Dont how poeple are saying this is the worst episode, did you not watch last weeks? Significant improvement from last week although I still feel that they're still getting into their stride.
100 Reviews
I liked it
traceyward-796002 December 2018
Cool Episode
yhardybiz6 February 2019
I enjoyed the episode and could definitely see it reflecting back on its roots of monster of the week. But not once did I lose interest. The episode also gave some realism, finally, on a young blind woman with an actual blind actress. And it even allowed for some character development. In general, a much better episode than some I've watched in other seasons(only so many times can we have the cybermen attack *sigh*).
Getting better
t-mccheyne2 December 2018
Don't know how others have written reviews prior to it being shown ! Just watched. Felt it had a fair amount of fear and sentiment in the plot. Not bad at all, not brilliant but certainly not as poor as some of these reviews.
I would like to see our female doctor mature and develop, and her travelling companions become closer to her. It's still a little superficial.
The best of a poor series with Whittaker delivering her most convincing performance
sheffieldscotts3 December 2018
Nearing the end of a truly disappointing under-scripted, overacted and patronising season we have finally got an episode worthy of Doctor Who.
This is the first story that doesn't smash you over the head with a PC bat (if you don't count the central character being a blind girl - maybe you should count that) and the story is clever, at times moving as it is dark. We have a parallel universe, an ominous nether world and a talking frog - great stuff. So we can forgive the daft flesh-eating giant moths that looked like they were made by a reception class.
There is a genuinely touching side story with Graham, and Bradley Walsh continues to pleasantly surprise us with his subtle delivery and he remains the standout character of the season. Whittaker, not known for her subtlety thus far, gives her most rounded performance to date. Her delivery is still at times too CBeebies but there are certainly moments of command and better timing, with bouts of sternness defused by a witty aside in classic Doctor Who fashion. And I'm happy to report there are no over-the-top physical gestures or inane mugging.
Let's not be clouded by nostalgia. I watched some old Tenant episodes recently and the stories and ropey aliens were at times dreadful - but even with a bad episode Tenant would pull it round with his charisma and delivery. Whittaker doesn't have the natural screen-presence of Smith or Tenant so she lives and dies by the quality of the writing, which has been on the whole wince-inducing this season. This episode though, has suggested that with a decent story and script, Whittaker has the talent to produce a Doctor we just may end up punching the air for.
This is the first story that doesn't smash you over the head with a PC bat (if you don't count the central character being a blind girl - maybe you should count that) and the story is clever, at times moving as it is dark. We have a parallel universe, an ominous nether world and a talking frog - great stuff. So we can forgive the daft flesh-eating giant moths that looked like they were made by a reception class.
There is a genuinely touching side story with Graham, and Bradley Walsh continues to pleasantly surprise us with his subtle delivery and he remains the standout character of the season. Whittaker, not known for her subtlety thus far, gives her most rounded performance to date. Her delivery is still at times too CBeebies but there are certainly moments of command and better timing, with bouts of sternness defused by a witty aside in classic Doctor Who fashion. And I'm happy to report there are no over-the-top physical gestures or inane mugging.
Let's not be clouded by nostalgia. I watched some old Tenant episodes recently and the stories and ropey aliens were at times dreadful - but even with a bad episode Tenant would pull it round with his charisma and delivery. Whittaker doesn't have the natural screen-presence of Smith or Tenant so she lives and dies by the quality of the writing, which has been on the whole wince-inducing this season. This episode though, has suggested that with a decent story and script, Whittaker has the talent to produce a Doctor we just may end up punching the air for.
My favourite of the series so far
crishale2 December 2018
It starts out with a mystery. There's a twist, then another twist. Then the bigger picture is revealed, which is...out of this world.
For Sci-Fi to work it has to be believable and grand in its outlook, even if it's almost certainly nonsense, and this episode did that for me.
I've really gotten into Sci-Fi books in recent years and this reminded me of Stanislaw Lem's Solaris in its concept, but with a far more satisfactory conclusion!
It had just the right amounts of strangeness, humanity, and wonder to make this my favourite of the series so far.
It Got a Little Carried Away
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic11 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is clearly a divisive episode that some will hate but some will love. Meanwhile, as is often the case in divisive matters, I am somewhere in between. I see the positives of this but also see negatives that leave me with reservations.
