|
|
Post by sherlock on Mar 2, 2020 10:40:26 GMT
So Series 12, the second of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and of Chris Chibnall’s tenure, has concluded. We did a thread like this for Series 11, so naturally time for another.
Overall I’m conflicted. The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror were the standouts for me, Praxeus and Can You Hear Me were average and the main arc episodes, whilst a step up from Chibnall’s episodes in Series 11, didn’t really stick the landing for me (I’m growing harsher on Timeless Children the more I think about it) and Orphan 55 was a misfire. A mixed back then, enjoyable but far from a home run.
What did you make of the series as a whole then?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2020 11:40:02 GMT
A while back, I made a comparison between Jodie Whitaker's first season and Jon Pertwee's debut. Both are good, but both are quite different animals to what came before and after them. I enjoy a good intellectual puzzle and rational mysteries, but there's also something deeply charming about a season that can bring you the utter havoc of something like Terror of the Autons or Can You Hear Me?
High adventure and grotesque horror. With a little hope for measure.
The Average: I'd love Praxeus and Can You Hear Me? to be the benchmark for what this era can do. The Doctor drove the plot, the companions were well-realised and employed, and each episode feels tightly paced. The production values for otherworldly environments get their opportunity to really shine here as well.
The Lows: Having missed Orphan 23 through a fluke (and, having checked general opinion, being well content with that)... I'd honestly say the opener, Spyfall. It's not bad. It's an enjoyable romp. But compared to what the season offers later (including Chibnall's own scripts), it feels comparatively lightweight. I'm not sure if you could cut it down to a single episode, but a few trims here and there could tighten it up. It'd be interesting to see...
The Highs: At the time of writing, definitely the final three Cyber-stories back-to-back. There's a lot of mythologising in its last installment, but the underlying thriller plot about surviving the Cybermen -- not outwitting, nor besting, but just surviving them -- is still really strong. It even pulls that lovely trick that The Ambassadors of Death or Enemy of the World does. Beginning with one kind of story and ending with another. Definitely a Seeds of Doom or The Two Doctors (two episodes here, four there) in disguise.
Barring half-a-handful of episodes, Series 12 feels rather confident. It's grown rather than withered. There's a sense of purpose and direction to it all. The Thirteenth Doctor has gained a welcome gravity and worldweary wisdom. Her companions feel as though they're shouldering their respective roles in a much more even spread. Yaz, in particular, has grown inordinately over this series. I like this team a lot. They feel like the quartet you want at your back when things get rough.
On the whole... It had a rocky start, but from Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror onward, I thought it was pretty solid. I don't think there's such thing as a perfect season (into every life a Time-Flight must fall), but the quality and the passion was definitely there this year.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2020 11:43:27 GMT
S11 was by some distance my least favourite since the show came back. Dull, derivative and entirely safe. It's high points were in spite of being Who stories not because of them (Rosa, Punjab) and the arc was clunky and dull with Tim Shaw a poor stand in for...any other villain. Jodie seemed lost and Chibnall an RTD wanabee. How odd then that I'm now thinking of S12 as probably the best season since the show came back. I won't quite say favourite as subjectively I still prefer some Capaldi seasons that have lower lows but higher highs yet this run of who hasn't let me down once. Even Orphan 55 wasn't that bad. It is though quite baffling just how much Chibnall went from being "No returning monsters, as little continuity as possible" to this season where it's been chockablock with references and continuity. I mean..who thought Mr. "It Has To Be Accessible" would sign off on scripts mentioning The Toymaker and Borusa?  It's so much of a turnaround and I think has freed the show from the self-imposed restraints last year. And hasn't Jodie seemed just so much more comfortable as The Doctor for that change? When you surround her with Daleks, Cybermen, The Master, Judoon etc and she gets to react to those totems as applicable it's llittle wonder she's infinitely more Doctor-ish than last year. Of course some will worry this has now gone too far in the fannish direction, akin to the JNT-Levine relationship. I'd argue that any casual audience could still easily pick up on what the events were. If they don't know The Deadly Assassin, the Matrix was all explained. If they don't know The Guardians, it was a tossed off reference that they didn't need to get to understand that ep with new God-like beings. "Fan-jodrell" only becomes an issue when it's the main meal rather than the garnish beside the main meal. It's just been a fantastically solid year of Who with surprises, twists and just really good adventure. It's pushed Jodie from dead-last in my personal Doctor rankings quite a few notches up and I'm hoping S13 can do