORE EPISODES! like this just feels way too short. i liked space babies, it could've been an episode four though, or like you said keep it and put boom episode two but still there needed to be a few more episodes
Im in agreement with you. Space babies left me a little worried… it’s the only episode I haven’t re-watched. Meanwhile every episode since, I’ve watched time and time again. It’s been a good season, I only wish we had more episodes
The Church on Ruby Road - Made me believe in Ncuti as the Doctor and Millie as Ruby. Fun monsters. Sets up the mysteries of Ruby well. Space Babies - Probably the direst episode of Doctor Who ever. Just straight up disgusting humor and really unconvincing CGI. The Devi's Chord - the Beatles are barely in it and barely look or sound like the real-life versions. The song at the end ruined any integrity it had left. Villain was cool though. Boom - Steven Moffatt proving he is much better writing under RTD then by himself. A thought provoking and dramatically acted masterpiece. 73 Yards - A confusing one with very little payoff. Millie Gibson is acting at her finest, even if Ruby is not that far from her own personality or that of her Coronation Street character. Dot and Bubble - A groundbreaking comment on social media and racism. Bold and risky, but for me, one of the best we have had in a long time. Rogue - Perhaps too reliant on Bridgerton vibes, but fun enough and both the twist with REG and also the Doctor and Rouge's relationship are highlights. Nice looking monsters. The Legend of Ruby Sunday - The reveal of Sutekh, was still a lovely call back. Mel Bush continues her redemption from being poorly written by being stupendously well written now.
The episode count per season in New Who era has been decreasing and this is the problem. Seasons 1 to 7 we were given 13 episodes and a Christmas special per season. When the 12th doctor arrived that dropped down to 12 episodes and a Christmas special. When we got to the 13th doctor it was reduced to 10 episodes and a New Year's Day special. Now we are down to 8 episodes and a Christmas special. Come 2026 we could be down to 6 episodes and a Christmas special.
im just gonna say it. the pacing is bad. it feels like watching on double speed sometimes. i feel like having to fit your story into 45 minutes when theres obviously more to elaborate on is a huge detriment to the new series as a whole.
especially after going back to try and watch some of my favorite episodes again, i notice that those stories are actually 2-3 parters for the most part, and then they would have a couple standalone/filler episodes. the story writing just felt more intentional then, like we know this story is good so we arent gonna sacrifice it to make it all fit into one episode. i know the old series wasnt being streamed so its a much different landscape now, but still, the whole new season felt like a standalone/filler episode, to me. nothing impacted me like some of those classic new who does, even after watching them a hundred times.
I think that's not necessarily because of pacing. It's because of bad writing, a good tight writing with engaging character dynamics will not leave you time to get bored or check your phone
The one thing Doctor Who had to be this time round was appealing to new Disney subscribers. Not only that, as commented on by RTD was that it’s aimed at the under 30’s. They are making a television show for a generation who don’t watch television. As someone who grew up watching the classic series to me this is like the 2005 show coming back and the Doctor wearing a leather jacket, speaking with a regional accent and kissing and crying. Not the show I grew up with but these changes were necessary and I think we have the same with this series. Television has to be made for a generation who are looking at their phones while watching the show. Attention spans have shrunk and younger viewers want everything up front. Away from a few superficial things ,Doctor Who is basically the same. It’s just that it’s different much like the world is different from 1963,2005 to 2024. Personally I think the show needs to be team written now and include more American writing and acting talent. There are so many great shows out there and I think Doctor Who should be as good or better but we need to be brave. IMHO Doctor Who should be like Battlestar Galacticia or Expanse. Just grow up a little bit
I think you're on to something good here: it needed a fresh start, and it is trying to go this way. Too tepid, and not enough new voices yet, though. When you see a show like Expanse you see what writing, ambition, and genuine character-driven stories can do. Each Doctor probably needs its own set of writers.
@@gameburn178 I think one the things that holds Doctor Who back sometimes is nostalgia. Theirs a fear of drifting a little too far into sci-Fi or even horror. Which is weird considering Classic Doctor Who was coded as scary and full of technobabble. The show tried to be different but not different in the important ways. Chibnall gets a lot of hate but at least with flux we had scale. The Sontarans were interesting and a little more fleshed out. Even characters like Vinda and the dog alien were moving in the right direction. Doctor Who needs to be epic !
@@thevirgologychannel6215 Well, nostalgia can be a good thing -- leads to loyalty -- but it does need more and better stuff. Epic is probably right: and it isn't only about big sets and money spent, but big ideas probably stretching out over more than one season.
This series is like Davies removed the two non-finale two-parters, and then shuffled the order of the episodes. We didn’t get a real intro to Ncuti, the Christmas special was more of a typical series premiere than a Christmas special (and more so than Space Babies felt like a proper premiere), and having the two Doctor-lite episodes in the middle (while also having them taking up a quarter of the series) feels like a ripoff in a series of eight episodes. If this was a thirteen episode series, I’d start with Ruby Road, then Space Babies (but with a real monster), then Rogue, then a hypothetical two-parter, then The Devil’s Chord (producing a major villain and remind the audience of the big arc at a more impactful point in the series), then Boom, another two-parter, then 73 Yards and Dot And Bubble, then the finale. Or you could make Rogue episode two, and the put The Devil’s Chord between 73 Yards and Dot And Bubble.
Oh thank god someone noticed the weird thing with Ruby travelling for 6 months without ever seeing an alien planet! It might be just nitpicking, but it completely took me out of the episode for a while.
I agree completely with your wide net analogy! They basically went "What is every genre we can possibly do? Ok lets do that in season 1!" Show everything it can be so no-one can say in season 2 this is a different show! They may have cast it too wide!
Space Babies, I agree, was quite odd. In my opinion, Ncuti Gatwa and the companion are a bit strange as well. To be honest, I miss the more formidable monsters like Cybermen, Daleks, and others. They were fantastic. I also miss the other Doctors. I don't understand why the UK has two apps, BritBox and BBC iPlayer. BritBox has Doctor Who from 1963-1996, while BBC iPlayer has Doctor Who from 2005-2022. However, outside the UK, we only have access to Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who. I can't believe they are so foolish. Why can't someone start a petition to bring all of Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and 2005-2022 to Disney+ so that everyone has equal access? What year are we living in? For instance, I have to purchase DVDs for Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and 2005-2022, which is inconvenient. They should make it available on Disney+. I don't mean to be rude, but why does the UK get all of Doctor Who on two streaming platforms while other countries only get it on DVDs? It's absurd.
The world we live in is one with lots and lots of contracts. Here in America 05-22 is (HBO)MAX and they have that deal signed in blood for at least a few more years. It sucks but shoganai. As for 63-96, over here the options are even more limited. Pretty much Tubi. I know UK has consolidated a lot more than ever before, but even they have problems with writers rights on certain stories because of the way contacts were done in those days.
@@R.senals_Arsenal I still hate that the UK got Doctor Who in two apps I mentioned, and outside the UK, we only get Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who. They don't even do two categories like Category One: Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and Category Two: Doctor Who from 2005-2022. Disney+ is stupid and only put Ncuti Gatwa in it. How stupid are they?
@@R.senals_Arsenal they aren't genius they are stupid to bring doctor who in uk on two apps and I mean classic and current doctor who and people outside UK only get the bad ones on Disney+
i think 73 yards is one of my most hated episodes of the show cause it felt like nothing was explained, its shot beautifully and acted well but its just confusing to watch when all i want is any answers and am given nothing, theres nothing to piece together it just happens but also it didn't, also the implied sa of one of the characters being overlooked by ruby was so bizarre and jarring. dot and bubble was the worst for me tho as if you take the final reveal that the whole place is racist it literally changes nothing about the episode at all, everything happens the same except now the doctor has something to be upset about for 2 minutes before he moves on. i liked rouge tho, not as much the episode as the character, he had more life and personality than ruby and the doctor, i couldn't tell you a defining feature of either of those two but rouge felt like a person with motivations and desires and was actually fun to watch and had a little character arc. i just want more of rouge really. also space babies was forgettable shite and is probably the worst episode but overall i found the whole season to have weird pacing and dont feel anything towards this doctor and companion also also the new sonic screwdriver design is awful
Season 1 is definitely all over the place tone-wise but it's harder for me to compare Space Babies to The Eleventh Hour since TEH was Matt Smith's first episode... Space Babies was Ncuti's 2.5th technically. Both episodes have to kick off a season, but one has to sell the Doctor to new AND old audiences whereas one has already made an impression on existing audiences, per se I do wonder how differently things would've gone had we just thrown Ncuti straight into a Season premiere...
