6x05 The Rebel Flesh (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!!)
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I'm waffling between "Who's universe are we in now?" and "Did you wish really hard?" It was better than "Curse of the Black Spot", but just barely. The Doctor, Amy, and Rory all seemed off character again. Dumb, boring plot. Definitely not one I'll be watching multiple times.
It was better than it looked in the trailer, so I was positively impressed, but not very good. I gave it the second one because I loved it when it got to a more personal level, but otherwise it did little for me. I was just beginning to like it when it ended. At least I'm happy that we were back at home, on Earth, with humans, instead of some alien experiment for copying people, animating flesh for evil purposes and that kind of thing.
Voted the second one. It was entertaining but nothing special. Maybe the second part will be better. Is this possibly how the Auton's came into being?
wow that was pretty boring and not even scary. The second i seen the flesh tub i figured that storm would makes those gangers to come alive.
What would of been awesome would of had the gangers be controlled by Nestene Consciousness hence the storm.
Just watching them try to kill each other cause each want to be the only real ones just didnt do much for me.
I think what was more interesting is that Rory picked that chick over Amy.
Atleast now we no this ganger doctor is the one that actualy dies from that Astronaut.
What would of been awesome would of had the gangers be controlled by Nestene Consciousness hence the storm.
Just watching them try to kill each other cause each want to be the only real ones just didnt do much for me.
I think what was more interesting is that Rory picked that chick over Amy.
Atleast now we no this ganger doctor is the one that actualy dies from that Astronaut.
I found it rather dull, and figured the ending out far too quickly. It reminds me of the Silurian episodes last year in that the first half seemed very drawn out. I've been on board with pretty much every episode this year until now, but I don't really enjoy the thought of another 45 minutes of this story yet to come next week.
It was terrible. And there's a full hour of it left to go.
Why was it "terrible"? Because it was boring. It is one good idea that is never executed well, and irrational characters.
And there are endless scenes that do nothing except eat screen time. Why was this even commissioned?
Doctor Who gets 14 episodes a year and two of them were just burned on this crap.
Why was it "terrible"? Because it was boring. It is one good idea that is never executed well, and irrational characters.
And there are endless scenes that do nothing except eat screen time. Why was this even commissioned?
Doctor Who gets 14 episodes a year and two of them were just burned on this crap.
Pretty average and by the numbers, really. The obvious solution right of the bat is to get everyone into the TARDIS and away from there, but of course access to the TARDIS has been cut off, forcing everyone to deal with the situation at hand. The Gangers are basically the same cliche done in every clone story. They have the memories of their originals, and therefore they consider themselves equal, but of course the originals don't want to grant the clones (Gangers) the rights they feel they deserve. The Doctor is naturally sympathetic and wants to help the Gangers out, but complications arise, such as humans wanting to kill the Gangers. A companion (Rory) gets involved and has a personal stake in things.
Really, this could be any generic Doctor Who story, or any generic clone story. There's not much new or original here, and so it's not entertaining or particularly compelling. I don't know, maybe I am being a bit too harsh, but it was boring.
And just how many more times do we need to see the Doctor standing at the TARDIS performing a pregnancy scan on Amy? We get it, she may or may not be pregnant. Surely the Doctor must realize that constantly staring at the monitor as it switches back and forth between positive and negative isn't accomplishing anything. And just how long do we have to wait until Eyepatch Lady is explained? Midseason or proper season finale?
And finally, could they spend at least one episode this season where they're somewhere other than an American desert that isn't so damn dark? Jeez, can't they afford light bulbs this season?
Really, this could be any generic Doctor Who story, or any generic clone story. There's not much new or original here, and so it's not entertaining or particularly compelling. I don't know, maybe I am being a bit too harsh, but it was boring.
And just how many more times do we need to see the Doctor standing at the TARDIS performing a pregnancy scan on Amy? We get it, she may or may not be pregnant. Surely the Doctor must realize that constantly staring at the monitor as it switches back and forth between positive and negative isn't accomplishing anything. And just how long do we have to wait until Eyepatch Lady is explained? Midseason or proper season finale?
And finally, could they spend at least one episode this season where they're somewhere other than an American desert that isn't so damn dark? Jeez, can't they afford light bulbs this season?
I found it a little predictable and dragging, but a bit of a reprieve from the madcap mayhem of the last few episodes ... especially "The Doctor's Wife". So it got points for that. But final judgment on any two-parter has to wait for the second part.
Interestingly, I'd had a discussion with my wife about programmable matter on the way into work Thursday. Intel is one of the organizations interested in this idea.
