Doctor Who: Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror

[andraste]

That was the most I have enjoyed a new TV episode of Doctor Who since way back in 2017! (Which is a relief, since I have nothing to say about Orphan 55 except that I hated it and I'm relieved it's over and we can all move on with our lives.)



While it's a standard celebrity historical very much in the RTD mode (complete with an alien design blatantly ripped off from the Racnoss) this was pacey and enjoyable and truly showed the Thirteenth Doctor at her best. It makes sense that she'd get on so well with Telsa, and their bonding was the best part of the episode for me. (My favourite part is the bit at the end where he awkwardly pats her on the arm, clearly uncertain of what the protocol is for saying goodbye to strange women who travel around in mysterious boxes.) I was pleased that they managed to do Eddison vs. Tesla without entirely demonizing Eddison, too, who is just the right amount of a jerk. (The relative Tesla evangelism worked fine for me in context and was much less jarring than, say, the show compltely whitewashing Churchill.)

And it really doesn't matter that the aliens are a bit rubbish - I've long thought that rubbish aliens were perfectly acceptable as long as the show knows that they are rubbish and doesn't try to scare us with them. From the way those alien scorpions were literally falling over each other at times, I'm pretty sure that we are not meant to be impressed. A race of technology scavengers is a good idea, though, and I'd love to see them again somewhere in the extended Whoniverse! They can join the Selachians in the ranks of Doctor Who enemies that are actually not very threatening but can work really well in the right story.

I do continue to hope that the show also knows that the Doctor has made some morally dubious choices lately - not that I disagree with her killing the aliens in the circumstances, which was very Ten-on-the-roof-with-the-Satsuma of her, but killing them was what she did. I'm not sure I can believe her continued claims of pacifism when she keeps doing that sort of thing.

Comments

[nic]

Orphan 55 really made me wonder why I keep watching this show. :p

But I did love Tesla (probably helps that I like the actor)! You make a good point about the Doctor's morally dubious choices; I hadn't thought of that.

This season does feel different.

[andraste]

Orphan 55 really made me wonder why I keep watching this show. :p

It was definitely down there with The Long Game and Sleep No More on my list of Worst Ever New Series Episodes.

But I did love Tesla (probably helps that I like the actor)!

He was delightful!

You make a good point about the Doctor's morally dubious choices; I hadn't thought of that.

This season does feel different.

I'm deeply curious to see where it's all going, which is more than I could really say this time last season, so it's certainly got that going for it.

[vilakins]

I didn't even watch Orphan 55 because I was warned off by various (non-spoilery) comments. That it was preachy was more than enough for me to say nope.

I really enjoyed this one too, not just because of an interest in Tesla's life, but because it was fun, the sort of episode I keep watching DW for.

The aliens were planning to annihilate the earth's population, so I think she was justified in killing them after trying to take reason into them. Or did you think the queen was bluffing?

[andraste]

I didn't even watch Orphan 55 because I was warned off by various (non-spoilery) comments. That it was preachy was more than enough for me to say nope.

I could probably have lived with an episode that was preachy, incoherent, badly-directed OR boring but it somehow managed to be all four. You did yourself a favour by not watching it!

The aliens were planning to annihilate the earth's population, so I think she was justified in killing them after trying to take reason into them. Or did you think the queen was bluffing?

I think she did the right thing by killing them, it's just the hypocrisy of repeatedly claiming to be a pacifist and then blowing people up with lightning that bothers me. I'll be pleased as long as it's addressed somehow down the line.

[jhall1]

I thought it was great fun, done with a lot of wit and style. I agree with you about Orphan 55 too, though a friend whose opinion I greatly respect liked it, which made me start to doubt my own assessment of it. I enjoyed the series opener as well, which makes two good stories out of three, which so far makes for a much better batting average than the last series managed.

[andraste]

I agree with you about Orphan 55 too, though a friend whose opinion I greatly respect liked it, which made me start to doubt my own assessment of it.

Well, I'm glad someone out there enjoyed it! I thought it was one of the worst episodes they've done since the show came back.

I enjoyed the series opener as well, which makes two good stories out of three, which so far makes for a much better batting average than the last series managed.

I mostly enjoyed Spyfall, but have some misgivings about destroying Gallifrey the arc it suggests. Hopefully I will be able to look back on it with relief and fondness by the end of the season!