I think you need to amend your thumbnail. The scores are actually 95% shills and a pathetic 27% audience score for this Disney Who trash on Rotten Tomatoes.
i think that the unconventional aspects need to be highlighted a lot more because being pleasantly suprised is the vibe that i love the most from these episodes
Love this season because it’s exactly what I want the show to be. Trying new things every episode and going almost lynchian sometimes. The season suffers from sixty years of always explaining itself but this season just wants to do what it wants because why not. I think it’s great
My biggest issue with space babies was that the emotion the babies were supposed to be feeling wasn’t anywhere close to the expressions on their face and the mouth movements were creepy. I think it was mostly an editing and CGI issue. At the end of the day the new season has brought the fun back into doctor who that I feel like was missing with both Jodi and Peter. That was something I loved in David and Matts runs especially but even Chris had some fun parts. I feel like that has been so missed. Also there is emotion there. Maybe Ncuti cries a bit too easily but he shows emotion and I love it. All and all Im really happy with the new season. I really didnt like Jodi especially. I found her too all over the place and lacking emotion. I also couldnt understand her half the time and had to rewind and listen again and turn on subtitles. It was an odd choice to have her speak at breakneck speed with her natural accent. If you arent from the UK that is a difficult accent to understand and at such speed it was near impossible. It just sounded like word salad. I also found her episodes so packed with ideas but nothing to really tie them all together so they just didnt work. My biggest beef with the Peter era was Clara. I hated their dynamic and I felt it diminished the power of the doctor and made him kind of the sidelined character. She was emasculating and it didnt work. It isnt that I dont like strong companions. Amy was strong and she was amazing. River song is my favorite character ever and she stands up to the doctor all the time but Clara didnt do it in an im standing up to the doctor kind of way. She was more like I am smarter than the doctor so he needs to do what I say kind of way. I feel like the new season has a great balance with the doctor and Ruby. They have a good chemistry and it is believable that they are friends. I wish there was a bit more showing of their friendship though. I also wish the season was 10 episodes instead of 8 but thats another story. I am excited with the mew season and cant wait for the finally.😊
I wholeheartedly agree with the episode flip, but the biggest problem is that the Christmas special was actually episode one. I get why they did it now. Christmas is part of Ruby's mystery but who fans expect a unique Christmas special in a story bubble. If they took the Christmas special off the platform in January (Disney has done so before, they call it puttingit in the vault) and soft relaunched it immediately showed space babies or boom on the same day and then space babies or boom on its own the next week, I think it would have a better impact. The store is amazing WITH the Christmas special being 1st episode, but to have that, wait months for more and then continue was not smart for a reboot.
It’s Russel T Davis, he is the show runner and the main writer. He is responsible for the casting, storytelling, the changes to cannon. He ran his mouth acting like he had the greatest television ever. This season and the 60th special aren’t close to his previous series in quality, yes the season is visually stunning excluding the space babies mouths. The storytelling in my view is weak. I feel Ncuti is getting screwed over like Jodi did with bad writing not allowing them to develop their Doctors into a consistent character that the audience gets behind. And now that the next season is wrapped there will be no course correction not that I think he has the humility to do so. Also I think everyone working on franchises like Doctor Who should never ever blame, insult or dismiss the fans, they are your core audience… you can’t replace them with a new audience. It’s never been done before and every attempt to do so has failed miserably.
I loved this season so so so much. It was Wierd and whimsical and impactful and meaningful and so very Doctor Who...However the finale was a mess. I desperately wish Empire of Death had been better because if it had been I think this would be my new over all favorite season of Doctor Who.
In my opinion you need to set the rules before you can break them. This season has been incredibly experimental and I love that, but it could have really benefited from some standard episodes in between (again, 8 episodes is not enough). Episodes like Blink and Midnight and Heaven Sent are considered to be the best of the show. They’re also the most formula breaking and experimental, but they wouldn’t have stood out as much and made such an impact on viewers if all the episodes were like that. It doesn’t do justice to the exceptional when there’s nothing standard to compare it to.
I hate the fact that The Doctor says "My children have never been born yet." As I've had a massive theory for years and to needlessly do that is either proving that the writers want you to forget the good moments of the lore, or just confuse mainstream audiences on purpose.
Doctor Who will always remain polarizing tbh its just the nature of the show being unique and experimental it wont please everyone as everyone wants something different. That and there's the obvious people hating on ever element without providing any general criticism
Totally agree. Just don’t understand the negativity. I genuinely don’t understand it. I can only assume it’s racist and homophobic people and some ignorance. There is no other reason I can think of. Genuinely.
@@TomCoates so because you don't see it you're quite prepared to label everyone that disagrees with you a racist and homophobe. So only your point of view and opinion matters in the world does it? Grow up!
What about the lazy writing? It's terrible. Some good buildups, but terrible finishes. The doctor also hasnt solved a single thing, he's been but a prop. The tardis looks like a hospital, clinical and boring. The relationships between each character are completely underdeveloped and there's been 0 character development.@TomCoates
@@TomCoatesYou really think millions of people are tuning out because of prejudice, even the ones who stuck around for Jodies season? Do you think you are just a paragon of virtue? If you enjoyed it, thats fine. But pretending everyones a homophobe or racist for not liking it is extremely naive.
My thoughts on Space Babies is it made me uncomfortable, something about the cgi mouths gave me uncanny valley vibes. Furthermore, I know for many RTD gets a pass but for the international audience this is possibly there first time watching the show. He really needed to have his eleventh hour episode, because imo both Moffat and Chibnall did there openers very well. Speaking more broadly I think what may have helped this season is a slightly more serialised approach, doesn’t have to be as heavy as Flux but something to keep you invested, and connected I think would’ve helped week to week.
This series starts with a RTD self insert baby watching a Doctor Who monster on a TV screen and ends with the Doctor defeating death itself, I don't want to devalue RTD's recent grief, but it feels like he is writing this for himself.
I think it’s fairer to count The Church On Ruby Road as the first episode of Ncuti’s run, similar to how Christmas Invasion was 10’s first episode and then New Earth, which was also slightly disappointing
Like you, I thought Season 1 had a rocky start with "Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord" (why have a historical episode featuring the Beatles and not have at least one Beatle be a main part of the story?), but I've really enjoyed every episode after those. It's a mostly solid season, IMO, it's just that it didn't start strongly.
I have really enjoyed it. I've just missed Russell, he's got me back to getting exciting weekly. The season arc threads are something I've missed. The mystery behind Rubys mum and Sutekh have got me hyped. I love the chemistry 15 & Ruby have, it's something the show hasn't had for ages. My only downfall is 8 episodes. It needs to be 13. Russell is the only showrunner where 13 episodes are needed. 73 yards is still in my brain, the ending to Dot and Bubble was a punch in the throat. Rogue reminded me of classic RTD era. This 1st part of the finale was intense and that's all thanks to the mystery and threads Russell has been building up. I've loved it. I just want more.
I'm loving the season. As a Doctor Who fan, I've loved how diverse and varied the season is, it's one of the things I love about Doctor Who the most, and having stories that are really great and gripping, even if they have some problems or nit-picks, and characters that I've really enjoyed spending time with has made this a season approaching the top of my season tier list. And I've loved the focus on Gods, they've helped add something new and menacing to the show that has really helped this era feel unique and gripping. I will say though, this does not feel like it was written as a season 1, It feels like a series 14. Which kinda confirms the whole season 1 thing is a Disney thing to not turn off new overseas viewers, which I get. But so much of this season feels like it was written for Doctor Who fans, not newcomers. SPOILERS AHEAD The show mentioning and talking about Bi-generation and the Toymaker, in the Devil's chord, things that were in the 60th anniversary that no newcomer would understand as much as fans would, which also made reference to the Flux from the previous season. The season talking about the Doctor's granddaughter Susan SO much, and the big bad of the season being a classic Who villain, Sutekh, who hasn't appeared on screen in around 40 years! And how many experimental episodes there are, has all made this feel like a series 14 for Doctor Who fans. But as a Doctor Who fan, I love that, this season has been such a return to form for me. But I can see why newcomers wouldn't enjoy it as much as I. Also it's too short, I know Russell said were getting spin offs back, which does soften the blow a little, but I just want more time with this Doctor and his companions.
i wish there were more episodes too, and i do get what you mean about space babies not being the best jumping off point, but in all honestly i think this is probably the best season of doctor who since matt smith's second year
I agree, there was too much flipping about this season. With a reduced run of 8 episodes, two of which are the finale/climax, and two of which were aired simultaneously, you need a bit more focus imo
Frightening how much I concur with your review. For me 2 1/2 decent episodes from an 8 episode season…hmmm. I’m still waiting to know who this Doctor is, other than The One That Cries. Let alone the Doctor/Ruby relationship. Their dynamic has not been earned yet (8 eps again). It’s as if we are just supposed to accept them as a team, buddies etc without any history. I’m looking forward to the last episode as the previous one was great fun, actual Doctor Who!
The First episode is actually the 4th Special if you click on the show in Disney+. Which makes sense because you are introduced to the new companion :)
I dont care the Doctor is Black or Gay. I do care he doesn't BEHAVE like the Doctor. He's crying every episode, he is dithering and incompetent. Nearly gets his companion killed while he gets his end away . Basically he hasnt saved the day once. ( saving the villian in space babies doesn't count) He hasnt portrayed genius once. Dr Who used to be multi layered character driven scifi drama. Now its loaded with political messaging, which wouldn't matter if it wasn't at the expense of the dialogue and plot. Ecclestons era didn't need so much exposition. This season has been dumbed down for Americans and has lost its British charm..
Personally I've adored every episode past the first 2 (and I was really excited for The Devil's Chord as a Beatles fan, but it was like fine). It makes me think that Space Babies should have been identified as an... outlier in quality at the scripting stage and either had more edits, or been scrapped. But even if they did think about that I guess wouldn't have had time, with Ncuti's schedule, the 60th specials, Christmas, and all the other things RTD was doing (maybe you could get a couple other writers for it to lighten the load...). Also I guess it's cheap to just say "you should just not make bad episodes, simple as!" which isn't really a solution. In terms of a more practical reordering, I hadn't thought of Boom as an early episode, but it does work. Rogue almost does too, but the emotional devastation of The Doctor would feel too early maybe? The problem is none of the others work as an episode 1 without significant re-writing. Also, sorry for being negative here. As I said, I genuinely adore the rest of the season, it's possibly my favourite ever.
