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Forum Community => Off-topic Board => Topic started by: Antonio the Sixth on November 23, 2010, 07:32:11 AM



Title: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 23, 2010, 07:32:11 AM
Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)

Personally, I've discovered this series last summer and I like it more and more season after season. It's rarely seen a series combining action, sci-fi, suspense and humour (and what a clever british humour ! :D). I'm usually not fond of this kind of things, but Doctor Who is something unique.

I've seen the seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 entirely, but still not season 5 (as it still hasn't begun in France), so I'd ask you to avoid spoilers if you can. ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: exopolitician on November 23, 2010, 08:04:17 AM
I quite enjoy Doctor Who, though the current Doctor I'm just not feeling. David Tennant needs to return ASAP.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on November 23, 2010, 10:01:39 AM
Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)


Yes, I'm one.

An appropriate day to ask; the show is 47 today.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on November 23, 2010, 10:09:42 AM
Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)

Thanks for singling me out.:(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: J. J. on November 23, 2010, 11:34:27 AM
I've been a fan since about 1982.  :)  The first Doctor I've seen was Tom Baker. 


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 23, 2010, 05:21:13 PM
Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)


Yes, I'm one.

An appropriate day to ask; the show is 47 today.

Oh, really. LOL, I didn't even know that ! :P


Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)

Thanks for singling me out.:(

What did you understand ? What I meant is just that I already knew you were a Dr Who fan. ;)

I even intended to PM you if you hadn't noticed the thread. :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on November 23, 2010, 05:26:40 PM
Have something of a love-hate relationship. It can sometimes be dreadful. But normally it is  better than most things on television and is occasionally excellent. The recent series managed to avoid any dreadful episodes and wasn't so... problematic... at times, which was a nice change.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on November 23, 2010, 06:50:21 PM
Hey, I was wondering if besides ArchangelZero, there were other Doctor Who fans around here. :)

Thanks for singling me out.:(

What did you understand ? What I meant is just that I already knew you were a Dr Who fan. ;)

I even intended to PM you if you hadn't noticed the thread. :)

Lol, I'm just joking with you man.  But yes, Doctor Who is teh awesome.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: patrick1 on November 23, 2010, 09:40:39 PM
I've only just watched the new Doctor Who series and I am a big fan.  There are usually a few episodes a year that are great.  Blink would rank as my favorite episode.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on November 23, 2010, 09:43:26 PM
Blink would rank as my favorite episode.

Probably the best Doctor Who episode ever.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on November 23, 2010, 10:12:13 PM
I quite enjoy Doctor Who, though the current Doctor I'm just not feeling. David Tennant needs to return ASAP.

     Agreed, David Tennant suited the role perfectly. I was quite sad when he left.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on November 24, 2010, 12:57:38 AM
I recall making fun a friend's older brother when I was a teenager (many many moons ago) who watched the original show.  I still find the first run of it to be a little too corny for my liking.  My wife watches the current run of it and so I've seen a lot of episodes (many of them multiple times...the Library and the one where The Master tries and to take over the world...what with the shaky heads and stuff).  It's nowhere near the worst thing she watches (that would be anything with Gordon Ramsey or some of the lamer SciFy shows...I'm looking at you Sanctuary), but I've never been much of a SciFi guy (other than Star Wars of course...and SG-1 I guess).  The kids seem to like it too...not as much as The Walking Dead or South Park mind you, but they do enjoy it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 24, 2010, 09:32:51 AM
Sadly, I've never seen an episode of the old series, but I think I'm gonna dowload a few episodes one day to see how they were.

Also, let's talk about the actors. I've enjoyed the ninth doctor, Christopher Eccleston, and was very sad to see him written out so early in the show. I was a bit disappointed by David Tennant at his beginnings (I found his "humour" too childish and less witty than Eccleston's), but I think his performance improved in season 3 and 4 (I also probably gradually got more used to his acting). As I've never seen season 5 I don't know Matt Smith, though what I've seen in this thread makes me quite worried.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on November 24, 2010, 11:09:00 AM
Sadly, I've never seen an episode of the old series, but I think I'm gonna dowload a few episodes one day to see how they were.

Also, let's talk about the actors. I've enjoyed the ninth doctor, Christopher Eccleston, and was very sad to see him written out so early in the show. I was a bit disappointed by David Tennant at his beginnings (I found his "humour" too childish and less witty than Eccleston's), but I think his performance improved in season 3 and 4 (I also probably gradually got more used to his acting). As I've never seen season 5 I don't know Matt Smith, though what I've seen in this thread makes me quite worried.

On the contrary, I've found Matt Smith to be quite the great Doctor.

I loved Tennant, but his time was up.  Besides, the die-hard fans were starting to rage because of the Tenth Doctor's angst and moodiness.:P

The Eleventh Doctor is all about having fun, whether it's kicking ass or it's exploring a new world.  Very rarely does he get angry - although the one time he did it was rather sad.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 24, 2010, 04:00:27 PM
Well, basically what made me skeptical about the early Tennant was his kind of "hey, let's just have fun !" attitude. Of course episodes like The Satan Pit made me fully change my mind, and if we had any doubt about the maturity of the tenth doctor, the Season 3's finale definitely cleared them all. I actually think "angst and moodiness" are also an important part of the doctor's personality : he is and will remain a lonely, tormented and unsure being. Anyways, that did never prevent him from being a master regarding humour (the way the 9th doctor wielded irony and sarcasm was just epic). I think the best doctor should be able to embrace the character's formidable ambiguity.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on November 24, 2010, 04:08:04 PM
Well, basically what made me skeptical about the early Tennant was his kind of "hey, let's just have fun !" attitude. Of course episodes like The Satan Pit made me fully change my mind, and if we had any doubt about the maturity of the tenth doctor, the Season 3's finale definitely cleared them all. I actually think "angst and moodiness" are also an important part of the doctor's personality : he is and will remain a lonely, tormented and unsure being. Anyways, that did never prevent him from being a master regarding humour (the way the 9th doctor wielded irony and sarcasm was just epic). I think the best doctor should be able to embrace the character's formidable ambiguity.

     Given some of the things in the Doctor's past, for him to not be angst-ridden & moody would be quite bizarre. Indeed, that's what I liked so much about the Tenth Doctor, especially later on. He managed to balance angst with the Doctor's typical eccentricity.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on November 24, 2010, 04:37:05 PM
Myself and Chris are huge fans.

While I loved Tennant, Matt Smith has been great - the stories and plots are tighter.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on November 24, 2010, 09:18:01 PM
I grew up watching the original Doctor Who on Maryland Public Television.

I've really enjoyed the new series, except for the last season. I can't stand Matt Smith.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on November 24, 2010, 09:22:38 PM
Well that's true, but the Time War was a crucible that honestly held his character back a little.  I loved Tennant, as well as the angst the such, but it was starting to become too much.

I'll lay it simply as this:  The old RTD era was about the characters, the new Moffat era is about the story.

That being said, you should really watch Series 5.  It is very good, the only issue being that some characters seem flat.

Well, basically what made me skeptical about the early Tennant was his kind of "hey, let's just have fun !" attitude. Of course episodes like The Satan Pit made me fully change my mind, and if we had any doubt about the maturity of the tenth doctor, the Season 3's finale definitely cleared them all. I actually think "angst and moodiness" are also an important part of the doctor's personality : he is and will remain a lonely, tormented and unsure being. Anyways, that did never prevent him from being a master regarding humour (the way the 9th doctor wielded irony and sarcasm was just epic). I think the best doctor should be able to embrace the character's formidable ambiguity.

     Given some of the things in the Doctor's past, for him to not be angst-ridden & moody would be quite bizarre. Indeed, that's what I liked so much about the Tenth Doctor, especially later on. He managed to balance angst with the Doctor's typical eccentricity.

Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.


Here's a good sample of Smith's work from the first episode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCCMg-rcCQk&feature=related

And sadly an extra scene that should've been added to the season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiCvx5it8tU


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 25, 2010, 01:26:09 PM
Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.

Well, just try to immagine the USA suddenly disappearing with all its inhabitant except you : I think it would be pretty hard to get over it. :P Anyways, fans will always have something to complain about : that's pretty much what they we are for. ;D


Also, what about the doctor's companions ? They are of course very important in the telefilm, maybe almost as much as the doctor himself.
I've never really liked Rose (depressingly predictable, occasionally very naive and stupid), but I hated her since it started to look like the doctor was kind of falling in love of her. Really guy, wake up ! Her mother was hilarious though, and I loved when the doctor makes fun of "Rickey". Anyways, Rose needs to finally stay in her little useless parallel universe and never come back.
Martha Jones was awesome, she was definitely the best of the first 3 (don't know of Amy). She was clever, energetic, sensitive... in one word, worthy of the place she occupied. Too bad the doctor was still thinking to the useless blonde and didn't give a sh*t about her.
Donna Noble looked far too lunatic/erratic for my tastes, so I was kind of disappointed at the beginning (especially after Martha). But I eventually got used to her "original" style and found her endearing. And the way she ended up made me so sad... :(
Well, there's also Jack Harckness. While in "the empty child" I was thinking "who the hell is this idiot", he revealed to be an epic character and I missed him after season 1. He was still great in the season 3 finale, as "Mr Die Hard", but in season 4's he became a bit irrelevant between all the other guys.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on November 25, 2010, 02:14:08 PM
Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.

Well, just try to immagine the USA suddenly disappearing with all its inhabitant except you : I think it would be pretty hard to get over it. :P Anyways, fans will always have something to complain about : that's pretty much what they we are for. ;D

Well yeah, but it was his fault....twice.:P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 26, 2010, 09:03:59 AM
Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.

Well, just try to immagine the USA suddenly disappearing with all its inhabitant except you : I think it would be pretty hard to get over it. :P Anyways, fans will always have something to complain about : that's pretty much what they we are for. ;D

Well yeah, but it was his fault....twice.:P

His fault, how so ? ??? (did I miss something ? :o)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on November 26, 2010, 02:55:50 PM
Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.

Well, just try to immagine the USA suddenly disappearing with all its inhabitant except you : I think it would be pretty hard to get over it. :P Anyways, fans will always have something to complain about : that's pretty much what they we are for. ;D

Well yeah, but it was his fault....twice.:P

His fault, how so ? ??? (did I miss something ? :o)

     You didn't watch The End Of Time, did you? :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on November 26, 2010, 03:49:42 PM
Well true, but the fans started to scream "WHEN THE HELL IS HE GONNA GET OVER IT" lol.

Well, just try to immagine the USA suddenly disappearing with all its inhabitant except you : I think it would be pretty hard to get over it. :P Anyways, fans will always have something to complain about : that's pretty much what they we are for. ;D

Well yeah, but it was his fault....twice.:P

His fault, how so ? ??? (did I miss something ? :o)

     You didn't watch The End Of Time, did you? :P

No, I didnt, so PLEASE SHUT UP EVERYBODY !!! >:(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on November 26, 2010, 03:53:15 PM
I would recommend not watching it, actually. Some astonishingly shoddy writing, unfortunately.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on November 26, 2010, 03:59:12 PM
I would recommend not watching it, actually. Some astonishingly shoddy writing, unfortunately.

     The writing left much to be desired, but it still reveals a great deal about the Doctor's past. I suppose reading a synopsis would suffice.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on November 26, 2010, 04:12:03 PM
The writing left much to be desired, but it still reveals a great deal about the Doctor's past.

Only by wrecking the previously established backstory.

There was also those unintentional (?) incest vibes. Did. Not. Want.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on November 26, 2010, 04:35:02 PM
The writing left much to be desired, but it still reveals a great deal about the Doctor's past.

Only by wrecking the previously established backstory.

There was also those unintentional (?) incest vibes. Did. Not. Want.

