Bill is SO ICONIC

I really like Bill :wub: a huge breath of fresh air for the show just like I thought she'd be (not that I disliked Clara but it goes to show that it's good to refresh things particularly for the benefit of casual viewers). The plot wasn't the most exciting EVER but it was enjoyable, and it's made me super duper excited for the rest of the series, a solid opener.

Perhaps more of a low-key opener than usual but it was definitely great introduction for Bill and a reintroduction for the series as a whole.

 

Bill really is a breath of fresh air and so much better than I thought she would be based on the previous two minute clip that revealed her. I think it was one of the most realistic reactions to the discovery of things like the TARDIS and stuff, I particularly liked that when she walked in, she didn't notice for ages where she actually was. Pearl's acting was incredible when she did notice what the TARDIS was, and I also loved that she had to go to the bathroom when she'd moved to Australia. I really think she's going to be a great companion.

 

The 'villain' was quite creepy, particularly with the eye through the plug. I think the fact that there wasn't actually a real menace and a lack of clear intention behind what it actually was maybe let it down though. There didn't also seem to be that much sympathy over the fact that the girl had actually died. Overall though, the threat did allow the show to easily showcase the fact it can move in space and time.

 

I also liked that the references to the past (aside from maybe the photos of Susan and River) were more subtle than the previous two series. Particularly that Clara was referenced but it was done subtly through the mention of the Doctor having his mind wiped and the use of Clara's theme. Also, I was worried when it was announced that a species that had previously featured in a story from 1979 that look awful were coming back but their return was actually more of an Easter Egg and completely inessential to the plot.

 

A good start, and is sort of what I was hoping for and what the show needs. Perhaps there could have been a bit more substance to the threat but in terms of introducting Bill, it did a great job. Now what is in the vault? :thinking:

This was a CHORE to sit through :( really dull and BIll seems really annoying.

This quote from The Guardian sums up my thoughts on Bill!

The cliche of the female companion in vintage Doctor Who was that all they really got to do was cry in plummy vowels: “But Doctor, I don’t understand!” Bill certainly spends a lot of the story doing that – but in the way we all would if faced with these circumstances. She comes up with logical challenges to this world she’s found herself in (“is it a knock-through?”) and doesn’t stop asking. The elongated playing out of the well-worn “it’s bigger on the inside” moment was inspired. And her reaction to the full scale of this situation – running to the toilets, splashing her face with cold water and nearly being sick – the most true-to-life we’ve ever seen.

omg Bill's Foster Mum was in 'Gridlock' from Series 3!

 

http://1923.radiotimes.com/uploads/images/Original/134990.81c49252-c1a4-461c-8071-b53d433f332e.jpg

This was a dull squib of an opener, and the new female companion does nothing for me. I'm hoping when the new Doctor appears they go with a complete reboot, and that includes new companions, it just make all sense to me. I just feel she is in there for 1 series along with Peter Capaldi.

Loved it. I miss Clara, she was great (I love all the companions really) but Pearl and Matt will make it more of a light-hearted crowd-pleaser. I think we are long-overdue (by about 52 years) finding out what happened to Susan, who her mum was, now that we see her photo there. Susan was my first companion love...

Bill has more personality in that one episode that Clara did for the whole of Series 7. :kink:

 

From what I've seen

all signs do seem to point to Bill only lasting for this series

 

 

Also, it's odd that there is some form of regeneration this series, most likely the finale, based on the clips from the trailer even though there's still the Christmas special. Peter and Steven have said that the regeneration will be very different this time round and so I wonder what that will entail? I would LOVE for them to pull the rugs from under out feet and for Ep. 12 to contain the actual proper regeneration, with the next Doctor remaining a secret and be revealed as the regeneration takes place in the episode, with his first ep actually being the Christmas special. I mean, they kept

John Simm

a secret so it is a tiny bit possible!

 

I have also seen some RUMOURS that the next Doctor will be on old one but I VERY heavily doubt that and hope its not the case. Plus, it would only viably be Paul McGann or David Tennant, Matt Smith will be busy filming The Crown I think. I doubt David would want to do it again anyway even though he loves the show. But yeah, just rumours, not going to happen.

I really enjoyed that episode, but I often love the opener and then it runs out of steam. I'm hoping that won't be the case.

 

LOVE Bill. She wasn't overly cocky and actually seemed interested in the new world opening up around her rather than just being exasperated but the Doctor which is something that has been overdone, particularly with Clara. Bill is a breath of fresh air and pretty much what a companion should be. I hope she continues to impress.

