Doctor Who (TV Series) The Haunting of Villa Diodati (2020) User Reviews

What I've been waiting for.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

The Doctor and companions land at a specific point in time, the creation of Frankenstein, however the house is under threat from a strange force.

I did like the tone, the lighting finally was terrific, and I liked the story. We've been in need of a strong ghost story for some time, it didn't seem to make perfect sense initially, and I am pleased, it wasn't formulaic, but complex like say Ghostlight. The last fifteen minutes holding the best sequences.

What seemed to hold this back initially, I thought there were too many characters, with too much going on, sadly another nightmare for poor Ryan though, badly served once again.

So The TARDIS translation circuits work in Italian, but not French? Come on writers that's a Schoolboy error.

Does anybody do period drama better than The BBC? No chance, stunning production values, opulent sets, lavish costumes, the visuals were the biggest strength.

Fingers last week, hands this week, arms next week? That was a good scene though.

Overall, a solid 7/10, good science fiction, excellent production values, poor use of the companions, but a good link to the two part finale.

A good episode, but the weakest link is exposed.

[Aroura64 · 7/10 · 17 February 2020]

This was an interesting episode, which reminded me of the early series and episodes written by Stephen Moffat (when Russel T Davis was at the helm.) The episode concentrated on storytelling, not lecturing to the audience. We are nearing the end of series 12, and it is now obvious where the weakest link is - the writing. This episode was not written by Chris Chibnal, which speaks volumes. Two decent episodes out of eight, is not a good basis for a successful series.

Great Cyberman Story

[GallifreyianHub · 8/10 · 20 February 2020]

People who are still on Jodie's Doctor after her performance within this episode just need to turn over the channel.

This was a VERY dark episode and perhaps some of the scariest scenes within Doctor Who history. Brilliant supporting cast and very strong writing makes this one of the strongest in an impressive series.

The Modern Prometheus

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 10/10 · 2 March 2020]

This is a fantastic story in my opinion and it is written by Maxine Alderton who I think is the best talent to come out of the Chibnall era. It also moves the series arc on, adding further layers and building towards the final 2-part story of the series.

The Doctor and her friends go to the Villa Diodati at Lake Geneva in 1816, when in our known history, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein whilst sheltering from extraordinary weather along with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and other associates. They encounter ghostly goings on and apparent changes in the known events.

I was worried this would spoil the very good adventure from The Company of Friends audio anthology where the 8th Doctor meets Mary Shelley and other 8th Doctor audio stories such as The Silver Turk where Mary became his companion. Thankfully those are not explicitly thrown out and, as it is a time travel story, it is perfectly possible the 8th Doctor could arrive in a separate event. However, it seems odd 13 does not act like Mary is a former companion who she knows well and it does cause a slight issue in the 8th Doctor's continuity. That is a flaw for me in an otherwise terrific story.

The only other slight flaw is that the Doctor travels to Villa Diodati by choice, seemingly just 'for a laugh' and yet it happens to be right where she needs to go at the exact time required in order to continue the story arc of the Lone Cyberman. Captain Jack is a time traveller so his prediction of her imminent meeting isn't illogical but it is yet another bit of unnecessary coincidence in Chibnall's era. He should have had them travel there due to being guided that was where they needed to go. In any case this story is so good that any such overthinking fade away to a large extent.

The apparent appearances of ghosts are nicely chilling creating some great scares in the beautifully directed episode. The whole atmosphere, period setting and air of impending doom is created expertly. There is great humour and great dialogue throughout with every part acted perfectly - Lili Miller as Mary, Jacob Collins-Levy as Byron, Nadia Parkes as Claire, Maxim Baldry as Polidori, Stefan Bednarczyk as Fletcher, Lewis Rainer as Percy and Patrick O'Kane as Ashad.