Actually the first episode of this season 1, the introduction of the doctor, the "rose", "eleventh hour", "woman who fell to earth" . Is actually "church on ruby road". Space babies is more a "end world" or "beast bellow" episode (two episodes I prefer to space babies but that's not the point)
Disney+ is the biggest problem. I feel they influence too much on how DW is projected. For the premier episode where the Doctor meets Ruby Sunday, the Doctor dances which throughout the run, he has never been known for dancing. He isn't known for singing as well. Then with the goblins and the goblin king look like left over creatures from the Jim Henson workshop and a failed attempt of Jabba the Hut. I also feel that for the Doctor to now show feelings where in virtually every episode he cries makes the impact less believable. As for Jodie Whitaker portrayal of the Doctor, I have to give her kudos for making it as classic DW as she could. She also has impacted upon herself how as the original as we know it was making women into a lesser a woman can be was feeling it as she traveled to the past. In addition having Ryan there also showed how a person of color was treated in those times as well. Yes it was cruel at times, unfortunately that's how it was. To say that she could have been more sympathetic especially when Graham disclosed his cancer return possibility, reflects back to how long the Doctor has been traveling, fending off evil threats, etc. If she always stopped to grieve or comfort, instead of fighting or traveling, she'd be in a loony bin or offed herself or himself depending upon which regeneration point was at. He or her has their own way of grieving especially from different cultures, but when the time permits it can't override a threat to the world or universe.
One thing I think you're missing in this video is that the jumping on point isn't Space Babies, it's Church on Ruby Road. That would be the Eleventh Hour equivalent and the first episode new viewers would watch.
I genuinely feel like Space Babies had 11th Hour qualities. The info dumping was solid. I also compared it to The Beast Below (first adventure for Amy/Ruby). Not as good as either of those, but I appreciated it was a jump on episode. I enjoyed The Devils Chord, but as we go through the series, it falls back in the overall ratings. I think it might have been a risky but bold idea to have Boom as the premiere. It would really give new viewers a look at what The Doctor is all about. Of course, RTD needs to write the openers and finales, I guess, so I see why they didn't do it.
For me it's a mix bag, and not completely ok. "73 yards", it's a great episode, but didn't develop Ruby. Musicals are a Turn Off for me, so the troll episode and the devil's chorus, for me, are not ok. Boom was ok. Nothing more. The legend of Ruby was great, I can say that. Ncuti's Doctor have only two modes, joyful, or overly sad. And he look healthy. I'm not completly sure if that is good for the series. Ruby have no development, and the Doctor neither. So, mix bag, but a little inclined to the bad. (And Space Babys)
All I want when watching DW is some interesting episodes. This season, we had some interesting episodes aka Boom and 73 Yards (+ Dot and Bubble because of the ending). TBH I don't preoccupy myself with how the general audience will like it. IMO the season was too short though. I would have wanted to get a bit more invested with the characters (even though I can't say they are not fleshed out). Also I want that Kate backstory. Like, please, I'm begging at this point.
OK, so Season 1. Take these episodes: "Love and Monsters" "Sleep No More" "Kill the Moon" Anything from _Trial of a Time Lord_ and you'd have a better season.
what I see is Ep 1 he only saved a snot monster just because it's the last one of its kind??? Because he it reminds it of him?? To a snot monster?? Ep 2 no the doctor failed to do the music note. And the beatles saved the day Ep 3 he lost all hope and the dad ai saved the day Ep 4. Yh you know Ep 5. He didn't save the kids and got emotion like always and did nothing to persuade them and let them go to their death. Ep 6. He found a dead person in the floor and instead of rushing back to ruby (as in the flashback with rubys mum he promised to keep her save) and he did one he'll of a Job and instead was getting horny in the tardis. And at the end he didn't save anyone he froze like always and made another person save the day. Ep 7. He made a soldier die even tho he Explicitly said noone to MOVE and even told Kate "it's fine it's just to look" what kind of reason is that to risk a life? And then has a mental breakdown afterwards. There are much more criticism I have for each but went for the basic ones on each. So yh I did watch the entire season and it's bad. And I'm all aboard the bbc to change the show the back to way it was when it was about actually good story and aliens that scare you. Not cringe and cower behind the sofa for how bad the writing are.
I think the season has been hurt by Gatwa's absences but what I don't understand why they showed the doctor lite episodes back to back, weird choice. This season to me has been like a takeaway, enjoy it while I consume it but left feeling a bit empty and disappointed afterwards. Needed more like Boom. Also I would've waited until September to get a longer series, 8 eps is just not enough
What about the fact that Ncuti's first story was actually the Christmas special? Wasn't this the first episode to introduce new Who fans? Church on Ruby Road, would this be considered the starting point for Ncuti? Remember Matt Smith's start was not at Christmas, but at Easter 2010 with the Eleventh Hour.
Completely agree with this Crispy!! I feel like I read somewhere that The Devil's Chord was actually supposed to be episode 6 of the series. Being so close to the finale through I feel would have been a mistake, so having it at episode 3 makes absolute sense! But yeah, Space Babies was pretty crap. Other than that, I have genuinely enjoyed this series with Space Babies being the only dud of the lot. But to cap it all off, we need a good payoff with Empire of Death at the end. The whole season rides on this episode, IMO.
The issues that are raised with this Season (and the Chibnall era) are quite valid. Its not Doctor Who specific to say that many topics whether its racism/homophobia/sexism/bigotry are being shoved down viewers throats by many shows nowadays. But the reason its so noteworthy with DW is that it gained its popularity as a show of escapism. A show that could give the viewer a 45 minute space of freedom from all the worries of life. But rather than exploring real world issues subtly its now being done with this ham-fisted, "Agree with the message" approach, and with this season the last of the viewers that have held on in hope are seeing that if even RTD is going for this messaging then there isn't hope left for it to return to that escapism. Lets not forget that Series 1 had Jack, a bisexual, Rose and Mickey were an interracial Couple, Farting aliens, Sexism in The Unquiet Dead, Bigotry from Cassandra in The End of the World and the opener had a big red puddle of molten plastic as the baddie. My point is that the same topics that people are complaining about from Season 1 are present in Series 1, but Series 1 to this day is still loved, and unfortunately this new Season is hated and its down to the approach of these topics rather than the topics themselves. Its poorly written, and a clear attempt to belittle the opinions any viewer who refuses to accept blindly the ideology that is being pushed.
No it's not. The current series gets hate because politics are more divisive now than in 2005. Keep in mind the internet barely was a thing at that time. People only complain about politics when they do not agree. Also, a lot of the fanbase was younger and probably didnt notice a lot of the commentary that was made during RTD1.
Btw, Im not saying someone cannot make valid criticism of the show, there is plenty to be made, especially during chibnall Era. But I am talking about good faith criticism about theme handling, directing, sound design, character development, not "politics bad"
The show is generally well written. Unfortunately the "anti-woke" crowd are so easily offended by the very existence of a trans character now that it ruins the entire experience for them.
@@alexandertaylor7316 Fairly certain I didnt mention Maestro or Rose or actually anything to do with Trans characters in my comment. But to clarify I actually thought Maestro was one of the more interesting elements of this Season. I would make the point that I could equally say that the opposing "woke" crowd seem to be easily offended at any critique of the show and imply that anyone who doesn't agree with it is a bigot (see reply 2 for proof)
The Devil's Chord should have been Episode 6 and was filmed with Rogue so wonder if Disney told them to swap them. I do think a new audience member would be unclear on what the show is given the inconsistency.
The problem is it’s not for anyone, space babies is for very young audiences, then episode 4 is incredibly dark and no one can enjoy it, because the young people will drop of by this point and then the ones who would like the darker more conceptual won’t watch it because of space babies, there’s no new people, it’s just empty, doctor who should be for everyone but it needs a vibe
![DID IT SUCK? | Doctor Who [JOY TO THE WORLD REVIEW]](/img/n.gif)
What did you think of Season 1?
I’m really happy Doctor Who is experimental again. I’ve enjoyed every episode to varying degrees and I love the new Doctor, hope he stays for a very long time.
I am here 100% with how varied and diverse these episodes have been. I completely agree, though, that episodes 2 and 3 should have been swapped around.
I enjoyed it, but I think this is the first time that I feel like there is no rewatch value to it.
Just inconsistently off...like it's lost it's identity. As for Space Babies- if I was in the meeting with that story being pitched, I'd have laughed the writer out of the building. As for the finale villain....the giant CGI RAT snarling from the TARDIS was sheer COMEDY. It was a brilliant build up, the wurling thing around the TARDIS had me gripped.....then the reveal😂😂😂😂😂😂
I loved 3 of the episodes ... and none of them were space babies ..
Season 1's biggest problem was the fact that there wasn't enough of it. 8-episode seasons are not a good formula for this show. At least give us 10 like we had in the Chibnall era.
And if they really wanted to make shorter seasons for whatever reason, make them mini series like Flux
8 episodes are not the problem, I think. But compensating with extending the length of those episodes, maybe 10 more minutes per ep. The most stories of this season had been so great, but messed up by a too faster ending, that doesn't take much time for answering some more questions.
