Spoilers Demons of the Punjab grade and discussion thread

[Guy Gardener]

Well Yaz's Mum's name is Yaz's Mum, so she had to legally name at least one of her children Yaz.

The McFlys and the Ponds, if you were wondering who I was thinking of blazed this trail first... I was thinking that it would have been a load off, even retroactively, if Yaz did find out that she was adopted.

She was no where near snogging her almost grandfather, but still, you chart a wide berth around temporal incest, unless you're Heinlein, and live in that stuff right up to your elbows.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Well Yaz's Mum's name is Yaz's Mum, so she had to legally name at least one of her children Yaz.

The McFlys and the Ponds, if you were wondering who I was thinking of blazed this trail first... I was thinking that it would have been a load off, even retroactively, if Yaz did find out that she was adopted.

She was no where near snogging her almost grandfather, but still, you chart a wide berth around temporal incest, unless you're Heinlein, and live in that stuff right up to your elbows.

Don't forget Philip J. Fry.

 

[Awesome Possum]

He did do the nasty in the pasty.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Doctor Who isn't living up to its past, something people have been saying since the second episode.

 

[Turtletrekker]

You'd think someone who actually had a 200 plus IQ would not only be secure enough in their own intelligence to never mention it, but have far more important things to do than cry about how there aren't enough white men in media.

A real stable genius...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Doctor Who isn't living up to it's past, something people have been saying since the second episode.

View attachment 6995

#CancelDoctorWho existed since the second episode, thus showing there was never a time fans didn't complained!

 

[Mr Soak]

Doctor Who isn't living up to it's past, something people have been saying since the second episode.

View attachment 6995

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[Jayson1]

I found the episode kind of dull. I mean it was interesting in terms of talking about a historical event that I didn't know much about but I like watching the show to see the Doctor doing Doctor type of stuff. She is being sidelined in her own show. After a strong start the show has now had 3 misses in role which isn't good. Also were is the humor? The show is suppose to be funny as well. I understand this is them trying to return the show back to it's early roots of being educational tv for children but maybe the show grew out of that stuff for a reason?

Jason

 

[Gov Kodos]

A real stable genius...

Mr Ed was the one true stable genius.

 

[cultcross]

Also were is the humor? The show is suppose to be funny as well.

Well I laughed.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Someone else notice how much like Tennant’s Doctor she even looks in those pictures? (Not complaining at all).

I wonder if she let’s her hair grow wilder as time goes by, too!

 

[Mr Awe]

I don't see the resemblance to Tennant myself. Personally, I think she's perfect in the role. She's got a nice alien quirkiness. And, she is funny, but it's in an understated quirky manner.

 

[Jayson1]

What I wonder if they will change the tone of the show in season 2. Many people weren't happy with Capaldi in his first season when he was all cranky so I wonder if they will make alterations in the next season. You know what I kind of miss was that old idea the show was going to be set in two different time periods. One in the past and one in the present and we would kind of have two different versions of the Doctor. Whatever happened to that idea? It felt like something new from what was being done but also not a return to the educational past as well.

Jason

 

[Starkers]

^It was three time zones I believe, something like 1968, 2018 and 2068.

Probably good job they didn't given a certain poster decided this would be THE WORST IDEA EVER! (obviously without seeing a single episode)

As to what changes they'll make, in some cases it will depend. I'd be (pleasantly as it turns out) surprised if Walsh did another series, but will they replace him or just go with Ryan and Yaz (of course for all we know Ryan and/or Yaz might only be single season companions as well).

As for other changes. Well it depends how the BBC feel/what their focus groups are telling them. Whilst many people on here are loving the new iteration of Dr Who it's more than a minority (including me) who feel the new format is a tad understated, so maybe Chibnall will be encouraged to put the Doctor more front and centre, and I'd be amazed if we didn't see Daleks (and maybe even Cybermen).

Even if the ratings continue to slide (and I need to stress they're still really healthy) and the AIs don't pick up I'd be amazed if the BBC replaced either Chibnall or Jodie (or both) they're just not that knee jerk. And they sure as hell aren't going to cancel it, if they were going to do that they'd have done it when Capaldi was the Doctor.

My best guess would be a shake up on the production side of things, with a new producer (or two) who can inject a bit of oomph into proceedings. Again that's just my view and I realise plenty of people think the show has more than enough oomph!

 

[Jayson1]

^It was three time zones I believe, something like 1968, 2018 and 2068.

Probably good job they didn't given a certain poster decided this would be THE WORST IDEA EVER! (obviously without seeing a single episode)

As to what changes they'll make, in some cases it will depend. I'd be (pleasantly as it turns out) surprised if Walsh did another series, but will they replace him or just go with Ryan and Yaz (of course for all we know Ryan and/or Yaz might only be single season companions as well).

As for other changes. Well it depends how the BBC feel/what their focus groups are telling them. Whilst many people on here are loving the new iteration of Dr Who it's more than a minority (including me) who feel the new format is a tad understated, so maybe Chibnall will be encouraged to put the Doctor more front and centre, and I'd be amazed if we didn't see Daleks (and maybe even Cybermen).

