Oh my I completely forgot it was Saturday, Doctor who day, and your notification reminded me! Gonna go watch the episode then run back here before I spoil it for myself!
Not a bad episode, really. I didn't think we had seen Russel at his best until this one. This seemed like a step up from Space Babies and Devil's Chord (not that I didn't enjoy those, of course).
@@BeyondTheSofa NOW sold, I loved the framing in The Devil's Chord which, for me anyway, sets up the supernatural elements in a canon friendly Whoniverse way. I love supernatural fiction, and I love Dr Who, and really didn't think the two would work together, but it's really working! No one is more shocked than me
Oh, that’s excellent. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. In all honestly, when they announced this is what they would be doing, I had a hope it would head in this direction. Sure, there will be some teething troubles as things shift around but overall, I think this is a really interesting direction to go in.
@@BeyondTheSofa agreed wholeheartedly, though after the abortion that was Chibnal, I'd probably have been happy with watching a potato going round inside a microwave
So good! I personally also really liked the idea of Mad Jack simply manifesting as a seemingly normal human politician whose only goal is to usher in a nuclear winter, grounding the superstition with Year and Years like political commentary was a stroke of genius on Russell's part, he could've played it safe having the episode concluding with a explicit supernatural monster, but I'm glad he didn't. Also teared up at the culimination of who the old woman actually was. I figured it out as Ruby was aging throughout the episode of course, but the pay off was truly excellent. Powerful folk-lore writing with a genuine emotional hook surrounding themes of abandonment as well as sense of terror. Millie Gibson shined in this episode.
Yes, I didn't mention the Mad Jack thing, really, but it was a very smart idea. If you add in some time travel lore to it, it could very well have been that Mad Jack existed as a human and the fairy circle was put there so that Ruby could end up in some sort of time eddy and erase his timeline. There is a mention, IIRC, about erasing timelines in the episode, but only a brief one. Millie was great, wasn't she, and that ending in the hospital was truly scary.
well considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring him back (he brok the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it hte least worse ending for their reality.
This theory cant be the case because the doctor mentions both times (when he breaks the circle, and when he doesnt) that this evil pm existed. So breaking this circle has nothing to do with an entity taking over a guy, the guy was already evil
I absolutely loved the open for this video!!! I also enjoyed your broader discussion about ratings and the show in general. I have talked to several friends and neighbors who have only started watching Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa, and they love it. The things they all seem to like about it are the variety of tones each episode and the "British weirdness." This show has an appeal and trust me it's not lost on us here in Texas.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm also happy to hear that people who have stuck with the series are enjoying it. That's really great to hear. One thing I do know about audiences, though, is that those people are likely to be the fringe. Most of the audience in any given territory are reluctant to stick with things if they've tried them once and not enjoyed it. What can happen is that the fringe will adopt the series and the persuade back some of the people who turned off originally. That's what happened with early series of Who, and it built it into a global brand. So, finger's crossed it could do it again.
THANK YOU for your thoughts on last week's religious commentary. I myself am a Christian Whovian who, as much as I loved Boom, definitely felt a sting. Thank you for acknowledging that we should have been listened to- sometimes it feels like we're the only group in today's world that isn't afforded that respect. When others raise a hand to say they've been hurt they're supported, loved, and applauded- but when we do it we're attacked. I LOVED Boom overall and especially in light of the Doctor's turnaround at the end the message didn't bother me too much, but I just so appreciate your respect and support here. It's too rare today.
It’s my pleasure. I think others have acknowledged this as well. I do think this series has had a few missteps language-wise and we need to recognise when that is happening.
Thank you for those comments on the viewing figures - interesting to know. Could it be that people in the UK are now watching Doctor Who on Disney+, rather than on the BBC? That wouldn't surprise me, especially if they want to watch new episodes as soon as they drop.
We don't get Who on Disney+ in the UK, it's all on iPlayer and drops at the same time as Disney+. We don't get the figures for iPlayer unitl the 7 day consolidated , which is usually a week on Monday after the episode aired. So, we'll get them for Boom tomorrow. In all honesty, they've not been good so far, so we'll have to see what happens. I'm not going to call doom as some others have, however, as it's so much more complicated than that.
A wonderful review as always and I liked your take and understanding of the story and plot. A lot of people have been comparing this episode to Midnight but I think that it was more like Listen in that there was no overall explanation for what was going on. I absolutely love Listen and I will have to put 73 Yards up there with it. What do you think?
Loved 73 yards - and I thought that Ruby created something like a bubble universe around herself (like Donna did more than once) which only stopped once the issue of Ap Gwilliam was resolved AND the fairy circle wasn't broken (and why the Doctor suddenly poofed out of existence after they hit the circle the 'first' time).
It does a bit, doesn't it. I already have an idea for a poster after seeing the trailer, so I’ll have to see if the images they release fit into that. It could be very interesting.
I understood many people felt the ending spoiled the episode but I quite like how it left with an opening ending where you can come up with your theories. I LOVED the episode, I love Ruby, love all of the settings and even the politics were very on the nose (Russell couldn't time it better with the general election) so I it felt fine with it. I give it a solid 9.5, I do have a feeling that this is the start of seeing what powers Ruby might have so I think we might understand it better later on. It also good showing on how lonely Ruby felt because of this entity
It helps if you have some grounding in the horror genre. I didn't think the ending spoiled the episode because I was expecting that sort of thing from a horror story, but I've seen a lot of people complaining that things weren't explained enough. That's kind of the point with this type of ghost story.
@@BeyondTheSofa I DESPISE it when horror stories over explain things. It's so much better when we can invent our own elements to it, and so I am very happy RTD took this approach!
