The ending has everything to do with Steven Berkoff walking off set - the ending was meant to be much fuller and longer - and he left the shoot (for whatever reason) before his scenes were completed.
I think it's more that he was an asshole on set and refused to do a lot of his scenes, so there was very little that could be edited in to the final cut so Chibnall had to rewrite the ending.
Keelan Barron I was. We find out in Resolution “UNIT operations have been suspended and replaced with an outsourced call centre, due to a diplomatic argument over funding”. And in Spyfall it and Torchwood no longer exist
I definitely remember all the great stuff with The Doctor becoming bored, Kate Stewart, and the stuff with Amy and Rory; yet I completely forgot there was even a villain until you brought it up! I don't remember that guy at all and it's making me wonder if I even finished the episode at the time
The person that acted the villain at the end refused to record a lot of his scenes, so they had to use what they had, hence why the episode is 5 minutes shorter than usual.
irrevenant3 yeah :/ they had to make do with the scenes that were usable, hence the weird cuts, and if you look carefully, they use the same dialogue a few times
I So agree.UNIT is such a strong force in the History of Doctor Who.It was comforting to know that they may exist, to protect us and now they don't.Sad.. I have always loved The Power of Three just for the reasons you stated.It showed Amy&Rory in their Marriage- Together and Strong, secure as a couple.They had a life without the Doctor.They still enjoyed their time with him and love him. the rest of the alien story did not make sense to me. It wasn't needed.
When you get to Angeles take Manhattan, please remember Brian's ending in the P.S "minisode" or whatever you want to call it. It's not it's own thing but it really ties up the episode. Linking it because it is super super important : ua-cam.com/video/XWU6XL9xI4k/v-deo.html
Loved your emphasis on the importance of thematic reasons for narrative contrivances, it makes a lot of sense - and like you, I actually quite enjoy this episode most of the time
Huh. I wasn't aware this episode was hated. I thought the concept was solid, it was fun watching the main characters interact, Rory's dad is the best companion family member since Wilf. KATE!!! It was just really the climax which felt meh to me.
I think this story was at least in part hurt by the decision to make every episode in this season a single part story, It would of been better as a 2 part story with part 1 dealing with the cubes doing nothing and part dealing with the cubes activating and the villain behind it.
I think that's just the main problem with this season (that and Clara). Rory & Amy only get 5 episodes, and Clara only gets 7 or 8, so the whole thing feels rushed and very messy. (That being said, I actually like this Chibnall story. It has an anticlimactic ending, sure, but I think Chibnall is very good at writing character interactions.)
agreed, way too rushed, I grew up with classic who where a story was told over 4 ,6 7, and sometimes 10 episodes (ok sometimes it did drag a bit) the 2 parters of modern who do work similarly to the 4 episodes of classic, but some times they needed to be expanded. Matts time on Trenzelore could have been a whole series by itself. The turn left/stolen earth/journeys end story properly done could have been a whole series too
This has been a recurring problem with Chibnall. The Power of Three, Arachnids in the UK, The Tsuranga Conundrum, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos - he has a habit of either pulling last-minute solutions out of nowhere at the last minute or, at the very least, rushing the endings. He's gotten a *lot* better about that in Season 12 .
That's a similar problem I have with Russell T. Davies. I think he's a good writer but whenever he wants a specific outcome from an episode he'll pull something out of his ass to make it happen. The fake-out regeneration and Metacrisis Doctor is an example of this.
I wonder if it would have been better to not fully reveal the origin of the cubes at all. Instead they could reveal themselves as a threat, then the Doctor can find a way to deactivate them/ get rid of them while leaving a huge question mark about where they came from. Or do you think that could have ended up being an anti-climax?
Pretty much completely agree with your assessment of this one, though I do feel like even if the antagonist was a lot less legendary the ending would still have felt rushed and unsatisfying.
I like this episode but I agree with you that the ending is jarring. It happened so quickly the first time I watched the episode, that I throughly didn't understand what was happening.
I like this a fair amount. A solid 7, i appreciate it has some pretty big narrative holes and the rushed ending but the performances are superb and the premise allows the rest of the episode to work on the strength of that alone.
I did like the concept of what went on here, but it reeeaaallly dragged. It was in dire need of some surgically precise edits. Because the Doctor is bored, and he's really the point of view character in this one, it's too easy for the boredom to permeate the episode, unless they were very careful. And they weren't. The final nail was that the ending took whatever was good in the setup and trashed it. Basically, I came away from the episode, forgetting how cool and unique the premise was, if pacing-challenged, and feeling like I'd wasted my time.