The TARDIS arrives near a fjord in Norway and from that moment we get fantastic cinematography and production values as with the rest of series 11 (until one effects aspect at the end which feels a letdown). The problems begin, though, in the initial little introductory scene where The Doctor tastes soil and makes silly proclamations about knowing there is an alpaca farm and a gift shop nearby with low 'trip adviser' ratings etc. I find this opening scene embarrassing. A totally unnecessary and stupid little scene that would have been far better and more logical if she had just read the TARDIS scanner and told them they were in Norway in the middle of nowhere but there was a life sign nearby. It is yet another example of Chibnall's era being very weak at giving the Doctor good humorous dialogue. That repeats throughout the episode as the Doctor makes a bunch of unfunny and weird little comments.
There is also a misleading camera shot near the start appearing to represent something watching them which turns out not to be the case.
Immediately after that initial silly scene it becomes a really good creepy episode as they discover a boarded up house, meet a blind girl who tells them her father has been taken by a monster and hear the monster's roars outside. These scenes are unsettling, intriguing, well scripted and solidly acted by all the cast so I felt we were going to get a classic scary tale as trailers had suggested. It is great to have a young blind actress, Eleanor Wallwork, playing the blind girl Hanne with a believable sounding Norwegian accent.
They then find a mirror portal into 'the antizone', a barrier zone between two alternate universes, and while many of the scenes in this part continue with the great quality of production, acting, creepy atmosphere and enjoyable story there are aspects I find less appealing. We now are moving away from the scary monster in the woods idea and into pure fantasy and some bits are a little hard to swallow:
Ribbons, the creature from the antizone, is a fun character but doesn't really make sense. Why and how is he there? What is he doing and how does his existence there work? It is pure fantasy without feeling grounded. I like him as a character but his situation just feels thrown in without fitting.
Why does the Doctor leave Ryan with Hanne instead of leaving Yaz? If she wants Hanne to feel safe and to give them information it is clear Yaz is best to leave with her due to her skills and rapport with Hanne.
Why is Hanne"s dad Erik able to go back and forth without caring enough about Hanne to take better care of her? Why would he think up and fake a terrifying monster and leave his daughter alone and scared when he could have tried taking her with him to the other universe or finding another better way to keep her safe?
I wished afterwards that the monster was a real one that had entered from the antizone and Erik had barricaded it out then just blundered into the other universe without meaning to leave his daughter and got stuck there.
The explanation in the episode is a far deeper one in a way: Erik is mentally broken and clings to the idea of his dead wife being back, losing sight of his daughter who is still alive. It is a dark and thought provoking explanation for his seemingly illogical behaviour. But it is hard to swallow that he was going back and forth, seemingly in control of his behaviour, without looking after Hanne better. It doesn't quite ring true for me so I have mixed feelings on it.
When the Doctor tells Yaz and us that the mirror universe is the realm of the Solitract, a sentient universe, it just seems a silly overblown concept. If only they had made it a bit more sensible an idea. They could even have made the universe the realm of the Celestial Toymaker or linked it in with the Mind Robber, Amy's Choice, The Doctor's Wife or another existing idea fans could get excited about in a series lacking in familiar aspects. I just feel the explanation doesn't work well. It doesn't help that the Doctor mentions her 7 grannies and says one of them told her zany theories about Zygons. I am pretty sure when the 4th Doctor met the Zygons it was indicated as the first he knew of them. It is just more supposedly humorous dialogue that I find jarring and clunky.
A plus point is that when they reach the alternative universe there is a brilliant, clever touch that has everything subtly reversed as if in a mirror. Almost imperceptibly everything is backwards from their faces to the logo on the T-shirt worn by Erik.
When the Solitract manifests itself as a frog, not only is that idea pretty strange and silly but the frog itself is poorly created and stands out as a bad effect in series 11 which otherwise has been visually the best standard ever. Why did they go with the idea of the frog when that would obviously annoy a lot of viewers and they could have had the Solitract fake Susan, River, a former companion etc like it did with Grace? Why did they not do a proper realistic CGI frog at least?
In this latter part of the episode the emotional scenes with Graham coming to terms with the loss of his wife and then his scene with and Ryan at the end are brilliant, moving and acted to perfection. When you combine these with all the good stuff it lifts it up a bit but overall I found the episode a bit disappointing.
My rating: 5.5/10.
Series 11 Episode Ranking: 7th out of 11.
