The Pilot - Thoughts

[clocketpatch]

Thinky-Thoughts:

This is definitely a jumping-in episode for casual viewers (made very obvious with the name), which is great, because the plotlines with Clara were getting a bit tangled. I’m curious how much the Doctor remembers about the relevant Gallifrey things that happened while he was with Clara. Namely, the 50^th Anniversary Special, and the series 9 finale. I assume, from him jumping into the Time War half-way though this episode, that he knows enough to be aware that his people aren’t extinct/lost to him forever.

As for the episode itself, it was a lot of fun. I don’t think the plot is up to any serious inspection, but then, this episode isn’t about the plot, it’s about the characters and introducing who they are. There are call-backs, but they're subtle enough to slip under the radar if someone isn't watching for them. So subtle in some cases, I'm not certain they're there at all, but I am a little bit convinced that the alarm clock at the beginning is a direct callback to Rose in series 1.

I adore how straight-forward Bill is, and how she says exactly what’s on her mind. Virtually everything she says is quotable, though I particularly love, “It’s like a kitchen!” "It's like a knock-through!" "It's a lift!" (“Is it just me, or is this taking longer than usual?”) and “Why do you run like that?” “Like a penguin with it’s arse on fire.” (It’s so, so true. I’ve noticed it in other things Mr. Capaldi has been in too.) Her quips on the TARDIS’s name and how it doesn’t make sense because wouldn’t those words only work in English (and the Doctor’s response to that). Her whole exchange with the Doctor about where he comes from. “Are you from Space?” “Don’t be silly, no one’s from space. I’m from a planet.” “This planet?” “Not specifically.”

I love how she talks about her face making expressions when she’s trying to be enigmatic, and that she asks to use the toilet. I honestly cannot think of a single other Who companion who has asked about the toilet, which, okay, it doesn’t usually come up in TV dramas, but it adds an endearing realism. Also, a nerdy scifi-loving woman who flirts with extra servings of chips is a woman after my own heart.

Nardole had a few good lines too. I'm especially fond of. "Imagine a bigger box inside of a smaller box. Next make one."

I like how the Doctor has grown as a person. He’s not as insulting as he used to be. He listens (for whole seconds at a time). He isn’t running from his past anymore. In fact, he runs right into the Time War and uses it as a tool to solve the problems of his present, which I though was a great metaphor for how he’s changed. The past is important. The pictures on the Doctor’s desk attest to that.

When Bill tells him not to take her memories, Clara’s theme plays, and he stops. More than that, he offers her a chance to search for a better life and the woman she likes (I won’t say love, because it’s explicitly labelled as a crush, and the pair of them barely spoke five words), and the implication is that the Doctor isn’t doing this because he’s lonely, but because he actually, unselfishly, wants to help out and show Bill the wonders of the universe.

This is amazing. The Doctor isn’t broken anymore. And the universe had better watch out.

 

The Trailer

THE MASTER HAS A PROPER BEARD.

Has there ever been a two Master episode outside of the audio adventures? This is going to be extra exciting.

 

Series predictions (ranging from the probable to the highly speculative):

·       -  The vault in the university basement is going to be a key plot point (I don’t think I’m getting any gold stars for this observation)

·       -  The Doctor didn’t just ask Bill around to his office because he found her a bit interesting. He made a promise to her late mother, or something similar. (I'm hoping that this one doesn't come true because there's been a bit too much pre-destination in NuWho so far)

- The Doctor who asks Bill to travel with him is from further ahead in the timeline than the Doctor Bill was talking to in the office (and who is still in the office working things out when Bill climbs on board)

·       -  Nardole is hanging around less because he wants to and more because the robot the Doctor has attached his head to is powered by the TARDIS, kind of like roboMaster in Scream of the Shalka

·       -  This will lead to Nardole becoming a resentful sleeper villain who only shows his feelings in the finale. 50/50 chance that this is a fake out and he sacrifices himself to save the Doctor/TARDIS/Bill/the universe in general

·       -  Simm!Master and Missy are going to be directly related to why Twelve regenerates -> possibly the Master attempting to steal regenerations again, or something similar

·       -  Bill is going to end up living happily-ever-after with Heather Star Eyes, who is now some kind of humanoilTARDIS

·       -  She'll get to meet her mother at some point
 

 

Comments

[dbskyler]

I agree with most of what you said. Except, I don't think they jumped into the Time War. As others have pointed out, the Daleks were fighting the Movellans (from the Fourth Doctor episode "Destiny of the Daleks"), so it was probably just a standard battle.

I adore how straight-forward Bill is, and how she says exactly what’s on her mind.

I really like that about her too, and also how she's into sci-fi (and thinks the Doctor isn't). The bit about her asking for the toilet was great, although I could have done without the Nardole toilet-joke.

As for your predictions:

1) yes
2) I really hope not. I want him to have asked Bill for precisely the reasons he told her -- he noticed that she was attending his lectures even though she's not a student, and he noticed that she smiles when she doesn't understand something.
3) yes
4) Nardole's body is a robot? I hadn't picked up on that.
5) Maybe? I don't know; I find it hard to view Nardole as a villain, tbh. But the Doctor isn't treating him like a typical companion, either. In fact, his treatment of Nardole reminds me a little of how he treated that Cyberman head in "Time of the Doctor." It's more like Nardole is a semi-useful pet.
6) very likely, although I don't know if stealing regenerations will enter into it; it could just be a plain-old universe-domination plot, a la what happened in "Logopolis."
7) I kind of hope things don't end this way for Bill. Two companions in a row off cruising the universe without the Doctor?
8) Maybe

[clocketpatch]

Except, I don't think they jumped into the Time War. As others have pointed out, the Daleks were fighting the Movellans (from the Fourth Doctor episode "Destiny of the Daleks"), so it was probably just a standard battle.

You are probably absolutely correct about this.

2) I hope not too
4-5) I think this is something my mind decided at some random point during the episode, and now, re-watching, I have no idea how I came to that conclusion. I quite like the idea though. I did pick up on Nardole talking about going to the end of the universe to get your crush to notice you this time though, so now I'm wondering if he's supposed to be the love interest?!?!

[vilakins]

I really enjoyed it too, and I like Bill a lot.

The Doctor didn’t just ask Bill around to his office because he found her a bit interesting.
I rather think he did. He could tell she was very intelligent indeed (I freeze-framed the physics essays she wrote for him) and decided to tutor a bright human. Maybe she stood out among students who weren't as eager and curious.

The Doctor who asks Bill to travel with him is from further ahead in the timeline
Yep! When she asks what changed his mind, he starts with "Time..." He must've gone off and thought about it for a while, even though he had Nardole.

Interesting predictions! I do like Nardole as well and hope she stays for a while, for whatever reason.

I don't think Bill will meet Heather again, but I could be wrong. I'm predicting that she will meet the Doctor's granddaughter Susan though. I guessed that could be her photo beside River Song's and others have confirmed it.

[vilakins]

Another thought about Nardole: I wonder how robotic he is, after that comment to Bill that she should wait a minute for the toilet. I can't remember what the Doctor said about him in the Christmas special.

[clocketpatch]

I apparently somehow missed Nardole's toilet comments the first time through (not particularly a fan of it either), and now I'm wondering why I got it into my head that he has a robot body. I think it was the first scene with him creaking around the office and dropping random gears and screws that cemented it into my mind, but other than that, there's no actual proof...

I hope that the Doctor just asked Bill around because he found her interesting too, but knowing Moffat's penchant for twists and pre-destination I had to through that one into the prediction bin.

The idea of Bill meeting Susan is great! I hope that happens too now that you've mentioned it, though, at the same time, I really hope that she doesn't turn out to be Susan's daughter or something equally weird.

[vilakins]

Nardole did have a screw loose and his arm made a sound like a faulty servo. He was once just a head, so he must have got a body from somewhere, whether robotic or only partly.

I also really, really hope it's for Bill's sake and not any other weird convoluted reason from the past. I heard somewhere she's only getting one season which is a huge pity; I like her a lot.

[thisbluespirit]

I admire your bravery in making predictions! (I make no comment and so can claim I was right all along with no proof, obv.)

I'm still a bit unsure what Nardole's doing there, but at this point, it does depend a lot on TARDIS dynamics and how the three interact and there are some promising points there. But if they want to leave him behind to look after the vault, I'd also be more than happy because as yet he really does seem a bit odd. (I don't think I'd even want him elevated into a villain! Two Masters are surely enough!!)

Simm!Master and Missy are going to be directly related to why Twelve regenerates -

This does seem pretty reasonable.

[clocketpatch]

I think these predictions are mostly on the "Donna is Romana and Wilf is secretly a Time Lord" side of the likelihood scale, but it's fun to speculate none-the-less.

On my second watch through I caught Nardole saying somethings which suggest he's sticking around because he has a crush on the Doctor, which I really hope isn't the case, because, well... If his purpose turns out to be guarding the vault while Bill and the Doctor go traveling, then I'll be more than happy as well.

[liadt]

I hope your prediction about a promise to Bill's mother doesn't come true. It feels like a Master-off should feature at the end of the series or is it a bluff?

Am sad Bill is only getting one series(?).

I wasn't keen on the toilet joke myself!

Not sure what's going on with Nardole he doesn't seem to have much to do (which I'm glad of) and I've been wondering if he's there to die and make the Dr sad?

[clocketpatch]

I hope it's not a bluff! A Master-off needs to occur. Think of all the Cake!fic it might inspire.

Am also sad.

I wasn't keen on Nardole's joke, but Bill asking for the loo after having a run and a fright struck me as exactly what I'd probably do in that situation.

I really hope that's not his role. I don't think I want him around next series (but who know, maybe I'll grow to like him over time), but I would like his character to have some purpose/plot reason for hanging around.

[liadt]

The more cakefic the better \o/

The only other reason I can think for Nardole being in Who is that Moffat has been watching things with butlers in (Batman, Jeeves and Wooster, Adam Adamant)! I read in a TV guide Nardole was to have a butler type role this series.