DID IT SUCK? | Doctor Who [SPACE BABIES REVIEW]

Episode 1 of Doctor Who Series 14 is an absolute stinker. Also Space Babies 2019 is totally the inspiration for this new episode, fight me
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[@lesigh1749]

"Did it suck?" Five seconds later "How do I even begin to climb this mountain of turd?" I guess that saves us 19 minutes of waiting for the answer then!

[@GrayDogNowIDK]

The Sarah Jane adventures had darker stories

[@hoebread7584]

Why should every episode be dark?

[@HBstudios2005]

The Doctor correcting himself whenever he calls them just babies makes no sense since 12 literally said how dumb it is just putting space in front of everything

[@alliefrandsen]

this! it bothered me the whole episode

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Yeah, but that's a different incarnation. They don't always keep the same opinions from one incarnation to the other.

[@UscruOutlaw]

It's probably a reference to idiots with their pronouns

[@jezzaus2124]

This is what some of us deserve for slating the Capaldi era.

[@shahanisalcedo9884]

Capaldi's era was SO GOOD. The only thing that made it BLAH to me is Clara getting her own TARDIS. Dumbest move.

[@jamescarr1265]

@@shahanisalcedo9884same although I really did adore Clara’s characterisation in the era it bordered on comical self-importance at points.

[@bozorusso1709]

Capaldi was good Clara and writing was awful tho you've got to admit

[@PieOfEpicness]

I knew the moment those babies "spoke" that Harry was gonna hate this episode 😂😂😂

[@Vandalle.]

Those first two episodes are two of the worst things ever seen by eyes. It's absolutely fucking dreadful. I think I'm finally done with it.

[@haydn6174]

watched this episode while coming down off mushrooms and found the babies talking really funny for some reason so i quite enjoyed it

[@artyb27]

Great review! The only point that made me recoil a little was the mocking of the "I've been to the end of time and back" remark - it seemed clear to me that he simply meant that in all of his travels he's never seen something specifically like a historically-altered memory flashback causing elements from said flashback (such as snow) to manifest in the present time and location. That's it. I really don't think he was making a claim that it's one of the weirder things he's seen, just that it was unique and not something he understood. That said the whole scan thing that follows it feels very "Moffat wanting his female companions to be the most important people in creation (aside from the Doctor) regardless of how creepy the Doctor's attempts to investigate make him seem". Though.. I reckon that's why Ruby got a key so early.

[@stephaniepage4334]

I agreed

[@doodoo5594]

i mean rtd also kinda did that with rose and donna, it did make me chuckle that this is basically dr who trope now, but i still quite like the way the mystery is being handled, the fact that everything is seemingly centred around the night ruby was born and not just ruby herself, but the dr cant go back there because he'd now be crossing his own timeline

[@joeyunderwood]

the 6 years of babies’ nappies didn’t stop the ship from being able to fly. it’s a space station, it was never able to fly. the doctor just used it to propel the station (as daft as that is). they literally say this in the text of the episode.

[@h0llowhouse453]

So if it’s got no engines or guidance systems isn’t it just going to hurdle straight into the planet? The doctor baby murderer 😭

[@joeyunderwood]

@@h0llowhouse453 yh idk about that aha. i thought he would’ve just taken them there in the TARDIS like he mentioned earlier in the episode, but then again babies will still be being birthed in the station if he did that i suppose.

[@TheMiggleB]

​@joeyunderwood yeah, doctor just thought fart power would be more fun. Definitely didn't think about how the ship would stop though

[@frewthelookingglass860]

@@h0llowhouse453you’re that simpsons nerd meme

[@fastertrackcreative]

What I wonder is how do they slow down? If there's enough to act as propulsion in space then they'll just burn up when they reach the destination.

[@paradoxplant5070]

We didnt even get a jelly babies reference

[@jaybristowe2346]

Criminal

[@DriverHenWho3245]

I even watched the episode with some Jelly Babies

[@MrRetroDev]

Space Babies was terrible, much better than Chibby stories but, still terrible. It was filled with inconsistencies and plot holes. It's nice to see from the behind the scenes stuff that even Ncuti wasn't 100% sold on the idea of the episode. Also he makes clear that it's not a ship, its a space station which can't move. He uses the methane build-up to give the station a push. No idea how they plan to slow it down though when it gets to the planet.