The TARDIS arrives near a fjord in Norway and from that moment we get fantastic cinematography and production values as with the rest of series 11 (until one effects aspect at the end which feels a letdown). The problems begin, though, in the initial little introductory scene where The Doctor tastes soil and makes silly proclamations about knowing there is an alpaca farm and a gift shop nearby with low 'trip adviser' ratings etc. I find this opening scene embarrassing. A totally unnecessary and stupid little scene that would have been far better and more logical if she had just read the TARDIS scanner and told them they were in Norway in the middle of nowhere but there was a life sign nearby. It is yet another example of Chibnall's era being very weak at giving the Doctor good humorous dialogue. That repeats throughout the episode as the Doctor makes a bunch of unfunny and weird little comments.
There is also a misleading camera shot near the start appearing to represent something watching them which turns out not to be the case.
Immediately after that initial silly scene it becomes a really good creepy episode as they discover a boarded up house, meet a blind girl who tells them her father has been taken by a monster and hear the monster's roars outside. These scenes are unsettling, intriguing, well scripted and solidly acted by all the cast so I felt we were going to get a classic scary tale as trailers had suggested. It is great to have a young blind actress, Eleanor Wallwork, playing the blind girl Hanne with a believable sounding Norwegian accent.
They then find a mirror portal into 'the antizone', a barrier zone between two alternate universes, and while many of the scenes in this part continue with the great quality of production, acting, creepy atmosphere and enjoyable story there are aspects I find less appealing. We now are moving away from the scary monster in the woods idea and into pure fantasy and some bits are a little hard to swallow:
Ribbons, the creature from the antizone, is a fun character but doesn't really make sense. Why and how is he there? What is he doing and how does his existence there work? It is pure fantasy without feeling grounded. I like him as a character but his situation just feels thrown in without fitting.
Why does the Doctor leave Ryan with Hanne instead of leaving Yaz? If she wants Hanne to feel safe and to give them information it is clear Yaz is best to leave with her due to her skills and rapport with Hanne.
Why is Hanne"s dad Erik able to go back and forth without caring enough about Hanne to take better care of her? Why would he think up and fake a terrifying monster and leave his daughter alone and scared when he could have tried taking her with him to the other universe or finding another better way to keep her safe?
I wished afterwards that the monster was a real one that had entered from the antizone and Erik had barricaded it out then just blundered into the other universe without meaning to leave his daughter and got stuck there.
The explanation in the episode is a far deeper one in a way: Erik is mentally broken and clings to the idea of his dead wife being back, losing sight of his daughter who is still alive. It is a dark and thought provoking explanation for his seemingly illogical behaviour. But it is hard to swallow that he was going back and forth, seemingly in control of his behaviour, without looking after Hanne better. It doesn't quite ring true for me so I have mixed feelings on it.
When the Doctor tells Yaz and us that the mirror universe is the realm of the Solitract, a sentient universe, it just seems a silly overblown concept. If only they had made it a bit more sensible an idea. They could even have made the universe the realm of the Celestial Toymaker or linked it in with the Mind Robber, Amy's Choice, The Doctor's Wife or another existing idea fans could get excited about in a series lacking in familiar aspects. I just feel the explanation doesn't work well. It doesn't help that the Doctor mentions her 7 grannies and says one of them told her zany theories about Zygons. I am pretty sure when the 4th Doctor met the Zygons it was indicated as the first he knew of them. It is just more supposedly humorous dialogue that I find jarring and clunky.
A plus point is that when they reach the alternative universe there is a brilliant, clever touch that has everything subtly reversed as if in a mirror. Almost imperceptibly everything is backwards from their faces to the logo on the T-shirt worn by Erik.
When the Solitract manifests itself as a frog, not only is that idea pretty strange and silly but the frog itself is poorly created and stands out as a bad effect in series 11 which otherwise has been visually the best standard ever. Why did they go with the idea of the frog when that would obviously annoy a lot of viewers and they could have had the Solitract fake Susan, River, a former companion etc like it did with Grace? Why did they not do a proper realistic CGI frog at least?
In this latter part of the episode the emotional scenes with Graham coming to terms with the loss of his wife and then his scene with and Ryan at the end are brilliant, moving and acted to perfection. When you combine these with all the good stuff it lifts it up a bit but overall I found the episode a bit disappointing.
My rating: 5.5/10.
Series 11 Episode Ranking: 7th out of 11.
A Talking Frog, Killer Moths and a Mirror...
Xstal5 January 2022
This Ep Worked
antonydwhitehead4 December 2018
At last. Everything worked. You cared about the Tardis gang. The guest characters were relatable. There was a sustained sense of fear and threat. Even the Zygons had a (brief) mention. Everything wrapped up satisfactorily. Maybe still too much sonic / wand sub-HarryPotter mumbo jumbo but with this level of quality drama prepared to forgive. More please.
