# Doctor Who Season Season 11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620 "2018-10-07T18:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![aa6vh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@aa6vh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aa6vh)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/81 "2018-10-11T19:56:01Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Screwdriver question, brought up by rewatching “Day of the Doctor”. > > So, apparently the 13 Doctors have all been using the same sonic, in a Theseus’ ship sense. > > However, the new Doctor built hers brand-new. So, I think this means they have written out using the “the sonic has been calculating a solution for centuries” dodge, right? Which is good thing, IMO. The new doctor is later in the timeline. Remember that the calculations were completed by the Matt Smith era. Peter and Jodie come much later. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/82 "2018-10-11T20:10:58Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > They’ve had the actual unit get lost, stolen, or destroyed before and the Doctor just turns up with another one later. I think the data on the device the Doctor carries gets backed up to some central store on the TARDIS, so they all have continuity even if a particular one has to be replaced. Not all the classic Doctors even had the sonic screwdriver. The First Doctor never did–it debuted about halfway through the Second Doctor’s time, in the story _Fury From the Deep_. The Third and Fourth Doctors used it a lot. The assumption was always that it was the same device, even though its appearance did change over the years. It was destroyed in the Fifth Doctor story _The Visitation_, specifically to prevent the Doctor from having a “magic wand” that could solve any story problem. There was no suggestion that he could get a new one–indeed, he said, “I feel like I’ve lost an old friend,” and it never appeared again in the original series. NuWho brought it back, and added the notion that every Doctor gets a new version, and that there are spare ones lying around that the Doctor can pass out to other people. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/83 "2018-10-12T14:48:42Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > FWIW I heard the knife line as _a joke_, a riff on what other Doctors had said about guns modified ad absurdium given the clear general utility of knives, how much the sonic has been used as an all purpose weapon, and the locale of the episode. YMMV. I didn’t take it as a joke at all, unless they’re mocking the knife bans in UK. If they _aren’t_ mocking the knife bans in the UK, then I’d see it as support that only miscreants carry knives. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/84 "2018-10-12T16:31:41Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I didn’t take it as a joke at all, unless they’re mocking the knife bans in UK. If they _aren’t_ mocking the knife bans in the UK, then I’d see it as support that only miscreants carry knives. Your humor mileage may vary. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/85 "2018-10-12T17:17:25Z")
The Doctor has a habit of being dismissive when in a hurry. I wouldn’t read anything more into the statement other than “I don’t need a knife right now - stop bothering me until I’m done with my current task.” ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/86 "2018-10-12T23:35:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not impressed that Chris Chibnall rehashed the Predator story. Couldn’t he have been more original with his first new season script? > > Jodie Whittaker did a nice job. Reminds me of David Tennant’s doctor. > > It’ll be interesting to see how the season goes. [You’ve changed your tune; I suppose that’s a good thing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20349442&postcount=80) It’s certainly an improvement on: > [@](#): > > This has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen on TV. > > Let’s make a new movie about the Civil War. We’ll cast a woman in ole Abe Lincoln’s role. Maybe we can cast Minnie Driver as George Washington in the next Revolutionary War movie. > > It’s the BBC’s show they can ruin it however they want. I’m done. > > It’s the same thing I’ve seen with some of the classic comic book characters. I wish they had been retired instead of distorting them into something unrecognizable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/87 "2018-10-12T23:49:01Z")
I’m giving Chris Chibnall the new head writer and Jodie a chance. It’s natural to be curious about the direction Chris will take. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/88 "2018-10-13T14:27:57Z")
Nobody has yet said “It’s bigger on the inside!”, correct? So which companion do you think will say it? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/89 "2018-10-13T15:23:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m giving Chris Chibnall the new head writer and Jodie a chance. > > It’s natural to be curious about the direction Chris will take. Seriously, kudos for being able to get over your initial … rigidity … and approaching the new series with a more open mind. I think there are many like you. The show will maintain, grow, or lose its viewership based on how well Whittaker creates and inhabits a Doctor that is different enough while being the same enough and most of all interesting/fun enough, and how well Chinball runs a show that hits all the notes that Who has to hit. If they do that viewers like you will keep watching and more will join. If not? Oh well. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/90 "2018-10-13T15:38:38Z")
