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This week brings us The Tsuranga Conundrum, a title which...for some reason...I find remarkably challenging to type.
BBC's description of the episode: “Risk to life: absolute.” Injured and stranded in the wilds of a far-flung galaxy, The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan must band together with a group of strangers to survive against one of the universe’s most deadly -- and unusual -- creatures. If my understanding is correct (and it may not be), this episode in some way involves a planet burdened by ‘junk’; this perception would appear to be borne out by one of BBC’s official promo photos. 
If this proves to be the case, the use of a ‘junk world’ might suggest Team Chibnall is leaning into notably repeated patterns this Season/Series.
The first four episodes of S11, for example, each saw their primary antagonist ‘get away.’ Last week’s Arachnids in the UK hinged significantly on the ramifications of refuse. Are such blatant repetitions building towards some greater, macro narrative design? Or, might they merely be the clumsy juggling of gags from a showrunner whose aspirations, to this point at least, don’t feel clearly defined or considered? TTC is helmed by Jennifer Perrott, whose credits I'm completely unfamiliar with. The episode is once again helmed by Chris Chibnall, who has written or co-written all S11 episodes to date. Next week's episode, Demons of the Punjab, will mark the first S11 script not authored by Chris Chibnall, after which there will be several non Chibnall scripts in a row before the Season finale. It'll be very interesting to glean whether additional writers can more effectively breathe life and roundness into this Series' lead characters, all of whom feel (to date) as if they're filled with potential, but are treading water.
The message boards for The Tsuranga Conundrum - the half-way point of Series/Season 11 (depending on how you factor in the Holiday Special) - are now open.
As 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: Demons of the Punjab
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This week brings us Arachnids in the UK, the fourth installment of DOCTOR WHO Series/Season 11.
The episode is described thusly by BBC... Something’s happening with the spiders in this city.” The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan find their way back to Yorkshire – and Yaz’s family – only to find something is stirring amidst the eight-legged arachnid population of Sheffield. Arachnids features a script by current WHO overlord Chris Chibnall - and will mark the fourth script he has either authored or co-authored for this Season/Series. It'll be directed by Sallie Aprahamian, who has previously helmed multiple episodes of EASTENDERS and CASUALTY. The great Chris Noth will guest star. While still suffering from significant editorial/directorial drag, last week's episode, Rosa, saw a substantial improvement in tone, clarity, and quality over the first two episodes of S11. Storytelling seemed more well balanced, and actually invested in a semblance of substantive payoff. Companions felt more natural, and (for once) came across as characters who'd actually known each other over a period of time (part of their stated backstory in S11's opening story). Jodie Whittaker felt a bit more 'Doctor'y and less affected. Although, she still has a great deal of territory to go before being able to claim she's made the role uniquely, unmistakably her own. Will someone amongst The Powers That Be, at some point, compel here to abandon that almost fangirlish Tennant sneer? 
Given the controversial casting/political situation surrounding Whittaker, seems a metric of true empowerment would be for a female to 'make a mark' on her own merit - instead of doing so by mimicking men who have preceded her (there's some Matt Smith in her performance, too).
Such considerations not withstanding, it'll be interesting to see if Team Chibnall can continue to refine and improve the slow-but-upward(ish) trajectory of S11. Despite my harsh criticisms of the Series/Season thus far, and my condemnation of some of the suspect (to downright shaky) politics driving how S11's creative decisions are being approached, it is in every WHOvians best interest that the show get its shit together as quickly as possible. Regardless of the apprehension and ambivalence I'm experiencing in this moment, I very much hope it jumps on track - or even mostly onto a track - and fully becomes she show it can be, instead of the show it feels content to be. Or the show it has settled on being.
Geeklectica's Arachnids in the UK message boards are now open. The warmest of welcomes to all returning and new contributors, and to any lurkers who may be observing these proceedings with interest from afar.
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 Tsuranga Conundrum This weekend brings us Rosa, centered around courageous American Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks. She's played here by Vinette Robinson here, whose physical appearance to the real Rosa Parks is rather impressive (the top image = Robinson, below = Parks). 
