Doctor Who (37) 11.02: The Ghost Monument

[Lenny]

Still reeling from their first encounter, can the Doctor and her new friends stay alive long enough in a hostile alien environment to solve the mystery of Desolation? And just who are Angstrom and Epzo?

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Clunky, but a good watch, and a nice spin on the traditional "I'm in spaaaaaace" second episode of a new Doctor's run.

Chibnall and co seem determined to make Doctor Who their own. I'm not catching much, if any, Moffat-inspired Who (at most we've got a bit of Smith's Doctor), and although it is borrowing a little from RTD's Big Book of Family, after even just two episodes this series is feeling distinct, and certainly more mature. Almost industrial, too, which might be a direct reaction to the slapstick of the past few series.

 

[Pyan]

I'll hold my hand up - I made an error last week with suggesting that spoiler tags should be used. As Lenny said, "Surely the fact that it's a thread for an episode implies spoilers?", and he was right. My apologies for people having to use "tortuous phrasing", as Bagpuss put it.

I'll just add:

Expect Spoilers!!!

 

[Anthoney]

I liked it. I'm enjoying the overall direction in how they are building the new Doctor. There also seems to be a long story arc behind the episode.

To late I used a spoiler tag. I will remember.

Spoiler: spoiler

I'm glad they did not stretch out the hunt for the TARDIS. It's rare that we can see both the Doctor and the companions staring in wonder at the inside of the box. I would have like a better look around.

Are the tooth faced aliens a season long arc or just a multi episode?

 

[nixie]

I do like Jodie's doctor, although I wish she'd slow down a bit. Loved her reaction when the TARDIS appeared. Silly in places but overall very watchable.


I'll give it a couple more episodes then I'll set up a new poll.

 

[Lenny]

Spoiler: spoiler

Are the tooth faced aliens a season long arc or just a multi episode?

I'm wondering the same thing - maybe a return to having things like Bad Wolf sprinkled throughout the episodes?

 

[Dave]

I like the reboot they have done. The new crew is most reminiscent of Ian, Barbara and Susan with all their wide-eyed, but intelligent, curiosity. The only criticism was when they tried to outrun the crashing spacecraft down that gully rather than to climb up the side and out of its way. It was Prometheus (and many other films) all over again.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I'm going to try and record my thoughts as I watch, without having read anything up to this point.

Maybe I finally get to see the intro and hear the new music?

Ooh, yes. Purple stuff, whooshy.

(Had spoiler tag but removed it after seeing we're not doing that now.)

Hmm. Sounds like more aliens playing games? Is this a theme?

Well, this is new, the Doctor coming out knowing how to fly everything that comes along. Assuming she does as well with the TARDIS eventually.

"I'm treating it as a chance to surprise myself."

"Never saw Pythagoras with a hangover." Ha. (Thought those would be the sonic shades, but I guess not.)

"These three have been very good not going on about it."

"Moominbeans." That's what I'm calling myself from now on.

"It's very all that, thank you very much."

The Doctor does seem to have to do a great deal more convincing than usual -- not sure if that's because she's a woman or because she has three people to convince.

Why do they have to go through the ruins? Why not just go around?

"You can't outthink bullets."
"Been doin' it all my life."

"Made it worse?"
"Just a little bit, yeah."

"You sure about that?"
"Nope. Come on."

Err... aren't they walking in water in the tunnels? I hear water noises. It looks wet.

"Fix your wound, take one of your heroic naps, and we'll wake you when we leave. If you're lucky."

Aha, the Stenza. So that's why it's games again.

There's definitely water in the tunnels. Why is this not important?

Depriving us of air? They couldn't possibly run out of air in tunnels that extensive.

"Come to Daddy. I mean Mummy. I mean..."

Redecorated... Hmm... circle thingies again, yes. Dark. Very dark. Interesting blue things. Dunno what I think yet.

 

[REBerg]

"Proper awesome" -- both the regenerated TARDIS and the new opening theme.

 

[thaddeus6th]

The new theme is the best of the new set, perhaps because it's very similar to the original (the graphics likewise, obviously massively improved from 1963). Also, the interior of the TARDIS appears to be giving quite the nod to the old school decoration, which often featured hexagon pattern with circles inside each hexagon (now it's similar but a sort of overlapping lattice with the circles cut out).

There was also an episode between these two bits

 

[Matteo]

I thought it was mediocre. My wife thought it was "alright" and that "she's doing David Tennant". (I didn't see that - I kept thinking "Victoria Wood" (thanks Pyan!!))

The writers must be fans of Hitchhikers: not one, but two ships picking them up in space.

I also wondered about the water in the tunnels - maybe the microbes don't live underground? And maybe I misheard but didn't The Doctor say there was "toxic air"?

