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vivdunstanAgain this will be full of spoilers for folks who haven't watched the series, so putting it in a spoiler cut. And this discussion runs from the Christmas 2023 episode through the 8-episode series run in 2024.
I'm glad to see Doctor Who back, and thought Ncuti Gatwa and especially Millie Gibson were fantastic in their roles. Too often crying doctor aside, which would be the script's fault ... However it felt a very uneven season for me. Especially weak at the start and ending.
To go through each story in turn, the opener was ok, but a bit hectic. But it established the new Doctor and new companion. And the mysterious Mrs Flood. Anita Dobson is mesmerising in the role.
Space Babies, however, was my least favourite episode of Doctor Who in an extremely long time. I liked the babies in it! Just hated just about everything else. No redeeming features overall.
The Devil's Chord was fun, a rare historical, though underused the Beatles aspect for me, and the end music scene was far, far too long. However Maestro/Jinx was a gem, and I'd like to see her back.
The first story in the run written by someone other than RTD, Steven Moffat's Boom was a tense one, but that sagged later on, and should arguably have been tightened. It was also hampered by the young girl, who acted well, but had a tricky job to seem credible, especially her reaction to the death of her dad.
73 Yards by RTD again was an absolute classic, though he fluffed the ending. It needed a bit more clarity. However I absolutely loved it, and would have gladly watched a whole series in that vein. And Sian Phillips!
I expected Dot and Bubble to be a shallow forgettable story. It appeared so at first, but evolved into something much darker. This RTD story was a very strong one for me. With a devastating ending.
The only other story written by folks other than RTD, Kate Herron and Briony Redman's Rogue, was lovely. I've never seen Bridgerton, and I don't watch romance drama. But this had sparkle, and verve. More please.
As for the finale, I liked The Legend of Ruby Sunday overall, with provisos. But Empire of Death was a let down. And I don't think it satisfied on many counts at all.
The year was full of mysteries. I liked the ongoing Susan Twist appearances, and felt that was resolved ok. Though I was disappointed the Doctor still hadn't found "his" Susan. Ruby's parentage was a disappointment for me though, in part due to how our expectations had been heightened in the final episode. And seeing Ruby go, even if temporarily, is not good. We've had so few episodes this year, it feels like we've barely seen her. Though we still have the mystery of Mrs Flood. Hopefully that might be resolved in 2025 at the latest?
Direction wise things have been generally good for me. But I'd like to see a more varied group of writers involved. I also hope that in 2025 we get fewer Doctor-lite episodes. Though I'm rather expecting the same overall number of episodes. In terms of storytelling I'd like the Doctor to find Susan. And to learn who Mrs Flood is. I'd also like to see more historical stories. And more returning familiar monsters. But ultimately I want story/script endings to be better overall. There were too many fluffed endings this time. Also some uneven pacing, which is a mix of directing and writing issues.
Of course the 2025 series has recently finished filming. So what will be will be! But I just hope for a better balanced set of stories next year. And please nothing as poor as "Space Babies" again.
I'm glad to see Doctor Who back, and thought Ncuti Gatwa and especially Millie Gibson were fantastic in their roles. Too often crying doctor aside, which would be the script's fault ... However it felt a very uneven season for me. Especially weak at the start and ending.
To go through each story in turn, the opener was ok, but a bit hectic. But it established the new Doctor and new companion. And the mysterious Mrs Flood. Anita Dobson is mesmerising in the role.
Space Babies, however, was my least favourite episode of Doctor Who in an extremely long time. I liked the babies in it! Just hated just about everything else. No redeeming features overall.
The Devil's Chord was fun, a rare historical, though underused the Beatles aspect for me, and the end music scene was far, far too long. However Maestro/Jinx was a gem, and I'd like to see her back.
The first story in the run written by someone other than RTD, Steven Moffat's Boom was a tense one, but that sagged later on, and should arguably have been tightened. It was also hampered by the young girl, who acted well, but had a tricky job to seem credible, especially her reaction to the death of her dad.
73 Yards by RTD again was an absolute classic, though he fluffed the ending. It needed a bit more clarity. However I absolutely loved it, and would have gladly watched a whole series in that vein. And Sian Phillips!
I expected Dot and Bubble to be a shallow forgettable story. It appeared so at first, but evolved into something much darker. This RTD story was a very strong one for me. With a devastating ending.
The only other story written by folks other than RTD, Kate Herron and Briony Redman's Rogue, was lovely. I've never seen Bridgerton, and I don't watch romance drama. But this had sparkle, and verve. More please.
As for the finale, I liked The Legend of Ruby Sunday overall, with provisos. But Empire of Death was a let down. And I don't think it satisfied on many counts at all.
The year was full of mysteries. I liked the ongoing Susan Twist appearances, and felt that was resolved ok. Though I was disappointed the Doctor still hadn't found "his" Susan. Ruby's parentage was a disappointment for me though, in part due to how our expectations had been heightened in the final episode. And seeing Ruby go, even if temporarily, is not good. We've had so few episodes this year, it feels like we've barely seen her. Though we still have the mystery of Mrs Flood. Hopefully that might be resolved in 2025 at the latest?
Direction wise things have been generally good for me. But I'd like to see a more varied group of writers involved. I also hope that in 2025 we get fewer Doctor-lite episodes. Though I'm rather expecting the same overall number of episodes. In terms of storytelling I'd like the Doctor to find Susan. And to learn who Mrs Flood is. I'd also like to see more historical stories. And more returning familiar monsters. But ultimately I want story/script endings to be better overall. There were too many fluffed endings this time. Also some uneven pacing, which is a mix of directing and writing issues.
Of course the 2025 series has recently finished filming. So what will be will be! But I just hope for a better balanced set of stories next year. And please nothing as poor as "Space Babies" again.