The Doctor herself is superb in this story, I think, with Jodie Whittaker on top form. I felt she was finally reaching levels that compared well to many great Doctors of the past. When the real menace arrives Jodie plays the strength and resolve, as well as the concern and emotion required. Her telling off of her companions as she explains how she has to make the tough choices is a defining moment.

The surprise arrival of the 'Lone Cyberman' Ashad is very exciting and so brilliantly done. It ties in with the real life weather events and links cleverly with the Cybermen connections to Frankenstein ( subtitled "The Modern Prometheus") in which the monster is also a re-animated body with added parts and a loss of control of what the person/people once were.

The horror and thrills grow even stronger as Ashad marauds around the house horribly killing innocents and stating very macabre, disturbing past actions against his own children. It makes Cybermen really scary, easily matching their very best earlier stories for impact as monsters. The level of menace and horror is fantastic and exactly what I love most in the show. The Cyberman looks amazing, sounds great and is extremely malevolent.

The development of the series arc is hugely intriguing, mysterious and exciting at this stage. This episode is a near 10/10 classic but just slightly misses out for me due to the relatively small issues I mentioned.

It has a pretty silly title. The Modern Prometheus would have been my chosen title for it. But in any case this is in my top 3 Jodie/Chibnall era episodes.

My Rating: 9.5/10.

Series 12 Episode Ranking: 2nd out of 11.

Okay. THAT was good!

[otv-14729 · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

This episode had me gripped from the very first minute. Entertaining from beginning to end, a perfect way to lead into the epic finale.

Now THAT'S how you write a compelling DW episode!

[lukaxkl · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

Wow, this episode was amazing! Even before the Cyberman reveal, the creepiness factor made this one to be one of the best Doctor Who episodes in recent memory. Stellar acting, especially from Jodie, lots of humor, which is something that was kind of lacking lately, and THAT ending. One of the best episodes of Doctor Who in years!

Best yet!!

[2004Daniel · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

This series may have had about 5 "love and monsters" but this episode was actually alright - but let's be clear - it still wasn't absolutely brilliant.

But let's look on the bright side while we can. The first half was sort of creepy and reminded me a bit of 'The God Complex' going all the way back to series 6. But not fears, 'ghosts'.

And then we have the finale build up for the next half of the episode which I won't bother spoiling for you.

It definitely isn't my favourite story arc, but at least there is one, and at least I'm kind of half looking forward to the finale despite the amount of terrible episodes throughout this series.

My highest rating since Twice upon a Time: 7/10.

WOAH! THIS BLEW ME AWAY!!

[ianweech · 9/10 · 7 March 2020]

Every minute of this was amazing! The lone cyberman was gripping and intriguing. The acting was great from everyone. A secret three part finale.

Strong episode which has paved way for something better

[jackkemp-30612 · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

It's very hard to distinguish what's gone wrong with doctor who lately, from the writing, acting, or character development. However, all this frigidness becomes clearer and clearer in the fact that it's down to the identity of the show.

Tonight's episode shown something which we are all much familiar with in the last 15 years of Doctor Who. A simple yet unique plot where people can be engrossed because they can relate to the show once again. This episode ended up being far more than what people had expected, and came to be in the much larger arc of the season itself which certainly was a pleasure.

The episode finally got the balance right between diverging storylines - something which became increasingly problematic throughout the writing this year, notably in 'Can You Hear Me?' Nothing felt confusing or rushed, and everything had a meaning to the core of the episode, rather than a political message that's trying to be forced in

Could this episode be better? Yes... but I honestly cannot complain. It certainly was the best episode of the Chibnall era so far and gives us optimistic hope that the finale will be a T Davies'esque epic which fans like myself have been longing for a decade now.

Nearly a half decent story but spoiled by the 3 Idiots and the Clown

[doorsscorpywag · 4/10 · 17 February 2020]

We begin on Lake Geneva with some proper actors recreating a famous coming together of poets and writers that would result in one of the most famous pieces of English Literature.

