#some incredible acting by ncuti gatwa

[puttingwingsonwords]

Went into the Doctor Who tag to see if anyone had posted about what that reference was at the end (‘a sad old man once said…’) only to find a lot of people either really loving it or hating it and also Moffat hate/love, please I just wanted to see some gifsets 😭

[doggytail-duck]

Fifteen my absolute beloved

[certifiedgoofball]

one of the coolest things about dot and bubble (in my opinion) is how it really subverts your expectations. like, at the beginning it kind of reads as a "kids nowadays always on their phones" kind of episode, but it is anything BUT that. you watch the episode and it becomes more and more apparent how incredibly self-centered these people are, not understanding how to really care for others at all, which is seen in the way that lindy pepper-bean is head over heels for ricky september but ends up leaving him to die anyway just to save herself, and then saying that he just went back to go save more people. the ending was also amazing, but something that i really enjoyed from it was how lindy pepper-bean is the first one to make racist comments and the rest of them dont agree at first which kind of makes you think that they're gonna be against it, but then they just join in too. and the acting at the end? the way ncuti gatwa goes from laughing hysterically to screaming to crying as ruby is silent, crying with him? Actual chills. like i am so serious this is some of the best acting ive seen. and the ending is even more interesting in the way that most ends of doctor who episodes like this have the same idea of "we got out of the life-threatening situation and are now gonna go live off somewhere happy and loving and caring", but this one ends with the people all dooming themselves, going off to live in an incredibly dangerous world when they could just go with the doctor and live somewhere peaceful, all because of their own prejudices. EXQUISITE. ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE THROUGH AND THROUGH. every single episode from the new season has been a fucking banger and im so excited to see what happens next

[lonely-space-ace]

Okay Okay Okay Thoughts:

(If you don't want spoilers look away now)

I actually really like that Ruby's mother is ordinary. Other people have said it better than me, but I love the way rtd writes companions who are at the end of the day completely ordinary, but become extraordinary because they choose to help people. (Clara and Amy are great, but the whole 'girl who waited' and 'impossible girl' thing can get old pretty quick)

THAT BEING SAID making a character be so freaking close to Lucie Miller and then making it not Lucie Miller is just mean HOw Dare- (I say, having never listened to her audio stories. its the Principle of the thing)

Still not over the 13 year old with a machine gun what the hell Kate

Sarah Jane and Four, I cry

mixed feelings about the episode as a whole, not entirely sure the build up payed off

love love LOVE the memory Tardis

Mel with Sixie's coat and Seven's vest I am Sobbing

Donna is going to kill the Doctor when she finds out Rose died (granted the whole world died but still)

RTD wrote a companion exit that wasn't tragic??? In this economy???

You cant hype susan up that much and then not show her you just cant rtd she better be in series fifteen I SWEAR-

Mel Bush is amazing. Send Tweet.

Okay back to Ruby girl I love you and the ending was sweet but everytime she calls Louis or whatever her 'real mum' I want to punch something CARLA SUNDAY IS THE GREATEST WOMAN ON THIS PLANET

honestly despite being the big season finale it felt kinda slow to me, I think its definitely the weakest episode of the whole season, (which, granted, this season has been incredible and every episode has been an 8/10 at least, this just didn't feel as good as the rest of it)

Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa killed it with the acting

FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME WHO THE FUCK IS MRS FLOOD

Hey rtd did you give kate lethbridge stewart a boyfriend??? During pride month??? come here I just want to talk

I feel like there's gonna be a lot of negativity around this episode, and I don't want to add to it, because despite its issues I think it was overall a decent episode, its just that it was just a decent episode coming off an incredible season with a lot of hype it didn't fully live up to. mid-season it would have been fine, in some ways it just didn't stick the landing (but in others it did).

Idk despite my issues with it I did enjoy it overall. Ncuti is amazing and I can't wait for the next series :)

[hypexion]

Dot and Bubble turned out to be much more than what the trailer offered, yet still I will post my list of words next to dots.

First up, in spite of it all, the episode is not escaping the "social media bad" allegations. More on that later

The core concept of the Doctor having to remotely guide someone out of a situation is excellent. Very Blink, but in real-time

The idea of being surrounded by a danger you're unaware of until someone reveals it is also pretty rad. And slightly terrifying

Like the scene where Lindy de-bubbles outside and loads of people are being eaten is messed up

Sadly I think it goes a little too far in having Lindy being unable to walk in a straight line without the bubble. I'm pretty sure that's not even how walking works

You could force the re-bubbling just by making it so she doesn't know the way out of the building. Then in the Plaza 55 scene just have her freak out and freeze because she's surrounded by scary monsters

The problem is that suddenly Lindy is capable of basic motor skills after a few minutes anyway so what was even the point

Also the Dots wanting to kill everyone felt kind of stupid to me for complex meta reasons. Social media might not have your best interests in mind, but the way it which it does so is not homicidal. It in fact needs you alive

The first big twist was pretty brutal. Surprise! The perky idiot was in fact evil!

