Doctor Who
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Topics not related to music
Forum Name: General discussions
Forum Description: Discuss any topic at all that is not music-related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=107466
Printed Date: February 21 2025 at 22:16
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Doctor Who
Posted By: A_Flower
Subject: Doctor Who
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 11:42
|
A few days ago, I just started the first season of the modern era of Doctor Who! Love it! Already through the first three episodes. Anyone else here a fan of The Doctor? ------------- User Banned for this Post |
Replies:
Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 11:54
Yes! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: Pastmaster
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 13:12
| Yup, although I'm a classic Who fan. Seen any of the old ones? The ones with the 4th Doctor are my favorites. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 14:01
|
"Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow". I like both classic and NuWho. Of the classics I like the 3rd and 4th Doctors (Jon Pertwee and Colin Baker, EDIT, I meant Tom Baker, but I do like Colin Baker more than many) the most, and, showing my age, lost interest in the show in the 80s, but the new series got me back into Doctor Who. I have yet to complete the first and second doctors episodes of the classic series, but have seen all the other episodes (other than the Paul McGann pilot/ TV movie which I couldn't make it through). You're rather lucky to just be discovering the show now (or at least the modern series). It's too long a hiatus for me and my daughter while we're waiting for series 10 (my son doesn't really like it) and have watched all the modern eps multiple times already. Most of the shows I watch are too adult for family viewing, so it's great to have something like Doctor Who which I can safely watch with the whole family. You're a long way off, A_Flower, but if I were to choose one favourite Doctor Who episode it would be one of the most recent ones (featuring Peter Capaldi) called Heaven Sent (a dark episode). As well as Doctor Who, I liked its spin-off Torchwood a lot, particularly for its season/series/serial Children of Earth (another dark one featuring a pre The Doctor Capaldi, hope that's not a spoiler). We had a Doctor Who appreciation thread from a few years ago, and I know there have been quite a few fans here. For any fans of classic Who who still haven't seen The Curse of Fatal Death featuring Rowan Atkinson as the Doctor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do-wDPoC6GM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do-wDPoC6GM |
Posted By: A_Flower
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 14:43
Just watched the fourth episode "Aliens of London" and it terrified me so I'm sure this Rown Atkinson episode will give me a good laugh! And as for Pastmaster's question I have not seen any older episodes I am completely new to the whole show ------------- User Banned for this Post |
Logan wrote:Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 18:35
|
Count me as a fan. Never seen the older ones (except for the handful they played on BBC America for the shows 50th anniversary) unfortunately. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: EddieRUKiddingVarese
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 22:19
|
Old pre 1980's Doctor Who is the best Doctor Who shows ------------- "Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes" and I need the knits, the double knits! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 22:46
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2016 at 23:16
Aliens of London/ World War Three is maligned by quite a few, but I love the two parter. I think some people think it stinks just because the Slitheen break wind so much. |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 03:25
Another Whovian here, both classic and new! The very first and last incarnations of the Doctor are my favourite so far, probably because they're so similar.  Shame about Paul McGann's little screentime - the few minutes he had pointed to a great Doctor.
