Who likes the current era?

I've had major, major reservations over S11 and last night's special but S12 showed me that there is a lot that this team can do together and that Chibnall is capable of doing his own thing with the show and the mythos rather than be deferential (and, indeed, highly referential) to previous successful eras, mainly the RTD one.

So with "like" being quite a low bar, I'm a "yes" here. Don't love it. Overall it's the weakest era of the show's return still but if the next 8 eps have another Tesla, Villa Diodati or Timeless Children (in ambition and balls, if not for the rather divisive canon stuff, which I loved personally) then I'm sure we can end on a high.

Does Jodie get a 4th season? I would have said no before but with shortened runs, especially losing another 2 eps this coming season, I think she'd deserve it. Epecially since that can mean getting a regen and new Doctor in the 60th anniversary year potentially which would be a nice boost for the show - big milestone and the rubbernecking viewers a new Doc always gets.

I still maintain that Ryan and Graham should have been S11 companions, left in Resolution and Yaz joins then. You'd need to rejig things a bit but it would automarically make Yaz less redundant for much of her run and given more focus to the character beats since they wouldn't have had to spread the scripts as thing between 3 companions.  I'm unsure on John Bishop. I really like him, I think he's a brilliant, relatable comic and presenter and that he'll be fine in the role. I don't see, though, that he won't be Graham Redux as they're both kinda cheeky chappy actors, who can be funny but warm with it. I was looking forward to the first all-female Tardis crew and the dynamics that opened up storywise, especially with the special being pretty on the nose about Yaz's intentions here..

So we're probably closer to the end than the start for Jodie overall...and I do like her. I like most of the show and love some of it. But if the next run isn't at least good, then I can sadly say I'm ready to see a new lead and a new showrunner.

I think Series 11 was broadcast in the wrong order and there’s an alternate order that makes it better viewing. I think it’s prone to fall back on trying to capture past glories, the RTD era in particular. And I think they’ve struggled to balance a TARDIS team of four, despite each of them being great in their own right. The big example is you can count on one hand the amount of exchanges Graham and Yaz have had in two full series.

However, in the grand scheme of things, I’m really liking this era. Series 12 in particular, and the historical and late standalone episodes of Series 11, shine and show the potential and highs this era can reach. I do believe that Series 13 will continue that momentum, following the events of The Timeless Children for the Doctor, a very dedicated Yaz and how that dynamic will show to a brand new companion in Dan. If I was to compare it to what’s come before, it feels like we could be in for a dangerous dynamic with the Doctor & Clara, albeit this time with that extra person to keep them from pushing themselves too far.

Nope, it's as bad if not worse than the Capaldi era, and that was bad enough ! And that Yaz really should learn when it's time to leave the party !

It’s not really a yes/no kind of question. I like some of it, not all of it. But that could be applied to any number of eras. I err towards yes.

Yes and no is the short answer. The long answer is that there are episodes and aspects I enjoy: the northerness, all the historical episodes, Graham, It takes you away, the new Daleks that can hold onto people’s backs, Sacha Dewan, the Fugitive Doctor, It Takes You Away, and aspects of the Timeless Children.
There’s a lot though that I have difficulty connecting with though. 13 herself I have issues with. There are a few little moments that I like for example her scene at the end of “ Demons of the Punjab”, the frog scene, when we first learn of her friendship with O, and her reactions in Timeless Children. However I have issues with her incarnation like letting the spiders suffocate, her lack of action in Kerblam, turning into the Master to the Nazis, lack of comfort to Graham about his cancer, etc.
I want to support 13 because Jodie seems like a lovely person and she’s the first official female Doctor but I just have difficulty connecting to 13’s overly falsely cheerful personality, and her character development seems lacking compared to 12, my absolute favorite incarnation. I feel guilty about this but sometimes I just have so much difficulty connecting to 13, I just wish for 12 back.
As for the companions Graham is my favorite, he’s down to earth, lovable and reminds me a bit of my own northern relatives. Ryan, I have mixed feelings about. I think they should have done more with the fact that he’s an explicitly neurodiverse/disabled companion. Considering the Doctor themselves is portrayed as neurodiverse it would have been interesting to see 13 and Ryan bonding and trying to help each other cope. Yaz, I think has a lot of untapped potential as a companion. We have seen interesting hints of her love of danger as well as the possibility of a romance with 13. In a way she reminds me a bit of Clara which has me intrigued. The new companion Dan caught my attention in the short clip. It would be a nice change of pace to have a Liverpudlian companion and I have to say he seems like he’s a bit of a silver fox which is never a bad thing!
I am am cautiously optimistic about the Timeless Child and fugitive Doctor revelations. I don’t want too many details about what the Doctor’s true origin is but I would like to meet and hear more about timeless incarnations. I love the Fugitive Doctor and I am curious to see what they do with her next and where she fits in the timeline, I really hope she lives up to her fabulous introduction!
Another aspect of this era that can’t quite put my finger on though is it just feels off to me, like the balance isn’t quite right. I think it has a lot to do with how much I love and and adore the previous era and 12, it makes things about this current era harder for me to get into. I occasionally cry or am touched but I just don’t get the deep and passionate feelings I got for Capaldi’s era. 13’s era just doesn’t make me feel as connected to their journeys. I don’t cry or feel my heart pounding as often. So in conclusion, yes there are things I enjoy about this era but it will never ever be my favorite.