For me it gave a feeling like "Nice story, but what's the point here?"
Não
It works if the writing is good.
The writing would work better, if there was more time. Add 5 more minutes to Boom, and let us explain, why the Doctor lands in Valengard in the first place. Add 10 more minutes to 73 Yards to explain us, why the old woman is old Ruby? And why did the Doctor disapear? Add 5 more minutes to Dot and Bubble and explain us, how did the Doctor and Ruby to this planet? Why especially do they help that Lindy and no one else in Lifetime?
Those 3 episodes have in common to be so amazing, but take no much time to explain some more details.
If we get 8 episodes or 10, doesn't change it, when they are always in such a rush.
Space Babies was very clearly made to be a “Let’s info dump the Doctors lore in a one off random episode”
Last time around RTD had more episodes to at least try to sprinkle the info throughout and it felt much more natural. I understand the need for it though
"With a terrible story"
You forgot
@@Bloom8182 wasn’t terrible, just kinda lack luster.
@@edwardrizer8505 a literal bogey monster
That is there because of "stories"
JUST PULL UP A BLOODY STORY BOOK
They could have at least made a classic monster return
Kind of unrelated but the other day I asked Chatgpt to rewrite "Dot and Bubble" and it wasnt great.... But it made a heck more sense than the real one
he literally just reads off his wikipedia page within the first 10 minutes, it's hilarious.
I'm seeing a lot of talk about changing the episode order to fix some issues, and I find that really interesting. Someone suggested swapping The Devil's Chord with Rogue, which I thought might have made sense. But I do think the real issue is that no status quo was really established, and I think that does fall to the episode count. The reason episodes like Blink and Midnight worked so well is that they were a change of pace from a usual DW episode, and that works when there are 10 other episodes before the finale to tell you what an episode should look like
Devil's Chord is definitely too early in the season, but putting it right next to the finale two-parter wouldn't work with certain elements. We need time to digest Susan, and Henry Arbinger. Maybe put it between 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble; would break up the Doctor-lite episodes, too.
I hope there's gonna be like 5 spacils before tye Christmas one and they somehow managed to ceep it a secret I know I'm wrong tho but a man can dream
I agree with Crispy completely.
Like a lot of people are saying, there was no time given to establish the world and relationships for new viewers. If this was “series 14” with a pre established Doctor and companion, I don’t think it would matter too much. This approach makes no sense for a “season 1” with brand new characters aimed at a new audience.
I was really looking forward to introducing my friends to this shiny new version of my favorite show on Disney+ but with the way it’s started, I’m not going to bother hyping it up.
As a long term viewer, I have really enjoyed some of this year’s episodes. It’s not my favorite season but Ncuti and Millie’s performances make me excited for every week. Even if we don’t get a lot of time dedicated to their relationship. Fingers crossed for a killer finale!
Yeah completely agreed. This is just S14 more or less but a new era like what they did with Matt Smith. And sadly the finale pretty much affirms this.
@@Comicbroe405 Yeah, the finale didn’t help. I would argue that Series 5 with Matt Smith was a better reintroduction to the show than this. I guess it was just for marketing this time around.
Just treat it like the Twitter Problem - new management wants to name it ONE way, the old farts using it since forever, stick to the old established branding: New Who = S 14 😛
Better for our new Doctor too - he is still listed as the 15th Doctor, synchronizing his "name" with the next season, just as Jodie's 13th Doctor survived until season 13. Or the 10th Doctor changed his face in 2010 and the 11th Doctor had his run in 2011... and there are the uncounted Faces in Doctor Who: the War Doctor for the 50th anniversary, The fugitive "Ruth-less" Doctor - accepted (by the TARDIS and others) but not explained, the Master Doctor on his fake techno-moon that got chucked out by a returning 13th Doctor and the 4 versions of David Tennant. The "14th Doctor" set himself up and intercepted a UNIT official, just to get granted a new number - without his confession, everyone would have held him for an older version of (10th.2) his previous face and the bi-generation would have played out a bit differently (but the numbering would have gone to hell - even more).
Switching "Boom" with "The Devil's Chord" would have spared the audience two "Doctor light" shows in a row... But the way of presenting "loosely linked" stand alone shows instead of the timy-wimy flux series that needs a lot of rewatching to be understood at all, this short season got better and better with each episode. An honorary mention of the Osiran plotline in "The New 10th Doctor Adventures" in the graphic novel range would have made Sutekh even more dangerous - there he was able to recreate himself from small slivers of his personality (told the Doctor he "sidestepped" a bit in the time-tunnel to get trapped somewhere in the void, with the hidden sliver to set him free later. IF part hof him was always clinging to the TARDIS, he probably started acting out after visiting the Osiran Mothership - or "hopping TARDISses" on every trip through the time-vortex? How else explain 1066...
8 episodes per series is too low, we’ve only had one two parter because of the lower episode count.
Today I was rewatching series 2 it was my first rematch of it I only started watching doctor who last year and if you just wayfh the first 8 episodes it's probably better than the new 1 it has k9 it has 2 two parts
8 episodes are not the problem, I think. But compensating with extending the length of those episodes, maybe 10 more minutes per ep. The most stories of this season had been so great, but messed up by a too faster ending, that doesn't take much time for answering some more questions.
For me it gave a feeling like "Nice story, but what's the point here?"
8 episodes of pure shit was by far enough!
I mean, the biggest problem with the season is obviously that it's 5 episodes shorter than every RTD1 season.
My main issue with this, as a casual Who watcher, just comes down to that in every episode... feels like the Doctor was just as passive watcher instead of an active investigator. When I think of the character, he's someone that shows up where he's needed and is typically trying to puzzle out what the problem is before anyone else even knows there is one.
This season, it feels like RTD and company just... wrote the Doctor coasting along, looking for fun past times and accidentally falling into a problem that gets solved by the other characters around him. And I could maybe understand it if the point was for this Doctor to avoid the issues at hand in favor of putting on a happy front but that itself seems antithetical because it wasn't built over multiple episodes.
tl;dr - They wrote the Doctor as young, human, and looking to be happy when he's meant to be a thousand-year-old incredibly crafty alien that looks out for humanity because he finds them interesting and the disconnect makes it less engaging.
Also as an aside, the reason for the ratings spike was probably from airing after the FA Cup. As a footie fan, the end of season championships are a very very big deal!
I agree and it's so annoying I do really like this season but I don't like how it's basically rubys show now
This is the same argument lobbed against the 5th Doctor in the 80s. Passive agent, allowing others to solve most of the issues.
@@R.senals_Arsenalprobably just as justified then as it is now
I think you totally nailed it! They need you on staff at the BBC!
@@R.senals_Arsenal I look forward to when we get to the next 7th Doctor then cause 5 and 6 were ehhhhhhhh.
Personally I think we need a new 3rd Doctor style season though where the Doctor is stuck on earth and basically works with the Brigadier and gets all restless being stuck in one place for so long.
5:39 in all fairness, I think Disney considers Church on Ruby Road the first episode,
Even though it was a Christmas episode,
And that was a good jumping off point.
Agree
Here's a thought or two.
Episode one, make it The Devils Chord, start off with the same cold open with the piano lesson, cut to credits and show Rubys first steps into the Tardis and the brief trip to Dinosaurs to show of the Butterfly Defect (not my term) Principle and then once back on board have Ruby suggest seeing the Beetles! This would mean the Doctor would be building more on the Butterfly circuit (or whatever it was called) and we'd get a very lively episode that's mostly the same as we actually got. There's things I'd change about the end to allow the musical bit to feel less shoe horned in, like have the duo dance on the Zebra crossing first as their hint the Maestros capture ahs freed music so much that they can have everyone dancing like that as a tension relieve after years of suffering. A bit like how the Toymakers influence faded allowing two Drs and two Tardis's. Also just rework the date reference to Ruby being from December 2023.
Bump Birderton up to before Space Nazis... I mean, Fine Time, then bump Space Babies up to say, after the Space Nazis... I mean Fine Time, so we have something a little light and fun before the two part finale. And maybe have a line added to Space Babies to hint that their program was a result of depopulation due to a death cult and have S Triad Technology logos hidden almost out of sight on the space station and maybe even in Nazis Time - Fine Time! Hell, Ricky September could reference the death cult as well when telling Lindy about the things he's read about why Fine Time was founded.
So my preferred episode order list would be something like:
1. The Devils Chord (with the early introduction sections of Space Babies there)
2. Boom
3. 73 Yards
4. Rogue aka Birderton
5. Dot And Bubble (aka Planet Of The Nazis)
6. Space Babies
7. The Legend Of Ruby Sunday
8. Empire Of Death
I just wish there were more two-parters with cliffhangers. The old Russell T Davies series each had at least three two-parters. Mid-season two parters like the Empty Child story, the Family of Blood story and the Forest of the Dead story were sooooo good
I miss the non Finale Two-Parters too!!! It's been too long since we had one!!! 2017 *kind off for Monk* or *Series 9's* 2015!!!
Ive realised one of the issues of this season is that RTD is writing his usual 12 episode season just with 8 episodes, and because it's the first time some issues are prevelant like rushed moments, undeveloped relationships etc... Hopefully going forward he's able to adapt better to the 8 episode format.
