Art vs. The Artist - A Doctor Who Video Essay

[@Azazreal]

Odd opinion but Eccleston is my favorite Doctor. He had a raw side to him, like he was still suffering from the lose of his people and was barely finding reasons to go on. You could see his anger in a lot of scenes. Shame he had a disagreement with Davies

[@atreestump]

I wouldn't say Eccleston is my favorite but I do love him... I didn't at first but I noticed all the amazing subtleties the third time I watch season 1.. I think a good portion of people who watch it don't see it, and/or get hung up on how cheesy it is

[@bleachitwhite]

Eccleston is absolutely my fav, for almost those exact reasons. Really grounded character with just that little bit of necessary whimsy

[@turtleisland1940]

I loved him , not my favourite but I just loved his personality and his enthusiasm as the doctor “just this once, everybody lives!”

[@kamilee4123]

Eccelston isn’t my favorite but he’s great. I’m with you with the odd opinions though because I’m pretty sure that McGann is my favorite and I don’t see people definitely say he’s theirs a lot.

[@byMidnyt]

I love McGann. Eccleston was my first, but McGann is my favorite. I'd have to say Eccleston and Capaldi tie for second with me. I'd also tie Matt and David for third as well. While I do like David's Doctor, a couple of my absolute favorite episodes came from Matt's run.

[@pumamanjrandsuch]

I'm so happy that Capaldi fans are more vocal now

[@sonnypryderi]

IKR i loveall the other doctvors but when i tell my friends capaldi is my favi they're like 'what? ew.' I'M SORRY ARE YOU USING YOUR EYES

[@SheWhoWalksSilently]

I didn’t like him at first, but the Robin Hood episode where he fences with his cookie dough spoon had me 🤣. Then all his sarcastic jabs at way-too-happy-Robin Hood.

[@sonnypryderi]

@@SheWhoWalksSilently i know right! i don't know why everyone hates that episode? i love it so much. clara, robin and the doctor re so funny together, and i love the spoon joke

[@RetepAdam]

He’s not my favorite, but he’s no lower on my list than... I dunno, 1B?

[@MinervaArhedes]

Ish sad sad d cs dad bsd as s dad Gaga’s such sp

[@brendancorey7831]

The fact that Peter Capaldi ran off to get snacks and accidentally turned on an emergency shower makes me feel happy inside.

[@CaratsRitzy]

"Aw yeah, BIG RED BUTTON. What *COULD* possibly go wrong?" - Peter Capaldi, probably. (Moments before the infamous Scottish drench incident./s)

[@madmonk3030]

Bill and Capaldi was my absolute favorite pairing since Donna Noble and Tennant. The Doctor is at his best when there isn't some weird romantic or sexual tension, but the companions are just some good mates the Doctor is running around with

[@Quoxz]

Holy shit, a fellow Donna Noble fan :O All my mates can't get past her "Loud fish-wife" stage from her first episode. But she was almost literally the one companion that was there for the journey, the adventure, and not... ya know, The Doctor. I really should go back and re-watch the Capaldi seasons.

[@gallofilm]

so sorry you enjoy bad things.

[@angelfox8]

This comment might be a year old but I got to say Donna Noble was my Favorite companion and I didn't even like capaldi until Bill was introduced and it felt a lot more fun and dynamic Two Best Buds Having Wacky Adventures Through The Universe is so much more fun and interesting then SMART Guy ( also featuring person(s) in love with him) love the doctor but he works best with an equal partnership

[@gallofilm]

@@angelfox8 terrible opinion

[@alicedownes7056]

100% agree I actually rlly dont like the companions being more than just that, companions, just a friend (main reason I can never rlly get on board with 10 and rose)

[@honourablemmmention1016]

"I dont wanna go" brought back memories of seeing that scene for the first time and I wasnt ready...

[@chandrawagner4061]

I started tearing up and I didnt think that would happen. Was not prepared.

[@boiboi9314]

Me: Lmao MCR fans cry over one single note what losers! Also me: *through tears* Vale Decem...

[@chloelam143]

I almost cried watching the clip and the one when Rose and the Doctor are separated.

[@andriygriffin4782]

When I met David last Dec I said to him "It's been near ten years David. New Years Day, I was only 11! No child should ever have to be put through that!" He nodded sympathetically and replied "Yeah, it was also tough on my family!" 😜

[@RoseEyed]

I haven't watched Doctor Who in almost 10 years. And hearing that line DEFINITELY fave me painful flashbacks

[@1TutorialBoss]

I refer to "The War Doctor" as "The Medic" Fight me

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

Thats actually adorable. I like that.

[@TheDaks27]

Gahhh, it fits so nicely to what little we know of him

[@1TutorialBoss]

@@TheDaks27 its mainly because he's just putting a bandaid on the gash that is the time war and saying "good enough" before the events of the crossover

[@unknownuser8967]

I can already hear Scouts yelling MEDIC!!!! in the background

[@junotaylorthetrans1064]

For some reason, the BBC change between calling him 'The War Doctor' and 'The Other Doctor'.

[@Bigotedechivo]

F¨¨¨ck it's been YEARS and "No sir, ALL 13" still gives me CHILLS

[@princessthyemis]

OH MY GOSH I remember seeing that moment in theaters IT WAS EPIC!!!

[@gamerwoman6991]

Wait.. What does that mean? I'm on Jodie's season

[@PasCorrect]

I remember one episode that opened with a really tear-jerking sequence about Clara's dead parents. I was like "Oh, a tragic backstory. Maybe this will be relevant." And then in a later episode, Clara literally went to the land of the dead, and didn't mention her parents a single time. OK.

[@thixiemattel]

Chekhov’s Nope.

[@emperorboss5557]

Bruh that was in the finale of the next season with a different doctor + it was only her mum that died when she was young so she’s already grieved her loss compared to Danny.

[@fellinuxvi3541]

@@emperorboss5557 This is exactly the problem. Only plot-relevant issues are brought up. It treats her like a character more than a person. A real person would probably not only think of the most recent dead person in their lives, but of everyone they miss.

[@thatpeskyrat]

@@fellinuxvi3541 yeah, it’s like how rose was affected deeply by losing her dad when she was a baby and that’s something that informs her character. it was consistently relevant when needed too, not just dropped when it didn’t serve the plot

[@ginge641]

Yeah, S7 really was the ultimate false start with Clara. Her dead mum, the travel book, the leaf, looking after a friend's kids. None of it goes anywhere in S7 because Moffat is only interested in using her to bait a mystery while S8 rebuilds her from the ground up. That leaves her a much stronger character, but it does also leave so much of her early stuff completely unacknowledged.

[@delilacain7882]

"Midnight" is still my favorite episode of anything ever. I highly recommend it.

[@ameliadean5530]

Fun fact: 'Midnight' (also one of my favourite episodes) was the 'box episode' - the low budget one every season has so they can spend more money on things like the finale. The day before it was due to be filmed Russell T Davies decide he didn't like the script and rewrote it that night, to become what was 'Midnight'

[@RetepAdam]

Blink, Midnight and Heaven Sent are the head-and-shoulders Top 3 for me personally, though I know others are in the mix for, well, others.

[@DarthRayj]

It really emphasized the fact that the Doctor's greatest enemy is often his own arrogance. That's one thing I loved about Tennant, especially in Waters of Mars with the "Time Lord Victorious" moment, and it seems like Capaldi brought that back which is good. Matt Smith, for all that he did some good things, used his arrogance more as a weapon- I mean his first episode he brags about himself in order to chase off the enemy (yes, this is a writing issue I'm just saying that's how his Doctor was written).

[@bananaboatcharlie]

HELL YEAH

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Long haired Capaldi is the best Capaldi.

