Doctor Who Did a Musical... | The Devil's Chord (Review and Analysis)

Doctor Who's Series 14 kicked off with a big double--premiere. I've already covered Space Babies, the first episode, but now it's time to cover S14E02: The Devil's Chord! This musical-themed episode takes The Doctor and Ruby back in time to meet The Beatles. But is it any good?
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#DoctorWho #Series14 #Review

[@HarboWholmes]

Help support me on Patreon! www.patreon.com/harbowholmes

[@mattthesilent777RED]

Stop future-Harboing, these episodes should all be deleted from the BBC archives

[@vullord666]

You know has this series so far felt a little Disney ABC family Once Upon a Time to anyone else? I know they've said Disney is only doing marketing and streaming it for international audiences, but it feels like that influence goes further. Even if it's just been "suggestions" from Disney.

[@vullord666]

I want to see you do a one off review on Star Trek Strange New Worlds musical episode. I immediately thought of it in comparison to this episode.

[@speccowo]

I really appreciate how fair you were to this episode. I personally loved Maestro but that's just my prefferance. its so refreshing to see a review critisisng the character without it just being "Waa waa WOKE agendar!!!" Bravo!

[@SilverLil-qs8ij]

There were a variety of different and contradictory accounts of the Doctor's early life before their travels with Susan. Most often, the Doctor had always been a Time Lord from Gallifrey and had not regenerated before leaving in the TARDIS. However, the Doctor's own memories were unclear regarding their early life and origins, and several accounts suggested that they had non-Gallifreyan origins (human or otherwise) or incarnations before the one who fled Gallifrey. The many contradictory accounts of the Doctor's early life were equally and paradoxically true due to the Doctor's biodata being retroactively manipulated by a number of factors, such as; the Other, Omega, Faction Paradox, the Toymaker, subconscious regeneration influences, and the impact of Doctor's own adventures through time. The Toymaker implied that he had a hand in creating the history of the Timeless Child and the Fugitive Doctor, as he claimed to have turned the Doctor 's past into a "jigsaw puzzle". Please 🙏 make a video about this!

[@robloggia]

As an American my advice to any producers wanting to appeal to an American audience is: don't. If we're interested in a show it's because it is different than what we can get locally, and shitting on your original fanbase aligning it to one our time zones isn't going to win anyone over.

[@NicoleM_radiantbaby]

THIS!

[@boogiebear3027]

Thank you so much for this comment ❤

[@ozmond]

I’m glad I got to watch it at 6 pm

[@ForrestFox626]

Exactly

[@allisonwatson3837]

I agree. The times for the 60th were perfect for everyone. Should've stuck with that.

[@geekygalaxy4307]

If i lived in a world with no music for 40 years, i'd break into a dance number when it's finally restored

[@fastertrackcreative]

Maybe if they just showed people dancing and singing in the street in a more naturalistic sort of way vs choreographed dance numbers akin to a musical.

[@displayname9538]

Does this mean that all of the music from 40 years before this episode took place doesn’t exist in the timeline anymore?

[@therondayview7684]

But how would you know how to dance??

[@Jackson-ub1uv]

They _really_ should've saved this episode for later; this is their second proper adventure together that we get to see, yet Ruby _suddenly_ seems to know the Doctor like it's midway through the series. Whenever there's a new companion, we _need_ to see them build their relationship with the Doctor _before_ any timeskips occur.

[@matthewlacey4198]

Yeah you can't gloss over that initial relationship forming, she says it's June 2024 for her, and Space Babies picks up where the Christmas ep left off, meaning it's been 6 months for her, travelling with the Doctor. Time skips are fine, just not over the initial relationship forming

[@tomat05]

Yeah I think it's because it's a short series they felt the need to move everything on a bit faster. I particularly noticed it in the first episode seeing as that's supposed to be the first time Ruby has been in the tardis and she already acts as though it's all completely normal after the first like 5 minutes. That and the fact that he gives her a key to the tardis by the end of that episode made everything just feel a bit rushed which I think could've been helped by just having a normal 13 episode series.

[@matthewlacey4198]

@@tomat05 when's the Doctor given tardis keys before? I know Martha got one way later than most companions, but I can't recall when others got one And yeah, there's so much other fluff you could cut from a 13 episode season (back when Russell last wrote for Who) and the new 8 episode length I think it's a slightly easier transition than most tho, to go from them barely knowing each other in ep 1 to being best mates in ep 2, Ruby never really had any skepticism or reasons to distrust the Doctor, should've thrown in a little dash of distrust between them in episode 2, like Amy and the Doctor's distrust in The Beast Below, Rose and 9's in The End of the World with him being overly enigmatic, etc.

[@berserkasaurusrex4233]

@@matthewlacey4198 Rose got the Tardis key in the fourth episode (Aliens in London) because she's afraid he'll leave her in London, and I think he takes it back from her when she saves her father in Father's Day.

[@RayTheomo]

Exactly. Theyre usually very good about at least mentioning in passing comments/jokes how many adventures theyve been on in between episodes. But this was not explained at all.

[@skeleytonz5319]

my main problem with the devils chord is that it seems like it was moved from a later episode spot to episode 2. especially with things like rubys line about the doctor never running away and the maestro saying the main villain of the arc is almost here, also it doesnt really follow the last episodes ending

[@berserkasaurusrex4233]

That's a good point! It does feel like it's out of sequence.

[@donteherriott5509]

Now that you say that it makes perfect sense why it has been bothering me a bit. That maybe my only problem this series: it is a bit rushed.

[@vullord666]

Right? And it was glaringly bad on the Disney+ streaming end where both were released at the same time as a two episode premiere.

[@speccowo]

I feel that way about space babies actually. I dont think that shouldve been put first in the season.

[@jonnythegamemaster]

It wasn't though. We can track the production and see that it hasn't moved at all.

