This week brings us Wild Blue Yonder, the second of four Russell T. Davies' shepherded DOCTOR WHO Specials, which will be followed next week by the Neil Patrick Harris guest starring Giggle. Then, finally, on December 25th we'll go full-bore with 'new Doctor' Ncuti Gatwa for The Church on Ruby Road. 

It'll be interesting to see how Wild Blue Yonder pans out given that, of all the Specials, it's the installment we currently know least about. My personal theory is: Davies has indicated that a sizably noteworthy guest star will appear on the show at some point in the foreseeable future, in a critical scene. Given our lack of foreknowledge about this episode, which feels more constrictive than the standard highly secretive DOCTOR WHO information lockdown, I'm wondering if this is the episode in which said conjunction of 'big guest star' and 'critical moment' may occur. This is just  theory, though - although I think the reasoning behind my suspicion is logical. 

This said: is the "guest star" Davies was referring to the same individual straight-up spoiled by Gatwa HERE?  Or, might it also be (or be instead?) Ryan Gosling, whom all parties involved indicate is not only a tremendous fan of DOCTOR WHO in general - but is a substantial Gatwa proponent as well (the pair worked together on the BARBIE movie)?
​
​Or, none of the above? 

Last weekend's The Star Beast was hugely entertaining fair, superior in every regard to about 95% of the Chibnall Era (here I'm giving Chibs 5% credit here for his precious few deft moves).  

It was, however, tarnished by a sense of trying too hard, working too feverishly to be too  'spot on,' which subtly detracted from the naturalism we enjoyed throughout much of Davies' previous tuner as DW showrunner, and Moffatt's as well.  That this happened is understandable, as Davies & The Powers That Be were undoubtedly zeroing in on getting DOCTOR WHO back on track after the Chibnall fiasco, which does require no small degree of deliberateness.  Still, my personal hope is that Team Davies will step back, breathe a little, and let this current iteration of the show exist in its own space, instead of hustling and hustling to convince us that "DOCTOR WHO is back!" My read on this matter may be way off base, by the way. Just a hunch. 

Apropos of all of this are concerns regarding the graceless presentation of Yasmin Finney's Rose character.  The spin, and the commentary, surrounding her character's transgender identity (for me, at least) evoked a cautionary tale from the original STAR TREK series...one I feel is exceedingly applicable here.  I'm heavily paraphrasing, but specifics can quickly be found online...

At one point, fairly early in the run of the original STAR TREK, Nichelle Nichols wanted to leave the series because she didn't feel her character (Uhura) was being given enough to do.  Nichols encountered Martin Luther King at a function, who complimented her on her appearance on TREK (it wasn't common at that time to have characters of color interacting with white folks, much less high ranking white folks). She expressed to King that she was thinking of leaving TREK. King implored her not to do this, asking why she'd consider doing so. She indicated that she didn't feel she was being given enough to do on the show. King responded (again, paraphrased): 

"You've already won. You are already the example. You're a black woman sitting amongst an inter-racial crew, and no one on that show is thinking anything of it. It looks and feels normal. THAT is equality..." 

Sometimes victory looks like nothing more than whatever topic we're championing appearing to be a 'norm.' And not every accomplishment needs to come wrapped in  commentary. Sometimes, mere exemplification is aspirational. Strength often comes through illustration, not arguing and highlighting.  My hope is that DOCTOR WHO - and other shows, for that matter - can find it within themselves to carry this wiser and more measured sensibility forward, as opposed to approaching issues from an overbearing trajectory. The relationship between Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Culber (Wilson Cruz) on STAR TREK: DISCOVERY is a nearly perfect example of what narratives should aspire to: two men who are deeply in love - which is vividly illustrated throughout the series - and not a single eyebrow is raised on that show.  Not a single argument for legitimacy is made to the audience. They just ARE.  And it feels truthful, and beautiful.  And not arguing that it's normal makes it feel that much more natural. 

It'll be interesting to see how Davies proceeds in this regard, although I suspect we'll get more of a sledge hammer delivery, and a fierce double-down, than confident and elegant illustrations and demonstrations. 

Wild Blue Yonder is described thusly by BBC...

