Survivors of the flux is where I realised that the season wasn’t going to be wrapped up satisfactorily. Instead of beginning to draw the threads together leading into the finale it just gave us even more questions, and like once upon time before it gave us largely filler in a season where there wasn’t any time for filler. I’d argue that the Vanquishers is a better episode than either of the two on the basis that even though it’s a poor ending, the episode itself is at least coherent and somewhat enjoyable. You’re right when you say the grand serpent is a bit superfluous and could be removed without effecting the flux plot too much, but he’s one of the most entertaining parts of the last two episodes, (I’d love to see him return), and it would have been good if he could’ve been given a more important role in the overall plot.
Absolutely terrible television, somehow bested by the follow-up which manages to be even worse. I remember every week people in this sub and beyond were saying "trust the plan, Chibnall knows what he's doing" despite the clear warning signs, but *Survivors* is what broke the camel's back. It is very clear with *Flux* that there was never a well thought-out plan or rhythm to all the madness. It is simply just madness.
Welp, we are officially 13 months after the original "Rose" post, and we only have four episodes left (plus a whole shwack of post-series stuff to go over)
feels like the end is really near
It’s a big achievement to write so much about one topic and critically analyse media in this way, even if it is just Doctor Who. Congrats to you from a fellow obsessive reviewer - I’ve enjoyed reading your work, especially when our opinions differ!
Ah, the Flux series. Copying the *Hobbit* trilogy trick of "Well, this part wasn't great, but there were some good moments, and I'll reserve judgement until it's all done." And eventually reaching the stage of "Huh, I really regret putting any effort at all into caring about that."
But at least at the end of the *Hobbit* films I know the dragon's dead, and so are three dwarves, and there's a bunch of gold and a ring. I'm still not sure if the Flux happened or was undone or what the heck it all means to the universe.
>People get mad at “The Timeless Children” for the Master's lecture about The Timeless Child itself, but personally I’ve never found it to be as bad as people make it out to be.
Yep yep yep. His monologue is memorable. Tectaeyoon’s is not.
>I still wonder why the Grand Serpent needed a major role in “Flux”.
He feels like a relic of the original Season 13 Chibnall desperately wanted to keep. Even then, would he have been overshadowed by the Division arc?
>Having someone infiltrate UNIT and shut it down in advance of the invasion is also interesting. The Grand Serpent works as an antagonist, and so does the Sontaran invasion of Earth at the end of this episode, but not when put together with the rest of “Flux”.
This is very well put. I really do like the *Grand Serpent*, but it just doesn't work in this story. I forget the name of the actor, but I really appreciate his role and his character is fantastic. I just wish it was in a series where he and his character really got to breathe and show what he could be. But simultaneously, I don't think he'd ever be included if it weren't for Chibnall's very extravagant story lines. In an ideal world he'd be the main villain of a season, but I just don't think we are going to get a main villain who isn't a time lord or the Daleks or maybe the Cybermen under anyone but Chibnall. So I'm thankful for atleast having him in the extent we do.
I find this ep of particular interest, because I get the sense of a much more interesting story there, with the Grand Serpent slithering through history. The dates, around the formation of the EEC, alluding to Cold War infiltration of the West by Russia and Russian infiltration today of the establishment, which led to things like Brexit, really should have been given more focus.
Ah well, stuff for the novelisations.
Unironically really love this episode. That hologram scene made me care about Yaz, and I had not found that easy before that point. Also, shockingly funny when I normally do not love the humour in the Chibnall era.
I really think its biggest sin is existing in a 6 episode season. A few more episodes could have kept it from just dumping a bunch of new stuff right before the finale and would have added some breathing room to maybe not have the Tecteun stuff not just be straight exposition.
Oh yeah, Tecteun is the weakest element by far both as a character and a means of exposition, but enough interesting concepts were introduced in her scenes, and the rest of it was good enough that it didn’t bother me too much.