@RickReasonnz I have not adjusted to ghost stories but even I like the change where we simply don't know, very rare for a doctor who, like what this this guy said (maybe if people who knew that going to watch it would forgive it). While yes we might like to know if it was actual ruby, I would say that it would hurt the story long term, not giving much of a reason to rewatch it . I like the opening ending and seeing how people take it. Russell finally wrote an almost perfect story imo (just felt it needed a tad longer but it still works fine)
It's a "timey wimey" story, virtually by the doctor breaking the seal, stepping into the fairy circle it starts a timeline where mad jack is reborn and the doctor is trapped within the fairy circle curse that jack was in, and ruby can only reach herself through her own death cause ruby is stuck in a different curse for reading the notes, who knows how many times this has happened for ruby but finally this version of ruby broke the curse by stopping them both, and can rest in peace. Cause without ruby stopping the doctor stepping the doctor wouldn't have stopped ruby reading the notes, it's a circle it's a head spin, but it's brilliant storytelling
welll considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring him back (he brok the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it hte least worse ending for their reality. This is the first time,m they didn't fail more than once. It happened once. the future the doctor knows happened. Then the Ruby we know lives it. She says don'T step. And it's over. I say max they failed once. But they needn't have failed. We didn'T see where they came from. NO OPENING / INTRO !! This was a shock!
I mean, it can be read like that, absolutely, and it’s very smart to have done that. But, the best thing is, this story is what YOU bring to it, which is often the way with really good ghost stories.
@@BeyondTheSofa yes the explanation is open. But at least we know at the end the old lady ghost is Ruby from the future. the rest, is sooooo weird, as you say, what is unkown is scarier
The old cabin lady kinda tells you what's happening, but they no longer believe in it so it plays off as a joke on ruby and us, but fairy circles are old folklore and how you should never step in one. And using charms to keep unrested souls away from you is also folklore, semper distance, always distant like the cross for demons So jacks soul would have roamed that town, and the charms were to keep him at a distance from the people, just how ruby used the distance to her advantage, they made a fairy circle, and used the distance to trap mad jacks soul in it. The doctor gets stuck in the fairly circle stepping in it, breaking it released jacks soul, and rubys soul is locked into a cycle of keeping a distance but never at rest for reading the charm, jack was literally just reincarnated that's why it took 20 years for him to appear The suspense comes from this not following the normal doctor recent hero and villain tropes and surpassing our expectations
You hit the nail on the head when you said the episodes are too short for their concepts. This is a big problem in that stories feel too rushed and, as a result, are unsatisfying with their hasty resolutions or unexplained plot elements. Only Boom of the new run has worked well in the 45-minute format. I'd love to see a move to more 2-part episodes and the return of the cliffhanger.
@@BeyondTheSofa Yes, the cut to 8 episodes does restrict the approach. Looking back, the majority of my favourite stories since the revival in 2005 have been 2-parters, which, in my view, tend to draw on the series' strengths much better than single-episode stories.
I loved the ambiguity of this story. The folk horror, the horrors of rejection and loneliness . I wonder if the apparition was more than just old Ruby, maybe it was an embodiment of loneliness, she'll never have anyone apart from herself. Great review.
I was terrified at the end with the old woman in the hospital lol old woman/ghost in the distance you can't quite see the face of is a very specific fear I didnr expect doctor who to tap into lol I dont hate the season so far, I quote enjoyed devil's chord. Tonally it's been a little wonky though, especially if you consider the 60th as well. I suppose the constant is some kind of horror. Turn left is one of my favourite episodes so I enjoy this type of companion heavy story, but hate that the resolution was so ambiguous. I can't imagine how annoying that would be for children lol.
I think "a little wonky" is probably a good description, isn't it? I'm quite enjoying it. I think the resolution being something Doctor Who usually does will bother some people. It's right up my ally, what with being a fan of horror anyway. I'm kind of used to it. That bit at the end was pure horror film. I bet kids will be scared stiff when they see that... If, of course, they stuck around for it.
This episode is right up there for me as one of the best since 2005. The good news an extra 600k tuned in "live" via the old method which is brilliant the phone call between Ruby and her Mum was brutal. Millie has just grabbed this role and made it totally her own, I live in Wales and please believe me landladies like that are real. RTD is busted he said Susan Twist was just used as she was around and had the time now Ruby has started to twig her face you know that's out the window. The one who waits, This is huge speculation I just wonder if its the Robot at UNIT and She's got a hidden song, Could Ruby be the daughter of Riversong? The stadium part shows the importance music plays that's why I love Gold he knows exactly how to build tension. I really loved this episode I suspect this will be the episode tat gets Millie noticed in America.
I think you’re right. I think it is one of the best we’ve seen, which is saying a lot. I live in Gloucester, so not far from Wales and I’ve spent lots of time there. I’ve been in pubs like that myself 😂
It was very enjoyable despite the bold choice to not use the Doctor this early when we are still learning this Doctors character. Although I agree with the use of horror camera angles was effective, the overuse of Extreme Close Ups approached something akin to parody after a point. Still, as a horror cum political drama, it hits all the right notes. There's one big problem I'm having with this season, and I've not really heard this yet but... This show was touted as a fresh start to Doctor Who, a new jumping on point for new viewers, hence the association with Disney+ and the naming of the season as "Season 1" and yet.... I don't know how this show could possibly appeal to those who have never seen Doctor Who before. From the absurdity of Space Babies and Devils Chord, to Boom's somewhat limited use of the Doctor's skillset, to not featuring him at all in this episode, I don't know what someone not already versed in previous seasons would think of the Doctor character. In my mind, this should have come far later in to the season, when we are used to the Doctor and feel his absence that much more. As it is, a new viewer likely wouldn't care if the Doctor even does anything in this or the next episodes. I just... really want to see Ncuti truly showing he is needed for a plot. It may be an extreme opposite, but look at for example Eleven's first episode. At the end, we are shown that Doctor can save the day by BEING to the Doctor, and his mere presence frightens the invaders so much that they flee. Now we know the Doctor is someone who has the ability thus provided, and we want to know more about how he reacts to threats and friends. With Ncuti... well, he's there, but he doesn't really do anything. Not yet. I'm hopeful from the trailer of next week that will will see him more proactive.
