Doctor Who • The Haunting of Villa Diodati

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Doctor Who • The Haunting of Villa Diodati, S12E08 | spoilers after ep aired x

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Klaus View member profile	16th February 2020, 06:58 PM Post #1
❤️❤️➕🟦 Joined: 3 June 2012 Posts: 22,246 User: 17,160	Doctor Who meets Mary Shelley!


Calum View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:06 PM Post #2
nabad Pronouns: he/him Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,363 User: 18,316	Wow. That was easily on par with Fugitive of the Judoon. Maxine Alderton giving us the goods . It was the first ghost-type story that I genuinely jumped at too, and thought was done brilliantly. The likes of Hide never quite managed to reach those heights for me. It seemed to me that Alderton really understood a) how to make a good Doctor Who episode, b) how to utilise the main cast well, c) how to utilise a crowded guest cast well and d) how to make it all come together even with the added bonus of THAT. I knew she'd end up taking the Cyberium from Shelley and putting it inside herself, but I didn't think she'd actually give it what it wanted omg.


Chez Wombat View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:12 PM Post #3
The owls are not what they seem Pronouns: He/him Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,120 User: 9,232	It did take a while to grab me, I was worried in the first half this would be another filler episode with no arc links, but I figured the Lone Cybermen would play a part in a Frankenstein-related episode (I approve as a big fan of the novel *.). The Doctor genuinely looked unsure of what to do and couldn't win, that felt like a real classic 'I've gone too far' moment and wonderful viewing. Great stuff overall, bring on the finale!


Calum View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:14 PM Post #4
nabad Pronouns: he/him Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,363 User: 18,316	Also the Doctor's speech about the team structure was a MOMENT.


JosephBoone View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:17 PM Post #5
you never forget your first time... Pronouns: he/him Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,677 User: 13,530	I LOVED THAT Second favourite of the series so far perhaps? The Lone Cyberman wasn't really a surprise after the social media teasing today but even before that, I was on the edge of my seat. Most scared I've been by Doctor Who in a while Interesting plot throughout and some really high stakes, cannot WAIT for next week! Also: Jodie's best performance? I think so! She was incredible.


BridgeCow View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:21 PM Post #6
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 13 December 2016 Posts: 5,689 User: 23,860	That was amazing!! Several of the comedic moments actually landed which hasn’t happened very often this season, and the introduction of the cyberman and then going into Jodie’s speech about the consequences of changing time was all absolutely brilliant! Easily the best thing to come out of this era so far, did feel weird that they set up the whole ‘don’t give the cyberman what he wants’ thing, when it was pretty clear she was going to considering we knew it was a giant cyberman 2 parter finale, but still, amazing episode, and I’m very excited for what’s to come


Severin View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:25 PM Post #7
Mansonette Joined: 3 November 2009 Posts: 6,921 User: 9,872	At last, Jodie gets a strong premise, half decent script and solid villain, and what do we get? Her finally showing that she can make it work with the right material and her best episode yet. Still need to ditch two companions though. Actually ditch them all and just make it her and Jack Harkness next season. This post has been edited by Severin: 16th February 2020, 08:26 PM


Suedehead2 View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:30 PM Post #8
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,668 User: 3,272	I loved the little hints about what was to become the story of Frankenstein. I really ought t read the book one of these days! That was another great episode although I had expected the baby to be Bryon's daughter, i.e. Ada Lovelace who we saw in an earlier episode. I agree that the humour fitted in better than it sometimes has.


Brett-Butler View member profile	16th February 2020, 08:36 PM Post #9
Howdy, disco citizens Joined: 16 January 2010 Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455	Another solid episode, a some creepy motifs (like the bone-spider), and a really unsettling villain - the only thing in Doctor Who scarier than a Cyberman is a more humanoid Cyberman. A good mix of humour and drama, and interesting concepts. That makes two good episodes and three passable episodes this season, which is much better than the one before.


Klaus View member profile	16th February 2020, 10:44 PM Post #10
❤️❤️➕🟦 Joined: 3 June 2012 Posts: 22,246 User: 17,160	Possibly best of the series so far? I certainly agree with Calum, it’s the first time that they’ve actually nailed a haunted house story. The lone Cyberman was INCREDIBLE and literally everything I want and everything that is terrifying from Cybermen. Loved loved loved that it was mid-conversion and he was able to use his emotions to manipulate them. It felt like Chibnall correcting the errors of Torchwood’s Cyberwoman Some excellent characterisation for Thirteen, she really showed herself to be the Doctor in that team structure speech. Certainly can see some companions (likely Graham) falling to the Cybermen though. Kinda wish they’d teased the return of Jack/Ruth/Master though unless one/two appear in next week’s cliffhanger. Just would feel a bit of a mess if, at the very least, one didn’t return. (also found out the house used was parallel Jackie’s house in The Age of Steel/Rise of the Cyberman, iconic!)


JosephBoone View member profile	16th February 2020, 11:31 PM Post #11
you never forget your first time... Pronouns: he/him Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,677 User: 13,530	It's funny cause (and I'd have said this in my Torchwood countdown, I'll need to pick that up again one day ) I actually loved Cyberwoman - Chibnall really aced the terror and horror of the Cybermen. It's just the "sexy" design that let it down for me :')!


Calum View member profile	16th February 2020, 11:35 PM Post #12
nabad Pronouns: he/him Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,363 User: 18,316	Cyberwoman lmao Speaking of Torchwood too, Chibnall's said in an interview that it would be up to RTD if that were ever to return to TV, so I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon x


Klaus View member profile	17th February 2020, 12:53 PM Post #13
❤️❤️➕🟦 Joined: 3 June 2012 Posts: 22,246 User: 17,160	I actually do like Cyberwoman too, the design is definitely just horrendous for all sorts of reasons. It’s just interesting to see a (what was then) a 40 year old villain finally been given the chance to be as brutal as they actually would be in real life. But even then I felt the Lone Cyberman last night was an improvement on it, a more polished (and more family-friendly!) version. The design was so good.


dandy* View member profile	17th February 2020, 06:55 PM Post #14
Mansonette Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 35,294 User: 54	Definitely my favourite episode of the season. It was suitably confusing at the beginning and had just the right amount of eeriness to make you a little nervy... I want to know what was with the other two ghosts though! By the way, there was another moment in this one too when the doctor scanned and got nothing - actually I'm lying, it was when she showed the ID at the beginning but I swear there has been something in every episode where she's got nothing.