I really enjoyed it and was gripped all the way through! Hopefully we now really are back on track, although I prefer the likes of Spyfall/Rosa/Haunting to it.

 

It did end up being very character-driven which all felt very authentic for a change. Despite the Doctor being in prison ending up being a bit pointless (although PTING and the Silence!!!), the time away because of it wasn’t and helped finally bring out a lot in Yaz and Ryan. It really helped elevate a lot of those scenes and I finally (and I really mean it this time!!) starting getting attached to Yaz. Thought all her scenes were really genuine and I liked that she was focused on trying to find the Doctor. I think one of the weakest points for this group of companions is that they don’t use initiative and they just follow what the Doctor says. I think a lot of that stems from Graham and was seen again in the first scene is the second TARDIS! Hopefully with that out the way, Yaz can flourish and not just depend on the Doctor in her actual actions.

 

I still haven’t fully warmed to Ryan and I think the writing for him is just really wooden. I liked the intention behind the scene with the Doctor but some of the writing was off for me. The departure scene was a lot better though, really well written and I actually felt emotional. Not the same level as other companion departures but it still got me! Again, it felt genuine and I loved Yaz’s response as well. Jodie played it excellently too, again felt emotional that she wanted to fix things. And the return of ‘you’re doing it mate’ omg. Not sure I quite see them defending the Earth though. Sarah Jane and Torchwood they are NOT.

 

Great to have LOTS of Daleks and loved all the build up, the reason for the new Daleks and I actually loved the design, particularly the red! The climax felt a bit rushed though. After such a buildup, once they’d actually started ‘invading’ it felt they were wiped out within seconds, with the Bronze Daleks being wiped out just as quick. I loved the effect of the TARDIS going in the void AND that it tied up the loose end of the stray TARDIS from the end of The Timeless Children.

 

For what felt a random return, I though Jack Robertson was a real highlight of the episode and felt less of a caricature than in Arachnids. I’m actually hoping he returns again in Series 13 to continue his story and expand on the villainy again. I’m shocked Captain Jack’s the last thing I’m talking about but I was expecting a bit more from him and I’m sort of disappointed he didn’t at least die once!! It was nice to have him there though and loved his scene with Yaz. Not sure what happened with his departure and why the whole Lone Cybeman thing wasn’t explained ie how he knew about it. Still, wasn’t expecting a mention of Gwen Cooper!

 

The jury will be out in John Bishop. I’m glad there is confirmation of another companion, just not what I was expecting at all! I would say I’d have liked a younger male but given the terrible writing for Ryan, maybe its best avoided.

 

I’m glad the events of the Timeless Children were addressed as it hopefully shows they will still be followed up and explored. No matter what my feelings on it, I think the worst thing to do is to drop a random bombshell and then never go back to it again.

 

oops I always end up having more thoughts than I realise. It shows my love for the show still ain’t fading because I can’t do it so easily for anything else :lol:

That was better than I expected. Was wonderful to see a return of the classic Daleks (and the purity is true to them) and not that clunky used car that was in the last special and they did feel threatening, even if again dealt with far too quickly. The characters felt a lot more authentic and I did like that they addressed past events and it felt like a natural follow on and they were more well-rounded, hopefully this keeps up now the TARDIS is less crowded. Jack Robertson is still way too moustache-twirling, but he was much better than in Arachnids... and I did quite like he didn't get his 'comeuppance', feels appropriate to the real world.

 

I guess it was a nice end for Ryan and Graham, I wish I cared about them more as characters though. I found a lot of the 'emotional' moments just didn't register with me and just distracted from the action. That's what happens when you don't write your characters well! Yaz definitely still has potential though and I like that it's already showing her cracking a little bit and getting a bit too into it.

 

Also, FRIGGIN' LOVED that Galactic Prison - Weeping Angel, Pting, Ood and Silence :cheeseblock: Can we have a whole episode based around that. Actually there was a lot here that could've expanded upon, I think even with the extended runtime, it still felt rushed, would've been better as a two parter.

 

I have...no opinion on John Bishop, actually I had to look up who he was, I guess I've never watched his shows before :lol: I'm happy to wait and see, though I am slightly annoyed there isn't just one companion like the classic set-up as now I fear it will again be too unfocused. I suppose two is better than three...

