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Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror - Take Two Doctor Who Review
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- čas přidán 27. 12. 2022
- The 13th Doctor and her companions arrive in the US at the start of the 20th century and find themselves embroiled in the machinations of a scavenger race that has an interest in one of the greatest inventors in history.
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From 12 Doctor's episode, Thin Ice: “Human progress isn’t measured by industry. It’s measured by the value you place on a life. An unimportant life. A life without privilege. The boy who died on the river, that boy’s value is your value … That’s what defines a species.”
Definitely one of the stronger episodes in this rollercoaster series. It's a sort of warm, comforting episode I come back to and Tesla's interactions with the Doctor is comforting.
I loved this episode; the music score was great too.
This is one of the episodes that highlights the geeky/inventor side of 13, which I really liked.
I feel this episode often gets forgotten about, given it follows the absolute mess that is Orphan 55, and precedes the big canon-reshaping events of Fugitive of the Judoon. As it stands though, I think this is a pretty solid episode and a rather underrated historical adventure on the whole. It's not the best episode or anything, but it's a fun romp with a solid guest performer, some fun bad guys, and some pretty good material for Jodie Whittaker to sink her teeth into
This show couldn't have found a more perfect actor to be cast as Tesla than Goran Visnjic (roughly pronounced Viz-NEECH). Not only is he a competent actor, he has the distinction of sharing a few things in common with Tesla - both hailed from Croatia (though Tesla is Serbian and lived in Croatia), both ventured out to the US and became American citizens. So he virtually lived what Tesla experienced. Not to mention that Goran would be more intimately familiar with Tesla's life, being from the same country and a huge fan of Tesla's (and the show).
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror was definitely a major improvement over Orphan 55 and was the unexpected yet enjoyable surprise of Series 12. It was a nice, good ol' fashioned historical story that handled mixing the period setting with the sci-fi concepts better than some Modern Who historicals in the past, the performances were great, and I actually didn't mind the monsters all that much. I'm dead certain the Skithra are some form of sister species to the Racnoss! The companions weren't given much to do but that didn’t really matter as this was all about the Doctor and Tesla, and how they parallel with one another. Overall, one of the better stories for the 13th Doctor.
I don't have many good things to point out of this era but this is probably my favourite episode. I just really like it. Is a fun adventure with one of my favourite historical figures and it's pretty well done
Good review of a good episode. It was great to hear Vera's legendary Racnoss impersonation making a return, too :)
I do wish that she did a "MY CHEELDREN" again....
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror is my favorite Jodie episode. Also my favorite historical episode of all time. I wrote a Nicola Tesla story with 7th and Ace 3 years before.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention demons of the punjab when talking about historical episodes about normal people trying to do their best in a historical setting rather than famous figures
I really enjoyed this episode, but haven't re-watched it. I remember it was probably one of the things that really made me think about the difference/rift/similarities with Tesla and Edison. I really appreciate it when I show can spark my interest in history in a way I hadn't thought of before. Geez, I don't have enough time to watch the *newer* shows I've been considering, much less re-watch things I've already seen. Just one part of why I appreciate you, Vera.
As a Sarah Jane Adventures fan, I was just excited to see Anjli Mohindra returning to the Whoniverse, this time as the Skithra queen. (Plus, it was fun that she was acting opposite Bradley Walsh, who played the baddie in her first SJA episode). I'm guessing since her boyfriend Sacha Dhawan had recently been on the show, it made sense for her to return as well. ❤❤
"WELCOME TO SPELLMAN'S Magical Museum of... The Circus...."
Moffat did have three American-set historical stories, "The Impossible Astronaut" / "The Day of the Moon", "A Town Called Mercy", and "The Angels Take Manhattan".
Ah yes, you're right.
That point about putting the value in a single life due to their importance in history also really bugs me and is my major gripe with the Haunting of Villa. The doctor, in every previous incarnation has placed the emphasis on the importance of an ordinary life. 9 in Father’s Day, 10 in The end of time part 2 with “I think you look like giants”, my favourite 11 quote is literally him saying how he’s never met anyone unimportant before in A Christmas Carol and 12 in thin ice. Its not who your sacrificing, it’s about that they are not worth sacrificing regardless. Still bugs me
I guess he forgot about his "assessment" of Donna in The Runaway Bride.
@@antney7745 Well, she proved him wrong.
10:00 To my memory, the same thing happens with Percy Shelley in The Haunting of Villa Diodati. Stuff like this makes me question people's characterization of Thirteen as "the empathetic Doctor."
Oh I'll GET to that one!
@@CouncilofGeeks Haha I’m excited for your take. I also don’t like the great man theory of history.
As someone who loves the Chibnall era and Whittaker's Doctor, I actually wouldn't consider her even remotely close to earning the title of "the empathetic Doctor." I'd say that's deliberately one of her weaknesses.
