I died in that final scene with his mother looking at his brain. Hahahahha
This is a story strongly criticizing the advancement of information technology and how that can be used in wrong ways. It feels even more relevant today than it did 15 years ago. The plot is pretty simple though and puts plenty of focus on Adam's stupidity, which makes it more painful to watch. The solution is also pretty predictable.
I'm happy Bruno Langley wasn't taken on a companion for longer since I can't stand Adam and I can't stand Langley's acting.
This is the first story where I feel some of the actings is a bit iffy. Christine Adams under-performs in some scenes and Anna Maxwell-Martin also comes across as stiff. Simon Pegg is one of the better-known guest actors to appear on Doctor Who, and he puts in a creepy if slightly one-sided performance as the Editor.
The Doctor is more laid-back here, and there's less of a mystery around him. Still, he's just as good talking himself out of trouble. It's also a shame he doesn't play a very active part in the solution.
The Long Game is pretty much Adam's story, and he is the stupidest companion this show has ever had. I can't understand how he can be s selfish and careless as he is, and I'm happy he was thrown out by the Doctor. This means that Rose is given a smaller role, which is fine for a change.
The Editor is a creepy dude, but only a right-hand man for the rather ugly-looking Jagrafess. The latter isn't up to much during the story. Forgettable.
This story is a win in terms of production design. The space station looks alive an busy, and you almost can't see it's a redressed set from The End of the World. The futuristic set design works, but the visuals are let down by the dated CGI effects. I also like the direction and the sweeping shots,m giving a sense of scale.
The pace here is pretty average. A lot is going on, but the story isn't very exciting and things don't seem to move forward after the initial build-up and before the climax.
This story isn't funny, nor is it particularly exciting or tense. If anything, it is annoying, mostly due to Adam and his stupidity. It feels satisfying to see him lectured by the Doctor.
This is the first middle-of-the-road filler episode of the revived series; it doesn't develop the season arc or the characters in any way and just focuses on basic adventure.
A pretty forgettable story, not one I would rewatch too often.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
The space station seen here will be returned to in Bad Wolf, marking it the second time the show returns to the same space station in a further point in time within the same season after Ark in Space and Revenge of the Cybermen in 1975.
This story remains unique for being the first and, as of 2020, the only time the Doctor explicitly throws someone out of the TARDIS in anger.
Simon Pegg's Doctor Who debut happened in the Eighth Doctor Big Finish audio play Invaders from Mars (2002).
Score: 55/120
I've been rewatching from the start of NuWho lately with the news of RTD returning and this episode is a rare miss! On paper all of the elements for a good episode are there, but it just falls to pieces in the execution.
The Long Game is a bit of a low point for me in series 1. While I liked Sion Pegg's The Editor, his campy manic energy was fun and found other minor characters like Cathica fairly engaging the story overall lacked intrgue. It was especially dragged down by whiny stupid Adam. Say what you will about Moffett he does make the companion's boyfriend character work mucher better than this era does
microprocessors becoming redundant in 2019… lol
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2018-02-05T01:54:12Z
This episode was the best one since the very first one. It had excellent writing, a good plot/conflict, and great characters. I loved Simon Pegg as the editor and I loved the mystery behind what is at Floor 500. I also think the stupid and ridiculous character of Adam was finally redeemed at the episode when they not only got rid of him, but they had an extremely comical part with his mom at the end. If I had a complaint, it would be the really stupid CGI for the brain transmitter and the Editor and Chief. Great episode overall though!!