BBC fan panel response for Away + rewatch comments

[grassangel]

There is, hilariously, nothing about what people liked about the Witchfinders in the email, but they did have a newsletter which had the following gems:

Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor has been warmly received in the title role. Graham is also highly rated, being named by one viewer as “the standout character of this season”. Viewers are generally enjoying the mix of both historical and futuristic storylines across episodes. The historic third episode Rosa has been described as “a stunning and emotional glimpse into the past…it was beautiful television”.

Plus they apologised a little about the repetition in the Doctor Who surveys, though they tried to spin it as consistency, and how the almost real time feedback helps them understand the performance of the series.

(Though since I keep track... the first three had questions about the core cast and Whittaker as the Doctor, but not the rest.)

Anyway, while I do love snarking about their methods, it does start in the usual way: did I watch it, how do I rate it (9) and free comment.

One of the best stories this series that isn't a historical and one of the most solid in terms of the Doctor's character. My initial reaction wasn't enthusiastic due to reading some hyperbolic spoiler-free reviews which the episode didn't quite live up to. But I loved the concept of the Solitract, and I love how the Doctor wanted to be friends with it. The entire scene where the Doctor explained the Solitract and how it used to feature in the bedtime stories told by their grandmother was my favourite. The Doctor's desire to learn more about the Solitract, just like it wanted to learn more about the universe, was almost too subtle though - I would have gladly given up the Ribbons sub-plot to spend more time with the Solitract and even have the Doctor pick up the frog. Also a very strong episode for Graham and Ryan. Ryan got to grow up a little, and Graham got to move on from Grace a little too, while we got to learn a little more about him.

I think, on rewatch, I figured out the exact point that the Doctor fell in love with the Solitract. When she was explaining it to Yaz and how they must be on its plane. I loved that whole sequence before, but ooof, I do wish some of that time with Ribbons could’ve been removed to show more of the Doctor’s fascination (and love) for the Solitract. We had 9 minutes with Ribbon. And I think half of them could’ve done away with if he didn’t exist, the balloons just grew out of the rocks, and Graham simply had another sandwich.

More of that gradual building of love happens again when the Doctor realises what the Solitract wants, though I think there should’ve been a continuation of the ‘kid with nuclear chicken pox’ metaphor. It’s not obvious though. And really not obvious when the Doctor comments on how she’s left everyone behind and she’ll miss them RIGHT before trying to convince the Solitract she’s its friend. (And I still want the Doctor to have picked up the frog.)

Enough chatter about how much the Doctor loves the Solitract though. Ratings out of ten!

Shareable (stories I want to share & discuss), Warm, Gripping, Funny, Easy enough to follow, For people like me, For all the family, Emotional, Charming, Adventurous, Scary, Topical (covers topics and themes I care about), Fresh
Tight cluster, with the four bolded the ones I ranked highest.

Monsters/Villains, The core cast (The Doctor, Ryan, Yasmin & Graham), The location: Norway, The other characters, The storyline
Core cast and storyline won, because I didn’t like Ribbons whilst I did like the Solitract, and setting says Norway but I found the Solitract-verse far more interesting

The Doctor, Ryan, Yasmin, Graham, Hanne, Erik, Ribbons, Flesh Moths, The Solitract
I get to share my full displeasure of Ribbons here. Which means there is definitely a spread, since the Solitract and the Doctor both get a ten.

Words! Wonderful is the only word that works for the Doctor, mature for Ryan, steadfast for Yasmin, wistful for Graham, courageous for Hanne, neglectful for Erik, useless for Ribbons, fuzzy for the Flesh Moths, interesting for the Solitract

Oooh! Back again with what I thought about the team’s relationship with each other.

Overall I feel that the relationship and development of that relationship between the Doctor and her crew doesn't feel like it's where it should be for where the series is. I desperately want to know more about these characters and how they interact with each other. The Doctor's characterisation still feels a little ambiguous and her relationship with the team still feels stand-offish. Yasmin feels like she's had the least opportunity for character development and development of relationship with the rest of the core cast. She mostly seems to be there for the Doctor to explain at. I am loving the subtle way the friendship between Ryan and the Doctor has grown, but it's very subtle and I wish it were more obvious. The evolution of his relationship with Graham is much more pronounced and made all the more affecting for it. Graham's been given the most room to grow as character and to develop a relationship with Ryan, though he hasn't had nearly the same opportunity with his relationship with the Doctor.

I mean, my anti companion-shipping slightly colours my opinion of Yaz, but literally all we know is she’s there to explore the universe and maybe find out more about her family. Same could be said of Ryan really, but at least he has his relationship with Graham developing.

More of the usual stuff, what Doctor Who have I seen, do I want more surveys and free comments!

I loved the Doctor in this episode. It was one of the best in terms of the Doctor's characterisation. The right amount of curious and wondrous mixed in with determination and purpose. There was a tiny glimpse into the Doctor's past, and she showed a bit of steel trying to convince Graham and Erik to reject the Solitract. I could've done without the weird sheep line and Ribbons, all for more of that characterisation. Especially with the Solitract as a frog. I really wanted more physicality and commitment, which I think a couple more minutes could've given. (I was basically waiting for the Doctor to pick up the Solitract's frog-form to demonstrate her affection for it and to demonstrate how you need to let things you love go, sometimes literally.)

Oh gosh, I do love that steely ‘she’s furniture with a pulse’ line. And there’s some neat parallels between Graham’s line about being lured and the way the Solitract used Grace to lure him. Though... he needed two instances of Grace not wanting to immediately help Ryan to convince him? (He looked ready to leave her the first time.)

There’s a frog in the background soundtrack when they’re saying good bye to Hanne! (Though there’s a continuity error when Ryan calls Graham grandad. He’s not facing the right way in a cut and it’s a bit distracting once you know it’s there.)