en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2597451 Comments by ScarecrowCeno http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e08-the-haunting-of-villa-diodati/#IDComment1097066927 Worth noting that the "Lone Cyberman" design is Chibnall revisiting an earlier concept. The design here is very much how the "Cyberwoman" in Torchwood was supposed to look and sound, but he was over-ruled at the time by another Producer who went for the 'sexy' design. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:26:03 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e08-the-haunting-of-villa-diodati/#IDComment1097066927 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e07-can-you-hear-me/#IDComment1097015061 I really enjoy how Yaz's back story and history has been slowly built up in the background. We've seen a lot of her insecurity, and in "the Witchfinders" she talks about how she was bullied at school and it made her life hell and she had to work past it, but it's only now we fully comprehend just how bad that was. Yaz is by far my favourite character, from performance, to the chemistry she has with The Doctor and I relate so much with her sense of loneliness and need to have a connection with someone but not being sure how to go about it. Tue, 26 Jan 2021 17:44:49 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e07-can-you-hear-me/#IDComment1097015061 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e01-spyfall-part-1/#IDComment1096923543 Oh no! Been so hectic with Covid, sorting work and home schooling and I missed the start of this! After being anxiously waiting for it too! This episode was so spot on and I loved so much of this... but going to catch up the reviews first! Is there any way anyone might have downloads of Mark's videos left at all? Sat, 23 Jan 2021 10:54:05 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2021/01/mark-watches-doctor-who-s12e01-spyfall-part-1/#IDComment1096923543 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-resolution/#IDComment1078249538 I get sad here because there's no more 13. This season has been a breath of fresh air. The casual misogyny of Steven Moffat and his messy writing is a thing of the post, and the Doctor is once again a scientist and explorer rather than a showboating superhero. It perhaps played things a little safe at times, in terms of stripping things back, but it was really needed. I really hope they build on this in all the right ways unlike, say, Season 6, which expanded all the weakest elements of Moff's debut and ended in a mess of narrative holes and distraction techniques. Doctor Who is once more relevant, exciting, passionate and celebratory of life, with genuine characters and emotional journies. Long may it continue. Tue, 30 Jul 2019 17:55:16 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-resolution/#IDComment1078249538 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-2/#IDComment1078248970 Spoilers for rest of the show: V guvax F8 fhssrerq n ybg sebz orvat nabgure WZF svir-lrne-cyna gung tbg pnapryyrq. Gurl qvq jryy jvgu gur svanyr, ohg gurl ernyyl chg va yvxr gjb frnfbaf jbegu bs fgbevrf. V vzntvar na nyg-jbeyq jurer jr tbg gur shyy svir lrnef, naq V guvax gur cbyl eryngvbafuvc jbhyq unir pbzr bhg ornhgvshyyl, naq fur jbhyq unir unq fgebatre fgbelyvarf tbvat sbejneq. Ba gung fhowrpg, V guvax Juvfcref nf gurve cevfbare jbhyq unir gnxra hc n ybg bs frnfba guerr naq nz irel fnq jr arire tbg gung gbb. Tue, 30 Jul 2019 17:42:39 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-2/#IDComment1078248970 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-2/#IDComment1078248657 znex fcbggrq gur fbyhgvba gb gur Jbystnat/Xnyn/Enwna jnl orsber V qvq. Boivbhfyl vg unccrarq cerggl snfg orpnhfr bs gur pnapryyngvba, ohg vg whfg ubg zr bhg bs abjrurer naq jnf cresrpg. BS PBHEFR Frafr 8 jbhyq frg hc n ybir gevnatyr naq unir n cbyl eryngvbafuvc nf gur fbyhgvba. V bayl erterg jr arire tbg gb frr vg cynl bhg anghenyyl npebff gur bevtvanyyl-cynaarq svir lrnef. Tue, 30 Jul 2019 17:35:38 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-2/#IDComment1078248657 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-i/#IDComment1078147071 Now in retrospect I'd like to point out just How much Whispers and his lot are archetypal JMS, cut from the same mold of Psi-Corp and especially Bester. One of the first things I noted when first watching "Sense 8"! Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:50:09 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-sense8-s02e01-happy-fucking-new-year-part-i/#IDComment1078147071 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e10-the-battle-of-ranskoor-av-kolos/#IDComment1078096667 I'd quickly point out, whilst the Doctor does say they exist on three planets, she does not say they are spacefaring and rather i think they are NOT. How they came to exist this way, we dom't know, but the episodepartly hinges on a bit of information not properly conveyed - that they have never met another living enitty outside their world. Fri, 26 Jul 2019 23:41:29 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e10-the-battle-of-ranskoor-av-kolos/#IDComment1078096667 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077634198 For the record in response to Noybusiness, above, but keeping their wishes not to directly reply. I don't think it's fair to actively engage in what I thought was a friendly debate, and in a final post refute points made but then say the other person should not respond. For my own peace of mind, I am taking the opportunity to post my thoughts here so they are on record. Personally, I don't think nay new showrunner is beholden to what others have done. Doctor Who has run