Dr. Who Reaction 11x3 - Orphan 55
Added 2025-01-18 15:00:06 +0000 UTC
Comments
"Now suck your thumb until the hallucinations stop. And remember, they're not real bats.", The Doctor, "Orphan 55" I don't think this is a very good episode - it's has a base-under-siege structure which I normally like. But apart from a few cute people we meet (and the aborted engagement was so frustrating and sweet) there's not a lot I like about it. I didn't find the mother/daughter stuff at all interesting. Ok, I also like the mutant creature design - they are a bit like the "Torchwood" weevils. The science doesn't work though - I cannot believe that a mammalian body can be mutated sufficiently that it starts breathing carbon-dioxide and exhales oxygen - and actually live. I would allow a Doctor Who episode to invent a new world far, far away across the universe when a creature could do this - but, sorry, not on Earth it can't. It just ignores science. However, the thing I really dislike is the preachy Doctor speech at the end talking about the Earth catastrophe. Don't get me wrong, the message is fine - and the writer is obviously passionate about the issue (he was arrested at a climate change protest). But the speech is done in such a clumsy, unsubtle way. Even if you agree with the argument, it's just the author's climate manifesto placed into the mouth of the Doctor - yuk! So, get rid of the idea about us actually being on Earth - which means the monster science could work and means that we don't have to listen to the climate manifesto - and this could be a diverting adventure episode (hopefully with more bits of Sylas saving the day) - and I would rate it higher. The writer wrote "It Takes You Away" last season, which also could have been made much more interesting if bits were deleted. "Oh, Ryan. It ain't the aliens that are going to kill me, it's worrying about you.", Graham, "Orphan 55"
Andrew Vignaux
2025-01-20 00:39:34 +0000 UTCThis episode has an extremely poor reputation within fandom - and it's completely justified! It starts well,and is intriguing; but then (to paraphrase from Monty Python) it just gets silly. Hammy acting ; a ludicrous concept (global warming will turn us into huge,toothy,slavering monsters);and the Doctors unnecessary lecture at the end. A definite 'file and forget' story.
Ian Smith
2025-01-19 13:55:07 +0000 UTC