the same. Well, hopefully we all are wanting that as it would mean a truly great next series too! On the writing front I still think Chibnall's Who when he's actually writing is clunky dialogue on top of good ideas but he's certainly given us much more this year than last. He's still very much trying to be RTD2 (sounds like a Star Wars droid...) in his tone, the setups, the reveals and much more. It's very much trying to ape Russell's success but why not? It worked massively well. If you're going to copy, copy from the only era where Doctor Who was ever the most popular show in the country. To have such a volte-face on what his era should be continuity wise, Chibnall must have sat down after S11 and thought "What worked? What didn't" as it's night and day. If he does that again this year, and it's only minor procedures needed now not major surgery. Where the show has left us has clearly angered some but I really like it. Putting the "Who?" back in Who is what I described it as last night. It's so much smoother than, say, the VNAS or the Cartmel Masterplan as here even The Doctor doesn't know what her past is and may never do. And as Jo Martin tells her..the reveal doesn't make her anything new. She's The Doctor because that's who she's chosen to be and to consistently live up to being. Not more important, or less important. That kind of talk is for the stuffy Timelords. She's still the bored wannabe traveler who nicked a TARDIS and went out to explore the Universe, then help it rather than just observe it. People can say "But it makes The Doctor too important..". Well, I'd refer you to seemingly every major event that's happened during The Doctor's existence on Gallifrey...she's been important to all of it - from exiles to assassinations to President to destroying the planet to saving it, to defeating Rasillon himself....kinda sounds like an important person to me! We'll be arguing that finale for a while, I think. Though I do remind people Chibbers and Jodie have both said some of this stuff is spanning the era not just the season. So leave just a little room for "and then...." because it may not be all that we think it is. So....bold, fun, bright storytelling with focus, drive and a really strong lead performance. Basically everything S11 wasn't and I'm very, very happy with the season and can't wait to get the bluray steelbook in 2 weeks! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2020 12:09:35 GMT
S11 was by some distance my least favourite since the show came back. Dull, derivative and entirely safe. It's high points were in spite of being Who stories not because of them (Rosa, Punjab) and the arc was clunky and dull with Tim Shaw a poor stand in for...any other villain. Jodie seemed lost and Chibnall an RTD wanabee. How odd then that I'm now thinking of S12 as probably the best season since the show came back. I won't quite say favourite as subjectively I still prefer some Capaldi seasons that have lower lows but higher highs yet this run of who hasn't let me down once. Even Orphan 55 wasn't that bad. It is though quite baffling just how much Chibnall went from being "No returning monsters, as little continuity as possible" to this season where it's been chockablock with references and continuity. I mean..who thought Mr. "It Has To Be Accessible" would sign off on scripts mentioning The Toymaker and Borusa? It's so much of a turnaround and I think has freed the show from the self-imposed restraints last year. And hasn't Jodie seemed just so much more comfortable as The Doctor for that change? When you surround her with Daleks, Cybermen, The Master, Judoon etc and she gets to react to those totems as applicable it's llittle wonder she's infinitely more Doctor-ish than last year. Of course some will worry this has now gone too far in the fannish direction, akin to the JNT-Levine relationship. I'd argue that any casual audience could still easily pick up on what the events were. If they don't know The Deadly Assassin, the Matrix was all explained. If they don't know The Guardians, it was a tossed off reference that they didn't need to get to understand that ep with new God-like beings. "Fan-jodrell" only becomes an issue when it's the main meal rather than the garnish beside the main meal. It's just been a fantastically solid year of Who with surprises, twists and just really good adventure. It's pushed Jodie from dead-last in my personal Doctor rankings quite a few notches up and I'm hoping S13 can do the same. Well, hopefully we all are wanting that as it would mean a truly great next series too! On the writing front I still think Chibnall's Who when he's actually writing is clunky dialogue on top of good ideas but he's certainly given us much more this year than last. He's still very much trying to be RTD2 (sounds like a Star Wars droid...) in his tone, the setups, the reveals and much more. It's very much trying to ape Russell's success but why not? It worked massively well. If you're going to copy, copy from the only era where Doctor Who was ever the most popular show in the country. To have such a volte-face on what his era should be continuity wise, Chibnall must have sat down after S11 and thought "What worked? What didn't" as it's night and day. If he does that again this year, and it's only minor procedures needed now not major surgery. Where the show has left us has clearly angered some but I really like it. Putting the "Who?" back in