The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Donna to the furthest edge of adventure. To escape, they must face the most desperate fight of their lives, with the fate of the universe at stake.

Based on this snippet of image from the scant episode preview... 

...there's quite a bit of conjecture that the Doctor and Donna's TARDIS crash-lands inside of another TARDIS, which might give away for the guest appearance of a previous Doctor if true. Or...not.

Here's a longer iteration: 

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The Wild Blue Yonder discussion boards are now active. Pontificate, lament, conjecture, despise, etc.to your heart's content.  

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 DECEMBER 7 (EPISODE PREMIERES DECEMBER 9)

                                       DOCTOR WHO: GIGGLE

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Happy 60th Anniversary to DOCTOR WHO - the show that brought us all together in That Other Place, kept us together here, and made such an indelible imprint on pop culture and on the world in general.

The ride to this moment has been as unpredictable, sputtery, exciting, and as utterly strange and frustrating as the show itself; here's to many more years to come, especially if they're 'good' ones! 

The road to the show's future began last weekend with a Children in Need special that brought us our first full-on encounter with TennantDoctor 2.0.  Said encounter also controversially retconned Dalek creator Davros, transposing him from scungy, wheelchair-bound mutant-scum  to someone who's more or less an archetypical Space Nazi. 

The reasoning for said change was outlined by returning showrunner Russell T. Davies on DOCTOR WHO UNLEASHED, a somewhat more frivolous iteration of the lovely DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL insights which ran from 2005-2011...

Is the rationale for these changes reasonable? Overly reactionary? Do they make the character less interesting and a bit more mundane? And, might they - or might they not - forecast further retcons which might shake up the show unnecessarily, or blunt some of the edginess which has defined the show to date?  

We'll begin to find such answers with this week's installment, The Star Beast. It's the first installment of four "specials" that will continue with Wild Blue Yonder next week, and culminate with The Giggle the week after that. All of which will propel us into "Season 1" (announced not to be considered "Season 14") of 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatawa's journey as the character. The last special, and Gatwa's first full adventure as the Doctor, will transmit Christmas Day, and is called The Church on Ruby Road. You can catch a fleeting tease of Gatwa in action in this reel...

This week's The Star Beast is described thusly by BBC:

The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor’s old friend, Donna.

The episode features the live-action debut of the Meep, who made its first debut in a 1980 comic called DOCTOR WHO AND THE STAR BEAST. I've never read that comic, but my understanding is the little fucker is bad news. 

The discussions boards for The Star Beast are now open! The parameters for posting here remain simple and indelible:

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.

Welcome back to Geeklectica!

​And, welcome back, Doctor...

 
                 COMING NOVEMBER 30 (EPISODE PREMIERES DECEMBER 2)

                                     DOCTOR WHO: WILD BLUE YONDER 

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​Greetings, all!

Geeklectica's DOCTOR WHO discussion forums are alive, well, and eagerly anticipating the coming of the inimitable Russell T. Davies, who is returning after a 13-14 year absence. 

The nature of the show Davies will bring to bear this time around, and how Team Davies will (or won't) address some of the bumps and bruises inflicted on franchise mythology by previous show runner Chris Chibnall, is the million dollar question at the moment, alongside how Tennant's returning doctor will segue into the upcoming new Doctor Ncutti Gatwa. 

Tennant has indicated that his refreshed iteration of the Doctor won't be a carbon copy of the Doctor the got to know during RTD's original tenure as show runner. This is a logical and wise decision on both conceptual and narrative levels, although the notion of a different 'flavor' of Tennant Doctor is likely to ruffle the feathers of rigid fans who are clearly, perhaps erroneously, anticipating a speedy return to the previously established Tenant-Davies "Comfort Zone."  

Which circles back to the question posed above: what might we reasonablY expect from Russell T. Davies' Second Era (aka RTD2) as show runner?  While the ultimate outcome can't be, and, optimally, shouldn't be anticipated, a few factors spring to mind that might provide a few hints. 

1) 13/14 years is a very long time.  Davies is older, wiser, more experienced, more confident now than he was when he ran this show the first time around. The heartbeat and 'soul' of the show will likely, and should naturally, reflect such growth. 