[@TheOtherSide4Me]

I saw someone state that after the Toymaker was defeated, some of his chaotic power remained in the universe which was what allowed the creation of the second TARDIS. I’d say a similar thing happened here, with all of the suppressed music of the world coming out at once when the Maestro was gone. Also the songs chorus has ‘The Giggle’ interpolated into it which might come up later

[@Sparx632]

The script for this episode directly says that the musical number is because of Maestro.

[@PsyrenXY]

Nailed it. This also explains the Abbey Road crosswalk becoming a magic piano, the lingering power of the Maestro

[@joejjjj]

Thank you, that’s actually cool and i hate musicals haha

[@cornparade6874]

"I saw someone state" Was it Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor in the very same episode it happens by chance? When he literally explains that exact thing?

[@joejjjj]

@@cornparade6874 how rude

[@samwitherington8202]

The Maestro is much funnier when you imagine them introducing their dad to the Spice Girls, inspiring a whole obsession within him.

[@B-MC]

...I didn't make the connection, but now if Maestro ever comes back, it needs to be the whole pantheon on a pedestal-esque platform stage, and their minions are the literal spice Girls, and they break into "so tell me what you want, what you really really want" and the entrance to the pantheon can cut to each villain every time it says "I wanna 'huh' " and then cut to whoever the big boss is on "I want really really really want a zig a zig uh".

[@thethreerailwayengines825]

As a hardcore Thomas fan, I sometimes forget that Ringo (the original narrator of the Thomas TV Show) is one of the more forgotten members of the Beatles

[@Domisbeast]

Hey John 🤣

[@mattevans4377]

He probably was a better narrator than a musician

[@pondhootowl11]

I had the same thought lol

[@CrankyGrandma]

He wasn’t really. Back in the day he was the second favorite of everyone. The John, Paul, and George fans would argue which they loved more but EVERYONE loved Ringo. He was the main character in both Hard Days Night and Help, the first two Beatles films. It’s weird having lived through this and having been a fan since 1964, to see perceptions of the Beatles that are disconnected from what I remember. I’d also say his drumming made the Beatles. It gave the extra zing to the songs … it brought everyone together musically

[@Illustrator2]

Ayyy also a thomas fan here, i worked on that roblox game Sodor online- music stuff.

[@SHallAdiag]

Honestly The Maestro worked for me. I think watching The Sarah Jane Adventures prepared me for this. I felt the character was genuinely menacing.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

I might need to watch SJA sometime then, because Maestro was one of my favorite villains the show’s had in a long time! I guess Harbo’s right, either a love or hate character.

[@amongstreality3487]

I've got a dog He's called Fred My dog is alive He's not dead

[@DriverHenryWho3245]

I love my dog He loves me too I haven't got a cat Only a dog

[@jeckjeck3119]

One of the songs of all time.

[@merluzacongelada5361]

​@@jeckjeck3119I can confirm that was, indeed, a song.

[@moecoop420]

Sounds like a hit to me!

[@timothylyons5686]

I reckon she would never go after Kiss. Not with the demon on bass

[@jjkeyboards]

I am so happy that someone else thought the bad Beatles song was a niche reference to 'Its Okay to Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car'!! My friends thought I went mad

[@saeedrazavi4428]

It was my first thought too lol

[@scibus2593]

4:15 the thing is though, is that nobody really knows what Shakespeare looked like. Every likeness labelled as him was created after his death by people who never met him, and the one likeness created contemporaneously wasn’t labelled as him, we just sorta assumed. Plus if I remember correctly, I think Martha might have mentioned it in the episode.

[@tzarg]

Shakespeare: "No autographs, You can't be sketched with me."

[@xXTHEPHILLIPXx]

I loved Maestro. I actually forgot about the Toymaker being all song and dance as Maestro felt even more evil and chaotic. I love musicals but the ending left me sour too.

[@jackballinger1757]

"a failed composer turned piano", you must be tired!

[@tom_troughton-kl5ry]

9:48 😆

[@DriverHenryWho3245]

Lmao 😭😅

[@emperordalek102]

ironic amy pond also wanted to see the beetles but that ended up in chaos because the city of the daleks.

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

1:28 Clara!!! Still having a massive crush on her even after ten years! Also, she'd be proud of Ruby's nannying skills being a nanny herself. I wonder how she would feel with all the space babies.

[@philiprandall9994]

She even looks the same as Ruby!

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

@@philiprandall9994 She does! I noticed that as soon as I saw Ruby for the first time in promo images. Apart from the different hair color. They even have a similar accent although Ruby's is stronger.

[@ftumschk]

@@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o Millie and Jenna are both from Lancashire. Where Millie grew up became part of Greater Manchester when it was created in 1974, but historically it was in Lancashire, and the accents are broadly similar.

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

@@ftumschk Oh, I didn't know that. Thank you!

[@alisonjane7068]

slow clap for all the beatles' song titles you managed to work into your script

[@01superchunk66]

I ignored the musical number at the end, but man, the villain in this was amazing, I hope they come back. I find this episode really fun

[@SweptDust5340]

Agree BUT wish they gave them some more serious scenes. Tone it down just a bit, let them have a boom town style face off with the doctor.

[@01superchunk66]

​@SweptDust5340 I do get that theybseemed a bit too campy, but rhere was a couple of bits of real serious sinister, for me it's rhe quiet bit where maestro figures out how to break it, rather than throwing a fit which is what I think a campy villain would do

[@SweptDust5340]

@@01superchunk66 i agree with that and i definitely loved Maestro as a villain overall

[@CineScarborough]

Especially as most original new series villains are a bit bland. Maestro is the exception.

[@ETLettuce]

I unironically thought they were gonna play "It's okay to leave your dog in a hot car" for a hot second in that episode

[@unorthodoxbox]

The thing that is confusing me about RTD at the moment is he is incredibly capable of amazing stories, he is naturally good at darker stories. Midnight, Children of Earth, Turn Left, The Waters of Mars, Badwolf, Parting of the Ways, etc. Outside Doctor Who It's a Sin destroyed me with it's ending so we know he can do it, hell I think if he committed he could be the next Robert Holmes of Doctor Who yet lately from what I've seen of this new era it's a bit too jovial and at times pantomime. Maybe this will change as his era goes forward, yet we're six episodes in and it's been quite a mixed bag, I wouldn't even call this era a good jumping on point for new fans as there is a lot of lore being thrown at viewers.

[@jameskilgour387]

Strong disagree. Early series RTD has always been ridiculous and even childish (Adipose, Slitheen, burping dustbins, talking Rhinos) before ramping up the serious side as the series progresses. This is very much par for the course with Russell and I am fully expecting it to get darker. I am waiting for the full series to be out before making a judgment

[@VeryUsMumblings]

The ironic thing about this episode is that there actually is a secret Beatles chord. It's the opening chime at the beginning of A Hard Day's NIght, in which all four Beatles are playing a different set of notes to create one big chord. Of course, then they'd have to include Ringo and George as 'geniuses' so I guess that idea was out. this episode was a little bit too childish for me. Good video, though! 😄

[@HikaruKenRyu-LightsabreJutsu]

No it's the closing chord of Day in the Life

[@dansharp2860]

Having John and Paul "read" the magical notes was fun and all but neither of those two could read music so in reality, if it was left to them to save the world, we're toast.

[@noahalden529]

I was actually expecting the hard day’s night chord when john and paul stood next to each other to play it

[@bondfall0072]

I thought it would be the "A Day in the Life" chord

[@HB-fq9nn]

I personally don’t have an issue with the musical at the end, because it feels like the universe is trying to catch up with all the music that has been absent up until now.

[@ThePageofVoid]

I can appreciate it from that angle. I think it went on a little too long for my liking though, but with this perspective it makes some sense

[@Road_to_Dawn]

Yeah, I’m not a fan of musicals myself, but I thought the song at the end was fun and fitting because the episode itself was a celebration of music, so it made sense to have it in here.

[@The_Triple_Point]

Am I the only one that doesn't feel like they established a real reason for why Ruby wants to go on adventures with the doctor? She doesn't ever feel like she's written like a real person. She just magically becomes the Docter's best friend instantly because the plot demands a companion. I haven't felt like any of the companions after Bill felt like genuine people. I miss when companions actually had motivation to go on an adventure with our timelord. Moffat's companions were always motivated by either running from something, running to something, or wanting to learn knew things. They thematically fit with the doctor. But Ruby is just like....I'm adopted so I'm sad...I'm gonna go run off with this dude because???? like she enters the tardis without even knwoing anything about the doctor. A regular person wouldn't go in like that.

[@bananatiergod]

TBF the next episodes are starting to suggest that there is more to her finding him than meets the eye, maybe even a fixed event of sorts. Guess we'll find put in 75 Yards

[@jameskilgour387]

I mean, finding out more about her parents seems like a pretty clear motivation for jumping on board a time machine

[@josephdimambro-denson]

In my head, I justified the ending song as the world celebrating the return of music and that's the twist for the general public after years without music it randomly returns. IDK, just pulling at strings. : P

[@spic9h592]

Honestly that plus the linfering effects of the Meastro (similar to the toymaker's realm sticking around a bit after his defeat) was my exact reasoning for the sequence. But if Harbo hates musicals as much he portays, I could see him missing that due to dreading the sequence to begin with. I'm almost certain we'll get a reprise of it later on in the season with a much darker twist.

[@calligrapherfun1616]

that pun truly was a twist at the end

[@dogblessamerica]

That's it I think. Nothing more complicated than that.

[@FTZPLTC]

tbh I would've been fine with that. It just didn't need to go on so long.

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

It's a deliberate misdirection. There's always a twist at the end, so they put a twist at the end - following the rules of 'things being literal' that has been a theme so far. But that's the short-term explanation - there are several threads running throughout the arc, and the inevitable twist is being simultaneously resolved and lampshaded.

[@enbyennui]

I really enjoyed this episode on the whole, but even I find it completely perplexing that, if they wanted to do a big musical number, they didn't place it during the literal in-text music battle rather than just shoving it in at the end. Like, they had a music battle. Put the song there. That's where the song goes.

[@enbyennui]

It would be so easy -- you start the big musical number as diegetic from the Doctor & Ruby during the music battle, then it turns non-diegetic for a fun dance number, then they finish on one big chord: the chord that expels the Maestro. Works perfectly.

[@jamescrang2251]

As someone who absolutely loves musicals, I also hated "There's always a twist at the end". As you said it's there for the sake of being there, and has zero reason. Part of the joy of musicals is the music becoming an extension of the characters emotions, but that just doesn't happen here. It's spectacle for spectacles sake and "oh isn't this a fun musical number" with zero thought or reason as to why we should care. At the very least the musical number could've been a result of music suddenly returning all at once rather than this strange 4th wall break that goes on far too long.

[@isobarkley]

no effing way you nailed that prediction 14:45

[@HC-lf2gn]

That's exactly what I thought. If he made a separate video on Sutekh it would've been huge

[@jamiemccreath3959]

Throughout the musical number I was waiting for the obvious explanation that it was due to some residual effect left by the Maestro, *just like how they duplicated the TARDIS in the 60th,* but it never happened. It was right there!...

[@jjkeyboards]

Same! When I was watching on broadcast I kept asking my mate "ok where's the twist? This can't be it, surely? Something's gonna happen at the end" - like the Doctor ends up realising that the world is now oversaturated with music which has a bad butterfly effect for the future

[@Road_to_Dawn]

The Twist was the old dance they were doing.

