Dr. Who [Archive] - The Stormcock Forums

06-04-2008, 09:06 AM

Unfortunately, any episode written by Russell T Davies is rubbish. Episodes written by Steven Moffat (notably "Blink" last year) are fantastic.

I thought last night's was dire, but William (my ten year old) loved it... and after all, he's in the main target audience.

SteveT

06-04-2008, 12:33 PM

Quite so - we want great story lines and action - not miniature Mr Blobby's. Rather disappointing I thought - but then I'm not a fan of Catherine Tate. What did everyone else think?

As this "new era" of Doctor Who has progressed I've become progressively bored with it. Maybe because Christopher Eccleston was better than David Tennant. Maybe the novelty of reliving youth has faded - I'm definitely not target audience any longer. I won't bother with this series at all and Catherine Tate has a lot to do with that as well.

ST.

Wee Steve

06-04-2008, 01:28 PM

Have to disagree, I'm afraid.

I never thought I'd get over Billie Piper's going, but Freema Who'sit won me over. Ditto Eccleston and Tennant.

Likewise I've never been a fan of the Tate woman, but I thought she made an impressive start last night - enough at least for me to think about revising my judgement.

As for the storyline, yes, there I agree, it was very silly for what should have been an opening blockbuster, but there were some nice touches.
The worst bit was the Mary Poppins-like waving bye bye to Bernard Cribbins from the Tardis: that should be impossible - I mean, travelling with the door open? - but the spooky re-appearance of the Lovely Rose sort of compensated.

I think we'll be ok. Next week in Ancient Rome looks promising.

fickle_Witch

06-04-2008, 01:50 PM

is the tortoise still in it?? i dont know his name ......
http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/johnsimm/johnsimm1b.jpg
ah john simm (the infinate power of the google god!)
doesnt he look like
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38044000/jpg/_38044730_comfort300.jpg
???

amor mundi

KarinB

08-04-2008, 06:56 AM

We enjoyed it - I thought it was a little bit silly - but my kids really enjoyed it. I think Catherine Tate has brought some light heartedness to it but I don't suppose that's what real fans of the programme really want.

Personally, as long as David Tennant is in it I will watch it come hell or high water.:blushing:

katrina

08-04-2008, 02:13 PM

I'm still getting over the ending of torchwood :p- although I must say that sexy James Marsters appearance made it all worthwhile.

I enjoyed Doctor Who - although it was silly but good if you know what I mean.

Went and saw the Doctor Who exhibition in Cardiff the other month - very good just for the shop. I am the proud owner of a darlek air freshner in my car - come on you know you want one ... :D

Wee Steve

08-04-2008, 05:57 PM

Yes again.

Sad to see the end of Torchwood, and even sadder that they killed off Tosh and Owen (if they did, of course - never trust a Time Rift, sez I).

I really didn't get into the first series, but this one has been excellent.

Kenny_Wisdom

09-04-2008, 09:40 PM

It was a weak episode, but it still made for an entertaining hour, perched on the couch with a plate of Spag' bol. to munch through. I was waiting for the cute blobbys to turn into sharp teethed demons...but alas...

I'm kind of divided on Russel T Davies's writing...I get what he's doing - introducing contemporary themes, and he always slips in some gayness when he gets half a chance, which always makes me chuckle - but it is my ambition to be able to nobble him at a Q & A session with this statement:

"So Russell, loving Dr. Who. I'm particularly interested in how you incorporate contemporary issues into your writing - particularly things like globalisation and capitalism - you know, like how the corporates take over. Not at all like your takeover of the Beeb, though....when at one time you could find Dr. Who...Torchwood...Sarah Jane Adventures all screening at the same time...oh, no Russell! Not at all like that! - Discuss!"

ho!

I did go to a Dr. Who convention once when I must have been only about 5 or 6, and Jon Pertwee was there. It was a Saturday and all me and my brother could ask our dad was would he be back in time to be on TV tonight? Yes son, he's got a TARDIS.

:biggrin:

Wee Steve

12-04-2008, 09:05 PM

A better episode, I thought, but the attempts at humour and in-jokes, and the silly Welsh bit, I found off-putting. In fact the language-confusion thing was dredged from the murky depths of the appalling " 'Allo, 'Allo".

That being said, the scare/monster factor was far higher than with the blobs of Plasticine last week.

Ms Tate's contribution was quite strong, but she must learn to do what she's told, and understand that the Doctor does have a soul. In fact, he has several.

DJ Burnham

13-04-2008, 09:36 AM

Oh I dunno, I quite enjoyed some of the puns and too good an opportunity to miss really - TK Maximus.

