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So here we are again, staring down a barrel of uncertainty as the future of DOCTOR WHO appears, at best, unclear.
BBC has vague-ishly (is that a word) indicated that we'll see the show again someday, in some way, including a Christmas Special for 2026 (!?). How that Special will work given the bizarre and narratively demanding finale of S2 remains unclear. Seems to me like there's a lot of ground to cover - and issues to resolve - before the show can naturally slide into a Christmas Special, but what do I know? Interestingly: the current 'way of things' - in which series lead Ncuti Gatwa has evidently left the roll and his Doctor maybe/kinda/sorta regenerated (?) into former DW costar Billie Piper (!?!?)...or whatever that all about...was evidently not always in the cards and may've been the result of last minute scramble/grab, as evidenced by a number of BTS leaks and photos, and even in comments by Carole Ann Ford herself (who reprised her role as Susan in S2) in some deleted sequences. It appears, despite many rumors, Russell T. Davies will still be around for said Christmas Special at the very least, and claims to have already broken its story. As mentioned above, BBC has formally stated a desire to continue with further episodes of the show, but how this would work is another point of mystery at the moment. BBC, on its own, seems unlikely to afford the somewhat improved budget DW's now defunct arrangement with Disney+ provided. Will BBC roll back the budget enjoyed by the first two season/series of RTD2's era, and go it alone? Will BBC find another partnership? Compelling questions in light of the show's split from D+, an uneasy union which some alleged insiders purport was screwed from fairly early on. Other reports indicated that DW's recent turbulence was not only due to Disney's innate lack of enthusiasm for the property, but ratings sluggishness (which points back to RTD's current iteration of the show not landing with viewers), and may also be at least partially attributable to how (exiting?) Ncuti Gatwa embraced, or failed to embrace, the role on the whole. In my mind, DW's failure to gain traction in the US on D+ chiefly (but not exclusively) comes down to imminently practical considerations: longtime followers of the show largely seemed unenthusiastic about spending money to watch their show behind a paywall - when they could previously watch it relatively inexpensively, if not for free. Especially in times like these, and in an economy like the current US mess. This factor, combined with RTD's current iteration of the show feeling sloppy, disjointed, feeling too self-indulgently random (and lacking in cohesive vision), pretty much blew the train off the tracks. And while Gatwa is a brilliant actor / performer on the whole and in certain contexts, there was an often cursory nature to his iteration of the Doctor which simply didn't command or convince an audience he was driving the show, or projected the epic and multifaceted background the character inherently demands - a pitfall experienced previously, to some degree, in the Whittaker Era. And without a compelling lead, the show was never going to overcome any of the obstacles laid out above. It should be noted that the 'ratings decline' the show has seen over recent years has largely been commiserate with the casting of leads who may have been unconvincing, or were not compelling personalities in the public's perception. As I've insisted many times previously, material not withstanding, in DOCTOR WHO gravity and charisma are everything. Which brings us to THE WAR BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA, a Russel T. Davies limited run series (5 episodes) beginning this weekend on BBC One, and transmitting in 2026 on Disney+ - after which the BBC / D+ arrangement regarding DW will fully dissolve. TWBTLATS will not feature the Doctor, but will instead focus on UNIT's dealings with Sea Devils (here 'Homo Aqua'), previously introduced in DW lore. Jemma Redgrave's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart appears throughout, reprising her frequent character in DW proper. The reviews have been surprisingly strong of this one - maybe RTD has found his voice again? We'll see... 
This Reader Reaction ('Docback') will remain in place throughout the BBC One run of WAR as well as its subsequent US run. As always, further discussion forums will be launched as matters DW universe develop.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all - and here's to better days... We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind.
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Hey all...
