I'm flying to Prague tonight, so unless my hotel has BBC (unlikely) and I actually get to my room before the episode airs (also unlikely), I won't see the episode until after the second part airs next week when I return.
Happy Zygon hunting!
"The Zygon Invasion" Grade and Discussion Thread
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
Happy Zygon hunting!
Another two parter? What is this, Enterprise Season 4?
They're all two parters I believe. Which sucks, because we get fewer stories. Of course, fans of the classic series love this approach, but so far this year the results have been decidedly mixed IMO.
The theory is that with more time to tell the story, there should be an uptick in quality. I'm not sure that's been the case.
One of the reasons I loved Season 3 over Season 4 of Enterprise was because we got greater character development. I don't like the mini arc approach because it's just a story and then you move on to the next. We don't get character building, we get basically plot.
The same thing is happening here and that's unfortunate.
Well it's worse with something like Doctor Who because all we get this year is 12 episodes (at least season 4 of Enterprise had 22). With all of them being 2-parters, that's just 6 stories. And by my reckoning anyway, there's been a 50% success rate so far. Compounded by the fact that the companion is leaving, that's even less time to enjoy Doctor and Clara interactions before she departs. (*cue cheers from Clara-haters*, but as for me, that's another negative)
However, we still have 6 episodes to go so I'll reserve final judgment until the end.
There has been character development this year. I just prefer more adventures to go along with it.
However, we still have 6 episodes to go so I'll reserve final judgment until the end.
There has been character development this year. I just prefer more adventures to go along with it.
I spoiled myself by just reading the episode titles, nothing else, but it made the two-parter pattern of the season quite obvious.
Well, this was so much better than the last two weeks were, wasn't it? Superb, all-around - though the opening Day of the Doctor repeat was a bit annoying.
1. First Ollie Reader returns, and now so does Nicola Murray.
2. A lot of people predicted the shtick with the duplicate Osgood.
3. The ZygonClara may well be a re-run of SontaranMartha from Series 4.
4. This episode had quite a lot of political references.
5. The visual feel of this episode (particularly the New Mexico parts) was rather reminiscent of the Matt Smith era, though I'm not quite sure why.
2. A lot of people predicted the shtick with the duplicate Osgood.
3. The ZygonClara may well be a re-run of SontaranMartha from Series 4.
4. This episode had quite a lot of political references.
5. The visual feel of this episode (particularly the New Mexico parts) was rather reminiscent of the Matt Smith era, though I'm not quite sure why.
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No, one of the upcoming "pairings" is not (it's either 9/10 or 11/12). I believe it's the one with the "found footage" episode.
And I'd argue that the Ashildr stories weren't a two-parter. They were standalone episodes that happened to have a guest star in common.
Omnishambles f***ed everything up again.
The pattern continues - a "Meh" episode followed by a "good" one. This one was pretty great. I couldn't decide whether the "terrorist group" allusions were lame or actually cool, but other than that it was very solid. Suitably creepy and leaves me waiting for next week.
Kate Stewart continues to be next to useless as the leader of UNIT, though.
Kate Stewart continues to be next to useless as the leader of UNIT, though.
This was easily the worst episode of Series 9 so far. Putting 20 million Zygon's on earth is so hilariously stupid I have no idea why we're supposed to believe anyone on Earth would ever ok it. I blame this more on the writers, though. Its one of the worst premises of NuWho, so this episode really just comes off as stupid and predictable.
Also, Osgood went from a character I just didn't care about, to an outright annoying character. I don't really care if she's a human or Zygon, I just want her to join her "sister" at this point
Hopefully this two parter ends with the zygons gone and never mentioned again (there are a lot better Classic Who aliens we haven't seen in nuWho they should bring back before another Zygon appearance). While this is far from the worst Capaldi episode (Series 8 had several that were worse) this is easily the worst episode this season. It didn't have one moment that was any good, at best it was boring but tolerable.
Also, Osgood went from a character I just didn't care about, to an outright annoying character. I don't really care if she's a human or Zygon, I just want her to join her "sister" at this point
Hopefully this two parter ends with the zygons gone and never mentioned again (there are a lot better Classic Who aliens we haven't seen in nuWho they should bring back before another Zygon appearance). While this is far from the worst Capaldi episode (Series 8 had several that were worse) this is easily the worst episode this season. It didn't have one moment that was any good, at best it was boring but tolerable.