Having said that. I still think this is one of the better seasons of the show and might even make my top 5 depending on the finale.
Edit: Yes the finale came and I hated it and it retroactively makes the other episodes poorer.
I'm going to be the odd man out, as usual, but I had only one issue with this season. It's too damned short. As for changing up genres, being experimental, I have zero problems with that. I've been watching Doctor Who since the late 70s, with Tom Baker being my first - and favorite - Doctor. I grew up on Classic Who, and it always tried new things. I think the whiplash that some viewers got from the changing themes and ideas really came from the fact that it went entirely too fast. That's the true crime here. I'm not saying that every episode has to be liked by every fan, but I feel like some folks were just dead set on hating it no matter what.
I 100% agree. Also watching since late 1970s. Totally with you
FINALLY, SOME GOOD FUCKING FOOD.
I´ve been waiting a good doctor who video without bigotry
It does feel like the devil's chord wasn't supposed to be the second episode 🤔 I wonder if they switched it to Ep2 to air straight before Eurovision with the music themed story!
bro I though you were gonna make a coherent argument :(
biggest problem is this the stark change of the doctor's character. this doctor isn't solving problems, giving up too easy, passive, can't control his nerves. fundamentally a different person.
You've got a shock coming if you ever go back and watch the 5th Doctor. Pretty much the same. They are working off a known template of Doctorliness.
@@R.senals_ArsenalI grew up watching 4 & 5. That assertion is complete cock womblery.
@@R.senals_Arsenalevery NuWho doctor is based off of a Classic Who doctor.
I wouldn't compare space babies with 11th hour, Church on ruby road is a better comparison as its 15s first full episode where he meets the companion etc..
Agree
Yep, and it's listed as part of season 1 on Disney plus, so it kinda is
space babies feels way closer to end of the world
Every episode was good EXCEPT Space Babies - I would rather a Trsuranga Conundrum.
I struggle with the twist at the end. The threatening and incapable of speaking Bogey monster, was as alive as the babies. I get they can both be alive, but it just didn't behave like more than an animal. Rather like the 'Arachnids in the UK', not necessarily villainous, but still a danger due to their simple motivations. But, there was a danger there... and the fart propulsion Deus Ex Machina felt like the expensive face/mouth swapping tech was wasted on a childish and too simplistic story.
Bad isn't better, but it's cheaper and allows you to make more mistakes, and allow more bites at the cherry, to create something imaginative. I just wish things were cheaper...
I agree. This season has been great. Genuinely think there hasn’t been a more consistent season in modern Who. Space Babies was rough, but okay. The rest has been great.
I didn't have a problem with Trsuranga Conundrum.
@@philosotree5876 Oh dude. Everyone had a problem with Tsuranga Conundrum :)
@@TomCoates was that the one with the Pting?
Rogue wasn't written by Russell either I think
was Kate from Loki series
Seems like this was filmed awhile ago
*season 14
And ngl, this whole season had issues. I mean, the 60th had some issues too, but the only big one was a character saving the world entirely on their sheer trans-ness, and I'm gay, but if a gay character saved the world just by being gay, I'd be pretty upset about it. Even so, this season somehow made it worse, the Moffat episode, Boom, was really the only good episode. Dot and Bubble could've been good, but that ending bit came out of nowhere, and Russel's reaction to people not getting where the sudden random racism came from jist made it worse. 73 yards is ok, but it's an obvious timeloop that lacks the 3rd loop that would've made it make sense. Rogue was very, "You have to know what Bridgerton even is to get it", and Rogue himself was an obvious, "So we fused Jack and River, and you have to like it", it was kinda meh ngl. Then we have the finale, which kinda flopped, I mean, they killed Mel and Kate, which could've been an Adric style impactful move, if it weren't undone, but then Sutehk was crazy, and then they just flopped all over him, like, wtf is death + death = life, that math doesn't even check out, ya know? I think The Devil's Chord was probably the best one, save for Boom, except for that dance number at the end. Space Babies was pure cringe, and definitely the worst episode of the whole lot.
Honestly, I don’t think the experimentation isn’t the issue. I think the genre shifts really add to showcase the diverse nature of the show. I genuinely think the issue stems with Ruby herself (the character, not Millie’s portrayal). She has no agency, and no real distinctive personality traits that make you compelled to understand the journey she goes on. A lot of this is due to the reduced episode count and the lack of breathing room these episodes have, because they have to include all these threads that will probably be important to the story arc. But the main reason is how Ruby is introduced: as a mystery box (ala Clara Series 7). But Clara still had a defined personality and motivation to be on the TARDIS that could be explored further once the mystery box was revealed. Does Ruby?
I think that’s hindered by the reduced episode count. There’s only 8 episodes for the season, so she’s been reduced to a role similar to Clara’s in Series 7B. Realistically, I think the Christmas Special did a good job introducing her personality as an 18 year old that’s creative with a small group of friends. I think the issue is that a lot of her character development had kind of stopped with that first introduction, instead being used to experiment-which is great in theory, but harmful to her growth in practice. I think 73 Yards was the most development she’s had, but it’s wiped away by the ending
@@captainawesome0711 I agree but what’s interesting is that Series 7B also had 8 episodes and started with a Christmas special. And yet I still think even though the episode quality in Series 14 is better, Series 7B takes more time to establish Clara as a character (Bells of Saint John, Rings of Akhaten, Cold War, Nightmare in Silver, Name of the Doctor)
@@NickName183 Series 7B didn’t experiment nearly as much as this new season did. Season 1 tried a lot of new things, which I enjoyed to be fair, but they did come at the cost of Ruby’s character. Clara barely had an established character in series 7B, that’s why she became a teacher out of no where in the 50th. She was a color by numbers special companion that only become developed because she had time to stick around. When you color by numbers enough, you get a nice colorful picture but I don’t think she’s particularly distinct as a character. Ruby has potential to be more distinct, if she gets more focus as the story continues
@@captainawesome0711 I agree about the colour by numbers statement. Like I’m not saying that Series 7B was the epitome of character development (she wanted to travel the world but chose to prioritise taking care of the Maitland kids, and constantly seeks the Doctor’s approval during dangerous situations).
But you still need to give something if you’re going to make the companion a mystery box.
And apart from being in a band, and helping foster children, all that’s left is the arc of her wanting to know who her mother is. And that’s not enough IMO.
I respectfully and strongly disagree, Ruby starts off wanting to find her mother and she has some serious realistic and emotional range. 73 Yards for instance showed how she can stand on her own two feet and personally I feel deeply she is one of our better companions. In the most recent episode The Legend Of Ruby Sunday was amazing to show how real she is as a person, her getting her hopes up only to be crushed was astonishing. I do agree with the episode count and we could of had more with her but I am still satisfied with how Millie portrays Ruby and I love how special this companion feels.
Oh, and the 8 episode thing is unacceptable, 12 episodes is the minimum, not the maximum. Anything less is unacceptable.
the wide net wouldn't be so bad if there were just MORE EPISODES! like this just feels way too short. i liked space babies, it could've been an episode four though, or like you said keep it and put boom episode two but still there needed to be a few more episodes
I thought this season, aside from 73 yards, was very mediocre. I was so excited when RTD was announced to return and now I'm sure it was a mistake.
Season 1 has kind of been hit and miss for me. Hopefully season 2 is better
Im in agreement with you. Space babies left me a little worried… it’s the only episode I haven’t re-watched. Meanwhile every episode since, I’ve watched time and time again.
It’s been a good season, I only wish we had more episodes
Totally agree
The Church on Ruby Road - Made me believe in Ncuti as the Doctor and Millie as Ruby. Fun monsters. Sets up the mysteries of Ruby well.
Space Babies - Probably the direst episode of Doctor Who ever. Just straight up disgusting humor and really unconvincing CGI.
The Devi's Chord - the Beatles are barely in it and barely look or sound like the real-life versions. The song at the end ruined any integrity it had left. Villain was cool though.
Boom - Steven Moffatt proving he is much better writing under RTD then by himself. A thought provoking and dramatically acted masterpiece.
73 Yards - A confusing one with very little payoff. Millie Gibson is acting at her finest, even if Ruby is not that far from her own personality or that of her Coronation Street character.
Dot and Bubble - A groundbreaking comment on social media and racism. Bold and risky, but for me, one of the best we have had in a long time.
Rogue - Perhaps too reliant on Bridgerton vibes, but fun enough and both the twist with REG and also the Doctor and Rouge's relationship are highlights. Nice looking monsters.
The Legend of Ruby Sunday - The reveal of Sutekh, was still a lovely call back. Mel Bush continues her redemption from being poorly written by being stupendously well written now.
The episode count per season in New Who era has been decreasing and this is the problem. Seasons 1 to 7 we were given 13 episodes and a Christmas special per season. When the 12th doctor arrived that dropped down to 12 episodes and a Christmas special. When we got to the 13th doctor it was reduced to 10 episodes and a New Year's Day special. Now we are down to 8 episodes and a Christmas special. Come 2026 we could be down to 6 episodes and a Christmas special.
