Latest news with #finale
Geek Vibes Nation
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Doctor Who' Season 2 Finale Review - A Hollowly Nostalgic Trainwreck
The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) | Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf Well, that sure was a mess of a finale. After eight weeks, the Doctor and Belinda's journey back to May 24, 2025 ends in more of a whimper than a bang. Written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai, 'Wish World' and 'The Reality War' form a two-part finale that promises answers to lingering questions from across the Fifteenth Doctor's era and satisfying conclusions to a string of character arcs. But instead, it's a two-hour trainwreck from start to finish; an unsatisfying combination of strong premises, hollow nostalgia, and desperate ratings grabs that leaves a bad taste in your mouth and gives Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor the worst send-off of any modern Doctor so far. Note: major spoilers for 'Wish World' and 'The Reality War' follow. A Wish Gone Wrong After the explosive end of 'The Interstellar Song Contest', the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) wake up in their idyllic suburban home, their young daughter, Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) calling to them. But this isn't the Earth Belinda's been trying to return to. No, this is a world wished up by Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King); a nuclear family-inspired callback to the heteronormative suburbs of yesteryear. It's a world devoid of identity and self-expression. Except the Doctor's doubt may literally crack the universe in two. Meanwhile, the Rani (Archi Panjabi) and Mrs. Flood hope to utilize all this doubt to free the First Time Lord, Omega, from his prison so they can create a new Gallifrey. Can the Doctor remember who he is and put a stop to the Unholy Trinity's evil plans? Or is this the end of everything the Doctor and his friends have ever known? 'Wish World' and 'The Reality War' offer a mixed bag of missed opportunities and hollow nostalgia. On the one hand, most of 'Wish World' serves as a timely satire of dystopian societies that idolize a heteronormative past that never existed, complete with a knowing wink at the fragilities of such fantasies. On the other hand, you've got an endless list of self-indulgent callbacks to Doctor Who 's past that form the rest of the finale. It's nostalgic nonsense that feels empty and devoid of any meaning. And the finale throws all of that goodwill generated by the first half of 'Wish World' out the window in favor of hollow fan service that goes nowhere, says nothing, and does little. Based on this finale, Doctor Who feels like a show trapped in its own shadow, terrified to truly try something new—despite 62 years spent proving the value of constantly innovating. The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) | Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf A Mixed Bag of Character Beats The finale's character beats make for a similarly mixed bag. The Doctor's continued longing for a family takes center stage, a wish that's finally granted to him with Belinda and Poppy in 'Wish World'. But that joy gets cruelly taken away as the Doctor realizes his paradise is fake. Still, his endless longing leads him to quite literally give up his life in the sheer hopes of saving Poppy (who ends up being Belinda's child in the real world); a true act of heroism in this mess of a story. Otherwise, it's Millie Gibson's Ruby who shines the brighest, as she's the only person who seems to remember the world before Conrad's wish took over. And it's Ruby who defeats Conrad and remembers Poppy after she disappears from reality following that defeat In a way, she's more crucial to the story than either Doctor or Belinda. Which brings us to the biggest flawed character beat: Belinda Chandra feels like a former shell of herself. Gone is the Belinda who faced off against cartoon gods and unknowable horrors. Instead, she largely fades into the background as she hides away in a crate with Poppy and allows the Doctor to, later, go off on his own to save Poppy after the wish's end erases her from existence. A disapponting turn of events for a character so strongly introduced eight weeks ago. It's not that Belinda being a mother is a bad thing. It's that she's never once mentioned it in all of her time with the Doctor, despite the episode's final minutes suggesting she'd done just that in scenes never previously shown. Instead of the season using Belinda's daughter as a driving motivation, her existence feels tacked on in a way that ignores everything the show's previously told us. Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) | Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf An Exercise in Hollow Nostalgia The root of these problems is Doctor Who 's current obsession with hollow nostalgia. Like several other legacy franchises, Doctor Who seems to think the mere existence of legacy characters offers a strong enough draw to entice fans into overlooking any narrative deficiencies. At least, that's certainly how this finale feels because there's just not a story here. You've got legacy Doctor Who villain, the Rani, trying to find legacy Doctor Who villain, Omega, so they can bring back legacy Doctor Who location, Gallifrey. But there's no drama and no emotional connection. In fact, the Rani and Omega don't even feel like themselves. Gatwa, Panjabi, and Dobson can try as hard as they like to sell their characters' pasts—and they do try—but there's just nothing there. So, what's the point? 'Freaky Tales' Review - A Lot Happening, But Leaves Us Wanting More Without a cohesive narrative or a group of characters to emotionally invest in, what's left to care about? A Wikipedia-style list of plot points and callbacks to past stories that were both more inventive and more enjoyable? No amount of mustache-twirling, scenery-chewing energy from Panjabi and Dobson can make up for the narrative's fundamental disinterest in exploring anything about their characters as fully rounded people. Their existence is just fan service in chase of a story rather than an exciting, innovative story delighting in playing with fan-favorite characters from the past. Say what you will about Davies' finales from his first tenure as showrunner but at least he knew then that if the character drama works, then the audience will forgive a wonky plot. But here, he chases solely after plot twists and cameos and winks at the expense of meaningful conclusions to the characters' arcs, and it shows. A Future Obsessed with its Past All of this hollow nostalgia comes to a head in the final twenty minutes or so of 'The Reality War'—an ending that feels as though it was changed months after the fact in a series of reshoots. Having defeated the Unholy Trinity, the Doctor, Belinda, and Poppy prepare to continue traveling. Except as Conrad's wish fades away, so too does Poppy. But the Doctor vows to save her at any cost. But in doing so, he begins to regenerate. As far as regeneration-prompting events go, it's ho-hum; somewhat emotionally satisfying, perhaps, but one that doesn't feel remotely alluded to. Aided by a surprise cameo from Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor, Gatwa's Doctor begins the process of saying goodbye, complete with the speech we've all grown to expect. And despite the fact that Gatwa's departure's been kept a secret and the episode as a whole does a terrible job at even hinting at his departure, it's a decent enough send off. Until the regeneration itself. Plagued by special effects that look barely finished (and significantly worse than those twenty years ago), Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor regenerates into…Billie Piper, last seen on Doctor Who as Rose Tyler, companion to Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's 9th and 10th Doctors. And no disrespect to Piper, but for a show defined by its ability to move forward, two of the past three Doctors being David Tennant and Billie Piper both returning to the show feels hopelessly backward-looking. It's all very 'Somehow, Palpatine returned' of the show in the worst way possible. And with Doctor Who 's future looking quite uncertain, it feels desperate in the most cynical of ways; a last-ditch attempt to goose the ratings and earn the show a third reprive. But if this is the cost, perhaps Doctor Who may indeed be due for another rest. The 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and The 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) | Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf Final Thoughts And with that, Doctor Who 's second season comes to a whimper of an end. After a strong run of episodes, Doctor Who just couldn't nail the landing. It's as if the show decided midway through the finale to completely ignore everything that's made the rest of the season so good and lean into its very worst habits. 'Wish World' and 'The Reality War' offer up an exercise in hollow nostalgia in search of a meaningful story. It's a collection of things happening with no real connective tissue. A surprise regeneration episode in the worst possible way and, perhaps most damningly, a perfect example of why Doctor Who might just need a rest. Say what you will about the finales of seasons' past but at least they tried to do something new, regardless of how well they accomplished it. But this finale? It's a whole lot of disappointing nothing. Doctor Who season two is available now on Disney+.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Britain's Got Talent fans have same verdict on Amanda Holden's finale outfit
