23rd October, 2022.
*Spoilers*
It’s a Sunday night: one where I have to be up early, tomorrow.
I’ve a diabetic eye screening, so you know.
But?
19:30, tonight, will see me doing what a lot of Dr Who fans will be doing.
Sitting in front of a TV, watching The Power of the Doctor: Jodie Whittaker’s last outing as the iconic Time Lord.
From the little I know?
She’ll be regenerating into a 14th Doctor, tonight.
This is a guess, here: I’m guessing that ‘new’ Doctor will be David Tennant’s ‘14th’ …
In the midst of the stürm und drang?https://t.co/XW6Jd2RjDYI think Jodie Whittaker will regenerate into David Tennant.And *believe* Tennant’s first lines will be ‘What? What?’ Or something sarky about not being ginger … #PowerOfTheDoctor #DrWho #DoctorWho— Paul Downie (@Cuddy2977) October 23, 2022
That will set up his appearance in the Anniversary specials, next year.
We … are going to have to see though, aren’t we?
At least, we will … by the time this post goes up, tomorrow.
24th October, 2022.
The Power of the Doctor opens with the sight of an intergalactic train: one whose pilot is issuing a distress signal: as it’s under attack!
Attack by rampaging Cybermen.
Or, strictly speaking, CyberMasters, the demonic hybrid versions created by the Master: versions that — when shot by the train’s crew — start regenerating … !
To the relief of the crew? Help is coming. Is the shape of the Doctor, Yaz and Dan (Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill and John Bishop.)
Due to the force field the CyberMasters have set up? The Doctor and her friends have to get on the train, the hard way: jumping from the TARDIS, onto the roof of a moving train: then in through a roof panel.
Something that happens just in time.
As Dan’s space suit has breached by a Cyber bullet, and is leaking oxygen.
Once on board the train, when it’s safe to take off the spacesuits?
The Doctor manages to keep Dan distracted: by having him take control of the train, and putting the brakes on.
Whilst Yaz helps the injured crew.
And the Doctor herself, follows the CyberLeader to a rear carriage: where the Cybermen are after a very specific bit of cargo …
~≈👩🏽⚕️≈~
Post titles … ?
Post titles, we find ourselves in Siberia, in 1916: where someone claiming to be Grigori Rasputin is being summoned to help the Tsarevitch.
Whilst in London, 2022? A lone woman — Ace (Sophie Aldred) — is staring at a wall in an art gallery: one where a painting used to be.
One that’s been moved for a sudden bout of restoration: alongside fourteen others.
Something she finds suspicious … and worth mentioning to an old friend: Tegan (Janet Fielding).
Who’s currently in Romania: investigating the equally strange disappearance of a dozen seismologists.
And a box she’s been left: one with a doll … and a message from the Doctor.
Someone neither she nor Ace has seen in decades.
Ace’s solution?
Head for UNIT.
Kate (Jemma Redgrave) Stewart might just be able to help …
~≈👩🏽⚕️≈~
Back on the TARDIS … ?
The Doctor is dropping Dan off for a date.
Only to find one out thing: Dan — much like Tegan, many years, before — wants out.
Spending time in a leaking space suit was the final straw.
Whilst Yaz is wishing her old friend goodbye?
A clearly distressed Doctor goes back into the TARDIS.
Only to get a shock message.
From a Dalek that’s decided to betray its own species: and tell the Doctor there’s a Dalek incursion due … and will tell her more … when she meets it in a volcano …
There’s only one problem.
The TARDIS picks up a signal: from the little girl the Cybermen kidnapped off of the train.
The child’s in 1916, on a planet that shouldn’t exist: orbiting an Earth that’s in trouble …
~≈👩🏽⚕️≈~
Now … what did I make of Jodie’s last episode as the Doctor?
Her last episode, everything in it, and the fact we now have official confirmation of what’s been suspected — due to the various leaked set photos — for months.
That the 14th Doctor is David Tennant: whose anniversary episodes will air in November, 2023.
What do we think, and what do we know … ?
First things first, The Power of the Doctor, is a superb little action piece.
Granted: there’s downsides.
We find out that the Master openly wants to force the Doctor to regenerate into him: and enjoy the chaos this will bring.
Apart from destroying the Earth? I’m not too sure why the Master wants this.
Saying that? I could easily have missed the explanation. But it’s a minor niggle that I found annoying.
As a counter to this?
I have to give Sacha Dhawan due credit: for turning in a riveting performance as the Master.
One that varied between manic, cooly logical, and — in a return to form for the character — hypnotic.
Literally, hypnotic. The character managing to hypnotise the Tsar and Tsarina. It reminds us the Master is an extremely skilled hypnotist: using it as casually, and as effectively, as the Doctor uses his psychic paper. And, as a long term fan?
Something I found compelling to watch.
The other downsides?
Were were minor, I feel.
For a start, I don’t know that the Cybermen, or the Daleks, came to dominate any of their scenes with the Master.
