Ok.
Let's just spoiler tag the whole thing. I don't want to mess with it multiple times.
Spoiler:
UNIT shows up...awesome. Building on the Mistress reveal, etc. All good.As a whole, the story was there. It was emotional, and a logical end to the season. Doctor, Master, Clara, Danny, all had nice moments.
I LOVED the Brig reveal at the end. Such a perfect tribute. I can't get enough of that stuff. When Matt Smith drops the line that lets us know Kate's dad was the Brig, I had the same reaction. Just nostalgic perfection.
I HATED that they zapped the nerd girl (i.e. Moffat poking fun at fans by writing a stereotypical fangirl into the story). What purpose did her death serve? Danny's sacrifice served a narrative function. The girl's death was unfortunate because of how little it contributed. It was a needless waste of a great character. And sad. I won't lie. She was hilarious and awesome.
The Mistress handing the Doctor the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, again made narrative sense. But it took some bluster out of the epicness of it.
So there are the two gripes I had. But, all said, I still really liked it.
And ok, Santa Claus. Whatever. I'm already over whatever ridiculousness the Christmas episode throws our way.
I've not been a fan nearly as long as others, but my initial reaction to Missy's reveal was a resounding meh. I know it's actually been a while, but for me it still felt too soon for a revival of that sort. Finding out
Spoiler:did mitigate that sensation a bit, though.
she was responsible for the current companionship
I'm with you, Digi.
Spoiler:
That poor girl didn't need to die.
Also,
Spoiler:, at least in my opinion.
Danny's final speech was a nice gesture towards the sacrifice soldiers make for their country
Originally posted by -K-M-
You're a damn dirty liar digi. It's Wednesday today, not Friday!!!!!!
Plans were accelerated!
Originally posted by XanatosForever
Also,Spoiler:, at least in my opinion.
Danny's final speech was a nice gesture towards the sacrifice soldiers make for their country
Good point. 👆
To comment on previous episodes, I actually was unable to view Listen as it aired, but I hear it was rather unique. I'll have to find it, since it seemed like one of the spookier Who's.
"Flatline" was so intriguing for me, though, because I have a familiarity on the concept of life in the second dimension. It made me much more invested in the episode than I think I would have been...which might also explain why
Spoiler:absolutely terrified me! There was a good fifteen minutes where my mind was just stuck on the implications of it.
that one guy being flattened across the dump and wall
I actually enjoyed the forest episode, and "Kill The Moon", but then I guess I have a tendency to shut my mind down when necessary so I can have fun. Or maybe I just like poor writing? In either case, I didn't see much issue with it.
Robin Hood was fun, but forgettable, I suppose. Overall, I've been curious to see Capaldi's interpretation of the Doctor, and I've quite enjoyed it, so I'll continue viewing until something truly well and does turn me off. Missy was close, but the second part saved it.
Spoiler:would have been a better spin, but again, that's my opinion.
I also think that having a separate Time Lady
Well, there you go- the old Doctor Who rule still applies. If you don't like a story, hang around; it's so variable that you'll get one you like soon enough.
I had no great hopes for this story but it was considerably better than I would have guessed. Played a few cliched cards maybe a bit too often, but then a Christmas episode is never going to be about super sharp-edged plotting; more about emotional hits and I think it probably hit that for the audience.
So yes- a decent Moffat one-off story. Good going.
Decent new monster to add to the mix. Moffat seems fond of that. He'll likely never strike gold again like he did with the Weeping Angels, but his unique monsters always inspire a certain kind of terror. I feel like his time as showrunner is going to be remembered for giving future writers a solid list of B-list villains to bring back, after we've long tired of the standby A-listers like Daleks and the Master.
So, quick observation, they never confirmed they were really awake at the end of the episode. And the tangerine was there. Cue the fan theories that everything that happens from this point on is just a dream.