[@ItsButterBean1020]

It’s weird too because the musical just doesn’t serve any purpose, it’s just kinda there because “oh lmao we want a musical episode but forgot to write one in” It’s a shame personally because I really loved the idea of a musical episode, one perhaps with the villain manipulating people for their own musical themed joy

[@Blackwell-h5g]

The Doctor can endlessly multiply thanks to the timeless child combined with bi generation and make his companion as smart as him so long as they let it go because well some where down the line burn her mind up turned into not a big deal so long as you let go of the power before the timer runs out wich actually is probably around 30 minutes so no he really wasn't in any danger at any point thanks rtd amazing writing its a shame there was no other way a TIME lord in a show about TIME travel could meet up with his younger self and beet the toymaker

[@Galgomite]

"Worried that this series isn't for me"-- I'm pretty sure they're trying to make a clean break with older fans to boost a (theoretical) cool factor for younger people.

[@CosmicRandom2122]

I'm a younger person(22) and I have younger cousins who are like 10-15 and none us think this is cool. If it stays like this, we're out too. RTD clearly thinks he's appealing to 'modern audiences' but in reality he's losing them just as much.

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

​@@CosmicRandom2122 I think once they had a character unironically say Doggo there's no debate about that

[@kojinaoftheinvertedeye810]

Maestro looks very Hocus Pocus

[@christopherbennett5858]

Have you seen Jinkx? Hocus Pocus is her default setting lol.

[@Userhasbeenbanned0]

He looks cringe

[@Ri57490]

Maestro was actually quite scary. The actor who plays him did a great job

[@christopherbennett5858]

@@Ri57490 Yes, Jinkx Monsoon. She’s one of the most well known contestants and winners of Rupaul’s drag race. She’s done television before and was on Broadway as the warden of the Cook County Jail in Chicago.

[@susaniacuone5758]

Would it have been so hard to put dark brown contacts on John, Paul, and George? Such a simple thing but it would've helped with a hint if resemblance

[@davidbrown9866]

The Master, Cybermen, and the Daleks always wanted to kill the Doctor because, in the future, they saw The Devil’s Chord and tried to prevent it being made.

[@truthhertz10]

Hmmmmm were they the good guys all along?

[@mittfh]

It doesn't help that RTD is an absolutely terrible lyricist: see also Goblin Song ("eat with our teeth, better than beef" and "he's the Goblin King, yes, the Goblin King, he's not a myth, he's an actual thing")...

[@jameskilgour387]

Don't forget Ruby rhyming "meet you" with "greet you" and "diddly deet you". Russell, you're just using the same word three times its not rhyming. Could have done with some input from an actual songwriter on those numbers.

[@headsgrowback1]

When the maestro gets defeated, all that pent up music and some of her reality bending power gets all blasted out into the world, so for a short time a sudden musical number and the Abbey road crosswalk piano make sense. This was also explained in the toymaker's episode.

[@runilareads15]

As someone obsessed with musicals, I hated the musical number in this episode. It wasn’t just you 😂

[@B-MC]

Same I love musicals and cutting from Gatwa winking to the camera to the song was jarring, throughout it was I like "what the hell? Uh ... okay, I guess we're doing this now." There's KIND of a logic to it, same way the umbrella piano thing is 'domain lingering' so impossible things can happen at the end of godly episodes. But Gatwa literally never thanked or acknowledged the Beatles. It cuts from Gatwa and Millie being randomly saved and then they come outside like 'haha we won' as opposed to 'well that was lucky and a bit traumatising' Without the grounding and stakes, this explosively success-driven ending is unearned because there was little tension to begin with.

[@B-MC]

Also, I get its a 'music' episode, but if the Beatles have their music taken away and that's what brings it back, you can't NOT use Beatles music at the end. The song feels tonally off because it's genre of music has nothing to do with the initial problem they were fixing.

[@runilareads15]

@@B-MC exactly

[@ItsButterBean1020]

@@B-MCsadly they couldn’t get the licensing to Beetles tracks for whatever reason so that inspired the episodes’ “what if the Beetles lost their groove” theme

[@B-MC]

@@ItsButterBean1020 I was aware of that and interested to see how they twist it (pun not intended), I suppose my real issue with "what if there was no Beatles music" is the episode seems to follow that premise up with "well we can easily solve that. Just don't have them in the episode much." Like either music in general is gone and it's purely about Maestro shenanigans, didn't need Beatles at all, or make it a proper Beatles historical. If people were to say in future "it's the episodes with the Beatles in it" "oh cool what happens in it?" "A music God takes music away" "so there's no Beatles music?" "No but not their fault" "well how do they make up for that? Do they do a lot of Beatles music references? Do we get to know the Beatles?" "Na they chat with them for one scene and they hate music and then they remember they're musical geniuses, that's about it" "oh ... what's the rest of it about?" "A music God shoots cgi music at people." "And ... what's the point of that? Do the Beatles help the doctor stand up to them? Do they get an adventure with the Beatles?" "Na they hit a Chord in another room and don't even know what was happening and then everyone dances yo a completely different style of music." "So okay, they couldn't get the Beatles music and didn't revolve the episode around them, what was the point?" "They wanted the Beatles in an episode. Is development and humanisation necessary?" (I'm thinking of how Historicals are usually written with organic and active characters, the plot revolves around them, here they feel accidental, apart from an excuse to go to abbey road they're an accidental inclusion.) Like its not that theyre not in it or they didn't have BTS challenges, but it sort of feels like they had clear reasons they've never done it, clear reasons they couldn't do it, and ... those reasons still apply. They just wanted it to be done, didn't think if it should be done, unless you can afford Beatles music OR have the time to focus on the four of them as characters, it's a bit of a waste and was better left for another day. It's not the lack of songs, it's the lack of Beatles.