I kinda feel like this about both the doctor and Ruby this season. Neither of them seem to have enough agency, and the only time they do have agency is when the writers actively need them to get into danger. The solutions to the episodes seem to just happen without the doctor or Ruby actually needing to think or create a solution In space babies the lady traps the monster while it's chasing the doctor and ruby. In boom the AI combats the medical robots. Devils chord had the Beatles member finish the tune (although they did actively try and fight), and in this it's literally just Ruby's death that solved the episode
I have to agree with you. I'm having a lot of fun with this season, but I'm not sure where it fits in for a mainstream audience. I know production is becoming more niche now that viewers have stopped tuning into stuff just because it's on, but you do need to appeal to those viewers to get them on board. It's kind of like I mentioned in last week's video, you need that strong opener that really drives home the premise and makes people eager for more, so they will sit through the more experimental episodes to get to the bits they like. That's how shows in the US do it. I have to admit, if this wasn't Doctor Who, just a normal show on streaming, I probably would have turned off by now. That's not what I was hoping for when this series released. I too want to see Ncuti really burst onto the screen as The Doctor. He hasn't had much in the way of hero-moments yet. What's so galling is that we know he can do it. There's been glimpses of it, just not a full-on Doctor moment where it could only be the Doctor who saves the day.
@@BeyondTheSofa I think the closest we've had Ncuti acting as a direct hero is the very first episode against the Sky Goblins, and that wasn't terribly convincing. I daresay they need to do something I'm sure they don't want to do: use classic villains like the Daleks or Cybermen. It feels like a cheat considering what RTD seems to achieve with the supernatural stuff, but the audience might well run out of patience before it 'gets good'.
Although enjoyable It’s certainly an episode you shouldn’t think too much about it. Was the politician something unleashed or just a bad person. Why was the other lady calling him a monster? Why was old Ruby not helping young Ruby. Shouldn’t there be bollards and warnings around the fairy circle? Why did the TARDIS not let Ruby in? I do not believe the UNiT would just leave her be. Anyway if you don’t think about it too much, it was good.
I think you can think a lot about it, just in a different way. As I said in the video, this has a lot in common with M R James stories and there's a lot of conversation around those if you go to the right place. In this instance, of course, I think the discussion needs to be handled differently than we would a 'normal' episode of Doctor Who, because it does treat things differently. Part of that is being accepting of the supernatural in a way we might be accepting of sci-fi explanations.
This was solid. Horror thriller, feeling like asian horror to me!! easily a 9.1. Conceptually and for the fun and design I prefer The Devil's chord as the superior episode this season, BUT overall cinematography is king in a rating with all those : might even be a 9.3/10 this "73 yds"!
I think this was possibly my favourite of the season so far. I think I need a rewatch once its all over to really cement that in my mind, but it just hit all of the right beats for me. I can see the allusion to Asian horror, but its worth taking a look at some of the early Victorian horrors and the rise of British folk horror because much of what we see in 73 Yards seems to come directly from that.
Now how I see it overall : parallel reality still in that purple vortex kind of episode! (We didn'T see a generic/intro to this episode, no theme song). Toi me this feels like asian horror, the 66.7meters = 73yards is the devil in the details. Considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring Mad Jack back (he broke the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it through for for their reality which is the one wher ethey leave the scene atthe end. This is the first time this whole time loop happened imo, they didn't fail more than once. It happened once. the future the doctor knows happened. Then the Ruby we know lives it. She says don't step. And it's over. I say worst case scenario they failed once. But they needn't have failed for this to make sense. It isn't Heaven Sent, but is a 9.1/10 easily. We didn'T see where they came from at the beginning did you notice?. There was NO OPENING / INTRO !! This was a shock!
Did you know, the actual number of the beast, in most manuscripts of Revelation 13:18, is 616? One thing I liked about there not being an opening, it was almost a nod to the Doctor not being in it. I really liked the cinematic opening though, I thought it worked well without the opening theme, which would have dragged you out of that horror experience.
yes it'S a fun tidbit@@BeyondTheSofa Read apocyphal gospels irca 2007. Went back for a degree in litterature and I studied theology on my own for as many religions as I could... made me atheist-misotheist.
it will carry on as long as it is subsidised by Disney ??? they have to show something ? i still say about 5 million viewers decided to tune in after to watch the Eurovision song contest ( very popular with minorities )
It will carry on as long as the money is there. That money doesn't need to come from Disney. Eurovision was watched by 7.64 million on the night, which is a 30% drop in viewing in a single year.
@@BeyondTheSofa (IT was in the uk) my point is i would of expected at least 2 or 3 million more to tune in early and watch Dr who ( dont forget we in the uk own the BBC ( BBC publications is another story )
@@BeyondTheSofa @stevemclaren2730 is maybe quoting the poll done for King's College London in 2022. 49% of the UK said they believed in god - down from 75% in 1981. I think the result you get depends on the wording of the question. Answering 'yes' to "Are you an atheist?" and answering 'no' to "Do you believe in god?" are maybe the same response, but might get different percentages.
