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Post by timegirl on Feb 20, 2020 20:17:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2020 20:28:53 GMT
Looks interesting, but couldn't help thinking of this scene from Shaun of the Dead: (Apologies if you have never seen contemporaneous britcoms Black Books, Spaced, The Office, etc for the 'mirroring' gag)
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Feb 20, 2020 21:57:25 GMT
And now there's a 'Barack Stemis' on Twitter:
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Post by mark687 on Feb 20, 2020 22:29:23 GMT
And now there's a 'Barack Stemis' on Twitter: This Actor embracing the Role is so far the best thing about this current Series. Regards mark687
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Tony Jones
Chancellery Guard
Professor Chronotis
Still rockin' along!
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Post by Tony Jones on Feb 23, 2020 20:00:07 GMT
Hmmmmmmm
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Post by mark687 on Feb 23, 2020 20:01:29 GMT
Hmmm..
More Cohearant thoughts
Softer than I was expecting. Agree the Cyber Leader (I'm old school) is no David Banks. Regards
mark687
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Post by mark687 on Feb 23, 2020 20:02:21 GMT
Great minds Regards mark687
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Post by shallacatop on Feb 23, 2020 20:07:57 GMT
Like Spyfall (or any other multi-part story) it’s hard to judge on its own, but I thought it was great and plenty of intriguing build up.
It’s a gorgeous looking episode: the shot of the Cyber head blending into the titles; the Cyber drones flying through the battlefield and warehouse; the Cybermen battlefield in space; the CCTV blending into the Cybermen’s ascension; the Leader looking at his newly revived army. I love the new Cybermen design, especially the head. I liked the battered look of the Leader flanked by his two Cyber guards, these monsters often look more intimidating in smaller numbers.
I’m wondering where it’ll all go from here. The Master has come back in style, but where does the other Doctor, Jack and the Timeless Child fit into it all? And the destroyed Gallifrey? And the flashback scenes with the abandoned child? The end scene made me think of a chameleon arch of sorts?
We’ve had hints of the fates of the fam, most notably Yaz’s comment about how far Graham has come.
And to think I’m on holiday when the finale airs! First world problems and all that.
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Post by scriptortempore on Feb 23, 2020 20:08:55 GMT
Well that goes up there with the judoon ep as one of the few episodes this series which I've enjoyed! Will it hold up after the next ep and rewatches, far too soon to tell, but I had fun! And it is nice to see Ireland get a who mention every now and then, especially after a certain nameless rugby match today didn't go our way.
Still don't find the cyberium leader at all convincing and I'm tired of Cybermen being treated as wanting to erase life!
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Post by scriptortempore on Feb 23, 2020 20:16:42 GMT
Well that goes up there with the judoon ep as one of the few episodes this series which I've enjoyed! Will it hold up after the next ep and rewatches, far too soon to tell, but I had fun! And it is nice to see Ireland get a who mention every now and then, especially after a certain nameless rugby match today didn't go our way. Still don't find the cyberium leader at all convincing and I'm tired of Cybermen being treated as wanting to erase life! I'd also add that a few times the exposition remained a problem, but I expected that. I think the only moment which made me feel suddenly disappointed and groan (which, and again this is just for me as someone who hasn't clicked with this series, has been much more common in other episodes) was the design of the cyber-drones. You could probably explain the lack of a new design with the idea that the Cybermen are battered from the war, but really, it just felt like a lack of imagination which led to some designer saying "Lol just make em a cyber-head". Any other story questions (like why exactly did the leader make that cyberman scream beyond it being scary?) I think I'll save for my full review of the two-parter.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Feb 23, 2020 20:17:50 GMT
Still don't find the cyberium leader at all convincing Well to each their own, but I think Ashad's been one of the best things about S12, and Chibbs' best own-story villain by a country mile.
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Post by christmastrenzalore on Feb 23, 2020 20:20:43 GMT
Good stuff! A constant state of encroaching threat, awesome visuals, and they did an effective job characterizing everyone in a short amount of time. And all that side story stuff with the kid. Looking forward to how all of this will resolve next week.
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Post by fitzoliverj on Feb 23, 2020 20:21:00 GMT
I'm glad I'm older, this would've really scared me when I was 8. As it is, I'm sufficiently worried about where this is heading. There was a fan online that used to gripe {Spoiler}that the Time Lords ought to have been humans from the future. He may be able to get his irritating wish.
(Oh, and remember when last week Yaz hinted she had a thing for one of her friends? One website assumed it was Ryan she was talking about; everybody else thought it was the Doctor. I'm now wondering whether it's Graham.)
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Feb 23, 2020 20:21:08 GMT
As first parts go, much better than Spyfall P1 - more focused, posed more consistent and interesting questions, and just more exciting. Cybermen make a solid showing here too. Timeless Children will have a lot to do, but as it stands, this is probably the best first part of a multi-parter in NuWho since maybe Under the Lake (yes Heaven Sent, but I doubt I'm alone in not wanting to entertain Hell Bent as somethign that exists, so I will keep it as just Heaven Sent. Just Heaven Sent).
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Post by sherlock on Feb 23, 2020 20:37:22 GMT
Well like Spyfall Part 1, this will depend on how part 2 ties up these questions. I have a theory on where this might be going, and what the Irish scenes might mean (remember-there’s a recurring joke about Gallifrey being in Ireland...) but I suspect I’ll be proven wrong.
On its own merits though, this was a pretty simple and effective Cyberman story with some random scenes that lack relevance so far. The Doctor got some meaty material (old foes bring out the best in Thirteen it seems) and it seems the fam’s faith in her is about to be tested. The lone Cyberman works well as a villain, I think, and the Cybermen proper were portrayed well.
