The Awful Doctor Who Episode You Forgot Existed
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Doctor Who Series 10 is considered a highlight of the show, but it actually features one of the blandest, most boring and, in my opinion, worst episodes of the entire modern run. This is "The Eaters of Light."
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#DoctorWho #Series10 #Review
This video was a nightmare to make, so patreon pls
www.patreon.com/c/harbowholmes
you know the video is gonna be fire when he shouts out fallencortez
I completely forgot that this episode existed
same 😭😭but now that i remember it, i remember liking it. there have been very few doctor who eps that i genuinely didn't enjoy watching
Same, I literally can't remember a single detail.
I literally thought this was about a different episode when I saw the video title.
Every time I hear a crow now (often), I think of this episode & the sacrifice Kar & the 9th legion made. I personally love this episode. The kids deciding to work together to protect Scotland & the world after warring with each other was so brave & heartwarming. The lore around crows & cairns was cool, too. I think it is a great stand alone episode personally.
I might be the only person in the entire fanbase that likes this episode (yes ik people are gonna reply with "hey i liked it too). It's like a lot of other episodes from the season in that it's carried by the TARDIS crew's character interactions between themselves and other characters
Most of the comments i see here like it
I thought it was alright on my last rewatch.
Its not a bad episode. It just doesn’t stand out. Its not memorable. This and Empress of Mars literally only exist for Missy’s scenes at the end of each. Apart from those scenes, they’re entirely skippable. Not bad by any means. Just not a lot going on
I was surprised anyone had such a bitter reaction to it.
Same here
7:12 It's to your credit that you, at least, mentioned the iffy power dynamics inherent in Roman relationships. There is a annoying trend of people depicting Roman society as more progressive than that of modern western nations rather than acknowledging that they had different ideas to us, some good and some bad, just like every other civilization in history.
Aww this is one of my favorite episodes of the show. Something about the people protecting their homes for centuries and the crows remembering them really spoke to my heart. It's always been one that I watch when I want a chill episode that leaves me feeling good.
Exactly! Every time I hear a crow now (often), I think of that episode & the sacrifice Kar & the 9th legion made. I personally love this episode. The kids deciding to work together to protect Scotland & the world after warring with each other was so brave & heartwarming. The lore around crows & cairns was cool, too.
In my opinion, the time dialation plot in this episode getting dwarfed by the time dialation plot in world enough and time, plus the “2 groups that are enemies learning to work together” plot getting dwarfed by better execution in the previous episode empress of Mars, is a big structural episode with this season because it shows that this episode is basically just filler and it was made without considering the other episodes. I love 12 and bill in this, but honestly this could be any doctor and companion, you could tell me that this script was written alongside survival
For 7 and ace and i would believe you.
If I was showrunner, I would at least move this episode to slightly earlier in the season, before empress of Mars, and add a rewrite to Missy’s role in that story so she’s already been let out of the vault. (I want to move this episode even earlier in the season, but everything between the pilot and lie of the land is a really good episode order, and I don’t want to mess up the perfect episode order of the first half of the season to fix the poorer episode order of the second half of the season!)
Considering Rona Munro, Peter Capaldi, Steven Moffat, and Michelle Gomez are all Scottish, I think this was a bucket list for the end of Moffat's era to have a Scottish historical episode
I actually always enjoyed this episode, had no idea that people disliked it so much. In my opinion the previous episode was far weaker.
0:24
What are you talking about? There’s no Fear Her, it never existed.
YOU’RE USING A COUNCIL AXE ON A COUNCIL ROAD! I’M GOING TO CALL THE COUNCIL!
There is no "Fear Her" in Ba Sing Se.
There is no fear her in bah sing say.
It's pure fiction, absolutely made up
That title is accurate because, of all the episodes of the show I watched, I genuinely had no idea which episode this one was for a couple of day when I saw it on this season's tier list
I totally forgot this episode until I saw the scene of everyone walking into the portal, I remember seeing that scene
I remember the Doctor explaining that Scotland is 'supposed to be damp' and a bit later Nardole's diagnosis of 'death by Scotland', but yeah that's about it
As a Scotsman, the "lost legion" isn't really a mystery.
The Romans came north from England and they were spotted by what they thought were one of the Sothern most clans of the Scottish clans.
It's no secret that the Scots were seen as barbarians, so they thought it would be an easy win.
But their fate was sealed the moment these words were uttered:
"Ow! Wit Teem dae ye support?"