I think my point is that there are still a rather large contingent of the public who consider themselves Christians and that even those who are non-religious have been brought up in a culture that is very cantered on Cristian values. I mean, that was the plain being made in the video.
We have a cencus ever 10 years. The most recent one was 2021 and the next is 2031. In Scotland alone (latest Scotish census was 2022) 38% of the populatoin is Cristian. (”Church of Scotland” 20.4%, "Roman Catholic" (13.3%), "Other Christian" (5.1%)). They are the largest religious group in the country.
No, and I think that probably helped to build tension right from the off. I kind of like the idea that if the Doctor isn't in an episode, you don't get the titles. Where was the 4th wall break in this one? I missed it.
@@BeyondTheSofa I mean that's the fourth wall break as in the tone and theming of the episode itself is what dictates the lack of a conventional intro (Especially since The Doctor himself completely disappears for the majority of the episode), i.e. similar to how in The Devil's Chord Maestro introduced the intro by playing it herself at the start within the episode which was followed up with The Doctor hearing it through the jukebox.
@@BeyondTheSofa Maybe not in the conventional sense, but Boom also had that single snowflake falling onto the screen at the end. We're seeing a range of fourth wall breaks from actors as well as aspects of the show itself both breaking it at times.
No, sorry but none of those things are fourth wall breaks. Even if its a signal to the audience, breaking the fourth wall is specifically about the audience, or the production itself being acknowledged by a character who should, by definition, not know about it.
Re: Millie not looking 40. Is it outside the realm of possibility that skincare/diet advice/surgery could make an image conscious person look youthful for longer in 22 years time?
Firstly, yes because we know she doesn't have the best job and only has £1000 of savings in 20 years' time. She wouldn't have been able to afford 90% of what you're talking about and there was no mitigation of that in the narrative. Secondly, it doesn't matter what could happen in 20 years time, it matters if a modern audience can suspend their disbelief and believe they are looking at a 40-year-old woman. I've seen many comments saying this was a sticking point for people. She just didn't look like she had aged at all.
But they won't because they haven't done. Cosmetics are no more affordable now than they were 60 years ago. In fact, in many instances, people are paying a lot more for very similar (if not the same) treatments. And, again, none of that is in the narrative.
@@BeyondTheSofa but you can only talk about now, not 22 years in the future, which you don't know any more than anyone else. Plus it's science fiction, so it's all moot. If it took people out of the story because an 18 year old actor didn't look 40 enough, that's a fair criticism but to suggest it wouldn't be possible for advances to be made in a quarter of a century for people to look youthful for longer is as much a speculation as my point is.
No, it is the production team's job to make the story believable. That has nothing to do with what ‘could’ happen but what needs to happen for a current audience to believe it. If there is no narrative explanation (there isn't), then is should follow what people understand to be true NOW, because doing anything else removes the suspension of disbelief. It is incredibly bad programme-making to do that. It is the commentary around what ‘could’ happen that is moot because the most important thing in any production is what an average person in the street watching this for the first time will take away from it. The ageing is meant to look natural, we know this because there is no narrative discourse about it. As can be demonstrated by a lot of the talk around this episode, it did not look natural.
this is so dumb even the so called villain i have no idea what wrong he did and this entire ep is a paradox as non of the even happened if old ruby prevented young ruby from letting the doctor destroy the so called circle so the entire story basically never happened!. lets not forget all the plot holes and dumb decisions character made during this episode worst writing RTD ever did to date
There is actually the husk of an in-universe explanation in the episode. Yes, the whole episode is a paradox but it’s also leaning into the themes of myth and legend that the show is exploring this season, which does give a fairy circle the possibility of a power we are unaware of. What were the plot holes you're talking about?
@@BeyondTheSofa I think the biggest plothole is the fact the loop broke for no apparent reason. There is nothing to suggest anything new happened this time around so why could she suddenly see and hear her older self the second time around which led to it ending. Even if you ignore the paradox that part doesnt make a lick of sense. Neither does the mad jack stuff because he happens regardless of the circle breaking or not. I could go on and on lol
Oh my I completely forgot it was Saturday, Doctor who day, and your notification reminded me!
Gonna go watch the episode then run back here before I spoil it for myself!
WOW
What, an, episode. You said it perfectly when you said unnerving. The whole episode gave me the heebee jeebees and I loved it!
Not a bad episode, really. I didn't think we had seen Russel at his best until this one. This seemed like a step up from Space Babies and Devil's Chord (not that I didn't enjoy those, of course).
Definitly best episode so far, but I'm now sold on the supernatural elements given the exposition in The Devi's Chord
Sorry, 'now' sold or 'not' sold? Just checking it wasn't a typo.
@@BeyondTheSofa NOW sold, I loved the framing in The Devil's Chord which, for me anyway, sets up the supernatural elements in a canon friendly Whoniverse way. I love supernatural fiction, and I love Dr Who, and really didn't think the two would work together, but it's really working! No one is more shocked than me
Oh, that’s excellent. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. In all honestly, when they announced this is what they would be doing, I had a hope it would head in this direction. Sure, there will be some teething troubles as things shift around but overall, I think this is a really interesting direction to go in.
@@BeyondTheSofa agreed wholeheartedly, though after the abortion that was Chibnal, I'd probably have been happy with watching a potato going round inside a microwave
So good! I personally also really liked the idea of Mad Jack simply manifesting as a seemingly normal human politician whose only goal is to usher in a nuclear winter, grounding the superstition with Year and Years like political commentary was a stroke of genius on Russell's part, he could've played it safe having the episode concluding with a explicit supernatural monster, but I'm glad he didn't. Also teared up at the culimination of who the old woman actually was. I figured it out as Ruby was aging throughout the episode of course, but the pay off was truly excellent. Powerful folk-lore writing with a genuine emotional hook surrounding themes of abandonment as well as sense of terror. Millie Gibson shined in this episode.