     I would ask how so, though not everyone in the thread has seen the episode. :P

     I know, those incest vibes were so creepy. :( I also thought that the characters displayed an incredible amount of faith in politicians to get stuff done. There were definitely a few moments in there that were unbelieveable, to say the least.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: patrick1 on November 26, 2010, 07:21:13 PM


I'll lay it simply as this:  The old RTD era was about the characters, the new Moffat era is about the story.


I would disagree with this.  Moffat's stories were plot driven, but I think they were the strongest because he also had fully developed characters. In Blink, you could really identify with the Sally Sparrow, Nightingale and Shipton characters and this was from 50 minutes.

That being said, I was a bit disappointed in Moffat's stories this season. Personally, my favorite episode was the Van Gogh one.

Edit: I see you wrote the Moffat era. Yeah, I could see that from this season. 


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 13, 2011, 02:56:13 PM
Hey guys, time for a little bump ! :)

I've just watched all the specials and the first three episodes of season 5, and I must say I'm still charmed ! :)

The end of time was a beautiful episod, with an intensity rarely seen. It was very disturbing at some point, especially realizing that the Time Lords weren't as good as the Doctor pretended. I'd have hoped to see more feelings from the Doctor, I'm surprised he wasn't more affected by all these events, and maybe I'd have seen him esitating more before sending his own race to oblivion. But it was undoubtely one of the greatest episodes of the series.

The new season was... surprising. We got a brand new doctor, who has still to show his character, but the first signs are encouraging (I've loved the scene whe he speaks to the Ataraxi). The first episode is surprisingly good (first episodes are usually pretty unappealing) : I've liked the plot, there was far more suspense than usual... And Amy is a great character. I guess it's too soon to say that, but she has the potential to equal Martha. She is far more clever, authentic and emotional than the usual Doctor's companions. This time, the doctor has probably got someone he deserves : let's hope she will stay for more than a season.

The second episode was heart-blowing. All right, I'm probably a quite sensitive person, but I felt extemely uncomfortable after watching it. Regardless of the emotional aspect (and there is too much emotion in this episode), it's probably one of the best episodes of the series. The concept of the "forget" button is probably one of the most creative sci-fi ideas I've ever seen (all right, I know nothing about sci-fi :P), and the way it was used is excellent. The social and moral implications of this episode are extremely deep, as they have rarely been in the series. And of course Amy's final intervention was what convinced me that she was great.

Not so much to say about the third episode, partly because I was still traumatized by the second one. I've liked the spatio-temporal location, especially due to Churchill's characters. But honestly, I was a bit fed up of the Daleks. I think the dalek episodes would be percieved better if they weren't much frequent : twice per season (because they will certainly reappear in the season finale or close to it) is too much. Anyways, the plot was interesting, with the idea of Daleks manipulating humans and the doctor itself to win. However, what I can't bear is the fact the scenarists can't find an original way to explain the Dalek's return. Another ship survived from the Time War ! O rly ? Again ? Maybe we will eventually learn  that in fact 99% of the Daleks survived to the Time War (which would lead us to think that the Doctor's true aim was to kill the Time Lords, not the Daleks). As for the rest, fine episode ; the android is lovely.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 13, 2011, 03:43:26 PM
     I've also gotten around to watching season 5 (or season 31, to be pedantic :P) in the meantime, & I must say that I liked Matt Smith a lot. I think I had just gotten too attached to David Tennant since he was the only incarnation of the Doctor who I was familiar with.

Not so much to say about the third episode, partly because I was still traumatized by the second one. I've liked the spatio-temporal location, especially due to Churchill's characters. But honestly, I was a bit fed up of the Daleks. I think the dalek episodes would be percieved better if they weren't much frequent : twice per season (because they will certainly reappear in the season finale or close to it) is too much. Anyways, the plot was interesting, with the idea of Daleks manipulating humans and the doctor itself to win. However, what I can't bear is the fact the scenarists can't find an original way to explain the Dalek's return. Another ship survived from the Time War ! O rly ? Again ? Maybe we will eventually learn  that in fact 99% of the Daleks survived to the Time War (which would lead us to think that the Doctor's true aim was to kill the Time Lords, not the Daleks). As for the rest, fine episode ; the android is lovely.

     I must agree that the Daleks appear too often, though having a small cast of Daleks to reappear offers promise (sort of like with the Cult of Skaro). The main problem I see is the tendency for the Daleks to appear with 10,000 or so ships that get completely annihilated at the end of the story, which makes it hard to take them seriously. I thought that this Dalek ship had actually been part of Davros's fleet from Journey's End, though.

     As an aside, I just finished watching season 16 (the Key To Time saga). I really liked Tom Baker & Mary Tamm. I also found K-9 to be quite endearing. It's also sort of refreshing to not see the sonic screwdriver being used every five minutes, oftentimes for things that such a device would have no conceivable use for.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on February 13, 2011, 03:47:25 PM
Antonio, if you think Episode 2 was heartbreaking, just wait until you watch Episode 8 (Vincent and the Doctor), or even A Christmas Carol (this year's Christmas Special).  Those are the two most emotional stories I've seen since Matt Smith took the helm.

Also, you'll love Episodes 4 and 5.  And always remember, you can skip ahead, all of it is on Sidereel (albeit in English).:P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 13, 2011, 04:08:59 PM
     I've also gotten around to watching season 5 (or season 31, to be pedantic :P) in the meantime, & I must say that I liked Matt Smith a lot. I think I had just gotten too attached to David Tennant since he was the only incarnation of the Doctor who I was familiar with.

Yeah, that's it. Hell, I got attached to Eccleston despite he stayed for only one season ! ;D I think it will take a while for me to "accept" the new personnality, but of course it all depends to Smith and Moffat. ;)


Quote
I must agree that the Daleks appear too often, though having a small cast of Daleks to reappear offers promise (sort of like with the Cult of Skaro). The main problem I see is the tendency for the Daleks to appear with 10,000 or so ships that get completely annihilated at the end of the story, which makes it hard to take them seriously. I thought that this Dalek ship had actually been part of Davros's fleet from Journey's End, though.

They were said to be "hybrids", which seems an allusion to the Daleks of the season 1 finale (the Emperor used human meat to create new Daleks and prepare the invasion of the Earth). But once again, they can't came with new Dalek survivors every two minutes and pretend we believe they were "destroyed" in the Time War.
I've also liked the Cult of Skaro and maybe they could have made it last for a few more episodes. However at some time the scenarist have to give us a definitive answer : are they gone or not ?


Antonio, if you think Episode 2 was heartbreaking, just wait until you watch Episode 8 (Vincent and the Doctor), or even A Christmas Carol (this year's Christmas Special).  Those are the two most emotional stories I've seen since Matt Smith took the helm.

Well, I have nothing to say but "wow !". Looks like this series is even more promising than I imagined. :) But I don't know if I will be able to bear so much emotions...


Quote
Also, you'll love Episodes 4 and 5.  And always remember, you can skip ahead, all of it is on Sidereel (albeit in English).:P

The next two are about the weeping angels, right ? ;) Blink was a great episode, so it's great to see them back. I'll wait to watch them in French however, both because I don't enjoy watching these kind of series in foreign languages and also because I don't want to finish the series too quickly. :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 13, 2011, 04:25:40 PM
     I do not advise doing what I did & waiting a week between first watching episodes 4 & 5. :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on February 13, 2011, 05:02:50 PM
      As an aside, I just finished watching season 16 (the Key To Time saga). I really liked Tom Baker & Mary Tamm. I also found K-9 to be quite endearing. It's also sort of refreshing to not see the sonic screwdriver being used every five minutes, oftentimes for things that such a device would have no conceivable use for.

Season 16 is a good season, but did you find the ending a bit poor? I know many fans have, including myself.

As for Amy, I like her a lot. She's had her detractors, but she's a great addition to the TARDIS.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 13, 2011, 05:13:01 PM
      As an aside, I just finished watching season 16 (the Key To Time saga). I really liked Tom Baker & Mary Tamm. I also found K-9 to be quite endearing. It's also sort of refreshing to not see the sonic screwdriver being used every five minutes, oftentimes for things that such a device would have no conceivable use for.

Season 16 is a good season, but did you find the ending a bit poor? I know many fans have, including myself.

As for Amy, I like her a lot. She's had her detractors, but she's a great addition to the TARDIS.

     I thought the ending was quite rushed. Given that the entire season comprised one long story arc, I expected a full episode for the epilogue, rather than the scant five minutes they gave it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on February 13, 2011, 05:48:22 PM
As for Amy, I like her a lot. She's had her detractors, but she's a great addition to the TARDIS.

Amy is quite interesting as she's a rather polarizing character.  Fans either flat out hate her or love her, there's rarely any middle ground.

Personally though she may come off as flat at times, I loved her character.  And I also think Karen Gillan is quite attractive. :D


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on February 13, 2011, 06:12:59 PM
Amy is amazing. What I like about this relationship (and part of the reason why I liked Catherine Tate as Donna) is that her and the Doctor are friends. No romantic tension; they are just 'mates.'


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 13, 2011, 06:52:47 PM
Amy is amazing. What I like about this relationship (and part of the reason why I liked Catherine Tate as Donna) is that her and the Doctor are friends. No romantic tension; they are just 'mates.'

Better still; no contrived romantic tension.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on February 14, 2011, 05:39:22 AM
As for Amy, I like her a lot. She's had her detractors, but she's a great addition to the TARDIS.

Amy is quite interesting as she's a rather polarizing character.  Fans either flat out hate her or love her, there's rarely any middle ground.

It's rather the same with Martha, I've found.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 14, 2011, 08:28:43 AM
Of course it's too early for me to have a definitive judgment of Amy, but so far she's really promising. As Afleitch said it's good not to get back an "impossible love" story as we had in the first 3 seasons. Especially, I find very interesting the idea of making the doctor meet her as a child. I some way, I have the impression their relationship could be more like a father/daughter relationship (again, just a feeling so far).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on February 14, 2011, 08:55:38 AM
Bloody Rose was a bloody idjit chavette, yah?

Loved Martha.

Liked Donna quite a bit (but Donna as a character seemed to basically have the same personality as Catherine Tate, so it's hard not to like her).

Neutral to negative on Amy.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on February 14, 2011, 08:39:27 PM
Any thoughts on the identity of River Song? ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on February 15, 2011, 12:19:28 AM
Antonio, if you think Episode 2 was heartbreaking, just wait until you watch Episode 8 (Vincent and the Doctor), or even A Christmas Carol (this year's Christmas Special).  Those are the two most emotional stories I've seen since Matt Smith took the helm.
Why must they make the Christmas episodes so confussing.  They are going to get a lot of people watching the show for the first time (because a lot of people are at grandma's house or whatever) and they give them that?  I watched it at the inlaw's place with a handful of people that have never seen the show and they were left confused.

I like the new Doctor and Amy.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on February 15, 2011, 12:48:46 AM

Wife.

Maybe that is indeed too easy, but I'm fairly confident it's true.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 15, 2011, 12:56:25 AM

     From Silence In The Library/Forest Of The Dead, we see her call the Doctor "sweetie" & learn that she knows his true name. According to him, there is only one time he could have told her his true name. Given that, I'm really not sure what she could be other than his wife.

     It's an issue of how the writers of the show operate. They like to allude to plot points long before they expound upon them. :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 15, 2011, 05:17:15 AM
Wait, River Song will be back ? :o

From what I've seen in "silence in the library", the Doctor and her are passionately in love. Whether or not they are married is not that important. :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on February 15, 2011, 07:32:44 AM
Yeah, the one good thing about the new season (I can't stand Matt Smith).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 15, 2011, 08:33:42 AM
Antonio, if you think Episode 2 was heartbreaking, just wait until you watch Episode 8 (Vincent and the Doctor), or even A Christmas Carol (this year's Christmas Special).  Those are the two most emotional stories I've seen since Matt Smith took the helm.
Why must they make the Christmas episodes so confussing.  They are going to get a lot of people watching the show for the first time (because a lot of people are at grandma's house or whatever) and they give them that?  I watched it at the inlaw's place with a handful of people that have never seen the show and they were left confused.