And thus the Roman Legion was lost to a bunch of wee dafties from Glasgow whom got lost on a night out.
I thought that they ran into a bunch of lowlanders from Edinbourgh
The only thing i remembered this episode for is confusion because of how monsters work - they eat light, therefore they can evaporate human bones. I know that you need sunlight to develop bones, but this is like if you destroyed mug factory and suddenly, at the same moment, all mugs in the world fell apart.
Honestly the biggest thing that annoyed me about this episode, when it came out, was that the title made me think they'd bring back the vashta nerada, which basically guaranteed that i was set up for disappointment with this.
I started to wonder if I'm the only here who doesn't even remember this episode,
because I don't think I've watched this episode all the way through,
must have been a really boring episode.
I just read the first comments, nobody remembers this episode.
It may have worked out better to focus more on the fact that it was missy who saved the day, thus adding to the climax
Literally a good episode
It did, however, give us the line "Death by Scotland".
Just so you know mate I didn’t forget this episode and I actually quite like it
Outrageous behaviour
I am not a fan of this story, but I am glad they brought back a writer from the classic series especially writing the last story of the classic series.
I genuinely had forgotten about this episode. And then all I remembered was the online battle about gay Romans. As you alluded, no, the past of Rome and Greece weren't like Brighton or San Francisco. It was pretty disingenuous of the episode to imply it was sunshine and rainbows (incidentally pun). Even just whether you were the dominant or the submissive of the relationship was critically important to how you were viewed in society.
And then there was all the other not very good - quite very bad, actually, in my opinion - things Romans did that weren't very progressive.
I liked this episode but the part I remember the most is the cool sweater 12 wears only in this episode
The trouble is it looks like it should have been a two-parter, because most of what is left is exposition. Almost all action happens off screen, even the funny stuff that becomes punchline without joke. Characters are poorly introduced then killed off, before we care. Perhaps we are supposed to, but its difficult since they seem pretty bland and undifferentiated. [Contrast the lack of conjured empathy with 'The End of the World' where a lowly female technician is killed after a brief conversation with Rose and it is horrible, or the opening of 'Oxygen' where a couple are killed as the wife has just decided they will start a family and it is truly horrifying.] The minor characters here remain cardboard cut outs because they do very little and do it very statically.
Pity really, I quite liked the crows and the eerie music bits.
honestly, I don't think this episode was that bad, but I'll also say that I didn't find a lot of the 'problems' turn-offs. sure, it's flawed, but what isn't? I'll also admit that the response to this episode when it first came out by the proto-nmds makes me a lot more lenient on it than I would be with, say, an s9 episode. honestly, if I wasn't cursed with limited brain capacity at the moment and most of what I do have being used to think about one (1) actor, I'd make an essay on exactly why I think so lol
What I disliked the most about this episode was the numbr of historical innacuracies masquerading as established fact. The "Lost Legion" is not lost. Historians found out where they went decades ago. Then the Roman soldiers - the MINIMUM age anyone was accepted by the Romans as a soldier is 21, so there could never have been any teenage soldiers.
I certainly agree that the historical inaccuracies are ridiculous but, given the precedents of even recent history, I think it's a bit much to say that no Roman ever lied about their age to join the army. That said, if you meet 7 Romans and all of them are teens, that's definitely going against the balance of probability.
Cant wait for more content from this channel!
Some say there's something worse than a show being bad; boring.
That's this episodes problem. It's a generic beastly monster that's thwarted by being tricked back in its figurative cage. It's not defeated in a way that's clever, and there's not much substance to it's method of killing.
And there's not really anything interesting that the episode says. There's some commentary on how we view our enemies, but it's not that deep. And we don't really gain anything interesting from the main cast. And the side characters are... there. A little interesting historical context, but that's about it.
Overall, the episode isn't bad, its boring. And those bagpipes really don't sound that cool when they just play the same tune in a loop.
I did not see this episode originally and thanks to you I did take a look at it expecting it to be bad to the contrary I found it to be one of the fan tastic well written episodes I thoroughly enjoy I’ve been a Doctor Who found it since the second doctor I’m 67Peace and joy it to you
For some reason, trying to recall this episode had the 13th Doctor instead…
Yep, very similar to a lot of Series 11 and 12 in that respect.
Thanks to you my friend I checked the episode out I never saw it before it was fantastic and the most enjoyable which has a moral to it every episode we don’t like another Doctor Who fan will love.