Collecting kid's shoes
danzorny2 December 2018
"A maniac that collects child's shoes."
Some good character development, but Yaz was a ghost as usual. Graham and Ryan are great. Could have done without the inconsistant moths and CGI frog though.
Just a weird time all round.
Some good character development, but Yaz was a ghost as usual. Graham and Ryan are great. Could have done without the inconsistant moths and CGI frog though.
Just a weird time all round.
Wish this season could be taken away.
h-fickling23 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This episode wasn't awful compared to the season. I mean there was some nice scenery, a cool cabin in the woods well I guess that's about it because the story starts to unravel pretty quickly. The suspense of the threat in the woods is snuffed out rather quickly and you find out the real threat is actually in the house. But sadly that only turns out to be Killer Moths and a lonely Universe who just wants a friend hah! Of course, because no one is actually bad just misunderstood. pfft.
The Doctor is still the same scattered poor imitation and Ryan was kind of a jerk in this episode most of the season he pretty much stands around with a blank look on his face so having him be mean to a kid made him even more unlikable. I wish they would dump two of the companions 'cough ..Yaz..'cough Ryan.., reverse the polarity...really.
The worst is how this miserable season could impact the future of Doctor Who.
7 grandmothers?!?! Really that is so dumb, how would that work exactly? At the beginning of the season it bothered me when the Doctor was basically begging to be asked to Tea. He has always shirked invites like this, very hard to pin down to tea or dinner. I hope these writers don't do anything to drastically alter the Whoverse.
Whitaker has zero depth as the Doctor and they write her not nearly intelligent as she should be. I really do not think Chibnall knows Doctor Who at all. It is such a poor imitation you can see he pulls a few things from the Doctor and jams them in there randomly to try connect this Doctor to past regeneration's but misses the mark on so many other important factors they just ring hollow. It just feels like he hates everything about the old Doctor Who and is using the name only with a cookie cutter format. Doctor time traveler check. Tardis check. Companions Check. Heart and soul, all the work and build up of the Doctor through all the past regeneration's, history and memories of past relationships, travels, wars won...non-existent.
Now I am actually glad they are making these all stand alone episodes and not bringing any old enemies into the season these can just be stricken from memory and forgotten when this nightmare is over.
One of the strongest episodes of the season
DVD_Connoisseur2 December 2018
"It Takes You Away" is a genuine surprise and one of the high points of this season.
The direction the episode travels down is unexpected and there's genuine danger for The Doctor and companions.
The musical score is excellent as always, there's a wonderful sense of "alienness" in the netherworld beyond the mirror, and the acting is solid.
8 out of 10. This season may be splitting opinion and I'm torn in my feelings for the current direction of the show but it's not surprising it's drawing in strong viewing figures. For a cold winter Sunday evening, this ain't half bad.
The direction the episode travels down is unexpected and there's genuine danger for The Doctor and companions.
The musical score is excellent as always, there's a wonderful sense of "alienness" in the netherworld beyond the mirror, and the acting is solid.
8 out of 10. This season may be splitting opinion and I'm torn in my feelings for the current direction of the show but it's not surprising it's drawing in strong viewing figures. For a cold winter Sunday evening, this ain't half bad.
Contains the only genuinely touching scene in the series
byardy2 December 2018
Reverse the polarity and a talking frog?
moyetbear-224-5849603 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Having just watched the episode start to finish it is one of the weakest of the season it lacks and creativity and doesn't give us anything new other than a talking frog at the end of the episode which was beyond ridiculously stupid.
The season cannot end fast enough. I have not liked her she Rambles constantly there are too many companions too many backstories not enough actual science fiction outer space stories no monsters few aliens and the aliens that do appear are about as interesting as a bag of unpopped popcorn!
they need to get back to making it about science fiction time and space travel heading companions that you want to like not ones that you want to leave behind!
and the female-centric writing was at least in this episode almost non-existent except for the blind girl.
Who looked nothing like her father and her mother's doppelganger from another dimension.
and the whole idea of using a mirror as a portal was completely stupid and having to explain the word portal to a companion but then the companion tells you to reverse the polarity excuse me but is the companion smart or extremely stupid because the combination of both just doesn't work.
