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Post by sherlock on Sept 18, 2023 19:17:21 GMT
Done the first episode and it’s okay. As with the first series, Cleo is getting the lion’s share of the character work whilst Shawna and Abby are stuck in a subplot. Said subplot does feel likes it’s falling into the annoying habit of the first series by going down a cul-de-sac for sake of continuity references, but maybe this Torchwood angle will turn into something substantial that Queen Victoria and the Blink reminiscing didn’t. Cleo’s plotline is largely Donna’s from Partners in Crime, regret about not joining the Doctor when she could have, but as we know there’s no imminent reunion on the cards here there is potential here.
I don’t think I’ll marathon this, but will chip away at it over coming days.
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Post by sherlock on Sept 19, 2023 8:15:22 GMT
Second episode is also okay. The titular Apex is interesting, and his backstory feels very Douglas Adams-esque which is fun. Abby and Shawna continue their slow exploration of Torchwood, which is moving more towards a relatively unseen corner of the Institute. There might be potential here, but so far it’s quite so-so.
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Post by 20fridge on Sept 20, 2023 4:21:31 GMT
For me, Series Two was much better than Series One. I liked Series One well enough, but it was a bit to fan servicey and the plot was a little thin. Series Two had much much more developed plot, gave the characters a lot more agency, and had just the right amount of fan service. I really hope we get more series. {Spoilers for Series Two and connections with Big Finish audio} I especially loved the way it crossed over with Rani Takes on the World. Though, I did think it was weird that Mr. Smith's return happened in Redacted rather than Rani's series. Though, I suspect that Series Two of Rani Takes on the World will take place before Redacted Series Two and will show Rani's reunion with Mr. Smith.
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Post by sherlock on Sept 26, 2023 18:35:55 GMT
Oh Redacted; it’s the same dilemma as last time. I don’t want to be harsh on this series, as it seems it really means well. I just don’t think how the characters were portrayed really worked for me. Some of the “babe!” dialogue really started to grate more and more and well, spoilers- {Spoiler} Once again we have the group falling out because in their world a disagreement must mean nuclear fallout. Fresh from that Abby and Shawna then pop to Bannerman Road whereupon Shawna becomes a hacker. Where these skills presented themselves from, I have no idea. Can’t recall her doing much of anything with computers before now, but maybe series 1 covered that. In the finale they have a row about how Shawna thinks Abby thinks she’s incompetent, and tbf Abby is entirely right on that score given Shawna nearly got herself killed by ignoring Rani’s instructions the previous episode! The penultimate episode also muddle the waters regarding what Shawna and Abby actually remember of last series, as they mention UNIT and the ghosts, it’s just the Doctor they forgot. That wasn’t what episode 1 suggested. Given that the entirety of Cleo’s arc rested on them not remembering things, you’d have thought there would be consistency here!
Cleo meanwhile can’t really work out who she believes, but somehow despite everything is still with Apex by the end. In fairness he flip-flops between motivations too, so maybe that's why they get on so well despite their relationship only being about a day long so far.
To be positive, Honour Bray is a good fun villain. Petty as hell. Mr Singh the time travelling second hand seller is also neat. The plot comes together much better than series 1. Would I support a Redacted 3? No, I don’t think I would. Whilst I like the idea of a ground up angle of the show (admittedly this is a bit of a weird one where the characters know enough to make continuity references to The Green Death, but not enough to know the Doctor or Sarah Jane by name), I don’t think there’s more mileage in these characters.
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Post by nardole on Sept 27, 2023 14:28:37 GMT
Just finished this and it was good but I dont think it was as good as s1.
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Post by grinch on Oct 3, 2023 15:28:00 GMT
Finally gave this a go. Didn’t really like the first series and it’s unfortunate to say, my opinion of this follow up series hasn’t changed.
I just don’t think it’s particularly well written if I’m honest. And as expanded universe characters go, I don’t think any of our main cast are that memorable or interesting.
