Stephen Thompson - The Writer

[Aneurin]

So its the turn of a new writer for Who this week. Do you have expectations on Stephen Thompson based on other stuff he has done? I think I have only seen his episode of Sherlock but I wasn't keen on it. Alternatively, if you are reading this after the episode has aired, how do you think his style and writing fits in with DW these days? Did he do a good job?

Its a random thread, I know, but we always discuss stories and what we like or dislike about them, but the writers barely get a mention, so this is where we can critique Stephen Thompson

I for one am really looking forward to this episode and have been for AGES! I think its going to be brilliant and although I didnt like his episode of Sherlock I still have high hopes for COTBS

[Nyki]

I didn't recognise the name.  Which episode of Sherlock was his?

[poprockgeek]

He wrote The Blind Banker?! I did not know that (must pay more attention to who writes stuff!) Hmm ... I didn't dislike it, but it is my least favourite Sherlock ep of the three.

Be intrigued to see how he fares here 

[Nyki]

Oh, right.  Yes, I'd agree on placing it third of a strong three.

[Peri-Peri]

Any new writer into the Who fold is going to be scrutinised and picked apart no matter how well they do, and on top of that he has written an episode that no matter how good or bad, is going to be discussed for decades just like every other story on the show. I imagine he himself feels a certain amount of pressure but I think he will do a decent job. Most of the reviews I have read for the episode have been positive

[Vampyros Adric]

This is just based on a 'first watching' but I think I can safely say that Stephen Thompson 'gets' writing for Doctor Who. That is how I like my episodes

[Aneurin]

I think he did a good job on the story itself but he bulked it up a bit too much with stuff going on

[Saber]

I think he did a sterling job. As VampyrosAdric says, he really seemed to 'get' DW and I have a feeling he will be invited back next year

[Nyki]

As I said elsewhere, I found parts of this rushed, but there was supposed to have been a lot cut from it, so the original script might not have been.

[Exterminate]

It definately seemed like a fair bit of it was cut out. It was choppy in parts and a big rushed in the middle

[Oh-Wise-One]

I think he did a decent job. It was better than his Sherlock episode and surpassed many other writers first efforts on the show. It wasnt a spectacular episode but it was nothing to be knocked either

[DAK]

I just hope they never let this guy near a Who episode ever again.  Oh Moffat, what were you thinking?!   

[2cajuman2]

I need to rewatch the episode as we only had a glitchy version from the Sky+ box 

BUT I thought it Okay, I am not the biggest fan of him and as soon as I read it his name on the titles I got slightly worried. I thought it was a great idea... But then he chucked in a not so well explained ship and an siren that was really a Doctor that was all complicated, sure it was interesting, but I thought his style needed work... Other peoples Eps get cut down and turn out better than that....

So good, but disappointing, I was expecting better

His was my least fav Sherlock episode too... I'm not sure why yet, but I find something lacking in his writing... Or maybe it is just that he puts something wrong in to his scripts and expects us to believe it...

Like in Sherlock - How did Sherlock not know the numbers but know the obscure Chinese clan?