Quote: sootyj @ 26th December 2013, 3:38 PM GMTNow this is the crux, any decent episode of any series will stand up on it's own.
If you need to explain, then you've lost.
Not really. If you spell everything out then you've also lost. And if someone thick is watching and needs everything explained (NOT REFERRING TO ANYONE HERE, I DIDN'T GET IT ALL EITHER) then that doesn't apply.
Quote: sootyj @ 26th December 2013, 3:38 PM GMTThis like so many Moffett era stories was just meaningless.
Most eps in the Moffat era stand alone and can be watched as such, but yes, like any drama there are ongoing stories for the people who always watch. Sometimes, you need to have watched other eps to fully get what you're watching. You can't just make something for the people who barely watch. Plus Who has enough jumping on points for new viewers, they'll get another in a few months.
Here's the clincher, and answer honestly boys and girls. Why was the town called Christmas?
No I don't mean explaining stuff over and over, God that'd be awful.
I mean if you watch Blink or Dalek the whole thing makes sense, because the story works. It's contained within its self even if its part of a bigger story.
Quote: Marc P @ 26th December 2013, 3:56 PM GMTHere's the clincher, and answer honestly boys and girls. Why was the town called Christmas?
Just was. Doesn't really matter, I'd say.
Quote: Marc P @ 26th December 2013, 3:56 PM GMTHere's the clincher, and answer honestly boys and girls. Why was the town called Christmas?
Becaue the Stranglers were protecting Malice.
Quote: Marc P @ 26th December 2013, 3:56 PM GMTHere's the clincher, and answer honestly boys and girls. Why was the town called Christmas?
Becaue the Stranglers were protecting Malice.
Quote: sootyj @ 26th December 2013, 3:57 PM GMTNo I don't mean explaining stuff over and over, God that'd be awful.
I mean if you watch Blink or Dalek the whole thing makes sense, because the story works. It's contained within its self even if its part of a bigger story.
But they were individual episodes, this was really the end of a big story. Not even part of it, the very end, rounding things up, wiping the slate clean for the new Doctor. Obviously super confusing for the casual Christmas audience, I'll grant you.
I don't imagine we'll get such a long drawn out story with Capaldi, if only because I can't see Moffat staying longer than his first series.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ 26th December 2013, 3:53 PM GMTMost eps in the Moffat era stand alone and can be watched as such, but yes, like any drama there are ongoing stories for the people who always watch. Sometimes, you need to have watched other eps to fully get what you're watching. You can't just make something for the people who barely watch. Plus Who has enough jumping on points for new viewers, they'll get another in a few months.
You shouldn't need to fully get what you're watching, its the gaps and mystery that can be intriguing.
Buffy could link a whole series of stand alone episodes that still tied into the meta narrative
Now come on Stott, what was there in this pudding of the episode for the casual viewer.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ 26th December 2013, 4:00 PM GMTBut they were individual episodes, this was really the end of a big story. Not even part of it, the very end, rounding things up, wiping the slate clean for the new Doctor. Obviously super confusing for the casual Christmas audience, I'll grant you.
I don't imagine we'll get such a long drawn out story with Capaldi, if only because I can't see Moffat staying longer than his first series.
Ok check out the final episode of Homeland or BSG or even cheesy old Babylon 5.
You can conclude, you can answer most of the questions and still tell a good story.
This didn't. Are you honestly trying to tell me you enjoyed this episode and thought it was good telly.
Because if you did it I'm screen shotting that post and blackmailing you with it.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ 26th December 2013, 3:57 PM GMTJust was. Doesn't really matter, I'd say.
Answer honestly is what I said. See me after class 0/10!
But even if I accept the premise this was a fan pleasing concluding episode. Why on earth did it drag in that whole dead weight of Clara's family which just distracted.
Yes I quite enjoyed it, with reservations. Probs give it a six(-ish) out of ten after one watch; Matt Smith was aces though, but not one of the best eps he's been in, no. Smith really was brilliant, happy he went out with such a strong performance.
I realise we're not allowed to give middling reviews when it comes to this show though, it's either brilliant or the worst written piece of shit ever and Moffat is a terrible writer and should be shot, so if it keeps the peace, it was terrible and Moffat is THE WORST.
MOFFAT MUST GO.
But yeah, it was decent. Which I suppose is actually a bit disappointing considering it was Smith's last.
What did we feel about the use of narrative voice over?
Quote: Matthew Stott @ 26th December 2013, 4:12 PM GMTYes I quite enjoyed it, with reservations. Probs give it a six(-ish) out of ten after one watch; Matt Smith was aces though, but not one of the best eps he's been in, no. Smith really was brilliant, happy he went out with such a strong performance.
I realise we're not allowed to give middling reviews when it comes to this show though, it's either brilliant or the worst written piece of shit ever and Moffat is a terrible writer and should be shot, so if it keeps the peace, it was terrible and Moffat is THE WORST.
MOFFAT MUST GO.
But yeah, it was decent. Which I suppose is actually a bit disappointing considering it was Smith's last.
One of the charms is does shit or it does awesome, its a kamikaze of a show.
The first Matt Smith Christmas special was just awesome. I mean a fun, story teller type tale, with real scifi idea about time travel.
But this was just ghastly and Moffatt again went for big space battles and shoot em ups. The BBC hasnt got the skills or the budget to do them, for f**ks sake leave them to the yanks.
Quote: Marc P @ 26th December 2013, 4:15 PM GMTWhat did we feel about the use of narrative voice over?
Clumsy neither advancing the narrative nor subverting it.
Which is annoying as he has used it so well in the past.
The Unit may not be the best series, or even the best scripted drama series of recent years. It is perhaps the best written, these were David Mamett's guidelines, now check out how they compare to this episode of Who.
http://movieline.com/2010/03/23/david-mamets-memo-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/
Quote: sootyj @ 26th December 2013, 4:45 PM GMTThe Unit may not be the best series, or even the best scripted drama series of recent years. It is perhaps the best written, these were David Mamett's guidelines, now check out how they compare to this episode of Who.
http://movieline.com/2010/03/23/david-mamets-memo-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/
I'm sure it says a lot of good things.
Ouch, all caps locks?!
Capaldi: