I would have loved for her to have been another form of River, but there were two things that stopped the thought before I could ever begin to think it. One, she gave up all of her regeneration's to heal Smith's Doctor when she poisoned him. Two, she died waaaay back in Tennant's Doctor season in the Library saving everyone.

It feels like a lot of the press for this season was very nostalgia-based, as opposed to last season's more clean slate approach. They did their season of the pendulum swinging towards New Fresh Start, now this year it swings back in favor of The Greatest Hits. I hope you're right, that is all a really smart mega-arc, but I'm just not that convinced. Still, I'd rather you be right than me be right!

Yeah no, it's very transparently "Hey guys we brought back all the old enemies you love please watch us again". Still, it actually seems to be working out well, so...

And, like, that's so weird, because I didn't think last season was so bad? I don't remember it being any worse than a regular season of Who, at least. And while some stuff didn't click, it at least felt like a new group of creators was trying some new moves. And HOLY SHIT did I appreciate them not trying to do a Big Mystery for the season, since that's 100% why I stopped watching the Moffat stuff.

This season though, feels real up and down so far. I didn't watch the newest episode, despite it being thoroughly ruined through a number of headlines, so I can't speak to that one yet. But, like, the premiere had a great Master performance (that dude had the only good scene in the first season of Iron Fist, perfect choice for The Master) and a villain plot that really lost itself, that "Orphan 55" story has got to be the most infuriating episode I've ever seen, if not the worst, and the Tesla episode had some fun ideas but also was a little derivative. Like, maybe I'll feel differently about it in a year and I look back, and they've got a whole lot to go this season that could be amazing, but so far it's not super doing it for me this season.

I've personally found it a lot more enjoyable than last season so far. I'll agree that Spyfall's villain plot was overall kinda... just there, but that didn't take away from what was generally a really great string of episodes.
No arguments here about Orphan 55; I still think Kerblam was worse, but this really continued a trend of "we have a good message but we don't know how to actually convey it so we'll just have the Doctor tell you what it is" that's been frustrating me with these two seasons.
The Tesla episode reminded me of some of the best parts of Rosa (being very honest and informative; giving a lot of sympathy to a real historical figure and what they were going through) with the worst parts of the Witchfinders (terrible eyeroll-y monsters that take away from the really good drama). On the whole though? Really liked it.

I dunno, this season actually has me enjoying Doctor Who in a way I haven't in a very, very long time. I could point to a few individual Capaldi episodes that made me feel the same way but a whole season hasn't felt this good since 2010. I probably shouldn't judge too early, but again, this is hitting a lot of the right beats for me.
Now if only they can give Yaz something to do...

Oh, shit, Kerblam! God, that episode. I recall getting real mad at the end of that one. I think I'd end up giving the nod for Worst Who Episode I Can Remember to Orphan 55, though, because I think it sucks front-to-back (just, every scene seemed to have something that made me yell at the screen), while I remember Kerblam having some fun side characters and a couple good gags but a ridiculously violent and botched ending.

One of the things that really made me enjoy last season was how well the show landed the Graham/Ryan stuff, how earned it all felt by the end. This year, I was like, Okay, the boys had their turn, now let's give Yaz some character growth!

...

M-maybe next season?

Doctor Who since 2005's Rose has been strong and solid as a whole. Honestly I felt the show has grown better over the years ( weak moments aside).

That was, um, interesting--

Thanks to a pick up of the US exclusive Annimatiin Collection set I recently saw the lost story from Series XVII by Douglas Adams Shada Parts 1 - 6 uncut. (2 and ah half hours run time)They used annimation to fill in what wasn't filmed. I also picked up a colorized version of the 2nd Doctor 6 part story Power Of The Daleks. Also included were the 10th Doctor specials The Infinity Quest with Martha Jones and Dreamland.

Back around Christmas BBC America aired Shada. They also aired "The Macra Terror". Both were very good!