Pointing out political HYPOCRISY? | Doctor Who Space Babies REVIEW!
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- čas přidán 10. 05. 2024
- The first episode of Season 1 of the new Doctor who i here. And here is mine (and my 4 year old son's) review
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I really wasn't keen on this episode at all, but the Space Babies came down on the side of uncanny for me, so I was always going to struggle, lol!
It was very coherent in what it was going for, imo, and I did like the positive messages and social commentary, as you mention. I could see how it would work, it just wasn't for me. Lots of people seem to have enjoyed it, which is encouraging. Thanks for the review!
I get what you mean about uncanny valley. When they talked there was something a bit off… but I quickly got used to it.
Dr Who has always been hit and miss but the good thing about the show is if you didnt like an episode a new one was coming next week.
@@purefoldnz3070 Absolutely!
I only wish that they had used an actual Beatles song in an episode centered around the Beatles! Come on where is the Disney plus money??
That’s even expensive for Disney money.
@@CulturePhilter Its a real missed opportunity for them to promote Beatles music to a younger generation.
I just have to say, your son is just as adorable as those babies! lol I love that he gave you the politically correct response about liking all the Doctors, and his comment about maybe he can be the Doctor in the future was so cute haha (:
I didn't actually think about the abortion analogy, I saw that plot point more as RTD trying to harp on about the abandoned-babies theme this season seems to be going for.. But that's a very interesting interpretation.
Overall, I think it was a cute episode, a bit of an odd choice of plot/monster for episode 1 imo, but I still enjoyed it. Ncuti and Millie's chemistry is amazing, and I liked all the "new companion" mandatory bits we got, but I did feel like they were a bit crammed for one episode. I mean, they covered SO much in one trip - Time travel and paradoxes, the TARDIS mechanics (broken chameleon circuit, translation matrix etc), Gallifrey and it's destruction, the Doctor being "last of the time lords" and also a foundling, the two hearts thing, the rigging of Ruby's phone, the "giving the new companion a key to the TARDIS" scene... I feel like it was probably a bit too much exposition in one episode for new viewers, and yet, too much rehashing of the old for those of us who are already familiar with the show. More balance in this regard might have worked a bit better imo, especially given the fact that they seem to be angling for a Ruby-centric plot line reminiscent of "the impossible girl" arc this season. I just wish we've had more time to get to know Ruby as a person, and see her relationship with the Doctor build in a more gradual pace, instead of spending so much time being spoon-fed exposition about the Doctor's past.. But maybe that's just me.
Anyway, great review! And since I personally loved The Devil's Chord much more than Space Babies, I'm really looking forward to seeing your reaction to it as well :)
I think that plot point is being used for multiple purposes. Definitley meant to link in with Ruby and the Doctor being abandoned but that specific line about how the laws of the planet insist the babies are born but won’t look after them can’t be anything apart from a pointed commentary about anti-choice activists who do the same.
Awesomely Covered Review! I am still struggling to decide on what one I liked more but leaning more towards TDC
Thanks. I should have my review of Devil’s Chord out later today. 🙂
I found the first episode a bit disappointing to be honest it was ok overall but the exposition was bit much for me and I some what zoned out for those bits. There moments where it worked for me like when they meet the babies for the first time.
The second episode was much better and Ncuti really hit his stride during it. Although I thought it was a bit indulgent in places. I like that they expanded on the fallout of The Giggle quite early in the series.
There was a. Lot of exposition to fill Ruby (and the new audience) in on aspects of the Doctor’s background. This was all done much more gradually in the 2005 series over the whole season. However even though there was a lot of it I think it did at least FEEL natural.
I thought it was fun. The episode was silly... But in a good way. It felt like a typical RTD Doctor Who episode - which is nice.
The chemistry between Ruby and the Doctor is great. I really like her as a companion. (which kind of surprises me, because I don't like Rose)
Did I get that right? The babies are 6 years old. They are intelligent enough to operate machines and have ‘normal conversations’, but otherwise they are/behave like normal babies - because they grew up differently?
The show needs that good mixture of silly and seriously dramatic episodes.
Having been watching early RTD series again recently, I really felt the difference between Doctor 9 souping up Rose's phone by waving his sonic over it, while now that Ncuti is doing that so Ruby can call her mum, she has a (compartively enormous) smartphone in 2024. times change but stay the same.
