Dr. Who Series 8 Episode 4 - Listen
Added 2023-11-18 15:00:06 +0000 UTC
Comments
I´m so glad to see that I´m not the only one seeing this. Thank you for sharing. I´m really afraid of the Youtube comments next week. But it helps knowing that it wasn´t all in my head. :) That Audio story sounds interesting, thanks for letting me know. Would be funny if that were River and Captain Jack :D Weeeeeeelllllll............. Ok I agree, 7.7, happy? :D
Nicologik
2023-11-28 12:24:15 +0000 UTC"The TARDIS isn't supposed to come this far but some idiot turned the safeguards off.", The Doctor, "Listen" I disagree with some of the fan/IMDB Stephen Moffat episode rating numbers, and this is one of those episodes. It does seem to be trying to show some profound concept but ultimately ends up being just shallow. It's not to say that I disagree with the ratings for all of Stephen's episodes. I like "The Girl in the Fireplace" more than you do - come on, David's Doctor has a horse! But some stories, like this one, just don't hit the mark for me. The idea that it is the same barn where the War Doctor will return to when he is afraid is a very nice story point - but it's the only thing that is profound for me in this episode. The Clara/Danny couple are very sweet as they stumble through their relationship as they keep saying stupid things to each other. There was a Big Finish audio story, that implies that the knocking at Orson's hatch in the far future was River and Captain Jack having a joke. That's more interesting to me than the rest of this actual episode. The figure on the bed, under the bedspread was played by Kiran Shah. He has played many parts over the years requiring a small person - most notably he was the scale double for Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings" films. For me, the story ends up just being too shallow. There a some quotes that are some mild references to some Classic Who episodes but that doesn't elevate this story. I think your 7.6 is a bit harsh though - it could be as high as 7.7, don't you think?
Andrew Vignaux
2023-11-23 08:09:49 +0000 UTCThanks for letting me know :)
Nicologik
2023-11-20 20:20:20 +0000 UTCI remember I reacted the same way about Clara when I first watched last episode.
Elvira Heredia
2023-11-20 18:22:28 +0000 UTCThank you for understanding :) That´s really kind of you :) The intro was really good, I loved that as well, and it really set the tone for the episode. Like I tried to say in my review, the visuals and audio and the acting was superb. But due to that fact and that includes the opening sequence, I thought that this episode would be really big and have a really deep message. And since, in my opinion that message wasn´t as big as I expected, it made the episode feel so strange in the end. Thank you for telling me all the things you love about the episode, it makes me see it from someone elses perspective. Maybe my expectations just were too high. Maybe if I rewatch it, it will change my perseption :) Thank you :)
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:55:07 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your thoughts about the episode. I´m glad I don´t feel alone with my opinion :) "He sets the bar very high and crushes it." That´s exactly how it felt to me. For me, fear isn´t a super power either. Since I have suffered from anxiety for years fear is one of the worst feelings one can have. I hate beeing afraid, I´ve had enough of that throughout the years. Maybe that´s the reason why I can´t really agree with the message of the episode. Although I think I know what he wanted to say. I was just waiting for a really big reveqal, since the episode made it seem as if that was what they wanted to do. Unfortunately that´s not what happened.
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:49:05 +0000 UTCThank you so much for understanding :) And also HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUU :) :) :) I´m sorry I´m a little late, but I hope it still counts :) I´m sorry you felt so low on your birthday, I hope you´re all better now :) Thank you so much for the clarifications :) Much needed for this episode :) I´m sorry you feel that way about Clara. I do understand where you´re coming from though. She had so much influence on the doctor before even we as New Who viewers knew him. Strange if you think about it. I´ve had those moments as well, where I woke up in the middle of the night. When that happens I can only fall asleep again when I turn on the TV :D
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:43:24 +0000 UTCI´m so sorry to hear that you are sick. I hope you will be ok soon again. :) Covid seems to be everywhere right now. :( I don´t know where my symptoms came from in my case, the next morning, when I woke up they were all gone. I really missed that time travel conversation, thank you so much for clarifying :) I didn´t miss the toy soldier scene, but I forgot to talk about in the review, thank you :) Wow your most favorite episode of Dr. Who? I´m so sorry it wasn´t an episode for me. But than again, it wouldn´t be the first change of mind, after rewatching an episode a few months later. I do really like the "Girl in the fireplace episode now", too :) Thank you so much for talking about the episode in your perspective, it makes me understand it better :) Don´t be sorry, I feel as it is needed especially with this one, because I felt so lost after watching it.
