It’s a dangerous time to be a stranger on Gallifrey. It seems that not all Time Lords want to share their secrets…
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voters
4 Likes
Yayyy one of my favourites ever! I love Leela in this one <3
6 Likes
Ngl this episode made me want a mini series set in the academy during this era. Not necessarily following these specific characters even tho I got attached them rather quickly and was So Upset about Taylor’s fate I kept Yelling NO when he was making his final recording
Idk like yeah they have larger plot things to focus on and get moving but I rather liked this insight into how said politicking we’ve been following actually impacts on the people in general and wish they’d done more with this kind of perspective instead of going from one catastrophe to another.
Like, it feels like the story itself is siding with the conservative reactionary isolationists, with Romana’s policies constantly ending in disaster and death and while yes, a lot of this is due to said reactionaries plotting against these changes and it can make for an interesting ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’ type story, it doesn’t hit as hard as if they had actually shown more of the positives of these changes and how they actually could help Gallifrey. Idk
8 Likes
@sircarolyn every week:
11 Likes
I do not say that every week… I definitely won’t be saying it about Appropriation lmao
8 Likes
Oh Darkel you scheming female canine…
Leela and Andrew 
Love it!
7 Likes
This was a great episode. The academy was a fun setting and the intrigue are getting better. This felt more like what I imagined this series to be.
8 Likes
What is there to say? Romana has a mental breakdown of gigantic proportions and it is not done, the students are wonderful and everything happening to them is terrible, Leela is amazing, her identity as an outsider is played amazingly with the students, I am going insane about the tragedy of Leela and Andred, the politics are getting even more breathtakingly tense. In short, what the hell how do these keep being so good!! This ties with Spirit for my favourite yet
live blog
- love the ladies, gentlemen and others
- brax
- oh we’re at the academy? nice
- interesting stuff
- like the students
- well except for their superiority complex
- I like the mythologism of the renegades
- Leela<3
- never undervalue that yay
- experience is also something Romana has in opposition to other Time Lords which is interesting
- and something she learned in Spirit
- not even the students appreciate her
- oh poor Romana
- all alone in that cesspit of politicians
- Leela gets Darkel I think
- the danger she poses
- he is the enemy? Leela does have such a refreshing practical view
- i need someone i can trust
- Romana not sleeping sus
- cause Narvin didn’t in Lies
- it isn’t important poor Romana
- how she says thank you Leela
- oh Brax
- Leela’s really her only friend left
- she sounds so lonely
- you’re not my husband oh how i love this
- my husband was brave, kind, truthful. He is also dead that is both vile and very true
- god the tragedy of them
- I disappoint you?! the outrage in her voice
- he’s so mean to her
- I’m sorry you feel that way that is a dick move
- Andred is a snake god
- I feel like he’s getting there but he doesn’t get what he did to her yet
- just this whole conversation
- I’ve already listened to it like five times
- heartbreaking
- going insane
- oh I ■■■■■■■ hate that vice chancellor
- fancy running into you
- oh that’s interesting
- using K9 is actually really smart
- their dynamic is so <3
- but this does not concern you oh i love her going stern
- Professor Leela cute
- Andred and I were very much in love
- don’t call her that
- it’s interesting seeing Leela advocate for the Time Lords
- she’s really good at that stuff
- because she is very sincere
- the students are really cool to see
- it gives a more normal perspective on everything that’s happening
- now what is Darkel up to
- Romana is so good at complaining
- illogical
- oh she is a bit scared isn’t she
- like she acts all outraged but I think deep down she’s scared
- oh leave Brax alone
- Leela is very smart in these matters
- and she is so loyal to Romana
- such faith in her
- I do feel like you can really see the character progression from Spirit here for Leela
- oh Romana’s angry
- I do think Narvin’s loyalty is so interesting
- like obviously he does not care that much about Romana as a person here but he very much cares about her as president
- because he cares about what’s best for gallifrey and that means she needs to stay sane at least
- oh she’s suicidal again
- their conversations have so much to them
- she’s so angry and annoyed
- she should really start caring about herself
- oh what
- so he is kind of working against her
- Darkel you ■■■■■■■ freed her last episode
- oh another ice queen that’s interesting
- the dynamics amongst the students are very compelling
- oh are we back to the pompous music
- Leela again being so kind
- love her<3
- love that she calls the students cowards
- it’s interesting how Andred does and doesn’t still care about her
- like the love is still there
- but it is not good for her
- I feel this is very suited to her talents actually
- Leela is so clearly hurt just like the students
- I have seen the damage that words alone can do I feel like that also speaks to her trauma of being rejected by this society
- Leela learning to lie
- becoming more like the people rejecting her
- god
- but I am certain it is not mine ■■■■
- again this whole conversation
- is this a case of trying to stop it makes it happen
- Romana is really so tortured<3
- such outrage
- she really can’t lose control can she
- like to herself
- she sounds so desperate already
- like she’s about to cry
- bitten half to death?!
