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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of The Simpsons, Family Guy, and The Great North.
Doctor Who "The Story And The Engine"
That was amazing.
Lots of TV episodes are amazing. Fewer Doctor Who episodes are, but some qualify. But this was a special kind of amazing. Why?
Because it wasn't amazing because of a single thing. It was a wild and weird (and trippy) tapestry that was amazing. Did it all make sense? No, but it made you almost believe it did.
I love the idea that the Doctor finds that barbershop a home away from home. I find it odd Belinda has no idea about the communal nature of Black people and barbershops, but I'm thinking she was a stand-in for British audiences maybe not too familiar with the concept. American audiences however would have gotten it right away.
I like that Fifteen feels legit betrayed by his friend. They make up at the end, but I like that he's angry.
I love that the Black Doctor Abby encountered before was the Fugitive Doctor. I mentioned the episode is amazing for different reasons. Aside from the great mythology of the Doctor being an entire being of stories, this is the first time we've learned the Doctor got back their memories of the Fugitive Doctor and the Timeless Child stuff. Believe it or not, that's okay. The Doctor understanding their personal mystery better is fine. Just so long as we don't. And I feel like it's progress that the Doctor apparently went back for that information after all.
As much shit as I talk about Russell T Davies, the fact that he refuses to retcon both the Fugitive Doctor AND the Timeless Child stuff means he actually cares about every aspect of the franchise. Wild back and forth retcons actually hurt long-running franchises. Chibnall's idea was crazy enough. Pulling back and forth on it would have hurt the show's credibility. And after the limb Chibnall climbed out there on? Not a good idea.
One of the cool things about Fifteen is he decides to redeem the Barber. Ten and Twelve wouldn't have bothered. I find the idea kind of moving. The Barber was about to commit a completely heinous act. The Doctor and Belinda talked him out of it. After the fact, should the guy simply be ostracized for the plan rather than forgiven for the mercy? The Doctor believes while the Barber is reevaluating everything he ever believed about himself and the place in the Universe, extra support and human contact is good. And he's actually right.
I'm very glad the show has Fifteen outright say he feels alienated by the way humanity treats his current incarnation. The Doctor is above such notions as racism, but that shit is systemic, and just takes a fucking toll. Even on aliens. The guy describing it as a human impulse was right.
I think Fifteen is the best Doctor since Eleven. Hell, he might be the best Doctor since TEN. Seriously impressed with Ncuti Gatwa. *****.
The Simpsons "Full Heart, Empty Pool"
It's fun, but kind of all over the map.
In the early seasons, many of the before-nameless characters got names like it was no big deal out of the blue. Squeaky-Voiced-Teen being Andrew is like that. I'm not sure the character can carry the opening of the episode but one of the interesting things about early Simpsons is how little mystery they ascribed to many of the names.
I love that the lady is a fan of Lisa's Substack.
Big Avocado is a mess. Yes, I'm punning you there, but it doesn't fit fit well as an ending. It's really reaching, even for this show.
Andrew Luck will sign the cast because he has the whole upper part to himself. Weird guest star in the episode they revealed the teen's name is Andrew.
Appearance from the Very Tall Man. Rare character. Helen Lovejoy catchphrase callback and subversion.
The scene with Agnes, Jasper, and the Crazy Old Man was pretty twisted. Her putting in the dentures to top the manipulation off was both totally baller and super gross.
I like that the Suit's about to agree with Homer's demands right before he sells Grandpa out. Good laugh line.
Speaking of which, I loved the naturalistic dialogue of Homer and Abe's "show or tell" argument.
Solid episode. Simpsons won Fox toons. ****.
Family Guy "One Foot In Front Of The Mother"
Not too many laughs.
And I get Family Guy is trying to stop punching down so much. So they REALLY need to get rid of Herbert.
I love Principle Shepherd's windshieldless car and the idea he uses newspapers as a bathmat.
It was all right. But I didn't laugh too much. ***.
The Great North "Jude-night Run Adventure"
I didn't like it mostly because I don't like what Judy said to Wolf.
I'll tell you what I liked. It made him mad. NOTHING makes that dude mad and I'm glad that specific thing did.
The Bachelor stuff was idiotic.