The grand finale of Britain's Got Talent is currently in progress, but it appears that the audience's attention isn't on the performances. The search for the UK's next star to grace the Royal Variety stage will conclude tonight. Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, and Bruno Tonioli will scrutinise the finalists in the 18th season's showpiece event, with Ant and Dec hosting the show. Ten acts will perform for the final time. The betting odds for the final have been disclosed, suggesting that Hear Me Out is likely to clinch the title in 2025. READ MORE: Britain's Got Talent fans all say the same thing minutes into the ITV finale READ MORE: British Soap Awards 2025 winners list in full However, it's Amanda's ensemble that has viewers at home diverted from the finalist's performance. The 54-year-old is wearing a low-plunged dress with matching hair accessories. However, not everyone is in favour of the add-ons. Leigh said: 'Someone needs to tell Amanda she's left her hair clips in.' Victoria added: 'I think someone forgot to take out Amanda's hair pins.' Niall wrote: 'Why's Amanda Holden looking like she's wearing an electric shock cap on her head tonight?' Natasha added: 'Amanda needs to fire her stylist... Whatever she's got on her head does not look good.' In a separate comment, Pearl commented: 'Looks like there are claws on the back of Amanda holders head.' However, there were plenty of others on the other end of the argument, loving her look tonight. Rose said: 'Amanda dressed so classy.' Another account added: 'I feel like Amanda keeps proving people wrong.' Teena added: 'Amanda looks stunning tonight.' Amanda Holden, a judge since 2007, recently hit back at the recent Ofcom outfit complaints she's received regarding her clothing options. She told Closer Magazine: "What you see on TV, I really love. I'm always asked about the Ofcom complaints, but every outfit on the show is checked before I leave my dressing room, so I'm never worried. "I think people should have fun with fashion."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Britain's Got Talent crown 2025 winner
After a jam-packed Britain's Got Talent final, the winner has been Moulding wowed the judges and the public with his mind blowing won a spot to perform at the Royal Variety Performance and a whopping £250,000 cash Harry one of your favourite acts this year? Let us know in the comments below! The Blackouts came second to Harry after their electrifying light show performance but it was the magician that received the most votes from the golden buzzer act beat 10 other finalists to get the crown after guessing which cards the judges had picked while jumping out of an airplane!Who else was in the final?Vinnie McKeeOlly PearsonStacey LeadbeatterJasmine RicePing Pong PangJoseph CharmHear Our VoiceBinita ChetryHan and Fran (wildcard)What did you think of the BGT final? Let us know in the comments below...
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Britain's Got Talent fans all say the same thing minutes into the ITV finale
The finale of Britain's Got Talent is currently underway, and mere minutes into the show, everyone is saying the same thing. The hunt to find the UK's next star to perform at the Royal Variety will reach its end tonight. Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, and Bruno Tonioli will cast their eyes over the finalists in season 18's showpiece event as Ant and Dec front the show. 10 acts will take to the stage for the last time. The betting odds for the final have been revealed and indicate Hear Me Out will take home the crown in 2025. READ MORE: Gogglebox couple's five-word message as they bid farewell to show READ MORE: Britain's Got Talent fans have same verdict on Amanda Holden's finale outfit However, it is a completely different act that has got everyone talking on social media. As the finalists were being introduced on stage, many fans at home shared similar thoughts about this year's wild card, Han and Fran. The work besties-turned pop girlies got eliminated last weekend on Saturday, May 21, during the semi-finals. The two were vying to become the first Welsh winners of the show, but their dreams were crushed - or so they thought. The pair were called back for a second chance, with Simon explaining: 'They got a massive vote from the public, and therefore they deserve a chance at the final.' The two were the first to take to the stage tonight and performed an ABBA medley. But some fans were less than impressed. Alex said: 'Han and Fran got the judges wild card; I didn't expect them to get it.' Sarah said: 'They had all of those options and they picked them?' Phillip wrote: 'Han & Fran is the wildcard?! I loved them but surely there was better acts to bring to the final.' Zombi added: 'What a waste of a wildcard', whereas Phil said: 'Stop making excuses why Han and Fran made the wild card. A final place wasted.' However, the judges felt completely different about the two. Simon said their performance was the pair's best so far adding: 'You're gutsy and you sounded great.' Amanda claimed they were one of her favourite acts ever to grace the stage, reminding her of her friends, and Alesha had similar praise.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Britain's Got Talent 2025 winner revealed leaving fans stunned after tense live final
