Dr. Who Reaction Series 7 Episode12
Added 2023-09-09 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
Comments
I understand your worries about the Cybermen and their development, to the point where they would be unbeatable. That´s what I was debating about, but personally I did come to the conclusion that this might have just been a one time only event, and the next Cybermen we meet wont be that upgraded anymore. On the other hand that wouldn´t make much sense storywise, cause why would only this one group of Cybermen be able to upgrade themselves....But nonetheless, I do like the development. For me it´s what separates them from the Dalek, although they´ve had some developments as well. However I think the Cybermens upgrades have been way more intriguing. Ohhh you´re right about that fake moonscape. I missed that on my first watch, but yeah, it´s meant to look fake. Makes sense :) That was a Cybermite at the end there? Thank you for clarifying. I couldn´t figure that out while watching the first time. :D
Nicologik
2023-09-12 08:17:28 +0000 UTC"Clara, stay alive until I get back. And don't let anyone blow up this planet", The Doctor, "Nightmare in Silver" Well, from a high for me from last week's "The Crimson Horror", I don't rate this one much. I am a simple person and I like my Who monsters to be consistent. A gradual change as we discover more and more about a monster is fine but this "magical" ability of the Cybermen in this story to upgrade is not their usual threat. It also makes me worry (remember, I'm relating how I felt after first watching this episode - no spoilers) about any possible future appearances. Should we expect virtually unbeatable Cybermen in the future where the only story resolution is to blow up any planet that they are on? It just makes the monster too powerful for the sake of a one-off episode plot. In Classic Who we saw this one-off plot issue happen to the Cybermen a few times - and, actually, those events are mentioned in this very story. In one Classic Who story, they discover that a mixture of plastic solvents will beat the Cybermen. In another, the solution was to use gold (hence the use of the Golden Ticket in this story). But, generally, these ideas are one-off solutions for that story and are often forgotten about the next time we see the Cybermen. Of course, this is a time-travel show so there is no requirement that a monster's new ability (to upgrade) is available the next time *we* see them because the next time may be prior to the events in this story. I should point out that the "fake moonscape" is meant to look fake at the start. It's a run-down amusement park that has seen better days and that location is just a cheap (but fun) anti-gravty ride. It's nice that Mr Clever uses the 9th Doctor's catch phrase "Fantastic!" and the 10th's "Allons-y". And the (unconverted) Doctor calls the Cybermites "beautiful" when he first discovers them - like the David Doctor did in "Tooth and Claw" and the Matt Doctor did in "The God Complex" and other Doctors at others times. And it's always nice to see the list of previous Doctors in an episode. The "699 Wonders of the Universe" is another Classic Who reference, because in that story the number of "Wonders" was reduced by one when the "Wonder" was destroyed. The chess-playing automaton with Porridge inside it is very similar to "The Mechanical Turk" in the 1770s which appeared to be a machine that could played chess and fooled the courts of Europe at the time - but had a human hiding inside the box. I like the "three moves" resolution - not being three chess moves, but three physical moves of the Doctor. The ending of the story, in where we see a single Cybermite drifting through space, is similar to the end of some other (Classic) stories where it is shown that the monster has been defeated for now - but can return. So, no, I didn't really like this one - of course it's Doctor Who and I adore the whole show - but not this particular story. "Hey, Clara, you haven't let them blow up the planet. Good job!", The Doctor, "Nightmare in Silver"
Andrew Vignaux
2023-09-11 09:20:51 +0000 UTCI agree with you on the fact that this episode wanted much, but didn´t really achive it. Lots of stuff packed into it, but not enough time to work with all those components. To be honest, up until this point I´m quite lost with the overall storyline of 7b. For me it feels like a lot of self contained storylines, with almost no developement to a certain goal. The only storyline that shines through every now and then is the mystery surrounding Clara, but apart from that....I have no clue where we´re headed.
Nicologik
2023-09-11 07:56:48 +0000 UTCI have not noticed his impressions of previous doctors, thank you for letting me know. I´ll pay attention to that in my editing process :) Oh thank you so much for clarifying the Clara siblings issue I had. I must have missed or forgotten that she is their "nanny" and not their sister. Thank you :) I haven´t thought much about that Clara doctor scene, but you´re right, if Clara wasn´t so beautiful, this line would be really insulting.
