#US-73

[benisasoftboi]

Best thing about Doctor Who, and I mean this so genuinely, is the way it goes from ‘haunting Celtic folk mystery about death and penitence’ to ‘what if your group chat banter was so dire that your phone developed sentience and tried to kill you’

[captain-flint]

x

[intuitive-revelations]

This week in obscure Doctor Who expanded universe references the internet has found:

First, the pub has a beer called Llanfer Ceiriog Pale Ale. While there's some similarly named locations IRL, with the Ceiriog Valley being a valley in North-East Wales, there is no place actually called this. Instead it's seemingly a direct reference to a fictional Welsh village visited by Seven and Ace in Cat's Cradle: Witch's Mark, connected by a stone circle to a planet of fantasy creatures. Quite ironic, given how mocking the landlady and patrons are about people thinking Welsh villages are backwards and full of witchcraft.

Secondly, while this might be a coincidence, Kate's suggestion of a Sontaran's arrival inspiring belief in God could be referencing DWM 59's comic: "The Gods Walk Among Us", where ancient Egyptians indeed mistake a Sontaran named Styx for a god.

Bonus, because it's not actually a reference, but just a reused filming location:

The pub Ruby stays in is the same one in Countrycide. At least in this case, however, it's just a filming location coincidence. The external shots are completely different, they're in different villages, and the pubs have different names.

[the-dye-stained-socialite]

Going in for a kiss

wheelchair bonding <3

[usaac-official]

An F9F-6 of VF-73 makes a poor landing a catches the barrier aboard USS Tarawa (CVA-40) during carrier qualifications, December 1954

[timebones]

Love the dual imagery of the old woman. How she represents both the previous generations that dealt with Mad Jack the first time, and the current generation worrying what their future will be. Will the older version of me look on me kindly? Is that even the older version of me, does that person even survive? Or is it only the past, silently watching us walk into destruction?

The old woman appeared after the the circle was broken, yes, but also after Ruby became aware of her own mortality due to the Doctor’s slip of the tongue.

As a representation of the previous generations, the woman is distant and offputting. Not even the oldest folks in the pub are worried about Mad Jack anymore, and when Ruby tries to bring other people in, tries to let those now-dead generations speak, Ruby becomes the problem.

She’s left to embark on this (in retrospect) decades-long mission virtually alone, getting involved in politics, taking calls, holding coats, pulling every strategic lever available to her even if it means working for this terrible man. She has to, because she’s one of the few people who fully recognize the danger he poses.

And both the past and herself-from-the-future are watching.

[nitronine]

I hope nothing gets explained about 73 yards, actually. I hope its left ambiguous. I don't think it would be a bad episode if RTD doesn't tell us everything, in fact I think it makes it a better one

[tofixtheshadows]

Even after gaining back whatever he lost to death and resurrections, Kabru is just kind of a small guy, which is nice because he's the probably the perfect size to lie on Laios's chest like a weighted blanket.

[bring-cringe-back]

Okay I might just be reading too much into this. But while I was watching the episode *cough cough* procrastinating *cough cough I realised that they don't show how the Doctor and Ruby got there.

And I know that it's probably just meant to be vaguely like 'they just went for fun'.

BUT this is the third episode in a row where we haven't seen them arrive. And for 73 yards it was clearly a doctor who episode when it started but it immediately gets rid of the doctor. ( I know that for 73 yards and for dot and bubble it was because Ncuti Gatwa was filming other stuff but let me cook) In Dot and Bubble you could effectively be forgiven for assuming that it was a random Black Mirror episode or something similar until the Doctor turns up, and tbh if you were just flicking through channels and haven't been watching Doctor Who you could probably basically not know for much longer. In Rogue they are just there, except for the title screen (the same for dot and bubble) you could basically watch it as a Bridgerton episode until the Chuldur turn up.

(And there's whole other rant about how the Chuldur fits into the theory about this basically being a TV show within a TV show, I don't know the name for this theory)

But anyway these episodes are increasingly separated from the Doctor and Ruby as plot points particularly in the beginning of episodes. They are more and more like an excuse to tell the story or explore the topic that the writers want to explore. Which isn't totally different from the occasional episode of previous series, but this is a lot more in my memory at least from previous series. So it feels a lot like they are skimming over the more sci-fi doctor who elements. Which fits in in my mind to the idea that the 'One who waits' is a representation of story telling. I've seen theories that it's Ruby but she doesn't know it which makes sense, I think it would also make sense for it to be her parent(s) who left her, or alternatively just it's own thing all together. But it feels very like that bit where Amy is living a life and starts to realise it's all fake.

The narrowing down of these episodes into not showing them arriving, and at least in Rogue - I can't remember in the others - not showing them leaving the story, feels very different.

It feels more and more like story telling. They have covered fairy tales, Period pieces/Romance, Dystopia, War/SciFi, Musicals, Political Drama. They are also showing the doctor playing his role, something that we see companions doing often enough but we seldom see the doctor doing it.

In Space Babies he is scared of a new creature. In the Devil's Code he sings a song that makes little sense in the story, he doesn't question the road making noise. In Boom he's more himself but it's also the closes to his 'normal' environment. In 73 Yards they just fully remove him from the story, which I realise was done for filming requirements but would have been so interesting to see the doctor in a Political drama. In Dot and Bubble he plays the role of the outsider bringing information to those living under a Dystopia, how is he UNABLE to access the inside, sure he plays a role that's fairly similar to himself but Doctor Who is really Dystopian.