This actually also clashes with Lindy previously being incapable of all thought since her plan requires fairly decent critical thinking skills to combine several pieces of information and to predict how revealing Ricky September's previous name might save her

This theoretically serves as the final hint of the other twist unless you already worked it out: The Finetimers are all racist. So much so that they walk off into the wilderness to die horribly

wow Ncuti Gatwa puts his all into that Doctor Speech

but there's a but

While it is good that the topic was not avoided, flattening all racist down into a vauge "wow look at those stupid racists" is not an amazing way to handle it?

There are smart bigots of all kinds and they are often the most dangerous ones

It also sort of glosses over how exactly Finetime is benefitting from whatever inequitable society they have

The audience reaction here is also not particularly inspiring here even on the things that aren't Fridge Horror

Some people are saying "woah the Finetimers didn't deserve to be saved" which is essentially not just missing the text of this episode but the entirety of Doctor Who. The Doctor's ethos is that everyone deserves to be saved. If the Daleks get mercy so does everyone else

Also what's going in this episode is genocide

And it gets worse. The episode shows us a very specific slice of the Finetimer's culture. They are directly stated to be the children of the rich upperclass.

The concept of a rich privileged elite only makes sense if the is an underclass from which the elite are distinct

Lindy is reflexively dismissive of the Doctor, and acts as if he should be obligated to help her, but she isn't surpised to see him. So whatever group Lindy thinks the Doctor is part of still existed when she moved to Finetime.

Therefore, I think it's incredibly likely that in addition to the rich racists, the Dots also murdered the entirety of Homeworld's underclass, for the "crime" of being that underclass.

So did the Dots turn against their creators for principled reasons, or did they simply absorb the values of the culture that created them, with the only difference being that they put themselves at the top of the hierarchy?

anyhow I think it would have been more messed up if Lindy realised "yeah we aren't going to make it" and abandoned the other Finetimers, while still being exactly as evil, bigoted and self-centered as she was before. Hell have her lie to the others that she's going to wait for more survivors then turn around and say "so what are we waiting for lets gooooo" in her airhead voice

[ploppythespaceship]

Doctor Who Series 14 / Season 1 Review

Man, it feels good to be enjoying Doctor Who again. I haven't been keeping up with the show in years, but I caught up to see Tennant's return leading into Ncuti's run and I am so glad I did. This season is far from perfect, but it gets a lot of little things right and is consistently fun to watch, even if a lot of the details fall apart.

What I Liked

Ncuti Gatwa is simply phenomenal. He settles into the role so quickly and so easily, bringing such a fresh energy to the character. I love how distinct he feels, too -- when you're playing the fifteenth iteration of a character, it can be hard to find a new spin on things, but he's done it. He's also a fantastic actor, getting to show an incredibly wide range in just a few short episodes. I truly think he'll be remembered as one of the best Doctors.

Millie Gibson is also very good as Ruby, and her dynamic with the Doctor is a lot of fun. I appreciate having another Doctor/companion relationship that isn't romantic. They're just best friends, and it's very cute.

The show looks great. It's very clear that they've had a budget increase -- the costumes, effects, etc. are noticeably improved since RTD's first run.

Murray Gold's return as the composer is extremely welcome. His stuff isn't quite as bombastic as before (or maybe the episodes just have better sound mixing), but keeps a lot of the same leitmotifs. The result is a more subtle score that perfectly suits each scene.

Mel is so cool now. She was one of my least favorite classic companions, so seeing her worked into these storylines and feel more compelling is an unexpected delight.

What I Didn't Like

Ultimately, I think the season is just too short. Council of Geeks has an excellent YouTube video on this -- because there are only eight episodes, and a lot of them are going for bigger ideas and weirder premises, it feels like we don't really settle into a status quo.

The Doctor and Ruby's relationship also isn't as developed as much as I would like. If you pay close attention to the dialogue, there's actually a six month gap between "Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord" -- we could have used another episode or two in that time period to really flesh out the beginnings of their friendship better. Instead the show jumps straight to them being best friends, without really showing us why that is.

I don't think the mystery box format of this season really worked. The mysteries were built up to such an extent that no answer could really be satisfying, and the finale really almost entirely on the big reveals that ultimately didn't amount to much. Ruby in particular feels like an underbaked companion, and I hope she gets more time to get properly developed.

Individual Episode Thoughts

Space Babies — This is easily the weakest episode of the season. It's not bad by any means, but it does remind me of some of the sillier episodes of RTD's first run. It felt like we were speedrunning the companion introduction, when things could have been slowed down and spread across a few episodes to feel more natural. The baby VFX also do not work and fall very firmly into uncanny valley territory.

The Devil's Chord — This one makes very little sense, but is entirely saved by Jinkx Monsoon being so iconic as Maestro. If you just go along for the ride, it's a ton of fun.

Boom — This episode is proof that Steven Moffat truly is at his best when he's writing self-contained stories under someone else's guidance. I don't think it's as iconic as Moffat's previous stories, and I felt like Ncuti was getting a lot of dialogue that better suited Matt Smith, but the entire concept was interesting and the execution was solid. Also, Ncuti acted his ass off without even being able to move.

