I enjoyed the Robot of Sherwood.

I know that the time travel thing means that neither came first and they both have to exist together - but what do you feel came first, Clara telling the young Doctor the fear story, or the Doctor telling Clara the fear story (which is what made her tell it to him in the first place)?  My instinct tells me that it comes from the Doctor.  It feels more like his words. 

Of course, the Doctor doesn't remember the dream as an adult, but I think it's touching that by comforting Rupert he ends up giving that message to himself as a child.  And as John Hurt, of course.

How much is he moulding himself and how much is Clara, the teacher, moulding him? Maybe that's the answer - as the companions are temporary and the Doctor is constant, I prefer to think that the fear story comes from him, and Clara is the messenger. 

Sorry if that's not making sense to anyone.  Time travel always ends up confusing me!

Last edited by Liberty (September 18, 2014 6:52 am)

I suppose it's watched so much by adults now ... but it does seem a shame that it will be too late for most children.   It's nice to have a family show like that that everybody can watch together.   I used to really look forward to it as a child, and again watching it as a parent.   I suppose everybody just watches it on iplayer now. 

That's an interesting question.  The original episodes really were scary for children, didn't feel dumbed down and were entertaining enough for adults to make it a family show, rather than just a children's show.   I'm saying that from memory, though.   But those are the episodes that Moftiss would have grown up with, and what influenced them.  As a child, I was less interested in the plot than the feel of the episodes.  But I do get the feeling that the current episodes are less straightforward than the old ones.   There are so many parts that make you think, but don't give you any clear answers.   I'm loving that in Sherlock, but could it be frustrating for a child?  Not a younger child who will just relax and enjoy it, but an older child who will question it?  

However, children really do enjoy it, and I think it can be fun for children to watch something that's a little bit challenging for them.  It's such a shame if it's no longer for them .... especially if you see Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi talking about it and showing their huge enthusiasm for the series' as children.  It was so exciting getting ready to watch it and hearing that opening music!
 

Well, in the UK most seasons seem to be rated 12 when you buy them on DVD, which I totally understand. But it seems to me that when DW airs on TV, children of five or six years do watch it, too. And yes, the parents probably are watching it with them, but in my opinion a lot of the episodes aren't really suitable for children that young.

See I only remember the old ones as a child...so I don't know.
But I do think the modern ones certainly work on more than one level.

Liberty wrote:

Fantastic episode last night - another of my favourites!    The writer, Jamie Matheson, did a great  AMA on Reddit after the show.  

That's cool, hadn't seen his… thanks!  Also neat to hear the tough back-and-forth that is being a tv writer, especially with him starting much more complicated, and how great Steven was at making him simplify (you do only have 45 minutes, after all), and slowly making his way up to a show like DW.  Absolutely wonderful, tight, quick-moving episode, with the usual twists and several awesome references.
That said…

Loved the change of scene (finally, space again! and on a historically classic/themed train, no less!)  Loved all the episode/past Doctor references (did you get them?  ).  Loved keeping it creative, what with being in an enclosed hard-to-hide-in space, of only the victim being able to see the monster.  Usual good show on Capaldi's part of the intellectual/harsher Doctor.

Only wasn't so crazy about a story quirk some episode's structure falls into, with letting the viewer have very little ideas to figure how the problem was going to be 'solved', then wham, all of the sudden the hero has an epiphany of just the right info, somehow, near the end, and it's all over.  Granted, kind of cool in a twisted way to come up with the 'evil computer assembling a monster-fixing team'.  Don't suppose those who died went to "Heaven"…..   

And after last episode's emotional weight (we didn't really discuss Kill The Moon's twistiness with that, did we?) it was also a little bit of whiplash to have Clara (understandably, I felt) take a breather to come to terms with things, then want a last moment to end things with.  And is promptly nudged by very truthful comments from Maisie/Doctor about why she really jumped back in the TARDIS, get disturbed by the Doctor's harshness again, realize oh yeah, he really does care, he's just harsh about it, then giggle and go 'oh, sorry about that, I just had an emotion, no need to discuss things, let's go see more!'   Anyone else feel that was awfully quick?  And right after talking otherwise with Danny!  And almost like they're doing a bit of a rollercoaster with her as a point about how it affects the life of those who follow the Doctor, and leading up to a definite 'goodbye' when something worse forces her to choose again?

Last edited by Russell (October 13, 2014 6:07 am)

I thought this was a really strong episode. Tightly written, genuinely scary. My only rub was I didn't think Frank Skinner was particularly good in his part. Somethng about his delivery of lines at times mae it seem as if he was acting, which of course he was, but I don't want to ever feel that.

Loved this episode.  I think this season started off rocky, but it's been gaining steam this last half and is really coming together.

Whisky wrote:

Finally started watching Dr. Who, and thanks to your suggestions I apparently started with the right kind of episodes, because I liked it. Never thought it would scare me so much, though :D Had nightmares from one episode, that's really embarassing :D

It's not embarrassing at all...some episodes are really scary.  Any episode with the Weeping Angels freaks me out.  Glad you are enjoying it!