Little lost girl being chased through the woods by something, led to the TARDIS by someone, the park is overgrown with trees and vegetation, sister has gone missing. I think there's probably a good ghost story buried in there.
8x10 In the Forest of the Night (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!
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I gave it a "meh" as well, which is disappointing since to me they were on such a good, strong streak this year. My thoughts, originally posted elsewhere:
-an okay episode, but rather dull. It's nice to see that there wasn't a monster once again, and it speaks well of this season's emphasis on character work over spectacle. With that said, I thought the episode would have benefited greatly by committing to the Clara/Danny full on, only using the Maebh and forest mystery as a way of framing it. After all, not only was closure achieved in this episode, it was supposed to be the culmination of a season's worth of growth between them. Rather, the resolution felt like it was handwaved, and the wild animals were clearly there as monster-substitutes. Danny brought up some great points about exploration of the unknown vs. clarity of what we have, but I believe after that, that's when he finally confronts Clara about her lying, and... that's... it?
-with that said, the fact that there was no monster and no immediate threat meant that we could get more work out of Capaldi and, consequently, more great comedy bits with the Doctor here around the children. As dark and vengeful as Twelve can get, he really is a hoot plenty of times.
-the glowing flies, I realize, have many similarities to the magic dust in the Doctor, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but it still seemed a bit more inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy.
-paraphrasing the little girl about the TARDIS: "We just woke up to a forest growing overnight. Nothing surprises us anymore." What a great group of kids
-Between last week's TARDIS antics and this episode's class, this season also seems intent on making the show more relatable to children, and that's a good thing. Both episodes were pretty whimsical, and not so blatant about it like the Smith era; and it nicely fits the gap left behind by the unfortunate cancellation of the Sarah Jane Adventures.
-Though with that said, the premise was even more outlandish than your usual Doctor Who episode, and while the franchise has never pretended to be hard sci-fi, its skirting of whimsy brings it really close to actual magic (as opposed to magic masquerading as super-science).
-Hardest to swallow though, is the Doctor's assertion that humanity will forget this event once again. It was already pretty tiresome (the Battle of Canary Wharf, Miracle Day, etc.), but forgetting it seems even harder this time around since the forest was on all the news channels and everyone -- even the kids -- had smart phones and access to global communications. Hell, the students taking selfies was a recurring joke, but selfies can be a form of historical documentation. They definitely weren't the only ones taking selfies that day.
-I'm sure Maebh's reunion with her sister was supposed to be a feel good moment, but yes, just like on the show, she *literally* appeared out of nowhere. Yeah, I'm sure she popped up because of Maebh's last-second plea on global channels, but still, that resolution just felt oddly handled, especially in an episode without much tension to begin with.
-Lastly, the music was much more fitting this time around. Last week the music sounded too upbeat, especially when the 3-d aliens were chasing Clara and co. in the dark tunnels. And before that on the Orient Express, the music sounded too much like goofy 1980s TV action with the rapid drums, rather than the 1920s aesthetic used for the episode.
-an okay episode, but rather dull. It's nice to see that there wasn't a monster once again, and it speaks well of this season's emphasis on character work over spectacle. With that said, I thought the episode would have benefited greatly by committing to the Clara/Danny full on, only using the Maebh and forest mystery as a way of framing it. After all, not only was closure achieved in this episode, it was supposed to be the culmination of a season's worth of growth between them. Rather, the resolution felt like it was handwaved, and the wild animals were clearly there as monster-substitutes. Danny brought up some great points about exploration of the unknown vs. clarity of what we have, but I believe after that, that's when he finally confronts Clara about her lying, and... that's... it?
-with that said, the fact that there was no monster and no immediate threat meant that we could get more work out of Capaldi and, consequently, more great comedy bits with the Doctor here around the children. As dark and vengeful as Twelve can get, he really is a hoot plenty of times.
-the glowing flies, I realize, have many similarities to the magic dust in the Doctor, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but it still seemed a bit more inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy.
