Doctor Who: Space Babies and The Devil’s Chord – season one opening recap

Finally, we get to witness the anticipated grand and daring overhaul that was promised back in May 2022 after Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the new Doctor. There were many deliberate similarities to the last time Russell T Davies rebooted Doctor Who, and not just in the purposeful recap of the show's premise that comprised a significant portion of Space Babies. We were also treated to a time-traveling conversation with a mother, a monster created from mucus, and a spaceship fueled by the collective methane of a group of space diapers. These elements brought to mind the belching trash can and flatulent Slitheen from the 2005 revival.

The Space Babies show expressed its political views openly. It included topics such as the controversial subject of abortion in the United States, the issue of immigration and asylum seekers, and portrayed the destruction of the Time Lords, along with Gallifrey, as a tragic act of genocide.

The Whoniverse is not being completely reset, as they made a reference to the events from An Unearthly Child in 1963. However, it's difficult to imagine Jon Pertwee saying "most of the universe is knackered, babes". Some fans who feared that Who would become more like Disney might not have been comforted by the appearance of babies that talk and a musical number with celebrities from Strictly Come Dancing.

Many people on the internet found amusement in the poor casting choice for The Devil's Chord, which did not accurately resemble the Fab Four. However, it turns out that they were not the main focus of the show and the story was set in an alternate timeline. This resulted in a mix of accuracy and inaccuracies, such as the Doctor correctly pointing out that Abbey Road studio did not yet have that name in 1963, but also choosing to dress "John Lennon" in his trademark circular glasses, which he did not wear at that time.

The task that both BBC and Disney are facing is to maintain the loyalty of their current fan base while also attracting a brand-new audience of families in an age where only high-budget international drama franchises seem to achieve financial success. Trying to capture the interest of all different age groups can be quite a challenge. Although the concept of talking babies may seem ridiculous, it must have been difficult for any real parent not to feel emotionally connected to the babies' distress at being left behind.

Can You Summarize It In 45 Characters?

The show featured two episodes: one with Doctor Who meeting Aliens, but with adorably cute babies in it. The other episode took place in the sixties, but with a noticeable lack of any swinging.

Living On The Tardis Ship

In Space Babies, cuteness surpassed any scary elements, although the Bogeyman was a decent yet minor monster featured in the episode. There was a brief moment that made one wonder if the creators would really begin eliminating the babies.

In the blog post, it is explained that Jinkx Monsoon's portrayal of Maestro in The Devil's Chord was an enjoyable and over-the-top performance that would have pleased the producer of 1980s Doctor Who, John Nathan-Turner. The article suggests that some young students may now view the piano with skepticism after watching the show. However, the real antagonist in the production were the songs presented to "the Beatles", "Cilla Black", and the orchestra.

The Doctor talked about powerful beings that may have entered our universe due to his encounter with the Toymaker. He also hinted that the next prominent villain will be "the one who waits". Moreover, it was made clear that he cannot take Ruby Sunday back to the church where she was abandoned. The flashbacks of the enigmatic woman indicate that we might revisit that place in the near future.

Exploring The Vortex Further

The sketch featuring the butterfly effect showcased to recent spectators the potential disadvantages of travelling through time. In the episode "Thin Ice", the Twelfth Doctor playfully taunted Bill when she inquired about the outcome of crushing a butterfly. He recounted the tale of Pete, her acquaintance, who was present just moments prior but erased from memory after stepping on the insect.

The band known as The Beatles made a guest appearance as their own selves in an episode of the William Hartnell series called The Chase. To achieve this, a clip from Top of the Pops was utilized. Additionally, the group was referenced in a quiz question that Martha had to tackle during an episode of the David Tennant-era story 42.

Indeed, the lady who got murdered while playing her piano in the movie had a short appearance by none other than June Hudson, the costume designer for the Tom Baker-era.

According to Russell T Davies, they didn't use any Beatles music in the episode due to issues with costs and legal rights. The chord that John and Paul played to get rid of Maestro seemed to have similarities to the well-known opening chord from "A Hard Day's Night" and the intense final chord from "A Day in the Life," but in reality, it wasn't either of those.

The Rani was mentioned in the blog post. Kate O’Mara portrayed the Rani in two TV episodes during the 1980s and in a crossover special with EastEnders called Dimensions in Time during Children in Need in 1993. Fans of Doctor Who usually have a tradition of suspecting that an enigmatic female character will be the Rani, but it never turns out that way. However, Mrs Flood, who is also mysterious, recognizes the Tardis and is portrayed by Anita Dobson, previously known for playing Angie Watts in EastEnders. It’s doubtful, but who knows if there might be a twist at the end.

Hey there, look who it is! It's Steven Moffat, adding yet another spine-chilling story to his collection of Doctor Who episodes with brief titles like Blink, Hide, and Listen. This latest installment centers on the terrifying concept of accidentally stepping on a live landmine...

Tidy Up Your Home Space

Our plan is to only release recaps once BBC One in the UK has finished broadcasting the latest episode. This way, all commenters can have an equal chance to join in the discussion. Although the show's counting system differs depending on when you begin counting, for consistency purposes, we will use the same season one labeling as the show's branding for this year.