S13E02 " War of the Sontarans" BBC1 6.10-7.10pm 7th November

[Starkers]

Gods, I hope not! That's just as bad as the theory about the human race evolving into the Time Lords.

To quote The Princess Bride, get used to disappointment

I might be adding two and two together and getting five, but Joseph Williamson builds some weird tunnels in the early 1800s, Yaz finds herself in some weird futuristic tunnels, and who does she happen to bump into as she walks around...Joseph Williamson.

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

Really enjoying these new episodes, its actually FUN to watch rather than 'this sure isn't as terrible as other people think!'

Not much to add other than a lot of the same:

- Jodie, up front and center, KILLING IT as a proper The Doctor.
- Yaz, always loved her character and I continue to wish they did more. Nice to see her doing more now but at the expense of offscreen development?? Ugh.
- Dan, I'm really hoping he's just a regular goofy dude and not something "special"
- Man's Best Alien Protectors, while silly in concept, SO ADORABLE in practice.
- Not looking forward to, "The Doctor set up beginning of the season at the end of the season!" if that ends up happening.
- 60 minute episodes are a good thing!

 

[Mr Awe]

To quote The Princess Bride, get used to disappointment

I might be adding two and two together and getting five, but Joseph Williamson builds some weird tunnels in the early 1800s, Yaz finds herself in some weird futuristic tunnels, and who does she happen to bump into as she walks around...Joseph Williamson.

I think there is an Earth connection. Although, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea. A bit of small universe syndrome. But, I guess at least it might explain why the Doctor is drawn to Earth. Although, the Earth was not around at the beginning of our Universe. It's 4.5 billion years old while the universe started 13.8 billion years ago.

Atropos was one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Atropos was the oldest of the Three Fates, and was known as "the Inflexible One." It was Atropos who chose the manner of death and ended the life of mortals by cutting their threads. She worked along with her two sisters, Clotho, who spun the thread, and Lachesis, who measured the length. Atropos has been featured in several stories such as Atalanta and Achilles.

Atropos - Wikipedia

 

[diankra]

My vague feeling is that Dan's protector is more loyal to his ideals than much of his species. Like Spock and Worf.
Or the Doctor caused it all at the season end.

 

[Richard Baker]

I wish last season had shows like this

 

[JRoss]

So this is a trend, then. Feels like the best of RTD. Shame it took so long to get here.

 

[Lonemagpie]

What does that mean?

In season 16 of the classic series, the Doctor and companion were sent by the White Guardian in search of the six bits of the Key To Time, which, when assembled, could stop Time and allow it to be fixed. The last segment was in the shape of a living person, Princess Astra of Atrios (played by Lalla Ward, who came back as Romana in the following season.) So this series feels a bit like that, but with more peple as bits of the Key.

 

[Neroon]

Guys, just ignore @kirk55555. His so-called opinions are nothing more than irrelevant noise.

Just when I think Kirk 55555(how many 5s?) can't get any more ridiculous they manage to plumb the depths. I don't know what would be worse, that they're deliberately trolling us or they genuinely feel this way?

Back off with the personal nature of these posts. They are unnecessary.
This goes for everyone.

 

[Starkers]

understood

 

[Tomalak]

AI for this episode was 77, which is up from 76 for The Halloween Apocalypse.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Another 8 for me, plus a reuse of a classic line only a few of us would catch.

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[Starkers]

AI for this episode was 77, which is up from 76 for The Halloween Apocalypse.

That is ridiculous!

 

[Mr. Adventure]

A couple of things, maybe it was mentioned but I missed it but Vinder is played by Grey Wolf Worm from Game of Thrones! That blew my mind.

Apparently The Passenger costume uses a pretty common Airsoft mask.
https://www.amazon.com/Fanjin-Tactical-Halloween-Survival-Shooting/dp/B099QPRP4Y

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I could totally see Karvanista in a Red Dwarf episode.

