Spoilers The Eaters of Light (Grade & Discussion Thread)

[TommyR01D]

A long time ago, the ninth legion of the Roman army vanished into the mists of Scotland. Bill has a theory about what happened, and the Doctor has a time machine. But when they arrive in ancient Aberdeenshire, what they find is a far greater threat than any army. In a cairn, on a hillside, is a doorway leading to the end of the world…

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The writer of Survival returns for the last standalone episode of this series - and perhaps the Moffat era altogether.

 

[φ of π]

The trailer last week reminded me of the Voyager episode Heroes and Demons, with the Grendel creature from Harry Kim's Beowulf holodeck program.

 

[StCoop]

It is so strange that even with the huge gaps between series it still feels like Capaldi only just arrived and now he's almost done.

 

[matthunter]

Oh fuck YES

 

[MacLeod]

A slight uptick in quality from the mid season episodes.

 

[matthunter]

A slight uptick in quality from the mid season episodes.

I shouldn't have to explain this to someone with that username, but anytime Capaldi has to engage with other Scots adds 2/10 to the overall score.

 

[MacLeod]

I shouldn't have to explain this to someone with that username, but anytime Capaldi has to engage with other Scots adds 2/10 to the overall score.

That goes without saying, but exclduing that it was better than the mid season episodes

 

[publiusr]

A long time ago, the ninth legion of the Roman army vanished into the mists of Scotland. Bill has a theory about what happened, and the Doctor has a time machine. But when they arrive in ancient Aberdeenshire, what they find is a far greater threat than any army. In a cairn, on a hillside, is a doorway leading to the end of the world…

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Accept third party cookies

The writer of Survival returns for the last standalone episode of this series - and perhaps the Moffat era altogether.

Maybe we will see Bran Mak Morn and the Worms of the Earth...

From the initial frame--I was hoping it would be some storm chase deal when I first saw it.

It wouldn't take too much for an actor--during a hiatus let's say--to book one of the storm chase tours.

I'd love to see the Doctor flying a kite (not too high upp--with lightning)--and a tornado in the background.

Capaldi looks at the camera and says.

"Not windy enough."

 

[Eliczo]

I wasn't expecting much the trailer for the episode just made me think meh another bland episode. But I was suprised. Well acted okay-ish plot.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Loved this episode. Great setting, lovely music, and fun humor. The plot may have been a bit basic but I love the dynamics of Bill and the remaining Roman legionnaires learning from each other while The Doctor and Nardole doing the same with the Picts. I especially liked how Bill and The Doctor both taught their respective groups how to face their youthful fears. Overall, a very enjoyable experience, and along with "Empress of Mars," vast improvement on the second and third episodes of the Monk trilogy. I hope Chris Chibnall invites Rona Munro back for future episodes.

The Missy scenes felt forcibly tacked on, much like her role in the previous episode, and I don't buy her crocodile tears, but based on the trailer for the two-parter, I can see how those scenes are set-up for what will happen next week.

Ugh, I just noticed poll options. None of them reflect how I feel about the episode. I would rate it 4 out of 5 but it's considerably better than just "good," so there's no point in voting.

 

[DimesDan]

Ugh, I just noticed poll options. None of them reflect how I feel about the episode. I would rate it 4 out of 5 but it's considerably better than just "good," so there's no point in voting.

I noticed that too, it seems they were trying to be clever and failed again, almost like the Monks three-parter (but then again, I liked those three episodes) and there is a massive gulf between ten out of ten and good.

Anyway, we really liked the episode and looking forward to the next two episodes.

 

[StCoop]

So was this episode (stuff at the end excepted) originally supposed to air earlier in the series? Bill not knowing about TARDIS translation doesn't make much sense otherwise and the reference to Mars was a bit of ADR.

 

[Australis]

Okay, must say first: the Ninth probably didn't perish in Scotland, as often thought. That idea was built up by Rosemary Sutcliffe in her novel which I loved as a kid, and probably got me interested in Roman history. So for the Doctor to just arrive and say, "Och, ah ken what happened" was a little jarring.

That aside, I really liked this ep, very moody and atmospheric, plot a bit basic but well acted, a convincing monster and a sense of history. It was better than good, and not exactly 5 stars, but I went with top score to make up for the guiy who didn't know what to vote.

Not sure about Missy. I have a theory I expounded earlier (she can't stand the feels and reverts to an earlier version) and hopefully next week we'll get an answer.

Next week looks intense.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Forgot to mention: I loved the visual of Nardole in his nightwear on the Scottish Highlands.

 

[StCoop]

After getting of to a great start this Series has settled down to somewhere between "Meh" and "Average" and I think you can tell that Moffat was here out of obligation rather than desire. What's been really annoying has been watching Bill slip backwards into a more generic Companion role, which given that she probably only has two epsiodes left is a shame.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Forgot to mention: I loved the visual of Nardole in his nightwear on the Scottish Highlands.

Another Arthur Dent moment.

 

[kirk55555]

This was ok, but nothing else. The Scottish villagers were really annoying. The parts of the episode with them were hard to get through. The Romans were better, mostly because they were just bland instead of annoying. The monster was ok, but not that interesting. Overall, very average and unimpressive. Hopefully next week will be better.

 

[Lonemagpie]

way better than Survival (the writer's previousl DW story). though with an equally obvious and unsubtle lecture. Capaldi nailed it in a way Sylv never could, though. I'm too knackered to get into the lecture about the definitions of Roman sexuality that need to be contextualised from it,

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Another Arthur Dent moment.

Yeah, but Arthur didn't have a night cap.

This was ok, but nothing else. The Scottish villagers were really annoying.

The villagers? You mean the Picts, right? Hardly villagers.

way better than Survival (the writer's previous DW story).

Heresy, good sir! But what do I know? McCoy remains one of my favorite Doctors.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

This season has been interesting to me in the music, direction and so on seen in some of the episodes. It's hard to put my finger on but it feels more composed and not just shot straight out of a home camera. I liked how they presented the monster in this one, they did well not showing too much which made it scarier. This one reminded me in some ways of Stranger Things. The story was fairly bread-and-butter (ham-and-eggs? meat-and-potatoes? what's the best metaphor...) but I thought it was presented well.

It's interesting to see how Bill has had a few moments here-and-there that felt a bit off in these last episodes. Goes to show how well they hit it out of the park with the character right from the start to even notice at this point. I'm finally warming up to Nardole as well.

So how long has the Doctor been presiding over that vault at this point? Is his contract about up? Next episode looks like it could be fun though I wish I hadn't actually watched all of that next time preview.