[@Companion92]

His hair got better with every season

[@ichabod1370]

@@Companion92 He ended up with Conductor Hair, á la Leonard Bernstein, von Karajan, and so on; very becoming to Capaldi's craggy face, too.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Either way, the franchise is BURNING. It's literally BURNING.

[@ichabod1370]

@@slevinchannel7589 Um; please look up the meaning of the word "literally".

[@SquareoftheLightOnes]

I think he was lying when he said the story he told about Beethoven's 5th wasn't true. By the end of series 10 he was the spitting image of Beethoven.

[@emmamueller3921]

i always wondered why bill felt like literally the only female character who had a distinct personality that wasn’t just an archetype and my theory is that moffat wasn’t attracted to bill and therefore wrote her as he would write a man…🥴

[@Strogman25]

I completely agree. I wonder why he wasn't attracted to her? It couldn't be related to her skin color...

[@KatzePiano]

My theory is that it's because she's a lesbian, and so he was forced to write a woman who couldn't be in love with the Doctor (leaving aside that he managed that with Irene Adler somehow)

[@Strogman25]

@@KatzePiano Also Madam Vastra and Jenny (who the doctor once kissed). Lesbianism has never stopped him before. *sighhh*

[@KatzePiano]

@@Strogman25 This is true, though I think Vastra and Jenny are generally well written apart from that heinous scene (which was written by Mark Gatiss, but overseen by Moffat so he still has responsibility).

[@ginge641]

@@Strogman25 Damn, way to just....decide that the man's racist for no reason.

[@irinao4947]

So true about women somehow never being listed as auteurs. I mean Anna Biller not only directed Love Witch but also wrote the script, wrote the music, made/found all sets and costumes, edited and produced it. That is what realising your own vision is, even if big studious are not exactly lining up to give you money for your project.

[@Rikku147]

Man I love that movie.

[@CarefulWithThatAx]

Ladyknight: "And now we need to talk about Steven Moffat." Me: *automatically thinks of HBomb's Sherlock video* Ladyknight: *references HBomb's Sherlock video* Me: 😮... 🥰

[@j.a.ogrady7783]

For our final year of primary school we had to make a project on a person who inspires us and their history, then present it to the class. I put tons of work into mine, I wrote 12 a4 pages and rewrote them all in Irish (because Irish school). I wrote facts, cut photos out of every newspaper I could find and put my heart and soul into someone I greatly admired. An idol who prooved all my drawing and storytelling could amount to greatness. Yeah uhm, to my great misfortune, I was a big John Lasseter fan. The news came out about him 3 days before my presentation. Since I was researching I found out out immediately. Being 11 I didn't fully understand it, or at least comprehend it but I understood one thing. This man was a bad person. But he made so much good stuff? I thought good people made good things? But he's bad. I was never terribly shocked, it just gradually dawned on me overtime. I found other Pixar people to take his place in my mind and it was easy enough considering Pixar is more corporate than individualistic but it was an odd experience and my first encounter with this dilemma. Especially since I was awarded 1st place in my presentation for ignoring this damming information. I wish I had something smart to add here, I just found it a funny story considering its hilariously unlucky timing. I suppose if I could say anything, don't ignore the author's affect and don't dismiss any work by a bad person into the void of 'what existed? Nothing existed. Nope'. By failing to acknowledge the truth that bad people can have talent, we weave this narrative that only good people make good art, leading to these and future authors get away with even more and let the cycle continue. Excuse my awful wording, I'm very tired and distracted by my little brother's ongoing story about the destruction of the sjjwhlrevmiw lego liner. Apparently it experienced great destruction.

[@callac]

Capaldi must have won at least one Oscar for punching that wall for so long.

[@solace6984]

djakdjjsdjf “midlife crisis vibes” is the most accurate way of describing capaldis run

[@gimmibox]

Yikes, I was not aware of that Moffat’s quote.

[@stayforthepeelpronpls4774]

Same

[@danielsleeper2307]

Okay, but that was back in 2004, right? It's James Gunn all over again (except there hasn't been a lot of talk about it). People can change for the better, and I'm not saying Moffat is a good person now or anything, but that was *16 years ago*

[@cedar7560]

@@danielsleeper2307 Every time James Gunn said something offensive and it was brought to attention what he said was offensive, he apologized and has shown to learn from his mistakes. Without hunting too deep, I've never found Moffat to apologize for harmful comments he has made. And he's still making harmful comments and jokes as recently as 2019.

[@thegreatgamers9812]

@@cedar7560 how many times were moffit's comments brought to his attention in the same way James Gunn's comments were brought up to him?

[@slevinchannel7589]

Either way, the franchise is BURNING. It's literally BURNING.

[@Alagboriel]

I really despise Moffats writing, both in Sherlock and Doctor, but damn I cant stop watching Capaldi. Update: series 12 started and I hate it so much I actually miss Moffat.

[@InaZeaAnaZazi]

this

[@jonathanskinner7647]

Listen I don't like moffat's run on the show more than RTD's but he wrote some amazing episodes of DW before he started being showrunner. Or even after he took over he wrote both the eleventh hour and heaven sent which were great episodes. You can say he's a bad show runner, but a bad writer? I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disagree. BTW I quite like series 12. Series 11 can go and burn in a pit

[@leadisterrible]

@@jonathanskinner7647 wait imma sound dumb here. What's the difference between being a show runner and writer in this context? Does show runner refer to where he took the show and writer how he did it?

[@jonathanskinner7647]

@@leadisterrible a show runner picks the larger things in the series and has more say about the overall direction of the show. They usually decide what the doctor will be like and the story arc for the series. The writer has control of the episode in question

[@R4ggedyM4n]

im really praying that S12 gives Jodie some good proper writing

[@chancetheboy8487]

I mean, dont we all.

[@jamesattenbourgh]

Sadly chibnall is the show runner so a large portion of the episodes we already know are gonna be more of the same, written by him. He's generally not a good writer if you look at his record, he can't end stuff for shit( broadchurch) and every episode of his doctor who he's ever written involves a fucking countdown. Hopefully though the new writers might make some decent episodes :)

[@hichaelmartline]

As of right now, Chibnall only has 2 credits for series 12 for writing; 1st & last episode. I'm hoping he's going to realize that the best parts about series 11, the latter half, was due to the other writers coming in. I really want to think they've taken the criticism to heart. The series 12 trailer gives me some hope.

[@stelmaria-mx]

It looks less shite than the last season but still stinks

[@giga9217]

@@jamesattenbourgh Most of the episodes of s12 is written by other people, not him, he has very little episodes

[@The_Drewid]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought Clara never had a defined character. I thought I was just becoming more cynical as the years went on.

[@RetepAdam]

I appreciated that they actually did something with her getting more and more cavalier, though. Paid off as much as anything in the new run.

[@TheseUseless]

Clara was good enough for those 2 gimmicky stories, but she just never worked as a companion. Plus, "Run, you clever boy" kinda sucked.

[@projectnaiad4534]

@@TheseUseless I actually loved both her and that line :P

[@TheseUseless]

@@projectnaiad4534 That's fine, but I think you're in the minority

[@projectnaiad4534]

@@TheseUseless You're right but I don't mind, people like different things ^^

[@JordanGrimmer]

Season 8 & 9 Clara is so underrated.

[@puppycatsbee]

she's pretty underrated in general tbh.. the people who like her are in the minority of the fandom.. i mean she has plenty of fans, but within the fanbase as a whole she doesn't get much attention or is even spoken about.

[@liz5100]

@@puppycatsbee I think it really comes from the fact that she seems to be the first major victim of 'the plot needs the companion to do/be this' instead of having real character. I also think alot of people were getting tired of just a young woman who is flirting with the doctor bit, it had been done from most angles at that point and even after her arch in the story was done they just kept dragging her back up again. I know I personally was feeling very 'we get it steven everyone wants to fuck the doctor(you), please move on now'.