[@Venemofthe888]

I think this episode is better was better than space babies and tbh i actually had a lot of fun with it (sue me). I think what i like with this series of Doctor Who thus far and in general is that there is a idea of trying new things to what people consider the norm cause it shows that Doctor Who can be diverse in its tone and not every episode has to be completely serious some are just here for a good time. Im not a fan of musicals myself but for me this does work for the episode. It doesnt always work but id rather have it be different to show be different in its episodes so you have that variety. Jinkx Monsoon has that fun chaotic energy and is pretty much at 11 on the scale right off the bat and never really calms down. For some that could be a bit much but for me in terms of who Maestro is it feels right since its not a conventional entity after being a child of the Toymaker. I know its hard to follow up Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker but i do think its a disservice to compare them since while they are related it doesnt mean they are the same. Maestro for me stands out on their own and the only bad thing is that Maestro is dispatched a little quickly before making a comment alluding to the one who waits. I will say having the character do the giggle from the giggle is a nice touch. The Doctor bringing up how the Toymaker took everything out of him to defeat him and even splitting his soul in half and not being able to go through that again. To me that's closing the door on bi-regeneration being a one off since it might not live it if it happened again to the Doctor. Using the Sonic Screwdriver using its intended purpose since Sonic devices in the real world disburse sound or something to that effect so its not out of place like ive seen others mention. I did enjoy this episode more than a lot of other people have and tbh im ok with that id rather enjoy a episode by myself than being a hater in a group online. Everyone has a opinion for sure but call me easily pleased lol. Also nice to see Shirley Ballas and Johannes Radabe in the final sequence as cameos

[@Condor-gb1xp]

Awesome take👏👏

[@Road_to_Dawn]

Agreed completely

[@Izelikestea]

the thing that bugged me the most about this episode, was the implication that without music, society would collapse. but what about other kinds of artistic expression? like paintings and literature and fashion? a society without music would be sad, but we have plenty of other creative outlets. I don't mean to nitpick. and I do get that a nuclear winter is a good way of hyping tension, but personally I would be more interested in seeing how humanity adapted in a musicless world. than just...everyone dying.

[@Condor-gb1xp]

I mean music was the instance used, that doesn’t mean the same wouldn’t apply for the other things you mentioned. Plus, I’ve always felt art is connected.

[@ItsButterBean1020]

Yeah It kinda felt thrown out for the sake of it I think it’d make more sense if the threat was a bleak and grey reality ala the workers from Metropolis

[@jameskilgour387]

Eh I think its valid. Music of some form has always connected with pretty much everyone, its almost ubiquitous, but plenty of people aren't bothered by fashion or books (I say this as a huge book nerd). Even if you aren't properly "into" music, you still have your favourite artists and songs. That really isn't the case for any other medium imo. Also, music was a massive part of the civil rights and anti-war 60s era (Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan etc...) and in the decline and fall of the USSR.

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

4:23 BBC in 2004??? I don't remember *that* Doctor Who episode... 😉

[@DarthMeteos]

wow, i'm shocked by how many people didn't care for this episode i thought it was tremendous, absolutely adored it the maestro was so funny and entertaining and the doctor had some great moments to shine

[@arlem525]

The reason for the musical number at the end was the result of music bursting back into the world. Oh and Jinkx Monsoon was phenomenal.

[@juicebox_ryan3185]

felt like i was going mad. Mentioned how I liked the episode but hated the song and people jumped on me saying I dont like fun. IDK what musicals have to do with "fun". I waited so long for this new series and hope its good because I really want to watch doctor who but....This new direction so far has been to dumbed down and kiddie

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

"Disney-fication" is a term that has been often applied to this new season, but you're right, "C-Beebies" is more on point

[@oliverejcousins2163]

"We're going to need all the help we can get on this adventure." "What can I do?" "You can go away George. And take Ringo with you. Nobody wants you."

[@DJ-LD]

21:52 I mean. Music was gone for almost forty years at that point. Then suddenly it's back and not only that you're in EMI studios. A place known for music so well that even despite said music being gone the one's who love it are still there without really knowing why. Honestly it would be more surprising if everyone didn’t start dancing and singing. I love music so much that if it was suddenly gone for any period of my life then came back I would be dancing until death took me from exhaustion. Think of it like seeing color for the first time in you're life after years of seeing only in monochrome. Or being blind for a long period of you're life yet you could see for awhile. Now after all these years again you get to see. You would absolutely do everything that only sight could provide you.

[@simianurchin7630]

Idk I liked the extreme campiness only because it did kinda give me the vibe of a child throwing a tantrum or just acting out of anger towards someone or something, I thought it worked well for that angle I got

[@cameronbrown940]

Where is Nathan Gibson? Is he safe? Is he alright?

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

I predominantly know Neil Patrick Harris for playing Count Olaf in A Series Of Unfortunate Events, a show which never missed an opportunity to let it’s star stretch his vocal chords with a musical number, so Doctor Who featuring an actor whose singing chops are treated in much the same way playing Harris’ on screen child is rather amusing to me. I also find it amusing that Doctor Who returned to our screens 2 days after Inside No. 9, which also opened with an episode featuring a drag queen, in The Beatles’ home town no less.

[@daver9819]

I enjoyed this episode until the music battle and then I really felt flat with the song at the end. Firstly, I didn't think it was a particularly good song and didn't feel very 60s but more importantly, I must have missed the context of why it happened and why everyone danced like they were in a musical, with indoor rain. If they had gone to watch The Beatles perform Twist and Shout, the gag would still have worked. I've seen some other sites say that it was some power left over from defeating Maestro but I didn't get that. Also, the note that Paul and John played to defeat Meastro was, I thought, the chord from the end of A Day in the Life. Finally, anyone going to mention that the Doctor seems to now have a new power of growing his hair at will?

[@SleepyHarryZzz]

Do you think Gatwa has the power to grow his hair at will?

