S8. EP8 Mummy on the Orient Express

[Rassilon]

What did you think?

[Catsmate]

I liked it. Interesting setting (OK a bit reminiscent of the Titanic), reasonable plot, good acting and interesting stinger regarding Clara and Danny.
Who's the addict?

[ninjaconor]

Thought it was really good. Probably my second favourite this series after The Caretaker. I did think it seemed a bit rushed in parts and we didn't really get the chance to get properly settled with the Orient Express setting before it jumped into the sci-fi lab setting, but I've felt that about most episodes since they stopped doing two-parters. They really need to bring those back.

[Catsmate]

Oct 11, 2014 20:32:31 GMT ninjaconor said:

Thought it was really good. Probably my second favourite this series after The Caretaker. I did think it seemed a bit rushed in parts and we didn't really get the chance to get properly settled with the Orient Express setting before it jumped into the sci-fi lab setting, but I've felt that about most episodes since they stopped doing two-parters. They really need to bring those back.

Agreed. It seemed more of a two-parter plot compressed.

[chickenpaddy]

In my opinion, a much better episode than Kill the Moon. It makes me feel a little better about series 8

[misterharry]

I really enjoyed it - the best of the series so far.

Oct 11, 2014 20:24:51 GMT Catsmate said:

I liked it. Interesting setting (OK a bit reminiscent of the Titanic)

I may be stating the obvious, but that seems to be a running theme this series so I'm guessing it's deliberate - most of the stories seem to have a very clear debt to a previous story, either in style or in story elements:

Deep Breath = The Girl in the Fireplace (Clockwork Droids)
Into the Dalek = Dalek (exploring whether there can be a good Dalek and the Doctor's reaction to it)
Robot of Sherwood = The Shakespeare Code (history as comedy)
Listen = Blink (scary aliens who you can't look away from switched to scary aliens you can't see)
Time Heist = hmm, I'm drawing a blank here (probably overlooking something very obvious)*
The Caretaker = School Reunion (the Doctor working undercover at a school)
Kill the Moon = not sure, but possibly The Waters of Mars (a doomed expedition at the dawn of space flight)
Mummy on the Orient Express = Voyage of the Damned (the Titanic and the Orient Express as space tourism)

There are also the famous lines being reused in each of this series' stories - last night it was "Are you my mummy?" (which made me smile).


*EDIT: Could it be Time Heist = The God Complex (an imprisoned minotaur-like monster that feeds on guilt/an imprisoned Minotaur that feeds on faith, both hunting in a labyrinth of sorts)?

[Stormcrow]

Oct 12, 2014 8:40:00 GMT misterharry said:

I may be stating the obvious, but that seems to be a running theme this series so I'm guessing it's deliberate - most of the stories seem to have a very clear debt to a previous story, either in style or in story elements:

Deliberate? No, I don't think so. Indicative of running out of ideas, I'd say. You-Know-Who likes to rehash ideas and calls it "nods."

[olegrand]

I found it good, really - but I think it could have been better if the somewhat tedious passages about Clara's hesitations and changes of mind had been replaced with episode-related stuff (such as more background info on the Foretold legend or on the "forgotten war" fought by this "lost soldier").

One thing that bothers me about the new series so far is the lack (or utter scarcity) of truly EVIL opponents (barring the ubiquitous Daleks) - more often than not, the Doctor seems to be pit against misguided, deluded or "misprogrammed" creatures (such as the clockwork cyborgs of Deep Breath, the whatever-it-was-called in the Caretaker or the mummy in this episode) or against menaces which turn out to be harmless beings or phenomena (such as the non-entity of Listen or the moon-being in Kill the Moon). Give us true villains, so that the Doctor can shine as the true hero he is!

[misterharry]

Oct 12, 2014 15:57:12 GMT Stormcrow said:

Oct 12, 2014 8:40:00 GMT misterharry said:

I may be stating the obvious, but that seems to be a running theme this series so I'm guessing it's deliberate - most of the stories seem to have a very clear debt to a previous story, either in style or in story elements:

Deliberate? No, I don't think so. Indicative of running out of ideas, I'd say. You-Know-Who likes to rehash ideas and calls it "nods."

I completely disagree. I realise that you dislike Steven Moffat as showrunner. Fair enough, but I believe that these are deliberate choices.

[misterharry]

Actually, I've just realised that all the links are to new series stories. I think this is related to the 10th anniversary of the re-launch of Doctor Who in 2005. Blimey, is it really the 10th anniversary next year!?