73 Yards — Honestly, I'm mixed on this one. The setup is fantastic and eerie, and I enjoy the exploration of Ruby's character, solo from the Doctor. I like her experiencing this inexplicable thing, and deciding to find purpose in it to help others. But the story does fall apart for me at the end when it doesn't explain anything. I don't need every single thing handed to me, I understand the value of leaving things to the imagination, but the fact that the episode's last impression is "wait what?" does leave a bit of a sour taste. That being said, I do respect how weird and different this episode is, and how much discussion it prompted afterward.

Dot and Bubble — The trailers looked like a Black Mirror ripoff, and I was prepared for a shallow "social media bad" episode. Instead, we got something far more nuanced about the dangers of trapping yourself in a bubble of like-minded people and refusing to ever look beyond it. And the ending reveal that it's a society of white supremacists is so, so well-handled, because all the clues were there for you. If you're like me and didn't piece it together until the very end, it really challenges you to ask yourself why you didn't notice sooner. Also, another episode where Ncuti acts his ass off. My personal favorite episode of the season.

Rogue — Another with mixed feelings. Rogue himself is tons of fun, and I enjoy his dynamic with the Doctor, even if parts of it are pretty rushed. I really hope he comes back. The episode plot itself is serviceable but nothing special. My main complaint is the severe lack of Ruby. Her relationship with the Doctor doesn't feel sufficiently established, so the emotional beats don't really land.

The Legend of Ruby Sunday — This was an underwhelming finale, unfortunately. The first part barely even qualifies as an episode. It launches right into starting to answer the season's mysteries, but does so in an uncompelling and heavy-handed way. The Sutekh reveal is pretty epic in isolation, but...

Empire of Death — The Sutekh reveal doesn't really lead to anything satisfying. He doesn't have the presence of Toymaker or Maestro, he's just a CGI dog monster. This second part finally answers some questions, some of which are vaguely interesting, but it's happening in a plot so dull and so dry that I just can't bring myself to care. The episode is also just confusing? The plot points don't seem to flow naturally together, like multiple stories were smashed together with little rhyme or reason. The resolution is some of the most nonsensical nonsense that Doctor Who has ever come up with. Then we get to the reveal of Ruby's mother, which is so forced and it becomes clear in retrospect that things were added to seem more mysterious than they really were. And capping it all off is the Doctor's farewell to Ruby, which falls flat because, as I've said, their relationship is rather undercooked. It really does end the season on a downer, which is a shame because so many of the preceding episodes were pretty good.

[billpottsismygf]

Right, okay, overall that episode was great. Really fun, really atmospheric. Effectively straddled the line between hilarity and terror in the spice girls scene. NPH exceeded all my expectations as the Toymaker; he was giving very Emcee in Cabaret vibes when he was doing the camp German thing, but then was able to reign it in and be in control and frightening when he switched into an English accent. He was defeated a little too easily for my liking, but that's far from the biggest problem with the episode.

Now. The bi-generation. I hate it. I don't necessarily hate that it happened - I quite like that Fourteen and Fifteen got to work together - but I hate that it wasn't resolved at the end. If this had been a two parter, the regeneration could have been a fun cliffhanger and led into a part two where there were some more games with the Toymaker - since his part could easily have been extended, as could John Logie Baird's - and where the bi-generation got resolved. As it is, however, now there are… two Doctors… Permanently? If it is going to be resolved in the future, though, why not just do it now?

My main issues:

It undermines Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. It feels weirdly like he's a secondary Doctor, rather than being The Doctor. Especially being the first black Doctor in the main running order, that's just a bit suspect. Although the final shot was of Fifteen heading off in the TARDIS, the focus of the end of the episode was so much on Fourteen instead of this exciting new era. This should be a fresh new start with Ncuti Gatwa at the helm, but instead he feels like an after thought. (He has given one hell of a performance so far, though, so I'm still incredibly excited to see his Doctor shine.)

It undermined what felt like a lovely bit of character growth, with David Tennant's Doctor being ready to leave this time.

I just don't believe that the Doctor would settle down like this? I get it, he's traumatised and needs to heal, but I still don't believe he would act like this! I usually think RTD is fantastic at character things, but that final scene was weird and wrong (I also don't believe Wilf would ever shoot moles). Even the idea that he's taking little trips doesn't make sense. The Doctor is incapable of not accidentally getting embroiled in a war or an invasion.

RTD has already done this! Why does he have an obsession with creating an additional David Tennant Doctor and then getting him to settle down into a human family life? And it worked better last time! At least then it was a Doctor that was part human and locked off in a parallel world.

Why are there two Doctors now??? This is just weird????

There are two TARDISes as well! Our favourite ship has been split in two… That's a sentient being!