My first exposure of John Bishop was as an actor anyway! He was Katie and Emily's dad in Skins for 2 series and he wasn't terrible in that so he shouldn't be too bad in this. Like Bradley, they probably won't push for the comedic angle all the time (hopefully)

 

Just echoing some of the comments here, I feel like this could've been a two-parter only just to flesh out the Dalek invasion. I think I clocked about 14-15 mins of action from the attacking to then being wiped out altogether so it did feel rushed but not so bad when coupled with the character development going on

P,ting :cheer:

 

Brilliant episode, loved it from start to finish, it was like an adrenalin rush throughout, along with Captain Jack Harkness for the ride that's what the show needed. Would have made the perfect companion for the new series in my opinion. John Bishop is a great catch I think, I love his comedic stand up shows

New pting gif :cheeseblock:

 

@1345081282146037766

I don't think it was the absolute best episode of the Whittaker / Chibnall era but it was really solid and a big step up from much of the last series and in particular from the poor 'Resolution' special two years ago. Given Chibnall seems to have an aversion to festive specials, I thought it was pretty good and the best we can probably hope for during his era.

 

Seeing the throwback monsters in jail was quite a hoot and having Captain Jack back really elevated the episode. It was nice to have a more character driven episode but it did feel like the Daleks played second fiddle to the character arcs at some points. They could have quite easily got a lengthy 90 minute special out of it and made more of the Dalek invasion. Like Chez says, I also think they could have made more of the Doctor in prison, which again felt rushed.

 

Yaz is starting to come into her own now so I'm glad she's staying on - she's always felt under-utilised compared to Ryan and Graham. I'm not sure how I feel about John Bishop. A very left-field choice but then a lot of people said Bradley Walsh wouldn't work and he did!

I really liked this episode. I am a HUGE fan of Doctor Who and I have been critical of Chibnall's era because it's been pretty poor overall, with no quality control and cringey scripts. It's got to the point now that I don't even look forward to watching Doctor Who.

 

However I thought this was a good solid episode. There were still some bits I didn't like (why not write a proper exit scene for Captain Jack??) but overall I thought it was better than most of Jodie's episodes.

I think Jodie will have to stay on for some years, as her first two seasons, thanks to Chibnall, were apalling. I will skip most, if not all, of hers when rewatching the series.

 

Why do we need a new companion though? I assume they are worried that Jodie's doctor and Yaz are not strong enough characters to carry the show themselves. That is all Chibnall's fault for filling the tardis with so many characters and not developing any of them, and for not expanding on Jodie's wild inventor side and care-free personality. They have time to fix this, especially now they went down to two. They can focus on two characters, like in the classic Who. They didn't need to introduce yet another person into the Tardis! Not only did we have the Tardis four, but we had at least one, and usually a LOT more, supporting characters each week, leaving the core four with basically no screen time or nothing to do.

Jodie has quit Dr. Who and a race is on to find another Dr.

Just a tabloid rumour for now, they've got stuff both right and wrong about the show in the past.

 

It wouldn't surprise me though, with 3 series being the standard for each Doctor lately

Didn't the tabloids run a similar story last year that Jodie & Chris had both quit?

Didn't the tabloids run a similar story last year that Jodie & Chris had both quit?

IIRC that was created by someone from a sci-fi fansite

Kris Marshall is the bookies favourite again :lol: I'd love to see him to it, he was fantastic on Death in Paradise

Kris Marshall is the bookies favourite again :lol: I'd love to see him to it, he was fantastic on Death in Paradise

 

I agree he would be good

Let’s leave the spreading of false information to the Not My Doctors on Twitter~

 

They’ve literally just started filming the next series :lol:

These rumours have literally been around since series 11, thinking she'd leave after that too. :lol: I mean I wouldn't be completely shocked if she did leave, but I'm holding out hope that she stays on for series 14 / to see in the 60th anniversary year in 2023, and breaks the tradition of three-series-then-go.

 

I also don't think I'd be satisfied with an 8-episode series having to deal with a regeneration at the end of it all, or Jodie leaving after these 8 episodes either given we're still scratching the surface with her.

It's on the front pages of several papers tomorrow, I wonder if we'll get an official statement on it soon? (So far the BBC have just said they won't comment)

 

For what it's worth, the Mirror have been annoyingly accurate from "exclusives" they've had in the past. Bradley & Tosin leaving, the Daleks returning last year and John Simm returning come to mind. I definitely hope Jodie has at least some specials, if not a fourth series though.

If this is true, it's not surprising. Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi both filmed three series each before leaving. I agree that we don't really feel like we've gotten to know Jodie's Doctor yet but with writing this poor, she could be in five more series and we'll be no closer.

 

Kris Marshall would be fab, as I said last time, although I am not sure I can see them going straight back to casting a white man.

I think it will be another woman, particularly if John Bishop stays for another series

BBC declining to comment makes me think it's true, they'd have surely straight out denied if it wasn't.

 

I was really rooting for her and love her enthusiasm in interviews etc, but I have to agree that she just hasn't really had her defining moment or fully clicked with the character yet. Certainly wasn't helped by this writing, I was really hoping it would be Chibnall that would go. I do, vainly, hope now she has had this big change, she can get some better writing and go out on a high (if she is going out at all).

 

A female doctor in the same vein as Jo Martin would be excellent, she completely stole her scenes when she was there.