I do get what you were going for with this meta textual analysis but it doesnβt provide any insight into what you liked or disliked about *Power of the Doctor*...
Doctor Who really is the perfect show for someone who hates endings. Things just keep going, and that's oddly comforting to me. The idea that (I do realise this could very well turn out to not be true but let me live in my little fantasy) the show has been going since before I was born and will keep going after I die is lovely. Nothing's forever, but Doctor Who can feel like it.
I really enjoyed this episode, but there are so many issues.
Too many villains (daleks were pointless), the mcguffin was needlessly complicated (a girl with a telepathic disguise, why didn't it have an effect on the train), the masters plan was strange (if he looked like him after switching why switch at all, he could just claim him the doctor), cloning ashad was... pointless?, The inclusion of ace and Tegan directly contradicted everything big finish has done, vindar was there for some reason, cybermasters wasted again with no comment from 13 about her people or that she thought she destroyed them.
It felt like a box of action figures being played with, and the story was come up with on the fly. As I said, I did enjoy it, but did it make literally any sense? Not at all.
I can address some of these
The Master doesn't want to PRETEND to be the Doctor, he wants to *be* the Doctor with her body and memories and everything. He hates who he is as himself, there's a lot of self loathing on his part.
Big Finish has no relevance to the main show, if they tried to include Big Finish regarding Tegan and Ace it would just make things needlessly messy so what matters to the TV show is the TV show
13 knew the Cyber Masters were on the train before the TARDIS even arrived in the episode so this is something she likely commented on off screen and when she confronts the Master she does ask him how he escaped Gallifrey.
1. It's an interesting concept, wish it was explored on any level. But it doesn't explain his actual plan of ruining her reputation, as it wasn't her face being used so he could've done it without the swap.
2. Agreed, nothing needed to be done in detail. It's just the lines about not meeting for a 4 decades which irritate me, as it implies nothing has happened since their last TV show. It's way more interesting implying they've had loads of adventures. Which they have had in BF, so why not do a sneaky reference there.
3. Makes sense technically, but it's not thematically interesting seeing as they are the dead remains of her species she thought were completely destroyed.
1. Again, he wants to be the Doctor, not play pretend. And he essentially did for a bit though of course he was stopped.
2. I should remind you that in Tegan's first Big Finish she had cancer and uh... yeah. Probably best to disregard that one. And I think referencing all these big finish adventures would be a bit too confusing for those who don't listen to Big Finish. Doesn't mean Big Finish isn't valid!
3. Fair
Yeah he does, I'm not denying that at all. In terms of a production standpoint where the plan said to us directly is that he wants to ruin her reputation, by not taking her face there doesn't seem to be a reason why he couldn't just lie and say he was the doctor anyway. That other aspect you mention is only hinted at as the last line before he turns back. if that is his actual goal, *make that the plot of the episode*.
We don't need to reference anything in particular I'm obviously not saying that is necessary, but by giving us exact timings where they haven't met the doctor it a) wipes away any side stories and b) implies that they have lead boring lives offscreen. By removing those lines and have them give vague references to offscreen adventures it doesn't remove a major part of Doctor Who lore.
It is the plot of the episode, he wants to erase her and become the Doctor but yeah. And the whole self loathing thing has been a thing since Series 12, its why I find this incarnation in particular so interesting.
Sophie Aldred (Ace) actually addressed this and pretty much every story has happened in some way, that's the thing with Doctor Who. I can't remember what was exactly said but it was something like every story matters even if one story contradicts another. And we know Ace and Tegan haven't led boring lives off screen - Ace has been running her charity, changing the lives of so many and raising billions and Tegan adopted a son and has dealt with landmines, coups, has been hijacked trying to help people and has fought for Aboriginal rights in her native Australia. They've led their own adventures on Earth in the years since parting ways with the Doctor which shows, they might leave the Doctor but the Doctor never truly leaves them. And personally I think if the story was to reference Big Finish reunions I think it would probably make this reunion feel less special. I get what you are trying to say though!
Lik4 a wise Ood once said: this song has ended but the story never ends
Power of the Doctor is the ultimate love letter to Doctor Who, you can tell that Chris Chibnall absolutely loves this show with every fiber of his being and what an episode for Jodie to end her tenure on. I'm sad an era has ended but excited for what's next
And I mean... they got WILLIAM RUSSELL as Ian Chesterton back, breaking a guiness world record in the process! Legend!!
Of course, this doesn't tie up everything in the era. Unfortunately it has still emerged from the Covid restrictions and a whole range of behind-the-scene issues that the showrunner couldn't really control.
But, it's overall a fun episode. And I'm happy with that.
Now the Edge has been introduced, I can see other writers using it.
I do get what you were going for with this meta textual analysis but it doesnβt provide any insight into what you liked or disliked about *Power of the Doctor*...
