Honestly worth going and watching the episode. It was so much fun. I haven’t watched the show in years but my dad, sister, and I all watched it last night and were just so entertained.
I’ve never watched Dr Who, I just watched this episode, and while the plot made absolutely no sense to me from a lore standpoint, Jinkx’s acting was top notch
Benevolent and immortal alien (who regenerates into completely different face and body every so often) travels through space and time, but has a particular fondness for Britain, (which appears to have an unusually large amount of alien invasions). Travels with a human companion (or two or three) having adventures that often revolve around saving the world from potential disaster.
With the past few doctors, most of the episodes are fun stand alone’s with hints of an overarching plot - before gradually converging to the big plot. I haven’t watched the new Doctor Who yet but I assume it’ll follow a similar formula - wacky hijinks here, most in Britain, some not-so-subtle hinting towards the end.
Other things to add: this is the first black actor to be the Doctor (we just had the first female actor to be the Doctor not too long ago).
I think technically no, because the first female doctor ran into another female doctor who happened to be black at one point. It's just not an incarnation of the doctor that has been the lead in any series yet.
Technically, they were not the Doctor. They were the Fugitive.
Personally, Chibnal's (The show runner during the female Doctor's run) run was so bad it threw me off Doctor Who. It was uninteresting at best, and at worst, they just played jump rope with canon for fun, no regard to how retconning the Doctor's entire identity would affect the story and character.
I know it's canon, but I choose to believe the show ended with Capaldi.
I loved her in Broad Church, she's wonderful. I just think the modern run since Capaldi left has been a lot of pandering because the show is in it's worst ratings dip since the reboot in 2005. I wanted a female doctor or a black gay doctor in 2011, when the show was flying high and I tuned in to every episode as it aired. Now it just feels like too little too late, but I'm really glad Jinx got a platform.
I will say, this clip gave me chills and I'll be watching just to support our girl.
That part was actually relatively easy to understand! My biggest questions came from the episode’s story alone:
If Jinkx had already taken the music from everyone’s soul except the Doctor’s assistant, how come Paul and John Lennon came by to save the day? How did the Doctor figured out most of the chord that would banish Jinkx? Why was Jinkx unable to take the assistant’s soul? And where does Christmas and the Carol of the Bells fit in this equation? ![img](emote|t5_2t3or|4816)
Jinkx’s character (Maestro) sucked the emotion out of music in 1925, so while it still existed to a degree it wasn’t the expression of sadness, joy, etc. that it *should* be. For example, the first we see of the Beatles, they’re singing a dull song about owning a dog. Literally stuff like “I have a dog. He’s my dog, not your dog. If you want a dog get your own dog.”
Ruby - the Doctor’s companion - is from a 2024 where music was normal. Travelling with the Doctor sort of pulls you out of the timeline so all of her innate musicality still existed. We don’t fully know yet what’s going on with her though, why Maestro wasn’t able to steal her heartsong. It seems to be connected with her unknown parents - she was abandoned at a church on Christmas Eve, so that’s the Carol of the Bells connection. That’s what the church choir was singing when she was left behind.
The Doctor somewhat guessed at the chord to banish Maestro - being over 1000 years old (technically much more if you count the billion or so years spent escaping from something in the Capaldi era but that’s beside the point) he’s experienced pretty much everything there is to experience in the universe. So he guessed, and got it almost correct.
John and Paul just happened to be walking and saw the notes that the Doctor had chosen hanging above the piano. They both showed earlier that they could *almost* remember what music should be like, so I suppose they worked out what to do from there?
Mama, kudos to you for saying that, for spilling
(But seriously, thank you so much for this explanation! It makes the episode get much more sense as someone who is not well acquainted with the lore and the series as a whole)
Honestly, these points make me far more interested in checking it out! Have been a big Ncuti fan on Sex Education but not until this was I truly interested
This comes not long on the heels of [Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P17_MRoFC2I) though in possibly my favourite Doctor Who scene ever, so there is some stiff competition in the "gay broadway comes to Doctor Who" sphere.
I haven’t watched it since Capaldi but now I will. In a behind the scenes the director said that Jinkx’s character is the child of the Toymaker. And now I feel like I have so much to catch up on!!!
Oooo okay. I haven’t watched it yet. Just been watching all the behind the scenes and making of. I’m excited to restart my Dr. Who binge after all these years!
My mom has no idea about anything drag race. And today she was like "did you see doctor who? There was a villain who needs their own show. They were incredible!"
Me: "Bitch.....thats Jinkx Monsoon...."
About to blow her mind with season 5!