The one thing that is slightly saving it for me is that Fifteen appears to still canonically come after the end of Fourteen's time as the Doctor, rather than Fourteen having the ability to continually regenerate into other Doctors. My only evidence for this is that Ncuti's Doctor says that he's mentally healthy now because David's Doctor did the work. So… Does Fifteen have the memories of Fourteen's time with Donna and family? Are they going to have to meet up and re-merge at some point? That would be better than the alternative, which would be for David Tennant to just perpetually be around as the Doctor. I love the man, and was even saying that I was surprisingly sad at how quickly our time with Fourteen would be over, but I don't want it extended like this. Not like this!

It's such a shame that what was otherwise a pretty good episode, if a little rushed, has been completely overshadowed by this bad and pointless decision.

Anyway, we got some hints about the future. The Toymaker has called on his legions, there's the One Who Waits, the tooth with the Master has been picked up by someone with red fingernails (again!). I'm still looking forward to what's to come; it just feels like this brand new adventure has been held back somewhat by clinging onto the, admittedly wonderful, David Tennant.

[denimbex1986]

'Doctor Who celebrated its 60th anniversary with three special episodes airing across as many weeks, and each provided viewers with some great quotes from its characters. These specials mark the return of David Tennant, now playing the Fourteenth Doctor, and Catherine Tate, who reprises her role as Donna Noble. The two were last seen in the season 4 finale, "Journeys End," in 2008. The specials also see the surprising debut of the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, who wasn't expected to appear in the show until the 2023 Christmas Day special, "The Church on Ruby Road."

The three Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials, entitled "The Star Beast," "Wild Blue Yonder," and "The Giggle," all feature memorable dialogue, including several quotable lines. Not only do the Doctor and Donna's exchanges bring some expected brilliant moments to the show, but there are also some entertaining comments from other returning characters, such as Donna's mother, Sylvia Noble (Jacqueline King), and the Doctor Who villain known as the Toymaker (now played by Neil Patrick Harris). With Doctor Who season 14 due to air in Spring 2024, there are sure to be more amazing quotes to come, but the 60th-anniversary episodes deliver enough great lines to tide fans over until then.

15. "Tuna Madras." - Sylvia Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Star Beast"

While Donna's mother doesn't feature too heavily during the 60th-anniversary specials, one of the best quotes from these episodes is spoken by her. The deadpan delivery of this line, as Shaun (Karl Collins) returns home from work to find his family panicking over an alien in their kitchen, is nothing short of hilarious. The entire scene gives off a deer-in-headlights atmosphere, and Sylvia's line is a perfect breaking point after Shaun's arrival before all hell breaks loose.

14. "No Such Thing As Spaceships? We've Got A Bloody Martian In The Shed!" - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Star Beast"

Donna Noble's return to Doctor Who shows that the character hasn't changed too much and, as has been established during her original run, always manages to miss the arrival of aliens on Earth. However, this doesn't last long, and she finds the Meep (Miriam Margoyles) in her daughter's shed. This scene is absolute chaos, but it sees Donna at her funniest, screaming as she attempts to pull the Meep off her leg.

13. "I Don't Just Fire Darts, Mate." - Shirley Anne Bingham

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Star Beast"

"The Star Beast" introduces Shirley Anne Bingham (Ruth Madeley), as well as the return of UNIT to Doctor Who, as she is the latest to hold the position of the Doctor's scientific advisor. Shirley is an ambulatory wheelchair user and this is to her benefit when she helps the Doctor against the Meep. Her ability to use her wheelchair to not only knock out the manipulated soldiers but also to blow a huge hole in a brick wall while uttering this line is nothing short of incredible.

12. "I Had A Subconscious Infracutaneous Retrofold Memory Loop, Making Me Act As Soft As You And Give Away £166 Million!" - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Star Beast"

When the Tenth Doctor (also Tennant) said his goodbyes before regenerating, one of his last acts was to leave Donna and Shaun a winning lottery ticket on their wedding day. "The Star Beast" reveals that they had won £166 million, but Donna gave her money away to charity. This quote shows off Donna's character and her hilarious reaction upon getting her memory back, only to shout at the Doctor, blaming him for her actions as she'd done so to be like him.

11. "Then... We Go... And Kick Its Arse!" - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "Wild Blue Yonder"

The Doctor Who special "Wild Blue Yonder" sees the Doctor and Donna dropped into the middle of hostile action and the TARDIS abandoning them. In a typical Donna fashion, her realization of the danger only motivates her, knowing she has to get back home to Rose (Yasmin Finney) on Earth. With her having been away from Doctor Who for such a long time, it's great to see Donna still as the head-strong and boisterous character that made her so brilliant 15 years ago.

10. "We've Got A Chair. That's A Good Sign. It's A Lifeform With A Bum." - The Fourteenth Doctor

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "Wild Blue Yonder"

It wouldn't be Doctor Who without the Doctor making an obvious comment. While "Wild Blue Yonder" is a Doctor-and-companion-only story, minus the brief appearance of Isaac Newton (Nathaniel Curtis) in the cold open, it sees great dramatic performances from both David Tennant and Catherine Tate. Plus, the Doctor identifying that the threat must be able to sit down is made even creepier when they struggle to find any further signs of life.

