Dr. Who Reaction 11x10 The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos
Added 2024-12-21 15:00:06 +0000 UTC
Comments
Actually, I like this one. It's not the best episode of all time, but I like it. Now, it is known that they did run out of time in the production and the writer didn't have time to polish the script into a more spectacular season finale. But, then I almost never rate season finales as the best episodes in the seasons anyway - and it's certainly not the worst season finale for me (you would probably be shocked by what I consider the worst finale). Also, I would absolutely assume that there was no time for an audience to rate the Tzim-Sha character appearance in episode 1 before this episode had already been written, designed, filmed and was in final post-production. So, no, they didn't say "let's choose Nicole's worst rated character in the season and bring them back". Instead they said "let's have a two-story antagonist separated by the entire season - we'll exile him in the first one and bring him back for revenge in the second - hope we have time to polish the script." One issue I have with this is that there is a plot element here which mirrors a plot element in a Classic Who episode. It isn't a significant element here, but I think it would have been more cool if the Doctor had recognised and commented on it. It's a nice episode for Graham's character having to control himself and live up to the person the Doctor considers him to be. "Hey, you shot him!", "Yeah, but just the foot. Just it. Just in the foot. Just to shut him up. Don't tell the Doc, she'll be livid.", Ryan and Graham, "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos"
Andrew Vignaux
2024-12-26 22:38:55 +0000 UTCI've said before how series 11 reminds me a lot of the classic era with it's theme tune and the fact there are four companions. This was the case with the start of the fifth Doctor time and yeah despite the extra story length that also suffered a bit with having enough material for four regulars. That said it doesn't do too bad with it here as the team is split up into two groups to each deal with a plot point but yeah Yaz does not get a lot to do in this one. I do think the stuff with Graham is good and I like that it's him and Ryan that deal with Tzim-Sha then just having him back as a villian for the Doctor to defeat. But for a finale? It just seems like a average episode that could havre been anywhere in the series. Again like the classic 80's era when a season would end usually with a average if lucky story manly because the budget had ran out. That said I do like that for once we didn't have an over the top, everything on the line finale with some great big event. It made a change. And I think that's why despite it's flaws I like series 11 because it's different to what we have had for the last ten series. It's refreshing. 3/5 and 103rd/140. I do like the Doctor's departing speech at the end.
Jade Ellis
2024-12-22 15:28:05 +0000 UTCThank you so much. Yes it´s really awful. I can´t imagine the pain those families have to go trough right now. Christmas will never be the same for them . :(
Nicologik
2024-12-22 12:42:32 +0000 UTCAwwww, I´m soooo jealous :D
Nicologik
2024-12-22 12:41:15 +0000 UTCI am so sorry to hear the news currently coming from Germany. I can only hope that people will see what a terrible thing hatred is wherever it comes from.
Stephen Males
2024-12-22 09:40:35 +0000 UTCThis was better than I remember, but it doesn’t have the dramatic impact of a finale. I like Graham’s journey and how he and Ryan bond here. Jodie really shines as the doctor but Tim Shaw is not a very convincing villain, also I didn’t buy the Ux. It’s always a problem with a fifty minute episode to tell a very big story, and I agree that they should have done better. The IMDb rating is less than I would have given but the anti female dr, brigade is responsible for all the bad ratings in this series. Did you spot Mark Addy who played Robert Baratheon in Game of thrones ?
Jenny Smyth
2024-12-21 16:57:23 +0000 UTCOn a more positive note, I met Jodie last weekend and she was great. She’s brilliant!
DoctorWho
2024-12-21 16:48:42 +0000 UTCI am, on the whole, with you here - but I don't feel its a bad thing to bring back a prominent character (whether well written or not) from the start of a season in order to act as a book-end. It gives the season some sort of shape,at least. My big criticism of this episode is that YET AGAIN Chibnall 'borrows' the plot of a Classic era story,written by a far superior writer,and changes it just enough to avoid plagiarism accusations. He's done this several times before, and this may not be the last occurrence. But,yes...this has the tone of a mid-season episode and little more.
Ian Smith
2024-12-21 16:41:23 +0000 UTCAlso this concept for this entire series from the start was for it to be standalone so new fans could jump into each and any episode and be able to follow along.
DoctorWho
2024-12-21 16:40:30 +0000 UTCI do understand why Tzim Sha (Tim Shaw) was brought back and it did provide a reason for Graham's anger and his moral dilemma. Which did lead on to a very moving development in his relationship with Ryan, as has been outlined by DW. I also loved the "granddad" the fist bump and the "I love you". And Ryans refusal to repeat it sounds just right for his character. But.... for a finale it lacks either sharp focus or any kind of epic quality. It doesn't have to be both. I would happily settle for one or the other. I don't actively dislike the idea of the Ux but they not really developed as individual characters or as a species/culture. Their powers are certainly impressive but seem to come from nowhere and their religion just seems to make them ridiculously gullible. And their back story doesn't emerge naturally out of the plot or their own dialogue. Instead we get another splurge of information from the Doctor in which she explains to the Ux woman who they are, what they can do and the fact that there are only ever two of them. All of which she probably knew already. It doesn't feel like natural speech or even "thinking out loud". Just another example of telling instead of showing. Which is all a real shame because Jodie can be great when she gets the right kind of script. It's a shame because there are many good parts within the story. The idea of planets shrunk and trapped inside some kind of crystals is really intriguing. Graham's quiet few words with the Doctor at the beginning of their journey is great and sets up a bit of real tension. I also like his "Yippee-Ki-Ay Robots" which is almost a direct quote from Die Hard except with "robots" replacing m*****f****rs. Yaz doesn't get a lot to do except be with the Doctor and help her which she likes doing. But it is hard to give all three of them an equally significant role in each story. Especially when you have side characters playing their parts too. I think I almost agree with your rating but maybe 3 or 4 decimal points higher when I am feeling benevolent. Looking forward to your reaction to the New Year's Special. Another change that Chris Chibnall made to the show after we had Christmas specials in New Who so far. But it's the content that counts!
Stephen Males
2024-12-21 16:39:20 +0000 UTCA lot of people do not like this episode at all and think it is a bad finale. Chris Chibnall, the showrunner and writer of this episode admitted that this episode was a first draft and that he was disappointed with it. I think this episode is decent. I understand why Tzim sha was brought back. He was the reason grace died and he was the catalyst for Graham’s angst and development. I disagree with you about there being no finale elements. It had a big scale and scope, the stakes were relatively high, and the relationship of Graham and Ryan hit its climax and reached its conclusion (the fist bump and saying I love you) it is not my favourite finale but I don’t hate it like other people.
DoctorWho
2024-12-21 16:11:00 +0000 UTC