Interestingly, I'd had a discussion with my wife about programmable matter on the way into work Thursday. Intel is one of the organizations interested in this idea.
yeah im not looking forward to next weeks either. If its all going to be about is the gangers trying to kill off the real people then it be a dud. So many ways they could of taken this story.
1. Nestene Consciousness
2. Instead of having Gangers and real people, have them merged into one body. And have the gangers try to pull out of the body or something clever.
3.Have us all think the Gangers are the real folks till later on etc like the SG1 episode Tin Man an Double Jeopardy
And some Northern accents to boot.
A solid episode and the trailer for next week looks fantastic but sad to think there is only 2 episodes left until the show goes on a break for something like 15 weeks 
cheers BBC. I love the idea of dopplegangers, such a wonderful Sci Fi idea and it will be very interesting to see Doctor 2.0 in more detail next week 
The whole clone tech along with the acid suits struck me as Sontaran in nature but I guess we will see next week.
I think I will stop grading 2 parters on them own because its so dam hard at times due to only getting half of the story but the 1st part was 42 mins well spent.
cheers BBC. I love the idea of dopplegangers, such a wonderful Sci Fi idea and it will be very interesting to see Doctor 2.0 in more detail next week The whole clone tech along with the acid suits struck me as Sontaran in nature but I guess we will see next week.I think I will stop grading 2 parters on them own because its so dam hard at times due to only getting half of the story but the 1st part was 42 mins well spent.
Having conscious living organic flesh evolve into conscious plastic seems like a step back to me. If they go the route of having this be an origin of the nestene I would be quite disappointed.
I think Rory glommed on to the ganger girl because it was one of the few times of late where someone has needed him, when he could be the hero. It gives him a purpose rather than just following around his wife and her exciting, heroic, always-saves-the-day, Doctor.
I liked the feel of this and last week's episodes. Feel suitably important without having to be part of a big arc, a bit of darkness but not depressingly so, intertwined with whimsey and fun throughout and all with an interesting concept and looking quite good to boot. We'll have to see how the second half is, but I might add this to my favorites of the new who as far as non-event un-arced adventures go.
I think Rory glommed on to the ganger girl because it was one of the few times of late where someone has needed him, when he could be the hero. It gives him a purpose rather than just following around his wife and her exciting, heroic, always-saves-the-day, Doctor.
I liked the feel of this and last week's episodes. Feel suitably important without having to be part of a big arc, a bit of darkness but not depressingly so, intertwined with whimsey and fun throughout and all with an interesting concept and looking quite good to boot. We'll have to see how the second half is, but I might add this to my favorites of the new who as far as non-event un-arced adventures go.
^
Best phrase of the thread, Venardhi.
I thought the ep was okay. I liked the atmosphere, and the story idea was okay, but there seemed to be too much running around up and down corridors and not enough actual story progression. Rory's attachment to Jennifer seemed odd, but I guess he sees in her a kindred spirity from his days as a plastic copy; that scene where she's looking at the photo was good. It was cool seeing the TARDIS buried almost to the roof, and the storm effects at the beginning and later in the sky were well done.
The Eyepatch Lady's blink-and-you-miss-her appearance seemed pointless, especially considering there appears to be another one on tap for next week. And does the Doctor spend all his spare time in the TARDIS staring at that pregnancy scan of Amy?
Overall, though, I'm hoping Part 2 will shine a more positive light on this one.
Best phrase of the thread, Venardhi.
I thought the ep was okay. I liked the atmosphere, and the story idea was okay, but there seemed to be too much running around up and down corridors and not enough actual story progression. Rory's attachment to Jennifer seemed odd, but I guess he sees in her a kindred spirity from his days as a plastic copy; that scene where she's looking at the photo was good. It was cool seeing the TARDIS buried almost to the roof, and the storm effects at the beginning and later in the sky were well done.
The Eyepatch Lady's blink-and-you-miss-her appearance seemed pointless, especially considering there appears to be another one on tap for next week. And does the Doctor spend all his spare time in the TARDIS staring at that pregnancy scan of Amy?
Overall, though, I'm hoping Part 2 will shine a more positive light on this one.
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
I liked it, was entertained by it, and am quite keen to see where it goes next. But I dunno. It didn't reach me as much as last week's.
It's a typical 'base under siege', the slight twist being it's from within. In a way, without trying to sound snarky, it's a retread of of The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit.
I'm very wary of Matt Graham, after the disappointment of LoM.
Rory. Yeah, he wants to help Jennifer so he doesn't feel like the tin dog all the time.
