Can You Hear Me? emerged as a enjoyable-to-solid affair, with a few nice moves peppered throughout.
WhittaDoc's Asperger-y dismissal of Graham's heart-to-heart regarding his (possibly recurring) cancer was a potent and unexpected moment, and one of the few times in the Chibnall Era either Whittaker, or the show in general, felt in any way plugged into the essence of what makes the 'Doctor' character so deeply interesting and special. A bold and smart move which, naturally and unfortunately, resulted in Team Chibs getting quickly smacked down (thus not rewarded for their effort). Boooo mamby, pampy fans! Far be it from me to argue for giving Chris Chibnall any kind of 'break' these days. But...Jesus, folks. Despite a number of redeeming qualities, CYHM? wasn't solid enough to roundly convince that either S12, or the show in general, is comfortably back on track after S11's decidedly lackluster run, and S12's herky-jerky stumblethon. A daunting, stress-inducing undertaking which continues this week with The Haunting of Villa Diodati.
[I love this pic! ?]
Directed by Can You Hear Me?'s Emma Sullivan, and scripted by Maxine Alderton (ITV's EMMERDALE), Haunting is described thusly by The Powers That Be... “Nobody mention Frankenstein. Nobody interfere. Nobody snog Byron.” Should be easy right? The Doctor and gang arrive at the Villa Diodati, Lake Geneva, in 1816 – on a night that inspired Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The plan is to spend the evening soaking up the atmos in the presence of some literary greats – but the ghosts are all too real. And the Doctor is forced into a decision of earth-shattering proportions… Haunting represents the last 'regular' episode of this run before the much ballyhooed Season / Series enders Ascension of the Cybermen and The Timeless Children. Spots like this, currently in heavy rotation on BBC America, assert that 'What's still to come will change everything.'
Whatever that means. What does that mean? Could be pretty cool. But, given the overall trajectory of S11 and S12, I'm kinda thinking there's fuckery ahead for those who've struggled to accept the tenor, energy ,and conceptualization of the Chibnall Era to date.
This said, Chibnall has, legitimately, swung big and landed a few legitimately honorable hits in S12. So, maybe he's up to slam-dunking a big payoff? If it goes catawampus, remember that I did say 'maybe...'
Welcome to The Haunting of Villa Diodati discussion forum. Dive in, have fun.
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 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23: Ascension of the Cybermen
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Welcome to the weekly meeting of the Chibnall Era Support and Recovery Society.
I'm Glen. (GROUP: Hiiiii, Glen!) If Season /Series 12 of DOCTOR WHO has taught us anything, it's that reigning showrunner Chris Chibnall struggles tremendously with consistency and thematic delivery. Or, he simply doesn't care to foster 'baseline consistency.' Or, perhaps some combination therein... (?) Episodes like Spyfall Part One and Fugitive of the Judoon vividly illustrate that he is more than capable of landing material which is deft, impressive, and compelling by a number of measures. Sadly, episodes like Orphan 55 and Praxeus reveal an alternate Chibnall: a creator alarmingly at home flopping around in a fanficy, Middle School-level grabbag of disjointed conceptualization and clumsily conceived storytelling. As often as not, he appears more than happy to actualize tales whose lazy ineffectualness roundly and systematically undermines whatever quality uptick (and commensurate good will from the DW fan base) was previously gained by stronger episodes. As much as some decry Chibnall to be an 'enemy' of DOCTOR WHO, in S12 he is emerging as a showrunner who is also his own worst enemy. There's nothing more frustrating, nothing more dangerous to a show, than a showrunner who clearly knows what quality is...yet doesn't reach for it, or even establish a reliable, relatable personality for his or her show...on a regular basis. This has been occurring throughout S12, and occurred again with last Sunday's Praxeus. It is my contention that the cost of his inconsistent, languid stewardship are viewership numbers which fluctuate at best, but have also seen recent, precipitous declines. With Praxeus, director Jamie Magnus Stone retuned to the show (having previously helmed the superior and aforementioned Spyfall Part One), doing his best to bolster a lackadaisical and conspicuously anorexic script by injecting a modicum of style and editorial propulsion into otherwise stayed proceedings. The results on the directorial front were mixed-but-admirabl. But in all fairness, even the strongest helmer would not be able to sufficiently compensate for a script in which 1) nothing really happens, and 