This is quite hard to judge. In one way it is a lot of fun but in another way it is rather overly contrived. Overall I think it is flawed, as usual in this era, but it is decent as entertainment.
Aisling Bea is a great plus point as Sarah in this episode. She does a great job and is extremely engaging and funny. She would actually make a good companion.
Seeing comedy actress Pauline MacLynn as Sarah's mum was good but she has very little to do sadly.
The role of Nick is decently acted but is a less enjoyable character for me. He is a bit messily devised, I feel. I think perhaps they overplayed the creepy obsessive side of him a bit.
The discussions of Yaz and the Doctor's relationship is not interesting to me and neither is some of the other dialogue. I did like the Doctor's inspirational team talk late in the episode though. That was good.
The TARDIS problem, time loop, Dalek plan and the location don't really work as well as lots of Doctor Who does at getting me to suspend disbelief. It is a contrived scenario that doesn't fit together all that well or quite feel convincing enough to carry away my imagination. I found myself reminded of doubts that the Daleks "wouldn't do it that way" and it wouldn't work in the way depicted. If it was really done well I wouldn't think of those doubts so much. I tend to overthink and stuff has to be really well put together to keep me immersed. This didn't quite manage that. However, the time loop does provide a fun aspect and feeling of urgency and the Daleks are fun to see in another New Year special.
There is a repetition of a naff Chibnall era feature that villains are terrible at shooting slow moving people who are easy targets. It is perfectly possible to make action scenes where characters dodge bullets/lasers in a more slick, convincing way. This era seemed to me to be pretty weak at portraying this type of action. Also, the scene where 2 Daleks are destroyed by Nick ducking is weak and another repetition of an earlier Chibnall episode (Series 11 finale).
I dislike the ending. I find the way they escape and the building collapse a bit lacking in quality and am unimpressed by some other aspects of the plot which I mentioned but there was quite a bit of fun in the episode, particularly with Aisling Bea. She was providing lots of energy and amusement. There is also just a bit of a feel of nice, comforting Doctor Who escapism about it. It is quite enjoyable.
My Rating: 7/10.
2022 Specials Ranking: 2nd out of 3.
Aisling Bea is a great plus point as Sarah in this episode. She does a great job and is extremely engaging and funny. She would actually make a good companion.
Seeing comedy actress Pauline MacLynn as Sarah's mum was good but she has very little to do sadly.
The role of Nick is decently acted but is a less enjoyable character for me. He is a bit messily devised, I feel. I think perhaps they overplayed the creepy obsessive side of him a bit.
The discussions of Yaz and the Doctor's relationship is not interesting to me and neither is some of the other dialogue. I did like the Doctor's inspirational team talk late in the episode though. That was good.
The TARDIS problem, time loop, Dalek plan and the location don't really work as well as lots of Doctor Who does at getting me to suspend disbelief. It is a contrived scenario that doesn't fit together all that well or quite feel convincing enough to carry away my imagination. I found myself reminded of doubts that the Daleks "wouldn't do it that way" and it wouldn't work in the way depicted. If it was really done well I wouldn't think of those doubts so much. I tend to overthink and stuff has to be really well put together to keep me immersed. This didn't quite manage that. However, the time loop does provide a fun aspect and feeling of urgency and the Daleks are fun to see in another New Year special.
There is a repetition of a naff Chibnall era feature that villains are terrible at shooting slow moving people who are easy targets. It is perfectly possible to make action scenes where characters dodge bullets/lasers in a more slick, convincing way. This era seemed to me to be pretty weak at portraying this type of action. Also, the scene where 2 Daleks are destroyed by Nick ducking is weak and another repetition of an earlier Chibnall episode (Series 11 finale).
I dislike the ending. I find the way they escape and the building collapse a bit lacking in quality and am unimpressed by some other aspects of the plot which I mentioned but there was quite a bit of fun in the episode, particularly with Aisling Bea. She was providing lots of energy and amusement. There is also just a bit of a feel of nice, comforting Doctor Who escapism about it. It is quite enjoyable.
My Rating: 7/10.
2022 Specials Ranking: 2nd out of 3.