A worthy effort at least.
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Post by shallacatop on Oct 3, 2023 19:56:58 GMT
It was better than the first series, purely because there’s four less episodes. Our trio are poorly served throughout.
Abby & Shawna are given the dullest b-plot going, spat at each other for no particular reason and nobody could sell the Bannerman Road stuff in episodes five and six; talk about flip flopping, nothing was consistent. Meanwhile Cleo does nothing but spout quips and references; there’s nothing else to her beyond it. Not one of them have developed any further since episode two… of series one!
The overall story falls apart because it can never decide what it wants to do or portray. And whilst it’s at it, it contradicts itself constantly. Abby & Shawna can’t remember anything, which is meant to be the whole point and why they split from Cleo. Yet whenever the script requires, they happily reference UNIT or the virus. And are quick to believe Rani about the Doctor, yet don’t give Cleo the time of day.
I find it both sad when I see fans on Twitter praise the leads for their representation. They’re broadly drawn, poorly performed and are frankly toxic in their interactions with one another. It shows just how poor representation is when we take these three as a victory.
Redacted has heart behind the scenes, I truly believe that. It just doesn’t come through in the end product. They’ve had 16 episodes to sort it out and haven’t gotten better; it’s not deserving of a third run and I’d like to see something fresh for Ncuti’s tenure. The link to The Star Beast at the end was so forced that I can only think it was added to gain some traction online and encourage new listeners; I wonder how many will make it that far.
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Post by mark687 on Oct 3, 2023 20:27:31 GMT
It was better than the first series, purely because there’s four less episodes. Our trio are poorly served throughout. Abby & Shawna are given the dullest b-plot going, spat at each other for no particular reason and nobody could sell the Bannerman Road stuff in episodes five and six; talk about flip flopping, nothing was consistent. Meanwhile Cleo does nothing but spout quips and references; there’s nothing else to her beyond it. Not one of them have developed any further since episode two… of series one! The overall story falls apart because it can never decide what it wants to do or portray. And whilst it’s at it, it contradicts itself constantly. Abby & Shawna can’t remember anything, which is meant to be the whole point and why they split from Cleo. Yet whenever the script requires, they happily reference UNIT or the virus. And are quick to believe Rani about the Doctor, yet don’t give Cleo the time of day. I find it both sad when I see fans on Twitter praise the leads for their representation. They’re broadly drawn, poorly performed and are frankly toxic in their interactions with one another. It shows just how poor representation is when we take these three as a victory. Redacted has heart behind the scenes, I truly believe that. It just doesn’t come through in the end product. They’ve had 16 episodes to sort it out and haven’t gotten better; it’s not deserving of a third run and I’d like to see something fresh for Ncuti’s tenure. The link to The Star Beast at the end was so forced that I can only think it was added to gain some traction online and encourage new listeners; I wonder how many will make it that far. Totally agree but good on it if the broader audience got something from it. Regards mark687
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Post by sherlock on Jan 3, 2024 11:11:48 GMT
Random thought now that’s 60th has been and gone; what was all the stuff in this series about something being up with the Doctor’s timeline and them being missing about?
At time it seemed to be foreshadowing, as the spaceship crash at the end definitely was, but that never happened in the specials.
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Post by shallacatop on Jan 3, 2024 15:13:24 GMT
Random thought now that’s 60th has been and gone; what was all the stuff in this series about something being up with the Doctor’s timeline and them being missing about? At time it seemed to be foreshadowing, as the spaceship crash at the end definitely was, but that never happened in the specials. I think it’s probably all linked to a reveal about the nature of Fourteen having Ten’s face that was truncated in The Giggle. Liberation of the Daleks speculates about it, Under / Into Control has the fact the Doctor is different being the solution, Destination Skaro explicitly mentions the timeline is off, like Redacted, and none of it ever really came into play. It may be something for the future with Fifteen, but I think it’s likely something that’s been and gone and never really came to fruition.
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