Dr. Who Series 9 - Before the Flood
Added 2024-02-10 15:00:10 +0000 UTCThe Intro music was cut out somehow, but it´s just those first 5 seconds. The rest of the reaction is ok. I don´t know why my editing programme keeps on fighting with me. :D
Comments
Yes I think I do remember talking about the Bootstrap Paradox before. Thank you for not spoiling this story for me back then. I mean it was a long time before like you said and I would have probably forgotten by now :D :D But it´s so kind of you not to ell me anything about this episode before :) I love the breaking of the fourth wall. I just love my favorite characters looking straight back at me :D :D Not a very in depth analysis, I know :D Thank you so much for telling me about the logo and the clockwork squirrel, I really have to go back and take a look at it now :D Thank you for your thoughts about the episode :)
Nicologik
2024-02-14 13:10:10 +0000 UTC"Who really composed Beethoven's Fifth?", The Doctor, "Before the Flood" I think you mentioned the Bootstrap Paradox in one of your outro comments way, way back. When I heard that, my mind went to this episode (although I didn't say anything at the time) because I knew it would resonate. Now, I'm not a big fan of breaking the fourth wall like they did in the pre-titles - it doesn't seem to be good writing to explain things to the viewers in this unsubtle way. I would rather that they had integrated that explanation within the episode - perhaps seeding the idea with dialogue between the episode's characters and someone says "That's rubbish" and then the Doctor explains further. etc. However, the pre-title sequence does give us Peter's guitar playing which blends with a great electic-guitar version of the Doctor Who title theme. But there are two other things in the pre-titles I want to mention: Did you notice the "Magpie Electrical" logo on the amplifier? Another occurance for that label on electrical stuff in Doctor Who referencing "The Idiot's Lantern" episode. And, we get to see the clockwork-squirrel that Clara mentioned last episode!!! - it's sitting on the amp. You referenced "The God Complex" and, as Jenny mentioned above, that was where we had seen Tivolians (the abjectly cowardly race). I'm not a fan of them (the Doctor says he's not either). I keep thinking that they're only in the episode so we can hear variations on jokes about them wanting to be conquered. However, as the same writer wrote "The God Complex" and this two-part story so I don't begrudge him too much that he brought back his own alien race. The sound design was very nice in that scene when Cass is being followed by Moran's Ghost with the axe. I do like the resolution of the Ghost Doctor being a hologram in exactly the same way that they used a hologram of Clara to trap the Ghosts in the previous episded. Actually, I think I prefer the previous episode to this one. I liked the claustrophobic base-under-siege feel to it. "What problem? Oh really, 'cause everything else is going so smoothly.", Clara, "Under the Lake".
Andrew Vignaux
2024-02-14 03:14:34 +0000 UTCI agree, the Bottstrap paradox intro is the best. :) Loved that one. :)
Nicologik
2024-02-12 08:09:18 +0000 UTCThank you so much for letting me know about all the things that make you love the episode. It helps me to understand :) And I had no idea, that "The God Complex" was written by the same writer. I guess he loves stomping monsters very much :D
Nicologik
2024-02-12 08:08:35 +0000 UTCThank you so much for letting me know all the positive things you see in the episode. :) I didn´t know about Neil´s death either, it´s really sad. :/ And I didn´t know about that Radio drama, funny that Peter Capaldi played Beethoven :) What a coincidence :)
Nicologik
2024-02-12 08:06:10 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your thoughts about the episode. I wished I could have liked it a lot more and see it from the eyes of you or one of the other Patreons. I didn´t make the connection between Prantis and Gibbis by the way. Thank you for letting me know. :) I just googled what 7`7 means in meters, and wow that is tall. He was the perfect person to portray the fisher king. I´m sad that he died so early though. :/
Nicologik
2024-02-12 08:01:45 +0000 UTCJust listened to the play, absolutely brilliantly performed by Sophie and Peter well worth checking out.
Jenny Smyth
2024-02-11 00:08:52 +0000 UTCI prefer part one,to be honest. For me the journey is more enjoyable than the destination - but I really admire the writer for putting so much thought into the paradox and it's solution. I'd give it a solid 8 myself; but the best thing, for me, is the Bootstrap Paradox intro. :)
Ian Smith
2024-02-10 19:40:50 +0000 UTCI gave this a 4/5 when I first watched it, I would change that to 5/5 now. I have it ranked as 20th/140. It's creepy, It's a mystery episode more than a action adventure in contrast to the last story. It has great scenes with Capaldi especially with his conversation with the fisher King and that whole start to this episode. O'Donnell's death is emotional especially in light of how happy she is over travelling in the Tardis. Cass is also a great character and yeah I think you are spot on with your interpretation of what she said to Clara. As you mentioned how the story reminded you of the one set in the hotel (The God Complex) they were by the same writer and that is also the same episode where we met the cowardly aliens that we saw in this story. Anyway at least for me that's two great stories following on from a great Christmas special so a big improvement from the last series (IMO)
Jade Ellis
2024-02-10 17:26:17 +0000 UTCThis is one of my favourite two-parters and I agree that the second part is better than the first. Like you I love the two "bootstrap paradox" scenes at the beginning and end. They make us think about cause and effect and we get to hear Peter play Beethoven's 5th on his guitar. Win, win, I agree that the alien creature is a great design and the flooding scene near the end is a powerful moment. And the bond between Clara and the Doctor strengthens with every episode now. But I also love the four supporting characters as we get to find out more about them. Lunn having to translate the message about having always been in love with Cass (and her enthusiastic response to it) was glorious. And so on a smaller scale was O'Donnell's excited reaction to travelling in the Tardis and seeing for herself that it's bigger on the inside. Pritchard's despair at her dying and his bitter comments to the Doctor about when he will break rules and who he will save are pretty affecting too. I didn't know about Neil Fingleton's early death. That's really sad. I also didn't know until today (thank you Wiki) that In 2020, Sophie Stone (who played Cass) appeared in a BBC Radio 3 drama called "Beethoven Can Hear You". She played a deaf traveller from the future who visits Beethoven. And Beethoven was played by Peter Capaldi!
Stephen Males
2024-02-10 17:09:15 +0000 UTCI love this episode even more than the first one. It’s really clever and there’s a lot of emotion in Bennet losing O’Donnell, and the love story between Lunn and Cass. Also I absolutely love the scene where she is being followed by Moran dragging an axe on the floor, and she is able to feel the vibrations and save herself, very clever scene that. I was interested in you comment about it reminding you of the God complex, not sure if you made the connection between Prentis in this episode and Gibbis (played by David Walliams) in the god complex who are both Tivolians, the race who like to be conquered. Great feeling of love from the doctor towards Clara and her unshakeable belief in him. This was a great two parter imo. It’s perfectly fine though for you to have a different opinion. The guy who played the fisher king was Neil Fingleton he was 7 feet 7inches tall, sadly he died at the age of 36. xx
Jenny Smyth
2024-02-10 16:27:25 +0000 UTC
