It's from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". No need to feel especially British/Welsh!

Indiana survives a nuclear explosion by hiding in a fridge. Slightly unlikely and a little bit beyond what the films are normally asking you to buy into, hence the "jumped the shark" comparison.

Aaahh. Ta. Get it. Does sound a bit unlikely. Fridge/Nuclear Explosion. Moon/Egg.Whatever.

Loved ROTLA as a kid, even read the novelisation! Lost interestest post 1982. Got obsessed by some silly programme.

Good thing because you are.

They're different though. The fridge one is a big suspension of disbelief; the other one is an intentional gimmick designed to win back viewers, signalling a detrimental change of focus for the show.

Oh I never said they were similar, only that they are used in comparative ways by mardy fans. The TARDIS towing Earth could be a nuke the fridge moment, whilst the Master turning female could be a shark jump moment, not that I agree with either.

To be honest, I don't see it as a massive change. Missy is a Moffat type that we've seen many times before; it's just that this time he's given her the importance of being The Master. She could have been anyone; he just chose to call her The Master. For me, that's why it falls a bit flat because we've seen this kind of character before.

That's true, but it doesn't hurt to get the show talked about. It's better than her just being some random character who will never be heard from again. And in fairness, she isn't a total trope character: she does fit the Master's characterization.

I'm not sure that's completely fair. Yes, we've had strong females before, and I understand the Kovarian comparisons. But Kovarian was in complete control of herself. What we've seen of Missy so far shows her to be completely bat-sh!t crazy. Not actually been done before by Moffatt. It's definitely fair to say River and Tasha Lem could be interchangeable, but I honestly cannot think of a character that you could swap with Missy and have the same effect. Do you have anyone in mind?

BIB: Surely the highlighted bolded bit is indeed gimmicky. However, it is perfectly within the context of the show so you are of course, perfectly correct, it is a "gimmick" that has been used for over 40 years so is in no way "jumping the shark". If The Master had changed into a sexy big busted sex kitten wearing nothing but frilly bra and knickers, of course that would be jumping the shark................but only if viewers stop watching!

Oh dear.

Well, they're all a little 'out there', a bit 'kooky'. Moffat was simply able to go all out this time. Crazy villain does not necessarily mean good writing or good characterisation.

I didn't think you were talking about your opinions on the writing or characterisation.

As for the kookiness, I feel personally that the crziness in Missy is more closely related to the Simms' Master than another female character. And Kovarian, whom I feel is most similar to Missy, is neither 'out there' nor 'kooky'!

But there are as many interpretations as there are viewers, so that is all subjective really.

Well of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, including the opening poster, but my dictionary defines "gimmick" as "something intended to attract attention rather than fulfil a useful purpose". The first part is obviously true, but the second? I beg to differ!

Doctor Who -"jumping the shark"
When?
1967: Fury from the Deep
gimmick introduced that signalled the decline in the show: sonic screwdriver

..hmm, okay, maybe not

What about:
1977: The Invisible Enemy
gimmick introduced that signalled the decline in the show: K9

-a better choice (aside from the odd story, the show was not as good as before), but I actually didn't mind K9.

ohh, we're talking about Nu Who!

hmm, I don't think Nu Who has "jumped the shark". Usually to say a show has jumped the shark there needs to be a gimmick, a change in a lead actor, production style, writer leaving etc. that significantly shows a deterioration and something is often introduced about the same time as a sign of desperation to try and "right the ship" so to speak. I can't see this with Nu Who or the current series and I think if you asked the majority of people watching they would agree. That's not to say things are perfect, but then I'm not in the shoes of Steven Moffatt (heh, heh)
-go on, admit it, if you were in charge of Doctor Who the show would be (beyond) brilliant!

The Missy reveal makes no difference for me.

Capaldi is fine but tbh the only character I actually care about is Clara. I don't hate him but I'm not at all invested in his fate. If there was a surprise regen I'd be neither upset or disappointed. He just kind of....there. He's become the sort of character who I watch in a detached manner rather than being invested in him and his story which for me is a pity after the last 3.

I've seen better plots on Scooby doo than the crap that hack Moffats put out this season but with the master going from Barry Chuckle to a tranny Irene Hadler, I'm tapping out. Thats it for me, I've watched from the start of new who in the hopes of improvement but it'll never change from left wing soap opera