[@puppycatsbee]

@@liz5100 actually, despite being barely 13 years old when bells of st john aired on tv (note that i had accidental missed the first 2 episodes jenna appeared in beforehand, i didn't even know they existed until much later), i didn't fall for the whole mystery box thing they did with her. she was someone who i found enjoyable and charming right from the start, and so i paid more attention to her character and who she was as a person, rather than how the doctor was viewing her. or maybe i'm wrong at thinking that many people were tricked, and that they just didn't like who clara was in series 7. but in my eyes, how could anyone not like her? while i appreciate every season she was in, series 7 is when she's the most easily likeable. she's kind, down-to-earth, bubbly, but also has a strong sense of autonomy and isn't one to be pushed around. a caring, yet confident young woman. i disagree with a lot of the complaints people make about her; how she was apparently "uninteresting", a "mary sue" etc. when there are multiple instances that show us quite the opposite. i do agree with the flirting thing, although i don't think there was too much of it. however, i dislike that the doctor seemed very out of character at times as i personally see them as asexual.

[@chickenfoot2423]

@@puppycatsbee yeah the progression of their relationship when capaldi became the doctor was so different to the whole watching-two-young-and-attractive-adults-flirt thing with matt smith. i feel like a lot of people who were disappointed with clara didnt watch that drastic change and how, whilst clara always had a flirty/playful personality, the doctor became more of a bestfriend/father figure..although i use that term loosely.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

Honestly. Her relationship with the Doctor is so uniquely touching, they have such love for each other but completely platonically, and the things they are willing to do for each other really shows another side of the Doctor we haven’t seen. I mean you watch those compilations online of them being like an old bickering couple which is hilarious, but also just shows how great their chemistry is.

[@outlast_the_night7727]

around minute 8 when you were talking about moffat, god i wanted to scream at my laptop so much because i whole-heartedly agree with you on basically how full he is of himself and his abilities as a writer. i still remember how i met him at the sherlocked convention in london back in 2016 (i think), and i told him how much i liked his writing because back then, like you, i was a huuuge sherlock fan, and looking to become a writer myself, and i honestly looked up to him. he asked me to elaborate on what i liked because i also had mentioned some of the who episodes he had written, and because i was so nervous to actually meet him i only managed to sum up a few things instead of going into detail, and his response, literally, that has stuck with me to this day, was "doesn't matter, i just like the praise". his wife, sue vertue, who co-produced sherlock if i remember correctly, was also present and she was an absolute sweetheart and really great to talk to, but her husband was just... lets say very eye-opening. needless to say after season 4 of sherlock aired all the tiny shards of respect i had left for him completely flew out the window. great writing isn't about proving how much smarter you are than your audience and how you can destroy all of their hopes and expectations just because you 'can', sometimes it should be about what makes sense for the story, not your own ego. tl;dr: moffat is unbearably full of himself. don't meet your idols, kids.

[@Grayvorn]

At least its not always so bad. Several years ago, I met a heroine of mine: actress, director, and photographer, Lisa Bowerman. She was kind, intelligent, and humble, always enthusiastic about her roles and helped me understand a lot about directing. Lisa not only lived up to my expectations, she became my friend too. I'm happy to say that sometimes, you can and should meet your heroes :)

[@givemerent4233]

I met him and he seemed to be very open about his mistakes and enfusiastic about the stuff he wrote that he liked - sorry if spelling mistake

[@somthingbrutal]

one slight disagreement the "insulting" banter from Capaldi to Jenna is very much a British thing you take the piss out of people you like over here

[@JacksonCoYT]

There must be some serious disconnect between us and UK humour because those insults are signs of affection in the UK.

[@ZerogunRivale]

@Tara Lang From New York, we "take the piss" out of people as well. The problem is the video maker who is apparently somewhat oversensitive.

[@caitlinflavell2638]

Idk man I'm Scottish and if any of my guy friends relentlessly commented on my looks like this I'd jettison them pretty fast...there's only so much a gal can take

[@shaicry]

same with moffat talking about karen gillan

[@SheWhoWalksSilently]

It’s probably too dry/deadpan for some Americans to get. I didn’t get it at first, but now I’m like ahhh, it’s like siblings harassing each other

[@applecoreeater]

I thought I hated Moffat's writing. And then Chibnall took over. Never thought I'd miss Moffat.

[@carlingnugent]

I think about this all the time 😞

[@ohgoditshimrun1346]

I very strongly disagree on two points. First, censorship on grounds of not allowing unacceptable people to be earning praise is the primary tool of fascism, and no good can possibly come from following in those footsteps. And second, your recitation of people deserving praise is all women, while your recitation of people deserving scorn is all men. And I for one unilaterally hate double standards, in any context. Admittedly, you do separately praise Capaldi openly, but you would be much more difficult to dismiss as (presumed to be) innately biased in favor of people who remind you of yourself (which might not be in any way accurate of your actual worldview) if you named one female monster to prove that you are evaluating without bias. Other than those two points, very well done.

[@applecoreeater]

@@ohgoditshimrun1346 Huh? Think you might have responded to the wrong comment.

[@ohgoditshimrun1346]

@@applecoreeater Apologies. I didn't realize I was replying to another comment, when trying to comment on my phone. I intended it to be directly to the video, rather than as a reply. Again, apologies.

[@zachanikwano]

I mean Moffat's had some great ideas and stories. He just carried away with upping the stakes and making the Doctor the ultimate Jesus-messiah-god -- whom the universe revolves around. And at least he wrote fun, exciting, fairly well connected stories.

[@Tink00]

I really hated the way Clara was written to be whatever was convenient. And then they try to be meta about the "explanation" (read: excuse). And she gets to get away with everything that previous companions were torn apart for

[@IsmailOPostalcioglu]

How did she get away with something better than other companions? Almost all other companions survived. She died!

[@Clazz94]

"Both and neither" = Schrödinger's Auteur

[@lordbuss]

"rather than death of the author i subscribe to a critical framework i like to refer to as Schrödinger’s Author where the authors intentions are important except for when i dont like them" - neoflect, tumblr

[@Kasino80]

My biggest issue with Moffat, is how he can't tell a straight forward story. Davies was very good at telling a story from a to b. Moffat usually starts at h to x to a to f. Making it really difficult to latch on to what the story is actually about.

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey459]

I think the 12th Doctor's hair had the best character arc. Also, the hybrid prophecy sort of came true in season 12...so it wasn't a total macguffin. And that's how I make my peace with season 12.

[@zeefeer0543]

i heard the tardis sound here for the first time in three years and honestly? almost cried. also, the director's comment of "having everyone on board" made me incredibly mad. okay, so assholes get to be on board, but not lgbt, not girls, not poc? why am i, a gay man who is a decent person i guess, not allowed on board, while my racist and sexist relatives are? why is my trans best friend not allowed on? why is the lesbian that taught me how to draw and basically made me the way i am now not allowed on? well, that changes with bill, but i am still raging, to say the least.

[@stalfithrildi5366]

The man's an absolute pisskidney.

[@druid5023]

I imagine the idea is to have "everyone" on board. Why would a show, purely from a survival perspective, not want to maintain it's current audience? Why take the risk when no one will STOP watching if you don't? Unfortunately for Doctor Who it hasn't done that anyway as the overall quality of the writing in the newest seasons has suffered tremendously under the hands of Chibbers. And the show has struggled to maintain even the viewership of the end of the Capaldi era which (while Capaldi is the best new who Doctor) wasn't even anything to write home about. For better or worse Doctor Who has essentially done what you've asked for those 3 years you didn't watch, and imo the show is on the verge of a second cancellation if it can't increase viewership and audience ratings. TLDR; All of the things you asked for came true and you didn't watch it anyway.