I've gave it a sexy, but it's very dependant on how Pt 2 turns out.
Like others, I'm pretty sure the Doctor comes to an agreement with the clone, giving him 200 years to wander the universe, before returning and giving his regeneration energy back to the original.
Interesting title for season half-time ep.
I liked it, was entertained by it, and am quite keen to see where it goes next. But I dunno. It didn't reach me as much as last week's.
It's a typical 'base under siege', the slight twist being it's from within. In a way, without trying to sound snarky, it's a retread of of The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit.
I'm very wary of Matt Graham, after the disappointment of LoM.
Rory. Yeah, he wants to help Jennifer so he doesn't feel like the tin dog all the time.
I've gave it a sexy, but it's very dependant on how Pt 2 turns out.
Like others, I'm pretty sure the Doctor comes to an agreement with the clone, giving him 200 years to wander the universe, before returning and giving his regeneration energy back to the original.
Interesting title for season half-time ep.
Solid enough story with some good character moments. Not one I'll likely rewatch though, but certainly loads better than the pirate story.
For some reason it reminded me very much of last series Silurian story. Right down to the scared, middle aged woman who cocks everything up.
For some reason it reminded me very much of last series Silurian story. Right down to the scared, middle aged woman who cocks everything up.
I enjoyed quite a bit but as with all 2-parters it will be key to see the next episode as well. Using the old "clones/artificial life attaining consciousness" plot wasn't a problem for me. It seemed to step into that issue a little more deeply than most other times, what with the Doctor being so emphatic in his attitude.
Favorite line... "Yeah... she is." I get a kick out of that mini running gag, especially with this little twist.
Overall it seemed a bit more of a character development story with Rory benefitting more. For once he gets to be the needed one, after all of his time with Amy and the Doctor. (Moffat himself mentioned that in one of the commercial breaks). Plus, we get to see a tiny bit of insecurity in Amy which makes sense. The episode appeals to me because it's a nice change-of-pace. For my part, I don't have to have grand, epic, cosmos affecting stories each week. It helps to provide a breather in between all of the active episodes.
I gave it a "I think you can call it ... Sexy". I doubt that will go up even after watching next week, but you never know
Favorite line... "Yeah... she is." I get a kick out of that mini running gag, especially with this little twist.
Overall it seemed a bit more of a character development story with Rory benefitting more. For once he gets to be the needed one, after all of his time with Amy and the Doctor. (Moffat himself mentioned that in one of the commercial breaks). Plus, we get to see a tiny bit of insecurity in Amy which makes sense. The episode appeals to me because it's a nice change-of-pace. For my part, I don't have to have grand, epic, cosmos affecting stories each week. It helps to provide a breather in between all of the active episodes.
I gave it a "I think you can call it ... Sexy". I doubt that will go up even after watching next week, but you never know
After The Doctor's Wife, anything would appear like a "lesser" episode, so for that reason alone I was preparing to cut the two parter a lot of slack. But it happens I didn't really need to. One of the reviewers put it best that this was "old school" Doctor Who, and I think that's good. We need a bit of that. Although there's plenty in here that's not Old School. I enjoyed the episode, and found the gangers intriguing, even though their make-up looks a bit too close to the make-up used on the water creatures in The Waters of Mars. It did feel though like Amy and Rory (or Karen and Arthur) were "off" a bit this week. The fact Amy and Rory seem on the verge of their first fight - and possibly even jealousy - probably has a lot to do with it. I loved the touch about turning the console room into a pub, though!
I just hope the Doctor clone doesn't end up being the one who gets shot (or is involved). I really hope we're seeing some major misdirection thrown our way on that point.
I think a lot of folks have been spoiled by the go-go-go pace of the season to date. I think having a leisurely first chapter followed by what looks to be an action-packed conclusion, is perfectly fine. Remember in the original series sometimes it took 3 episodes for things to get moving on a 4-parter.
Alex
I just hope the Doctor clone doesn't end up being the one who gets shot (or is involved). I really hope we're seeing some major misdirection thrown our way on that point.
I think a lot of folks have been spoiled by the go-go-go pace of the season to date. I think having a leisurely first chapter followed by what looks to be an action-packed conclusion, is perfectly fine. Remember in the original series sometimes it took 3 episodes for things to get moving on a 4-parter.
Alex
I kept getting hung up on the idea that there's an island (somewhere) with a castle that is pumping acid from somewhere to somewhere else for no apparent reason, especially when there's a big nasty Space Storm coming. WTF?
I'm getting "The Doctors Daughter" vibes from this episode.
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