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Post by martinw8686 on Dec 13, 2022 23:42:50 GMT
I'm 40 minutes in, so far pretty good 4/5.
I'd be interested to know if anyone else gets Anakin Skywalker vibes from the Dalek Hunter Killer?
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Dec 14, 2022 7:46:11 GMT
I'm 40 minutes in, so far pretty good 4/5. I'd be interested to know if anyone else gets Anakin Skywalker vibes from the Dalek Hunter Killer? Nah… he doesn’t sulk enough to be Annakin. Vader OTOH… yeah. There’s a certain cunning brutality to the DHK.
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Post by bonehead on Dec 14, 2022 17:24:10 GMT
1. The Mission
Strangely, I found the opening stories of the previous two War Doctor Begins box-sets to be not to my tastes at all. I'm delighted to say that this set puts all that in the past. Robert Valentine's story gets off to a great start here, with a really effective build-up to a frightening new villain. Apart from the Daleks, it seems a while since we had a good, stomping classic 'baddie' to pit this wonderfully abstract Doctor against. A fearful voice, and what sounds like a huge pair of boots ensures that the wonderfully named Barber-Surgeon makes a formidable entrance. Also, the cast - always very good - are on top form, with a real anger from The Doctor, and some especially slimy vocials from Harbinger-of-doom Daleks. Even Howard Carter's always excellent score is raised a notch or two here.
I hope this isn't the last instalment, but if it is, it's going out on a real high.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Dec 14, 2022 22:18:47 GMT
I rather liked the General’s comments about and to the War Doctor in part 1, very respectful and obviously the same man who’d trust the Doctors to trap Gallifrey and trusts that he has a plan to win that involves shooting him and allowing himself to be shot. I get the feeling that there might be some timeline resetting going to happen especially given the {Spoiler} Allusion to either Leela or Ace being killed by the Barber Surgeon, given we know how both end up.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Dec 15, 2022 3:29:00 GMT
That was a brilliant story. Great use of the cast and the “time war as genre”.
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Post by elkawho on Dec 15, 2022 3:30:27 GMT
I'm surprised that there isn't more discussion regarding this set. I think it's fabulous and one of the best things BF has released this year. And it requires the listener to really listen without distractions. Jonathan Carly has certainly come a long way since the first set. He's phenomenal in this. Yes, his ability to sound like John Hurt continues to be uncanny, but that is not what makes him so great in this. His performance is brilliant regardless of who he sounds like. There are so many callbacks to past doctor memories and moments. He responds to them all without becoming overly nostalgic and sappy. And his rage and despair as he begs for death is breathtaking. 5/5
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Dec 15, 2022 3:33:08 GMT
I downloaded this on my mobile phone upon release, just trying to still finish up the latest 9th Doctor 1st before I tackle this.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Dec 15, 2022 8:07:46 GMT
I'm surprised that there isn't more discussion regarding this set. I think it's fabulous and one of the best things BF has released this year. And it requires the listener to really listen without distractions. Jonathan Carly has certainly come a long way since the first set. He's phenomenal in this. Yes, his ability to sound like John Hurt continues to be uncanny, but that is not what makes him so great in this. His performance is brilliant regardless of who he sounds like. There are so many callbacks to past doctor memories and moments. He responds to them all without becoming overly nostalgic and sappy. And his rage and despair as he begs for death is breathtaking. 5/5 Wht amazed me about Corkey’s performance is him humming in character, with a gravely voice.
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Post by shallacatop on Dec 15, 2022 9:45:10 GMT
Just finished this one up. Fantastic, high concept stuff that's very layered and expertly crafted across the three episodes. I really liked the regular swapping of perspectives throughout, as each party crosses one another and moves closer to the end game. As mentioned, Carley is phenomenal, not just in voice but this is such a rounded performance. I thought the very first appearance by him in the set was an unused John Hurt take for a moment! Nicholas Le Prevost puts in a great turn too. It's his presence in the first episode that sells the character's reduced involvement in the second and first half of the third. I loved the use of the General too, and his interaction with the Doctor, they're a highlight of the set. The callbacks were well handled and served the story too, which was nice.
It does feel like this could be the end of Carley's run, but I do hope not. I'd love more and I'd love the General essentially being the companion, in the same way Ollistra often was in the Hurt run.
Looking forward to a relisten of the four sets at some point!
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Post by shallacatop on Dec 15, 2022 12:52:37 GMT
I forgot to mention; I think that video promo is the best they’ve done so far. I adore the War Doctor’s control room.
