This is a joyous thread. Though I’ve not had opportunity to contribute properly yet, I’ve bèen reading along with a big smile. I love the Thirteenth Doctor and her era. I applaud Chibnall for what he did and for daring to be different. Love the the tone of the era and many of the things he did/introduced. At the time, it felt fresh and new. Jodie’s Doctor stood out as distinctive and is truly brilliant!. Much of the criticism of the era purported to be about quality but was just an excuse to attack DW for being progressive (and is refelective of the sad state of much toxic fandom in recent years). For what it’s worth, I happen to believe that RTD and Moffat are the two finest writer/showrunners of DW 2005+, yet I hugely respect Chibnall who, at his best, turned in some extraordinary DW which no-one else would have given us. Even his lesser scripts contain much of interest (and both RTD and Moffat have lesser scripts in their eras too).
And the Big Finish stuff rising out of Chibnall’s era? Fantastic! I adored Most Wanted, am eager to hear Dead or Alive and genuinely excited for the 13th Doctor audios.
There’s a cartoon called Milo Murphy’s Law (which is utterly, utterly brilliant - seek it out) and the family’s pet dog is called Deeogee (as in D O G). We’ve agreed as a family that if we ever get a dog, that’s what it will be called.
Because it’s complete rubbish, that’s why… I know this is an appreciation thread so I don’t want to derail by being negative, but I’d rather watch 55 that CYHM
Figured I’d throw my hat in the ring and include my stats too. 13 has definitely grown on me a lot as the years have gone by - her era reminds me a lot of 5 and 6’s
So, I rewatched Power of the Doctor yesterday and enjoyed it immensely. I’m not a huge fan of the Whittaker’s era but it received the best possible conclusion. This is the sort of fun, celebratory, sprawling thing I want from my DW special!
9/10
The Power of the Doctor is a fittingly grand, chaotic, and heartfelt send-off to Jodie Whittaker’s era, packed with nostalgia, spectacle, and emotional farewells. While not every plot thread lands perfectly and some characters are underutilised, the sheer love for Doctor Who radiates throughout. Chibnall, for all his faults, delivers a celebration worthy of the Centenary, and Whittaker bows out with style.
It’s messy, it’s wild, and it’s occasionally nonsensical—but above all, it’s an absolute joy to watch. A proper Doctor Who spectacle.
I used to not care much for this story, but I also didn’t care much for the era until a rewatch. It’s super fun and celebratory. My one complaint is Tegan’s characterisation, asides from that it’s great!