 

[matthunter]

Vinder's actor was mentioned fairly early in press releases. Though his GoT character was Gray Worm, not Wolf.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

Is there really no general DW spoiler/ discussion thread or am I just blind?

I really hope that Time does not turn out to be Earth. Why make a show about time/ space traveling aliens when the be-all, end-all is still Earth?!

Anyway, the title for the next ep makes a lot more sense now...

Maybe the Time-less Child is someone who used to be one of those Mauri on Time.

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

As long as The Doctor doesn't like somehow... create herself, I think I am fine with whatever happens.

 

[Starkers]

Is there really no general DW spoiler/ discussion thread or am I just blind?

I really hope that Time does not turn out to be Earth. Why make a show about time/ space traveling aliens when the be-all, end-all is still Earth?!

Anyway, the title for the next ep makes a lot more sense now...

Maybe the Time-less Child is someone who used to be one of those Mauri on Time.

Not really spoilers as one thing Chibnall has been pretty good at is keeping a lid on things, just hypothesising and could be way off target.

As for Time being Earth, unfortunately these days there's an annoying obsession with filling in the blanks and sucking the mystery out of everything. So Ridley Scott had to show us where the Aliens came from and the Death Star's flaw couldn't just be down to incompetence it had to be way more important than that (still annoys me that a film designed to fill a plot hole that didn't really need filling created yet more plot holes in the process but I digress).

In terms of Who there's this constant need to explain why the Doctor loves Earth so much, I mean obviously its because it's filmed on Earth by Earthlings but that's not good enough, and nor is the fact that the Doctor just likes spending time with humans, no, there has to be something deeper. So he's half human (on his mother's side) to try and explain it, and when this doesn't work they move on.

If Time turns out to be Earth and the Mauri turn out to be advanced humans, and one of those Mauri ends up being hurled back in time to become the Timlesss Child...well suddenly the Doctor's obsession with Earth makes sense, on a subconscious level at least.

Again it's a hole that doesn't need filling but modern humans seem to have a desire for everything to wrap up neatly. I'd be happy to just accept that the Doctor is A. N. Other Timelord who thinks differently from most of their fellows and keeps being drawn back to Earth for the same reason I like holidaying on Greek islands (friendly people, great scenery, lovely food etc).

And before anyone points it out, yes this need to explain the Doctor isn't a uniquely modern thing (Cartmel Master plan etc).

Weird how this desire to re-inject mystery into the Doctor often has the opposite effect.

 

[Mr Awe]

I'd be happy to just accept that the Doctor is A. N. Other Timelord who thinks differently from most of their fellows and keeps being drawn back to Earth for the same reason I like holidaying on Greek islands (friendly people, great scenery, lovely food etc).

Oh, I long for a return to that. I suppose everyone's mileage will vary on that thought. But for me, the predominant idea in the classic series that s/he was a regular Time Lord who had a more active/proactive outlook on life was great. A regular person who broke with society to make a difference.

The idea that s/he was some special, immortal being, etc. just takes something away from that for me.

There really doesn't seem a need to fill in any blanks. In fact, the blanks are really only the trivial details. The important one was that s/he was a regular person wanting to make a difference and society frowned on it.

 

[Richard Baker]

Doctors nine and ten throughout their show runs gave many reasons why they liked Earth people- good enough for me.

Modern productions seem obsessed with explaining everything and trying to tie meaning into things.
One of the best parts of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' is that no reason is ever given for the new aggressive behavior. In the context of the film it simply didn't matter why the birds were attacking, you simply had to deal with it.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Doctors nine and ten throughout their show runs gave many reasons why they liked Earth people- good enough for me.

Modern productions seem obsessed with explaining everything and trying to tie meaning into things.
One of the best parts of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' is that no reason is ever given for the new aggressive behavior. In the context of the film it simply didn't matter why the birds were attacking, you simply had to deal with it.

But I still don't know why they went berserk. Was is something in the seed? Were they channeling their inner dinosaurs? WHY???