Welll some of the things this season have been deliberate retro nods (Movellans, Mondassian Cybermen, Ice Warriors), but since the beginning special effects have never been what made the show worth a shit. Its the story telling and the banter, which suffered immensely this season, in particular. A good chunk of it was reminding us constantly that mushmouth's less attractive sister from Fat Albert was a clam diver, but another is just the shittier than normal monster of the week stories that are just brainless. They had something good with Missy and her delivery when trying to reform, but they fucked that all up by spending all their time soap boxing. Hell, they even have a commercial on BBC-America dick waving how awesome they are for all the gayness they are beating us over the head with. Its like they took everything that was wrong with the last Claire season and dialed it up to 11, plus cramming a 5 ton elephant of virtue signaling in the room for good measure.
RE: Nardo, he might be played over across the pond in bittanistan, but a relatable nerd friendly guy is something the American fans have been deprived of for a long time (Rory and Donna are the last two I can think of and Rory had issues because of Amy Pond cuntiness towards the end), instead of dipshit eye candy or diversity checkbox companions that have dominated the New Who era. I am fine with the eye candy if the character is well written/interesting and bringing something to the table the Doctor himself doesn't (I am a big fan of Leela and Nyssa as companions), but the girl models who are useless except as some low rent Jimmy Cricket (until getting god powers randomly at some point) is played out as fuck. Nardo represented a departure from that trope and do not think we will have someone like that for a long while (if ever again) as a regular.