[@julians552]

I thought the Monster was made of.... other stuff. The Doctor's reaction made me think it was made of... you know, the stuff babies are made of? To be honest, that's absolutely what Torchwood would have done

[@reecechambers3467]

I thought that as well, maybe in a new torchwood series if it ever happens

[@Labyethan]

Hearing this new Doctor talk about Gallifray and the death of his people... with no weight? When Rose got told after Episode 2 and after her seeing Earth get destroyed. Knowing everything would end, but they go back to Earth, and its time for chips - its time to live in the moment, not dread it. Martha holding her ground and wanting to know... after a brief description of a world the Doctor was nostalgic for, talking about with admiration, hearing the Face of Boa's final words - "You Are Not Alone" - everything leading to a conversation we heard before, sure, but the moment doesn't linger; it gives privacy, it looms upwards to a reborn world, as a story we heard is told once more, and we know - we know its being treated with respect... Just wow. Also I did edit this; because I only realized how good the actual moment with Martha was, I'm not a huge fan of Martha, but welldone.

[@jmggimli]

"it's to show that he has come to terms with his emotions" No it is lazy writing they cannot make their mind up how much weight this now holds.

[@grandempressvicky6387]

I thought I was going insane with how quickly it was being brushed over. Like how can you just bring that up like it's nothing. For all Whittiker's faults, she treated the destruction of Gallifrey with the appropriate weight.

[@Labyethan]

@@grandempressvicky6387 like @jmggimli said, its lazy writing but worst off, I swear the Time-War and the aftermath was introduced with Christoper Eccleston (9th Doctor) like, I might be wrong, I don't know my Doctor Who lore well. But if I am right? How can the person who oversaw that season, handling the post-war Doctor AND specially did the moments mentioned beforehand, now brush over it like it was nothing. I fell off Doctor Who during Matt Smith's era halfway through, so I don't know Peter's moments with this, or Whittaker's takes, but this guy I'm sorry, I'm not feeling it. I got something from Matt, liked some Peter clips, but yeah.

[@Longshanks1690]

More than anything, I hate how he keeps talking about how he was”adopted.” Ok Russell you want to make it clear you’re not retconning the Timeless Child and you’re loyal to your friend, fine. But the Doctor should not have this strong conception of coming from somewhere besides Galifrey. For his entire life, that’s all he ever knew, he was a part of Time Lord society but consciously chose to leave. So now talking like he was always aware that Galifrey took him in is just a strange way of looking at it. But the issue you raise is more with how Ncuti is supposed to be playing this quirky, upbeat, bubbly character who is never allowed to have negative feelings or emotions unless the baddies do something that makes him upset. And that’s just *so* in conflict with who the Doctor is that it sticks out like a sore thumb. He’s supposed to have a twisted, darker side and the weight of things like Galifrey’s destruction should be a heavy burden on him, like they were for 9. But they went to such great efforts to push the “ReHaB” BS that now he has to be flippant and carefree about his past, in spite of how that makes absolutely no sense at all.

[@Labyethan]

@@Longshanks1690 I know barely anything from the Whittaker era, but I know not to learn not to even bother listening about the timeless child rubbish. I'll be real. I think though, if I recall, didn't they uh in that special introuducing Ncuti, that when they did that whole split into two doctors (you know the more I write about modern Doctor Who, the more I am thankful I fell off when I did) that he didn't have anything. He didn't have those negative feelings, and by god, now saying that - that comes across like pure laziness, and a free card to just... I have no idea at this point, I think this maybe as intended the softest reboot of all times, hence Season 1 for Disney, because hey-yo! Maybe I am losing my mind recalling episodes, and trying to explain this rubbish from established - I'm stopping now. I give up.

[@Saundersj1701]

I just don’t get what all the ‘mainstream’ critics are watching when they’re giving Dr Who 4&5/5’s across the board 🤷‍♂️

[@loomingmoon4682]

Probably Turn Left

[@roguexxrenegade]

They are the ones getting invited to the lavish premieres and events so obviously they’ll give a good review to stay in their good graces.

[@B-MC]

Thing is, I ENJOYED Space Babies. But only because I was making dinner at the same time and not stopping to think about it. Only because I pushed through Chibnall's era out of dr who loyalty and i'll basically sit through any concept at this point. And only because The Giggle was so frustratingly disappointing to me that I wholeheartedly accepted it was going to be fluff. And even then, once Devils Chord [spoilers redacted] I retroactively went 'no I demand better than this' and as an opening to a 'season 1' for people who have never seen the show ... what were they thinking. Devils Chord also feels like noise for toddlers though, so... yeah i dunno.

