Television Doctor Who

Could you link to the review? I would quite like to read it, I need some positivity.

 

I'm eagerly anticipating the episode tomorrow! But on other news:

Matt Smith is confirmed for series 8! I'm guessing that also means series 8 is confirmed xD then again, I didn't doubt that for a moment.

SOURCE

 

I honestly remember reading about this around the time that Asylum of the Daleks premiered. Even so, I didn't doubt this for a second.

 

The Name of the Doctor is an amazing episode. I won't spoil anything (on purpose) but it explains a lot of things, including some of the doubts people have expressed about the 50th Anniversary episode, and it does it AMAZINGLY.
Also it looks like Jenna-Louise Coleman will still be in the next season, so Clara fans, rejoice at that.

 

It is so worth the wait, believe me. I wish you guys could see it at the same time we do too, but when you do see it, wow.

 

Alrighty.... I errr.... yes.

Spoiler

In all honesty, I really don't know how I'm feeling about this episode simply because I've grown to doubt my initial feelings about it but I do know that I was making lots of noises and my eyes were glued to the screen even when my mum came in to give me dinner xD I have loved this series and I've felt like an outsider as so many of the reviews I read have been negative! I know I'm too easily swayed by other opinions... grrr... but I must have absolutely adored this episode because of how I felt during it but afterwards I felt a little underwhelmed.

I felt a bit uneasy about the grave as it was the current desktop theme of the TARDIS- when he dies it would have moved on... right? Unless I missed a sentence where they described it or whatever. I loved how Trenzalore was a graveyard and the twist on "It is discovered" wasn't referring to his secret but his grave. They also didn't clear up the guy in the prison, how did he know about the Whispermen and Trenzalore.

I suppose I was hoping the Clara mystery was more intricate, it's really cool that she has met the Doctor countless times before in all her many lives but that does mean that in the world there could be 5 or 6 manifestations of Clara at once dotted over the universe right? It would be weird if she met herself. I thought the montages to the past Doctors were brilliant and when Clara tells him to take the one with the faulty circuit, why is that? I wonder if that specific TARDIS has some role to play or whether it's just to make it a Police Box xD It also means that she's human and a Timelord. Who am I kidding, I loved it xD

On the cliffhanger, I still can't decide whether that was the actual 9th Doctor or someone who carried the name "Doctor", if it's the former then the rumours were true- John Hurt is playing the REAL ninth Doctor who was around during the Time War and thinking about it, I quite like that concept. It also means that we will be learning about the Time war in the 50th anniversary... hopefully. If it's someone who just carries the name then that would mean it's passed on. I remember watching a video about the 1989 series and where it was heading before the show was cancelled and how a timelord reproduces or something. It talked of like 3 timelords who were really important and then their form was passed on to others and one of them passed it on as the Doctor. Okay, bad explanation, probably because I can't remember it myself but if I find it then I'll post it here unless someone else has any idea what I'm on about.

I thought the Whispermen were cool and I should have caught on that they were dressed the same as Simeon. What was he doing as the Great Intelligence in TBOSJ then? Why did he have spoonheads out capturing people? Man I need to go back to the start of this series O.o

I also liked the Inception-esque meeting they had xD a shared dream! I hope that concept returns but it also needs a bit more explanation as I'm guessing it's some form of alien tech (or silurian I suppose :3)

As for the ending of River Song... does that mean she won't be in it ever again? Is that the end of Alex Kingston in Doctor Who? That prospect makes me very sad indeed because I thought she was brilliant. I thought their ending was lovely and it mirrored Rose's at Bad wolf bay in my opinion. I suppose it should be her end since Amy and Rory are gone but still...

I need to rewatch this... I feel I've missed so much.

 

Well... I just watched the episode. *claps hands* Well done Doctor Who. Didn't see that coming.

 

I'll be addressing some of your statements here and there throughout my explanation/review:
EDIT: Ended up addressing most of your statements >.>

Spoiler

I thought the episode was killer, in more ways than one. I know there was a lot of hate about this episode in particular, but I thought it was a . . . better ending to the season than what could have been. Oh, and it looks like the universe did owe him this one ^^ . . . for now. I thought it went by too quickly. I was hoping for a two hour special but . . . perhaps that's too much to ask.

Well I should imagine it was his current theme. I'll bring up the cliffhanger here . . . Smith is actually the twelfth regeneration. As HoT pointed out to me, Smith is the twelfth regenerations, yet only the eleventh Doctor. Hurts is the missing regeneration we'll more than likely be seeing again. Still unsure exactly when the death will occur, but I believe that this is the end of the regenerations. The show ends with Smith, lest Moffat pulls another one out of his . . . hat.