Nicologik
2023-09-11 07:52:46 +0000 UTCI love the idea doctor against doctor as well. I like psychological stuff very much. :) I´m glad I´m not the only one thinking David would have rocked those scenes :) I´ve never watched Jessica Jones, but I guess I´ll have to now :D I´m happy that you are exited :) I´m exited as well :)
Nicologik
2023-09-11 07:48:14 +0000 UTCNo, I didn´t notice. Thanks for letting me know :) I like Good Omens so much. He is such a good writer :)
Nicologik
2023-09-11 07:46:04 +0000 UTCThis is yet another episode where the ideas are not matched by the storytelling. Originally, the writer (Neil Gaiman) Intended it to be a two-parter; and,as such,i think it would have been extremely interesting - but he had to pare all his ideas down to such an extent that we're left with another mad rush of a story. The Doctor being split in two; the character of Porridge; the upgraded Cybermen; the two young siblings - all have potential; but not enough is done with them. On the other hand,Warwick Davis is always good value for money; Matt Smith tries hard; and we get yet another homage to the shows past with more glimpses of all the previous Doctors. Do you get the feeling that series 7b has a point to make..?
Ian Smith
2023-09-09 20:35:33 +0000 UTCI don't rewatch this episode in full very often but when I do I always enjoy it, especially Matt's double act as the evil Cyber Controller and the Doctor struggling for control of his brain. I know David can play evil really well but I think that Matt is better at sudden changes of tone and manic debates with himself. Did you notice btw that after he is (partly) taken over and Clara finds him in this state he does impersonations of the previous two Doctors. Not very good impersonations I will admit but that might well be deliberate. When he is "doing" David he does shout "allons-y!" The cybermen are genuinely scary in this one and the "cyber mites" are creepy little things. Angie sis quite funny when she does the sullen teenager thing but I wouldn't be able to put up with her for long in real life. She and Artie are not Clara's siblings (or her children) though. In fact Angie gets quite annoyed when one of the soldiers thinks that they are. She is looking after them as a kind of nanny (like Victorian Clara) but I don't think they would use that word as it is very old fashioned. I don't think her job description is mentioned by name but that's the set up. I do agree that Clara's instant switch into efficient, military style, problem solving mode is too quick and total when she must still be worried about the children - even if she is not related to them. I think the idea is that she is trying to do what the Doctor wants her to and take charge of the soldiers like a military commander. So she gets into the role completely. I love the moment at the end when the Doctor insists that he doesn't think she's pretty and is quite insulting about it: "No! You're too short and bossy and your nose is funny." And Clara is so relieved that this means it is really him she just says "that'll do." You can only get away with writing a line like that when the person is clearly very attractive. Otherwise it would seem cruel!
Stephen Males
2023-09-09 19:28:21 +0000 UTCI really like this episode. Me personally I love the Cybermen and always have, they've always been my favourite monsters. I LOOOVE the idea of an evil Doctor against the actual Doctor. I agree with you about Clara on this one, I was quite surprised that she wasn't abit more frantic about losing the kids. You are 1000000% right about how David would have been amazing at the Double Doctor scenes. Theres a role that David has played in a series called Jessica Jones where he plays the villain and he is TERRIFYING. I would have loved to see his take on the Double Doctor scenes. I am super SUPER excited for you to see the next episodes, they are some of my favourite in the ENTIRE show, of course its all good if you don't feel the same way but I am very VERY excited.
KrispyKrushems
2023-09-09 15:15:03 +0000 UTCDid you notice the episode’s writer was Neil Gaiman ? Who wrote good omens. He also wrote The doctors wife. I like this episode and I thought Matt did a great job, though I can see why you thought David would have done it better. Also I really liked Warwick Davis as Porridge I am a big fan of him he has been in many films and tv shows over the years, including Star Wars and Harry Potter. I particularly liked the fact that he was in a part which wasn’t just because he is a short person. He is a very interesting man I read his autobiography and enjoyed it very much.
Jenny Smyth
2023-09-09 15:11:53 +0000 UTC