The cube master Villan is very very dumb, but besides that this is a amazing episode especially character wise. It's such a shame Chibnall series's are nothing like this ....
I basically ignore the end since that was completely outside their power due to production issues. For me the episode ends right as they leave the hospital and so its great
Council of Geeks HELL YEAH! i live for these videos, especially in the current climate, they give a much needed boost in happieness. Keep up the good work you legend :D
I liked 'The Power Of Three'. I will admit it has problems (which you addressed), but despite these, I enjoyed it. One thing I liked was the villain itself, The Tally Man. I found him utterly creepy, but in a good way. Something about the character's voice and general vibe just gave me the heebie-jeebies. He reminded me of the Anti-Monitor from Crisis On Infinite Earths. say what you will about the backstory, the execution of the character was great!
I think Can You Here Me felt like it took the Doctor time to work everything out, it was kind of reminiscent of The Shakespearean Code. Where as this seemed like it wasn’t earned.
I have a dream correction for this episode. Take out the shakri. They go up to the spaceship and it is run by a few sickly aliens who's race is dying. It turns out the cubes were made to experiment upon humans to see how they could survive. The Doctor, Amy Rory, and Brian could then tie it back to the doctor's speech about running to things before they fade, and say that everything has its time and everything ends. Then the quick resolution wouldn't be to defeat them, but to convince them to stop, succeed, and send everyone home.
This episode for me I found to be kinda boring. It wasn't awful and had interesting concepts and a few funny moments but was just kinda there. I never really clicked with it. Like you say the ending didn't really fit but to be honest the rest of the episode was only average for me.
I feel like the monsters could have suited the Chumblies. The Chumblies aren't that menacing when you look at them and so they could act as servants to people and after a year they start murdering you say spray carbon monoxide in the room. The Shakri could have been the Rills. Edit: I preferred Beverley Cressman couldn't they have got her?
really wish the resolution relied on all three of them working together. It is called The Power of Three afterall and that would have tied in thematically
Jemma Redgrave was well cast and I enjoyed some of the character development and the build up of what the cubes were all about, but this was really let down by the lame-o ending.
I pretty much agree with you, although the ending did kind of ruin the episode for me. I loved the premise and the first part of the episode. But the ending to me was so bad and nonsensical, I avoid rewatching.
If this was put up two days ago, why am I only seeing it now? UA-cam does this shit on purpose! I've been stuck at home since January! I want to know when my subscribed channels put up new videos. My 'subscribed' page has like 8 videos a day on it, there's no excuse.
90% of this episode I absolutely adore, seriously some of the best stuff Doctor Who has ever made. But the other 10%... Wow... it's so bad that it completely negates that good and turns this into easily the worst episode in Smith's run. Also Chipnall really needs to stop with the lazy, "OMG Legendary Being that The Doctor thought was a legend! We can be lazy with their backstory because they're legendary even though we've only just mentioned them for the first time right now." Off the top of my head, He pulled it in the power of three, he did it twice in season 11 (the frog and the couple from the finale), he did it in Can you hear me. And it wouldn't surprise me if I've missed a couple.
I remember watching this episode and thinking....this seems familiar. Then I realised why. It's basically a short story form of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel 'Reaper Man', with the details changed - cubes instead of snow globes, the legendary entity instead of the Auditors, Amy, Rory and the Doctor standing in for the wizards and the Fresh Start Club. It's not the worst episode by far (imho that dubious honour goes to the 'Angels in Manhattan') but it isn't original in any way.
Just been having a Pratchett listening marathon and was struck by the similarities. Pratchett was better although I do enjoy the character interactions here as always with this Tardis team.
The Apprentice UK doesn't make sense. The Cubes aren't doing anything and people are trying to sell them? Also it would have a worked better as a two parter or maybe have the cubes briefly mentioned in other episodes and then have the countdown in this episode. Although it does give a nice introduction to Kate Lethbridge-Stewart who would show up again in Day of The Doctor. There's nice fun moments on their short adventures.
I really don't like this episode, second to worst episode of Doctor Who in my opinion, only behind Love and Monsters. I like the box idea, but, the entire episode is spent faffing about being bored, going through time zones, being bored, watching the cubes, being borrrrrrrreeeeeddddd... Oh sorry. And then it's a quick fire bam, bam, bam. Cube Man, Spaceship, creepy android girl.
Is Martha still with UNIT at this point of the DW timeline? Also I like the random Tudor scene: "Somebody was talking and I just said yes." "To wedding vows, you just married Henry VIII on our anniversary!"
@@anealingfeeling5356 Ok, thanks. Also seeing as you mentioned Children of Earth, I somehow only just realised it was series 3 of Torchwood and comes before Miracle Day.