------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 03:40
 Highlight (swipe mouse over) this post to read the text: Capaldi also played Lucius Caecillus Ivcundus in Dr Who. Apparently Russell Davies had/has an explanation for why Caecilius and Frobisher look the same but as Davies wasn't involved in casting Capaldi as the 12th Doctor that explanation probably means very little now (and the subsequent Moffatt explanation for why the Doctor now looks like Caecillius seems a tad contrived to me, but hey-ho, if it works of him I'm not going to argue). What's curious about picking Caecilius is that he wasn't a fictitious character, he and his family lived in Pompeii at the time of the eruption. [Unfortunately the actual explanation for that is mundane and less interesting - his name was simply plucked from a textbook used to teach Latin in British schools]. The historical evidence suggests that Caecilius died in Pompey either in the earthquake of 62CE or the volcanic eruption of 79CE so the Caecilius in Dr Who is (now) an anachronism due to the Doctor's intervention. Personally I think that the paradoxical anachronism could lead (or more accurately could have lead) to a more interesting explanation that ties in those of Davies and Moffatt, that changing history and time has consequences. [/end of spoiler] ------------- What? |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 03:44
|
Favourite Dr Who dialog: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0684877/?ref_=tt_trv_qu" rel="nofollow - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_trv_qu" rel="nofollow - |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 04:29
McGann had a good run as the 8th Doctor on the radio and audio plays - if you haven't heard any of the Dr Who audio plays and like McGann's Doctor then (it's unusual for me to recommend anything but) I highly recommend them. They are far better than the 90 minute TV Film that introduced him. His side-kick in many of them is Lucie Miller, played by the very excellent Sheridan Smith, her story line is (IMO) the most heartbreaking of all the Doctor's companions, it's a real shame she never got screentime in the role.  Lucie is mentioned as one of his companions in the Night of the Doctor mini-episode so she is canonical to other (TV) Dr Who companions: ------------- What? |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 04:46
I like Dr Who, but I'm more a fan of the old show preferaby with Tom Baker as the doctor, and crap specal effects. You may have to be British and of a certain age to appreciate the old Dr Who..  ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 06:34
|
It's hard to say. I did love the classic series, but I've fell out of love with it recently. The charm I used to see in it just isn't there for me now. I couldn't stand the Matt Smith years and feel the potential for Capaldi is being wasted, which is a shame because he really should work on paper. It hasn't got to the point where I want to make Redlettermedia style critique of the show (While forgetting what makes those videos work is there's a team in those videos, not some plummy voiced fanboy with a computer voice for the other characters because they haven't got any other friends!) I'd rather just stop and divert my energy and attention to other things. If you still like it, more power to you. I just can't anymore. I prefer Rick And Morty! There's no way the show will ever be like that, so fair enough. It's complete horsesh*t however, the way the BBC isn't showing anything this year. So maybe I do care? (Catches a repeat on a satellite channel*) OK, I'm done with this show! |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 07:28
|
Dr Who is a kids' programme that has grown-up with its audience irrespective of how old you were when you started watching it. Originally designed to be educational it sort to give life-lessons through nightmarish stories. It was for many youngsters in the sixties the programme that you watched from behind the sofa, too frightening to watch but too gripping to tear your eyes away from and even today kids rate episodes by how scary they are, with the bad ones being less scary (and often more wordy and thus boring). I remember watching the original Ghostbusters during an afternoon matinee showing at the local cinema where most of the audience were young kids, all their laughter was not from the scripted gags that we adults laughed at, but from the scenes that scared them the most ... Kids love that kind of safe-scary almost cartoon-like stuff that Dr Who used to deliver because it wasn't realistic and doesn't mess with psychological fears or grim no-escape horror. Dr Who always had a clever solution to the cliff-hanger ending of each episode, brain beats brawn and any terror can be overcome. Older viewers who have stuck with it still fondly remember the earlier episodes and the Doctor that first introduced them to the programme but now they're not watching it from behind the sofa so are more critical of how each story is played. My daughter was 17 when 'Blink' was aired and it scared the crap out of her, yet she still watched it twice whereas I found it more as a clever concept, well written and smartly played except for the one (unnecessary) scene where the Angels were shown with 'scary' faces... less scared : more critical. ------------- What? |
Posted By: A_Flower
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 09:09
