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I really liked this video, first time I found you; please if you can invest a bit in camera and mic so it is more clear - I really love your explanation on this episode and my view I think its indeed one of the best episodes in a long time
You are very kind. We have come a way with our equipment since beginning the channel but hopefully with more viewership and engagement we will constantly be able to improve
I have no problems with the unanswered questions they just add to the mystery.When the Doctor broke the farie circle it released Mad Jack. The Doctor was spirited away whilst Ruby having read the notes was “cursed” to live her whole life alone and abandoned except for her Watcher (to coin a phrase) . Together they would defeat Mad Jack and save the world - the Doctor doesn’t mention nuclear at the end. But Ruby had to live her life before the two came back together as Ruby dies (you hear the monitor flatline) Old Ruby returns the the point everything changed , apologises for taking so long and whispers ”don't step” to stop the circle breaking and time restarts. The point you make about the stadium scene - I may be wrong but to me Ruby is measuring how far she is away from the Prime Minister to ensure Old Ruby is seen next to him. Great atmospheric unnerving episode which will join the small list of stories (including Warriors Gate, Kinda, Ghost Light, Listen and Heaven Sent) where all you can say is I Don’t know what the ¤¤¤¤ is going on but I love it. And what a revelation Millie Gibson is. How could she be so good in her first story. That must have been so daunting For her and no Ncuti around to support. Ruby looked fantastic at 40 and seemed more grown up and knowing what she had to do, Maybe it was not having stress of family and friends around, Botox or some other futuristic aid for appearance? It’s my only niggle that it takes more than a wig, glasses and clothing to make her appear 40. So obvious so why didn’t they? Was it deliberate? Lovely To see Sian Phillips and I wish her character had more to do with the creation of the circle. 10/10 for me. This season keeps getting better.
I think the implication of her saying 3 times in the end is that this story isn't a separate timeline, but it is in-fact some kinda recursive timeline where Ruby has an echo of this lifetime, but the future with Roger Ap Gwilliam is still resolved through the echo, whether it's directly with an alternate Ruby living her life as we saw, or whether it's less directly but with the Woman still having some impact on Roger to make him resign and not be a threat. Well, at least assuming that Roger's no longer a threat as a result of this episode, although it may be he returns in the future but the impression I've got rn is he isn't likely to come back
On the field she’s within 60 yards of roger btw not the woman, like you said she’s measuring her distance to roger to be 73 yards so the woman appears next to him.
Thanks for this, I went and rewatched that big and I got confused when they do the shot where it looks like the stadium is spinning around Ruby as she walked, it disoriented me a little haha
Very clever. Right up there with other great doctor light episodes like blink and midnight. Watching at 9am ( Australia ) was perhaps not as atmospheric as experiencing it at midnight, but it was great. I've rewatched already and it's even better
As a huge fan of Donnie Darko, I was very much reminded of that film in this episode, and really loved how the alternate timeline exists to save the world from nuclear war and simultaneously reunite Ruby with The Doctor. Perhaps the most unique Doctor Who episode ever, and now one of my all time favourites. Just brilliant!
My guess to explain some of the things happening is: When she was "cursed" jumped to a timeline that couldn't exist, the Doctor probably was doing his best to maintain the timeline from desapering, off camara. Since she red two papers, she had too fullfil the two conditions in order to excape. -The first was about the politician. -The second was about "nice dead". For some reason she turned into a "ghost" got stuck at 73 yards of a version of her self from the past. (I have no idea why maybe have to do with s loval legend) At first she try to cooperate with the version of her self that could move "freely" but without knowing what to do, she couldn't do something and that for some reason she couldn't speak directly with her made things worst. She was also worried for the doctor vanishing. She tried her best to do all she could even when she could feel the weather but couldn't do anything to improve her situation unless the "free self" would move her to a better place. She didn't needed food, even if had hinger and she notice that she was unable to die. Many years later her "free self" died of old age, and she was send back where it all started. After many, many cicles. She resented and hated her "free self" for being stuck with her and forgetting everything every time she died. She was a prisoner of her "free self". She decided that in this timeline she will definitely try to make her the most miserable possible, whats the worst it could happen? Restart again? At least she will vent in this circle and see what to do in the next. -- The episode starts -- The "free self" does exactly what she always have done and since she has knowledge of all the people she interacs she knows exactly what to say in order to make them sick of her in just some seconds. For example she probably she said something to her mother that her "free self" is not her true self but some sort of time monster that made her her prisoner and she has to stay away from her but that if she killed her she won't be free because that didn't helped in the past and UNIT something similar adding that she is the reason the Doctor abandoned earth. About the polititian maybe she was yerk only because this idiot will couse a nuclear war. Many years pass and her "free self" seems to had given up but somthing is different in the way she acted, like more calm for some reason. One day she noticed she could move so she moved to the current version of her "free self" the one she tormented. After seeing her died in peace she apologize and died and got deleted from existence. The "Free self" turned into the new "ghost" but since she was at peace fulfilled the second condition and broke the circle. Part of her merged with the new self. This "comment" turned into a mini fanfiction, thak you for reading.
