I won’t say i saw the particular angle they were going to go with it, but i think they made it pretty clear Lindy and the others that were with her would be revealed to be the Real VillainsTM by the end, and that the repulsion she showed towards the Doctor would resurface. I think it also makes it clearer to me why she at least entertained Ruby while blocking the Doctor immediately. And her shock that Ruby and the Doctor were in the same room, there being no people of color in the bubble, etc.
there was some buildup to it for sure but the way the tone shifts it's like getting hit with a brick in the face. maybe if the rest of the episode didn't feel like a PSA for social interaction they might have had something but as is? so clumsy and hamfisted. I think moments like that are important in Doctor Who but maybe not written by old white guy RTD lol. just look how much better Thin Ice handled a similar scene
I can definitely agree about the tonal shift, I said the same thing to my wife - that it all a sudden felt like a different episode of tv. But eh, DW has always had a ton of episodes that are like that. Usually it’s where something resolves too quickly, and here it’s where something is revealed too quickly. I guess what I’ll say is this: if they don’t further delve into the Doctor processing that experience after Ncuti acted his ass off showing how hard it was for him to stand in future episodes, then I will likely reconsider and think it was cheap.
I thought this was a pretty solid episode. And then Lindy straight up murders Ricky. The clues were there all along that these people only care about themselves and think that they are above everything and everyone, but Lindy also showed growth! Wasn't enough to override who she truly was though. Ricky was most likely the only decent one that lived in that entire place! And that's because he unplugged and was in touch with the world. These young, rich, racist fucks turned a solid episode into a great one. Gatwa fucking killed it in the end. I haven't seen Doctor Who since Tennant left, but this season, and Gatwa & Gibson in particular, are just incredible. I heard the Capaldi episodes are great too. I may have to go back and watch them.
You can go back in this thread and see me say on almost every other page that Capaldi is the best era, best Doctor, and that Clara in those seasons is the best companion imo. But series 10 & Bill are also all great.
Clara is the GOAT companion for sure. It's impossible to tell that kind of Doctor/Companion story ever again tbh. The perfect ingredients were needed to make that work and it simply won't be replicated.
This episode was fantastic, Ncuti put in an unbelievable performance at the end. Also, great to see all the Capaldi love in this thread.
wild that this was apparently Ncuti's first episode shot. imagine rocking up to work on your first day and putting in that performance
William Russell passed away, RIP. not only the first companion but arguably the hero of the show for the first two seasons too. his performance was truly fantastic
I’m only about halfway through the ep, but this is truly great. Also did I just see Richard E. Grant in the lineup of past Doctor faces??? Is this news or am I forgetting something?
I didn't notice that lol but he played the Doctor in The Curse of Fatal Death and Scream of the Shalka, which are semi canonical wilderness years oddities. RTD probably having fun just canonising weird shit that sounds like him I thought the first half of the episode was just okay, never seen Bridgerton so all the homages were lost on me. but man it picked up after Rogue and 15 started talking about loss, fantastic second half from there on. Ncuti was amazing this ep
what a motherfucker of a cliffhanger hahah I guess RTD is implying Sutekh and the Beast Tennant met are the same being?
I was wondering that! I assumed it was the latter until the very end. I think that’d be cool, if that was the case.
it's a really clever way of canonising them having the same voice actor if it is the case, I'm all about it kinda hard to judge this episode on its own because it's literally all setup, my feeling for the first 30 minutes was "cool vibe but nothing's actually happening" but the ending absolutely made up for that. "wrong anagram" and "did you think I was family Doctor" are top tier RTD, I really hope the finale lives up. also, Mara and/or Fenric next year please Russell
Doctor gonna have to ask everyone they meet with the first name beginning in ‘h’ what their last name is forever now.
Getting caught up after falling behind for a few weeks. Didn't like how "Dot and Bubble" felt like a lazy Black Mirror episode. The tone change at the end was interesting but didn't fully land for me after not enjoying the first half of the episode. "Rogue," on the other hand, was spectacular. Gatwa and Groff are amazing together. Hopefully getting to the next one before the finale.
Dot and Bubble is one of my least favourites ever. especially crazy coming the week after 73 Yards which is probably in my classic tier, that's Russell for you though lol