Yes that's part of the reason why I didn't like it. Also, I guess I like it better when the Doctor and Rose adventure into new areas. So far my favorite episode has got to be The End of the World. Such an awesome murder mystery! ------------- User Banned for this Post |
Posted By: AEProgman
Date Posted: August 06 2016 at 14:56
|
Really enjoyed the latest/modern Dr. Who episodes, still think the Rose ones were the best. ^I liked the breaking of wind comic relief , it did not detract at all for me, still it held my anticipation.------------- 
|
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 07 2016 at 14:29
|
Been a Dr Who fan since 1975.....first watched with Jon Pertwee......been watching ever since. Peter Capaldi has grown on me somewhat but I'm still getting used to his version of The Doctor. They have been running the old Baker episodes here on PBS lately. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 08 2016 at 18:08
|
Doug, Have you seen all the Capaldi episodes thus far? I liked series 9 much more than series 8. Said it before, but to me "Heaven Sent" is a real diamond, and top of my pecking-order in Doctor Who episodes (not that I've seen all of the first two Doctors episodes). It's everything I had hoped for with Capaldi. By the way, I probably started with Doctor Who at about the same time as you. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean, I'm having problems with formatting in your post, and keeping that spoiler hidden, so in regards to your spoiler post without quoting: I've read an article about that http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-15/doctor-who-steven-moffat-finally-reveals-why-the-twelfth-doctor-shares-the-same-face-as-torchwoods-john-frobisher" rel="nofollow - CLICK Spoilers (also highlight text to read): Karen Gillan who would later play the 11th Doctor's companion Amelia Pond was also in Fires of Pompeii (as a soothsayer that would have died due to the eruption). She wasn't based on a real character like Capaldi's, but hey-ho. If both Frobisher and Caecilius frowned the Doctor that face, better said as the Doctor chose that face as a reminder to always save people, such as young Master Davros, no matter the consequences ("I'm the Doctor, and I save people") then what can the message be with the double-use of Gillan if there is one? The Doctor did not save soothsayer Gillan, nor did the Doctor save Amy Pond from the weeping angels back-in-time thing. Yes Amy chose to join Rory. Of course it was a later incarnation that chose that face as reminder to save people, so there's no conflict, I just find it kind of interesting. In a way the Gillan incident gives more credence to the whole change of heart, reminder story, or whatever. Time does not need need to re-assert itself. Anyway, my silly ramblings aside, seems that Amy and the soothsayer are both related by Moffat's logic. I really am confusing myself here. Move along.... Warning too, youtube spoilers, watch at peril: Spoiler, highlight: An aside, but there have been quite a number of re-appearances of characters as different people over the years. One of my favourites was Colin Baker portraying two Gallifreyans, Commander Maxil and the 6th Doctor. It was particularly interesting because Colin Baker as Maxil shot the Colin Baker Doctor's predecessor. |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: August 08 2016 at 23:03
|
I was one of the hiding-behind-the-sofa kids during the Hartnell and Troughton era in the sixties, and I loved every scary second of it. Hartnell, many warts and all, still counts as my favourite because of the dark and ominous mystery surrounding the character. In my view the series got a serious dint when, at the end of the Troughton era, that timelord crap was disclosed, removing a lot of the mystery and replacing it with a load of ponces in Roman and Greek costumes, making it ridiculous. It was like removing Oz’s curtain. Almost simultaneously the dark atmosphere was replaced when, from Pertwee onwards, it became the comedy of Superdoc. Awful! I looked in once or twice but the magic had gone. I detest Tom Baker’s portrayal particularly. That being said, though, I’ve enjoyed the new series from 2005 onwards. They’re mostly fun to watch. It’s strange to think that the earliest era was also the scariest (for British TV at the time), and less fit for children than it seems to be nowadays. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 09 2016 at 09:24
Yes..I have seen all the Capaldi episodes....he's growing on me, but he was a big change from the previous two 'types'. I'm bad with episode titles and don't recall the plot of Heaven Sent, but I'll look it up. (The only Doctor that disappointed me a bit was McCoy.) ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 09 2016 at 13:54
Jonesey: I really should finish watching the first two doctors episodes. I was a little kid when I started with Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and I can't remember it ever scaring me, but then my brothers were also exposing me to horror films such as The Exorcist and The Omen at the time. My kids have been watching the new Whos since they were in diapers, and the "Waters of Mars" scared both of them (body horror). After watching "Blink", my daughter got freaked every time she saw statues. I regretted having her watch it at such a young age (she was mostly into Dora the Explorer at the time).