for over 50 years with 14 incarnations including the War Doctor. In that time, only really the past several years, under Moffat have made a big thing of psychic transference. Vensusian Aikido was used by the Third Doctor endlessly, yet not much after - though 13 has brought it back a bit. No one questioned that when the Doctor got attacked. This to me feels the same. I do not feel Hime, and I think it is disingenuous to him to suggest otherwise, was 'ignoring a fundamental part of the show and character - because it isn't, really. At most the 7th, 11th, and 12th have probably shown the most 'use'. I did not feel it was a "plot turnaround" either, so much as The Doctor very quickly realising the Solitract was just too unstable, and was continuing to de-stabalise. It's a beautiful metaphor for loss, and the scene was perfect as it was. The whole thing was a metaphor for grief and loss, afterall. Of course, your mileage may vary, and may nt agree, which is why I said that. Free to disagree. Anyway, I just wished to say my side and thoughts on the ending and the Doctor's 'abilities'. Sat, 20 Jul 2019 21:19:25 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077634198 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077612656 The Donna aspect was more physic that transferring tons of memories. The headbutt of Craig was under Moffat. I didn't say RTD didn;'t do it at all, but a mental block is very different to transferring knowledge. And even then, there's still nothing to even say this could be possible with a chaotic Universe being. As I say, just because Moffat used it so much, does not mean the new team are. it's prominence is a Moffat-ism. YMMY, of course. Still, i did not sit watching a beautiful scene and wonder why the Doctor didn't headbutt a frog. Sat, 20 Jul 2019 16:13:34 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077612656 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077585670 She was a teenager and he believed she could care for herself for a short while. All he did was the monster sounds to keep her inside, which YES isn't ideal and is pretty bad, but he was suffering badly from grief, and depression, whilst being lured by his dead wife. He says himself he only meant to be gone a short while. Erik is clearly suffering huge trauma and grief and is simply not thinking straight. He does get called out on this. But in the end he also demonstrates that he is ready to face reality, with his daughter. Sat, 20 Jul 2019 08:58:48 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077585670 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077585400 I said "mostly". ;) RTD used it only slightly, and tended to use it less as an overt psychic-transference, iirc. Sat, 20 Jul 2019 08:55:23 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077585400 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077555076 To be fair, it's an odd one, used loosely, and mostly by Moffat in any major way. It's not something I ever think of when I consider The Doctor. She's always been very low level telepathic, generally. But within the fiction of the world, I don't think it impacts at all, or needed an overt explanation. Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:33:08 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077555076 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077554105 I don't know if there's anything to say the Doctor could transfer thoughts to such an entity, especially one which by its very nature causes destruction when engaged with our Universe, and things from it. Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:10:34 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077554105 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077553635 Also love this: SOLITRACT: Now, please, tell me of your universe. DOCTOR: You think words can do it justice? It's really big... and incredibly beautiful. And, apparently, I've just said goodbye to it. But the thing I'm going to miss the most is the people. My friends. SOLITRACT: I will be that. We will be that. Friends! DOCTOR: Right, me and a conscious universe masquerading as a frog, BFFs. Whoa! Did you just see that? Cos I wouldn't be much of a friend to you if I didn't point out you're not in control of this. SOLITRACT: You're wrong. This is my plane. I control everything here. DOCTOR: So you can see that it's still destabilising? Me being here is going to kill us both. You may want us to be together, but it's not working. It can never work. SOLITRACT: You're lying to me because you want to leave. DOCTOR: No. I'm your friend. But friends help each other face up to their problems, not avoid them. This is... You are the maddest, most beautiful thing I've ever experienced, and I haven't even scratched the surface. I wish I could stay. But if either of us are going to survive, you're going to have to let me go and keep on being brilliant by yourself. SOLITRACT: I miss you. I miss it all so much. DOCTOR: I know. But if you do this, I promise, you and I will be friends forever. You have to let me go. SOLITRACT: I will dream of you out there without me. DOCTOR: Goodbye. Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:00:43 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077553635 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077553618 A heart-breaking, and deeply emotional episode. It's also notable for featuring the first blind actor to ever have a part in Doctor Who, which sadly came in for the usual "SJW" criticisms from a certain quarter. As with pretty much 90% of S11, this episode is even better the next time round. I saw a lot of hatred and anger of the "extremes" Hanne's Dad went too, but I think this only *seems* this way because we're learning as the characters are. When you watch it knowing... he's not winning any awards or anything, but what is actually happening / there, versus what the characters *think* is quite different. The main issue is he stayed away so long. And here, I don't think he even realised he had, or had a sense of that time. The whole point of the trap was that lure. And this comes to what it's about. The Doctor does NOT let him off the hook, BUT she clearly understands. He is suffering grief, but in a very depressive way. Almost in denial, too. He is fleeing. He loves his daughter, but his grief controls him. He did wrong, and the ending isn't just "they go home" as I saw some claim, but that in doing so they were facing the reality of their loss together. Re-building and moving forward. Now to address the frog in the room. Brilliant. Whimsical in only a way Doctor Who would do. Some 'fans' moaned and their 'better ideas' were all predictable and dull - River Song, Susan, The Doctor herself, even Amelia Pond... none of which capture the absurdist, and sad, delight of what the Solitract is and can be. The Doctor's speech here is perfect. It also links in what I've really felt this series - 13 does not monologue AT people. She talks with them. her best speeches are conversation, one on ones, or describing technology in a wonderous manner. We had a little more of that in the RTD era but Moffat favoured the monologue. She does get some speeches, but I love that 13 is all about two-way communication, and this episode has some stunning stuff. DOCTOR: "No. Of course you can't. Fine. Congratulations. Erik wants you. Just one thing. This world is falling apart. I reckon you can only keep one of us. You sure he's your best option? Cos the Solitract doesn't want a husband, you want a whole universe. Someone who has seen it all, and that's me. I've lived longer, seen more, loved more and lost more. I can share it all with you. Anything you want to know about what you never had. Cos he's an i***t with a daughter who needs him. So let him go and I will give you everything." Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e09-it-takes-you-away/#IDComment1077553618 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077494245 You pretty much summed up a lot of why I love this episode. Another point, and oddly other people have said the opposite, but again I thought it balanced the TARDIS crew really well. We get some of Yaz's police training brought into it, and she gets her own little investigation. Ryan has the King James material, and Graham is the Witchfinder General and carries a lot of humour. The Doctor though is really front and centre here. With a larger cast it's very much a case of taking turns to have more focus, and for me that just adds to the variety of tone this season. Also, I have to say I like the Morax, and the third act reveal, especially watched a second time. Again, this season is REALLY re-watchable. So much is seeded in that the Morax really have a strong presense, and it all works nicely. And I love a god scary Doctor Who monster-alien! Fri, 19 Jul 2019 08:02:24 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077494245 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077437973 I'd argue every single story this season has attempted to have a social message, to greater and lesser extents... and someone confused extents in the case of "Kerblam!". There's been a real push for a socially liberal approach to "Doctor Who" from Chibnall. Thu, 18 Jul 2019 14:32:22 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077437973 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077366516 Comments from my original posting after watching: "Wonderful episode of "Doctor Who" this week, possibly my new favourite for enjoyment this season. Some evocative imagery, very Hammer Horror, especially the first appearance of the Mud-Zombies. Enjoyable having a lot of shades of grey, and Alan Cumming was superb as the equally paranoid and camp King James I. The alien monsters were great, no doubt will scare the kids! The Doctor was on top form, facing the most overt examples of sexism this series, and handling it very well. Wonderful historical-horror!" It's actually now my personal favourite. I think "Rosa" and "Demons of the Punjab" are far more powerful, but "The Witchfinders" is the most fun and exciting story. My partner tells me Alan Cumming's King James is actually if anything toned down from the real person who was infamous for his flare for the dramatic. I don't have too much to say right now beyond how much I love this entire story. Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:39:51 +0000 http://markwatches.net/reviews/2019/07/mark-watches-doctor-who-s11e08-the-witchfinders/#IDComment1077366516 http://markspoils.blogspot.com/2019/07/weekly-shenanigans_14.html#IDComment1077341138 I would say I never saw it as Ed "killing" Father, as I'm not sure Father ever truly embraced life. He shattered the shell Father had created and then the released power of Truth that he was containing dragged him off. So I would say up until the end Ed never truly killed anyone. Father in many ways, stripped away, is shown to be this somewhat tragic character - he was given the greatest gift of all in life and freedom... and never realised it. it was never enough, and he wanted more and more, and in the end genuinely seems confused about why this is happening. He's a pathetic creature that wasted everything he was given, and I think has a strong core message about embracing the life we have. Wed, 17 Jul 2019 07:31:57 +0000 http://markspoils.blogspot.com/2019/07/weekly-shenanigans_14.html#IDComment1077341138