Sunday, 12 May 2024

DOCTOR WHO - SPACE BABIES & THE DEVIL'S CHORD

 Yesterday evening, we watched the first two new episodes of Doctor Who: Series 14 on BBC iPlayer.

The first episode was called -
“Space Babies” – “Ruby learns the Doctor's amazing secrets when he takes her to the far future. There, they find a baby farm run by babies. But can they be saved from the terrifying bogeyman?”
This was not a bad start to the new series and Ncuti Gatwa does make a good impression as the new Doctor, and he is very enthusiastic in his role and also, he has certain moments where he is very sad and scared of things that are to come. Millie Gibson as his new companion Ruby Sunday was also very good, the two of them work well together and they gel perfectly. As it’s the first episode of a new series and also the first time it’s appearing on Disney+ we get the whole background of the Doctor in a condensed conversation between the two characters as he briefly explains his past and that he is the last of his people.
Plus being this show has also brought back Russel T. Davis, expect some silly shenanigans in the first episode including creepy looking talking babies, poo jokes, and snot, lots and lots of snot!
As with most of the Doctor’s companions, there is something not quite right with Ruby, who and what is she?
This was followed by the second episode –
“The Devil’s Chord” – “It’s 1963 and The Doctor and Ruby meet The Beatles but discover that the all-powerful Maestro is changing history. London becomes a battleground with the future of humanity at stake.”
This was an alright episode with an interesting yet hopefully a one off villain in the OTT Maestro played by something called a Jinx Monsoon, some sort of drag artist that looks like Matt Lucas in a wig.
He or whatever was very much annoying, and I won’t spoil who they are related too as it is an interesting twist of what’s to come.
It appears that magic and the supernatural now exists in the world of Who and that now opens so many possibilities for the show. The Beatles don’t really look like the real ones in our reality, and they don’t play any of their songs due to copyright and it would cost the BBC a lot of money to pay the Beatles estate.
There were some nice nods to the first doctor and his granddaughter Susan, is she still alive? The Dynamic Duo notice that there was something wrong with the TARDIS as well in this episode, but what is it?
The episode ends in a dance and musical number that reminds me of a scene from Austin Powers, when you see it, you will understand.
Now the two episodes like the Christmas special all break the fourth wall with a nod, a wink to the audience and also acknowledging that other realties exist and that there are Gods out there that the Doctor is really scared off and wants to run away from.
Ncuti is so far making a great Doctor and I love the fact that he has his moments of serenity and calmness as he gazes off into the distance, always thinking and then BAM! Straight into manic energy and running around like a mad man.
He does often do the whole “black man” clicking of the fingers that I find annoying and the sucking a toffee with his lips gesture.
This is so far better then the Jodie Whittker’s era of Doctor Who, which is not hard to do as she was rubbish.
I will rate these two episodes a score of 7/10.


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