The Story and the Engine > Likes and Comments

This one is a bit tricky to unravel. I have a feeling that this is one that will only grow in power with repeated viewings. There’s a lot going on, a lot that hints and teases at things The Doctor has done and been involved with, and there’s a lot of questions that don’t get resolved. There’s even some fourth wall acknowledgment and breaking in very subtle ways, even a tease that The Doctor and the Marvel Universe coexist within one another, but then all that is tossed aside with a casual comment. Stories within stories that are themselves within stories. A complex labyrinth of misdirection, and you need a map to find your way through.

Really enjoyed this one, but it needs time to gestate.

That may be my favorite so far this season, and that’s saying something! Continue to be impressed with the storytelling this season. And I think Ncuti has really settled into being the Doctor.

Belinda didn’t have much to do in this one, unfortunately. That’s a shame.

Gosh, who'd have thought that the episode with the least amount of season arc baggage would be the best of the bunch...?

Really well written, solid cast, beautiful to look at, and manages to juggle so many ideas, without getting too cute or too cluttered.

And of course I loved that cameo.

only gripe, is they didn't reference the 'Mind Robber' and the land of fiction.

Travis wrote: "… only gripe, is they didn't reference the 'Mind Robber' and the land of fiction."

That would have been nice.

Rick wrote: "Travis wrote: "… only gripe, is they didn't reference the 'Mind Robber' and the land of fiction."

That would have been nice."

I mean, I'm head cannoning a connection in anyway, but it would have been nice if the show did it.

Did notice Troughton was the first Doctor they showed during that montage of images...

Enjoying the episode, even while our Disney+ decides if it wants to work or not. sigh

Yikes!

A YouTuber said they wanted this story to be a two parter, and while I don't think that would work, I would not mind a return visit.

It could become Ncuti's Paternoster Gang.
Or it could be the next spin off, after the time hotel!

This film has some interesting connections to this particular episode.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12300964...

First of all, I can’t believe I only gave this 4-stars after my first viewing. This episode is frelling BRILLIANT! What I wrote before still holds up: “This one is a bit tricky to unravel. I have a feeling this is one that will only grow with repeated viewings. There’s a lot going on, a lot that hints and teases at things The Doctor has done and been involved with, and there’s a lot of questions that don’t get resolved. There’s even some fourth wall acknowledgment and breaking in very subtle ways, even a tease that The Doctor and the Marvel Universe coexist within one another, but then all that is tossed aside with a casual comment. Stories within stories that are themselves within stories. A complex labyrinth of misdirection, and you need a map to find your way through.” But what I’m seeing now is that all after-game-quarterbacks have been complaining about, that Doctor Who needs to reinvent itself, to stop catering to the “old fans” and start making new monsters and new kinds of stories, that are basically saying the series is just old and stale, haven’t a clue what they are talking about and haven’t a clue what they’re watching. Even if they’re watching these new episodes at all. They’re not. This episode shines a huge spotlight on everything they are claiming Doctor Who is doing wrong, by giving these naysayers exactly what they claim the series needs: new monsters, new threats, new conflicts. And it’s been doing his very clearly and obviously since the Jodi Whittaker era started, the return of David Tennant certainly was all about nostalgia and looking back, but Ncuti Gatwa’s era has been even more innovative and untraditional than Whittaker’s tenure was. And his stunningly original episode for Doctor Who throws water in the face of those lame complainers who can’t see he forest for the trees. Whether they’re racists, or misogynists, or anti-“woke”, or “fanboys” that can’t handle change, they simply cannot accept anything new or different, they’re just losers who only want to perpetuate the status quo because it feels safe and familiar. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Probably the best episode of the season.
A nice blend of sci-fi and myth in a great setting.
And as much as it's touted as 'reinventing' Who, I've mentioned how easily this fits in with the land of fiction from the Troughton era.
It does a great job of striking a balance.

Plus, almost no season arc and that cameo.

It does fit quite well with The Land of Fiction.

Big Finish did War Master box set that took Derek Jacobi to the Land of Fiction. The War Master: Escape from Reality