Printable version of thread
Click here to view this topic in its original format
BuzzJack Music Forum _ TV Shows _ Doctor Who • Arachnids in the UK
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 28 2018, 12:23 PM
WRITER: Chris Chibnall
DIRECTOR: Sallie Aprahamian
GUEST STARS: Tanya Fear, Chris Noth, Shobna Gulati
WHEN: Sunday 28th October at 7:00pm
SYNOPSIS
TRAILER
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 28 2018, 12:27 PM
I'm glad we're going to be getting to see Yaz's family as she's the companion who I feel hasn't had the chance to shine yet! Spiders is an interesting enemy, I'm glad I'm not acrophobic! I'm kind of holding out for a fleeting reference to Planet of the Spiders too 
Posted by: Theo. Oct 28 2018, 01:17 PM
This title is giving me 'Daleks in Manhattan' teas. Hopefully the story isn't as tragic as that! 😂
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 28 2018, 02:33 PM
Or Dinosaurs on a Spaceship!
Posted by: WhoOdyssey Oct 28 2018, 02:34 PM
Is it supposed to be a play on Anarchy in the UK?
Posted by: Calum Oct 28 2018, 02:44 PM
Really excited for this episode for the reasons Klaus gave above - we really need Yaz in the spotlight, and it looks like this (and Demons of the Punjab) will do just that.
Posted by: Sonia Fowler Oct 28 2018, 02:47 PM
Well I hate spiders so you can tell I'm "excited" for them to be the villans 
Posted by: The Feline Lorde Oct 28 2018, 03:50 PM
I still can't get over how awful the episode title is :')
Posted by: JosephAvery Oct 28 2018, 03:51 PM
Yes!
Posted by: Brett-Butler Oct 28 2018, 03:52 PM
This could be the first properly scary episode of Doctor Who this series (partially because even normal spiders terrify the B'Jesus out of me), so looking forward to this one.
Posted by: Pinhead Oct 28 2018, 07:53 PM
Another brilliant episode, the production was just excellent. Some parts of the episode just made me jump and scary, I shall be checking under my bed tonight for giant spiders, or on the ceiling bearing in mind I hate big spiders. Reminds me one of those Tom Baker era classic episodes that made me jump.
best punchline was
Who is running for President?
Ed Sheeran 
Posted by: gothita Oct 28 2018, 07:55 PM
That stormzy scene was awful apart from that a really solid episode. I love the assistants
Posted by: Pinhead Oct 28 2018, 08:02 PM
And I'm loving Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, she has really made it her own already, she is well fitted and she is pretty much faultless.
Posted by: Cownt Dracula Oct 28 2018, 08:02 PM
Lmao those spiders tho I acc couldn’t look at the screen shsjsj
Think that’s the first time that’s ever acc happened to me during Doctor Who
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 28 2018, 08:06 PM
Will likely post more thoughts tomorrow but another great episode, even more darker and chilling than I expected. Very good job that I don’t mind spiders otherwise I definitely might not have been able to watch - the mummy spider omg. A few scenes that will have definitely terrified younger viewers!!
I kind of am still waiting for an episode with a BIG major intentional threat but maybe that’s a style they’re moving away from for this series?
Ranking so far:
01. Rosa
02. Arachnids in Sheffield
03. The Woman Who Fell to Earth
04. The Ghost Monument
Posted by: WhoOdyssey Oct 28 2018, 08:08 PM
Really loved that episode! The spiders were so creepy!
What was that grime song they used?
Posted by: Suedehead2 Oct 28 2018, 08:10 PM
Not as good as last week, but last week's was exceptionally good. I'm not sure about the idea of a presidential candidate who is a bit like Trump, but not as sane
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 28 2018, 08:12 PM
Great episode and such a departure from last week! Last week was of course the series high.
I wonder if Mr Big will return as president later?
Order:
1. Rosa
2. The Woman Who Fell To Earth
3. Arachnids
4. The Ghost Monument
Posted by: gothita Oct 28 2018, 08:23 PM
i could definitely see him coming back when he's president in a kind of near future episode where he calls the dr for help and she's like noooOOOO u killed that spider
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 28 2018, 08:35 PM
I hope not, Trump has invaded life too much (including in many TV dramas). He can stay away from Doctor Who x
Posted by: DANKENSTEIN Oct 28 2018, 08:35 PM
What was that grime song they used?