[@archiereid7037]

He mentioned having wigs I think

[@daver9819]

@archiereid7037 Oh yeah, they were talking about a beehive for Ruby. Didn't think they'd also be referring to the Doctor's fro.

[@hotdog1214]

Pretty much the same here, the music battle was a bit muddled and don't think it was tense as it was supposed to come off as, and the musical number at the end. 🤦‍♀🤦‍♀ Though it is annoyingly earwormy it felt so odd to just have it _there_ on the end, a bit indulgent of RTD, I may have taken it better if it was integrated into the plot - like music was reintroduced to the world by the Doctor awakening it in peoples hearts and this song and dance routine was the way to banish Maestro back to their realm.

[@stormagedden785]

I didn't like it. Shakespeare code did this same thing and was better. That had Shakespeare in the episode as a character, not as a cameo. I thought this was going a story about the Beatles, instead I got what felt like 5 minutes worth of Beatles and a more annoying antagonist. Maestro was not fun to watch and ending was far less interesting. Would have been better if the doctor got the boys back together to play a song that would include the notes that banish Maestro. In short, a wasted opportunity.

[@MrSukram777]

I thought Maestro was great, but I agree on everything else.

[@Pooter-it4yg]

A few notes of possible interest from still living memory. London still did have a bad smog problem at the time and it persisted throughout the '70s. The highly colourful flowing fashion worn by the dancers only just began to appear in the second half of the '60s and was more prevalent (at least in this country) in the early '70s. The Doctor and Ruby's clothes are just about passable as period mod fashion, but again seem more like '70s Americana, especially the zoot suit.

[@foxesofautumn]

My issue with the episode is his little the setting mattered. The Doctor and Ruby don’t conned to anyone in 1963. They could be anywhere. John and Paul only help by accident and meeting the Doctor changes nothing for them. The jarring musical number wedged in highlights this disconnect. Not because it’s a musical number, the episode is about music, but because they didn’t even try to make it connect to… a story about music! The twist isn’t there’s a song. The twist is they didn’t know what to do with the song.

[@berserkasaurusrex4233]

And it's not period appropriate. The whole number is more late-60's, so there's even less reason to set the episode in '63. It feels like they're only there to make a call-back reference to the original show's first episode. They could've just as easily have landed in '67, at least the costumes would've matched better.

[@panduh_go_crazy-.-9957]

Even when you don’t like a concept you still see the potential good in everything and that’s why I love your reviews and deep dives.

[@batmanbeyond5766]

the into is a pretty accurate representation of me waking up realizing I have my GCSE's

[@gaymooshroom371]

Good luck 🫶🏼

[@CineScarborough]

I loved Maestro personally. IMO she is the best original new series villain after the Weeping Angels.

[@Condor-gb1xp]

I think the over the top portrayal of Maestro works well for a god.

[@joechill-j6s]

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought of the Billy Cobb video during the dog song lol

[@thethreerailwayengines825]

I LOVE musicals, and even I hate the ending song. Church on Ruby Road works for me as I felt like it was a one off, and there is justification. I don't like if it becomes a regular thing

[@calumbishop7082]

I get the feeling that the 'Twist' song at the end was a last minute replacement because they couldn't get the Beatles's Twist and Shout, hence why it's pretty bad. However if that is the case, why do a Beatles episode in the first place if you can't use their music.

[@etaoin_shrdlu-4034]

Jesus Christ, Harbo. Fun fact: 9 was once John (2010) and 12 was once George. (1985) Anyway, references I caught (not including explicit mentions like Abbey Road or Octopus's Garden): 1:00 - The Long and Winding Road (1970) 1:12 - A Hard Day's Night (1964) 1:28 - Now and Then (1973/2023) 2:47 - Ticket to Ride (1965) 2:54 - Yesterday (1965) 2:56 - Day Tripper (1965) 3:50 - Meet the Beatles! (1964) 3:58 - Magical Mystery Tour (1967) 4:02 - Across the Universe (1969/1970) 6:45 - The Inner Light (1968) 7:04 - I'll Get You (1963) 7:48 - Let It Be (1970) 8:16 - I Feel Fine (1964) 8:32 - Revolution (1968) 9:08 - Hey Jude (1968) 9:31 - Ask Me Why (1963) 11:16 - Slow Down (1958/1964) [original by Larry Williams, covered by the Beatles] 13:04 - Free as a Bird (1995) 13:59 - I'm a Loser (1964) 17:25 - I Should Have Known Better (1964) 18:31 - From Me to You (1963) 20:11 - With a Little Help from My Friends (1967) 20:58 - Twist and Shout (1963/1964) 24:04 - I'm So Tired (1968) 24:10 - I'll Cry Instead (1964) 24:18 - Don't Let Me Down (1969)

[@HarboWholmes]

Great job! You got ALMOST all of them! ;)

[@danielgertler5976]

How many beatles titles can he fit into one review? Let's find out!

[@LiorTamir]

Hard day's night, from me to you, with a little help from my friends, which more songs am I forgetting?

[@JohnDoe-bg1cj]

@@LiorTamir long and winding road

[@FTZPLTC]

I spotted Across The Universe, Act Naturally, Let It Be... quite a few more

[@AiRsTrIkExXzZ]

I like how the only doctor who previously saw the beatles was the same doctor referenced in this episode 😂

[@xavierwalko4175]

I love the many Beatles jokes slipped in here.

[@ozmond]

The 6 month time jump is odd

[@thethreerailwayengines825]

The fake violin playing was SO BAD!!!!!!!!

[@HT-lr1rs]

I was waiting for someone to roast this element XD

[@ftumschk]

... it was a bridge too far ;)

[@ItsButterBean1020]

It’s so visually underwhelming too, like damn why does this musical battle feel so lame

[@gf1006]

Chris Waites is a reference to Susan and the teachers, but also - the one who “Waites”

[@dansharp2860]

At this point I'm convinced that The One Who Waits is Susan. Too many references to her.