Neat and tidy? This was like a more nonsensical version of Turn Left. Which, I mean, I love Turn Left, but part of what made it so great is that we've already seen how things were supposed to go in the first place, making it easier to grasp what went wrong in the alternate timeline and what Donna had to do in order to fix it. In 73 Yards, not only was the thing initiating the alternate timeline in the first place was basically "magic"; but, we also don't really get any explanation of what's actually supposed to happen. It just leaves us having to guess too much, which is a problem RTD's resolutions often have sadly. I loved the vibe of the episode, you're right that the set-up was great and the twist of Ruby being The Woman was cool, I just wish there was a better explanation for how she went about "fixing" the timeline, what actually went on after she did, or why people ran away from her older-self in the first place. I mean, if Ruby was the one to stop the Roger ap Gwylliam, what happens in the new restored timeline where she doesn't? I would say that maybe stepping on the shrine was the thing that made him become Prime Minister in the first place (releasing "Mad Jack"), but then, the Doctor was talking about him almost causing Nuclear war BEFORE ever stepping on the shrine. Is it just because he's the Doctor and could somehow sense the aborted timeline? Unlike the well-thought out writing of Turn Left, we never got any explanation of how older-Ruby even went back in time to become The Woman in the first place, or how and why she was able to teleport/keep exactly 73 yards away? Also, what could she possibly say to cause so many people to run away from her? I can MAYBE buy UNIT stepping back once they realise she's older Ruby, cause they don't want to mess with the timeline.. But, what made her own Mum run and turn on her? Or caused perfect strangers to run away screaming? Oh and also, what even caused the Doctor to disappear? That wasn't explained at all as far as I can tell. I think the main thing I agree with you about, is Millie's acting. She was amazing and carried the Doctor-light episode well. I sadly do feel like the hanging questions ruined it for me much more than you described.
@GallifreyanGunner Lol I did change a few sentences to address more specific points in every review I've watched, but I mean, it is 6am where I live, so yeah, I don't have the energy or focus to re-write my thoughts completely in every comment section. I still like to leave a comment to improve traffic and add my 2 cents, esp when it's reviews from smaller contant creators who benefit from the engagement. Plus, I really do want to hear other people's thoughts on these questions that the episode left open, and I know that not everyone watches every review/reads every comment like I do. Sorry if it bothers you tho.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and interact! It really is important for us as you have said and I really appreciate it! You raise a lot of valid points. I agree that there are things intentionally missing. Like what could the woman have possibly said? How she could always manifest at 73 yards? But to me, this is not needed to know and adds to the mystery and theorising that people would to after. To me it would break the suspense of the episode by giving an explanation of all these things. Even more so considering that you are right, it is supposed to be a form of Magic that causes all this! RTD said there was more of this kind of story coming after the thing with the Salt and I liked the parallel of the barrier at the edge of the universe with the barrier where the land meets the sea. It totally depends on the person if you are ok with these magic elements in Doctor Who or not. But part of the best thing to me is discussing respectfully with other fans exactly things like this in the episodes! So once again I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and interact, I hope to see you for future videos!
@SkybotFilm That's totally fair, and thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment :) While I do agree that more mystical elements have been established for this season, I still feel like there's a way to use them while still sticking to some internal-logic. Just as there is a way to keep some elements mysterious, without leaving too much up for interpretation. I think Midnight was a great example of RTD using an unknown monster in order to enhance the mystery.. But here, while I can understand not letting us hear The Woman to keep that aspect a mystery and make her more creepy, I just felt like there were too many other unknowns for one episode, and the fact that the main twist at the end didn't really line up with everything that happened prior, def didn't help. I just felt like there were too many gaps and inconsistencies, which made the episode confusing. And yeah, I might be overthinking it haha.. But I do love to theorise about the show, and as I've said there's still many things I enjoyed about the episode as well - I'm really not trying to hate on it, I just wish the final twist/resolution was better explained; even if only by adding one final scene where the Doctor explains things to Ruby, kinda like we had with 10 and Donna back at the ending of Turn Left.
The plot was interesting. It ends with too many unanswered questions the ending felt very unsatisfying!!! What did she say that caused everyone to run? Why 73 yards? What was she signing? There seemed to be methodical rules that were never explained!! Could a time "echo"?, Burp resolve any future threat in this manner? Did we learn anything to further Ruby's place in the Whoverse!! Were/Are there any consequences moving the story forward!! Other than being an interesting thought experiment, was there a point to this episode!?
