I had no idea we were getting two episodes on the first day, so apologies for posting this late. I don't have the time to watch it now but hopefully sometime tomorrow. Anyways, discuss away!
Interesting tidbit regarding how much time has been going by between episodes. While Space Babies definitely picks up directly after The Church on Ruby Road, meaning in Space Babies it's Christmas 2023 from Ruby's perspective, in this episode Ruby says it's either June or July 2024 from her perspective. So Ruby's already been travelling with the Doctor for at least six months. I'm sure the tie-ins are grateful to have such breathing room to play with between episodes.
The Doctor vs (literally) someone from RuPaul's Drag Race. This was a bizarre episode, but thats kind of what I liked most about it. I'm glad that The Beatles were barely a factor, it made the actors looking and sounding literally nothing like them not really matter. I didn't know anything about this episode going in except for the beatles appearance, so I was very surprised to see The Maestro show up. They were certainly a memorable villain, and we got some cool "music fights" with them. I do think that this episode, and the one before it, went a bit too "looney tunes". I think that the first episode should have been slightly more grounded, it would have helped the zaniness not feel quite so overbearing. Still this was definitely an improvement over the last episode, although I hope the next one tones down the "cartoon" factor. Also, I wanted to take off a point for that stupid musical number at the end, it was just as bad as the goblin one and just as useless, but I'm feeling a bit generous, so I won't. 7/10
I liked that a lot better than Space Babies. I'm not sure if it's actually a better episode or that my mind just can't handle those baby abominations and boogey monsters. Not sure the concept of music personified makes any sense at all but if you take it at face value I think it's executed about as well as can be expected. Jinxx Monsoon(sp?) did pretty well in the Who over-the-top villain role and the last song is kind of icing on the cake. I mean if you're going all-in on this thing you might as well go all-in. Still kind of odd that were left with music leaving and returning on 1963, I suppose this will be another of those foggy things no one quite remembers. Not 100% on Ncuti Gatwa, I mean I like the guy and all but I don't know if I quite have full buy in on him as The Doctor. Also, there have been a couple of sour notes (forgive the pun) with him and Millie where I don't feel like they are selling the gravity of some scenes but that might come down to the writing/directing and the whole "it's a lark" vibe. I think it works as a fun adventure but might leave some wanting something meatier to bite into. I'm already imagining the Big Finish stories of Rubathon Blue.
Does anyone know which episode Ruby's piano song came from? It was definitely part of the Doctor Who soundtrack, but I cannot quite place it. Edit: Never mind. I am stupid. It's not from a previous soundtrack, just released ages ago. It's Ruby's own Theme song! Duh!
also some more Doctor exposition for new viewers, explaining how he used to live in 1963's UK and has/had a grand daughter. I do think Susan is going to be brought up again, maybe even seen, they focused hard on that bit.
There's always a twist in the end... there's always a twist in the end... Gagh... that'll be stuck in my head for DAYS now. (SO how's my head now?)
Solid Historical Who outing. With the usual anachronisms they bring. A bit frightening to call 1963 a historical setting though, Love the Doctor talking about his earlier self, I'm a big Beatles fan so the Abbey Road setting was fun. Beatles casting was a bit off. Especially the guy playing Paul. They did a better job with George Martin. That John and Paul saved the day was great. The Maestro was totally over the top and I Ioved it. Austin Powers vibes from the closing number and the Doctor's suit. Over all better than Space Babies, which was an average space ship with a twist episode.
Possible spoilers: Spoiler maybe a meta-gag but Susan Twist keeps appearing. Possible spoiler for something related or maybe not: https://twitter.com/WhovianLife/status/1789318161889644595?s=19
This is Susan Twist: https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Susan_Twist She's been in 3 episodes thus far as a background actor playing different characters.
On saw the last fifteen minutes, and eff me it was terrible. The only good thing was that for one brief second, I missed watching Maureen & Melvins Musicagrams.
This one was a bit better than Space Babies, but only by a little. Gave it a 6. The Doctor and Ruby seem fine. But it didn't resonate, so to speak, with me.
I think this was very much in the vein of Space Babies but probably a better episode. Shades of the movie Yesterday, Buffy’s Hush and sort of a sequel to the Tennant 60th anniversary specials. John Lennon still looked more like Ray Manzarek from the Doors and Paul like, well, I don’t know, but not Paul McCartney, but the story meant that the absence of real Beatles music was consistent in-universe and didn’t stand out. Jinkx Monsoon was a lot of fun and just on the right side of OTT. Could probably have done without the song at the end; not sure what the titular twist was. These episodes have been kinda fluff, but I think they may be building up to something more substantial. I’m enjoying the fluffy buildup, anyway.
The twist was them not realising Twist & Shout is not a Beatles composition, and therefore cheap enough that they could have at least been on theme.
I'm torn on this one. Liked parts of it, but didn't like other parts of it. Especially the end song and dance number... eww...
Basically, this was proper good. Overall I loved this, and especially adored the Maestro - such a good performance and a fantastic villain, would love to see more of her! But, I have a complaint. If you're going through the effort to include the Beatles...why NONE of their music? And you do have the implication that Paul and John are geniuses enough to invent the lost tune, but why not justify that with their musical compositions? Is licensing Beatles music that expensive? Also, too bad for George and Ringo (well, George mostly). At least have one of their bests in the end musical number? Beyond that niggle, I really enjoyed the episode, more than the previous one. So far so good.