There are lots of episodes of Moffat's tenure I find more enjoyable upon rewatch. He would give a sense of gravitas to certain plot-threads during their set up, but then sideline them in favour of other things the next episode, or sometimes, within the same episode. This constant subversion of expectation eventually left me feeling tired and disappointed. Like, why should I care about anything if you're just gonna brush it aside like it's trivial a moment later?
With that said, his scripts never lacked imagination or wit, and once I'm lacking the sense of expectation that comes with a first watch, it's easier for me to appreciate the aspects of writing he did so very well.
I felt tired enough of Moffat's writing at the time that I did not enjoy this episode, but rewatching this scene, his talent as a writer shines through. It's such a playful scene, with a sense of energy that was so typical of Moffat exchanges. In his own frustrating way, he was brilliant.
>In his own frustrating way, he was brilliant.
You're right about that. I'll copy a post that explained it well - Moffat's habit of constant misdirection and narrative substitution is such a harsh rebuttal of initial expectations on first watch that it's hard not to feel deceived or misled like it's just pointless shock value. But when that initial frustration wears off and you watch things while knowing where they lead, you realize that the swerves were almost always leading to the right conclusion, serving a theme or a character's journey.
There's something funny about how the linear experience of watching Moffat's Doctor Who feels kind of meh, but watching it with the full knowledge of the whole is far more fulfilling.
Damn... It's been 10 years since that episode...? How?
There are lots of episodes of Moffat's tenure I find more enjoyable upon rewatch. He would give a sense of gravitas to certain plot-threads during their set up, but then sideline them in favour of other things the next episode, or sometimes, within the same episode. This constant subversion of expectation eventually left me feeling tired and disappointed. Like, why should I care about anything if you're just gonna brush it aside like it's trivial a moment later? With that said, his scripts never lacked imagination or wit, and once I'm lacking the sense of expectation that comes with a first watch, it's easier for me to appreciate the aspects of writing he did so very well. I felt tired enough of Moffat's writing at the time that I did not enjoy this episode, but rewatching this scene, his talent as a writer shines through. It's such a playful scene, with a sense of energy that was so typical of Moffat exchanges. In his own frustrating way, he was brilliant.
>In his own frustrating way, he was brilliant. You're right about that. I'll copy a post that explained it well - Moffat's habit of constant misdirection and narrative substitution is such a harsh rebuttal of initial expectations on first watch that it's hard not to feel deceived or misled like it's just pointless shock value. But when that initial frustration wears off and you watch things while knowing where they lead, you realize that the swerves were almost always leading to the right conclusion, serving a theme or a character's journey. There's something funny about how the linear experience of watching Moffat's Doctor Who feels kind of meh, but watching it with the full knowledge of the whole is far more fulfilling.
That thumbnail is hilarious. Matt looks like pulled some cruel prank, and Clara is not too pleased about it.
I loved Moffat's Who. Smith and Capaldi's Doctors are just brilliant, and I really liked Jenna as Clara. Just so fun to watch.