[@RedfordWho]

I very much disagree with your take on Devil's Chord there. Devil's Chord was brilliant. Not as good as the likes of Wild Blue Yonder, mind you, but still good.

[@bencarter123]

Right. Great video but you didn’t have to drop the fact that the end of the world was 19 years ago that’s actually insane 😭

[@dmonslayer69]

I always thought ruby sundae sounded like the name of a gta stripper

[@edwilkie1858]

I think what feels off about the intro is the fact there are cuts in it. All the previous ones have had hidden wipes or are just a full one shot at least in New Who. The hard cuts to the TARDIS just makes it feel wrong

[@zoekm]

Ruby as a character is the vanilla Generic Companion Template without any alterations.

[@A5H_01]

She kinda feels like Rose again.

[@Foolkiller2.0]

​@@A5H_01 She has a totally different backstory to Rose

[@grandempressvicky6387]

​​@@A5H_01not even. I don't like Rose (from S2 onwards, she's fine in S1) but she had a personality to her. There's a massive but natural change in her confidence as a time traveller. But Ruby is already a pro by episode 2. The best part about the companion is watching them grow and change and for Ruby it was done off screen over a 6 month Timeskip. EDIT: I am hoping that this is intentional because Ruby is so generic that it's painful.

[@A5H_01]

@@Foolkiller2.0But the similarities between them are very obvious. Both the same age(19), both blonde, both have a circling the tardis scene, both get to phone someone from space, both have a shot of them looking out of a window to space, and both are brought up by a single mother figure…the actors names are Billie and Millie and both characters have four letter names beginning with R that derive from a hue of red for crying out loud! Too similar for me to ignore.

[@Foolkiller2.0]

@@A5H_01 you're adding 2 plus 2 and coming up with 5

[@mahfuzurchowdhury2765]

Finally an actual constructive video disliking this. So many toxic channels hating on this for "diversity" makes me hate parts of this fanbase.

[@JoeyWorld]

fr, it feels like people either are forcing themselves to love what we've seen from this new era or blaming how bad it is on the diversity because they're racist bigots haha

[@gordonw.8831]

Yeah, 90% of reviews are either uncritically praising it for diversity and equity or just dismissing it for being woke. Come on, this was just stupid writing and it wasn't even that woke - just compare it to the Star Beast which was better, but much more woke. And I think this was still better than much of Chibnall era.

[@kiri7678]

It's why I was waiting for his review. It's such a shame that people are getting caught up over 'wokeness' - it just means the arguments online are going to be about skin colour and diversity, rather than, you know, the script writing, character development, world building etc. - all the stuff that actually effects the quality of the show and its continued existence. This is a great review to reference most of what sucked about this episode.

[@mahfuzurchowdhury2765]

@@kiri7678 yeah agreed. I personally enjoyed the episode, but I see the many many flaws with it.

[@Sparx632]

@@gordonw.8831I haven’t seen any reviews praising it simply for diversity, most of the ones I’ve seen both positive or negative haven’t even mentioned it.

[@mtiice]

It’s refreshing to hear someone talk sense about this episode. It rlly feels like about as lazy and careless as writing can be. I feel like a lot doctor who fans will love and defend whatever there shown no matter what. I think in a few years there will be more of a consensus however.

[@TheCamerine]

It's hilarious that you lot think you're the majority

[@SceneSurgeSnippets]

@@TheCamerine It's hilariously pathetic that you think you're doing anything by saying that

[@TheCamerine]

@@SceneSurgeSnippets I'm stating a fact

[@jamescarr1265]

@@TheCamerinewhy is a Hugh Grant so defensive of something garbage? Oh wait…

[@TheCamerine]

@@jamescarr1265 it's a fictional character lol

[@JFHardman]

Excellent review as usual Harry, I'm vaguely curious to see how the Steven Moffat episode pans out in this era lol - certainly these first two episodes strike me as much more pantomime than i reckon is suitably engaging for a family audience right - dare i hope for a dash of mature characterisation, interesting dialogue, challenging themes that aren't predictable and bland metaphors? We'll see how this develops but I'm setting my expectations to minimum 😂

[@NileSWPhotography]

I love your reviews so much. When I saw this uploaded I was soooo excited.

