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October 28th, 2018 98 comments

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Poll – What Did You Think of Arachnids in the UK?

Now that the fourth episode of series 11 has aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.

“Something’s happening with the spiders in this city.”

The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan find their way back to Yorkshire – and Yaz’s family – only to find something is stirring amidst the eight-legged arachnid population of Sheffield.






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98 comments

  • ColinB

    October 31st, 2018 - 3:21pm

    The story had one problem and that was no resolution as it ask more questions than answer.

    Pros:
    the CGI spiders were fantastic looking in fact the best I have seen for a while.
    the explanation of the spiders both factual and mutation types was also very good.
    There were elements of the old stories Like Green Death etc paying homage to it
    Even some element from other movies like the shining, B movies of giant spiders etc.
    companion character from all 3 are very good

    Cons
    Still not sure about the doctor
    The story dragged on too long and because of that it raised more questions:

    What happened to the dead giant spider in the ballroom?
    is it going to decay or will someone clean it up?

    What happened to the spiders in the vault?
    Will they die like the giant spider was going to do

    What about the spiders in the city especially the one trapped in the flat?
    Are they still there? cause we never saw them going towards the vault only the hotel spiders

    what about the 3 corpses, 2 in the tunnel and 1 in the flat?

    What happened to the webs it that going to be cleaned up?

    What going to happen with the hotel being built over the mines?
    Are they still going to run it

    The other hotels over the world built on disused sites are they going to continue.

    The company JLS who dumped the waste what happens to them

    Too many questions and not enough answers

    this I why the story fell down at the end

    It was like yeah the giant spider is dead, others are trapped in vault so lets move on to something else and go away

    At least the older stories had some questioned answered with some resolution, but no this one.

    • Doctor Stu

      October 31st, 2018 - 9:00pm

      The giant spider will be cleared up by the company who were doing the research on the spiders or by UNIT. This isn’t really an issue as the same question could be asked about the dead slitheen remains in the wreckage of ten Downing Street or the countless plastic mannequins lining the streets of London etc. we never see the clean up so why should this episode be different?

      The spiders in the vault will eventually die, they’ll run out of oxygen and die peacefully rather than just being blown up or shot. It sounds a bit harsh because they’ll run out of air but they’ll slowly start to lose conciousness rather than choking to death

      The spider trapped in the flat will also just die out and be collected by UNIT or the spider company seeing as there’s also a dead body in the house

      The spiders in the city were all lured back to the hotel. The map of the spiders ecosystem disturbance was shaped like a web with a hole in the centre where the hotel was located along with the mother spider. I took this as meaning all the spiders within this perimeter are all drawn by the mother spiders pheromones when she calls to them, when she’s in danger or when they sense the vibrations. I assume they can pick up on things like this due to their extreme size and senses and so I took that scene with the grime music as meaning all the affected spiders in the city were led to the panic room.

      The corpses – same thing – it’s just clean up that we never see. Happens all the time, example from the top of my head, everyone who gets murdered at Pete’s mansion and all the dead navy personal on board the submarine in Cold War. We never saw what happened to the bodies but we accept that they’re removed at some point

      The webs – same thing. It’s irrelevant

      The hotel is most likely going to be shut down, as are the ones around the world as the story would be released or the company would be threatened with exposure. Again this isn’t something we need to know as its sort of obvious that all the hotels will inevitably be shut down

      The waste company would most likely be shut down or reprimanded – again it’s nothing we need to know

    • Anonymous

      November 1st, 2018 - 5:20pm

      Thanks Doctor Stu for writing this as I couldn’t be bothered. But it’s exactly what I thought too. No one has ever questioned clean up before and there’s been some epic cleaning up to do left in the wake of previous Doctors.

    • Doctor Stu

      November 1st, 2018 - 8:42pm

      There seems to be things that people are finding issue with in series 11 that have never been questioned or been an issue when other people were playing the Doctor

  • Derek Angell

    October 30th, 2018 - 10:17pm

    This episode did a complete 180 degree turn from Rosa and was great.I watched it a 2nd time and it actually felt better which does not usually happen for me with more tounge-in-cheek stories.Also music and general soundstage are superb and I am just using a PS4 >iplayer>Astro A50 headphones set up.