2) messaging blasts forth with such utter gracelessness (a Chibnall trend denoting his lack of faith in his audience's ability to grock more understated delivery). Leaving us with another middle-of-the-road episode whose only macro narrative takeaway was an inescapable sense that, in S12, we're chiefly sitting around waiting for Bradley Walsh's Graham and Tosin Cole's Ryan to (from all appearances) exit the show. And kinda wishing they'd get on with it...as they're both hugely gifted actors deserving of far stronger material than they're being given here. What flavor of Chibnall will we get with this week's Can You Hear Me? Helmed by Emma Sullivan (known chiefly for BBC's DOCTORS), and co-scripted by Chibnall and Charlene James (A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and BBC 4's SNATCHES: MOMENTS FROM WOMEN'S LIVES), Can you Hear Me? is described thusly by The Powers That Be: From ancient Syria to present-day Sheffield and out into the wilds of space, something is stalking the Doctor and her friends… As Graham, Yaz and Ryan return home to see friends and family, they find themselves haunted by very different experiences. Who is the figure calling from beyond the stars for help, and why? And what are the fearsome Chagaskas terrorising Aleppo in 1380? To find the answers, Team TARDIS must embark on a mission which forces them to face their darkest fears.
S12's trend of far better than average promotional images continues this week, highlights being a lovely shot of Walsh's Graham, and of Whittaker and TARDIS.
So on we go, deeper into what may well be remembered as DOCTOR WHO's most polarizing, and bi-polar, Series/Season to date.
Discuss! 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 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16: The Haunting of Villa Diodati What a difference one week makes... Fugitive of the Judoon threw viewers a whopping curveball on Sunday with the introduction of Jo Martin's 'Doctor' character, and her freakin' gorgeous TARDIS.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall quickly took to media to assure viewers that Martin's Doctor is 'real' and not some parallel universe facsimile, or whatnot. Giving rise to fervent hypothesizing amongst both casual and longtime viewers, who...oif the tenor of message boards is any indication, are currently more engaged with the show than they have been min years.
Come what may, love it or hate it, it's a compelling and provocative turn of events which represents the first 'big swing' Team Chibnall has made on this show to date. The move sports a decidedly Moffat / Davies vibe, a comforting turn of events given the lackluster blather which has thus far characterized most of S11, and to a far lesser degree, S12.
The Martin reveal, coupled with the unexpected but hugely welcomed surprise appearance of John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness, was more than enough to send viewers' heads spinning.
It's important, perhaps critically important here in fact, to pay credit where credit is due: 1). Hats off to Chibs for going 'big' when, to date, he appeared to have been thinking so very small. And, without any doubt or reservation, vast respect is in order to helmer Nida Manzoor and co-scripter Vinay Patel for forging an episode which was... 2) Highly amusing and briskly paced on its own merits, and... 3) Largely among the better DOCTOR WHO episodes we've had in some time. Will this upward trend of episodes which are at least 'interesting' continue with Praxeus? To what extent will the whack-a-doodle strands introduced in Fugitive carry over into this week's adventure (or the rest of this Series / Season, for that matter)? Are Martin's 'Doctor' and Harkness' apparent plight being queued up for payoff by the end of S12? Or are they part of a more protracted game? Perhaps they're instrumental to the macro '5 year plan' Chibnall has claimed to be working with? Many questions, many theories. And while uncertainty and discomfort are certainly prevalent given Team Chibs' markedly lackluster stumbling to date, it's...highly agreeable...to finally be able to talk about DOCTOR WHO as if it's a real show again. And regarding it with a show which, after such a floppy start, just may remain a show with something to do, and something to say. Fingers crossed the foundations of this path will only strengthen as we move tentatively into the second half of S12. This week's Praxeus sees the return of Jamie Magnus Stone to DOCTOR WHO; he preformed admirably with S12's opener, Spyfall, so presumably our chances of seeing solid work out of him this week are at least reasonable. Kerblam!'s Pete McTighe is co-scripting along with Chibnall. This is interesting as Chibnall also shared writing credit on Fugitive - potentially implying further canon/arc related material may well be infused into Praxeus.
The Praxeus discussion forums are now online! One simple indelible rule applies:
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. Enjoy! Fingers crossed. And, onward! Always onward... COMING SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9: Can You Hear Me? This week brings us the shamelessly, simply titled Fugitive of the Judoon, which in all likelihood will involve a fugitive of some sort, and definitely features the welcomed return of long-standing DW antagonists, the Judoon. This installment also serves as a half-way marker for Season / Series 12, which BBC has noted with a sizzle reel pimping upcoming adventures.
When weighed as a whole, Series / Season 12 has fared quite a bit better than S11, while still falling short of a comfortable or reliable baseline in terms of either storytelling or presentational quality. Directorial energy, editorial cadence, and wisdom in scripting are still all over the place here, and an nerving sense of 'waiting for the other shoe to fall' prevails.
This said, there does seem to be consistent effort being expended to course correct a few of S11's more egregious waverings. Such efforts should never be taken for granted in situations like this, given the economies and egos invariably surrounding the making of any show. So, hats off to...whomever...for at least trying. But are such efforts arriving too late to stem the show's wavering, but continuing, bleed of viewers? Fugitive of the Judoon is helmed by Nida Manzoor, whose directing of last week's Nikola Tessla's Night of Terror ranged from serviceable to commendable (skewing towards the later). Vinjay Patel, who last season scripted S11's Demons of the Punjab, is writing. I wasn't as in love with Punjab as many out there seem to be; I found its premise compelling and well on the way to being worthy, but felt it lacked supporting historical context to earn the dramatic impact it was clearly reaching for. Hopefully Fugitive will be more well rounded.
On a related note: as an accessory to last week's Tesla episode, BBC has issued a 33 minute reel featuring the Doctor's previous encounters with personages of historical significance.
At face value, the assemblage itself is a tad lazy.
On the flip side: Since the beginning of the Chibs/Whittaker Era, The Powers That Be on current DOCTOR WHO have effectively marginalized (or sidelined) the 'past' of the show. Its history, both in real world and in terms of canon, have been scantly referenced, and even maligned on a few occasions (within the context of Whittaker episodes, and in a few interviews/press statements). This new reel represents The Powers That Be's most pointed and open acknowledgment of the show's background since the Chibs/Whitaker Era began, which is noteworthy at the very least. Is this a case of a 'need to inform' giving rise to begrudging recognition? Or, are we witnessing the beginning of a much-needed walkback of the historical revisionism which has subtly, but pointedly, characterized the Chibs/Whittaker Era to date? It'll be interesting to see where this goes, if anywhere. Or what this means in the bigger picture, if anything. Behold the Fugitive of the Judoon reader-reaction-talky-thing! For it is now active, and awaiting your horny input! Wait, that sounded wrong... 