How about it even ending with a group straight out of Love And Monsters? The Master turning other people into himself? Vinder being in it? Cybermasters and their theme music? Kate Stewart? Four knocks?
Lots of Nu Who callbacks
Spoilers The Power of the Doctor grade and discussion thread
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
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Lots of Nu Who callbacks
This isn't true.
I think the whole thing with the 'Tennant Doctor 2.0' is incredibly stupid and massively fanwanky on RTD's part, but a Gallifreyan's regeneration resulting in the reuse of a familiar physical form is a potentiality that was first demonstrated with Romana and also referenced/demonstrated (explained or otherwise) with the Sixth and Twelfth Doctors and The Curator.
They left something open ended quite blatantly.
There were two versions of the Master, the Rasputin version and the "Seismologist" version.
"Seismologist" suspiciously vanished from the story (or I missed his fate). So basically a very obvious window for him to return next time.
There were two versions of the Master, the Rasputin version and the "Seismologist" version.
"Seismologist" suspiciously vanished from the story (or I missed his fate). So basically a very obvious window for him to return next time.
Good Omens, for a starter?
Hmm.
The story/plot was, well, crap. But the acting was pretty damn good, the 'fanwank' inclusions bizarrely worked for me (great seeing McCann), and the whole thing romped along at breakneck pace. The pace is NEVER something I liked about Chibbers' scripts, but he makes it work this time, and it's like skating over thin ice - you'll get through if you don't slow down to think about it too much. I don't know how rewatchable this ep will be, but Chibbers has done worse.
Whittaker cranked her acting up, and it seemed to come through that she will miss this.
Chibnall has been a terrible showrunner with crap overarching ideas like the Timeless Child. Still get an impression of too much stuff being wedged in until it looks like a burst cushion. And, again, deprived 13 of so much agency. At least he seems to have tried a little harder to make it work. Too little, too late, mind you.
Looking forward to RTD.
I can live without seeing this version of the Master ever again. He's too mad.
Knew Tennant was coming back, but I thought it would be wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey of him and the new one interacting, especially with Donna not being able to be there. Did not see that regeneration happening.
All in all, I'm satisfied with this, and glad Chibbers is moving on, and hope to see Wjittaker again.
The story/plot was, well, crap. But the acting was pretty damn good, the 'fanwank' inclusions bizarrely worked for me (great seeing McCann), and the whole thing romped along at breakneck pace. The pace is NEVER something I liked about Chibbers' scripts, but he makes it work this time, and it's like skating over thin ice - you'll get through if you don't slow down to think about it too much. I don't know how rewatchable this ep will be, but Chibbers has done worse.
Whittaker cranked her acting up, and it seemed to come through that she will miss this.
Chibnall has been a terrible showrunner with crap overarching ideas like the Timeless Child. Still get an impression of too much stuff being wedged in until it looks like a burst cushion. And, again, deprived 13 of so much agency. At least he seems to have tried a little harder to make it work. Too little, too late, mind you.
Looking forward to RTD.
I can live without seeing this version of the Master ever again. He's too mad.
Knew Tennant was coming back, but I thought it would be wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey of him and the new one interacting, especially with Donna not being able to be there. Did not see that regeneration happening.
All in all, I'm satisfied with this, and glad Chibbers is moving on, and hope to see Wjittaker again.
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Wow.
Yes, it was a madcap of sheer nonsense but I don't care because it was so damn fun, which is all I want from an anniversary special.
Not only that but it was also a great sendoff for Jodie Whittaker while also with far more tributes to the past than I dared hope for! Not only great appearances from Ace and Tegan with their own little story arcs but also the long-overdue Earth-based Doctor support group. Not just the companions of the main story, but Mel and Jo and Ian, too (although I still need an Ian and modern-day Doctor interaction!).
