Doctor Who Thread

[politicallefty]

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.

[politicallefty]

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)...

[politicallefty]

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.

[politicallefty]

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.

[politicallefty]

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.

[politicallefty]

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.