Who is what I described it as last night. It's so much smoother than, say, the VNAS or the Cartmel Masterplan as here even The Doctor doesn't know what her past is and may never do. And as Jo Martin tells her..the reveal doesn't make her anything new. She's The Doctor because that's who she's chosen to be and to consistently live up to being. Not more important, or less important. That kind of talk is for the stuffy Timelords. She's still the bored wannabe traveler who nicked a TARDIS and went out to explore the Universe, then help it rather than just observe it. People can say "But it makes The Doctor too important..". Well, I'd refer you to seemingly every major event that's happened during The Doctor's existence on Gallifrey...she's been important to all of it - from exiles to assassinations to President to destroying the planet to saving it, to defeating Rasillon himself....kinda sounds like an important person to me! We'll be arguing that finale for a while, I think. Though I do remind people Chibbers and Jodie have both said some of this stuff is spanning the era not just the season. So leave just a little room for "and then...." because it may not be all that we think it is. So....bold, fun, bright storytelling with focus, drive and a really strong lead performance. Basically everything S11 wasn't and I'm very, very happy with the season and can't wait to get the bluray steelbook in 2 weeks! It's ten at night, so I'm probably not sounding as enthusiastic as I want to, but I loved that facet of this season. It's been really good at taking old concepts and using them as a springboard for entirely new ideas (carrying over for what he did with the Daleks in Resolution). Judoon governed by a prominent character we've never seen before, but has so much substance it feels as though we ought to have done. A Cyberman who was severed mid-conversion, but did not deserve to be saved. The Master uncovering a Time Lord conspiracy that prompts doubt in the heart of what we consider Gallifreyans and the Doctor to be. A little tinker here, a nod there and all these little details build up into this enormous step forward for the show as a whole. The future is suddenly an unknown again, but it's far, far from empty. There's a real joy in that. |
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Mar 2, 2020 12:13:34 GMT
Lingering questions:
1) We know from many, many productions (both TV and expanded media) that the Doctor chose her/his name either late at the Academy or not long afterward. But Jo Martin’s incarnation also calls herself the Doctor. Is this an identity of some sort that’s buried deep within her brain that resurfaces after each memory wipe?
2) We know just from the TV series that the Hartnell Doctor and Susan stole an older TARDIS and fled Gallifrey, eventually holing up in 1963 London, where the chameleon circuit broke, and now it’s been stuck as a 1963 police box ever since. But...Jo Martin’s TARDIS was also a police box. Why?
3) Exactly what was it Jo Martin’s Doctor did that was so bad/wrong that she not only had to hide from her people on Earth in 2020, but felt that she had to hide herself with a chameleon arch?
4) Having two of the same Time Lord in the same place at the same time usually involves either a colossal space-time event or a requires the direct intervention of Gallifrey (or both). Maybe I’m a little jaded, but Judoon searching for Jo Martin’s Doctor doesn’t seem to meet the standard...and yet there she was, meeting Jodie’s Doctor. Was more going on than we know?
|
|
|
|
Post by charlesuirdhein on Mar 2, 2020 12:21:19 GMT
I hope Jodie does 13 AND 14, because this arc needs more than one more season, at least IMHO.
|
|
|
|
Post by charlesuirdhein on Mar 2, 2020 12:29:49 GMT
Lingering questions: 1) We know from many, many productions (both TV and expanded media) that the Doctor chose her/his name either late at the Academy or not long afterward. But Jo Martin’s incarnation also calls herself the Doctor. Is this an identity of some sort that’s buried deep within her brain that resurfaces after each memory wipe? 2) We know just from the TV series that the Hartnell Doctor and Susan stole an older TARDIS and fled Gallifrey, eventually holing up in 1963 London, where the chameleon circuit broke, and now it’s been stuck as a 1963 police box ever since. But...Jo Martin’s TARDIS was also a police box. Why? 3) Exactly what was it Jo Martin’s Doctor did that was so bad/wrong that she not only had to hide from her people on Earth in 2020, but felt that she had to hide herself with a chameleon arch? 4) Having two of the same Time Lord in the same place at the same time usually involves either a colossal space-time event or a requires the direct intervention of Gallifrey (or both). Maybe I’m a little jaded, but Judoon searching for Jo Martin’s Doctor doesn’t seem to meet the standard...and yet there she was, meeting Jodie’s Doctor. Was more going on than we know? 1) That sounds about right. That name is down deep in her and it seemed natural to choose it. No mystery really. 2) Well, back to "The Doctor's Wife". The Tardis stole HIM (with help from Clara). And it could easily have been stuck in Police Box form before, before being reset to factory specs in the reclamation yards. When it landed in 1963 it locked back into that form and stuck. (Bit of a stretch but wibbly wobbly timey wimey). 3) We'll probably find out. Though more importantly for me (ignoring the easy real world answer) is where was this Doctor when the Time War was going on? Or at any time in the past where she could have run into herself? Or is that another Division implant that subconsciously keeps her away from another incarnation of herself? One that Hartnell onwards didn't have anymore? 4) It's not Jo Martin's Doctor that puzzles me really, it's the Division member that doesn't know Gallifrey's own future. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2020 12:43:21 GMT
