Scardoll
Since: Nov, 2010
02/11/2014 00:00:00
Similar to what I thought: Good ideas, not so good execution.
Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.
Scardoll
Since: Nov, 2010
02/11/2014 00:00:00
Also, I didn't even notice the Room 11 resolution... Wow, that was not a good idea.
Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.
ElectricNova
Since: Jun, 2012
02/11/2014 00:00:00
Yeah, I never thought of room 11 as a "unsolved" mystery, but I guess some people did? And that's why they brought it up again... I thought it was just supposed to be something to speculate over.
I liked room 11 when you could have your own interpretation.
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The "we don't have much TIME to resolve the arcs" of the Doctor
After the Day of the Doctor, I was really very excited for Time of the Doctor. I'm always interested in regeneration stories and I was glad that they were trying to wrap up loose plot threads. I was a little concerned, because the main arc had been largely (not completely) ignored for an entire season that lasted 2 years. Could one special really wrap it all up?
The answer is, sort of.
On paper, the episode sounds good. It could have been an elegiac, poignant send off and a Grand Finale of epic proportions. After all, this arc has been going for 4 years right?
Eh... in the end, half of the episode was a big info dump mixed with a overabundance of enemies, and the other half was some actually rather nice drama. I wish that they didn't feel the need to throw every monster on here somewhere.
So.... in the space of a few minutes we find out that: The Silence are a splinter group of the Papal mainframe who went back in time to kill the Doctor terminator style, In order to prevent the question being answered and the Time lords coming back through. Also a Room 11 resolution that we didn't need. It all just felt.... well it's a bit much to absorb in a short time. If this information was spread throughout all of Season 7 it would feel natural. This is what happens when you halt your story arcs right near the end.
I thought that the Christmas elements detracted from the episode, as it wastes screen time and, to be honest, making Trenzalore into a Christmas hovel is....a bit anti climactic, after the fantastically cool Battlefield grave planet of the Name of The Doctor.
There are positive elements however. Clara is finally growing into a somewhat relatable character, somehow despite being a blatant Mary Sue. The regeneration sequence does not disappoint. There ARE some lovely scenes, and Handles is one of the most surprisingly sad things in a while.
I don't need to mention the regeneration limit plot, because it was necessary in order to carry the show on. They pulled it off the best they could.
Overall, it's obviously important to watch, but if feels more like a necessary story created to "get all the problems out of the way" before Capaldi comes in. That is to say, a bit artificial.
So the worst of "The Doctor" trilogy, but not terrible. I guess a 6-7 score would be appropriate.