[Catsmate]

Oct 12, 2014 20:20:55 GMT misterharry said:

Actually, I've just realised that all the links are to new series stories. I think this is related to the 10th anniversary of the re-launch of Doctor Who in 2005. Blimey, is it really the 10th anniversary next year!?

Time passes...

[zebaroth]

i liked it remided me of a Japanese anime galaxy express 999
it is hard to find but good

[thereviewer]

I actually watched this episode at the New York Comic Con prior to it's actual premiere. Alot of people applauded for both the Jelly Babies and the "Are you my Mummy?" lines (myself included.) Speaking of which, this year at Comic Con, I was happy to meet Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston. I got Arthur's signature in my Summer Falls book, and a photo of me with Alex. Alex was hysterical when I met her today. She noticed I had my sonic screwdriver and asked if I would like to have anything done with it, to which I got flustered Matt Smtih style.

Anyways, back to this episode, I loved it alot. Really liked the rebound with Clara and I loved the harking back to the older Who. I only wished they'd refrenced The Pyramids of Mars a bit more. I also liked how The Doctor was able to save more people this time around instead of wasting everybody else there. I look forward to the next epsiode, only four more to go, hard to believe.

[imajica]

Good that Frank Skinner finally got his wish to appear in a full episode of Who. Other than that, the whole thing had a very recycled feel to it. My better half spent most of the episode saying she was sure she'd seen it before (not sure how or where, the attention she gives Who). Loved the jelly babies in the cigar case, and the "Are you my mummy?" line.

Definitely not the worst episode this series. I'll have to see how it changes on a second viewing.

I agree that we need some serious villains this year. We're running out of time, there's no really obvious arc-plot (for a change! Thank goodness!). Capaldi's performance as The Doctor is really growing on me, though.

[Catsmate]

Oct 13, 2014 1:37:07 GMT thereviewer said:

I actually watched this episode at the New York Comic Con prior to it's actual premiere. Alot of people applauded for both the Jelly Babies and the "Are you my Mummy?" lines (myself included.) Speaking of which, this year at Comic Con, I was happy to meet Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston. I got Arthur's signature in my Summer Falls book, and a photo of me with Alex. Alex was hysterical when I met her today. She noticed I had my sonic screwdriver and asked if I would like to have anything done with it, to which I got flustered Matt Smtih style.

Anyways, back to this episode, I loved it alot. Really liked the rebound with Clara and I loved the harking back to the older Who. I only wished they'd refrenced The Pyramids of Mars a bit more. I also liked how The Doctor was able to save more people this time around instead of wasting everybody else there. I look forward to the next epsiode, only four more to go, hard to believe.

Yeah I'm surprised there was no Pyramids references. It was also interesting to see Clara choosing the Doctor over Danny, to a degree.
Who's the addict?

[thereviewer]

Oct 13, 2014 10:21:15 GMT Catsmate said:

Oct 13, 2014 1:37:07 GMT thereviewer said:

I actually watched this episode at the New York Comic Con prior to it's actual premiere. Alot of people applauded for both the Jelly Babies and the "Are you my Mummy?" lines (myself included.) Speaking of which, this year at Comic Con, I was happy to meet Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston. I got Arthur's signature in my Summer Falls book, and a photo of me with Alex. Alex was hysterical when I met her today. She noticed I had my sonic screwdriver and asked if I would like to have anything done with it, to which I got flustered Matt Smtih style.

Anyways, back to this episode, I loved it alot. Really liked the rebound with Clara and I loved the harking back to the older Who. I only wished they'd refrenced The Pyramids of Mars a bit more. I also liked how The Doctor was able to save more people this time around instead of wasting everybody else there. I look forward to the next epsiode, only four more to go, hard to believe.

Yeah I'm surprised there was no Pyramids references. It was also interesting to see Clara choosing the Doctor over Danny, to a degree.
Who's the addict?

Yup. BTW, sent you another PM I think. You should check to see if the notifications are on or not. I think mine are, but I'll double check to make sure.

[Eryx]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The only thing I don't like was why put it on a train? We have a universe of star ships so why do something as surreal as a train? Classic Who would have put this on a star ship called the Orient Express and have everyone in period dress. Modern Who is going too far down the surreal approach these days.

[Catsmate]

Nov 27, 2014 15:26:09 GMT Eryx said:

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The only thing I don't like was why put it on a train? We have a universe of star ships so why do something as surreal as a train? Classic Who would have put this on a star ship called the Orient Express and have everyone in period dress. Modern Who is going too far down the surreal approach these days.

Deliberate contrast perhaps? Or no wanting echoes of the starship Titanic.
Personally I rather like the idea of space trains, though I prefer the version from Transit.