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:33:10 +0000 UTCThank you so much for understanding. :) I got the feeling that is was supposed to be deep. It felt like it from the way it way presented to us. Maybe that´s the reason why I was disappointed in the end. Cause the message wasn´t really that deep then. But maybe it´s like you say and I should just rewatch it, which I will do while editing it :) I´m sorry to hear that you were ill, I hope you´re all better now :)
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:08:27 +0000 UTCThank you for telling me that my rambling did make some kind of sense :D And also thank you for beeing so understanding :) I guess I´m just traumatized from comments of the "Girl in the fireplace"episode. :D
Nicologik
2023-11-19 19:05:32 +0000 UTCIt's ok. 8.8 means a big majority think it is an extremely strong episode, but everyone has their favorites. I don't like Midnight and Waters of Mars as much as most (they are both in the same range as Listen). Sometimes it is the day or mood that you are in, or just the episode didn't connect with you as it did with most of the other people. I think Listen is an incredible episode. For these reasons: - It's one of the best Doctor Who intros, which sets the atmosphere of mystery and unknown and this is gonna be a reflective episode on the Doctor. - The Danny-Clara dinner scene is intense, awkward and hilarious how they both mess it up constantly. - The timey-wimer stuff is perfect. We get to see the telepathic abilities of the TARDIS once more, the story closes perfectly wrapping up the mystery. - The fear is a superpower speech is one I love, and the entire scene of Clara-Danny as a kid- the Doctor- and the unknown monster is amazing in its execution. - Clara giving Orson Pink a soldier with a gun, and feeling the guilt of what happens to him is also a great moment. - They going to the end of the universe and the whole scene between the Doctor and Clara. It sets up a couple of the next episodes really well, and it shows you where their relationship is at the moment. - And the final scene is one of my favorites of New Who. Clara who knows all the Doctors gets to meet the Doctor as a kid (a kid who is thought to be really weak and scared) and gives the speech and the soldier with no gun. The acting is just superb, and getting in the fear of the Doctor in all his iterations is amazing.
Charlie H
2023-11-19 18:05:33 +0000 UTCFor me, this episode is a huge disappointment. He sets the bar very high and crushes it. Is fear a superpower? This doesn't work for me... I would just freeze from fear. I act best when I can't be scared... The fact that it has good parts doesn't make up for the fact that it talks about an unknown hidden being about which we know absolutely nothing (not even as much as in the great "Midnight" episode) P.S.: I don't appreciate it as much as YOU!
monguru (Rose Tyler fan)
2023-11-19 04:03:03 +0000 UTCThank you.
Jade Ellis
2023-11-18 23:11:08 +0000 UTCHappy birthday, Jade! 😀
Andrew Gwilliam
2023-11-18 20:03:32 +0000 UTCNever feel bad for how you feel about an episode. That's why we are watching, is for your honest reaction. And people can have different opinions. As I've mention I think series 8 is the worst series of new Who but for others it's the best. Also one of my favourite Doctors is considered the worst by a lot of people. Everyone is different nd has different tastes. So don't feel bad. also today is my birthday and I was feeling really low so it was great to have this to watch so thank you for posted this today. Clarifications. So yeah Danny Pink (formerly called Rupert) is the guy Clara is starting to date. Orson Pink is from 100 years in the future and is descended from Danny and its hinted also from Clara. He was one of the first human time travellers but the experiment went wrong and he ended up stuck at the end of the universe. The flashback to the War Doctor is to show this is why he chose this barn to go to with the Moment. But the whole scene is just to show it's Clara that starts this idea in the Doctor's head that he's talking about at the start of the episode. Also the line 'Fear makes companions of us all' is a line spoken by the first Doctor all the way back in the very first story. Ok I like this story. It's 4/5 and I rank it 59th/140. Love the first shot with the Doctor meditating on top of the Tardis and the bit in the barn is great although I do have an issue with how crowbarred in to the Doctor's history Clara is becoming. (We've already seen how sees' scattered throughout his timeline, how she is responsible for which Tardis the first Doctor steals and why he didn't use the moment. Now one of the great lines spoken by the Doctor also comes from her) I think this is where I started to go off Clara. I also like how the episode leaves things ambiguous. Was there something under the blanket or was it just another kid playing a trick? Was here something outside the airlock or did the Doctor just get knocked out by a flying piece of equipment? So the episode is really a piece about whether there is something really there or is it just the mind playing tricks. It's quite a scary story in a way because I have had those times where I've woken up thinking there is something in the room with me but decided it's not real even though my heart is racing.
