S13E03 "Once, Upon Time" BBC1 6.30-7.20pm 14th November

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I'm telling you that kid is at least 8 ys old. Or 20. Unless she really is/ will be the Doctor, which... I hope not.

 

[Commander Troi]

I thought that is Chibnall's idea of a riveting Doctor/ companian conflict: have basically a version of the same conversation over and over again, for 3 episodes so far, several times per ep.

Y: What's going on?/ You're not fine!/ Why don't you talk to me?!
D: I'm fine! You wouldn't understand! Yap, yap, yap!

Just sounds like my parents...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Can't be that long unless she isn't human and therefore her species' have a much longer gestation period, or else relied on artificial insemination rather than Vinder!

There might be some time dilation going on of course

The baby can take as long as it needs because it's a TIMELESS CHILD mu ha ha ha ha. Seriously though, the pregnancy time is odd and she isn't really showing so what's going on there I don't know but it's conspicuous.

Or maybe her pregnancy was held in stasis for a long time (not unlike Aeryn Sun in Farscape) and she's only gestating now for some unknown reason.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I enjoyed listening to this podcast/ discussion of the episode:

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[dupersuper]

So...1 is good and 10 is bad?

the defensiveness/ hostility of the Doctor who doesn't want to open up to Yaz is really very one-note and quite annoying.

Very much agreed.

The campfire scene is set when Vinder is still in purgatory serving on Outpost Rose, because he references the decision he made that landed him there.

Or she's watching an old message...

 

[JRoss]

Chibnall is really doing much better this year than the previous two. Why couldn't we have had stuff like this back then? I really hope he sticks the landing.

 

[CuriousCaitian]

Rating this one highly purely because of how much I simply enjoyed watching; I was involved and reacting to a degree I haven't been to Who in a long time, possibly since Smith. Direction, most of the effects work, music, acting, all top notch. I'm genuinely eager to see where this goes.

And, of course, therein lies the caveat. Three eps left to tie an ever-expanding list of elements together in a satisfying manner, because for me there has to be a solid degree of resolution, explanation and progress at the end of this series, not just a black screen with "to be continued in the specials" on it. You can only draw the mystery out so much before you leave yourself with too much to do, and Chibnall may already be past that point.

Speaking of, this is the best writing he's managed in his entire tenure, presistent niggles aside - the flat repetition of a moment others have highlighted, for example - and shows he is capable, just not consistently so. Someone I follow on Twitter suggested that he might not be entirely to blame for the issues with his era, that interference from higher up, in the executive echelons of the BBC, might have played a part. Flux is thus far markedly better because the interference has lessened, and he has more freedom. I consider it a plausible theory, and am very interested to hear the opinions of the TrekBBS Who collective.

Summary: greatly enjoying, but with an underlying anxiety that's growing with every ep that provides no concrete answers. The routine's superb, but you really need to nail the dismount, Chibbers.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

Mr TARDIS' review:

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[Lonemagpie]

the faint Cyberman reawakening sound from The Invasion when Bel was interrogating the dying Cybe, and then there was another 70s or 80s episode sound effect that I couldn't quite place when Bel replays Vinder's message.

I finally remembered what the second one was- Lytton's distress signal from Attack Of The Cybermen, played with a much lower volume. I can't see it being any more significant than just being something from an earlier Cybe episode as an Easter egg.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I finally remembered what the second one was- Lytton's distress signal from Attack Of The Cybermen, played with a much lower volume. I can't see it being any more significant than just being something from an earlier Cybe episode as an Easter egg.

Probably just like all of the visual references.

 

[Mr Awe]

I finally remembered what the second one was- Lytton's distress signal from Attack Of The Cybermen, played with a much lower volume. I can't see it being any more significant than just being something from an earlier Cybe episode as an Easter egg.

I have to wonder if all these call backs are a wink to old school fans. But a wink with a purpose. Maybe not relevant to the story they're in but a more overall indication the Chibnall is also old school. A subtle message saying, don't worry about the TC and how it'll change the mythos. I'm an old school fan too and you'll be fine with the resolution.

Maybe.

Hopefully.