9. "So I Arrived In Southampton, Which Allowed My Mother To Say I Was A Problem From The Day I Was Born. And I've Not Come To The Edge Of The Universe To Discover I'm Still Dealing With That." - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "Wild Blue Yonder"

The Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials dig deeper into Donna's backstory, and considering she has been such a prominent character in the show since its 2005 reboot, this was unexpected. Season 4 saw plenty of moments that indicated that Sylvia wasn't the most appreciative of her daughter, and even though it's clear that their relationship has improved since 2008, Donna clearly has some lingering issues on the subject. Still, it's great to see yet another classic Donna line that seems like a ramble about her life but ends up being something that helps her and the Doctor save themselves from danger once again.

8. "Although, Don't Say Companion. That Sounds Like We Park Him On The Seafront At Weston-Super-Mare." - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

Donna's casual remarks are one of the reasons why she's such a brilliant character, and her response to being referred to as a companion only proves this. On top of this, she's quick to check with Shirley if her comment is offensive or not, not wanting to insult anyone other than the Doctor in the process. Donna's ability to paint a picture with just a few choice words is hilarious, and it's not the only time she does this in "The Giggle."

7. "I'm All Sonic And Tardis And Time Lord. Take That Away. Take Away The Toys. What Am I? What Am I Now?" - The Fourteenth Doctor

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

While there are many funny moments in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, one of the most dramatic comes from the Doctor in "The Giggle." David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor's more solemn moments is just as strong as The Fourteenth Doctor as they were as The Tenth, and breaking his walls down to Donna once again shows that their friendship is just as strong as it was before. This particular quote also sets up the Doctor's fate at the end of the specials, and it's a refreshing moment to see the Doctor acknowledge his reputation across the universe.

6. "Well, That's All Right Then." - The Toymaker

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

One of the most intense scenes in "The Giggle" sees the Toymaker spill details about the Doctor's lives and companions since he'd last seen Donna, in the form of a creepy but accurate puppet show. The Toymaker's sharp tongue is quick to call the Time Lord out about what happened to his friends over the years, and even when the Doctor retaliates, he spits back at him. It's an interesting moment for the show, especially as nobody had ever really made the Doctor face his actions in such a way before, but without this scene, the Doctor might never have accepted that he needed to grieve properly.

5. "You're Gonna Be Someone Else. It Doesn't Matter Who. Cause Every Single One Of You Is Fantastic." - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

Donna's reaction to the Doctor regenerating in "The Giggle" is significantly different from the first time she'd seen it, way back in the season 4 episode "The Stolen Earth." This time, now aware of what would happen and having seen more of his incarnations as part of the DoctorDonna, she's quick to hold his hand and gently guide him through the process. This scene shows one of the most wholesome moments between the pair, proving that they are one of the best Doctor Who duos.

4. "Can You Pull?" - The Fourteenth Doctor

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

The Doctor's bi-generation is a huge shake-up for the format of Doctor Who and is particularly unexpected by the Doctor himself. Whatever is running through his head for him to ask this question must be interesting, but it leads to the arrival of Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor. It must also be quite an odd moment for Mel (Bonnie Langford) and Donna too, as being asked to pull could mean anything.

3. "Do You Come In A Range Of Colors?" - Donna Noble

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

In another one of Donna's classic remarks, she quickly points out a first in Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa's portrayal of the Fifteenth Doctor makes him the first actor of color to play the Doctor on Doctor Who, and the second to play a Time Lord, with the first being Sacha Dhawan's Master. Of course, Donna's playful way of acknowledging this is a great way of explaining this to audiences.

2. "You Can't Save Everyone." - The Fifteenth Doctor

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

Even though the Fifteenth Doctor only appears toward the end of "The Giggle," he still has some great lines of dialogue. What's unique about this version of the Doctor is his ability to look back on his past without any shame and face his problems head-on. It's refreshing to see the Doctor speak to himself, and to tell his past incarnation exactly what his companions had spent years telling him: "You can't save everyone."

1. "One Thing You Need In This Place Is A Chair." - The Fifteenth Doctor

Quoted from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle"

With there now being two TARDISes, the Fifteenth Doctor points out exactly what is missing from both: a chair. The jump seat was a staple of previous versions of the Doctor's ship, and it did seem unusual that the new TARDIS didn't have one, especially as the Tenth Doctor had one in the design he'd had in his original era. Seeing as the new version is so much bigger compared to previous ones, surely Doctor Who's design team could find the room to squeeze one in.'

[turtlecat1440]

This might seem out of nowhere, but I want to talk about how much I'm enjoying the new episodes of Doctor Who. But first I have to make a pitstop about how much I dislike the prior three seasons.

For context, I've been watching Doctor Who for about a decade, give or take, I can't actually remember. There have been episodes I loved and stuck with me, and there have been episodes that were forgettable. Both are fine, because the show had a habit of making it's way to something pretty enjoyable eventually. Every season has a few bangers I return to when it pops into my head.

That is, except for the seasons where Chris Chibnall showran. At first I was excited, I wanted to see a new actor's take on the Doctor, and having them be a woman could subvert gender norms and a way I'm not sure has been done before. I'm sure it has somewhere, but I'm not researching for a post I'm making while lounging on my couch.

