Doctor Who S34E2: "Into The Dalek" Spoilers

[Batman]

Undecided. The Doctor is apparently still incapable of or too damn lazy to figure out how to properly pilot the TARDIS ('You sent me for coffee.' 'Three weeks ago. In Glasgow!'), he just manages to bungle it without all the bumping around. The Doctor looking old takes getting used to (some of us haven't seen oldWho so yes, that's irritating). I did like the jab at 'Fantastic Voyage' and the fact that the humans managed to kill at least one Dalek for a change and The Doctor trying to turn the Dalek into a 'good' Dalek and only ending up turning it into an 'Anti-Dalek' thanks to his own hatred of them was I think well done. Wonder if Soldier Girl will show up again. New eventual Companion perhaps?
I really hope they clear up this 'Heaven' thing soon.
3/5, including 1 point detracted for the old looking Doctor irritation. Otherwise, 4/5.

[InsaneTD]

He rarely does that anymore actually. Last episode and this one, he placed the TARDIS where and when he wanted. I actually think he chose to not come back for three weeks.

[The Romulan Republic]

Which brings me to a point I don't like. They've really made the new Doctor an asshole.

[Batman]

I dunno. Yes, he was a high-handed arrogant asshat at the beginning, but he was also visibly stunned by Clara's 'I don't know' answer to 'Am I a good man' and Rusty calling him 'a good Dalek'. And frankly for the nuWho Doctors they never were nice guys.

[Gandalf]

Which brings me to a point I don't like. They've really made the new Doctor an asshole.

I would argue that the others are just as bad, this one's just way more upfront about it.

[JLTucker]

Which brings me to a point I don't like. They've really made the new Doctor an asshole.

Why? It's time for a change.

[The Romulan Republic]

Its off-putting to have a protagonist insensitive enough to be rude to someone who's sibling has just died. But being a dick is nothing new for the Doctor.

And its not a change. Eleven was a dick too. Just a different dick.

[Iroscato]

A nice change of dick now and then never hurt anyone.
Ahem.
I like the more acerbic edge, he still does mostly the right thing but he's quite a bastard along the way with it. Maybe Moffatt is cross-pollinating a bit from Sherlock. Just rewatched, Journey was pretty annoying IMO, 90% of her lines were very wooden and shouty. I'm actually kind of hoping Rusty comes back at some point, an anti-dalek dalek has some great potential for a character arc, if he (She? It? How does one refer to a single dalek?) continues his crusade.

[JLTucker]

Its off-putting to have a protagonist insensitive enough to be rude to someone who's sibling has just died. But being a dick is nothing new for the Doctor.

And its not a change. Eleven was a dick too. Just a different dick.

He was trying to be level headed in such a stressful situation, I'd have told her to shut the hell up too if our lives were still on the line.

[Batman]

They were inside the TARDIS. Were their lives still on the line? I don't think so.

[Gandalf]

A guy with multiple genocides under his belt maybe doesn't relate well to others?

I actually like that idea, especially if they run with it. He's played god a lot, so maybe it's time to ask that question of if it's all for the best.

[JLTucker]

They were inside the TARDIS. Were their lives still on the line? I don't think so.

It could have been a possibility. He knew she was attacked, after all.

[SpottedKitty]

He was trying to be level headed in such a stressful situation,

Hmm, maybe. I got the impression he just didn't consider it important or relevant to the situation. Mind you, the Doctor's done that often enough as well, just not usually for that particular value of "stressful".

[Dartzap]

I wonder if Rusty will turn out to be the leader of the Spoiler

Dalek Rebels in the Doctor Who Experience. Admittedly they just seemed to be after the Paradigm's eye stalks on a platter

Enjoyed this episode significantly more than last weeks. I did wonder if when they spoke of a 'Good' Dalek they simply meant one that wasn't constrained by the enforced view of the universe, and capable of making choices. Has a slightly less moral meaning behind it, admittedly.

[Tribble]

I think the only real difference with this Doctor is that he has "lifted the veil." He doesn't try to pretend to be anyone, whether good or bad, he just calls it as he sees it.

I wonder if being on Trenzalore had something to do with it? He was in a truth field for 600+ years or so, maybe it affected his personality a bit? Or perhaps even though he's no longer in the field, he still speaks bluntly out of habit?

[SylasGaunt]

Lots of fun this episode.

Much as I liked episodes like Doomsday it's also nice to see a Dalek episode that doesn't have so many of them that some kind of super-effect is needed to dispose of them. Just one Dalek with a serious mad-on. They get to stay dangerous but you also see what while they're immensely lethal they're not totally invulnerable to the weapons of their opponents (just mostly so).

I liked the callback to Dalek to. I can only imagine the Dalek's complimenting him on how great a Dalek he is is intensely uncomfortable, and would like to second those who want to see more of Rusty the Anti-Dalek.

[Captain Seafort]

I wonder if being on Trenzalore had something to do with it? He was in a truth field for 600+ years or so, maybe it affected his personality a bit? Or perhaps even though he's no longer in the field, he still speaks bluntly out of habit?