Jade Ellis
2023-11-18 18:47:56 +0000 UTCWell firstly, your symptoms sound exactly like mine were yesterday and as I had an appointment I did a Covid test which was positive. But I guess you will know by now what your illness was as you will have recorded the reaction a day or two ago. On to the show. One fairly trivial thing that you missed was the Doctor telling Clara that Orson took part in a very early time travel test and should have just gone forward one week. But it went wrong and he ended up stranded in the very distant future. Orson also told Clara that he had been told that time travel was in his family history. A hint (not a statement, just a hint) that he is not just Danny's great grandson but maybe even hers too. I'm not sure if you missed the part where Clara leaves Rupert/Danny/Orson's toy soldier with the young Doctor as you were covering your eyes to avoid the eyeball close-up! Oh and I just remembered that you asked if you have to go to an academy to be a Timelord. The answer is yes. Not all natives of Gallifrey are Timelords. They mention this every now and then in Classic Who and also in the David Tennant episode The Sound of Drums. I suspect that the IMDB rating (being an average) is made up of some much higher and much lower ratings as there are a lot of people who love it and some who really don't. I'm one of those who does. In fact I sometimes say that this is my favourite episode of Doctor Who. It is at least the one I go back to and watch again most often. I think it is deliberately left open-ended and ambiguous. The "monster" under Rupert's blanket probably is just another kid playing a trick on him. The noises in the space ship probably are just its systems powering down for the night. The Doctor opening the exit door probably did just make the air rush out. But we don't absolutely know for certain. Seeing the War Doctor reminds us that it was Clara looking so appalled and disappointed that made the three doctors begin to change their minds and think of a better plan. The speech at the end makes simple point but I would say it's an important one. As it is intercut with other scenes of Clara, Danny, Orson and the Doctor it kind of brings the plot strands together. The Clara/Danny relationship, Orson wanting to get back to his home and the Doctor realising that perhaps he was scared of nothing after all. Sorry for being so long winded
Stephen Males
2023-11-18 17:17:52 +0000 UTCYou shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. If you are not very well it will have an effect on your concentration. I love this episode so much, but I’m sure I watched it a couple of times before I really got it. It is very deep, and Clara’s potential relationship with Danny Pink is important. You will only understand this as the series continues. One thing I would like to say, is that Clara’s familiarity with the doctors timeline is not unusual if you remember, in The name of of the doctor she was scattered through out his whole timeline. The episode is very atmospheric, and Peter Capaldi as usual gives a great performance, as do Jenna Coleman and Sam Anderson (Danny) If I were you I would watch the episode again when you feel better. I’m sorry your throat is bad, during my recent illness my throat hurt, and I felt rotten. So you have my sympathy. xx
Jenny Smyth
2023-11-18 16:45:40 +0000 UTCI get what you mean. This episode is a bit of a hit or miss depending on who you ask. I really love some parts of this, and I feel like some parts were a bit strange somehow. This happens sometimes with every show though I guess. As for the IMDB rating, I feel like it’s a bit high. You really shouldn’t feel bad, you can have different opinions, and I agree with you as well. I think people tend to rate it higher since it delves a bit into the doctors past, showing a bit of the 50th and so on. That’s my take atleast! Thanks for the reaction :)
Rasmus Martinsson
2023-11-18 16:23:26 +0000 UTC