I’ve been watching Doctor Who since the second doctor I am now 67 peace and happiness to you
C'mon it's just a nice filler episode before a great two-parter season finale.
It's still better than most of RTD's recent episodes
I disagree, imo this episode is worse than all of rtds recent stuff.
@@Melono0000 Εven worse than the one with the talking babies and the snot monster?
@@thodoris2161 yep, that episode was atleast entertaining to some extent. The eaters of light is just plain boring.
It's forgettable but not really bad, outside of the historical aspects. It doesn't help that it's a decent ham and cheese sandwich for lunch between toast for breakfast and macaroni cheese with ham for dinner.
I actually liked this episode. Particularly due to the raven at the beginning. "DAWK TUAH"
Jesus I forgot this episode existed
harbo and whoculture. the best late night vibe watch
1:17 No way Robot of Sherwood and The Caretaker are that low.
It looks like a list of just the capaldi era so the placement is fair imo.
Although i would put them a little higher.
I don't remember this at all. And I HAD TO of watched it because I owned the DVDs of series 10 and I know I watched it all the way through.
Honestly i enjoyed this episode. Maybe I'm biased though, I'm a big fan of the time period.
I usually disagree with you when you call episodes forgettable (especially in the case of Vampires in Venice), but I somehow forgot literally everything that happened in this one except the scene discussing sexuality between Bill and the Roman soldier.
I can't believe Rona Munro, writer of Survival, wrote this episode. Quite a drop in quality.
Why did "nt yhe creatures come out dureing the day!plenty of light then!( If they eat light)🙄🤔
As a side note, they released the official trailer for the 2024 Christmas special and…
The Doctor is crying again so I’m already halfway out the door.
Sorry for bringing this up, but I’d do anything to not talk about this episode. wtf is this stuff??
I didn't see him crying at all in the trailer?
@@Comicbroe405there’s a shot of him crying in the tardis
@@Comicbroe405 I did, but I’m pretty sure it’s taken from the last bit of Empire Of Death where Ruby leaves the TARDIS for the last time and he says goodbye to her
@@king_dot That's from the end of S14
The good thing is to my knowledge even Ncuti’s spoken to RTD about the crying thing and it’s going to be less omnipresent next reason.
Aunty Donna?!!?!
I don't hate it, nor do I like it. It's fine. It definitely had interesting ideas, just not executed well. I say a C for me. It could have been more.
It's fine, we need episodes like this to get to the next 2...
No, the whole Chibnall era is so boring.
He's talking about one bad ep my guy. Why shove the Chibnall era into this?
not rlly
chibnall haters are so brain diseased 😭😭i don't like that era either but literally how is this relevant here
Hum, not really
@@Comicbroe405 because some people can't just think that Chibby's era was boring and move on with their lives.
I really like the episode
Huh I genuinely forgot this episode existed
Ever since this episode came out I feel like I’ve been the only one who enjoys it! It’s certainly not deep or thematically rich and the side characters are pretty basic, but the whole thing comes together really well. I love the atmospheric setting, the dip into real history and the folklore vibe to the whole thing, and the coming together of both parties and the realisation that they’re all just scared kids, which actually hits nicely for me. It’s one of the best outings for a great TARDIS trio and it feels like the perfect pre-finale palette cleanser. Not a classic by any means, but it’s an easily enjoyable 45 minutes that I’d put above KK, Pyramid, Lie and Empress. I appear to be on the generous side for S10 on the whole though!
Also, congrats on almost reaching the end Harbo :)
Missy is brilliant in this one! The highlight of the episode!
How dare you do my boy night terrors dirty like that!
Still better then chibnall
i cant even remember this episode. i remember almost every chibnall episode than that story.
Curious that this comes 35 years to the day since Survival completed transmission which was written by Rona Munro who would later write The Eaters of Light.
Is it me or has this channel just been so negative since the 60th anniversary?
its definitely filler but i dont think its BAD
Yeah... I guess Series 10 really wasn't as great as I remembered
@@HMMadsen tbf every series has their less than stellar episodes
I don't know, Kar looks an awful lot like a Tarly to me.
My goodness, until a few clips were shown I HAD completely wiped this episode from my memory. Not even remembered it in a bad light, just totally forgotten about it. That's....weird.
Most of Capaldis run was quite boring, I think as a fan you have to make a lot of sacrifices to enjoy it. Don’t get me started on 13
Said no-one with a brain ever.
I remember watching this, seeing it end, and then not being able to remember a single thing about it except the initial premise/setting being cool.