Then 3 Idiots and a Clown turn up and .... surprise surprise we actually get a half decent story. A Haunted House Mystery. But this is in spite of rather than because of the travelling circus in the TARDIS.

10 minutes in and the Clown starts waving the spoon-stick around checking the non existent screen and the Idiots wander around interacting with the famous and showing how out of their depth they are when with real actors. Once again she uses her super-powers licking dirt and knowing things and the Vulcan Mind-Meld from Star Trek.

She really is terrible in this and comes over as a total idiot whenever she tries to sound clever. Her facial expressions and babbling nonsense when an old foe appears show how far this show has fallen. Nothing about her says she is The Doctor and she will never ever be The Doctor just a really bad actor with no endearing qualities.

In the hands of really good writers like Dr Who used to have this would have a decent story but it fell short. Maybe next week will improve things. One thing of note is how the current crop of writers are rewriting Dr Who lore which has a lot of people annoyed. But to be honest this aspect does not bother me too much. This is a show about time travel and parallel universes so these things can happen and have already happened before Whittaker appeared.

The writing is ham-fisted rubbish mostly but has had a couple of good ideas as in this episode. S11 was abysmal. S12 is awful BUT has had a couple of decent elements. If Whittaker could just tone down her pitiful performance and the 3 Idiots could be left somewhere guarding something so The Doctor can have a go at being The Doctor we may well see a good episode.

The Haunting of Villa Diodati

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 16 February 2020]

Some online fans were livid that Maxine Alderton was chosen to write an episode of Doctor Who. After all, she writes for Emmerdale and has no sci fi credentials. Forgetting classic writer Malcolm Hulke wrote for Crossroads and even Russell T Davies wrote for Coronation Street.

It is 1816, set on the night Mary Shelley came up with the idea for Frankenstein. The Haunting of Villa Diodati looks to be another celebrity historical.

The haunted house setting reminded me of recent stories such as Hide and Knock Knock. However this goes up a notch with the creeps. A crawling skeletal hand, characters going out of one room and ending up at the same place, ghostly sightings and Graham desperately looking for the khazi.

At times it was a homage to Scooby Doo. The valet who would suddenly pop up and always has a sharp look. Graham even stops for a snack break.

The episode shifts gear when the lone foe appears with a mixture of cruel killings and maybe one moment of tenderness. I thought for a second an event from Frankenstein would be mirrored and the BBC complaints hotline would be jammed for the evening.

A very poetic episode, not a surprise given the literary characters involved. The exposition was cut to the minimum and a very atmospheric staging with lighting by candles.

Bored by the first 60%, sudden improvement by some intrigue and a good Doc speech near the end.

[jackVSjack · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

I'm honestly not sure what to make of this episode. During the first half I just felt quite bored. Then little over half way the plot picked up a bit and my interest levels were raised a tad. Some good stuff from the Doctor near the end. Over all just felt like a set up for the final two parter finale. I feel that parts of this narrative could have been threaded through the second part of the series and not saved for it's own episode. Hopefully it will contribute to a payoff for the end of the series.

Best episode of the season but not saying much.

[iamkeysersoze-13228 · 1/10 · 16 February 2020]

This episode is slightly better than the rest. It does manage to keep your interest. Even though it's flawed in writing, it was fairly enjoyable and the ending was pretty good. Bradley Walsh is great but the others not so much. The side character's aren't that great but still tolerable. It is great to see the Cybermen return even if the Cybermen design isn't too great. I just think his voice is more silly than anything. However I was kinda disappointed that this isn't a small scale ghost story cause I would have loved that.

This episode is basically filler and tease, what is come in the next two episodes.

Spooky

[antonioumaria-89489 · 10/10 · 4 March 2020]

I absolutely loved this... The setting, the characters, how spooky it was, the dialogue and the introduction to the lone Cyberman... Great performances all round and I think this will be seen as one of the best episodes of this era...

This...More of this...please.

