Here we go again, this time with not only the second half of Series 9 but the 2015 Christmas Special and, since 2016 only had the one story, the 2016 Christmas Special too. Enjoy. Or don't. Either way is fine. Anyway, here it is:
The
fairy tale style opening recap of 'The Zygon Invasion' is probably
needed to catch up casual viewers but it's also quite nice and succinct.
The two Osgoods make a welcome return to give some lovely exposition
before we fast forward to events following Missy's murder of Osgood.
Somehow, very effective at eliciting a emotional response. 'Doctor
Disco' attempts to make contact with Clara and the two 'big blobs' in
charge of the Zygon's settled on Earth...which makes for another great
scene with Capaldi playing opposite children. It's also kinda funny
until it takes a dark turn. Side note: I love Osgood's choice of attire.
There are some really creepy scenes throughout this episode. I like
when Doctor Who does creepy and scary well. 20 million Zygons is a lot
of people to duplicate. With all the talk of a younger generation or
brood of radicals, it makes me wonder how long they've been resettled on
Earth? 'I snogged a Zygon once. Old habits'. Obviously the subtext of
this story runs deep with the references to xenophobia, being sold and
radicalization. This new iteration of UNIT under Kate Stewart is both
more militaristic and more female-dominated. Make of that what you will,
I personally like the shift. 'Doctor Funkenstein' aka The President of
the World aka The Doctor seems to be intentionally playing more silly in
response to the severity of the situation. While the trips all over the
world do help make the threat seem more global, I can't help but feel
this story could have gotten by without these segments to pad things
out. Don't get me wrong, the scenes are fine but come the second part,
they all seem to have been fairly unnecessary to the overall plot. At
least, the scenes could have been all centered around the UK, for
example. Once again, there is a secret beneath London. Still, 30
million. It's good to have a classic-feeling UNIT story every now and
then. I appreciated the line about UNIT bolstering their ranks from the
army, but that in this case that would be unworkable. It felt like a
reasonable explanation and also covers why there are so few troops at
any given time. Very reminiscent of the classic UNIT-era. Underground
tunnels linking continents seems like something that would take a very
long time to construct. I have to wonder why people become a pile of
sparky-hair when killed. Clara is clearly a Zygon from her first scene
onward and the show wants you to know that, it would seem, because of
the way the moment with the creepy parents is never followed up on or
referred to by Clara again. The narrative wants us to be suspicious, not
to trick us. But through the episode, it is easy to almost forget until
you remember all the odd moments. The colour palette in this story is
perfect with it's reds and greens filling the screen with paranoia and
fear. One of the radical Zygons boasts that the invasion has already
happened over the past year so that implies a brief time-span for the
movement, if not the immigration of the Zygons throughout Earth. Is the
President's plane the new Valiant? It does seem to get destroyed a lot.
Nice cliffhanger.
I
don't actually have a huge amount to say about 'The Zygon Inversion'.
Much like 'Listen' it's a personal favourite and nearly perfect episode.
Just for Capaldi's anti-war speech alone, you have to watch it.
Jenna
Coleman is brilliant playing Clara's Zygon duplicate, Bonnie.
Especially when Clara is interrogated. Especially when Bonnie insists
she won't give her people a choice about living in peace among the
humans.
Capaldi's defining moment as the Doctor has to be this speech. It gives me goosebumps. Bravo.
Then
the Doctor goes ahead and reduces me to tears with his passion and
pain. He forgives. The most powerful speech in the shows 50-plus year
history. Words don't do this performance justice. It has to be seen.
'Sleep No More' is a bit of an experimental episode, with it's 'found footage' motif. I can't decide if I like it or not. It's not a bad story, really. It's just up against some great competition this series. For starters, the monsters of the piece are genuinely original and appropriately creepy. Re-watching it again, I find the point of view style of filming to be well managed for the most part, with only a few moments being unclear. The villain of the episode actually appears to succeed, with the Doctor narrowly escaping in the TARDIS being the closest thing to a victory this time around. Yet another example of the Twelfth Doctor apparently breaking the fourth wall by looking straight at us, the viewer, throughout the episode. The clues about the lack of camera's are actually present throughout the episode, too. A nice touch. That ending was pretty unsettling, wasn't it?