Lingering questions: 1) We know from many, many productions (both TV and expanded media) that the Doctor chose her/his name either late at the Academy or not long afterward. But Jo Martin’s incarnation also calls herself the Doctor. Is this an identity of some sort that’s buried deep within her brain that resurfaces after each memory wipe? 2) We know just from the TV series that the Hartnell Doctor and Susan stole an older TARDIS and fled Gallifrey, eventually holing up in 1963 London, where the chameleon circuit broke, and now it’s been stuck as a 1963 police box ever since. But...Jo Martin’s TARDIS was also a police box. Why? 3) Exactly what was it Jo Martin’s Doctor did that was so bad/wrong that she not only had to hide from her people on Earth in 2020, but felt that she had to hide herself with a chameleon arch? 4) Having two of the same Time Lord in the same place at the same time usually involves either a colossal space-time event or a requires the direct intervention of Gallifrey (or both). Maybe I’m a little jaded, but Judoon searching for Jo Martin’s Doctor doesn’t seem to meet the standard...and yet there she was, meeting Jodie’s Doctor. Was more going on than we know? 1. I like to think it's like a subconscious thing, that whenever this "being" is rebooted they always go on to become "The Doctor". Something like the Martian race-memory in Quatermass And The Pit, it's something that's always there. 2. This one's clunky because, let's be honest, the reason it's a police box is so we the audience would know it's a TARDIS and specifically The Doctor's. In story...I mean I guess there's no reason why Jo couldn't also have been in an adventure where the chameleon circuit broke in 1963 but...hmm. That's a bit much! I'll make up some technobabbble....the TARDIS detected "our" Doctor so became what she would expect to see. It wasn't a police box when Jo buried it. Again though....for the convenience of the mystery is the real out of universe answer here! 3. We don't know but that's the fun, surely! There's story potential there. People saying "Well, why aren't The Division the CIA?" well, The CIA seem to be rather insignificant to The Doctor getting her way throughout her lives - she's ultimately gotten the better of them (in TV terms) when she needed to easily. THey've been just more Timelords in silly costumes to her. So having "The Division" opens it up to be something far much more of a threat to The Doctor and a mystery to us as well, wheras the CIA we know about. And so does The Doctor. If it was the CIA, The Doctor would know what they're about. Having her own past a mystery to herself and a shadowy Gallifreyan organisation that she's never heard of be on her tail at some point in her life clearly gives her more to worry about. Jo was clearly terrified of the Division. The Doctor would never be terrified of the CIA. 4. I'm not sure but it seems that there's a process (the one Brendan was undergoing..) where at the end of The Doctor's cycle, things are wiped and though the Doctor regenerates does so under new terms, with a memory wipe. Almost a new Timelord entirely. There may even be a long gap between one cycle and the next otherwise people would surely know "Wait..there was a Doctor just a couple of decades ago...looked like Jo Martin, why does this William Hartnell looking guy have the same name and character?". Also this solves "Well, why didn't Clara see all these Doctors?"- because it's the Doctors of THIS regen cycle specifically. If she went into Jo Martin's...she'd see different ones. Or the kids we see at the start. Again there's clearly a lot here that's being left open to either interpretation or to answers later. Those are my kinda-sorta answers, a mix of "here's what I think is happening..", "here's what I think they're saying.." and "here's where they're intentionally leaving ambiguity or leaving the door open. It's great to have - and I'm making this my new catchphrase, folks, the "Who?" back in "Who". Jodie must have question marks on her costume next year! |
|
|
|
Post by nucleusofswarm on Mar 2, 2020 16:16:06 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by pazzer on Mar 2, 2020 16:31:38 GMT
This series was more consistent that the last. But I didn't feel that same excitment for the next episode. Were still issues with the dialogue and was very heavy handed with environmental message. Was pleasantly surprised by all the referances to the past. Sacha was great as the Master and he and Jodie were brillant together.
|
|
|
|
Post by ollychops on Mar 2, 2020 17:44:34 GMT
I voted it at a six - generally more engaging than the majority of S11, but still suffers from a lot of the same flaws, unfortunately. Jodie was at least given some better material to work with (occasionally, at least), and at least tried to make Thirteen more of an active participant in the plots, and then the finale goes and makes her into a passive player once more.
