Knock Knock (Grade & Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter TommyR01D
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Damn, yeah I would have loved t have that kept in. Why'd they cut it? Hell, every time Kate Stewart shows up we get bashed over the head with reminders that she's the Brigadier's daughter.
Damn, that is too bad. But at least Harry got a lovely tribute in Sarah Jane Adventures.
A small reference to a character only a small proportion of the audience knows about, or cares about. An easy cut.
http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/a...ock-character-is-classic-companion-s-grandson
http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/a...ock-character-is-classic-companion-s-grandson
1. "Who's the Prime Minister?" is often used as a test for dementia. They remember that Elizabeth II is their head of state but have no clue as to the head of government, though Thatcher was often an exception.
2. Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson and Sir Anthony Eden are recognised in Doctor Who. Harriet Jones has not been forgotten. No mention of Harold Saxon, the numerous stand-in premiers since then or "Jeremy".
3. The above are particularly intriguing given that our most recent change of leadership probably happened while this episode was being written and it airs during a general election campaign.
4. The landlord pretended to be looking after his daughter but it was actually his mother. I can't work out the purpose of that misdirection. Was it meant to be a Nancy callback?
5. The pop music bits were pointless.
6. Judging by the trailer for next week, this series has at least five body horror episodes on the trot.
2. Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson and Sir Anthony Eden are recognised in Doctor Who. Harriet Jones has not been forgotten. No mention of Harold Saxon, the numerous stand-in premiers since then or "Jeremy".
3. The above are particularly intriguing given that our most recent change of leadership probably happened while this episode was being written and it airs during a general election campaign.
4. The landlord pretended to be looking after his daughter but it was actually his mother. I can't work out the purpose of that misdirection. Was it meant to be a Nancy callback?
5. The pop music bits were pointless.
6. Judging by the trailer for next week, this series has at least five body horror episodes on the trot.
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Decent episode. Decidedly atmospheric for part of the episode, although the set-up was rubbish. I know I've complained about this a lot (and believe me, I'm more tired of complaining about it than you are reading about me complaining), but I'm really tired of the continuous dropping off companions on Earth and just visiting whenever shtick that's been going on in the show since season 8. The set-up for this story would have been much better if The Doctor and Bill happened to land in the house as a group of university students have moved in and things go bad. I get the point of the semi-grounding this season is because of The Vault, but right now I don't see the payoff (even if the rumor contents is true) is worth it. At least based on the teaser for the next episode, Nardole goes along for the side adventure.
As for the rest of the episode, I wasn't terribly satisfied with the explanation. Unless I missed it, why did the mother forget her "father" was actually her son? What were they doing during the 20-year intervals when they weren't killing kids for their life energy? I was also a little disappointed that all of Bill's mates magically survived in the end.
While we may not have gotten the Harry Sullivan reference, we did get a handful of references to stories past, including "Wicked!" (unless kids these days actually say it on a regular basis, I'm taking it as a reference to Ace), "Sleep is for tortoises!" and Harriet Jones.
The one shining part of the whole episode (aside from The Doctor and Bill, of course) was David Suchet. I don't think I've ever seen him in any role other than Hercule Poirot so hearing his (I assume) his natural accent threw me off a bit, but I loved his performance nonetheless.
For other Suchet fans, this Radio Times interview is worth reading. He talks about his love for Doctor Who and had a rule, "Always say yes to Doctor Who!" He's also a fan of The Sixth Doctor because he went to drama school with Colin Baker and feels sorry that his run got a bad rap.
As for the rest of the episode, I wasn't terribly satisfied with the explanation. Unless I missed it, why did the mother forget her "father" was actually her son? What were they doing during the 20-year intervals when they weren't killing kids for their life energy? I was also a little disappointed that all of Bill's mates magically survived in the end.
While we may not have gotten the Harry Sullivan reference, we did get a handful of references to stories past, including "Wicked!" (unless kids these days actually say it on a regular basis, I'm taking it as a reference to Ace), "Sleep is for tortoises!" and Harriet Jones.
The one shining part of the whole episode (aside from The Doctor and Bill, of course) was David Suchet. I don't think I've ever seen him in any role other than Hercule Poirot so hearing his (I assume) his natural accent threw me off a bit, but I loved his performance nonetheless.
For other Suchet fans, this Radio Times interview is worth reading. He talks about his love for Doctor Who and had a rule, "Always say yes to Doctor Who!" He's also a fan of The Sixth Doctor because he went to drama school with Colin Baker and feels sorry that his run got a bad rap.