The season cannot end fast enough. I have not liked her she Rambles constantly there are too many companions too many backstories not enough actual science fiction outer space stories no monsters few aliens and the aliens that do appear are about as interesting as a bag of unpopped popcorn!
they need to get back to making it about science fiction time and space travel heading companions that you want to like not ones that you want to leave behind!
and the female-centric writing was at least in this episode almost non-existent except for the blind girl.
Who looked nothing like her father and her mother's doppelganger from another dimension.
and the whole idea of using a mirror as a portal was completely stupid and having to explain the word portal to a companion but then the companion tells you to reverse the polarity excuse me but is the companion smart or extremely stupid because the combination of both just doesn't work.
The first episode this season I've enjoyed all the way through
korereviews3 December 2018
Finally an episode that feels like proper Doctor Who! And it's pretty much totally due to good writing, as there was nothing fancy about this episode in terms of effects or acting. Whittaker had some good solo moments near the end - which are long overdue. With so many companions, the Doctor has often felt like a side character on her own show. This has been a big problem. If I'd never heard of Doctor Who and just happened to watch an episode from this season, I'd probably guess that Graham was the protagonist. As someone who's never particularly cared much about ANY of the companions on Doctor Who (my favorite episodes are the rare ones where the Doctor is on his own), having 3 now is not a bonus but a distraction. Anyway, this episode was quite good - the first this season where I haven't felt bored by the middle. That said, I can't help but think of how much better it would have been if it had been acted by David Tennant. Whittaker still doesn't have much uniqueness or depth as the Doctor.
Definitely the best episode for the series
lolzgod2 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I feel like this episode could compete against other episodes from different series in new who it's mix of sci-fi concept and emotional tension is what I seemingly love about a lot of doctor who episodes you really feel for Graham who lost a loved one only to assume that she's alive but not the same she was.
Lost for words
TheDonaldofDoom5 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was going to write a full review for this episode, but I don't know how. All I can say is, how can anyone praise the CGI frog? It's the most obviously fake thing I've ever seen in Doctor Who. What an embarrassment that the BBC is putting this on primetime TV. The Doctor, meanwhile, has gone off the rails. Her speech, calling this frog beautiful, is the cringiest thing I've seen for a long time.
Decent story, terrible ending
anthonyjlangford3 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Someone else mentioned Jodie just not at home as Who and never more obvious than in this episode, not helped with abysmal writing. Eating dirt to determine location and Sheep Wars? In the first three minutes? Mind bogglingly stupid.
Finally the set up actually begins to deliver drama. Finally a decent story. It felt as though we were being delivered a moderate horror reminiscent of It Follows and A Quiet Place et al.
There was emotional tension (though once again the 'bad dad' scenario rears its ugly sexist head yet again), before some juicy dilemmas as the men must decide how to leave their wives. Alternate universe. Portals. Moths were weak but otherwise pretty decent material.
Then Jodie waves her Potter-esque wand around and around again with some more bad dialouge, (Chibnall and Strevens are responsible for the development of the character so must take the blame) and we end up with one of Who's worst finales of all time. A 10 buck frog on a chair and a love affair. 'I've made a new friend.' It was hilariously bad. The frog looked terrible. Seemed to be a puppet and not CHI. Why? The frog was a bad idea to begin with. Why does everyone in the Chibnall universe have to be nice and decent? What's wrong with having a self serving alien that doesn't care whose lives it ruins? That was how it was being played out. The finale was totally at odds as to what came before it. It felt forced. It was truly pathetic. Meddling producers? They just can't get it right. They get close sometimes but are just not consistent enough to pull off one solid, decent episode.
Easily the worst season of modern Who, reflected in the ratings. If the BBC doesn't get rid of its producers it seriously risks losing the show completely.
The frog. Oh the horror, the horror...
Finally the set up actually begins to deliver drama. Finally a decent story. It felt as though we were being delivered a moderate horror reminiscent of It Follows and A Quiet Place et al.
There was emotional tension (though once again the 'bad dad' scenario rears its ugly sexist head yet again), before some juicy dilemmas as the men must decide how to leave their wives. Alternate universe. Portals. Moths were weak but otherwise pretty decent material.
Then Jodie waves her Potter-esque wand around and around again with some more bad dialouge, (Chibnall and Strevens are responsible for the development of the character so must take the blame) and we end up with one of Who's worst finales of all time. A 10 buck frog on a chair and a love affair. 'I've made a new friend.' It was hilariously bad. The frog looked terrible. Seemed to be a puppet and not CHI. Why? The frog was a bad idea to begin with. Why does everyone in the Chibnall universe have to be nice and decent? What's wrong with having a self serving alien that doesn't care whose lives it ruins? That was how it was being played out. The finale was totally at odds as to what came before it. It felt forced. It was truly pathetic. Meddling producers? They just can't get it right. They get close sometimes but are just not consistent enough to pull off one solid, decent episode.