The dialogue and the characters are still generally flat/bland, and the big reveal that changes everything? Didn't... really change anything at all. There was no decent payoff to the Timeless Child arc, and instead of letting us find out the revelation in an interesting way, we had it all explained to us with 45 minutes of exposition.
Overall ranking:
1. The Haunting of Villa Diodati
2. Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
3. Fugitive of the Judoon
4. Ascension of the Cybermen
5. Spyfall
6. Praxeus
7. Can You Hear Me?
8. Orphan 55
9. The Timeless Children
|
|
|
|
Post by Audio Watchdog on Mar 2, 2020 17:46:02 GMT
Series 12 was a complete turnaround from the previous series. While series 11 was tentative and bland, series 12 was bold and confident. Doctor Who became fun again. Jodie Whittaker came into her as Doctor 13 and the writers got a better handle on utilizing a crowded TARDIS. The production quality maintained the feature film look established with series 11 and overall this series moved from strength to strength. There were some low points but I can't point to anything this go-round that I actively disliked. The Timeless Children certainly ended the series on a interesting note. It wasn't an episode I loved but it certainly opens up the possibilities for the show down the road and as it rounds into its 60th anniversary. I gave this series a score of 8.
|
|
|
|
Post by doctorkernow on Mar 2, 2020 21:38:49 GMT
Hello again.
Well, season 12 was a typical season of Doctor Who. Some highs, some lows. I enjoyed some of it. Some of it made me laugh but unlike last year only a couple of times were dull. There has been less clunky dialogue and exposition but it was still there. Most of The Timeless Child was like an episode of Jackanory albeit beautifully narrated by Sacha Dawhan.
|
|
|
|
Post by timegirl on Mar 2, 2020 21:41:26 GMT
Hello again. Well, season 12 was a typical season of Doctor Who. Some highs, some lows. I enjoyed some of it. Some of it made me laugh but unlike last year only a couple of times were dull. There has been less clunky dialogue and exposition but it was still there. Most of The Timeless Child was like an episode of Jackanory albeit beautifully narrated by Sacha Dawhan. That’s the best and most accurate description of that episode I have heard! 😄 |
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Mar 3, 2020 12:04:44 GMT
Ep Ranking
1. Fugitive
2. Villa
3. Tesla
4. Can?
5. Spy
6 AC/TC
7. Orphan
8.Praxus
So overall Series 12 was better for me, no activity bad Episode, just a redundant one (Praxus), and Chibs has got to work on plot threads in 2 Parters (Lenny Henry and Karsvinn utter waste of talent Red Herring in Spyfall) and Lone Cybermen should've been TCE'd as soon as the Master turned up IMO).
Mandip again was the best performer (Cursed Autocorrect) tied with Sacha (If only they'd dail back the Manic)
Jodie was fine
Bradly when given stuff to do was fine
Which leaves Tosin this years victim of "3 is too many Companions" honestly change viewing order so that Can? is Ep5 and have Ryan leave to support his friend and nothing changes the substance of the rest of the series.
Were the Lore additions needed No, and arguably apart from Ruth and the Division current situation don't need to be explored further.
Ended up sounding more critical then I intended for a series I preferred over last years.
Regards
mark687
|
|
|
|
Post by antartiks on Mar 3, 2020 12:17:57 GMT
Ep Ranking 1. Fugitive 2. Villa 3. Tesla 4. Can? 5. Spy 6 AC/TC 7. Orphan 8.Praxus So overall Series 12 was better for me, no activity bad Episode, just a redundant one (Praxus), and Chibs has got to work on plot threads in 2 Parters (Lenny Henry and Karsvinn utter waste of talent Red Herring in Spyfall) and Lone Cybermen should've been TCE'd as soon as the Master turned up IMO). Mendip again was the best perfumer tied with Sacha (If only they'd dail back the Manic) Jodie was fine Bradly when given stuff to do was fine Which leaves Tosin this years victim of "3 is too many Companions" honestly change viewing order so that Can? is Ep5 and have Ryan leave to support his friend and nothing changes the substance of the rest of the series. Were the Lore additions needed No, and arguably apart from Ruth and the Division current situation don't need to be explored further. Ended up sounding more critical then I indented for a series I preferred over last years. Regards mark687 That bit made me chuckle.  |
|
|
|
Post by tuigirl on Mar 3, 2020 17:55:14 GMT
Well, series 12 got me excited and invested again, so this was a huge bonus.