[adshiel · 10/10 · 19 April 2020]

It's been 5 weeks since I last watch DW I just didn't have time to waste based on the bias of the season.

This is brilliant though. Good use of history (not lectures), good use of mystery (not fakey, fakey) and good performances.

Very good, reminiscent of the best NuWho

[carlgt1 · 9/10 · 12 April 2020]

This was an excellent episode worthy of any NuWho. So if people are still giving this episode less than say an 8, they obviously just have a grudge against Jodie and/or a female Doctor. This was sort of the "Vincent" of the Chibnall era

Spoilers!

[W011y4m5 · 7/10 · 17 December 2020]

Unfortunately, the incredibly talented scribe Maxine Alderton is saddled with an unenviable job in this episode; tasked with crafting a high stakes story that verges on the uncertainty as to whether "The Lone Cyberman" will gain access to the cyberium when we're already aware he's going to, since Jack foreshadowed the outcome of their confrontation 3 weeks prior in "Fugitive of The Judoon". Hence, as the question we're expected to ask throughout is already answered before this narrative's even begun, there's consequently a disappointing lack of tension thereafter, despite Maxine's best efforts to conjure it.

This isn't the guest writer's fault - since Chibnall decided to prematurely reveal what would happen beforehand & quite frankly, it's impressive how despite the major spoiler, she still manages to resiliently create a well written / constructed narrative, setting up a stand-alone mystery, establishing Ashad as a formidable villain, neatly tying up loose threads in her tale before the conclusion etc. However, due to the fact that "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" is a prequel to the 2-part finale, it is unfairly used as a brazen foundation for Chris' continuation to build upon - so her ability to tell her own story is limited somewhat by its necessary close relation to the showrunner's.

Best Jodie Episode

[liammogrady · 8/10 · 25 December 2020]

I know a lot of these episodes get bombed with low scores before the episode is even out but no way this is a 7.1. By far Jodies best epsiode and the only few times she has felt like the Doctor.

A good story as well and in what should of been an over stuffed episode actually moved smoothly

A messy script with a few redeeming elements

[DVD_Connoisseur · 6/10 · 16 February 2020]

Despite its spaghetti-like script, there were moments when "The Haunting" provided some hope for the series.

Mary Shelly's appeal to the remnants of humanity left in the lone Cyberman was moving and a standout moment in this busy but average episode.

The idea of the lone Cyberman trying to save its fellow creations was an interesting one but the overall execution was confusing and convoluted.

6 out of 10. I desperately wanted to like this episode but the delivery of ideas was too messy.

HAHA GOTTA LAUGH AT THE 8+ STAR REVIEWS ON HERE

[gareth-75442 · 4/10 · 18 February 2020]