7. "Landline? What is this, Scotland?" reminded me of American Dad.
8. "I'll see you later for more exciting TARDIS action but basically this is the bit of my life you're not in." sounded like something you'd expect from a press release or Confidential interview.
8. "I'll see you later for more exciting TARDIS action but basically this is the bit of my life you're not in." sounded like something you'd expect from a press release or Confidential interview.
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After two mediocre episodes, this week I felt the show was back on track; easily the best of the series so far by miles. Felt more like how Doctor Who should be. David Suchet was superb as the Landlord, the best antagonist the show's had in series 10 so far, this episode got me thinking he'd make a good Doctor or a Master. Next week looks good, lets hope the series continues more in this direction.
Well, considering the Doctor is (supposed to be) Earthbound, watching over the vault, I have no problem with Bill having some place to go during non-adventure time. I couldn't stand it when it was Clara. Hated that.
* I still adore Bill
* The 12th Doctor gets better every week
* I enjoy Lucas's cameo's
* David Suchet was superb (He would of made a great Master in the past)
* I liked the first half of the episode and the creepy tone.
However the episode itself got an Average rating again (3rd in a row). Outside of the first episode, they are really struggling to nail the execution of the episodes and are content to hand out half baked explanations that don't hold up well to the light. Next week does look better and gives off a 2 part vibe?
The ending for me confirms "The Master" is indeed the one in the vault, the joyful piano to the kids demise in the story was all I needed to know. I really wish The Master would knock 4 times on the Vault door for old time's sake
* The 12th Doctor gets better every week
* I enjoy Lucas's cameo's
* David Suchet was superb (He would of made a great Master in the past)
* I liked the first half of the episode and the creepy tone.
However the episode itself got an Average rating again (3rd in a row). Outside of the first episode, they are really struggling to nail the execution of the episodes and are content to hand out half baked explanations that don't hold up well to the light. Next week does look better and gives off a 2 part vibe?
The ending for me confirms "The Master" is indeed the one in the vault, the joyful piano to the kids demise in the story was all I needed to know. I really wish The Master would knock 4 times on the Vault door for old time's sake
The PM test was dropped in the late 80s because there hadn't been a change in years. It's been reinstated since.
Well, the winning streak couldn't last. A bog-standard Moffat-era, no one dies, no real villain episode. One thing I definitely won't miss when he's gone.
And yes, no real question of who's in The Vault now. Just as well they're not dragging it out for the whole series.
And yes, no real question of who's in The Vault now. Just as well they're not dragging it out for the whole series.
Somehow it's still not as mind-numbingly tedious as the Hybrid.
I thought that was beautiful, maybe because the scenario of the son becoming the parent resonated with me.
IMO this season's turning out to be a cracker.
Oh yeah and apparently if you watch on iPlayer on a tablet/laptop and listen via headphones the sound is supposed to be really freaky. There was a feature on Click about it earlier.
IMO this season's turning out to be a cracker.
Oh yeah and apparently if you watch on iPlayer on a tablet/laptop and listen via headphones the sound is supposed to be really freaky. There was a feature on Click about it earlier.
Is anyone else finding the enunciation poor this season? I don't have a problem with more natural accents, but boy does it sound like Pearl Mackie is mumbling most of her lines.
The episode was fine, but I kept thinking it would have been better as a late-October pre-Halloween episode than early May.
The episode was fine, but I kept thinking it would have been better as a late-October pre-Halloween episode than early May.
I didn't really care for this one too much. As noted, it's pretty generic of the Moffat era, everyone lives and it centres around children, this time in a round about way. At the start when the Landlord gets all defensive about the tower I automatically assumed it was his child, and indeed that is how it was initially sold, only the "clever" twist is that his child actually turns out to be his mother. The horror movie pastiche that took up the first half of the episode went on way too long, and there's only so much creeking floorboards one can take. Bill's friends are a pretty vanilla bunch, though that being said, they're still ten times more enjoyable to watch than the Class cast.
A nitpick, it's said that the Landlord has been doing this for 70 years, but he only draws people in every 20 years. 70 is not a factor of 20, it should be 60 or 80 years instead.
A nitpick, it's said that the Landlord has been doing this for 70 years, but he only draws people in every 20 years. 70 is not a factor of 20, it should be 60 or 80 years instead.
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