BRITAIN'S Got Talent has crowned this year's winner after an intense finale showdown. Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli were back one last time to give their thoughts on this year's acts – though the result was down to the public vote. 12 Revealing the results backwards live on stage, Ant and Dec declared Harry Moulding the winning performance. After beating out 10 other finalists to take home the victory, Harry bagged himself £250,000 and a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance. They said after being crowned champion: " This year's finalists were chosen after a string of semi-finals over the past five weeks, where both the public vote and the judges' Golden Buzzer gave power to who would make it to the last show. It resulted in one of the most mixed finals in years, with an LED act, a ping-pong paddle wielding dance troupe, two singers, an 11-year-old guitarist, a drag queen, a comedian, a choir, a magician and a gymnast all vying for the top spot. Bruno Tonioli declared the finalists "the strongest Britain's Got Talent had ever had". 12 12 12 The Final Showdown The final 10 acts were: Hear Our Voice, The Blackouts, Harry Moulding, Stacey Leadbeatter, Olly Pearson, Ping Pong Pang, Binita Chetry, Joseph Charm, Vinnie McKee and Jasmine Rice. On top of that, singing duo Han and Fran were brought back to the show as the wildcard finalists – being announced at the beginning of the series. The pair performed an ABBA medley in order to kick off the night's show, with Simon saying he was "giving the people what they want" when they chose them to respond. After that were Danish group Ping Pong Pang, a unique, neon-loving dance troupe who performed a routine dancing with paddles. Hear Our Voice – a choir whose members is made up of those affected by the Post Office scandal – performed original track Gigantic by Will of the People. Simon told the group: "If you won, it would be an F You to a certain group of people to deserve it.' Stacey Leadbetter, who secured KSI's golden buzzer, then took to the stage, singing a version of Robbie Williams' iconic track, Angels. Comedian Joseph Charm then took to the stage, waxing lyrical on relationships, his family, and racism in the UK. "You made everybody feel a part of your act, you weren't afraid to go to the uncomfortable places - we need to go there more," said Alesha Dixon. "I praise you, I'm proud of you. Congratulations, my friend." Vinnie McKee then took to the stage, performing Yellow by Coldplay and being cheered on by fellow Scot Lorraine Kelly. 12 12 Simon was critical of the performance, telling him: "If I'm being honest with you, I did prefer the song you sung in the first semi." He then quickly added: "But it doesn't matter, you did brilliant." as boos rung out among the audience. Drag Queen Jasmine Rice then dazzled with a performance of Nessun Dorma – breaking down in tears as Amanda declared that "she thought she had just seen the winner of Britain's Got Talent". Nine-year-old gymnast Binita Chetry was cheered on by her parents as she took to the stage next - with Simon calling her "one of the most talented contestants they'd ever had" after their audition. Performing a daring routine to Everybody Wants to Rule The World, the youngest finalist left the judges staggered by her performance. The Blackouts – whose semi-final run was dogged with a technical error – took to the stage with a nearly flawless performance starting with the Robbie Williams song, 'Let Me Entertain You'. Bruno told them: "Absolutely dazzling, you blew my mind! I thought I was at the Royal Variety already!" Harry Moulding was next up, taking inspiration from Tom Cruise by jumping out of a plane as part of his latest trick - completing a skydive from 12,000 feet as he correctly guessed judges' cards. "All I can say is Mission Accomplished!" joked Bruno at the impressive feat. Finishing the night's final performances was 11-year-old rocker Olly Pearson, who was given a special message from Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson ahead of their guitar-shredding set. However, Ant and Dec were forced to stall after a technical hitch meant the youngster's staging wasn't ready. As the voting lines opened, viewers were treated to an appearance from KSI, who appeared as a replacement judge throughout the series, and Tom Grennan. Britain's Got Talent is available to watch in full on ITVX. 12 12 12 12
