Doctor Who - The Complete Series 11 [Steelbook] [Amazon.co.uk Exclusive] [Blu-ray] [2018]

Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat were such sensational showrunners, that for Chris Chibnall it was always going to be difficult due to the weight of expectation from all Whovians and especially as none of his episodes written in those times were exceptional. In this 11th series of new Who, although there are a few weaker episodes, there are five which are surely up there with the finest Doctor Who.The series opener, The Woman Who Fell to Earth, is staggeringly brilliant and marks the beginning of a brand-new era with a Terminator-like, dark and gritty episode as the Doctor must prevent an alien from a race named the Stenza from using Earth to target particular people in order to become the leader of his kind. Unlike a few of the other episodes, there is a great feeling of urgency and danger and Tzim-Sha's extraction of teeth as trophies is very creepy and sinister. The use of Sheffield as a setting is effective and provides Doctor Who with a northern feel. In a tense episode overall, Chibnall shows his versatility by even using amusing humour like when the bus drivers are asked about seeing anything strange occurring in the city. In the climax at the construction site, the doctor jumping on to the other crane is an impressive moment as it provides her with the superhero quality that all the doctors before her possessed and in her introduction as the thirteenth, she is very convincing. The series of pay offs at the end are proper and convincing with the doctor using the enemy's power - the coils (that he was using to cheat), DNA bombs and recall device - against itself, like a lot of the great Doctor Who stories of the past. It is a shame that Grace dies in this scene as she seemed like a compelling character, but it provides the episode with a sense of pathos and after all, she is seen in a couple of the future episodes. Overall it is a fantastic first from Chibnall with not too much convolution, just the right amount of sophistication and shows what he is capable of as showrunner when he realises his true potential. Admittedly the Doctor falling from space unharmed contradicts the logic of the death of the fourth doctor, but the viewer can make allowances for it as after all the tenth doctor fell from a spaceship in The End of Time Part 2, but it was the radiation that killed him instead so there has been a theme of this in new Who.However, what is incorrect though is the beginning of The Ghost Monument not matching series 10's Oxygen in that the doctor and friends survive unaffected floating in space as that was only the previous year. But overall while not massively special it is another solid episode. On first broadcast I was not impressed but upon re-watch it became a spectacularly scenic, South Africa-filmed romp with a Star Wars influence. Also, the whole concept for the second episode after regeneration of the doctor having to recover her TARDIS was rather interesting because it is innovative. The other characters who are taking part in the race are quite interesting and there is development too, as Epzo changes from being cold, brutal and aloof to being more trusting and kinder at the end.But while aspects of the story are acceptably clever like the Doctor sending an electronic wave blast and the way they use the tunnel system to avoid travelling on the planet's surface at night (as it is highly hazardous), perhaps it is made a bit too obvious that Epzo's cigar that self-lights is going to be the main pay off to destroy the snake-like Remnants, due to the gas above. Additionally, the Art Malik-played hologram simply awarding the joint-prize after being threatened by the two racers when they apparently posed no risk to him - as he was not aware what the Ghost Monument was - did not make full sense. Yet the suspense that was produced when the hologram and the dual race winners vanish, and the doctor/friends are left deserted was effective. Though because the male doctors before were generally self-assured, it is not correct that this first female doctor should be written to be so doubting that she will successfully find the TARDIS. But it is quite thrilling when the TARDIS materialises and although it is due to a simple flick of the sonic screwdriver that it was stabilised, because that was explained at the beginning and there are other pay-offs too, it functions effectively as a simple resolution. Although it is not one of the greatest episodes of Doctor Who ever, it is a quite good, thrilling journey for the doctor and company.Rosa, concerns Rosa Parks, the lady who initiated the civil rights movement in the United States due to refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger amongst the segregation laws in Alabama. It is not a bad episode and although some branded it preachy and sanctimonious, it is welcome to have an anti-racism one. Due to all the terrible racist victimisation