Spoilers The Well grade and discussion thread

[JD]

I thought it was great.
Purely by coincidence watched Midnight for the first time since it originally aired, which it turns out was perfect timing. Obviously what we got with the Entity was different here, but it was similar enough in the way it played with people's paranoia that I find it believeable that it was the same creature.
RTD is good with the silly, but when he really gets serious it can be great.
I'm not familiar with any of the guest cast, but I thought they were all great.
Shaya's sacrifice at the end was done really, but I was a little confused as the how the Entity jumped from her to Mo. Or was it a second one attatched to Mo.
We got some interest new information added to the season arc, especially since we've seen episodes set long after this one where Earth and humans were still around.
I gave it a 9.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Once "The Well" definitively confirmed that it was indeed a sequel to "Midnight" as suspected, it was hard not to compare this episode with its predecessor or even relate any aspect of the story without reference to what came before. On its own, the episode is a classic thrilling base-under-siege adventure (complete with quarry cameo!), one that relied heavily on The Doctor, Belinda, and the story's two leading guest characters, Aliss and Shaya.

The most interesting non-"Midnight" aspect of the episode is Aliss' deafness and how it was portrayed. I'm grateful the show once again (after "Under the Lake"/"Before the Flood") cast a deaf actress in the role and portrayed the character in a positive manner who maintained an important and active role in the adventure. Aliss' trauma is a clear and visible one, heightened by the paranoia around her survival and distrust towards her communication with The Doctor via ASL. Every scene between Aliss and The Doctor was riveting, even when she, as a character, kind of disappeared to the background once the true nature of the episode revealed itself. I do wish we got to see a bit more of her towards the end and whether she was able to reunite with her daughter.

I also liked the conceit of the future technology that allowed characters who don't know ASL (or its contemporary equivalent) to visibly communicate with her, even though its very existence is problematic (as also briefly explored in the MCU's Echo). I'm glad the episode addressed that issue after The Doctor effectively communicated with through ASL but made him stop under the growing paranoia of Aliss' survival. While that change in communication fit nicely within the over episode's theme about paranoia, I do wish The Doctor at least continued to use ASL along side the visual text, however redundant that may have appeared. I also wish the episode didn't show how people kept turning their visual text aid back on when the damn thing should have stayed on for the reminder the situation. That got annoying fast.

In regards to the "Midnight" connections, I'm relieved "The Well" retained the visual mystery of the creature while also building on its history and existence with more details. There were several moments where I was genuinely worried Davies wouldn't help himself from explaining or showing too much but thankfully that didn't happen. I loved how "The Well" also continued the paranoia from "Midnight" but presented it in a new disturbing (if somewhat confusing) fashion. And while I don't need another sequel, I liked how the episode concluded with the possibility of the creature escaping and causing havoc beyond Midnight. That possibility also makes Shaya's tragic sacrifice even more tragic.

Seems like Earth has been erased from history since no one knows what it or the human race are. However, since reality is a major theme of The Fifteenth Doctor's era, I suspect it's actually a case of Earth being wiped from reality entirely, undoubtedly by another member of the Pantheon of Discord (or all of them...). Mrs. Flood appears to be all too pleased how this is all playing out...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I was thinking that the way it hid reminded me more of the (hypothetical) creature from “Listen,” and wondered if the two episodes were being braided together. I suppose that still might be the case, there seemed to be some subtle references, like the Doctor risking everything to get a glimpse of the creature.

Oh! I forgot to bring this up on my review. I was also reminded of "Listen" and greatly appreciated using the same restraint in showing the creature. However, I don't think Davies was intending to connect the two. Just using the same suspense mechanism.

 

[Daedalus]

After having a little time to digest the episode, part of me wishes that it wasn't a sequel to  Midnight and we had a brand new entity on our hands.

Something original called "The Hider", or "The Shadow" could've made a cool addition to the creepier beings from the show.

 

[VDCNI]

I really enjoyed it, nice to have something straight up aiming for scares and atmosphere.

Some really nice performances, particularly from the actress playing Shayla. Although I didn't mind Ruby she got a bit bogged down in the whole mystery side. Belinda is a much more engaging character.

I wasn't keen on the final scene, a final check in with Aliss might have been more impactful.

 

[Fantasy Lover]

Man, this episode was messed up. I like it, more!

 

[1001001]

That was brilliant.

Very effective.

 

[David cgc]

After having a little time to digest the episode, part of me wishes that it wasn't a sequel to  Midnight and we had a brand new entity on our hands.

