"The Woman Who Lived" Grading and Discussion Thread

[kirk55555]

I voted good. The overall plot wasn't that great, but the interactions between The Doctor and Ashildr really made the episode in my opinion. I probably liked this episode a bit more than part one of the story, although I still think the opening two parter of Series 9 was somewhat stronger than this one.

 

[The Wormhole]

This was certainly an improvement over last week. The scenes between the Doctor and Ashildr are certainly the highlight of the week. I even enjoyed Ashildr's backstory and how she's basically become a mirror Doctor hardened by living hundreds of years and watching anyone she cared about die. In one episode, they've turned Ashildr from someone barely memorable aside from being played by the hyped guest star she was last week to a character I want to see brought back and learn more about. The Sam Swift character was also kind of fun. I'll credit the actor, he was able to take a scene filled with lame puns and make it sort of amusing, even if just barely. It'll be interesting to see if he's still around in modern times and what he's now like.

If they were going to use a lion man for this episode, why not just make him a Tharil? Or at least make him related to them to avoid paying royalties to the writer of Warrior's Gate, like how the minotaur in The God Complex was only related to the Nimon. And what point does Lion-O serve anyway? "Ah-ha, now I shall betray you, what you defeat me in turn? No, please show mercy!"

And can we please stop dwelling on death and the nature of death? Okay, this week it kind of served a purpose as far as Ashildr's story goes. But having these contemplations on death as well as the increasingly unsubtle reminders that Clara will die is really depressing and these scenes are just becoming each episode's downer moment.

 

[Guy Gardener]

So Ashilda, got a good look at Danny, figured out if he was a useless waste of flesh, and let him get run over?

 

[The Wormhole]

So Ashilda, got a good look at Danny, figured out if he was a useless waste of flesh, and let him get run over?

Maybe she was driving the car?

 

[Icemizer]

I enjoy any episode where the Doctor is not portrayed as an idiot, so I mostly liked this one. Good scenes with Maise but the main plot um, yea not a great one by far.

 

[DarthPipes]

So Ashilda, got a good look at Danny, figured out if he was a useless waste of flesh, and let him get run over?

Maybe she was driving the car?

Hah!

 

[auntiehill]

This one was OK--nothing terribly great but nothing terribly bad. I think it might have been better if there was more time in between this and the first one. We'd be more curious about her, I think.

So now we have another recurring character; not really sure what the point of her will be but I guess that's OK.

 

[Mr Awe]

Very good. Like last week, I'm giving this story a very good. Also like last week, I'm being a bit generous. There were good moments and interesting ideas, but the story was a bit week. But, still a fun ride.

There's just not a lot more say about it than that.

Mr Awe

 

[Lakenheath 72]

Has there been an official explanation from the showrunner and/or his subordinates on this fixation with death? It seems to me that, especially with Moffat, that there is this fixation. Franchises seem to run into periods where they fixated on a theme and can not seem to shake itself clear of it. Star Trek has been fixated on revenge. Doctor Who is fixated on death.

 

[Photoman15]

So, is Ashilda "The Nightmare Child"?

 

[tomalak301]

It was ok. I agree there should have been more time elapsed between last week and this weeks episode. I loved the Captain Jack mention. I would love to see Jack back on Doctor Who.

 

[Marten]

It reminded me a bit of Vincent and the Doctor. That episode also had a rather stupid plot, but some really good character moments in between.

Not quite as good, though. I thought it felt rushed. Ashildr's turnaround on the hanging grounds felt way to fast. The pacing was a little weird, too. Spending ten minutes sneaking around the mansion? That time could have been spent on far better things.

The highlight was the Doctor's conversations with Ashildr. I also really liked the last scene in the Tardis, and Capaldi's acting during it.

Went with good in the poll, but just as well been very good.

 

[Lakenheath 72]

Knowing a little about visual symbology from having watched movies and tv shows, i have a feeling that Me will play a part in the events that will bring about the end of the companionship of Clara Oswald. There is a sense of dread with the selfie, seeing Me in the background. (I am surprised how little coverage there is about this selfie in the reviews.) The facial expression and body language of Me is not benevolent; rather, it is borderline malevolent. (It has been somewhat confirmed that Me will return in the tenth episode.)

I do not know why Me saved Earth. I do not think it was out of compassion.

(I am not calling her by that name. I am of the opinion that the name has become "lost" to her.)

 

[DimesDan]

Has there been an official explanation from the showrunner and/or his subordinates on this fixation with death? It seems to me that, especially with Moffat, that there is this fixation. Franchises seem to run into periods where they fixated on a theme and can not seem to shake itself clear of it. Star Trek has been fixated on revenge. Doctor Who is fixated on death.

Just a guess, death is one of those things that happen and from my shaky memory on the matter, the Doctor hasn't had many companions actually die on him and it's a fucking great big telegraph of what's going to happen in the future.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Since I haven't seen The Visitation yet, I missed the reference. What was it?

The (5th) Doctor started the Great Fire Of London.

And blames the Terileptils, who were mentioned in this episode in that context.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

It was entertaining enough, not as good as last week's though. But I'm sorry, I keep seeing this...

[yt]v=wL-NNWoblxI[/yt]

 

[ITL]

I was half expecting the old guy in the coach to exclaim that "A man's sweet lips are his own private kingdom!" and whatnot.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Just caught this on iplayer, for me personall this and the previous have been what i can surfing episodes, meaning i get into about 15 mins then i go surf on the tablet as they play in the background, even when the first two espisodes in this season were cracking, the last four have just been meh for me personally.

I hope i am not going off Capaldi as the Dr, he was cracking last season, but this season so far he, or the stories seem, i don't know, i can't put my finger on it, very strange for me as i lap up anything Who wise without question, so i am scratching my head wondering why these episodes are not doing it for me pesonally, i will just put it down to me and hope the last six bring me back into the fold.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I wonder if it would've been effective to save this part for a later airing so we the viewers would've somewhat vicariously experienced the sense of time the Doctor had left her.

I agree. I might have put part 1 in episode 3's slot, then this episode in episode 8's slot, so the base under siege and UNIT stories go in between.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Just caught this on iplayer, for me personall this and the previous have been what i can surfing episodes, meaning i get into about 15 mins then i go surf on the tablet as they play in the background, even when the first two espisodes in this season were cracking, the last four have just been meh for me personally.

I hope i am not going off Capaldi as the Dr, he was cracking last season, but this season so far he, or the stories seem, i don't know, i can't put my finger on it, very strange for me as i lap up anything Who wise without question, so i am scratching my head wondering why these episodes are not doing it for me pesonally, i will just put it down to me and hope the last six bring me back into the fold.

Interesting. I'm enjoying him more this season, though I think they've toned him down to make him more amiable like Ten and Eleven. So I guess if you really enjoyed him last year, you might not like this season's version so much.

I am a massive fan of the actor so I was surprised that I didn't enjoy him more last year; although a big fan of Matt, I was fully ready to embrace the new Doctor. I think, much like Tennant, it's really taken him the second series to get his full grip on the role.