Doctor Who Discussion [Spoiler Zone!]

[Kheldarson]

I'd care a bit more if it wasn't constant, boring, and kept using her as a deus ex machina. I mean with Davies' Companions we'd get their personal lives once in a while as background drama with it coming to the fore on occasion. Even Amy had a better balance, and she lost her boyfriend/husband in the midst of traveling!

[XCashier]

Clearly Moffat needs to step down as a writer, because, from what I've seen, as a writer he basically sucks great big giant Dalek balls.

Agreed. He's not without talent, but he cares not a whit about characterization or plot, and will gladly throw both to the wind for the sake of a cheap scare or cheaper joke.

"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.’" Yes, that's an actual quote from Moffat. Read here. It's an older article, but it shows his mindset and he doesn't seem to have outgrown it.

[mjr]

I'm still trying to figure out what's up with Missy...

She made an appearance at the end of the moon episode. I can't quite figure out what's up yet...I'm not sure Moffat has figured it out, either.

[gremcint]

ok, so I don't want to start a fratching conversation but is it just me or did I watch a doctor who episode about abortion and who gets to make the decision? seriously all the male crew die, and the doctor refuses to give his opinion and it comes down to the 3 female characters to make the call.

[Kheldarson]

ok, so I don't want to start a fratching conversation but is it just me or did I watch a doctor who episode about abortion and who gets to make the decision? seriously all the male crew die, and the doctor refuses to give his opinion and it comes down to the 3 female characters to make the call.

Yes. Yes we did. And not to go Fratching myself, but from a writing perspective, I really disliked the way it was forced.

[Jester]

ok, so I don't want to start a fratching conversation but is it just me or did I watch a doctor who episode about abortion and who gets to make the decision? seriously all the male crew die, and the doctor refuses to give his opinion and it comes down to the 3 female characters to make the call.

There was unquestionably an allegory going on, and if the writers say otherwise, they're full of it.

[gremcint]

And not to go Fratching myself

we need to turn "go fratch yourself" into a thing.

[Kheldarson]

we need to turn "go fratch yourself" into a thing.

We do!

But I think I'm going to go open a thread on Fratching for this episode. I had something to add off Jester's post, but can't say it here.

[Kheldarson]

Also, interesting blog interpretation for why this episode was written this way: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artatt...l_the_moon.php

Also, why has this season been getting nothing but rave reviews? Why?

[Jester]

Pardon my language, but who in the flying FUCK has been giving this season rave reviews? Crack-smoking gibbons? Because every single Whovian I know is somewhere between mildly disappointed and pulling-their-hair-out-with-red-hot-tweezers angry about this season. The writing is anywhere between somewhat disappointing and downright godawful, Capaldi's Doctor fluctuates between vaguely uninterested and arrogantly condescending in his treatment of others, and the supporting cast beyond Clara is a bunch of mindless throwaways. To me it is a no brainer that this is the worst season yet (at least since the reboot--I am completely unfamiliar with the original series), and I've been trying to give it a chance.

I don't hate Clara the way many do, but the fact that so many people DO hate her says a lot. What previous companions have engendered such broad-based hatred? Donna Noble annoyed a few people, sure, but she was generally perceived as hilarious, and a nice change of pace. Martha Jones was beloved by most. As was Rose Tyler. As was Amy Pond. As was Rory Williams. Most people even kinda liked Mickey Smith. I cannot recall a single companion that caused this much outright anger.

As I said, I don't hate Clara. I rather enjoy her. But the writers are either taking too many drugs or not enough. Or perhaps they've given up. There has not been one brilliant episode yet. Best one was passable. No brilliance of "Blink" or "The Doctor's Wife" or "Let's Kill Hitler" or "A Good Man Goes to War" or "The Empty Child" or "The Eleventh Hour" or "Christmas Invasion" or "The Girl in the Fireplace" or "Smith and Jones." Or so many more I could name from the times of Nine, Ten, and Eleven. You know, the kind of episode that you could watch over and over and over again. Has there been any episode so far this season that you'd really want to sit through again? I can honestly say that my least favorite episodes from any of the previous seasons would be preferable to me than the best episode so far from this season.

Hell, forget episodes.....there hasn't been one brilliant LINE as there have been in the past. Perhaps the line they should have for this season is, "Hello. I'm The Doctor. Basically....zzzzzz"

[Kheldarson]

Do a search for "Doctor Who Kill the Moon". I had to go looking to find a negative review. Nerdist, the Independent, Huffington Post, A.V. Club, all positive.

[Jester]

I stand by my comment about crack-smoking gibbons.

That aside, you cite the reviews of this episode as all positive, but earlier you said the entire season was getting rave reviews. While I concede that this episode was one of the better ones of this season, that really isn't saying much. I'd be curious to see who is giving the whole season rave reviews. No one I know who actually watches the damn show.

It's even worse when you consider how much damn buildup and self-congratulatory hype they shoved down our throats from the end of Smith's run though the (admittedly awesome) three Doctor special to the unveiling of the new Doctor (a whole hour show for THAT bullshit?) to this steaming pile of a season.

I used to enjoy a beer while watching this show. Now I feel like I NEED it.

The gibbons could probably use a few, too.

[Kheldarson]

I've been looking up episodes as they go, and Google keeps coming up with all these positive reviews. Hell, even the last episode, whose title escapes me at the moment, was getting positives.

Ah. It was The Caretaker. And one of its reviews: http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/doctor-...retaker-209787

And Kill the Moon: http://m.ign.com/articles/2014/10/04...he-moon-review

[Gizmo]

The last episode - beyond the drivel they call the story was the first that didn't have me looking at the clock wondering if it was over yet.... that isn't exactly high praise.

[KabeRinnaul]

Hell, forget episodes.....there hasn't been one brilliant LINE as there have been in the past. Perhaps the line they should have for this season is, "Hello. I'm The Doctor. Basically....zzzzzz"

I dunno. "I have the horrible feeling I'm gonna have to kill you" from the first episode was pretty good. Might have had more impact if they'd carried through with a darker Doctor who was more willing to use violence, instead of just making him an older and bitchier Eleven.