# Doctor Who 2024 (Starting May 11 on Disney+ and BBC One) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, disney-hulu\ **Created:** [May 6, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191 "2024-05-06T16:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [June 15, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/101 "2024-06-15T02:33:54Z")
A breakneck set up episode? Not much explained yet, and ten more questions created. Not crazy about the Tardis flying in like a spaceship coming in hot and the whole ep kept that speed. It felt rushed. I’m hoping that the final ep brings it home well. Hooded figure? The Doctor yet to happen? A god above Sutekh, who waits for Death-Rebirth? Ruby herself? Who contains that god? Mrs Flood?Granddaughter Susan? The Master? What happens when Mum Sunday gets home to Mrs Flood? Why did Susan have the “dreams” exactly? Ah well. Stay tuned? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/102 "2024-06-19T18:36:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, the big twist at the end was probably more of a gasp moment for people more familiar with the deep lore than me. (For me it was “who?” And off to Google.) > > A wiki link: > > [Sutekh | Tardis | Fandom](https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Sutekh) It was for me, certainly - I remember watching _Pyramids of Mars_ back on PBS in the '80s. Sutehk was a pretty badass villain, but not one that I would have thought had any staying power; not compared to the Daleks or Weeping Angels or the Fendahl. Still, I enjoyed the callback to a classic Tom Baker episode. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/103 "2024-06-20T12:37:32Z")
Thinking on it this is part of what I think is a mistake about it? The new series is positioned as an entry point for new fans, especially younger ones, to come on board. Having the arc, and the twist of the arc, _dependent_ on knowledge from the Baker era that even some of us who grew up watching do not remember well (looks in mirror) is risking losing those very fans they were trying to hook. For example if they do the twist I’ve read speculations about that the song in Ruby is River Song, who turns out is her mother, and The Doctor her dad, Mrs. Flood Susan, her daughter… well it is unfair as new fans don’t have those clues. I’d think it cute but I should not be the main target. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/104 "2024-06-20T12:56:19Z")
You certainly called that one! ---
**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:** [June 20, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/105 "2024-06-20T17:12:09Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Thinking on it this is part of what I think is a mistake about it? > > The new series is positioned as an entry point for new fans, especially younger ones, to come on board. Having the arc, and the twist of the arc, _dependent_ on knowledge from the Baker era that even some of us who grew up watching do not remember well (looks in mirror) is risking losing those very fans they were trying to hook. > > For example if they do the twist I’ve read speculations about that the song in Ruby is River Song, who turns out is her mother, and The Doctor her dad, Mrs. Flood Susan, her daughter… well it is unfair as new fans don’t have those clues. I’d think it cute but I should not be the main target An excellent point, but I don’t think they’ve done that. You don’t need to know anything about the classic series to understand Sutekh as the arc villain of the season - he’s clearly been presented as the Big Bad. That he was a villain in a Fourth Doctor episode is nothing more than an Easter egg for the OG Whovians. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/106 "2024-06-20T17:14:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > For example if they do the twist I’ve read speculations about that the song in Ruby is River Song, who turns out is her mother, and The Doctor her dad, Mrs. Flood Susan, her daughter… well it is unfair as new fans don’t have those clues. [I called that potential twist last Christmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-2023-episodes-spoilers-from-the-start/993650/41). ---
**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:** [June 21, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/107 "2024-06-21T03:14:17Z")
It does have lots of puns going for it, so you may turn out to have made a great call. Maybe even likely have? Again though, if that is the twist, I think it is a bad play. Even as I would enjoy seeing it. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/108 "2024-06-21T03:26:03Z")
They’ve already pulled something like that once. Remember, River Song=Melody Pond. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/109 "2024-06-22T00:35:17Z")
Definitely did not stick the landing. Oh well. Still more good than bad this season over all. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/110 "2024-06-22T00:49:11Z")
