WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 9x8 | The Zygon Inversion
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Comments
That “war speech” has gone down in history at this point. Fans have got other doctors to read parts of it INCLUDING John Hurt and even Christopher Eccleston (which I imagine you’d appreciate too!). That speech was the first time since 10 left that Doctor Who made me tear up.
Josh
2023-07-30 23:21:31 +0000 UTCI do agreed with you that a lot of the Storytelling in this is clunky. I agreed the moral standpoint of Kate in this entirely inconsistent with her other appearances and how we are meant to perceive her. Literally watch her introduction in Power of Three and she is introduced as the compassionate scientist (‘science Leads my father always said’) who is changing you from the inside. You can argue that her position has changed her views which would be fascinating but would actually need to be explored in this story. The concept is trying to ask big questions about radicalisation and terrorism/freedom fighting but doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. I agree Jenna does a great job with Bonnie but ultimately her motivations aren’t explored in enough detail. The resolution with Bonnie switching as far as to not just maintain the ceasefire but be an Osgood and actively defend it doesn’t quite work for me either. Despite all this I do rewatch this (mostly just the second part) because the character moments aren’t good they are incredible. The doctor’s speech is commonly referred to as the War Speech is some of Who’s best writing and one of Capaldi’s crowning achievements. And the battle between Clara and Bonnie and 12/Clara moments are wonderful. They spend most of the story apart but there is great stuff when 12 and Clara are together. A story I want to love but only like.
Carys Barnes
2023-07-25 19:49:28 +0000 UTCFor the Osgood's here's my take If the one that died at the hands of Missy is human, then why are we so happy to see her in this episode? IF the one that died is the Zygon, then why did we get so upset when she died? So, the Zygon storyline, including Osgood's to me, is a rhetoric on immigration. So much of this screams the issue that many immigrants go through in daily life at the hands of the humans. If you watch it from that perspective, then you can see why Osgood feels that it doesn't and shouldn't matter which is which.
SeeJay
2023-07-22 07:10:34 +0000 UTCPeter played it perfectly.
Steve Combs
2023-07-22 01:33:53 +0000 UTCI feel like you misunderstood a lot of the episode, which is totally fine. It is complicated and it took me a few rewatches to fully get it, typical Moffat lol. But now I think it's one of the best Doctor Who stories ever. Basically you need to think of the ending as the beginning in a way. Like The Doctor said, there have been issues with rogue Zygons many times before and so many times Kate has found herself in the Black Archive, decided not to press the button and found out that there was nothing inside the boxes. But her memory was erased each time to keep the secret. The Doctor put truth or consequences on the buttons, those are his words. The truth is that there's nothing in the boxes and consequences are that Kate has to lose her memory of that. And in this episode the latest bunch of rogue Zygons infilrated UNIT, found out about the Osgood box and found out that the words truth or consequences had something to do with the box, they just didn't know what. So those Zygons used the words truth or consequences after they achieved each step of their plan to symbolize that they'd got one step closer to finding the box. As for the town Truth Or Consequences, that is a real place in New Mexico. Bonnie found that in Clara's mind from her Trivial Pursuit obsession lol and she sent Kate there to get rid of her. That one Zygon, who was disguised as that scared lady, was sent to Truth Or Consequences by Bonnie to kill everyone there, to trick Kate and to then kill Kate. It was all part of their plan to take over UNIT. That Zygon lady was lying when she said that the British Zygons came to that town and slaughtered everyone, she did that herself. The town was a trap. But Kate didn't know that the town was a trap because her memory of the boxes was gone so she didn't know what the words truth or consequences meant in relation to the boxes. She really thought the town was the answer which is why she went there to investigate. I hope this all makes sense to you. As for Bonnie, she did turn good fast yeah. But it's like The Doctor said, she had Clara Oswald inside her head. Basically Clara's goodness influenced Bonnie, she felt Clara's emotions and she read Clara's thoughts and she understood what it means to be a good person. That combined with The Doctor's INCREDIBLE speech is what made Bonnie want to be good. And I can accept that. Also Jenna's acting in this story was SO good!! Peter said in a series 9 interview "I loved evil Clara, I thought she was great. I thought Jenna was a great evil creature. That's what she's like really." Obviously he was joking lol but I always think of that interview when I rewatch these episodes. 😂 And I really thought that moment in the TARDIS between The Doctor and Clara at the end was adorable. He wasn't without her for long at all but it felt like a month to him. If that's not true love then I don't know what is. I look forward to next week, a couple of interesting episodes. 😊
Siobhan Linehan
2023-07-21 23:59:52 +0000 UTCChills everytime I hear Capaldi's speech from this episode
BigMe
2023-07-21 22:43:16 +0000 UTCOne of my favourite stories, just in my top ten of new Who stories at number 10 (out of 140) The Doctor's speech is one of the best, Jenna Coleman is fantastic in the role of Bonnie (plus love her look in this) Great to have Osgood back as well.
Jade Ellis
2023-07-21 22:21:21 +0000 UTC
