# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/141 "2017-05-19T06:36:03Z")
Oh, and a 5k hard drive added a noisy 5k (kilo-bytes, ffs) drive for the user. Babbitt bearings. You kids wonder how you are still alive. Okay, you don’t, but your betters don’t. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2017, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/142 "2017-05-19T07:40:25Z")
Well, sauced again. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/143 "2017-05-19T14:24:46Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Okay, you don’t, but your betters don’t. We don’t that our betters don’t because our betters don’t exist. They are don’t. They have don’t themselves and so we don’t them. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/144 "2017-05-19T15:49:08Z")
_heavy sigh_ It’s true, but I’ve come to accept it. Anyway, bored with Bill, but Nardole is a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/145 "2017-05-20T22:42:48Z")
Just watched the latest episode. I won’t say anything about it except that it’s _excellent!_ By far my favourite of the series. Funny, clever, disturbing, action-packed, and character driven all at the same time. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/146 "2017-05-21T03:16:48Z")
That was weird. I think I understand what happened, but more details may yet come to light. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/147 "2017-05-21T04:06:10Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > … may yet come to light. Heh. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/148 "2017-05-21T09:02:09Z")
I was pretty underwhelmed. Another Moffatt, full of portentous bluster that doesn’t stand close scrutiny and won’t be satisfactorily resolved. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/149 "2017-05-21T16:01:38Z")
Not sure what I think but “close scrutiny”? Not to any scrutiny at all. Individual AI agents in a program can’t have independent random number generation? Dumb. But still nice _stylistically_ and good to have Missy back in play. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/150 "2017-05-21T16:08:27Z")
A nice, but actually quite forgettable episode for me. The whole thing was an AI simulation, then? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/151 "2017-05-21T16:14:30Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Not sure what I think but “close scrutiny”? Not to any scrutiny at all. Individual AI agents in a program can’t have independent random number generation? Dumb. > > But still nice _stylistically_ and good to have Missy back in play. I liked it. But I have to admit, I did roll my eyes a bit at the random-number generation thing. I’m not a computer scientist, but I thought random numbers were generated based on some algorithm tied to the computer’s clock cycle (using the nanosecond as a seed or something) so every one would be different, even when generated by the same agent at different times. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/152 "2017-05-21T19:52:43Z")
I actually thought it was a nice way to signal that everything is a simulation—pretty much everybody knows ‘computers don’t do random numbers’, so it worked as a shorthand. Of course, treated literally, it doesn’t make sense, but then, neither do Matrix glitches. I thought it seemed a lot more streamlined, more to the point than many recent Moffat scripts; less just going with whatever first came to mind. And I thought the scene with the Pope interrupting Bill’s date was hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/153 "2017-05-22T00:40:02Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > And I thought the scene with the Pope interrupting Bill’s date was hysterical. Me too. That’s about as far up as I saw before getting interrupted. Hopefully I can finish it tonight. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/154 "2017-05-22T00:55:18Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I liked it. But I have to admit, I did roll my eyes a bit at the random-number generation thing. I’m not a computer scientist, but I thought random numbers were generated based on some algorithm tied to the computer’s clock cycle (using the nanosecond as a seed or something) so every one would be different, even when generated by the same agent at different times. They don’t, really. You can fool them by using the microseconds since booting as a seed, but if you manually input 1 as your seed you will get the same sequence. Those were lousy programmers. Based on my Lisa reference above I’m stuck in 1983. 😉 Matt Lucas continues to impress, but not Bill. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/155 "2017-05-22T01:29:07Z")
Of course, to make an accurate simulation of humanity would require already understanding it in extremely great detail, thus negating the need for a program in the first place, but there is little point to look for any depth or reason in an episode of Doctor “eye goop monsters” Who… ---
**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:** [May 22, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/156 "2017-05-22T02:11:57Z")
Right. Always the balance of how absurd the lack of reason with how good the characters and the story stylistically. Missy, Nardole, the date gone bad, and the overall feel I think were good enough to offset the idiocy portions. (The Tardis can’t translate Italian? the Doctor’s glasses can’t give him feedback on bodies in front of him? Simulating the intelligence and consciousness of the Doctor along with all of humanity?) Mostly Missy and Nardole. I can look past a lot with the way those characters are being played. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/157 "2017-05-22T03:24:50Z")
I think Moffatt’s Doctor has gone to the “look me up” well once too often when it comes to making threats. Dude, last week you were almost eaten by space woodlice at the behest of Young Ones Norman Bates, is that on his Fitbit too? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/158 "2017-05-22T03:25:40Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The Tardis can’t translate Italian? Not if the aliens didn’t know the TARDIS could. The episode would have been better if it was three separate episodes. 1. A neat-o story about an ancient text where people kill themselves after reading it. 2. How and why Missy is in the box and how she got to be there on planet We Kill Them For You and some history of how that all came about and some background on the planets story. 3. A set-up for Here-Comin’-The-Big-Bad-To-Murderate-The-Doctor-So-We-Can-Bring-In-A-New-Actor story. Over-all though I liked it. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/159 "2017-05-22T13:26:24Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > I actually thought it was a nice way to signal that everything is a simulation—pretty much everybody knows ‘computers don’t do random numbers’, so it worked as a shorthand. Of course, treated literally, it doesn’t make sense, but then, neither do Matrix glitches. I thought of a random number when the guy told Bill and Nardole to, and it was one of the ones that came up! (Cue Twilight Zone music…) :eek: ---
**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:** [May 22, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543/160 "2017-05-22T14:04:09Z")
[QUOTE=Drunky Smurf] A neat-o story about an ancient text where people kill themselves after reading it. [/QUOTE] Hey, now that I think about it, that part sounds like it was ripped off from the recent Hugo-winning novel Three Body Problem. The “everybody kills themselves” idea was silly then and it is silly now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-10-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/784543.md?page=9)