[@demondoggo2768]

" Not LGBT " Captain Jack ( A bi-sexual ) : Am i a joke to you? " Not Girls " Ace, Rose , Martha , Donna , Amy & Clara : Am i a joke to you ? " Not POC " Mickey Smith & Danny Pink : Am i a joke to you? Your entire point makes no sense because you have to ignore Series 1 to 9 for it to be valid

[@dobromirivanov7310]

Furthermore on top of what Demon said, I also disagree with the whole point. Sexuality is only one aspect of a person and usually not very influential over ones personality. In general I find that characters written with different sexuality are badly written in my opinion, not because of the points raised in the video, but how much of their personality revolves around it. In my opinion and based on my experience, the sexuality does have some affect and some jokes occasionally do happen, but nowhere near what shows usually show, to the point that in my life it barely comes up as a point at all, while in shows both like Doctor Who and any other show imaginable, they need to make a reference to it every 2 min. This results in just bland characters in my opinion that are nothing more then a walking homosexual, or heterosexual, or trans or w/e with 0 actual personality or substance.

[@wrenmassey6876]

A quote I can't remember where it's from: when you cater to both wolves and sheep you ended up housing only wolves

[@josephbell9027]

If I could summarise Moffat's writing in a few words, I'd say that he seems to mistake fast-pacing for excitement, convolution for intelligence, glorifying your characters for giving them depth, and all these things together for the greatest writing of all time.

[@Tolstoy111]

Moffatt’s stuff isn’t fast paced at all

[@Knighttt662]

I can summarize his Matt Smith writing in one word. "Horny"

[@KevFrost]

See also Capaldi as Frobisher is Torchwood: Children of Earth. Brilliant performance

[@ichabod1370]

Rips your heart out.

[@michaelsoftbinbows]

Capaldi’s tease in ‘a Day of The Doctor’ was absolutely fantastic.

[@CaptainPikeachu]

"laugh hard, run fast, be kind" - I love the 12th Doctor's message to the 13th Doctor, and I love even more the 13th Doctor is exactly that, she laughs hard and has such boundless curiosity, she runs fast and is always looking for adventure, and she is kind and open and caring about others.

[@elliebrooke3987]

I more think of 13 as just ignoring nearly all the past established cannon and instead doing her best to mimic Tennant and Smith while ignoring the deeper parts of their doctors that made them who they are. Could you imagine her in the "fury of the Time Lord" scene from The Family of Blood? She's not dark or angry (excluding the one part of THOVDD (not sure I spelled that right) where she talks about how she's at at the summit of her teams structure when in reality, no she isn't. Her companions have been doing pretty much the same stuff she has because Chibfuck has to pad the running time without writing anything difficult) at all, she just runs around smiling and fixing everything near instantly with no challenge or loss for the most part. Not to mention she's rude and generally a dick, when Graham confides in her about his cancer or about the loss of Grace she just blows past it. In AITUK she just asks Yaz and Ryan if they want to tag along too, in ITYA she just says "come on Graham" despite the fact that now twice he's had to lose the woman he loves. Then in CYHM? she basically just says "yeah I'm socially awkward so I'm not gonna help you". Going back to AITUK for a minute, she chooses to let the spiders slowly starve to death instead of giving them a quick and painless death, and thus not being kind to the innocent creatures. In Spyfall pt 1 when Steven Fry things Graham is the Doctor because he thinks she is supposed to be a man instead of correcting someone who is clearly just ignorant, she chimes in with "I've had an upgrade", when she clearly is a major downgrade from Capaldi. Finally in TTC she confronts the Master and the Cybertimelords with the death particle and in a tense standoff that could have been an interesting challenge, someone else comes in to do it for her. And she lets him die. She chooses to let someone else die so she doesn't have to regenerate, despite learning that she wouldn't actually die. That's not kind, that's someone self centred and rude. Remember Tennant talking with River soon before she dies? He was willing to let himself die so everyone else could live, but she knocks him out and handcuffs him so he doesn't die. He is fighting to let him die instead of her, Whittaker's doctor does nearly the exact opposite. You can probably argue that some of these are Chubbydick's problems with writing, but you have to acknowledge that Whittaker's doctor is not kind.

[@samuelbarber6177]

Because every Doctor needs to fit into every other Doctor's scenes. It's similar as to how, if we remove all of Tennant's darker moments, he was just some weirdo. See? Also, in that scene with the Master, the man demands he finish it, because he started it, because he essentially wanted to die for his part in prolonging the Cyber-Wars.

[@benjaminrosen9802]

sure but like, shes a shit character and they are shit seasons

[@puppycatsbee]

You're absolutely right pike-a-chu! I see there are some negative replies under your comment but just ignore them, we need more wholesome people like you in the fandom :)

[@bigpenny8223]

She does act kind but I mean she also blew up a teenager, and used the masters race against him

[@MissxSunxShine]

OMG that line "Do you think I care about you so little that betraying me would make a difference?" has been haunting me for 4 years now. Like damn...what a line! You know youve grown up when you watch sherlock and think "damn, was this always this bad??". Dont get me wrong its not horrible, but having put the distance of 5 years since I last watched, its made me realise that Moffat's Sherlock is just another one of the clever, incredibly smart assholes that for some inexplicably reason everyone likes and admires despite them being horrible people. What this bred (and ive seen so many intelligent people believe this) is the notion that genius comes hand in hand with cynicism, egomania, and complete disregard for people and their feelings/emotions. Ive never liked Moffat's doctor who. I actually stopped watching it because I was tired of the exceedingly convulated plots only designed to be 'clever' without actual substance. The quality of the first 2 seasons might have been cringy at times (especially special effects wise), but damn was it emotionally impactful! I could relate to the characters and actually like them!! (this all sounds very messy but I was writing it as I was watching, sorry!)

[@lapelcelery42]

I find the asshole characters are usually best received both when they are extremely competent, and when their shit personalities are actual character flaws based on insecurities which are explored to create some depth as they develop. IMHO Sherlock worked in it's first series because his relationship with John seemed to offer promise for his development as a person. But it never went anywhere, and soon even Sherlock's competency disappeared because, as with much of Moffat's Doctor Who, he chose to have the characters talk about how amazing Sherlock/The Doctor is all the time instead of actually showing them BEING amazing. So yes, none of those qualities make a genius, but if they're explored properly they can make a more human character. It's easy to relate to someone who is a prisoner of their own insecurities and root for them as they work them through, even if they fail along the way, because it's a pretty universal experience. Conversely, you don't WANT to relate to someone who CHOOSES not to develop themselves (at least, not in that way) because it feels like an abdication of your own self-respect. To be totally fair, I think Sherlock does have a little development in this respect - it's at least revealed that he acts how he does because he thinks it's the most efficient way to work, and that does the most practical good. But nevertheless, that's where we start and where we remain. Less of a journey than a blurb.

[@rockon1cat]

Absolutely! Moffat's writing might be fun to get swept up in at the time, but upon reflection often doesn't age well, especially when supposedly 'genius' characters don't actually develop and improve as people. The arrogant attitude of 'I'm clever and I have all the answers so just shut up and trust me' gets tiresome very quickly.

[@buzzinbea]

@@rockon1cat Exactly, I feel like those types of characters are almost tailor-made to attract asshole guys who think bc they're mean they must also be smart lol!!

[@robbiesmith8055]

Not to mention how Sherlock's aromantic asexuality (which is more implied than confirmed, but common he's aro) is treated as some huge flaw preventing him from being a whole person. John finds it baffling that he's not seeking his other half out there, and it's also implied that his lack of interest in romance or sex is because he's a hIgH fUnCtIoNiNg SoCiOpAtH so he's only aro ace because he has a disorder. Thanks Moffat :/ it's nice to know you're teaching your audience that people like me are sociopathic weirdos for not wanting to bone.