Anyone know where the shot of a picture of Pertwee in a Colin Baker episode is from?
Looks like its a promo still from the Ultimate Adventure live shows that toured in the 80’s
_Timelash: Part Two._
Was the doctor remembering without memories,clara in face the Raven in this episode in the end when karr and other romans and friends sacrifice to stop the "eater of light"?,because in one moment he says i can't bear brave people
I feel like this episode would have had more impact earlier in the season before the mummy trilogy with a blind 12th Doctor
My favourite take on the 'Lost Roman Legion' is Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series (combining the legion concept with Pokémon as a result of a bet that Butcher could not make a good series out of two 'lame' ideas - Butcher won).
literally just the episode that's before the finale, that's all that episode was to me when i watched it the first time all those years
ago.
The Eaters of Light was not a great episode. The Kar character could have been Amy Pond's great ancestor.
The crows thing is the only thing that really stood out to me from this episode
I could never forget this episode exists because I have a copy of the Target novelisation signed by Rona Munro ~ haven't read it yet however, and probably won't for a while, but it's cool to have!!
Dang I feel like the only one who remembers this episode lol. Wish Bill/Nardole lasted longer, I feel like this season had enough new ideas to be like 3 seasons if Steven Moffat had kept going.
I found the episode to be surface level fun. The the TARDIS crew dynamic is still on point and it's good to turn your brain off to. That said even calling it filler is a bit of an insult to filler. It just doesn't do much of anything. Still, it's the type of episode I'm fine with in a fairly bulky series 10 that's done a lot to establish it's cast and has quite a few of the very high bangers, and I'm much less fine with in something like series 14 (which suffered from so few episodes to being with (and it's not like every episode was great)).
Speacking as a former Vestal Virgin second Class. I think it's not a bad episode. It's not as bad as Blink.
I have absolutely no recollection of this episode. I've rewatched the show multiple times
I remembered this episode being mind-numblingly dull. I couldn't remember what happened but I remembered hating it. However on rewatch I can see why I hated it.
Said no-one with a brain ever.
Considering we got Star Beast as an episode why not adapt the Comic strip episode Iron Legion
The only thing I liked about this episode was the medieval music that played. It was incredibly similar to a piece of music done by neightwish a few years ago.
I am SO glad to hear you highlight the ending scenes in the TARDIS. Those scenes are the only reasons I come back to this episode
Said no-one with a brain ever.
Episodes like this, Smile, Lie of the Land, and Knock, Knock are clear evidence against Series 10 supremacy
Ngl those other three were good just flawed imo
Yeah, I think it’s Capaldi’s weakest
Series 8 forever!
I enjoy Smile, mostly because of 12 and Bill.
@@megarotom1590 I mostly arguing against those who say Series 10 is the best of New Who or the best of Capaldi
@@megarotom1590 I mostly arguing against those who say Series 10 is the best of New Who or the best of Capaldi
I liked it, literally the only episode this season I actively dislike was the scooby doo episode where rent was the villain only reason i think this one gets forgotten about is because compared to the rest of the season its just not quite up there with the rest
There was no such episode.
@DrWhoFanJ yes there is it's the one where the land lord is the villian
I don't have strong feelings either way. It's fine while itz on but forgettable in the long term. Still a brilliant series even with a below average episode like this
I’ve never actually watched this episode. I’ve saw the first 5 minutes when it aired, went to do something else and saw the last 5 minutes which I liked.
Said no-one with a brain ever.
I love Bill. Such a shame we only had her for 1 season.
Let’s bring out a violin for the poor millionaire Jeremy clarkson being made to pay tax
This episode is so dull! It's the story I'm least likely to rewatch in Series 10. Absolute snoozer 😴
Frankly, after the dud that was Lie of the Land, I quite liker this and the previous episode. Just silly fun with a great Doctor and Tardis team
ironically, this and the last two episodes are some of the only ones I remember from series 10, so for me it's extremely memorable.
This is my least favourite Capaldi episode.
A poor episode with some good moments, but ultimately forgettable
Didn't forget it. Choose not to revisit
Said no-one with a brain ever.
At this point you should just make a wrestling channel. I'd sub
I actually found this more memorable than some of the other episodes of series 10
I literally watched all of dr who again last month and completely forgot about this episode😂
It's alright, certainly not the worst there is but also far from the best.
The finale was superb!
I also forgot this episode entirely.
Nice shot at AEW