Well, at least it's not Hobgoblins (Review: 'Doctor Who', "The Church on Ruby Road")

• I get a feeling we're going to see that mysterious woman at the church again.
• The letters in the companion actor's name get out of the way of the TARDIS. They're sensible, I see.
• Ncuti Gatwa has a very different energy about him to David Tennant or the other Doctors. Which is of course a good thing. He's got a strong heroic vibe and is a fast talker as well, which are good Doctor traits to have.
• Millie Gibson as Ruby - bit early to say if I like her. She feels generic RTD companion to me, but she does have the whole "foundling" back story. She does a decent enough job though.
• A new sonic screwdriver and those special gloves. See they're trying to sell more merchandise.
• The Disney budget is clearly displayed on the screen - they'd never have this many goblins in the old days.
• Goblins have fallen rather out of the popular mainstream in the last few decades and I'm not sure this will do much to bring them back; they don't really do that much that makes them a real threat bar "pranks".
• Most of the goblin musical bit was released on YouTube before the episode along with an accompanying single on Spotify. It's a highlight of the episode, which isn't saying a great deal for the overall quality.
• The rules of time travel have never been consistently applied in this show, that's for sure.
• Suspect we'll be seeing Mrs. Flood again.

Conclusion

A fairly mediocre episode, saved by the quality of its leads.

6/10

Merry Christmas

In this rather bleak time for many, especially those in the Middle East and Ukraine, may God's love and grace be with you all at this time.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

 

Andre Braugher 1962-2023

I watched all of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Raymond Holt was one of its greatest characters, brilliantly brought to life by Andre Braugher. He could deadpan like no other. 

He was also great at drama, in that show and the short-lived Last Resort that I watched, in which he played a submarine commander. But that was just part of a highly acclaimed career - he was nominated for 11 Emmys, winning two of them.

His death at 61 comes far too soon and he'll be massively missed.

Rest in Peace.

Dutch Angles, Get Your Dutch Angles! (Review: 'Star Trek' 3.11, "Wink of an Eye")

• Watching this on a modern screen, you can see very clearly that's a photographic backdrop in the opening scene.
• Compton, you're a bit of an idiot for drinking the water without properly testing it. No wonder you ended up a dead red shirt.
• I'm not entirely sure they really thought much about this accelerated time thing. At the rate things are going as perceived in regular time, it would be many days or weeks from Kirk's perspective.
• The use of the Dutch angle in the accelerated time was a clever idea, in retrospect.
• And it's another Theiss classic outfit, seemingly in danger of popping open but never doing so.
• The acting from the guest cast is pretty poor in this.
• So, you're kidnapping people for the purposes of sex. That would be called out a lot more these days.
• These days, you would use digi-doubles for the scenes where people are frozen in place; here you've got the actors standing as still as they can and trying not to blink.
• Kirk is actually quite clever, leaving the message on the tape and swapping it over like that.
• How are we seeing footage from earlier in the episode when there was no in-universe camera present?
• The final scene is pretty poor, even by comedy episode ending standards.

Conclusion

An interesting concept, not particularly well executed.

4/10

Chris Chibnall, Hold My Beer (Review: 'Doctor Who', "The Giggle")

• Stooky Bill really existed; I believe he might be in the Science Museum's collection now.
• The current version of the opening theme is a great one and I hope it sticks around for a while.
• I've only seen the surviving episode of "The Celestial Toymaker" - it's not got a great reputation in the fanbase. I will probably check out the animated version though.
• I guess that means "The Nightmare Fair" isn't at all canon, but it's not like this show has ever had a firm canon policy for extra-televisual works.
• When the Doctor tells a companion to go back to the TARDIS, you know that the situation is a serious one.
• Great job from David Tennant and Catherine Tate as usual.
• Neil Patrick Harris makes for a great villain; we might not have seen the last of him, but let's not bring the Toymaker back too quickly.
• Wasn't expecting that long a call back to the Steven Moffat era, that's for sure.
• RTD also allows those who didn't like the Chibnall era a good get-out that can explain it away.
• Very good to see Mel back. Not to mention Kate Stewart and Shirley. I wouldn't be surprised if they all turn up in a spin-off as we know Bad Wolf have created a LLC for one.
• This probably could have done with being about ten minutes longer.
• UNIT has really stopped the secrecy, that's for sure.
• Well, I can't say I saw that coming. [spoiler indeed]
• Where's your trousers?
• The Christmas Special looks to be a lot of fun.

Conclusion

RTD has decided that the Timeless Child was something to one-up and gave us this ending. Fortunately, unlike Chris Chibnall, he's got the writing skills to make it work.

9/10

Midnight 2: Electric Donna-loo (Review: 'Doctor Who', "Wild Blue Yonder")

• The Issac Newton scene at the beginning... wasn't really that great. It could have been dropped entirely and the episode would not have suffered for it.
• Have they added some more piano to the opening titles?
• As an episode fundamentally involving just two actors, this relies heavily on the acting skills of its leads. Lesser leads could have sunk this episode quite badly.
• David Tennant is a superb actor, able to demonstrate subtle nuances in his portrayal i.e. the doubles not getting things quite rate.
• Catherine Tate is also a lot better than many have historically given her credit because of her tendency to do comedic roles. She does a very good job here.
• I was very much reminded of "Midnight" from 2008, which doesn't have very much of Donna in by virtue of the filming lengths at the time.
• Awful lot of corridor action here, that's for sure.
• Even with Disney money, the CGI did look a bit silly.
• Clearly they're saving on the actor budget, throwing that to the other two specials in this particular "season".
• Great final scene, with the much-missed Bernard Cribbins making what would be his final appearance on the show and reminding us how great Wilfred Mott was. Rest in Peace, Mr. Cribbins.

Conclusion

 

Not quite as strong as the previous week, but still very good.

7/10

So, next week brings the regeneration...