'Face the Raven' is the big one, folks. All that subtle and not-so-subtle foreshadowing comes to a head with this episode. Rigsy returns with a strange tattoo that draws the Doctor and Clara into a mystery. But that's not the real point of the story, no. It's not about the trap street either. The TARDIS gets a good showing this week, flying above London and generally being useful. When Clara dangles dangerously out the doors, she should be worries but she's become so unfazed by all this, it's like she believes she's got plot armour. But she doesn't. I realize the point of this series arc is all about her and the Doctor becoming very much alike and the severe danger that puts her in, what with her not having the ability to regenerate to save herself and all that. Me returns as the Mayor of the trap street. She's still borderline but works as force for good protecting her street. Obviously the 'Quantum Shade' or Raven had to be a massively powerful being to ensure we don't have the Doctor's usual sneaky cheating to get out of the situation. It can grow tiresome having the Doctor be the most god-like person in the room, so it's a good change. Maybe one day, they'll bring back the Eternals. Clara's 'Doctor 101' line and thinking herself clever because she believes she can cheat the death sentence is all too obvious. She's a marked woman and she has been for far longer than this episode. The big reveal that Rigsy was set up comes as no great surprise. The countdown of this episode does ratchet up the tension a bit but it's not until the climax that it holds much dramatic weight. I like the basics of this story but there is something off about the execution and pacing of the episode. Mayor Me being afraid and believing she is doing the right thing really had me going for a second because I had initially guessed the shadowy big bad behind the whole series arc and this threw a wrench into my plans. But no, should have never doubted it. So....what was the actual point of the Confession Dial from the beginning of the series being carted around all this time? I know it's a plot point but what was the Doctor doing with it all this time? He didn't still think he was going to die, did he? The gnawing sense of dread surrounding Clara when she realizes she's signed her own death warrant. The Doctor is furious and threatening to rain down hell on Me. It's all so good. His anger and Clara's plea that the Doctor not act out. She accepts her death. The final words between the Doctor and Clara are actually really stirring stuff. Telling him not to be furious or sad or alone, but to be a Doctor. A final hug and then it's time to face the raven. I found it very emotional because I frankly grew to love Clara as a companion. The Doctor telling Me that Clara was saving her, not him was really scary. And off the Doctor goes to parts unknown, caught in the trap. The post credits scene with Rigsy beautifully memorializing Clara by painting the TARDIS was a nice tribute.
'Heaven Sent' is my favourite Capaldi episode to date. It's almost a one man show and that's probably what I like most about it. Capaldi can hold the camera and command a scene like nobody's business. It's compulsive viewing. Gripping. The veiled figure is perfectly creepy. The Doctor continues to talk to Clara. The wound is still fresh for him. The monologue is brilliant. The chalkboard. He's lecturing, tutoring, teaching. It's what Capaldi's Doctor does so well. He considers the moving and changing castle a torture chamber and the veil an interrogator because he has secrets he will never give up. Given what this place is later revealed to be, that says a lot. The lingering shots of the castle and the puzzle of this place really sink in to your subconscious. The mystery was intriguing. I love how the Doctor slowly works out the mechanics of the place. The terrible realization that he has eternity to dwell on Clara's death is a gut punch. This whole episode is the Doctor's grief. When it's revealed he's been at this for millenia over and over again, you realize he's reliving the fresh tragedy of Clara's death over and over. That's rough. The montage is really very stirring. It moves me. Tje Doctor pounding away at the wall with his bare hands until he gets through shows astonishing persistence. The long way round indeed. Is he now billions of years old? When he says the Hybrid is 'me' I thought he was being clever and referring to Ashildr. The Doctor is one hell of a bird.
