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selenakWhich was an okay adventure for our gang, and I'm amused about how Sheffield is the new London in terms of DW, but what I'll really remember about this special is the absolutely perfect Brexit gag.
And it even makes canon sense! UNIT is an internationally funded operation, and always has been. Not to mention that Chibnall evidentally wanted to downscale the Doctor's resources, yet in the case of a Dalek invasion (or attempt of same), there would be no excuse for her not to alert UNIT. And it's the type of biting social comentary on present day politics which the Chibnall era so far has painstakingly avoided. In favour of a pro capitalism episode, grumble, grumble, but you know what, Chris C., all is forgiven, having UNIT unavailable because international funding is withdrawn due to Brexit and what the consequences of that are was brilliant.
Otherwise, this, as mentioned, was an okay episode; in terms of previous specials, I loved precisely three (The Runaway Bride, Last Christmas and The Husbands of River Song) and thought the others, from both the RTD and the Moffat era, were just okay, too, so that fits right in. This was the first time Chibnall used a traditional DW monster and of course he, like Rusty before him, lets that first be a Dalek, and I liked Steampunk!Dalek (it making its own shell from Sheffield steel scraps was an obvious mirroring of the Doctor building herself a new sonic in the season opener), but Dalek the Ninth Doctor era episode remains unbeaten when it comes to best use of the pepperpotts in modern Who.
In this episode, we finally meet Ryan's deadbeat dad, and as soon as he showed up, I knew we'd get a reconciliation by the end, and so that unfolded along predictable lines. The scene between Aaron and Graham when they talked about Grace was excellent, though. Our guest couple of the episode was likeable, and I was relieved neither of them died. Otoh, much as Chibnall efficiently solved the "why no UNIT?" with the Brexit gag, he didn't even try an explanation as to why, after several Dalek invasions in both the RTD and the Moffat era, police and army (at the very least) should recognize the critters on sight. Seriously, writers, just abandon the "what is that?" line for good, and let them recognize the pepperpotts, it won't make a difference to the plot.
In conclusion: add UNIT to the many, many casualties of Brexit, unless someone puts an end to this madness. At least that's my moral of the story.
And it even makes canon sense! UNIT is an internationally funded operation, and always has been. Not to mention that Chibnall evidentally wanted to downscale the Doctor's resources, yet in the case of a Dalek invasion (or attempt of same), there would be no excuse for her not to alert UNIT. And it's the type of biting social comentary on present day politics which the Chibnall era so far has painstakingly avoided. In favour of a pro capitalism episode, grumble, grumble, but you know what, Chris C., all is forgiven, having UNIT unavailable because international funding is withdrawn due to Brexit and what the consequences of that are was brilliant.
Otherwise, this, as mentioned, was an okay episode; in terms of previous specials, I loved precisely three (The Runaway Bride, Last Christmas and The Husbands of River Song) and thought the others, from both the RTD and the Moffat era, were just okay, too, so that fits right in. This was the first time Chibnall used a traditional DW monster and of course he, like Rusty before him, lets that first be a Dalek, and I liked Steampunk!Dalek (it making its own shell from Sheffield steel scraps was an obvious mirroring of the Doctor building herself a new sonic in the season opener), but Dalek the Ninth Doctor era episode remains unbeaten when it comes to best use of the pepperpotts in modern Who.
In this episode, we finally meet Ryan's deadbeat dad, and as soon as he showed up, I knew we'd get a reconciliation by the end, and so that unfolded along predictable lines. The scene between Aaron and Graham when they talked about Grace was excellent, though. Our guest couple of the episode was likeable, and I was relieved neither of them died. Otoh, much as Chibnall efficiently solved the "why no UNIT?" with the Brexit gag, he didn't even try an explanation as to why, after several Dalek invasions in both the RTD and the Moffat era, police and army (at the very least) should recognize the critters on sight. Seriously, writers, just abandon the "what is that?" line for good, and let them recognize the pepperpotts, it won't make a difference to the plot.
In conclusion: add UNIT to the many, many casualties of Brexit, unless someone puts an end to this madness. At least that's my moral of the story.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-02 11:03 pm (UTC)Yes.
And it even makes canon sense! UNIT is an internationally funded operation, and always has been.
Yes.
having UNIT unavailable because international funding is withdrawn due to Brexit and what the consequences of that are was brilliant.
Yes. (And hilarious, too - I'm still giggling over it.)
In conclusion: add UNIT to the many, many casualties of Brexit, unless someone puts an end to this madness. At least that's my moral of the story.
Yes!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-03 12:58 am (UTC)I was rather hoping that there would be some strange reason why future Daleks would replicate this steampunk version (and be female), but I can't quite see a way to do it from where they ended up.
But I really liked the mirroring of the Sheffield steel motif from the opening episode; it reminded me of the Twelfth Doctor in Into the Dalek saying that he'd been defined by encountering the Daleks, and made me feel that it worked both ways. Into the Dalek is probably my favourite modern Dalek story, despite its flaws (like everyone failing to understand what the Dalek is telling them), because of the way it riffs on Dalek and what "You would make a good Dalek" might mean...
no subject
Date: 2019-01-03 02:34 pm (UTC)I did like the new Dalek and how they did something new with them as a threat. 13 is definitely not happy to meet one again but she is more composed than her earlier incarnations. As for humanity not remembering Daleks, I thought the cracks from season 5 gave a soft reboot and that is still in effect (I cannot recall when 11 fixed the problem, everyone suddenly remembered aliens again).
I did feel Ryan forgiving his dad in the climax was a bit sudden. Of course Ryan would go in to save his dad, it's just that line felt off with the interactions they did have this episode. Maybe instead it could have been some line about Ryan saving his dad to give him that time to make up for his mistakes and do better.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 10:47 am (UTC)