Spoilers Spyfall, Part One grade and discussion thread
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
Oh.
Good ending. More thoughts later.
Wow, what a smashing season opener!
Granted I haven't been closely following the season's spoilers but it really seems like Chibnall and company did an excellent job keeping quiet the episode's biggest surprise: The return of The Master! Not only that, but I don't I think even heard about Sacha Dhawan appearing on the show properly (after An Adventure in Space and Time) so that was a lovely double surprise.
So what exactly is he up to this time? Obviously his line about everything The Doctor knows is a lie is the big series arc that Chibnall referenced before and hinted in the series trailer, but what exactly is The Master talking about. More importantly, can we even trust him (doubtful).
That aside, I really enjoyed the new aliens, whoever they are, between their physical appearance (so to the speak) and the way they talked to The Doctor (which reminded me a bit of Scratchman, honestly). If they're in cahoots with The Master, I imagine their desires are more than "just" taking over our universe, but perhaps something more specific. At least, I certainly hope so.
I wonder happened exactly to Yaz and why it effected her so deeply (other than the obvious surface reasons). I imagine it'll come up next episode, especially since The Doctor was transported back there. Interesting how Yaz was returned, especially since the aliens would've known who she actually is and in relation to The Doctor.
It's a damn shame Stephen Fry's C was killed off so quickly, but I have a feeling that was a deliberate smokescreen to hide both Dhawan's appearance and The Master's return. I'm still hoping he'll turn up alive again before this is all over, him being MI6 and all...
The only thing I didn't like about this episode is returning to the Moffat tendency of the companions coming and going back to Earth and telling their families, colleagues and others lies about what they're really up to. I know I've beaten the bush about this point in the past, but I much rather have The Doctor and her companions traveling all over time and space without returning to a "home base" on Earth at a specific time. It's especially weird that the companions are lying when they're traveling in a time machine and could return without them even being missed (especially now that The Doctor actually has proper control over the TARDIS now).
A lot of great lines this episode but I especially loved this exchange:
"Don't be ridiculous, I've read the file. The Doctor is a man."
"Hi! I've had an upgrade."
Thank the gods we only have to wait four days for the conclusion!
Granted I haven't been closely following the season's spoilers but it really seems like Chibnall and company did an excellent job keeping quiet the episode's biggest surprise: The return of The Master! Not only that, but I don't I think even heard about Sacha Dhawan appearing on the show properly (after An Adventure in Space and Time) so that was a lovely double surprise.
So what exactly is he up to this time? Obviously his line about everything The Doctor knows is a lie is the big series arc that Chibnall referenced before and hinted in the series trailer, but what exactly is The Master talking about. More importantly, can we even trust him (doubtful).
That aside, I really enjoyed the new aliens, whoever they are, between their physical appearance (so to the speak) and the way they talked to The Doctor (which reminded me a bit of Scratchman, honestly). If they're in cahoots with The Master, I imagine their desires are more than "just" taking over our universe, but perhaps something more specific. At least, I certainly hope so.
I wonder happened exactly to Yaz and why it effected her so deeply (other than the obvious surface reasons). I imagine it'll come up next episode, especially since The Doctor was transported back there. Interesting how Yaz was returned, especially since the aliens would've known who she actually is and in relation to The Doctor.
It's a damn shame Stephen Fry's C was killed off so quickly, but I have a feeling that was a deliberate smokescreen to hide both Dhawan's appearance and The Master's return. I'm still hoping he'll turn up alive again before this is all over, him being MI6 and all...
The only thing I didn't like about this episode is returning to the Moffat tendency of the companions coming and going back to Earth and telling their families, colleagues and others lies about what they're really up to. I know I've beaten the bush about this point in the past, but I much rather have The Doctor and her companions traveling all over time and space without returning to a "home base" on Earth at a specific time. It's especially weird that the companions are lying when they're traveling in a time machine and could return without them even being missed (especially now that The Doctor actually has proper control over the TARDIS now).
A lot of great lines this episode but I especially loved this exchange:
"Don't be ridiculous, I've read the file. The Doctor is a man."
"Hi! I've had an upgrade."
Thank the gods we only have to wait four days for the conclusion!
Last edited:
Was fun. Saw that twist coming, but thought it'd be Sir Lenny. The guy I've never heard of.... so far does not impress, performance-wise - too much like the previous, meaning McIntee's First Law of Acting sprang into full force...
You haven't watched An Adventure in Space and Time? Or Sherlock? Or Iron Fist (which is far more understandable)?
He's in Dracula that starts at 9 on BBC1.
I think it might still be Sir Lenny. Since O was a disguise.
I will probably have to put myself through it again, was hard to concentrate, but I will be honest...I think it was naff.
Good in parts. I liked O better in his initial few minutes as the Master, then he seemed to channel Simm too strongly.
Overall, I can’t put my finger on it, but while it had some interesting ideas, they all seemed a little too familiar, like they were a mix of other stories.