With the Dr. having spent 900+ years with the eternal conundrum of do I/don't I interfere (admittedly with the benefit of 'panchronoligical' hindsight/foresight) I was pretty impressed with Catherine Tate's acting in the Tardis scene to persuade him to save the family. Rather 'Magma'-nimous of him. (grin)

Dumdi-diddlydum-di-diddlydum . . .

Wee Steve

13-04-2008, 10:06 AM

You're right about the conscience bit.

I half thought of putting in a smiley after my last Tate bit. She is developing a feisty character there - although I hope she isn't allowed just to rerun the "Am I bovvered" bit too much.

But I still thought the Latin/English/Welsh bits were rather contrived: funny once but not as a running joke.

Still: I'd far, far, far rather watch the Doctor than any of the other rubbish they present as entertainment on a Saturday evening.

Kenny_Wisdom

28-04-2008, 08:51 PM

I forgave them in the Pertwee years 'cos there really was no budget and I am sure for many actors it was a roll up, get changed, shoot and go type affair but one thing they never got right and last Saturday was no exception whatsoever is the bloody bleeding berets.

Soldier, crack killing machine that you are, the elite, in U.N.I.T. - that's no way to wear a beret - it's not an aircraft carier you're plonking on your head - shape the bleeding thing - hot & cold water will do the trick and get your hair cut you're a blinking disgrace.

Dissssssssssss-missed!

End Rant :wink:

DJ Burnham

17-06-2008, 06:22 PM

Wow - I thought 'Midnight' was superb. Totally dependent on great acting and suspense, devoid of a visible monster and underlined by claustrophobic xenophobia. Come to that the 'Silence in the Library' and 'Forest of the Dead' episodes were equally effective in the fear of the unseen.

Dr Who grows up?

TTFN
D

18-06-2008, 08:37 AM

Wow - I thought 'Midnight' was superb.
I'm afraid I did not. In fact I actually nodded off for a couple of minutes during it, much to the disgust of my son William who was sat next to me!

Russell T Davies cannot write a script to save his life (and a pet peeve, why has the sonic screwdriver become so overused?). The two "library" ones, by Mr Moffat, were very good though. Not quite up to the standard of "Blink" but very good.

I think I have come to the conclusion that my favourite Doctor Who style is where there are tinges of horror included. "The Talons of Weng-Chyang" is a great example of this, along with "The Daemons", "The Pyramids of Mars", "The Green Death" and others from when I was the right age to watch this stuff :biggrin:

Wee Steve

18-06-2008, 08:37 AM

Couldn't agree more (with DJB - and disagree with PD). "Midnight" was brilliant. No need for special effects, simple set, and all in one place, too.

Agree about the earlier episodes too.

But what was that little glimpse of the lovely Billie P. all about?

Dr_Doom_The_Optimist

18-06-2008, 04:26 PM

Last Saturdays Dr Who was brilliant. I though the repeating/sync-ing thing was well conceived and executed and then the speaking in advance idea was just plain spooky, especially as my little girl Aoife started "repeating" when it had gone off. Amusing but vaguely unsettling to have a four year old girl say "Shut up, it's not funny now" back at you.

I assumed this was NOT Russel T Davies, as it was so good. Am I wrong?

+A

18-06-2008, 04:34 PM

I assumed this was NOT Russel T Davies, as it was so good. Am I wrong?
Wrong on both counts! It was by RTD, and it was not good.
:leaving:

bigchris

18-06-2008, 11:18 PM

. "Midnight" was brilliant. No need for special effects, simple set, and all in one place, too.

AND very little of Ms Tate .... BONUS !!!!

KarinB

23-06-2008, 10:12 PM

I'm not a die hard Dr. Who fan - I can remember it being on on Saturday afternoon and having to hide behind our settee - so I must have wanted to watch it but I have to say that I don't like Russell T Davies' episodes and am pleased that he is leaving the show. However, I did really enjoy Saturday's episode where Rose came back. I do also think that Catherine Tate is great as Donna.

Wee Steve

28-06-2008, 07:08 PM

Say what you like about RTD, PD, but tonight's episode was just ... woo-hoo.

I really want to know if that is the best kept secret in the Beeb's history ... .

I can barely wait until next Saturday.

29-06-2008, 06:17 AM

Say what you like about RTD, PD, but tonight's episode was just ... woo-hoo.

I completely forgot to watch it! But I did enjoy last week's "turn left" one, even though there was a lot of Donna shouting...

I may wait until next week and watch both as a double bill, since we're away for a few days later this week for some R&R.

Kenny_Wisdom

30-06-2008, 10:10 AM

PAUL - and anyone else who didn't see Dr. Who this Saturday - DO NOT read on! SPOILER ALERT...

For anyone else...

That was an amazing cliffhanger. If true, then not only has RTD crafted something of a triumphant "Au revoir!" but it truly has been the best kept casting secret ever!

