WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 7x4 | The Power of Three
Added 2023-03-12 00:40:44 +0000 UTCA Few Notes:
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Comments
Two (short term) companions have died in the course of the classic who you’ve seen or read about at the time you recorded this, both in 1st Doctor stories, so that’s why the Doctor’s confession to Brian. (Plus things that happen in book and audio stories which Chibnall is probably thinking about, too.)
Joe Cleveland
2024-04-23 15:28:58 +0000 UTCThis is a brilliant episode from the character-writing point of view; the Doctor's conversation with Amy is a beautiful, heartfelt moment. It's just a pity that the actual plotting is a bit messy (the android child is a bit of creepiness that just gets switched off by the Doctor without actually leading anywhere, and the whole thing rests on the massive coincidence of a space/time portal just happening to be located in the hospital where Rory works). The weakest part is how everything gets put back to normal with just a wave of the sonic screwdriver -- although, as has been pointed out, it wasn't actually planned that way. The production team probably thought they'd scored a major coup by getting theatrical heavyweight Steven Berkoff to appear in Doctor Who, but he obviously thought the whole thing was beneath him (his IMDB page quotes him as saying he regards his film and TV roles as a way of subsidising his theater work). There's an interview with director Douglas Mackinnon from around the time of transmission where he oh-so-tactfully describes the Berkoff experience as "something that'll never be repeated -- you could ask anyone on the cast or crew and they'll agree that his participation was extraordinary...".
Steven Cooper
2023-03-13 02:35:01 +0000 UTCThis is another guilty pleasure for me. Not a particularly good episode; but fun and quirky. The introduction of Kate Stewart and the links back to the Brigadier are a satisfying piece of Classic continuity; and it's all heading toward an intriguing finale - only to come a cropper due to Steven Berkov's behaviour. The actor does have that reputation, though - so perhaps as much blame ought to be laid at the feet of the Casting Director,for choosing to hire him in the first place! I'm also not convinced that the script would have tied things up particularly well anyway, even if the scenes COULD have been shot; as there's only so much that might have fitted with the time remaining.
Ian Smith
2023-03-12 12:01:54 +0000 UTCThere's nothing wrong with Classic continuity (provided,of course that it's made clear that it IS continuity - as opposed to out-of-the-blue plotting); as it not only provides more of a useful history to the character,but (perhaps more importantly) acts as a reward for those familiar with the past. It also acts as a cute incentive for new fans to go back and explore it's past.
Ian Smith
2023-03-12 11:52:17 +0000 UTCSo this is actually a favorite episode of mine, however I think it's because I like the inner turmoil between Amy and Rory about travelling with the Doctor, the return of the Lethbridge Stewarts into NuWho, the emotional scene with Brian giving his blessing for them to travel. Lots of great stuff. The ending was rushed, yes, and there's a reason for that as someone mentioned, but it's kind of a problem for Chris Chibnal in general, he does have a problem landing a good ending. Not just in Who, but every show he works on. But I'm not going down that path, this episode for me is solid. As has already been mentioned, this is a weird season, it's broken into two. The next episode is basically the mid-season finale. Then you'll get a Christmas special, then the rest of season seven. That partially plays into why you aren't feeling the theme of the series, and feeling a little out of synch with what's happening. It's a bit like the David Tennant specials, it feels a bit out of left field because it's different. So it's not the first time, and it won't be the last time you feel like this lol.
SeeJay
2023-03-12 07:36:50 +0000 UTCPlease, no spoilers in the comments.
David Blau
2023-03-12 04:13:18 +0000 UTCThe First Face this Face Saw. And she was seared unto his hearts. Amelia Pond.
MattyIce777
2023-03-12 04:01:47 +0000 UTCI enjoyed watching this with you as always but yeah it's not a good episode imo. It starts off well with the cubes being really intriguing. But, as much as I like Kate, all the references to her left people very confused at the time because many people haven't watched Classic Who. Like a little nod would've been ok but they made The Doctor and Kate's whole connection about her dad which means nothing to me lol. And I totally agree with what you said about the conclusion to the episode being disappointing, we never see those creatures again or the cubes again, not even a reference to them. So this episode is basically a bit pointless. 🙈 As for what you said at the end of the video. This series is very unusual because it's the only series that's split into two parts. 7a and 7b. The next episode is the 7a finale, then the episode after that is the Christmas special and then 7b begins and it's like a whole new series. This will make a lot more sense after you watch the next episode. And as for a series arc, there isn't really one for 7a, but there is a big one for 7b and there has been one big hint already about what that's going to be. This will all make sense to you very soon. 😂
Siobhan Linehan
2023-03-12 04:00:12 +0000 UTCI personally really enjoyed the episode (up to the end) it felt very RTD Doctor Who S1-4 and it introduces a well liked character in Kate Stewart as the head of U.N.I.T. as well
Jason
2023-03-12 02:27:05 +0000 UTCAhhhh... well, that explains it. lol
Britany Felix
2023-03-12 01:10:21 +0000 UTCThis scene between Amy and The Doctor is beautiful "I'm running to you before you fade from me" - https://youtu.be/s3Qixy6-BdA The story at the end tails off because the actor who played the villain supposedly was such a dick he was not asked back for a reshoot and another end was hurriedly written
Jason
2023-03-12 01:09:08 +0000 UTC
