The Eve of the Daleks is over! But what did fans online think of it?
It’s finally New Year’s Day, and the time looping Eve of the Daleks has been broken. It was an episode generally well received online, with Big Finish writer Roy Gill (@roy_gill) and fans MrTardis (@TrilbeeReviews) and Edward (@smalledd) summing it up.
That was fab! Best of the Jodie Specials so far for me, alternately tense, funny and tender. Who doesn’t love a time loop with a classic monster and a bit of romance?
— Roy Gill (@roy_gill) January 1, 2022
'Eve of the Daleks'; a fun, strong outing.
Funny moments, great Dalek action & kudos to Chibnall for making a NYD Time-Loop story that's *about* messing up, getting it right next time/year & learning and growing.
Really rushed ending, but I had a great time with it.#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/HAAMN1nnDY
— MrTARDIS (@TrilbeeReviews) January 1, 2022
Really liked that ep. Wanted a nice fun Dalek romp after the universe heavy Flux, and that's exactly what it was. Good Who fun for New Years, v nice #DoctorWho
— Edward (@Smalledd) January 1, 2022
Blogtor Who ourselves rate a mention for pointing out one of the episode’s prime in-jokes with Dalek voice actor Nicholas Briggs declaring “I AM NOT NICK!”
“I am not Nick.” Yes you are Nick. @BriggsNicholas
— Blogtor Who (@BlogtorWho) January 1, 2022
A number of viewers, like Andrew Batchelor (@andybfaedundee) singled out Ireland’s Aisling Bea as Sarah as one of the best things in Eve of the Daleks.
Aisling Bea was fantastic! Best part was when she told the Dalek to shoo 😂😂😂 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/G9Z1ScI4Wu
— Andrew Batchelor 🏴 (@andybfaedundee) January 1, 2022
But social media response to today’s Doctor Who special was dominated by two things. The first threatened to melt the Whovian corner of the internet entirely. It’s THASMIN CONFIRMED!
Ivy Hanover (@ProtagonistIvy) posted a video showing just how much the unfolding of the Doctor and Yaz’s relationship means to her. She and Hannah (@hannahkimmins) were just two of many, many fans delighted, relieved, and surprised that subtext had finally become text.
For someone who jokes a lot about enjoying queerbait, I have to say I got real emotional when they confirmed thasmin. Wow. As a sapphic seeing it confirmed was just… so powerful #doctorwho #doctorwhospoilers pic.twitter.com/ITTKr1hMgp
— Ivy Hanover (@ProtagonistIvy) January 1, 2022
I’m so happy for the kids who are going to watch #EveOfTheDaleks tonight and see themselves in Yaz, because if I had seen her confession of love for the Doctor when I was younger, it would have significantly improved my life.
Thank you, #DoctorWho 💙 pic.twitter.com/2OAwnKt3EB
— hannah 🧚♀️ (@hannahkimmins) January 1, 2022
Others, including Sophie Iles (@sophilestweets) Steven Alexander (@stealexanderuk) and Serena (@spacethirteen) , pointed out Dan’s role in finally giving the couple the prod in the right direction that they needed.
Dan is the wing man we all need in life. Be like Dan #DoctorWho
— Sophie Iles ✨🎲🏳️🌈 (@sophilestweets) January 1, 2022
These #doctorwho stories have to run consecutively because if you left the Doctor and Yaz alone with Dan he'd sort out all their emotional issues in a couple of hours
— Steven Alexander (@stealexanderuk) January 1, 2022
One in-joke caught by Nicholas (@NicholasDurham) among others that added to the sense of the circle of this era slowly closing was the cameo by clueless, cowardly Karl from The Woman Who Fell to Earth. The man the Doctor has to set out to save for her very first adventure is on hand to witness the fireworks for one of her last.
Lovely to see Karl from The Woman Who Fell To Earth back for a cameo 😂 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/G80S0vv3Gb
— Nicholas (@NicholasDurham) January 1, 2022
The other big reaction tonight was to the very final seconds of the episode, as we caught a glimpse of the familiar creatures in this Spring’s special… Legend of the Sea Devils. There were many erudite, thoughtful comments about the return of the classic Doctor Who villains. But Blogtor thinks Pip (@pipmadeley) sums it all up with a rare sophistication and wit.
OH MAH GOD OH MAH GOD OH MAH GOD OH MAD GOD OH MAH GOD #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/sDv7r4KbRK
— Pip (@pipmadeley) January 1, 2022
And no, Neil Norman (@FubsyShabaroon) you’re far from the only one…
Anyone else scream “SEA DEVILS!!!” at an embarrassingly high volume about 11 minutes ago?#DoctorWho
— Neil Norman And His Cosmic Orchestra (@FubsyShabaroon) January 1, 2022
Doctor Who returns this Spring with Legend of the Sea Devils
Legend of the Sea Devils finds the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) in 19th century China, where a small coastal village is under threat – from both the fearsome pirate queen Madame Ching (Crystal Yu) and a monstrous alien force which she unwittingly unleashes. Will the Doctor, Yaz and Dan emerge from this swashbuckling battle with the Sea Devils to save the planet?