So....'Hell Bent'....It's a bit of a let down as series finales go. Oh, it's not terrible but the parts don't quite come together to form a satisfying conclusion. Gallifrey. The Barn. The Doctor standing quietly in defiance, drawing a line in the sand. All good stuff but it's too soon for Gallifrey to return and off screen of all things. I suppose because the loss of Clara is still fresh for him, but he really does go too far. A bloodless coup doesn't excuse the murder of a fellow Time Lord nor potentially fracturing the universe. I know the point is he's gone too far but it feels wrong and his comeuppance isn't enough to clean the taste from the mouth. So the Doctor used his supposed knowledge of the Hybrid as leverage to get Clara back. When Capaldi flips and becomes angry because his desperate plan is failing....that is the rage of a Time Lord who can't accept when something is at it's end. The whole Hybrid arc is poorly resolved, if it is even resolved. I personally feel Clara was better off dying by her own actions. That said the final goodbyes and the Doctor's sadness at not remember her is very affecting. The whole bit about Clara being frozen right before her death is a frustratingly open ended resolution that robs her death of any drama or weight. Sure, she has to die but she can spend eternity running before she has to face her fate.
'Sleep No More' is a bit of an experimental episode, with it's 'found footage' motif. I can't decide if I like it or not. It's not a bad story, really. It's just up against some great competition this series. For starters, the monsters of the piece are genuinely original and appropriately creepy. Re-watching it again, I find the point of view style of filming to be well managed for the most part, with only a few moments being unclear. The villain of the episode actually appears to succeed, with the Doctor narrowly escaping in the TARDIS being the closest thing to a victory this time around. Yet another example of the Twelfth Doctor apparently breaking the fourth wall by looking straight at us, the viewer, throughout the episode. The clues about the lack of camera's are actually present throughout the episode, too. A nice touch. That ending was pretty unsettling, wasn't it?
'Face the Raven' is the big one, folks. All that subtle and not-so-subtle foreshadowing comes to a head with this episode. Rigsy returns with a strange tattoo that draws the Doctor and Clara into a mystery. But that's not the real point of the story, no. It's not about the trap street either. The TARDIS gets a good showing this week, flying above London and generally being useful. When Clara dangles dangerously out the doors, she should be worries but she's become so unfazed by all this, it's like she believes she's got plot armour. But she doesn't. I realize the point of this series arc is all about her and the Doctor becoming very much alike and the severe danger that puts her in, what with her not having the ability to regenerate to save herself and all that. Me returns as the Mayor of the trap street. She's still borderline but works as force for good protecting her street. Obviously the 'Quantum Shade' or Raven had to be a massively powerful being to ensure we don't have the Doctor's usual sneaky cheating to get out of the situation. It can grow tiresome having the Doctor be the most god-like person in the room, so it's a good change. Maybe one day, they'll bring back the Eternals. Clara's 'Doctor 101' line and thinking herself clever because she believes she can cheat the death sentence is all too obvious. She's a marked woman and she has been for far longer than this episode. The big reveal that Rigsy was set up comes as no great surprise. The countdown of this episode does ratchet up the tension a bit but it's not until the climax that it holds much dramatic weight. I like the basics of this story but there is something off about the execution and pacing of the episode. Mayor Me being afraid and believing she is doing the right thing really had me going for a second because I had initially guessed the shadowy big bad behind the whole series arc and this threw a wrench into my plans. But no, should have never doubted it. So....what was the actual point of the Confession Dial from the beginning of the series being carted around all this time? I know it's a plot point but what was the Doctor doing with it all this time? He didn't still think he was going to die, did he? The gnawing sense of dread surrounding Clara when she realizes she's signed her own death warrant. The Doctor is furious and threatening to rain down hell on Me. It's all so good. His anger and Clara's plea that the Doctor not act out. She accepts her death. The final words between the Doctor and Clara are actually really stirring stuff. Telling him not to be furious or sad or alone, but to be a Doctor. A final hug and then it's time to face the raven. I found it very emotional because I frankly grew to love Clara as a companion. The Doctor telling Me that Clara was saving her, not him was really scary. And off the Doctor goes to parts unknown, caught in the trap. The post credits scene with Rigsy beautifully memorializing Clara by painting the TARDIS was a nice tribute.