I like the new Doctor and Amy.

Christmas telly is always a little whack in the evening. By the time it's shown most people are too pissed and/or full to take much in anyway.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on February 15, 2011, 08:47:35 AM
I can't believe TV is so popular on christmas day :/


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 15, 2011, 08:56:31 AM
I can't believe TV is so popular on christmas day :/

It's actually the one day of the year that most people base their day around telly.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: CubOB on February 15, 2011, 09:06:51 AM
I've read that Christmas TV being a big thing is (or was) pretty unique to the UK, is that right?

As for River Song, there are plenty of theories - the wife thing seems too obvious since it's been signposted so much, but with Moffat writing I don't think that means we can rule it out. A popular theory at the moment seems to be that she's Amy and Rory's daughter, with the pregnancy also being their exit storyline. I'm more interested in his assertion that something from the first episode of series five will be important in the next series, and it's been staring us in the face apparently :o


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on February 15, 2011, 07:55:18 PM
I've read that Christmas TV being a big thing is (or was) pretty unique to the UK, is that right?

As for River Song, there are plenty of theories - the wife thing seems too obvious since it's been signposted so much, but with Moffat writing I don't think that means we can rule it out. A popular theory at the moment seems to be that she's Amy and Rory's daughter, with the pregnancy also being their exit storyline. I'm more interested in his assertion that something from the first episode of series five will be important in the next series, and it's been staring us in the face apparently :o

Amy's mum?

Pond, River...


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 15, 2011, 08:29:20 PM
She is whatever Moffat do decree.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on February 15, 2011, 08:44:37 PM
Wait, River Song will be back ? :o

From what I've seen in "silence in the library", the Doctor and her are passionately in love. Whether or not they are married is not that important. :P

River will be back for sure.  Twice these season, alluding to something quite interesting (she will be in the Weeping Angel episodes coming up for you guys.)

Next season will be the big reveal of her identity, and hopefully we can put that plot point to rest (it's the one thing I was hoping Moffat would end sooner rather than later).

As for the idea of her being his wife....it may be true, but still, it does seem a rather tad obvious, no?  And if Moffat has anything to do with it, it's never obvious.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 16, 2011, 03:52:57 AM
That's pretty surprising. I'd have expected her story to be revealed long after, or maybe never (as I don't think it would be easy to show the Doctor and her falling in love). I just assume she's not the random companion the doctor usually gets - I mean, he even told her his name.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 17, 2011, 01:02:09 PM
As I've done for the most recent ones, I'd like to do my personal rating of the episodes of the new series. I'll give a little comment of each episode and rate it using numbers from 1 (uninteresting) to 5 (epic). Let's share our thought about them. :)


Season 1

1. Rose : Really not much to say. Fortunately this is not the first episode I've seen, or I could have stopped watching it outright. 1.

2. The end of the world : For sure not a great episode, but some ideas were interesting. 1.

3. The unquiet dead : Mixes some unappealing elements (explaining paranormal facts with aliens is usually lame, but this is a pattern we find in almost all episodes set in the past), with some more interesting ones (Dickens was nice). Still nothing really worth remembering.  1.

4/5. Aliens of London/World War Three : The plot itself is quite banal (the evil aliens who want to destroy Earth), the Slitheen can't be taken seriously. But it was conducted surprisingly well, with interesting twists and a lot of fun everywhere in the episode. 2.

6. Dalek : This is the first episode I really liked, and despite the load of great episodes we've had it remains a reference of why this series is great. It's the first time when we really see strong emotions from the doctor, when the truth about the Time War is revealed. In one word, I think it's the first episode when we see the doctor's deep feelings, making his character far more complex than it would have been otherwise. The dialogue between the doctor and the dalek at the beginning is one of the most forceful scene of the series, as is the one when he points a gun at the Dalek unarmed. A very deserved 3.

7. The long game : It doesn't look like a great episode on a first sight, but there are a lot of things I like in this episode. The idea itself, of an insidious enemy which doesn't act by destroying everything but simply by brainwashing people and make them believe whatever it wants them to believe. Particularly, the way the doctor acts, his ability to see what everyone misses, to immediately understand what is "wrong" there. The episode makes a lot of sense, and once again it shows a lot about the series itself. Once again an overly deserved 3.

8. Father's day : The plot itself is quite good (though a bit overdone), but the episode overall didn't make a lot of impression to me. There's nothing really bad either. Just nice. 2

9/10 The empty child/The Doctor dances : This is undoubtedly the best episode of the season and probably one of the bests ever. An unseen load of angst, a genial plot idea and an exceptionally dynamic action makes this episode unique. The atmosphere first : it made me feel uncomfortable for a few days. A mysterious child with a gas mask, which looks so inoffensive despite being a threat to the entire human race. Each of his appearances are made more insidious, more upsetting, more scary (the "best" one certainly being the tape scene). The idea itself is one of the best : there is no villain, just an army of brainless robots aiming to "fix" the entire human race. That's maybe the best plot one can find to illustrate the danger of uncontrolled technology. The epoch is the best possible one, there is a lot of action and twists, Jack Harkness coming to make things more complicated... Finally (and quite paradoxically), this is one of the episodes with the most humour. To cite only one, remember the banana. ;D I could speak about this masterpiece for hours, but I'll cut it now. Deserved 5.

11. Boom town : I guess that after the emotions of the preceding episodes, we needed something to slow down... :P That episode isn't really worth saying a lot. Slitheens aren't the kind of enemies you want to see back, let alone in the same season. The episode is mostly boring, and the ending too easy. 1

12/13. Bad Wolf/The parting of the ways : The beginning is particularly thrilling and well-done, with the Tardis crew caught in a crazy game for some mysterious purpose. It was particularly enjoying to see the Doctor and Jack to free themselves so easily. The general atmosphere of the episode is quite similar to that of the Long game : we have an invisible enemy who manipulates everyone like a puppetmaster. Some scenes are truly beautiful (the doctor's "with this kind of sentence you lost the right to talk to me", or when we see how daleks are afraid of him). Basically, everything is perfect until the ending. Then we have Rose looking inside the Tardis, becoming God and destroying all the daleks... which screws everything. Really, how could they come which such an easy, artificial ending ?!? And BTW, if looking inside the Tardis is enough to destroy all your enemies, why doesn't the doctor do that more often (since anyways he can then regenerate) ? Or why didn't a random Time Lord do that to destroy the Daleks instead of sacrificing the entire race ? That's pure nonsense. Still, the epsiode is great overall. 4.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on February 17, 2011, 01:16:12 PM
Right... It's been a very long while since I watched the first season of the era, so I won't rate them.

I do, however, remember loathing "Boom Town" and also "The Long Game", as well as raving more over "World War Three" than is fashionable these days.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 17, 2011, 01:26:52 PM
I've never "loathed" a Doctor Who episode. The bad ones, I just ignore them. I guess I like to see the positive aspects rather than the negative ones. ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 17, 2011, 02:08:04 PM
I know Cardiff well enough to find the various in-jokes in Boom Town (and there are a lot) utterly, utterly wonderful.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 25, 2011, 06:32:40 AM
Ok, let's go with season 2. :)

S. The Christmas invasion : Nothing particular in this episode, the story could have been far more original. The only great thing in this episode is the Doctor "deposing" Harriet Jones. I loved that scene. ;D Still 1.

1. New Earth : First episodes are usually quite uninteresting, and this one is clearly better than the average. Still, it remains a pretty banal one, and Cassandra, like the Slitheens, is not the kind of villain you want to see back every season. 1

2. Tooth and claw : This is the traditional "historical with paranormal creatures who are in fact aliens" episode. It's not a bad one, as there are a couple of interesting ideas (also, the foundation of Torchwood is an important event), but overall it's still a pretty forgettable episode. 1.

3. School Reunion : That's an episode that could have been done a lot better, especially with Sarah Jane's comback. Giant bats can't really be taken seriously, even when they aim to rule the world, and the episode's atmosphere isn't especially convincing. 1.

4. The girl in the fireplace : Undoubtedly a good episode. It's easy to realize it was made by Moffat, as once you go beyond the first degree you find a lot in common with the "empty child". The scene at the beginning in "little Pompadour"'s room, with the broken clock, reaches a level of angst comparable to the season 1's masterpiece. But the most striking thing is how the ideas of those two episodes are similar. There is no villain, this is all about technological beings, created by humans in order to serve them, and who do nothing else that what they were created for ("fixing people" for nanogenes, fixing a spaceship for the androids"). There is no malicious intention, just the cold, rational determination of technology in doing what it is programmed for. This android endlessly repeating "we missed pieces" is a particularly beautiful and forceful allegory which sums up everything I said. Otherwise, the "love story" between the Doctor and Pompadour didn't irritate me as much as it could have. The ideas of space-time windows isn't bad (especially because it's not overused in this series). However, I've difficulties to rank it as a great episode : it lacks something that would make the action more thrilling. 3.

5/6. Rise of the cybermen/The age of steel : A lot of interesting ideas. Of course cybermen did already exist in the old series, but I still have to say they are a brilliant idea. They are nothing else that humans, humans who have lost their humanity by trying to "upgrade" themselves. A brilliant idea is also the way they appeared : John Lumic isn't some diabolic mastermind who wants to dominate the universe (well, at least he isn't only that). He is an ill man who tries to free his mind from his dying body, in some way one of the strongest dreams of humanity. As usual, the problem comes when he wants everyone to follow his example. Also, the parallel universe is a nice idea because it isn't again too common. The plot is well drawn and credible from the beginning to the end, and most of characters are great (except Rose who's depressing as usual). Still, I have difficulties to rank it among the "great" episodes, maybe because it is never really surprising and there's no real twist. Again maybe I'm too severe, but I'll give it a 3.

7. The idiot's lantern : Neither bad nor especially good. It is thrilling and well-done enough to be convincing, but nothing more. 2.

8/9. The impossible planet/The Satan pit : This is one of my favorites, and there is a lot to like in it. First of all, it inaugurates the tradition of "team episodes", with the doctor meeting and interacting with a little team of space travelers (42, silence in the library and the waters of Mars will all follow this example). I think I can say this is one of the most intense episode, with a lot of mysterious elements which remain partly unsolved. I like how even the doctor is unable to really understand what's happening (his reaction to the phrase "before the time" is extraordinary). And how even the Tardis is unable to translate the mysterious language... All this gives the impression that somehting beyond the universe's limits is happening in this mysterious little planet. As I said, formidable episode, the best of the season. 5.

10. Love & Monsters : Meh. It can be a funny interlude between two more serious episodes, but there's nothing particularly likable in this episode. Even the fun is quite banal (interestingly, the funniest episodes are also the most thrilling ones, remember The doctor dances). 1.