[@kryten1016]

2:36 yeah the the whole anti butterfly switch which was the doctor quickly lying to Ruby. The doctor doesn’t know why time was more sensitive at that moment, hence his confused frown. I think it’s supposed to be apart of the season arc. But for now it’s just one really expensive passing joke

[@fastertrackcreative]

It seemed like trailer bait to me. Like they wanted to show something cool to get audience but didn't have the means to actually carry on that setting more than a single setpiece.

[@joeyunderwood]

just because he said “i’ve been to the end of time and back and i’ve never seen anything like this before” doesn’t mean he was saying the snow was worse than that, just that he’s never seen it before. he’s just pointing out how much he’s seen, but still never seen anything like that. it’s more about his experience than the threat level.

[@carealoo744]

Regardless, I still find it hard to believe he's never seen it snow indoors before. You're telling me there's not a single audio drama and comic or book where that's happened?

[@joeyunderwood]

@@carealoo744 i mean… true.

[@mathieuleader8601]

my hopes got dashed that the boogeyman was not the classic villain the Krynoid returning

[@STOTTINMAD]

He played the push the button. At least we're on the same page there. I thought of the exact same song lol

[@britishman2705]

Loving this new format of videos

[@Longshanks1690]

You can tell how abused the Doctor Who fanbase has been with how much excusing this episode there’s been and just pretending it’s just some light hearted fun when… no. This episode is unmitigated garbage. 😂 The plot makes no sense, the characters are morons, the gimmick is insanely cringe, the lip synching is awful, the twist comes out of nowhere and the messaging is handled with such a blunt lack of subtlety that even Orphan 55 is telling this episode to be less obvious with its messaging. There is absolutely nothing of value here except the snow scene, because it had nothing to do with the actual episode. 2/10

[@CJFS00s]

0:00 for a moment I thought the audio was cut off, then I realised you were disappointed… 😂

[@simonsaysrewind]

Brilliant review. New subscriber. You are amazing at commentary and everything you say is mostly what im thinking but funnier .😊

[@ectowhite]

When I heard your first few words, I knew I was in for a treat.

[@JustJohn43]

My lord. I couldn't do your job. Keep it up bro.

[@crispysquidoftheacidcats295]

This whole episode I was like - Harry's review is gonna be super charged with sarcasm

[@Frank-Einstein-Madman]

I have been a fan of this show since the I started watching it in my first year of primary school in the mid seventies. I yearned for it's return during the wilderness years and I loved most of Nuwho but for the sake of sanity, please put this dreck out of it's misery!!! 😮

[@CableB_]

As soon as the babies started talking, it immediately turned into super baby geniuses

[@bradugar]

I really hope 15 isn't scared every episode but I don't think it's looking great, he's meant to be a hero, cool & collected majority of the time with outbursts being so rare it's unstartling when they do happen. Having him be scared at the monster in space babies, the drag queen in devils & im guessing BOOM he's going to be scared of the landmine.

[@HOTD108_]

Harry, I'm standing on a landmine...

[@HellfireComms]

Who wouldn't be scared of standing on a landmine? Like I get what you're saying, but that's probably the worst example you could've given lol

[@bradugar]

@@HellfireComms I just think the issue is pacing & episode order like Ten was scared to Die & was quiet emotional to not want to go but RTD knew he couldn’t have Ten start crying his eyes out he was genuinely only fearful when he heard the 4 knocks. I already feel like Space Babies wasn’t originally episode one with how much Devils was hyped up it feels like it should be the the season premiere. I feel moments like these need to be earned this series feels fast pace speedrunning for stupid Americans or something.

[@pk251]

yea 15’s looking too cowardly for now, but he did good in the christmas special so i think it’s just a couple conincidences rowed up

[@libertyadams5961]

​@@pk251tbf the doctor was only scared of the bogeyman because that's the gimmick of the creature, and in episode two the writers want to hype up the toymaker + co as a big threat, also letting ruby know that they're serious shi by his reaction. I'll admit, that would have held more weight if it was later in the season and their relationship was more established, so ruby saying stuff like 'but you never run!' would feel more natural and justified

[@trashmammal9430]

I'm honestly convinced this was thrown together out of an old SJA script Russel has lying around somewhere

[@voiceovershill7620]

I enjoyed The Devil’s Chord all the way until the dance number at the end. A simple heartfelt goodbye to The Beatles and Cilla Black, encouraging them to keep making music, would have been way more effective than that corny song.

[@JonathonHouse]

I am hopeful for the next two episodes tjo

[@voiceovershill7620]

@@JonathonHouse Boom by Steven Moffat looks really good.