Yes, I didn't mention the Mad Jack thing, really, but it was a very smart idea. If you add in some time travel lore to it, it could very well have been that Mad Jack existed as a human and the fairy circle was put there so that Ruby could end up in some sort of time eddy and erase his timeline. There is a mention, IIRC, about erasing timelines in the episode, but only a brief one.
Millie was great, wasn't she, and that ending in the hospital was truly scary.
Just noticed it's the second time this season we hear about an unbound entity or something craving for a nuclear winter.
I hadn’t picked up on that… The unbound entity thing, yes, and I think we might see that a lot more.
well considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring him back (he brok the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it hte least worse ending for their reality.
This theory cant be the case because the doctor mentions both times (when he breaks the circle, and when he doesnt) that this evil pm existed. So breaking this circle has nothing to do with an entity taking over a guy, the guy was already evil
I absolutely loved the open for this video!!! I also enjoyed your broader discussion about ratings and the show in general. I have talked to several friends and neighbors who have only started watching Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa, and they love it. The things they all seem to like about it are the variety of tones each episode and the "British weirdness." This show has an appeal and trust me it's not lost on us here in Texas.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm also happy to hear that people who have stuck with the series are enjoying it. That's really great to hear. One thing I do know about audiences, though, is that those people are likely to be the fringe. Most of the audience in any given territory are reluctant to stick with things if they've tried them once and not enjoyed it. What can happen is that the fringe will adopt the series and the persuade back some of the people who turned off originally. That's what happened with early series of Who, and it built it into a global brand. So, finger's crossed it could do it again.
THANK YOU for your thoughts on last week's religious commentary. I myself am a Christian Whovian who, as much as I loved Boom, definitely felt a sting. Thank you for acknowledging that we should have been listened to- sometimes it feels like we're the only group in today's world that isn't afforded that respect. When others raise a hand to say they've been hurt they're supported, loved, and applauded- but when we do it we're attacked. I LOVED Boom overall and especially in light of the Doctor's turnaround at the end the message didn't bother me too much, but I just so appreciate your respect and support here. It's too rare today.
It’s my pleasure. I think others have acknowledged this as well. I do think this series has had a few missteps language-wise and we need to recognise when that is happening.
Thank you for those comments on the viewing figures - interesting to know. Could it be that people in the UK are now watching Doctor Who on Disney+, rather than on the BBC? That wouldn't surprise me, especially if they want to watch new episodes as soon as they drop.
We don't get Who on Disney+ in the UK, it's all on iPlayer and drops at the same time as Disney+. We don't get the figures for iPlayer unitl the 7 day consolidated , which is usually a week on Monday after the episode aired. So, we'll get them for Boom tomorrow. In all honesty, they've not been good so far, so we'll have to see what happens. I'm not going to call doom as some others have, however, as it's so much more complicated than that.
A wonderful review as always and I liked your take and understanding of the story and plot. A lot of people have been comparing this episode to Midnight but I think that it was more like Listen in that there was no overall explanation for what was going on. I absolutely love Listen and I will have to put 73 Yards up there with it. What do you think?
Glad you enjoyed it! I need to rewatch Listen again, but won’t get to it for quite a while as I need to start series 2 next.
Loved 73 yards - and I thought that Ruby created something like a bubble universe around herself (like Donna did more than once) which only stopped once the issue of Ap Gwilliam was resolved AND the fairy circle wasn't broken (and why the Doctor suddenly poofed out of existence after they hit the circle the 'first' time).
Yes, that’s entirely possible 😊
One of the things I like about it is that you can bring your own explanations to it.
Next week looks like Macra Terror meets the Happiness Patrol.
It does a bit, doesn't it. I already have an idea for a poster after seeing the trailer, so I’ll have to see if the images they release fit into that. It could be very interesting.
I understood many people felt the ending spoiled the episode but I quite like how it left with an opening ending where you can come up with your theories. I LOVED the episode, I love Ruby, love all of the settings and even the politics were very on the nose (Russell couldn't time it better with the general election) so I it felt fine with it. I give it a solid 9.5, I do have a feeling that this is the start of seeing what powers Ruby might have so I think we might understand it better later on. It also good showing on how lonely Ruby felt because of this entity
It helps if you have some grounding in the horror genre. I didn't think the ending spoiled the episode because I was expecting that sort of thing from a horror story, but I've seen a lot of people complaining that things weren't explained enough. That's kind of the point with this type of ghost story.
@BeyondTheSofa yeah that's right. Millie did a fantastic job with the episode.
@@BeyondTheSofa I DESPISE it when horror stories over explain things. It's so much better when we can invent our own elements to it, and so I am very happy RTD took this approach!
Yes, I'm the same. I don't like over explanation in horror.