of Ryan and Yasmin the viewer can really empathise with them and sense what it would have been like in such backwards and dangerous times. It is an okay episode but what prevents it from being genuinely strong is firstly the enemy. As a murdering, white supremacist Krasko is clearly intended to appear like a pathetic criminal but he must be the most ridiculously stupid Doctor Who villain in history and that is not conducive to clever plotting. Additionally, there is no alien at all in Rosa so perhaps that is also why it does not feel really like classic Doctor Who.Secondly, the pay off with Krasko being sent back in time by Ryan confirms that he is too embarrassingly incompetent to be a Doctor Who villain because earlier in a confrontation with the Doctor he left behind his displacement device. Even though it was hot he did not think to check it again at the end of his dispute and he also somehow forgot that Ryan had taken the other charger. Also, all the countering Krasko's efforts to change history was not a truly intelligent other pay off as it is ultimately merely opposites. Still overall it is an emotionally effective, educational episode but what prevents it from being truly good is all the weak resolutions.However, for Arachnids in the UK, Chibnall is back in peak form and it is a standout. It is action filled with a horror theme due to the giant spiders crawling around and killing humans. The scenes with the bathroom break and cocoons are satisfyingly scary. The other characters are convincing with the capable, intuitive scientist assisting the doctor while the very uncouth, future American presidential candidate - complete with decadent hotels and guns - is one of the best of the entire series. It is smart too due to the arachnids becoming oversized and unpredictable due to the scientists extending their growing period and them being mutated by Robertson's dodgy waste disposal in the old mine shaft below his hotel. The episode is intended to carry an anti-fracking message and while some might or might not agree, it is such a superior script it should be enjoyable for all regardless of political beliefs. The arachnids being coaxed into the panic room resolution is a simple but effective one to round off an excellent episode. Some consider this to be callous of the doctor but presumably all the arachnids are going to perish anyway as the largest had become too enormous to live and letting them die naturally is surely kinder than if they were all brutally executed which would have been totally un-Doctor like. Whatever though, Chibnall should have included a line to state that they were all going to fail – and after all they did pose a danger to humans – and that would have made the resolution look more compassionate and perhaps it was a bit abrupt. But it works mostly as a pay off because it is not so blatantly obvious and even the Stormzy music is okay because it is a major part of the story this time unlike the song used in Rosa.On the other hand, The Tsuranga Conundrum, is quite probably the worst one since the 2005 revival began. It is not just not very clever although it assumes it is, it also appears totally ridiculous and is far too silly. The alien is rather embarrassing and appears like what the Red Dwarf Polymorph would look like if it was naff. The male medic hardly has a role in the plot while Graham and Ryan are side-lined - showing possibly there are too many doctor’s friends under Chibnall - when they are assisting Mabli in helping Yoss to give birth. The illusion of sophistication is only further confirmed as the pregnant male is not really part of the story while the doctor taking most of the episode to realise the Pting is an energy consumer makes her look uncharacteristically slow witted - again it is poor for the first female doctor to be written like this. Also, the former general dying and then the brother taking over when he is not a true pilot produces a weak other resolution. The cringeworthy prayer at the end and the fact that the Pting's creator did not even write the script confirms this episode is a train wreck.Unfortunately, Demons of the Punjab, is another bad effort. For a start, the apparently creepy looking Thijarians are not assassins anymore and consequently have a negligible role in the story. Really the whole plot is quite thin and of no substance because ultimately all that occurs is the doctor just lets history take care of itself so that Umbreen, Yasmin's grandmother, can marry again and this time to Yasmin's actual grandfather. There is no genuine pay off - apart from the Doctor merely advising Umbreen to leave - as Prem is simply allowed to be murdered by his bigoted younger brother and the Hindu nationalists during the partition of India.Admittedly, Prem must be parted from Umbreen as Yasmin and her family would not exist anymore but the viewer does wonder whether there could have been a more sophisticated ending in which Prem could have been saved somehow but just had not been together with Umbreen, as really the episode is quite a poor man's Back to the Future. Also, it has a fundamental flaw in that why does Umbreen - even though a lot of time has passed - at the end not recognise her own granddaughter from being at her first, traumatic wedding day? At least this episode is not as abominable as the previous one, but it is not strong really in any way and even the dialogue comes across as too twee.Kerblam! is far superior to the previous two and proper Doctor Who, highlighting worker exploitation also. The setting of the large, futuristic warehouse is intriguing and has so many rooms/objects to allow an intelligent story. The episode is strong too because it has a dynamic in that the first half is quite comical with the slightly humorously demented Postman Pat-like robots. Although comedian Lee Mack only makes a brief appearance his performance is very funny with a few one-liners.However, the second half has a dark, gruesome twist as the they discover Charlie - a previously apparently shy and unassuming maintenance worker - is in fact a terrorist trying to kill all recipients of Kerblam parcels via a mass delivery with explosives being placed in the bubble wrap. This is in order to force people to not trust the mainly automated workforce at Kerblam so that all humans can have work again.The resolution to Kerblam! is so much better because unlike a few of the other episodes it eschews soppiness as even Charlie witnessing his love interest, the pleasant Kira, being killed - as the system is fighting back against him - does not change his deranged plan of mass murder. The pay-off is further galvanised as the doctor uses the old Kerblam system to ensure the delivery is overridden, instead opened by the delivery bots themselves while one of the other bot's head is used to transmit them away from the detonating dispatch. It is both a very sharp but simple and effective ending to a brilliant episode.The Witchfinders is luckily another very strong standout to follow, with a valuable, anti-misogynistic message. Again, it is in the style of vintage Doctor Who with all the deceased witch hunt targets and Becka Savage's living body being infected and possessed by the Morax which had escaped from their Pendle Hill prison due to Becka chopping down a sacred tree. Possibly, due to this subject matter the episode could be the most dark and disturbing of the entire 2018 run, which provides the series with diversity. Legendary actor Alan Cumming is phenomenal as King James I - even conveying a rumour about the monarch due to his flirtations with Ryan. Siobhan Finneran is similarly impressive as the murderous local landowner Becka Savage, displaying all her sadistic selfishness to the maximum. Like the other stronger episodes, it is a clever plot with a simple but resounding resolution as it soon becomes clear that the doctor must use the flames of the chopped tree pieces that made up Becka's dunking device. This is in order to protect King James I as the tree pieces are part of the old security system and repel the Morax and the doctor can use them to reactivate the Pendle Hill prison.This straightforward but highly successful ending is elaborated on due to Willa - Becka's victimised cousin - helping them find the path up the hill and James I primitively killing the Morax queen that possessed Becka with a swift swipe of his sword, rightly to the doctor's disapproval. It was slightly concerning as to whether the prison could be reopened by someone else later in the future but as the tree has already been chopped that shows the Witchfinders ending is inherently ingenious. The only possible real criticism could be that maybe the Morax should have ensured the doctor/friends were not merely stunned before the climax but otherwise it is a very decent episode and perhaps the alien war criminals were unaware of this.It Takes You Away is more like a return to the sophistication of a Steven Moffat-era episode and is an excellent examination of grief. Although there is quite a lot of exposition, again it is an example of the variety that series 11 has to offer. Set in a spectacular Norwegian fjord it skilfully misleads the viewer into thinking the Doctor would have to face a beast that is of typical Doctor Who fare. Really, it concerns the existence of the Solitract, a sentient parallel universe that desires friendship by trapping people from the real universe by impersonating their dead loved ones. This is where Hanne's missing father has been tempted to as his wife had died, and he thought he had discovered her alive again here. However, as all of them arrive there it begins to collapse as it cannot sustain all of them and one by one it lets them go as each character realises either its loved ones are deceptive, or it is rejected by this entity.It is highly inventive but not totally impeccable however as the Solitract transforming into a frog is a bit too crazy. Also, the creatures of the Antizone are a bit contrived in the way they fail to pose much of a threat when the doctor is released by the parallel universe and they all escape the flesh moths and find their way easily back to their own universe. Additionally, as the doctor states at the end that it is uncertain as to whether the Solitract perished it is a bit dubious that she might have lied to it that it would survive if it released her. But overall this is a brilliant, witty episode rightly placed in the penultimate position in the series in order to build momentum - although it is not connected - ahead of the finale.Unfortunately, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, is a bit anti-climactic for a finale. Upon a distress call, the doctor/friends travel to a planet that has a psychic field that causes amnesia and are reunited with their first, fearsome antagonist Tzim-Sha. After the duel in the series opener his recall device was corrupted and sent him not to his own planet but Ranskoor Av Kolos. Here he met the Ux, two faith believing dimensional engineers, and combined with their misplaced trust in him as a god and Stenza technology he has massively condensed a series of planets. Upon facing the doctor again and targeting Earth next out of revenge, this threatens the whole of reality as one more planet is too much for the fabric of space and time. There are some acceptable concepts in this episode and clearly the Ux's faith in a false creator is presumably meant to be a lesson to anyone who misuses any religion for destructive purposes.However, the episode has flaws in its storytelling that prevent it from being truly satisfying. Tzim-Sha's sniper bots are embarrassingly useless and Star Wars-lite. Meanwhile the whole idea of them being destroyed by their own fire has now been repeated too often this decade as it occurred in Red Dwarf 10's finale and Doctor Who's very own fiftieth anniversary special. Additionally, the main pay off in which the Ux "convert" from Tzim-Sha's evil faith to the doctor's positive one to return the planets is unconvincing as their minds are changed too fast and easily.But the doctor and Yasmin using their neural patches to temporarily block the Ux's catastrophic attempts to steal Earth was clever while the references back to the ninth/tenth doctor stories in which the TARDIS's power was harnessed - like it connects the Ux to restore the planets via Stenza technology - were welcome. Graham eventually not killing "Tim Shaw" to avenge the loss of his wife and instead placing it in one of the stasis pods - where the human hostages had been held - was okay. Ultimately though this episode is the least satisfying finale in the entire history of new Who and perhaps this is the consequence of there being a lack of a story arc. Although there are a few positive aspects to it, the original Tzim-Sha story was far superior and this pales in comparison.Overall despite there being a few episodes that are below par, Chibnall has produced a worthwhile enough first series with quite an eclectic blend of styles, themes and tones. While at its worst it is over-sentimental, flawed Doctor Who by numbers, at its finest it is clearly told clever with a Russell T Davies accessibility. It is a largely moralising series, and although this is too heavy handed for some, they are all positive messages. Anyway, Doctor Who has always had this quality and there are other television programmes that are far more annoyingly advisory than this anyway. Although Jodie Whittaker is perhaps a bit too bubbly and bright in the face of most dangerous situations she tends to obviously perform better in the best written episodes and the other doctors were guilty of overacting when they received a weaker script anyway. The three companions are fine and relatable though perhaps because there are so many the doctor occasionally does not have enough screen time to totally shine. Also, the fact they are called friends is possibly a bit dubious as it is against Doctor Who folklore. But with the doctor as like a mother figure they function well as a family for the most part. The only criticism though is the fact that perhaps the main characters lack some backstory and this lack of continuity produced a low-key finale too. However, the use of standalone episodes can be a positive as Doctor Who is easier to watch for those who do not know its long, glorious history. Although there are more human enemies for the doctor to face and they are deployed to varying success and it is not always totally Who-like at times, Chibnall has at least moved Doctor Who on a bit. With episodes 1, 4 and 2 in parts, he has shown he is very capable as a showrunner it is just he needs to be more consistent. For 2020's series 12, I hope that Chibnall can combine with the likes of Pete McTighe, Joy Wilkinson and Ed Hime again to produce an entire run which reaches the peaks that episodes 1, 4, 7, 8 and 9 were which are amongst the best that Doctor Who has to offer.

Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series - Blu-ray STEELBOOK.BBCBD0455.I paid 24.99 in December 2019.At the time it was cheaper than the regular version; I just missed the £19 promotion.Fortunately, THIS steelbook came with a hinged double tray, as well as a lug on each side of the case: so each of 4 discs is stored seperately!The Tennant Specials SB had 2 discs each stacked on one spindle per side of the case - I recased immediately!I bought it over the regular edition for the extra disc - disappointing BTW.I dislike the steelbook format.Apart from the robustness of the case, there is no slipcase, the display tray (?) is irritating to use for the track listing,the cards make it trickier still.The 4 art cards were boring, not the lenticular style from other series; waste of time anyway.Discs lacked many extras.I like a gag reel and deleted scenes - this has neither.A 'Closer Look' for each episode - 2-6 mins long; 4 Commentaries; 7 mini features; 2 video diaries.Overall, this presentation shows the series was rushed - as commented on by JW when interrogated over the delay before series 12.The behind the scenes bits show the cast was short on time and inevitably: patience.I believe the awful 'Resolution' special was filmed along with series 11; low budget, rushed, tired cast and crew.I almost did not bother to watch series 12; glad I did though.We learned that the reason for so few TARDIS interior scenes in series 11 was a screw up by the set designer in the LED lighting - requiring post production retouching in CGI; he was replaced!It is wholly unfair to prejudge the whole Jodie Whittaker era on this first season; worse is the 130+ reviews of season 12, not released yet!Remember the initial seasons of previous Doctors - shaky, experimental and easily forgotten.The exceptions being Capaldi's first episode 'Deep Breath' - which was a hoot and showed his versatility plus the definitive Missy - the perfect opponent for Capaldi, across the whole series.Admittedly, the best of this series is episode one 'The Woman Who Fell To Earth' and the final scenes of episodes 2 and 4 (TARDIS interiors).SPOILERS FROM HERE.The best of the first episode was Grace (Sharon D Clarke): whom I can watch in anything.Shame she was killed off as she brought out the best in JW.I still hate 'Team Tardis' / The Fam.It is an unwelcome throwback to the John Nathan Turner years (Tom Baker's last season and the wet vet's era), when there was a full TARDIS of bickering kids, worse than Hartnell's era, which had less bickering, but an equally crowded console room.I suspect the show may well be cancelled again unless series 13 is another MAJOR reboot; mainly a change in TARDIS crew - such as a single new companion to carry over to the next Doctor.Has anyone thought of an independent company taking over production?The best output on the BBC IS from independents!Most Doctors last 3 full series and JW must be shattered with 9-10 months filming, then all the publicity schtick and all the complaints that she isn't doing it right etc. - give her a chance you morons!Her style is different from the others, not better or worse.I agree with others that Bradley Walsh is the best of the 3 fam; had it been him and Grace with JW, it would have worked better.I still say Suranne Jones would have been the better choice; based purely on SJ's wider experience and the captivating alien quality she portrayed in 'The Doctor's Wife' (series 6, she upstaged Matt Smith perfectly) when she played the TARDIS MATRIX in human form.But then I saw Jo Martin's incarnation: WOW!Hope we get to see a retro / side series of her Doctor!With the plot device in the finale of series 12, the franchise is now unlimited.BTW, the notion is not new, it is perfectly possible given established Doctor Who canon; various nods were made to previous stories which contemplated the possibilities.Now explain River Song, Chibbers you Smart****!Perhaps new thinking, external production company, a less interventionist showrunner and a wider pool of writers could make it work, even on the newer, lower budget.Don't write it off just yet!