Something original called "The Hider", or "The Shadow" could've made a cool addition to the creepier beings from the show.

According to the credits, the Midnight critter (or, at least, this Midnight critter, maybe they aren't the same one) was called "It Has No Name."

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Even though I initially considered the idea of this being the same creature, I prefer them being two different individuals of the same species.

 

[Steve Roby]

In my opinion, at least, we're three for three this season. I'm liking it more than last season.

I'm not sure how much the story gained from being tied to "Midnight," given that the entity didn't behave in the same way. I also don't think the story logic would hold up very well under close examination. But there's plenty of atmosphere and good acting to carry you through.

Also, according to the behind the scenes stuff, they were using BSL, not ASL. The Tardis wasn't translating the sign language for everyone, so why would a culture that's never heard of Earth or humans use British (or, for that matter, American) Sign Language? Maybe lots of planets have a Britain....

 

[David cgc]

Also, according to the behind the scenes stuff, they were using BSL, not ASL. The Tardis wasn't translating the sign language for everyone, so why would a culture that's never heard of Earth or humans use British (or, for that matter, American) Sign Language? Maybe lots of planets have a Britain....

Maybe you need a basic level of comprehension of the form of language for TARDIS translation to work. We know it works with spoken and written material, so why wouldn't it work for sign language? In that case, the question would be if the TARDIS translation would mean that someone who is illiterate would gain the ability to read because of it.

 

[matthunter]

In that case, the question would be if the TARDIS translation would mean that someone who is illiterate would gain the ability to read because of it.

Was Jamie illiterate? He likely might have been given his native time period and background. Did we ever see him reading?

 

[FredH]

Maybe the TARDIS is just wonky about what it does and doesn’t translate? It’s old and not kept in perfect condition (and all these centuries later, he still leaves the brakes on).

 

[matthunter]

Maybe the TARDIS is just wonky about what it does and doesn’t translate? It’s old and not kept in perfect condition (and all these centuries later, he still leaves the brakes on).

Possibly also she likes to help the Doctor show off how clever he is by letting him sign (he very likely does know many languages without the aid of the translation matrix) whilst not letting Belinda? It did help make the point to Belinda that public health workers perhaps SHOULD be required to know sign language (but PAY THE NURSES MORE IN THAT CASE, LABOUR!!!).

 

[Daedalus]

Possibly also she likes to help the Doctor show off how clever he is by letting him sign (he very likely does know many languages without the aid of the translation matrix) whilst not letting Belinda? It did help make the point to Belinda that public health workers perhaps SHOULD be required to know sign language (but PAY THE NURSES MORE IN THAT CASE, LABOUR!!!).

Hear, hear.

 

[diankra]

Was Jamie illiterate? He likely might have been given his native time period and background. Did we ever see him reading?

By Wheel in Space he could definitely read. A book (The Roundheads, I think) has Polly teaching him.

 

[Mr Awe]

Fantastic episode! Gave it a 9! Easily Ncuti's best episode and by a large margin!

Loved the creepy atmosphere and they gave time for the mystery to breathe. Aliss was a fantastic character and so was the commander lady (forget the name). Believable tension with the rest of the troops added some nice drama.

Only took a point off for a bit of confusion. Not clear about the thing behind the thing and how that all worked. And the it transfers when the host is killed, except when not.

And using Belinda's nursing skills was brilliant. I mean really, shouldn't the Doctor always travel with a nurse?

More like this please!

 

[Chakoteya]

Maybe the TARDIS is just wonky about what it does and doesn’t translate? It’s old and not kept in perfect condition (and all these centuries later, he still leaves the brakes on).

She uses the telepathic circuits to communicate with her crew. So no real reason she can’t translate sign language for them (because they can see it like written language) even if she can’t get them to reply in sign. Just the writers wanting it that way for the story.

 

[Commander Troi]

Damn, that was good! Absolutely creepy AF, Aliss and Shaya were both awesome, as was Mo, and being an unexpected sequel to Midnight was a nice surprise. I was very pleased! But I felt bad that Shaya's sacrifice appeared to be in vain. Belinda is rapidly becoming a real fave!

 

[Awesome Possum]

Damn, that was good! Absolutely creepy AF, Aliss and Shaya were both awesome, as was Mo, and being an unexpected sequel to Midnight was a nice surprise. I was very pleased! But I felt bad that Shaya's sacrifice appeared to be in vain. Belinda is rapidly becoming a real fave!

I think she did kill that entity, I just think that there are more of them. A lot of people died and seemed to have happened pretty quickly, it could've have just been one of them.