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 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2: Praxeus Last week brought us Orphan 55. Much like Spyfall Part Two before it, Orphan towed the line well enough, but still fell far short of resounding success. Series lead Jodie Whittaker, who has yet to truly demonstrate 'command presence' as the Doctor, is feeling increasingly less invested in her role as her tenure continues. Her lackadaisical approach to characterization considerably amplifies the shortcomings of serviceable-at-best directing from helmers like Orphan's Lee Haven-Jones, whose work on this show to date has proven neither shoddy nor bolstering. Resulting in a frustratingly, sometimes staggeringly 'middle-of-the-road' approach to storytelling which smells like it's driven by a production team bent on merely getting things done, as opposed to generating a brand of storytelling which is either noteworthy, progressive, or engaging. Despite Orphan's floppiness, and factoring out the embarrassing, pedestrian messaging clouding its final moments, the episode upheld the trembly, awkward trend of DW S12 feeling 'improved' over S11. Will the trend continue with this week's Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror? It's described thusly by BBC: It is 1903 and on the edge of Niagara Falls, something is wrong at Nikola Tesla’s generator plant, where someone – or something – is sabotaging the maverick inventor’s work. Has Tesla really received a message from Mars? And where does his great rival Thomas Edison fit into these events? The Doctor and her companions Yaz, Ryan and Graham must join forces with one of history’s greatest minds to save both him and planet Earth. Nida Manzoor directs, whose credits chiefly consist of ENTERPRICE, a brief comedy-drama transmitted by BBC Three a few years back. It's written by Nina Metivier, a writer/producer of a BAFTA winning CBBC children's show called DIXI. Metivier also served as a script editor for The Woman Who Fell to Earth and It Takes You Away for DW last Season / Series.
Will Team Chibs at least stay the unremarkable course they've thus far set this Series / Season? Or will S12, which currently feels as if it's on uneven footing at best, revert to the the roundly clunky, doggedly primal state we were forced to contend with though much of S11?
On to discussion! 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 SUNDAY JANUARY 26: Fugitive of the Judoon While Spyfall Part Two never came close to rising to the clarity, confidence, energy or overall competence of Part One, it nonetheless ranked above a majority of S11 entries. Representing a tenuous (but not altogether satisfying) overall uptick in quality over Whittaker's introductory year. So far, at least. Will this uncomfortably rickety restorative trend continue with this week's Orphan 55? The episode is described thusly by BBC: Having decided that everyone could do with a holiday, the Doctor takes Graham, Yasmin, Ryan to a luxury resort for a spot of rest and relaxation. However, they discover the place where they are having a break is hiding a number of deadly secrets. What are the ferocious monsters that are attacking Tranquillity Spa? Is it feasible said 'ferocious monsters' may turn out to be a Chib Era revisitation of classic DOCTOR WHO nemeses? The Doctor has, in the past, grappled with the completely sucky Zygons...
(see what I did there?)
...and we know that S12 will feature a number of 'classic' DOCTOR WHO baddies...and promo images for this week's story feature what, to my eyes, may well be a Zygon Dong (perhaps abbreviated as Zydong?)
I'm not sure how seriously I actually am when positing this theory. And the fact that I'm not sure how serious I am is likely troubling in itself when weighed objectively.
Lee Haven Jones, whose workmanlike mediocrity dragged down Spyfall Part Two a bit, returns to helm Orphan 55. This week's adventure is scripted by Ed Hime, wrote It Takes You Away back in S11.
With this, the Orphan 55 reader reaction is now operational.
