The Energon Pub

[Dead Metal]

--ETA--

I hope the second season features more of him, because what little we do get of him is excellent.

NGL, I don't think they've handled 15 very well. I was less-than-thrilled when they got everyone excited with "first non-white Doctor!" (Jo!Doctor was a cameo, she doesn't count) only to go "Psych! Actually we're bringing back the fan-favourite 10th Doctor instead!" at 13's regeneration. Which... seems like a hell of a way to undercut your new star and maximise YT chuds' screeching about Ncuti, really. Compound that with the scheduling issues so far, and he's been handed an uphill struggle to show off his version of the character, IMO.

Oh, I agree. The bigeneration might seem nice, because Tennant's Doctor gets to retire with his best friend, but it severely undercuts Ncuti. Because that just makes it seem like he's a copy or something, and we could instead have adventures with “the REAL Doctor”.
And instead of having us get up close and personal with this Doctor, we get him as a guest star in a special, secondary character in another and then basically a cameo in the first half of his season. All it does is prevent us from really accepting him as the Doctor, we’re two specials and four episodes in, and he's still not properly established.

[Glyph]

The bigeneration might seem nice, because Tennant's Doctor gets to retire with his best friend, but it severely undercuts Ncuti. Because that just makes it seem like he's a copy or something, and we could instead have adventures with “the REAL Doctor”.

Yuuuuuuup.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

A friend said after 14 said the line that he'd never been happier, he should have simply faded away into regeneration energy. Considering they have "retired" 14. It wouldn't really have mattered. But it would have reenforced that 15 is the "real" Doctor.

[ZeroWolf]

Considering RTD's belief that all doctors now bi-generated, I'm going to "hope" There's a reason for all of this that'll become apparent...even if it doesn't this season.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Considering RTD's belief that all doctors now bi-generated, I'm going to "hope" There's a reason for all of this that'll become apparent...even if it doesn't this season.

Like a Matryoshka Doll of formers Doctors cartwheel from behind 15 when he needs help?

[Glyph]

"No sir! All fifteen... thirty... sorry, just give me a sec to count, yeah?"

[ZeroWolf]

Considering RTD's belief that all doctors now bi-generated, I'm going to "hope" There's a reason for all of this that'll become apparent...even if it doesn't this season.

Like a Matryoshka Doll of formers Doctors cartwheel from behind 15 when he needs help?

It'll be the Doctor Who equivalent of Avengers Endgame...Probably shouldn't give them that idea...

[AllNewSuperRobot]

With a Murray Gold remix of the A-Team theme...

[AllNewSuperRobot]

RIP Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who legend William Russell, best known for playing school teacher Ian Chesterton, has died aged 99.

[ZeroWolf]

I may have to watch The Daleks again in his honour. 99 is a good age.

R.I.P William Russell

[Dead Metal]

Considering RTD's belief that all doctors now bi-generated, I'm going to "hope" There's a reason for all of this that'll become apparent...even if it doesn't this season.

Like a Matryoshka Doll of formers Doctors cartwheel from behind 15 when he needs help?

It'll be the Doctor Who equivalent of Avengers Endgame...Probably shouldn't give them that idea...

Including alternative regenerations those split off Doctors had, and the alternative regnerations of those that split off of them had.

We might then get like a Nick Cage Doctor (Not the Daleks, everything but the Daleks), a Matt Berry Doctor (TARDIS, take me to Pound Town) and an Arnold Schwarzenegger Doctor (I vil crush ze Cybermenw with my bare hands) with CGI William Hartnell, Vincent Price and Richard Pryor. All the while a CGI Elvis Doctor sings a vocal version of the theme song.

The Muppet Doctor then sacrifices himself to save all of reality.

[Dead Metal]

Finally a Doctor episode.

A bit weird seeing someone absolutely sweep the Doctor off of his feet, since it's usually the other way around.

Did they add new faces to the past selves hologram or was I just confused because they weren't in chronological order?

[Burn]

They added Richard E Grant and also threw in Jo Martin.

[Dead Metal]

Had to google both names, Joe Martin makes sense since she's supposed to be a previous version, but Grant? Why not Rowan Atkinson while they're at it? XD

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Is Scream of the Shalka a canon Doctor now?? That's a bit weird, considering Richard E Grant is the Nu Who face of the Great Intelligence.

I was away this weekend, so I had to wait for today (Monday) to catch up, so..