JUST 6 stories seems a perfectly reasonable number for a series of Doctor Who!
Osgood was fab, and I love the Osgood double act at the start. I still love Kate Stewart but she is starting to get a trifle gun happy, sure her dad would be pleased but she seemed a trifle different when we first met her. Loved the Day of the Doctor referencing and evil Clara...oh my, evil Clara...
I should have seen Zygon Clara coming yet curiously it caught me off guard, the ambush was a trifle unsettling. I'm guessing Kate likely did have backup (it seemed odd she'd go there alone) and obviously the Doctor's going to survive (though we may lose another presidential plane)
The terrorism/immigration allusions were a trifle heavy handed, but nice to see the show trying to say something about the wider world.
On the whole it was good to very good, can't quite decide which to vote so I'll go higher 'cos I did enjoy it a lot.
Seriously the guitar's annoying now though!
I should have seen Zygon Clara coming yet curiously it caught me off guard, the ambush was a trifle unsettling. I'm guessing Kate likely did have backup (it seemed odd she'd go there alone) and obviously the Doctor's going to survive (though we may lose another presidential plane)
The terrorism/immigration allusions were a trifle heavy handed, but nice to see the show trying to say something about the wider world.
On the whole it was good to very good, can't quite decide which to vote so I'll go higher 'cos I did enjoy it a lot.
Seriously the guitar's annoying now though!
That was the best episode of the series so far. Hopefully, the second part will live up to it.
I'm inclined to agree. Not a perfect episode by any means, but the best of the season so far.
I also liked the Doctor's new nickname - Dr. Funkenstein. 
Very good episode. I really enjoyed bringing back Osgood and the Zygons and doing a direct sequel to the Movie. The Islamophobia/ISIS angle was a bit heavy handed but it did give the episode substance.
I can't believe they aired this episode TODAY, though. ISIS literally just shot down an airliner full of civilians today and the episode ends with the pseudo-Muslim villain shooting a rocket at an airliner. Don't they always delay episodes when the subject matter happens in real life?
EDIT: Okay, apparently ISIS claimed they shot down the plane, but authorities are saying no...
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/31/middleeast/egypt-plane-crash/index.html
I can't believe they aired this episode TODAY, though. ISIS literally just shot down an airliner full of civilians today and the episode ends with the pseudo-Muslim villain shooting a rocket at an airliner. Don't they always delay episodes when the subject matter happens in real life?
EDIT: Okay, apparently ISIS claimed they shot down the plane, but authorities are saying no...
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/31/middleeast/egypt-plane-crash/index.html
I don't know. Not really a bad episode, but not really all that great either. I would have been more surprised if Clara or the New Mexico deputy weren't Zygons. Still, at least we didn't dwell on death this week, for the first time all season.
So if Osgood's Zygon duplicate continued on impersonating her to the point they essentially became a dual entity, what about the Zygons impersonating Kate and the other scientist in Day of the Doctor? Did they just decide, "to hell with this let's be ourselves?" And if so, why weren't they as attached to their counterparts as the Osgood Zygon was?
And now Zygons can pluck an image out of someone's head and impersonate that person? Good thing the Doctor didn't face off against them as they'd likely impersonate someone who couldn't possibly be on hand and therefore ending the whole charade. Hell, for that matter, does the Zygon meeting with Kate take on the form of a deputy because we can't possibly have the Brigadier there?
Although, on the issue of Zygon telepathic assistance, just what is the range? The one operating the UAV at the UNIT tent was nowhere near the ones pretending to be her family, yet they still pulled off the disguise.
So, meanwhile, Osgood is a last name, it's getting silly they aren't giving her a first name, to the extent that apparently the headstone only reads "My Sister."
Really, the jokes about UNIT dating are exhausted. Oh, I get it, UNIT dating is an amusing continuity problem from the classic era, and while I laughed when it was referenced in The Poison Sky and even chuckled at the line about date protocols in Day of the Doctor, it's getting wearisome hearing "in the 70s or 80s" every time the Pertwee or early Baker UNIT stories are mentioned. The joke's been told, movie on.