Her attitude in Haunting of Villa Diodati in that scene is a big part of why I like her so much. While I get people's problems with that part of the scene in that episode, the larger point that she was getting to is that "this team structure isn't so flat isn't it?" part of the speech. It's not even her main point, it's barely a point to her speech. It's more that Ryan is telling her what to do in this situation and she, as the Doctor sometimes does, takes offense to that. It's not too different from that scene in The Beast Below where 11 says, "Nobody human has anything to say to me today!" Same idea imo.
I feel like each episode in this series was supposed to harken to a previous era.
Spyfall was the third doctor's espionage stories with the master, the last story was a second doctor base-under-siege story, and this one is a Russell t Davies adventure.
Your speech about ordinary people mattering should be in the show.❤
About the "great men"-thing:
#13 is extremely fangirly regarding people like Nicola Tesla or Ada Lovelace (and I don't mean that in a negative way). That is one very prominent feature of her character. For me, her overall reaction to his suggestion was exactly that of a fan who will not let anything happen to his/her hero or their legacy.
Oh sure, the Doctor's always been a name-dropper that claims to have met virtually every person in history that anyone from the 20th century had ever heard of. I don't think that's a problem, that's just an amusing thing that Doctor Who does. But I think it's a fair point that the series has a chance to move people on from the idea that history is all about the "important people" with a greater reach than those likely to get around to reading historiography or War and Peace!
Interestingly Frank Wills's story got a detailed telling in the recent mini series 'Gaslit' about Martha Mitchell, which given it was ostensibly about her was an interesting that the writers told the story in some detail of a pivitol bit player.
I remember 10 or 11 talking about how everyone is important, how there's no small insignificant people. I personally think some people do have a more important impact than others (Not in a value of a person, but just Genghis Khan had more impact on the world than my neighbor. But I also hate the "great men" idea because it implies some people are better than others, most things are done by many people, many of which we aren't taught and that's sad), but I like that the Doctor doesn't discriminate. But I also feel like 10 or 11 talk that some people have a bigger impact at one point. I feel like this is inconsistent throughout the show.
10 and 11 are conscious of the lesson learned from Donna Noble and Wilfred, they seemed “nothing special” but then became very important to him. I think its more that he learned that important comes in many forms.
12 did not give a crap about people, letting them die without any comfort. Into the dalek, thin ice, and mummy on the orient express to name three.
Thanks for doing more of the reviews. I was starting to miss ur great reviews for Doctor who. :-)
The chemistry between the Doctor and Tesla was good. I personally enjoyed Jodie’s performance in this episode. I think one of the reasons people didn’t like or didn’t care about this episode because it’s after Orphan 55. Night Of Terror is a proper lead up from Spyfall, Orphan 55 is a waste of time. (Also it’s Orphan 55)
The only issue I have with this episode is the title. Nikola Tesla’s Night Of Terror, it’s a bit of a mouthful, just call it Night Of Terror.
A very solid episode 8/10.
That or "The Terror of Tesla"
@@nekusakura6748 I like that
To be fair, 13 was never all that hesitant to sacrifice 'unimportant' lives, so her citing Tesla's historical importance is in character for her
I'm not annoyed because it's completely inconsistent. I'm annoyed because I feel it's fundamentally wrong for the character to behave this way without some kind of acknowledgement or commentary from the show or other characters.
The reasoning 13 gives for tesla not sacrficing himself is just, in my opinion. Tesla would not be against a personal sacrifice to save people, but 13 recognises this and instead appeals to Tesla's deeper rooted wants, which is the idea his inventions will live on and eventually help people. This is something he's always wanted. A plea to save himself because he's a life and every life needs to be preserved, would swiftly be avoided so 13 (ever the concise and emotionally closed off Doctor) instead cuts to the chase and validates all Tesla's insecrutites about legacy in order to save him.
Great review though. This is such an underrated gem of an episode. Series 12 is just the best.
Manifest Destiny american exceptionalism aside, I feel 'Timeless' does a really good job with the reframing of history outside of the typical lens. It doesn't get everything right, and they definitely bend a few details to do it, but the vibe is wholesome in that regard.
And has bonus Goran Visnjic! ❤
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby he's ever so good.
I agree with you but IMO, DW in Capaldi (my favorite)'s era was also not about ordinary people having a big impact or acting as a group to help themselves. In twelve's last episode it's said that the universe only keeps on resisting evil thanks to the Doctor. In Heaven sent, they literally ended the story with "I think that's a hell of a bird"
Every time I see one of these *Take Twos* for Chibnall’s era, I’m always like, “Oh, yeah, I totally forgot about that episode.”
Chibnall’s era was like the Silence. 😱 And I just forgot about all of these episodes after I saw them. About the only thing I *do* remember is being irritated by “The Timeless Child” revelation… but I also can’t remember what episode it even happened in, or what else happened in that episode.
RE your question in the intro:
Moffat's era had Impossible Astronaut/DOTM, A Town Called Mercy, Angels Take Manhattan. Chibnall's era had Rosa and Tesla. So Moffat's era wins by 1. Obviously Moffat got 6 series to Chibnall's 3 so the number of American historicals per series goes to Chibnall.
Ok so I was kind of right. More per capita.
