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Fugitive of the Judoon
When I reviewed Spyfall I said I had enjoyed it very much but wasn't convinced the story I enjoyed was actually the one transmitted. There was lots about Fugitive of the Judoon that I enjoyed but I'm not sure I'd even describe the scaffolding it hung off as a story - I mean yes, there was a beginning, a middle and an end but the beats didn't really fall where you would expect and frankly most of what was happening here was clearly middle of a different story altogether.
I don't think I'm going to dignify the ostensible story further. I mean it served its purpose. Instead let's talk about the funky stuff.
1. Captain Jack. I love Captain Jack in Doctor Who, though I never much took to him in Torchwood. I'd seen all the BBC hints that someone was returning but it had honestly never crossed my mind that it would be Jack. Given I'd seriously considered Martha a possibility, I'm not sure why it hadn't. So I was very happy to see him here and then, progressively, well is this it? as I realised that his entire purpose was apparently to get the Fam out of the way (much as they were shuffled to one side in Spyfall part 2). Loved his scene with Graham, was getting a bit fidgety during the scene where Ryan and Yaz turn up, and after that I was just desperately hoping we were going to get something more. I'm still hoping we will see more, though showrunner pronouncements are not encouraging.
2. The reveal of the Ruth Doctor was up there with the reveal of the Jacobi Master, but followed up by some really interesting character work. The fact the we don't know this Doctor threw into sharp relief how readily we believe that the Doctor might be considerably more nastier than we've often seen and, in fact, that the Doctor really doesn't trust herself at all. But, actually, both Doctors were fundamentally trustworthy. I liked the little scene with the Fam at the end - even though its message was that it didn't matter to them what the Doctor had been or might become but that they trusted her now. But there was definitely some interesting stuff going on here around the changeability or otherwise of the Doctor's character and the extent to which some good core can be presumed: Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin both doing sterling work. And then, of course, there are the theories about where the Ruth Doctor might fit
a) Pre-Hartnell which many are ruling out because the Tardis is shaped like a police box - but let's face it the time that would have been wasted explaining why her Tardis wasn't a police box probably wasn't worth it.
b) Season 6B (i.e. between Troughton and Pertwee). I like this theory best, if only because there is a plausible space there and a space in which Time Lords can be presumed to be meddling. People have also pointed out that her Tardis is distinctly sixties-ish though this is probably because they are re-using their pre-existing set of a 1960s Tardis interior.
c) The Valeyard. The Valeyard was never a good idea, but maybe it can be rescued. She didn't seem very Valeyard-ish though.
I love her Tardis. Best Tardis interior of NuWho.
3. The Lone Cybermen. *pffft* sounds cool we shall wait and see.
Given series 11 was supposed to be old monster free in order to welcome in new viewers, series 12 is a bit of a whiplash change of direction. I can't help wondering what casual viewers who were drawn into the show by series 11 made of Fugitive of the Judoon - it relies on a lot more than just a knowledge of series 11 and a bit of cultural osmosis to follow, or at least to really derive enjoyment from, I would have thought.
I don't think I'm going to dignify the ostensible story further. I mean it served its purpose. Instead let's talk about the funky stuff.
1. Captain Jack. I love Captain Jack in Doctor Who, though I never much took to him in Torchwood. I'd seen all the BBC hints that someone was returning but it had honestly never crossed my mind that it would be Jack. Given I'd seriously considered Martha a possibility, I'm not sure why it hadn't. So I was very happy to see him here and then, progressively, well is this it? as I realised that his entire purpose was apparently to get the Fam out of the way (much as they were shuffled to one side in Spyfall part 2). Loved his scene with Graham, was getting a bit fidgety during the scene where Ryan and Yaz turn up, and after that I was just desperately hoping we were going to get something more. I'm still hoping we will see more, though showrunner pronouncements are not encouraging.
