The Eaters of Light - Take Two Doctor Who Review
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole go hunting for the lost 9th Legion in the wilds of Scotland. But what they find is more than they expected, and may be more than the world can handle.
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The only part I remember is when Bill tells the Romans she's a lesbian and one of them is almost confused by how she only likes one gender. I love that scene because I, as a pan person, don't understand how gender effects attraction so it was cool to see that expressed by a character
hehe same
It's also fairly historically accurate! At least, as far as I know.
Same. I love this episode for that
I have a soft spot for this episode because a) among my fondest memories as a teenager is a family trip by rental car through the Scottish Highlands, and b) my late mother's absolute favorite birds were crows. And also, the time difference thing is absolutely part of Celtic folklore, and this is at least one time when _Doctor Who_ acknowledges that the folkloric belief is actually real, and not some misguided superstition.
This episode is a little bit of fun... but should have been more memorable
Crispy!
I have to stand up for this episode even though I agree with your points about theming. This is just one of those cases where I enjoy it so much I can overlook almost anything- but I do realize the flaws are there. Bill, the Doctor and Nardole work so well in this episode and I enjoy them so much- I would argue that this is some of their best stuff together and I would argue that if you like this companion group this episode is where they click the best. The stuff with Missy at the end is tremendous- the acting Gomez does in the background is jus magical- I love when she mimes at Bill to lift her jaw off the floor- just gold.
With the exception of Paul McGann getting at least 1 television season as The Doctor, I feel that the biggest "what if" missed opportunity Doctor Who will ever have was Capaldi not getting a 4th season as The Doctor with Missy as his companion (along with Bill and Nardole). That to me would have been the ultimate TARDIS team as you would have the tragic hero (Capaldi knowing it's his final season), the romantic foil (Missy trying to be The Doctor's friend and good), the exposition/straight man (Bill), and the likable comic relief (Nardole).
Would have Loved this
The irony of bill being the straight man
I would have killed to see that season.
For me are:
- This you said
- At least one season of Eight Doctor
- At least two seasons more with Nine
- the 25th with Nine and without the War Doctor.
Yes, I love Nine.
@@concettasorvillo3719Yes 50th with 9 but also John Hurt is so fucking brilliant oh my fucking god
Also I kinds like that this video dropped today. It's Capaldi's birthday today.
In the minority here I think this is GREAT.The ways it references Survival is perfect...
A writer from Classic Who wrote it.
@@MovieMagic515 yes the writer of survival im aware.
I just love that style of story..
@@scix8794 I haven't seen it in a while so i'm due a rewatch. I'm glad you like it.
This is the only episode of New Who written by a Classic Who writer
Yeah, I
That's the only memorable thing abut it.
This is the only episode of New Who
I agree that Missy should have had a whole episode of trying to be good. I like her in S10 but her arc is a little underdeveloped. These two episodes do good work and there needs to be doubt over whether Missy has become better in Dr Falls to build tension. But one of my few gripes about S10 is that it doesn't focus on her arc as much as it should, especially when it had to do all the heavy lifting as her previous stories don't contribute to it.
The Eaters of Light was fine but nothing more than that. If this and Empress of Mars came earlier, then it would be okay, but these two stories suffer by being sandwiched between the Monk trilogy and Capaldi's end trilogy.
I really liked the scene where Kar is blaming herself for the deaths and the Doctor tells her "You know, every moment you waste wallowing about in that happy thought means more of the living are going to join them. […] Believe me, I know. Time to grow up, Kar. Time to fight your fight." It's another one of the moments that show the continuity of the Doctor's character arc across regenerations, reinforcing that he is very much the same man. Twelve's wisdom is a direct result of lessons he learnt the hard way as Ten, for example. He might as well be talking to his past self.
I like this one well enough, but pretty much agree with your points, both positive and negative.
One thing I do enjoy about this episode that you didn't bring up, and is fairly small - I like that they're here because Bill was curious about a piece of history and wanted to time travel to learn more about it, but which doesn't feed into her personal life. The closest I can think of to that is Clara insisting Robin Hood is real and the Doctor taking her to the right point in history to (fail) to prove her wrong. At least, on screen. This isn't the Doctor showing off history, or exploring it for his own sake, or a companion doing something that's probably a bad idea but which the Doctor lets them do, or because the TARDIS went somewhere the Doctor didn't want to go, but just... "Hey, this is a historic mystery I want to see first hand."
I like this one. There's excellent work from the main cast, Nardole and Bill especially, and the young guest actors are very good, which doesn't always happen! Beautifully directed and shot, a well-written script and an atmospheric score from Murray Gold, its only real drawback is that it's not a humdinger of a story... but it's none the worse for that. It isn't an episode I often think of rewatching, but I've always enjoyed it when I have.
I do like this episode if only for more of seeing the Doctor, Bill and Nardole as a team. We didn't get that nearly enough and this team is always missed potential for me. I want more!