[@l.josino]

thank you, these were my exact thoughts about sherlock when i tried to watch it a while back and now these are my thoughts as I'm experiencing the 5th season of the new doctor who. it's just not working. it's like the character of the doctor regressed emotionally (i roll my eyes every time he belittles someone in the room and tells people to shut up) and the plot is not being good enough to compensate for that. [edit/add]: i will soldier on though, because peter capaldi is what made me start the series in the first place and I'll be damned if i give up before i reach his era as the doctor

[@mar-rv2qb]

bill is probably my absolute favorite companion, and im pretty sure that's not even because im a biased lesbian

[@eclecticdog2k901]

She is unquestionably the best companion in all of NuWho. Sincerely, a straight man. :-)

[@constantanxietyattacks6878]

But, did you in fact realise that she does in fact happen to be a lesbian? As in a woman who dates other women? I'm not sure you've realised this. Please be aware that Bill is a lesbian that wants to do a fuck on a girl.

[@stelmaria-mx]

Then you have bad taste 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@mar-rv2qb]

@@stelmaria-mx well of course i do, im a lesbian

[@ninino86]

She had me from her first monologue. It was such a return to form. She was delightful.

[@Lorenz1973]

Loved Russel T Davies as show runner, both Ecclestone and Tennant were excellent. Not every episode is an epiphany, but a lot of them are thought provoking, touching, funny, etc. Great characters. I just love those seasons…

[@nightowl8477]

9:57 that was Neil Gaiman, but tbf he did have 11 call the TARDIS "sexy" in The Eleventh Hour.

[@REFLEXiw]

Moffat did loads of rewrites on it

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

The David Bradley version of William Hartnell's Doctor made me legitimately angry. He was a flawed character, but he was not an outrageous arsehole. He was sexist, but only to the degree of the time. He would say rude things, but he wasn't like that.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

A fair complaint, given my limited time spent with the original first Doctor I just took it in stride since the emotional stuff in that finale really worked for me.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

He was ok, but the role was a bit, err, 'Flanderized'.

[@ErmenBlankenberg]

@@chrissonofpear1384 Reference to TVTropes is always appreciated.

[@QuintessentialQs]

I have seen every episode of Doctor Who, and I disagree. Hartnell's Doctor was sexist, and mean, and frankly not even terribly moral. Often Susan, Ian, Barbara, and even Steven and Vicki had to coax him into doing the right thing, especially if it meant putting themselves at risk. I think it was a loving portrayal of a complex character that also highlighted all the ways that The Doctor has grown over his many centuries of life. You can say the sexism was only a product of its time, but Ian and Steven Taylor were both shown to be less sexist than the Doctor, even calling him out on underestimating the abilities of the women in the party.

[@ichabod1370]

@@QuintessentialQs Well spotted. Yes, the off-handed sexism of Bradley's #1 was pushed a little harder than necessary, but it also served as evidence to Capaldi's Doctor that future versions of himself might improve in some areas as he himself was improved in this area over #1's; part of the reason for accepting regeneration.

[@hueypancakes597]

I'm really glad KZbin gave me this channels in my recommendations. Even if I didn't fully agree with all your criticisms of Mofats early Doctor Who (cause 11th hour and Amy and Rory, has be my favorite Doctor who seasons). Your criticisms and digestion on the MeToo movement and really got me to thinking about how I personally digest my favorite media, that was created or involved shitty people. So thank you. You have my sub and respect.

[@turtleisland1940]

I personally do like seasons 1-10 I don’t mind the bad episodes as well but I found 13s episodes hard to watch, the lack of friendship between the companions and the doctor was so painful, made the doctor seem like they had no interest in the companions as she had said some pretty cruel stuff to them , 11 would never do that to amy and rory , or 10 with Rose etc. And the cringe worthy writing chibnall had , omg we so woke look it’s planet earth we need to care for environment , woke message, it was painful to watch, doctor who was never like this, never really had any global problems awareness crap. Can’t wait till Chibnall is gone (don’t hate Jodie as an actor though!)

[@runeofnoweyr]

(halfway through video) "Oh hey this is a good video too" (likes) (dumps on JKR) "Subbed."

[@cisalzlman]

oh yes "Heaven Sent" the shows best episode and season finale

[@bspink74]

The disappointment I felt the moment they brought Clara back after Face the Raven was so immense. Her death was so perfect, and she faced it so bravely, I wanted it to be permanent. I LOVED Clara as a kid, and I sobbed when she died, but I sobbed even harder when that moment of bravery was taken away from her and she was saved by theDoctor yet again, especially when it followed the masterpiece what was Hell Bent

[@Sheila-gz1st]

I stopped watching after series 9, mostly because of the excellent finale, which I felt was ruined by the rest of Moffet's run. (I am a big fan of 'death of the author', btw) Early on it the show (NuWho), there is a powerful scene where the doctor exclaims, "Just once, everybody lives!" It's one of my favorites, not just because the gas mask kid is one of the most frightening things, but because it was an anomaly. Then Moffet took over, and I usually have no idea when stuff like that happens, because I judge based on the content, not the writer/showrunner, but it was very obvious when every episode has a "save everything button". Suddenly there felt like there were very little consequences, because every episode with Moffet had a "surprise" save at the end. Which brings me to Clara. Who was one of my favorites. I thought that her death was beautiful, emotional and well written. I thought that her comeback was beautiful, emotional and well written. However, because almost nobody actually died in all of series 8 or 9, I felt like it cheapened it significantly. If she had been one of only a few to live, it would have made much more of an impact on me than just another resurrection. Because of this, Under the Lake and Before the Floor are some of my favorites from series 9 because I kept expecting a resurrection, and I got none. Of of my favorite side characters in the episode die, and I kept expecting her to be brought back, but it never happened. Basically, to sum (TL;DR):. Too much resurrection equals cheaper emotional investment and no consequences or stakes.

[@Damo2690]

Series 10 is very good, quite a lot of death. (Actually thinking about it, there is a *lot* of death)

[@thatpeskyrat]

While I agree with all you said, I have to say that season 10 is for sure the best of all of capaldi’s run. It feels grounded, cohesive, and the characters are better developed imo. It’s the season that made capaldi my favourite doctor so I’d personally recommend checking it out!

[@Sheila-gz1st]

Thanks @Lu and @Damo2690. I didn't watch 10 because it was becoming a bit of a let down to watch and I had just started moving, so it wasn't worth trying to keep up, but I think I'll go back because of your comments. I really did really enjoy Capaldi, I just really didn't like most of the episodes that I saw. I'm not sure I would have gotten as far if he hadn't been so charming.

[@thatpeskyrat]

Sheila glad to hear! Capaldi’s charm really comes out in s10 I think. It’s like they finally knew exactly what story they wanted to tell and the themes they wanted it to have, and all the characters benefited from it.

[@masonharris9166]

I personally thought Capaldi's entire run was Moffet trying to be better. I loved 11 for the characters, not the story. I find the opposite is true for 12.

[@derangel9143]

Absolutely brilliant video. I love the discussion on art and the artist, you have a great way of explaining your take. Despite Moffat's writing, I loved both Smith and Capaldi's doctors. Two insanely good actors who were able to elevate the sometimes dodgy, or outright bad, scripts and make the roles their own. That scene you showed from the Zygon Inversion was the exact moment that Capaldi became my favorite Doctor. I quite liked him prior to that, but there was just something powerful about how Capaldi delivered those lines that made everything click together. Outside of Bill and Nardole, I think one of my favorite things in S10 was how the series ended up making the audience really care for Missy. The writing for her was not always great throughout the episodes she was in, but I loved the arc her character took and was saddened by her death. Having Gomez play off a much better version of Simm's Master than we saw in Tennant's finale was a great way to close the book on both of those versions of the Master.

