I really enjoyed it. It dealt with themes of loneliness and isolation and how the 15th Doctor puts on a happy face to hide his innate loneliness and depression in the wake of Ruby's departure. It was an episode steeped in character and themes with the usual trappings of High Stakes End of the World consequences that are endemic to Doctor Who these days. There was a fantastic pay off to the "long way round", but it wasn't the bootstrapping paradox, it was what the Doctor was hiding from himself and dealing with the criticism that came from himself. Storytelling-wise, it was the most mature episode we've had since Who went on Disney Streaming.
I can't understand Moffat he is a great writer he wrote some great stuff in series 1 of Eccleston, Tennant, Smith to Peter Capaldi. I feel that Ncuti would be a good doctor with someone else in the production, it's just like Jodie we will never know how good should could have been under a better team and show runner.
Let me preface that statement: I felt moffet does great at writing the actions and words of the doctor. So I could see ncuti as the doctor and I loved that. I felt it was warm, light and feel good. As I wasn’t in the mood for anything deep or dark, I felt it was just right for a lighter feel good episode. I liked the humor, loved the concept. Enjoyed the characters.
I thought it an odd choice to park him in a hotel for a year, right after you parked the prior Doctor with Donna's family. The Doctor is supposed to be flying all over doing stuff, not chilling in an old hotel without working on something. The end ruined it for me. I felt the whole religious message was an appeasement to the conservative base for last year's "pronouns." I blame Disney, they can't help but fiddle with franchises.
@readingandwhatnot if people like it that's their choice. What I and many other Who fans dislike is the constant in your face forced ideological plotlines and characters. They've basically taken over a well entrenched beloved TV show and said "This is the new normal and if you don't like it you're a bigot, so F-you."
I keep seeing stuff like this, but in every message board i've been in people absolutely love this episode. I really feel like this is divisive, and it's hurting our favorite show. For people who don't like it, they're not true fans.
@nevetswad I've been a fan for over 30 years. Doctor Who has changed, but change has always been at the heart of the series. It’s not just about the Doctor regenerating. It’s how the writing, tone, and focus have evolved over the years to fot wants going on in the world. The 9th - 12th Doctors had character driven stories with emotional arcs, complex plots, and themes like guilt and redemption. Meanwhile, the 13th Doctor’s era shifted toward broader narratives, inclusivity, and serialized mysteries like the Timeless Child. This felt refreshing for some but less personal for others who missed the tighter, emotional focus of earlier seasons. But both are good. With Ncuti Gatwa's era, we are moving back to a more emotional but also seeing a bigger storyline within, just like with Matt Smiths era. Now, with the blend these styles, acknowledging modern themes while recapturing the emotional depth and energy of past eras. In the end, Doctor Who keeps changing, but its core values; curiosity, compassion, and challenging the status quo - stay the same. If you can’t see that, I don’t think you understand what being a fan is really about.
I can't say it's going to be high on my re-watch list. That said - out of 1200 fans polled on Gallifreybase, 60% of them gave it a 7 or higher out of 10 (average is about 8 point something...). Only 20% of people felt it was 4 or less out of 10. I'd peg it around 6.5/10 myself... It's not Fear Her, it's not Heaven Sent.
Yeah it was decently good, definitely not horrible. Most people just wanna hop on the hate train. Though while most of it was good, some part definitely ruined the mood like unnecessary gender-related jokes.
@carmelamatatquin2120 As a fan of the past 47 years, I am really disappointed at the amount of hate people are expressing on socials for WHO, over the past 7 years but in particular since RTD's return. Yes, there's issues, but let's not forget that no era pleases everyone. I would have stopped watching when Matt Smith took over if it weren't for my son, as he wasn't my cup of tea. But just because he wasn't singing my tune, didn't mean I had to go ruin it for those who loved him - and PLENTY did.