I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all of our beloved and amazing 'regulars', and as tip my hat to anyone who remains lurking in the great cyber-ether - and I do believe you're out there! 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 SUNDAY JANUARY 12:
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror January 1st brought us an unexpectedly strong Season / Series premiere in Spyfall Part One - an episode which confusingly, paradoxically illustrated Chris Chibnall's hitherto unrealized potential as DOCTOR WHO showrunner, while also highlighting the relative ineffectualness of series lead Jodie Whittaker. Is Whittaker up to anchoring a show which could theoretically end up feeling more energized and robust than her own lead performance to date? Based on Spyfall Part One - arguably the most 'DOCTOR WHOish' episode of Chibnall's rein thus far - the answer would seem to be 'no.' However, part of me would like to be believe that Chibnall's chief efforts are, for the moment, oriented towards fixing a show which was in many regards inadequate and even 'broken' during much of its previous Series / Season. Perhaps once such issues have been reliably smoothed out, more attention will be paid to refining Whittaker's sometimes bewildering and mushy performance? Come what may, Spyfall Part One - based on general reviews and substantive social media feedback - seems to have gifted those skeptical of the Chibnall era the possibility of hope. The hope that maybe Team Chibs may finally be pulling their act together. The hope that Team Chibs actually has an act to pull together at all. Evaluating Part One is a tricky proposition, as it must be considered on several complex and intertwined fronts. Chief among them: 1) does the episode work on its own merits? And, 2) how does Spyfall look, sound, and feel when weighed against the majority of S11 episodes (a majority of which felt strangely tepid and clunky when compared to the Davies and Moffat eras). The answer is: as an episode in itself, Part One worked quite nicely. And some of what made it work very directly informs the answer to Question # 2. Editorial pacing and crispness was turned up a few notches when compared to S11's more languid ethos; even scenes which ran the risk of dragging felt agreeably concise and breezy. The score from S11's Segun Akinola is far more robust and narratively consequential than a majority of S11's music - less ambient and utilized more for drive, scale, and effect here. Cinematography - while still far from rising to the levels of shows like WATCHMEN, the new TREK series, or THE EXPANSE - was also afforded greater consideration. This installment of DOCTOR WHO didn't exactly 'feel like a movie ' (as Chibnall had promised before S11's arrival), but it <I>did</I> feel more in the wheelhouse what we'd come to expect given the current market place. Which pretty much sums up Spyfall Part One in a nutshell. While a few cringe worthy moments felt discordant with the material around them (those motorcycles...)
...the whole of the affair felt tonally and energetically consistent throughout. Part One even managed to stick its landing with an admirably 'WTF?!' conclusion - a reveal which reports indicate will resonate throughout this Series / Season.
Spyfall Part One felt as if The Powers That Be have walked back some of presentational changes which rendered S11 so profoundly problematic. The result is an episode which felt 'different' from the Seasons / Series that had come before. But...unlike much of S11...also felt vastly more respectful of the energy, style, and 'vibe' which was developed so carefully over the years by previous showrunners Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat. As I suggested in a text message to a good friend, Part One felt like the show many of us were expecting to get - or al least felt might be possible - when Whittaker's Doctor debuted last year. Considering the roundly ineffectual nature of S11 on the whole, it's going to take more than one episode of S12 to ascertain whether Spyfall Part One was a freakish one-off, or whether BBC & Team Chibnall have actually learned some much-needed lessons regarding respecting the accomplishments and 'world building' of DW's previous show runners. Spyfall Part Two should be quite telling, as it is driven by a different director than Part One. Jamie Magnus Stone directed Part One (and will return for the two episodes which close S12), while Lee Haven Jones takes the reins for Spyfall Part Two. Issues like style, editing, scoring, cinematography, etc. all tend to be pre-determined and 'baked in' to a season's / series' DNA - with directors amplifying these baseline qualities in accordance with their individual abilities and talents. Thus, if the uptick in quality represents a genuine paradigm shift - Part Two should feel (more or less) in the ballpark of its predecessor. If the principle reason Part One shone was chiefly due to Jamie Magnus Stone? Then we're back to the drawing board...
So here we stand...
At an unexpected crossroads which may be even more fascinating, and more vexing, than the changing of Doctors, or the deployment of a new showrunner: can the existing Powers That Be reverse their own course, and successfully restore their own show after needlessly and recklessly compromising its quality across the entirety of the previous Season / Series? Managing to do so would be an admirable - perhaps even honorable - accomplishment.
Oughta be an interesting forum this week...
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.
"Okay, yeah. THAT'S how you do it..."
COMING SUNDAY JANUARY 12: Orphan 55 Besides carrying the name of a dodgy looking board game...