I don't want to make a broad statement that everything is caused by one person, that would probably be untrue. I went back and looked at what episodes Chibnall had written before he showran, and there were some decent ones. Not many I loved in particular, but that's fine. I also say this as to not lay blame on Jodie Whittaker, or any other specific actors, there were some moments of great acting that fell flat because of the sum of the shows parts.

When I start to notice a show has gotten worse, I first notice without any particular reason. But then I start to look for what changed. The biggest tell, and this is true for many other shows that have fallen off, is the camera work. If suddenly all the shots are bland, shot, reverse-shot, repeat, someone's gotten lazy.

Doctor who also lost so much of its creativity. The solution to the problems in the "Chibnall Era" were always confusing, and relied heavily on an obfuscation of hand-wavy "magic not magic." Rather than giving the viewer the pieces to a puzzle, and then have the Doctor to solve it because they're so clever, writers instead hide the solution, and let the doctor reveal it to us in a monologue. I left almost every episode confused and unsatisfied. I also began drinking with friends while watching because it was so bad.

I have a lot more to say about these three seasons, but I want to get into why I've been enjoying this recent season.

The David Tenant/Catherine Tate specials were an odd change of pace, and were cohesive in their conclusions. There were some odd choices I'm not going to get into, but I love these actors together so much, all sins are forgiven. But the important part is the thesis: the Doctor has been running from their problems for centuries, and needs time to heal emotionally. By outliving the pain of loss, the Doctor has been subduing emotional change, and only returns to old patterns of behavior.

Then the new season actually addresses this thesis. And it has to be said, the Doctor falling in love with Rogue (who is most definitely not a stand in for Captain Jack, we swear) is pretty rad. I loved it, glad it happened. But the Doctor's loss of Rogue, and their immediate movement into carrying on without addressing the pain of loss, only to be held back by Ruby was even better. The Doctor should stop for a few moments and process their pain, not continually avoid it.

Susan's reintroduction could add to this as well, the Doctor's guilt of absence may be addressed. The new themes that are being explored; guilt, loss, and a deliberate and intentional address and change of patterns of behavior is great. Although I might just think this because of my own life experiences.

Also, Ncuti Gatwa has been an incredible actor so far. I also think he's really cute, but that definitely doesn't affect the way I view the show, I am unbiased, as we all know is truly possible. I also can't get over how great is is that the Doctor and Ruby keep changing their outfits for different eras and locations. This is one of my favorite parts, keep giving me more.

[gospelaccordingtosuperheroes]

Doctor Who 2024 Season 1 Review:

Almost every time there’s a new regeneration of the Doctor, it takes some time for the series to find its footing. Ncuti Gatwa was amazing as the Doctor though. As with all Doctors, he adds his own spin while having incredible acting moments which make me think “yeah, that’s the Doctor.” I also love that he doesn’t have a consistent costume for his Doctor. It’s nice to see a little variety.

Millie Gibson was also fantastic as the companion Ruby Sunday. I do wish we were going to see more of her, though I’m happy she made the short list of companions with a happy ending.

In reviewing the recent Doctor Who specials, I said I was skeptical about Russell T Davies returning as show-runner. This season unfortunately did not change that. The writing and direction of the season overall was… okay. Most of the time it felt like they were pandering to Gen Z to try to get a bigger Zoomer audience. The way the Doctor kept explaining things in the first episode could have been written so much better in a way that wasn’t pandering for new viewers or boring for long-time viewers. At the same time, Davies did a great job bringing in past Doctor Who continuity. Again, it could be it will take some time to get the footing right. I’m still withholding my final judgement of his return.

Another concern I had in my last review was the potential for racism to creep in with David Tennant’s Doctor running around. I still worry it could lead to a “notmydoctor’ movement against Gatwa. However, the episode “Dot and Bubble” did a fantastic job exploring race and racism in a subtle and powerful way, making it possibly the best episode of the season. It also made it a huge candidate for covering the Doctor in Gospel according to Supeheroes in the future.

Overall, this was an okay season, but it does make me excited to see more, especially after the many disasters of the Chibnall era. I’ll look forward to more Doctor Who in the future, and I’ll hope the writing matches Gatwa’s acting soon.

