Doctor Who The Devil's Chord Review | Season One Reaction

We're playing The Devil's Chord in this video, the second episode of Ncuti Gatwa's run as The Doctor.
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🕰️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:04 - Episode Setting: TARDIS in 1963, Music Gone Wrong
00:29 - Spoiler Warning and Episode Expectations
00:54 - Improved Characterization of Shutee as the Doctor
01:16 - Cold Open and Character Introduction: Timothy Drake
01:37 - Villain Introduction and Episode Dynamics
02:02 - Production Choices and Character Voice Effects
02:24 - Theme Music and TARDIS Jukebox Setup
02:48 - Character Development: Roove’s Connection to Music
03:14 - Historical Callbacks and Fan Service
03:35 - 1960s Setting and Production Quality
04:01 - Visual Storytelling: Doctor Uses Sonic Screwdriver
04:24 - The Doctor's Challenges and Fear
04:48 - Doctor-Companion Relationship Dynamics
05:07 - Callback to Classic Who and Plot Development
05:26 - Final Showdown and Camera Techniques
05:50 - Story Critique: Deus Ex Machina Resolution
06:19 - Commentary on Musical Number and Narrative Integration
06:46 - Expectations vs. Reality of the Musical Number
07:12 - Potential for Musical Battles in Doctor Who
07:37 - Concept for a Music Battle Episode
08:00 - Summary and Review of "The Devil's Chord"
08:26 - Episode's Impact and Audience Appeal
08:42 - Conclusion
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[@FractalParadox]

"there's always a twist at the end" coupled with all the 4th wall breaks is some serious Timeless child level setup. hopefully RTD doesn't pull a Chibnall and goes for the obvious "The Doctor is one of the outer Gods" BS.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Several people have suggested that and I think it would be a big mistake.

[@JustEdgeOfficial]

I love the word "hijinks" to describe it, lol. Not only because of what you mentioned, but the introduction to Maestro, played by Jinkx Monsoon. So: "Hi, Jinkx!"

[@BeyondTheSofa]

I do love a good pun, hence the comment in the video :)

[@juli859]

Great review. I felt this was a much stronger episode than Space Babies, although I did enjoy both. I remember feeling that the dance number at the end was a bit weak when it started up, but by the end I was feeling the energy. The song could have been better, but it was definitely fun to watch. I'm very much enjoying this season so far. Each episode seems stronger...and shows off the acting skills of both Ncuti and Millie. Boom is my fav so far, although Devil's Chord is a close second.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Each episode does feel stronger at the moment and I am looking forward to next week. A bit of folk horror is right up my street, though.

[@Limes_not_Lemons]

My main issue with these episodes so far is the conclusion having flashbacks to things said about 20-30 minutes prior. The fact it's happened in both worries me. It's lazy and doesn't feel like it trusts the audience, like babies. Which is exactly why I brushed it off while watching Space Babies, but happening in both feels super out of place

[@BeyondTheSofa]

I know what you mean and I do think that feels similar to the issues with Daleks in Colour too. Devil’s Chord didn’t really suffer from that, though. Sure, a few callbacks to CORR, but that’s not the resolution of the story.

[@zocialix]

Your reviews are the best - you provide a really deep insight into the various areas of production, writing, plot, character and theme. There needs to be more channels like yours. Much as your channel name implies you truly do go Beyond The Sofa!

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Thank you ever so much, that's very kind of you. I'm really thrilled you enjoyed the video

[@kbg12ila]

I actually really liked Space Babies. It was silly and ridiculous but so much fun and worked really well to introduce the two leads and their dynamic together.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

There’s nothing wrong with silly and ridiculous once in a while. I think the biggest criticisms I’ve seen are how some of the scripting seems to have taken a step back from the 60th anniversary and CORR. I think you have to give this a chance, though.

[@RH1812]

Yes! The you never run away line…she has no idea at this point from what’s been shown

[@BeyondTheSofa]

I didn’t realise (possibly because it was late when I was watching it) that they’ve jumped 7 months (real time) into the future between episodes, so that felt very odd when it appears that, at this point, Ruby has been with the Doctor for some time.

