![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which several plot lines finally meet up and then, as is common in the one before the finale, everything looks extremely dire.
Due to my great dislike for the whole Timeless Child plot, I never rewatched last season's finale, which means I have no idea how the name of the Doctor's "Parent"/Kidnapper is spelled. Incidentally, I feel somewhat milder now re: said plot, perhaps due to all the time having passed which allows one to adjust, or maybe because this time around Insert Name Once I Learn It and the Division come across basically as an update of that well worn Classic Who trope, the dastardly Time Lord organization and founding figure who once pressured the Doctor into service until the Doctor ran. As I figured, the Doctor's missing memories were used as a lure to make her choose between them and the universe, though that was way too early (and pre-finale) for the Doctor to be seriously tempted; however, Insert Name proves herself smarter than your avarage evil Overlady by offering not just the memories but safety of the Doctor's friends vs the rest of the universe. The Doctor still didn't go for it, which I think is one of those things that make a hero a hero and not an antihero or villain - the later two would be content with the safety of the few-they-care-about in an emergency and to hell with the rest. Otoh I do expect another moment of a (more serious) temptation in the finale, since three times is the charm.
Meanwhile, in other subplots: Yaz, Dan and Eustacius Jericho make a great team! The quest around the Earth in 1904 was far more whimsical than the pretty dark other plots and therefore quintessentially Whovian. (Though even this subplot included dark moments such as the suicidal wannabe assassin, Professor Jericho really NOT wanting to relive the catastrophes of the 20th century (and who can blame him) and Yaz missing the Doctor. But still, the three had a really charming dynamic throughout the episode, and Dan's local Liverpool knowledge finally brought the missing puzzle please to connect 19th century man Joseph Wilson to the main plot. (Speaking of Liverpool, due to watching Get Back these last few days, I must admit that when the Liverpool teenager guiding our lot to the Wilson tunnels was addressed as Alfred, I mentally supplied "Lennon" before realising the year (1904) was way, way too early for John Lennon's father to be a 16 yeras old teenager.
Vinder coming across the guy Bel saved and finally finding proof she's still alive (and saving people, and looking for him) was great and made me realise how invested the show had gotten me into not just their survival but their reunion. Simultanously, we see Bel is in 2021 and running into the Lupari (still my favourite new aliens), while Vinder's dastardly ex-boss the Great Serpent has been assassinating his way to the UNIT top across the century until Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (hi, Kate! Missed you!) uncovered him only to have to go undercover herself. Incidentally, this and the 2017 scene presumably are there to show UNIT didn't just fold due to Brexit. At a guess, the finale will reveal that Kate since going undercover has been building Resistance!UNIT and will contribute to saving the day.
Lastly, Yaz interpreting "Fetch your dog" reminded me of that bit of pop culture science which I learned as a child and I think is not true, but still have always liked the idea of, i.e. that the Chinese Wall is the sole building you can see from space, and I bet that was in Chibnall's mind, too.
On to the finale, then!
Due to my great dislike for the whole Timeless Child plot, I never rewatched last season's finale, which means I have no idea how the name of the Doctor's "Parent"/Kidnapper is spelled. Incidentally, I feel somewhat milder now re: said plot, perhaps due to all the time having passed which allows one to adjust, or maybe because this time around Insert Name Once I Learn It and the Division come across basically as an update of that well worn Classic Who trope, the dastardly Time Lord organization and founding figure who once pressured the Doctor into service until the Doctor ran. As I figured, the Doctor's missing memories were used as a lure to make her choose between them and the universe, though that was way too early (and pre-finale) for the Doctor to be seriously tempted; however, Insert Name proves herself smarter than your avarage evil Overlady by offering not just the memories but safety of the Doctor's friends vs the rest of the universe. The Doctor still didn't go for it, which I think is one of those things that make a hero a hero and not an antihero or villain - the later two would be content with the safety of the few-they-care-about in an emergency and to hell with the rest. Otoh I do expect another moment of a (more serious) temptation in the finale, since three times is the charm.
Meanwhile, in other subplots: Yaz, Dan and Eustacius Jericho make a great team! The quest around the Earth in 1904 was far more whimsical than the pretty dark other plots and therefore quintessentially Whovian. (Though even this subplot included dark moments such as the suicidal wannabe assassin, Professor Jericho really NOT wanting to relive the catastrophes of the 20th century (and who can blame him) and Yaz missing the Doctor. But still, the three had a really charming dynamic throughout the episode, and Dan's local Liverpool knowledge finally brought the missing puzzle please to connect 19th century man Joseph Wilson to the main plot. (Speaking of Liverpool, due to watching Get Back these last few days, I must admit that when the Liverpool teenager guiding our lot to the Wilson tunnels was addressed as Alfred, I mentally supplied "Lennon" before realising the year (1904) was way, way too early for John Lennon's father to be a 16 yeras old teenager.
Vinder coming across the guy Bel saved and finally finding proof she's still alive (and saving people, and looking for him) was great and made me realise how invested the show had gotten me into not just their survival but their reunion. Simultanously, we see Bel is in 2021 and running into the Lupari (still my favourite new aliens), while Vinder's dastardly ex-boss the Great Serpent has been assassinating his way to the UNIT top across the century until Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (hi, Kate! Missed you!) uncovered him only to have to go undercover herself. Incidentally, this and the 2017 scene presumably are there to show UNIT didn't just fold due to Brexit. At a guess, the finale will reveal that Kate since going undercover has been building Resistance!UNIT and will contribute to saving the day.
Lastly, Yaz interpreting "Fetch your dog" reminded me of that bit of pop culture science which I learned as a child and I think is not true, but still have always liked the idea of, i.e. that the Chinese Wall is the sole building you can see from space, and I bet that was in Chibnall's mind, too.
On to the finale, then!
no subject
Date: 2021-11-30 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-30 04:30 pm (UTC)