DID IT SUCK? | Doctor Who [THE RINGS OF AKHATEN REVIEW]

We continue the steamrolling of Doctor Who 7B, with Doctor Who's closest attempt at a musical episode: The Rings of Akhaten
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[@HarrysMovingMedia]

Did you know you can get Matt Smith's face from this thumbnail as an emoji on my discord server? Spam the server with :Matt: and we'll all get along just fine: discord.gg/rXbQk26

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

Honestly I've come to appreciate this episode considering all the twaddle we've gotten in recent years; it's not great but Murray Gold's "Infinite Potential" soundtrack during Clara's Important Leaf Speech makes it all worth it for me. Plus I just gotta correct you; when The Doctor says Clara reminds him of someone who died, he's not talking about Amy but the Governess Clara from The Snowmen episode.

[@xxcoolxx2313]

The speech is one of the best in the show

[@MrGreaves]

Can’t lie I was really convinced you were Stubagful for a minute

[@dankerbell]

yeah

[@MrsBillWeasley]

The epic speech is honestly above to bump this back up to a 6 for me. And also when she reminded him of a friend who died it was her Snowman self and her Oswin Dalek self.

[@wardy6224]

Is astounds me that the writers didn’t stick with Victorian Clara… she was MILES better than modern day Clara, she had a history, ambitions and CHEMISTRY with the Doctor :///

[@AirQuotes]

Yes Victorian Klara was awesome and Darlek Klara was my absolute favourite. Normal Klara sucks so much, I hated her back story, storylines and was so happy when she was finally gone. I will admit she was 1000x better with Capalipdi

[@splatinumm]

​@@AirQuotescapalipidi nice one bud 👍

[@ishaandw]

HMM: Clara reminds him of a dead person. Presumably Amy. *Facepalm* Me: It literally refers to the Clara from The Snowmen

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

I did exactly the same thing. I can imagine since The Snowmen was a Christmas episode and he doesn't cover Christmas Episodes in reviews; he doesn't watch them at all.

[@Jaknaboi]

@@TheHufflepuffSaint But he mentions her earlier in the video, which makes it worse

[@dutchmansmine9053]

Yes, but it still sucks.

[@virus1244]

I loved the Doctor's speech in this episode. It really showed how old this Doctor is, even being in a young body. You could feel he needed a catharsis of all that he lost. The rest of the episode was meh.

[@loomingmoon4682]

I agree with almost everything except your criticism of the dialogue during the Doctor's monologue, for a guy as repressed as the Doctor, he's naturally gonna go all out when given the chance to talk about everything he's lost in his life

[@benji299]

I think this episode is underrated, yes it has some low moments but overall I think its okay.

[@elijahalexander1926]

When he says she reminds him someone he’s talking about the two versions of her he’s met before

[@rakhshas6727]

The reason the aliens in this episode come across as generic might be because most of them are just props Millenium FX already made.

[@SceneSurgeSnippets]

13:10 He doesn't imply she reminds him of Amy lol what. He's implying she reminds him of Victorian Clara that died a couple episodes prior to this

[@joe23694]

I might be missing something but they killed their star, presumably their planets source of heat, so hasn't The Doctor and Clara just condemned an entire planet to death?

[@mateoalvarez1337]

I’m sure a planet with teleportation technology will have back up methods of creating energy therefore heat

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

Considering that they gave The Doctor the ring to give back to Clara as thanks for saving them all; I can imagine the aliens on that rock have some idea of what to do now their sun parasite is gone.

[@rmuirryyy1217]

As a huge fan of Better Call Saul, that joke at 8:52 was perfect 😂

[@Jaknaboi]

She reminds him of her, she is the dead person, thats like her whole character, where fid you get Amy from?

[@GAMER36014]

I hated this episode so much. Felt like it tried to get me emotional without putting in effort.

[@darudesandstrom1067]

Exactly this, and evidently it worked with the masses. People still rave about this episode, but can’t tell you anything about it outside Matt smiths speech which is corny anyway

[@SpectrumStorms]

​@@darudesandstrom1067 Worked with the masses? In the 50th Anniversary poll, it was considered the ninth worst story in the entire show and the only revival story in the bottom 10.

[@darudesandstrom1067]

@@SpectrumStorms You go on any doctor who story and see how the fan base talk about it like it’s a masterpiece. I’ve not seen that poll but from what I’ve seen people love ROA

[@SpectrumStorms]

@@darudesandstrom1067 I have yet to see anyone call it a masterpiece. I've seen people call it the weakest of Series 7.