...this week's premiere of DOCTOR WHO marks the long awaited return of a show which has been off the air for just over one year. We've previously pontificated herein on the clunkiness and perils of BBC's scheduling and production practices, so there's little point in flogging the network's self-destructive proclivities once more. Although, I guess I just sorta did.
Trailers for Series / Season 12, along with clips like these...
...suggest the show may finally be recapturing some of the pop and energy viewers have come to expect from DOCTOR WHO, after decidedly tepid directorial and editing approaches frequently dragged S11 to a standstill.
Additionally, Resolution, last year's New Years Day 'special' - and the last time we saw the Doctor in action - hinted that Team Chibnall may finally be waking up a bit, and may possibly be invested in generating a show more stylistically competitive with the current genre marketplace. This said, one episode out of 11 hardly represents unequivocal proof. Written by Chris Chibnall, Spyfall Parts 1 and 2 are described thusly by BBC: PART ONE: Intelligence agents around the world are under attack from alien forces, so MI6 turns to the only people who can help – The Doctor and friends. As the team travels the globe looking for answers, attacks come from all sides. Earth’s security rests on the their shoulders – but where will this planet-threatening conspiracy lead them? Action-adventure for all the family, starring Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill. Written by Chris Chibnall. Directed by Jamie Magnus Stone. Guest starring Stephen Fry and Lenny Henry. PART TWO: In part two of this epic spy thriller, a terrifying plan to destroy humanity is about to reach fruition. Can The Doctor and her friends escape multiple traps and defeat a deadly alliance? Jamie Magnus Stone - director of Spyfall's first installment - appears to have limited experience with DOCTOR WHO, or with genre titles in general. However Lee Haven Jones (director of Part Two) - while not having helmed DOCTOR WHO per se - previously directed several episodes of Russell T. Davies' WIZARDS VS. ALIENS. Which admittedly, is not DOCTOR WHO - but it's at least in the wheelhouse. So, there's that? The gallery below is an assemblage of high resolution promo images for not only Spyfall, but Series 12 in general - including high resolution images of a revised TARDIS interior, and a high-res look at S12's iteration of the classic Judoon.
Images of revised TARDIS interior via Radio Times
So here we go...
So many questions: is Chibs up to this task? Were the few genuinely bright moments of last Season / Series blips on an otherwise dreary radar? Or will Tem Chibs dig in, take some chances, and bring about a little bit of gusto this time around? Will Jodie Whittaker find her character / voice in S12? She seemed very much adrift and undefined last time around, with her most memorable qualities often being the evocation of previous Doctors. She deserves better. As always, expect episode-specific DOCTOR WHO posts throughout this run of new episodes, with possible additional posts dedicated to any specific / worthy newsbits which could feasible arise (they'll otherwise will be folded into the weekly posts). The rules here and simple but inviolable: This forum is consistently, but benevolently, moderated - promoting adherence to a single, simple Golden Rule: 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. PLEASE NOTE: atypically, the next DOCTOR WHO episode is scheduled to transmit 5 January - so this week will bring two reader reaction forums instead of just one. Enjoy! COMING SUNDAY JANUARY 5: Spyfall Part 2 Soooo.... ....yeah. Series/Season 11 could've...gone more smoothly. With a divisive and sloppy S11 is now behind us, BBC and Team Chibnall now move into S12 - which (at this moment) is not slated to arrive until 2020. Given that S11 wrapped shooting some time ago, and didn't offer a particularly large number of episodes, why it'll take so long to realize S12 is anyone's guess. My own conjecture: the rumors that Chibnall is incapable of delivering - or is not altogether enamored with conjuring - a full run of S12 may well hold some water. There's also the noteworthy reception of Resolution (the New Year's Day special), which was easily the most propulsive, well-honed, and energetically spirited installment of the Chibnall Era to date. It's likely no coincidence that the general gusto brought to this episode by The Powers That Be very closely resembles the filmmaking bravado former WHOrunner Steven Moffat consistently brought to the equation. It's also no coincidence that Resolution was (pound for