[7.4/10] I appreciate the meta-gag of Dee admitting she doesn’t really know what a satire is, because it works on multiple levels. It works to highlight how folks with backwards material hide behind the fig leaf that something is a “satire”. It pokes fun at the squishiness of the term. And it’s especially amusing since “Risk E. Rat’s Pizza and Amusement Center” is itself a satire of out of touch people pining for “the good old days” without acknowledging that a lot of the changes they lament happened for good reason.
I’ll admit that the episode is more of a “smile at the cleverness” outing for The Gang than one full of laugh out loud gags, but I still appreciate it. Mac whinging about the lack of dangerous weapons and faux-drugs available to kids at the ticket counter is gentle but still pointed. While a little blunt, I also like his time out psychology session as a satire on guilt and shame based discipline, which comes with extra potency since Mac was a self-hating gay man for a long time.
Dee and Frank’s search for the clues that get you a meeting with Risk E. Rat himself was a nice opportunity to spoof the dated humor of Franks time and Dee’s childhood. I especially like the Dee material, because she's the only member of the group who’s kind of in the middle. She criticizes the domestic abuse humor Frank enjoyed as horrible, but still tries to defend the ethnic stereotype humor of her childhood as somehow alright. It’s a well-observed bit on how it’s easy to look back with derision on the blindspots of old while we try to excuse our own. And the most I laughed at was at their misunderstanding and attempts to dirty up the “jalapeno business” joke.
Dennis and Charlie’s story leans into a lot of the same material, but it’s good. Their steady realization that pretty much every member of the Fun Time Pizza Band knockoff was some kind of unfortunate stereotype or trope, while trying to justify their appreciation for it, is a solid bit. And across all the stories, their disregard for safety is a laugh.
My favorite part is the great jumpcut from The Gang’s quest to return things to how they were before to an utter shitshow of pain and misery. Frankly, I worry this episode will be a little too subtle for some, with folks taking Mac's speech in particular as a valid criticism rather than a sign of his own messed up upbringing. But the fact that their plan ends in total disaster is about as strong a rebuke as the writers can offer to their viewpoint without having some character be a mouthpiece, so I’m good with it.
Overall, the theme of misguided good-ol’-days-ery through the conceit of a Chuck E. Cheese equivalent is a good foundation for the episode,and a collection of good observations and strong capper makes this one a winner.
for fuck sake they ended it all by saying it was a dream/in his head... what a shit ending
This gives me straight Portal vibes. Like what Aperture would do to it’s employees to retain their secrets.
10/10
All Gold
IMPOSSIBLE
Not to have tears
at the end and most
of mine are for The Doctor.
A solid episode and I
absolutely loved all the
Timey Wimey stuff,
made for a very exciting
episode.
As always
The Doctor and River
Knocked it out of the
Ball Park.
I loved how everything
will be new now, I'm
so looking forward to
that.
"Oh Bless River
I love her 3000",
Solid episode with great
pacing and good tension
and the finale was
Sensational,
I could hardly Blink
I was afraid I would
miss something
"This Christmas"
(which just happens
to be in 3 days time
at the time i write this)
THE DOCTOR WILL RETURN
Damn, those weeping angels episodes are just the very best.
I'll miss Amy and Rory for sure, but their replacement couldn't be more interesting.
nOT THE BEST FINALE AND WTF WAS THE COP STORY ABOUT HIS FATHER XD.
At least in 2022 s2 is coming :)
I used to listen to Don McLean's song, and cry...leave it to Der Who to make some happy tears....
https://youtu.be/ciLNMesqPh0?si=miaAbuy4jlMn8Byl
Don McLean Lyrics
"Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)"
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night
You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could've told you Vincent
This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frame-less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
The gallery scene was amazing! If only he really knew..
9/10
Superb
Arguably the best episode of this season, definitely in the
Top .
This episode was in
The Rosa Parks
Elite Category.
This was tragic and
Wholesome, heartfelt
and beautiful.
I myself suffer with
Metal health, have done
my entire life so to have
an episode address it
in new who was very
special and sincere.
Outstanding Performances
all around and after this
particular episode nobody
can argue that
Matt Smith isn't
The Doctor.
on a scale of 1 to 10
as Matt as
The Doctor well
He's easily an 11.
What an Outstanding
Written episode
Doctor Who
at it's finest.
this episode was beyond amazing and so far was my best top episode that last scene where they took him to see his paintings wow. The fact that Van Gogh had drew a painting inspired by Amy was beyond beautiful im loving this Doctor and Amy
Oh my god.. the scene of Vincent in the Musee D'Orsay was so beautiful and heart-touching ):
Now that's a great standalone Doctor Who episode. Clever monster story that's not just a simple black and white, a great one-off character (technically), a heartbreaking ending, and it manages to sneak in a little something about mental health.
Heartbreakingly beautiful. Episodes like this are the reason I'm watching DW.
Personally the last scene of Vincent in the museum is one of the best scenes in the modern Doctor Who era. There aren't many scenes in this show that touched me like this one did.
They should have put in the synopsis...
"Enemies: Yes. All of them"
Cool finale i liked it but it could have been better. The ending was something.
Three, mostly, fantastic seasons culminated in this pile of doo-doo. What a complete let down.
I agree with everyone. The ending was such a letdown. To be honest, if I had known this, I wouldn't have watched it
I love this show so much. The drama is tough, but feel good moments restore the balance every time. Love the cast, the writing and the choice in music. Great season.
No Carmy not to Claire.
Protect Pete at any cost.
Kudos to Kieran Culkin for making Roman so despicable and endlessly punchable in this episode.
lol he is still crying
"Tomorrow you must focus. You must focus very hard "
- the Russian Pentaverate
Well that just sounds like slavery, with extra steps.