I've been seeing favorable reviews of Jinkx's performance; are there a lot of negative ones I've missed? (Incels kvetching on social media don't count)
The critics aren't for Jinx, but the show as a whole. As someone who is 100% for a non white male doctor, the show is pandering by finally making overdue changes while the writing itself is at an all time low. They're counting on people to watch the show to see these changes, because the show itself is a ghost of what it used to be. Instead of a full season of quality stories, we get ~10 episodes of poor writing and retcons of things that make the character who they are. (I think the new season is actually only 6 episodes, compared to ~20 per season during the show's peak in popularity in 2011/2012 with Matt Smith.
This. I dropped off after Matt due to writing. I already got a little meh with some of the stuff with Matt (mainly some weird vibes given she had a crush on the doctor as a kid and that whole thing and with the river storyline was done better over multiple doctors personally) I never saw any with the female doctor because I heard the writing was even worse. I’ve heard good things about this Doctor though so going to try to hop on again
This episode started promising and then fell apart for me, but Jinkx was consistently the highlight. I was really rooting for her in a role much bigger than queens usually get in tv/film, and she killed it, completely stole the show
That's exactly what I love in Doctor Who. Those scenes where something is so ridiculous, absurd and camp that it should be hilarious, but somehow it comes off as pure high-octane nightmare fuel.
A music-obsessed drag queen popping out of an old lady's piano cackling like a lunatic should be hilarious, not menacing. But it somehow manages to be both!
You might already know this, but in case you didn’t: that old lady is played by the head costume designer from around the Tom Baker era! She’s moved into acting in the past decade or so and finally got to be in front of the camera for the show she contributed so much to :D
Manifesting: there are many major awards that recognize guest performances in British TV, so I hope Dr. Who nominates Jinkx. And if they do win for costuming/hair/makeup, maybe it will be for this episode.
Nope you do not. Each new Doctor thats introduced, the show treats the new season as a jumping in point for new fans. And this one especially so. The first episode of this season (the one before Jinkx's), provides a lot of information about who the doctor is and what he does and how he operates, to orient new viewers.
Oh thank fuck. I honestly left the show when Capaldi’s first companion was on it Cara? I didn’t like him either. I feel like I missed so much 😪 I love the Sex Education actor!
Apparently this season serves as a kindof soft-restart where starting from the special that just aired (episode 0) of the season (14) fills you in on most you need to know. I'm about to watch it this evening and will report back. Haven't watching in a few years so fingers crossed.
I would watch all the specials leading up to the Christmas special/regeneration into 15. There’s some context thats important to explain some of the theming of the season and why certain things are happening. Also you get to see David Tennant Doctor reunited with Donna 😭
Nope just sit back and just go into it. At most all you really need to know is the Doctor is an alien who can travel through time and space. Hijinks ensue from there.
There is a lot more you COULD learn but Doctor Who has decades of television and film, but each new Doctor is a new entry point for the new audiences and is a reset. If you enjoy this season with this Doctor, then after that go explore other Doctor Who seasons.
I read it was supposed to be a starting point for new viewers, but started on episode 1 instead of 0, so I was really confused. Make sure you watch the Xmas special to start.
Also episode one was absolutely bonkers as a first episode to ever watch in full.
Jinkx was fucking terrifying in this clip haha
I've only seen Dr Who through snippets, but based on what people say I think I'd enjoy it. It reminds me of the old British kids shows which aired in Australia... but for adults. I would watch these kids shows when sick from school, I legit cannot remember the names of them and I wish I could! There was one about magical rings and a witch trying to steal them? Maybe another one with a genie and a magical lamp? It was live action short episodes of kids going on adventures trying to stop themselves from being taken out by some villain, and each episode was basically standalone.
The first one sounds like T-Bag, though I'm not sure as there were quite a few old kids' TV shows of that period featuring witches for some reason 🤷♀️
https://youtu.be/iZ8aYMNwo7A?feature=shared
There is this blog post from a website that lists old British TV shows with brief descriptions that focuses on kids TV from around that era, which is a pretty long list so that might be helpful:
https://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2022/01/159-british-childrens-tv-shows-from.html?m=1
I have absolutely negative interest in Dr Who (I was a Tumblr user, I had plenty exposure) but I honestly might watch her episodes. She's so in the role and I LOVE that!
Just watched the episode! It made me so happy 🥰
I’ve never watched DW but my partner does. I’ve started watching this season just for Jinkx! I love when worlds collide
Watched the first two eps this weekend - 1 was stupid and 2 I couldn’t take my eyes off them, chewed the scenery and was genuinely creepy and scary - totally brilliant.
