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morganminstrelJaw. Drop.
That's it. That's the review.
No, only joking. Spoilers now.
Right. First a link so you know what the Cartmell Masterplan was. Yes, this is relevant.
What we're seeing here is the ultimate combination of the Cartmell Masterplan, fan speculation, and a whole lot else. I joked about a "Chibnall Masterplan" a little while ago, but it is definitely what we are seeing.
And the incredible thing is....it doesn't really change anything, even as it changes everything. The First Doctor is still, as far as the Doctor's actual memories go, the First Doctor. She is still who she is, she's just so much more. I have to admit disliking some of the Cartmell stuff (the Looms in particular), but this...somehow works for me, mostly. (To be fair, if we'd gotten a 1989-1990 season, it might have worked for me?)
Was I the only one, by the way, slightly disappointed she didn't open the little catch on the back of the clock? With all the opening of timepieces and whatnot bringing back Time Lord memories...I suppose the question is whether this will just be left alone, and the Doctor will just continue on or, like the Cartmell Masterplan, it really will change things and have an effect on the show? I don't know, obviously. For what it's worth, I sincerely doubt that Jo Martin is a past Doctor, if only because it's not clear that incarnations previous to Hartnell's Doctor called themselves that.
And, of course, it does screw up Gallifreyan history; I guess the cult of Pythia and all that is non-canonical now? I dunno.
All of that, and I've really said very little about the story itself. It was good. Quite good. This really was an excellent Master episode, and I quite like Sacha Dhawan. I hope it's not the last we see of his Master...remember kids, the Master always survives somehow. He got rid of the Cheetah plague, he can get rid of the Cyberium!
Honestly, there was so much for a fan to love. I think this is the most fan service an episode has had in quite some time. From references to other times the Doctor has been in the Matrix to all the clips, I enjoyed that quite a lot. And the Master's jab about "The Deadly Assassin?" *chef's kiss* I have no idea how accessible it was for someone not well versed in the classic show, but it worked well for me. And wasn't it a treat to see old TARDIS control rooms! Looking like Type 40s too! Good thing the Master didn't happen to destroy them, or decide to use them to transport his troops, eh? (But I nitpick.)
Honestly, there were only two weak points: The massive save at the end, which worked (barely), and Ryan being basically....there. He has had it very rough in this story, whereas Graham and Yaz have gone from strength to strength. I am not one to talk about 4 people as an "overcrowded TARDIS," but Ryan was basically used to tie us to a character, and not much else. And his dyspraxia seems to conveniently disappear, huh? I like that he's more confident, but....
And hey, TARDIS stuck in 21st century Yorkshire! At least the timeliest refugees have a "house" to live in...?
But yes! I enjoyed the heck out of this, and it's given us lots to think about and discuss. And we'll have lots of time to discuss it in.
DOCTOR WHO WILL RETURN WITH REVOLUTION OF THE DALEKS! (Presumably at New Year's!)
That's it. That's the review.
No, only joking. Spoilers now.
Right. First a link so you know what the Cartmell Masterplan was. Yes, this is relevant.
What we're seeing here is the ultimate combination of the Cartmell Masterplan, fan speculation, and a whole lot else. I joked about a "Chibnall Masterplan" a little while ago, but it is definitely what we are seeing.
And the incredible thing is....it doesn't really change anything, even as it changes everything. The First Doctor is still, as far as the Doctor's actual memories go, the First Doctor. She is still who she is, she's just so much more. I have to admit disliking some of the Cartmell stuff (the Looms in particular), but this...somehow works for me, mostly. (To be fair, if we'd gotten a 1989-1990 season, it might have worked for me?)
Was I the only one, by the way, slightly disappointed she didn't open the little catch on the back of the clock? With all the opening of timepieces and whatnot bringing back Time Lord memories...I suppose the question is whether this will just be left alone, and the Doctor will just continue on or, like the Cartmell Masterplan, it really will change things and have an effect on the show? I don't know, obviously. For what it's worth, I sincerely doubt that Jo Martin is a past Doctor, if only because it's not clear that incarnations previous to Hartnell's Doctor called themselves that.
And, of course, it does screw up Gallifreyan history; I guess the cult of Pythia and all that is non-canonical now? I dunno.
All of that, and I've really said very little about the story itself. It was good. Quite good. This really was an excellent Master episode, and I quite like Sacha Dhawan. I hope it's not the last we see of his Master...remember kids, the Master always survives somehow. He got rid of the Cheetah plague, he can get rid of the Cyberium!
Honestly, there was so much for a fan to love. I think this is the most fan service an episode has had in quite some time. From references to other times the Doctor has been in the Matrix to all the clips, I enjoyed that quite a lot. And the Master's jab about "The Deadly Assassin?" *chef's kiss* I have no idea how accessible it was for someone not well versed in the classic show, but it worked well for me. And wasn't it a treat to see old TARDIS control rooms! Looking like Type 40s too! Good thing the Master didn't happen to destroy them, or decide to use them to transport his troops, eh? (But I nitpick.)
Honestly, there were only two weak points: The massive save at the end, which worked (barely), and Ryan being basically....there. He has had it very rough in this story, whereas Graham and Yaz have gone from strength to strength. I am not one to talk about 4 people as an "overcrowded TARDIS," but Ryan was basically used to tie us to a character, and not much else. And his dyspraxia seems to conveniently disappear, huh? I like that he's more confident, but....
And hey, TARDIS stuck in 21st century Yorkshire! At least the timeliest refugees have a "house" to live in...?
But yes! I enjoyed the heck out of this, and it's given us lots to think about and discuss. And we'll have lots of time to discuss it in.
DOCTOR WHO WILL RETURN WITH REVOLUTION OF THE DALEKS! (Presumably at New Year's!)