'Heaven Sent' is my favourite Capaldi episode to date. It's almost a one man show and that's probably what I like most about it. Capaldi can hold the camera and command a scene like nobody's business. It's compulsive viewing. Gripping. The veiled figure is perfectly creepy. The Doctor continues to talk to Clara. The wound is still fresh for him. The monologue is brilliant. The chalkboard. He's lecturing, tutoring, teaching. It's what Capaldi's Doctor does so well. He considers the moving and changing castle a torture chamber and the veil an interrogator because he has secrets he will never give up. Given what this place is later revealed to be, that says a lot. The lingering shots of the castle and the puzzle of this place really sink in to your subconscious. The mystery was intriguing. I love how the Doctor slowly works out the mechanics of the place. The terrible realization that he has eternity to dwell on Clara's death is a gut punch. This whole episode is the Doctor's grief. When it's revealed he's been at this for millenia over and over again, you realize he's reliving the fresh tragedy of Clara's death over and over. That's rough. The montage is really very stirring. It moves me. Tje Doctor pounding away at the wall with his bare hands until he gets through shows astonishing persistence. The long way round indeed. Is he now billions of years old? When he says the Hybrid is 'me' I thought he was being clever and referring to Ashildr. The Doctor is one hell of a bird.
So....'Hell Bent'....It's a bit of a let down as series finales go. Oh, it's not terrible but the parts don't quite come together to form a satisfying conclusion. Gallifrey. The Barn. The Doctor standing quietly in defiance, drawing a line in the sand. All good stuff but it's too soon for Gallifrey to return and off screen of all things. I suppose because the loss of Clara is still fresh for him, but he really does go too far. A bloodless coup doesn't excuse the murder of a fellow Time Lord nor potentially fracturing the universe. I know the point is he's gone too far but it feels wrong and his comeuppance isn't enough to clean the taste from the mouth. So the Doctor used his supposed knowledge of the Hybrid as leverage to get Clara back. When Capaldi flips and becomes angry because his desperate plan is failing....that is the rage of a Time Lord who can't accept when something is at it's end. The whole Hybrid arc is poorly resolved, if it is even resolved. I personally feel Clara was better off dying by her own actions. That said the final goodbyes and the Doctor's sadness at not remember her is very affecting. The whole bit about Clara being frozen right before her death is a frustratingly open ended resolution that robs her death of any drama or weight. Sure, she has to die but she can spend eternity running before she has to face her fate.
'The
Husbands of River Song' is a lighthearted Christmas romp until the end
where it becomes the final piece of a 7 year puzzle. Then it's sweet and
sad and heartbreaking. Just when you thought the sad times would be
remedied with your standard Christmas cheer....I like this one. It's not
very substantial as plots go but it's a fun rollercoaster ride of
emotions.
Not going to lie, as a comic book super hero fan, I loved 'The Return of Doctor Mysterio'. A truly delightful caper with all the trappings of a super hero story and a Doctor Who Christmas Special all rolled into one package under the tree. The Christopher Reeves Superman references are the most obvious but there are several more scattered throughout the episode. Is it especially mentally taxing? No, but it is mentally stimulating. Nardole has a few well timed comedy moments that work well. But I am uncertain how his character will be handled in the coming series. He'll need a more robust and rounded characterisation to work as a full time companion. The brief scene between him and the Doctor is a nice start. Did I mention I love all the super hero tropes this story utilizes? The final scenes with the Doctor's speech about endings was lovely. The Doctor's been through a journey the past few years and it shows. Bring on the new series.
Until I find a better way to scratch my itch for talking at length about Doctor Who, I remain
frogoat
Not going to lie, as a comic book super hero fan, I loved 'The Return of Doctor Mysterio'. A truly delightful caper with all the trappings of a super hero story and a Doctor Who Christmas Special all rolled into one package under the tree. The Christopher Reeves Superman references are the most obvious but there are several more scattered throughout the episode. Is it especially mentally taxing? No, but it is mentally stimulating. Nardole has a few well timed comedy moments that work well. But I am uncertain how his character will be handled in the coming series. He'll need a more robust and rounded characterisation to work as a full time companion. The brief scene between him and the Doctor is a nice start. Did I mention I love all the super hero tropes this story utilizes? The final scenes with the Doctor's speech about endings was lovely. The Doctor's been through a journey the past few years and it shows. Bring on the new series.
Until I find a better way to scratch my itch for talking at length about Doctor Who, I remain
frogoat
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