  • The Living Shadow

    October 30th, 2018 - 5:49pm

    Finally got watched this and it wasn’t great but, that being said, I had a fun time watching it! This was a real mixed bag for me, but the parts that I enjoyed weren’t outweighed by the bits I didn’t like – It was a mix of intentionally funny, so bad it’s funny, and the odd emotional bit in it too. Although it’s really not my kind of episode, there are definitely bits I’d miss if this episode never existed!

    Although was I the only person that thought that it was more cruel to make the spiders starve to death then to just put them out of their misery or find some kind of other solution? I mean I hate violence as much as the next person, but I didn’t think it was humane to force all the spiders to be trapped and eventually having to each each other! I mean it’s better then having them killing humans in Sheffield, but still poor spiders 🙁

    • Pats86

      October 30th, 2018 - 9:19pm

      No I thought it was cruel too, poor spiders they always get a bad press and a sad ending.

      That said one of the best science fiction novels I have ever read is called “Children Of Time” by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the protagonists are spiders and it is absolutely brilliant. It was the awarded the Arthur C Clarke award for best science fiction of the year 2016

    • Anonymous

      October 31st, 2018 - 6:05pm

      One of the characters (Robertson I think) mentioned that the panic room was stocked with food so that he could survive 6 months without leaving. I took that to mean there was enough food for the spiders to live out the rest of their lives. You still would have to make the leap that these spiders could eat human food though…..

  • Notalesbiancyberman

    October 30th, 2018 - 9:22am

    Not Dr Who?…more a spin off like Torchwood but without the scriptwriters plots effects aliens or production budget!

    Changing the lead to a female will only get the BBC so far for effect agenda and headlines, now you need a product that people will buy into..think Top Gear and Chris whats-his-face…

  • CG

    October 30th, 2018 - 12:24am

    I’m a little sad to read some negative comments regarding the episode and series in general. I personally have been loving Jodie’s doctor and although some elements of the episodes could be improved, such as stronger finishes to episodes and characters, we are still only episode 4, and I believe she is taking the more casual, light hearted side to the Doctor – while still showing such sympathy and authority when needed. I would also agree that the episodes are continuing as relatively stand alone and easy to follow – but that is what the BBC aimed to do, make Doctor Who accessible to everyone again. This is only my opinion but I feel as though Jodie is not quite been given the chance by fans quite yet in some instances.

    • R1ch1e

      October 30th, 2018 - 7:45am

      I love it too CG. I really can’t complain because this is exactly what I wanted Doctor Who to be again. Don’t get me wrong, I did love what Steven Moffat gave us. Especially the wonderful Peter Capaldi. But the Storys of that era did become dependant on the viewers knowledge of the history of the show, from both modern and classic eras and sometimes could leave me with a bit of a headache. Just my opinion of course.
      The fact is that YOU enjoy it is all that matters. I’m enjoying it too as are so many others. Jodie is great and growing in confidence and is making the role her own. As I say I loved Peter Capaldi but it took time for me, almost a whole series in fact and by the time he left i really wasn’t ready for him to go. But that’s what the shows about, change. Some people like it, some dont and some arn’t sure.

    • Pats86

      October 30th, 2018 - 10:22am

      I don’t see any authority from Jodie at all, this is one of the reasons she comes across as a weak Doctor!

      I will continue to give her a chance as you say but if it is not cutting it then it is only right that we can say so instead of being silenced. As long as it is done respectfully mind!
      It does concern me that those who do not like to hear any negativity want others silenced? This has been done before in history and it does not end well, it is increasingly harder to speak out about anything in case someone is offended! Get a back bone and deal with it is the best thing to do if you ask me.

      I personally do not do any social media at all, this is my only outlet and I enjoy five minutes or so a day reading through the comments and adding some too.

    • Anonymous

      October 30th, 2018 - 10:47am

      I agree. Its not fair how some fans feel they have the right to halt the progression of the show. The show needs new viewers or it will die. The reviews from major players are very good and i am so sick of a minority critiscizing a show that is attempting to relaunch after three years of poor ratings.

    • Pats86

      October 30th, 2018 - 3:08pm

      It has nothing to do about halting the shows progression, it is about wanting better writing and acting amongst the rest.

      It’s not fair that this show is going from worse to worse? That is why those like myself speak out.