As for the guy in the prison, it could have been a number of things. Perhaps something in time leaking out, affecting him. Could have even been an intentional plant by the GI. It's not something that would be too complicated to cover up, probably why they didn't care to explain. Leaves more to the imagination.

More intricate? How much more intricate can you ask for? She was appearing all those times because she jumped into The Doctor's timeline, thus he met the real (original) Clara. He met the original Clara so she could save him. I think that's pretty intricate. The Doctor wouldn't be the same without his mysterious blue box that's bigger on the inside. Also, the real (original) Clara isn't a Timelord, she's just human. When she entered The Doctor's timeline, she was torn apart and sent to a bunch of different points corresponding with The Doctor's history. Also, I'd like to point out that the one Clara The Doctor ends up saving is the real one.

As I've said, Hurts is the 9th regeneration of the man known as "The Doctor". He broke the "promise" of the name he chose, and thus wasn't a true Doctor. He would be the one who would go by The Doctor's real name. Perhaps this is why The Doctor wants so badly to keep it a secret.

He was gaining strength. That was the GI that we saw, he only shadowed the appearance of Simeon who is in fact dead. It even said in TBOSJ that he was feeding off the captured minds.

I liked that part as well. I thought it was especially fun when Vastra tricked Clara with the paper.

I couldn't say for sure if it's the real ending of River Song, or River Songs ending. Timey-whimey . . . remember? That, technically, was an already dead River whose consciousness was uploaded to the library back in Tennants run as The Doctor. Just because Amy and Rory are gone doesn't mean that River has to go. Though having said all that, it's more than likely the case. I think at that point River knew everything about The Doctor and The Doctor knew everything about River. Given the order of things, this could be the last time we see Professor River Song (Melody Pond). Till next we meet~

You might want to recap on a few things from this episode. I had to rewind several times during the first watch to fully comprehend everything that was going on. This is the episode that links it all together.

Also, the completed version of the Impossible Girls famous last words: Run you clever boy, and remember me.
I thought it was a nice touch.

Can't wait to see how Hurts portrays The Doctor.

Also, did anyone else feel bad when we first got to the the giant TARDIS? "When the TARDIS is dying, bigger on the inside leaks to the outside." I was pretty sad hearing that. Be it The Doctor or the TARDIS who dies, I'd cry either way. Think about it, the TARDIS has been there just as long as The Doctor.

 

Spoiler

Just saw it on TV, wow my face is still so red with feels gahhhhh.
I know we were all very sceptical about the whole John Hurt as the Ninth business, but I liked how Moffat played it, Eleven is still the Eleventh Doctor because what the Ninth INCARNATION did, he didn't do in the name of The Doctor, hence he's not the Doctor in the Doctor's eyes. . . yeah?
I totes agree on the Clara thing though, we were hyped up for so long and I expected something more convoluted, but that's alright, it still tore my heart out in the end ;__;
Great episode overall, although, what did happen to 'where no one can lie or not answer' clause of Dorium's prophecy, and where was the 'Fall of the Eleventh'? And the whole event didn't seem very prophecy worthy tbh.

 

Spoiler

I'll clarify, I understood the episode, I understood the John Hurt thing and the rest of it but I just felt very underwhelmed when I first saw it. I now know why, it's because I read that article about John Hurt being the ninth incarnation of the Doctor so the ending was of no surprise to me as I'd already heard it. I was spoiled without even realising it xD oh well, I rewatched it this morning and thoroughly enjoyed it! I thought it was fabulous and then went and had to explain to a few of my friends about the ending xD

It still works out as the Eleventh Doctor is still the Eleventh as John Hurt isn't "The Doctor", he's the same timelord but he can't call himself "The Doctor" because of what he did.

Also, I doubt the show will end with Smith, first, Timelords can regenerate 12 times (meaning 13 incarnations) so he still has one left and this is one of the biggest shows the BBC has so they won't end it because of this. They will explain it somehow, it could be River giving him her remaining regenerations or it was the other Timelords that stopped them from regenerating past 13 but since they are no longer around then the Doctor can carry on. The Master managed it, he reached the end of his regenerations back in the old series but he's already gone through at least 2 regenerations since then, there are ways around it and it won't be the end.

I look forward to seeing the 50th pan out!

