Spyfall: Part One

The question on most fans lips, would the show get back to a place where it United fans, rather than divided them. Could this two part, Bond inspired caper win some fans back?

The beginning felt like a carbon copy of Resolution, I'd argue that was perhaps not such a bad thing.

Stephen Fry's mistaking Graham for The Doctor... a minor irritation for many I would imagine.

The visuals, fantastic, I wonder how much of the series budget went in this episode? It looked terrific, very lavish, with fantastic location work and great CGI.

I loved the alien threat, the best thing about this story, they were menacing, sinister, and looked really rather good. The fact that this is a two part story has allowed them time to develop.

Jodie..... I'm still not sure she's had a script with moments to give her that scene that defines her character. That moment wasn't here, her appearance was hugely improved by the evening dress though. Lenny Henry was excellent. Loved Sacha Dhawan.

Overall, they threw the kitchen sink at us, they perhaps offered up too much, car chases, aeroplane getaways etc, they kept the knockout punch til the end, I was not expecting such a big revelation here, loved it though. All in all though, I really liked it. 7/10

It may have felt slightly unsatisfying but that is to be expected from a 'Part 1'. Much better writing and performances, i just hope part 2 expands on the monsters and doesn't step over the boundary of unbelievably. Like how many times was the front of their motorcycles shot, it's like he was aiming. Anyway, i'm nit-picking, a much brighter future for doctor who lies ahead (i hope)

A well-rounded return with a surprise twist! Not perfect by any means, but it is the opener and the storylines are still playing out.

There's some mystery, it's an actual two parter, it has a villain. It's action centric because it uses a spy premise.

The tone is still inconsistent, the jokes are not only sort of out of place, but still not all that funny. Said villain seems like an odd pick, doesn't strike one as particularly menancing, yet (well it's a two parter).

Honestly it's better than s11, which tried to subvert all the things fans love about Dr who (no established aliens or villains, lots of preaching moral tales), in that it's TRYING to be exciting, adventurous, but it still can't help but trip over it's own shoelaces.

If only Chibnall could hire more experienced science fiction writers.

Well the last episode of Doctor Who I saw was a rewatch. The Time of the Rani: Part 4.

What a contrast. This was a cinematic epic with South Africa standing in for Australia, Ivory Coast and California.

It was more than being just a James Bond pasiche. Spies are incapacitated and their DNA are being re-written. The Doctor is called into action by C. As in the Bond movie Spectre, C stands for Careless, he gets shot dead.

Writer Chris Chibnall has a go at tech companies that love to capture private data. The alien menace seemed to be more Torchwood inspired. The cliffhanger reveals the real spymaster and maybe there is a nod to the film, The Matrix.

Chibnall still likes exposition in his dialogue but it might be we are used to the Moffat era where it was all explained away as being timey-wimey.