[S14 E00] Eve of the Daleks

[Catsmate]

I thought I'd be early this time.
19:00Z on New Year's Day.


ETA: edited to reflect the episode being considered the zeroth of season 14.

[ninjaconor]

That was a pretty enjoyable episode. The best of the New Year specials easily. I did have to laugh though when Dan said the Doctor "saved the entire universe" last week. Didn't she save like 10% of the universe, after the rest had been wiped out by the Flux?

[markrand]

I liked it and thought the "rotary cannon"-style Dalek weapon was cool.

[greyhame]

Far better than the Flux - not that that's saying much, the Teletubbies had better stories than the Flux!
Still, credit where it's due - a better episode and the rotary-barrelled gunstick was a good idea.

[Escher]

A good episode. No foreshadowing for the upcoming finale or continuity, but good nonetheless.

[Stormcrow]

Meh. Nothing awful. I'm glad they finally addressed the pent-up romantic feelings Yaz was having for the Doctor... wait, what?

I supposed this is a good sign: my wife thought it was good enough to have been written by someone other than Chibnall.

Hands up everyone who didn't think Nick and Sarah were going to end up together at the end. Anyone? Anyone? Hello?

[markrand]

I got the idea that the writer was hinting at it.

[Catsmate]

Jan 1, 2022 23:48:12 GMT greyhame said:

Far better than the Flux - not that that's saying much, the Teletubbies had better stories than the Flux!
Still, credit where it's due - a better episode and the rotary-barrelled gunstick was a good idea.

I think that was copied from Dalek Empire.

[drinkplentyofmalk]

Both me and the friend I watched it with where in sheer disbelief at how decent the character writing was for once - it probably helps that the dilemma as is simple enough that there simply wasn't room for endless dry technobabble or plot twists that we see coming 20 minutes before the Doctor does.
The fact that the script kept pointing out how weird the creepy guy felt a bit off given that we see the two of them get together without a token line where he acknowledges how weird he was acting.
The fact that every other line was just 'DAAAAH-LEKS DO NOT [X human thing]' made me feel like I was losing my own mind in a time loop, which was impressively immersive.

I want to be happy about the fact that Yaz finally has some actual dramatic drive, but the fact it's taken us about three years and possible days of screentime to finally get *something* that isn't just a cardboard cutout that says "what's that Doctor?" on loop... it just makes me frustrated with Chibnall's lack of interest in his own characters all over again.

Still, what about those great Sea Devil prosthetics?

[greyhame]

Just finished watching it for the second time.
More enjoyable second time around, no needless technobabble, Daleks seemed like a real threat, John Bishop was very good (reminded me of the male companions from the 60's), Jodie felt like the Doctor for once (instead of just someone cosplaying), even Yaz (can't remember her name - memory like a sieve!) was good. Enjoyed both minor characters, although both needed a bit more background.
Overall, the best episode since Chibnall took over.

[Stormcrow]

Jan 3, 2022 15:27:06 GMT drinkplentyofmalk said:

The fact that the script kept pointing out how weird the creepy guy felt a bit off given that we see the two of them get together without a token line where he acknowledges how weird he was acting.

They did have a conversation about how weird he was; they just didn't have it when they got together at the end because they'd already had it in the middle.

[scottbarratt1989]

Chibnall’s best, now I know that maybe doesn’t mean much after the end of Flux, but it was certainly an improvement. Also Dan meddling with the Yaz and The Doctor’s relationship was an interesting turn, I’m unsure if that was in character for him or not. Do we really know who Dan is? I know he’s Jackie Corkhill’s son, but other than that?

Edit: Also the Dalek Gatling Gun was inspired!