11. Fear her : Good episode, pretty thrilling and mysterious. The idea isn't bad, even though the idea that a little creature can erase the entire universe simply by drawing it is a bit crazy (but we are used to crazy ideas in this series :P). 2

12/13. Army of ghosts/Doomsday : Can't say I dislike it, but that's still my least favorite season finale (all right, the standard is very high :P). I'm not disappointed to see the cybermen back (especially because the scenarists had the good idea to leave us alone with them for a long time following this episode), and the daleks could have came back in a worse way. Torchwood and all was pretty funny, especially how the Doctor interacts with them. I didn't particularly like the "fissure" between the two universes, neither the arch containing thousands (or trillions ?) of Daleks, but everything was well-orchestrated. Of course what ruins everything is the awful pseudo-romantic ending. All this "OMG Doctor I can't live without youuuuuuuuuuu !" and "OMG Rose I'll miss you but you'll be happy with your new family !" was painful to hear. And hell, thanks God the doctor didn't have the time to tell he loves her. 3.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 25, 2011, 09:49:48 AM
New Earth was beyond vile.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on February 25, 2011, 09:57:42 AM
You have really weird opinions.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 25, 2011, 10:09:00 AM
     Yeah, I'd say that Army of Ghosts/Doomsday was my second favorite season finale (after Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords). It brought back the Daleks as they normally do, but at least we got to see them take on the Cybermen in an epic showdown. :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 25, 2011, 10:15:41 AM

I've been told that on numerous occasions and for various reasons, so it must be true. :P Bother developping, though ? ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on February 25, 2011, 11:00:27 AM
Giving Fear Her a better rating than anything else, since it's pretty much universally considered the worst episode of the new series, for example.

School Reunion is also one of my favorite episodes. Mostly for Sarah Jane, because Elisabeth Sladen is really a much better actress than you would expect from the classic series, but I really thought Tony Head did a good job of being the stereotypically-polite-but-menacing Doctor Who villain.

I also thought The Girl in the Fireplace was generally considered one of the best episodes of the new series. I haven't rewatched it since I first saw it three or four years ago, so I'm not sure how it holds up.

I mean, are you going to give Blink a 2 as well?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 25, 2011, 11:38:36 AM
Was writing a long post about The Girl in the Fireplace and explorer bugged. Here's a synthesis, because there's nothing more painful than trying to rewrite something you just wrote.

Maybe I underrated it, so I guess I will eventually give it a 3. But what this episode really lacks is some more twists and tension : as far as I remember, there is no moment when the doctor seems really in difficulty. I still rank it below my other 3-rated episodes.

Fear her the worst episode of the series ? For real ? ??? Come on, what about Rose, Love & Monsters, or Partners in crime ?!? Some moments in Fear her were really thrilling at least. Of course as I've said, the ability of canceling the entire universe by drawing makes the episode hard to be taken seriously, but there were far worse ideas.

Sarah Jane was nice as I said, the school's director wasn't bad either. But having good characters is pretty useless when the plot is as dull and uninteresting as School reunion's was. That's wasted talent.

I think most of our judgements depend on what we think to be more important in an episode between plot, atmosphere, characters, action, etc... So everything is entirely subjective and I can understand why we can disagree. Also to note, I think I have a very strong pro-two-parter bias, but again it's understandable (you need a lot time to develop a good plot and makes us take it seriously).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on February 25, 2011, 08:18:55 PM
but I really thought Tony Head did a good job of being the stereotypically-polite-but-menacing Doctor Who villain.

Absolutely.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 27, 2011, 01:18:11 PM
While waiting for new Irish result, I'll do season 3. ;)

S. The runaway bride : An improvement compared to previous year's special, but still not particularly interesting. The scene with the Doctor looking at the Racnoss dying is pretty good though. 1.

1. Smith and Jones : Martha is great, and her first appearance is extremely promising for the rest of the season. But apart from her and her interactions with the doctor, there isn't much to see in this episode. 1.

2. The Shakespeare code : Usual uninteresting historical episode at the beginning of the season. Neither better nor worse than the others. 1.

3. Gridlock : Very creative episode, very promising for the rest of the season. I've enjoyed the atmosphere of angst, the feeling that the whole system is broken (the police that never answers, all these people who go to the highway without even knowing what will happen to them)... It is almost perfect in showing what anarchy is, and how people don't even know that everything is out of control. The revelation of the death of all senators is a particularly forceful scene. Of course there is Face of Boe's revelation, which is the main point of the entire season. But it lacks too much things to be a great episode : the enemies (giant crabs) are pretty pathetic), and the action could have been orchestrated better. I'd give it a high 2, but maybe it would deserve more.

4/5. Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks : A formidable episode I've particularly enjoyed. Beginning with the historical context : excellent idea to locate it during the Great Depression, this epoch fits extremely well with the story itself. Otherwise, that's mostly an episode about change and those who are wise enough to understand when it's necessary, about fanatism and how it only leads people to hurt others and themselves. I've really liked the picture they give of Daleks, as mindless creatures who hate everything that isn't 100% like them. Dalek Sec is a very interesting characters, it symbolizes people who have the courage to leave their comfortable ignorance in order to get a better understanding on the word between them, and who eventually get rejected by their former community. There are a lot of very sad deaths in this episodes (Solomon, Dalek Sec, the human-Dalek-Time Lords), and that makes it very forceful in feelings (what is particularly beautiful is seeing the doctor personally affected by the death of people he almost didn't know). Finally, the action is perfectly managed, with enough twists to get thrilled until the end. Really, I don't see what is not to like with this episode. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece because it lacks some emphasis (ie the ability to make us feel that something important is at stake - of course something important is almost always at stake, but some episodes make us feel it better). A fully deserved. 4.

6. The Lazarus experiment : Kind of disappointing, because it had the potential to  be better : having things going a bit slower (we practically see the transformation in the first scenes), a more ambiguous enemy, involving more feelings/complexity... But what we actually have is the doctor and Martha fighting against a horrendous (to say least) creature, and nothing more. 1.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Ban my account ffs! on February 27, 2011, 08:20:52 PM
Amy is amazing. What I like about this relationship (and part of the reason why I liked Catherine Tate as Donna) is that her and the Doctor are friends. No romantic tension; they are just 'mates.'
I really liked Donna.  Martha as well... both were great for completely different reasons.  Rose was also good... it's not that hard to impress me I guess.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on February 27, 2011, 11:43:22 PM
     Yeah, I'd say that Army of Ghosts/Doomsday was my second favorite season finale (after Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords). It brought back the Daleks as they normally do, but at least we got to see them take on the Cybermen in an epic showdown. :P

I would actually rate The Parting of the Ways as the best new series finale mainly due to the fact that it was well built up and it didn't disappoint (well not as much as it could have).

The Series 3 finale (the Master trilogy) would have been the best had they not ****ed with the ending of Last of the Time Lords.  I mean, seriously?  Psychic energy?  Come on RTD, at least come up with something that's a little more gritty.

However, this is discounting the Series 5 finale which I personally loved, mainly due to it's timey-wimey wackiness.    And that it probably delivered one of the most awesome speeches in the new series so far (The Doctor at Stonehenge yelling at this enemies).  Of course, I don't really see it as a finale as it's not truly the end of the storyline....just a climax to one part of it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on February 28, 2011, 01:55:23 AM
     Yeah, I'd say that Army of Ghosts/Doomsday was my second favorite season finale (after Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords). It brought back the Daleks as they normally do, but at least we got to see them take on the Cybermen in an epic showdown. :P

I would actually rate The Parting of the Ways as the best new series finale mainly due to the fact that it was well built up and it didn't disappoint (well not as much as it could have).

The Series 3 finale (the Master trilogy) would have been the best had they not ****ed with the ending of Last of the Time Lords.  I mean, seriously?  Psychic energy?  Come on RTD, at least come up with something that's a little more gritty.

However, this is discounting the Series 5 finale which I personally loved, mainly due to it's timey-wimey wackiness.    And that it probably delivered one of the most awesome speeches in the new series so far (The Doctor at Stonehenge yelling at this enemies).  Of course, I don't really see it as a finale as it's not truly the end of the storyline....just a climax to one part of it.

     I don't remember the Season 1 finale all that well. I think I will watch it again soon.

     Doctor Who season finales are rather notorious for nonsensical cop-out plot devices, so that didn't really bother me too much about the Season 3 finale. One detail that I really liked about the Master three-parter was that the breaks between the episodes felt very natural. The second & third parts did not feel like they were picking up at an arbitrary point in a story in progress, even though they really were.

     As for the Season 5 finale, I actually found the wackiness rather offputting, since it struck me as a fairly contrived means of advancing the plot & filling up time that introduced a handful of paradoxes & plot holes that lacked resolution. I thought the climax was the most awesome I had seen in any Doctor Who season finale, though.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 28, 2011, 12:00:36 PM
I must say my favorite season finale is actually season 3's. I've liked everything, even its ending. Actually, it is maybe my favorite episode of the entire series. ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on March 31, 2011, 10:19:52 AM
New series trailer looks amazing...and those shadowy figures....


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on March 31, 2011, 11:03:31 AM
I have the last 3 episodes of season 5 still to watch. Christmas special not coming before... next Christmas. :(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 01, 2011, 10:20:34 PM
I have the last 3 episodes of season 5 still to watch. Christmas special not coming before... next Christmas. :(

Watch it online, trust me, it's worth it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: patrick1 on April 03, 2011, 01:21:30 AM
I have the last 3 episodes of season 5 still to watch. Christmas special not coming before... next Christmas. :(

Watch it online, trust me, it's worth it.

I just watched the Christmas episode and thought it was well worth the 3 bucks. A bit corny at stages but that is part of Dr Who's charm.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: 🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸 on April 05, 2011, 01:50:40 AM
okay this looks awesome:

Dr Who trailer/insider BBC America (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k_WotuXTkE&feature=player_embedded)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: The Mikado on April 05, 2011, 03:02:51 AM
General question: how do I get into Dr. Who?  Where is the starting point for new viewers that doesn't entail watching 50 years of reruns?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on April 05, 2011, 05:26:48 AM
General question: how do I get into Dr. Who?  Where is the starting point for new viewers that doesn't entail watching 50 years of reruns?

I would suggest "Rose", the first Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) story, which is the start of the "new" show. You'll get the key concepts very quickly and there's only five "years" (roughly 14 episodes a year) of re-runs. You won't need to watch any of the "classic" episodes to get into it, although you will probably find yourself doing so at some point.

Or if you want to skip those, start with the first story for the current Doctor, Matt Smith, "The Eleventh Hour", which introduces the relevant characters for the current era.

A good number of stories for the First and Second Doctors were partially or totally deleted from the archives due to a misguided tape-wiping policy in the 1970s, but exist in at least audio format. In the event you'd want to do a classic watch-through, start with "Spearhead from Space", the first Third Doctor (John Pertwee) story, which is also the first colour story.

DVDs for these are easy to find on Amazon or stores like that.

You can drop in at any point, but you might not fully understand what's going on.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on April 05, 2011, 06:27:46 AM
General question: how do I get into Dr. Who?  Where is the starting point for new viewers that doesn't entail watching 50 years of reruns?

You can easily start with the new series and skip the old one (which I've never watched). However, you will have to wait until "Dalek" (6th episode) in order to have a good idea of what Doctor Who really is, and until "The empty child/The Doctor dances" (8/9) to realize how great this series is.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on April 05, 2011, 09:43:15 AM
I would suggest "Rose", the first Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) story, which is the start of the "new" show. You'll get the key concepts very quickly and there's only five "years" (roughly 14 episodes a year) of re-runs. You won't need to watch any of the "classic" episodes to get into it, although you will probably find yourself doing so at some point.

I would recommend that, yeah. That particular 'year' also had the advantage of having significantly less lazy writing than most 'years' after; probably because it had something to prove.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 06, 2011, 07:38:48 PM
General question: how do I get into Dr. Who?  Where is the starting point for new viewers that doesn't entail watching 50 years of reruns?

You can easily start with the new series and skip the old one (which I've never watched). However, you will have to wait until "Dalek" (6th episode) in order to have a good idea of what Doctor Who really is, and until "The empty child/The Doctor dances" (8/9) to realize how great this series is.

So you mean until Moffat starts writing?

:P ;)

That said, my favourite quote from the new trailer:

Glowing Green Monster Thing:  "Fear me, I've killed hundreds of Time Lords."

The Doctor:  "Fear me, I've killed all of them."

It's Gaiman's episode too....EPIC!!! :D


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Ban my account ffs! on April 06, 2011, 08:32:45 PM
General question: how do I get into Dr. Who?  Where is the starting point for new viewers that doesn't entail watching 50 years of reruns?

