February 9th, 2020
42 comments
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What Did You Think of Can You Hear Me?
Now that the Seventh episode of series 12 has aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.
From ancient Syria to present day Sheffield, and out into the wilds of space, something is stalking the Doctor and infecting people’s nightmares.
Single constructive comments on the article in question only. The reply facility has been permanently removed.
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Lorraine
February 13th, 2020 - 1:43pmThe bits I liked ( a little) had no Jodie in them because she cannot act her way out of a paper bag not because she is a woman. I cringe when she appears and opens her mouth waving her little sonic about like she is demented. BBC don’t care as they have their HBO money although from what I can gather the viewing figures in the States have plummeted even more than here. I watched the specials on Peter Capaldi’s last episode yesterday and to see him, Clara, Missy, Nardole and Moffatt at Comic.com was wonderful. I know Capaldi’s time had its problems but compared to the dross now it was gold. So much has now been lost and without new Scifi writers, decent musicians and a talented showrunner there will be no improvement. The only things I would like to be lost are Chibs and Whittaker into a black hole far away – can Jo Martin arrange this please!
The Moffat Paradox
February 12th, 2020 - 11:18pmWe’ll I’ll always think a female Doctor was a diversity stretch too far which if there is re-cancellation can ultimately be put at Steven Moffat and his then BBC bosses door for allowing and being allowed to get away with too much in universe tinkering. There should and also with Star Trek/Star Wars be someone whose job it is to be the canon guardian/firewall they have to go through first.
And IF they were still going to go ahead regardless of agenda accusations only a REALLY TOP DRAWER actress in the first place to pull it off would have done.
Pats86
February 12th, 2020 - 10:50amI would like to comment on UK Viewer and something they have said.
“Jodie Whitaker has been a great Doctor, but I just don’t think the average viewer (Non-Fan) is ready for a female Doctor yet, it pushed credibility just a smidgen to far for a lot of them”
This is not the case, I for one am not an average viewer! I have been watching since the beginning of Tom Baker’s tenture as the Doctor.
Yes I was very concerned about a female Doctor and Jodie’s attempt is absolutely shockingly bad. This upheld my worries it was a bad move
But I now do accept a female Doctor can work, and work well.
Jo Martin is brilliant, her 20 minutes as the Doctor outshines anything Jodie has or will manage, she clearly is not up to the job.
It’s clear to see, the casting was wrong. Jo Martin should have been cast as the strong, authoritative Doctor Jodie’s is not, and Jo can act which always helps!
Anonymous
February 12th, 2020 - 7:27amSorry thought I’d never say this but I’d rather see the show rested than watch this insult to Dr who
UK Viewer
February 11th, 2020 - 8:44pm9/10 from me. Enjoyed it a lot. The 1 point was lost for a) The ending felt rushed, and b) yet again the Social Issues bit felt tacked on at the end. If those bits had been spread through the story it wouldn’t have been so bad. I think this lies at the heart of what is upsetting people about this series, the “Woke” bits as people call them come over as shoe horned in and intrusive to the story. If you compare how they handled it back in the 3rd Doctor’s era (Jon Pertwee) it is a world apart. The “rants” back then were an intrinsic part of the story line and were either aimed at the baddy of the week, or were explained calmly and quietly to the companion (especially with Jo Grant). This new series the “Woke Rants” feel as if they are squarely aimed at the viewer, thus ripping us out of the story. People don’t like being preached to and it very rarely works!
I very much doubt it is Chibnall’s doing parsay but the BBC’s. They are under fire all the time to promote all these social issues from the public, the media, and the government. The powers that be probably thought to themselves we can’t shove this into every show we make so let’s dump it all in Doctor Who, it’s weird anyway so nobody will notice. But, of course, we do and instead of raising awareness it drives away viewers and makes people fed up with hearing it all.
For me and my wife this series has had much better stories, but they have been spoilt to varying degrees by the PC/Social Issues stuff being rammed down our throat… (oh and the dreadful makeup/costume for the ‘cat woman’ in Orphan 55 *shudder).
Jodie Whitaker has been a great Doctor, but I just don’t think the average viewer (Non-Fan) is ready for a female Doctor yet, it pushed credibility just a smidgen to far for a lot of them. Tennant’s era was so successful not because the stories were amazingly better than now, but because people loved him, Some men and women fell in love with him/fancied him, some women wanted to mother him and some men wanted to be him. No one since has captured that. Based on what people have said to me – Peter Capaldi was too old, Matt Smith was to weird, Jodie Whitaker was a step too far to be believably, oh and Eccleston wasn’t in it long enough to get to know!
The companions have not been used the right way in the 13th Doctor’s series so far, under-developed being the main problem (then we get loads – too much crammed into one episode this week). Ryan barely seems to be used at all (even this week we learnt virtually nothing about him), Yaz is there for a bit of angst, and Graham, who is brilliant, is underused. It’s such a shame as the stories themselves have been pretty great.
So my advice to the Beeb would be dial back the whole PC/Social Issues business (not get rid of it though), give the companions more character depth and things to do that make a difference, and when Jodie leaves go for a early 30’s man, attractive (but not a tough guy or broody), who will appeal to straight woman and gay men and finally stick it back on TV on a Saturday evening!
Doctor….Who?
February 11th, 2020 - 5:08pmSorry to be a moaner but that was just…. well… pretty bad.
Also never thought Doctor Who would ever have the BBC Action Line thing at the end. Pretty much the only good actors in that story were Mandip and Bradley. Again, sorry to be a moaner.
Pats86
February 11th, 2020 - 10:38amPoor episode 1/10 and that 1 is for Bradley Walsh.
It’s is so sad to this show plummet into a bottomless pit.
The Ergon
February 11th, 2020 - 10:27amAgree with dalek eye stalk on that score.His monotone deadpan delivery gets on my nerves. He lacks the humour and charisma of other black companions, and barely even registers. Even Yas is underused preferring instead to go with new companion(s) of the week which leaves only Graeme as the only worthwhile companion and even he has been sidelined of late. I mean why fill the TARDIS up with characters if they are inconsequential.
Dalek Eye Stalk
February 11th, 2020 - 8:58amIn reply to Mick C, I think it’s certain that at least one of the main cast will be leaving by the end of this series. Tosin Cole has been given a leading role in a U.S series. So I don’t see him staying around. But how they think he’s suitable for a leading role, when he is hardly suitable for even a supporting role is beyond me! He cannot act. Most of the lines are delivered exactly the same.
The Ergon
February 11th, 2020 - 8:17amGraham could go out in a blaze of glory and be the unsung hero. Knowing the cancer is back and with no Grace to go back to maybe he will nobly sacrifice his life for his friends in the epic finale.
Mick C
February 10th, 2020 - 10:04pmGetting towards the end of season 2 of Chibnell/Whittaker wonder if we are going to see the exit of 1 or more of the companions and how they will be exited.
We haven’t seen a quite exit at all in new Who unlike the majority of exits in the original Who, Moffat in particular tended to kill off his companions in some way or other.
This episode may be pointing towards at least one up coming exit.
Dalek Eye Stalk
February 10th, 2020 - 6:38pm3.81 million viewers overnight. Seventh most watched show of the day! Chibnall Can You Hear Me? Doctor Who is not working in it’s current form. It’s time for you to step down Chibnall. You’re agenda driven story lines are driving people away. I don’t know what you are trying prove? Are you looking for awards or something for being so diverse and agenda focused. Another problem is Team Tardis is not gelling with the audience. Due to a mix of poor writing and poor acting. This show needs a seriously good showrunner to save it now. Chibnall you’ve tried, you’ve had your second chance (series) and failed.