'Maybe Benni is the War Brendan' Genius

I wished that the Cyberdrones would fly onto the survivors heads and would slowly convert them

'Maybe Benni is the War-Brendon!' - Stubagful, 2020

I didn't mind the Cyberheads (though, yes, I did laugh), but I did think "Why couldn't they be Cyber-converted birds or something? Legend of the Cybermen had Cyber-Mermaids and Cyber-Vampires, so what's wrong with Cyberbirds?"

The best retcon out of this two-parter is that the name of the Doctor may possibly just be "Brendon" and I love it.

Did anyone else notice that the survivors ship looks really similar to the flying saucer used by the cybermen in the 10th planet??? Just a nice touch that took my mind of everything melting to shit in my hands.

I'm always surprised by the lack of imagination with the Cybermen, especially the non-exploration of conversion. A major companion turned into one made for a great story, but could probably tell one just as good with the inverse. There's an interesting narrative of a partially converted person saved by the Doctor and then traveling with the latter as they recover. Someone struggling with not only the trauma of the event but also wondering how much of them is still left after the partial alteration by the Cybermen. All while offering unique insights as an individual given that some of that machine logic is still within. That could also create a compelling struggle within the Doctor whom over time wonders if they're doing more harm than good to the companion's mental health by having them as part of the adventures. Its nothing groundbreaking, but at least its a contrast from evil robots yelling "delete" at the heroes.

At least the clams made sense and had a unique look to them and wasn’t just the cybus Cybermen heads flying.

The Cybermen have so much potential. Arguably Doctor Who's most disturbing concept. I have issues with these final two episodes, but at least Chris can clearly see their potential.

I was drinking a drink whilst watching the part with the cyber heads and I spat my drink all over the floor and got it all up my nose

I loved the line "maybe Bennie is the War Brendan"

One reason I had worries for this was because the only other Cyber centric episode he had written prior was Cyberwoman... which also had partly converted Cyberman.

Me: someone who loves genesis of the Daleks loads but hasn’t watched it in years and has forgotten about the giant clams Stuart: Remember the giant clams?! Me: oh yeah, what a strange concept we never saw again

Your Brendan tweets were a lot better than Episode 10

"Who is Brendan?" Over and over without resolution.... ...."What is the Hybrid?"

I have a theory Chibnall is trying to slowly transform Doctor Who into Epic theatre. Think about it; Characters outright saying their backstory and motivation, ham fisted metaphors, characters are just openly plot devices. This is brave.

Daleks are invaders and conquers and cybermen are survivors. If writers stuck to those core concepts everything would be ok.

I kinda like new Cyberman look where they took the "Nightmare in Silver" Cyberman design and gave them the headgear from "The Invasion" design.

I have nothing but love for this part of the story. I love the Cybermen and Ashad and I adore the Cyber-Wars so this was really enjoyable. The second part just couldn't match it, but we'll get to that... oh boy. My problems with the finale aren't even linked with THAT twist.

Looking back, after The Timeless Children, the stuff with Brendan still feels out of place as a metaphor, as it's pretty much dropped in The Timeless Children for The Master's exposition dump. If the Brendon stuff led to something that linked back to the main plot of the story regarding the Cybermen, as its not even needed with the Timeless child sub plot. The whole plot works just as well without it, and tbh it probably could've went to giving the story with the Cybermen more time.

Well, if you're like most people and stuck at home, I guess we'll be seeing your review of the finale in a few days, eh? :-)

Thanks for continuing to work on these videos during these struggling times.

In your idea Stu, how would Doctor lose those survivors one by one? Like, the way you want it, it should be barely noticeable, something the audience picks up, but the characters don't, but it's kind of dumb of the Doctor that she is there to protect these humans, and she doesn't keep a good eye on them.

Why couldn't CHARACTER have been in this episode? Character would've fixed everything with his non-specific backstory.

How much would you like to be that by Christmas, we'll be getting Cyberhead drones?

Can't wait for the next one, I need it now!

Excellent video, every second of it!