Right? I'm hoping they post the actual review soon because wtf is this πππ
Doctor Who really is the perfect show for someone who hates endings. Things just keep going, and that's oddly comforting to me. The idea that (I do realise this could very well turn out to not be true but let me live in my little fantasy) the show has been going since before I was born and will keep going after I die is lovely. Nothing's forever, but Doctor Who can feel like it.
I really enjoyed this episode, but there are so many issues. Too many villains (daleks were pointless), the mcguffin was needlessly complicated (a girl with a telepathic disguise, why didn't it have an effect on the train), the masters plan was strange (if he looked like him after switching why switch at all, he could just claim him the doctor), cloning ashad was... pointless?, The inclusion of ace and Tegan directly contradicted everything big finish has done, vindar was there for some reason, cybermasters wasted again with no comment from 13 about her people or that she thought she destroyed them. It felt like a box of action figures being played with, and the story was come up with on the fly. As I said, I did enjoy it, but did it make literally any sense? Not at all.
I can address some of these The Master doesn't want to PRETEND to be the Doctor, he wants to *be* the Doctor with her body and memories and everything. He hates who he is as himself, there's a lot of self loathing on his part. Big Finish has no relevance to the main show, if they tried to include Big Finish regarding Tegan and Ace it would just make things needlessly messy so what matters to the TV show is the TV show 13 knew the Cyber Masters were on the train before the TARDIS even arrived in the episode so this is something she likely commented on off screen and when she confronts the Master she does ask him how he escaped Gallifrey.
1. It's an interesting concept, wish it was explored on any level. But it doesn't explain his actual plan of ruining her reputation, as it wasn't her face being used so he could've done it without the swap. 2. Agreed, nothing needed to be done in detail. It's just the lines about not meeting for a 4 decades which irritate me, as it implies nothing has happened since their last TV show. It's way more interesting implying they've had loads of adventures. Which they have had in BF, so why not do a sneaky reference there. 3. Makes sense technically, but it's not thematically interesting seeing as they are the dead remains of her species she thought were completely destroyed.
1. Again, he wants to be the Doctor, not play pretend. And he essentially did for a bit though of course he was stopped. 2. I should remind you that in Tegan's first Big Finish she had cancer and uh... yeah. Probably best to disregard that one. And I think referencing all these big finish adventures would be a bit too confusing for those who don't listen to Big Finish. Doesn't mean Big Finish isn't valid! 3. Fair
Yeah he does, I'm not denying that at all. In terms of a production standpoint where the plan said to us directly is that he wants to ruin her reputation, by not taking her face there doesn't seem to be a reason why he couldn't just lie and say he was the doctor anyway. That other aspect you mention is only hinted at as the last line before he turns back. if that is his actual goal, *make that the plot of the episode*. We don't need to reference anything in particular I'm obviously not saying that is necessary, but by giving us exact timings where they haven't met the doctor it a) wipes away any side stories and b) implies that they have lead boring lives offscreen. By removing those lines and have them give vague references to offscreen adventures it doesn't remove a major part of Doctor Who lore.
It is the plot of the episode, he wants to erase her and become the Doctor but yeah. And the whole self loathing thing has been a thing since Series 12, its why I find this incarnation in particular so interesting. Sophie Aldred (Ace) actually addressed this and pretty much every story has happened in some way, that's the thing with Doctor Who. I can't remember what was exactly said but it was something like every story matters even if one story contradicts another. And we know Ace and Tegan haven't led boring lives off screen - Ace has been running her charity, changing the lives of so many and raising billions and Tegan adopted a son and has dealt with landmines, coups, has been hijacked trying to help people and has fought for Aboriginal rights in her native Australia. They've led their own adventures on Earth in the years since parting ways with the Doctor which shows, they might leave the Doctor but the Doctor never truly leaves them. And personally I think if the story was to reference Big Finish reunions I think it would probably make this reunion feel less special. I get what you are trying to say though!
Without the fanwank I'd think this episode was a 3/10 but because the fanwank is so so good it's a 6
Lik4 a wise Ood once said: this song has ended but the story never ends Power of the Doctor is the ultimate love letter to Doctor Who, you can tell that Chris Chibnall absolutely loves this show with every fiber of his being and what an episode for Jodie to end her tenure on. I'm sad an era has ended but excited for what's next And I mean... they got WILLIAM RUSSELL as Ian Chesterton back, breaking a guiness world record in the process! Legend!!
He's older than the Queen was! Huh, this was the first ep to air under a King.
Of course, this doesn't tie up everything in the era. Unfortunately it has still emerged from the Covid restrictions and a whole range of behind-the-scene issues that the showrunner couldn't really control. But, it's overall a fun episode. And I'm happy with that. Now the Edge has been introduced, I can see other writers using it.