Honestly, i feel like it was one of the best episodes from the new doctor's performance, which, comparing it to the whole of season 1, isn't much of an accomplishment at all. The premise of a 'time hotel' has a lot of flaws and issues which were never addressed in the slightest, as well as having humanity easily influence different parts of time itself, could really screw over and destroy the current timeline in a sense. Why were there no safety guards to stop people entering the wrong locations at the wrong time? The whole code for the briefcase is never explained how he figured out the number, aka, quite literally a sin on story telling for a closed loop time paradox. That part of writing was increadably lazy, and honestly, would be a black mark on the writer's record. Most of the character's deaths are... quick and pointless, pretty much hopping between three people in the span of 30 seconds, it seemed rushed somewhat. I will say though, the somewhat down to earth (quite literally) nature when he's trapped on earth for a whole year, was probably the only high point, there was alot more chemistry between the doctor and the hotel owner there than between him and Joy. Though i regret to say we're using the 'Sonic screw driver can do magic' thing again, which kinda breaks the original use of that device. Minus that, i would honestly say i would have liked the hotel owner to be the next companion, Alas... The whole dinosaw scene was over and done so fast, i almost blinked and missed it, and the ending, oh it was very much a mixed bag. On the one hand, people could say they were touched about the whole hospital scene, my relative and i was as well. BUT, on the other side, they were so focused on the 'government and their parties' stuff, it sorta turned what should have been a scene of sadness and 'joyful', into one of... well anger in some sense. Cause watch other reviews on the show, 50% is like, yeah, it was touching, but i couldn't really cry to it, and the other 50% is like, Ah yes, lets bash on about the lockdowns and all that bad shit, reopen those wounds people want to keep shut since they're still fresh. At the end of the day, it's a mix bag of sorts, at some points, i almost felt like there was a gem of a good Dr Who episode, but then said points are pretty much ruined down by bad writing as a whole. Like, why couldn't the code for the briefcase be like... tied to a verse or something from the Bible or something, connected to the wise men following the star? it would have been good foreshadowing of the events to come, but be subtle enough to know that the Doctor wont be able to change what's to come in the long run. It is kinda sad how far Dr who has fallen over the last 2 doctors, and honestly i don't know whether it's fatigue (like what's wrong with the marvel films), or having 'THE MESSAGE' forced into every show to the point that it turns off the modern audiance to it. Because the fact that Wallice and Gromit hit a near record of over 10M views, right after Dr who ended (with barely over 4M viewers), it kinda shows that over 5M viewers actively chose not to watch Dr who over watching Walice and Gromit. Apologies for the long comment, but i just needed to air my thoughts somewhere. Happy New Year Everyone
So sad to see how it's going from worse to completely rotten
@TheRealDrWho what about it don't you like?
I really enjoyed it. It dealt with themes of loneliness and isolation and how the 15th Doctor puts on a happy face to hide his innate loneliness and depression in the wake of Ruby's departure. It was an episode steeped in character and themes with the usual trappings of High Stakes End of the World consequences that are endemic to Doctor Who these days. There was a fantastic pay off to the "long way round", but it wasn't the bootstrapping paradox, it was what the Doctor was hiding from himself and dealing with the criticism that came from himself. Storytelling-wise, it was the most mature episode we've had since Who went on Disney Streaming.
Oh. I am an older fan having started with Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning.
I can't understand Moffat he is a great writer he wrote some great stuff in series 1 of Eccleston, Tennant, Smith to Peter Capaldi.
I feel that Ncuti would be a good doctor with someone else in the production, it's just like Jodie we will never know how good should could have been under a better team and show runner.
Absolutely
You felt it was flat? It's been flat for years. I can't bring myself to watch it at all anymore.
I liked it. I thought it was different in a good way. I also love Ncuti Gatwa!
I enjoyed it.
Actually, I loved it
Let me preface that statement: I felt moffet does great at writing the actions and words of the doctor. So I could see ncuti as the doctor and I loved that. I felt it was warm, light and feel good. As I wasn’t in the mood for anything deep or dark, I felt it was just right for a lighter feel good episode. I liked the humor, loved the concept. Enjoyed the characters.
I felt like nothing was happening for a good part of the episode. We're supposed to feel for Joy at the end, but we hardly know her.
Such a waste of Ncuti Gatwa's talent. Moffet phoned the script in and it showed.
I loved it
I thought it an odd choice to park him in a hotel for a year, right after you parked the prior Doctor with Donna's family. The Doctor is supposed to be flying all over doing stuff, not chilling in an old hotel without working on something. The end ruined it for me. I felt the whole religious message was an appeasement to the conservative base for last year's "pronouns." I blame Disney, they can't help but fiddle with franchises.
Are there still fans? Over a decade, they have managed to piss off most older fans. And they won't get them back!
100%
@@rodneymarsden3003 what about it don't you like?
@@readingandwhatnot Disrespect for William Hartnell to begin with.
@rodneymarsden3003 how so?
@@readingandwhatnot To me and many older fans, he was the first Doctor. I did not want him replaced. It was wrong.
It was 6th in the top ten for Christmas Night-pretty decent. There's lots of life in the series.
Woke nonsense.
@stuff802 what's woke about it?
@readingandwhatnot if people like it that's their choice. What I and many other Who fans dislike is the constant in your face forced ideological plotlines and characters. They've basically taken over a well entrenched beloved TV show and said "This is the new normal and if you don't like it you're a bigot, so F-you."
i was happy
best episode since capaldi
you should complain about the devels chord. worst episode ever
I keep seeing stuff like this, but in every message board i've been in people absolutely love this episode. I really feel like this is divisive, and it's hurting our favorite show. For people who don't like it, they're not true fans.