Not a great week. **1/2.
Doctor Who "The Story And The Engine"
That was amazing.
Lots of TV episodes are amazing. Fewer Doctor Who episodes are, but some qualify. But this was a special kind of amazing. Why?
Because it wasn't amazing because of a single thing. It was a wild and weird (and trippy) tapestry that was amazing. Did it all make sense? No, but it made you almost believe it did.
I love the idea that the Doctor finds that barbershop a home away from home. I find it odd Belinda has no idea about the communal nature of Black people and barbershops, but I'm thinking she was a stand-in for British audiences maybe not too familiar with the concept. American audiences however would have gotten it right away.
I like that Fifteen feels legit betrayed by his friend. They make up at the end, but I like that he's angry.
I love that the Black Doctor Abby encountered before was the Fugitive Doctor. I mentioned the episode is amazing for different reasons. Aside from the great mythology of the Doctor being an entire being of stories, this is the first time we've learned the Doctor got back their memories of the Fugitive Doctor and the Timeless Child stuff. Believe it or not, that's okay. The Doctor understanding their personal mystery better is fine. Just so long as we don't. And I feel like it's progress that the Doctor apparently went back for that information after all.
As much shit as I talk about Russell T Davies, the fact that he refuses to retcon both the Fugitive Doctor AND the Timeless Child stuff means he actually cares about every aspect of the franchise. Wild back and forth retcons actually hurt long-running franchises. Chibnall's idea was crazy enough. Pulling back and forth on it would have hurt the show's credibility. And after the limb Chibnall climbed out there on? Not a good idea.
One of the cool things about Fifteen is he decides to redeem the Barber. Ten and Twelve wouldn't have bothered. I find the idea kind of moving. The Barber was about to commit a completely heinous act. The Doctor and Belinda talked him out of it. After the fact, should the guy simply be ostracized for the plan rather than forgiven for the mercy? The Doctor believes while the Barber is reevaluating everything he ever believed about himself and the place in the Universe, extra support and human contact is good. And he's actually right.
I'm very glad the show has Fifteen outright say he feels alienated by the way humanity treats his current incarnation. The Doctor is above such notions as racism, but that shit is systemic, and just takes a fucking toll. Even on aliens. The guy describing it as a human impulse was right.
I think Fifteen is the best Doctor since Eleven. Hell, he might be the best Doctor since TEN. Seriously impressed with Ncuti Gatwa. *****.
The Simpsons "Full Heart, Empty Pool"
It's fun, but kind of all over the map.
In the early seasons, many of the before-nameless characters got names like it was no big deal out of the blue. Squeaky-Voiced-Teen being Andrew is like that. I'm not sure the character can carry the opening of the episode but one of the interesting things about early Simpsons is how little mystery they ascribed to many of the names.
I love that the lady is a fan of Lisa's Substack.
Big Avocado is a mess. Yes, I'm punning you there, but it doesn't fit fit well as an ending. It's really reaching, even for this show.
Andrew Luck will sign the cast because he has the whole upper part to himself. Weird guest star in the episode they revealed the teen's name is Andrew.
Appearance from the Very Tall Man. Rare character. Helen Lovejoy catchphrase callback and subversion.
The scene with Agnes, Jasper, and the Crazy Old Man was pretty twisted. Her putting in the dentures to top the manipulation off was both totally baller and super gross.
I like that the Suit's about to agree with Homer's demands right before he sells Grandpa out. Good laugh line.
Speaking of which, I loved the naturalistic dialogue of Homer and Abe's "show or tell" argument.
Solid episode. Simpsons won Fox toons. ****.
Family Guy "One Foot In Front Of The Mother"
Not too many laughs.
And I get Family Guy is trying to stop punching down so much. So they REALLY need to get rid of Herbert.
I love Principle Shepherd's windshieldless car and the idea he uses newspapers as a bathmat.
It was all right. But I didn't laugh too much. ***.
The Great North "Jude-night Run Adventure"
I didn't like it mostly because I don't like what Judy said to Wolf.
I'll tell you what I liked. It made him mad. NOTHING makes that dude mad and I'm glad that specific thing did.
The Bachelor stuff was idiotic.
Not a great week. **1/2.