Diamond and peck was a clue. “There’s this mountain of pure diamond. It takes an hour to climb it, and an hour to go around it. Every hundred years, a little bird comes. It sharpens its beak on the diamond mountain. And when the entire mountain is chiseled away, the first second of eternity will have passed.” Not including the Christmas episode, it was the second to last show. It's one I've watched quite a number of times, and can take a little thinking to make sense of all of it. I love the mysterious element to it, and I'd always wanted to see more of a one-man show from Capaldi. An earlier trailer promised "into darkness" and I was hoping for a dark series, and more of an antihero type Doctor, but a tragic figure. He has been more tragic and more of an antihero than past incarnations (Unless one includes the War Doctor I suppose) I had long wanted him to be companionless. I like Jenna Coleman, and Capaldi and Coleman got along great, but I just thought that it would be better still if he worked more alone. I was disappointed at the news of a new companion since I had hoped that they would give him a longer time companionless. If you haven't already, don't mind swearing, and get the chance, try Torchwood's Children of Earth (Capaldi is in it playing a different and tragic character) and The Thick of It (as foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker). Sorry, probably not appropriate to be such a Whovian in a thread started by someone who just started on the series, but it was a very funny in-joke in one episode of Doctor Who where Capaldi started going Malcolm Tucker with "shut up, shut up, shut up, shuttity up-up-up" Edited to make youtube vid viewable. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 18 2017 at 16:07
|
^ I see that I embedded a youtube link the bad old way which doesn't work any longer. Bumping this topic since we, well some us, learnt recently the identity of the new Doctor. I was expecting this kind of a change. Warning, identity revealed in video. I hope it's not too much a of a spoiler to say that Capaldi left (I mean that departure was announced a long time ago, as was Moffat's). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1IczjLYCIM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1IczjLYCIM I knew that person from various other roles. It should be an interesting change. By the way, I enjoyed it, but was a tad disappointed with this last series. I was hoping for a stronger narrative arc at first, but really wasn't expecting it since Moffat talked of more stand-alone episodes and that he wouldn't complicate matters (I like it complicated). That said, there were some strong episodes, I liked Bill and Nardole, and I think that Capaldi has always been great. It also featured one of my favourite openings scenes in all of Doctor Who with "The Lie of the Land". PS. Any good forums people know of to discuss such stuff? I have occasionally posted to Den of Geek since they cover a lot of the shows I love. EDIT: there has been some controversy and many stupid remarks made about the choice of the new Doctor, but my concern tends to be who will the companions be and how will that be handled. The companion angle can bring the show down for me somewhat. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 19 2017 at 12:23
|
I know ill be labeled as sexist or whatever, but I'm not a fan of how they went about choosing this doctor. Given CC comments on the matter, this seems a purely PC driven choice. Obviously I'll still watch, so... My main concern is going to be the content of the show. Moffat was fantastic I thought. I didn't always agree with some of the choices he made (the War Doctor for example) but his episodes were always well written and the plots were pretty well thought out/created. Based on CCs previous work, my hopes aren't high to continue this streak. (I also loved the darker tones of the Moffat era and the removal of essentially all of the Davies era camp.) As for your comments on the past season, I agree to an extent. (Although I will say season 9 was just too excellent to be expected the new one would match it.) I would have bet money that the monks would have returned for the end of the series to continue that arc, but I did enjoy how things progressed nevertheless. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 19 2017 at 15:23
|
Like starting with "I know I'm going to sound racist", saying "I know I'm going to labelled as sexist" usually means that you are, but it isn't true in all cases, and I'm not saying this of you. ;) I've read where Chibnall has said that he always wanted to choose a female doctor and where he's said that he plans on making bold changes. I would have preferred a male the Doctor before, but now I don't care. The other thing that people have been calling for is non-white the Doctor (especially black or South Asian from comments I've seen). Maybe he thought that the first female "coloured" Doctor would be too much (I like blue). Incidentally, I preferred to think of the Master as transgendered which explained Missy rather than this regenerating into different sexes (and colours as we saw in Hell Bent). I think gender exchange was established in Doctor Who stories years ago, and we had a female Doctor in the spoof The Curse of Fatal Death. They have a different physiology, and I don't really have a problem with swapping apparent genders or colours. They swap accents too (just please, please, please, let's not have a Doctor who insists on finishing every sentence with "innit?" "Innit" irritates me even more than "eh" does in Canada. Innit, bruv, eh? I'm also most concerned about content. If the