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Doctor Who S11.04 Arachnids in the UK
See gif. This was a fun episode. The spiders were scary (and very well done) – I practically whooped with delight when the big one BROKE THROUGH THE BATH – not-Trump was HILARIOUS (haters to the left, I loved him), there was lots of running about, the Ed Sheeran joke!, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout. Like Classic Who, but not stretched out over 4 or 6 episodes.
• The episode coloured in the space around Yaz, so that was nice. We still don’t know much about her interior, her thoughts and hopes and motivations, but this is better than nothing.
• I think Ryan might be my favourite. He’s not very fleshed out, but his character comes across strongly quite simply in what he says and does.
• Graham keeps getting the meatiest stuff to work with. (See promethia’s post here for a related rant, if you are unhappy with the show prioritising the narrative of the straight white man.) Re. the issue of him wanting Ryan to call him ‘grandad’ (which a lot of people seem to dislike) it strikes me that he doesn’t have much of a family, and from how he talks he wasn’t married before meeting Grace. So I think he is someone very aware that he’s got a 2nd chance – not just at life, but at having a family, and wants to keep hold of what he’s been given. He doesn’t go about it in the best way, but hey-ho, there are worse things.
• Jodie keeps being delightful, and the dramatic flourish whenever she sonics something is adorable. The anti-gun stance is rather ridiculous, but I am hoping it’s building towards something. I’m not saying it’s out of character – it’s a perfectly logical response to having been Twelve (who would probably have shot the spiders himself). But considering all the character stuff we are getting for Graham, where is Thirteen’s grief for Bill? Or any sort of acknowledgement that Twelve was literally suicidal, and deeply depressed over losing everyone? We see a few hints of it her inability to ask the gang to stay (and her thrilled response at being asked to tea), and the way she very carefully makes sure they know what they’re getting themselves into before allowing them to travel with her, but I want more! (I am greedy.) ETA: It could very well be that it's just bewildering not to be in the Doctor's perspective anymore, as suggested by promethia below.
• Speaking of Thirteen we have yet to have a Big Moment, no ‘The Lonely Angel Storm at the Oncoming Fire of the Universe’. I hope (and presume) we will get that at some point (they might be saving it up for the end of the season? And no, her confrontations with Tim Shaw & Krasko don’t count), as I really want a moment of those two thousand years showing through. ‘The [wo]man who can turn an army around at the mention of [her] name.’ Actually, thinking about it, this was also my gripe with ‘Rose’ (the episode) back in the day. And S1 certainly paid off, so I guess I’m just impatient, because I think it’ll be spectacular. (Thought: Maybe she will completely lose it and SHOOT SOMEONE IN THE FACE and it'll be all the more shocking because of how anti-gun she is...)
• Similarly, none of the companions have had a Big Moment. Nothing like Rose saving the Doctor in her first episode, or Amy saving the star whale f.ex. If this is because of a ‘return to basics’ or if these moments are still to come I have no idea.
• Looking at Torchwood though, the characters were very opaque for the first season and then blossomed wonderfully, and the Torchwood team are still some of my favourite characters ever, so here’s to hoping!
• The privilege theme continues! Yay! The most telling point being when not-Trump dismissed any concerns with ‘I’ll just pay you off’, which is especially on-point considering the whole row over Sir Philip Green and NDAs.
• Also the toxic waste dump was nicely done (and timely – see this story). Maybe the ruling classes would be more concerned about global warming if it meant that giant spiders would come after them.
• General issue: Exposition. This episode we had an actual Exposition Fairy (reviews tell me her name was Jade, which is good because I couldn’t remember) and the Standing Around Whilst There Is An Info Dump is a little tedious. This is something we may just have to learn to live with, and I am partly blaming the director(s) who surely could tell the actors to DO something rather than just Stand Urgently. ETA: Apparently Ryan made shadow-puppets in one of the exposition scenes, I completely missed that.
• Made a new Team TARDIS icon, because they look just like ghostbusters. <3
I think that’s everything. It’s weird not having any meta to write about. On the plus side, Doctor Who isn’t eating up all my spare time (and brain power) and I can concentrate on other things (like editing my novel). Am sincerely hoping that everything will come together a la Torchwood.
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I also liked Little Sister trying to make eyes at Ryan. :)
That's true but (to state the obvious) TV in 2018 is not the same as TV in 2006, we don't know if the BBC will give Chibnall enough time to get the characters settled in so he can start developing the relationships properly. :/ I have my fingers crossed.
I have just realised that there is fic. And there will be fic. And Torchwood fic was transcendentally good (not all of it, obviously) and the Doctor Who fic might be what gets us through if we never get a lot from the show.
I think it might be too big to have three new companions AND a new Doctor. But who knows, maybe that's just my Moffat preference showing through.
Maybe both. We've been spoiled by someone who could have four things happening at once, and a lizard.
Angstrom (Nordic name?).
Seems like it (except for being an alien). *g*
He was very much a hostile alien, yes.
The rich are the villain every time!