I'm having some significant computer issues & posting the reader reactions here is kinda of dodgy at the moment. Cutting to the chase: It feels like engagement here has waned a bit, thanks largely (by my measure) to the lackluster nature of the current era of shows. So, I'm trying to figure out how best to approach considerations here. 1) Is there still enough ongoing interest in the series 'round these here parts to warrant episode specific reader reactions? I.e. 'as is...' 2) Would a reader reaction encompassing the entirely of a Season/Series be just as good? (it would still be moderated) 3) Would a generalized DW message board work just as well these days? (it would still be moderated) 4) Do y'all want a reader reaction at all? I don't have a strong preference in this matter, other than not wanting to leave y'all hanging and providing a 'safe space' for discussion should anyone else be interested...it's always a joy to behold what happens here! Hope all is well with all of you. I'll hammer at my tech issues and can still check here and moderate via iPhone, so let me know how you feel. This week brings us Joy to the World, the newest installment of the RTD2 era, and the newest of the show's iconic Christmas episodes. Directed by Alex Pillai (BRIDGERTON, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA), the story returns former (and, for my money, much missed) DW show runner Steven Moffat to the equation with a script described thusly by BBC: When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. But a deadly plan is unfolding across the earth, just in time for Christmas. Despite dogged and breathless reassurances from current show runner Russell T. Davies that DW is currently in good health and is being warmly received (even by new demographics of audiences), it's difficult to escape the notion that the zeitgeist the series seemed to have plugged into during Davies' original tenure as series boss...and during Moffat's subsequent rein...feels much more elusive and fragile than it has in a long while. That's a long-ass run-on sentence, but, oh well. Will this Holiday special, and the soon-to-arrive new waves of Ncuti Gatwa-led episodes, change this tepid energy and muted perception/reception? We'll see... The discussion for Joy to the World is now afoot! We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. MORE TO COME SOON!
This week brings us to the end of the first Season/Series of RTD2.
Continuing from the events of last week, Empire of Death is scripted by show runner Russell T. Davies, and is directed by Jamie Donoughue, returning from last week's The Legend of Ruby Sunday. The episode is described by Davies as 'extra long,' clocking in at 55 minutes. Empire is described thusly by BBC: The Doctor has lost, his ageless enemy reigns supreme, and a shadow is falling over creation. Nothing can stop the devastation... except, perhaps, one woman.
A clip from the episode is available online, but is, for some reason, defying embed. Hopefully you can see it HERE.
This run of episodes has been a very mixed bag for me.
In terms of overall style and production value, the current iteration of DOCTOR WHO is stellar: it looks and sounds fantastic, its performances are uniformly earnest and heartfelt, its effects largely top-notch (although a few are a tad dodgy).
This said, it's hard to escape the sense that this current run feels like something of 'proof of concept.' There's a lack of weight to the proceedings here, a feeling that the consequence of the show's dramatic or affecting moments don't necessarily resonate through the characters or their journeys.
And, perhaps most debilitatingly, this iteration of the Doctor often feels a tad ineffectual - sometimes coming across as reactive, instead of proactive. Observational, instead of commanding. It feels that, somewhere along the way, The Powers That Be have mistaken Ncuiti Gatwa's contagious charm and charisma for gravity, and the qualities are simply not the same, nor are they necessarily distinct. Gatwa comes across as a Time Lord who'd be tons of fun to hang out with - but not necessarily a Time Lord you'd trust to save you when the chips are down, and when all hope is lost. And it's chiefly this disparity that keeps the show from soaring. This isn't a sleight against the immensely capable Gatwa as much as it's a poke at the fundamental conceptualization of this iteration of the Doctor. This show, in a very real sense, feels afraid to commit - moreso than any previous iteration of DOCTOR WHO, ever, save the Chibnall Era. Perhaps the reasoning for this boils down to some comments recently made by Davies regarding the DW's current ratings, and the mission he was charged with when returning to the franchise... “In coming back, I wanted to make it simpler and I wanted to make it younger..." [EDIT] "And actually, I was brought back to bring in a younger audience." More of Davies' comments can be found HERE. My point being: perhaps the cursory and frivolous nature than can often be sensed dampening S1 is a direct result of the show, itself, not being perceived by its creators as having the flexibility or maturity to invest in the narrative and emotional potentials it puts on the table, but leaves unexplored. And I can't help but wonder if this is underselling the capabilities or flexibility of the 'younger audiences' it's attempting to cater to. To be afraid to 'own' one's storytelling because you're going for a 'younger crowd' feels a bit cynical and dismissive? Just pontificating and exploring here. I have a crashing headache today, and am not sure if this is making any sense at all. If it doesn't, ask me and I'll try again. The discussion for Empire of Death is now underway! I may or may not post a 'bridge' discussion board to carry us to the Moffat-scripted Christmas Special. But, either way, there will be a separate discussion opened for that one. We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING SOON: DOCTOR WHO: JOY TO THE WORLD
I had a very nice, and surprisingly lengthy, post all lined up for this episode, but when I hit 'publish, Weebly (the blog editor) completely ate my post, as well as my backup (!?).