That was 2021...
im just gonna say it. the pacing is bad. it feels like watching on double speed sometimes. i feel like having to fit your story into 45 minutes when theres obviously more to elaborate on is a huge detriment to the new series as a whole.
especially after going back to try and watch some of my favorite episodes again, i notice that those stories are actually 2-3 parters for the most part, and then they would have a couple standalone/filler episodes. the story writing just felt more intentional then, like we know this story is good so we arent gonna sacrifice it to make it all fit into one episode. i know the old series wasnt being streamed so its a much different landscape now, but still, the whole new season felt like a standalone/filler episode, to me. nothing impacted me like some of those classic new who does, even after watching them a hundred times.
I think that's not necessarily because of pacing. It's because of bad writing, a good tight writing with engaging character dynamics will not leave you time to get bored or check your phone
Personally this is the most fun I've had with Who since Series 5, which is saying a lot since I was a kid at the time.
I agree. Season five is great. This is great. But season five also had a few duds. I love this one.
i respectfully disagree, the problem with this season is really in the cornerstone of storytelling: bad narratives, weird pacing, no tension
The one thing Doctor Who had to be this time round was appealing to new Disney subscribers. Not only that, as commented on by RTD was that it’s aimed at the under 30’s. They are making a television show for a generation who don’t watch television. As someone who grew up watching the classic series to me this is like the 2005 show coming back and the Doctor wearing a leather jacket, speaking with a regional accent and kissing and crying. Not the show I grew up with but these changes were necessary and I think we have the same with this series. Television has to be made for a generation who are looking at their phones while watching the show. Attention spans have shrunk and younger viewers want everything up front. Away from a few superficial things ,Doctor Who is basically the same. It’s just that it’s different much like the world is different from 1963,2005 to 2024. Personally I think the show needs to be team written now and include more American writing and acting talent. There are so many great shows out there and I think Doctor Who should be as good or better but we need to be brave. IMHO Doctor Who should be like Battlestar Galacticia or Expanse. Just grow up a little bit
I think you're on to something good here: it needed a fresh start, and it is trying to go this way. Too tepid, and not enough new voices yet, though. When you see a show like Expanse you see what writing, ambition, and genuine character-driven stories can do. Each Doctor probably needs its own set of writers.
@@gameburn178 I think one the things that holds Doctor Who back sometimes is nostalgia. Theirs a fear of drifting a little too far into sci-Fi or even horror. Which is weird considering Classic Doctor Who was coded as scary and full of technobabble. The show tried to be different but not different in the important ways. Chibnall gets a lot of hate but at least with flux we had scale. The Sontarans were interesting and a little more fleshed out. Even characters like Vinda and the dog alien were moving in the right direction. Doctor Who needs to be epic !
@@thevirgologychannel6215 Well, nostalgia can be a good thing -- leads to loyalty -- but it does need more and better stuff. Epic is probably right: and it isn't only about big sets and money spent, but big ideas probably stretching out over more than one season.
This series is like Davies removed the two non-finale two-parters, and then shuffled the order of the episodes. We didn’t get a real intro to Ncuti, the Christmas special was more of a typical series premiere than a Christmas special (and more so than Space Babies felt like a proper premiere), and having the two Doctor-lite episodes in the middle (while also having them taking up a quarter of the series) feels like a ripoff in a series of eight episodes. If this was a thirteen episode series, I’d start with Ruby Road, then Space Babies (but with a real monster), then Rogue, then a hypothetical two-parter, then The Devil’s Chord (producing a major villain and remind the audience of the big arc at a more impactful point in the series), then Boom, another two-parter, then 73 Yards and Dot And Bubble, then the finale. Or you could make Rogue episode two, and the put The Devil’s Chord between 73 Yards and Dot And Bubble.
Oh thank god someone noticed the weird thing with Ruby travelling for 6 months without ever seeing an alien planet! It might be just nitpicking, but it completely took me out of the episode for a while.
One thing to remember is that space babies is technically episode 2 of the season cuz the real episode 1 is the church on Ruby road
I agree completely with your wide net analogy! They basically went "What is every genre we can possibly do? Ok lets do that in season 1!" Show everything it can be so no-one can say in season 2 this is a different show! They may have cast it too wide!
11th hour is probably one of my favourite episodes, i love series 5 so much.
I7 yards was pretty scary
Space Babies, I agree, was quite odd. In my opinion, Ncuti Gatwa and the companion are a bit strange as well. To be honest, I miss the more formidable monsters like Cybermen, Daleks, and others. They were fantastic. I also miss the other Doctors. I don't understand why the UK has two apps, BritBox and BBC iPlayer. BritBox has Doctor Who from 1963-1996, while BBC iPlayer has Doctor Who from 2005-2022. However, outside the UK, we only have access to Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who. I can't believe they are so foolish. Why can't someone start a petition to bring all of Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and 2005-2022 to Disney+ so that everyone has equal access? What year are we living in? For instance, I have to purchase DVDs for Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and 2005-2022, which is inconvenient. They should make it available on Disney+. I don't mean to be rude, but why does the UK get all of Doctor Who on two streaming platforms while other countries only get it on DVDs? It's absurd.
The world we live in is one with lots and lots of contracts. Here in America 05-22 is (HBO)MAX and they have that deal signed in blood for at least a few more years. It sucks but shoganai.
As for 63-96, over here the options are even more limited. Pretty much Tubi. I know UK has consolidated a lot more than ever before, but even they have problems with writers rights on certain stories because of the way contacts were done in those days.
@@R.senals_Arsenal I still hate that the UK got Doctor Who in two apps I mentioned, and outside the UK, we only get Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who. They don't even do two categories like Category One: Doctor Who from 1963-1996 and Category Two: Doctor Who from 2005-2022. Disney+ is stupid and only put Ncuti Gatwa in it. How stupid are they?
@@Mrlukemonster They could be geniuses, they'd still be bound by contracts signed before they took over. You act like they've a choice!
@@R.senals_Arsenal they aren't genius they are stupid to bring doctor who in uk on two apps and I mean classic and current doctor who and people outside UK only get the bad ones on Disney+
i think 73 yards is one of my most hated episodes of the show cause it felt like nothing was explained, its shot beautifully and acted well but its just confusing to watch when all i want is any answers and am given nothing, theres nothing to piece together it just happens but also it didn't, also the implied sa of one of the characters being overlooked by ruby was so bizarre and jarring.
dot and bubble was the worst for me tho as if you take the final reveal that the whole place is racist it literally changes nothing about the episode at all, everything happens the same except now the doctor has something to be upset about for 2 minutes before he moves on.
i liked rouge tho, not as much the episode as the character, he had more life and personality than ruby and the doctor, i couldn't tell you a defining feature of either of those two but rouge felt like a person with motivations and desires and was actually fun to watch and had a little character arc. i just want more of rouge really.
also space babies was forgettable shite and is probably the worst episode but overall i found the whole season to have weird pacing and dont feel anything towards this doctor and companion
also also the new sonic screwdriver design is awful
this is doctor who's biggest strength. it can experiment! and try new ideas! this keeps the writers interested and engaged.
the only episode I didn't like was Boom, I thought it was terrible.
Season 1 is definitely all over the place tone-wise but it's harder for me to compare Space Babies to The Eleventh Hour since TEH was Matt Smith's first episode... Space Babies was Ncuti's 2.5th technically.
Both episodes have to kick off a season, but one has to sell the Doctor to new AND old audiences whereas one has already made an impression on existing audiences, per se
I do wonder how differently things would've gone had we just thrown Ncuti straight into a Season premiere...
This episode, with no elaboration or timestamp, was the best!
Technically, Church on Ruby Road was the "Eleventh Hour" equivalent. But most people consider it episode 0 or the third Doctor special of 2023
Disney+ lists it as Episde 1.
@@TomCee53 BBC began listing it in "Season 1" after "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" released
I think you need to amend your thumbnail. The scores are actually 95% shills and a pathetic 27% audience score for this Disney Who trash on Rotten Tomatoes.
i think that the unconventional aspects need to be highlighted a lot more because being pleasantly suprised is the vibe that i love the most from these episodes
Too bad the babies episode wasn't saved for the middle or end of the season. It doesn't have to be so early.
Love this season because it’s exactly what I want the show to be. Trying new things every episode and going almost lynchian sometimes. The season suffers from sixty years of always explaining itself but this season just wants to do what it wants because why not. I think it’s great
My biggest issue with space babies was that the emotion the babies were supposed to be feeling wasn’t anywhere close to the expressions on their face and the mouth movements were creepy. I think it was mostly an editing and CGI issue.
At the end of the day the new season has brought the fun back into doctor who that I feel like was missing with both Jodi and Peter. That was something I loved in David and Matts runs especially but even Chris had some fun parts. I feel like that has been so missed. Also there is emotion there. Maybe Ncuti cries a bit too easily but he shows emotion and I love it.
All and all Im really happy with the new season. I really didnt like Jodi especially. I found her too all over the place and lacking emotion. I also couldnt understand her half the time and had to rewind and listen again and turn on subtitles. It was an odd choice to have her speak at breakneck speed with her natural accent. If you arent from the UK that is a difficult accent to understand and at such speed it was near impossible. It just sounded like word salad. I also found her episodes so packed with ideas but nothing to really tie them all together so they just didnt work. My biggest beef with the Peter era was Clara. I hated their dynamic and I felt it diminished the power of the doctor and made him kind of the sidelined character. She was emasculating and it didnt work. It isnt that I dont like strong companions. Amy was strong and she was amazing. River song is my favorite character ever and she stands up to the doctor all the time but Clara didnt do it in an im standing up to the doctor kind of way. She was more like I am smarter than the doctor so he needs to do what I say kind of way.
