Thanks. ltc just turned three. So maybe I'll try next year with some of the less scary episodes.

I think that'll work with her. Ryan is a particularly cautious kid. I'm pretty sure ltc is going to be bolder in her Doctor Who-watching habits.

Incidentally, a couple of weekends ago Ryan had a playdate with a classmate and his younger brother (I think about seven). They both have been watching all of new Who, without skipping any episodes, and apparently are loving it. (I made the younger brother's eyes bug out when I told him I owned over 110 of the classic series adventures.)

Graham (stepdad) looked familiar, and I looked at his acting credits, couldn't place him. Then I checked the credits under "Himself" and realized I'd seen him as the host of a British game show. I would not have thought, "And next step, Doctor Who companion!"

I am glad for the new vibe, not Man Doctor and Female Companion.

She is more cautious about TV than about real life things.

She is more cautious about TV than about real life things.

With Ryan, I find that's quite helpful in deciding what he watches, because he's not about to try to take on more than he can handle. If something is too much for him he'll give it a wide berth off his own bat, so I don't need to police it so much. (On the other hand, his grandfather was quite happy to have him watching violent Chinese dramas set during the Japanese occupation with him, so there may be other family members who warrant a touch of policing.)

It's amazing the things kids will do with their grandparents that they'll never do with us. ltc won't actually say something scares her, but she'll start walking around and saying, "I don't like this. I want another show." '

It's amazing the things kids will do with their grandparents that they'll never do with us. ltc won't actually say something scares her, but she'll start walking around and saying, "I don't like this. I want another show." '

When Day of the Doctor got too much for Ryan (the Zygon design is really quite unsettling), he announced that we had been watching too long and we should turn it off because it was bad for our eyes.

When my nephew was three, he told me that he was going to hold my hand as a scary scene was on (Lion King). He assured me that HE wasn't scared but he didn't want me to worry.

When my nephew was three, he told me that he was going to hold my hand as a scary scene was on (Lion King). He assured me that HE wasn't scared but he didn't want me to worry.

Tom Baker in interview once opined that grannies loved him, because he was responsible for innumerable cuddles from frightened tots. Oh, and he did a sort of PSA before one adventure, advising children that their parents might find it a bit scary, so they should hold their hands to reassure them.

Some stray thoughts:

• The title of the ep refers just as well to Grace as to the Doctor.
• Favourite character beat: when the Doctor says to the others, "I'm sorry you had to see that." It's a small thing, but the empathy is more textured than with previous Doctors. The Tenth Doctor would only be going with "I'm so sorry", for instance. I can see this marking what becomes a key distinction between Thirteen and previous Doctors.
• Humour was a bit of a weak point. Not exactly just because it was low on laughs, but because at times I thought it was trying to be funny and not really landing. Of course Chibnall, unlike Davies and Moffat, doesn't have a comedy background. (I did, however, laugh at Carl's motivational tape. "Somebody out there wants me" indeed.)
• I really quite like the new design of the sonic screwdriver (with ergonomic grip), and I like the Doctor actually crafting it herself.
• As far as I can tell so far, general reaction to the ep, and Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, is solidly positive. So that's good to see.

I rewatched so that Aeryn and Ethan could see it, and it not only holds up, but improves. I think the writing could still be sharper, and it's VERY pilot-y, but I have high hopes for the rest of the season.