Not sure I'm liking the Doctor refer to Ruby Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday...
@@CulturePhilter its coming next week with Moffat's return.
A proper silly adventure that has me completely sold on Ncuti's Doctor.
Good stuff
- I'm in love with Ncuti Gatwa. What a vibrant and exciting new Doctor we have
- Loved the babies - I don't care if they looked shit, it's Doctor Who, we love a few wonky effects
- Ruby's awesome
- Tonal shifts a little jarring, but loved the serious Doctor stuff, ties nicely into old character traits: an old and kind but lonely traveler with a habitual need to help
- Monster = gross and scary. Big whiff of Alien, and strangely Alien Resurrection. Weird, but not complaining
Not so good stuff
- A little heavy on exposition at the start, but not unbearable
- Felt a little *too* similar to The End of the World, with moments that also reminded me of The Beast Below
- Allegorical stuff, important stuff and well intentioned, but not properly integrated into the main story. Felt tacked on
- I can already tell where this season is headed. Christmas with The Rani as Ruby Sr.
7/10 for me. The most fun I've had with Who in over a decade. Let's goooo!
I think these two can pull off exposition dump back and forths like no TARDIS team before.
It was funny when the Doctor laughs after scaring the babies.The Doctor can be a bit rude at times.
Yeah, not quite as rude as 12th Doctor is though 😄
“Get away from him you…..illegitimate person!”
😄
It's just occurred to me that, thematically, it has a lot in common with "The Beast Below" - a first trip intop space for a new Doctor and companion, a slightly-misunderstood "monster" being the last of its species and nearly dying before being saved, something "wrong" at the heart of the society behind the whole set-up...
Good point. Definitely some similarities
Good point. Definitely some similarities
Good point. Definitely some similarities
Thanks for the speedy review! At least you get some family time on your Saturdays alongside the work-load :) I'm here for Rowan as the 16th Doctor - tell him thank you for the excellent review and not being scared at all
Ah see I love the adipose. Used to have an adipose stress you and still have an adipose plush somewhere. 😄
@@CulturePhilter I can get behind having an adipose stress doll - squish that face!
I thought the Doctor saying they couldn't go to the church on the day Ruby was born was down to him having been there and deciding not to find out. I thought he was hiding that from Ruby and the paradox thing was an excuse.
I mean we know what he said was a risk IS a genuine risk because we saw it happen in “Father’s Day”.
He mentioned his memory of that night briefly changed, and it might be a warning not to visit again.
It was silly but fun. I was worried early on that it might go too silly but they didn't cross that line for me (until the end). I liked that it had some great moments and questions raised and while I did pick up on the abortion aspect, I didn't relate it to the American situation. Probably because I'm not American but I can see it now you've highlighted. On the negative side some of the baby faces looked scared/worried when they were supposed to be happy. I'm sure they didn't want to take the CG side too far but they could have at least done all the closeups. The farting station was a step too far IMO and I know you have to gloss over stuff in DW but.... with no engines, how was it going to stop when it reached the planet?
Overall I enjoyed it, it had a good mix of elements without being too silly or serious. Plus, imagine in a couple of decades if your son gets to be the Doctor. This could be where it starts, I mean, it worked for Tennant. 🙂
I think I’ve been forced to read too many of the terrible “the dinosaur that popped a…” to ever find a farting joke funny again. 😄
@@CulturePhilter I feel for you, my condolences for having to go through that.
DW and fart jokes ended for me with the Slitheen. RTD needs to move on from them IMO.
Good points about the abortion parallel. I didn't even think that good review
Cheers dude
Oh yeah - I thought of that while watching it, then forgot it until I read this comment.
I thought this one was all over the place, to be honest. Too many ideas, too little development of them. It felt like there were multiple writers playing tug of war, or else multiple rewrites that left quite a lot of vestigia. There were some fun bits, and a couple of good messages(if you're going to legislate to force babies to exist, you'd better be ready to support them when they arrive; it's inhumane to not help refugees when they're struggling in the water, clearly trying to get to shore), but all in all it wasn't coherent enough to be a hit. 5/10.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Always interesting to hear a different perspective on the episode 🙂
You almost have the same thumbnail as dwfan91 😂 Anyway… I WAS RIGHT!!! At 4:33 on my first trailer clips in order (with breakdown) video, I said that I thought it was the Doctor stuck in the drum, AND I WAS RIGHT!!! 😱😱 I couldn’t believe it when I saw it lol 😅
The episodes have a completely different vibe to any other Doctor Who episodes, it’ll take me a sec to get used to it though 😅 I’m so happy there’s still a next time too, and I love the fixed intro as well! I also loved Maestro playing the Doctor Who theme, (I mean, I was hoping for a full version but i’m still happy with what we got…) And the amount of 4th wall breaking is crazy!!! I did really really enjoy the episodes though!!