A lot of running around.

Not enough focus on The Doctor - I suppose that's because there are three companions.

We had a central female character getting one up on a central male character (and him having to rescued). Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I hope it's not going to be "a thing" in this new series. Will be interesting to see if there a similar theme in the next episode.

Liked the homage to the classic Tardis interior and glad they didn't drag out finding it (also a lovely reaction when The Doctor found it). Though they didn't say "It's bigger on the inside". They're supposed to say "It's bigger on the inside."!!)

And what is this "Timeless Child" stuff about? Could be an interesting thread. More so than the Stenza (though I suspect it's going that way).

 

[Narkalui]

Pretty sure the Stenza are this series' big bad, and 'The Timeless Child'... Hmm is the Doctor going to become some kind of Time Lord messiah?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Though they didn't say "It's bigger on the inside". They're supposed to say "It's bigger on the inside."!!

Yeah.

Or "smaller on the outside".

 

[Abernovo]

Quickly, as I'm supposed to be off doing other stuff on my day off: I really liked both episodes so far, but this one even more so (the first episode was always going to be slower by way of introducing the new Doctor (happens each time there's a regeneration), and new companions).

Liked the pace, and the story. I got a bit of a Peter Davison and Tom Baker era vibe off this new Doctor. Okay, a little of Tennant, but the clothes have a riff of Davison's outfit, and perhaps Baker with the long coat. The joy, with a hint of darkness when things look doomed, though, that really did remind me of the Fourth Doctor.

Spoiler: Silliness spoiler

And, I'm hoping custard creams are the new jelly beans.

That said, I think Jodie Whittaker has already made the role her own, as each of the Doctors before her did. So, yeah, this is shaping up to be a good regeneration.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Oh dear,

Where to start - So we did have the improbability drive (x 2 just made it worse IMO).

Accetalyne. Of all the gases they could have had, they had to have the one that needs Oxygen and in those quantities they again survived a zero O2 environment. (we don't need to mention the lack of the explosion that would tear them limb from limb or the roasting heat).

The paper things - Nice monster, but lacked substance and build up.

Art Malik - Nicely callous, but wasted here.

The three stooges - Reaonable performances if somewhat understated. So far Graham still looks like he should be Who.

Ms Who. Completely over the top IMO, and too knowledgable. Especially given the befuddled bits. Plus if every time she sees a new thing shes going to wave her magic wand at it, it's going to get a bit annoying.
Is there anything that thing doesn't do.

I thought at one point she was going to pray for the big T to return.

NO KEY!

Weird front vestibule entrance to the Tardis, makes it look like a carbunkle.

NO KEY!!!!

Still not doing it for me I'm afraid.

 

[Harpo]

Yeah.

Or "smaller on the outside".

"It's the same size in the doorway"

 

[AlexH]

I thought it was okay and I'm still not sure about the new Doctor (it may have taken me a few episodes to like Matt Smith or David Tennant, but I didn't comment after each episode then).

Spoiler

Since when does The Doctor give up?

I like the theme tune and how it harks back to Delia Derbyshire's original imagining.

 

[Dave]

"It's the same size in the doorway"

Yes, it has become a porch!

Weird front vestibule entrance to the Tardis, makes it look like a carbunkle.

A monsterous carbunkle!

As for the science, that went many years ago. It is the common sense that went missing here. It is what it is. I can always watch The Expanse if I want more realism.

 

[Vince W]

I enjoyed that episode. I'm starting to really like Whittaker's portrayal of the Doctor. Very Tom Baker to me.

The story was a bit pitchy. In all honesty, I thought the need for a race was not necessary, but overall it was well paced and interesting. I did like the use of the EMP. Brains beat bullets indeed. Did anyone else get Tau vibe from the sniper bots (For the Greater Good).

On the downside, I don't like the TARDIS redesign at all. Although I do like the biscuit dispenser. That should be standard on all future TARDIS'.

 

[Anthoney]

I do like the biscuit dispenser.

There's a nice bit about the biscuit dispenser in the last 3rd of this video.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

So, just to start the controversy early...

It would appears that next week we will be following the Quantum Leap format.

Obviously, I'm jumping to conclusions based on the trailer (watch this space nonsense) at the end of Who No.2.

I hope this isn't the case. I hope they haven't sunk to Who "correcting/interfering in" an essential aspect of the bravery displayed by Rosa Parks to "enable" her to do what she did.

If they have sunk to those levels, I think we can soon expect the bottom of the barrel to be spotless.


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@Anthoney re biscuit dispenser. You raise an interesting point. Are any members of the site part of the Who team. If so I think @Brian G Turner should investigate the royalties he's due for them ripping od "The Biscuit Barrel" thread.