Easily the worst season of modern Who, reflected in the ratings. If the BBC doesn't get rid of its producers it seriously risks losing the show completely.
The frog. Oh the horror, the horror...
Season's lowest point.
Sleepin_Dragon2 December 2018
So often it's the case that the penultimate episode is the best of the series, sadly that's not the case. I felt after Kerblam, and certainly after The Witchfinders that we were onto something, but this was a step back. It felt there wasn't enough script to go round, the story was thin enough, but the companions were literally decorations for the most part.
Ribbons looked impressive, but I wasn't ultimately sold on the performance. The production values, which have been superb throughout were a little poor in this one, the sets could have come from a McCoy episode. I did like the moths, they were creepy, but the only shining light was Ellie Wallwork, she was terrific.
For me this the worst episode of new Who, I even preferred The Tsarunga Conundrum. I didn't like the script, I didn't really like anything about it if I'm honest. Main thing to blame here was the writing, the term out of their depth fits well.
Jodie was off form here too, she wasn't overly bright or commanding. She didn't feel like The Doctor, which is sad, as last week she did.
Wasted opportunities here, but I thought this was shocking. The frog, really!!! 3/10
(And before you dismiss it I've given great reviews to many episode in S11.)
Ribbons looked impressive, but I wasn't ultimately sold on the performance. The production values, which have been superb throughout were a little poor in this one, the sets could have come from a McCoy episode. I did like the moths, they were creepy, but the only shining light was Ellie Wallwork, she was terrific.
For me this the worst episode of new Who, I even preferred The Tsarunga Conundrum. I didn't like the script, I didn't really like anything about it if I'm honest. Main thing to blame here was the writing, the term out of their depth fits well.
Jodie was off form here too, she wasn't overly bright or commanding. She didn't feel like The Doctor, which is sad, as last week she did.
Wasted opportunities here, but I thought this was shocking. The frog, really!!! 3/10
(And before you dismiss it I've given great reviews to many episode in S11.)
Psychedelic
webbmaster-712398 January 2019
Another good idea. Just wish the writing was better.
jackVSjack3 December 2018
Another good idea for this episode but like form for this series it fails to completely win me over.
Some better performances from the "friends" of this Doc and a little monologue for Jodie to sink her acting chops into. Just wasn't up to the standard I'd come to expect.
One of the better ones this week. But this Doctor Who series still feels like a pale imitation to me. I think there are plenty that disagree, which is good as this show must survive.
I think the show needs one solid writer, maybe that's not always possible.
Some better performances from the "friends" of this Doc and a little monologue for Jodie to sink her acting chops into. Just wasn't up to the standard I'd come to expect.
One of the better ones this week. But this Doctor Who series still feels like a pale imitation to me. I think there are plenty that disagree, which is good as this show must survive.
I think the show needs one solid writer, maybe that's not always possible.
Norwegian Claptrap!
doorsscorpywag2 December 2018
Again I watched it before giving it 1* or reviewing it.
For those who think negative reviews are a product of male chauvinists who really can't accept the Doctor is a woman.
I for one think having a woman Doctor is a great idea and should have been done after Tennant left. Some wonderful actresses were put forward as candidates. Helen Mirren. Emma Thompson. Olivia Coleman. But instead we got Whittaker and that has pretty much destroyed the concept.
I thought it was brilliant when Michelle Gomez became the Master/Mistress. I looked forward to the time when Lady Doctor and Mistress would have faced off together. It could have been sublime if written well. Who has always had excellent female characters so it followed that the Doctor could be female. Unfortunately synchronicity conspired to introduce the worst set of companions in Who History, to the worst set of writers and a female lead who is awful.
True her cause wasn't helped when the writers decided to dress her up like a clown instead of giving her a bit of dignity as most of the men (not all) before her were given fashion wise. Everyone else in this has more than one set of clothes for crying out loud. But I see little in the way of acting ability when I look at her performance. Waving that sonic magic stick about like a demented Hermione shows she has not got a clue what she is supposed to be. Her babblings between waves are tiresome and add nothing to the episodes. She sounds mentally challenged instead of being the smartest person in the room.
The storylines are pathetic and would make any actor look bad. But she is a rubbish Doctor NOT because she is a woman but because she is rubbish at portraying The Doctor.
