Ncuti Gatwa is the 15th Doctor

[Ray Hardgrit]

Looks a little young but I'll give it a watch. I'm sure nothing important happened since Capaldi.

It'll be interesting to see if anything since Capaldi ever gets mentioned or has any influence on episodes. Judging by RTD's first run on the series I'd assume not.

 

[TheAlmanac]

He's also the first Doctor actor who was born after me, and that I definitely have mixed feelings about, in regards to the fact that it makes me feel ancient at 31 years old

Huh, that's a pretty good point about age. This is also the first time for me the Doctor is played by someone younger than me. The Doctors closest to me in age are Smith and Whittaker, who are both three years older than me.

That bridge was already crossed for me, but these comments point to another milestone--this is the first Doctor born after the classic series ended, during The Wilderness Years.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

How does Ian Levine feel about it?

Spinning in his grave?

 

[Australis]

For the first time since 2005, there's a Nu-Doctor Who episode I haven't seen yet. The most recent Easter Special. I just can't drum up the enthusiasm to watch it. For me, Jodie has been fine, but I haven't been excited by Chibnalll's run.

You can miss it, no loss.

Davies' bombastic and often silly sci-fi elements are another story, however...pig people....cat people...giant rhinos and bees...

The original series had the Wirrn, so...

Capaldi and I were born in the same year. Gatwa is younger than my kids, so...

I saw the BBC News clip locally, rewatched here, I think he'll be fine.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

You can miss it, no loss.

Sad that Who use to be something I never miss. I might stick it on tomorrow afternoon. It's Sea Devils after all.

Spinning in his grave?

I had to check... old Levine is still alive... I was worried for a moment, or at least as worried as I could be considering it's Ian Levine.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Legend of the Sea Devils is extremely skippable... unless you've seen every other episode of modern Doctor Who, in which case you have to watch it to complete the set. It is interesting though, as it might be the first episode of the Chibnall era to have worse production than it does writing.

 

[Sci]

Ncuti Gatwa is absolutely wonderful on Sex Education. I highly recommend the show to everyone and he is an absolute standout in a cast of standouts. I can definitely see where elements of his performance -- his energy, his playfulness, his hidden depths, his passion, his strength -- can all come to bear in a way that works for the character. I think he'll hit it out of the park as the Doctor.

 

[thribs]

Still no ginger. That story is going to be epic when it finally happens.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Legend of the Sea Devils is extremely skippable... unless you've seen every other episode of modern Doctor Who, in which case you have to watch it to complete the set. It is interesting though, as it might be the first episode of the Chibnall era to have worse production than it does writing.

I've seen every existing Classic episode, every episode of post 2005 Who, read the NA's, read the MA's, read the PDA's, read the EDA's and vast swathes of comics, plus quite a lot of Big Finish audios, own three Sonic Screwdrivers... I love the show, so really it's silly if I don't watch it.

No offence to anyway, because I love Star Trek, but if I had to take the entirety of one show or the other to a desert island then I'd choose Who in a heartbeat.

I'm just being a grump about it all. I want to reignite my Who love very much.

Sea Devils might be a thing for tomorrow afternoon.

I didn't know there was quite a sizeable Who forum here and it seems to be relatively clear of alt-right maniacs. Time to explore.

Also, back to topic, Ncuti Gatwa, welcome to the family!

 

[Starkers]

Sea Devils isn't terrible (there are far worse Chibnall era episodes TBH)

 

[StCoop]

It's the most clearly COVID effected episode and one of the ones where it would be very interesting to compare to original script to the final version.

 

[Starkers]

I'm not overly excited about Davies returning (as you may or may not recall, I was often critical of his era, especially the first two series), rather I'm cautiously optimistic between series 4 (my favorite non-Smith series) and the incredible work he did for Years and Years (and what I've heard about It's a Sin even though I haven't watched it yet). I like to think he has matured as a writer since he left Doctor Who and that gives me hope.

But I certainly understand and emphasize why you're unenthusiastic.

Anyone who was around here back in the day will also know I wasn't RTD's greatest fan, and I'll always be more Team Moffat then Team Russell, but I've mellowed, and as you say RTD has matured as a writer. Apart from a few sledgehammer moments Years and Years was excellent. It's a Sin was just superb though, utterly heart-breaking but phenomenal, I can't believe it didn't win BAFTAs.

Even when I moaned about RTD's Who back in the day it was always compelling viewing. Chibnall's Who didn't even annoy me, it just made be quite apathetic. That said I'm hoping RTD 2.0 isn't just a re-tread of RTD 1.0. I think everyone's moved on.

I'm sure he wouldn't have returned if he didn't have some new ideas.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

This is good I have never heard of him either till now looking him up. I'm happy with a new choice but yeah was hoping for another female but it is what it is so still happy.

 

[Orac Zen]

Yes, indeed, we can only hope Russell T Davies OBE has “matured” enough that he won’t put any of those pesky emotions in his science fiction anymore. That would be a damn shame.

Oh. I wasn't aware that I was supposed to like everything Davies - OBE, as if that actually matters - does. Now that I am so informed, I find I don't care. Nor do I reckon snide remarks add anything even remotely germane to this discussion. Each to their own and all that.

 

[jaime]

As far as pre-existing profile, this is far more like casting Tennant or Whittaker than Matt Smith; it’s just profile with a different audience. I’m a bit surprised so few people here have seen Sex Education. I know sci-fi and teen dramedy don’t have a ton of overlap, but it does have Scully off The X-Files!

Seriously, though, check the show out if you have Netflix. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll be able to see pretty quickly that Gatwa has charm and comic timing, which takes you a fair bit of the way as the Doctor.

Modern Doctors? I will have you know that the Seventh was outright identified on screen as a Friend of Dorothy.

 

[Relayer1]

Still no ginger. That story is going to be epic when it finally happens.

It's discrimination I tell you.

I'm just being a grump about it all. I want to reignite my Who love very much.

There's a lot of people that feel the same way. Me included.

I persisted with Chibnall's run and have found things to enjoy, but I'm stuck two episodes into Flux and just can't muster the enthusiasm to carry on. The Daleks special was OK, the Sea Devils very much wasn't.

I wasn't exactly over the moon at RTD coming back -

I feel like what Davis got right was his character work. You felt for the characters and what they went through. I especially liked his take on the Doctor where you're never quite sure if he's really the hero the universe made him out to be. Davies' bombastic and often silly sci-fi...

Yeah, he's great at character, less so at sci-fi, but i must admit I'm getting somewhat more optimistic now.

Fingers crossed !

 

[Chakoteya]

Modern Doctors? I will have you know that the Seventh was outright identified on screen as a Friend of Dorothy.

ROTFLMAO..... Oh, that's just Ace. Nice one.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Legend of the Sea Devils is extremely skippable... unless you've seen every other episode of modern Doctor Who, in which case you have to watch it to complete the set. It is interesting though, as it might be the first episode of the Chibnall era to have worse production than it does writing.

I personally found everything i saw from Chibnall run"extremely skippable", and i am much better for it. lol

 

[jaime]

ROTFLMAO..... Oh, that's just Ace. Nice one.

I wish I could take credit, but these days it is unwise to forget The Happiness Patrol.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I had to check... old Levine is still alive... I was worried for a moment, or at least as worried as I could be considering it's Ian Levine.

Give it time. This could be the final nail in his coffin, if nothing else.