Even if the ratings continue to slide (and I need to stress they're still really healthy) and the AIs don't pick up I'd be amazed if the BBC replaced either Chibnall or Jodie (or both) they're just not that knee jerk. And they sure as hell aren't going to cancel it, if they were going to do that they'd have done it when Capaldi was the Doctor.

My best guess would be a shake up on the production side of things, with a new producer (or two) who can inject a bit of oomph into proceedings. Again that's just my view and I realise plenty of people think the show has more than enough oomph!

I believe Whitaker is safe for at least 3 years. It would look bad to fire her especially when she is doing a good job with what she has been given. IS Chibnall that safe though? I mean the ratings are good enough to make it to season 2 but I wonder if he has the freedom and control the past showrunners had. I am big fan of Moffat and I can't lie. I love the idea of him coming back and writing for Whitaker. I know that is just a pipe dream though.

Jason

 

[Starkers]

I believe Whitaker is safe for at least 3 years. It would look bad to fire her especially when she is doing a good job with what she has been given. IS Chibnall that safe though? I mean the ratings are good enough to make it to season 2 but I wonder if he has the freedom and control the past showrunners had. I am big fan of Moffat and I can't lie. I love the idea of him coming back and writing for Whitaker. I know that is just a pipe dream though.

Jason

I think Moffat's had quite enough of Who, much like RTD. Chibnall is a decent showrunner and he isn't a terrible writer, but he isn't as good a writer as either of his predecessors and, maybe more importantly, he isn't a showman in the way either RTD or Moff were. to be honest if nothing else I'd expect his episodes to be more evenly spaced in his second season, rather than front loading them all as he did this year. I can understand his thinking, wanting to lay the ground work for his Doctor, but as I say he just isn't as good a writer as he maybe thinks he is.

I'd be surprised if Jodie isn't the Doctor for at least 2, and more likely 3 years.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

There's no denying Moffat's a great writer. But I genuinely had enough of him and his revisionist bullshit.

Chibnall's not a better writer, but I appreciate its a different show in a good way. I don't think its as well written as the best of RTD and Moffat, but there's not much we can do about that.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

I believe Whitaker is safe for at least 3 years. It would look bad to fire her especially when she is doing a good job with what she has been given. IS Chibnall that safe though? I mean the ratings are good enough to make it to season 2 but I wonder if he has the freedom and control the past showrunners had. I am big fan of Moffat and I can't lie. I love the idea of him coming back and writing for Whitaker. I know that is just a pipe dream though.

Jason

I think Moffat's had quite enough of Who, much like RTD. Chibnall is a decent showrunner and he isn't a terrible writer, but he isn't as good a writer as either of his predecessors and, maybe more importantly, he isn't a showman in the way either RTD or Moff were. to be honest if nothing else I'd expect his episodes to be more evenly spaced in his second season, rather than front loading them all as he did this year. I can understand his thinking, wanting to lay the ground work for his Doctor, but as I say he just isn't as good a writer as he maybe thinks he is.

I'd be surprised if Jodie isn't the Doctor for at least 2, and more likely 3 years.

Lasting for 3 years is easy. If the rumors of DW going on hiatus again in 2019 are to be believed.
No X-Mas special this year, but a New Years special instead on January first. No news after that.

These hiatuses don't spell confidence behind the scenes. Or maybe Chibnall and co really are out of ideas.

 

[Mr Awe]

The highlights of this season have been Jodie and the new companions, particularly Graham.

But, I too am one who thinks it's the writing that has hampered this season. Placing the new team in so many situations where they can only observe is hamstringing them. And, there's been no strong villains to act as a foil.

Yes, those are great for change of pace episodes, but not sufficient for the meat and potatoes. Sure, meaningful stuff can, and did indeed, occur in episodes like Rosa and Punjab. In fact, the Punjab episode is my favorite this season. But, it felt like it was written as a Hindu/Muslim love story set in that era (I can picture the Bollywood movie now), and then the DW setting was added on.

But, I have no issues with the casting, particularly not with Jodie.

As for changes next season, all they really need to do is spread out Chibnall's episodes (as Starkers said) and let the other writers write more traditional type of stories that feature strong villains and the Doctor and team as active, dynamic participants in the story.

You have a better balance like that and I think that's a sufficient change. Nothing really too dramatic.

The problem with the three time lines rumor is that you'd have three versions of the Doctor just as you were trying to learn about the new Doctor. Makes it hard for new viewers, and confusing for the old. And, what do you do with the other 2 Doctors at the end?

 

[Mr Awe]

I think Moffat's had quite enough of Who, much like RTD.

Agreed. And they both left after their welcome was worn out, at least a bit. But, I wonder if either of them would ever be tempted to write an individual episode at some point. It's easy to imagine that their creative wheels are constantly turning and that at some point a great idea for DW story would pop into their minds. One they had to write.

I'd welcome that type of return for either.