    • Anonymous

      November 1st, 2018 - 9:06pm

      Well pats86 your a minority and theres over 6 million people who obviously thought it was good or they wouldnt keep watching it. No one is forcing you to watch and if you dont like it, at least theres 55 years of backlog

  • Doctor Stu

    October 29th, 2018 - 10:47pm

    Wow this episode had me terrified I do not like spiders at all. Simple resolution and a plot that made sense rather than the convuluted Moffatt messes. I laugh at all the people who say it’s propaganda, they seem to be forgetting all the values and attitudes that were present in Doctor who since the very start and more specifically ever present since 2005. It’s only now in the trump era world where people jump on a bandwagon to pick out things they think are brand new additions to the show that in actual fact have been there since the very beginning. Lgbt, people of colour, anti weapons, strong female leads etc. etc.

    • R1ch1e

      October 30th, 2018 - 7:25am

      I like your comment Doctor Stu. We have the same views

    • T.A

      October 30th, 2018 - 11:02am

      Doctor Stu, I think you got someone of the things about the agenda wrong, in the early 2005 the political stuff was done subtle not like in 2015 to now, for example jack did just straight up say he was pan, they made clever references to it, with Martha, when the doctor took her to less forgiving times, they only slightly talked about the issues of thoses times. I don’t fans are against what you said at the bottom, is just that they don’t want an agenda pushed in their face, or certain lines that are targeting a certain type of people for no reason, like with characters like bill or lines in Hell bent, Husbands of river song, Rosa, arachnids in the uk and more

    • Anonymous

      October 30th, 2018 - 8:41pm

      I don’t see any agendas being pushed in anyone’s faces. There seems to be a deep seated belief by a vocal minority that this show is pushing ideas on people when it’s only telling stories reflective of many people’s daily experience. If you no longer connect with the show or don’t see the value of telling stories from new perspectives (women, minorities), then don’t watch! By all accounts, the vast majority of viewers are on board with these changes. Ratings are good. Reviews are positive. There’s just a small but vocal group of fans that decided they could not support a female lead before even viewing the show. And now they are ranting about terrible acting, poor writing, PC agendas (whatever that is) to hide the fact that they never intended to give the show a fair shake in the first place.

    • T.A

      October 31st, 2018 - 4:59pm

      I sorry but I think they do have an agenda. In my opinion the way chibnall addressed the gender change was done terrible, with saying doctor who would be behind in the world if he didn’t choose Jodie, also the fact that during the later Moffat years he was doing pointless digs towards men in his episodes, and I would not say it’s small or a minority, an example of this is the trailer when Jodie shatters the class ceiling, look at how many dislikes that trailer got, or look at videos from youtubers such as bowlestrek, a doctor who fan, who talks about the political climate of current doctor who and how it can impact the show for better of for worse, or from other doctors like Peter Davidson, who voiced his well constructed opinion on a female doctor and got unjustly attacked for it. I may not be as connect with show, as I was before, because I feel the show has alienated me and others with their agenda to please an minority, but I will stay with the show, that I group with because I know there is always chance to improve, and I would not be doing justice to show that was my child’s hood.

    • Anonymous

      November 1st, 2018 - 5:09pm

      I believe I’ll stick to more substantial facts like tv ratings and the opinions of reviewers who review TV shows for a living over easily manipulated things like trailer likes/dislikes and the opinions of youtubers. As for Peter Davison, his opinion that boys were losing a role model came off as tone deaf and he was called out for it. Roughly half the population is female. That’s hardly a minority that this so called agenda is pandering to. Isn’t it just possible that the show was stagnating and they decided to take a look around to see how to inject some new life into it? Making the Doctor a woman in no way diminishes anything that has happened before and simply opens up new storytelling avenues. What happens when one changes gender? What interesting situations can a female Doctor be placed in that are interesting simply because she’s now a woman? Like it or not, women have never enjoyed the same power and privilege a man throughout history has. I’m hoping we see this version of the Doctor put into a historical situation where she struggles to command the situation because of her gender even though she used to be a man. It’s interesting. I’m also looking forward to seeing this Doctor quietly and powerfully wield her power and authority. We’ve seen flashes where’s she’s told the Rosa villain not to threaten her which I hope is foreshadowing. It’s going to be interesting to watch. I don’t see how any of this is an agenda. It’s just storytelling. And as far as I can tell, lots of people find this interesting because they’re tuning in and watching the show.