Rogue

Hmm. While it is very nice to see basically a more mature Captain Jack character. I didn't really like this one. The main reason is that I can't stand period dramas. The aesthetic, the setting, any of it.
To me the interactions of the Doctor and Rogue were very reminiscent of 10's first encounter with River Song. The chemistry was equally as apparent too.

The bird people, who I kept blanking on their name. The design with the feathers and stuff looked a lot better than I thought it would. The blue bird with the long eyebrows and whiskers really reminded me of something I've seen elsewhere? A video game or other similar sci-fi, perhaps? Overall, if you like the whole Bridgerton thing (could they have name dropped that show any more?)you might have gotten more out of the episode. Good characterisation. The setting and motives of the villains really didn't do anything for me. 6/10

(still better than Space Babies)

[ZeroWolf]

Regarding Richard E Grant, apparently he is canon now because of the Toymaker (heard also that explains all timeless child stuff but I'm confused by that as the timeless child stuff happened before the Toymaker but hey ho). Unclear what number he'd be but I'm not sure that matters now. Like those extra faces in Brains of Mobius.

Also I've only just become aware of Tales of the Tardis, I'll have to rectify that as apparently the next one will tie into the last episode...somehow.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

But Richard E Grant was specifically the 9th Doctor. Unless we are going with 6B for the Fugitive Doctor now. Which would make him the ninth regeneration of Jo Martin's line??

[ZeroWolf]

Oh I know, but given bi-generation is a thing, maybe Paul mcgann did it twice

[AllNewSuperRobot]

I really wish they went with 6B for Fugitive Doctor. It would have made things a lot less confusing. Bi-generation too.

[Burn]

So that was easily one of the best episodes ever, definitely the best this season.

I still have to wonder how Jodie's Doctor would have fared with decent writing and a different showrunner.

[Dead Metal]

Yup, this one was fantastic, the best conclusion to a season long mystery RTD has ever done for Who. Let's see if he can keep this up for Ruby and MRS Flood.

As for MRS Flood: I believe she's actually Susan. This was my guess for the Christmas special, and I think this episode supports it.

[Burn]

How do we go from one hell of an episode with a hell of a cliffhanger to ... THAT season finale?

It was rushed, things were left unanswered, and the season long mystery of who is Ruby's mum is ... anti-climatic.

I hope there's some sort of pay off further down the track but this season ender was terrible. Which is a shame because Ncuti and Millie are a wonderful combo.

[Dead Metal]

How do we go from one hell of an episode with a hell of a cliffhanger to ... THAT season finale?

It was rushed, things were left unanswered, and the season long mystery of who is Ruby's mum is ... anti-climatic.

I hope there's some sort of pay off further down the track but this season ender was terrible. Which is a shame because Ncuti and Millie are a wonderful combo.

What did you expect from Russell T Davis? Unsatisfying endings to season long mysteries is his whole MO.
This was still he second best finale though, only Doomsday beats it.

[ZeroWolf]

It's not the worst RTD ending but it felt unsatisfying. I knew that status quo would be restored yet I feel like the how needed more. The twist...felt wasted. If that was the true intent along then I think it should have been seeded better through out the previous episodes.

All in all, it was okay, a solid C+/B- deal. I like this version of the doctor and some elements clicked. What I would like (but probably won't get in the changed TV landscape) is more episodes.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Empire of Death

Sutekh actually did it! Unlike the “death of the universe” in Flux. This actually had some weight to it. Great for the OG voice to return also. Although I was more a fan of Pyramids of Mars mask, than the more traditional Anubus-like CG dog.

Mel, had real presence in the episode. It was quite reassuring that RTD clearly has more thought to her inclusion than fan service.

I was wrong on two fronts with my predictions on Mrs Flood. Definitely not Iris Wildthyme or Susan now. I’m quietly leaning towards the Rani.

Ncuti again shone in this episode. Interesting that he didn’t reveal to Ruby that he was the man (4th Doctor) on the monitor?

Ruby. I think the negatives of the episode centre on her. The ambiguity that remains, especially the snow. Clearly at odds with the pay off. Was the birth mother’s name an allusion to Lucy Millar?? I think so. But they clearly backtracked on that. I think it would have worked. But the “ordinary person being the most important” is a really overused trope in Nu Who. It just rings insincere. Ultimately the season was too short. I don’t think it was going to satisfy everyone for that reason. I thought the episode was good, not great. I’m eager to see more. 7/10