I don't have the time to start from scratch, so consider this the discussion forum for The Legend of Ruby Sunday. Legend is described thusly by BBC: The Doctor and UNIT investigate Ruby's past. But as the Time Window reveals horrifying secrets from Christmas Eve, the mysterious Triad Technology unleash the greatest evil of all. ...and is said to be a two-parter with next week's Empire of Death, which is described this way by BBC: The Doctor has lost, his ageless enemy reigns supreme, and a shadow is falling over creation. Nothing can stop the devastation... except, perhaps, one woman.
The Legend of Ruby Sunday discussion boards are good to go!
Enjoy! Lament! Theorize! Analyze! Obsess! Dismiss! Always... We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING NEXT WEEK: DOCTOR WHO: EMPIRE OF DEATH
This week brings us Rogue, the six episode of this Series/Season, and the antepenultimate installment of this batch of stories.
Scripted by Kate Herron (a director on SEX EDUCATION and LOKI) and actress/writer Briony Redman, this episode was pimped fairly early on on the promotion of 'the new DOCTOR WHO,' quickly becoming known as 'the one that looks like BRIDGERTON.' It's described thusly by BBC: The Doctor and Ruby land in 1813, where guests at a duchess’s party are being murdered and a mysterious bounty hunter called Rogue is about to change the Doctor’s life forever.
Ben Chessell directs this week's installment, which will lead us into the final two adventures of this batch of episode: The Legend of Ruby Sunday and Empire of Death. At least one of which will return Susan Twist to the show, and hopefully expand upon/explain her mysterious presence a bit more. Time Lord? TARDIS? Master Variant? SO many possibilities...
With this...the discussion for Rogue is afoot! We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING NEXT WEEK: THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY
This week brings us Dot and Bubble, scripted by showrunner Russell T. Davies, directed by Dylan Holmes Williams (who helmed last week's 73 Yards), and described thusly by BBC:
The world of Finetime seems happy and harmonious. But an awful terror is preying on the citizens. Can the Doctor and Ruby make them see the truth before it’s too late? THIS piece in RadioTimes indicates that this episode finds no small part of inspiration from Davies' love for BLACK MIRROR, and was actually pitched to Moffat back when Moffatt was taking the reins of the show, and had asked Davies if he'd like to script something for the series. Davies: "I thought of it way back when, around 2009, when I was still working on Doctor Who, because I pitched it to Steven Moffat in a restaurant in Los Angeles. He was saying, 'Would you come back and write for the programme?' Every year, he’d ask me. How lovely. "So I pitched this episode [in April 2010], in a restaurant called Hal’s on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Karen Gillan [who played Amy Pond] was there. They were in LA to launch their first series, and I remember pitching – I used to call this – 'visible Twitter'. [EDIT] "We didn’t go very far with the conversation, because the idea was literally too expensive. But you wait 15 years and here we are."
It'll be interesting to see such a long-gestating tale come to fruition, but I do hope, at some point, Team Davies manages to attach a bit more gravity to their current storytelling. Not 'gravity' in the dramatic sense, 'gravity' in the sense of 'identity' and holistic grounding. 'Gravity' as in lack of frivolity.
The Dot and Bubble discussion is now ready to be 'happy and harmonious!' We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING NEXT WEEK: DOCTOR WHO: ROGUE
This week brings us 73 Yards, described thusly by BBC:
Landing on the Welsh coast, the Doctor and Ruby embark on the strangest journey of their lives. In a rain-lashed pub, the locals sit in fear of ancient legend. The episode is described as 'Welsh folk horror' in this introductory reel from show runner Russell T. Davies...
UK ratings for recent episodes of the show have been on the lower end of numbers that were already in a slide during the Chibnall Era. How DW is faring on D+ in the States is an altogether different matter, and remains a mystery as of publication.
