Doctor Who - Series 12, Chibnall's Revenge

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Plus it looks like Chibnall is only writing, at most, four episodes, which is a blessing.

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This article proudly mentions Christmas, but swiftly follows it up by clarifying that it means New Year's Day.  Which isn't fucking Christmas is it.

https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2019/11/26/doctor-who-series-12-to-begin-on-bbcone-this-christmas/

[olliebean]

So we are probably getting a New Year's Day episode, but it's not a special, is it? The "Special" has been folded into the series, to make yet one fewer episode per year. They're chipping away at it, bit by bit.

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You're probably right but sometimes writers improve over time (after the disappointment of seasons 8 and 9 I don't anyone predicted just how great 10 would be) and there's always the hope that the new writers will produce something decent.

I'm terribly sorry to inform you that Chibnall will not get better over time.  He has not and he will not.

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So we are probably getting a New Year's Day episode, but it's not a special, is it? The "Special" has been folded into the series, to make yet one fewer episode per year. They're chipping away at it, bit by bit.

Hmm; that's a very good point.  I wonder if we can expect to find 10 episodes following the New Year's Day one or if it'll just be folded in.

[Norton Canes]

Starts New Year's Day. Doesn't sound like the dialogue has got any better.

[Ja'moke]

Are the weekly episodes still airing on Sundays do we know? Or moving back to Saturday?

[Bad Ambassador]

Are the weekly episodes still airing on Sundays do we know? Or moving back to Saturday?

Sundays.

"Spyfall"?

[A Hat Like That]

Starts New Year's Day. Doesn't sound like the dialogue has got any better.

I thought the opening bit was pretty good. The rest wasn't coherent enough to judge the dialogue but it does seem much faster paced.

[Delete Delete Delete]

Looks like proper Wank. The Orange and Teal is back.

[Cloud]

Starts New Year's Day. Doesn't sound like the dialogue has got any better.

Best part of that was "you don't know me".  Bit of depth to the Doctor again?  I mean, it was always there in her past, but always felt sort of blissfully ignored in S11.  I always did prefer the whole "I am thousands-ish years old and seen some shit" thing.

[The Roofdog]

That song brought me out in hives but otherwise another decent trailer.

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I thought the opening bit was pretty good. The rest wasn't coherent enough to judge the dialogue but it does seem much faster paced.

It seemed fast paced but I think it may have been a trailer rather than a full episode.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Even if this turns out to be better than S11, it still won't be great because Chibnall is incapable of greatness. There will almost certainly be a couple of pretty good episodes, Chibnall will probably write one that's slightly better than his usual standard, but that's it.

Usual caveat: I will be delighted if I'm proved wrong.

[Ambient Sheep]

Looks like Jodie Whittaker is on The Graham Norton Show this Friday, repeated late the following Monday as usual.

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oh good maybe she'll say again that she drinks a bottle of wine every night


really fascinating woman really worth listening to at every turn

[Norton Canes]

Can put in a good turn given good material, all that bothers me

I mean heaven forfend that anyone playing the Doctor should boast about their drinking prowess...

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I mean heaven forfend that anyone playing the Doctor should boast about their drinking prowess...

I don't particularly mind that, just that it wasn't at all amazing despite Philip Schofield seemingly finding it the most gobsmacking revelation to ever strike his mind.

They could try to conduct interviews that aren't shit, to inspire people to watch the show.

[VelourSpirit]

Jodie Whittaker seems like a lovely person but Peter Capaldi just GETS it man, he's beautiful to listen to. This video is absolutely delightful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rewhHdFDCZg

[A Hat Like That]

Jodie Whittaker seems like a lovely person but Peter Capaldi just GETS it man, he's beautiful to listen to. This video is absolutely delightful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rewhHdFDCZg

Can we just have a whole show where Capaldi talks and draws things?

[daf]

Sniffing a lot - was he on the old cocaines at this point?

(also full marks for correctly calling the character "Doctor Who" - none of this "The Doctor" rubbish!)

Christ! He knows the lyrics for Pertwee's flop single by heart - what a ledge!

[Alberon]

He's a fan's fan. He makes David Tennant look like a guy who has never heard of the show.

[Chairman Yang]

Oh my heart(s), he's so adorable! That one video of the kids asking him about Rose and him really thoughtfully improvising in character is similarly wonderful.

I do wonder how much the show is just a gig to Jodie Whittaker. It'd be a shame if her time on the show ended before she got into her groove. I mean even Eccleston seems to care about the character and he hates Doctor Who!

I guess I ought to start rewatching the last series before New Year's Day. You're all welcome to join me in this thankless ordeal.

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I'd argue that three series is rarely enough time for an actor to get into their groove; it usually feels like they're just beginning to hit their stride and then they're gone.  This applies to both Smith and Capaldi at least.

[daf]

Which is where Big Finish come in handy - every single Sixth Doctor Who audio is vastly superior to the anything we saw on TV - by sodding miles. He's hit his stride so hard, there's a groove in the road behind him.

On TV - absolute catshit
On Audio - Best of the lot.

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He's hit his stride so hard, there's a groove in the road behind him.

That was going to happen anyway due to his weight.

[daf]

ZING!!

Though he's lovely and slim on audio, of course!

[Small Man Big Horse]

I'd argue that three series is rarely enough time for an actor to get into their groove; it usually feels like they're just beginning to hit their stride and then they're gone.  This applies to both Smith and Capaldi at least.

I'd agree with Capaldi, but I thought Smith was on fire from the beginning.

[Deanjam]

I'd agree with Capaldi, but I thought Smith was on fire from the beginning.

Right from "Could I have an apple?"

And I say that as someone who thought he would be terrible and far too young.

[Norton Canes]

So 'Spyfall' - it's a Bond pastiche, that much is abundantly clear, and the level of subtlety has already been indicated by the line "Doctor... the Doctor."

How many other Bond catchphrases are gong to be crow-barred in? Definitely:

"Doctor..?"
"No."