[@darudesandstrom1067]

@@SpectrumStorms okay? I have seen that as well, but I have also seen a lot of people praise it. When it first came out in 2013 people were praising this left right and centre and I still see a lot of love for it. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

[@Texicus_Reddicus]

nothing more intimidating than an all powerful ancient god that can be trapped in a mission impossible style glass wall trap.

[@davidbray5982]

I like this episode because there is a shot at 12:04 where matt smith puts his head down and it looks like he has no head hee hee hoo hoo makes me snigger every time

[@MrGreaves]

0:25 this is most likely due to Mr Robot syndrome - a show which achieved this effect to great success, making the entire world within the show feel warped and it evoked a heightened feeling of isolation and aloneness….. until every other show decided to copy it. 😵‍💫

[@Ari-6]

When I read the name I said 'The rings of what?', now that I'm watching the vid I'm like 'OHHHH, that one where the doctor makes an emotional rant at a sun to save the day'. This is the ep where I really started noticing the trend of 'An emotional speech about the power of love defeats the monster'

[@Rocket1377]

This episode felt like it was written by Chris Chibnall. To quote Top Gear, it was "ambitious, but rubbish".

[@sadako24]

I have never gotten the fan hate for this one.

[@christianwise637]

Yeah, I mean it's not a masterpiece or anything, but there's a lot of good stuff here (namely the performance, music, visual effects and worldbuilding)

[@lalulilalavilly723]

I always loved this episode as a kid. I can't bring myself to find fault with it now. It's almost like I'm...... sentimental..... hmmmm......

[@chessboard9904]

im actually kinda interested to see your opinion about different parts of this one 😂

[@chessboard9904]

@@_MyNameIsAJ_ I’m hoping thats one of those things where he doesn’t like an episode overall but that one moment shines through type things cos its honestly one of my favourite speeches its so emotional

[@Staticjokes]

I can't look at Matt Smith anymore without thinking of Daemon. It really changes Doctor Who episodes

[@Rocket1377]

I felt the same way about David Tennant after watching Jessica Jones.

[@theblackswordsman9951]

Yeah he is great as Daemon

[@WaitWhatWho]

"I walked away from the last Great Time War. I marked the passing of the Time Lords. I saw the birth of the universe and watched as time ran out. Moment by moment until nothing remained. No time, no space, just me. I walked in universes where the laws of physics where devised by the mind of a mad man. I watched universes freeze and creations burn. I have seen things you wouldn't believe. I have lost things you will never understand. And I know things. Secrets that must never be told. Knowledge that must never be spoken. Knowledge that will make parasite gods blaze. So come on then! Take it! Take it all, baby! Have it! You have it all!" This is one of the most powerful moments in the entire show to me. As someone who doesn't like how goofy 11 can be at times especially in season 7, this moment is incredible as we see the pain he's constantly carrying. I'll agree the episode is pretty naff but my god this speech is incredible. Honestly i hate how it gets undermined by Clara's fucking leaf.

[@Joseph-uo3mx]

Terrible episode and terrible speech at the end, only written to be featured in KZbin top 10 videos and its made worse that people ate it up

[@iamawesome4026]

Are you gonna review the power of the doctor.

[@ambrusraul2297]

I love this episode specially the singing

[@Tiger516funny]

11:02. Sponge wall.

[@TheGreenEyedMoose]

Could be an Easter egg but Clara mum dying on the 5th march was the day the Autons attacked back in 2005

[@angrypacifist5782]

IT'S ABOUT TO BEGIN

[@teenytv5194]

Seeing some better call Saul clips made my day

[@mrflibble1259]

2:52 I'm driving myself mad replaying this trying to spot what Harry's talking about. Anyone got a clue?

[@OverIoad7]

“What’s a bank holiday Monday?” Has me in tears 😭

[@misha130]

Great video, definitely one of my favorite companion introduction episodes.

[@anthonysteer4798]

I actually liked this episode, sure the doctors speech is overrated but I think this episode shows Clara being a motherly figure and how her mother's death affected her Edit: I also think the aliens and the location look gorgeous

[@artyb27]

13:10 isn't the Doctor talking about Victorian-era Clara here, not Amy? As for everything else, I completely agree. Bargain-basement romantic backstories, the Power of Love™, the power of singing, all capped off with grandiose but ultimately meaningless speech.. all makes for an unwatchable cringefest imo. I really don't understand what people see in that speech. At least Love and Monsters had the common decency to be funny.