[@mar-rv2qb]

that conclusion about change has me SOBBING- the way the show walks u through life, the hadestown parallel, the music, capaldi's last words, CLASS!!!!! ...this is incredible

[@georgemink1813]

I lOVED the MISSY Character. Michelle Gomez played that role in a way wherein/I/you/others would have loved to converse with that particular villain she had portrayed....I WAS a bit disppointed to learn she wass NOT the RANI, but hey, why throw stones. I salute your sumnation....Chris Rock touched on this in his Standup "Bigger and Blacker" when he went on "No one is just ONE THING" riff.....Long Live Capaldi's Doctor. Best Pontifications.

[@lilypando422]

This is late but there are also two gay men in Demon's Run and one of them immediately dies. So... yea.

[@PaulDisastro]

So we're not allowed to be victims now? Every time one of us is on screen we have to live and be heroes, lest it look like homophobia? I was thrilled by those two. They looked like me and my husband.

[@Hirungolwe]

@@PaulDisastro when a writer only ever writes gay men as comedic relief because their gay, villains, or instantly kills one of them...yea that's homophobia.

[@georgemink1813]

Capaldi's speach on "Kindness" was my favorite. And I agree with every word. More often than once during Moffats run, did I get the feeling...and even the occassional letter, informing me that "They stole my idea" (The moon being a giant dragon's egg, for instance, being a single for instance).

[@umka2002]

I love Twelth very much. And I love what Moffat does (and other authors under his leadership). He has brilliant, good, mediocre and weak stories , but development of Twelfth is just amazing, and I will always be grateful to him for that. In the end, this era is my favorite in Doctor Who, and I know I'll repeatedly rewatch it

[@Mecharnie_Dobbs]

8:26 The veins in Steven Moffat's neck, glowing purple with the power of his arrogance.

[@LukasOfTheLight]

I think using that clip is a bit uncharitable. Yes, he comes across crabby and a bit of a dickhead, but it's well-documented he was under immense amount of stress and pressure at that time, to the point where he was self-harming. The fiftieth was a hell-scape to make, and it can't be easy putting so much work into something only to have people hate you for it constantly.

[@WDeanWaye]

How, as in *how*, does this channel have so few subscribers and views? It’s inexplicable.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

Well I am very rather new to the video essay thing but thank you thats very kind

[@Ramonicus0]

MORE... Please

[@iloveyourunclebob]

@@Ladyknightthebrave it gives me the opportunity to say that I was here before 6k subscribers once you blow up

[@cloudsombrero]

sexist algorithm

[@them1ghtyalex]

t40364 perhaps the sanctimonious obsession with identify politics is a turn-off... 🤷‍♀️ I know I found it grating, couldn’t even bear to watch the thing in a single sitting, despite agreeing with most of the stuff about Moffat and Capaldino!

[@AylethsBlade]

"We have to keep everyone on board" RTD: *returns and immediately throws hands at that idea*

[@slytheringirl1327]

Never in my life would I have expected to see Hadestown referenced in a video essay about Doctor Who

[@salyx]

I always appreciate these different viewpoints. I started getting exhausted by Who about halfway through 11’s run - you know, when it was obvious they would take a 6 month break, do two episodes, be gone for nearly a year, film a few episodes. It felt so disjointed and joyless. 11’s ending was painfully bad. I felt awful for Matt Smith, he deserved better. Then 12? I stuck it out through the first season and maybe some of his second season, but I simply didn’t care. I didn’t care about Clara because what/who was she even? 12 was coming off as simply grouchy, and the writing, dear gods, the “I’m deep because I can talk in circles around you” writing. I couldn’t take it any more. I don’t think I’ll go back, honestly. I’ll just watch videos like this to find out what happens. Nine is my favorite doctor. I miss those simpler times.

[@inkakoutna7155]

Breaking Whovian is so easy that "I don't want to go" line kills me

[@turtleisland1940]

For me it’s 11s regeneration but I don’t want to go is very sad

[@ichabod1370]

For me, it's "Doctor . . . I let you go." That's Capaldi's situation too -- he got his dream rôle, gloried in for a while through all its ups and downs (and more ups), and then, pfft, time to step off -- and god knows he was right to leave. Can you imagine him struggling to find some life, some spark in Chibnal's plodding work?! It would have killed him.

[@thomasdegroat6039]

I literally forgot the hybrid was a thing. that's how little it mattred. I also really wish Bill Potts had more seasons. She was my favorite companion since Donna.

[@LukasOfTheLight]

The Hybrid was the Doctor and Clara's toxic bond. I have absolutely no idea how people can say it didn't matter. It IS that story. It mattered HUGELY.

[@mantistoboggan1503]

​@@LukasOfTheLightbc it doesn't go anywhere. It having an explanation doesn't make it important to the plot. Take all the hybrid stuff out and it would work much better as a story actually about their relationship

[@LukasOfTheLight]

@@mantistoboggan1503 The literal entire finale is about it lmao, it is a theme execution and the whole plot of Heaven Sent could not exist without it. I swear some people's insight into art is as shallow as an ant's bath.

[@kbqiscool]

The last chunk of the video about separating the art from the artist was really interesting and went places other video essayists haven’t before.

[@ChandaurRoshini]

You said “I don’t want to go” and I got full body shivers.

[@hopesy12u4]

19:40 I love this line. Iconic. Of course it didnt matter to him. Despite her somewhat shoddy character development, the bond that both he and she have survived lifetimes, hers and his. Fans of docto who know this, which is why they "breeze past it". They went for subtlty in this scene, instead of going with something more overt. And I love it. It's one of the best emotionally charged scenes in Doctor Who history.

[@sofficoto]

Me: I’m just gonna check this vid before going to sleep Me while watching it: *gets increasingly sadder since this show took over a better half of my life and was an influence without which I wouldn’t be the person I am today* oh no Me: *gets to the part about change, immense nostalgia hitting at this point as well as my own dealings with change which seem to be very similar to those of Ladyknightthebrave, the memories flooding back, is tearing up* oh gods If you’ll ever read this, your videos fill me with so much sadness and happiness and hope at the same time, it’s unbearable. Thank you. Also I cry on literally every video, and I haven’t been this happy in a long time

[@rishalotter7129]

This video is perfect! I loved Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, and Doctor Who has carried me through some really hard times, in spite of its uneven episodes and its dodgy show runner. You describe that tension and appreciation beautifully.

[@ichabod1370]

I had that sort of experience with Capaldi's run, too. It gave me a place to put some of the tsunami of grief I was gripped by after a deep loss. But they say, don't they, that everyone gets the Doctor that they need . . . somewhere in those 50 yrs!

[@astronada4700]

What a wonderful essay. This was really well done and beautifully handled. Using a tv show I grew up with, crafting your argument around a beloved story, I feel like I’ve left your essay with a new view. Thank you 👌🏻

[@ritzexists2201]

wait no go back I want to hear your defense of Class

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

Mostly I liked the characters and I thought was writing was pretty dark and interesting. (Those flower alien things were terrifying) also that whole 'Time has seen your faces' bit was such a raw line.

[@saz26]

i actually love patrick ness’ writing and i thought the characters were fantastic - just wish they had time to explore them and maybe stress their newfound friendship a little more. my favourite episode is the one where they’re all trapped in the classroom discussing their fears because it’s so tense yet heartfelt.

[@Companion92]

@@saz26 Tht's my favourite too

[@leadisterrible]

Does anyone know where I can watch class?

[@bivis8]

you already had me, I was nodding along to the whole thing but then you sneak in a hadestown quote at the end and that was just so beautifully unexpected, what a great video.

[@JayExci]

This is great!

