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| Doctor Who • The Devil's Chord, Season 1, Episode 2 | 11th May 2024 |
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 10th May 2024, 01:48 PM
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#1
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 nabad
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,516 User: 18,316 
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 The second episode of season 1 drops TONIGHT at midnight on BBC iPlayer alongside Space Babies, and airs on BBC One at 7:05pm. Jinkx Monsoon makes a special guest appearance as Maestro ~ Discuss the episode here! |
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11th May 2024, 08:37 AM
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#2
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 BuzzJack Enthusiast
Joined: 3 March 2022
Posts: 762 User: 147,987
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Honestly absolutely abysmal. The acting horrendous by the villian. Really did not like this episode.
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11th May 2024, 12:38 PM
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#3
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rip in peace Dickston
Joined: 29 January 2017
Posts: 9,626 User: 25,045
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This was just
The Beatles not really passing for any of the Beatles put me off a little before I watched but I understand casting for iconic faces is an issue everywhere. I was happily ready to suspend belief and go with the flow for that. They weren’t even a main role in the episode anyway aside from the corny deus ex machina The whole “from another dimension” thing is getting old already and yet I just know it’s gonna be a recurring theme this season. Twisting reality is cool and all but it’s been done multiple times before and also very very recently, so recent that the stakes just didn’t seem to matter as we know it’s all gonna work out anyway not much different from NPH. And these beings breaking the fourth wall works as a scare tactic as we saw last year, but now that both Maestro and Doctor have done it (did Ruby too? I can’t remember) it makes me feel like the neighbour from the Xmas episode was just a gimmick with no actual plot reasoning That was my major gripe until the musical number at the end. What? It wasn’t a “I am a being with so much power you must use music to beat me!” sort of thing like before, it was literally just a random dance number? And the crossing playing music? After Maestro has gone? I don’t understand what these guys are playing at lol |
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11th May 2024, 04:36 PM
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#4
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Mansonette
Joined: 3 November 2009
Posts: 6,989 User: 9,872
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Well, I thought it was better than the first episode but it was still an awful mess of incoherent ideas, where everything was bad; the acting, casting, costume design, script, concept and THAT ending. Even the character of The Doctor seems to have been completely re-written - I can't think of a single other incarnation so keen to run away from meeting their adversary. The fudged an explanation in Space Babies but didn't even try this time.
What the hell are they thinking? This show is a mess. Aside from being aimed at 6 year olds it seems it being written by them too. |
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11th May 2024, 05:42 PM
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#5
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BuzzJack Enthusiast
Joined: 3 March 2022
Posts: 762 User: 147,987
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I really don't see how they don't look at series 4 (the best series) for inspiration. So far removed from what we want now
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11th May 2024, 05:57 PM
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#6
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Buffy/Charmed
Joined: 18 April 2013
Posts: 44,496 User: 18,639
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QUOTE(Severin @ 11th May 2024, 05:36 PM)  Well, I thought it was better than the first episode but it was still an awful mess of incoherent ideas, where everything was bad; the acting, casting, costume design, script, concept and THAT ending. Even the character of The Doctor seems to have been completely re-written - I can't think of a single other incarnation so keen to run away from meeting their adversary. The fudged an explanation in Space Babies but didn't even try this time. What the hell are they thinking? This show is a mess. Aside from being aimed at 6 year olds it seems it being written by them too. 100%!!! agreed sith all of this! Axe it. |
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11th May 2024, 06:20 PM
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#7
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 13 April 2007
Posts: 36,764 User: 3,272
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I enjoyed most of the episode but the musical number at the end was diabolical.
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11th May 2024, 08:08 PM
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#8
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Radical Pink Troll
Joined: 11 March 2006
Posts: 26,641 User: 177
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Ok that was a bit messy. I feel Maestro has potential to be a great villain but it all seemed a bit rushed despite not much going on. Like there were a lot of ideas but they didn’t know which to focus on. Perhaps it’d have been better as a two parter.
They definitely could have cut out the ‘twist’ at the end. Not sure what they were thinking there. |
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12th May 2024, 12:04 AM
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#9
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 you never forget your first time...
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 122,879 User: 13,530 
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My favourite of the two episodes we got today! Jinkx Monsoon was PHENOMENAL as Maestro and Ncuti and Millie were once again on fire. Some really brilliant moments throughout, including Ruby playing the piano, and the pure silence while the Doctor and Ruby were hiding from Maestro.