writing is good, and the audience is treated as intelligent, but still kids can follow, then I think we'll have a good show. I was a little worried when I found it who was heading it up (though I like Broadchurch and enjoy episodes he wrote). I'd wondered if Mark Gatiss might become the showrunner at one time, although I prefer his work with The League of Gentlemen to his work with Doctor Who. We had a year's hiatus and this is Moffat's swansong, so I was expecting a little more. I still liked it, but not up to the former season (especially for me with the marvelous Heaven Sent). Lesbian kiss aside, I think he played it too safe, and maybe worked not to come across as too clever, and wanted to make it simpler for people to follow (especially if they weren't long time fans of the show). Ratings had declined, I think because many couldn't accept an older Doctor. Kids liked to be scared by monsters, but some don't like to see lines on faces or grey hair. A lot of people complained about Moffat when he became showrunner and said that he was no "the Russel" (c'est dommage), but Moffat has been overall the best writer in my opinion of NuWho and did a terrific job. Personally I would have like a darker and gritter more adult show, but then we already had a Torchwood, but of course DW is family viewing, and as Moffat has said, the show should be optimistic and is supposed to suitable for children. As for the Monks, I like the concept, but It didn't turn out as interesting as The Silence or even the headless monks. The defeat was cheesy as hell. That said, it was worth it for me just to say those photoshopped photographs of a monk behind Churchhill etc. I laughed heartily. By the way, while I really like Capaldi, for me Moffat's strongest run was the first half of series six, but really series/ season 9 was as strong, or arguably stronger -- actually, stronger I think, series nine is terrific. Never mind. Anyway, there have been no Doctors that I haven't liked yet. There have been some companions I wasn't that big on, but certainly the writing has not been consistently strong through the years. Sorry, this is a longer and sloppier post than I intended, but I don't feel like editing. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 19 2017 at 17:27
|
Hey, if not wanting every character from every story/film/book/etc to be both male and female makes me a sexist, then I sexist is I. Even if they just came out and said they considered a whole host of people and she was the best, I would be better with it. I like when the "best" (however you want to define that) gets the job, but I suppose in today's world that also makes you a racist/sexist. Re: CC's DW's...the only ones I like more than somewhat are The Hugnry Earth/Cold Blood and even then I wouldn't put those episodes in my top 50 of the new run. I've only seen two or three episodes of Broadchurch and it didn't pull me in enough to watch the whole thing. I should probably try for real though, especially whats-her-name is in it as well. It's also going to be weird to have a season without any Moffat episodes...which were always highlights IMO. As for season 10...agreed with the monks. That's why I thought they would come back for the finale of the season...to be defeated for "real". Overall, I'd place the series in the middle of the Moffat era. I'd rank them 9, 6, 5, 10, 8, 7 (with admittedly a not insignificant gap between 5 and 10). Hopefully the tone will continue to be similar with the new direction it'll take. It'll be interesting to see if they purposefully make the doctor extra girly to emphasize the fact that she is a woman or keep it a fairly gender natural character (at least I haven't thought any of the pervious actors were extra manly in the traditional sense). But as with most things in this field...it'll come down the ideas and the writing. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 19 2017 at 18:12
|
I don't think you're sexist with that comment, although I have seen sexist comments and comments like, "so does this mean that the sonic screwdriver will noticeably vibrate now?" Excellent posts, by the way, and I'm very happy to see there's somebody else here paying attention I can actually pretty much say ditto to everything you said there. Those are the Chibnall episodes I like and your 'seasoning' order works for me. As for Broadchurch, I felt the story was not tight enough and took too long to tell. I didn't even like her very much in it. You should see Attack the Block if you get the chance and haven't seen it yet. Not for her, but just because it's a fun movie. And I love Black Mirror, but she wasn't in a favourite episode of mine, nor did she make much much impression on me there. That was good thinking with the monks, but maybe at a later date we'll get something a little more epic. I'll be interested to see how she plays it from that angle to. And will we have a male (or perhaps female) companion, like with Rose and Martha, who have crushes on the Doctor. My guess is that she'll play it feminine but in an understated way. I don't think we'll have her touching up her makeup in between fighting the Daleks and the Cybermen (now to be known as Cyberpeople). Now that sounds sexist, quite deliberately. And will she call herself a Time Lord or a Time Lady? |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 20 2017 at 13:18
|
Hmm...I watched the you tube clip. A lady Doc......that surprises me a little since it's totally breaking with Dr Who tradition. I knew Capaldi was leaving but I assumed they would pick a new slightly younger male Doctor. I liked Capaldi and wish he would have done another season. I'll be watching and I hope she does a good job of it. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 20 2017 at 22:06