[@alfolfhitler6879]

Yea so are you

[@HOTD108_]

@@alfolfhitler6879 The same cannot be said of you Mr. Art School

[@CRydon200]

@@HOTD108_ don't say that to afolf

[@arksuren_]

Who knew you would make a 5 hour video a few months later

[@christopherwilliams6848]

Stefen Moffat: "We don't, as little boys, play at being married" Me at 4 years old: We don't?

[@chickenfoot2423]

he says it as if kids dont just play with what you give them. teach little girls that their wedding will be the best day of their lives and that its essentially the end goal, and they’ll obviously play it out for themselves haha

[@danhardy6826]

Had to comment, because seriously this might be the best thing i've ever watched on KZbin. So well structured, reasoned and produced.

[@ninino86]

And has so much personality ❤

[@andareon]

I'll just say this: hard to fill in the shoes of Russel T. Davies Moffat did some good things, but clearly did some shit stuff too and some of his "positioning" has indeed been "problematic". (Blink is my fav episode ever).

[@FuchsiaShocked]

I got the Rogue One video essay recommended to me, then I watched this one, and this is some good stuff. Had to subscribe, because I need more of this stuff in my life.

[@GuardianSpirits13]

Yes!!! Bill and 12 were so underrated, we deserved a whole nother series with them!

[@MrAllallalla]

Capaldi is one of my 3 favourites(2,10,12) and his delivery is magical, he transforms even mediocre dialogue into sth special and when the stars align and great writing is put in front of him, we get a glimpse of heaven (sent).

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

That clip from The Doctor's Wife (in re: "sexy") wasn't Moffat. That was Neil Gaiman...

[@LordofFullmetal]

No but Moffat was HEAD writer, meaning every episode had to go through him to be approved.

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

@@LordofFullmetal Aye, you're right. But there is a difference between approving a script and writing one.

[@jeezlouise1902]

Approving a script can and very often does involve editing, although there's no way to tell who's idea it was

[@zethmcneal]

You are my favorite video essayists. I will spoil shows I’m deeply interested and even attached to just to hear your thoughts. Thank you for existing.

[@rafaelamaria5042]

This is the second video I saw from this channel, and not only everything is so well backed up and researched, they touch so many important things to understand the whole subject, and it's so well presented. And maybe I'm biased, because I agree with many of the opinions presented, but this is stupendous.

[@ApostateltsopA]

Just going to say, "Thank you."

[@RealCoolstriker64]

“The Doctor being a woman doesn’t have to be political!” -Everyone “What was that? Make the Doctor being a girl SUPER political? Can do!” -The BBC Everyone: “wait no-“ But the BBC had already made it super political to dislike season 11 for “the Doctor being a woman now” (the Doctor being wrote sh***y as a woman/ the season being wrote in feces on used toilet paper to represent its quality).

[@BirdPeopleArentReal]

I always had the idea for Clara that the reason why she keeps appearing is that there are several versions of her in alternate realities (like they explored with rose) and she has the tardis particles in her (like they explored with Donna) and all of her planets were about to be destroyed (during Amys run) so the tardis particles all activated as they sensed danger and tried to bring her to the TARDIS, but there weren't enough of the particles in her so they simply put her in the path of The Doctor. It all happened when she was a kid so she barely remembers her old life, and that is why there are a bunch of different versions of her. It would've made so much more sense than what actually happened.

[@natyinthehouse]

When you’re a Capaldi fan from Skins and you think you will break into tears if you see the man sit in a chair or smoke a cigarette…

[@macattack423]

I can't tell you how many times I yelled "YES" and "THANK YOU EXACTLY" and "I KNOW, RIGHT?!" during this video. Fantastic analysis and editing, you've got another subscriber!

[@pepavasata6790]

Moffat's era of DW is my favourite, because even through all it's faults, Capaldi and Smith just brought me soooo much joy. I really liked RTD's run as well, but episodes like Heaven Sent or the scene where the Doctor comes to have Christmas dinner with Amy and Rory are just unmatched.

[@minam8022]

you make really great videos, please keep it up! yeah, series 9 is one of my absolute favorites of doctor who, and i like the idea that it's mine to do with whatever i please.

[@SkittlesRainbow147]

Bro why don't you have a million subs and 3 million views per video??? This is like the third video of yours to make me cry and the World Needs To Know

[@mariadalal2456]

The last few minutes- thank you. More people need to see this. I love how you went about to come to your argument. Capaldi makes me cry, every single time. I'd like to know what you thought of the s8 ep 'Listen'. Bill was surprisingly well written, especially when her conception came with a single season deadline- moffat did us good with s10. Thank you for introducing Hadestown! Please continue to share your work it is delightful and thought provoking. 'You've got a subscriber in me' :P

[@MildeAmasoj]

I’m so happy you underlined how wonderful season 10 is, as well as Bill and Nardole. The ending broke me and rebuilt me. So good. Your videos are all so amazing

[@evaserration6223]

The 'Shepherd's Boy' track is the soundtrack to my Lockdown.

[@MariaLuisa-vv4ug]

as soon as i saw footage of the hour like, no joke, i had a visceral reaction, gut punch stuff, got how it ends me. make a whole video about it i am truly begging, even if its just for me and its 3 other fans

[@ichabod1370]

I feel the same -- that was good work, that show.

[@azidal3755]

I want to thank you for having such a nuanced opinion that can help remind people that issues are rarely simple. I've had many people , friends included, tell me I'm terrible because I had watched something and enjoyed it but it had been created by someone who had done terrible things.

[@givemerent4233]

Moffat isn't a terrible person, this video just frames him really oddly!

[@mischieffoal8689]

so lovely to hear someone talk about how good 12 was, but also how not-good Moffat is. It's very hard to find that balance anywhere on the internet and it was really good to hear someone else say it

[@joeydeaconblues]

I don't have a defense of Stephen Moffat as a person but it's worth adding some context because I think it helps resolve some of the dichotomy in his work and personality. Scotland is a rugged inhospitable land, consisting and although it's a lot bigger than the English seem to think, by US standards it's tiny and mostly uninhabited except for dense urban centers and remote isolated rural villages. A place where hard men did hard work to support their families. Britain of the 70's and 80's was a deeply misogynistic place but this was especially true amongst the industrialised North and Scotland especially. And it doesn't excuse the misogyny, Capaldi grew up in the heart of it, and managed to rebel against it and grow into a decent and modern human being, but is important to acknowledge the difference between personal and cultural misogony. Because within the toxically masculine culture he was born into, Moffat is liberal and progressive. Coupling ages badly as it is at heart based on "men be like this, women be like that" But in it's time it was a disruptive show as it took the prevailabt laddy culture and injected women into it with equanimity Because this was over twenty years ago and at the time femenism was still fighting for that to happen. Much like the civil rights movement can be divided into the battle for black people to be "white" followed by the fight for black culture to be aceepted and celebrated as equal (or superior) to "white" culture. Or the plight of the working class playwrite having to prove they can hold their own amongst the middle classes before society will alow them to speak as the working class without condemnation. To combine the two snoopdog can cross cultural barriers because he has the poetical chops to impress the middle class who will then grant him licence to represent his culture where as they would sneer at his peers for being ghetto even if they had more intellectual value to their ideas. I also think it's why a generation that was happy to welcome girls into their boy spaces and hobbies and would go out of their way to welcome some estrogen into their geeky little worlds, then freak out and switch sides when a generation on those women have femanised the space to equanimity. The idea of the anti-sjw comic nerd still seems alien to me, as I grew up at a time when comics provided a diverse space for the freaks, geeks and outsiders. Indeed it can be argued that comics are only good because racism meant that a bunch of writers worth so much more could only get work writing low paid and ill respected comic books. (also the irony when people winge about the Jewish dominance of Hollywood as it too dates back to a time when literacy was a privledge and the Jewish community was the only place to find literate people, poor enough to work for hire and with a working class mentality to output) But back to Moffat... The dichotomy is he want's to be more progressive than he is and because the battles that shaped him as a progressive writer were regressive in nature, I have no doubt he thinks he is more progressive than he actually is. He doesn't write strong women protaginists well, and he doesn't write gay and bisexual characters well. But he recognises why they are important, and that peopleb(himself included) should be includeing them and inclusive in general. His world view is still very masculine and he is prone to clumsy mistakes. But he does try, and deserves some credit for that, even if it is often confusing just whose side he's on. You don't have to like him (I wouldn't hang out with the guy) but I don't think he's inherently a bad guy (certainly not Weinstein or Singer levels of bad) just old and trying to keep up in a world that's overtaken him. But that's not a bad thing, society needed and still needs to evolve. As long as he keeps trying to head in the right direction I can forgive him lagging behind. This turned into more of an essay than a comment. But I thank anyone who made it to the end. Apologies if I veered to far from my original point, but I hope it ties together outside my own head.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