Robinson, by the way, played Sally Donavan on Steven Moffat's SHERLOCK (small world), and has previously appeared in DOCTOR WHO in the Chris Chibnall scripted 42 (Tennant Era).
Rosa returns Mark Tonderai to the director’s chair; Tonderai helmed last week’s installment, The Ghost Monument, to varying effect.
This week’s script is credited to Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall. While Blackman is new to DW, she’s by means new to writing, having previously authored a substantial selection of literature ranging from children’s books, novels, short story collections, plays, television scripts, and more. It’ll be interesting - and telling - to see how ‘on the nose’ Team Chibnall chooses to be when interpreting and espousing social activism in a story which will clearly be charged with poignant notions like repression, racism, and discrimination. Will they soft-shoe - a proclivity which (thus far) has been suggested by the doggedly ‘middle of the road’ approach we’ve witnessed S11? Or, will they go for the jugular and make a point of zinging uncomfortable concepts, as Richard Curtis and Steven Moffat did so effectively in the Smith Era’s Vincent and the Doctor? If ever there was a time for any show to avoid skirting around challenging thematics like these, it’s now. Sadly, nothing about the bland approach we’ve witnessed in the Chibnall Era to date suggests there will be much meat on the bones of this one. On the other hand, last week’s The Ghost Monument was incrementally improved over S11's decidedly flaccid opening episode, The Woman Who Fell To Earth. So there is, in theory, at least, hope that Rosa might land strongly. Below you'll find a gallery of promotional images from Rosa. A number of images from the new TARDIS interior have also been issued - they've been included int this gallery for your perusing, deconstruction, and general conversation.
The Rosa discussion boards are now online! As always, our 'one run above all rules' shines brightly:
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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COMING NEXT WEEK: Arachnids in the UK OK, sure. Last week’s first outing of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor could’ve been received more evenly in these here parts. But that’s not to going to dissuade our effort towards forging and maintaining the coolest, kindest, most insightful DOCTOR WHO discussion boards anywhere on the Internet! Despite uncertain waters, we must move onward! Ever onward… As indicated in my bullet point pseudo-review, The Woman Who Fell to Earth landed unevenly with me, in a number of ways. This doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that all is lost. There’s always the chance writers other than TWWFTE scripter (and reigning show overlord) Chris Chibnall may be able to mine this newly rejiggered DW Era into something more consistent and rewarding over the longer haul. And, who knows, it's even conceivable the Chibs himself will tighten up his act a bit. Although, given that he was never one of my 'this guy is out of the park!' DW writers, it's hard not to be at least a tad skeptical. This said, Chibnall is returning for this week’s episode, The Ghost Monument, a title I rather like, by the way. So, we’ll have to wait a bit longer to glean how other writers approach this burgeoning Whittaker Era moving forward. Despite Chibnall’s return this weekend, we do get a different director this time around - Mark Tonderai - a veteran of ABC’s quickly defunct TIME AFTER TIME series, LUCIFER, and BLACK LIGHTNING. Tondari will helm next week’s installment as well. I felt the direction of TWWFTE was a bit muted by many television standards these days. It’ll b interesting to see if Tonderai brings a little more gusto to proceedings.
The official synopsis of The Ghost Monument reads thusly:
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?" The episode guest stars Art Malik, Shaun Dooley, and Susan Lynch, who will appear in a tale which is said to restore the opening title sequence format missing from the TWWFTE. If anyone out there is interested, I've uploaded higher resolution publicity shots of TWWFTE in the gallery (these iterations were not available to me at the time of posting). I've also amended the gallery to include a number of BTS images, and promotional artwork as well. If you want to circle back to check out this material, you can find it HERE. The Geeklectica discussion for The Ghost Monument is now up and running. Thanks so much for stopping by, 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: Rosa So, here we are. After a 10 month hiatus, DOCTOR WHO returns to broadcast this weekend - remodeled from the ground up. Even the logo is new. 