It entertained me and got me guessing and I loved sharing all the speculation online.
There were some really great bits thrown in- I loved the new Master, I loved Ruth, and I most definitely loved the new, darker direction the show is taking.
I also liked that we moved away from the colourful bubblegum universe that was series 11 and see a more angry, desperate and darker Doctor.
I actually started to like 13 much more through that!
I am not really sold on the finale and the resolution of the arc...
but I am also not massively upset or put out by it.
Hell Bent was much worse in my opinion...
So I hope they continue along the lines they have started in series 12.
I am curious what they come up with and I am looking forward to seeing Ruth and even Jack again.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2020 19:57:15 GMT
A few random thoughts
What a difference a year makes.
There were more high points than low points this time round and without a doubt a lot more fun invested into the stories. This time round I tuned into every single episode rather than dipping in and out like I did with the entire run of series 11.
Episode highs - Fugitive, Diodati and Ascension
Episode lows - Orphan 55 - don't get me wrong it was fun..in a sit back, disconnect your brain and go with the flow kinda way. Just didn't have the wow! factor that the episode highs did.
Jodie clearly invested a lot more time into the legacy of the part during the break and it showed more often than not.
I would have preferred more Delgado's calculating and ruthless Master rather than Simm's gleeful psychopath, but Sacha took what he was given and absolutely ran with it.
Ruth Doctor. I want more Ruth Doctor. Enough said?
Ashad. So much potential to be a real thorn in the Doctor's side..and frankly robbed of the opportunity.
The Cyberlords or Cybermasters....looked ridiculous. But as I assumed that was down to the Master simply wanting to twist the knife into the Doctor just that bit deeper it's something I can live with. I think..
The Timeless Child. The finale certainly put the cat among the pigeons didn't it? And while there is still so much to process in what was revealed..and what wasn't, I'm leaving a lot of that to my imagination to play with. Which I guess might have been the production team's actual intent.
Overall a huge improvement on Series 11. Not a 100% perfect one, but a huge improvement for sure. 😊
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim Bradley on Mar 8, 2020 14:01:32 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 14:37:26 GMT
I loved the vast majority of Series 11. To me, this is the first series for a long long time with no substandard episode, or 'clunker.' Orphan 55 has got a lot of stick, but I had no problem with it - who cares if it appears to contradict events on Ravalox? As the Doctor said in the episode, nothing is fixed, which is as good a get-out as I can imagine.
The regulars were all likeable and proved their worth week after week - there were no unwarranted strops, sulks or irrtating 'shut up shut up'-type 'quirks'. The stories were pretty great throughout, and there was no noticably 'cheap episode' - every one looked terrific.
The Doctor was much improved on last series. It seems that CC is playing the long game - she started off as fairly quirly and upbeat (and dare I say without much depth), and has since displayed darker moments once the stakes were raised, as they certainly have been this series.
I love the new Master, the 'new alternative' Doctor, and the idea that the Doc's lifeline is just one of many which - as a plot device - actually makes sense of some of the Doctor's history rather than confuses it. I love the return of the Judoon and Cybermen - the latter have maintained their new level of scariness that begun with Dark Water all those years ago.
I have little but good thoughts and praise for Series 12 and am very excited for the festive special. Not bad for a 56 year old television programme.
|
|
It's so much of a turnaround and I think has freed the show from the self-imposed restraints last year. And hasn't Jodie seemed just so much more comfortable as The Doctor for that change? When you surround her with Daleks, Cybermen, The Master, Judoon etc and she gets to react to those totems as applicable it's llittle wonder she's infinitely more Doctor-ish than last year. Of course some will worry this has now gone too far in the fannish direction, akin to the JNT-Levine relationship. I'd argue that any casual audience could still easily pick up on what the events were. If they don't know The Deadly Assassin, the Matrix was all explained. If they don't know The Guardians, it was a tossed off reference that they didn't need to get to understand that ep with new God-like beings. "Fan-jodrell" only becomes an issue when it's the main meal rather than the garnish beside the main meal. 