Thanks. Ironically the two women I know who watch doctor who are unhappy with a female doctor. Either way how you feel about this choice, this has really puts the pressure on the show to continue on strong as the critical eyes will all be out. I hope it lives up to the lofty expectations. Thanks for the rec for Attack The Block. When I first saw her picture she looked so familiar to me that I could have sworn I knew her from something...but when looking over her filmography all I recognized was Broadchurch...I suppose those three episodes I watched really dug into my brain matter. As for companions...I assume it'll have to be a male to keep the balance of the show (as most shows have a leading man and lady) although I can see them going the two companion route again with one male and one female. I feel like they will up the ladyness just to emphasize the fact that she is a woman as the doctor. But that will be another intriguing concept to watch as the new season unfolds. And she will definitely be called a time lady. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 20 2017 at 22:08
Ditto for Capaldi sticking around. I would also like them to get off this pattern of someone staying for three seasons. It feels to predictable for a show that can be very unpredictable. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 24 2018 at 11:39
|
So, how are people liking the newest season/series so far (with Chibnall/ Jodie Whittaker)? I miss Moffat and Capaldi a lot. Warning, some spoilers. This has been the first season since Doctor Who rebooted that I wasn't excited to see a new episode, and actually had to push myself two watch some of the episodes and to finish some. I'm not impressed with Chibanll's writing, feel like there are more companions than necessary and I don't find the companions terribly engaging (especially the young ones), I find the accents hard to understand (I need subs and wish they would enunciate more), I find the villains uninteresting, and the new Doctor doesn't quite work for me. Chibnall went for ethnic diversity, but I don't feel like he got enough diversity in the companions in more interesting-to-me ways -- excuse me, I shouldn't say companions, it's now the more genteel Team Tardis or "fam". That said, I did quite enjoy the last two, Demons of the Punjab and Kerblam! (my dad was a British officer in India during the partition, and was very against it). It's getting very mixed reactions. At rottentomatoes the critics score for the season is 96%, which I think far too generous, but the audience score is 45%. I found Arachnids in the UK and The Tsuranga Conundrum to be really sub-par episodes. Rosa was nicely done, but some backstory on the villain would have made his character more interesting. In the future I would have expected species-ism to be a bigger issue than racism. It wouldn't go down well, but it would be interesting if in his future society white human males are the oppressed ones. I think understanding his motivation might have made it more interesting, but I don't think that he was needed at all (there were less fantastic ways to advance the plot). I wish there was more of a story arc. I think standalone episodes can be great (think anthology series such as Black Mirror, Inside No. 9, The Twilight Zone, The Other Limits and various great Doctor Who episodes which could stand alone), but I tend to prefer serials generally (think Fargo, Westworld, Game of Thrones, Utopia, In the Flesh, Stranger Things etc.) Anyway, I'm not finding the plots that interesting, the characters are not working for me (the apraxia does not even seem consistent enough in Ryan), and the messages can seem a bit heavy-handed in execution. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 24 2018 at 11:53
|
Where do I start....? I'm ok with Whittaker ..for the most part...though she is a little 'manic' at times. But the writing is really sub par for me. Way too much topical social issue material and a huge lack of sci-fi adventure. What ever this is it's not Dr Who imho. They must be losing viewers and ratings at this point....and I hope they change the storylines soon back into the older style of writing. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 24 2018 at 12:30
First thing I'll say is, I basically agree with all of this. Moffat's absence is particularly felt for me. The writing has been subpar for the most part. The ideas haven't been too great either. But for me the biggest problem is characterization. I don't mind Whittaker as the doctor. Her acting is fine, but there is nothing about her doctor that is particular exciting or deep. All the previous doctors (at least from the reboot) have had defining characteristics and each seem to stand out in a crowd, so to speak. Hers is just bland and blends in and is pretty meh overall really. The sidekicks are even worse in this regard. I agree that there are just too many of them. The lack of story arc is also a big issue for me. That was one of my favorite things about doctor who in the past...season long (or multiseaon long) threads that weave throughout. Without that, it feels much less 'epic' in scope, which was a big plus for me. I don't have the time right now, but I'll be back later to discuss my issues with individual episodes. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: November 24 2018 at 13:01
|
I don't have the time to discuss individual episodes either, but I will say that I am really enjoying this season. Whittaker is a revelation and I am enjoying both the ensemble with her and the writing. In spite of my initial scepticism, all is good with me. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: November 24 2018 at 13:42