My ratings on the episodes:
Space Babies: 7/10
The Devils Chord: 8-9/10
And Rowan is so cute!!! 😍😍 (I hope I spelt that right)
Had to throw together the thumbnail really quickly as had to go out.
Yes that’s how you spell his name 😄 love that he wants to be the best involved but it does make editing longer as he has a habit of getting board and swinging his legs into the tripod.
@@CulturePhilter Thats annoying lol 😂
I like how different (weird?) these episodes have been, it’s just good fun.
Yeah I’m a fan of bizzare and weird. I’d be all for them going full David Lynch in one episode with the weirdness
The babies were cute ❤
Yes they were 😁
the snot monster however...
I noticed the abortion analogy too. I wish they'd leaned into it a bit more. Would've been good if they'd explored some big questions like: "Can/should we switch off the baby-making machine?" or even just "How can we change the system to make it take responsibility for the babies it creates?" But I can see how the producers may have wanted to keep the mood light (and maybe not upset a large chunk of its American fanbase!).
I don’t think there was really room for them to go into any more depth with that… at least not without cutting some other plot strand
Did you say "Gesundheit"???
I did. Why?
As always, I watched with my Mum, we always watch DW together. I didn't care for this episode at all. It had some good moments, that one with Ruby where it slowly dawns on her what's in her hair is pretty funny and I did have a cheeky lol there. But it just didn't do much for me. I had put it down to my not really liking kids (in the Unbound afterwards there was a comparison of babies to kittens and the kittens were 1000% cuter! 😻😁), but no, Mum didn't like it either, and that's rare (she thought GxK was good, so...).
I thought Ncui did a great job. I did very much appreciate the "No-one's born wrong" part, as I'm in the LGBTQ+ community and we're going through a lot at the moment. And the Doctor not wanting Ripley's baby... I mean, the snot monster to die was great too. Otherwise I thought it was a pretty weak story overall. We liked The Devil's Chord much more.
Funnily enough we've been working our way through the original series. We're up to The Key to Time and we watched a couple more episodes after and we both agreed that, although new Who is good in it's own way, classic is just better. It's because we're old! But let's see what next week brings.
Thanks for your thoughts. I guess no one enjoys every episode. Glad you like Devil’s chord better. I should have my review of that out later today.
I feel like social infuence/engineering is too high in their aims
The show has always tackled social issues. Often the most interesting stories come from doing so.
@@CulturePhilter I know, and agree. I still stand exactly by my comment.
Is RTD writing serious science fiction or a childish space soap opera this was the worst Dr. Who episode ever i'd rather watch Orphan 55 i don't mean to be negative but i have to be honest this was not Dr. Who the next episode was really good right up until the bit where they started singing and dancing that was just..embarrassing.
The great thing about Doctor Who is the flexabikity of the format. Not every episode needs to be deadly serious sci-fi nor should it be. That’s not a new thing, the show has always done a variety of tone.
I was a little disappointed with the second episode but for the opposite reason to you, I wanted MORE singing and dancing. 😄
Dont get started was completely rubbish both episodes. Doctor who is buried now
Go on then I’ll bite. What about it make it “completely rubbish” in your opinion?
@@CulturePhilter has rtd been smoking crack to write this episode 😳 gee talking babies dam he's lost it. Don't get me started with rubbish musical episode was enjoying until that scene he needs go away completely. Doctor who is dead now.....unless Moffat can save the train wreck
@@johngurnhill8743 speaking babies is a great fun idea.
I’d love a musical episode but that’s not what we actually got, there was one actual song at the end. I’m trying to separate my disappointment with it not being a musical from how I feel the ep did on its own merits.
@CulturePhilter hartnell will be definitely turning in his grave after this completely rubbish
@@johngurnhill8743What a weird way of saying you liked both episodes! From your comment, there was only a small part of each episode you didn't enjoy.