It seems the Doctor's hatred of soldiers has been removed as abruptly as it was added. We saw this earlier in the season with the Lake Base story where despite the fact those characters were military the Doctor got along fine with them, he likewise doesn't seem to have much problem with the UNIT soldiers here. Sure, he doesn't seem to care for the Colonel much it seems more as a result of not liking her personally than because she's a soldier. Don't get me wrong, I didn't care for the soldier hatred last year, but removing it so suddenly is just as bad.
So if UNIT has Osgood's inhaler, what's Osgood doing when she has asthma attacks? Being held captive by shapeshifting aliens is stressful, and even if this is the Zygon she still needs the inhaler as much as the original does.
Finally, why is there a picture of William Hartnell at the UNIT safe house?
So if Osgood's Zygon duplicate continued on impersonating her to the point they essentially became a dual entity, what about the Zygons impersonating Kate and the other scientist in Day of the Doctor? Did they just decide, "to hell with this let's be ourselves?" And if so, why weren't they as attached to their counterparts as the Osgood Zygon was?
And now Zygons can pluck an image out of someone's head and impersonate that person? Good thing the Doctor didn't face off against them as they'd likely impersonate someone who couldn't possibly be on hand and therefore ending the whole charade. Hell, for that matter, does the Zygon meeting with Kate take on the form of a deputy because we can't possibly have the Brigadier there?
Although, on the issue of Zygon telepathic assistance, just what is the range? The one operating the UAV at the UNIT tent was nowhere near the ones pretending to be her family, yet they still pulled off the disguise.
So, meanwhile, Osgood is a last name, it's getting silly they aren't giving her a first name, to the extent that apparently the headstone only reads "My Sister."
Really, the jokes about UNIT dating are exhausted. Oh, I get it, UNIT dating is an amusing continuity problem from the classic era, and while I laughed when it was referenced in The Poison Sky and even chuckled at the line about date protocols in Day of the Doctor, it's getting wearisome hearing "in the 70s or 80s" every time the Pertwee or early Baker UNIT stories are mentioned. The joke's been told, movie on.
It seems the Doctor's hatred of soldiers has been removed as abruptly as it was added. We saw this earlier in the season with the Lake Base story where despite the fact those characters were military the Doctor got along fine with them, he likewise doesn't seem to have much problem with the UNIT soldiers here. Sure, he doesn't seem to care for the Colonel much it seems more as a result of not liking her personally than because she's a soldier. Don't get me wrong, I didn't care for the soldier hatred last year, but removing it so suddenly is just as bad.
So if UNIT has Osgood's inhaler, what's Osgood doing when she has asthma attacks? Being held captive by shapeshifting aliens is stressful, and even if this is the Zygon she still needs the inhaler as much as the original does.
Finally, why is there a picture of William Hartnell at the UNIT safe house?
They weren't kidding when they said this episode was the most political one in years of the show.
I believe that story now that they ripped up all the scripts for Season 9 when Jenna Coleman re-signed and rewrote them because Clara has been just thrown in there and completely useless this season.
Kate proves she's more of a scientist than a soldier.
The church standoff was a tense, mostly well-done scene that loses points for the soldiers ALL stupidly marching to their death.
That being said, I did actually really enjoy this episode. It was intense and a very effective alien invasion storyline. I'm glad they revisited the Zygon thing because the idea of an alien race staying on Earth (instead of being teased as usual) is too good of an idea. And yes, the Doctor and Kate deserve a lot of blame for allowing 20 million Zygons to settle on the planet without telling the public about it.
Yay for the Harry Sullivan reference! Though it's hard to believe Harry would design a weapon so brutal. I saw it suggested elsewhere that he was the one who tipped off the Doctor about the weapon in the first place.
I believe that story now that they ripped up all the scripts for Season 9 when Jenna Coleman re-signed and rewrote them because Clara has been just thrown in there and completely useless this season.
Kate proves she's more of a scientist than a soldier.
The church standoff was a tense, mostly well-done scene that loses points for the soldiers ALL stupidly marching to their death.
That being said, I did actually really enjoy this episode. It was intense and a very effective alien invasion storyline. I'm glad they revisited the Zygon thing because the idea of an alien race staying on Earth (instead of being teased as usual) is too good of an idea. And yes, the Doctor and Kate deserve a lot of blame for allowing 20 million Zygons to settle on the planet without telling the public about it.
Yay for the Harry Sullivan reference! Though it's hard to believe Harry would design a weapon so brutal. I saw it suggested elsewhere that he was the one who tipped off the Doctor about the weapon in the first place.