I feel like the new season has a great balance with the doctor and Ruby. They have a good chemistry and it is believable that they are friends. I wish there was a bit more showing of their friendship though. I also wish the season was 10 episodes instead of 8 but thats another story. I am excited with the mew season and cant wait for the finally.😊
I wholeheartedly agree with the episode flip, but the biggest problem is that the Christmas special was actually episode one. I get why they did it now. Christmas is part of Ruby's mystery but who fans expect a unique Christmas special in a story bubble. If they took the Christmas special off the platform in January (Disney has done so before, they call it puttingit in the vault) and soft relaunched it immediately showed space babies or boom on the same day and then space babies or boom on its own the next week, I think it would have a better impact.
The store is amazing WITH the Christmas special being 1st episode, but to have that, wait months for more and then continue was not smart for a reboot.
It’s Russel T Davis, he is the show runner and the main writer. He is responsible for the casting, storytelling, the changes to cannon. He ran his mouth acting like he had the greatest television ever.
This season and the 60th special aren’t close to his previous series in quality, yes the season is visually stunning excluding the space babies mouths. The storytelling in my view is weak.
I feel Ncuti is getting screwed over like Jodi did with bad writing not allowing them to develop their Doctors into a consistent character that the audience gets behind.
And now that the next season is wrapped there will be no course correction not that I think he has the humility to do so.
Also I think everyone working on franchises like Doctor Who should never ever blame, insult or dismiss the fans, they are your core audience… you can’t replace them with a new audience. It’s never been done before and every attempt to do so has failed miserably.
Yeah the biggest problem is the low episode count i wish we had just 1 or 2 more episodes to flesh the first season out more
I loved this season so so so much. It was Wierd and whimsical and impactful and meaningful and so very Doctor Who...However the finale was a mess. I desperately wish Empire of Death had been better because if it had been I think this would be my new over all favorite season of Doctor Who.
In my opinion you need to set the rules before you can break them. This season has been incredibly experimental and I love that, but it could have really benefited from some standard episodes in between (again, 8 episodes is not enough). Episodes like Blink and Midnight and Heaven Sent are considered to be the best of the show. They’re also the most formula breaking and experimental, but they wouldn’t have stood out as much and made such an impact on viewers if all the episodes were like that. It doesn’t do justice to the exceptional when there’s nothing standard to compare it to.
I hate the fact that The Doctor says "My children have never been born yet." As I've had a massive theory for years and to needlessly do that is either proving that the writers want you to forget the good moments of the lore, or just confuse mainstream audiences on purpose.
Doctor Who will always remain polarizing tbh its just the nature of the show being unique and experimental it wont please everyone as everyone wants something different. That and there's the obvious people hating on ever element without providing any general criticism
Yeah boom going 2nd would make so much more sense. The only difficultly might be that they’d have had to start recognizing Susan Twist a lot sooner.
Though they forgot Susan Twist in Rouge and Rouge was meant to Episode 2.
Very good video, but I've absolutely loved this whole Season
This season has been brilliant so far.
Totally agree. Just don’t understand the negativity. I genuinely don’t understand it. I can only assume it’s racist and homophobic people and some ignorance. There is no other reason I can think of. Genuinely.
Absolutely. Why are they even watching the show?
@@TomCoates so because you don't see it you're quite prepared to label everyone that disagrees with you a racist and homophobe. So only your point of view and opinion matters in the world does it? Grow up!
What about the lazy writing? It's terrible. Some good buildups, but terrible finishes. The doctor also hasnt solved a single thing, he's been but a prop. The tardis looks like a hospital, clinical and boring. The relationships between each character are completely underdeveloped and there's been 0 character development.@TomCoates
@@TomCoatesYou really think millions of people are tuning out because of prejudice, even the ones who stuck around for Jodies season? Do you think you are just a paragon of virtue? If you enjoyed it, thats fine. But pretending everyones a homophobe or racist for not liking it is extremely naive.
My thoughts on Space Babies is it made me uncomfortable, something about the cgi mouths gave me uncanny valley vibes. Furthermore, I know for many RTD gets a pass but for the international audience this is possibly there first time watching the show. He really needed to have his eleventh hour episode, because imo both Moffat and Chibnall did there openers very well.
Speaking more broadly I think what may have helped this season is a slightly more serialised approach, doesn’t have to be as heavy as Flux but something to keep you invested, and connected I think would’ve helped week to week.
This series starts with a RTD self insert baby watching a Doctor Who monster on a TV screen and ends with the Doctor defeating death itself, I don't want to devalue RTD's recent grief, but it feels like he is writing this for himself.
It's good, each episode whether it's good or bad has felt very distinct. It also definitely needs more than 8 episodes
I think it’s fairer to count The Church On Ruby Road as the first episode of Ncuti’s run, similar to how Christmas Invasion was 10’s first episode and then New Earth, which was also slightly disappointing
Like you, I thought Season 1 had a rocky start with "Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord" (why have a historical episode featuring the Beatles and not have at least one Beatle be a main part of the story?), but I've really enjoyed every episode after those. It's a mostly solid season, IMO, it's just that it didn't start strongly.
I have really enjoyed it. I've just missed Russell, he's got me back to getting exciting weekly. The season arc threads are something I've missed. The mystery behind Rubys mum and Sutekh have got me hyped. I love the chemistry 15 & Ruby have, it's something the show hasn't had for ages. My only downfall is 8 episodes. It needs to be 13. Russell is the only showrunner where 13 episodes are needed. 73 yards is still in my brain, the ending to Dot and Bubble was a punch in the throat. Rogue reminded me of classic RTD era. This 1st part of the finale was intense and that's all thanks to the mystery and threads Russell has been building up. I've loved it. I just want more.
I'm loving the season. As a Doctor Who fan, I've loved how diverse and varied the season is, it's one of the things I love about Doctor Who the most, and having stories that are really great and gripping, even if they have some problems or nit-picks, and characters that I've really enjoyed spending time with has made this a season approaching the top of my season tier list. And I've loved the focus on Gods, they've helped add something new and menacing to the show that has really helped this era feel unique and gripping.
I will say though, this does not feel like it was written as a season 1, It feels like a series 14. Which kinda confirms the whole season 1 thing is a Disney thing to not turn off new overseas viewers, which I get. But so much of this season feels like it was written for Doctor Who fans, not newcomers.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The show mentioning and talking about Bi-generation and the Toymaker, in the Devil's chord, things that were in the 60th anniversary that no newcomer would understand as much as fans would, which also made reference to the Flux from the previous season. The season talking about the Doctor's granddaughter Susan SO much, and the big bad of the season being a classic Who villain, Sutekh, who hasn't appeared on screen in around 40 years! And how many experimental episodes there are, has all made this feel like a series 14 for Doctor Who fans.
But as a Doctor Who fan, I love that, this season has been such a return to form for me. But I can see why newcomers wouldn't enjoy it as much as I.
Also it's too short, I know Russell said were getting spin offs back, which does soften the blow a little, but I just want more time with this Doctor and his companions.
i wish there were more episodes too, and i do get what you mean about space babies not being the best jumping off point, but in all honestly i think this is probably the best season of doctor who since matt smith's second year
No addressing of the finale? Awe :(. Thanks for your opinion though, glad to see someone sane actually covering this.
Space babies is a bottom 5 episode of the revival and Devils Chord was very middling. The rest has been good though
I agree, there was too much flipping about this season. With a reduced run of 8 episodes, two of which are the finale/climax, and two of which were aired simultaneously, you need a bit more focus imo
And IMO "Devils Chord" was never meant to be episode 2, the running order was changed last minute, possibly at Disney's request (just my theory).
Frightening how much I concur with your review. For me 2 1/2 decent episodes from an 8 episode season…hmmm. I’m still waiting to know who this Doctor is, other than The One That Cries. Let alone the Doctor/Ruby relationship. Their dynamic has not been earned yet (8 eps again). It’s as if we are just supposed to accept them as a team, buddies etc without any history. I’m looking forward to the last episode as the previous one was great fun, actual Doctor Who!
Mixed bags work when there are more episodes in a series
The First episode is actually the 4th Special if you click on the show in Disney+. Which makes sense because you are introduced to the new companion :)
That's because the first episode is a special lol, the Christmas special
The music for your outro was perfect.
I dont care the Doctor is Black or Gay. I do care he doesn't BEHAVE like the Doctor. He's crying every episode, he is dithering and incompetent.
Nearly gets his companion killed while he gets his end away . Basically he hasnt saved the day once. ( saving the villian in space babies doesn't count) He hasnt portrayed genius once. Dr Who used to be multi layered character driven scifi drama. Now its loaded with political messaging, which wouldn't matter if it wasn't at the expense of the dialogue and plot. Ecclestons era didn't need so much exposition. This season has been dumbed down for Americans and has lost its British charm..
Personally I've adored every episode past the first 2 (and I was really excited for The Devil's Chord as a Beatles fan, but it was like fine). It makes me think that Space Babies should have been identified as an... outlier in quality at the scripting stage and either had more edits, or been scrapped. But even if they did think about that I guess wouldn't have had time, with Ncuti's schedule, the 60th specials, Christmas, and all the other things RTD was doing (maybe you could get a couple other writers for it to lighten the load...). Also I guess it's cheap to just say "you should just not make bad episodes, simple as!" which isn't really a solution.