2) Science fiction on television - on both a conceptual and production level - has changed considerably since RTD1. DOCTOR WHO will, one way or another, need to adjust to modern sensibilities and proclivities in order to remain relevant in the grand scheme of things, and amongst so much broad-thiking, well made competition.

Part of this will certainly pertain to the show's budget, which Davies has already indicated is not as dramatically enhanced as some initial reports lead the public to believe - but is fleshed out a bit to a comfortable and useful extent. But beyond the budget, RTD2 will have to exist with a particular mindset in terms of sociopolitical perspectives and narrative flexibilities and inventiveness to not seem "stodgy" or "passe." An example: if STAR TREK can crossover animated characters into live action setting, and offer full-on musical episodes to highly successful viewership numbers, this sets something of a bar for a show as inherently funky and gonzo as DOCTOR WHO, does it not?

3). In the same way the above factors have evolved and changed since RTD1, viewers have morphed as well, in sometimes difficult and petulant ways to be sure.  But fans of many franchises have also demonstrated considerable ability to accept "out of the box" thinking - even if begrudgingly so. Again: RTD2 will have to accommodate, and answer, this growth. 

​Things, simply, are not the way they used to be. 

All of this points to one natural, perhaps even obvious,  conclusion: it's easy, perhaps even 'exciting' to have RTD around again, because we know how he thinks, we know he CAN think, and we have a sense of what qualities he'll bring to the table. But: it may be foolish to expect him to do the same exact thing the second time around, as doing so would be dull and damaging to the franchise, and disingenuous to how all involved - and the world around them - have changed since the halcyon days 0f 2005+. And, at the end, it would simply be impractical. Things can't be the same. The show shouldn't be the same. Which is borne out by THIS quote from RTD: 

"There are things coming up that are brand new ways of telling stories that have never been done before, so it just feels new – I wouldn't have gone back if it wasn't feeling new..." 

                         !! IMAGE GALLERY COMING TO THIS SPACE SOON !!

 

​For my money: I'm excited for RTD2 not becauseI I crave the familiar, but because many of the same people involved with a really great show that ran from 2005-2010 are back to give us a fresh take and a new spin on material they clearly love and, above all, understand.  And I want to have that experience. I think we'll get a DOCTOR WHO iteration that is at once imminently familiar, in an effort to fold back in those alienated  by Chris Chibnall's shenanigans- but I also think we'll see that same comfortable familiarity hybridized with very necessary boundary pushing and fresh-feeling forward-think. 

​Which segues into THIS interesting piece about how the RTD2  Era came together, which is sweet and fun in one way, but frustrating and alarming in another. Seems Davies' return to the show was not some "Oh my God, come save us!" maneuver by BBC, or some impassioned, Machiavellian plot by Team Davies to reclaim the throne. Rather, it all fell into place somewhat happenstantially. Which, while I'm glad that it ultimately did so, somewhat diffuses the sense of "strategic genius" surrounding the initial announcements of Davies' return.  So Davies just asked about what BBC's plans were, and BBC took the bait because it didn't really have any other plans.  Ah, well...perhaps some thing truly never change. 
​

Some interesting and recent developments: 

** Ncutti Gatwa's upcoming launch episodes will not be referred to as "Sesason 14" of the show (counting from post 2005).  Instead, we're back to "Season 1." So says THIS article.

** Our first look at Tennant's new Doctor iteration will come November 17 via a Children in Need broadcast. More HERE. This is one week-ish before RTD2's official launch. 

** Davies will not re-write or adjust Chibnall's 'Timeless Children' origin for the Doctor, per a piece in SFX synopsized HERE. Personally, I'd rather see it neutralized, as I felt the notion was disruptive, daffy, and unproductive. But, I fully understand the impulse to not get bogged down tackling doing so - given limited screen time and resources - when, realistically,  the concept doesn't ever have to be revisited again. 

**The Daleks episode from 1963 will be rebroadcast (yay!) in a colorized form (boo!).  This will release on November 23, two days ahead of RTD2's premiere. 

**The forthcoming "60th Anniversary Specials" (the new Tennant episodes) are already up for preorder on Amazon UK.  Standard packaging HERE, with Steelbook packaging HERE.

Product description: 

Includes all 3 of the 60th Anniversary Specials, as well as additional extra content.

The Star Beast

Wild Blue Yonder
​
The Giggle

Starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and companion Catherine Tate returning as fan-favourite Donna Noble. Guest stars include Neil Patrick-Harris, Yasmin Finney, Aneurin Barnard, Jemma Redgrave and many more.

​Exclusive to the 60th Anniversary specials release: 

Rachel Talalay's Scene Breakdown

Chanya Button's Scene Breakdown

Tom Kingsley's Scene Breakdown

Special Features: 

The Star Beast Behind The Scenes

The Fourteenth Doctor Reveal

Wild Blue Yonder Behind The Scenes

The Giggle Behind The Scenes

The Giggle In-vision Commentary

The Star Beast In-vision Commentary

David and Catherine's Flashbacks

Yasmin Finney Introduces Rose Noble

Designing the Fourteenth Doctor

Set Tour with Yasmin Finney

The Star Beast - Behind The Scenes Trailer

Wild Blue Yonder - Behind The Scenes Trailer

The Giggle - Behind The Scenes Trailer

The Cast Introduce the Villains in 'Wild Blue Yonder'

Behind The Scenes Fun with David and Catherine

Video Diary with David Tennant's Stand-in

TARDIS Set Tour with David Tennant and Phil Sims

Ruth Madeley Introduces Shirley Bingham

Neil Patrick Harris Introduces the Toymaker

Becoming the Toymaker

60th Specials Recap with David Tennant

So, now we're off and running into the RTD2 Era, and quickly careening toward the 60th Anniversary Specials, and Season 14...err...SEASON 1! 

The rules here remain the same: 

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.

If this is your first time here - feel free to either partake from afar, or participate. This is very much a 'safe space.'

If you're returning for more fun?  Welcome back, we're so glad you're with us!  

And, to all, enjoy! 
​

        

COMING NOVEMBER 23 
   (EPISODE PREMIERES NOVEMBER 25)

            DOCTOR WHO: THE STAR BEAST  

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​This weekend brings us to the end of the Jodi Whittaker / Chris Chibnall era (herein 'WhittaChibs').  

This was, arguably, DOCTOR WHO's most divisive and problematic era ev-ah.  

Whereas the late-stage Seasons/Series of the show's original 1963-1989 run were often seen as clunky, silly, and sometimes uninvested - that run as a whole still managed to generate not only memorable and iconic moments, but a number of discussion worthy stories ('discussion worthy' in a good way).  

During WhittaChibs, however, the opposite was often at play: many of its key storylines convoluted the show's mythology, most were generally flat, unremarkable, or indistinctive, and a great number of them were energetically unengaging.  

At the beginning of Whittaker's run, the greatest concern and controversy facing the show in the eyes of many fans was 'the casting of a female Doctor.'  It's a bit sad, and rather telling, that so much public and media concern about the gender of the lead was expended while overlooking a far more fundamental matter:' what if the show simply fails to work, no matter who is cast in it?'  A consideration only a few dared to ponder at the time, but a point of conversation which quickly rose to the forefront of many discussions of WhittaChibs.  Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here regarding how fandom regards, or doesn't regard, beloved properties.  Perhaps that lesson won't be fully understood until the proverbial dust has settled and retrospect has set in.  

WhittaChibs did bring around a few gems: 

** Sacha Dhawan's casting as 'the Master' was inspired, charismatic, and he easily upstaged everyone around him.  He was wasted as a Master, and should've been a Doctor.  

** Jo Martin as 'Fugitive Doctor' was equally charismatic and iconic, even if the presence of her character was confusing and disruptive.  Paradoxically, Martin's charisma suggested potential for a 'female Doctor' which was largely unmet by Whittaker herself.  

 ** John Bishop's 'Dan Lewis' ranks high among the show's 'best ever' companions.  So much so that his quality and gravity sometimes felt at odds with the comparatively slight and tatty proceedings around him.  It's a reasonably safe bet incoming show runner Russell T. Davies won't be recalling too many elements of Chris Chibnall's often bewildering run.  But if he does, I hope it's through a revisitation of Dan/Bishop. 