[@JonathonHouse]

@@voiceovershill7620 I think it will be good me and also 73 yarde looks good to not show about dot and bubble or rouge tho

[@voiceovershill7620]

@@JonathonHouse I’m definitely enjoying this series more than most of Chibnall’s episodes. I just want them to dial back the corniness a bit and work in some more mature themes. The Devil’s Chord was definitely a step in the right direction for me because I loved Maestro as a villain and her ultimate goal but the song at the end kind of ruined it for me.

[@TheCamerine]

@@voiceovershill7620 Boom was superb. The next episode looks terrifying

[@nathangeorge6563]

Hello darkness my old friend - watching Harry talk about this episode is heart breaking. You can genuinely tell his disappointment about the episode. I'm with you on that as well.

[@Faulty720]

Just saying I preferred just having the narration from you only, what was the decision to insert yourself in video now?

[@nicchiaschutt5026]

Totally agree with your review. I LOVE Doctor Who, I’ve been a fan since the 70’s. And yes, I’ve seen some shockers in my time (I’m looking at you, 1980’s) BUT this episode was a complete embarrassment. Two out of 10 feels a touch too generous. So, has “Space Babies” put me off watching more this season? Of course not, I’m a Whovian! Could it deter the casual viewer? Absolutely!

[@emporerpalpatine5129]

I made an edit of the title sequence because I too felt it was 'off'. See what you think.

[@parafoxl7619]

If the lever made it so they weren't affected then Donna wouldn't say Mavity but continue to use Gravity while the rest of the earth says Mavity, no?

[@aldraone-mu5yg]

I can’t wait to see the numbers XD.

[@saskruffriders8234]

Dude. I liked your video without even watching it.

[@jaybristowe2346]

You’re a real one Harry

[@dylanmcwilliam]

Omg i thought i was the only one who thinks the doctor and Ruby's relationship is weird and undeserved. Ruby has had no reservations about this man AT ALL, no concerns or quarms about the situations she finds herself in, just bland awe at everything. Russell really shot him self in the foot with episode one, its so derivative and your right in saying that end of the world did this formula so much better, devils chord is so much better than space babies, but overall i though this was a disappointing premiere, childish, derivative, amateur and poorly thought out. The doctor is supposed to be a charismatic, brave man, but new audiences are surely going to think he's a coward as he runs away in fear at every turn in the first 2 episodes even though we are constantly assured verbally that he "never runs away". I think the series has finally made a solid foothold with Boom but even then i still dont think gatwa has truly established himself as the Doctor, he hasnt really had his "doctor moment" yet that solidifies him, which is strange because every other nuwho doctor had one of these in their first episode, so i wasnt too worried about how their doctor would pan out, but because the writing and acting hasnt proved to me why hes such a big deal im still not sure about 15

[@Diamond_Squid]

that opening from you is exactly what I expected, and honestly...how i felt too after the episode ended

[@pegasusinflight1642]

Can sum up both episodes in one word "Crap"

[@JaredGriffiths2000]

This episode reminded me of Baby Geniuses. That's probably not a good thing, lol!

[@Ryan78336]

In the beginning I was creeped out, then I laughed HARD!

[@harrylane2699]

Great observations, brutally honest and funny. And yes, this episode was all over the place, good grief!

[@mathieuleader8601]

Russ's Kill the Moon

[@MillywiggZ]

It’s interesting the naming of the blocks of episodes. The first series when it returned in 2005 was ‘Series 1’. The 14th series when it went to Disney is called ‘Season 1’, how the Americans refer to a series. Speculation is that this is an American first series, built for the ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’ audience. Others think this is a meta-narrative thing where Ruby has created a universe around her… somehow like how people thought Matt Smith’s era was a manifestation of Amy Pond’s imagination mixed with the doctor regenerating. But really, never attribute to imagination what you can corporate meddling hahaa!

[@lucifersdevilishdetails.]

Yes really it should be called season 40 As classic who are seasons 1-26 New who are series 1-13 or season 27- 39 Disney who season 1 is series 14 or season 40 Depend on where you want to count

[@MagnaLynx21]

I didn't think it was that bad on the initial watch, the CGI stood out as subpar but I think Murray's score really made it hard to be too critical

[@peterd788]

You were generous than me.