Review:

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

Gospel: ✝️✝️✝️/5

[everysongieverwrote]

Watched in 2024: June

GET EVEN (BBC/NETFLIX, 2020): Despite the premise, this show is an easy watch, and after watching shows like DARK and Under The Bridge almost back to back, it's exactly what my mind and I needed. The show has flaws and it was obviously created with a season two in mind that never happened but it's an easy and entertaining watch (the music is also really cool), so I totally recommend watching it, just don't expect too much from it. (3/5 ⭐)

REBEL CHEER SQUAD (BBC/NETFLIX, 2022): This show is a spinoff to Get Even, and is more "kid-friendly" than the previous show. While Get Even is a show for older teens, Rebel Cheer Squad is definitely a show that is better suited for pre-teens/younger teens. But is also a very easy and entertaining watch (the music is also very cool in this one too). Also a recommended watch when you just want to chill and not think too much about what's going on in the show or with the characters. Or to watch with the younger teen in your life. (3/5 ⭐)

DOCTOR WHO (BBC/DISNEY+, 2024): In June, I also finished watching season 1 of the new Doctor Who and I absolutely loved it. Ncuti Gatwa is great as the Doctor and Millie Gibson plays Ruby Sunday beautifully. I loved the bond/partnership of the Doctor and Ruby and the incredible chemistry that Nucti and Millie share. Ruby Sunday is a great companion and I hope we get her back soon. That season finale made me go through a whirlwind of emotions and I'm so excited for season 2, and I hate that I have to wait so long. The internet definitely wins this one, I'm a Doctor Who fan now. I obviously recommend watching this silly little show, what are you waiting for? Go watch it now! (4/5 ⭐ + Added to Favorites)

NANCY DREW (THE CW, 2019 - 2023): I'm gonna be honest here, I kinda regret not watching this show when it was airing, which is not the show's fault by any means, it was just me being done with The CW by that point. Don't get me wrong, it is very much a CW show at its core and you can tell while watching it. But is also a very cool show, okay? I loved how they mixed the mysteries with the supernatural. I loved the friendships/relationships between the Drew Crew and how each one of them has a little something special that makes them valuable to the team. I loved the chemistry between the actors and the way they played their characters. And that slow burn?! I know that I shouldn't get into a ship from a show that already ended but c'mon they're so cute and so perfect for each other, I just couldn't help myself, okay? Again, very much a CW show but also very entertaining and I definitely recommend watching it. (4/5 ⭐ + Added to Favorites)

THE BURNING GIRLS (Paramount+, 2023): Okay, I kinda have mixed feelings for this show, which is not the show's fault by any means, it was just me expecting more from it. The premise of the show made me think some things that the show didn't deliver, which again, not the show's problem, it's a me problem. The show is not bad by any means, it's a great show, I just expected more from it and that's my fault, I went in thinking it was gonna be a different kind of show than what it really is. The show is great, the storyline is great, the acting is great, definitely recommend watching it, just don't make the same mistakes I did and keep your expectations realistic. (3/5 ⭐)

[oceanivoxjoquainx]

Let's talk about Eric Effiong

Let's be honest Eric's storyline and characterization is one of the most appealing out of all the characters in Sex Education periodt. A true gay, fierce, Drag QUEEN and I feel like ranting about this amazing force of nature. (Spoilers. Duh.)

When I saw the trailer for Sex Education it didnt even hit me that Eric was gay until I read the synopsis. Was just like "Oh I wonder which one of these three mains are the gay one people keep talking about" even after I saw him in drag like a dumbass 😣😂. Personally im glad we've reached a point where gay guys aren't overly feminine and even the brightest colours won't differ a character from the rest (unless I'm just a blind bish and he was obviously gay from the trailer) ei 👏🏾 ther 👏🏾 way; his character was refreshing when I started watching the show. I immediately clicked with him and knew what every look he gave or hand gesture he did meant. Felt nice. When Adam pushed him into the locker for the first time and started with the heterohomoerotic bs I knew that Adam had a raging boner for Eric and was another internalized homophobic bully™ and wasn't really excited for what was to come but I knew it was coming and tbh I liked it in the end.

Eric and Otis' friendship is so pure. Like?!? Get me a straight supportive bestie lilke Otis? Ik they fought but even then Otis was respectful and kept his boundaries and let Eric go through the motions before immediately belting into an apology at the first chance he got. Their dancing scene?!? Iconic. The fact that Eric sees Otis' house as safe and another home?!? Iconic. Otis going drag with Eric to watch an LGBT+ movie as a TRADITION (meaning they've done it numerous times)?!?! Iconic. The fact that Otis was straight up ditching Eric and Eric STILL tolerated him and let him do his thing without too much pressure!?! The most iconic of them all. Just pure love and respect all around.

I am so proud of Erics growth over the course of the season starting from a naive and scared gay doormat to facing homophia and getting beat up by those assholes on his birthday no less to losing his best friend and becoming depressed to channeling that anger into defending himself when people tried him to getting his sparkle back and coming back more fierce that ever before.

Speaking of him getting his sparkle back lets talk about that and why that scene is so important. A random guy asked Eric for directions and Eric noticed his nails were polished and the guy was wearing earrings and he was a big ole black dude. He was like Eric. When Eric noticed that the guy was out, loud, glamorous and proud he immediately switched back into the bright colourful and wonderfully gay Eric we all know and love.

THIS IS WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS!!!!

It shows people that its okay to be who they actually are and inspires those who are lost to find or return to their true selves. Representation isn't just some offhand thing to throw on a character last minute. And even if you can relate to other characters who arent like you, it is always an amazing feeling to have a character that IS like you. It turned Eric from a popularity seeking doormat into a hurricane with 6 inch heels who was ready to straight up beat down a bully he's had for 4 years. It even inspired him to go back to church and rejoin a community that he closed off. That's exactly how it feels to have someone successful in the media and your life to look up to. Eric only interacted with that man for a few minutes but those few minutes changed his life for the better. So that's a lovely reminder for all who love to bash representation.