@RickReasonnz I have not adjusted to ghost stories but even I like the change where we simply don't know, very rare for a doctor who, like what this this guy said (maybe if people who knew that going to watch it would forgive it). While yes we might like to know if it was actual ruby, I would say that it would hurt the story long term, not giving much of a reason to rewatch it . I like the opening ending and seeing how people take it. Russell finally wrote an almost perfect story imo (just felt it needed a tad longer but it still works fine)
It's a "timey wimey" story, virtually by the doctor breaking the seal, stepping into the fairy circle it starts a timeline where mad jack is reborn and the doctor is trapped within the fairy circle curse that jack was in, and ruby can only reach herself through her own death cause ruby is stuck in a different curse for reading the notes, who knows how many times this has happened for ruby but finally this version of ruby broke the curse by stopping them both, and can rest in peace. Cause without ruby stopping the doctor stepping the doctor wouldn't have stopped ruby reading the notes, it's a circle it's a head spin, but it's brilliant storytelling
welll considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring him back (he brok the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it hte least worse ending for their reality. This is the first time,m they didn't fail more than once. It happened once. the future the doctor knows happened. Then the Ruby we know lives it. She says don'T step. And it's over. I say max they failed once. But they needn't have failed. We didn'T see where they came from. NO OPENING / INTRO !! This was a shock!
I mean, it can be read like that, absolutely, and it’s very smart to have done that. But, the best thing is, this story is what YOU bring to it, which is often the way with really good ghost stories.
@@BeyondTheSofa yes the explanation is open. But at least we know at the end the old lady ghost is Ruby from the future. the rest, is sooooo weird, as you say, what is unkown is scarier
Absolutely.
The old cabin lady kinda tells you what's happening, but they no longer believe in it so it plays off as a joke on ruby and us, but fairy circles are old folklore and how you should never step in one. And using charms to keep unrested souls away from you is also folklore, semper distance, always distant like the cross for demons
So jacks soul would have roamed that town, and the charms were to keep him at a distance from the people, just how ruby used the distance to her advantage, they made a fairy circle, and used the distance to trap mad jacks soul in it. The doctor gets stuck in the fairly circle stepping in it, breaking it released jacks soul, and rubys soul is locked into a cycle of keeping a distance but never at rest for reading the charm, jack was literally just reincarnated that's why it took 20 years for him to appear
The suspense comes from this not following the normal doctor recent hero and villain tropes and surpassing our expectations
I wish these were two part episodes, they squish so much into one that I feel more development could of been done
Totally agree
You hit the nail on the head when you said the episodes are too short for their concepts. This is a big problem in that stories feel too rushed and, as a result, are unsatisfying with their hasty resolutions or unexplained plot elements. Only Boom of the new run has worked well in the 45-minute format. I'd love to see a move to more 2-part episodes and the return of the cliffhanger.
I love a good cliff hanger. I don't think we'll be getting them if things stick to 8 episodes... Well, perhaps not as many as I'd like.
@@BeyondTheSofa Yes, the cut to 8 episodes does restrict the approach. Looking back, the majority of my favourite stories since the revival in 2005 have been 2-parters, which, in my view, tend to draw on the series' strengths much better than single-episode stories.
I loved the ambiguity of this story. The folk horror, the horrors of rejection and loneliness . I wonder if the apparition was more than just old Ruby, maybe it was an embodiment of loneliness, she'll never have anyone apart from herself. Great review.
I think it must have been. What, I don’t know and I’m not expecting to get any answers, but that’s fine.
I was terrified at the end with the old woman in the hospital lol old woman/ghost in the distance you can't quite see the face of is a very specific fear I didnr expect doctor who to tap into lol
I dont hate the season so far, I quote enjoyed devil's chord. Tonally it's been a little wonky though, especially if you consider the 60th as well. I suppose the constant is some kind of horror.
Turn left is one of my favourite episodes so I enjoy this type of companion heavy story, but hate that the resolution was so ambiguous. I can't imagine how annoying that would be for children lol.
Right! So scary!
This episode reminded me a lot of turn left also
I think "a little wonky" is probably a good description, isn't it? I'm quite enjoying it. I think the resolution being something Doctor Who usually does will bother some people. It's right up my ally, what with being a fan of horror anyway. I'm kind of used to it.
That bit at the end was pure horror film. I bet kids will be scared stiff when they see that... If, of course, they stuck around for it.
This episode is right up there for me as one of the best since 2005.
The good news an extra 600k tuned in "live" via the old method which is brilliant
the phone call between Ruby and her Mum was brutal.
Millie has just grabbed this role and made it totally her own, I live in Wales
and please believe me landladies like that are real.
RTD is busted he said Susan Twist was just used as she was around and had the time
now Ruby has started to twig her face you know that's out the window.
The one who waits, This is huge speculation I just wonder if its the Robot at UNIT
and She's got a hidden song, Could Ruby be the daughter of Riversong?
The stadium part shows the importance music plays that's why I love Gold he knows exactly how to build tension. I really loved this episode I suspect this will be the episode tat gets Millie noticed in America.
I think you’re right. I think it is one of the best we’ve seen, which is saying a lot. I live in Gloucester, so not far from Wales and I’ve spent lots of time there. I’ve been in pubs like that myself 😂
It was very enjoyable despite the bold choice to not use the Doctor this early when we are still learning this Doctors character. Although I agree with the use of horror camera angles was effective, the overuse of Extreme Close Ups approached something akin to parody after a point. Still, as a horror cum political drama, it hits all the right notes.
There's one big problem I'm having with this season, and I've not really heard this yet but... This show was touted as a fresh start to Doctor Who, a new jumping on point for new viewers, hence the association with Disney+ and the naming of the season as "Season 1" and yet.... I don't know how this show could possibly appeal to those who have never seen Doctor Who before. From the absurdity of Space Babies and Devils Chord, to Boom's somewhat limited use of the Doctor's skillset, to not featuring him at all in this episode, I don't know what someone not already versed in previous seasons would think of the Doctor character. In my mind, this should have come far later in to the season, when we are used to the Doctor and feel his absence that much more. As it is, a new viewer likely wouldn't care if the Doctor even does anything in this or the next episodes.