 

Bringing back an old doctor would be a mess. Please don't.

Very enjoyable opener as they go. The villains seemed a bit of a rushed concept overall and the Daleks seem very shoehorned in, but it was creepy and I liked the nods to It Follows (even if unintentional). I must have lost track of what the intent of it was though, I thought they were just using the girl as a vessel to get home or form an uprising, I didn't know they actually did as the girl pleased? I might have lost that bit.

 

Bill was actually a LOT better than those clips suggested and does seem to not be a cliche or an 'OMG' "comic" relief style character. I still feel her and Matt Lucas might tire as it goes along, but I'm willing to stick with it, and ofc. really hyped for the Master and Missy later in the series.

 

Next week looks awful :( EMOJIS SHOULD STAY ON AN IPHONE, NOT INFILTRATE FILM AND TV.

Edited April 15, 20178 yr by Chez W♀mbat

A pleasant watch, but it didn't grip me. I did jump a couple of times which hasn't happened before :lol:

Really liking Bill too.

It's nice to see Peter Capaldi's Doctor in a more light-hearted manner, as I feel the series had gone far too dark under him, albeit I think he's been a fine Doctor. I didn't warm to Bill that much in this episode, although I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and hope that I'll warm to her over the next few episodes. Matt Lucas on the other hand, he was fine in the two Christmas specials, but I don't think I could take an entire series of his antics, unless they give his character a complete personality transplant in the next episode.

Peter Capaldi has been a far better Doctor, a step up on the previous one, as I wasn't keen on Matt Smith, I'm just hoping Ben Wishaw will get a look in as the next Doctor, Q in the Bond movies, even Rory Kinnear was hinted at one stage (the son of Comedian legend Roy Kinnear) replacing Matt Smith at the time. Ben Wishaw will be a great addition who is currently filming Mary Poppins Returns.

I think Peter's Doctor was really able to shine this episode as well and hopefully that will continue throughout the series. All this 'I don't care'/delete people's faces that he had going on was just ridiculous and completely opposite to the Doctors that went before him.

 

I'm still not seeing the point in Nardole, he has had no impact on the plot in either this episode or the 2016 Christmas special. All he does is add a couple of funny lines. At the same time though, I'm really not interested in hom being more prominent later in the series which I think may he the case. I would rather it was just the Doctor and Bill. I've seen like zero positive comments for Nardole, just that he's been less annoying than people originally thought! He's just unnecessary so far and just seems like Steven added him because he thinks Matt Lucas is a bigger star name than he actually is.

Next week looks awful :( EMOJIS SHOULD STAY ON AN IPHONE, NOT INFILTRATE FILM AND TV.

Ngl I'm not particularly excited for next week. It's written by the same guy who wrote 'In the Forest of the Night' (Series 8) which, whilst I loved one of his books as a child, is probs the worst ever Doctor Who episode lmao. The fact that the robots are actually called Emojibots is just... :) :) Hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised though but I'm not holding out too much hope.

I love Bill she seems something which needs to have happened. Like before with Clara sbe got cocky and seemed a bit stale in a way during her last series but their is something quite normal about Bill that makes me more drawn to her

Got 4.65m in the ratings. Less than I'd hoped for but its one of the biggest shows for catch up so the 7 Day ratings will be more telling.

Got 4.65m in the ratings. Less than I'd hoped for but its one of the biggest shows for catch up so the 7 Day ratings will be more telling.

I was hoping for over 5 million but as long as the 7 day ratings give it a big boost (and I think they will), I'll be pleased.

I really enjoyed the first episode. Bill is a very refreshing companion after Amy and Clara. I thought it felt like a RTD era opener at times, which is fab! Not too heavy and quite easy going, as the show as had the opposite problem recently. Nardole seems a lot better now than his first appearance as well but I'm not sure I want him to stick around. Comparing it to the Christmas Special it was a lot better, imo.

 

Overall, it was a solid opener. It obviously wasn't the most exciting setting and storyline, but it was necessary to introduce Bill to viewers and it seems to set the scene for a change of tone in this series.

I really enjoyed Bill, much more than Clara, Martha and Amy. I hope she stays as endearing for the rest of her time on the show but I can't wait for Peter to be replaced, god is he a chore to sit through especially after the peaks of Tennant and Smith. A good introduction to a new season and companion but the lack of monsters made it seem a bit off, still I liked it.