Great video , loved it like all your other video's. I agree with you that cybermen stories these days are missing out the conversion angle in comparison to an episode like age of steel or rise of the cybermen where we saw a CGI cyber conversion unit.

I was pretty mixed on this episode, mainly because as you said it feels like a waste of time since nothing happens, but I did like Brendan stuff (probably for the same reasons you did, too), but after seeing how that went nowhere in the next episode I guess I like this episode even less now. This entire episode is skippable, all you need is a recap and/or just the last couple of minutes and then get right into the finale. As a side note, the 'To Select Audio Navigation Press Enter Now' joke is a hilariously accurate description of a Chibnall episode.

The Brendan stuff was the best bits in my view its a shame that it was revealed to be nothing more than a fake memory.

Marvellous work sir.

The audio navigation reference was gold!

yeah, the cyberheads looked dumb I will def agree there.

As an Irish guy, I cannot properly express my frustration that one of the only times we’ve gotten to see Ireland in one of my favourite shows is a weird, not real, setup for a later reveal

Just think about how many people those flying cyber heads must have gone through, if it actually says in the script "flying cyberman heads", I think Chris might have more writing issues than just bland characters

Am I the only one who really doesn't like the look of the Lone Cyberman? I can get over giving the Cybermen a humanised leader, but honestly having half the face sticking out just ruined it for me. Because they can't be gory enough to make it creepy, so he just has two little scars on his face and his skin is kinda pale. They should've just shown an eye or maybe some of the mouth if they really wanted to. Something that reminds you he's human instead of yelling it at you and smacking you over the head with it

I respect the audio navigation meme

I still have to get what exactly are they "Ascending" to.

If/when you do that Timeless Children video, please do it like the Listen review.

More livestreams with Jay please

Oh come on Stu we all know show don't tell isn't new to Doctor Who

the cyber heads should have flown around you see the head open and then of screan the screams of the victume stop and you hear the helmet close ... would have been dark but genius

Cyber drones would have been cool. Like some sort of bird that was turned into a cyber bird of death. Cyber heads... oh god I was howling.

Doctor who in Ireland! Finally on tv! Yussss

hahaha I appreciate the smoke monster reference

Read Suprmacy of the Cybermen, from Titan-Comics! It will save you! Go!

Would you ever do a video explaining The Rani to people who haven't seen classic who?

I'm sure a wise person once said "posing more questions isn't a conclusion"... or something to that effect...

6:36 called it

Is the brendan chronicles a real project? Because id so support that

"I was right to be unsure" 😁

Only if this finale two-parter was a sequel to the unfinished animated who episode Real Time

I legitimately wanted Brendan to be the lone Cyberman until I realised that that was an Asian man called Ashad or something and not an Irish bloke called Brendan The whole Brendan thing would've been so much better if it was the lone Cyberman, and The Timeless Children (abandoning that entire plot) was instead about The Master giving Gallifrey to the Cybermen

My conclusion is not the Chibnall is a 'bad' writer. He just doesn't understand sci-fi. And he thinks most people don't understand sci-fi. So now, you need to say: "A cyberman who makes other cybermen scream." And tell back stories. And use stupid, unpronouncable names. And throw in moar questions. And pretty much every other criticism you've thrown is explained by Chibs doesn't understand sci-fi. I found Broadbeach to be beautifully written. But then it's a mystery series that's meant to have more and more questions. Set in a real place with real names. He hasn't realized that most people watching Dr Who have a better understanding of sci-fi than he does. :(

While the Brendan stuff was “entertaining” it was entirely pointless, especially since the dr was apparently seeing all this but we as the audience weren’t made aware of it, we really should have just used this time to flesh out the timeless child stuff

At this point I had hopes Brendan was going to be something interesting. Perhaps another abandoned child of Jack's, who became the lone Cyberman or something. At least that would have given a reason for Jacks cameo beyond poor comic relief and one line of teaser.

I mean, I did enjoy this weeks episode of Battlestar Galactica I guess...

Stu, Born and Bred review when?

