Saturday is already here, and in a couple of hours the new episode will air. So I figured we should have a thread for that.
8x08 Mummy on the Orient Express (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!
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Reached the tv by the opening credits. What did I miss? 
Great! In a way, shame it ended up being all about the soldier-hating arc, but still pretty fab!
Anyway, all caught up (and talking to myself apparently here), but this was my favourite episode of the season, edging out Listen. Doctor being both his standard heroic and his "of course i can't save you" new self, sometimes at the same time, with Clara much easier to stand than in the last 2-3 weeks too. I wonder what Danny will think of Clara's decision though.
Good episode me me laugh a few times.
I was worried that Frank Skinner would be annoying but he was OK in his role.
Do wonder what going to happen when Danny finds out that he's been lied to.
I was worried that Frank Skinner would be annoying but he was OK in his role.
Do wonder what going to happen when Danny finds out that he's been lied to.
Thumbs up here too - nothing to grumble about, and a couple of nice uncertainties left open for possible resolution later, or possibly not (Gus's identity, and did the Doctor actually save the others? Probably, but it could just be that he only managed to save Clara and Perkins, and while Perkins is going along with lying to Clara that's why he won't stay around).
Hm. It was good, much better than last week. Still don't care about Clara, frankly miffed that she didn't leave in this one a la Tegan in Ressurection of the Daleks, but you can't have everything - I'll settle for a half decent episode.
And yes I know she's on the call sheet for the Xmas episode, but I can secretly wish it's all a twisty turney Moff misdirection and she really will go soon, can't i?
And yes I know she's on the call sheet for the Xmas episode, but I can secretly wish it's all a twisty turney Moff misdirection and she really will go soon, can't i?
I thought it was fantastic. Old-fashioned and modern at the same time. Pity Clara and the Doctor were separated for much of the episode.
Fantastic, loved it to bits.
I especially loved Capaldi talking to himself and channeling Tom Baker.
Frank Skinner was actually quite good.
Good, tight script well shot with a good guest cast and a wonderfully left field premise, the kind of thing only who could pull off. More like this please (and less like Kill the Moon)
I especially loved Capaldi talking to himself and channeling Tom Baker.
Frank Skinner was actually quite good.
Good, tight script well shot with a good guest cast and a wonderfully left field premise, the kind of thing only who could pull off. More like this please (and less like Kill the Moon)
Nice episode and didn't spend too long on developing clara's "character arch" though even the episode seemed a bit incredulous that she was traveling with the Doctor again after last week. Kind of highlighted for me that the episode was probably written ages ago and shoved into this series as the best one done. Though I have to admit I liked the bit before the end as decent character development for the two. Didn't like the actual end of the episode due to the character development between the two but it wasn't that bad.
Loved it to bits for all the wonderful character moments, and well, the Doctor just being the Doctor.
I thought the solution came about a bit too easily, but thats just a minor quibble. All around though a very good episode. I wonder if we'll be hearing more from this Gus (an associate of Max Capricorn perhaps?) person in future?
I thought the solution came about a bit too easily, but thats just a minor quibble. All around though a very good episode. I wonder if we'll be hearing more from this Gus (an associate of Max Capricorn perhaps?) person in future?
And something borrowed.
I gave it a 3, which from me means "good". Capaldi was excellent again and Coleman couldn't give a bad performance if you put a gun to her head. I really liked the chemistry at the end, with Clara having finally accepted Twelve and what he entails. Can't help feeling that something or someone iis being set up for a fall, though. (Could Clara's statement about being left safely back hime be prophetic in a sense?)
Edit: Oh, and the Queen cover was lovely.
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Wow, that ending really threw me for a loop. Kind of an interesting new angle they've wedged in.
Even though probably not necessary the writer accounted for both the sonic and the TARDIS "outs". The only thing I wasn't quite sure of is why everyone was interested in this train ride (unless I missed something). I thought they were going to go with a murder mystery party that suddenly became real.
Loved the jelly babies in the cigarette case. EDIT: The mystery shopper bit was good too. EDIT2: And Red Dwarf fans probably smile at the hard light holograms
Even though probably not necessary the writer accounted for both the sonic and the TARDIS "outs". The only thing I wasn't quite sure of is why everyone was interested in this train ride (unless I missed something). I thought they were going to go with a murder mystery party that suddenly became real.
Loved the jelly babies in the cigarette case. EDIT: The mystery shopper bit was good too. EDIT2: And Red Dwarf fans probably smile at the hard light holograms
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I don't know who this Foxes person is, but her ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to her newsletter.
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-OTYT02W7E[/yt]
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OC3c7I5BOM[/yt]
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-OTYT02W7E[/yt]
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OC3c7I5BOM[/yt]
Voted - Good...