I wouldn't say they aren't true fans. Maybe they liked the show for years and don't like how it's changed.
@nevetswad I've been a fan for over 30 years. Doctor Who has changed, but change has always been at the heart of the series. It’s not just about the Doctor regenerating. It’s how the writing, tone, and focus have evolved over the years to fot wants going on in the world.
The 9th - 12th Doctors had character driven stories with emotional arcs, complex plots, and themes like guilt and redemption. Meanwhile, the 13th Doctor’s era shifted toward broader narratives, inclusivity, and serialized mysteries like the Timeless Child. This felt refreshing for some but less personal for others who missed the tighter, emotional focus of earlier seasons. But both are good. With Ncuti Gatwa's era, we are moving back to a more emotional but also seeing a bigger storyline within, just like with Matt Smiths era.
Now, with the blend these styles, acknowledging modern themes while recapturing the emotional depth and energy of past eras. In the end, Doctor Who keeps changing, but its core values; curiosity, compassion, and challenging the status quo - stay the same. If you can’t see that, I don’t think you understand what being a fan is really about.
I can't say it's going to be high on my re-watch list. That said - out of 1200 fans polled on Gallifreybase, 60% of them gave it a 7 or higher out of 10 (average is about 8 point something...). Only 20% of people felt it was 4 or less out of 10. I'd peg it around 6.5/10 myself... It's not Fear Her, it's not Heaven Sent.
Yeah it was decently good, definitely not horrible. Most people just wanna hop on the hate train. Though while most of it was good, some part definitely ruined the mood like unnecessary gender-related jokes.
@carmelamatatquin2120 As a fan of the past 47 years, I am really disappointed at the amount of hate people are expressing on socials for WHO, over the past 7 years but in particular since RTD's return. Yes, there's issues, but let's not forget that no era pleases everyone. I would have stopped watching when Matt Smith took over if it weren't for my son, as he wasn't my cup of tea. But just because he wasn't singing my tune, didn't mean I had to go ruin it for those who loved him - and PLENTY did.
Honestly, i feel like it was one of the best episodes from the new doctor's performance, which, comparing it to the whole of season 1, isn't much of an accomplishment at all. The premise of a 'time hotel' has a lot of flaws and issues which were never addressed in the slightest, as well as having humanity easily influence different parts of time itself, could really screw over and destroy the current timeline in a sense. Why were there no safety guards to stop people entering the wrong locations at the wrong time?
The whole code for the briefcase is never explained how he figured out the number, aka, quite literally a sin on story telling for a closed loop time paradox. That part of writing was increadably lazy, and honestly, would be a black mark on the writer's record. Most of the character's deaths are... quick and pointless, pretty much hopping between three people in the span of 30 seconds, it seemed rushed somewhat.
I will say though, the somewhat down to earth (quite literally) nature when he's trapped on earth for a whole year, was probably the only high point, there was alot more chemistry between the doctor and the hotel owner there than between him and Joy. Though i regret to say we're using the 'Sonic screw driver can do magic' thing again, which kinda breaks the original use of that device. Minus that, i would honestly say i would have liked the hotel owner to be the next companion, Alas...
The whole dinosaw scene was over and done so fast, i almost blinked and missed it, and the ending, oh it was very much a mixed bag. On the one hand, people could say they were touched about the whole hospital scene, my relative and i was as well. BUT, on the other side, they were so focused on the 'government and their parties' stuff, it sorta turned what should have been a scene of sadness and 'joyful', into one of... well anger in some sense. Cause watch other reviews on the show, 50% is like, yeah, it was touching, but i couldn't really cry to it, and the other 50% is like, Ah yes, lets bash on about the lockdowns and all that bad shit, reopen those wounds people want to keep shut since they're still fresh.
At the end of the day, it's a mix bag of sorts, at some points, i almost felt like there was a gem of a good Dr Who episode, but then said points are pretty much ruined down by bad writing as a whole. Like, why couldn't the code for the briefcase be like... tied to a verse or something from the Bible or something, connected to the wise men following the star? it would have been good foreshadowing of the events to come, but be subtle enough to know that the Doctor wont be able to change what's to come in the long run.
It is kinda sad how far Dr who has fallen over the last 2 doctors, and honestly i don't know whether it's fatigue (like what's wrong with the marvel films), or having 'THE MESSAGE' forced into every show to the point that it turns off the modern audiance to it. Because the fact that Wallice and Gromit hit a near record of over 10M views, right after Dr who ended (with barely over 4M viewers), it kinda shows that over 5M viewers actively chose not to watch Dr who over watching Walice and Gromit. Apologies for the long comment, but i just needed to air my thoughts somewhere.
Happy New Year Everyone
Totally agree