I just... really want to see Ncuti truly showing he is needed for a plot. It may be an extreme opposite, but look at for example Eleven's first episode. At the end, we are shown that Doctor can save the day by BEING to the Doctor, and his mere presence frightens the invaders so much that they flee. Now we know the Doctor is someone who has the ability thus provided, and we want to know more about how he reacts to threats and friends. With Ncuti... well, he's there, but he doesn't really do anything. Not yet. I'm hopeful from the trailer of next week that will will see him more proactive.
I kinda feel like this about both the doctor and Ruby this season. Neither of them seem to have enough agency, and the only time they do have agency is when the writers actively need them to get into danger. The solutions to the episodes seem to just happen without the doctor or Ruby actually needing to think or create a solution
In space babies the lady traps the monster while it's chasing the doctor and ruby. In boom the AI combats the medical robots. Devils chord had the Beatles member finish the tune (although they did actively try and fight), and in this it's literally just Ruby's death that solved the episode
I have to agree with you. I'm having a lot of fun with this season, but I'm not sure where it fits in for a mainstream audience. I know production is becoming more niche now that viewers have stopped tuning into stuff just because it's on, but you do need to appeal to those viewers to get them on board. It's kind of like I mentioned in last week's video, you need that strong opener that really drives home the premise and makes people eager for more, so they will sit through the more experimental episodes to get to the bits they like. That's how shows in the US do it.
I have to admit, if this wasn't Doctor Who, just a normal show on streaming, I probably would have turned off by now. That's not what I was hoping for when this series released.
I too want to see Ncuti really burst onto the screen as The Doctor. He hasn't had much in the way of hero-moments yet. What's so galling is that we know he can do it. There's been glimpses of it, just not a full-on Doctor moment where it could only be the Doctor who saves the day.
@@BeyondTheSofa I think the closest we've had Ncuti acting as a direct hero is the very first episode against the Sky Goblins, and that wasn't terribly convincing. I daresay they need to do something I'm sure they don't want to do: use classic villains like the Daleks or Cybermen. It feels like a cheat considering what RTD seems to achieve with the supernatural stuff, but the audience might well run out of patience before it 'gets good'.
The agency in this episode was Ruby’s acceptance and then her use of her unique situation to combat the real threat of the politician.
This is always the worry, that there isn't thought steam to get to some sort of critical mass of audience.
Although enjoyable It’s certainly an episode you shouldn’t think too much about it. Was the politician something unleashed or just a bad person. Why was the other lady calling him a monster? Why was old Ruby not helping young Ruby. Shouldn’t there be bollards and warnings around the fairy circle? Why did the TARDIS not let Ruby in?
I do not believe the UNiT would just leave her be. Anyway if you don’t think about it too much, it was good.
I think you can think a lot about it, just in a different way. As I said in the video, this has a lot in common with M R James stories and there's a lot of conversation around those if you go to the right place. In this instance, of course, I think the discussion needs to be handled differently than we would a 'normal' episode of Doctor Who, because it does treat things differently. Part of that is being accepting of the supernatural in a way we might be accepting of sci-fi explanations.
This was solid. Horror thriller, feeling like asian horror to me!!
easily a 9.1. Conceptually and for the fun and design I prefer The Devil's chord as the superior episode this season, BUT
overall cinematography is king in a rating with all those : might even be a 9.3/10 this "73 yds"!
I think this was possibly my favourite of the season so far. I think I need a rewatch once its all over to really cement that in my mind, but it just hit all of the right beats for me. I can see the allusion to Asian horror, but its worth taking a look at some of the early Victorian horrors and the rise of British folk horror because much of what we see in 73 Yards seems to come directly from that.
Best episode in the series really gave me a strong SCP vibe
Great review
Many thanks :)
This episode was crazy
It was, wasn’t it 😊
Now how I see it overall : parallel reality still in that purple vortex kind of episode! (We didn'T see a generic/intro to this episode, no theme song). Toi me this feels like asian horror, the 66.7meters = 73yards is the devil in the details. Considering the Doctor was sacrificed to bring Mad Jack back (he broke the circle) and Ruby was cursed cuz she read the mesages...at least they managed to make it through for for their reality which is the one wher ethey leave the scene atthe end. This is the first time this whole time loop happened imo, they didn't fail more than once. It happened once. the future the doctor knows happened. Then the Ruby we know lives it. She says don't step. And it's over. I say worst case scenario they failed once. But they needn't have failed for this to make sense. It isn't Heaven Sent, but is a 9.1/10 easily. We didn'T see where they came from at the beginning did you notice?. There was NO OPENING / INTRO !! This was a shock!
Did you know, the actual number of the beast, in most manuscripts of Revelation 13:18, is 616? One thing I liked about there not being an opening, it was almost a nod to the Doctor not being in it. I really liked the cinematic opening though, I thought it worked well without the opening theme, which would have dragged you out of that horror experience.
@@BeyondTheSofa exactly ! So dark, a cool opening would ahve slayed the mood
yes it'S a fun tidbit@@BeyondTheSofa Read apocyphal gospels irca 2007. Went back for a degree in litterature and I studied theology on my own for as many religions as I could... made me atheist-misotheist.
As for the title, did you catch why 73 yards ? = 666
it is 66.7 meters!!!
