Review of Death Podcast #23 - Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils Review

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Matt and Jonathan discuss the latest episode of Doctor Who, Legend of the Sea Devils. Billy beams in from New Zealand to offer his thoughts on the return of the Doctor's most famous aquatic foes, while we look ahead to the return of former companions Tegan and Ace in the Thirteenth Doctor's final story...
Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
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#DoctorWho

[@custardtimelord5502]

The first shot of this episode with George the Sea Devil staring into your soul just can't be expressed through the audio medium. Chills 😶

[@Darren79]

42:25 - "Listen" has a shot in the pre-titles with Capaldi under the sea with the doors open

[@adamfreddo5703]

Don't know how I feel about Tegan wielding a gun after her conclusion in the classic series. Because I thought it was implied she was turned off by the violence in that episode in general.

[@UnleashTheGhouls]

Me: Ahhh, Billy is great messing around as Sea Devil *JONATHAN BOSS MUSIC* Me: AHHHHHHYESSSSSSSSSSSS P.S. Love Billy, just always a treat to see big Jonny!

[@hgwells1899]

Would be interesting to see an honest Behind the Scenes to explain what led to this unseaworthy cut n shunt of an episode. Production issues, budget constraints, Covid... maybe we're lucky that Flux - for all it's lacklustre finale - didn't end up THIS bad. Was this originally concieved as a two parter? Something prompted the hasty editing together of random clips and script-inserts to form a pop up narrative undeserving of the term "Special." From the moment some Kickstarter kid drew the crack onto footage of the statue with a marker pen, we knew something was up. Everything good about the episode undone before the end... if anything, it made me long for this Doctor to finally take her leave and go. I blame that Wellerman fella for hyping me up in the first place

[@LDrosophila]

We will get about that many advertisements in the US too sometimes every 10-5 minutes

[@MylesD1]

Very bland episode was very excited to see the sea devils but as so many times before with New Who my sails were de-winded :-) Thanks for the review guys I agree with pretty much everything Matthew said on the negative points you talked about. Looking forward to the Delta & the bannermen review, please could you talk about the blu-ray special features if possible I don't have the season 24 box set, would be interesting to hear what extras are on it and if you think they are worth a watch etc :-)

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

Remember when the sonic screwdriver used to do things like screw and unscrew screws? How quaint!

[@CJFS00s]

( 57:18 ) Tegan also saw 6 in A Fix with the Sontarans but less said about that the better…

[@danielcox3152]

I wonder if Billy will meet Mark Strickson in NZ.....

[@JacksonCoYT]

I wish I’d watched antiques roadshow on the other side😅

[@stephjovi]

The legend started at the end when the doctor said this is how good legends are started. Well something like that I don't remember the quote

[@ollitom3000]

I really enjoyed this story, the cinematography for the most part was great, and it had a great atmosphere. The story was fast paced, but I feel like all the characters had something to do and each line counted, plus SEA DEVILS!

[@Joshml98]

This story would really benefit from having a target novel to expand on everything just that little bit more and give it some background.

[@TheGingerGeekShow]

Listen in Series 8 has a scene of the Tardis underwater!

[@robindavda8967]

would be curious to see a video with the highest rated dalek story vs the worst

[@royhay5741]

Is Evil Dan canon now?

[@thomasjohnson8391]

When will do more action figure adventures again cause I miss that stuff you did

[@lewisgibbs4665]

Definitely think the editing let this story down. Wouldn’t be surprised if this episode’s running time was cut either for scheduling reasons or something to do with the production. Definitely agree about the sonic use, Jodie’s doctor seems to us it every time she’s comes out of the Tardis whereas other Doctors would know where they were or work it out, or use a yo yo to check the gravity like Tom.

[@dalekemperor1984]

If Matt you don't make Johnny dress as the Seventh Doctor for next weeks episode I shall be disappointed.

[@meris8486]

This episode was rubbish. But that scene on the beach with Thirteen and Yaz was nice, I just wish they'd taken time to develop a relationship between them

[@bazzzzz6175]

I would make the comparison to fan fiction but I think quite a number of fans could write a way more engaging and exciting Sea Devil story.

[@ohmydinosare]

I really wanted to like this one, but it was a bit all over the place, bit of a mess really, I had a good enough time watching it, but it didn't quite work as well as I'd hoped. I'm keeping optimistic for the centenery, though. Redacted sounds great, I'm definitely looking forward to checking out that when I get the chance, I like Juno Dawson as a writer, from what I've read of her work already, and the premise sounds quite engaging.

[@beelez-xi1fi]

Poor storytelling,bad editing and this shoehorned love story almost appearing from thin air that has not been earned from a longer story arc like the Doctor and Rose or the Doctor and River. Absolute shambles. One more episode of drivel to sit through. Cannot wait for the nightmare Chibnall era to end.

[@doutorbolado7887]

No kidding, this is the worst episode from the modern series. Not only the script is horrendous, the editing and the sound look like a bad work from some lazy and uninspired freshman cinema student.

[@TheAppeyes]

Janet Fielding replied to someone on twitter saying that "Chibnall and RTD said the fans would go wild" at Tegan's return. So does that mean RTD has had input on this episode, or that he wants to set up Tegan and Ace for a future spin off?

[@paulh4473]

Found it hilarious when Matt said “I’m an editor” right after an obvious edit. It got a laugh out of me.

[@karlalini5744]

Awesome podcast! Johnathan is a great guest host. The Toffolo Brothers are always a winning combination.

[@paulgifford3023]

Too much sonic use…amen to that. Get back to being a screwdriver! Looking back, even to ‘Rose’, it was overused there too. I suspect it’s a plot device now just to squeeze into 50mins! We really need more multiple EP stories moving forward.

[@SamMichaelComedy]

Ooh I got a mention! Thanks guys! 😃

[@IsaacSigmar]

18:47 Absolutely hilarious! Lovely to have Johnny and his Talons of Weng-Chiang on the show again!

[@walkerzupp8393]

Godspeed to whoever gets to novelise this one.

[@SusannaEmily]

With the return of Ace & Tegan, maybe do a ROD for School Reunion or a SJA episode?

[@HazarTulum]

Gotta agree, I'm so fucking sick of the sonic screwdriver being used 0.0005 nanoseconds after she lands. Jesus christ, you don't need to scan the area every bloody time

[@EddJones25]

Did anyone else just keep hearing "Gene Hunt" instead?

[@Darren79]

55:30 - yes, I agree. Once upon a time I might have been excited for their return but experience has taught me that I'm unlikely to care how they're handled - I can well see them treated like Kate in Flux, they do their own thing.

[@azngf]

Lol that Sea Devil doing the Jedi force jump was fricking hilarious, like wtf. XD XD Gosh what a load of bollocks this episode was.

[@theevildalek5425]

With all of 13's Era now in mind, here’s my ranking for every 13th Doctor Story: 23). The Timeless Children 22). Orphan 55 21). The Battle Of Ravnscor Av Colos 20). Legend of the Sea Devils 19). Arachnids in the UK 18). Fugitive of the Judoon 17). The Tsuranga Conundrum 16). The Witchfinders 15). The Ghost Monument 14). Resolution 13). Spyfall 12). Can You Hear Me? 11). Kerblam! 10). Flux 9). Revolution of the Daleks 8). It Takes You Away 7). Praxeus 6). Rosa 5). The Woman Who Fell to Earth 4). Eve of the Daleks 3). The Haunting Of Villa Diodati 2). Demons of the Punjab 1). Nikola Tesla’s Night Of Terrors As for Flux, if I was ranking the episodes individually, it would go between: . The Halloween Apocalypse = 10 . War of the Sontarans = 1 & 2 . Once, Upon Time = 14 & 15 . Village of the Angels = 5 & 6 . Survivors of the Flux = 20 & 21 . The Vanquishers = 18 & 19

[@MDNPLAYERS]

I don't agree with The Witchfinders so low, but the others are pretty accurate.

[@xsm5525]

awful ranking. try again, It doesn't match my ranking at all. Also, Nikola Tesla at no.1? you must have been watching a different episode to what I saw!

[@theevildalek5425]

@@xsm5525 Well I’m sorry to break this news to you, but I’m not you. And I like Nikola Tesla’s Night Of Terrors, a lot in fact. But hey, I am me and who am I to judge

[@FlatCapWhovian1865]

cant wait for the Delta & the Bannerman review next time! :D One of my favourite stories, it's just so bizarre and feels like something out of the comics!

[@jamiestevens3074]

I thought this story was just really fun. The sea devils looked great, the thasmin stuff was handled well.