You can easily start with the new series and skip the old one (which I've never watched). However, you will have to wait until "Dalek" (6th episode) in order to have a good idea of what Doctor Who really is, and until "The empty child/The Doctor dances" (8/9) to realize how great this series is.

So you mean until Moffat starts writing?

:P ;)

That said, my favourite quote from the new trailer:

Glowing Green Monster Thing:  "Fear me, I've killed hundreds of Time Lords."

The Doctor:  "Fear me, I've killed all of them."

It's Gaiman's episode too....EPIC!!! :D

I really loved the Satan Pit episode... that one was truly creepy.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on April 09, 2011, 01:01:40 PM
So you mean until Moffat starts writing?

:P ;)

Actually, almost all Moffat's episodes before he took over were masterpieces. :) His season 5 episodes are overall very good too, but still below the Empty Child or the Library.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 19, 2011, 03:20:30 PM
RIP Liz Sladen aka Sarah Jane Smith. :'(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on April 19, 2011, 04:09:34 PM
     Quite tragic. I only watched School Reunion about a week ago. :'(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: J. J. on April 19, 2011, 04:10:52 PM

RIP. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Sladen

I just heard.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on April 19, 2011, 04:14:19 PM
She died ? How comes, she didn't look that old...

RIP.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: patrick1 on April 19, 2011, 04:21:04 PM
She died ? How comes, she didn't look that old...

RIP.

Cancer, she was 63.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13137674


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 19, 2011, 06:53:00 PM
I really hope the BBC has the decency to give a small moment for both her and Nicholas Courtney at the beginning or the end of The Impossible Astronaut.

And I just realized something....what's going to happen to the next season of SJA?  Half of it has already been filmed...:(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: J. J. on April 19, 2011, 07:38:35 PM
I really hope the BBC has the decency to give a small moment for both her and Nicholas Courtney at the beginning or the end of The Impossible Astronaut.

And I just realized something....what's going to happen to the next season of SJA?  Half of it has already been filmed...:(

I hadn'y heard about the Brigadier either.  :( 

RIP and memory "Five rounds rapid!"


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: The Dowager Mod on April 19, 2011, 10:32:24 PM
My favorite companion.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on April 20, 2011, 08:55:34 AM
Rest In Peace.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on April 20, 2011, 09:01:13 AM
RIP


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on April 23, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Anyways, the one today was good and very promising. Hopefully the second half doesn't disappoint, because there's some much that's... you know.

So nice to see a non-fluffy opener.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 26, 2011, 08:07:16 PM
Anyways, the one today was good and very promising. Hopefully the second half doesn't disappoint, because there's some much that's... you know.

So nice to see a non-fluffy opener.

Yeah, Steven pulled out a really solid two-parter, managed to pack the charm, the laughter and the drama all into it.  Matt's acting was brilliant, especially in the questioning scene - he would do well as both the goofy kid and the shadow-y manipulator the Doctor has been.

Oh, and the music was great.  Nice and subtle, fit well with the story.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on April 30, 2011, 05:41:59 PM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on May 01, 2011, 03:29:37 AM
She died ? How comes, she didn't look that old...

RIP.

Cancer, she was 63.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13137674

Meh, that's really sad. :(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on May 01, 2011, 09:58:33 AM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 01, 2011, 11:28:43 AM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.

Don't you mean is/is not pregnant? :P


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on May 01, 2011, 11:54:48 AM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.

Don't you mean is/is not pregnant? :P

She said she wasn't but she thought she was at one point.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: J. J. on May 01, 2011, 04:25:08 PM


Yeah, Steven pulled out a really solid two-parter, managed to pack the charm, the laughter and the drama all into it.  Matt's acting was brilliant, especially in the questioning scene - he would do well as both the goofy kid and the shadow-y manipulator the Doctor has been.


Dr. Song is youthing. 


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 01, 2011, 06:16:18 PM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.

Don't you mean is/is not pregnant? :P

She said she wasn't but she thought she was at one point.

Oh, I was referring to the scanner saying positive and negative at the same time.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on May 01, 2011, 06:24:30 PM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.

Don't you mean is/is not pregnant? :P

She said she wasn't but she thought she was at one point.

Oh, I was referring to the scanner saying positive and negative at the same time.

I didn't see that, I just saw it say positive.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 01, 2011, 08:15:25 PM
So, to those who watched the newest episode, one question to pose -

Who's kid is that?

Amy was talking about thinking she was pregnant and was worried what traveling in the TARDIS would do to a fetus. Then the Doctor scanned Amy and it turns out she *is* pregnant. Then we see a mysterious child who can regenerate. This is either blatant foreshadowing or a blatant misdirection.

Season 6 is already better than season 5. I don't hate Matt Smith so much, and I really think River Song needs her own spinoff series.

Don't you mean is/is not pregnant? :P

She said she wasn't but she thought she was at one point.

Oh, I was referring to the scanner saying positive and negative at the same time.

I didn't see that, I just saw it say positive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwQTBTAKiyg

Right after it stops on "Positive", it fluctuates.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 28, 2011, 01:45:15 PM
Wow.  Just wow.

Also, my mind is blown from the trailer for next week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_NLjHUKEro&feature=feedu


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on May 29, 2011, 08:43:58 AM
Why is Matthew Graham allowed to write for television without someone holding his hand?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 29, 2011, 04:21:01 PM
Why is Matthew Graham allowed to write for television without someone holding his hand?

Because Life On Mars kept up on viewer ratings.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Holmes on May 29, 2011, 08:43:54 PM
The tenth and eleventh doctors appear to be quite the hotties. I've never seen any of the episodes, but I'm intrigued. Considering there's a sh**tload and most of the earlier ones don't even exist anymore, series 1 is a good place to start? Or are there any particular parts in the earlier series that I should start at, or just read summaries of important events?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 29, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
The tenth and eleventh doctors appear to be quite the hotties. I've never seen any of the episodes, but I'm intrigued. Considering there's a sh**tload and most of the earlier ones don't even exist anymore, series 1 is a good place to start? Or are there any particular parts in the earlier series that I should start at, or just read summaries of important events?

The old series would give you a grasp at the basic mythology of the show.  In any case, starting at Series 1 is a good idea for anyone who is starting to watch the show.  Well, at least the modern version of it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on May 31, 2011, 11:07:49 AM
Why is Matthew Graham allowed to write for television without someone holding his hand?

Because Life On Mars kept up on viewer ratings.

Yes it did. It was good as well, though the first series was better than the second. But I think that we can safely conclude - especially when we remember Bonekickers (one of the most egregious wastes of license fee money I can think of) - that that may have been something of a fluke.

It's not that the episode I'm complaining about was terrible or anything, just that there was so much utterly unnecessary button pressing, lazy writing and bad (by which I always mean clichéd; I'm not one of those morons who demands 'realism' in all things) dialogue. It's such a shame as the first half of this two-parter wasn't bad; very much a standard-issue sci-fi scenario, but not without some promise.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on June 05, 2011, 06:33:51 PM
Raquel Cassidy is amazing.

That is all.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on June 05, 2011, 08:29:42 PM
Yeah, people are calling it: she'll probably be the next companion.

Otherwise, that last episode was awful. Made no sense and was just a mish-mash of bad ideas.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on June 06, 2011, 12:56:08 AM
Yeah, people are calling it: she'll probably be the next companion.

Otherwise, that last episode was awful. Made no sense and was just a mish-mash of bad ideas.

I don't see how it was so confusing.  She lied - a lot, she said she does that.  And she died in FOTD because she told the Doctor that saving the library would burn out both hearts.  So it all falls in place.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 06, 2011, 08:38:39 AM
Doctor Who isn't supposed to make sense, silly. Anyway, I liked it; better written than most concluding episodes have been by some margin. It wasn't great televisual art (unlike, say, this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0111dqc)), but it was good telly. The twist wasn't surprising, was actually the most logical of the possibilities and was heavily signposted near the start of the episode, which makes it alright.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on June 06, 2011, 09:19:46 AM
You in the UK are an episode ahead of us Americans. I was referring to the second part of the acid factory/living flesh people thing.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 06, 2011, 10:30:48 AM
You in the UK are an episode ahead of us Americans. I was referring to the second part of the acid factory/living flesh people thing.

Oh, right. In which case I agree with you absolutely. See my bitching about the writer a few posts up!


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 06, 2011, 01:29:17 PM
It wasn't great televisual art (unlike, say, this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0111dqc)), but it was good telly.

Going to have to disagree that The Shadow Line is great televisual art - I'm finding it very slow.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 07, 2011, 06:14:42 AM
It wasn't great televisual art (unlike, say, this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0111dqc)), but it was good telly.

Going to have to disagree that The Shadow Line is great televisual art - I'm finding it very slow.

It is slow, but then the best television drama has always tended to be fairly slow; I'd argue that The Singing Detective was the greatest thing ever shown on television, and it moved at a snails pace.

But then these things are entirely subjective :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on June 07, 2011, 06:43:50 AM
Yeah, people are calling it: she'll probably be the next companion.

Raquel Cassidy? Seriously?

Awesomesauce.

Otherwise, that last episode was awful. Made no sense and was just a mish-mash of bad ideas.
[/quote]

I tend to agree, but I still think it was a 3 star episode, with one star because it feels like it is a crucial set-up episode for the rest of the season.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 07, 2011, 12:56:47 PM
Wait, season 6 has already begun in the UK ?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 07, 2011, 04:49:48 PM
It wasn't great televisual art (unlike, say, this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0111dqc)), but it was good telly.

Going to have to disagree that The Shadow Line is great televisual art - I'm finding it very slow.

It is slow, but then the best television drama has always tended to be fairly slow; I'd argue that The Singing Detective was the greatest thing ever shown on television, and it moved at a snails pace.

But then these things are entirely subjective :)

Sorry, I'll clarify: The Shadow Line is slow and boring. Nowt wrong with slow. Plenty wrong with boring.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 07, 2011, 04:50:21 PM
Wait, season 6 has already begun in the UK ?

Yes, it already has; we've just finished the first half and are now on a roughly three month break.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Free Palestine on June 07, 2011, 07:57:34 PM
I recently started watching the show.  While not all the time, sometimes I tune in.  It's funny how stupid the Daleks are.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 08, 2011, 11:20:11 AM
Sorry, I'll clarify: The Shadow Line is slow and boring. Nowt wrong with slow. Plenty wrong with boring.

It's not boring, it's art, you philistine. :P

Though you could easily play a drinking game based around spotting the Godfather references.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 08, 2011, 12:35:31 PM
Ok, so I'll have to avoid reading this thread for almost one year... ;D


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 08, 2011, 12:38:41 PM
Ok, so I'll have to avoid reading this thread for almost one year... ;D

River is actually the Master.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on June 08, 2011, 12:53:29 PM
Ok, so I'll have to avoid reading this thread for almost one year... ;D

River is actually the Master.
'

No, she's the Rani in a Paul McGann costume. :D


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 08, 2011, 03:18:54 PM
Sorry, I'll clarify: The Shadow Line is slow and boring. Nowt wrong with slow. Plenty wrong with boring.

It's not boring, it's art, you philistine. :P

Though you could easily play a drinking game based around spotting the Godfather references.

I couldn't - I've never seen The Godfather...


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on June 08, 2011, 04:38:20 PM
Sorry, I'll clarify: The Shadow Line is slow and boring. Nowt wrong with slow. Plenty wrong with boring.

It's not boring, it's art, you philistine. :P

Though you could easily play a drinking game based around spotting the Godfather references.

I couldn't - I've never seen The Godfather...