Spoiler for the setting of an upcoming episode: The third episode is apparently called “Rosa” and is set in 1950’s Alabama. Intriguing… ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/91 "2018-10-13T16:37:37Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Nobody has yet said “It’s bigger on the inside!”, correct? > So which companion do you think will say it? Well, nobody has seen the Tardis yet … My bet? Graham suggesting “It’s a bit smaller than I was expecting.” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/92 "2018-10-13T19:09:54Z")
So - watched the episode with ‘Grumpy Old Man Mode’ switched off - I still don’t see the line “only idiots need a knife” as a joke - but I’m willing to let it slide - and I’m hoping that the line comes back later to bite when she suddenly finds she, in fact, needs a knife for a particular situation. Lets face it - second only to a towel, a knife is one of the must useful tools to have around. There’s even a rule about always carrying one. Beyond that - I thought the episode was enjoyable - I thought much like when #9 showed up, that it was a good intro for new viewers and alot of things for existing fans. I was very fond of her predecessor and am very curious as to where she takes the role. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/93 "2018-10-13T20:46:29Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Nobody has yet said “It’s bigger on the inside!”, correct? > So which companion do you think will say it? > [@bonzer](#): > > Well, nobody has seen the Tardis yet … > > My bet? Graham suggesting “It’s a bit smaller than I was expecting.” Maybe the Doctor herself will say it. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/94 "2018-10-14T22:11:45Z")
[Here is the new title sequence if you are curious.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lUz0xU5d9g) ---
**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:** [October 15, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/95 "2018-10-15T02:23:16Z")
Ah, a forgettable episode. I feel bad for the new Doctor. She’s had two episodes, does her best, but honestly, this is just the same forgettable crap we’ve been given the past couple years. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/96 "2018-10-15T02:36:09Z")
What was in the drawer that the Doctor ate at the end? I assume that it was a callback to something, but it wasn’t a jelly baby or a fishstick. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/97 "2018-10-15T03:25:27Z")
A custard cream biscuit. Not a callback, just a quirky thing, apparently specially added for Jodie. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/98 "2018-10-15T04:35:35Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > I liked Jodie although I do agree, we used CC a few times. I’m sure it will grow on me. :Looks at poster’s name: Well, it’s reassuring that you approve. > [@vislor](#): > > So, my usually nitpicky quibbles but I enjoyed it and wanted the next one right away! Same, really. I really liked the setting of the first episode. > [@DSeid](#): > > Here’s a question. What are the _essential_ traits that every Doctor must have in order to be the Doctor? And how well does this Doctor inhabit these traits? Sort of a heroic super-nerd, brains over brawn, a tiny bit of a teacher, but also a bit too full of himself; and of course, “never cowardly nor cruel.” The second episode reminds me a bit of some of the weird Eleven episodes, and one of the Nine episodes, if less bleak. It was a bit stressful to watch, but by the end I figured the ship would \*have \*to show up. It wasn’t as much fun as running around Sheffield, but I liked the three guest actors well enough. It sounds like the blue jerks from the previous episode are going to be a _thing_ this year. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/99 "2018-10-15T11:16:10Z")
Remember, kids - guns bad, exploding gas fields good. I enjoyed the second episode, with a few grumpy misgivings. I’m always slightly annoyed when an alien race we’ve never heard of before suddenly becomes a ubiquitous Big Bad; I know you can’t plan too far ahead on these things but it always feels abrupt. And then they go away suddenly (I mean, who cares about the Silence now?). And we’ve got yet another Mystery From The Doctor’s Past and’or catchphrase/nickname (“Timeless Child”) that random alien beings taunt the Doctor about. After, what, two millennia of life you’d have thought all these things would have been revealed by now. That said, it was an otherwise enjoyable and action-packed episode. The “Call of Duty” sequence was hilarious, the scenery was nice and we got sufficient tragic backstories for the other characters to make them relatable. The new TARDIS is…new, but I suppose it will grow on me. And you can’t beat a custard cream dispenser. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620/100 "2018-10-15T12:06:33Z")
Far too much sonic screwdriver! And as for the new TARDIS As a first impression, I didn’t like how it looked like the police box was only a vestibule they went though to reach the main space. It would have been better if they didn’t have ‘Police Box’ in bright lights to indicate the way out again. IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-season-11/822620.md?page=6)