It took so long for me to realize the power of three means “cubed”, and there are three of them.
How did I not notice that?
How? That's Amy's monologue/narration at the end of the episode.
@@Jedi_Spartan Well I got the three people bit, but not the x³ means cubed part
Jedi Spartan 38 probably because I was only like, ten years old. I know it’s stupid, but it’s true.
The ending has everything to do with Steven Berkoff walking off set - the ending was meant to be much fuller and longer - and he left the shoot (for whatever reason) before his scenes were completed.
I think it's more that he was an asshole on set and refused to do a lot of his scenes, so there was very little that could be edited in to the final cut so Chibnall had to rewrite the ending.
“Little Boxes Will Make You Angry.” - Idris
Kate Stewart is great and makes the depowering of UNIT in Thirteen’s run frustrating.
What has happened?
Keelan Barron Brexit
@@DigiRangerScott wait, i thought you were talking about the thirteen's run? Not real life events?
Keelan Barron I was. We find out in Resolution “UNIT operations have been suspended and replaced with an outsourced call centre, due to a diplomatic argument over funding”. And in Spyfall it and Torchwood no longer exist
@@DigiRangerScott ah, okay then. (Wait, wasn't torchwood already shut down WAY before that point?)
I definitely remember all the great stuff with The Doctor becoming bored, Kate Stewart, and the stuff with Amy and Rory; yet I completely forgot there was even a villain until you brought it up!
I don't remember that guy at all and it's making me wonder if I even finished the episode at the time
How are you doing with the quarantine of the coronavirus? Is everything closed for you?
The person that acted the villain at the end refused to record a lot of his scenes, so they had to use what they had, hence why the episode is 5 minutes shorter than usual.
Really? That's super-unprofessional.
irrevenant3 yeah :/ they had to make do with the scenes that were usable, hence the weird cuts, and if you look carefully, they use the same dialogue a few times
Bryan!
Such a good invasion concept! The whole hiding in plain sight and the public not noticing or caring is such a great theme of this show.
I want UA-cam to take this down again so you can change the title to _"The Power of Three Uploads"_
I So agree.UNIT is such a strong force in the History of Doctor Who.It was comforting to know that they may exist, to protect us and now they don't.Sad.. I have always loved The Power of Three just for the reasons you stated.It showed Amy&Rory in their Marriage- Together and Strong, secure as a couple.They had a life without the Doctor.They still enjoyed their time with him and love him. the rest of the alien story did not make sense to me. It wasn't needed.
When you get to Angeles take Manhattan, please remember Brian's ending in the P.S "minisode" or whatever you want to call it. It's not it's own thing but it really ties up the episode.
Linking it because it is super super important :
ua-cam.com/video/XWU6XL9xI4k/v-deo.html
Loved your emphasis on the importance of thematic reasons for narrative contrivances, it makes a lot of sense - and like you, I actually quite enjoy this episode most of the time
Huh. I wasn't aware this episode was hated. I thought the concept was solid, it was fun watching the main characters interact, Rory's dad is the best companion family member since Wilf. KATE!!! It was just really the climax which felt meh to me.
I think this story was at least in part hurt by the decision to make every episode in this season a single part story, It would of been better as a 2 part story with part 1 dealing with the cubes doing nothing and part dealing with the cubes activating and the villain behind it.
I think that's just the main problem with this season (that and Clara).
Rory & Amy only get 5 episodes, and Clara only gets 7 or 8, so the whole thing feels rushed and very messy.
(That being said, I actually like this Chibnall story. It has an anticlimactic ending, sure, but I think Chibnall is very good at writing character interactions.)
agreed, way too rushed, I grew up with classic who where a story was told over 4 ,6 7, and sometimes 10 episodes (ok sometimes it did drag a bit) the 2 parters of modern who do work similarly to the 4 episodes of classic, but some times they needed to be expanded. Matts time on Trenzelore could have been a whole series by itself. The turn left/stolen earth/journeys end story properly done could have been a whole series too
Would have been better as a two parter. Give an entire episode to engage and resolve the threat.
This has been a recurring problem with Chibnall. The Power of Three, Arachnids in the UK, The Tsuranga Conundrum, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos - he has a habit of either pulling last-minute solutions out of nowhere at the last minute or, at the very least, rushing the endings. He's gotten a *lot* better about that in Season 12 .
That's a similar problem I have with Russell T. Davies. I think he's a good writer but whenever he wants a specific outcome from an episode he'll pull something out of his ass to make it happen. The fake-out regeneration and Metacrisis Doctor is an example of this.