-paraphrasing the little girl about the TARDIS: "We just woke up to a forest growing overnight. Nothing surprises us anymore." What a great group of kids
-Between last week's TARDIS antics and this episode's class, this season also seems intent on making the show more relatable to children, and that's a good thing. Both episodes were pretty whimsical, and not so blatant about it like the Smith era; and it nicely fits the gap left behind by the unfortunate cancellation of the Sarah Jane Adventures.
-Though with that said, the premise was even more outlandish than your usual Doctor Who episode, and while the franchise has never pretended to be hard sci-fi, its skirting of whimsy brings it really close to actual magic (as opposed to magic masquerading as super-science).
-Hardest to swallow though, is the Doctor's assertion that humanity will forget this event once again. It was already pretty tiresome (the Battle of Canary Wharf, Miracle Day, etc.), but forgetting it seems even harder this time around since the forest was on all the news channels and everyone -- even the kids -- had smart phones and access to global communications. Hell, the students taking selfies was a recurring joke, but selfies can be a form of historical documentation. They definitely weren't the only ones taking selfies that day.
-I'm sure Maebh's reunion with her sister was supposed to be a feel good moment, but yes, just like on the show, she *literally* appeared out of nowhere. Yeah, I'm sure she popped up because of Maebh's last-second plea on global channels, but still, that resolution just felt oddly handled, especially in an episode without much tension to begin with.
-Lastly, the music was much more fitting this time around. Last week the music sounded too upbeat, especially when the 3-d aliens were chasing Clara and co. in the dark tunnels. And before that on the Orient Express, the music sounded too much like goofy 1980s TV action with the rapid drums, rather than the 1920s aesthetic used for the episode.
I liked it. Good fairy tale. Lots of magic throughout. Sometimes it's ok to sit back and enjoy the ride.
The Danny/Clara stuff was handled better than it's been recently, imo, which helped.
The Danny/Clara stuff was handled better than it's been recently, imo, which helped.
The Doctor has beeing saying this point for years - it's not somsething that's been put in as part of the Era.
And given the title I guess we had to get a tiger
Eh, I sat back and greatly enjoyed the ride these past few weeks. Now we're at the part of the ride where it's nothing but forests
The preview for the finale was the most interesting part of this episode in my opinion.
Luckily for them they weren't Torchwood fairies.
I found the episode reasonably entertaining, but not as interesting as the previous episodes. The girl who played Maebh was suitably adorable for the role.
Two things came to mind when watching:
1) I found the Doctor telling Clara, when they are alone together in the forest, "you find yourself with a strangely compelling masculine . . . figure" to be a bit weird.
2) I imagine there will be quite a bit of negative reaction to this episode from mental health professionals, given that the Doctor criticizes the humans for putting Maebh on medication (antipsychotics, presumably) to treat her condition which sounds remarkably like schizophrenia, and thus the show is encouraging the dangerous idea that mental illness has a purpose, causing people to not seek treatment.
If the above sounds silly, remember that there was some negative reaction to the first episode "Deep Breath" from trichotillomaniacs (people with the uncontrollable urge to pull out their hair) complaining that all the hair-pulling in that episode was triggering them to pull out more of their hair.
Two things came to mind when watching:
1) I found the Doctor telling Clara, when they are alone together in the forest, "you find yourself with a strangely compelling masculine . . . figure" to be a bit weird.
2) I imagine there will be quite a bit of negative reaction to this episode from mental health professionals, given that the Doctor criticizes the humans for putting Maebh on medication (antipsychotics, presumably) to treat her condition which sounds remarkably like schizophrenia, and thus the show is encouraging the dangerous idea that mental illness has a purpose, causing people to not seek treatment.
If the above sounds silly, remember that there was some negative reaction to the first episode "Deep Breath" from trichotillomaniacs (people with the uncontrollable urge to pull out their hair) complaining that all the hair-pulling in that episode was triggering them to pull out more of their hair.
