Doctor Who (1963 - present)

New showrunner and a new Doctor next year. Interesting.

In all honesty I am fine with the new Doctor, even looking forward to seeing the new series after an extended period of apathy.

I have loved Capaldi but the series is really drowning in its own self importance and has often focussed the companion to the exclusion of the Doctor at times, this may still be exaggerated by the intrusion of what is obviously politically motivated casting or it might just be taken in its stride as another quirk of a series that excels at quirk. I hope for the latter, let this not be something to labour or play up to, rather let it be simply a great character being played by another great actor (no need even to add the 'ess' any more methinks).

I had a moment of 'Right. OK. The BBC ... have actually went there. The new Doctor's female!' *needed a sit-down*.

But the truth of it is that the show has been 'seeding' the possibility ever since the newly-regenerated Matt Smith grabbed his floppy fringe and said in mistaken incredulity 'I'm a GIRL? NO!!!'

Bring it on ... Whittaker is a brilliant actress and Chibnall is obviously keen on a fresh approach.

I have mixed feelings...the Doc has always been a Time-LORD not Timelady...

How does River Song factor in now, is she now a lesbian if she still fancies the Doctor?

I'm thinking this stunt will only last one season.

I'm not into Dr Who. Never seen an ep because it just doesn't interest me.

I took an interest, however, in this recent casting because apparently this means all male characters should become female now - James Bond, Darth Vader, etc. I think it's fine in this case for a female to takeover the role since the story acknowledges a changeover so in theory, it could be to anyone - male or female. This wouldn't work with something like Bond since he's only one person.

But I could be wrong and I could infuriate many die hard fans. Like I said I haven't seen an episode so what would I know.

Don't be listening to the more hysterical corners of the interweb. This won't mean 'all male characters should become female'.

And I'm not sure we'll see River back, BC ... she's very much a Moffat creation, who is done as showrunner after this year. And the new guy (Chris Chibnall) has tweeted 'Those of you now speculating that Dr Who will become 'Lesbians In Space' ... it won't. But if you're into that, the internet has you covered'.

Apart from an issue with some of the writing for the First Doctor in 'Twice Upon A Time', I rather enjoyed it ... it's always amusing when 2 Doctors meet, and in other places it was very poignant.

Far too early to judge how Whittaker will be (she got all of 2 words out before falling out of the Tardis), but I have high hopes.

I haven't watched an episode since Zygon-Clara fired a missile at an airline some 2-3 seasons ago.

What have I missed? Must catch up.

You'll have missed the remainder of that season and the 2015 Xmas special, the 2016 Xmas special (that's all there was that year), and the 2017 season and special mentioned above.

Jodie Whittaker's Doctor is warm, funny, scatty-yet-smart, brave and moral ... everything you'd want in the character, really.

The episode wasn't perfect, but it was very enjoyable :) .

I'm starting to miss both the Daleks and Cybermen and neither will be in this season.

I like Jodie but I'm not liking the adversaries so far.

I actually quite liked 'Tim Shaw' and also the rag-like creatures in the second ep, but last night's was quite underwritten and unthreatening and the ep overall felt quite 'lecture-y'. Still, nice period detail and good Banksy and Steve Jobs gags.

Next weekend's glories in the title of 'Arachnids In The UK', so I'm expecting some spidery heebie-jeebies. And Chris Noth is guest-starring.

Catching up on this tonight...

The giant spiders are suitably repellent, but there are plot holes and a weirdly abrupt ending.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

The giant spiders are suitably repellent, but there are plot holes and a weirdly abrupt ending.  

I didn't know a spider would suffocate to death if it grows too large. Aren't its lungs supposed to grow too?

And the jamaican dance hall music...was the last thing I ever expected...points for originality even if I can't stand it.

Happy 55th anniversary, Doctor ... a mere blink of an eye to a Time Lord, of course.

Last weekend's 'The Witchfinders' was tremendous fun ... pacy, creepy and amusing with a brilliant guest turn by Alan Cumming as James I.

Some people don't fancy it but...I thought Demons of the Punjab was one of the better episodes in quite some time.

Never saw a gun used with such effect in Doctor Who, and the closing credits theme was quite original.

I have noticed something ... Demons, Kerblam! and The Witchfinders were the first eps of the series not written or co-written by Chibnall, and to me they were all the better for it. I enjoyed his series opener, but there's been something in every one of the eps from 2 - 5 that bugged me in some way.

Why was Season 11 only 10 episodes?

Not sure. Also, the special is airing New Year's Day instead of Christmas Day this time because we're not getting the next series until 2020.

Seems like BBC America is showing Doctor Who 24/7 for several days in a row right up to the New Year's Special next Tuesday. Someone heard me moaning, the Dalek(s) are back for this one.

Which is great, because I reckon you're only the Doctor 'properly' after you've faced either the Daleks or the Cybermen.

The scrapyard battle-Dalek with the internal flashing red-light was refreshingly priceless....wish he had more screentime

Have to give this another look

One bummer: BBC Fucking America, spamming the episode with 1 minute nature infomercials.