Episodes 3 and 4 have been better than 1 and 2, hard to say which one I prefer as they were so different. I quite like the season so far but it feels a bit too different for Who, I really like the main 4 characters but the monsters/threats and plot really could be better, it's better than the Capaldi/Clara era but a long way off the quality of Tennant (I guess it's too much to ask for Tennant-era quality though!).
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 28 2018, 08:36 PM
Got his first name drop in it tonight
If this were a Capaldi episode, the spiders would have all been saved, or vanished from the plot conveniently at the end even after escaping the hotel. All the people in cocoons would have magically come back to life with a click of Capaldi's fingers, like that DREADFUL cockroach house episode.
Posted by: Brett-Butler Oct 28 2018, 08:38 PM
First properly scary episode of the series then. I don't like the way that there were two dangling threads left hanging (if you pardon the pun). I'm presuming that President Ed Sheeran will end up coming back at some point, as he didn't get his comeuppance by the end of the episode, but even with the spider-momma dead, there's still hundreds of oversize spiders still roaming the underground of Sheffield that they haven't dealt with?
Posted by: Chez VampireBat Oct 28 2018, 08:40 PM
I really liked that, much scarier and thoughtful than I was expecting when I was really thinking it would be some trashy 50s b-movie esque tribute. Pardon me for being thick though but.... the threat didn't seem resolved? I gather they were just trapping (and shooting in one case) the ones in the hotel, but what about the ones all across Sheffield? Also, the hotel is still there with Donald Trump (he had another name I know, but I'm not using cos it was way too obvious who that was satirising) still running it and Nadia out of work? It seemed to leave things on a very uncertain note for Doctor Who unless they're planning to come back to Earth, maybe that was the intention. It's very dark but it would certainly fit the industrialisation message I suppose. (edit: Basically the exact same question as Brett lol)
Yazz seemed a bit more prominent this episode which was good to see, still feel like she's being sidelined in terms of development though. Graham seems to be doing the best at that, and that really surprised me.
Posted by: Calum Oct 28 2018, 09:22 PM
I really loved that and I feel like the series is really getting into the swing of things now. I think they managed to nail having the monster take centre stage, while at the same time still allowing time for poignant moments like Graham's scenes at home, and getting to know Yaz's family. I do feel like although we've now seen Yaz's family and she is becoming a more rounded character, she is still fairly under-utilised during the action of the episodes, but there's still time.
My only qualm with the episode was Chris Noth's character - he seemed a bit extra, but other than that it was on fine form again, and the spiders were genuinely quite creepy, unlike what we've seen recently with the likes of Kill the Moon, etc. That new vortex was STUNNING too *.* I love that it's no longer presented as just one path the TARDIS follows and there's lots of different pockets and directions it can go, etc.
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 28 2018, 10:01 PM
Omg just realise you're right
What about that spider in the next door neighbour's house for one?? That killed someone! The dead body is still there!
Posted by: The Feline Lorde Oct 28 2018, 10:34 PM
A great episode - a lot more Doctor Who than Rosa but not as incredible as that was. I'd put this firmly as the second best episode so far this series.
It was nice to actually have a monster threat. I do feel (like everyone else) it wasn't quite tied up very well in the end. I have to say the whole production was once again visually spectacular *.*
Posted by: Hexton Oct 29 2018, 10:36 AM
I'm enjoying this series but it's not very consistent quality wise (or theme wise, or in any way I don't think) :/
Some notes I took while watching:
- Graham NEEDS to stop calling her "Doc" it sounds so unnatural. I like him a lot but the show is obviously not trying to be a comedy so he needs to just chill out a little
- "Arachnids in the UK" is a clunky title but it also kinda gives away what its all about. The ominous shots of cobwebs and eventual reveal of spiders would've been a lot more powerful if we didn't already know what was going on
- I find it strange that these spiders are going apeshit at the same time as the two aliens from episode 1, since this picks up half an hour after that one finished...
- The whole landfill/toxic-waste/hotel reveal was so convenient to the plot... also no WAY would a lab doing experiments on creatures simply throw the corpses in the trash. They'd 100% be incinerated
- How come Graham and Ryan managed to stop the huge spider from getting through a simply door when they are strong enough to burst through baths?