Ruby is going to be his companion next year, right? They backed out of firing her. She and some other lady(the actress from the landmine episode) are co-companions, I thought. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/111 "2024-06-22T02:53:44Z")
That actually didn’t make a lick of sense, did it? Like, “kid angry at dilithium” level resolution? ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/112 "2024-06-22T02:55:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ruby is going to be his companion next year, right? They backed out of firing her. Rule #1: The Doctor ('s producers) lie. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/113 "2024-06-22T12:32:42Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > That actually didn’t make a lick of sense, did it? Like, “kid angry at dilithium” level resolution? It made dilithium kid angry seem logical. It makes the moon bit seem logical. I never watched Lost but that comes to mind. Again some really good episodes and pleased with performances, but dang. It is really just giving us a fans a big eff you for wanting to figure things out. Sherlock alive with no explanation how was less contemptuous of us. Going forward we are best just ignoring trying to deduce any big arc. Nothing needs to fit together or make any internal sense. We just have to enjoy it as surreal. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/114 "2024-06-22T13:28:28Z")
Why did she bring snow with her to various places? ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/115 "2024-06-22T13:35:19Z")
Through the power of wondering who her mother is. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/116 "2024-06-22T14:24:30Z")
Seriously. Even _within_ the episode they threw out some special connection of her and the Tardis with stating with hammer to our heads that the lady at 72 yards was always just exactly outside the Tardis perception filter range, if she was the center of the Tardis’s range. Okay. There is a possibility that this tidy ending is a psych and the story of Ruby and all the whys of things will be returned to next series. But as of right now? I feel guilty having so strongly encouraged others to start watching Who again. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/117 "2024-06-22T15:14:23Z")
A smaller issue: Ruby got her name from a 15-year-old wearing an austere hooded poncho pointing ominously at a streetlamp while nobody was watching. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/118 "2024-06-23T14:34:05Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > A smaller issue: Ruby got her name from a 15-year-old wearing an austere hooded poncho pointing ominously at a streetlamp while nobody was watching. I was surprised at how much Davies wrote himself into a corner and didn’t have a way out. I read several behind the scenes articles when he first revived it, and he showed how he thought about things, researched them, and then made his choice. He was always going to lean toward drama for the show but at least it was a choice. I can’t argue it didn’t come together. When UNIT was lost to the dust, I was shocked since it included Rose and Kate, but maybe the actors were not going to be available. When it got Ruby’s mom, though, I knew it was going to be reversed. At that point it was a matter of how. It was also at that point that any sense of something was lost. Concern? anticipation? wonder? Waiting for the how to be revealed was part of the let down for me. It wasn’t all bad. I liked the nod to Pyramid of Mars. I liked bringing back a previous enemy rather than making a new one. I liked the new FX for him and how he might have looked if they could have done that back then. I’m also surprised and glad that they are setting up something for next season. Or whenever, I guess. I would also like it to return to a better schedule so we get more. Yes, more. I would rather have more than none. > [@DSeid](#): > > But as of right now? I feel guilty having so strongly encouraged others to start watching Who again. I still recommend the revival but I do say I like early stories better than later ones. I understand this. Thanks for the discussion! ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/119 "2024-06-23T14:58:13Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > I still recommend the revival but I do say I like early stories better than later ones. I understand this. I would still tell people to start with David Tennant and Matt Smith. I loved Peter Capaldi, but the writing began to tank during his run, especially near the end. Skip Jodie and I’d say go for it with our current Doctor. Weakish season, but not catastrophic. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191/120 "2024-06-23T16:16:56Z")
Oh I was in reference to this newest series only, speaking to two of my adult children who started with NuWho but fell off somewhere around Capaldi. Several of these episodes are peak Who in my estimation (YMMV), but the abject failure of the arc makes me feeling like I should qualify my encouraging them to pick it back up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-2024-starting-may-11-on-disney-and-bbc-one/1001191.md?page=7)