But if that wasn't enough we also got Colin and Peter and Syl and, yes, even Paul! I lost my godsdamn mind when Paul graced our screens once again! And still that wasn't enough because Peter and Syl got to have mini-reunions with Janet and Sophie which absolutely brought me to tears. Plus one more appearance for David Bradley and hopefully not the last of Jo Martin (you better bring her back, Russell!).
All of this love and devotion to Doctor Who of the past, both classic and modern, may have been off-putting for some, with all of the delightful obvious references like "rabbits!" and "brave heart" and "professor" and nitro-9 and baseball bat and celery stick and scarf and winks at past silly serial titles, but again, I don't care because I loved all of those references.
And then there was David fucking Tennant.
I've been against the rampant rumor about him returning as the next Doctor and not flashback specials, but after all of the madness of this ridiculous yet fun episode, you know, what, fuck it! Bring on Tennant as the next Doctor, however this absurdity will go.
As for the "plot" itself, there's not much to see aside from the fact that, yet again, I love Sacha Dhawan's manic energy as The Master. As much as I loved Missy and the brief sinisterness of Derek Jacobi, I think his Master is now my favorite modern Master. I'm sorry to see him go...until we get another multi-Master romp (and maybe with Jacobi, too!).
Yes, it was a madcap of sheer nonsense but I don't care because it was so damn fun, which is all I want from an anniversary special.
Not only that but it was also a great sendoff for Jodie Whittaker while also with far more tributes to the past than I dared hope for! Not only great appearances from Ace and Tegan with their own little story arcs but also the long-overdue Earth-based Doctor support group. Not just the companions of the main story, but Mel and Jo and Ian, too (although I still need an Ian and modern-day Doctor interaction!).
But if that wasn't enough we also got Colin and Peter and Syl and, yes, even Paul! I lost my godsdamn mind when Paul graced our screens once again! And still that wasn't enough because Peter and Syl got to have mini-reunions with Janet and Sophie which absolutely brought me to tears. Plus one more appearance for David Bradley and hopefully not the last of Jo Martin (you better bring her back, Russell!).
All of this love and devotion to Doctor Who of the past, both classic and modern, may have been off-putting for some, with all of the delightful obvious references like "rabbits!" and "brave heart" and "professor" and nitro-9 and baseball bat and celery stick and scarf and winks at past silly serial titles, but again, I don't care because I loved all of those references.
And then there was David fucking Tennant.
I've been against the rampant rumor about him returning as the next Doctor and not flashback specials, but after all of the madness of this ridiculous yet fun episode, you know, what, fuck it! Bring on Tennant as the next Doctor, however this absurdity will go.
As for the "plot" itself, there's not much to see aside from the fact that, yet again, I love Sacha Dhawan's manic energy as The Master. As much as I loved Missy and the brief sinisterness of Derek Jacobi, I think his Master is now my favorite modern Master. I'm sorry to see him go...until we get another multi-Master romp (and maybe with Jacobi, too!).
A bit?Might just be me, but I think Graham was a bit taken with Ace.
And I can't believe they're about the same age in real life. Bradley Walsh is 62 while Sophie Aldred is 60.
That‘s him in the 80s.
Looks pretty sharp.
Think Ace would have been into him back then?
I gave this a B. I generally enjoyed it. Particularly, it had a number of great performances, and I loved the classic companions and Doctors. Those were the absolute highlights.
Story-wise I have some niggles with it. It was good but not great. Although, it is definitely one of Chibnall's best.
There were a few too many plot conveniences to cover things that the companions wouldn't be able to do. The holograms and how did Graham get to the core are the top offenders. I would've liked Ace and Tegan to have a bit more time directly with the Doctor herself rather than doing their separate things. But I suppose time was limited. Speaking of which, I think a few too many things were jammed into the time. Really no point to having Vinder.
All in all, I enjoyed it more than almost all other Chibnall episodes. It was a good way to end this era of DW.
Man think how shocking the Tennant reveal would've been if that hadn't been revealed earlier. A true shock. Instead, it was the expected conclusion.