|
YouTube is the playground of alt-right hating on this series so it's good to see this corner of the Internet relatively normal, well on this thread anyway! I do want to like the series a lot more than I admit. At first the stories this series seem too slight, but I recommend giving them a second watch. Still have simplicity in the stories, but at least the joins in the episode are smoother when expectations of what it could have been are removed. Jodie still yet to convince me she is The Doctor but it usually takes a couple of series to get a handle on. The guest writers are clearly writing the better of the episodes, but really this is the sort of thing a Producer would have to watch to see "Ah, not like that next time then". The worrying half season rumours aren't worth posting until confirmed. More enjoyable than previous years, and better photography than it has ever had. No outright bad episodes. But hasn't got higher than "OK". The historically based episodes have been a direction we haven't saw for some time. But as long as they don't follow the lessons of the second series of Buck Rogers In The 21st Century (Hmm, it seems to have worked well, but this series why not set it all in SPACE! Sideline Erin Gray and replace Twikki!!) then the next series will be more developed and higher in enjoyment. Tl;dr Higher rewatch value than previous eight years, but still subdued and conservatively told. As if the worry of acceptance of Jodie made the writing seem more careful to get bolder in storytelling. |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: November 25 2018 at 04:00
|
I'm loving it. Reminds me of original Doctor Who, when it was more of a team effort than a mad genius saving the day. ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: November 26 2018 at 07:25
|
I agree with others that the lack of an overarching story arc is disappointing. Lacking that dimension makes this year's series come off as flat. There are only (apparently) two episodes left (as noted at the end of yesterday's episode on BBC America). I have no excitement at all looking forward to the end of a shortened season like this, but I will persevere and watch them, being the devoted fan I am. As a side note, I wonder if maybe there is something of a hint of a story arc, but it is way too subtle as opposed to previous arcs. I'm thinking more on the lines of the Remnant's "timeless child" remark in episode 2 or the subtle references to the Doctor's family (pre-Time Lord??). https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-timeless-child/" rel="nofollow - https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-timeless-child/ https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-11-backstory-change/2/" rel="nofollow - https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-11-backstory-change/2/ I don't really have any problems with the characters per se, but when there are fewer companions, that leaves more room for character development. Without this development, these sidekicks become less memorable unless they stick around for a long time. There are some rumors that they may delay the next season until 2020. I certainly hope that is not true.
------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 26 2018 at 08:44
|
A part of what is missing by the lack of story arc is a sense of mystery. I wasn't that keen on Capaldi's run at first, but the "welcome to heaven" intrigued me, and one knew that would be important to the series. As it is now, they feel like throw-away episodes to me. There have been some potential hints like that "timeless child" one and I hope it amounts to something, but it's so subtle, and I wish they would build on such an idea. I know that Jenny, the "Doctor's daughter" who played the genetic offspring of Tennant's Doctor's daughter, is the actual daughter of the fifth doctor, Peter Davison, and in an almost incestuous twist, married her on-screen sort of dad, David Tennant, has expressed an interest in playing opposite Jodie W. Anyway, coming from the guy behind Broadchurch, more mystery would have been nice for this series, and more humour perhaps, though Broadchurch was very humorless. On another note, I am finding the new series way to talky/ babbly. Actions speak louder than words, so get on with it. And how the Doctor babbles (Alan Cummin's character commented on it). I do think that Olivia Coleman from Broadchurch would have been the much more interesting choice for the Doctor (she has plenty of comedic and dramatic experience). While the story and arc are my main concerns, I find Team Tardis to be dull. I much prefer the Blake's 7 characters for instance -- far more interesting characterisation. Anyway, I'm being harder on Doctor Who than I would with, say, a regenerated The Love Boat, as it's been an important part of my life for decades (my first Doctor was Pertwee in re-runs). |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 26 2018 at 15:46
|
^ Interesting ...I also first started when Pertwee was the Doc....in 1975 PBS from Chicago....they were about a years behind in getting the episodes. After just a few episodes for me he turned into Tom Baker....who as we all know became the iconic Dr Who. So I have been there for almost all of the incarnations ...as they were presented in the US. Again I think Whittaker is ok as the Doc but the stories for me lack a great deal in depth and plot. I was a big fan of the weird alien themes over the years from Baker onward and I really loved Tennant and Smith and the bizarre and crazy River Song arcs as well as the companions in those years. There simply isn't the same excitement and depth for me in the new companions and stories. I'll continue to watch in the hope it gets better. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 29 2018 at 13:51