[@TenshiCat]

Just like you, I went from Torchwood Children of Earth to this and... oof! It sure makes me appreciate Torchwood all the more

[@2003jackb]

Whilst i didn't hate this episode as much as some, it definitely went off the fucking rails. Second episode was much better imo

[@nifralo2752]

When one of the babies turned out to be called Eric made me laugh. Cause all i could think of was Eric Saward. Please tell me it wasnt just me

[@DriverHenWho3245]

17:54 Ruby accidentally killing a butterfly is much smaller than meddling in her own personal timeline

[@ianbanks3016]

That's two more than I would have given it. Dreadful rubbish.

[@CCrohny]

God, finally. Finally, someone who is saying that this episode is just bad. I feel like people have been saying this episode is better than what it is due to the chinbal crap that has been shoveled down our throats

[@TheJlook2000]

I didnt think id be using the Fast Forward switch after Chibnall but here we are ..........

[@Wilson.647.whovian]

I think it would have worked much better if the Bogeyman was developed more as a harmless source of fiction for the babies. The scene where Eric confronts the creature is weirdly cut, and it’s weird how the ship raising these babies is capable of creating a creature willing to kill them. If Eric confronted the Bogeyman and it didn’t hurt him because its only function was to scare him, it would make sense. It would give Eric and the other babies a reason to not want the Bogeyman to get hurt and the doctor more of an incentive to figure out and save it. But no, if the Bogeyman reaches you, it will kill you. Imagine that scene in the airlock room after the doctor saves the Bogeyman. They both stand up and stare at each other, the doctor confronting his own fears and petting the monster. I think it would really set the tone for the rest of the series. Love the videos 👍👍

[@HellfireComms]

Yeah I think making it aggressive kind of takes away the point.

[@TPH250290]

Yeah but that would involve nuance.

[@pinoyjona]

“DID IT SUC-“ YES. I had a better experience watching the earlier episodes of the 12th Doctor and currently on the top 10 worst Doctor Who episodes on IMDB. The whole plot with talking babies and a monster made of boogers is what I picture a random joke a Disney cartoon would make fun of on how bad an idea that sounds, not actually being an episode that shares the same continuity with Torchwood.

[@CoriCutler-hb2gg]

Honestly want to know how this got a 2/10, compared to this love and monster is a masterpiece.

[@jamesgarbett4331]

OH we're SO back

[@BreakfastKing420]

As soon as the babies started talking with voices of British children and cgi mouths I wanted the bogeyman to get them and it killed me when the doctor kept scaring them with it, that was hilarious

[@mjm3091]

8:40 Look how far we got from Twilight and their demon baby, though. 13:35 To be fair Doctor does have more than one truck in the back this season, so there is much less space. 17:20 Those first episode - not really, she kinda is just there and the Space Baby episode was kinda piece of nothing. However, after first five episodes I do kinda like her? I feel like she at least brings something different. I was scared she would be just Rose 2.0 for proper reboot. But she is more like Bill mixed with Clara a little bit, with a sprinkle of Chibnail's fam? Like I like her family a lot and her relation with them defines her. She is just a normal gal, living with her mom and grandma, who she loves a lot? Not really any major personality, yet. But that gives her like a vibe of normal human being? Especially with the interactions she has with other people - or in this episode, the reaction she had to the snot monster's origin. She is not over-dramatic, just simple. Kinda like Bill who was just a kid serving fries. But she also has that girl-next-door vibe Clara has. And they actually for the first time made me interested with the whole mystery about her (which adds another element to her Clara vibe). I kinda never liked the thing about "impossible girls" and "most important women in the whole world". It's just a simple random flashbacks and snowflakes falling around. Which is so bizarre and out of pocket that it brings some interest. Like she is obviously the main plotline that is slowly being cooked (I hope this actually leads to something satisfying), which has yet to be properly addressed or named. I think - for a first 5 episodes, she is an ok companion, clearly a self-insert option for the viewers. Her introduction is not as strong as Rose or Martha, but it's totally fine. I would already rank her slightly higher than majority of "the fam". 18:00 I think it's more akin to be about the "Father's Day". I kinda feel like, if they didn't really go for a "reboot" - this would be the place where we would have Rose flashback and Doctor's explanation about how much Ruby's meddling with her own past could cause. 18:25 This totally felt like a filler that would be normally put around episode 8 tbh. If I only had to judge upon this, this would not be it. But later episodes did spike my attention. I still feel like a lot of them have issue with properly finishing their plot points, instead being just unsettling knock offs of Black Mirror. But there have been a lot of good elements there that show that there is still some quality behind this show (like just the whole intro with the Welsh people having laugh at Ruby in 73 Yards, was enough for me, to make me want to see the whole season). 18:35 Talking about Doctor - I really need Ncuti to bring something new. This episode specifically was straight up just Matt Smith storyline. There is some twisted element to his character and obviously - he is meant to be the Doctor who worked through his trauma about Galiffrey and being Timeless Child (apparently), so I don't mind for him to be so cheery. But I would like to see some good twist for his character. The portrayal is suprisingly stiff and sometimes smells of Jodie's Doctor. Which quirky and cringe it can be - it feels aged. There is some tint of evilness hidden there, hopeful more logical than when Jodie's Doctor was being morally wishy-washy. 19:20 I mean it did cover all the intro points and the story was at least original and kinda playing on all that stuff with how Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi talked to children. But it is ultimately extremely cringey and straight up boringly generic. The only good part about it is that, I feel like they don't go about basics after this episode, but instead go more into it (which is slightly abrupt for Ruby's character, but at least the viewers dont need to bother as much). I would give it 3/10, just for the set being ok. It kinda reminds me of that Stitch thingy that ate electricity during Jodie's early era. Kinda the same energy - monster of the week on abandoned ship and generic NPCs. But kids weren't off-putting and the set was well made.