** Flux represented the kind of ambitious, bold, unhinged 'big swings' contemporary DOCTOR WHO should be taking, and was often sleeker, bolder, and more enjoyable than a majority of WhittaChibs.  It ultimately spun apart under the weight of Chibnall's predictable inability to stick a landing, and was often not supported by its budget.  But it was at least inching toward the kind of  'outside of the box' and interesting storytelling which might have, in greater quantities, better justified the existence of WhittaChib. 

** Eve of the Daleks was one of the few WhittaChibs episodes that, for want of a better descriptor, felt like DOCTOR WHO.  It was not remarkable, per se, but it was fun, solid, a little classy, and ingeniously utilized a restrictive setting to wild and imaginative results.  More like this one might've swayed the opinions of many who were drifting from the show.

The state of DOCTOR WHO is a bit messy at the moment, and we stand at the precipice of great transition.  We're on the way to a 'new Doctor' - Ncuti Gatwa - but it's not clear if he'll even appear in The Power of the Doctor, this weekend's 'regeneration special.'  Gatwa is certainly a possibility, but it's also feasible Whittaker may not regenerate directly into him, detouring back to David Tennant, who is returning to the show in a fashion and capacity that has yet to be explained.  It's conceivable regeneration itself may take on some new dimension we've yet to intuit.  The only indicators we've had thus far is that this regeneration will be different from others, and that some element of it will evoke Reichenbach Falls.  Both of which are rather interesting teases.  Kind of telling and symbolic that the WhittaChib Era is at its most compelling when its on its way out. ​​

With Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner, the insertion of both a previous and new Doctor into the mix, BBC's diminished input into the show and Bad Wolf/Sony's increased authority, whatever happens next on DW will be fascinating to behold - no matter what the end result.  Geeklectica forums will continue as always, beginning in a few weeks with a standing 'Road to RTD2' forum which will ultimately give way to episode specific forums for the new Davies Era.  

The rules are now as they have always been, and will continue to be: 
​

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 weekend brings us Legend of the Sea Devils, introduced in 1972 in the Pertwee Era The Sea Devils, and last seen in 1984's Davison Era Warriors of the Deep.  

Scripted by Ella Road and Chris Chibnall, this installment - Per Chibnall - is described thusly: 

"Madam Ching is on a mission to track down the lost treasure of the Flor de la Mar, a ship that may have been washed up in the waters around the area where we start the story...She unleashes a terrifying evil that the Doctor has to help everyone deal with."
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Some of these promos images suggest this one might have some nice production design / production value.  'Twould be lovely and fun if so, despite the Chibness of it all...

Somewhat off topic, but worthy of note all the same: 

DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS' INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. are both being released on 4K UHD in a few months - these are the Peter Cushing starring 1965 and 1966 films which serve as something of a reimagining of 'the Doctor' character, wrapped by decidedly Dalek-centric stories.  These don't register as 'alternate universe' iterations of the Doctor/Dalek mythologies - more as 'reimaginings' or 'reinterpretations.'  

If memory serves, the 1965 film is impressively colorful in a strangely stagey/Broadway sorta way - and the 1966 film is surprisingly 'real-world' and gritty. Both should make for excellent 4K masterings and presentations I should think.  These two releases mark only the second and third issuance of DOCTOR WHO titles on 4K UHD, the only other at this time being 2017's Twice Upon a Time Christmas Special.  

Here are images of both the collector's sets and the steenbok releases.  BOTE that they are disparate releases - i.e. the steelbook designs don't come in the collector's sets and are different purchases/offerings. 

Here are some links - there may well be others out there: 

ZAVVI U.S.

DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS COLLECTOR'S SET 

INVASION EARTH COLLECTOR'S SET  

DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS STEELBOOK 

INVASION EARTH STEELBOOK 

Can also be ordered on Zavvi UK. 

NOTE: if ordering through Zavvi - which is a reliable and trusted site in my experience - you may need to process your order through Chrome or some other browser, as the Zavvi sites don't always play well with Apple's Safari. 


AMAZON U.K.

DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEKS Collector's Set 
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INVASION EARTH Collector's Set 

And with this, our first new DOCTOR WHO discussion thread since December 2021 is ready to receive you!  

The rules remain as they always have been: 

​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!!! 
​

The weekend brings us Eve of the Daleks, the penultimate story in showrunner Chris Chibnall's tenure on DOCTOR WHO.  It will also mark the second-to-last appearance of star Jodie Whittaker as series lead - before the whole kit and cawhodle is returned, battered and bruised, to Eccleston/Tennant Era showrunner Russell T. Davies. 

Eve is described thusly by BBC:

Sarah (Aisling Bea) owns and runs ELF storage, and Nick (Adjani Salmon) is a customer who visits his unit every year on New Year’s Eve. This year, however, their night turns out to be a little different than planned as they find themselves joining forces with the Doctor, Dan and Yaz in a fight against the Daleks.  
​
This installment marks to first directorial appearance of Annetta Laufer in the DOCTOR WHO universe.

​ If iMDB is to be believed, Eve also represents her first full-on directing assignment anywhere (she  is credited with having directed a number of short films in the past).  

Is this a bad thing?  

Not intrinsically, no. Historically some amazing work has been done by 'newbie' directors, and especially directors fresh to franchises (the history of STAR TREK shows many examples of this).   In a strange way, her unusual background and current status here may actually be one of the most compelling elements of this episode.

​An interesting side note: The Powers That Be have behaved in even odder fashions than usual regarding recent DOCTOR WHO installments.  For example: promotional images from Flux were far fewer and further between than any previous iteration of recent WHO.  The same is proving to be the case with Eve of the Daleks.  A quick glance at BBC's Official DOCTOR WHO Gallery shows no image updates since The Timeless Children (back in February 2020).  Images from Flux, released elsewhere, are nowhere to be see on BBC's site (and only a smattering appeared on BBCA's site pre show launch).  

It would be easy to assume COVID impacted this to a degree.  But, on the other hand, plenty of COVID Era shows are releasing as many promotional images as Saul - if not more than usual.  And,. there were some Flux images released...so it's hard to discern exactly what's going on with DW at the moment.  Perhaps BBC has simply grown weary of trying to keep the ball on the playing field while Chibnall is effectively making every effort to drop it.  Perhaps BBC is passively-aggressively reacting to the recent migration of control and power of the franchise show to RTD and Bad Wolf/Sony, and away from BBC altogether.  Or, perhaps the explanation is far more mundane.  It is a strange and notable trend nonetheless.  

By the way, if I'm missing something (like: if the Flux and Eve images are simply somewhere on BBC's site), by all means correct me/point it out.

Meanwhile...The Eve of the Daleks discussion is ready to go!  We'll be back in a few days to launch with a 'Long Haul' Discussion to bridge us to the last Chibnall/Whittaker installment ever- and the beginning of the RTD2 Era!  

By the way: RTD has recently indicated he is already scripting his new WHO iteration, that casting is just beginning, and that his reworking will appear in November 2023 - for the series' 60th anniversary.  More HERE! 

Happy New Year, everyone!  Here's to the Good Things - they are still out there.  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.

MORE TO COME NEXT YEAR!! 

This weekend brings us to the conclusion of FLUX, showrunner Chris Chibnall's six installment maxi-tale effectively serving as DOCTOR WHO's 13th Season - and the last full season for Chibnall and current doctor Jodie Whittaker. 

The road to The Vanquishers (this weekend's episode) has been largely entertaining - while uneven at best.  Nonetheless, given the overall vibe of FLUX, it's hard not to wonder why this level of showmanship has not been evident across the duration of Chibnall's reign.  Will this kinda-sorta-positive trend continue in Vanquishers? 

​The episode's described thusly by BBC: 

In the final epic chapter in the story of the Flux, all hope is lost. The forces of darkness are in control. But when the monsters have won, who can you count upon to save the universe?

"But when the monsters have won, who can you count upon to save the universe?..." I'll go ahead and suggest Russell T. Davies may well be the answer to that question, but who knows? 

The Vanquishers discussion thread is now live.  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 JANUARY 1:  

Eve of the Daleks 
​

So here we are are at the penultimate episode of FLUX.  

