OK, so I’m two episodes in and still loving this. This set is really elevating my love for the Eighth Doctor to new heights. I relate to him like never before. He’s simply rubbish in dealing with the everyday and with ordinary people - but not in an overtly comedic way (although, naturally, comedy does arise from many of his attempts). The Doctor has all the tools necessary to be an outstanding detective, yet fails utterly (whilst still managing to succeed in bringing one ne’er-do-well to justice) quite simply because he fails to appreciate the breadth and depth of local knowledge that the police have and, perhaps even more importantly, he isn’t really that interested in understanding the day-to-day small scale (petty to him mind) motives and motivations of your common or garden 21st century villain. He, delightfully, follows one lead about an individual behaving suspiciously in the locale - only to find out he’s basically pursuing himself.
I could wax lyrical about McGann’s eccentric innocence and wonderfully guileless performance (he is the perfect antidote to McCoy’s darkly Machiavellian schemer) - and I’m sure I’ll have plenty to say when I comment on future episodes - but I must also comment on Liv Chenka and Helen Sinclair. Both of them are nothing short of marvellous here. They have to carry the burden of everyday living, because the Doctor simply isn’t cut out for it and doesn’t get it. They wrestle with guilt, a weight of responsibility, all the while navigating relationships with others - from the day-to-day to the romantic.
Oh, and now we come to Tania Bell and that scene. Tania and Liv are utterly enchanting as Tania shares her secret with Liv who, and oh how deftly Nicola Walker plays it, is completely bemused about why Tania’s big secret is anything even remotely noteworthy in the first place. Liv just accepts. Why wouldn’t she? As she says to Tania, in response to the comment that some people find Tania’s trans identity to be a big deal “That’s their loss.” (I can’t remember word for word, but that’s the gist of it).
So much more to say but that’ll do for this instalment. I’m in no rush.
Somehow, despite our (justified) complaints, the Doctor of War’s overall ratings are actually much higher than I would have thought. Quite a few handfuls of 4-5 stars and faves. There has to be someone on this forum who liked/loved them; I’d like to hear their rationale.
Looking back at what I said when I listened to Doctor of War 2, the first story was alright but horrible to Leela (when are Leela storys not…), the second one was servicable but dull and the third one was overambitious, boring, confused, and probably other adjectives.
While they weren’t what was seemingly promised, I did enjoy the second two stories in Set 1. The only one I really didn’t like was the first story with two different Colin Bakers (the Sixth Doctor and the new Unbound War Doctor) where it was very hard to tell which Doctor was which and the jumping all over between multiple timelines. The other two were decent enough stories, just not as connected as expected, so I can see how they might have higher ratings, especially when rated individually.
So I didn’t like Dust Devil and found it hard to follow, but rated it marginally higher than Aftershocks simply because Aftershocks takes the problems I have with Dust Devil and continues them
Awaiting me, tomorrow morning, is Counter-Measures 1.2: Artificial Intelligence.
I’m so excited for tomorrow morning. Counter-Measures is genuinely outstanding stuff and every time I re-listen to it, I enjoy it just as much (sometimes more, it seems, as I can spot little things which I missed the first time).
Every single time, it’s like meeting up with old friends. And I know it’s silly, but I still worry about them when listening. I care about those characters. Frankly, I’d listen to a story where they just sit around, discussing work and drinking tea. Glorious stuff.
if it’s silly then we can be silly together because I could cry on cue about Allison I need them to do some CM short trips where they do just daft mundane stuff like that
I listened to Artificial Intelligence yesterday also incidentally! What a great episode, a favourite for sure. Allison breaks my hearttttt
I just love Rachel and Allison chatting over dinner at the start of Threshold. The thing is, I just really love them as characters. I genuinely would listen to Rachel give a lecture (on whatever subject she liked - but I’d love to hear her views on the erosion of confidence in science in the 21st century - she’d be so wonderfully disparaging).
Come to think of it, I’d love to see a spinoff where Rachel and Allison deliver the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. I mean, just that. I’d watch it. Every episode. And, boy, would I love it!
I shall absolutely definitely deliver my fresh thoughts on Artificial Intelligence once I’ve completed my re-listen tomorrow. You can count(er-measure) on it.
You know that, typically pointless, game where people ask who you would like to attend a dinner party with (or somesuch)? Most people’s answers are so dribblingly inane (my goodness, I think a lot of people would have their illusions punctured if they managed to get their wishes). I normally don’t have much of an answer… but Rachel Jensen and Allison Williams? I’m there (I’m sure there would be space for you too - it would be cruel in the extreme to omit you from that particular get-together).
Oh, but to talk! Ahhh! I have things to ask. Things I want to know. And… I mean, I’m a generous sort of a fellow when it comes to good science. I’d be happy to offer them the opportunity to feed into my own research programme on living more sensitively alongside our planet’s beleaguered biodiversity. I think they could possibly help me make big strides on improving the efficiencies of green energy technology whilst promoting ecological restoration and recovery.
Aware I have sidetracked. Apologies to all. I shall shelve my public adoration of the Counter-Measures team (esp. the wonderful Rachel and Allison) and my day dreams of chatting with them… at least for now. Tomorrow, however, tomorrow is another day. And I will have Artificial Intelligence to comment on.
I need them to do some CM short trips where they do just daft mundane stuff like that 