[@SpectrumStorms]

As someone who doesn't care the Matt Smith era at all, I don't get the hate for this episode. Dare I say it, every other episode in this series alone is worse than this.

[@skenguin]

this episode was the nail in the coffin for my interest in doctor who

[@chessboard9904]

NO!!! NO NO NO NO NO NO! she reminds him of her from the snowmen episode you twonk

[@jamescarr8196]

The snowmen was a genuinely good episode too. But he knows cos he mentioned it last review lolz

[@a-cxnt]

^

[@sanddagger36]

It happens a lot in Moffet era where the episode just ends and you are supposed to assume they resolved it, the twisted man and his mate were reunited or the russian sub helped them find the tardis or something.

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

I've always thought Rings of Akhaten was an okay episode, not brilliant but not Orphan 55 bad either. This is where I think your rank system is flawed because according to your ranks, this is as bad as Orphan 55 but it just isn't. Not brilliant as I sad, but not that bad, just middling really

[@GingeyWhatever]

it's a shame such a great Murray Gold track is attached to this episode, it's really wonderful and deserves better

[@IndustriousVermin]

It was used again when 11 regenerates, another excellent moment in a tired and tedious story

[@djsweatshirtx]

omg. the algorithm gave me nostalgia

[@sinistersh0t2741]

I began watching Doctor Who, Slap bang on the 26th of March 2005, When "Rose" Aired, My mum was born in the Early 60's and grew up with the show So she was suprised when it appeared on Our Sky TV Guide, We began watching and 7 Year old me was Hooked from that very Point. But it was this Very Episode when it aired where I actually walked out half way through. I was just bored, Never had that happen before. And i Believe i stopped watching the show entirely after Season 9. I've come to appreciate this episode more now that I've grown up and Have come to really enjoy the Final Song and Speech at the End of the Episode. Unfortunetely I have not been able to get back into Doctor Who like i onced was so keen to watch every saturday night. Some of that is because of the Writing, Some because of the Budget and effects appearing worse than they once were, and some because of the Fear being watered down in the show to attain a much wider audience. I just found it ironic how the show's early seasons that used to Start at 6/7PM in the evening that some of the episodes we're sometimes both exciting and terrifying, But as the years passed and the show began shifting closer to the 9PM Watershed [In Uk, more mature shows can be played after 9PM], that the Show became far less scary. It's a shame cause I loved both Doctor Who, and past 9PM it's more Mature Spin off, Torchwood. I just hope with Russel .T Davies returning we can maybe get some of that fear factor back. [Also, if you lot are enjoying the current seasons, good for you, I'm glad you like them, I'm just expressing my thoughts here, don't want to cause no trouble]

[@danielwilliamson6180]

I haven't watched Rings of Akhaten from Matt Smith's final season as The Doctor in a long time and it didn't suck. It's one of my favourite episodes from New Who. It was like a space fairy tale. I thought Matt Smith gave one of his best performances as The Doctor.

[@svenlauke1190]

for someone who analyses this show for a living basically, its kind of weird how often you miss the point or important plot elements. "someone who died" is not Amy, its the other Claras (Dalek asylum, snowmen etc). why do you think the doctor is interested in her in the first place? because he keeps running into "her"

[@AxelaxiB]

I was looking for this comment because I was like yeah that's true.

[@NickName183]

13:15 Huh?? He’s talking about Victorian Clara lol

[@mjm3091]

Tbh, I did like the twist with the leaf. Just the execution of it all.

[@mattthesilent777RED]

Great Episode!

[@partlyawesome]

I'm sad you don't like the speech the doctor does in this episode, I occasionally come back to just that speech itself as I think it's one of Smith's defining doctor moments.

[@dutchmansmine9053]

I hated this episode. I thought the never ending song was cringey, I thought the infinite leaf feeding the god was unlikely, I thought the god apparently disintegrating and no one caring was also unlikely, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

[@alligatorloki3336]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the arena was A "F*****g Wifi symbol" (13:43), bells of saint john, anyone?