To an extent? They were furniture.
In fairness, yes: the Master and the Doctor were the focus of these scenes, but they did seem underused.
Even given the knowing look at one Cyberman gives a Dalek at one point, it could’ve been any Dr Who monsters in the background.
Bradley Walsh as Graham. No, he put’s in a sterling performance: bouncing well off of Sophie Aldred’s Ace, doing well in the Companion’s Meeting, towards the end of the episode.
No: it was just a minor thing. I don’t think we got to the bottom of how he got to be under a Dalek infested volcano.
It’s going to be one of those little mysteries, I think.
About the only other thing? The Traitor Dalek that delivers a warning to the Doctor?
I have to admit, when I saw it in the trailer for this episode, I felt it could be Rusty: the traitor Dalek we see in Into The Dalek.
It wasn’t named as such, though.
That’s a shame: it could have tied off the character’s arc, nicely.
~≈👩🏽⚕️≈~
There’s more.
And this — if you haven’t seen the episode, as yet — is where I warn you of spoilers.
As if the big red ‘*Spoilers*’ sign didn’t tell you!
The episode as a whole is fantastic: I doubt Chibnall’s done better.
I also feel the cast have done very well.
Dhawan, as the Master? Was at his best: and has settled into the role — and the three different haircuts! — well. He’s riveting. I can only hope Russell T. Davies keeps Dhawan on.
Mandip Gill? As far as I can tell, this is her last appearance as Yaz: and it’s a fine send off.
It’s also mildly disappointing. Ms Gill is leaving, just as Yaz is starting to develop.
Jemma Redgrave? A treat, as ever.
But not as much of a treat as seeing Aldred and Fielding reprising their roles.
Ace, back in THAT jacket, wielding a baseball bat like it was only yesterday she left?
And Tegan at her pithiest, aspic drenched, best?
Were both utter delights to behold.
Can we have some more of these two, please?
Possibly a spin-off?
They were that good.
Then there’s the other cameos.
At one point? The Thirteenth Doctor is trapped in her own mind, but gets help from her earlier selves: from the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors: played respectively by David Bradley, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann.
Seeing the Seventh and Eighth snipping away at each other was fun!
At another point? The 13th Doctor has made an AI hologram version of herself: that presents itself as her Fifth and Seventh selves … and as Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, as well.
All that? Doesn’t tell you about one last scene that made me smile.
I mentioned the Companion’s Meeting, didn’t I … ?
It’s toward’s the end of the episode, and sees Bradley Walsh as Graham: introducing himself to a small, AA style group of people … in an attempt to share his experience with the only other people on the planet who’d know how he felt.
Tegan and Ace, of course.
Melanie ‘Mel’ Bush (Bonnie Langford): not seen since Colin Baker’s years.
Jo Jones — Jo Grant, as was — played by Katy Manning*.
And finally, Ian Chesterton, played by William Russell: the oldest surviving companion in the room, and the only (male) actor still standing from An Unearthly Child.
That was quite an emotional thing to see.
But not the only one.
Whittaker, herself, does a fine job in her last outing.
Especially at the last: facing the sunrise and regenerating with the words “Tag: you’re it.”
It is quite possibly the most restrained good-bye in the whole series.
Beautifully restrained …
And quite a first.
It sees the Thirteenth Doctor, and her clothes, regenerating outside … and changing into the Fourteenth Doctor: as played by David Tennant†.
Just the old favourites, indeed!
~≈👩🏽⚕️≈~
Now …
You’re still sitting there, reading this: and saying “Paul? What did you think? What happens next? Is there anything you want to tell us about Legends of the Sea Devils?”
You’re saying it with a certain amount of annoyance at my waffling.
Legends of the Sea Devils is easy to quickly summarise. I thought — when I reviewed the thing, back in the day — that the Sea Devil heads were produced by CGI. They weren’t: they were practical effects.
I’m sorry for the mistake: but impressed by the work they put in.
‘Next,’ is easy to answer.
The three, David Tennant, Anniversary episodes are going to air in November, 2023.
Given the 23rd — the actual date — is a Thursday? I expect them to air over the nearest weekend: from the 24th to the 26th of November, 2023.
We’ll have to see.
We also know that Ncuti Gatwa’s first appearance — as the Fifteenth Doctor — is due in ‘the Festive period of 2023.’
Now …
What did I think of The Power of the Doctor?
Yes: there’s a few downsides to the episode.
But?
The Power of the Doctor is a powerful piece of entertaining TV.
And a suitable send off to the Thirteenth Doctor, and her companions.
And frankly?
Something that’s left me wanting more.
But also thinking one thing.
Russell T. Davies second stint as show runner … ?
Better be good.
It’s got a lot to live up too.
The Power of the Doctor.★★★★
* Is it me, or does Katy Manning have the filthiest laugh?
† Yes: he did say ‘What? What … ? What????’ I feel vindicated … and smug …
No comments:
Post a Comment