In terms of a more practical reordering, I hadn't thought of Boom as an early episode, but it does work. Rogue almost does too, but the emotional devastation of The Doctor would feel too early maybe? The problem is none of the others work as an episode 1 without significant re-writing.
Also, sorry for being negative here. As I said, I genuinely adore the rest of the season, it's possibly my favourite ever.
It's incredible how easily pleased the newer generation are. Good for you
No ups. Only downs.
Actually the first episode of this season 1, the introduction of the doctor, the "rose", "eleventh hour", "woman who fell to earth" . Is actually "church on ruby road". Space babies is more a "end world" or "beast bellow" episode (two episodes I prefer to space babies but that's not the point)
0:25 Yo that last one was crazy
Disney+ is the biggest problem. I feel they influence too much on how DW is projected. For the premier episode where the Doctor meets Ruby Sunday, the Doctor dances which throughout the run, he has never been known for dancing. He isn't known for singing as well. Then with the goblins and the goblin king look like left over creatures from the Jim Henson workshop and a failed attempt of Jabba the Hut. I also feel that for the Doctor to now show feelings where in virtually every episode he cries makes the impact less believable.
As for Jodie Whitaker portrayal of the Doctor, I have to give her kudos for making it as classic DW as she could. She also has impacted upon herself how as the original as we know it was making women into a lesser a woman can be was feeling it as she traveled to the past. In addition having Ryan there also showed how a person of color was treated in those times as well. Yes it was cruel at times, unfortunately that's how it was. To say that she could have been more sympathetic especially when Graham disclosed his cancer return possibility, reflects back to how long the Doctor has been traveling, fending off evil threats, etc. If she always stopped to grieve or comfort, instead of fighting or traveling, she'd be in a loony bin or offed herself or himself depending upon which regeneration point was at. He or her has their own way of grieving especially from different cultures, but when the time permits it can't override a threat to the world or universe.
One thing I think you're missing in this video is that the jumping on point isn't Space Babies, it's Church on Ruby Road. That would be the Eleventh Hour equivalent and the first episode new viewers would watch.
They normally not count Christmas Specials as part of the season unless it's after not before...
I genuinely feel like Space Babies had 11th Hour qualities. The info dumping was solid. I also compared it to The Beast Below (first adventure for Amy/Ruby). Not as good as either of those, but I appreciated it was a jump on episode.
I enjoyed The Devils Chord, but as we go through the series, it falls back in the overall ratings.
I think it might have been a risky but bold idea to have Boom as the premiere. It would really give new viewers a look at what The Doctor is all about. Of course, RTD needs to write the openers and finales, I guess, so I see why they didn't do it.
The Church on Ruby Road is The Eleventh Hour, Space Babies is The Beast Below
00:19 “ **Verging** on”?!?! 😳
For me it's a mix bag, and not completely ok.
"73 yards", it's a great episode, but didn't develop Ruby.
Musicals are a Turn Off for me, so the troll episode and the devil's chorus, for me, are not ok.
Boom was ok. Nothing more.
The legend of Ruby was great, I can say that.
Ncuti's Doctor have only two modes, joyful, or overly sad. And he look healthy. I'm not completly sure if that is good for the series. Ruby have no development, and the Doctor neither.
So, mix bag, but a little inclined to the bad.
(And Space Babys)
All I want when watching DW is some interesting episodes. This season, we had some interesting episodes aka Boom and 73 Yards (+ Dot and Bubble because of the ending). TBH I don't preoccupy myself with how the general audience will like it. IMO the season was too short though. I would have wanted to get a bit more invested with the characters (even though I can't say they are not fleshed out). Also I want that Kate backstory. Like, please, I'm begging at this point.
OK, so Season 1. Take these episodes:
"Love and Monsters"
"Sleep No More"
"Kill the Moon"
Anything from _Trial of a Time Lord_
and you'd have a better season.
_"Hello"_
- Mine Turtle.
"Oh No!" - Everyone Else
I SAID THAT ABOUT RUBY’S FIRST ALIEN PLANET AFTER 6 MONTHS!
It’s been a good season but I don’t have a standout episode
what I see is
Ep 1 he only saved a snot monster just because it's the last one of its kind??? Because he it reminds it of him?? To a snot monster??
Ep 2 no the doctor failed to do the music note. And the beatles saved the day
Ep 3 he lost all hope and the dad ai saved the day
Ep 4. Yh you know
Ep 5. He didn't save the kids and got emotion like always and did nothing to persuade them and let them go to their death.
Ep 6. He found a dead person in the floor and instead of rushing back to ruby (as in the flashback with rubys mum he promised to keep her save) and he did one he'll of a Job and instead was getting horny in the tardis. And at the end he didn't save anyone he froze like always and made another person save the day.
Ep 7. He made a soldier die even tho he Explicitly said noone to MOVE and even told Kate "it's fine it's just to look" what kind of reason is that to risk a life? And then has a mental breakdown afterwards.
There are much more criticism I have for each but went for the basic ones on each.
So yh I did watch the entire season and it's bad.
And I'm all aboard the bbc to change the show the back to way it was when it was about actually good story and aliens that scare you. Not cringe and cower behind the sofa for how bad the writing are.
exactly. this is the opposite of the real doctor, passive, coward, selfish, lustful. I don't trust this doctor and I don't like him tbh.
then he cries almost every episode lol
space babies still boggles my tiny mind how it got off the drawing board , fuckin booger monster , rouge was the best episode forSURE
I think the season has been hurt by Gatwa's absences but what I don't understand why they showed the doctor lite episodes back to back, weird choice.
This season to me has been like a takeaway, enjoy it while I consume it but left feeling a bit empty and disappointed afterwards. Needed more like Boom.
Also I would've waited until September to get a longer series, 8 eps is just not enough
I will say the humour and overall energy has been so off, and definitely feels like it’s been shifted to cater to an American audience
What about the fact that Ncuti's first story was actually the Christmas special? Wasn't this the first episode to introduce new Who fans? Church on Ruby Road, would this be considered the starting point for Ncuti? Remember Matt Smith's start was not at Christmas, but at Easter 2010 with the Eleventh Hour.
Completely agree with this Crispy!! I feel like I read somewhere that The Devil's Chord was actually supposed to be episode 6 of the series. Being so close to the finale through I feel would have been a mistake, so having it at episode 3 makes absolute sense!
But yeah, Space Babies was pretty crap. Other than that, I have genuinely enjoyed this series with Space Babies being the only dud of the lot. But to cap it all off, we need a good payoff with Empire of Death at the end. The whole season rides on this episode, IMO.
The issues that are raised with this Season (and the Chibnall era) are quite valid. Its not Doctor Who specific to say that many topics whether its racism/homophobia/sexism/bigotry are being shoved down viewers throats by many shows nowadays. But the reason its so noteworthy with DW is that it gained its popularity as a show of escapism. A show that could give the viewer a 45 minute space of freedom from all the worries of life. But rather than exploring real world issues subtly its now being done with this ham-fisted, "Agree with the message" approach, and with this season the last of the viewers that have held on in hope are seeing that if even RTD is going for this messaging then there isn't hope left for it to return to that escapism.
Lets not forget that Series 1 had Jack, a bisexual, Rose and Mickey were an interracial Couple, Farting aliens, Sexism in The Unquiet Dead, Bigotry from Cassandra in The End of the World and the opener had a big red puddle of molten plastic as the baddie.
My point is that the same topics that people are complaining about from Season 1 are present in Series 1, but Series 1 to this day is still loved, and unfortunately this new Season is hated and its down to the approach of these topics rather than the topics themselves. Its poorly written, and a clear attempt to belittle the opinions any viewer who refuses to accept blindly the ideology that is being pushed.
No it's not. The current series gets hate because politics are more divisive now than in 2005. Keep in mind the internet barely was a thing at that time. People only complain about politics when they do not agree. Also, a lot of the fanbase was younger and probably didnt notice a lot of the commentary that was made during RTD1.
Tldr, saying the show should be escapism is just hiding your bigotry
Btw, Im not saying someone cannot make valid criticism of the show, there is plenty to be made, especially during chibnall Era. But I am talking about good faith criticism about theme handling, directing, sound design, character development, not "politics bad"
The show is generally well written.
Unfortunately the "anti-woke" crowd are so easily offended by the very existence of a trans character now that it ruins the entire experience for them.
@@alexandertaylor7316 Fairly certain I didnt mention Maestro or Rose or actually anything to do with Trans characters in my comment. But to clarify I actually thought Maestro was one of the more interesting elements of this Season.
I would make the point that I could equally say that the opposing "woke" crowd seem to be easily offended at any critique of the show and imply that anyone who doesn't agree with it is a bigot (see reply 2 for proof)
I agree that Space Babies is the worst episode and that was quite a bad decision to put it first. It should have been the mid-season slump.
The Devil's Chord should have been Episode 6 and was filmed with Rogue so wonder if Disney told them to swap them. I do think a new audience member would be unclear on what the show is given the inconsistency.
The problem is it’s not for anyone, space babies is for very young audiences, then episode 4 is incredibly dark and no one can enjoy it, because the young people will drop of by this point and then the ones who would like the darker more conceptual won’t watch it because of space babies, there’s no new people, it’s just empty, doctor who should be for everyone but it needs a vibe