I didn't actually realise that 😊
@@BeyondTheSofa it'S Kate Kethbridge-stewart making the conversion that made me click as to why the exact number was picked
but 66.7 isn't 666. Its 73 yards because thats how far your vision range extends before you cant focus clearly with normal eyesight
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 try and see what 72 yards and 74 yards arre... ou cannot be closer to 66,6 than 66,7 when converting from round yards !
it will carry on as long as it is subsidised by Disney ??? they have to show something ? i still say about 5 million viewers decided to tune in after to watch the Eurovision song contest ( very popular with minorities )
It will carry on as long as the money is there. That money doesn't need to come from Disney. Eurovision was watched by 7.64 million on the night, which is a 30% drop in viewing in a single year.
@@BeyondTheSofa (IT was in the uk) my point is i would of expected at least 2 or 3 million more to tune in early and watch Dr who ( dont forget we in the uk own the BBC ( BBC publications is another story )
Yes, I... Well, I didn't expect another few million but I was hoping for it. Like I said in the video, the viewing figures aren't good on the UK side.
Especially in the UK? Last census over half atheist
National census figures from 2021 indicate 46.2 percent of the population in England and Wales are Christian.
@@BeyondTheSofa @stevemclaren2730 is maybe quoting the poll done for King's College London in 2022.
49% of the UK said they believed in god - down from 75% in 1981.
I think the result you get depends on the wording of the question.
Answering 'yes' to "Are you an atheist?" and answering 'no' to "Do you believe in god?" are maybe the same response, but might get different percentages.
I think my point is that there are still a rather large contingent of the public who consider themselves Christians and that even those who are non-religious have been brought up in a culture that is very cantered on Cristian values. I mean, that was the plain being made in the video.
It was just last week I heard it on the radio, a recent census. It might have been just Scotland
We have a cencus ever 10 years. The most recent one was 2021 and the next is 2031. In Scotland alone (latest Scotish census was 2022) 38% of the populatoin is Cristian. (”Church of Scotland” 20.4%, "Roman Catholic" (13.3%), "Other Christian" (5.1%)). They are the largest religious group in the country.
Also another fourth wall break - no Doctor Who intro in this episode.
No, and I think that probably helped to build tension right from the off. I kind of like the idea that if the Doctor isn't in an episode, you don't get the titles.
Where was the 4th wall break in this one? I missed it.
@@BeyondTheSofa I mean that's the fourth wall break as in the tone and theming of the episode itself is what dictates the lack of a conventional intro (Especially since The Doctor himself completely disappears for the majority of the episode), i.e. similar to how in The Devil's Chord Maestro introduced the intro by playing it herself at the start within the episode which was followed up with The Doctor hearing it through the jukebox.
Ah, I see what you mean, but that's not really a 4th wall break, which is when an actor specifically acknowledges the audience.
@@BeyondTheSofa Maybe not in the conventional sense, but Boom also had that single snowflake falling onto the screen at the end. We're seeing a range of fourth wall breaks from actors as well as aspects of the show itself both breaking it at times.
No, sorry but none of those things are fourth wall breaks. Even if its a signal to the audience, breaking the fourth wall is specifically about the audience, or the production itself being acknowledged by a character who should, by definition, not know about it.
Re: Millie not looking 40. Is it outside the realm of possibility that skincare/diet advice/surgery could make an image conscious person look youthful for longer in 22 years time?
Firstly, yes because we know she doesn't have the best job and only has £1000 of savings in 20 years' time. She wouldn't have been able to afford 90% of what you're talking about and there was no mitigation of that in the narrative. Secondly, it doesn't matter what could happen in 20 years time, it matters if a modern audience can suspend their disbelief and believe they are looking at a 40-year-old woman. I've seen many comments saying this was a sticking point for people. She just didn't look like she had aged at all.
@@BeyondTheSofa but in 20 years those treatments could have become much more affordable
But they won't because they haven't done. Cosmetics are no more affordable now than they were 60 years ago. In fact, in many instances, people are paying a lot more for very similar (if not the same) treatments. And, again, none of that is in the narrative.
@@BeyondTheSofa but you can only talk about now, not 22 years in the future, which you don't know any more than anyone else. Plus it's science fiction, so it's all moot. If it took people out of the story because an 18 year old actor didn't look 40 enough, that's a fair criticism but to suggest it wouldn't be possible for advances to be made in a quarter of a century for people to look youthful for longer is as much a speculation as my point is.
No, it is the production team's job to make the story believable. That has nothing to do with what ‘could’ happen but what needs to happen for a current audience to believe it. If there is no narrative explanation (there isn't), then is should follow what people understand to be true NOW, because doing anything else removes the suspension of disbelief. It is incredibly bad programme-making to do that. It is the commentary around what ‘could’ happen that is moot because the most important thing in any production is what an average person in the street watching this for the first time will take away from it. The ageing is meant to look natural, we know this because there is no narrative discourse about it. As can be demonstrated by a lot of the talk around this episode, it did not look natural.
this is so dumb even the so called villain i have no idea what wrong he did and this entire ep is a paradox as non of the even happened if old ruby prevented young ruby from letting the doctor destroy the so called circle so the entire story basically never happened!. lets not forget all the plot holes and dumb decisions character made during this episode worst writing RTD ever did to date
There is actually the husk of an in-universe explanation in the episode. Yes, the whole episode is a paradox but it’s also leaning into the themes of myth and legend that the show is exploring this season, which does give a fairy circle the possibility of a power we are unaware of. What were the plot holes you're talking about?
@@BeyondTheSofa I think the biggest plothole is the fact the loop broke for no apparent reason. There is nothing to suggest anything new happened this time around so why could she suddenly see and hear her older self the second time around which led to it ending. Even if you ignore the paradox that part doesnt make a lick of sense. Neither does the mad jack stuff because he happens regardless of the circle breaking or not. I could go on and on lol
The thing that happened this time around was Ruby completing the loop.