It would have been great to have an adventure with Missy. The constant tension because you never know is she helping or she is going back to her old ways. Which would not be helped by her snarky, cutting remarks she makes.
I feel like it would have fit better in the early half of this Series. I have a soft spot for it in the same way I like Robot of Sherwood and The Girl Who Died.
I love this episode. I'm a sucker for Celtic/irish/scottish/fairytale stuff too. I literally bought song of the sea without even watching the trailer bc it was clearly about selkies. It's one of the few that I recognize from the title alone.
This episode feels like the van Gogh episode to me. The fear theme might feel off bc it's more specific I think. To me it felt very focused on the concept of fear creating biases and bad decisions, in a very similar way to Song of the Sea actually.
I think I need to rewatch this season. It turns out that there are a number of episodes that I mostly forgot existed.
This one always felt like a Third or Fourth Doctor story to me, and I'm not really sure why.
I can envision it as a Tom Baker three-parter. Probably with Sarah Jane. Leela would cause too much of a ruckus in among the Legion.
Because is written by a classic who screenwriter 😊
I recently rewatched season 10 for the first time since initial release. Before rewatching this episode was the one I had the best memory of (as in I remembered what happened in it not that I remember it being the best episode) out of all of Capaldi’s run. In my mind this was THE classic 12th Doctor episode. And after the rewatch I was not disappointed. It might not be as impactful as I remembered it but (to me!) it’s definitely not forgettable! I specifically enjoyed the pacing, I often struggle with the doctor and companion being separated for big parts of an episode but in this it works perfectly for me. I loved the dialogue, both the fun and the serious. I enjoyed the setting, the opponent, the crows. I genuinely do not find anything about this episode I would change. Sure, I wouldn’t recommend this episode to a new viewer or say that it is objectively one of the best but for me personally it absolutely hits the spot.
I genuinely forgot that this episode existed
I really have no memory of this episode that I know I’ve seen twice. Aside from the crow (or raven or rook) at the end repeating a characters name so much people then began to think that’s just the sound they made.
Unpopular opinion (?) but I really like this episode, it's fun and enjoyable. I just like this story
I feel this is the most underrated 12th Doctor episode.
I really like this one too! It has a very “Classic Who” feel.
@@amygreenberg4950 Agreed - both this story and Empress of Mars have a "Classic" vibe for me.
I've always really liked this episode, though your theming critiques sounded right on and is probably why it never joined the cadre of those eps I LOVE. Bill's time with the Romans was wholly illuminating, it had an interesting premise and the acting was good. And of course, Missy and the Doctor. I wish you had dealt with the part at the end where the Doctor is going to join those fighting in the hill. To me, it didn't feel like the Doctor's normal selfless urge, but that he was running away from his responsibilities. Which, at this time was primarily Missy. Like he felt himself falling back into old habits, and knew where it would end so he wanted to just get the hell out before it could.
Yeah, it is straight-up strange hearing 12 say "She thinks she can be me, lets put it to the test" next episode. Like, when did she say that?
I thought this episode was bad. Recently reached it - it isn't. It's as fine as Knock Knock. One if the let-downs of the series.
Everything else aside - this episode is visually spectacular
I liked the scene where Bill was talking with the Ninth Legion about sexuality...there was that interesting twist where they called her "narrow-minded" because she only likes women. Very mild but noticeable social commentary.
That was a highlight for me too. She's used to being considered progressive in our culture, but then she discovers she isn't really. And it's handled very well.
I almost forgot that was in this episode. I also loved that moment. Nice to see bisexuality being represented as normal instead of the (admittedly entertaining) flirtbomb that is Captain Jack or River Song.
This was the first episode I ever watched live.
Scottish and Irish you forgot the Welsh celtics!! 😂
I liked the feeling and the mood of this episode. This could've been developed to a great two parter, but felt a bit hasty. A nice story, and that music coming from the mountain hill was great. And Nardoles outfit. Amazing!
I absolutely love this episodes - Kar is one of my favorite one-off characters of all time, and the episode provides an incredible critique of imperialism, which follows up on the themes of the season as a whole.
BUT. When I hear what other people have to say about this episode, it’s not to bring up some issues with pacing, or lack of engagement, or anything Vera brought up. NO! It’s to say ‘Ugh, why did they cast a black actor as a roman’ and ‘bill was just there to tell everyone that she’s gay’. WTF IS YOUR PROBLEM, OTHER PEOPLE?! I can understand if this episode isn’t for you, but the number of people who dislike this episode out of bigotry really distresses me.
The one thing that really stands out about this episode is an unfortunate side effect of its originally being intended to be early in the season, as apparently no one thought to take out the scene where Bill realizes the TARDIS is translating for her. It just makes her come off as ridiculously idiotic to have never once questioned this throughout the whole season.
That makes sense if it was supposed to be an early episode. Then it probably wouldn’t be as forgettable either.
