Early Access - Doctor Who | Reaction & Review 8x8 "Mummy on the Orient Express"
Added 2023-03-17 03:21:51 +0000 UTCComments
Doing this and then Flatline and then taking a break! I have a bit over a week before I really want to catch up with S9, so I'll pace myself now and maybe catch back up on the weekend. Mummy on the Orient Express! The continuity from the S5 finale is great, even if it obviously wasn't planned and doesn't even sound like the same trip. But I still like it and it's a great mini use of this show's time travel / the Doctor's immorality to make the world feel much bigger and more connected as well as fleshing out those time ideas mentioned. I love the timeskip approach. I can empathize with the viewpoint that it brushes over potential conflict and immediately jumps right back into "They made up off-screen" (though that's not the case, clearly). But it does involve another instance of a disappointment on your end, like when S6 seemed to promise a mini-arc of The Doctor and Rory working together to find Amy, only for the very next episode to start with them already having found her (and likewise with the trio trying to find River/Melody after that episode, but it's immediately revolved with the introduction (and exit) of the Mels character). And I didn't watch the full reaction this time around so it's possible I missed it, but I believe you were so thrown off by Clara travelling with the Doctor again that you didn't even comment on her outfit which was one I was sure would stunlock you! Another series might use this episode structure after the last one as a copout to not address the tension, where it's all sunshine and rainbows (and bunnies? and flowers? lollipops too, I guess) as the two characters realize over the course of the episode how much they love each other and need to travel and yay they're friends again! But this episode uses the opportunity to explore wonderfully contradictory emotions, and has them getting back together at the end clearly be a negative thing (which again, so well acted by both of them in the beginning and end of the episode which approaches the dynamic and all throughout the plot portion of it). I just love that it's not the cliche of them starting off mad at each other (or Clara mad at the Doctor in a conventional way) and then they realize they need to work together to save the world and now they love each other again, no it's much darker than that. I mentioned this moment already in my original comment when the reaction came out, but the toxic and self-centered way yet subtle way that Clara tries to get a reaction (validation?) out of the Doctor by mentioning over and over that it's their last time, and almost smugly (I think it's smug at least; despite me probably being the biggest Clara defender out there you seem to have a more favorable reading of her in that beginning scene whereas I think she's being awful) saying she couldn't bring herself to hate him -- I never get tired of it. And the Doctor doesn't take the bait at all, just apathetically asks if he can talk about the planets. They're both so petty and perfect for each other. Upon rewatching this, I do vaguely remember feeling this too but I'm pleasantly surprised by how much of this discussion was actually about Clara. I can go on and on about her character forever, but I suppose I always attribute her characterization in this episode so the surrounding episodes, and when I think of Mummy on the Orient Express I see it as a standalone episode that's a great outing for Capaldi's Doctor, as you mentioned he's very much stepping into the role of the Doctor (This and Flatline are when I feel like you can most "neutrally" see Twelve, but Twelve has such strong arc-based writing that I feel like it's a disservice to eliminate his peaks just because the situations are so circumstantial). But much like your Day of the Doctor discussion, there's a lot of unexpectedly interesting stuff to say about Clara here! Great stuff, and the power duo continues.
tom
2023-08-21 19:50:41 +0000 UTCYou might've noticed on rewatches, but during Elevens era, the night of Amy and Rory's wedding, just before the say "farewell" to their family. The Doctor tries to entice them to stay by saying a few things. i think what he says exactly is: "i get that its important, an egyptian goodess loose on The Orient Express... in space" Just more of Doctor Who's fantastic writing :))
Mikey Loftus
2023-03-25 13:15:19 +0000 UTCThis episode looks soo good! Jenna's hair and makeup too 👌
emmainkeri
2023-03-24 18:05:12 +0000 UTCI love Capaldi :') so much
Cornberry
2023-03-24 04:47:42 +0000 UTCThis is just a masterful episode. I agree with the you about the ‘I love you’ Clara says on the phone also relating to the doc. I think at the beginning of the episode when she is telling the doctor that she doesn’t hate him ‘hate is too strong of an emotion to waste on someone you don’t like’ what she actually couldn’t bring herself to say was that despite disliking him she still loves him. I definitely think Clara has become addicted to this lifestyle not so much just travelling around but the sense of importance and value from making big decisions, just as the doctor does. They are so alike in many ways and continue to become more alike as time passes.
Carys Barnes
2023-03-17 14:46:33 +0000 UTCHaven't watched yet but I love this episode. It's such a good standalone Doctor Who episode despite the character/emotional strings throughout. I want to say it's peak Capaldi, but it's more so it's a really good bechmark because it's a good outing for him as a Doctor. The callousness with him letting people die and the arrogance of "If I could see this thing, it would be over" but him being right. Also, I again love the Clara-Doctor stuff. The whole tone in the beginning of this episode and the choice to skip over them coming back together in some cheesy reunion is such a good decision and creates a really unique layered feeling. Clara constantly pressing on how it's their last time and toxicly talking about how happy she is and the Doctor being like "Can I talk about the planets now?" is so perfect lmao. I love how awful these two are
tom
2023-03-17 10:40:02 +0000 UTCFrank Skinner who plays Perkins is a MASSIVE fan of the show. He was actually watching classic who when he got the call offering him this part. He said the hardest part of filming this episode was his character saying no to travelling with the Doctor.
SeeJay
2023-03-17 05:21:00 +0000 UTCanother S8 favorite. yep, the entire Capaldi era looks beautiful! "Sometimes the only choices you have are bad ones. but you still have to choose" whew that one stayed with me awhile also. Thanks ♡
Belinda
2023-03-17 05:19:17 +0000 UTC