A lot of these questions left to the imagination and to theorise, I really want to know the meaning of the signing, I can’t wait to see what theory’s people come up with!
Wonderful fairy episode! Reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House. She haunted herself because that was the price she paid for violating the circle, as the Doctor disappeared for breaking it.
Thanks for the review! I appreciate you staying up so late to watch and review, considering I get to see it at 4 pm in California. ❤ I think this may be an episode where we go back to it after the season is over and, on rewatching, realize "Oh, that's what that (thing we didn't understand) meant!"
Theres one thing I'm gonna say about this episode: The Welsh are NOT that unfriendly or unwelcoming. I really didn't like those people in that pub. Us Welsh are abit more hospitable than that👍🙂💙
I said exactly the same! It goes well for the creepy feel, but to be honest there’s few people I’ve met in Wales who would act like the people in the pub really
I think RTD was taking the Mickey out of all those city folk who think people in the country are backward, uneducated, and superstitious. The bartender with the 'paying with your phone'? And...then charging five quid for a Coke... And the entire pub joined in on pulling Ruby's leg with the supernatural scary stories until the knock at the door was finally answered and everyone had a good laugh. Russell is Welsh and I think he was just having some fun with stereotypes people have.
@@SkybotsDTales the entity was ruby going backwards in time so judging by the length it was probably telling people to avoid a time paradox by running away from ruby, but then there’s mad Jack and Kate, what got rid of them, couldn’t be that
I think part of the suspense is exactly that unknowing, there could be an attempt to give a rational explanation but then it would remove some of the mystery
The fairy circle is a fixed time event and loophole. Its an EVENT in time, which manifested itself physically in order to happen in the first place. Not that hard to understand. Its an event lived, but equally not lived.
@@SkybotsDTales it's how I understand it. I'm just hoping I never see a fairy circle...it will either mean I'm about to be part of the events it represents or....spookily...ALREADY HAVE😱...all at the same time.
It seemed a beautiful story of her haunting herself. They broke the fairy circle, allowing in Mad Jack. The cost was the Doctor until she could right the wrong. She then had to wait until her death to embrace her shadow self which was imbued with the spirit of those who created the circle. The powers of the old ones who did the original casting merged with her, allowing her to save herself. Lovely
Yes, initially the woman appeared only after breaking the circle, by which point it was too late. Then it seemed that Ruby had to live a full life to get the chance to again at the right time since it was specifically older Ruby who is appearing all throughout
If matt Smith return to doctor who which companion Will return to doctor who as well?Karen gillian or jenna Coleman just like they did with David tennant/ Katherine tate?
@@SkybotsDTales wither way, I wish we could have heard what she said at the end. I guess the mystery in our heads would always be more powerful than if they had told us. Kind of like not fully showing the shark in most of Jaws was more powerful. My daughter thought it looked like ASL
Yeah I thought it was some kind of message! Watching Doctor Who Unleashed was more clear that it was a set of movements that had simple meanings but looked creepy from that distance
It was like a David Lynch movie. I had no idea what was going on. I guess some of this stuff might come back... And maybe it won't. I loved it anyway. Very very very Lynchian.
I’m sorry but this episode was just confusing to me. The pacing is so off I mean one minute we are dealing with this supernatural mystery story but then we jump to a political story and then we go to a time travel it was her all along conclusion like what?
To me it seemed like whoever or whatever Mad Jack was manifested itself into Roger ap Gwiliam and then wanted to used his position to cause chaos. I think that the being that had been trapped in the circle was very much linked to the character of Gwiliam
This is a big part of the mystery! The way that every one who gets near always looked back towards Ruby tells me that perhaps they could make some sort of connection. But as to what was said It seems like a Birdbox like thing where we will never know what caused that reaction
Even though RTD couldn't resist a little bit of political and sexuality messaging it was actually good. However, it exposed a problem with this iteration of the show that I don't think can be fixed and that is that the spell was broken when Ncuti Gatwa was on the screen. This isn't the first time this has happened.
@@SkybotsDTales What I mean is there was a created world in which a compelling narrative was unfolding. For that to work in a book, film or show the viewer needs to become immersed or be put under a spell and it largely achieved that. When Gatwa's Doctor returned on-screen he was so distracting and jarring that the spell was broken. The episode ended with the tone wrong because of him. I think this episode didn't need this particular Doctor, at all, after the initial setup. The episode had its flaws but it was good and Gatwa's Doctor was one of them, not because he's bad but he shouldn't have been there with his characterisation.
I see what you mean, but for me a lot of the story is about Ruby finding the Doctor after being almost left behind. To me it made sense that he came back in the end and in this case with a newfound respect for the fairy circle
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