I wonder if it would have been better to not fully reveal the origin of the cubes at all. Instead they could reveal themselves as a threat, then the Doctor can find a way to deactivate them/ get rid of them while leaving a huge question mark about where they came from. Or do you think that could have ended up being an anti-climax?
Nothing could have been more of an anti climax than what we ended up with in this episode
All of the quarantine posts remind me of this episode!
Howdy from the past for all you future viewers! Remember the Coronavirus?
No opening gag come on, “the power of three will set us free” it’s like the first thing that comes to mind.
Pretty much completely agree with your assessment of this one, though I do feel like even if the antagonist was a lot less legendary the ending would still have felt rushed and unsatisfying.
I barely remember this episode... I just remember Kate Lethbridge-Stewart :)
I like this episode but I agree with you that the ending is jarring. It happened so quickly the first time I watched the episode, that I throughly didn't understand what was happening.
Can I jus say... I've always liked your ring.
We got 3 black cubes in our gift bag at the first Time Lord Fest at UNF in Jacksonville Florida.
I like this a fair amount. A solid 7, i appreciate it has some pretty big narrative holes and the rushed ending but the performances are superb and the premise allows the rest of the episode to work on the strength of that alone.
I did like the concept of what went on here, but it reeeaaallly dragged. It was in dire need of some surgically precise edits. Because the Doctor is bored, and he's really the point of view character in this one, it's too easy for the boredom to permeate the episode, unless they were very careful. And they weren't. The final nail was that the ending took whatever was good in the setup and trashed it. Basically, I came away from the episode, forgetting how cool and unique the premise was, if pacing-challenged, and feeling like I'd wasted my time.
The weird thing is, I really liked this episode and don't remember how it ended! Hmmm
"just bring them back safe"
the next episode: Dies
The cube master Villan is very very dumb, but besides that this is a amazing episode especially character wise.
It's such a shame Chibnall series's are nothing like this ....
I basically ignore the end since that was completely outside their power due to production issues. For me the episode ends right as they leave the hospital and so its great
Can't wait when this series catches up to the weekly aired episodes, and soon it'll use a TARDIS to make UNDERdo Doctor Who Reviews
Council of Geeks HELL YEAH! i live for these videos, especially in the current climate, they give a much needed boost in happieness. Keep up the good work you legend :D
I liked 'The Power Of Three'. I will admit it has problems (which you addressed), but despite these, I enjoyed it. One thing I liked was the villain itself, The Tally Man. I found him utterly creepy, but in a good way. Something about the character's voice and general vibe just gave me the heebie-jeebies. He reminded me of the Anti-Monitor from Crisis On Infinite Earths. say what you will about the backstory, the execution of the character was great!
I think Can You Here Me felt like it took the Doctor time to work everything out, it was kind of reminiscent of The Shakespearean Code. Where as this seemed like it wasn’t earned.
Drinking game: take a sip every time someone says "cube".
My memory of this episode was a that it was for the most part, but I couldn't tell you much of anything about how it ended.
I also wish that Malcom had come back sometime.
He did get a mention in the 50th anniversary.
Osgood filled in the role of "Doctor fan working at UNIT", so Malcolm kinda became superfluous.
I have a dream correction for this episode. Take out the shakri. They go up to the spaceship and it is run by a few sickly aliens who's race is dying. It turns out the cubes were made to experiment upon humans to see how they could survive. The Doctor, Amy Rory, and Brian could then tie it back to the doctor's speech about running to things before they fade, and say that everything has its time and everything ends. Then the quick resolution wouldn't be to defeat them, but to convince them to stop, succeed, and send everyone home.
I haven't gotten to see can you hear me yet so I have no clue. But I love the cubes there's so efin random. I want one
As much as I loved Kate Stewart, I wish that Jack was in charge of UNIT.
Kai Creech well he can't do two at once, he's got Torchwood, don'e?
@@samuelbarber4154
I dont think Torchwood wasn't airing in 2013
Jacks in charge of Torchwood, and just as important!
@@julieeverett7442
Torchwood hasn't aired in almost ten years. No, it isn't.
ok
Ah yes. The episode with "Cube dude"
The resolution of this episode is almost a textbook case of why the power creep of the sonic screwdriver is a bad thing.
This episode for me I found to be kinda boring. It wasn't awful and had interesting concepts and a few funny moments but was just kinda there. I never really clicked with it. Like you say the ending didn't really fit but to be honest the rest of the episode was only average for me.
He's bored? Oh, then he's just like the audience.