Last week's Boom, from previous WHO overlord Steven Moffat, brought a touch of ingenuity and solidity to proceedings that have, so far this Series/Season, been all over the place. The existence of the episode was certainly reassuring, but it's also problematic: when a previous showrunner out-writes and out-creates the current showrunner, viewers are inherently catapulted into an uncomfortable, and even confusing disassociation of perceptions, loyalties, and, perhaps most problematically, desires. What will the flavor of 73 Yards be? What will it say / show about the creative path of the show moving forward, if anything? Finally, The Legend of Ruby Sunday and the provocatively titled Empire of Death, the final two episodes of this Season/Series, will be screening in UK cinemas Friday June 21 at 11pm. More information and tickets can be found HERE. With the way viewing figures are shaking out, and given UKvians decided lack of enthusiasm for inconveniently timed events, it'll be interesting to see if anyone is actually in theaters for this. With that, the 73 Yards discussion is afoot! We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING NEXT WEEK: DOCTOR WHO: DOT AND BUBBLE
This week brings us Boom, the first of two new scripts by former WHOrunner Steven Moffat this year (the other being its upcoming Christmas Special, Joy to the World).
Space Babies and The Devil's Chord, the opening installments of this particular run of episodes, were strange, sometimes amusing, sometimes bewildering, often frustrating, sometimes dopey, and occasionally striking - episodes of decidedly uneven results, whose overall qualities never quite equaled the sum of their better parts. Per THIS piece at Radio Times, the episodes premiered to 'close to the lowest ever for the show,' with the caveat that these figures only account for viewings on BBC proper, and do not yet factor in BBC iPlayer streaming figures, nor (presumably) the Disney+ numbers. Which leads to some potentially fateful questions: Has as the show's audience, in fact, really/truly dwindled? Or, is viewership now sufficiently split by streaming models that the total engagement of viewers will eventually be compensated for when streaming numbers are factored across during the long game? Did the Chibnall Era hurt the show's perception more than is currently understood/anticipated (I personally believe this to be a significant part of the equation)? Are the loud and ongoing 'woke' conversation and accusations which are swirling about dissuading people from connecting to, or remaining connected to, the show? Or, is the show's apparent wobble attributable to some combination of the above? What little we know about Boom suggests it may be the first episode of Davies' second tenure to 'feel' more like the DOCTOR WHO many have been expecting all along. But, this is only a vague (and as yet unsubstantiated) sense of a tale about which we really know very little. What we DO know is that BBC describes it thusly: Caught in the middle of a devastating war on Kastarion 3, the Doctor is trapped when he steps on a landmine. Can he save himself and Ruby, plus the entire planet... without moving? Here's a clip:
This article pointedly indicates that Boom's origins can be found in a DOCTOR WHO story from 'decades ago,' but, predictably, stops short of saying what we should be looking for/expecting. Such is life in the Moffatverse. Boom is directed by Julie Ann Robinson, who helmed Space Babies. Such is life in the Daviesverse.
Will the show find a more even footing? Will its ratings rise? So many questions, so much strangeness and adventure ahead! The Boom discussion forums are now open, and the Golden Guidelines are active, as always. Welcome, and enjoy! We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. COMING NEXT WEEK: DOCTOR WHO: 73 YARDS
This week brings us 2 (two!) new DOCTOR WHO installments - discussion for the first of them, SPACE BABIES, can be found at https://www.geeklectica.com/dw/doctor-who-space-babies.
This discussion is reserved for the second of the two episodes, The Devil's Chord, featuring a highly promoted guest appearance by drag queen/performer Jinkx Monsoon.
Per the reference to Abbey Road Studios in the trailer posted at the top of this article (and per the show's official synopsis), The Devil's Chord will be the episode in which these singularly unconvincing Beatles are encountered.
Soooooooooooooo, yeah.
We'll see how this goes. The Devils' Chord is scripted by reigning series overlord Russell T. Davies, and directed by Ben Chessell - whose numerous credits are utterly unfamiliar to me (not that this means anything). It's described thusly by BBC: The Doctor and Ruby meet The Beatles but discover that the all-powerful Maestro is changing history. London becomes a battleground with the future of humanity at stake.
And with that...
It's a Docback, yeah, yeah, yeah!
A Docback, yeah, yeah, yeah! 
We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind.
COMING NEXT WEEK: DOCTOR WHO: BOOM |
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