 

Spoiler

Okay, wow, that was one hell of an episode. I spent most of it with my arms around my legs, curled up in a ball. I thought the conference call was really nicely done, even with the letters to get each of them into it. It was quite a nice idea, though seriously, Jenny...;~; I actually got really upset when that happened because I love her character. I did kind of expect it wouldn't be permanent but it was more the thought that they could make it permanent. Vastra, Jenny and Strax need a spin off show. Please~

I liked the way the tardis tried to protect him and stop him from going and I felt a little sorry for the Tardis when he forced her to crash. Then seeing her dying...poor Sexy.

THEY DIDN'T REVEAL HIS NAME. Phew. I was so worried they would because whatever it is, it would be a disappointment.The way they handled that was pretty nice, though could somebody please remind me which episode did River learn his name? Or have we not had that episode yet? It wasn't in the "The Marriage of River Song" because it turned out when he said he was going to tell her, he actually said 'look into my eyes'. I think she has to appear at least once more as he needs to give her his screwdriver that she has in the library. I did enjoy her presence in this episode though.

How they explained her meeting him before was actually quite a good explanation. I had bugged me a little about how she was an 'impossible girl' and the doctor just seemed to travel with her for the mystery she held. I really liked how she was perfectly normal, it was just her actions in this episode that caused her to appear elsewhere.

The ending? Hm. I'm undecided about that. I don't know what to think about it.

It's looking like I'm going to have a really good birthday weekend, since both Doctor Who and Sherlock are returning 8D.

 

Spoiler

What a glorious birthday that'll be! xD

As for the River Song thing, there is a mini episode from series 6 called "Last night" which I can't find on youtube at the moment but it basically entails a future version of the Eleventh Doctor walking in on the Doctor's TARDIS with River while they are at Darilium which is the last night he spends with River and gives her his sonic etc.

It has been done but I was always hoping it would be done explicitly within the series.

Here's a tumblr gif set of the conversation: http://andicanalwaysseeyou.tumblr.com/post/50745352237

 

This whole episode was so perfect. The absolute best part of series seven HANDS DOWN.

Spoiler

Everything was so brilliantly written, from the psychic meeting to the Whispermen (though Moffat sort of broke his promise to avoid having a consistent threat/villain throughout with the Great Intelligence, but hey, I'm not complaining) and even Clara's conclusion. Every plothole in the episode, apart from the obvious John Hurt issue, was wrapped up beautifully and the execution of both Clara and River's endings was done so well. I personally adored the thought of all his time traveling leaving traces in his grave, and I've always wondered just how many things in that universe would be different if he'd never stolen that box (or big metal pipe apparently) and run away. Even the Trenzalore issue was fixed up nicely, despite his apparent memory lapse when it came to "no living creature can speak falsely or fail to answer."

In short, I need it to be November now so both my two-hearted bbys can be together.

 

here comes misty to shit all over everything

Spoiler: THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR actually kind of sucked

Okay so.

The episode had some good moments, got some laughs out of me and I was definitely glued the moment Jenny hit the floor. however.

I thought Clara's resolution was incredibly underwhelming. To me Doctor Who has very much been a show about build up, about dropping little hints here and there, and then the season finale comes along, ties everything together, and blows your fing mind. There was no such satisfying ending here. Nearly everything needed for Clara's resolution (save for the prior mention of Trenzalore) was introduced in this episode... in that it was just one thing! The Doctor's life spirit beam thing. And that's a criticism of mine for the entire series--it feels disjointed, there's hardly any connecting threads between episodes. It just doesn't feel like good writing to me. Trenzalore felt wasted here, it was the only thing with proper build up and it wasn't really worth it. Clara had build up but it largely diffused with all of the flailing around this series.

I was really excited for River Song to be in this episode but I was disappointed with what little role she played. I am clinging to hope that this will not be her last. For one, there was the "spoilers" in this episode--her still being around even after the psychic link was broken--and the fact that she's referenced numerous times seeing other (post-Matt Smith) faces of the Doctor... but that could be retconned. I can see her definitely being in the anniversary and maybe getting a proper goodbye then (obviously Forest of the Dead was her traditional goodbye but we still need closure with her character, I think), but I'll be really upset to see her go, she's one of my favorite things about this show.

I did actually like the John Hurt / Name of the Doctor twist, though. He wouldn't want anyone to know his true name (the name John Hurt went as) for the presumably horrible things Hurt did--he doesn't want them connected to him. However, I'm not sure that that can be the Time War, because the Doctor takes credit numerous times in the showing for killing all the Daleks & the Time Lords. I do think that's a good build in to the anniversary, the Doctor entering his own time stream, and I am definitely waiting impatiently for it. But series 7 gets a poo poo from me.