[@GratefulWarriorMom]

The aurora is caused when the magnetic poles are switching. That's why she said "it's starting". I guess they figured that it didn't need a lead in because it a real thing and common knowledge. They may have underestimated the knowledge of that sort of thing. But, that's why she said that

[@friendlyotaku9525]

I really enjoyed it. I think it was a fun, adventurous story! Perfect for Easter though I do wish it had been longer, and I will say in parts the editing was a bit off so they definitely cut a good chunk of scenes which is shame, the episode was definitely supposed to be longer but I still had fun watching it and there were some lovely character moments and the sea devils were fantastic in it. Certainly not bad at all, far from it! But I think that is the wonderful thing about opinions, we all have different ones and that's good!

[@KapybaraKSP]

BRING BACK THE TERELEPTILS AND BREAK THE SONIC AGAIN.

[@stephjovi]

I'd love the special to be a set up for a UNIT spinn off managed by Russel 😍

[@Gxbbzee]

Johnathan is so straight edged I love it.

[@nigeldarcy8255]

Jonathan sounds like Ricky Gervais

[@LNER985]

I enjoyed the epsiode.

[@richardbuckley1232]

So disappointed the creature was not a Myrka - it was a perfect time to retcon that pantomime horse from Warriors. Loved the Sea Devils, story was a bit of a mess.

[@phily8093]

You can tell Matthew's opinions have been strongly influenced by his brother's opinions. Johnathan loves the Sylvester McCoy era clearly, and anything that went on in that time for Doctor Who, he thinks is the way Doctor Who should be, and anything else is lesser. Because Sylvester didn't use his screwdriver, then no other Doctor should use it. I get that it is overused sometimes, but it is iconic for a reason.

[@batmanmarch]

You couldn't be more wrong. It has absolutely nothing to do with my brother, McCoy or his era. It just gets used far too much these days, it's been a common complaint since the show returned and that complaint has grown the more frequently the Sonic gets used for lesser tasks. I should also add, that my brother prefers Doctor Who previous to McCoy where there were plenty of Sonic Screwdrivers used, just not all the time.

[@FunK0Slap0GB]

Thanks Jonny and Matthew, this was genuinely cathartic to watch. The entire episode was a mess. The editing was choppy and at times, amateurish. I found myself laughing at times at how poor certain setpieces were - it felt like a kids pirate movie laden with CGI and cliched characters, which was not what I had anticipated before the episode aired. I didn't have any connection with the secondary characters, particaurly as the plot was non-existent - what was the point bringing back the Sea Devils? I found myself at times terribly bored, which even at Doctor Who's worst, it never normally is. The promotional material was the most exciting element about the story and that says a lot.

[@DiM2404]

My theory, not based on any insider info but based on my experience in the industry, is that maybe they ran out of money to complete some VFX shots, hence the weird gaps in the story

[@rigsby1454]

Dreadful story, the very worst of Chibnal's writing unleashed. End it now. Also just randomly throwing in the 'love' stuff to appease certain internet shippers is really weird.

[@Darren79]

3:29 - Yes👏 I've long since stopped paying any attention to the trailers - though I thought this had a bad trailer anyway - they were obviously trying to imply a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe without the visuals to back it up and resorted to onscreen text to fill the gaps. And they managed to choose many bland shots - and the episode was generally more visually impressive.

[@ghostface_tardis]

This episode was really unneeded, I appreciate everything that the team tried to do but the production was rushed and it shows. Writing, Editing and Direction both let the ship sink. Loads of missed opportunities and wasted potential with the sea devils.

[@friendly_neighbourhood_ult894]

I watched this episode twice. I wasn't really paying attention the first time round so i felt really lost and like I'd missed lots of details. Watching it back I didn't feel any less confused, it's a shame.

[@moonnightbricks3948]

Absolute shambles of an episode. Poorly written, poorly edited, poorly directed, poorly acted.

[@Nikioko]

I wasn't greatly disappointed. Because eventually know what to expect from the Chibnall era. Just one more episode and them: good riddance.

[@GratefulWarriorMom]

I'm glad to see them bring back some fun adventures like they used to have. The last few years have gotten so dark and all. They've gotten so bent on being politically correct that it taken the fun out of it. I like seeing the characters smile and laugh again. I've always enjoyed DW because for me, it's escape from the boring daily grind and allows for fantasy and entertainment in our lives. I do hope future episodes show more joy and adventure.