(no subject)

[grimorie]

I have a theory about  the lack of villain in The Ghost Monument, my theory is because there’s not meant to be a villain in the episode.

The important thing that needed to be done for TGMS is to bring the new group into space (obligatory Companion space travel), and to reunite the Doctor with the TARDIS.

 Third, for worldbuilding. 

“We are scientists. Abducted, tortured, and made to work while our families are held hostage. We are forced to find to make new ways of destruction. Poisons, weapons, creatures. We gave them our minds and they made us the creators of death. 

This planet has bee left scorched and barren from our work. The atmosphere and water are toxic, killing machines and creatures inhabit every corner. We have no choice but to obey... the Stenza. 

We are trying to destroy all of our work before they use it against others. 

They’re coming.”

I think all the things mentioned are all to build up the Stenza. 

I think Tim Shaw’s an outlier and yet also very representative of the species. Win at any cost. 

We’re also seeing something of the Stenza culture where are a big part of it is a reverence for contests that seem to trickle down to the culture of their conquered worlds. 

I’m not very knowledgeable about Classic Who villains but I really like how TGM showcases how a powerful alien species got to be one. They kidnapped scientists and forced to them to make weapons. 

Circling it back to Farscape, and my memory is spotty here, but I think that the Scarren and Peacekeepers did a similar thing. The Desolation scientists destroyed their own work so the Stenza can’t use them reminds me of the moment where John Crichton convinced another scientist to do the same, becaue to quote Crichton, ‘It’s not just science.’ 

In Farscape Crichton learned very early his knowledge and science can hurt him, the people around him, and bystanders. 

“More weapons.”

I feel like all the things mentioned: the poisons, the sentient murderous linen, bombs will be used later in the series. And that the Doctor will see a ‘cleansing’ first hand. 

The funny banter about currency exchange, is also, I feel like another world building element and continuity.

Or well, this is my theory about it, in the 70 years that the Doctor put himself on self-imposed exile with Missy on Earth, the Stenza grew in power and with the growing changing political landscape, the economic landscape changed too. The Doctor won’t just be fighting an army of Stenza, but the Doctor might find herself fighting the Stenza Empire.

And, that, is a lot more impressive and daunting than a lone, cheating Stenza warrior.  

(As a tie back to the Whoverse, I also felt a very Bernice Summerfield vibe to the episode but don’t judge me I only heard the Bernice Summerfield audios from Spotfy!). 

Comments

[nostalgia]

Or well, this is my theory about it, in the 70 years that the Doctor put himself on self-imposed exile with Missy on Earth, the Stenza grew in power

Oooh! I had been wondering how a massive empire appeared from nowhere and the Doctor hadn't heard of them!

[grimorie]

I know they're different eras of showrunners, but it feels like to me a lot of things about Thirteen makes sense in context to Twelve's series 10 character developments. Also, it makes sense that the Stenza would happen during the time the Doctor was away!

It was the currency exchange thing that made me think of it, and oddly, the Superhero special!

[wheatear]

Yeah, it definitely looks like there's a series arc building here and I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw these weapons again as you say. A lot of questions still to be answered.

[grimorie]

I'm really curious how that's going to play out, we've had Moffat and RTD do the arc stuff, I'm curious how Chibnall handles it during his run. He seems, from the two episodes (heh) that he might be more interested in the worldbuilding of it?

[wheatear]

That sounds plausible since it's a new alien species that we're being introduced to. We'll just have to wait and see...