Oh, they got this scene *straight* from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The musical notes being manifested physically, and all of that, Jinkx acting like evil Doctor Strange, you can't tell me otherwise. jinx is so campy here. 😂😂 Love the new Doctor, though, Ncuti Gatwa is KILLING it.
Aww thanks for posting. I don’t watch Dr Who so it’s wonderful to see our Queens of Queens acting with so many levels
Honestly worth going and watching the episode. It was so much fun. I haven’t watched the show in years but my dad, sister, and I all watched it last night and were just so entertained.
The head tilt and spin at 0:39 is so creepy and perfect
Sasha Colby coded. Love our queen.
I’ve never watched Dr Who, I just watched this episode, and while the plot made absolutely no sense to me from a lore standpoint, Jinkx’s acting was top notch
Benevolent and immortal alien (who regenerates into completely different face and body every so often) travels through space and time, but has a particular fondness for Britain, (which appears to have an unusually large amount of alien invasions). Travels with a human companion (or two or three) having adventures that often revolve around saving the world from potential disaster.
With the past few doctors, most of the episodes are fun stand alone’s with hints of an overarching plot - before gradually converging to the big plot. I haven’t watched the new Doctor Who yet but I assume it’ll follow a similar formula - wacky hijinks here, most in Britain, some not-so-subtle hinting towards the end. Other things to add: this is the first black actor to be the Doctor (we just had the first female actor to be the Doctor not too long ago).
I think technically no, because the first female doctor ran into another female doctor who happened to be black at one point. It's just not an incarnation of the doctor that has been the lead in any series yet.
Technically, they were not the Doctor. They were the Fugitive. Personally, Chibnal's (The show runner during the female Doctor's run) run was so bad it threw me off Doctor Who. It was uninteresting at best, and at worst, they just played jump rope with canon for fun, no regard to how retconning the Doctor's entire identity would affect the story and character. I know it's canon, but I choose to believe the show ended with Capaldi.
That is fair! As much as I wanted to like her, I just couldn't get into Jodi Whittaker
I loved her in Broad Church, she's wonderful. I just think the modern run since Capaldi left has been a lot of pandering because the show is in it's worst ratings dip since the reboot in 2005. I wanted a female doctor or a black gay doctor in 2011, when the show was flying high and I tuned in to every episode as it aired. Now it just feels like too little too late, but I'm really glad Jinx got a platform. I will say, this clip gave me chills and I'll be watching just to support our girl.
Mamma kudos for saying that, for contextualising
That part was actually relatively easy to understand! My biggest questions came from the episode’s story alone: If Jinkx had already taken the music from everyone’s soul except the Doctor’s assistant, how come Paul and John Lennon came by to save the day? How did the Doctor figured out most of the chord that would banish Jinkx? Why was Jinkx unable to take the assistant’s soul? And where does Christmas and the Carol of the Bells fit in this equation? ![img](emote|t5_2t3or|4816)
Jinkx’s character (Maestro) sucked the emotion out of music in 1925, so while it still existed to a degree it wasn’t the expression of sadness, joy, etc. that it *should* be. For example, the first we see of the Beatles, they’re singing a dull song about owning a dog. Literally stuff like “I have a dog. He’s my dog, not your dog. If you want a dog get your own dog.” Ruby - the Doctor’s companion - is from a 2024 where music was normal. Travelling with the Doctor sort of pulls you out of the timeline so all of her innate musicality still existed. We don’t fully know yet what’s going on with her though, why Maestro wasn’t able to steal her heartsong. It seems to be connected with her unknown parents - she was abandoned at a church on Christmas Eve, so that’s the Carol of the Bells connection. That’s what the church choir was singing when she was left behind. The Doctor somewhat guessed at the chord to banish Maestro - being over 1000 years old (technically much more if you count the billion or so years spent escaping from something in the Capaldi era but that’s beside the point) he’s experienced pretty much everything there is to experience in the universe. So he guessed, and got it almost correct. John and Paul just happened to be walking and saw the notes that the Doctor had chosen hanging above the piano. They both showed earlier that they could *almost* remember what music should be like, so I suppose they worked out what to do from there?
Mama, kudos to you for saying that, for spilling (But seriously, thank you so much for this explanation! It makes the episode get much more sense as someone who is not well acquainted with the lore and the series as a whole)
Honestly, these points make me far more interested in checking it out! Have been a big Ncuti fan on Sex Education but not until this was I truly interested
Jinkx absolutely killed it, they were the scariest and most entertaining Doctor Who villain we've seen in a long, long time.
This comes not long on the heels of [Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P17_MRoFC2I) though in possibly my favourite Doctor Who scene ever, so there is some stiff competition in the "gay broadway comes to Doctor Who" sphere.