Did we need a bike chase when the Doctor and companions could’ve returned to the TARDIS to follow Lenny? That scene was perhaps representative of a lot of the problems I have with the current iteration of DW; spectacle and budget are fantastic and it looks great but it often substitutes them for clever writing. I may be in a minority but I do miss Moffat’s wit, even if his later stuff was also over-repetitive and fell back on his own tropes.
still, hard to deny that this was a cracking cliffhanger and I really hope that the mystery that has been set up pays off well.
Overall, I can’t put my finger on it, but while it had some interesting ideas, they all seemed a little too familiar, like they were a mix of other stories.
Did we need a bike chase when the Doctor and companions could’ve returned to the TARDIS to follow Lenny? That scene was perhaps representative of a lot of the problems I have with the current iteration of DW; spectacle and budget are fantastic and it looks great but it often substitutes them for clever writing. I may be in a minority but I do miss Moffat’s wit, even if his later stuff was also over-repetitive and fell back on his own tropes.
still, hard to deny that this was a cracking cliffhanger and I really hope that the mystery that has been set up pays off well.
Two things I forgot to mention:
I continue to love Segun Akinola's score for the show. It's such a relief to have a lighter touch that enhances the experience instead of Gold's often bombastic take that too regularly drove the experience. Granted Gold had some lovely quieter moments, but the louder stuff was more frequent and more overwhelming.
I loved The Doctor's version of a tuxedo is a variation of her regular outfit but with a bowtie. Bowties are cool again!
I continue to love Segun Akinola's score for the show. It's such a relief to have a lighter touch that enhances the experience instead of Gold's often bombastic take that too regularly drove the experience. Granted Gold had some lovely quieter moments, but the louder stuff was more frequent and more overwhelming.
I loved The Doctor's version of a tuxedo is a variation of her regular outfit but with a bowtie. Bowties are cool again!
Actually, that whole sequence from motorcycles to plane reminded me of that crazy extended chase that lasted almost a whole episode of Planet of the Spiders, which I've always loved.
That all fell rather flat to me. The episode spent so much energy setting up an elaborate mystery it ended up obfuscating any semblance of plot. Using Sir Lenny as a red herring villain didn't work well either since we got no real sense of his motivations. As for the Master reveal...I mean fine, OK, I guess. It's just that after Missy this feels like a giant step backwards.
I hate to say it, but I found the whole thing tedious and meandering and by the half way point, I found I was quite thoroughly bored.
I hate to say it, but I found the whole thing tedious and meandering and by the half way point, I found I was quite thoroughly bored.
I'd call that the most consistently entertaining episode of the 13th Doc's run thus far. Worked on pretty much every level. Particular credit to Segun Akinola for a wonderfully varied score (personal highlight: a lovely Barry homage as the villain's palatial home is established), the new aliens for actually being unnerving and threatening, Stephen Fry for being game enough to die so soon into the episode, Lenny Henry just for being Lenny Henry, and finally Sacha Dhawan, given a killer reveal and playing it to the hilt.
Oh, that reveal. The cherry on top. I've always wondered what it was like not to know a Big Name Villain is returning, and now I can say...it's great! Fabulous extra punch to propel us into a strong, strong cliffhanger. Yes, a lot rides on the second ep, on making the landing, but the journey to date has been huge fun. If this is a taste of what's to come...oh, myyyy...
Oh, that reveal. The cherry on top. I've always wondered what it was like not to know a Big Name Villain is returning, and now I can say...it's great! Fabulous extra punch to propel us into a strong, strong cliffhanger. Yes, a lot rides on the second ep, on making the landing, but the journey to date has been huge fun. If this is a taste of what's to come...oh, myyyy...
Well, I'm glad someone agrees with me. It seems like everyone else watched a different episode from us.
Oh, I saw AAISAT and Sherlock, but didn't rememberhim. Haven't seen Iron Fist.
This reminds me I keep meaning to post about having listened to the Series 11 soundtrack and... his music went well with the show, but isn't really that listenable as an album - in that respect it's much like some of the earlier music for the show, like we got from Tristram Cary or Brian Hodgson in the classic era. Which means it would seem bad to slag it off for not working as concert pieces when it does accompany thescenes well. But fuck it, I hate the way almost every track on the album starts with a weird electronic floaty drone for a couple of minutes, so I'm going to call it a huge fucking disappointment anyway.
Didn’t Simm kill Missy and stop any more regenerations? At a time where missy and doc were getting on? And Simm regenerated to Missy ?
Where in the master’s timeline is this iteration? Assuming of course it really is the master.
Did I miss where Lenny Henry went on the plane too?
Where in the master’s timeline is this iteration? Assuming of course it really is the master.
Did I miss where Lenny Henry went on the plane too?
I loved it, it was fantastic.
Also, be still my beating heart at how lovely Jodie was in a suit.
Also, be still my beating heart at how lovely Jodie was in a suit.
Well, The Master has certainly gotten out of worst scraps in the past. And honestly, I don't even need an explanation how The Master lived on.
Until explicitly stated otherwise, I think it's safe to assume after Missy.
Nope, you didn't. He just simply disappeared, presumably teleported away by the aliens like they did to Yaz and The Doctor.
Whatever problems I have with this or any DW episode, the Master surviving an apparently unavoidable death is not and never will be one of them.
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Poll