[@gf1006]

@@dansharp2860 theres plenty yeah, i just find the waites thing very tied to the one who waits, as thats definitely RTD’s style. Although the recurring background thing going on right now is definitely susan triad showing up all over the place, although the season long arc is still front and centre

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

And the Doctor. Chris Waites is also known as John Smith.

[@linkjourney422]

I personally liked this episode and found Mastero to be a fantastic villain. I know it’s not for everyone but I found Mastero to be a very intimidating villain. Now this could be because of how The Doctor reacts to the Mastero but I genuinely believed the threat that The Mastero posed. I didn’t really mind the over the top performance because I believed it worked for the character of Mastero being that Mastero is an all powerful god who’s father is the Toymaker.

[@SpaceFluffDW]

Whoever has been listening to my prayers. When I said I wanted to see Harbo first thing in the morning, this isn’t what I meant 👀

[@aeloswindrunner]

Loving all the Beatles jokes in here, and the unexpected tomska/freddiew reference, that was a great sketch back in the day

[@atomicaaron6720]

I DO still have high hopes for this era Bcs of how good Ncuti and Millie are and I hope that some banger episodes are coming. I especially can’t wait for the stuff about the one who waits and Millie’s backstory.

[@Lowehart]

I loved this episode. The cinematography was great, music scores are very on point. The Maestro was an enjoyable villain I would love to see again. Honestly the weakest part if the episode is that they managed to find people who look the least like the Beatles to play them, despite the fact there are a ton of tribute bands who look the part.

[@BionicTem]

"not a narratively justified musical number" sure you can dislike the song, or the fact that it is in the episode - but it is narratively justified.

[@emillambrigger]

I actually found the Maestro the highlight of the episode. I almost prefer them over the toymaker, thanks to their great performance

[@calumbishop7082]

For a supposed Beatles episode, its not very good. It's clear they had music licensing problems (the ending 'Twist' song was clearly originally meant to be the Beatles 'Twist and Shout'), though if you can't get any Beatles music, don't do a Beatles episode. Also the Beatles are not the focus, I thought it would be an episode like Vincent and the Doctor, The Shakespeare Code or the 13th Doctor Nikola Tesla one, where the historical figure is working with the Doctor against the alien threat and are the main focus of the episode, but the Beatles barely feature here. Hell George Harrison and Ringo Star don't get any attention at all, I don't think the actor playing Ringo says a single word of dialogue. Just a weird pseudo-historical story considering the marketing of this episode was all about 'Hey we're doing a Beatles episode', only for the Beatles to barely feature.

[@jameskilgour387]

Yeah, pretty disappointed that the Beatles (especially George and Ringo) took a backseat role on this one. Otherwise it was enjoyable enough for an early season goofy RTD episode.

[@platonymous]

In defense of the devils chord. The actors didn’t look like the Beatles because they aren’t trying to be they clearly picked actors to show this isn’t our Beatles. There was no other way to end this episode other than a big dance party scene, I mean all of music had just been taken from the world it was a release of energy that was ramping the entire episode. The twist is a joke on the fact that there is no twist, the twist is just what the dance move is called popular in the 60s. I’m just taking it as a joke for now but it might mean something for later. Also the 4th wall breaking has been a theme with many of specials and episodes. In this one Maestro who I believe was casted perfectly starts the intro theme song with their piano. This combined with the fact that stuff has been off (with the butterfly effect scene we got a shot of the doctor acting confused like he thought something was off as the tardis should be protecting them from stuff like this like how it did in the same episode with the end of the world. He flipped a fake switch to explain it to ruby and make her not worried) I think they are going to be doing something big with the 4th wall that will be pivotal to the story I mean we are dealing with so many myths and characters whos powers could go beyond the boundaries of even the TV show itself. I don’t know those are just my thoughts. I’m hoping this season is one we will eventually look at fondly because I love doctor who peace out

[@samwitherington8202]

Harbo being all over the place in this one is really funny.

[@OkMakuTree]

I really enjoyed this episode! Granted: the pacing is too fast, the scifi elements are lacking, and the episode didn't do anything clever enough to sell me on the "musical genius" bit. In spite of these issues, the predominant feeling I came away from this episode with was "fun!" I found the Maestro to be enjoyably camp, and Millie and Ncuti got a chance to show off some of their range by being the straight men to the Maestro's antics. Space Babies made me think "Yep, that certainly was a Russell script" in a bad way. The Devil's Chord is recognizably Russell too, but in a positive way that made me excited to tune back in. I'm glad this episode dropped with Space Babies since the former didn't leave me with the strongest first impression.

[@archiereid7037]

Glad to see a positive comment on this episode. I love the shit outta this ep

[@Smokr]

If Davros being evil makes all wheelchair users evil so he has to be removed from the 'wheelchair'.... they why isn't making a drag queen the villain the same thing? Now aren't all drag queens and trans people evil for the exact same reason, RTD? So RTD thinks all drag queens and trans are evil. According to his own words and actions.

[@Comicbroe405]

RTD's logic was that during then many villains used to be disabled just for the sake of being villainous. I don't agree with that tho but that's his reason. And you don't see many drag queen villains currently so it can't become a stereotype.