[@owena7236]

I was a tiny bit thrown off by them jumping straight from December 2023 to July 2024. I'm sure there are reasons behind it, but I do think we could have done with a bit more easing into things. Can't fault RTD for wanting to skip to the good stuff - since he did the ease-into-it routine three times already - but it just makes me want to see more of their early adventures. Hoping that Big Finish carve at least three boxsets out of their early days, anyway. I thought Ruby was going to add the secret 'final note' to the piano. When she was talking about her friend who got her heart broken by a girl, I spent the episode thinking Ruby was either the friend or the girl. With the episode suggesting that music is almost a spiritually necessary catharsis in response to heartbreak, I thought she'd use the power of that to stop the Maestro. I was fine with Paul and John swooping in (even if I can't disagree that it's a deus ex machina!), but yeah, everything led me to think Ruby was going to hit that last note. Like Clara using the power of potential to stop Akhaten, almost.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

It would have been nice for Ruby to complete the chord but the whole thing of “you need to be a genius” was set up rather well. Although, the Doctor has often called himself a genius 😂 I wonder if they were keeping Ruby back for the reveals later in the season? I still think that creating a moment where the Doctor was responsible for John and Pall being there would have changed the feel of that moment, though.

[@LOTLore]

This is a quality review! I also liked the episodes a lot. Space babies was good too but this was fantastic. Thanks for the great video

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Thank you ever so much, I’m thrilled you lied it.

[@binrotheheretic8174]

@@BeyondTheSofa *liked 🤣

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Touch typing on an iPad is a nightmare sometimes. You should see the state of my scripts.

[@binrotheheretic8174]

@@BeyondTheSofa i m trying to work out if mine are due to my meds ... 😀

[@petebellamy1962]

Any thoughts on Susan Twist?

[@BeyondTheSofa]

A couple but I'm keeping them close to my chest. If I come up with something and it's wrong, I will inevitable be unhappy that it's not what I wanted it to be 🤣

[@binrotheheretic8174]

Tbh the disconnection of the dance number at the end (in addition to the quality of the song - eurovision is going to seem good in comparison 🤣) that really left a bad taste - and i m on the supportive side of the argument upto and including church on ruby road. Yes, it's moffatt up next but you need to have won your audience by now or they'll never see Boom!

[@BeyondTheSofa]

I do think there were a few dropped balls with these first two episodes. If I'm sat thinking “I could write a better song than that,” then I'm not sure it does its job. And how simple would it have been to incorporate it into the show about music, rather than it being tacked on at the end? Unless we see some reason for that later on… but I’m not holding my breath. I'm a little worried that we’re going to see more things not paid off and that's something I was hoping RTD would avoid. Still, 6 more episodes to go.

[@binrotheheretic8174]

@@BeyondTheSofa i ve just watched an interview where millie refers to the last zebra crossing scene as a keyboard which makes more sense of it if the maestros influence is lingering like the toymaker's does - the dance sequence doesn't integrate though - it's like that line in the starbeast. Theres a characteristic of RTD's writing who that he scrambles at the end to get to the ending that ends up being contrived. Contrast it with moffatt who starts with him in a corner and has to write himself out of it which generally isn't contrived.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

Yes, he puts so much into the plot that he has no time for a proper denouement. A good example of that is Tooth & Claw. You know what could have worked, is if locking up Maestro wasn't enough and they had to perform the song to finally release all of the music back into the world and, because he is a lord of time, it sets the timelines back as he does it.

[@ZarbiDW]

I couldnt agree more, i thought the episode was good fun. Thanks for the review

[@BeyondTheSofa]

My pleasure, I’m glad you enjoyed the video 😊

[@aliservan7188]

Space Babies was complete crap, worthless, mind-numbingly stupid, but Devil's Chord was GLORIOUS! Complete classic, loved it.

[@RickReasonnz]

Huh. My feelings were exactly the opposite.

[@aliservan7188]

@@RickReasonnz Come on, expand! Really interested in WHY you thought that

[@BeyondTheSofa]

That’s really interesting. I’ve never seen two episodes divide people so much. If you like one, you don’t like the other, it seems.

[@BeyondTheSofa]

You’re not the only one to think that. There’s a real dividing line between these episodes.

[@dalekcollector]

@@aliservan7188 I feel like Devils Choard should have been the series opener. it had so much more weight to it.

[@stephaniepage4334]

Could ruby be jenny daughter or ruby might be Susan biological granddaughter?

[@BeyondTheSofa]

There’s a lot of ways they could go. It’ll be interesting to see how they actually resolve everything.