The song at the end was high camp... I wouldn't want it every week but it was super fun as a one off. Shirley Ballas and Johannes Radebe appearing for no good reason *_* |
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12th May 2024, 01:28 PM
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#10
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nabad
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,516 User: 18,316
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It definitely feels like they put The Devil's Chord out at the same time as Space Babies because Disney (most likely) didn't have faith Space Babies was strong enough to launch the series on its own. I enjoyed both episodes massively, but this was definitely the better of the two.
Really don't care about the discourse on Twitter from supposed Doctor Who fans that would have you believe this is a total monstrosity with nothing good going for it. I'm convinced some fans of the show just... don't actually like the show any more and just stick with it to see if it's ever going to replicate, to the letter, what came before. And that don't like when the show is just camp, over-the-top, fun that doesn't take itself too seriously. This was so magical. Jinkx was fabulous as Maestro, you can tell they really revelled in the role of a villain. Both episodes have totally solidified Ncuti as a magnificent Doctor for me too, he has so much charisma, the chemistry between him and Millie is great, and there's just something about him that makes me LOVE where the show is going now. The musical number was a good way to end the episode too. Again, have a bit of fun and break the norm of what Doctor Who has done for over SIXTY YEARS and people take issue. 
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12th May 2024, 09:35 PM
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#11
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 The owls are not what they seem
Pronouns: He/him
Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,241 User: 9,232
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QUOTE(Chez Wombat @ 12th May 2024, 08:05 PM) Or maybe it just wasn't aimed at me, I get the sense from a lot of the lore and expositional dialogue that this was basically a pilot to introduce it to the Disney+ audience and they're showing the range of tones the show can have. That's all well and good, just hope the next one's better (post tbc x) Narrator: It wasn't I'm getting worried that this series is going in a direction that isn't really for me. This was such a confusing mess. There were some great moments - the pure silence, the aesthetic and idea of a 60s set episode, Maestro was well played and the idea of the Gods taking things that are essential to humans. But it is ultimately style over substance. There's no slowing down to build a sense of plot, character, setting and tension. It felt so unfocused and the resolution felt nonsensical. For an episode that was meant to honour music, it felt like it was an afterthought, especially with how little the Beatles actually featured, and that's a wasted opportunity. Also, I'm getting a bit of foreshadowing overload. There's way too many hints and clues popping up right now at every moment and I'd rather focus on developing the story we're in now than hinting at what's to come, but I can't say I'm surprised given Star Wars and the MCU. Not to say I'm not intrigued by the fourth wall breaks and mystery, but it shouldn't be a replacement for telling a good story week on week. Guess next week could be better, I mean it's Moffat and RTD, seriously, you can't mess this up x |
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12th May 2024, 11:41 PM
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#12
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Mansonette
Joined: 3 November 2009
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QUOTE(Chez Wombat @ 12th May 2024, 10:35 PM) Guess next week could be better, I mean it's Moffat and RTD, seriously, you can't mess this up x I think for me, there's a lot riding on this next episode. Given that it's written by Moffat and the concept has potential, if it's not at the least pretty good, then it may be another McCoy 1989 moment - In that I may basically stop watching the show again. Ironically the 1989 series was a big improvement on the previous two but the damage was done before it began and so I didn't watch it until years later. The show's on very thin ice for me right now, after years of poor returns. I want to love it as it's been a part of my life since I can remember and I've ridden the rollercoaster of terrible stories and seasons before. I just seems to have entered a serious decline from Capaldi's final year onwards (one or two exceptional episodes aside) and it's dangerously close to a death spiral right now. It has the budget but it needs good writers to craft strong stories and with RTD writing around 60% of the series it doesn't look good as frankly, he's no Robert Holmes. |
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13th May 2024, 07:31 AM
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#13
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 26 February 2007
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Watching both of them last night and honestly I wouldn't rush to see either of them again...