    • T.A

      November 1st, 2018 - 6:38pm

      I actually never said I had a problem with doctor being female, I have said previously that I don’t mind if the doctor is male or female as long as it is done right and it is the right actress to play the role, so far with Jodie I don’t think she was the right choice, personally I would of liked Hayley atwell to play the Doctor. Also personally I trust the opinion of Doctor who fans, which if you didnt know some are on YouTube, because I know they are talking as fans, not saying there are not dr who reviewers who review shows, and also I don’t think the doctor who YouTube channel would easily allow their like to dislikes to be ‘easily manipulated’, when their trying to promote their female doctor. Also in my opinion peter Davidson was attacked, and that what made him leave. Also I’m not trying to say the show is pandering to every woman in the world, put in my opinion they are doing it to a certain group. I know that women have definitely not had it as good as men had it back then, and definitely now it certain countries, but their are ways to tell stories that are subtle and not in the audience face, and be fair to most groups of people, if you can’t see an agenda well good for you, put I can and I know there are others who do.

    • Pats86

      November 1st, 2018 - 10:09pm

      If you can’t see any agendas being pushed you must be watching a different programme?

    • Pats86

      November 1st, 2018 - 10:15pm

      Fully agree with TA, and saying fans are hiding the fact that they never were going to give this series and its changes a chance is laughable.
      I could say more but I don’t want booboo to stop me/us commenting, restraint is needed and respect.

  • ADAM

    October 29th, 2018 - 7:12pm

    This new version is far worse than i ever imagined…another dull episode that had me close to switching off..

  • The Moffat Paradox

    October 29th, 2018 - 5:56pm

    Did actually, as I thought I might, like this better than the previous 3 episodes but thought there was a bit of anti climax though I was right when I said here before transmission I though this didn’t look like it was going to be a million miles in plot from “The Green Death”.

    Except in “The Green Death” the pollution from Global Chemicals (sanctioned by the mad computer BOSS) creating the mutated giant maggot larvae that would metamorphosis into giant fly insects threatened to cause global ecological catastrophe and when it was said the hotel was built over a disused mine tunnels for waste disposal by a company Jack Roberson bought I thought at one point there was going to be a link to the “The Green Death” although that story was set in Wales. But as with “Twice Upon A Time” there was nothing really that much at stake if the queen spider and her offspring weren’t going to really thrive in their mutated state anyway.

    Did enjoy Chris Noth’s Trumpesque performance as Jack Robertson.

    ROBERTSON 2020. MAKE EARTH SAFE AGAIN

  • Danny

    October 29th, 2018 - 2:06pm

    I’ve been watching Dr who since the very first episode with William Hartnell but it seems the BBC have turned the show into a vaguely vailed left wing liberal propaganda programme shame on you BBC

    • ADAM

      October 29th, 2018 - 7:15pm

      The BBC trying to reinvent the wheel. If it ain’t broke..etc.

  • The Master

    October 29th, 2018 - 11:53am

    Another enjoyable episode slower paced than the last 3 it was quite an interesting story and the huge spiders were quite scary !

  • Pats86

    October 29th, 2018 - 11:24am

    My word that was awful, worst episode in years. I would go as far as to say it belongs down there with The Twin Dilemma!

    I will give it 2/10 simply because the spiders looked good and Bradley Walsh is in it.

    Poor acting, poor writing, Jodie is as lightweight as ever she is not the Doctor for me. I hope she improves but I am now doubting it! Bradley Walsh is the best thing in this series and I believe he could have made a fine Doctor himself.

    I will continue until the end of the season but I fully understand why some are now switching off and that is a sad reality of the PC, SJW agenda from the BBC.

    I can not understand why anyone would think this is great? It is so poor that it would not go amiss on the sci fi Channel with the rest of the cheap and badly written movies/series on there.
    I expect better but it is not being delivered and it does not look good for the future, I hope I am wrong but I doubt it.

    • kone112

      October 29th, 2018 - 12:02pm

      I Agree.

    • kone112

      October 29th, 2018 - 12:03pm

      They Need some of the old monsters back in it to make it Dr Who.

    • Puddle

      October 29th, 2018 - 12:08pm

      Totally agree

    • BlueCrossSale

      October 29th, 2018 - 12:18pm

      Yes, its a total disgrace. Looking at the ratings it may be getting popular again. Total outrage.