- you know what their ambition really makes them Time Lords in spirit already
- what does Andred want
- apart from Leela back
- he’s really manipulative sometimes
- Leela sounds so sad at not getting to see Romana
- K9 trying to provide support is cute
- he is very cute in general
- I can offer a limited amount of solutions
- you’re not letting her down
- Leela really gets the Time Lords better than anyone
- I think maybe Romana needs a nap
- you know without nightmares
- god she’s angry
- really has no patience left
- now what are the students up to
- oh Leela’s place in this is so delicious
- Leela is really one of the few who can see clearly
- so compelling
- oh I love her standing up for herself
- the students’ fate is kind of sad
- the academy being a microcosmos of the hate
- oh shit I love Leela not taking any shit from the students
- a mind virus?
- that’s interesting and weird
- love Romana’s convictions
- oh shut up Darkel
- love to hate her
- so true Romana
- she really has good ideas if only she could get them through to their heads
- acting chancellor can she get Brax back please
- interesting distinction between Gallifreyan and Time Lord
- need to read up on that lore
- oh shit is that stuff already spreading between the students
- civil war starting in the academy?
- Andred leave those kids alone please
- oh Romana is so scared
- of losing control
- of failing her people
- Pandora knows precisely what she’s doing
- this is really a self-fulfilling prophecy
- good intentions paving the way for catastrophe
- oh there is grief there
- god they’re so sad
- he’s really hurt her so much but he’s hurt too
- well that’s sinister
- girl you were already on that path we’ve talked about your relationship to control
- oh she’s still got conviction
- I love her<3
- but also I really doubt that’s it
- sometimes?!
- there’s so much interesting stuff on identity here
- he does sound like he’s trying to get better
- but I don’t know if he can gain back her trust
- I love Leela protecting herself
- like it’d be easy to go back to him
- but in the end it’d hurt more
- oh Andred
- excuse me
- that is going to make me cry
- she sounds so heartbroken
- oh Narvin you should stop hanging out with Darkel
- oh that’s cruel
- really cruel
- Andred is actually doing the right thing?
- what’s happening now
- oh
- oh shit
- oh we’re doing sounds again
- that’s not good
- wtf was that
- was that actually Romana?!
- Taylor’s fate is very sad
- this series is so emotionally devastating
- oh ■■■■ Darkel
- shes so evil<3
- such a good villain
- and really the most dangerous type
- because she’s popular and good with words and manipulating people
- she invoked the right of challenge? actually that’s interesting how did Romana become president
- this is bound to be interesting
- oh this must be terrible for Leela
- it all happening again
- and feeling like she failed her students
- I wonder if we ever meet Neeloc again
- Romana sounds so exhausted and paranoid
- she is not emotionally stable at all
- oh I love her being insulting
- oh she’s not okay
- like at all
- yay Leela gets decision power
- oh yeah she is going the dictator way
- she really needs a nap
- and a hug
10 Likes
Great breakdown as always @Jae. My thoughts will hopefully be posted later.
6 Likes
A really tight, nuanced and well constructed political thriller; surprisingly uncommon in my opinion.
A great one off cast, some fantastic mind games from Darkel, a very believable and horrifying breakdown of race relations with Leela at her A game? This might be the first Gallifrey story that managed to sell me without a huge shakeup in formula like Spirit did.
Some stuff (especially the ending) still fell flat for me but Insurgency feels like the closest to what I want Gallifrey to be.
Full review here, if you enjoy, please feel free to drop a like
8 Likes
Well, this season goes from strength to strength.
And here we see Doctor Who go all Marvel’s New Mutants on us!
I love a change of the setting and new characters (a new Chancellor to hate, squee!). This is a great return to the political thrills and tensions of earlier, and I’m very invested in the evil schemes of Darkel and Narvin, who want to ruin Romana’s day, week, month, year and life! Leela is put to great use and the students were a nice addition.
Quite a shocking twist at the end there, and I’m very intrigued about the finale now - I might have to take @Tian’s route and jump into it beforehand.
10 Likes
That’s a really good review!