I do feel like the emphasis on his importance to history here is meant to counteract his general obscurity during and in the decades after his life, to underline that theme that just because someone wasn't as recognized in their life doesn't mean they didn't make valuable contributions to their field. But it does follow a weird pattern with this era, so harder to dismiss.
Another Chibnall-era flaw: over-reliance on the Great Man of History theory.
I was a little disappointed that the Doctor showed a double standard between Ada Byron and Noor Khan in Spyfall part 2 and Tesla in this episode. Gotta erase their memories, but Tesla gets to hang on to his here.
Yeah, after the memory wipes with Ada and Noor a few episodes before, I was left like: '...and you're not also wiping Tesla's memories?'. 🤬 (Not that I think ANY people's memories should be wiped, especially after the Doctor has learned better from both their experience with Donna and Bill, but to have her do it earlier in the season and not here without explanation just was jarring for me)
It felt very cheap to make them look the racnos, like they didn't have any ideas of their own
I wouldn't mind the idea that 13 does have Tesla's historical significance as Reason 1 for saving him if I thought the implications of that were meant to be a part of her character.
Every regeneration is a rebalance of the Doctor's personality, and preserving the Web of Time is one of those traits. It doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't care about an average life, just that 'No I KNOW your story isn't supposed to end like this' is an immediate response out of her. Maybe that's the way she needed to say it instead?
The "Great man" model of history has been questioned for a long time. I can remember that there were whole essays about why history doesn't work that way in several chapters of "War and Peace", so the idea that history moves by changes in whole societies, and the "great men" float on those tides rather than making them move is an idea that has been around since at least the 19th century.
And yet, our entertainment, and way too much of our education systems focus on those "great men".
This was such a fun episode. The monster was a bit generic but clearly wasn’t the focal point, so it doesn’t matter as much as an episode like the Lazarus experiment, where the monster being crap tanks the whole experience.
I enjoyed most of series 12’s one off episodes that weren’t connected to overarching stories
It’s an episode - it happened.
I love this episode too. It's one of my favorite of the series
I'd forgotten this episode existed! Huh...
One of my favorite episodes of the season
On your point about how history is taught in schools, while I don't doubt your educational experience in that area, it's not an experience that the majority of UK school children share. We generally have a more rounded view of history, and are taught about the female rulers as much as the male, although of course there are fewer of the former. Also, the fact that this episode is written by a woman (Nina Metivier) kind of weakens your point further.
What perhaps needs to be explained is we don't generally have the same prejudices around gender and race as you have in the US. Our prejudices are based on class more than anything, really. Yes, there are outspoken people who say extraordinarily stupid things on subjects they don't understand, but by and large most of us have got our own stuff to deal with. Sorry, gone off on a tangent there.
In short, the Doctor's words to Tesla are more to massage his ego than to deify him in any meaningful sense. Of course, it's also true that Tesla is important in an abstract sense, but like a lot of great individuals, their impact is only felt long after they're dead. Also, it's established earlier in the story that the Doctor is an admirer of Tesla, so a little bit of fangirling is perfectly understandable in that moment, I would have said.
"If you don't play the game, you lose by default." I dunno if I agree with that. It depends on your definition of "lose", doesn't it? In terms of money and notoriety as an inventor, sure, Tesla never gained it in his own time. It might have helped him had he achieved that. And is only just getting recognized now.
But he IS getting recognized. He still did the work, and it did pay off to an extent. And in terms of living a good life... well, Tesla lived life on his own terms. That could be considered a reward in and of itself. If defined by the capitalist system you yourself critiqued, sure, he wasn't successful in his lifetime. He lost. He died broke. But by his own measures? According to the president of the Tesla Science Center, "Tesla did what he did for the betterment of humanity, to help people have a better quality of life. He never seemed to be interested in monetary gain, although a possible downside of that was he never seemed to have enough money to do what he needed to do." It's a mixed bag.
I dunno. I've been listening to a lot of the musical "Ride the Cylone", which talks about he value of lives cut short. It's interesting to think about in this new year.
I didn't even remember the monsters.
I think the exposition is kind of necessary in a kids show. You never know who's watching
I'm not sure if he was a full on narcissist however he definitely was on the spectrum. I feel the doctor...at this point in their life...knows exactly what to say to save people. Maybe even trying to learn from Van Gogh
I still think this was the only interesting historical episode 13 actually did that didn’t feel like it was constrained by having to tell characters to who would know the history the episode about the history
"The Great Man Theory" was something I hated while studying history in college.
I liked this episode but it's one of the weaker ones for me. The only one I didn't like is orphan 55 I like all other series 12 but this is one of my weaker ones.
11:03
I actually like the idea that this Doctor more big picture than normal, but I don't like how the show supports the view.
lol. Roughly, it's pronounced "Veeshneech"..
Nice to know how badly I garbled that.
@@CouncilofGeeks nah, not your fault. There's accent symbols in his surname that don't translate into English. Not to mention the "J" is actually a "Y" sound in Croatian.
Hot take: this is the worst episode of the entire 13th doctor era. I found the exposition to be the clunkiest, visually it was ugly, the plot was generic, and the skithra queen was over the top campy.