I have read the comments here and at IGN about this episode, and I have read the reviews. I think the Danny/Clara's relationship and Missy were ineptly done. I have a hope, not a great hope, the two-parter, starting next week, will fix this without it feeling rushed.
And, how do trees save the Earth from a solar flare? A solar flare that can kill humans can kill plant life.
And, how do trees save the Earth from a solar flare? A solar flare that can kill humans can kill plant life.
I thought it was good. I love the idea behind the tree invasion and Capaldi was very good. Had some funny lines like "You've been cutting them down for furniture for centuries. If that's love, I understand why they're trying to bring a solar flare down on you."
But I'm looking forward to the era of Clara the Part-Time Companion coming to an end and she can take Danny the Anti-Companion with her. You want to see more clearly what's in front of you, Danny? Terrific. You and Clara do it together on another show, all right? I want a companion who wants to travel with the Doctor full-time, not someone who wants to cling to her boring life.
I still feel we haven't really gotten to know this Doctor due to all the time wasted on Clara.
But I'm looking forward to the era of Clara the Part-Time Companion coming to an end and she can take Danny the Anti-Companion with her. You want to see more clearly what's in front of you, Danny? Terrific. You and Clara do it together on another show, all right? I want a companion who wants to travel with the Doctor full-time, not someone who wants to cling to her boring life.
I still feel we haven't really gotten to know this Doctor due to all the time wasted on Clara.
Jenna is totally my type, I loved her more casual outfit in this episode, and the warm CGI-effect lighting made her look even more incredible than she usually does.
But as for the episode, pretty average. Not bad by any means, but average, and the missing girl at the end was a tad much. I did roll my eyes at that.
I perked up at the trailer for next week's episode, but I sincerely hope Moffat isn't going to go down the same road with Clara that he did with River in series 6. The promo made me fear similarities on that front.
Not a bad episode but it turned out to be a little disappointing. I do have a real hard time, even for this show, swallowing magic trees that grow out of nowhere to save the Earth from natural disasters that nobody, not even the Doctor, remembers.
Also, minus points for prominent Danny Pink screen time.
Did I miss something or did they not explain the girl with the magic tree listening powers whose sister mysteriously disappeared and then returned when the trees went away? Whose last name was Arden, whose first name sounds like Queen Mab? I kept waiting for the reveal on them having alien/magic/tree/whatever heritage or something.
Also, minus points for prominent Danny Pink screen time.
Did I miss something or did they not explain the girl with the magic tree listening powers whose sister mysteriously disappeared and then returned when the trees went away? Whose last name was Arden, whose first name sounds like Queen Mab? I kept waiting for the reveal on them having alien/magic/tree/whatever heritage or something.
That was a very weak episode, the only misstep this season in my opinion. I didn't care for the script or direction in this one. Where were all the Londoners during this mass Fairy Forestation? I felt Smokey Bear would leap out and say "only forest can prevent earth fires." I have to agree with the previous comment that the Next Week preview was the best part.
For those more familiar with the writer, what else has he done in television to get this gig besides the Olympics ceremony?
For those more familiar with the writer, what else has he done in television to get this gig besides the Olympics ceremony?
Torchwood is no more.
UNIT is probably busy defoliating.
UNIT is probably busy defoliating.
Oddly, the Doctor hasn't returned to refuel at The Rift in Cardiff in some time (despite there still being no Eye of Harmony on Gallifrey to power TARDISes) and Torchwood has been retconned out of Moffat's universe it seems. I think we see the pudding brains in UNIT next week, the same fine leadership of Ms. Lethbridge Stewart and her Whovian assistant (who almost destroyed London with the Black Room in the 50th). I am sure they'll again be a big help and we will hear something about soldiers.
Torchwood is what three or four people? I don't see why they can't still be out there somewhere.
The rift in Cardiff was one of the time cracks and no longer exists, so there's nothing to go back to now.
According to last season (Journey To The Center Of The Tardis), the TARDIS has her own Eye Of Harmony.
The Eye OF Harmony in the TARDIS was first seen in the TV movie.
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