It reminded me, somewhat, of Sapphire & Steel as well.
7x09 Hide - rating and discussion thread
- Thread starter Lonemagpie
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4 out of 5. Almost a 5. Both Smith and Coleman did a great job. The guest characters felt like real people. High marks for the creepy atmosphere.
I loved the theme that things aren't as scary once you have more information. We saw that with the "ghost", which was really just a lost relative. We also saw that with the beast, which just wanted to be with its loved one. When the Doctor said, what's the opposite of "ignorance is bliss", my first thought was "fear".
It wasn't perfect. I was skeptical of the voice operated TARDIS or the fact that it could save the Doctor herself. He'd never be in danger then! Also, the whole love thing tying the universes together was a bit too emo for me.
Nice shoutout to Metebelis III, just wish that Smith would've pronounced it correctly!
Mr Awe
I loved the theme that things aren't as scary once you have more information. We saw that with the "ghost", which was really just a lost relative. We also saw that with the beast, which just wanted to be with its loved one. When the Doctor said, what's the opposite of "ignorance is bliss", my first thought was "fear".
It wasn't perfect. I was skeptical of the voice operated TARDIS or the fact that it could save the Doctor herself. He'd never be in danger then! Also, the whole love thing tying the universes together was a bit too emo for me.
Nice shoutout to Metebelis III, just wish that Smith would've pronounced it correctly!
Mr Awe
I thought it was a fantastic episode, possibly the best in the season so far.
But...
...the "love story" bit at the end kind of killed it a little, why couldn't the monster have just been that? A malevolent monster the created the pocket universe to eat people or something? The boogeyman! It just felt sort of tacked on at the last minute.
But...
...the "love story" bit at the end kind of killed it a little, why couldn't the monster have just been that? A malevolent monster the created the pocket universe to eat people or something? The boogeyman! It just felt sort of tacked on at the last minute.
I don't have a problem with the idea of the monster but I agree that it did come off as a tacked-on afterthought in execution.
I admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the monster love story either. But I figured the writer needed to provide some explanation and/or justification for the monster that was actually in the house (not the pocket universe). The only choices I can think of are:
- There is a single monster that can freely transport between the pocket universe and our world. But then why wouldn't it simply attack people in the house?
- There are two monsters with no love interest, one in the pocket universe and one in the house. But again, why would one be violent and the other not?
- There is only one violent monster, in the pocket universe. But then the episode would have been less scary (no handholding gag, no quick cuts of a shifting figure)
- Maybe the house monster just happens to be a pacifist or something.
Yes, you're right (although I don't know about the cliff thing....I think the monster tackles the Doctor to prevent the Doctor from escaping without him---I could be wrong, though). I was merely responding to the wish of a previous poster that the love story be jettisoned and replaced with a "violent monster who traps and eats people in a pocket universe" story, which would be difficult to explain given that another monster of the same species exists in the house (sure, they could be two totally unrelated monsters with different personalities, but that's not really satisfactory from a dramatic perspective). Basically, the writer needed a plausible way to explain why one monster was waiting around and grabbing people's hands in a house, while another monster was desperate to get to our heroes, and an interdimensional love story fits the bill (I suppose it could also have been a parent-child thing...the monster in the house looked a lot smaller than the other one)
Enjoyed this much more than Cold War. Unlike that episode, they actually took the time to establish a creepy atmosphere this time, and the professor and assistant characters came across much more like real people.
And I loved that the story veered off in such a strange, unexpected direction as well (if I didn't know better, I'd think Moffat actually wrote this, because that's more his kooky style). The time travel sequence, and Clara's reaction to it, was brilliant, and the stuff in the pocket universe was beautifully directed as well.
And while I understand those who'd prefer the monster be kept a monster, for me the revelation at the end was so nutty and inspired and off the wall that I couldn't help but love it anyway.
And I loved that the story veered off in such a strange, unexpected direction as well (if I didn't know better, I'd think Moffat actually wrote this, because that's more his kooky style). The time travel sequence, and Clara's reaction to it, was brilliant, and the stuff in the pocket universe was beautifully directed as well.
And while I understand those who'd prefer the monster be kept a monster, for me the revelation at the end was so nutty and inspired and off the wall that I couldn't help but love it anyway.
And while I understand those who'd prefer the monster be kept a monster, for me the revelation at the end was so nutty and inspired and off the wall that I couldn't help but love it anyway.
Probably worth it just for Matt Smith's reaction when he gets face-to-face with it.
There was no further reference to the fate of Hila Tacorian (the time-traveller) beyond the fact that she couldn't go home. The writer simply decided to leave it out, I suppose (much like the writer of "Cold War" never mentioned how the Doctor got to the South Pole
)
B+ / A
Clara was good in this one. And the stuff with her and the TARDIS was the best parts. I get the feeling that Sexy is a little jealous of the new girl.
When the Doctor said "Every monster needs a companion", was it me or did that feel like a reference towards the Doctor as much as the creature.
Clara was good in this one. And the stuff with her and the TARDIS was the best parts. I get the feeling that Sexy is a little jealous of the new girl.
When the Doctor said "Every monster needs a companion", was it me or did that feel like a reference towards the Doctor as much as the creature.
There was no further reference to the fate of Hila Tacorian (the time-traveller) beyond the fact that she couldn't go home. The writer simply decided to leave it out, I suppose (much like the writer of "Cold War" never mentioned how the Doctor got to the South Pole
In order to get back Clara's ring she's now working as an apprentice to the barking moped salesman.
I prefer this one, the monster in 1974 is kind of like a "ghost" in that one can only catch glimpses of it, and that certain conditions must be met for it to catch somebody.
Hell, we don't exactly know how Tacorian got trapped there, for all we know it feeds off time (Artron?) energy or something and that's how it creates the pocket 'verse and sustains it.
They can give ANYTHING a timey-wimey explanation!
I thought it was a very good episode. I've always liked the "it looks like a supernatural phenomenon but it's really SCIENCE" stories, and this one was one of the better ones.
Indeed. Also, I'm glad that the explanation didn't involve aliens. (well, there was the monster, but the "ghost" itself was a fundamentally non-alien phenomenon).
i had the same thought.
I had wondered about this as well. Maybe instead of throwing on that sappy "every monster needs a companion" ending (which itself didn't really end properly), they should have just ended the primary story correctly and told us the fate of Tacorian.
There was no further reference to the fate of Hila Tacorian (the time-traveller) beyond the fact that she couldn't go home. The writer simply decided to leave it out, I suppose (much like the writer of "Cold War" never mentioned how the Doctor got to the South Pole
I think it was probably "The Crooked Man" listed in the credits, and yeah, it was well done with all its jittery movements & appearance. Very creepy and disturbing.publiusr said: