Yeah, same.

Chibnall has definitely created no less than fifty minutes of television right there.

I kind of feel that way about this entire season? But the ratings have been great, so I guess this is the kind of thing most people want Doctor Who to be doing?

It's been a good season for former Downton Abbey ladies maids though.

I kind of feel that way about this entire season? But the ratings have been great, so I guess this is the kind of thing most people want Doctor Who to be doing?

This season's decent ratings are both heartening and dispiriting. Overall I liked the eps not written by Chibnall - even when they were messes, they were interesting messes. His stuff was just... dull. Falls somewhere between unambitious and morally incoherent.

Oh, by the way, concerning (apparently? I think that's the intention?) the season's big villain, this is what Tim Shaw means to Australians: [link]

But wait, there's more! [link]

But I know you want more! [link]

Because I am behind on everything I have only seen the 1st episode of Doctor Who this season. I only hope the watching is as interesting as reading billytea's commentary has been!

I am heartened by the ratings because I was really worried (from BTS gossip about what a disaster Chibnall was as showrunner) that the show wouldn't do well this year and the BBC leadership would go "Well I guess we shouldn't have made the Doctor a lady!" So in that sense, YAY.

But in another sense, NOT YAY because BLEARGH, Auntie Beeb, please make the show better next year do not take these numbers as a cue to keep making boring television.

I am heartened by the ratings because I was really worried (from BTS gossip about what a disaster Chibnall was as showrunner) that the show wouldn't do well this year and the BBC leadership would go "Well I guess we shouldn't have made the Doctor a lady!" So in that sense, YAY.

But in another sense, NOT YAY because BLEARGH, Auntie Beeb, please make the show better next year do not take these numbers as a cue to keep making boring television.

I am in total agreement with all of this! There are rumours that Chris Chibnall is only going to stick around for one more season, and I kind of hope that's true. (Though I don't know who might be available to take it on.)

I find I have very little to say about this finale. (I will, however, note that the Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos didn't actually include a battle.) So instead I've gone picking up quotes from other people. A selection:

Concerning the ep's rather stunted understanding of morality (and pacifism):

"Planetary genocide... Tim Shaw, I didn't like you before but now... Make them stop, you're breaking every known law in the universe." I mean, the Doctor's probably talking about, like, physics laws here. But I do want a stronger reaction to 'planetary genocide' than "it's illegal!".

"You're a genocidal monster, but killing's wrong, so..." (ineffectual shrug)

What happens when you stop to think about the Ux for too long:

"Our religion is all about doubt," say the Ux, immediately worshipping a random alien for three millennia.

[Tim Shaw's evil plot involved] "hoodwinking a two-person species apparently originating on three planets."

And then there's this bit of praise:

I have to say that amongst all the poorly-lit mediocrity lurked a moment of true genius.

Two groups of robots, one either side of our heroes
They all go to shoot
Out heroes duck
The robots therefore all shoot each other

That actually happened last night, I just want to celebrate that fact.

The genius is not that it happened, but that Chris Chibnall and Jamie Childs obviously thought people would be impressed. And that's courage I find a little bit humbling

And finally, this totally obscure reference made me laugh. A lot.

The finale was so dull, I was actually coming up with origin stories for The Valeyard.

I am heartened by the ratings because I was really worried (from BTS gossip about what a disaster Chibnall was as showrunner) that the show wouldn't do well this year and the BBC leadership would go "Well I guess we shouldn't have made the Doctor a lady!" So in that sense, YAY.

But in another sense, NOT YAY because BLEARGH, Auntie Beeb, please make the show better next year do not take these numbers as a cue to keep making boring television.

Jessica is me.

If Chibnall doesn't stick around as showrunner past next year, I hope Jodie Whitaker can find it in her heart to stay in the role with new management. She's been delightful in the role, and my impression is that the majority of the viewership shares my opinion of her.