Story-wise I have some niggles with it. It was good but not great. Although, it is definitely one of Chibnall's best.
There were a few too many plot conveniences to cover things that the companions wouldn't be able to do. The holograms and how did Graham get to the core are the top offenders. I would've liked Ace and Tegan to have a bit more time directly with the Doctor herself rather than doing their separate things. But I suppose time was limited. Speaking of which, I think a few too many things were jammed into the time. Really no point to having Vinder.
All in all, I enjoyed it more than almost all other Chibnall episodes. It was a good way to end this era of DW.
Man think how shocking the Tennant reveal would've been if that hadn't been revealed earlier. A true shock. Instead, it was the expected conclusion.
That was my guess exactly, but unfortunately it wasn't to be.
Well, that was a pretty good episode, probably Chibnall's best and one of only two or three episodes from his run that was any good. It did feel a bit long, they could have cut 10-15 minutes out of it and it only would have improved the episode, but overall I liked it.
It was awesome to see some of the old Doctors and companions again. It was clever how the showed the old Doctors, and even gave 5 and 7 a moment with their companions (I wish 6 had had a slightly bigger role, but I'm honestly just glad he was included). Ace and Tegan played their parts well, and I say that as someone who definitely isn't a Tegan fan. The 13th Doctor and her companions I was just as neutral about as I usually am, although the 13th Doctor got a good ending.
The Master was fine, his plan was interesting enough although hopefully his Timelord Cybermen are gone (I liked them as a one off threat, but wouldn't want them to stick around). I wish The Master's TARDIS had been a bit more unique, the crystal motif matching the 13th Doctor's TARDIS didn't make much sense, at least in the old days the TARDIS had a more machine look so them being similar made more sense.
I'm excited for the (14th?) Doctor's episodes, and of course I'm absolutely ecstatic over RTD replacing Chibnall. Hopefully we'll get some great 14/10th Doctor and Donna stuff, then on to a brand new Doctor after that.
It was awesome to see some of the old Doctors and companions again. It was clever how the showed the old Doctors, and even gave 5 and 7 a moment with their companions (I wish 6 had had a slightly bigger role, but I'm honestly just glad he was included). Ace and Tegan played their parts well, and I say that as someone who definitely isn't a Tegan fan. The 13th Doctor and her companions I was just as neutral about as I usually am, although the 13th Doctor got a good ending.
The Master was fine, his plan was interesting enough although hopefully his Timelord Cybermen are gone (I liked them as a one off threat, but wouldn't want them to stick around). I wish The Master's TARDIS had been a bit more unique, the crystal motif matching the 13th Doctor's TARDIS didn't make much sense, at least in the old days the TARDIS had a more machine look so them being similar made more sense.
I'm excited for the (14th?) Doctor's episodes, and of course I'm absolutely ecstatic over RTD replacing Chibnall. Hopefully we'll get some great 14/10th Doctor and Donna stuff, then on to a brand new Doctor after that.
The whole thing about forcing the Doctor to regenerate into the Master so he could go around saying he was the Doctor while destroying things was lame. What's the difference with doing that without the forced regeneration? Either way he looks the same and is travelling around in a TARDIS.
I suppose it could've been to get her infinite regenerations. But they didn't go into that.
I remained spoiler free. Gobsmacked!
Is it bad to say the story was utter crap but it was fun despite that?
Loved the cameos by all the past companions and a Dr support group yeah that's not new now people, remember that LINDA thing from one of Tens stories?
I had fun with this one despite the crap story.
B
PS now regeneration can change your clothes too. That's never happened before has it?
Oh and why can't we have Jo Martin as the Doctor, I mean for an adventure or two?
Loved the cameos by all the past companions and a Dr support group yeah that's not new now people, remember that LINDA thing from one of Tens stories?
I had fun with this one despite the crap story.
B
PS now regeneration can change your clothes too. That's never happened before has it?
Oh and why can't we have Jo Martin as the Doctor, I mean for an adventure or two?
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Me too.
