I largely agree with just about everything you wrote there. It's just too bad the episode that revealed all of this was poorly-written, half-assed, rushed and generally a mess. Something of this magnitude needed to be rolled out slowly and, unfortunately, Chibnall just wasn't up to the task. He was great with the build-up but couldn't handle the payoff. It's a shame.
For an episode that's so important to the mythology of the Doctor, it's konda weird that most of the best moments and character defining bits belong to the Master.
I just rewatched the episode to see if maybe I was in a bad mood. Nope. It's a fucking mess of an episode. You know you're in trouble when the "guest" Doctor (Jo Martin) completely upstages the current Doctor for all of the 60 seconds she's on screen.
I found this interesting https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-12-timeless-child-original-story-complete/
This was today, right? Why is this episode not on my torrents OR on HBOMax? It's been today in the UK for like 28 hours people, get your shit together.
Not bad - fairly routine Who by the numbers but livened up by Jack. The post-credits reveal is interesting - if the US audience struggled with the Northern accents of the "fam", let's see 'em deal with Scouse!
Can't believe I'm saying this, but that's the most I've enjoyed a new episode of Doctor Who in years. Absolutely daft and bonkers. It was great! The only downside was when The Doctor sat down with Ryan and reminded us the previous episode happened.
It just uploaded into the free DVR stuff in my Spectrum box today. Its always been a couple days late if I miss the broadcast.
I think, because I've been so disappointed by the Whittaker era and gave up on the series last season (FTR, I was absolutely over the moon when she was cast - great actress) , I just didn't care a jot and went in with very low expectations. What I got was a lot of cheesy Captain Jack and some whacky Dalek on Dalek mayhem that was redolent of NuWho's glory days. Loved it! It's *just* enough to spark some interest for the upcoming season.
-I think Ryan got the best treatment of any black reoccuring character in modern Who. No endless degrading romantic rejection. No getting turned into a Cyberman like Danny Pink or Bill. (I was really worried about him when the Cybermen returned.) Getting to leave on his own terms, with his dignity intact. Huzzah. -I appreciate that they're not shying away from Yaz dealing with (at the very least) depression. I wonder if she hadn't lost her job over the previous 10 months, considering her obsessive behavior and sleeping in the spare TARDIS. Too bad there was no UNIT or Torchwood around to bring her on as a specialist. -Graham was mostly wasted in his last episode, I hope they bring him back eventually. -It makes this Doctor look weak and/or stupid that she needed to be broken out of prison by Jack. (A line about how she wasn't bothering to break out because she was using the alone time to reflect, or how she was in the middle of an elaborate long-term breakout plan would have gone a long way.)
Multiple news outlets reporting that Jodie Whitaker is leaving after Series 13. Considering that this is her third season in the role, and no actor since the series was revived has gone more than three seasons, this isn't entirely incredible.
Yes, in Let's Kill Hitler. Or if you're counting previous regenerations, very briefly in The Impossible Astronaut.
Assuming that we're not going to get a high end casting like Chiwetel Ejiofor (my first choice) I re-up my fangirling for Tom Mison as the next Doctor (and with this look, not the cleaned up version)
As for the episode, you can throw that much Captain Jack hamming into basically anything and I'm good.
Annnnnddd I have a tutorial for my distance learning Computing & IT degree... at least iPlayer is free, but I'll have to avoid spoilers.
So, right off the bat, first scene in episode has broken science. Boiling acid being harmless even though visible steam is floating by. For some reason, TV/movie writers think acid steam turns to harmless water vapor, and only the liquid burns. Muthafucka, the vapors alone will turn you into Freddy with Darth Vader's breathing issues. The deadliest weapon in "Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night" is you can turn into an acid cloud, and just hover ever everything, and watch it die. Airborne acid ain't no joke. Other than that, no complaints.
In chemistry class, I accidentally created steaming ammonia, and a split second WHIFF of that shit up my nose burnt my sense of smell, and made my throat raw. A fucking WHIFF! Not even a whole inhale. Minimum, the Doctor and Yaz should have spent the rest of the episode going "ohhh, my sinuses hurt so much! Can you smell food again yet?".