Series/Season 11 will bring us our first female Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), and give rise to a significant reshuffling of behind-the-scenss talent, including: a new showrunner (Chris Chibnall), a new composer (Segun Akinola), new primary visual effects vendors, even new breeds of cameras to (supposedly) lend proceedings a fresh and more ‘cinematic’ aesthetic. Along with all of this comes an entirely reworked cast of supporting characters, and the officially stated foreknowledge that…for this Season/Series at least…the ‘classic’/‘familiar’ nemeses of DOCTOR WHO will not be present.
I’ve argued all along that DOCTOR WHO, to me at least, has always utilized a significant undercurrent of ‘change’ - and the effects of change - as its chief thematic, and I think there are some very strong arguments towards this end. Yet, for some reason I can not put my finger on, I feel strangely apprehensive about the coming of Season 11. On the one hand, BBC & Co. have been admirably tight-lipped about what we can expect this time around. On the other hand, offering a few more bones to assuage the concerns of long time fans might’ve been in order given the depth of the evolution currently afoot. It's hard not to be concerned that The Powers That Be are 'hiding' more than merely a fresh approach. Is it, at least, feasible that this rebuild so extreme it might feel alienating to those who've followed and the loved the show for decades? Of course, it’s also quite possible this level of silence from the network is for the best when all is said and done. With crudely photoshopped promotional artwork, and a grating flowery color palette defining the Whittaker Era’s overall branding thus far... 
...it’s evident BBC still isn’t entirely in touch with this franchise - or with the fans who drive it. Multiple tone deaf teasers currently making the rounds have equally failed to instill unmitigated confidence. There's a sense of 'new' to be sure - but there's equally a vibe of the franchise facing the same network management issues which have dogged it for years, but slathered in a fresh, brighter, coat of paint.
Whatever the politics driving this fresh iteration of WHO, there's one almost comical truth which is difficult to escape: BBC revealing so little along the way may well be a better bet during this ramp up than the network saying all the wrong things, very likely in all the wrong ways. BBC's recent hammering of Peter Capaldi's era being a perfect example of this assertion. Evoking the line from James Cameron's THE ABYSS: 'Do me a favor - stay off my side.' Which brings us to 'the elephant in the room’: the Doctor’s gender swap. Personally, I have zero issue with the Doctor changing genders, or races. I think the show has set up this conceit, I think the show has earned this conceit, and I think…especially now…the show may need to lean into this conceit to both maintain relevance, and nurture further relevance. This said, I don’t think it would well serve either the show, or the ‘cause,’ to unduly dwell on such changes. Clearly, one can’t have a character who has been male for over five decades never, ever acknowledge that ‘he’ is now a ‘she’ - this would be ludicrous, confusing, omissive, and overkill. But, any consideration of the matter beyond a fleeting, cursory acknowledgment targeted towards a specific narrative end? Could well seem gimmicky and disingenuous and alienating. How efficiently, smartly, and genuinely, this gender swap is handled may well define the future perception of the Whittaker Era, and the show on the whole, for years to come. Here’s hoping Team Chibnall takes the wise, restrained, and self-confident path. Otherwise, a casting choice viewed by many as a significant step forward will ultimately ring as ‘cheesy’ - and as little more than not-entirely-demanded ‘Affirmative Action.’ In the grand scheme of things, such an unravelling would be a tragedy on a number of levels.
(some gallery content is deliberately repeated in a higher resolution form)
Welcome to Geeklecta’s first message board dedicated to DOCTOR WHO Season/Series 11. Check back each week for a new message board, each specifically dedicated to that week’s specific episode of the show. These will usually be brought online between Wednesday and Friday of every week.
If you’re a returning visitor? Welcome! We’re so glad you’re back, and we appreciate your joining us! If you’re new to the Geeklectica discussion boards? Join in! You are most welcome amongst a group of very learned, highly intelligent, hugely friendly, incredibly astute fans. Here you'll find some of the finest, perhaps the finest, WHO discussion to be found anywhere on the Internet. There is, however, on simple, wholly unbreakable Golden Rule here: 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. Geeklectica’s DOCTOR WHO S11 forums are now open for business! Enjoy the discussion! And, perhaps most importantly, enjoy the show! More next week…
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