Thus far, the road through S13 has been rocky at best, with some 'hits' and far more  'misses,' although the whole of the affair has generally felt far more entertaining than any of the WHO storytelling we've gotten from Showrunner Chris Chibnall up to this point in his tenure. 

Last week's Village of the Angels proved no exception, offering largely 'enjoyable' fare  that sometimes ruffled its better qualities with (very Chubby) convolutions, and dodgy-at-best logic.  

Performances were largely interesting and invested, Whittaker once again proving the exception here. There's an irony to Whittaker's presence: in the episodes in which Chibs actually brings to bear stronger production qualities, Whittaker feels even more sleight and out-classed than she regularly does on the show.  Suggesting there's really no way to win with her in place. 

Robin Whenary's photography for this episode was top notch - classy and atmospheric. I'd argue that this was among the better-shot DW episodes in a very long time. 

Joel Skinner's editing was taut throughout, lending even Village's slowest sequences a pop and crispness which has been much needed in the Chibs Era across the board.  Compared to some recent episodes, visual effects were agreeably solid to excellent - and were, above all, relatively consistent.  

On the whole, Village of the Angels was an atypical well-made installment for the Chibs Era, suggesting a level of shiny finish that makes one wonder why this level of quality control hasn't bee present all along.  In episodes like War of the Sontarans and Village of the Angels, we're seeing DW produced with a keen eye towards 'keeping up with the joneses' in terms of style and execution - closing that sometimes abyssal gap between DW and (admitted more robustly financed) shows like the current TREK fare, or THE EXPANSE.  Yet, the question again remains: why does this only happen sometimes in the Chibs Era?  It's hard not to image the answer to that question, at the end of the day, simply comes down to one word: Chibs. 

So - it was imperfect and hinky in terms of landing some of its broader notions. BUT - it was fun...and had a good laugh or two (Peggy's reaction to her grandfather's disintegration is gold).   And if 'fun' is the best we can manage during the Chibs Era?  I'll happily take that - as much of Whittaker's run has been anything but. 

With this...onward!  The Survivors of the Flux discussion forum awaits! 

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:  

The Vanquishers 
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Last week's Twice, Upon Time marked a tragic (but rather expected) backpedaling of quality, not coming even vaguely close to equaling the remarkably solid War of the Sontarans which preceded it.  

Star Jodie Whittaker again flolloped about in her role - this time literally - in sequences involving astonishingly poor visual effects as her Doctor flapped and flailed about in air suspended by dodgy wirework. In a healthy production, no one associated with these sequences should've looked at those effects and truly felt they were in any way adequate. But, somehow, they got passed through.  Which, really, sums up the situation with current WHO in a nutshell.  

Storylines were muddled, tones were inconsistent and confused, and the clarity of vision which had been brought so forcefully to bear in War of the Sontarans was nowhere to be seen.  And, once again, the WhittaDoc was substantially upstaged by new 'companion' John Bishop - whose very presence makes an argument for his Dan Lewis character deserving a show far better than the one currently wrapped around him.  Bishop's Dan Lewis could anchor his own show - and is trying to anchor this one - a dynamic almost embarrassingly accentuating Whittaker's general lack of gravity and command of her role. 

One would be tempted to say something caddy like "It was back to business as usual..." - but Once's inadequacy stung just a little bit more than the average Chibnall Era DOCTOR WHO given how thoroughly it dispelled the good will and (and admittedly desperate hopes) which had been extended towards it in the slipstream of War. 

Given the exhaustingly 'up and down' nature of FLUX thus far, the biggest question that can be asked going into Village of the Angels is: 'What flavor of Chibs will we get this week?' 

Village is described thusly by BBC: 

Devon, November 1967. A little girl has gone missing. Professor Eustacius Jericho is conducting psychic experiments. And in the village graveyard, there is one gravestone too many. Why is Medderton known as “The Cursed Village”? And what do the Weeping Angels want?

And with that, we're off!  The Village of the Angels awaits your commentary, theorizing, dissection, admiration, pummeling, love, derision, and bewilderment.  As always...
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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:  

Survivors of the Flux 
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