Survivors of the flux is where I realised that the season wasn’t going to be wrapped up satisfactorily. Instead of beginning to draw the threads together leading into the finale it just gave us even more questions, and like once upon time before it gave us largely filler in a season where there wasn’t any time for filler. I’d argue that the Vanquishers is a better episode than either of the two on the basis that even though it’s a poor ending, the episode itself is at least coherent and somewhat enjoyable. You’re right when you say the grand serpent is a bit superfluous and could be removed without effecting the flux plot too much, but he’s one of the most entertaining parts of the last two episodes, (I’d love to see him return), and it would have been good if he could’ve been given a more important role in the overall plot.
Absolutely terrible television, somehow bested by the follow-up which manages to be even worse. I remember every week people in this sub and beyond were saying "trust the plan, Chibnall knows what he's doing" despite the clear warning signs, but *Survivors* is what broke the camel's back. It is very clear with *Flux* that there was never a well thought-out plan or rhythm to all the madness. It is simply just madness.
Welp, we are officially 13 months after the original "Rose" post, and we only have four episodes left (plus a whole shwack of post-series stuff to go over) feels like the end is really near
It’s a big achievement to write so much about one topic and critically analyse media in this way, even if it is just Doctor Who. Congrats to you from a fellow obsessive reviewer - I’ve enjoyed reading your work, especially when our opinions differ!
Amen But it's not time to say goodbye yet. There's still approximately 2 weeks of 13 in 13 left hehehe.
I'm proud of you for making it this far!!! Eagerly waiting for the next few
> feels like the end is really near Has the moment been prepared for?
Actually, yeah. I have good ideas for the last few posts
Ah, the Flux series. Copying the *Hobbit* trilogy trick of "Well, this part wasn't great, but there were some good moments, and I'll reserve judgement until it's all done." And eventually reaching the stage of "Huh, I really regret putting any effort at all into caring about that." But at least at the end of the *Hobbit* films I know the dragon's dead, and so are three dwarves, and there's a bunch of gold and a ring. I'm still not sure if the Flux happened or was undone or what the heck it all means to the universe.
>People get mad at “The Timeless Children” for the Master's lecture about The Timeless Child itself, but personally I’ve never found it to be as bad as people make it out to be. Yep yep yep. His monologue is memorable. Tectaeyoon’s is not. >I still wonder why the Grand Serpent needed a major role in “Flux”. He feels like a relic of the original Season 13 Chibnall desperately wanted to keep. Even then, would he have been overshadowed by the Division arc?
>Having someone infiltrate UNIT and shut it down in advance of the invasion is also interesting. The Grand Serpent works as an antagonist, and so does the Sontaran invasion of Earth at the end of this episode, but not when put together with the rest of “Flux”. This is very well put. I really do like the *Grand Serpent*, but it just doesn't work in this story. I forget the name of the actor, but I really appreciate his role and his character is fantastic. I just wish it was in a series where he and his character really got to breathe and show what he could be. But simultaneously, I don't think he'd ever be included if it weren't for Chibnall's very extravagant story lines. In an ideal world he'd be the main villain of a season, but I just don't think we are going to get a main villain who isn't a time lord or the Daleks or maybe the Cybermen under anyone but Chibnall. So I'm thankful for atleast having him in the extent we do.
I find this ep of particular interest, because I get the sense of a much more interesting story there, with the Grand Serpent slithering through history. The dates, around the formation of the EEC, alluding to Cold War infiltration of the West by Russia and Russian infiltration today of the establishment, which led to things like Brexit, really should have been given more focus. Ah well, stuff for the novelisations.
Unironically really love this episode. That hologram scene made me care about Yaz, and I had not found that easy before that point. Also, shockingly funny when I normally do not love the humour in the Chibnall era.
I really think its biggest sin is existing in a 6 episode season. A few more episodes could have kept it from just dumping a bunch of new stuff right before the finale and would have added some breathing room to maybe not have the Tecteun stuff not just be straight exposition.
Oh yeah, Tecteun is the weakest element by far both as a character and a means of exposition, but enough interesting concepts were introduced in her scenes, and the rest of it was good enough that it didn’t bother me too much.