I totally agree with this. And if I’m being honest, I prefer Fourteen more than Ten!
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Yeah it took me a bit to come to terms with it, but I do think I genuinely like the version with just three episodes over the one with three seasons. Cause 10 I feel is kind of the Doctor in his (second?) rebellious teenage phase with an ego like THIS, and 14 still has all the pleasant parts of 10s character of being, like, David Tennant and all the things that come with that, but he’s mostly missing that annoying ‘the universe owes me everything and I am the smartest person in the room-attitude’ (totally official term i just made up) and actually seems like a pleasant person to be around.
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Now this is my kind of thread! There’s never been an era of Doctor Who I haven’t enjoyed but there have been eras I’ve enjoyed even more than usual. I feel that DW is in a rich vein of form at the moment, joyous, creative and wonderfully progressive. Whilst I do recognise his flaws as a writer (every writer has their weaker spots), RTDs strengths shine through and elevate the series. Since he’s come back, I’ve enjoyed every one of his episodes and feel he’s turned in true greats such as; Wild Blue Yonder, The Giggle, 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble (each different and each, in their own way, as good as anything we’ve had before). That’s an astonishing hit rate! We are lucky to have him back showrunning and gifted with an extraordinary talent in Ncuti. What a marvellous Doctor!
I’m thrilled at the new writers joining the team this time around, delighted that Pete McTighe is back (I feel he is underrated and we may see a side of him, working with RTD, that will surprise a few people). Sharma Angel Walfall’s episode sounds wonderful. I’m not bothered by the co-authoring. It sounds like they had a great connection and went through a strong creative process. After all, The Waters of Mars is one of my favourite stories and that was co-authored with RTD.
I’m beyond happy that Juno Dawson finally gets to write for the main show. I think her strengths in character really lend themselves well to working with RTD. Her episode looks like it’s gonna be a whole lotta fun. Finally, Inua Ellams episode. I love it when DW brings different cultural voices to the fore. Demons of the Punjab was an absolute standout of season 11 for me. I also feel a deep affection for Africa so The Story & the Engine intrigues me greatly. Genuinely excited. I really hope this season lands well with the wider audience and sincerely feel we’re in for an absolute blast!
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Thanks for a lovely post. I agree with everything that you wrote.
I just watched the Giggle again. I love that an anniversary for a TV show starts by making Sci-Fi out of the first TV broadcast of all time. NPH is an awesome actor with a huge range, and it feels like he shows off everything here. I think that Bigeneration as a concept works here. It is nice to see the old and the new Doctor interact. It gives them a way to pass the torch. And Ncuti manages to do something that is really hard; he steals the scenes that he is in, even when standing beside David Tennant in his underwear.
Overall, I think that these three episodes are a great mini-season. They might not have been the celebration that some fans wanted, but the quality of the episodes is great.
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Absolutely agree. I love the use of bigeneration in this very special case. It gave us something that many have talked about for years… a story where one Doctor starts the story but the regenerated incarnation is key to the resolution. Moreover, it does so in a way that doesn’t cheapen or undermine Tennant as Fourteen is absolutely part of the solution too. It would have felt odd to have a 60th celebration without a Doctor we all know. Fourteen gave us that, whilst still being new. It would have felt odd to end a celebration on a downer, so (just this once) an outgoing Doctor gets to live AND have a happy ending.
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I think that Church on Ruby Road is one of the better holiday specials we have gotten. I really like how it introduces Ruby and how she and the Doctor really hit it off. I think that the goblins work great in the Who setting, and I feel like it mixes humour and action in a great way. It is also a good stand-alone episode, which is important for a holiday episode. I also unironically love the song. It might have been one of my top songs on Spotify in 2023.
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Im most excited for Belinda!! While i loved ruby and she had a lot of interesting themes throughout her season, i feel like she was too perfect of a companion. Belinda not really wanting to be on the tardis is an exciting change of pace from the last few years of happy companions. My only worry is that the season will be too short to properly convey her and 15s dynamic evolving over time yk
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I rewatched The Church on Ruby Road a few nights ago, and wow, it was really fun! I think on first watch I liked it, but parts felt off, particularly direction. This time around, I didn’t think that at all. I could just enjoy the story, and the Doctor and Ruby are immediately so fun and engaging. And I still like the song, even more so this time round! It’s immediately stuck in my head again 
Honestly in the overall landscape of Christmas specials, this might be my favorite of RTD’s now! It’s only rival is Voyage of the Damned for me. I think Church on Ruby Road might now either be in my top 5 or just in reach! I’m so glad I rewatched it 
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Space Babies! Every time I watch this, I start to like it even more. I really think that the only problem this episode has is the talking CGI. I love the monster design. I think that the premise of a bogeyman made of bogeys is perfect for a family show, and I even think that the farting space station joke works. I get that this might not be a heavy drama episode like that one you all like, but not every episode needs to be that, and I think that this is a perfect episode on the other part of the spectrum. Also, when Ruby realises that the babies are going down to defeat the monster because of what she said, it is such a good moment and wonderfully acted by Millie Gibson. Overall, a great season opener!
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I rewatched that yesterday too and as I said in the other thread, I actually unironically love how he keeps saying “Space Babies!”
It’s just such a joyful and fun episode, with a dark side that turns into a happy moment and teaches you all you need to know about the Doctor.
There’s a quick-fire moment that goes through all the basics: (and I love Ruby’s reaction: “Planet? Parking that. Thousand years? Parking that” )
Yes it’s rehashing what has been done before but honestly I think it is fine actually, we’re gonna keep getting these introduction episodes so it’s fine to have one done quickly. We have a new one with Belinda soon.
I love the little montage before he saves the Bogeyman that makes you realise he is just the only one of his kind too, and shouldn’t be killed.
And the little chat with Poppy about how everyone is different and no-one is born wrong, plus the slight political mention of abortion, this is the kind of woke stuff that I was hoping RTD would go into and he did not disappoint!!
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Just rewatched Dot and Bubble.
Absolutely fantastic. That last scene is so powerful. Ncuti is incredible. There aren’t enough superlatives!
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Space Babies! Dot and Bubble! I love seeing the appreciation!
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While Devil’s Chord is not my favourite, it has some great stuff in it.
- I love it when the piano starts the intro music.
- The first scene with the Doctor and Ruby in the TARDIS is great, both when they decide to go to 1963 and when they dress for it.
- The rooftop scene when the Doctor talks about when he lived in London with Susan is great.
- When they travel to present time to see the consequences, it is great, especially when Ruby asks for her mother.
- Ncuti and Millie’s performance is, as always, really good.
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Although last season had its ups and downs, Maestro is probably the most fun villain I’ve ever seen on Doctor Who. I’m currently in a music theory and composition class, and I thought that chords being use to both summon and banish Maestro was memorable as far as antagonist defeats go.
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Boom! What an amazing episode. It is so perfect to have an episode where this Doctor has to stand still. The episode is also sad, which is something this season needed after the first two episodes that are more fun and action-focused. It also makes me excited for Belinda because I liked Varada Sethu’s performance here.
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I’ve rewatched Boom more than any other Season One episode, so I skipped past it in my recent rewatch, but having learned it might be important for the finale I think I will go back and rewatch it.
One of my favourites this season!
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More than my wish?
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I don’t know more than you do, just based on this:
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Ooh yeah I have seen that. It is exciting. 8 days left!
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73 Yards - What a performance by Millie. Imagine being this young and talented. I love this story. It is creepy and a bit scary, but it has great characters. As @shauny wrote somewhere, when Kate comes, it is a fantastic scene because it shows that this is not something that is going to get solved.
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