[@DiamondFire]

Okay but is cheesy really a complaint or a bad thing? no it's not. LMAO

[@Archtechnician]

matt smith put work into that speech, only part of the episode worth watching even once, just to see how good he was at goading the big bad of an episode.

[@juliet1203_]

Just remember... There's one more Chibnall episode left

[@mathieuleader8601]

ooh parasite planet

[@KaiIzuki]

Kinda bummed you didn't commend Matt Smith's acting. The speech might have been weird to you, but Smith acted his ass off. He elevated the episode from boring to memorable in a few minutes.

[@NileSWPhotography]

I couldn’t wait to hear you rip into Clara about her leaf and that book 😂 Never liked this episode either.

[@chwthomas09]

where did that "I love kids." clip come from?

[@mbalazs3544]

I liked this episode, problem is stuff i did not understood, what loved was Clara was useful and how they killed a god, using the rules of its existence to crush it, I loved that not the doctor was the one who saved the day for once we need those situation to keep the story lass predictable :D

[@RandyMcRandomson]

2:55 where is the mistake?

[@dirtyberty]

You can see the panel start to fall off after the doctor grabs it

[@Jel01975]

Another great review. Thank you.

[@Alex-yl8dz]

We've had The Darkness and Rage Against The Machine in Harry's videos. What next, I wonder?

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

I didn't like this episode at the time, have only seen it once since. I've always wanted to rewatch as a lot of people refer to it as one of Smith's best episodes. This review isn't helping the case, but I honestly think you're overblowing nitpicks, like child actor Clara's eye colour, or the thing about the notepad last episode. That said, you're still making good comments too - Clara's family is referenced more than I remembered!

[@AirQuotes]

Most of the real Klara episodes suck. I can't think of one off the top of my head that didn't suck.

[@beauregarden]

I don't love or hate this one it's just forgettable to me. The most upsetting thing about this one is that they got Chris Barrie and did not utilise him at all

[@christianwise637]

If you're referring to the chorister in the temple, that's not Chris Barrie

[@jdzencelowcz]

I didn't love it, but it wasn't trash, IMHO.

[@leejones8582]

I watched it today and it is not that bad

[@libbyford6765]

I used to love these reviews and I am not actually that upset by a lot of what you said in this video but sometimes this massive amount of negatively makes me really wonder if you even like this show that you seem to base your career on at all? Doctor who has always been silly, goofy, and cheesy and although this is not the best episode I breaks my heart that you can't seem to find any enjoyment in it whatsoever. Maybe you would be better off reviewing a show that actually like?

[@barry1369]

You didn’t mention the “I want to see something awesome line”. Easily the cringiest line in the show’s history

[@AvAIK]

You are just mean to all 11th doctor run

[@spectaclescope]

This is a bad take , I loved this episode

[@TheWhovinerd-1963]

I absolutely love this episode and have never really understood why people hate it so much. I think it is an amazing story that despite its simplicity and goofiness manages to inspire and engage the viewers. The doctor in this story is perfect serving as more of the side character because the main character of the story is Clara. This story proves that Clara really does have character to her. She’s clever and inspiring she’s in many ways exactly like the Doctor. The first thing she does when meeting the queen of years, despite not knowing her at all is comfort her, she has no idea who this girl is or what she is like but she comforted her. This is exactly what the doctor would do. I think the use of comedy in the episode doesn’t even really detract from the story it works effectively. The songs and speeches are awing and heart warming, keeping the viewers engaged. The speech’s from the doctor and Clara are amazing and the performances from both actors are immaculate. Ik people mock the leaf 🍁 a lot but that’s because they don’t understand that it’s not literally the leaf that defeats the monster in the story. It’s the symbolism behind it. The leaf is a representation of Time itself and The life clara could never have, as well as her own. The creature feeds on memories so Clara gave it the leaf which represents what happened, what could have happened and what could never be. And I like how it’s not the Doctor who saved the day ( which can be a common problem in new who with the Doctor always saving the day) It adds so much more to Clara’s character and the dynamic between the madman in his blue box and the impossible girl. Overall I love this episode as it’s a sort of comfort story for me. I give it a 10/10 from me. You may disagree and that is alright to each their own as they say xx

[@GreekHouseEffect]

Easily, the worst season pre-Chibnall

[@yospidey0078]

This episode sucks. 2/10 is a deserved rating.

[@nellrose4699]

If you're going to do reviews you probably should do your research properly, you make a lot of mistakes