In Rogue he is becoming more and more his role, he is playing the role of a sort of Elizabeth Bennet style character, a strong romantic interest for the brooding man. Which is great, he makes fun of the genre, but he is hyper aware of the genre and still ends up in its pitfalls. He trusts a man so quickly he ends up handing over his sonic, he gets proposed to and basically immediately accepts. Now I am really hoping that Rogue gets to stay around I really liked him as a character, regardless of which theory of his identity if any are true. But the Doctors reaction to him is still a little out of character, he is feeling what he is SUPPOSED to feel and he is acting how he is SUPPOSED to act.

It just feels to me like an increasing number of these episodes are more and more story like and more and more separated from the more Doctor Who elements. And the lack of an introduction of how they get there, and the lack of them leaving in the TARDIS is so unusual to me and stands out to my brain so much.

It feels like they are removing elements that don't fit the genre. Anyway not sure if that makes any sense but I'm vibing with it.

[gallifriendly]

That said, the compulsory DNA bank instated by Britain’s future “worst prime minister ever” being the thing that the Doctor and Ruby use to find out Ruby’s birth mother's identity is Not Good. imagine why Roger ap Gwillam wanted that DNA bank? The implications of forcing every person in the UK to submit their DNA into a searchable bank that was created by a warmongering fascist government?? But it’s only mentioned as a plot device that helps Ruby find her mother? That’s not a good look that’s not a good look that’s not a good look

[ocean-irl]

My ranking of this series of Doctor Who:

8. Space Babies

No surprise here. Starts out strong but doesn’t stick the landing. I’d rather skip the last half hour and watch The Mind Robber instead.

7. Empire of Death

This one didn’t do it for me. I’ve never liked big time skips, the reveal of Ruby’s mother was disappointing, and too many plot threads were left dangling. That being said, there were some wonderful moments, like the scene in Downing Street set to Carol of the Bells.

6. The Devil’s Chord

Jinkx’s performance is good, but she’s at a 12 when she needs to be at an 11. There wasn’t enough to ground Maestro’s character, and as a result the episode felt disjointed. Great fun, though, and RTD did a great job conveying the stakes of dealing with gods.

5. Rogue

I’m giving this one the benefit of the doubt, as I wasn’t in the right state of mind when it came out and I haven’t rewatched it. Great performances, but overall the story felt stilted. Every time someone said “cosplay” it took me out of the fantasy.

4. 73 Yards

Great episode, and Millie Gibson shines. I’m too confused to rank it properly. Scariest episode in a while, with a haunting ending.

3. Dot and Bubble

I’m sure 73 Yards was technically better, but this one was a shock. As with many of the stories this season, what makes the twist of this episode so effective is that it was in plain sight the whole time. Made me reflect on how I navigate the world.

2. Boom

Moffat, it’s good to have you back! Great premise, very suspenseful, had me on the edge of my seat. I am concerned that Ncuti doesn’t have the gravitas to consistently deliver as the Oncoming Storm, but we shall see.

1. The Legend of Ruby Sunday

Not the technical best of this list, but certainly the most enjoyable! I was hooked the whole time, and my jaw was on the floor at the end. I have been getting more into Classic Who lately, and I loved having that pay off. The best part of this episode is the shots of the TARDIS in UNIT HQ, making that horrible noise, a symbol of hope and joy transformed into something menacing and terrible. This is Ncuti’s best performance of the season, and it’s the first time I truly saw him as the Doctor.

[sunsetcurveauto]

the even bigger questions is. why does susan twist have like. third billing in this ep lmao

[hellaephemeral]

i was thinking about the recent episode and ik we are all v confused and trying to make sense of everything that happened in it. and i was kinda hung up on why it was 73 yards exactly. i think there is a lot of theorizing on other parts of the episode but i haven’t really seen anyone talk about that so i was doing some research and something i found that was interesting is this:

it’s an old telegraph code! which did remind me of the static that you could hear through ruby’s phone when her mother was talking to “the woman”.

it feels kinda ironic because it’s a nice way to say goodbye while everyone that talks to “the woman” and thus also stands at 73 yards distance from ruby leaves her life pretty abruptly, feeling distaste/distrust for her. they leave, without sending their best regards.

it feels…cruel. if that iS the meaning of the 73 yards. it might not have any meaning at all after all. i just thought it was v interesting and when i saw this sth in my stomach kinda dropped like “oH”.

[whisconsun]

Bless you. Thank you so much, That's so kind of you. When you gave me that little thing. It was just so precious. How am i ever going to repay you? But we will think of something

I'm sure that this has already been shared, but people from the UK are saying that according to Doctor Who Unleashed (a UK-only show), that this is the translation of what Scary Lady is signing.

[buildoblivion]

wish they’d leant more into the welsh angle of this story - yes, why are there so many castles in wales? what does the land remember that the english girl does not?

[chicinsilk]

US Vogue October 15, 1972

Anjelica Huston wears a natural silver fox coat. By Oscar de la Renta. Bright red sweater by Korrigan, gray flannel pants and belt by yves Saint Laurent Rive gauche, knit and leather gloves, by Keyser, red muffler, by Echo, sunglasses, Riviera, thick-soled crepe shoes, by Shoe Biz. Hairdressing, Cinandre.

Anjelica Huston porte un manteau en renard argenté naturel. Par Oscar de la Renta. Pull rouge vif par Korrigan, pantalon en flanelle gris et ceinture par yves Saint Laurent Rive gauche, gants en tricot et cuir, par Keyser, cache-nez rouge, par Echo, lunettes de soleil, Riviera, Chaussures à semelles épaisses en crêpe, par Shoe Biz. Coiffure, Cinandré.

Photo Irving Penn vogue archive