[@lezking5060]

I'm not a fan of "musical theatre" myself, but if a musical number can be justified by a sensible story reason, then I can cope with it. At first, I struggled to see how/why the "Twist at the end" song should be there - but I've come to rationalise it like this... By the 1960's Maestro had already started to remove music from society (as evidence by the chat with the Beatles members)... so when Maestro was defeated, all the "lost" music came back, all at once... affecting everyone, and causing them to spontaneously wanting to sing and dance. It's tenuous, but it kind of works. It is not my favourite episode of Doctor Who, but it wasn't the worst (we don't have to go back to far, for examples of the worst). Some people are trying to claim that Maestro is a "legendary villain"... well, not for me! There was a lot of potential, but they never really had the "gravitas", and as Harbo says, is too pantomime to be taken as a serious threat. The effects of the loss of music were shown to be huge... but Maestro themself just seemed lacking. They tried to make us believe that Maestro was more of a threat, and instilled more fear, than was actually deserved. I understand that "Boom" (episode 3) is going to be better. So, if I was running the show, I'd have put some of the backstory/exposition stuff into that story, and had that as the Season One premiere... and "Space Babies would have been episode 2, and "The Devil's Chord" would have been episode 4 or 5... to spread the silliness out a bit.

[@micahfisher6125]

Honestly, these episodes have me staring to think that maybe Doctor Who has changed, and isn't for me anymore. While others are saying "Hello, Hello," it might be time for me to "say Goodbye". Then again, I'll probably continue watching in order to keep on fully enjoying Harbo's reviews.

[@hb4080]

I like to think, that maybe RTD wants to get back to the roots of Doctor Who, where the targeted audience were children. At least, that's what I hope he does. I find the episodes very flawed, but enjoyed them somewhat. I loved the Maestro but wish they were more sinister to balance out the campy. I don't know, I just hope for the best, because I really like Ncuti as the Doctor and I don't want him to have the treatment from the writers Jodie Whittakers Doctor got, because that was more than enough...

[@micahfisher6125]

@hb4080 Perhaps that is what he's doing, but man the tone is just all over the place. It feels like the show doesn't know what it wants to be, and maybe that's because he is slowly working towards what you are talking about.

[@hb4080]

@@micahfisher6125 maybe... man, I really hope he does. Doctor Who always had stinkers in every season, but (in my opinion) it was the journey of the development of characters, may it be the doctors or the companions, that made it good... we know RTD is capable, he's proven that he is, but yes, as of now, it's really all over the place. We just have to wait and see, that maybe (hopefully) it will tie up together in the end... (please God, make it so)

[@EthanDJC]

the amount of beatles puns in this video made me gently weep

[@mystic_mimi21]

I feel so bad George and Ringo. It would have been so nice if they all came together and made four notes (one note each) I get that Paul and John are the most famous but it would be nice to see the other two given George in also no longer with us and we never get to see him

[@jameskilgour387]

I don't think either could play the piano yet (Ringo certainly couldn't as George was teaching him on Abbey Road for Octopus' garden) but yeah, they were snubbed big time despite not being as prominent at that point in the Beatles as they became later

[@Starstruck930]

What i wish we got in this episode was the main theme being in piano Maestro began to play it but we didn't get to hear the whole thing be played

[@Sparx632]

This is going to be another Wild Blue Yonder moment I think Harbo.

[@AxelaxiB]

Harbo I noticed when rewatching the episode a little detail, and Donna said the devil is in the details mind you, when the doctor is taking to Ruby about how music is gone, Susan twists character is behind them while they talk about Timey wimey stuff and when the doctor mentions the tea being highway robbery it’s obvious they can hear each other across that little gap so what’s to say she didn’t hear everything they talked about and didn’t say anything because she’s WAITING.

[@DriverHenryWho3245]

14:40 called it lol

[@MrTDWfan]

I'm glad for the reranking back to B - I do think it's the more solid episode of the first two, but I really enjoyed both of them! I LOVE camp though, it's one of my favorite things in Doctor Who

[@ftumschk]

I love musicals. You don't know what you're missing.

[@L0g0Z0g0]

I like maestro cast but it is Disney villain by definition pretty much

[@ethanielclyne5810]

Amazing sutekh predictions lol, shame he was pretty disappointing

[@atomicaaron6720]

I totally understand where ur coming from with the maestro. I felt rlly conflicted when watching this episodes villain. The maestro is an incredibly scary being just like the toy maker and I felt that from them during their moments of pure rage and deliveries on certain lines. However some parts just let the villain down like you said. This was a similar case to the toy maker and how scary he was until the spice up your life scene. Idk if u get what I’m saying Bcs I’ve kind of just blurted it all out. I just think that the maestro had some amazing qualities. There were just some things that didn’t sit right. And I was ok with jinx monsoon being cast as I thought it actually fit the role well in my humble opinion.but Yh, the maestro had a lot more potential, just needed a bit more.

[@bradugar]

I just rewatched Sarah Jane Adventures have to say I think the Villains are more serious in that show than this new 'season 1' of proper Who

[@daisyg2757]

it would have been so cool if the villian had been the blue-meanies

[@SanctumSanctorumVidz]

I won't discuss the episode...i WILL however give praise to you for writing in all those Battle song titles into your script/review even after being so knackered. Bravo!

[@stephjovi]

That the episodes drop midnight UK time is so annoying. It's 1 am my time but for the US it's ideal. So I'm a day behind because I wait till it's dark enough to enjoy DW on my projector since I don't have a TV.

[@Riprocproductions95]

When I watched the episode for the first time I thought of how much Harbo will be moaning through it 😅

[@frameddonut1056]

Ayooo 🤣

[@normak7041]

I wonder if the episode would’ve been improved if maestro was replaced by the blue meanies

[@william2496]

Time to get out the Beatles song name bingo cards!

[@SweptDust5340]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the performance. The script just lacked a serious face off like in boom town. That’s all it needed, the rest of the performance is great it just lacks realism because we don’t get that quiet serious moment. But i loved the pantomime style it’s great for kids too

[@brettjohnson536]

Was it really a musical episode though? It was music themed, as you said, but the only real "musical" moment was at the end. And I have a feeling this episode and the singing in the christmas episode will have some kind of plot reason

[@Duckbrainsoup]

I need to know Nathan Gibsons views 😭

[@flo4223]

I thought the same when the last video came out and didn't hear their name!