# Doctor Who 2020 New Year Special (and current season)(Spoilers!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763 "2020-01-02T03:11:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/101 "2020-01-24T19:47:12Z")
Caught up on this season last night. During Orphan 55, did anyone else think that Bella was going to be all in Ryan’s head? We meet her right after Ryan starts hallucinating and she doesn’t interacting with any other characters until halfway through the ep. Not that I would want anyone to go rewatch it, but if you do, it honestly looks like the writers were going to go with that twist and then changed their mind. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/102 "2020-01-24T20:05:09Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > But the last ep? > > I can imagine some range in that one. Some greater irritation at Edison, both at his lack of actual inventiveness and at the unfairness at knowing that he becomes the one rich and remembered while Tesla dies penniless and largely forgotten. Something other than a continued hypomanic response … maybe something slowly measured, clearly controlling a reaction, to the Scorpion Queen’s flippant ask if The Doctor, wit the current destroyed Gallifry arc in place and just after seeing destroyed Earth, has ever seen a destroyed planet. Some depth of some sort, any sort, to the traditional giving a chance to leave peacefully and then knowing that they will now be destroyed stating that they will just be forgotten … disgust, anger, pity, _something_ other than the same fish-fingers-and-custard affect. > > I know she’s got the chops for it, so I blame the directing. I never saw _Broadchurch_, so I went to YouTube to watch clips of Whittaker in a dramatic role. Yes, she can do drama - Chibs _et al._ need to give her the chance. (Side note: I knew David Tennant was the lead in _Broadchurch_, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Arthur Darvill as an Anglican vicar. He’s very good at playing slightly awkward but fundamentally decent Englishmen.) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/103 "2020-01-26T22:41:44Z")
A lot happens in tonight’s episode. Like, A LOT. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/104 "2020-01-27T02:09:52Z")
Boy howdy! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/105 "2020-01-27T03:30:01Z")
Now that’s some Who! Several turns that were not the turns I was expecting and some broader range. I’m still not feeling the fam connection with the gang though. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/106 "2020-01-27T04:24:55Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > A lot happens in tonight’s episode. Like, A LOT. That was A LOT ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/107 "2020-01-27T09:21:13Z")
Yeah, that was a great episode. I don’t see previews, so every twist was a surprise to me. I especially liked it when Graham was taken high to a special island. (Though he seems a bit agey for an immortal.) ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/108 "2020-01-27T13:39:41Z")
The new episode was summed up well by my wife. “That was the best one of Jodie’s time and, I’m sorry to say, because the companions weren’t in it much.” I have to agree. Sadly. Even the ending didn’t really redeem it and I think they need to ditch two of them and give all companion lines to one. Again, it’s the writing, not the actors. I loved the appearance [spoilers]. I liked that they are hinting at bigger things. That part has been done well so I’m hopeful on how that reveal will happen. Obviously when a show goes as long as Doctor Who has, there are going to be ups and downs. I think Moffat had the best scenes and as a guest writer, was brilliant. I don’t think he did seasons and arcs very well. Chibnall seems all over the place. (I know he didn’t write everything but I’m still putting it on him.) A good scene there, a good episode there, but overall lower. At the moment, RTD seems the best for me. He kept adventures lower key, focused on the Doctor, and his companions were there to help, and it gelled well. > [@](#): > > Doctor Who has usually centered around the Doctor but not all eras have gone that route, starting in the late '70s. never mind that when Doctor Who first came out in 1963. it had an ensemble cast with the Doctor as the most important character, but not the “main” character. the Doctor got more and more prominent with time, in part because the audience fell in love with him. Yeah, here’s where I’m going to have to politely disagree. Even back in the 60s, it was said that the companions served the role of asking, “What is it, Doctor” so that the Doctor could show off his knowledge. If anything, having the ensemble cast was typical for SciFi of that era, and after having a non human main character, they didn’t want to change the established SciFi formula that much. I think Sarah Jane was the most popular companion of Original Who and the show never felt like it centered on her. Certainly not in the sense of the Ponds or Clara. Sarah Jane may have stumbled into something due to being a reporter but she always needed the Doctor to save her from the alien menace in his show. The best that could be said was that by the 70s and through the 80s, they were writing the companions better and still letting the Doctor figure it all out. Jo Grant was not the smartest companion but she knew it and it worked well to let Pertwee’s Doctor shine. Ace never tried to figure it out, just blow it up, and it worked well. At no time, though, could they have been center stage. > [@](#): > > I can imagine some range in that one. Some greater irritation at Edison, both at his lack of actual inventiveness and at the unfairness at knowing that he becomes the one rich and remembered while Tesla dies penniless and largely forgotten. Something other than a continued hypomanic response … maybe something slowly measured, clearly controlling a reaction, to the Scorpion Queen’s flippant ask if The Doctor, wit the current destroyed Gallifry arc in place and just after seeing destroyed Earth, has ever seen a destroyed planet. Some depth of some sort, any sort, to the traditional giving a chance to leave peacefully and then knowing that they will now be destroyed stating that they will just be forgotten … disgust, anger, pity, something other than the same fish-fingers-and-custard affect. > > I know she’s got the chops for it, so I blame the directing. I feel like they have dialed back any attempt at subtle. I don’t know why as all the actors could do it but the production is not pushing them at all. > [@](#): > > the master class in nonverbal acting that Alex Kingston and Peter Capaldi put on in the “Hello, sweetie” scene of “The Husbands of River Song”, for example). This. Oh, so much this! Well said! That was Capaldi’s best episode and he and Kingston nailed it. Obviously, still watching it and this gem was worth it! And the discussion here as I keep coming back for that, too! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/109 "2020-01-27T23:54:09Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > The new episode was summed up well by my wife. “That was the best one of Jodie’s time and, I’m sorry to say, because the companions weren’t in it much.” I have to agree. Sadly. Even the ending didn’t really redeem it and I think they need to ditch two of them and give all companion lines to one. Again, it’s the writing, not the actors. 100% agree and keep saying to my wife, “Kill two of the companions and let her travel with just one person.” I can’t help but think they feel Jodie Whittaker needs more people around her for some reason. I hate the triple companion situation. I could not believe Jack had ZERO scenes with The Doctor. Rip off!! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/110 "2020-01-28T12:28:45Z")
Yeah, in retrospect that whole bit with Jack was a bit strange. The set was actually extremely minimal. Jack never interacted with the actual Doctor. It’s like when they weren’t using the companions for the scenes with the Doctor and Ruth they shipped the companions out to a warehouse with a stage set, brought in Barrowman, and shot a few scenes for use later down the line. Really, until the very end those scenes really aren’t connected with what’s going on in the main storyline. I did enjoy those scenes, and his interaction with the companions. It was clearly to introduce something that will be addressed down the line. I think this episode is the best of the Whittaker era so far. Now, if they can just keep it up… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/111 "2020-01-28T12:47:33Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > I think Sarah Jane was the most popular companion of Original Who and the show never felt like it centered on her. Certainly not in the sense of the Ponds or Clara. Sarah Jane may have stumbled into something due to being a reporter but she always needed the Doctor to save her from the alien menace in his show. > > The best that could be said was that by the 70s and through the 80s, they were writing the companions better and still letting the Doctor figure it all out. Jo Grant was not the smartest companion but she knew it and it worked well to let Pertwee’s Doctor shine. Ace never tried to figure it out, just blow it up, and it worked well. At no time, though, could they have been center stage. The Brig had his moments. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/112 "2020-01-28T13:24:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > The Brig had his moments. Oh, absolutely! As did Benton and Mike! Not trying to take away from them. “Three rounds, rapid.” I think that the military had a more defined role and were used better than the traveling companions. It was obvious what they would say or do. It’s the “what is it, Doctor” that needed to be refined. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/113 "2020-01-28T14:47:43Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It’s like when they weren’t using the companions for the scenes with the Doctor and Ruth they shipped the companions out to a warehouse with a stage set, brought in Barrowman, and shot a few scenes for use later down the line. They probably did. At least it is a step up from _Orphan 55_–they could have met him completely off-screen and just told about it. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/114 "2020-01-28T15:51:14Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Oh, absolutely! As did Benton and Mike! Not trying to take away from them. > > “Three rounds, rapid.” “Chap with wings. Five rounds, rapid” "UNIT’s been very busy, Doctor. We’ve also got high-explosive rounds for Yeti’s and very efficient armour-piercing rounds for robots. And we’ve even got gold-tipped bullets for you know what. " ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/115 "2020-01-28T16:11:44Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Chibnall seems all over the place. (I know he didn’t write everything but I’m still putting it on him.) A good scene there, a good episode there, but overall lower. I was thinking the exact same thing while watching the opening credits. Even the new music seems to not have the same driving, building feeling of the older versions. It builds for a few beats then trips over itsself and looses all momentum. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/116 "2020-01-28T16:57:45Z")
Thoughts about Ruth… We know there are multiple universes. Maybe Ruth is a Doctor from one of them, possibly the one with the new Cybermen, which would tie in with Jack’s warning. Also, I prefer her to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, and agree with Ruth’s assessment of her outfit. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/117 "2020-01-28T17:24:25Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Thoughts about Ruth… > > We know there are multiple universes. Maybe Ruth is a Doctor from one of them, possibly the one with the new Cybermen, which would tie in with Jack’s warning. Also, I prefer her to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, and agree with Ruth’s assessment of her outfit. My thoughts: I think it’s all going to come back to the Master’s line about “nothing you see is real.” I don’t think either the new Doctor or the destruction of Gallifrey are going to end up being real (at least not in the current Doctor’s timeline). ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/118 "2020-01-28T19:47:48Z")
Another idea about Ruth… It’s interesting that she’s working as a tour guide. The Doctor sometimes seems like one to his companions, at least until the monster shows up. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/119 "2020-01-28T20:20:05Z")
God, I hope it doesn’t turn out that the Doctor and the Master are the same person. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763/120 "2020-01-28T20:48:19Z")
Is it bad I like the new Doctor better than Jodie Whittaker’s? It’s more a presence than any one things. Ruth-Doctor just felt like she was the smartest person in the room and is in charge, much like the Doctor often feels. Whittaker never feels this way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2020-new-year-special-and-current-season-spoilers/845763.md?page=7)