311: Utopia

311: Utopia

Quick reminder to EVERYONE that has managed to get a copy, see an original airing or found some way to watch any season 3 eps BEFORE they air on SciFi...be very careful in your comments not to spoil anything for those just seeing them.*








*Yes that included me, hard not to mix up some events, especially in the last two eps.

FINALLY!! We went through an entire season of Torchwood without any answers and finally we have some. I don't know if anybody else liked the explanation for Jack's back story, the resolution of what the hand was for, or anything else Jack related, but I enjoyed it immensely.

We did have to endure another moment of Rose envy from Martha, something I thought we were getting away from, but it was Jack mainly reliving it so that made it alright in the end.

I think as far as moments of great sharing about himself and getting to see the Doctor with his guard down, this ep had one of the highlights of the season. The ending for Gridlock was nice, but the exchange between him and Jack while trying to stop the nuclear meltdown was both well written and then played out.

Enough Jack, what about one of the best reveals in a while? The moment of realization for the Doctor about how he really wasn't alone, and that only one time lord could have or would have hidden from him. The timing of his realization with the Master's release from the watch was the perfect tension builder. Derek Jacobi deserves an award for his performance, especially once he turned from Yana to the Master. Certainly wouldn't want that evil old man on my bad side. As for the new Master, I liked the continuity of his regeneration looking just like the Doctor's. And that's more than enough commentary, except to say great cliffhanger ending.

It was a fanastic episode! i love Derek Jacobi as the Master and John Simm was so fanastic in the last few moments. Can't wait until TSOD!!

Is there an explanation somewhere of how The Master was released from The Eye of Harmony? Otherwise, I do want the watch, the figures, and to see it again!

amagon wrote:

Is there an explanation somewhere of how The Master was released from The Eye of Harmony? Otherwise, I do want the watch, the figures, and to see it again!

In keeping myself within the limits of my own reminder I will simply say that they do actually give a nod to the 8th doctor movie and explain this. Sorry if that's too vague, but it's hard to give even that answer without feeling like it's a spoiler.

gregtdj wrote:

amagon wrote:

Is there an explanation somewhere of how The Master was released from The Eye of Harmony? Otherwise, I do want the watch, the figures, and to see it again!

In keeping myself within the limits of my own reminder I will simply say that they do actually give a nod to the 8th doctor movie and explain this. Sorry if that's too vague, but it's hard to give even that answer without feeling like it's a spoiler.

Are you referring to next week's episode? Yet, I do love a spoiler! Giggity, giggity. Giggity, goo.

I haven't seen the next ep but your right this has whetted my appetite for more. I thought this ep was dare I say masterfully executed? Things are being explained. The hand and Jack invincibilty were obvious anyhow, the fact that he had to sit around for a hundred or so years was interesting. I like the interaction between Jack and the Doctor, and how their relationship has been slightly altered due to Jack's-post rose condition. And seriously
Y--A--N--A, that was just totally frigging brilliant!

I thought it was quite dumb that Jack had been waiting around since 1869 to meet the Doctor, especially since that's when The Unquiet Dead happens. His contacts with Torchwood and possibly UNIT could've informed him when the blue box was around. Since he was stalking Rose, he could've shagged Jackie while waiting for her to pop back in.
Why do people have guns if they're not even going to shoot to maim?
The Doctor had his motor nicked in back to back episodes!
This episode partly redeemed the Khamelionator watch plot device. (My friends and I seem to be the only people who dislike that 2-parter. It must have a perception filter.) I hope the Master explanation has some semblance of continuity.
Derek Jacobi was awesome.

If you liked Utopia try picking up the book Calling the Shots with Graeme Harper...it is a surprisingly fun read. Great insights on his directing style and what makes the big monster of a show like Doctor Who tick. Loads of fun snippets about the filming of Utopia, 42, and the Series 2 cyberman trilogies.

Am I the only one who felt the whole Utopia/Master Returns trilogy was a bit of a let-down?

I thought the last few minutes in "Last of the Timelords" was good, but I felt the Master was acted so Over The Top, it just didn't seem realistic. I like the more subtle, calculating Master of the past. If you wanted to update him, make him a bit more like Lex Luthor from Smallville (except with hair, of course)...calculating, scheming, always seeming like such a nice, selfless individual on the surface, but always with alterior motives that are purely diabolical (but completely logical, and perhaps even "noble" in an Alexander the Great sort of way). This just felt a bit silly.

Oh well, my 2 cents...
Keith Bradbury

I thought that the last of the timelords stunk, oh well. the unlikly resolution that all seasons of Doctor Who end with was praticularly bad. the other two episodes in the trilogy were really good. oh well. :master:

Sometimes we all go a little mad....

Based on his past I think I like the more wild Master as opposed to the superior smug and calculating. However the characterization seemed to be in too much competion with the doctor's personality which can be good and bad.

I see your 2 cents and add my own.

I agree about the Last of the Time Lords... 1. Utopia and the 2. Sound of Drums...both great old time cliff hangers...3.Then the eewoks came in...sorry wrong 3 parter.

at least they were ewoks and not jar jars!

fair point Lake Erie...I pretend that Jar Jar never existed. Just like the Tinkerbell Doctor seqeunce of the Last of the Time Lords.

If you watch the 3-parter back to back you can tell they weren't all planned out ahead of time. When Martha tells Doc "remember what the Face of Boe said" in this one, Jack has absolutely no reaction to this line. In the last part, Jack announces that he is the Face of Boe. Shouldn't he have been all "WHOA! I'm the Face of Boe! When did I tell you you weren't alone? I never said that!"

that is a real good point evil- continuity miss fire

The first two parts were excellent stories.
Sadly, as is most often the case, the finale sucked!

I loved the episode.

You and me both.

I go back and watch this one sooooo many times. Derek Jacobi was beyond AWESOME. The whole sequence from when Martha tells the Doc that Yana has the same watch still gives me shivers.