Or being in the truth field when he regenerated had an impact on the next incarnation.

[The Romulan Republic]

I think the only real difference with this Doctor is that he has "lifted the veil." He doesn't try to pretend to be anyone, whether good or bad, he just calls it as he sees it.

I wonder if being on Trenzalore had something to do with it? He was in a truth field for 600+ years or so, maybe it affected his personality a bit? Or perhaps even though he's no longer in the field, he still speaks bluntly out of habit?

That's an interesting idea. It makes sense.

[PREDATOR490]

I am rather impressed with the way this new Doctor is going even if it is still getting bogged down with the standard annoying plots.

The scene with the army dude getting zapped leading to the gunk room literally had me floored because of the Doctor's attitude.
Sacrificing someone else to save himself - The Doctor has strayed close to that and even followed through with plot white washing. I.E The guy jumping in to take the Doctors place to blow up the Sontaran ship.

When they went to the gunk room and the Doctor says something like: "Its the top layer if you want to say a few words"
I could not believe what I just heard. I wanted a more honest Doctor but that strays well into being vicious for no reason.


I liked the Dalek aspect although... The Daleks know who the Doctor is again so Rusty should have went ballistic knowing the "Predator" or "Oncoming Storm" or whatever bullshit they are making up is running around inside it. Don't really get why the Doctor only saved one person at the start... it is well within his capability to have saved all of them so again it appears he was being plot stupid or a complete bastard.

Otherwise, 4/5 from me.
-1 because of the irritating melodrama from Clara and the foreshadowy plot theme they are going with.

[Crazedwraith]

So all the other stuff you objected to didn't merit knocking points off? The Doctor didn't sacrifice the Dude to save himself precisely. He was objecting to the guy firing the thing off but once he had, the Doctor was simply unable to save him. He used the situation to his advantage as best he could but he didn't intentionally get the guy killed.


And its seems to be clear that the Daleks don't know about the Twelve doctor. Or not his appearence anyway.

[PREDATOR490]

So all the other stuff you objected to didn't merit knocking points off? The Doctor didn't sacrifice the Dude to save himself precisely. He was objecting to the guy firing the thing off but once he had, the Doctor was simply unable to save him. He used the situation to his advantage as best he could but he didn't intentionally get the guy killed.


And its seems to be clear that the Daleks don't know about the Twelve doctor. Or not his appearence anyway.

I do not object to the new Doctor's persona and I actually like it. My point of concern is they are going to pull the same shit that Tennant went through with his Timelord Victorious phase / angst about destroying Gallifrey.
Incidentally, has everyone forgotten that Gallifrey is literally in limbo and the Doctor does not seem to be making any effort to acknowledge his entire race is waiting for him to give them the message to come back ?

[Iroscato]

Incidentally, has everyone forgotten that Gallifrey is literally in limbo and the Doctor does not seem to be making any effort to acknowledge his entire race is waiting for him to give them the message to come back ?

Eh, I think the point is that they're safe where they are for now. Series arcs never get regularly addressed in DW, just a few mentions here and there until the finale. And I have a sneaky feeling this 'Missy' woman is somehow tied to the Time Lords.

[Parallax]

Back in the 7th Doctor novels, personifications of abstract concepts such as Time and Death would make infrequent appearances.
I am forced to wonder if Missy is actually some form of Death, that really is the afterlife and it's all to do with the overall "Am I a good man?" question.

Maybe it'll go something like:
Doctor: "Am I a good man?"
Missy: "I think you should ask them." *makes sweeping arm gesture to the gathered crowd, who have all died due to the Doctor.*

[FaxModem1]

So, what the hell is the Doctor's beef about Journey?

"Sorry, you can't go on a trip with me, because you enlisted in defending your species against a genocidal race of pepper pots, so I want to morally judge you for it and leave you here."

[PREDATOR490]

Back in the 7th Doctor novels, personifications of abstract concepts such as Time and Death would make infrequent appearances.
I am forced to wonder if Missy is actually some form of Death, that really is the afterlife and it's all to do with the overall "Am I a good man?" question.

Maybe it'll go something like:
Doctor: "Am I a good man?"
Missy: "I think you should ask them." *makes sweeping arm gesture to the gathered crowd, who have all died due to the Doctor.*

I really hope not because it is fantastically annoying having all these enemies / plots try to enlighten the audience the Doctor is not a good guy / does bad shit yada yada without actually following through. Be it Davros somehow thinking he has achieved a victory revealing how the Doctor turns his companions into soldiers of time, River Song going on about how he lies or doesn't like being hit with the truth and the numerous instances of enemies / allies etc. seeing him as dangerous.

I did find the bit with Journey at the end to be a bit heavy handed since his attitude seems really unjustified. The new Doctor is interesting but I don't see them taking on a companion that would potentially challenge the Doctor this early into the new regeneration. When Clara leaves....
Of course, the most hilarious companion would be to get Rusty in for a period but then who would the series pander to by having a human perspective.
We already torched the fanbase that watched because of the romance drama angle.