The latest pile of nonsense starts with The Doctor eating some dirt and proclaiming it is Norway then scanning a sheep with her magic stick. You could not make this stuff up! Oh wait a minute they just did. Cheese & Pickle sarnies and one of the idiots having a Minnie Mouse look. And that was the first 5 minutes.
Lots of magic stick work today and the usual awful acting from the crew. They are truly terrible and the worst ever sidekicks in the History of Dr Who. Whittaker is utterly abysmal as The Doctor. She comes off like a gibbering idiot. Terrible alien and terrible story. Awful acting apart from the girl in the house, Ellie Wallwork, who actually did really well. (hence a well earned #1 for tonight's episode) But none of her efforts make up for this disaster of a Series 11.
It's not a matter of whether the Doctor is a man or a woman it's whether the actor playing the role is any good and brings out the many nuances of The Doctor whilst adding new ones to it. Pretty much all previous candidates did that. Some brilliantly. Troughton, Baker, Tennant, Smith. But now after 9 episodes she does not, in the way she sounds or acts, have any dimension of what The Doctor is to the Universe and is instead simply a bland random female without a clue, in a role, doing something rather poorly. An empty space could put in a better effort.
For those who think negative reviews are a product of male chauvinists who really can't accept the Doctor is a woman.
I for one think having a woman Doctor is a great idea and should have been done after Tennant left. Some wonderful actresses were put forward as candidates. Helen Mirren. Emma Thompson. Olivia Coleman. But instead we got Whittaker and that has pretty much destroyed the concept.
I thought it was brilliant when Michelle Gomez became the Master/Mistress. I looked forward to the time when Lady Doctor and Mistress would have faced off together. It could have been sublime if written well. Who has always had excellent female characters so it followed that the Doctor could be female. Unfortunately synchronicity conspired to introduce the worst set of companions in Who History, to the worst set of writers and a female lead who is awful.
True her cause wasn't helped when the writers decided to dress her up like a clown instead of giving her a bit of dignity as most of the men (not all) before her were given fashion wise. Everyone else in this has more than one set of clothes for crying out loud. But I see little in the way of acting ability when I look at her performance. Waving that sonic magic stick about like a demented Hermione shows she has not got a clue what she is supposed to be. Her babblings between waves are tiresome and add nothing to the episodes. She sounds mentally challenged instead of being the smartest person in the room.
The storylines are pathetic and would make any actor look bad. But she is a rubbish Doctor NOT because she is a woman but because she is rubbish at portraying The Doctor.
The latest pile of nonsense starts with The Doctor eating some dirt and proclaiming it is Norway then scanning a sheep with her magic stick. You could not make this stuff up! Oh wait a minute they just did. Cheese & Pickle sarnies and one of the idiots having a Minnie Mouse look. And that was the first 5 minutes.
Lots of magic stick work today and the usual awful acting from the crew. They are truly terrible and the worst ever sidekicks in the History of Dr Who. Whittaker is utterly abysmal as The Doctor. She comes off like a gibbering idiot. Terrible alien and terrible story. Awful acting apart from the girl in the house, Ellie Wallwork, who actually did really well. (hence a well earned #1 for tonight's episode) But none of her efforts make up for this disaster of a Series 11.
It's not a matter of whether the Doctor is a man or a woman it's whether the actor playing the role is any good and brings out the many nuances of The Doctor whilst adding new ones to it. Pretty much all previous candidates did that. Some brilliantly. Troughton, Baker, Tennant, Smith. But now after 9 episodes she does not, in the way she sounds or acts, have any dimension of what The Doctor is to the Universe and is instead simply a bland random female without a clue, in a role, doing something rather poorly. An empty space could put in a better effort.
Really strong episode for this series !!
jacklivi-128702 December 2018
Entertaining but still room for improvement
thekimberley3 December 2018
I am a great Dr. Who fan. Every regeneration has had its great, average and bad episodes. For me personally the series with companion Donna Noble was never my favorite. With Jodie Whittaker currently as the new Dr. I am not overexited. The trio compannion thing is not working for me. All companions untill now have had there own storyline that gave the doctor an extra dimension. I really miss a big bad wolf or a crack in the wall or River Song storyline. This is so blend. The three compannions do a lot of running in mostly different directions. It is team doctor now.... but i'd say loose two of them and work out a storyline for one of them.
