Can You Hear Me?

While the bad guys were great, unfortunately they were the second act of the episode.

We once again saw a preachy episode this time about mental health.

It had very good moments, when the doctor talked about what mankind was, that almost gave me chills.

But most of the episode was a bore. Half the episode was spend on the personal lives of the companions.

A shame, the setup of this episode was really promising. If they had put more focus on making a good story, rather than preaching, this could have been an 8 or even a 9.

But with this execution, I cannot give it any higher than a 4.

For an episode which began with SUCH promise, it's a tremendous shame that "Can You Hear Me?" suffers from one of the most rushed, pitiful, underdeveloped resolutions seen on the show since Series 7's "The Power of Three" in 2012 (in case anyone's forgotten THAT magic wand / sonic screwdriver ending - also coincidentally written by co-writer Chris Chibnall).

However, the story's not without its moments & we're treated to a number of genuinely great sequences which aid in providing some much needed character development for our main companions, finally fleshing out their backstories - making them seem less painfully two-dimensional.

Hence, though certainly not perfect, this week's installment does have some appeal - though its inconsistencies somewhat mire the overall viewing experience as it struggles to strike a healthy balance between the two: character / plot.

To be honest, I really like the character development in this episode. For the first time, I can understand the companions as unique individuals with feelings and desires - instead of just some Earth hitchhikers who willingly follows Doctor all the time. I'm deeply moved by the story of Yaz.

Doctor's character is also cute - the "socially awkward" part is a bit contradictory to her outgoing personality, but it works well for me because it reminds me of Peter Capaldi. Jodie's performance is great as always.

However, the sci-fi story SUCKS! The entire story is explained in a five-minute cartoon (the cartoon is cute and creative though) and the crisis is solved also in five minutes - can you find a more perfunctory DW story in the new era?????? (I haven't watched all Classic Who episodes, but I doubt if there are worse stories) I hope Chibnall let someone write sci-fi parts olease!

If I can rate things separately, I'll rate the character development as 8/10 and the sci-fi part as 1/10.

A cunning pair of gods or immortals, play games with the mind and its portals, sticking fingers in pies, any orifice they prise, you'd cry if it didn't make you chortle.

Graham talking about his fear of cancer and the doctor as a healer is just responding awkwardly.

In these moments the real character of a person is shown and if this is the character of this doctor it's Just a horrible doctor.

The writing of this new incarnation is underwhelming and makes me think that Chris Chapnell never understood what the Doctor stands for.