Spoilers Boom grade and discussion thread

[The Nth Doctor]

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Caught in the middle of a devastating war on Kastarion 3, the Doctor is trapped when he steps on a landmine. Can he save himself and Ruby, plus the entire planet... without moving?

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First, Russell T. Davies and now the long-awaited return of Steven Moffat!

Question is...which Steven Moffat will we get?

A high-quality tearjerker of the first Davies era? Or a super complex story that's too clever for its own good like most of his era arc episodes? Or something, somehow, in between? The only remaining types are his Christmas episodes (which already know we're also getting) or the rare two-parters that worked well ("The Time of Angels"/"Flesh and Stone", "World Enough and Time"/"The Doctor Falls").

Or am I just overthinking it and I should just hope we get a great episode?

Also, based on the above photo (taken from the BBC iPlayer page), are we about to see the return of the Church of the Papal Mainframe?

 

[The Wormhole]

Question is...which Steven Moffat will we get?

A high-quality tearjerker of the first Davies era? Or a super complex story that's too clever for its own good like most of his era arc episodes? Or something, somehow, in between? The only remaining types are his Christmas episodes (which already know we're also getting) or the rare two-parters that worked well ("The Time of Angels"/"Flesh and Stone", "World Enough and Time"/"The Doctor Falls").

Or am I just overthinking it and I should just hope we get a great episode?

Though I have been an outspoken critic of Moffat's era as showrunner, I will admit when it comes to writing individual episodes he can be pretty damn good. That said, one of his flaws I take issue with and was even present in his episodes from the first RTD era is having the characters communicate to each other in monologues. Though even that can be somewhat alleviated with the right actors. I was actually surprised when I realized near the end of Moffat's term when I rewatched The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances when the Moffat Monologuing was present there. Eccleston and Piper managed to inject some vibrancy into it that made it more bearable. Or maybe it was just the early days of Moffat wrote them to feel more natural and less like rehearsed speeches they were already beginning to feel like by the Library story. Perhaps a combination? Regardless, though I'm bracing myself for the monologuing, I'm hoping either Moffat's time away can make them feel more natural again or that Gatwa and Gibson can bring some vibrancy to the monologues like Eccleston and Piper did.

Also, based on the above photo (taken from the BBC iPlayer page), are we about to see the return of the Church of the Papal Mainframe?

Certainly looks like it to me. The whole idea of a military church was a very interesting one which I'm disappointed Moffat never did more with during his era. So I definitely welcome more Papal Mainframe in this episode if that is indeed what we are getting.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Though I have been an outspoken critic of Moffat's era as showrunner, I will admit when it comes to writing individual episodes he can be pretty damn good. That said, one of his flaws I take issue with and was even present in his episodes from the first RTD era is having the characters communicate to each other in monologues. Though even that can be somewhat alleviated with the right actors. I was actually surprised when I realized near the end of Moffat's term when I rewatched The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances when the Moffat Monologuing was present there. Eccleston and Piper managed to inject some vibrancy into it that made it more bearable. Or maybe it was just the early days of Moffat wrote them to feel more natural and less like rehearsed speeches they were already beginning to feel like by the Library story. Perhaps a combination? Regardless, though I'm bracing myself for the monologuing, I'm hoping either Moffat's time away can make them feel more natural again or that Gatwa and Gibson can bring some vibrancy to the monologues like Eccleston and Piper did.

That's certainly a criticism I can agree with. I feel like that Gatwa will do fine with that, although I am curious how he'll pull it off while being forced to stand in one place. I'm less certain about Gibson. While I'm not nearly as harsh as many people (both here and elsewhere) have been about her performance, I do think that her range is considerably more limited, although from a much smaller sample size (since this is the only place I've seen her perform). Hopefully, as you said, Moffat will show some restraint.

Certainly looks like it to me. The whole idea of a military church was a very interesting one which I'm disappointed Moffat never did more with during his era. So I definitely welcome more Papal Mainframe in this episode if that is indeed what we are getting.

I thought the same thing and I loved the potential of that idea as seen in "The Time of Angels"/"Flesh and Stone," but it is a shame that they're barely remarked on in further appearances (most notably in "A Good Man Goes to War" and "The Wedding of River Song").

 

[Mr Awe]

I wasn't a big fan of the first two episodes of the season but I thought Millie did just fine. Ncuti too of course.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Moffat’s first episode in almost 7 years and it’s a standalone episode with a one-word title, said word beginning with B. No pressure there, then…

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Moffat’s first episode in almost 7 years and it’s a standalone episode with a one-word title, said word beginning with B. No pressure there, then…

Don‘t Boom! Whatever you do, Don‘t Boom! Boom and you‘re dead!

 

[The Wormhole]

Moffat’s first episode in almost 7 years

Six and a half.

Yes, I'm going to be That Guy.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Six and a half.

Yes, I'm going to be That Guy.

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey

 

[Sir Rhosis]

In the same interview where Moffat coyly said, “Boom,” didn’t he say something about “this old face?” Another hint? A returning Doctor?

 

[Captrek]

Six and a half.

Yes, I'm going to be That Guy.

So I guess you’re not counting the six months he spent bopping around time in the TARDIS.

 

[RevdKathy]

Only seen a few stills, but this appears to be an episode about what happens if you step on a roomba?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Only seen a few stills, but this appears to be an episode about what happens if you step on a roomba?

Close enough!

Almost a case of echoing the classic series by reusing common household material for props and costumes.

 

[Jedman67]

Spoiler: Roomba's are in fact futuristic landmines from outer space

 

[Redfern]

Spoiler: Roomba's are in fact futuristic landmines from outer space

I figured they are really cybermats in disguise.

 

[Mr Awe]

Six and a half.

Yes, I'm going to be That Guy.

Only if you're measuring time in the boring, linear sense!

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Has it been 7 years? Wow.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Maybe we'll get the "Curse Of Fatal Death" Moffat?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Hugh Grant confirmed!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

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[The Nth Doctor]

Since mobility seems obvious, even within that teaser, perhaps Moffat is referring to something else, and if so, what?

Or am I overthinking things yet again?