The doctor is the self proclaimed protector of the earth and mankind against the evil we all know so well. Current series seems disconnected from that. Apparently evil now is busy likking there wounds and in a dorment state. I agree with many others that the writing could be better. I am confident that Jody Whittaker would be a great doctor if the writers had given her a simular setting as her former regenerations. Jody with a Clara type could have worked.
This episode was entertaining but still there is something missing... But I am not giving up on Jody. On the other hand.. I have re-watched all episodes of the series starting from Eccleston, but I can say that I will never do that with this series. That is a first.
This episode was entertaining but still there is something missing... But I am not giving up on Jody. On the other hand.. I have re-watched all episodes of the series starting from Eccleston, but I can say that I will never do that with this series. That is a first.
What on earth did I just watch?
harryford-998702 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I mean how do you even explain this episode.
At first I thought this episode had potential with the monster in the woods and the barricaded house with the little blind girl alone. I was actually beginning to get into it.
Then it all went wrong
First of all the monster isn't actually real because of course these writers wouldn't give us a simple monster would they.
Then the anti zone place full of the killer moths. What is up with these pathetic little creatures they're giving us. we've had moths, spiders, mud, cloth, bubble wrap and some weird others. Just give us a good villain for once writers please. I know they want to make up new aliens for this season but come one there must be some better ideas they can come up with than this crap surely.
Then we come onto the real villain of the episode the 'I can't even remember its stupid name' Universe. The most complicated thrown in villain I think i've ever seen in doctor who. Oh no wait sorry did I say villain. Sorry folks you'll have to wait another weak because of course the only thing it wants is friends. Oh and by the way it takes the form of a frog. Literally no joke. It makes me wonder what drugs were they taking while making this episode.
One other little thing I have to mention is that moment when The Doctor is trying to reopen the portal but can't figure out how to do it, and out of nowhere Yaz just comes up and says how about reversing the polarity. This just had me screaming at my television.
Honestly there may have been more moments but this is all I have the energy for. I still live in hope for Doctor Who and how much fun it once was but in no way am I enjoying it at the moment
At first I thought this episode had potential with the monster in the woods and the barricaded house with the little blind girl alone. I was actually beginning to get into it.
Then it all went wrong
First of all the monster isn't actually real because of course these writers wouldn't give us a simple monster would they.
Then the anti zone place full of the killer moths. What is up with these pathetic little creatures they're giving us. we've had moths, spiders, mud, cloth, bubble wrap and some weird others. Just give us a good villain for once writers please. I know they want to make up new aliens for this season but come one there must be some better ideas they can come up with than this crap surely.
Then we come onto the real villain of the episode the 'I can't even remember its stupid name' Universe. The most complicated thrown in villain I think i've ever seen in doctor who. Oh no wait sorry did I say villain. Sorry folks you'll have to wait another weak because of course the only thing it wants is friends. Oh and by the way it takes the form of a frog. Literally no joke. It makes me wonder what drugs were they taking while making this episode.
One other little thing I have to mention is that moment when The Doctor is trying to reopen the portal but can't figure out how to do it, and out of nowhere Yaz just comes up and says how about reversing the polarity. This just had me screaming at my television.
Honestly there may have been more moments but this is all I have the energy for. I still live in hope for Doctor Who and how much fun it once was but in no way am I enjoying it at the moment
It is very flawed but it at least felt like a Doctor Who episode.
Snowy012 December 2018
I have pretty much loathed nearly every episode of the new season. I don't rate the doctor, the companions but mostly the writing.
I hate that i have been force fed ideology in favor of a good story. I have been a vocal critic of most of this season to anyone who listens to be honest.
That said this episode felt like DW of old. There were some interesting ideas presented. Which was to be honest refreshing compared to the drivel we have been fed.
This episode is in no way perfect. The frog, the middle place alien, the moths, the mirrorverse that felt like a bad version of Gaimans "Coraline" but to be honest I will take it. Any other season and i would have rated this a 4 but because of the drek that came before i have upped it to a 6 in the hope we may get more like it.
I hate that i have been force fed ideology in favor of a good story. I have been a vocal critic of most of this season to anyone who listens to be honest.
That said this episode felt like DW of old. There were some interesting ideas presented. Which was to be honest refreshing compared to the drivel we have been fed.
This episode is in no way perfect. The frog, the middle place alien, the moths, the mirrorverse that felt like a bad version of Gaimans "Coraline" but to be honest I will take it. Any other season and i would have rated this a 4 but because of the drek that came before i have upped it to a 6 in the hope we may get more like it.
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