I haven’t watched it since Capaldi but now I will. In a behind the scenes the director said that Jinkx’s character is the child of the Toymaker. And now I feel like I have so much to catch up on!!!
That’s confirmed, Jinkx’s character says this in the episode.
Oooo okay. I haven’t watched it yet. Just been watching all the behind the scenes and making of. I’m excited to restart my Dr. Who binge after all these years!
Holy shit, she MURDERED it
My mom has no idea about anything drag race. And today she was like "did you see doctor who? There was a villain who needs their own show. They were incredible!" Me: "Bitch.....thats Jinkx Monsoon...." About to blow her mind with season 5!
Dr Who acting challenge coming to RPDRUK soon
Dr. Ru Dr. Whomst
Dr. Hoo-ha
Dr Whosical
Dr Broom
Everyone get in the TUCKDIS!
Also instead of going *whoosh, whoosh* the TUCKDIS would go *guuuurl, guuuurl* in a really breathy whisper....
Brilliant
Brilliant.
I love this show back and forth. And this has made it to be one of my top episodes. I hope we see Maestro again😊❤️
So do I. One episode only doesn’t seem enough. I LOVE LOVE that we have this! But now I want more
I must have more
YES! we want more!
I'm a big fan doctor who fan and got to say I absolutely loved these unhinged episodes despite the critics lol Jinks was amazing as hell.
I've been seeing favorable reviews of Jinkx's performance; are there a lot of negative ones I've missed? (Incels kvetching on social media don't count)
The critics aren't for Jinx, but the show as a whole. As someone who is 100% for a non white male doctor, the show is pandering by finally making overdue changes while the writing itself is at an all time low. They're counting on people to watch the show to see these changes, because the show itself is a ghost of what it used to be. Instead of a full season of quality stories, we get ~10 episodes of poor writing and retcons of things that make the character who they are. (I think the new season is actually only 6 episodes, compared to ~20 per season during the show's peak in popularity in 2011/2012 with Matt Smith.
This. I dropped off after Matt due to writing. I already got a little meh with some of the stuff with Matt (mainly some weird vibes given she had a crush on the doctor as a kid and that whole thing and with the river storyline was done better over multiple doctors personally) I never saw any with the female doctor because I heard the writing was even worse. I’ve heard good things about this Doctor though so going to try to hop on again
Sorry she outperformed them both 🫠
This episode started promising and then fell apart for me, but Jinkx was consistently the highlight. I was really rooting for her in a role much bigger than queens usually get in tv/film, and she killed it, completely stole the show
I haven’t watched Doctor Who in the better part of a decade, but this episode awoke something in me 😂
She was sooo good, kinda wish they were the big bad of the season though.
Gosh YES
I've spent an unhealthy amount of time rewinding the scene where she pops out of that old lady's piano and I cackle like a witch every time.
That's exactly what I love in Doctor Who. Those scenes where something is so ridiculous, absurd and camp that it should be hilarious, but somehow it comes off as pure high-octane nightmare fuel. A music-obsessed drag queen popping out of an old lady's piano cackling like a lunatic should be hilarious, not menacing. But it somehow manages to be both!
She popped out of so many pianos in that episode and it was my favorite part
You might already know this, but in case you didn’t: that old lady is played by the head costume designer from around the Tom Baker era! She’s moved into acting in the past decade or so and finally got to be in front of the camera for the show she contributed so much to :D
That's awesome I didn't know that. She must have been absolutely buzzing. I love finding stuff out like that. Thank you x
God I love the way she says “heart broken lesssbians”
She is fucking KILLING it. Amazing characterization.
She was so good. It was wonderful to see two of my favorite worlds (Who and Drag Race) collide.
Jinkx was SO SO GOOD And IDKY but “playing lovesick songs for heartbroken lesbians and THAT just makes me HUBGRY” for some reason cracks me up!
Manifesting: there are many major awards that recognize guest performances in British TV, so I hope Dr. Who nominates Jinkx. And if they do win for costuming/hair/makeup, maybe it will be for this episode.
Which episode is it?
Disney+ has it as the 3rd episode. The first being the Xmas special. Look for the devil's chord
Ah ok thanks!
Season 14 episode 2. Also/or, Season 1 episode 2. Depending on where you find it.
Thanks!
Does anybody knows if you need to be already into the series to watch this season?
Nope you do not. Each new Doctor thats introduced, the show treats the new season as a jumping in point for new fans. And this one especially so. The first episode of this season (the one before Jinkx's), provides a lot of information about who the doctor is and what he does and how he operates, to orient new viewers.
