Haven’t seen a discussion post for the new special, so I’ll get the ball rolling. Thoughts, insights, bits you loved… let it all out.

    • Random Dent@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I didn’t mind it too much. I read a quote somewhere once (I forget where, maybe one of the writers discussing the show?) which said something along the lines of “The sonic is for opening doors and moving the Doctor towards the trouble, not for getting him out of it.” which I think is a good way to use it. I mean it did get them away from the shooty bug guys, but it moved them along to the bigger trouble and he didn’t use it to solve the whole episode so I think it still works!

      • CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world
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        11 months ago

        I had to laugh when he used it to knock down a brick wall and then later when he seems worried there’s not a good escape route, the UNIT lady does basically the same thing with an explosive round.

        • Random Dent@lemmy.ml
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          11 months ago

          Maybe that’s why the Doctor doesn’t go to America very often, all the houses are made of wood lol

    • ummthatguy@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, that was a bit of a stretch. Of course, it’s abilities have changed over time based on narrative need or improved editing techniques as we see here.

        • nicolairathjen@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I didn’t necessarily hate the energy shield thingies, but they definitely could make things boring if they keep bailing out everyone.

          • CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world
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            11 months ago

            I liked that they were clearly not impervious, and only useful as a temporary shield. The detail of them beginning to break with every impact was well done.

      • dhork@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Or, maybe the BBC used the money from Disney to buy some better SFX servers

        • ummthatguy@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 year ago

          That money definitely shines through to whole production: cameras, lighting, cinematography, SFX. I’m just worried how jarring it will be to go back to the show level production. Unless the episodes are suddenly $1 million a piece.

          • Random Dent@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            One of my first thoughts watching it was “these opening credits look expensive” lol

          • Vittelius@feddit.de
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            1 year ago

            Oh the episodes have been $1 million a piece for a while. One million for an episode of a sci-fi show is a bargain. That’s baseline. For reference: An episode of “Superman and Lois”, the CW show, allegedly costs roughly 1.5 million dollar. As much as I dislike a lot of the visual decisions made by Chibnall it’s clear the BBC spend money on his run. An episode in series 11-13 cost reportedly roughly 3.5 million

    • Bluefold@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, gotta sell those toys somehow I guess. I didn’t hate it. I think it’ll take a bump or two as time goes on to lose functionality when narratively convenient like always it isn’t that big of a deal. It took the Doctor forever to do his Penny Crayon routine too. In a real emergency he’d still be best just running like usual.

      I think it was purely just to set up for the new Disney+ fans he’s an advanced alien with a magic wand. And to shift as many units of the screwdriver before Christmas before it gets a downgrade.

      If the show is proven popular, I wouldn’t be surprised for them to deepen the deal and to start seeing merch even appear in the Disney parks.

      • CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world
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        11 months ago

        I think Disney is going to see the huge jump in viewership - especially from American fans who are glad to finally have a reliable time and place to watch it every week - and want more of it. That’s ultimately a good thing for us, but hopefully they and Bad Wolf have taken the right lessons from Marvel and Star Wars and don’t stretch things too thin.