I thought Ncuti and Millie were great in the roles and had good chemistry - the show looks amazing as well - but yeah the Space Babies were just ridiculous and the story hinging on a fart gag at the end wasn't the best to launch a series. The Devi's Chord was better, but then the musical number at the end just wasn't for me. The story had some good moments, but it just felt all over the place and a little soon after The Toymaker to have another villain of the same ilk. Jinkx ranged from great and extremely irritating for me. Some nice nods to the past and RTD seems to be making more out of the Timeless Child plot than Chibs ever did. Yeah it feels very Disney and not really in a good way. This post has been edited by ElectroBoy: 13th May 2024, 07:34 AM |
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13th May 2024, 01:51 PM
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#14
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The owls are not what they seem
Pronouns: He/him
Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,241 User: 9,232
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QUOTE(Severin @ 13th May 2024, 12:41 AM) I think for me, there's a lot riding on this next episode. Given that it's written by Moffat and the concept has potential, if it's not at the least pretty good, then it may be another McCoy 1989 moment - In that I may basically stop watching the show again. Ironically the 1989 series was a big improvement on the previous two but the damage was done before it began and so I didn't watch it until years later. The show's on very thin ice for me right now, after years of poor returns. I want to love it as it's been a part of my life since I can remember and I've ridden the rollercoaster of terrible stories and seasons before. I just seems to have entered a serious decline from Capaldi's final year onwards (one or two exceptional episodes aside) and it's dangerously close to a death spiral right now. It has the budget but it needs good writers to craft strong stories and with RTD writing around 60% of the series it doesn't look good as frankly, he's no Robert Holmes. I will probably keep up with it this season as I am interested with where they're going with this foreshadowing and I know RTD is much better than Chibnall at writing arcs. Saying that, I do feel like I may stop watching if it mucks this up, I've just seen how Disney have completely botched Star Wars that I feel the same may be happening here. I should note these criticisms come from a good place and it's important to be critical as I know the show CAN appeal to wider audiences and build character, plot and tension and have fun at the same time. The recent specials seemed promising that this would happen. |
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13th May 2024, 08:59 PM
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#15
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Mansonette
Joined: 3 November 2009
Posts: 6,989 User: 9,872
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Just a thought -
Pretty explicit mention of Susan. 'There's always a twist at the end' Actor Susan Twist has appeared in the last 4 episodes, each time as a 'different' character. Surely the obvious theory is far too obvious? I doubt it is (too obvious) and I'm not sure it would be a good idea but if it is please tell me Carole Ann Ford gets a final scene before regenerating |
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Saturday, 03:12 PM
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#16
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 23,006 User: 17,376
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Just watched ep 2. So john and Paul save the world with a chord which banishes a god. The doctor runs away a lot panicking. Ruby is forged from a magical being. The doctor smiles as he says all time lords were wiped out across time while talking about Susan. Magic magic magic and Gods.
So. Its Wandavision and yes Susan will be back. Said she was Anita Dobson but i think carole ann ford will be back. So nothing is real and nothing matters dramatically. Davies really lost his touch.... |
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Saturday, 03:14 PM
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#17
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Buffy/Charmed
Joined: 18 April 2013
Posts: 44,496 User: 18,639
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QUOTE(Popchartfreak @ 18th May 2024, 04:12 PM) Just watched ep 2. So john and Paul save the world with a chord which banishes a god. The doctor runs away a lot panicking. Ruby is forged from a magical being. The doctor smiles as he says all time lords were wiped out across time while talking about Susan. Magic magic magic and Gods. So. Its Wandavision and yes Susan will be back. Said she was Anita Dobson but i think carole ann ford will be back. So nothing is real and nothing matters dramatically. Davies really lost his touch.... Timeless Child ruined Doctor Who, and Davies is too cowardly to fix it ny retconning it and retuening it to scifi. |
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Saturday, 05:22 PM
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#18
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nabad
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 13 February 2013 Posts: 28,516 User: 18,316
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QUOTE(Popchartfreak @ 18th May 2024, 04:12 PM) The doctor runs away a lot panicking. Did the dialogue pass you by? He literally explains what just happened with the Toymaker and the impact that had on him, what it did to his soul. God forbid he panic when another of the Toymaker's legion shows up to cause havoc.
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Sunday, 02:10 PM
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#19
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 23,006 User: 17,376
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QUOTE(Calum @ 18th May 2024, 06:22 PM) Did the dialogue pass you by? He literally explains what just happened with the Toymaker and the impact that had on him, what it did to his soul. God forbid he panic when another of the Toymaker's legion shows up to cause havoc. No didnt pass me by - the "soul" reference is not something I can relate to in Doctor Who. The Doctor being split into 2 cant be arbitrary, it's part of the plot of whatever is going on. Might as well split him into 10 and have Paul McGann back for a series otherwise. Or kill off Tenant again and have him regenerate into McGann. Make one plot device like that you can make another. This Doctor is enormously impulsive in jumping into things - that's his defining characteristic so far. Everything that has happened since the flying magical cross-dimensional pirate ship would be difficult to convincingly bring into in any previous era of Who. Bringing the TV theme into the show as a plot device. Changing history by stepping on a butterfly. Magical bogey monsters from talking babies looked after by robot carers. Flying musical notes with real-life actions. Changing history again because music was stolen in the 1920's. It's all just shouts out "fantasy, unreal, not really happening" to me, see Wandavision.... cos if not, RTD really has lost his judgement on what constitutes easter eggs vs terrible writing. I'm trying to be positive ahead of the Moffat script which should be WAY better.... |
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