Rewatching Doctor Who "Kill The Moon" - some thoughts

[vivdunstan]

Just finished rewatching this episode of Peter Capaldi's era (New Who series 8 episode 7). There will be spoilers in my discussion.

My memory of this episode was of a ludicrous plot involving the Moon being an egg and hatching a creature. But at least going into it again with that knowledge I knew what I was getting, and knew that I would have to greatly suspend my disbelief, and only then might I appreciate other things.

I enjoyed it way more this time. The cast is tight but well used, with good direction. A Doctor who's still unlikeable, though more alien and irresponsible rather than cruel. I'm not completely convinced by Clara losing her temper with him so much more here rather than in earlier episodes. But I do get what she went through. And while I'd rather not see Courtney again, at least she was much better value than the kids in "Nightmare in Silver".

On the downside it can be viewed as a rather unsubtle anti-abortion metaphor. And I still can't get over the bonkers pseudoscience. But as a moral dilemma it was fascinating. And again I enjoyed it so much more this time.

But yup, no more planet/planetoid eggs please ...

Comments

[a_cubed]

IMHO this is quite likely the worst NuWho episode. When we re-watched Capaldi, we skipped it.

[vivdunstan]

I'd rate many far lower, but it's a personal choice. For me "Fear Her" from David Tennant was down at the very bottom. As was "The Tsurunga Conundrum" from Jodie Whittaker. In terms of recent rewatches, the only story I haven't been able to bring myself to even rewatch is "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" from Matt Smith. Though my rewatches are continuing, and if I make it past the Twelfth Doctor I can't see me rewatching the above Jodie Whittaker episode or "Space Babies" from Ncuti Gatwa.

[a_cubed]

I definitely agree on Space Babies. But, that's NuNuWho ;-). I agree on most of the others as down near the bottom, though I disagree on Widow and Wardrobe. The introductory bit with him showing the family around the house is cringeworthy, but I find the rest mediocre. YMMV as always and as you say this kind of thing is a personal choice. For example, you really like Family of Blood, whereas I dislike it.