[@MillywiggZ]

5:09 There are two people in this world: The ones that thought of ‘The Sugarbabes’. and The ones that were correct this entire time and thought of ‘The Chemical Brothers’. Hahaa!

[@hotdog1214]

I went for Sugababes the first time he said it, the Chemical Brothers on the second go, on the third "push the button" I couldn't think of any tunes, only "why on Earth does he keep saying push the button"? 🤣🤣

[@calebspears1167]

Watched halfway through and turned the tv off it was so stupid lmao😂

[@WindchaserX]

The doctor's pronunciation of Conquistador is correct in the UK, whereas your pronunciation is from the US.

[@mmem4264]

This new incarnation of the Doctor is so insensitive. I don't remember him ever being this bad, but it's been a while so maybe I just forgot lol. But the worst part of this ep for me was the sound. I've been feeling this way for most of the eps, but the sound is too loud and distracting. I'm having trouble getting sucked in because it keeps kicking me out. I sure how this gets fixed before the season is over. It's really ruining the eps for me.

[@EsporHB]

Yeah that episode was pretty bad. What happened to Russell T Davis? Who can save the series, I thought he could do that

[@MizziProductions]

I call it The Netflix Effect. No ideas are ever fully explored, actors have the emotional depth of a floater, and the writing is absolutely rubbish. I think Ncuti Gatwa has the makings of a good Doctor, but it’s hard to understand that this came from RTD and Murray Gold. How did a program with half the budget in 2005 have far more emotional impact, a better score, and better writing than something with Disney backing? There are a thousands different, better, ways this story could’ve been told. Nothing makes sense. I also wish they would just do away with the mystical companions arc.

[@BreakfastKing420]

I said the same exact thing when it howled like a wolf like wtf

[@markmakharashvili6878]

When tf did you do a face reveal? 😭 I haven’t seen you for months

[@normietwiceremoved]

I'm glad you were confused about the episode too. It was so needlessly convoluted for something so childish.

[@nigelallwright194]

i love your review

[@Bandit666-w2o]

I feel like the Ncuti isnt emotional enough when he should be like when talking about Gallifrey but is crying at everything else that at a lot of the time isnt even sad really....

[@RenoReborn]

Space Babies feels like the idea you have when you've run out of ideas.... but it's only episode 1.

[@benpinkus5959]

If the babies were the wierd horrible dummy's in the show, that may have worked better imo. The memory altering stuff is a cool set up for the rest of the series though, but this episode doesn't really seem 'right' as an ep1 or potentially some people's first impression of the show Think I said eh a 3 or 4 out of 10 being generous, tbf I really liked the Devils chord but with the links to the 60th that felt somewhat a better fit as season opener with xmas special being ep 1

[@Chimeratech_O.D.]

0:10 Should have said "Welcome to the only good thing to come from modern Hu: My suffering."

[@kneau]

You're a witcher, Harry!

[@UnsafestPony81]

Is this better or worse than "Love and Monsters"?

[@hi-exstudios159]

Far, far, FAR worse.

[@pk251]

love and monsters is worse but at least funny to watch, i’m not bored while watching it

[@mathieuleader8601]

the butterfly scene annoyed me because we could have had a reptillian alien companion from outset which would have freshened up the show in my view.