NO MAN BASHING? Oh come on, it may have been more subtle in this episode but it was definitely there, all the main male historical characters were shown to be dimwits with only the females being courageous & intelligent. The "Dr" still comes across as more clown than witty & the only saving grace was in the form of Bradley walsh's character "Graham", both "Ryan" & "yasmin" were pointless characters in this episode with neither adding anything, had they not been in it the episode would have been the same, but no I hear you say... "Yas" did have one moment in which she confesses to someone not reciprocating her feelings... Yes this was the biggest woke moment so far, oh come on, surely we all know where this is going. Now in the interest of fairness I would like to defend those Reviewers "bashing" this episode because let's be honest the writer makes it so easy to do this, period pieces at the best of times are dull & drab & this was no different. This was certainly not, as so many Reviewers have gushed about, a "Dr who" episode, the Dr has a reason to time travel, had this episode began with that then this episode would have made some sense, whether an anomoly had been detected or perhaps the Dr decided the "fam" needed a distraction, but to just decide to pop back to this event in history to witness the creation of Mary shellys "frankenstein" was simply moronic given the fact that 4 strangers could very well have altered that event entirely & scuppered the entire creation of the famous novel, as it is we're now led to believe the lone cyberman was the inspiration for Mary shelly's "frankenstein", talk about an own goal, so now this woman didn't use her imagination to create a fantastic epic horror story as history tells us, well done MAXINE ALDERTON you just dissed a famous female author, best stick to the day job love the dales are more your thing I think. As I said, there should have been a reason for the "Dr" to risk visiting an important exact time in human history especially given the revaluations of the previous episodes & the direness of the future to come, to do an episode where they just decide to go somewhere because they want to & then it just so happens to end up being an important part of the overall storyline was utter absurdity, "rudderless ship" is the best way to describe this series. And again as I said apart from moments from "Graham" there was no comedic moments in this episode, it isn't "standup", one liners isn't comedy, comedic moments come from actions & reactions within the plot/story itself, "graham's" description of the Dr landing the tardis so far from the house was funny but it wasn't "comedy", the "Dr's" conversation with the cyberman in which she was suggesting they team up was neither "funny" or "comedic" it was just more pointless waffle. The problem with this show isn't that the writers aren't versed in sci-fi it's that they aren't versed in "Dr Who", none of them seem to have a clue what "Dr Who" is & the actor that plays her hasn't a clue either, there isn't a single episode of this season so far or of season 11 where "Jodie" actually gets the part right, it also doesn't help that the writing is awful, just absolute rubbish, but that's no excuse for not knowing or at least trying to play the part, that's just aroggance on Whittakers part, instead of "playing" the "Dr" she's decided to play "jodie Whittaker", probably because that's the only role she can play. On a more positive note I would like to give a big well done to the real stars of this show, THE CREW, THE SET DESIGNERS & all those involved in putting the physical sets & the virtual sets together & the special & cgi effects & of course the camera men/women, everything these people do is top notch, even if it's done on a shoestring budget they make it look like an expensive production.

The Beginning...

[maxglen · 9/10 · 16 February 2020]

This week's episode was shrouded with mystery, the trailers showed little, shying away from even glimpses of the monster of the week and now we know why. This episode is the beginning of the secretly 3 part Cyber War finale. I must say although this episode essentially retcons the Big Finish storyline "The Silver Turk" I did enjoy myself quite a bit and found the Lone Cyberman to be quite a creepy divergent to the traditional Cyberman. I found the team structure speech to be not only this episode's highlight but Jodie's highlight as the Doctor, it's the first time we see her truly embodying the role and psychology that one life is no more or less precious than many; she felt like the Doctor and that's all I could have asked for. Ultimately we'll have to see how it pans out but as an opening act I found more to enjoy than not. 8.6/10

Dissapointed

[metectnkya · 6/10 · 16 February 2020]

This was not Doctor Who. Well it didn't feel like it is. I loved this season but this episode had some major problems. At first everything happened too fast. Nothing made sense about the episode. Wasn't historically correct and it was poorly written. Lone Cyberman was really something disturbing to see. I hope they come up with something good with the last 2 episodes. All I want to see is Ruth and Master. I hope they don't skip it to the next season.

Just Trash.....

[SpiralScratch · 2/10 · 16 February 2020]

Words fail me......nothing left to say. Rubbish bore fest and made little sense

The First Barium Meal...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 7 January 2022]

It's all a little creepy at the start, quite atmospheric, electric and dark; in an isolated villa, they're about to draft a thriller, cadaver born again from a large spark. There's disinteresting chat from Lord Byron, our Time Lord thinks he's dull and a moron, there are rooms and walls that move, apparitions disapprove, and a wandering hand from a skeleton. Then a rusty bucket suddenly appears, only one side of his face can produce tears, he's angry and he's glum, someone's nicked Cyberium, and he reckons Percy Shelley has the gear.

The first great episode of Whittaker's run

[thebenjaminnunn · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

At long last the 13th Doctor has her first great episode. It took a while, but it's here.

If Maxine Alderton could just replace Chris Chibnall right now I think we could actually have a great show again.