6

Written by: Matthew Graham

Directed by: Euros Lyn

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[-] SpaceScotsman@startrek.website 4 points 5 days ago

This is an odd episode. It's another one that seems to want to mix humour in - with an opening joke about lowercase d-doctors, references to the cat nuns, and the "right angle parking" of the tardis bit. But it also goes into some dark topics - missing children, abusive parental relationships, loneliness. But none of it really comes together. The acting doesn't help - the kid actor is pretty bad, even by kid actor standards, and the dialogue on the TV news sequences is awkward. I'm also at a loss of what the story is even about - the aliens spend an eternal childhood in space, so they makeup their own imaginary worlds, which doesn't at all mesh with the SCP-085 plotline. The sequence with the doctor racing with the olympic flame is maximum cheese, and would be a great ending if it had been a "fun" episode all along instead of trying to also be serious. The ending feels pointlessly enigmatic, as if to telegraph "oh but travelling with the doctor is always a risk", but that was the whole point of the previous episode too so the writers are repeating themselves a bit.

Random note: It's supposed to be in summer for the olympics, but at times you can actually see their cold breath because they filmed in winter. They had doctor and rose comment on how cold things are to try and cover for this.

Okay, I haven't watched this one yet. Mainly, I haven't had time, but I have to admit, I haven't gone out of my way to make time.

It's bad. I think it's probably the worst episode of the revival. It commits what for me is the cardinal sin, which is to be boring. Really, really boring.

In a way, I'm looking forward to revisiting it, just to try to figure out how and why it's so boring. But it likely won't be today.

[-] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 1 points 5 hours ago

Five days later, I've finally brought myself to watch it. Here's what I've got.

This is "Doctor Who" trying to do an episode of "The X-Files," and falling flat on its face.

It's brightly (and flatly) lit, when it should be dark and moody.

Murray Gold's score is unusually lifeless, and seems to strike the wrong tone more often than not. Give me some mournful cello while they're in Chloe's room, examining her drawings.

It tries to blend a story about aliens with more "mature" themes like child abuse and depression, and isn't terribly successful.

The "all it needs is the attention of the world" riff was basically done several episodes ago (and better) in "The Idiot's Lantern."

Just a complete failure on damn near every level.

But at least they do a better job of "mature themes" a few years later with "Night Terrors," and of evil drawings with "Flatline."

[-] SiliconAvatar@startrek.website 6 points 5 days ago

Thinking back on the elements of this episode, a story dealing with scared children's fears coming to life doesn't need to be particularly bad. People getting attacked by angry pencil scribbles in 3D? Could work.

First and foremost, I just remember it as being really unengagingly told. The sleepy suburban setting doesn't help. And then, for some reason, suddenly the Doctor is carrying the Olympic torch, which just feels like somebody switched channels.

[-] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yeah, I think you're right. On paper, this should be the show's bread and butter. But the execution of this one is dull as dishwater.

this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2026
6 points (100.0% liked)

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