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Post by bonehead on Dec 15, 2022 15:06:42 GMT
2. The Abyss.
No let up with this mid-episode. I presume this brief and moving story is 'the one with Leela in it.' I had a bit of a moan when I heard of Louise's casting, as she seems to be in nearly everything, but hearing her here adds far more than it could possibly take away. A nod to continuity rather than being a slave to it. The intrigue regarding the Barber-Surgeon contines apace, and - yet again - Jonathan Carley has to get a mention for a superlative performance, especially in the very effective cliffhanger.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Dec 15, 2022 22:23:29 GMT
Rampant Speculation time … {Spoiler} The Barber Surgeon is Tecteun, or rather Tecteun’s Valeyard. The last incarnation of most time lords fracture when they regenerate unsupervised, so we get Valeyards and Lumiats and the like. The BS takes a paternal but deeply judgemental role in the Doctor’s life, ensuring that the Doctor sticks to the script, but also rewards and punishes equally based on the Doctor’s answers. They treat everyone like pawns… except the Doctor, who they torture and apparently will kill if they fail their tests but have a faith in the Doctor to ply their role, to be the Doctor…. And eventually destroy Gallifrey.
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Post by martinw8686 on Dec 16, 2022 1:07:55 GMT
I've really enjoyed WDB, really hope the range continues. I really like the alternative 3 one parters and one 3 parter set dynamic. The Time War has enormous potential if exploited correctly, I imagine it lasted centuries for the Doctor, the Daleks are a tricky plot point as they can be one dimensional but there could be a lot of scope to make radical changes to their charecter as the Time War can potentially be reset almost infinitely, nothing need be permanent continuity wise, therefore the risk of upsetting the BBC is minimal.
Forged in Fire 4.5/5
Light the Flame 5/5 Lion Hearts 3/5 The Shadow Squad 4.5/5
Warbringer 4/5
Consequences 4/5 Destroyer 4/5 Saviour 4/5
Battlegrounds 3.5/5
The Keeper of the Light 3.5/5 Temmosus 3/5 Rewind 5/5
He Who Fights Monsters 5/5
The Mission 4.5/5 The Abyss 5/5 The Horror 5/5
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Post by bonehead on Dec 17, 2022 20:08:26 GMT
The Horror.
Just as the previous episode kept the momentum going from The Mission, so The Horror continues from the intense previous cliffhanger. Writer Robert Valentine vowed to put The War Doctor through the mangler, and he sure as heck has (didn't I read he is to be the new head of the Torchwood range after Scott Handcock? I'd say the range is in safe hands!), as well as sprinkling the story with just the right amount of continuity. With another powerful instalment, He Who Fights With Monsters might even eclipse the first set in terms of quality - definitely this is one of BF's most powerful ranges.
There's a genuine feeling of finality about this, but then it is the end of the series, but the end of the range? By all means, BF - let us stew in our juices for a few weeks, but let's have an announcement for more of these soon, eh?
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Post by masterdoctor on Dec 17, 2022 20:21:36 GMT
The Horror.
Just as the previous episode kept the momentum going from The Mission, so The Horror continues from the intense previous cliffhanger. Writer Robert Valentine vowed to put The War Doctor through the mangler, and he sure as heck has (didn't I read he is to be the new head of the Torchwood range after Scott Handcock? I'd say the range is in safe hands!), as well as sprinkling the story with just the right amount of continuity. With another powerful instalment, He Who Fights With Monsters might even eclipse the first set in terms of quality - definitely this is one of BF's most powerful ranges.
There's a genuine feeling of finality about this, but then it is the end of the series, but the end of the range? By all means, BF - let us stew in our juices for a few weeks, but let's have an announcement for more of these soon, eh?
Not Torchwood but The War Master!
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Post by bonehead on Dec 17, 2022 20:34:04 GMT
The Horror.
Just as the previous episode kept the momentum going from The Mission, so The Horror continues from the intense previous cliffhanger. Writer Robert Valentine vowed to put The War Doctor through the mangler, and he sure as heck has (didn't I read he is to be the new head of the Torchwood range after Scott Handcock? I'd say the range is in safe hands!), as well as sprinkling the story with just the right amount of continuity. With another powerful instalment, He Who Fights With Monsters might even eclipse the first set in terms of quality - definitely this is one of BF's most powerful ranges.
There's a genuine feeling of finality about this, but then it is the end of the series, but the end of the range? By all means, BF - let us stew in our juices for a few weeks, but let's have an announcement for more of these soon, eh?
Not Torchwood but The War Master! Ah! Thank you.
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Post by IndieMacUser on Dec 28, 2022 11:58:08 GMT
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Post by sherlock on Jan 4, 2023 22:36:22 GMT
I really enjoyed this. It’s got a big scale, is unafraid to play merry hell with continuity and has a great lead performance.
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Post by Timelord007 on Jan 7, 2023 1:02:27 GMT
Fantastic release this was edgy, intense & suspenseful, brilliantly acted, written, produced & directed.
One of my favourite releases of 2022.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Jan 7, 2023 1:09:03 GMT
Fantastic release this was edgy, intense & suspenseful, brilliantly acted, written, produced & directed. One of my favourite releases of 2022. I have it loaded up on my phone app ready to start..
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