# Doctor Who Series 10 ongoing discussion (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543 "2017-04-16T03:38:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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:** [June 11, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/221 "2017-06-11T20:17:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This feels like an episode of the classic series. Show up on a planet, find aliens in cheap suits, maybe even some British people there. Centauri at the end was from The Curse of Peladon, a Pertwee story, and I’m pretty sure a couple of the soldiers quoted some UNIT lines. Very much a Third Doctor story. ---
**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 11, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/222 "2017-06-11T22:11:05Z")
Yes very old school and MOWish. Which places it as fairly average. Any idea why the Tardis took Nardole away? Possibly just for the plot advantage of not having the Victorians dealing with a fairly obviously alien him and as a way for the writers to get Missy out of the vault, but \*within story logic \*why? The Tardis seems like it decided to do that and therefore likely wanted Missy on board. Why would she want that? Okay … I’m likely overthinking it. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/223 "2017-06-12T00:18:54Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Very much a Third Doctor story. I think of “turning up on a planet and finding period British soldiers there” is a very Second Doctor story. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/224 "2017-06-12T02:32:05Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Any idea why the Tardis took Nardole away? Possibly just for the plot advantage of not having the Victorians dealing with a fairly obviously alien him and as a way for the writers to get Missy out of the vault, but \*within story logic \*why? The Tardis seems like it decided to do that and therefore likely wanted Missy on board. Why would she want that? > > Okay … I’m likely overthinking it. I don’t think so—in fact, I’m pretty sure that the rest of the story was basically window dressing, with the overall significant plot elements being the Tardis leaving or being remote controlled, and Missy getting out of the vault. Everything else was just Doctor Who by the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/225 "2017-06-12T02:46:49Z")
Seems to be a lot of ‘first contact with deadly species’ episodes this season. ---
**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 12, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/226 "2017-06-12T10:57:00Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Seems to be a lot of ‘first contact with deadly species’ episodes this season. But so far no new species who shuffle after you _en masse_ while synchronously repeating a short catch-phrase. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/227 "2017-06-12T10:58:32Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Centauri at the end was from The Curse of Peladon, a Pertwee story, and I’m pretty sure a couple of the soldiers quoted some UNIT lines. Very much a Third Doctor story. And that was the same actress voicing Centauri as voiced her in Peladon. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/228 "2017-06-12T11:32:11Z")
I recognised Centauri from the voice - before the picture came on - I expect that was the intended effect. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/229 "2017-06-12T12:03:43Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Yes very old school and MOWish. Which places it as fairly average. That’s what my husband said after we watched it. Could also explain why this season is very underwhelming, at least to me. There’s less flash, more talking, and stories touching on issues like colonialism with this last episode. That’s fine, but it’s not…I don’t know, this old school thing isn’t making me more of fan. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/230 "2017-06-12T12:15:16Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > And that was the same actress voicing Centauri as voiced her in Peladon. At age 92! Alpha Centauri is from a hermaphroditic species, and uses “it” rather than “he” or “she.” ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/231 "2017-06-12T13:36:22Z")
Some niggles bothering me: 1. There were a bunch of British soldiers there who didn’t pledge allegiance to the Empress yet didn’t get asked if maybe they’d like a lift back to Earth. Seems a bit rude. 2. With the TARDIS gone, what provides the auto-translate function for the Ice Queen and the Alpha Centauri eyeball? Besides dramatic necessity, I mean. I’m assuming the TARDIS’s auto-departure will be explained in due course. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/232 "2017-06-12T15:11:01Z")
I saw that one. There is no possible way for Mr. Gatiss to know this, but officers sentenced to death for desertion in 19th century armies, who escaped by luck ---- misfire or the rope breaking — were _never_ reappointed to high command. And what was with the little squit of a captain usurping his colonel’s place ? Few sergeants would automatically ditch their commanding officer because a junior officer got all emotional. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/233 "2017-06-12T16:32:01Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > And what was with the little squit of a captain usurping his colonel’s place ? Few sergeants would automatically ditch their commanding officer because a junior officer got all emotional. He accused the colonel of cowardice, and the colonel admitted it. If he’d put up a fuss, perhaps the command would have split (or he might have maintained it all and thrown the captain in the brig for mutiny). But he immediately caved (being a coward and all), so there was no reason for the lower ranks to rally around him. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/234 "2017-06-12T16:49:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Some niggles bothering me: > > 1. There were a bunch of British soldiers there who didn’t pledge allegiance to the Empress yet didn’t get asked if maybe they’d like a lift back to Earth. Seems a bit rude. > > 2. With the TARDIS gone, what provides the auto-translate function for the Ice Queen and the Alpha Centauri eyeball? Besides dramatic necessity, I mean. > > I’m assuming the TARDIS’s auto-departure will be explained in due course. What I am wondering about (in-universe explanation) is why Nardole immediately went to Missy for help? A few episodes ago, he was adamant that even if the Doctor wasn’t there, he’d make sure she stay imprisoned for her allotted 1000 years. But mere minutes after the TARDIS returned, without bothering to try anything on his own, he is down at the vault letting her out. That was particularly sloppy. Frankly, this entire season has been a low watermark of poor, indifferent writing IMO. There are plenty of good ideas in the episodes, but the stories just seem slapdash, like everybody on the production side realizes they are out the door after this season, so why bother trying? It’s a waste of some great onscreen talent – Capaldi and Mackie are a terrific combination. Even Nardole can be entertaining in the few instances that he’s actually given something to do besides cringe and whinge in the corner. This season reminds me a lot of the original series’ run in the mid-80s under JNT, where keeping costs as low as possible seemed to be the most urgent matter, trumping storyline and any type of dramatic tension to engage the viewer. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/235 "2017-06-12T16:52:42Z")
Military discipline does not allow independent thought or decision making by lower ranks. Just as well, cos soldiers just become gangs when they start to act for themselves. ---
**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 12, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/236 "2017-06-12T17:27:54Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > What I am wondering about (in-universe explanation) is why Nardole immediately went to Missy for help? Especially since he has–you know–a _ **time machine** _. He could have spent 20 years tinkering around with fixing himself and still went back to the moment he left. (Or the moment _before_ he left if he felt like it.) ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/237 "2017-06-12T21:23:43Z")
On the theme of it being a Third Doctor season, the Master being imprisoned and pretending to repent and reform was adequately covered in The Sea Devils, which was a terrific Pertwee story. And one of the things that era of Who did particularly well was depict the military as an actual military: old UNIT always managed to convince you that it was an organisation run by soliders who acted like soldiers. I suppose it was because a lot of the writers and actors in the early 70s would have at least done National Service, if not fought in WW2 or served in the Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/238 "2017-06-12T21:50:24Z")
How many times has UNIT been completely wiped out on the show? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/239 "2017-06-12T22:29:05Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > How many times has UNIT been completely wiped out on the show? Many? ---
**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:** [June 18, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/240 "2017-06-18T21:09:40Z")
Well, John Simm is back next week. Give us a kiss! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543.md?page=13)