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Post by mark687 on Feb 23, 2020 20:47:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 21:17:35 GMT
Thought it was pretty terrific as set up for the endgame of the season. Easily the most actually threatening the Cybermen have been in the revived series. Even in The Doctor Falls they were ticking timebombs more than unique threats. Here it really felt like a lived in, horrible future. The scale was pretty massive for a BBC budget. All the money was on screen.
The alt-Ireland timeline gave me a very, very strong whiff of S3 of Ashes To Ashes when we see who Gene Hunt really is through what we think are flashbacks that turn out to be sidesteps.
I think it's a nice take to give the Cybermen a more religious tone in their new found worship of the Cyberium. I thought the Cyber-Drones were a nice creepy visual (that reminded me of a film called Mystics In Bali that I bet few have seen and if you haven't....oh wow, do. It's insane). Ian McElhinney just adds instant dignity so it was nice to see him show up as Obi Wan Bariston Selmy. This Cyber Leader as the Pope of the Cyberium? I dig that - it's a nice new take that there's a reason he has a right to lead them and his half-conversion gives him more to act with, and therefore more for Jodie to act off.
Who didn't cheer when we got Jodie's old-school initial ideas to save the day? Gold? Come on!
Dialogue still isn't Chibnall's forte though. "You hate Humanity so much. How ironic that you used to be one". That's clunky enough to seem like it came from google translate.
Much depends on next week and my severe hope is that the Cyber threat isn't overshadowed too much by the Master and Gallifrey. It's 65 mins though so time to get things in there. I have high hopes.
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Post by mark687 on Feb 23, 2020 21:25:12 GMT
Thought it was pretty terrific as set up for the endgame of the season. Easily the most actually threatening the Cybermen have been in the revived series. Even in The Doctor Falls they were ticking timebombs more than unique threats. Here it really felt like a lived in, horrible future. The scale was pretty massive for a BBC budget. All the money was on screen. The alt-Ireland timeline gave me a very, very strong whiff of S3 of Ashes To Ashes when we see who Gene Hunt really is through what we think are flashbacks that turn out to be sidesteps. I think it's a nice take to give the Cybermen a more religious tone in their new found worship of the Cyberium. I thought the Cyber-Drones were a nice creepy visual (that reminded me of a film called Mystics In Bali that I bet few have seen and if you haven't....oh wow, do. It's insane). Ian McElhinney just adds instant dignity so it was nice to see him show up as Obi Wan Bariston Selmy. This Cyber Leader as the Pope of the Cyberium? I dig that - it's a nice new take that there's a reason he has a right to lead them and his half-conversion gives him more to act with, and therefore more for Jodie to act off. Who didn't cheer when we got Jodie's old-school initial ideas to save the day? Gold? Come on! Dialogue still isn't Chibnall's forte though. "You hate Humanity so much. How ironic that you used to be one". That's clunky enough to seem like it came from google translate. Much depends on next week and my severe hope is that the Cyber threat isn't overshadowed too much by the Master and Gallifrey. It's 65 mins though so time to get things in there. I have high hopes.I'm the opposite the Ep felt so much like window dressing while we wait for a dropped hammer of some kind next week. It was still good to very good though. Regards mark687
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 21:36:09 GMT
Thought it was pretty terrific as set up for the endgame of the season. Easily the most actually threatening the Cybermen have been in the revived series. Even in The Doctor Falls they were ticking timebombs more than unique threats. Here it really felt like a lived in, horrible future. The scale was pretty massive for a BBC budget. All the money was on screen. The alt-Ireland timeline gave me a very, very strong whiff of S3 of Ashes To Ashes when we see who Gene Hunt really is through what we think are flashbacks that turn out to be sidesteps. I think it's a nice take to give the Cybermen a more religious tone in their new found worship of the Cyberium. I thought the Cyber-Drones were a nice creepy visual (that reminded me of a film called Mystics In Bali that I bet few have seen and if you haven't....oh wow, do. It's insane). Ian McElhinney just adds instant dignity so it was nice to see him show up as Obi Wan Bariston Selmy. This Cyber Leader as the Pope of the Cyberium? I dig that - it's a nice new take that there's a reason he has a right to lead them and his half-conversion gives him more to act with, and therefore more for Jodie to act off. Who didn't cheer when we got Jodie's old-school initial ideas to save the day? Gold? Come on! Dialogue still isn't Chibnall's forte though. "You hate Humanity so much. How ironic that you used to be one". That's clunky enough to seem like it came from google translate. Much depends on next week and my severe hope is that the Cyber threat isn't overshadowed too much by the Master and Gallifrey. It's 65 mins though so time to get things in there. I have high hopes.I'm the opposite the Ep felt so much like window dressing while we wait for a dropped hammer of some kind next week. It was still good to very good though. Regards mark687 That's some rather expensive, high scale, massive stakes window dressing! I really don't think I can even begin to agree on that criticism. It's telling two stories consecutively but this never - once - felt like it was just fodder to get us to next week. It was thrilling adventure in it's own right. Yeah, it needs the context of next week to really assess it but it never felt like it was treading water.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 21:37:07 GMT
One part of me thought tonight's episode was bonkers, another part of me thought WTF was going on, while the inner child part of me loved all those Cybermen, plus the nod to their past. (I'm getting 'Hugh' - three of five - vibes from the Cyber Leader at times though, but I loved TNG so it's all good.) Overall I did think Ascension of the Cybermen was a very enjoyable episode.
I'm still not sure where's it's all going mind you, and there sure is a lot to squeeze in next week ... but an episode of Doctor Who with Gardai and Cybermen is okay with me.
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