However, I feel that Tennant might be saved from regeneration by the "One second slip in time" that the Daleks have created in which they were hiding the universe...one second seems about the time Donna needs to throw herself in the path of danger...

...but if it is regeneration then how many is that now? Can't be many left...someone needs to write a get out clause for that...

(And in other news, unforgiveable you gave the Daleks wings...RTD...I wish they'd write that out of the canon. Stairs. That's what you used to need to defeat the Daleks. Stairs. )

Wee Steve

30-06-2008, 08:24 PM

And kerbs, and kerbs: local authorities did us no favours fitting all those ramps at the road-side - perfect for Dalek movement.

(Apols to any of us with mobility problems ...)

p.e.todd@btinternet.com

30-06-2008, 09:19 PM

I completely forgot to watch it! But I did enjoy last week's "turn left" one, even though there was a lot of Donna shouting...

I may wait until next week and watch both as a double bill, since we're away for a few days later this week for some R&R.
Thats possibly a really good idea actually or watch this weeks episode immediately before the saturday one.

Travellerman

01-07-2008, 09:09 PM

I think the last episode I watched involved Tom Baker, though I was 'raised' on Pertwee. Anyway, I sat and watched an episode on TV here last night and was quite content.

Cybermen vs Daleks, millions of them! and they can fly now too! I didn't care much for the 'assistant' (Billie Piper?) though, and didn't think the Daleks needed to be so 'expressive', they even cracked a few sarcastic lines to the Cybermen, it took some of their scary edge away. I found them more terrifying as a kid when they were just wheeling down corridors in silence, in pursuit :47:. Still, I found the sight of a legion of Cybermen marching through suburbia an impressive nod to nostalgia and the early series.

7/10

Wee Steve

02-07-2008, 02:34 PM

Stick with it.

Rose/Billie Piper (IMO) becomes one of the great Dr Who characters, and her disappearance is one of those moments from great classic tragedy, a sort of Orpheus and Eurydice thing: "Out of the lands of shadows and darkness, we were returning towards the morning light..."

I nearly cried.

Kenny_Wisdom

06-07-2008, 09:40 PM

If someone would be kind enough to actually explain what actually happened in the finale, I may upgrade my official appraisal from "Pile of Gallifreyan goats poo" to, "Uh, OK".

Daleks should be subject to the laws of gravity. I still believe that.

Oh, alright, the story wasn't terrible, but the cheesy cast gurning to camera everytime RTD wrote in the script, "Pat me on the back here; let's all have a moment" was too much for me.

07-07-2008, 08:11 AM

We watched the 2 episodes back to back last night having got home late afternoon. My impression: a good roller-coaster ride but the script was an absolute mess, wasn't it? Nice to see Davros again though.

Wee Steve

07-07-2008, 08:43 AM

... Gallifrey? Blimey!

They saved the effing universe.

Isn't that enough?

Next people will be saying "Oh, yah, I watched it, but the story line was so unlikely I switched to "Stars in their eyes" instead."

:biggrin:

PS I will admit to having been confused several times, particularly with The Hand, but the drawing together of threads was nice, if contrived.

PPS And I nearly cried again when Rose was sent back to the parallel. "Don't turn around I heard you whisper in my ear ... I saw that lost look in your eye."

PPPS Will Mickey join "Torchwood"

Kenny_Wisdom

07-07-2008, 02:04 PM

Ah, all my sniping aside, I'm happy to see David Tennant returning to the role for at least the next four specials (I think that many is in the pipeline for next year).

Now we should take punts on who the next assistant might be. A complete unknown, or not?

As long as Bonnie Langford is never in the frame for a return! :biggrin:

OOoh, and the Tardis - am I the only one who would love to see more of the interior, or is that part of its charm, that we never get a guided tour? There must be masses of rooms to look around. Surely he's got a playroom onboard? You know, that special place him and Rose used to chill out in...

Wee Steve

07-07-2008, 02:27 PM

Absolutely, but it's probably got a time lock on it, to ward off prying eyes.

As for a new assistant, an interesting one. Langford must surely have been consigned to the time vortex somewhere, hasn't she?

How about Gwen out of Torchwood?

Mind you, the PC element will probably insist on a male.

Then again, how about an "alien"? Tom Baker had wotsername, after all.

Kenny_Wisdom

07-07-2008, 02:53 PM

Yeah. PC brigade will scupper my wish for a female hottie, er, I mean, contemporary, to take the role. MMM, Alex Kingston was a feisty sidekick, for sure.

Ugggh, I hope the storyline which prevents Langford ever popping up again is cast-iron watertight.

Absolutely, Tom did have wotsername, didn't he? She ended up in a Japanese war camp. It's tough, being the Doc's bit on-the-side.