November 4th, 2018
183 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Poll – What Did You Think of The Tsuranga Conundrum?
Now that the fifth episode of series 11 has aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.
“Risk to life: absolute.”
Injured and stranded in the wilds of a far-flung galaxy, The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan must band together with a group of strangers to survive against one of the universe’s most deadly — and unusual — creatures.
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
R1ch1e
November 6th, 2018 - 2:26pmYep, that is what Chibnall said. No series arc or classic villains
lorraine
November 6th, 2018 - 1:45pmYes Jodie does gurn. My husband says it’s the same expression I have when I am trying to see something without my glasses. The whole thing thus far, half-way in, has been extremely poor. Chibnall and Jodie have not understood the premise of the programme at all. If anything having her as a female doctor has put the female cause back. There are strong women actors about it is just not her. She is not right, the stories are not right; only Bradley and the music ticks two little boxes. The viewing figures should be better because it really is a good regular time slot. Shame they didn’t offer that earlier. Oh Booboo I know I go on and on but you must be one of the biggest ever fans given what you and Luke have set up so please understand the frustration. I do understand your role as mediator, I must hope for the second half improving. Is it true all the merchandising has been placed States side now?
Anonymous
November 6th, 2018 - 12:25pmI am enjoying this new series. I like how they are showing some History. The Rosa Parks episode was great, shows younger people what happened in the US. People just need to relax, shows go up and down now and again. It can’t always be Daleks & Cybermen. It’s nice that the show is trying new things, i can relate to the character of Ryan. he suffers with learning problems, which i also suffer with. Jodie Whittaker is great as The Doctor, there are little of David Tennant and Peter Capldi in her. Nice Work Jodie. She’s my Doctor
Tim M
November 6th, 2018 - 12:21pmI don’t know if Jodie is trying too hard, but the face pulling doesn’t work for me. It feels like it’s acting, and not acting natural. It all looks so false.
Pats86
November 6th, 2018 - 12:07pmConsidering the way the show has been and continues to be written as badly as it has in many fans eyes, would it be too much to ask for a team of writers like the USA do with their shows.
For the most part they get it right, it would stop one showrunner form making all the decisions and open up new ideas stopping the poor quality episodes from being a weekly experience.
Moffat began well enough but allowed his ridiculous ideas to ruin the shows rich history and cannon, Chibnall has got off to the worst start possible and I am not optimistic going forward!
Or is it a case of getting an excellent showrunner in and get Chibnall out now? Maybe a rest is in order to allow new life to be infused into the show.
the ergon
November 6th, 2018 - 11:32amOk. Maybe ‘fear her’ or timelash then.
Paddy
November 6th, 2018 - 11:10amWhat is missing is believable Dr- this whole season has been a disaster – for the first time since 1971 I won’t bother watching again until a new regeneration – Oh for the days of Tom Baker!
the ergon
November 6th, 2018 - 9:50amI mean do people continue to watch the ‘rubbish’ in the hope it improves (as most loyal fans would do) and keep those viewing figures buoyant or allow this current team to run the show into the ground.It does feel more CBBC, not primetime ‘WHO’ which seems to be alienating the core audience. Something needs to change. As you say i can,t really see much improvement, as this series format has already been set. I wouldn,t like to think there was some sort of hidden agenda to get the show cancelled, trying to turn it from award winning series to a poison chalice nobody would touch but as it is their going the right way about it.
They need to return to the original formula and get the old writers and directors back in next series.
I really like jodie and her gang, but if chibnall was to go,i fear she would leave also and i wouldn,t want that. I want to see different traits to make her doctor really stand out. She just hasn,t had much chance to shine as yet.
The Moffat Paradox
November 6th, 2018 - 9:36amMore aura of gravitas, presence, stronger impression of knowing how to handle situations that this hitherto always male until Moffat tinkered humanoid based alien seems to have better displayed when played by an actor; Danny Pink recognised him when he was still him as officer class which tends to be still be overwhelmingly a male preserve.. Maybe actresses who have played strong female characters like Sigourney weaver and Linda Hamilton in the day could pull that off or an older actress than Jodie Whittaker but not Jodie Whittaker.
chris7
November 6th, 2018 - 9:03amI get it. So it will go off and kill someone else when it gets hungry again. Really, I’d lost interest long before that, which is why I missed the point in the first place.
the ergon
November 6th, 2018 - 9:03amThat was the original idea. No story Arc, just standalones.
Arthurian2
November 6th, 2018 - 8:48amThanks Dr Stu for explaining the reason why it wasn’t kicked out in the first place, I was probably out the room making tea, or washing my hair.
Anonymous
November 6th, 2018 - 4:23amAm I the only one who thinks there’s no story arc what so ever?