I thought it made sense for her not to realise. All her adventures were either in the present day, the recent past in England or in human occupied places in the future. For somebody that doesn't already know about the translation circuit the idea that these people are speaking English is more reasonable than the idea that the ship is getting inside her head and making her hear and see whatever language the future space colonists are speaking as English. This and the finale are the only times she goes anywhere that it wouldn't make any sense to hear modern English spoken.
I know the crow thing is a joke and obviously they don't understand English but they do actually talk. Not like a paret like a human and its creepy
You wanted a who episode of Missy being The Doctor. I wanted a whole season of that.
Well yes, in honestly I wanted a whole series, but that may never have been in the cards. I think at least ONE episode was never too much to ask.
I really liked the atmosphere and mood of this one, but the plot itself was incredibly basic and, as you say, there's *almost* a theme... I enjoyed it, but it could have been a lot more than it was for sure.
Wow, I'd have liked them to lean more into that theme you mention. Fear makes companions of us all :D
Wasn't this the only one to have been written by someone who wrote for classic and nu who?
A solid episode. Never gonna be anyone's fave but equally never anyone's worst. It's good with solid performances. What more can u say?
This is the one where it looks like it was boiled down from a two-parter. So we get told but not shown a Roman army being slaughtered having previously slaughtered invisible Picts and we are told, but not shown the Pict elder released the beast that did it and we are are told, but not shown the raw recruits ran away. We are told, but not really shown Nardol surviving then making friends with the Picts while the Doctor is away in the portal and elsewhere we get the death of a cliched character who hadn't been given time to become anything more. Finally we get a quick reconciliation which doesn't convince, because it is a quick reconciliation, so we don't really care about their sacrifice, because again we hardly know these people and also a major plot problem because it only buys a long stay of execution for the Earth, so it would have been nice to see the Doctor come back (and rescue them?) and seal the portal. Done over two episodes with some money thrown at it I think it might have worked, but as it stands it blurs by and is soon forgotten.
This episode as a whole feels like they need a 12th episode cause they knew what the finale was going to be but needed one more episode before the 2 parter it also feels like they didn’t try hard with this episode like they were going mostly for a bottle episode with most of it being centered in the forest with the doctor and bill looking for each other cause they got separated where bill finds the Romans and the doctor finds the pits and each one helps the group they find while trying to find each other
Watched it once - and thats when it aired - must check it out again - but yeah - I don't remember it being anything special
Loving the work
So, Bill notices the autotranslate service with a Latin-speaking, Donna found out about it in Rome, and Way Back When, Sarah Jane learned about it while surrounded by Italians when one of them spoke a Latin phrase...
Ahah we Romans, exposing the TARDIS since 1954
(Sorry I felt to have to say something because of me be Italian and in Rome, but the joke is bad 😂😂)
I honestly didn't remember any of the details mentioned
This is one of the few for series 10 that doesn’t hold up for me on a rewatch. I honestly keep forgetting it exists.
I honestly really kinda hated how many good ideas and aesthetics were wasted on this episode which really just dropped the ball on so many things. Also I like how _this time_ you did not mention the fact that the writer for this episode had previously done Survival.
Honestly, I think the episode is just alright. It’s fun but not really worth going back for
Very very forgettable and tbh i couldn't remember which series of Capaldi's it was in.
The only thing I remember is that joke with conversations with the crows at the beginning
I never like this episode mainly because I physically cannot see anything that is going on. It's so dark. I have watched in a very bright room and still cannot see anything that's going on.
This episode reminds me of vampires of Venice back in series 5, an episode I completely forgot that exists but not awful. It's kind of just meh
Its almost like this is an Ed Hime episode. wrote half a decent concept then just couldnt deliver. except Hime episodes seem to have 2 concepts mushed together. My favorite part of this episode was Bill thinks being gay or bi is something new and modern that people from a different era might be more close minded to then they flip it around like they are more progressive than she is. One of the few "Im gay" moments that doesnt seem as UGH yes we get it. Its like when they wrote Bill they figured the viewer base was a revolving door at this point so we need a weekly reminder our companion is gay so the plot..... which has nothing to do with sexuality.... makes sense? i dunno or after New Who being all about the companion and the doctor being attracted to each other we had to set this up so we know theres 0 chance of that here...... and why they got rid of Bill before 13 though it seems like they are pushing Yaz to be into the doctor in that way
I don’t think series 10 has a bad episode but I’d say this is the weakest. Definitely not bad it’s just ok.
I enjoy this episode,but it might be my least favourite,compared to the rest of the series it isn’t great,and I don’t find all of the series memorable but aside from the extremist stuff I don’t have anything much against this series
I'm probably alone in this, but I thought it was the dullest, cheapest-looking episode of DW since Eccleston. Just dull, dull, dull. A load of kids bickering in the dark. Meh.
Filler - just filler.
Good title, bad episode.