pound) the most warmly welcomed episode of this recent batch. A reality which could well prompt both BBC and Team Chibs to step back and reassess the decidedly lackadaisical formula so often deployed throughout - and which so often handicapped - S11. If this theory is correct, such a retooling could be partially responsible for the protracted delay, as coordinating a 'new approach' would inherently present new creative, talent, and coordinating considerations across the board. I want to be be very clear: this is all mere speculation on my part, based on years of working with BBC and around DOCTOR WHO. I've no inside knowledge that any notions posited herein carry any water whatsoever - although I suspect they very well might. Whatever the case, it'll be interesting to see what does...and does not...happen during our journey towards Season/Series 12. A journey to be chronicled in this ongoing message board - which will continue until either S12 arrives (at which point we'll revert to our customary episode specific message boards), or until Disqus misbehaves (as it sometimes does). In the event of the later, we'll simply establish a new board, and continue where we left off. Be sure to check this forum for updates on WHO-related news of all types - ranging from television series, to literature, to audios, to WHO personalities, etc. If any WHOPPING news occurs, it will be reflected here as well as receiving its own individual post/forum on Geeklectica. This forum is consistently, but benevolently, moderated - promoting adherence to a single, simple Golden Rule: 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 to Geeklectica's Super-Long Wait For New Episodes (Which May or May Not Be Worth It) Mega Thread, which is now online and open for visitation. As aways, if you're returning to this place? Welcome back! Thanks so much for being here. If you're a lurker - "Hi!" - we're glad your watching from afar, and hope you'll someday jump in to join us. Here's to whatever lies ahead, and wishing y'all the very best... Tuesday brings us Resolution, the eleventh episode in the current batch of DOCTOR WHO episodes, and the seventh to be either authored or co-authored by reigning WHO overlord Chris Chibnall. Teasers for Resolution tell us the Daleks will make a return... ....which, at nearly any juncture in this show's history, would be a provocative and potentially fascinating notion. However, given Chibnall's sloppy comprehension and handling of his own WHOish mythology to date, and his apparent blindness to (or dismissal of?) tenets which have historically driven DW, it's difficult to believe his 'take' on the Doctor's longtime enemies will prove either resonant or progressive. Resolution is helmed by Wayne Yip, who previously directed the Capaldi-era Empress of Mars and The Lie of the Land. This is the only S11 tale to be driven by an established DOCTOR WHO helmer; it'll be fascinating to see if the presence of a Moffat Era director will bring vitality energy to a season/series which, thus far, has felt remarkably tepid. And, if Yip somehow succeeds in landing this undertaking, it'll be even more interesting to see if Team Chibs either takes note of the fact, or makes further, similar, adaptations in the future.
Meanwhile, BBC has released a track of Segun Akinola's score for S11.
Not surprisingly, said music doesn't play much better on its own than it does within the context of the show. Although, when heard like this, the track does nicely illustrate the Vangelis-like nature Akinola & Co. may've been going for throughout S11, but didn't achieve consistently or particularly successfully. Geeklectica's Resolution discussion thread is now active. 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. Wishing everyone out there...whether you be participating or lurking...a very, heartfelt, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thank you so much for being a part of this enterprise! Your presence here (whether contributing or observational) is very much appreciated - here's to discussions and adventures to come! Given how long it's going to be until fresh DOCTOR WHO episodes are available, I'm weighing generating some sort of regular content to prompt discussions here - and to see us through. I've many balls int he air right now (proverbially, I mean. My balls aren't literally in the air - at least not currently - that's uncomfortable physically), so I'm a bit hesitant to over-commit to delivering regular content at the moment. But...mulling... In the meantime, we will open up an 'Ongoing MegaThread' in about a week, so keep you eyes out for that. |
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