Was really excited at the start of the era. S11 brought back that can't wait for the next episode feeling that haven't really had since was a kid. So am surprised that am leaning towards no.

Find it very hit and miss. There are too many what seems like basic errors. Clunky dialogue and underdeveloped characters. Which was ok in S11 but not so good when continued into S12.

Lovely moment between Yaz and Graham on the spaceship which just comes out of nowhere. Seem to be quite a few of these types of moment which just don't really feel earnt. Whatever was wrong with Ryan just seemed to get better after first few episodes. As don't remember it been brought up or having any effect. Find Yaz frustrating as everything seems to be there for her to be an amazing companion expect the writing. In the few mins Ruth Doctor was on screen she felt more like the doctor than 13.

I’m loving it, despite there being things that I don’t like so much. But, I can say that about every era of Who, even my beloved Williams Era.

I think it’s great television. That doesn’t necessarily make it great Who, though. It looks brilliant: the cinematography is magnificent, with colours everywhere and effects that look superb - the Daleks pouring out of the saucer the other day looked better than they ever have, IMNSHO.

The writing and tone feels very even across the series: I think the advent of a writers room, like most series dramas have, has been beneficial to the show: while the quality of writing can vary, I don’t feel we’ve had a Caves of Androzani/ Twin Dilemma whammy yet. However, we’re seeing a more passive Doctor in a lot of stories - but I think a lot of criticisms of Jodie’s acting and style can be laid at the feet of 12 who wanted his new incarnation to “be kind.” The lack of bombast and epic stories was a pleasant change during Series 11 but I think Series 12 had a nice mix of the personal and the blockbuster.

The characters and acting are of a consistently high standard. I think Tosin Cole has done brilliantly with the work he has been given in the last series: Ryan took a back seat this series but I never once thought he was phoning it in (quiet acting isn’t the same as “wooden”) while Bradley and Mandip have knocked it out of the park in both seasons. I’ve said it before but in Series 11 I felt that Graham was a real person who had stumbled aboard the TARDIS, not a character. We never really got to know Yaz during her first season but that was changed during her second, and right from the get go we knew something interesting was happening: her conversation with O in Spyfall gave a lot of clues about where she was heading and it delivered (another example of good writing). I don’t like the character drops we get with all our supporting characters or bit parts (when the nearly-PM asked about the lorry drivers mum in Revolution, I knew he wasn’t going to last long) because it does feel a bit laboured and obvious. It can add nuance and make us feel a little more but it’s something that can be done more economically, I think.

On the downside, I don’t like the way we present the Doctor as a social misfit at times (although watching some early Pertwee the other day I was reminded that he missed a few social cues at times, as well); the borrowing of story parts can be repetitive - but I feel the same way about Silver Nemsis and Remembrance - ; and the waffling about weapons being bad and the overuse of the sonic screwdriver has been annoying - just as it was in Tennant’s first season. I’m glad the “soap opera” elements have been played down a little more, as they were something I disliked throughout the RTD run of the show, but I love it when characters have a life away from the TARDIS and we learn a little more about them.



Jodie herself has been superb. I think she’s had a handle on the character from the beginning and her development from wide-eyed wonder to someone who’s a lot more guarded has been fantastic.

Yes. I wasn’t totally blown away by series 11 and not every episode is going to be a winner, but that’s just how TV is, Doctor Who is not exempt. They found their stride in series 12, felt far more sure-footed than their first series. And while there’s still room for improvement, I’m happy with where it’s at and the direction it’s headed.