# Doctor Who Series 9 discussion (spoilers as it airs) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754 "2015-09-19T11:40:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/221 "2015-10-02T21:36:43Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > It’s going to be set in the [Coal Hill School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Hill_School). That’s got quite a history in Who, but the history of Who spin-offs is mixed, at best. We’ll see. My first thought was “Teen Who,” and that it would be a disaster. Then again, I didn’t think the _Sarah Jane Adventures_ would make it, and it was apparently pretty successful, all the way up to Liz Sladen’s unfortunate demise. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/222 "2015-10-03T15:22:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I thought it would turn out that he did that to get Missy to show up… except in the end, it really didn’t matter that Missy and Clara were there at all. The only real purpose they played was to give the audience an explanation of how a Dalek sewer works. The Doctor was stuck getting drained until Missy showed up, so there was that part of saving him. ---
**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 4, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/223 "2015-10-04T01:09:56Z")
Hardly an episode that screams “2 parter”, but I guess that is fine. It was OK. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/224 "2015-10-04T02:10:35Z")
They had too much story to tell in 45 minutes, but maybe not a whole 90, so we’ll probably see some filler nonsense next week ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/225 "2015-10-04T04:23:57Z")
I’ve been noticing that from time to time the writers emphasizing the Doctor being alien. They did that a little with the sixth doctor too. I kind of like it when they do that, but only sparingly. Being from a different culture and upbringing can cause him, from time to time, to act differently than most humans would in certain situations, even though he’s been around humans (mostly from the UK) for a very long time. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2015, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/226 "2015-10-04T10:06:17Z")
I dunno. To me, it just feels like Moffat’s trying to write another high-functioning sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/227 "2015-10-04T15:32:08Z")
It did bug me a bit that in the previous episode, one of our main themes is compassion – he manages to feel sorry for DAVROS, of all people… …and then in THIS episode, it almost seems like he’s encouraging people to put themselves in danger simply to satisfy his curiosity? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/228 "2015-10-04T15:55:04Z")
After three episodes, I’m very happy with this season. Capaldi seems to have hit his stride as the Doctor. There’s a lot of One and Four in him. Curious and cold and a little mad. It’s an interesting departure from Matt Smith who was channeling Two. The two-part structure of the episodes is great. It gives the stories room to breathe. Minor characters have time to develop, plot twists get set up properly, mysteries actually feel mysterious. They’re letting Clara be a normal companion instead of Impossible Girl Emo McGuffin. Missy is the best take on The Master since Roger Delgado. She’s fascinating to watch and SMART instead of just crazy. I really hope they’re building toward the Time Lords being back in the picture. The Doctor needs stuffy pompous authority figures to push against and you don’t get more stuffy and pompous than the Time Lords. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/229 "2015-10-04T20:22:10Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Capaldi seems to have hit his stride as the Doctor. There’s a lot of One and Four in him. Curious and cold and a little mad. It’s an interesting departure from Matt Smith who was channeling Two. I was thinking that Capaldi is channeling three and six. Three because of his scientific curiosity and six because of his occasional inability to relate to people and having a slightly more alien feel to him. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/230 "2015-10-04T20:26:45Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I dunno. To me, it just feels like Moffat’s trying to write another high-functioning sociopath. I don’t think so. If the Doctor was a sociopath he wouldn’t keep trying to save people. If anything, he’s closest to the trope of being cold on the outside with a heart of gold on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/231 "2015-10-04T21:14:39Z")
My fanwank is that for his last three regeneration, when he thought Gallifrey was destroyed, he was subconsciously trying to “pass for human”, since Earth was the only home he had left. Regenerating progressively more and more into the young, charismatic, silly boy that humans will accept. Now that he knows Gallifrey is still around and he has the hope of going home, he’s reveling in his time-lord-ness – regenerating into a crotchety old man as is becoming of a time lord, and no longer caring so much about human niceties. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/232 "2015-10-04T21:26:37Z")
I rewatched Witch’s Apprentice - I am so looking forward to finding out what Missy’s very clever idea is. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/233 "2015-10-04T21:33:42Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > My fanwank is that for his last three regeneration, when he thought Gallifrey was destroyed, he was subconsciously trying to “pass for human”, since Earth was the only home he had left. Regenerating progressively more and more into the young, charismatic, silly boy that humans will accept. > > Now that he knows Gallifrey is still around and he has the hope of going home, he’s reveling in his time-lord-ness – regenerating into a crotchety old man as is becoming of a time lord, and no longer caring so much about human niceties. That’s pretty good. Although I think you’re giving Moffat too much credit. > [@anyrose](#): > > I rewatched Witch’s Apprentice - I am so looking forward to finding out what Missy’s very clever idea is. I just assumed she figured out a way to escape. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/234 "2015-10-04T21:48:09Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > That’s pretty good. Although I think you’re giving Moffat too much credit. Rule one: Moffat lies Rule two: Never underestimate Moffat ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/235 "2015-10-04T21:56:12Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I rewatched Witch’s Apprentice - I am so looking forward to finding out what Missy’s very clever idea is. Set you even odds we never find out. Missy’ll just pop up again with no explanation whatsoever. And maybe even lampshade it with “I escaped due to a very clever idea I had, that’s how.” ---
**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 6, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/236 "2015-10-06T02:06:58Z")
A lot closer to Classic Who than we’ve had for a while; if it were Tom Baker or Peter Davison, I’d be suspecting Sea Devils or Zygons. Actually let’s go with Zygons, they had a thing for lochs. The Ghosts were authentically creepy, though, and I like the stories where the entire Space/Time Continuum or the fate of the Doctor isn’t at stake. I like how Capaldi has settled into the character a lot, though: not as outwardly abrasive as the last season, but still happily sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/237 "2015-10-06T02:43:30Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > Set you even odds we never find out. Missy’ll just pop up again with no explanation whatsoever. And maybe even lampshade it with “I escaped due to a very clever idea I had, that’s how.” I’m pretty sure her clever idea wasn’t, “How can we get off this planet,” and was more along the lines of, “I just thought of a way I can use these Daleks to try to murder my best friend again.” Her plan will be the big threat that the rest of the season is building up to. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/238 "2015-10-06T14:59:05Z")
You’d think the Master, of all people, would know better than to try allying with Daleks. Particularly considering what happened in the season opener… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/239 "2015-10-06T16:59:28Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > You’d think the Master, of all people, would know better than to try allying with Daleks. Particularly considering what happened in the season opener… Well, that’s why the idea has to be _very_ clever. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754/240 "2015-10-06T17:09:17Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > A lot closer to Classic Who than we’ve had for a while; if it were Tom Baker or Peter Davison, I’d be suspecting Sea Devils or Zygons. Actually let’s go with Zygons, they had a thing for lochs. The Ghosts were authentically creepy, though, and I like the stories where the entire Space/Time Continuum or the fate of the Doctor isn’t at stake. The wham shot at the end of the episode would seem to suggest that the fate of the Doctor is at stake – I’m guessing that: it’s another hologram ploy like the trick used to get the Ghosts into the Faraday cage [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-9-discussion-spoilers-as-it-airs/731754.md?page=13)