    • lorraine

      October 29th, 2018 - 1:31pm

      Yes Pats86 I know. I gave it 5 but I think that was due to desperation and the spiders did look good. Bradley would have made a truely wonderful doctor. Jodie is quite simply not a show runner which is exactly what I feared from the “big announcement”. It was for me the best of the 4 so far but that says more about the other 3. Oh God this is all so depressing. The writers haven’t a clue how to “make” Doctor Who. The BBC have killed it. They should only have writers who care/love the programme and the person playing the doctor should at least be a fan if only when growing up which Jodie says she was not. This is not a regular acting job, it is an iconic role, or at least it is supposed to be. I will plod on but it is like a penance at the moment. My husband says Jodie is just awful and he sad 1/10 for yesterday. Skimped on the TARDIS set as well. Calling Russell T…can you hear me!

    • R1ch1e

      October 29th, 2018 - 4:09pm

      May I just point out that Matt Smith had never seen Doctor Who before he became the Doctor, apart from Tomb of the Cybermen, which Steven Moffat have him as homework. He turned out just fine, was a great ambassador and still speaks fondly of the show even now.

    • Pats86

      October 29th, 2018 - 5:41pm

      That may well be the case R1ch1e but Matt Smith was a fine Doctor from scene one, Jodie hasn’t done that yet and I very much doubt she will or even can.

    • Anonymous

      October 29th, 2018 - 6:12pm

      For me Jodie feels like a copy of Matt and David combined.

    • ADAM

      October 29th, 2018 - 7:53pm

      The Twin Dilemma may have been bad,but i’d still watch it just for Colin’s dangerously unpredictable alien performance. Can’t say the same of Ms Whittaker in anything i’ve seen so far.She’s hopelessly miscast in the role.

    • Vic

      October 30th, 2018 - 5:59am

      I’ve watched Doctor Who for a long time; not quite the first few but since the early 70’s at least. While there were some good Doctors and not-so-good ones, I just can’t get with this latest incarnation since she often doesn’t follow or know some of the basic mythology of Doctor Who. I mean the Rosa episode, while interesting, seemed to fly in the face of the Doctor Who premise that some key events in time are set and unchangeable. Timey-whimey stuff. It was brought up several times in other earlier episodes like the Matt Smith and David Tennant eras. It’s why the Doctor couldn’t go back and kill Hitler and prevent WWII. Yet this Doctor has no problem with that stuff.

      Secondly, this particular episode – Arachnids in UK – seems to violate the tenet that the Doctor protects the earth and its inhabitants. I mean these are not sentient beings like the Eight Legs but regular, mutated spiders that are killing people. Yet this Doctor gets all sentimental about them for some reason. And the episode just seems to end without much explanation on what happens to the spiders. Very weak writing IMHO. I mean this is the Doctor who destroyed a Cybermen listening post just to get information (A Good Man Goes to War)!!

      And then there’s all the politics and anti-american stuff…why? Just to be topical? Who’s going to care in ten years? Weak.

      Weak writing, weak plot, weak Doctor. Really, really sad for a series that has lasted so long.

    • the ergon

      October 30th, 2018 - 12:27pm

      We need to see a different side to her character, all we are getting so far seems to be a mimicking of her predecessors. Mccoy was an over the top and rather annoying clown at first but we got to see his dark side in seasons 25 and 26 and didn,t just resort to waving the sonic 3D style at us to remind we are still watching Who and of course it would be a good idea to re-employ some of those senior experienced writers from the past. Also i think some of the location shooting has been a little too ordinary and nothing much as been done to make it look or feel more spectacular, that includes some of the overseas shoots unless most of the budget will be saved for an epic finale.A couple of the stories have, i,m sorry to say come across as a little empty and inconclusive.
      Contrary to a lot of the comments, me, myself am warming to jodie and her gang/fam etc.. and some of the quieter moments have been rather good. Bradley Walsh as been the one who has shone the most so far but I just hope there is more substance in the forthcoming episodes.

  • prototype dalek

    October 29th, 2018 - 11:14am

    Strange how this is mostly peoples worst episode whilst this one was actual my favourite of the 4. Wasn’t amazing but it was better, 6.5/10.

    • R1ch1e

      October 29th, 2018 - 4:05pm

      I agree. I think it was my favorite of the 4. It was just fun.

      Unrelated to Doctor Who, I see you are a Leicester City fan. It must be a sad time for you all. Can I just offer my thoughts and condolences to everyone involved with the club, fan or otherwise after the devastating event from saturday. From a well wishing Aston Villa fan

    • Pats86

      October 29th, 2018 - 5:45pm

      Well pointed out R1ch1e, may I concur the same sentiments from a Manchester United fan who can fully sympathise with such a loss.

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