Like the 11th doctor had trenzalore and the silence, I feel like I’m watching this new series and it’s a bunch of random episodes with nothing too leave you questioning things like we did when, the doctor was told silence would fall, it had us thinking and theorising about what is was
Anonymous
November 6th, 2018 - 4:17amI miss the old days of Amy Rory and the doctor, three personalities that were beautiful too watch and cause a range of emotions and I don’t feel this with the new doctor any companions.
P.s does the Tardis ever have screen time anymore, feels like the doctor doesn’t spend time with the Tardis, we know nothing of her new interior apart from a silly biscuit dispenser.
Mick C
November 6th, 2018 - 2:52amI think there is to many Companions, throw in a new Doctor and you are trying to introduce 4 Characters including a brand new Doctor at once in a show in which the Characters are as important as the Story Line and the Monsters.
I don’t have an issue with 3 Companions(been done before) but with the exception of Hartnell’s first Season they have been introduced over time, where you have one Companion we have got used to. Then they have brought in a new companion.
The Moffat Paradox
November 6th, 2018 - 12:40amAs far as I am concerned Who is like Bond in that there has to be certain core ingredients that MUST meet with popular expectations which made it successful before and if they are violated too much then the franchise is no longer really the franchise and risks ultimate rejection. And rightly so..
ADAM
November 5th, 2018 - 10:21pmAnd to think that the great Capaldi was pushed out for this…
ADAM
November 5th, 2018 - 10:09pmThe Doctor is missing…along with good story telling.
The Living Shadow
November 5th, 2018 - 9:36pmCurious about what kind of dynamic a man could bring that a woman couldn’t… (at least in the context of a show about a regenerating, time-travelling alien)
Doctor Stu
November 5th, 2018 - 8:36pmNice to see some familiar monsters in the episode too, like the cybermen, slitheen, Silurian and Zygon that popped up on the ships computer when they were searching for information about the Pting
The Moffat Paradox
November 5th, 2018 - 8:20pmDynamic made possible by main character being male, the character exuding a real sense of authority as well as knowledge/intellect, sense that’s there’s any real kind of stake with hostile aliens/monsters that are worthy of recent additions like The Reapers ,The Vashta Nerada,The Krillitane The Weeping Angels, The Bonelesss, The Fisher King and the Veritas Monks besides the revamped golden oldies as well as any instinct that this is in creative hands that are at all safe perhaps?
Puddle
November 5th, 2018 - 8:02pmAgree 100 per cent with what your saying thought some of the jnt stories were bad but this series is without a doubt worse
R1ch1e
November 5th, 2018 - 7:24pmWow Anonymous you have pretty much the same view as me. Especially with the first 3 episodes. I did really enjoy episode 4 as well but I agree that there were some loose ends that need thing up. I haven’t watched episode 5 again yet though. I might leave it till the weekend.
Pats86
November 5th, 2018 - 7:09pmThe Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit were excellent
Pusher
November 5th, 2018 - 6:16pmCome on guys, it’s just a stumble; it happens to every TV show. I found it just about watchable.
Season 5 of game of thrones was the worst my my count but i still found it engaging. Let’s give the show a fighting chance. The peting reminded me of something from monsters inc.
techmki
November 5th, 2018 - 6:10pmPip n Jane Baker and their ‘classics’ ew seriously
techmki
November 5th, 2018 - 5:45pm*poor Adam is suffering. *throws copy of Hell Bent for him to watch.
T.A
November 5th, 2018 - 5:40pmWhat I think people don’t get about the pc stuff in Doctor is, yes doctor who can have political episode, but they need to be there for a good reason and tell both sides of a story, not there just for the sake of it and to attack certain people for no reason.
Graham
November 5th, 2018 - 5:07pmStarted ok but soon went down hill got bored and almost put on the Twin Dilemma or Time and the Ranish lol
Anonymous
November 5th, 2018 - 5:01pmI thought I’d give it one more go. Afterwards I watched the ‘Impossible Planet’. Very similar set up, Dr trapped without the TARDIS, a threat, crew member murdered, reluctant captain, some tech and companion issues. If you just compare the production values of these two episodes there is no comparison. There was a real energy about ‘Impossible’.The lighting, the editing was spot on, always sticking with the story. Scooters death was genuinely heart felt, despite her having very little script, with incidental music used to compliment the action. Rose and the Dr coming to terms with being stuck in one time, even if they got out alive, and the ominous threat of the black hole, let alone Satan, all added to the tension. We knew all the main characters within ten minutes of the story and there was even a slave race, the parallel was there for the viewer to see through Roses eyes, and it was subtle. I can’t see any of the skills that were used to produce ‘Impossible’ or any of the earlier episodes evident in this new reboot……this week an angry green gremlin, male birth, Ryans acting and a gurning Dr, were the horrors served up with none of the style or finesse of the previous rebooted series.