Really? Now that does come as a surprise; but if at any point you decide to watch any of them (even if only for the sake of it), I would strongly recommend missing the last of the three. Everyone says its bad, but it's actually much worse than that.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Phony Moderate on June 08, 2011, 09:21:52 PM
Sorry, I'll clarify: The Shadow Line is slow and boring. Nowt wrong with slow. Plenty wrong with boring.

It's not boring, it's art, you philistine. :P

Though you could easily play a drinking game based around spotting the Godfather references.

I couldn't - I've never seen The Godfather...

Really? Now that does come as a surprise; but if at any point you decide to watch any of them (even if only for the sake of it), I would strongly recommend missing the last of the three. Everyone says its bad, but it's actually much worse than that.

Do they? It has a rating of 7.6/10 on IMDb, and a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Holmes on June 11, 2011, 07:16:44 PM
Well, I found out you can do a sort of six degrees of separation to connect Jerry Brown with Doctor Who. :)

Jerry Brown had his gubernatorial portrait painted by Don Bachardy, who was in a relationship with Christopher Isherwood for thirty three years. The BBC aired a biography-type drama a few months ago, titled Christopher and His Kind, with Matt Smith playing Christopher Isherwood. Matt Smith, of course, plays the eleventh doctor in Doctor Who. :)

Well, more like five degrees, but good enough. :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 12, 2011, 02:37:32 AM
BTW, forgot to say I've also fallen in love with the show's soundtrack. Murray Gold is really a great artist.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 12, 2011, 03:52:29 PM
BTW, forgot to say I've also fallen in love with the show's soundtrack. Murray Gold is really a great artist.

I totally agree; the CDs are available to buy on good online stockists.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 04, 2011, 06:24:02 PM
Right :)

Two episodes in to the return of Series 6. Thoughts?

I am really enjoying this. What I am also enjoying is retreading old ground.

Who knew for example, that 'The Silence' big grey aliens appeared in the last series; their mechanical purr was heard, followed by a period of shock then bemusement. Or last weeks episode; '32 minutes', Always '32 minutes'; The Doctors Death we know is at 5.02, the invitations received in the first episode were to meet at 4.30 - 32 minutes before.

Good fun :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on September 04, 2011, 06:43:08 PM
     Having watched the newer stuff some more, I realized something; I just don't like Moffat. It seems that anything resembling seriousness (or logical continuity) has gone out the window.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 04, 2011, 06:51:48 PM
Right :)

Two episodes in to the return of Series 6. Thoughts?

So far, so good; very much at the upper end of potential for television with a dual appeal to children and the rest of us (obviously its no Box of Delights, but then what is?), hoping it stays that way.

Quote
Who knew for example, that 'The Silence' big grey aliens appeared in the last series; their mechanical purr was heard, followed by a period of shock then bemusement.

When?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: JohnnyLongtorso on September 05, 2011, 09:16:58 AM
Let's Kill Hitler was okay, but the episode after it was crap (which, since it was written by Mark Gatiss, is no surprise).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 05, 2011, 10:52:09 AM

Quote
Who knew for example, that 'The Silence' big grey aliens appeared in the last series; their mechanical purr was heard, followed by a period of shock then bemusement.

When?

I'll need to dig out the YouTube clip, but there are two definites (the 'look' and the 'purr' are in both) the first is when a figure walks in front of Amy in the Beast Below, the second in The Lodger when Amy is in the TARDIS.

There are also some who say (and I can't quite dismiss it after hearing it myself) that the voice of Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor is heard in one of the distress cubes in this years The Doctor's Wife

Moffat has been setting the scene for a few years now; it wouldn't suprise me if he's planting ideas/clues for next series or the 50th Anniversary. He also says there is something blindingly obvious but very relevant in the first 11th Doctor episode, The Eleventh Hour that we are all missing.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 10, 2011, 05:44:15 PM
The Girl Who Waited

Another corker. Wonderful 'old' style story focusing on Amy and Rory. One of the best this series.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 10, 2011, 07:35:02 PM
Yeah, that was good. Very much in the tradition of the better sort of British sci-fi telly (that is, dark and surreal). Nice to see no pulling of punches or lazy happy endings.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 17, 2011, 04:05:44 PM
So, The God Complex

Again another good episode, this time dealing in an interesting way with faith and belief with the Doctor questioning the nature of himself; whether he saves or in fact destroys. Probably my favourite this series.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 17, 2011, 06:42:20 PM
Aesthetically pleasing (a 1980s hotel as a form of prison; lol), well acted and generally well done in general. Bit of a major plot hole lurking around there (if you extend the concept of 'faith' to include any strong/guiding belief in anything - as was explicitly done - then in no plausible universe will you find anyone lacking in any. I should note that I'm not entirely sure if it's a good idea to do that) but entirely forgivable, oddly enough. I do like how the show deals with issues like that (and, bluntly, on other issues, quite different, as well) in a more mature way than it did under it's previous overlord.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 17, 2011, 06:50:29 PM
Oh, and on a slightly more highbrow level, I did like the use of the Minotaur myth. When that kind of thing is placed in a sci-fi context it usually ends pretty badly, but it worked quite well in this case.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on September 17, 2011, 08:57:06 PM
The past two episodes have been quite good, really.  Both have shown the fallacy of the Doctor as a hero, and have really brought out the performances in both of the (former) companions.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 25, 2011, 03:16:46 PM
So yeah; Closing Time

An enjoyable episode which is the first of the New Who not to have been the start of a two-parter. Though we did get a cliffhanger. Steven Moffat isn't Captain Obvious, so there is likely to be alot of twists and turns in the final episode.

I like Craig and I like his 'mate' status with the Doctor rather than being a travelling companion. It's been a good batch of episodes recently :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on September 25, 2011, 04:18:17 PM
Oh, and on a slightly more highbrow level, I did like the use of the Minotaur myth. When that kind of thing is placed in a sci-fi context it usually ends pretty badly, but it worked quite well in this case.

It's not the first time it's actually been used on this show - it featured in the highly camp Season 17 story "The Horns of Nimon".


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on September 25, 2011, 04:21:51 PM
Oh, and on a slightly more highbrow level, I did like the use of the Minotaur myth. When that kind of thing is placed in a sci-fi context it usually ends pretty badly, but it worked quite well in this case.

It's not the first time it's actually been used on this show - it featured in the highly camp Season 17 story "The Horns of Nimon".

As soon as I heard that there was a minotaur in 'The God Complex' I knew that it would be doing at least something right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-8np3aw-Cw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-8np3aw-Cw)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on May 20, 2012, 08:13:54 AM
Bump ! :)

First four episodes of season 6 were aired yesterday in France. And... wow ! :D I didn't expect it to get so thrilling from the very beginning. Generally the first three episodes are reasonably quiet... I guess that Moffat is starting to develop his own style different from Davies. Anyways, as usual with Moffat, we get a formidably genial (and frightening) concept. A creature you forget about as soon as you stop seeing it... yep, this is awesomely creepy. :P As for the whole astronaut/Amy-doctor daughter/Doctor's death stuff, I have renounced to come with any theory. I just hope we'll get the answer at the end of the season and not 15 years later !

Just a little qualm I have with this new Moffat style : I feel like everything goes a bit too fast. I doesn't let you the time to fully feel the angst, the perplexity, the stupor, the fascination as much as I think we did in the Davies era. What is surprising is that the episodes written by Moffat in this period were masterpieces regarding the management of time (just remember the Empty Child, or the Library...). This time, I feel like everything becomes clear a bit too fast, and thus it makes it seem less important. Even the revelation that the Silences are basically controlling humanity since prehistory is made in a way that makes it seem like a detail. I have the feeling that too much time was given to action scenes as opposed to reflection moments (these are the best in Doctor Who).

Still, great episodes and I long for the next ones !


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on May 20, 2012, 11:32:43 AM
Moffat did rush his ark. He's been sandwiched in by circumstance; the next series (which may be this August, post Olympics) is the lead on to the 50th anniversary. I liked this series; there are alot of good standout episodes you will enjoy.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on May 27, 2012, 01:29:40 PM
Watched 3 more yesterday.

It's definitely going too fast. This restless rythm doesn't let you the time to mature each concept to its full extent. All the ingredients for good Doctor Who episodes are here, but I didn't have the time to taste them, because there are just too many events, action sequences and useless twists. This constant movement is pretty disturbing and drowns the importance of every detail... I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I'm hoping that this recent tendency doesn't indicate of a long-term trend, otherwise the very soul of the series might suffer from it.

Apart from that, the episodes are nice. The Doctor keeps being awesome, especially in ep 7. But again, it's hard to taste his awesomeness entirely, as we never have the time to rest a bit.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on May 30, 2012, 05:54:49 AM
BTW, a thought I had.

So Matt Smith is playing the Eleventh Doctor. Time Lords are entitled to 12 regenerations, which means that two more doctors could exist once Smith leaves the show. However, we just saw the Doctor's (actual) death, and he was in his Eleventh incarnation. How the hell are they going to justify the Doctor's next regeneration ? Or do they plan to stop the series when Smith leaves ?

I'm pretty sure they will manage to pull some Deus Ex Machina to make sure the series will last longer than that. They're pretty good at that. ;) After all, the Master was dead too, after "Last of the Time Lords"... Still, was it worth it to make us acknowledge the Doctor's death as some kind of big event, if it's only to later tell us that he's not dead anymore ?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on May 30, 2012, 06:11:36 AM
It's Sci-Fi, they can write themselves out of any corner they write themselves into.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on May 30, 2012, 10:34:53 AM
You'll see in the end, trust me. They did write themselves out of that corner.

Antonio, have you come across The Girl Who Waited yet? That's probably the best episode of the series (well contention between that and Gaiman's The Doctor's Wife)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on May 30, 2012, 12:04:38 PM
You'll see in the end, trust me. They did write themselves out of that corner.

Antonio, have you come across The Girl Who Waited yet? That's probably the best episode of the series (well contention between that and Gaiman's The Doctor's Wife)

Nope, I last watched A Good Man Goes To War. It will be aired this saturday.

The Doctor's Wife was pretty good, yes. I wouldn't rank it as a contender for best episode ever, but the concept was very original and it was genuinely thrilling all along (also kudos for the absolute creepiness of Amy's psychological torture). It makes us regret that the TARDIS isn't able to speak. ;)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not on depression mode. If the series has been awesome for nearly 50 years, I have a hard time imagining it could stop being right now. I'm just noticing what could be an unfortunate tendency if it proven lasting (but, after all, there are plenty of episodes I found more disappointing than the last three).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 05, 2012, 12:25:13 PM
No episode last Saturday. :( Stupid Frenchies have postponed the end of the season to September. >:(

Yeah, I know I could watch them subtitled, but meh, I've always hated subtitles...

Gonna rewatch the whole RTD era in the meantime. :P

BTW, what do you guys think of Torchwood ? I have never watched it, but I've always liked good ol' Jack, and since this is a spinoff one can expect the "Doctor Who spirit" to be there too. So, is it good stuff ? I might have a look at it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: 🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸 on June 05, 2012, 12:29:58 PM
No episode last Saturday. :( Stupid Frenchies have postponed the end of the season to September. >:(

Yeah, I know I could watch them subtitled, but meh, I've always hated subtitles...

Gonna rewatch the whole RTD era in the meantime. :P

BTW, what do you guys think of Torchwood ? I have never watched it, but I've always liked good ol' Jack, and since this is a spinoff one can expect the "Doctor Who spirit" to be there too. So, is it good stuff ? I might have a look at it.
It's much darker. I don't find it as fun and imaginative.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 06, 2012, 04:08:55 AM
No episode last Saturday. :( Stupid Frenchies have postponed the end of the season to September. >:(

Yeah, I know I could watch them subtitled, but meh, I've always hated subtitles...