Ended the streak of 3 average episodes for me and it felt like a return the form for me. I loved the setting of the train, and who can beat an evil ancient Mummy for a villian though thje episode could of been a tad darker. Frank Skinner was superb as Perkins and for a second near the end I thought he could of been Gus (wonder if Gus will return.) I still think we could of done a Doc only filler before this episode so the previous episode felt like it had some conclusions. Also I liked they made the connection to the phone call the 11th Doctor recieves at the end of "Big Bang" about Gus trying to lure him here before.
With all the dead they missed a chance to link it to the heaven storyline IMO but still a very good episode and next week looks like a hoot too
Ended the streak of 3 average episodes for me and it felt like a return the form for me. I loved the setting of the train, and who can beat an evil ancient Mummy for a villian though thje episode could of been a tad darker. Frank Skinner was superb as Perkins and for a second near the end I thought he could of been Gus (wonder if Gus will return.) I still think we could of done a Doc only filler before this episode so the previous episode felt like it had some conclusions. Also I liked they made the connection to the phone call the 11th Doctor recieves at the end of "Big Bang" about Gus trying to lure him here before.
With all the dead they missed a chance to link it to the heaven storyline IMO but still a very good episode and next week looks like a hoot too
Well, that's more like it.
The setting was great. I really like it when the show does concepts like that (e.g. the ship race in space or the Titanic in space) because it's pretty much the only show which can get away with it. Too bad they didn't have the time to delve into it more.
Capaldi and Coleman were fantastic, as usual. It's good to see that last week's episode had consequences but wasn't how it ended. I liked the melancholy touch to the adventure at the beginning.
The Doctor was really cold and heartless in this at times so much so that I was kind of upset about it. He seems to be quite dependent on Clara for empathy. The scene with her, the Doctor and the woman who was supposed to be the next victim was great. When Clara told her that she was sorry it harkened back to Ten who used to say that often. I wondered what it would have been like for the Doctor seeing that. He used to be that guy, has he forgotten it? But then he did that 180 and drew the Mummy's attention to himself. Loved the once again inappropriate use of the "Are you my Mummy?" line.
(On a sidenote, it's interesting that the Doctor apparently remembers this but not kissing Madame de Pompadour. 
) He is a good man, after all.
I dislike the new tendency of important things happening off-screen. I would have liked to see how the Doctor got Clara to agree to one last adventure or how Clara came to that decision (I'm unclear how that worked, had trouble understanding all the dialogue). And of course, that we didn't get to see the rescue of the passengers. Then again, it's quite possible that the Doctor lied and he only managed to rescue the three of them.
The Mummy was yet another metaphor for the Doctor, I think, just like the half-face man in the first episode. The Mummy is an ancient soldier (kind of like the Doctor who is also very old - as pointed out by the memories of planets long gone he shares with Clara at the beginning - and who has been a warrior and likened to an officer last week). And it can't stop doing what it does like the Doctor (as pointed out by the dialogue between him and Clara in the Tardis at the end). It wasn't as poignant as in the first episode. I wonder whether this will lead somewhere.
I also liked the jazz rendition of "Don't Stop Me Now".
The setting was great. I really like it when the show does concepts like that (e.g. the ship race in space or the Titanic in space) because it's pretty much the only show which can get away with it. Too bad they didn't have the time to delve into it more.
Capaldi and Coleman were fantastic, as usual. It's good to see that last week's episode had consequences but wasn't how it ended. I liked the melancholy touch to the adventure at the beginning.
The Doctor was really cold and heartless in this at times so much so that I was kind of upset about it. He seems to be quite dependent on Clara for empathy. The scene with her, the Doctor and the woman who was supposed to be the next victim was great. When Clara told her that she was sorry it harkened back to Ten who used to say that often. I wondered what it would have been like for the Doctor seeing that. He used to be that guy, has he forgotten it? But then he did that 180 and drew the Mummy's attention to himself. Loved the once again inappropriate use of the "Are you my Mummy?" line.
(On a sidenote, it's interesting that the Doctor apparently remembers this but not kissing Madame de Pompadour. ) He is a good man, after all.I dislike the new tendency of important things happening off-screen. I would have liked to see how the Doctor got Clara to agree to one last adventure or how Clara came to that decision (I'm unclear how that worked, had trouble understanding all the dialogue). And of course, that we didn't get to see the rescue of the passengers. Then again, it's quite possible that the Doctor lied and he only managed to rescue the three of them.
The Mummy was yet another metaphor for the Doctor, I think, just like the half-face man in the first episode. The Mummy is an ancient soldier (kind of like the Doctor who is also very old - as pointed out by the memories of planets long gone he shares with Clara at the beginning - and who has been a warrior and likened to an officer last week). And it can't stop doing what it does like the Doctor (as pointed out by the dialogue between him and Clara in the Tardis at the end). It wasn't as poignant as in the first episode. I wonder whether this will lead somewhere.
I also liked the jazz rendition of "Don't Stop Me Now".
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