Back tracking to Eric's dull colourless period after the attack and his fight with Otis. It was saddening to see one of the brightest characters go dull and even the school felt it. He turned from a guy who rarely stood up for himself and what he wanted into the sass master he reserved only for his friends. All of his built up anger was released causing him to explode on Mr Hendricks (who is adorable tbh and just trying to do his best) and Anwar (I was proud of that punch you go glenn co co) and he even sounded off on his dad who he's usually passive aggressive to at worst. Just goes to show that the happiest faces can harbor the biggest pains and can snap. Moral of the story? Protect the happy few.

Eric also has a great family. Like that obviously know Erics gay and wears dresses because its all right there in his room which his parents enter at their leisure and while it seems that they're a bit homophobic its revealed that they (Erics dad at least) just wants Eric to be safe as he's already a target for being black and apart of an immigant family. He accepts Eric for who he is and what he does he just doesnt want anyone else to give him shit for it and if that's not one of the sweetest things in this world idek what is. Eric and his dad was probably one of my favorite dynamics in the show and watching his dad slowly fully accept that his son was strong and able to stand for himself he was able to become stronger too. This dynamic is important because I never see any gay black characters have a close relationship with their fathers and it was very heartwarming to watch.

Now onto Erics love life. He has a crush on the highschools other only gay guy Anwar who's the typical mean sassy gay we've all come to expect in highschool dramas. Otis saying that Eric doesnt have to have a crush on the only other openly gay guy at school was such a mood as its commonly shown that any gays in close proximity should get together. When Eric punched him I internally went "Finally!" Because all those jeers were becoming annoying. I'm glad Anwar got to come out to his mum over it though. And straight up told the audience that Eric didn't like feminine guys (alluding to him and Adams eventual clean up scene as of we didn't see it coming already).

Moving on to Adam tho, like I said we all been knew that this

was indeed coming and even though I hate the bully x bullied trope I still ended up liking it and hoping that Adam would change. The building up to that kiss was long awaited from episode 1 straight through to 8 with all the longing looks that Adam kept side glancing Eric with and the face cupping and the growls and the lingering touches. I just kept going sthdjksksbslaldbd when one of those moments happened followed shortly after with disgust because gays falling for their abuser is washed up but then immediately going back to jajaklamabsldkd because im shipping trash so 🤷🏿. Eric stepping to Adam in at the ball was one of the most iconic scenes of the show (along with the "Its My Vagina" scene) and the exchange between him and Adam gave be actual chills. The tension was THICCCC. Erics OUTFIT to the ball gave me chills 😭😭 dude came to slay and had everyone at that school proper shook and I honestly could NOT be more proud. I was hoping Adam would become a better person over the course of the season but nope so hopefully they cover all the issues that Adam has in season 2 and properly give him a redeption arc cuz he's still a trashy pos he's just a disaster bi on top of it. (Adam immediately going to suck Eric off is confidence I can only dream of achieving 💀💀) The lab scene was also cute but made me mad because how could Adam look scared, confident and still be a douchebag all in the span of a few seconds was beyond me. A+ acting on Connor Swindells part. I can see why Adam would have to stay in the closet and keep their... relationship?? a secret because it seems like Headmaster Groff would be a homophobic piece of shit and would add to the ever growing list of things Adam did wrong. Even so it doesn't excuse the fact that Adam is in fact a bully and Eric deserves much better. Was sad seeing Adam being driven off from Eric in the end tho. Eric thought that Adam didn't want to see him at all and was probably heartbroken and probably thinks Adam left because of him (my poor baby 😭😭). I feel bad for Adam too because he was just starting to express himself and was at the beginning of a redemption arc when he was just wisked away from the boy he's loved for what seems to be a very long time. I just want my boys to be happy and non toxic and I wish their relationship and them all the best in Season 2.

Eric Effiong is my favorite character in the show and I really want to thank Ncuti Gatwa for portraying him so well and for the shows writers who gave him a very fleshed out character with an amazing storyline and conclusion. His growth was incredible and his strength is immeasurable. I'm 100% certain that he will be a character the community remembers for years to come. Patiently now waiting on what's to come in Season 2 💙🙌🏾.

[denimbex1986]

'An interactive Doctor Who sculpture made from refurbished technology has been unveiled on London's South Bank.

The "Art of Regeneration" sculpture shows actor David Tennant regenerating into the 15th Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa.

The piece was revealed on Friday to mark the show's 60th anniversary.

Sarah Bold from BBC Studios called the "show-stopping" sculpture "an incredible tribute to a genuine moment of event TV".

The installation, which acts as a homage to the show's regeneration process, will be on show near the Oxo Tower until Monday.

The 7ft by 9ft sculpture was made by Global Street Art using hundreds of discarded devices and includes some sonic screwdrivers.'