Gonna rewatch the whole RTD era in the meantime. :P

BTW, what do you guys think of Torchwood ? I have never watched it, but I've always liked good ol' Jack, and since this is a spinoff one can expect the "Doctor Who spirit" to be there too. So, is it good stuff ? I might have a look at it.
It's much darker. I don't find it as fun and imaginative.

You mean it's more like a standard SciFi show ?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on June 06, 2012, 05:42:30 AM
No, it's more like.....I don't know....a not very good X-Files?  I found it boring and the characters unlikeable.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: patrick1 on June 06, 2012, 05:49:34 AM
^Yeah, I didn't make it past two episodes of Torchwood.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 06, 2012, 06:52:24 AM
Ah, I see. Too bad.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: ask_not on June 06, 2012, 10:34:29 AM
I liked tom baker i like the actress that layed martha the doctors  partner and of course david tenant.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 06, 2012, 01:46:15 PM
I liked tom baker i like the actress that layed martha the doctors  partner and of course david tenant.

Oh yes, Freema Agyeman is epically hot and Martha was by far the best companion (of the new series, at least).

Tennant was great, but I loved Eccleston too and was sad to see him out so early.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 21, 2012, 07:38:24 AM
Caroline John has died aged 72 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18531461)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on June 21, 2012, 07:23:25 PM
Caroline John has died aged 72 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18531461)

Oh no! RIP. Liz wasn't one of the longer-serving companions but I've always thought that such time as the character got was one of the little gems of the series' late-sixties-to-late-seventies heyday.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: ask_not on June 25, 2012, 01:53:17 PM
i.d.w. comics did a docor who t.n.g crossover recently.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 25, 2012, 02:16:14 PM
I really regret not watching the early Doctor Who. I have started to look for some episodes of the old series, and had the occasion to watch the very first episode (so... different :o but I kind of expected it), Genesis of the Daleks (quite nice and interesting, but still pretty old when watched today) and the 1996 movie (enjoyable, though I found the plot weak and certain scenes a bit weird).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on June 26, 2012, 04:48:31 AM
I really regret not watching the early Doctor Who. I have started to look for some episodes of the old series, and had the occasion to watch the very first episode (so... different :o but I kind of expected it), Genesis of the Daleks (quite nice and interesting, but still pretty old when watched today) and the 1996 movie (enjoyable, though I found the plot weak and certain scenes a bit weird).

You can get most of the old stories on DVD, although in English only. There's also narrated soundtracks for the stories that are incomplete in the BBC archives.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on June 26, 2012, 08:19:42 AM
I really regret not watching the early Doctor Who. I have started to look for some episodes of the old series, and had the occasion to watch the very first episode (so... different :o but I kind of expected it), Genesis of the Daleks (quite nice and interesting, but still pretty old when watched today) and the 1996 movie (enjoyable, though I found the plot weak and certain scenes a bit weird).

You can get most of the old stories on DVD, although in English only. There's also narrated soundtracks for the stories that are incomplete in the BBC archives.

I've also found a streaming website, which has several episodes subtitled in French.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: ask_not on June 28, 2012, 06:17:54 PM
I like to se the old episode s oneday.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on July 14, 2012, 05:31:29 AM
Hi there !

I'm planning to start a survivor* on Doctor Who episodes of the RTD/Eccleston-Tennant era (basically, from Rose to The End of Time). Would you be interested in participating ? We seem to have a quite big fan community on the forum, so if enough of you are interested, it will be fun to play (survivors need at least 6-7 players to work properly, and are much better with around 10). This could also be a nice occasion to discuss the episodes, confront our opinions/feelings on them, and re-experience the most exciting moments of the series. :) If you like the idea, please let me know. I need to know if we are enough before starting it. Then, check out the survivor board in a couple days. ;)

*For those who don't know about survivors, they are games certain forumers like to play (they even have their own board (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?board=82.0)). It basically consist in a list of contenders (which can be people, events, or anything), which we eliminate one by one through voting (sometimes with bizarre rules) until only one contender is left. It's usually a fun way to collectively sort a list from "least favorite" to "most favorite".


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on July 21, 2012, 03:31:33 PM
So, nobody...


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on July 22, 2012, 01:29:30 PM

I'll play :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on July 22, 2012, 01:54:50 PM
I'm game too, just link to the game in this thread and I'm sure we'll see it.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Redalgo on July 22, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
Likewise, though it may be a tad difficult for me since I don't easily associate the titles of episodes with their contents without first going back a bit to read synopses or viewing clips of the shows in question. If you were to set up the game I would almost certainly participate though!


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on July 23, 2012, 12:49:47 PM
OK then, I'll make sure to put something up in a couple days. ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on July 26, 2012, 04:39:30 AM
Mary Tamm has died aged 62 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Doctor-Who-Legend-Mary-Tamm-Passes-Away)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on July 27, 2012, 06:11:17 PM
Here it is ! (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=156568.msg3366035#msg3366035) Let's have fun ! :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on July 28, 2012, 02:28:50 AM
Mary Tamm has died aged 62 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Doctor-Who-Legend-Mary-Tamm-Passes-Away)

She was actually my favorite. :( RIP.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on August 27, 2012, 09:42:10 PM
Well Series 7 starts on Saturday. Any thoughts?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 01, 2012, 02:21:52 PM
Well that was good :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on September 01, 2012, 09:14:50 PM
The new companion already? What? What?

But a very good episode tonight!


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: ilikeverin on September 01, 2012, 11:48:21 PM
One of my BFFs was at the premiere in NYC last week.  Apparently Karen Gillan smells like gardenias, in case anyone was wondering :)

Anyway, excellent start to the season! ;D


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Dr. Cynic on September 02, 2012, 12:52:29 AM
I only ever tolerate this show in order to tease Laura about how much she likes it. I don't get it. It's overrated and has no idea what it wants to be.

Just my opinion, which I now realize I'll be reamed over the coals for.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: J. J. on September 02, 2012, 12:55:04 AM

I thought it was predictable.

As as your realized the sanctuary planet was protected by nanotechnology, you had to realize it would have affected the girl.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on September 02, 2012, 01:19:45 AM
I only ever tolerate this show in order to tease Laura about how much she likes it. I don't get it. It's overrated and has no idea what it wants to be.

Just my opinion, which I now realize I'll be reamed over the coals for.

I'm at a loss as to how, exactly, the Doctor Who concept, of all concepts, could come to 'know what it wants to be'.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 08, 2012, 02:40:54 PM
David Bradley (who needs to be in larger parts on the telly more often; he's great) was a properly nasty villain this week, something that's actually surprisingly unusual in Doctor Who. Interesting decision to place such a character in what would otherwise have been a 'silly' episode; I quite liked that, but can see why others might not.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on September 10, 2012, 10:52:14 AM
David Bradley (who needs to be in larger parts on the telly more often; he's great) was a properly nasty villain this week, something that's actually surprisingly unusual in Doctor Who. Interesting decision to place such a character in what would otherwise have been a 'silly' episode; I quite liked that, but can see why others might not.

I thought that too. He wasn't a villain who ran away or was 'defeated by love' or anything else but was sent away to certain death. He was a good villain because he was greedy, uncompromising and human. I know alot of people didn't like the episode but I thought it was well paced. Unsuprisingly those who claimed they couldn't follow last series' 'arc' are now complaining because this one doesn't have one.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on September 11, 2012, 04:55:03 AM
Bradley was good, but a lot of that episode wasn't. Trying to do too much really.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on September 11, 2012, 07:23:23 AM
i didn't mind it, particularly the way it finally dealt with Amy being not much more than just Rory's wife/Ricer's mum.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 23, 2012, 11:43:36 AM
Unexpected Steven Berkoff is unexpected.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Spanish Moss on September 27, 2012, 04:07:23 AM
Tennant was the best, and I feel that after him, the show isn't quite as good - although Matt Smith is spectacular.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: bore on September 29, 2012, 03:20:05 PM
Wowza. That was unexpectedly grim.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 29, 2012, 05:29:27 PM
The noir stuff was good. Am an eternal sucker for that.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on September 29, 2012, 05:36:41 PM
The noir stuff was good. Am an eternal sucker for that.

I like noir stuff as well - Alex Kingston was great in that role.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on September 29, 2012, 09:32:41 PM
...saying that you could, of course, drive a supertanker through some of the plot holes. But, hey, it's primarily entertainment.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: ilikeverin on September 29, 2012, 10:19:15 PM

Yowzah.*


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Politico on September 30, 2012, 02:23:17 AM
I used to watch the Tom Baker episodes when I was younger thanks to my obsessed brother. Still love the intro and theme. So mesmerizing that it becomes ingrained in your memory forever. The doctor after Baker was not too bad either, but I remember being saddened by Baker's departure. Can't say I've seen anything else, and don't really remember much in the way of details.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on September 30, 2012, 02:53:21 AM
Warning: SPOILERS

Best companion departure, because of how final it really seemed.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on September 30, 2012, 04:21:26 AM
aye, a depressing episode.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on September 30, 2012, 10:01:46 AM
Well that was the most heartbreaking episode of Doctor Who episode. Goodbye Ponds, you will be missed. :(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on December 25, 2012, 11:32:08 AM
New episode tonight, who's excited? I have to avoid the Doctor Who sites tonight so I don't get spoiled.

On another note I'm working my way through Old Who. It's really good, but not as good as Nu Who. They just delivered the "Planet of the Giants" story DVD yesterday so I'll get to that soon.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on December 26, 2012, 07:00:10 AM
Very interesting. "Planet of the Giants" isn't one of the best stories, but wait until you get to the next one.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Platypus on December 26, 2012, 07:17:47 AM
christmas ep...better than last year's, and overally not awful at all really.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on December 26, 2012, 08:50:12 AM
christmas ep...better than last year's, and overally not awful at all really.

That's all I really ask for from the 'plot' of a Doctor Who Christmas episode.

MasterJedi is watching the First Doctor? Excellent.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on December 26, 2012, 02:17:18 PM
christmas ep...better than last year's, and overally not awful at all really.

That's all I really ask for from the 'plot' of a Doctor Who Christmas episode.

MasterJedi is watching the First Doctor? Excellent.

MasterJedi: what are you doing about the missing stories?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on December 26, 2012, 03:19:29 PM
christmas ep...better than last year's, and overally not awful at all really.

That's all I really ask for from the 'plot' of a Doctor Who Christmas episode.

MasterJedi is watching the First Doctor? Excellent.

MasterJedi: what are you doing about the missing stories?

Pisses me off since I won't be able to view all of the series. So far though (I've been buying all the episodes to watch them instead of just breezing through them all online) I've only had to not watch "Marco Polo" and "Reign of Terror" but it looks like later First Doctor and definitly the Second Doctor absolutly get destroyed by that horrible BBC policy. What I've basically been doing is reading the synopsis on Wikipedia/other sites to get all of what happens.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Silent Hunter on December 26, 2012, 05:06:15 PM
but it looks like later First Doctor and definitly the Second Doctor absolutly get destroyed by that horrible BBC policy. What I've basically been doing is reading the synopsis on Wikipedia/other sites to get all of what happens.

Second Doctor got it really bad - there's only one story of Season 5 intact ("Tomb of the Cybermen") and that was only because it turned up in Hong Kong. It's only the hard work of fans that we have much of what we have. Same policy also has a couple of Third Doctor things only on black & white, although some of that has been restored to colour.

You can actually get the narrated audio soundtracks from Audible and AudioGo for the ones that are missing (and a few that aren't for some reason). That's how I did "The Daleks' Master Plan" of which only three of twelve episodes exist.

Also "Reign of Terror" is getting a DVD release with the missing two episodes animated (I have it on pre-order), but I don't know when it's coming out in R1. I would highly recommend too a box set called "Lost in Time", which has everything from the 'orphaned' stories (bar the two eps that turned up in 2011, although they'll probably be in a re-release).