2. The reveal of the Ruth Doctor was up there with the reveal of the Jacobi Master, but followed up by some really interesting character work. The fact the we don't know this Doctor threw into sharp relief how readily we believe that the Doctor might be considerably more nastier than we've often seen and, in fact, that the Doctor really doesn't trust herself at all. But, actually, both Doctors were fundamentally trustworthy. I liked the little scene with the Fam at the end - even though its message was that it didn't matter to them what the Doctor had been or might become but that they trusted her now. But there was definitely some interesting stuff going on here around the changeability or otherwise of the Doctor's character and the extent to which some good core can be presumed: Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin both doing sterling work. And then, of course, there are the theories about where the Ruth Doctor might fit
a) Pre-Hartnell which many are ruling out because the Tardis is shaped like a police box - but let's face it the time that would have been wasted explaining why her Tardis wasn't a police box probably wasn't worth it.
b) Season 6B (i.e. between Troughton and Pertwee). I like this theory best, if only because there is a plausible space there and a space in which Time Lords can be presumed to be meddling. People have also pointed out that her Tardis is distinctly sixties-ish though this is probably because they are re-using their pre-existing set of a 1960s Tardis interior.
c) The Valeyard. The Valeyard was never a good idea, but maybe it can be rescued. She didn't seem very Valeyard-ish though.
I love her Tardis. Best Tardis interior of NuWho.
3. The Lone Cybermen. *pffft* sounds cool we shall wait and see.
Given series 11 was supposed to be old monster free in order to welcome in new viewers, series 12 is a bit of a whiplash change of direction. I can't help wondering what casual viewers who were drawn into the show by series 11 made of Fugitive of the Judoon - it relies on a lot more than just a knowledge of series 11 and a bit of cultural osmosis to follow, or at least to really derive enjoyment from, I would have thought.
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And, you know, I hardly watch enough modern telly to have good instincts about where the storytelling through-line in one particular show is likely to be heading.
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However, an alternate timeline arc story would certainly resolve the "what Gallifrey has got itself destroyed again?" story in a neat way and could tie in to the ending of Orphan 55 in a satisfying way too.
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I've always had mixed feelings about Captain Jack. He's hard to dislike because John Barrowman is so fundamentally likeable, but I feel I like the actor, not his character. I didn't have strong feelings about his appearance here one way or the other and wouldn't object to a more significant return appearance.
I am still trying to puzzle out why I'm not liking this series. On paper, most of it should be ticking my boxes, but somehow I haven't really enjoyed any of it, at all. I thought I'd stopped being a hater, but maybe it turns out that I just like new Who when it's showrun by Steven Moffat, or even that my autistic fear of the new stops me enjoying a lot of Who until a second or third (or later) viewing, although that doesn't explain why I liked some new Who episodes straight off. I did come to enjoy pretty many new Who episodes on repeat viewing more than first time around, so maybe there is something in that, and I should just sit through this series without sharing my views, then buy the DVD later in the year and try to watch with a fresh eye.
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maybe... I should just sit through this series without sharing my views
I guess that depends upon the purpose of sharing. Expressing views promotes interaction and discussion and, if you think your opinions may change, could serve as a potential record of interest.
I do think there is a difference between reviewers who give the impression that it is somehow a personal flaw to like something they dislike, as opposed to reviewers who seem much better able to express that they personally didn't like something and to express why without it coming across as an attempt to spoil the enjoyment of someone who did. It's a difficult line to tread though, since there is an art in producing a good ranting piece of invective and you really can't do that without implying there is something objective about your opinion - though I think things can also be objectively bad and enjoyable, in fact I think quite a bit of Fugitive of the Judoon is objectively bad but I can also see why lots of people love it anyway. I think that would be my concern if I really wasn't enjoying a series of Doctor Who at all but continuing to review - that my reviews would just become this source of negativity that made all the readers unhappy.
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Yes, I feel in the past there have been times when I've been too negative. I was deliberately not reviewing this series on transmission, even before I felt I didn't like it, because I think my immediate reactions are generally a bad guide to what I feel about an episode on reflection. So reviewing when I get the DVD (if at all) would probably be the best approach for now.
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I love your comment about liking stuff. I justify my Emmerdale obsession by the fact that if you stick it out long enough, you realise that a lot of the time the writers are really good within that universe.
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Interesting analysis, Louise, I think I'm in broad agreement with all of this but as this comment is on my phone, long discourse isn't going to happen. I looked the fact that Jack was very Jack and I'm told the are elements of the press bothered that he kissed a bloke. They clearly don't know Jack!
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Like last time still not convinced the eps would stand up to re-watching after knowing the twists.
I do like Ruth Dr and I am hoping for an explanation. Series 6B would be a good explanation and I think her clothing would flow well onto Three? Being pre-Hartnell is a little confusing: she left and went 'Oops I left someone behind?' regenerated and nipped back?
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