Oof this was alright m8

I actually really liked the Brendan stuff. It really intrigued me. Shame it was basically meaningless in the end.

Why couldn't teacher man be, you know, teaching some of the other survivors before they were attacked? Like, Chibbers could have him teacher adult survivors, while other members do their best to work on their camp. Fixing water pumps, mending patches in tents. Then they are attacked and instead of fighting back. They hide. Showing the audience they're not fighters and are just doing their best to survivor with what they can. Also, on a side note, and a spoiler warning. So the Brendan stuff was meant to be projected into the doctors head by The Master. He says so in part two. But, was there any indication of that? Did I miss it? I mean it cut from Brendan to the doctor, and there is no reaction from 13 that tells/shows us this is something she's seeing in her mind.

So they had the cool looking ships but still went with the stupid heads....okay time to take a rest.

Chibnal's notes for this episode probably read "make everything look gritty to distract from lack of plot". Seriously this was the most generic piece of military sci-fi I have ever seen, it feels like even more of a letdown since the series actually had some genuinely good episodes just to give me some false hope.

FEEL SAD . . . (Are you sad yet?)

While that one line didn't bother me as much as the reviewer, I have to agree with everything else.

Wait... Saying Timeless Children is shit is controversial? HOW?!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who didn't like this one. Even as someone who enjoyed most of series 12, I was surprised so many people were praising it.

Brenddi?

Don’t worry Stuart I heavily disliked this episode as well. It seemed like chibnall had loads of ideas for the finale but wanted to get people excited. However because he knew kitting that happened would have any consequence the entire thing felt like he got bored throughout. The entire thing thinks it is so clever and impactful just because it kills a few people who I don’t remember the names of. Also we’re the cyber drones meant to be creepy or threatening. Or were they legitimately just for comedy because they made me laugh my arse off.

The ironic part is that the dumb Brendan stuff was THE ONLY thing I cared about in this episode. It was an actual... Story?

Glad I wasn't the only one who felt this episode was a complete waste of time. Basically nothing in the story changes if they skips the Cyberman shit and shit land on the beach at the start. I'm looking forward to your Timeless Children review as I really didn't like it at all and the amount of praise it got was....well not shocking I suppose as this happened with Hell Bent and other shit Moffat finales but exhausting.

This finale kinda bothered me because it felt so poorly written. You have a really cool idea - a part converted cyberman, one who volunteered for the procedure. How would that affect them? Would they feel like an abomination? Would their feelings make them regret being converted? Instead all those ideas are dropped. The cybermen just wanna be robots now. So the lone cyberman is killed by the worst new who master, who is somehow weird and cringe, but forgets the bit about being fun and enjoyable to watch. Then we see him spend half the last episode reading from fanfiction about how Gallifrey started, which ultimately meant nothing to the end of the story.

Do brexit

I often find the Cybermen uninteresting when they become too big and epic and this story misses the point of the Cybermen for me trying to hunt down and destroy all humans and destroying all organic life in the next episode. It just makes them dull robots and disregards what makes them compelling

I love hearing you angry instead of resigned. But you still sound like you're one episode from giving up. Can't blame you.

I literally watch every video, but please dont make me watch your video on The timeless children. I know what it did to Doctor Who and I am scared of listening to your opinion of it. I am fine with more Brexit, we have not had enough of that.

The thing is there are still people who defend Brexit. Nobody likes The Timeless Children, even Chibnall. So no, right now Doctor Who is less controversial.

I enjoyed this series a lot, but this episode was just plain boring. It's just... so forgettable.

Mate, i'm disappointed. If Big Finish had a story that had some random seemingly unconnected story int he middle of a plot like this died with Brendon you'd be saying it was 'Artistic' and Brave' Now I KNOW you are going to hate the finale and the Timeless Child which I think is probably one of the greatest turns in Canon ever and as creative as Zagreus!

Finally stopped watching after thirty years. And I will NEVER watch the canon killing Pointless Child finale. Well done Chibbs and Shittaker.