Check your PMs.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on December 26, 2012, 07:08:15 PM
I'm in love with Clara. She looks very promising as a companion.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on December 26, 2012, 07:26:05 PM
That Christmas Special was amazing! It's up there at the same level as A Christmas Carol. Second half of Series 7 looks amazing too, better then the first half and I still loved it. Still sad to see Amy go :'( but I do really like Clara as well.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on December 27, 2012, 12:02:17 AM
I don't know, last year I must have bought more into the story 'cause the tear jerker scenes worked on me.  This year I just giggled...."an entire family crying at Christmas".  Though I do like Clara.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on December 27, 2012, 08:30:36 AM
I haven't seen the Christmas episode yet, which awaits me on the DVR. I hope this one's good, as I really haven't been too impressed by the Christmas episodes.

It's a bit annoying to see the current season split, though the first half was quite enjoyable. The mid-season finale was pretty powerful in its ending. However, it really was a good ending despite its depressing nature. I am ultimately okay to see the companionship end that way. Personally, I can't really get over Donna's departure in Journey's End. That was a horrendously depressing ending. Even though I've only watched the new series (i.e. 9th Doctor and beyond), I think Donna was probably the best companion. I hated that ending, particularly in how she was so undeservedly cheated in the end.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on December 30, 2012, 05:32:23 PM
I still haven't forgiven Russell T. Davies for what happened to Donna, which was not only depressing (like every other post-2005 companion with the arguable exception of Martha) but depressing in a way that was completely unjustified from the perspective of character or thematic development (unlike every other post-2005 companion with the arguable exception of Rose).


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Filuwaúrdjan on December 30, 2012, 07:50:14 PM
Well, that's misogyny for you.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on December 31, 2012, 02:46:16 AM
Seriously looking at gender in post-2005 Doctor Who (and a lot of pre-2005, but not all) is, indeed, more often than not an absolute misery.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: afleitch on December 31, 2012, 06:53:44 AM
Seriously looking at gender in post-2005 Doctor Who (and a lot of pre-2005, but not all) is, indeed, more often than not an absolute misery.

I think that's a little harsh. Pre-2005 Who was generally awful, with alot of companions essentially being nothing more than 'damsels' who usually need saving after making a mess of something. We've since had a variety of strong male and female characters displaying just about every facet of personality. In this Christmas episode we have a interspecies lesbian relationship and no one bats an eyelid. Looking at British TV on a whole, Doctor Who is probably the most diverse and honest show out there.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on December 31, 2012, 03:11:02 PM
Mind you, seriously looking at gender in almost any popular television show is more often than not an absolute misery.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on December 31, 2012, 06:16:46 PM
Seriously looking at gender in post-2005 Doctor Who (and a lot of pre-2005, but not all) is, indeed, more often than not an absolute misery.

I think that's a little harsh. Pre-2005 Who was generally awful, with alot of companions essentially being nothing more than 'damsels' who usually need saving after making a mess of something. We've since had a variety of strong male and female characters displaying just about every facet of personality. In this Christmas episode we have a interspecies lesbian relationship and no one bats an eyelid. Looking at British TV on a whole, Doctor Who is probably the most diverse and honest show out there.

Which of course pisses all sorts of people off, asking how 'necessary' it is to have such characters. ;)

Not that I'm complaining, of course, I personally think it's great.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on January 01, 2013, 09:13:47 AM
I can only speak for the post-2005 series (which is all I've seen). I actually started watching Series 4 reruns just over two years before I decided to start from the 2005 beginning. Like I said before, I really cannot stand how Donna left the show. To me, it would have been an otherwise great finale to the season. Rose had a pretty rough departure at the end of Series 2. It was still a pretty good ending and her final appearance in the end of Series 4 wrapped things up pretty well for her. Martha leaving as companion was more confusing than anything, but I can't say I have any real complaints there. But yeah, what happened to Donna really was unforgivable. If they absolutely had to write her out, that really was not the way to do it. It's still a painful thing to watch.

I don't know how much misogyny played into any storyline, but I always noticed how terrible Rory was always treated as a companion. Him and Amy leaving was a very emotional and depressing scene, but I do think it was a good and proper ending. I have to say that I wouldn't mind some more River Song overall (who I think would make for a very fascinating companion if it were to ever happen).

Actually, I do have to say one of my biggest complaints aside from Donna leaving has been the lack of connection between pre-Series 5 and everything after (with River Song being a notable exception). Though many of them have been very good (and some quite excellent), most of them seem to have been lacking a certain something that I can't quite figure out. With Rose, you always had her connection to Mickey and Jackie (who was really an enjoyable character) and Donna with her family. Overall, I just find myself more lured to the first four seasons (2005+). The problem is that I can't quite figure out why (and it's not that I have anything against the 11th Doctor at all)...


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on January 01, 2013, 03:11:59 PM
It might have something to do with the fact that the entire production staff and main cast changed all at once for the first non-sixteen-year-hiatus-related time in Doctor Who history.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on January 05, 2013, 07:07:14 AM
That makes a lot more sense then. The change from Series 4 to Series 5 is pretty dramatic, and I can't say that I've liked it. Like I said though, the last couple seasons haven't been bad at all, but I don't think they can compare at all with the first four. In my view, they just haven't hit any of the high points of the previous seasons and have been mostly mediocre at best. If I made a top 20 list of best episodes, I think only The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone would make the list out of Series 5-6 (though maybe one or two episodes from S6). S5 has almost certainly been the low point in the post-2005 series. The first four had their low points as well (albeit fewer and farther between), but their high points were easily some of the best episodes.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on January 05, 2013, 07:20:12 AM
See, the thing is I think Russell T. Davies is a mediocre writer in general, and I'm very much of two minds about...pretty much about Doctor Who, as written, as a whole, actually, with some exceptions scattered over the decades. It's very possible to dredge the sixties, seventies, and eighties for gems, it's just a somewhat arcane task at times.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on January 05, 2013, 07:44:31 AM
I know where you're coming from. But I don't think my opinion comes from the head executive/producer, if you will. Steven Moffat has written many great episodes, but I haven't been in love with the post-S5 series. For me, some of his best have been: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Blink, and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead. Those are some of the best of Doctor Who. He's had good episodes after (especially those with the Weeping Angels), but the show hasn't felt the same to me since pre-S5.

RTD has had many great episodes as well, but I think probably gets a bad wrap simply on account of writing so many. For all their individual faults, he did write the finales for series 1-4. In fact, if it wasn't for the way Donna left the show, the S4 finale would have been my favorite finale. And, though it may have somewhat corny, I've always enjoyed Aliens of London/World War III. I also think Midnight and Turn Left were strong episodes in S4, not to mention underrated The Long Game and Gridlock.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Citizen (The) Doctor on January 05, 2013, 08:57:40 PM
Say what you will about Moffat Who, but just having Gaiman and strong start-to-end stories lately makes me quite happy. The Doctor's Wife and The Girl Who Waited really show that this show has a great future, even when Moffat is gone.

The only problem I have with his Who is that it's rather inconsistent from story to story. I'm fine with the overarching story (I don't understand why people consider it confusing, it's simple really), but there's some issues here and there that I wish were picked up (How was the TARDIS blown up?)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on January 05, 2013, 09:18:16 PM
I prefer Moffat to RTD. I like the complex storylines that play out the whole season to RTD's approach where there's sorta something there all season and then BAM everything comes from nowhere in the last episode.

On another note, anyone else want to see a Paternoster Gang spinoff show? Vastra, Jenny and Strax stopping regular crimes and wibbley wobbley, timey wimey things?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on January 06, 2013, 12:15:06 AM
At this point I'd be at least as committed to following that as I am to Doctor Who.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on January 07, 2013, 09:47:08 AM
Sorry to be the boring foreigner who watches dubbed series and talks about stuff that happened more than a year ago, but I'm still in the process of finishing season 6... I'm really not liking it. A confused plot that keeps expanding with no clear direction, a succession of useless "SHOCKER" moments... It doesn't look like the Doctor Who I knew.

(BTW, please forgive me for pausing the survivor... I can't resume it before May at least :()


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Enderman on January 07, 2013, 07:30:22 PM
I like Dr. Who, but ever since after the scene where he "dies", (no not the season finale, where the people find out about his "death" then randomly go to "Space, ...1969...") until "The Wedding of River Song" felt really tense, and felt heavy, when I saw "Let's Kill Hitler" I had fealt it the most...
anyways, my favorite Doctor is the 10th, but the 11th was pretty good.
I don't know, but why, but why doesn't anybody talk about the 9th Doctor?


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on January 09, 2013, 08:27:07 AM
I don't know, but why, but why doesn't anybody talk about the 9th Doctor?

The 9th Doctor was absolutely awesome, and I'd bet that he had the potential to be as great as the 10th had he been given more season to build his character. It's sad to see him so ignored/underrated.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MASHED POTATOES. VOTE! on January 09, 2013, 08:28:11 AM
Never watched Altho I'm probably going to try some day.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on January 29, 2013, 04:57:25 PM

You must!

Anyway, watched the final episodes of the season. The God Complex was pretty good, honestly, Moffat-esque in the best way (with tons of angst and a not too convoluted plot). Comeback Tour was hilarious. However, the ending is a major disappointment, once again. Did they really not manage to find a final twist that made any sense whatsoever? So that's it, the Doctor's trick to cheat an "unavoidable" death is... a robot. So much for a "fixed point in time", apparently the only thing required to fix the mess was that something with the appearance of the Doctor be seemingly fatally shot at lake Silencio on 4/22/2012. Big deal...

I hope Moffat will reconsider his recent writing style a bit, because he's capable of so much better. Still looking forward to season 7, of course. :)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on February 01, 2013, 08:35:01 PM
Thought I'd post this because I doubt many even knew it was made but it's the final unshot scene after The Angels Take Manhattan. Really sad.

http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/watch-the-unshot-pond-scene-40649.htm (http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/watch-the-unshot-pond-scene-40649.htm)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: Antonio the Sixth on February 10, 2013, 05:16:43 PM
All right, THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Q5baJ223M) is why I didn't like seasons 5 and 6.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: MasterJedi on February 13, 2013, 03:53:40 PM
Yesterday a 2013 Christmas Special was officially confirmed. We don't know exactly what is happening with the Anniversary Special, but right now it appears to at least be one 60 min. special with the BBC telling us they haven't announced anything yet and it will "blow our minds".

Oh, also a Series 8 was confirmed but no date, most likely later 2014. :(


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on February 16, 2013, 06:04:06 AM
For those that have BBC America, did anyone here watch the recent special: Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited. Apparently, there will be one per month (which means per Doctor). The first was the First Doctor, which included a special specific to him, but also included the entirely of The Aztecs from 1964. The next will be at the end of this month with the Second Doctor and The Tomb of the Cybermen from 1967.

I'd never seen any of the classic Doctor Who until that first special last month, but I have to see it was really good. I'm really interested to see the rest of the specials with the specific episodes per Doctor.


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: dead0man on February 16, 2013, 06:15:55 AM
Me and the wife watched it.  She loves Doctor Who and I don't hate it.  I love "background" type stuff (I have listened to DVD commentary tracks for sh**t I'd never watch in the normal way) and she doesn't hate it.  So we enjoyed the documentary part.  We tried to watch the old episode, but it was just too silly.  She might have been able to enjoy it had I not been there giving it the MST3K treatment.

I'm an ass in real life too ;)


Title: Re: Doctor Who Thread
Post by: politicallefty on February 16, 2013, 06:29:36 AM
It was a really strange episode to watch when you're used to the Ninth Doctor and beyond. It wasn't hard to see the flaws, but I thought it was more interesting to actually see the style of the First Doctor and his companions. The show was so different at that time. It really should be fascinating to see the Second Doctor, especially with a somewhat relatable Cybermen episode.