I feel like the monsters could have suited the Chumblies. The Chumblies aren't that menacing when you look at them and so they could act as servants to people and after a year they start murdering you say spray carbon monoxide in the room. The Shakri could have been the Rills. Edit: I preferred Beverley Cressman couldn't they have got her?
really wish the resolution relied on all three of them working together. It is called The Power of Three afterall and that would have tied in thematically
I really like this episode
Jemma Redgrave was well cast and I enjoyed some of the character development and the build up of what the cubes were all about, but this was really let down by the lame-o ending.
I pretty much agree with you, although the ending did kind of ruin the episode for me. I loved the premise and the first part of the episode. But the ending to me was so bad and nonsensical, I avoid rewatching.
If this was put up two days ago, why am I only seeing it now? UA-cam does this shit on purpose! I've been stuck at home since January! I want to know when my subscribed channels put up new videos. My 'subscribed' page has like 8 videos a day on it, there's no excuse.
Great video. And you addressed that tacked on ending perfectly.
the villain is boring. i enjoyed seeing the life of Amy & Rory outside of the tardis
Why the reupload?
It wasn't showing up in people's subscription feeds or recommendations. UA-cam has been messing with me lately.
Such a dull and empty episode. Such a rushed finale also.
I actually really like this episode.
6:00 😂 Looks like Chibnall has been ripping off Moffat since before he was showrunner!
90% of this episode I absolutely adore, seriously some of the best stuff Doctor Who has ever made. But the other 10%... Wow... it's so bad that it completely negates that good and turns this into easily the worst episode in Smith's run.
Also Chipnall really needs to stop with the lazy, "OMG Legendary Being that The Doctor thought was a legend! We can be lazy with their backstory because they're legendary even though we've only just mentioned them for the first time right now."
Off the top of my head, He pulled it in the power of three, he did it twice in season 11 (the frog and the couple from the finale), he did it in Can you hear me. And it wouldn't surprise me if I've missed a couple.
I remember watching this episode and thinking....this seems familiar. Then I realised why. It's basically a short story form of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel 'Reaper Man', with the details changed - cubes instead of snow globes, the legendary entity instead of the Auditors, Amy, Rory and the Doctor standing in for the wizards and the Fresh Start Club. It's not the worst episode by far (imho that dubious honour goes to the 'Angels in Manhattan') but it isn't original in any way.
Just been having a Pratchett listening marathon and was struck by the similarities. Pratchett was better although I do enjoy the character interactions here as always with this Tardis team.
What is it with Chris episodes and unnecessary voiceover at the beginning and end?
The Apprentice UK doesn't make sense. The Cubes aren't doing anything and people are trying to sell them? Also it would have a worked better as a two parter or maybe have the cubes briefly mentioned in other episodes and then have the countdown in this episode. Although it does give a nice introduction to Kate Lethbridge-Stewart who would show up again in Day of The Doctor. There's nice fun moments on their short adventures.
I really don't like this episode, second to worst episode of Doctor Who in my opinion, only behind Love and Monsters. I like the box idea, but, the entire episode is spent faffing about being bored, going through time zones, being bored, watching the cubes, being borrrrrrrreeeeeddddd... Oh sorry. And then it's a quick fire bam, bam, bam. Cube Man, Spaceship, creepy android girl.
Is Martha still with UNIT at this point of the DW timeline?
Also I like the random Tudor scene:
"Somebody was talking and I just said yes."
"To wedding vows, you just married Henry VIII on our anniversary!"
I think she has moved on at this point.
@@Companion92 Ok, thanks. Had she left before End of Time?
@@Jedi_Spartan Micky convinced her to go freelance after their wedding sometime around Torchwood: Children of Earth and The End of Time.
@@anealingfeeling5356 Ok, thanks. Also seeing as you mentioned Children of Earth, I somehow only just realised it was series 3 of Torchwood and comes before Miracle Day.
3 comments
NICE
I don't like how rushed the ending is but absolutely love the rest of it
I've seen this episode twice and I still can barely remember the ending
The questions this episode raises are great. The answers are just dully standard at best, and perplexing at worst.
Pretty much summed up my view of this episode. Great character piece, but could have benefitted from being a 2-part episode IMO.
Didn't he say that Cube Man was a propaganda hologram or something? That would mean the crew just said: "The Doctor's coming? Bye."
Hey Nathaniel: I'm sure someone has mentioned this already, but-- surely your SPOUSE has a little black box of some sort? ;)
Erm. You do realize I’m divorced, right?
@@CouncilofGeeks Whoops, are you!? D=
In fairness to Chris, two episodes a season is a lot considering it's not his show. No wonder both are so standard (I mean I think they're terrible.)
*sigh*.. first
Amy becoming a writer just comes out of nowhere. I get that Melody Malone has to be published, but this was cheap.
Man I disagree with almost all of your videos...