Something I find really interesting though is how you (rightly) remark that Romana’s plot feels detached from the rest. I get why you don’t like that, but for me that feels super compelling because it mirrors Romana’s situation in this episode so well. Like the way she gets more and more isolated from her friends, allies and even enemies until only her fear and Pandora remain and that being mirrored in the way that she is removed from the narrative is actually super interesting to me.
10 Likes
A good story. Not quite as good as the previous installment, but still enjoyable. The decent of the whole capitol into madness is fascinating, especially as seen through the eyes of a group of students. Leela just keeps jumping from strength to strength in this series. Looking forward to the season finale next week. Plus we get behind the scenes extras next week too.
9 Likes
Another format break in a series full of format breaks. A really enjoyable one too. The way all the subplots are running separately but keep running into each other: Leela’s tenure at the Academy, the Academy students, Darkel and Narvin facing off, and Romana dealing with Pandora. It could have been so messy but it’s genuinely compelling and fascinating.
Mate in 6
9 Likes
Insurgency - 8/10
A great view into the lives of regular people on Gallifrey.
A lot of the previous stories had been talking about civil unrest and the conflict that Romana opening up the academy had caused, but it’s one thing hearing about it, another seeing it from the front lines.
The core cast we get here are immensely relatable, you can so easily see this friendship group existing at school, so easily put yourself in their shoes, and so easily understand when everything starts to fall apart.
Leela is also just a brilliant teacher, you can see why Brax thought she’d be a good fit, but you can also understand her motivations when she wants to leave at the end of the story. The moments she has with Andred are also great for character, she’s starting to understand, but she can’t forgive everything that’s happened. Her talking about Trauma and how on her planet it would just be seen as a sign of weakness, even if backtracking on it and saying how her thoughts have changed, shows a sharpness and harshness to her that we don’t really get to see often.
Romana as well is great here, her interactions with the future Pandora are interesting, and that final moment of her deciding that she’s the president and she’s going to put her foot down are great. Not here much, but what we get is great.
And god, Darkel continues to be such a lovable yet hatable villian, I can’t wait for this to keep going.
9 Likes
About halfway through at the moment and loving it. Darkel and Valyes are making me physically squirm with anger at how they are manipulating the lives of the students for their own political gains.
I’d completely forgotten how important Andred becomes after Series 1 (I’d though that was the end of him in the series) so it’s been interesting to see his relationship with Leela examined so much.
And I continue to adore Lalla Ward as Romana.
12 Likes
This was another really good story!
At first I was confused with all the new characters, especially as they have weird Space names, but I was grateful for them as they gave a look at the day-to-day running of the Academy and how it’s all going wrong.
I had to rewind a bit at the end because I was momentarily distracted and totally did not realise Romana killed Andred whaaaaaaa??
Looking forward to the next one!
10 Likes
Yes, I do love this one <3 It’s a very full episode and yet doesn’t feel rushed or fast, and does a lot with Leela and breaks my heart as usual.
scattered thoughts
- Romana and Leela’s little phone call at the start <3 in my heart I can see Romana lying on her bed twirling the phone cord haha
- grrrrr Andred I hate you >:( the way he is so cruel to Leela even now, despite everything
- Darkel is the wooooorsssttttt and I love her in a hateful way
- “I am becoming a liar like you and it disgusts me” the timelordification of Leela is so so interesting to me and this series drops the ball on that so often. This really is a great episode for her - she’s out of her depth on Gallifrey, clinging to her old identity, but she has nowhere else to go. All she has is Romana, and even Romana is using and lying to her
- Romana world’s liberalest dictator <3 the way she is so ruthless and convinced she is right is just beautiful. ridiculous woman <3
- i do really like the gang of kids in this one, they’re all very complete characters considering they’re the side characters. I always feel sad about Taylor. it gets me every time
- “suggestion for you K9! No more empathy!!” lmaoo I love how funny s1-3 are, this kind of humour gets a little lost in later series
- Louise Jameson breaks my hearrtttttttttt Leela just makes me so sad:(
- hhahahahhahaha die Andred dieeeeee though the fact Romana does it is. not good.
- DARKEL IS THE WORST and you can never watch Trial of a Time Lord the same after this haha
- the way this isn’t even Romana’s worst day ever
someone let that woman have a break
12 Likes
That’s exactly how I’ll picture it from now on! 
They’re so cute…
8 Likes
So what you’re saying is that Missy gave the Cybercorpse army to the wrong Time Lord?
10 Likes