- The Doctor bursting into the ballroom with acid spray reminded me SO MUCH of Sarah Jane vs the Slitheen 
Even if it wasn't an intentional callback I did enjoy it
- Are they leaving the deadly killer spiders out to roam then? The mum died sure but what's gonna stop any of the thousands of others out there breeding still? And are the ones left in the hotel just left to die in the room they were locked in? Considering how the Doctor reacted when rich guy killed big ass spidey I find it very hard to believe she was fine with leaving hundreds of baby spiders in a confined space to starve/suffocate to death
I like the concept of big spiders (not like it hasn't been done before though) but the execution was terrible :/ SO many plot holes. The rich future President guy should've been saved for a US based episode and I think the spiders should have just been escaping from the lab and then breeding or something similar. Lab does tests on spider -> spider somehow escapes -> spider breeds and causing trouble -> lab tries to cover it up -> Doctor turns up. I feel like they tried to shove too much in one episode and it ended up not even finished :/
Also a bit annoyed at the "next time" which I have absolutely no idea what is going on on than the fact they are in a hospital. New New York? Judoon? Nurse Siren healing people from a pirate ship?
Overall I'd consider it my second least favourite so far, it wasn't bad but no way will it be a memorable episode I'll ever go out of my way to rewatch. Much like Season 8 I think aside from 2-3 episodes (Deep Breath, Mummy on the Orient Express, and maybe Listen).
1. Rosa
2. The Woman Who Fell To Earth
3. Arachids in the UK
4. The Ghost Monument
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 29 2018, 11:12 AM
Same opinions as me!!
Posted by: Suedehead2 Oct 29 2018, 12:11 PM
I never watch the “next time” clips. I’d rather wait and see them in their proper context.
Graham’s use of doc fits the character. He’s presumably meant to be from London or close to it. It is not uncommon for people from there to use the term, however irritating it may be for others.
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 29 2018, 01:40 PM
6.43m in the overnights which makes it level with last week! Yasss at stability 
Posted by: Count Olaf Oct 30 2018, 07:38 PM
my more expanded thoughts
- Yaz's family were great, already have more character than Clara's, hopefully we get to see more of them! Yaz's mum (Najia x) was good to start with but did get lost in the end
- LOVED the atmosphere of the episode, I lot more explicit in terms of showing the spiders and also more creepy than I expected. The giant spider coming out the bath was definitely my favourite moment! It really helped to boost the episode for me and why I perhaps rate it quite high despite the shoddy reasons as to why the spiders were so big and the fact the whole thing is unresolved!
- I did like the unrelenting character of the US guy but would have liked it so much more without the Trump references. As I said, I can do without him in my favourite show - other TV shows have already explored those issues (and in a much more competent way due to the nature of the shows), it's too awkward in Doctor Who. Political issues should be less direct like say the Zygon episodes.
- Also loved the grieving scenes from Graham, such a nice touch and continuation of the story without it being forced and overshadowing the episode. Led to the perfect moment too as the companions officially board the ship! SO so glad that it looks like they'll actually be living in the TARDIS! That's a true companion! Loved how it was all left with Yaz popping out to the shops and moving onto something more exciting for her. In terms of end game, I can see Graham leaving at the end of the series with maybe Ryan and Yaz staying on to the next series.
- I think the episode did show signs of perhaps the trouble of a four person team as the scientist and Yaz's mum ended up getting overshadowed towards the end. It ended up being 7/8 of them altogether a few times which isn't really manageable. Hopefully now the characters are more established as a team together, there's more room for them to split up.
Posted by: 28 Daleks Later Oct 31 2018, 11:20 AM
Arachnids in the UK, in 10 Words Or Less:
"Who knew Stormzy could attract spiders!" 9/10
Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! Oct 31 2018, 11:35 AM
Oh was that Stormzy? Never heard his stuff before.
The three companions thing is way too much. They need to scale it down to 1 or 2 max
Posted by: Sonia Fowler Oct 31 2018, 02:05 PM
I never have my thoughts on the episode. I loved the look into Yaz's family and hope we see them more. The spiders were scary even more so because I hate spiders in real life so giant ones...not sure how id cope with them. The side character of the trump-like business man was accurate. Even brought the topical view of gun crime I thought, may be that's a stretch but considering how the American reacted to the problem compared to doctor etc.
My only real issue, that others have pointed out too, is it didn't tie up the story well. There is still spiders roaming around Sheffield is there not?
Posted by: Chez VampireBat Oct 31 2018, 02:16 PM
The more I think about it, the more I really hated the ending whatever the intention, essentially, the Doctor did nothing at all to resolve the threat, except put the spiders in the hotel into a confined room to starve to death which if anything was even more cruel than what Donald Trump did, at least the mother spider had a quick way out. That's never the way it should be, this isn't the first time Chibnall's written the Doctor wrong as well (Dinosaurs in the Spaceship when he coldly let the villain die even when begging for mercy). A shame, as it could've been so much better.
Powered by Invision Power Board
© Invision Power Services