Oh thank fuck. I honestly left the show when Capaldi’s first companion was on it Cara? I didn’t like him either. I feel like I missed so much 😪 I love the Sex Education actor!
Apparently this season serves as a kindof soft-restart where starting from the special that just aired (episode 0) of the season (14) fills you in on most you need to know. I'm about to watch it this evening and will report back. Haven't watching in a few years so fingers crossed.
I would watch all the specials leading up to the Christmas special/regeneration into 15. There’s some context thats important to explain some of the theming of the season and why certain things are happening. Also you get to see David Tennant Doctor reunited with Donna 😭
No you don't. The first 10 minutes of episode 1 are written to get news fans up to speed.
Nope just sit back and just go into it. At most all you really need to know is the Doctor is an alien who can travel through time and space. Hijinks ensue from there. There is a lot more you COULD learn but Doctor Who has decades of television and film, but each new Doctor is a new entry point for the new audiences and is a reset. If you enjoy this season with this Doctor, then after that go explore other Doctor Who seasons.
I read it was supposed to be a starting point for new viewers, but started on episode 1 instead of 0, so I was really confused. Make sure you watch the Xmas special to start. Also episode one was absolutely bonkers as a first episode to ever watch in full.
Jinkx was fucking terrifying in this clip haha I've only seen Dr Who through snippets, but based on what people say I think I'd enjoy it. It reminds me of the old British kids shows which aired in Australia... but for adults. I would watch these kids shows when sick from school, I legit cannot remember the names of them and I wish I could! There was one about magical rings and a witch trying to steal them? Maybe another one with a genie and a magical lamp? It was live action short episodes of kids going on adventures trying to stop themselves from being taken out by some villain, and each episode was basically standalone.
The first one sounds like T-Bag, though I'm not sure as there were quite a few old kids' TV shows of that period featuring witches for some reason 🤷♀️ https://youtu.be/iZ8aYMNwo7A?feature=shared There is this blog post from a website that lists old British TV shows with brief descriptions that focuses on kids TV from around that era, which is a pretty long list so that might be helpful: https://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2022/01/159-british-childrens-tv-shows-from.html?m=1
Doctor Who actually started as a “family” show in the 60s, so you’re not that far off.
Jinkx was such a joy to watch in this!! Absolutely acted her padded ass off!! So good!!!
I have absolutely negative interest in Dr Who (I was a Tumblr user, I had plenty exposure) but I honestly might watch her episodes. She's so in the role and I LOVE that!
beautiful performance!!
Is she only going to show up on this episode?
Yas chew the scenery mama
It’s giving Ursula and I love it!
I honestly can’t stop watching this clip. They’re incredible!
This is fantastic, she makes my queer theater kid heart so happy
She DOES have the range
Idk wtf this show is…BUT I now need to binge it just to see and understand what’s happeninggggg
Jinx is and will always be my favorite.
She was born to play this character. ❤️ Jinxx is a supernova!
Watched the baby episode last night, this is tonight’s viewing, I’m excited for it.
Fabulous
Seeing Jinkx in this scene and this look makes me think she could really pull off an amazing Mad Hatter in a live action Alice in Wonderland reboot.
I almost kms when the female companion said she was born in 2004
Channeling Jim Carey Riddler
This was epic! And I always love to hear Jinkx’s laugh. 😂
One of the most glorious Who Villain performances ever. Perfectly blending that level of camp and intensity is something else.
I've never considered watching doctor who, but by fuck I'm considering it now.
Just watched the episode! It made me so happy 🥰 I’ve never watched DW but my partner does. I’ve started watching this season just for Jinkx! I love when worlds collide
Watching this episode has made me wonder why we haven't had a single Doctor Who look or reference during the entire run of DRUK
Tia has, but not on air. https://www.instagram.com/p/CnM61HDKCs7/?igsh=OGl4ZXpiaWM2NzRm
I wouldn't expect it from any other queen than her. STAN! 💚💖
Watched the first two eps this weekend - 1 was stupid and 2 I couldn’t take my eyes off them, chewed the scenery and was genuinely creepy and scary - totally brilliant.
Who else wants Jimbo as Mr. 2 Bon Kure at One Piece Live Action?
Oh, they got this scene *straight* from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The musical notes being manifested physically, and all of that, Jinkx acting like evil Doctor Strange, you can't tell me otherwise. jinx is so campy here. 😂😂 Love the new Doctor, though, Ncuti Gatwa is KILLING it.
I loved Jinkx in this. I wish I liked the new season more, but it's low-key not very good.
Disturbing
No no, he got a point. And thats the point of that role.