I knew about some of that when it comes to toxic masculinity (Most countries had it in spades in the 70s and 80s) I think it mostly comes down to how forgiving one is willing to be of Moffat and his errors but I do think you're right that he's probably trying to be progressive in a clumsy and sometimes flawed way.

[@helenl3193]

I feel like he got comfortable with being a 90s progressive and hasn't tried to move beyond that. I've met many (working and middle class) people who are the same. I wouldn't say his birthplace/upbringing, etc. is an excuse, but as you say it gives useful context for understanding that mindset/demographic, and I feel we can only continue to the progressive success of our society by trying to understand them so that we can call them in, rather calling them out and alienating them further - although that doesn't guarantee they'll catch us up, and there's only so many chances they should get before we target our energies to more useful endeavours. I don't know if he can/will get better, but I hope so. I don't think he's malicious, but he's also probably not challenging/checking himself on this stuff. I've met/interacted online with many activists who reach a point where they become kinda complacent and defensive - I'm right on, I'm progressive, I know *the truth*/see through the propaganda, I am Good and Ethical and anyone who says otherwise is wrong! (see: a lot of white, middle class vegan men, who apparently have no privileges or other work they can/should be doing on themselves/in their communities because they get animal rights and gave up meat, etc. and are therefore beyond reproach. #NotAllVegans) Maybe I'm just lucky because I'm a bi working-class cis woman who grew up on an East London council estate, "made good" career-wise, before a disabling accident that left me unable to work and back on a council estate, so I've seen some shit and had able privilege stripped away. Probably helps keep me on my toes about social issues and equality. Once people become comfortable, financially or with career stability, etc., they can start to forget the harsh realities others still face

[@stewartmcconnell4752]

fuck do you mean "Scotland is a rugged inhospitable land"? based on what? I've literally only seen positives, sure, people are in bad situations but I've never seen a Scottish person be 'inhospitable' to someone, at least no more than anywhere else. that such an insane and bizarre generalisation of a massive place.

[@stewartmcconnell4752]

@@AndrewLuke firstly, I have been out by Glasgow train station on a Saturday night, and much like everywhere else it is perfectly safe if you avoid dodgy looking people, but that's not unique to Scotland. secondly, what do you mean "walked upwards in Edinburgh"? that makes no sense at all thirdly, again, that isn't unique to Scotland or Moffat who is from paisley, not a small village. a lot of small places have intolerant people. but there are also places like Ballachulish, Oban and Arran where the people are generally speaking nice. lastly, I don't understand that last part in response to me which says "No one but you have linked the people to 'inhospitable'" so please do explain

[@elliottwatt5297]

Speaking particularly to your comments on LGBT characters, it’s never bothered me that Moffat makes those cute jokes at gay people’s expense because I don’t think it’s malicious, and when it comes to representation I’d rather clumsy representation than no representation. Also, side note, Moffat hates his own work, he says he only thing he’s ever been happy with is the first episode of Sherlock season 2. I don’t think he’s self-congratulatory at all. He doesn’t write women particularly well, but Missy is the Master with the most depth, and women aren’t the only ones obsessed with the doctor, it’s not a power trip it’s because the Doctor is genuinely awesome. Characters like Nardole, while they bicker, kinda prove this. Basically, Moffat isn’t perfect, but he certainly tries to make people feel seen and heard, maybe he goes about it the wrong way but you’re right his intentions are pure.

[@philipa.stephenson1549]

Exploring Doctor Who through the 12th Doctor is like exploring Shakespeare through The Merry Wives of Windsor.

[@Rafa-ke2sz]

What I heard 13 minutes into this episode: "This is an essay of how I love the 12th doctor in spite of the man who wrote him" Me: "Whatttt you love the 12th doctor?!! I thought I was watching a video that hated on the 12th doctor not because of the actor but because of who made him happen!!"

[@lemming8002]

I’ve watched the ending of series nine, so many times, and I still I don’t understand what THE GOD DAMN HYBRID IS! AHHHHHH

[@LukasOfTheLight]

Clara and The Doctor's toxic bond. I honestly don't see how people don't get this.

[@hollydenton9794]

Ah man this is so good, a really interesting watch and helped out a lot of my feelings into words. Peter capaldi resonates with me and I could never quite tell why cause some of his scripts are woeful. Very good video

[@auramire6304]

Clicked on your video on a whim - I've never actually watched Doctor Who before, I just like thoughtful video essays on art. You made me feel something for a show I've never seen and never cared about before and also provided a thoughtful position on a difficult subject. So, good job, I don't usually subscribe to people after only seeing a single video.

[@TwistedHound14]

I honestly loved Moffatts run. Obviously there was A LOT of things wrong with it. But I loved the relationship between Clara and the 12th doctor. It wasn't a romantic relationship like a lot of other companions. It was a genuine love for each others company. Capaldi is also my favorite doctor. Yes Clara wasn't very fleshed out. But I still loved them

[@puppycatsbee]

agree with u, although i feel that clara's character was perfectly well fleshed-out

[@jenthart93]

Same, I perfectly agree with you.

[@bluewilliams4911]

I loved Clara and the Doctor being she goes from being this horribly naïve person to someone full of so much arrogance it gets her literally killed. And the way she and the Doctor are just… unhealthily obsessed with each other is so good.

[@vesey986]

Yesss, I’m always happy to find new Peter Capaldi fans. I loved the all the positivity towards his run in this video.

[@triciahutchins5407]

Thank you. I have thought, ever since my first viewing of Heaven Sent, that it is the best episode ever made of Doctor Who. I can back up this opinion with the fact that I have seen every episode (except the lost episodes from the 60's) since the first one ever made. It has taken me a decade to complete the collection, and I am currently on my second watch-through of the entire history of the program. The superlative quality of that episode relies upon the efforts and abilities of many talented people. But to me it was the acme of Peter Capaldi's portrayal of the 12th Doctor, and the 12th Doctor was the acme of all of the portrayals during the long history of Doctor Who.. Listening to your essay confirmed many of my own beliefs, introduced some ideas that I hadn't considered before, and made me nod, think, question and applaud. Excellent work. I look forward to hearing your future thoughts.

[@evandoesreviews6357]

it makes me feel better knowing someone out there is also a huge fan of Capalldi

[@wquty]

Please continue these Video essays!! You are genius!

[@muddlewait8844]

About the collaborative process: my favorite example of multiple creative voices changing a work against an auteur’s will is Amber Benson’s refusal to play evil Tara and taunt Willow in season 7 of Buffy. I just imagine Joss turning red and shaking his fists, saying “but that’s how it HAPPENS, that’s how it ALWAYS HAS TO HAPPEN” and Amber saying “I don’t think so. Not always. not this time,” and walking away. Also: love this video. Can’t wait to binge your other stuff. First time I’ve seen you recommended; maybe the algorithm has blessed you!