[@HBstudios2005]

I wish we could get a companion who isn't just from the present day

[@phlippy]

Isn't the whole point of a companion to be a self-insert for the audience though? I know they played around with companions from different eras in classic Who but there's a reason it works so well in the modern show

[@reecechambers3467]

I'm not sure why they opened with this one specifically, boom was great and 73 yards looks amazing. I think Boom had all the elements of a perfect first story, just swap the story arcs about and it could be done. This story and maybe to a lesser extent The devils chord could put so many new viewers off.

[@Faulty720]

The only plus side So far is that this series has made the Whitaker era watchable, just.

[@sham2mar]

To me ruby getting the key so quick was linked to the doc being more healed and open. He doesn’t keep at arms length hiding his name and history etc

[@Longshanks1690]

Then stop calling him the Doctor and tell us his real name. Because the whole point is that no matter how close his companions are, he does keep them at a distance from the truth of who he really is, so if Ruby can know what his name is after *two fucking episodes* when Yasmin as the Doctor’s girlfriend never knew, then there’s no excuse for him to not be using his real name all the time now. He isn’t the Doctor anymore and the show is irreversibly different because of it.

[@sham2mar]

@@Longshanks1690 at this point the doctor is just as real as his birth name . After 1000+ years of living by that name and seeing how important it to be/ live up to being the doctor (eg the war doctor). He’s not just going to say “my real name is Robert” lol … from what it looks like the 14th heals with Donna etc and comes to terms with TW , timeless child/ gallifrey’s destruction and the flux . He still has secrets but he’s not the typical “new who” happy go lucky doctor with a emo side.

[@Longshanks1690]

@@sham2mar No, the name of the Doctor is of a different character to the one you’re describing. He went through his magical “rEhAB” process so he doesn’t feel anything for anything that’s ever happened to him in his life before, so he has no connection to it and is not the Doctor. Ergo, he should stop calling himself that and tell us his real name. You can’t have it both ways.

[@sham2mar]

@@Longshanks1690 and the whole point was that the doctor was too closed off that she couldn’t be Yaz’s girlfriend lol. From what it looks like so far I would say the 15th address the topic more directly and earlier than any other doctor in the new series (minus maybe 12th). There would be no Martha, Amy or yaz blatantly falling in love and the doctor not doing something

[@grandempressvicky6387]

​@@Longshanks1690dude, the Doctor IS his name. He had been calling himself that since he was on Gallifrey. Besides, that name is a promise he made to himself about upholding himself to a standard when helping people. You don't just give it up over 1000 years of history because the attitude of one regeneration is more open about their past.

[@Longshanks1690]

6:05 OH MY GOD THANK YOU! All I have heard for months now is that this is some sort of dream pairing with unmatched chemistry that you just love to see on screen and I didn’t know if I was insane because I just wasn’t seeing it. They’re not bad together, but they’re not the best I’ve ever seen either, so why people seem so desperate to force themselves to fall in love with them is really quite beyond me.

[@headsgrowback1]

Based on "the devils chord" i feel like the episodes about the Toymakers Legion have most of the budget. Cause the cinematography and effects are night and day difference between these two episodes.

[@SPM0717]

Apparently the next episode is just as good as Boom. So the series has started off with two OK episodes and then two great episodes.

[@TerryOnTuesday]

Well done on the 'diversity' too - not a single white guy in this episode (Eric doesn't count). Even The Real McCoy, Goodness Gracious Me and In Living Color had a token white guy.

[@granfalloon9848]

I didn't much like Chibnall era's topical episodes, but I would have been interested to see how 6 year old brains in infant bodies would handle the horror of their safe harbor telling them they would be redirected to Space Rwanda.

[@Zenignome]

Did they rip off part of the concept of the game Broken Age?

[@user-hw5bj1gq9y]

Who does this episode appeal to? The audience they planned to replace us with, the only audience that might still watch, the audience they've been banking on when they tell us to go touch grass.. Toddlers. Disney and DW had a meeting about their dwindling audience and decided to veer into "family friendly" to hook a brand new consumer without any of the baggage

[@ethanroberts2658]

Oof you missed a lot in this episode 😬

[@doubleluckydub.7782]

At least it was laughable

[@HellfireComms]

Nice to have these reviews back! Yeah, Space Babies was a bit of a miss. Nctui and Millie carried it just like any good Doctor and Companion should, but the premise was just a bit too silly for its own good. Thankfully, I thought the next episode was genuinely good, if not great.