As for the episodes... Of the eight shown thus far, the only one I really liked is Demons Of The Punjab. For me this episode succeeded the most in combining story, writing, execution, and ideas. I still wouldn't say it's a "classic", but it's certainly closer to that list than anything else from this season. Other things I liked...The Ghost Monument I thought was a very good idea, but was disappointed in the ending. I also quite liked the idea of The Tsuranga Conundrum, but the main villain was just too comic relief-y to take seriously (even though it was apparently quite a bad ass). I did like the villains in The Witchfinders (the eyes made them pretty frightening to me), but how they were defeated was very bleh and the overall story was just ok for me. I'd put Kerblam in this category too...a decent story/idea that just felt unfulfilled with writing/development. Other things I didn't like...Completely agree with your comments on Rosa. I didn't understand anything about the why of what was happening and it just made the episode feel...unnecessary. Arachnids in the UK was pretty bleh overall, just seemed like a typical monster story that could've been any show and the debut fell quite flat for me (although I did like the baddie...wish that race would return). Not terribly hopeful for the rest of the series (and I will miss the Christmas broadcast, although ebing it's only a week until NYD I suppose it's not that bad...) ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 29 2018 at 13:57
Interesting articles there. I'll admit, I pretty much missed the reference to the timeless child. This could be a fun thing to explore, but having nearly ended the season and there seemingly no other references, I'm not holding out hope. Also, even if it does make a reappearance in the season finally, would that really be a season long arc having just appeared twice through a 10 episode run? Also...Having been thinking about this, one theme I suppose I can see is discrimination...with the doctor seemingly always have to defend herself being she is a woman, the witch trials, the entire Rosa episode....but that would be incredibly bland for the sci-fi show (especially one of this caliber) and would be a little patronizing in my view. 2020?! God I hope not. I'm struggling to keep up enthusiasm...such a delay would only deaden it further. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 06 2018 at 14:54
|
So far my favorite new episode was the most recent one with the alternate reality theme...it felt like one from the past few years before they changed everything...weird sc fi and no damn social issue preaching. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: December 06 2018 at 15:59
The last few episodes written by not the show runner have been a delight. Even on a second or third rewatch, once you know how it really ends the episodes are a lot stronger in dramatic content than its detractors and press coverage will admit. And it's all over this Sunday! I'm glad I chose to watch the series for myself. The camera never lies but the Net has fancy flights! Yes, it could have been better, but it's nowhere near as bad as some would suggest. Although, speaking to a friend I hadn't seen in an age and yeah, he loves the show but I couldn't answer "Who is the show now aimed at?". |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 07 2018 at 14:53
I didn't like the so-called ' social message episodes'...not that I'm against topical content but they were done poorly imho. I like it when Dr Who is all about adventure and sc-fi and not trying to be politically correct. Entertain me and save the message for some other program. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 07 2018 at 15:02
I still liked Demons Of The Punjab more, but yes...this was easily one of the best from the season. I thought the baddie was a defeated a little too easily, but compared with other issues from this season it's a mild complaint. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 07 2018 at 15:05
I agree with this too. I've read a lot of people saying that sci-fi is at it's best when it's some sort of social commentary and/or being able to express tense contemporary issues in a different light, but this often falls flat for me. I prefer my sci-fi being about adventure and dealing with things we can't deal with in real life, being we'd be so far behind them technological/intellectually/etc. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: December 10 2018 at 06:27
|
I saw the season-ender last night and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. It was nice that they brought back Tzim-Sha from the first episode and I could see this character coming back in future episodes. Still this doesn't make up for the lack of an overarching mystery that builds up to the last episode for the series. I even recognized Phyllis Logan (female Ux), who is best known for her role on Downton Abbey. And a whole season without seeing one Dalek. Imagine that. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 10 2018 at 07:48
|
I've not watched the new series yet, but some of the reviews I've seen on Youtube dismiss it as preachy and excessively politcally correct. I'll have to watch and judge for myself, as I suspect some of those reviews are by people who are very sensitive to such things and tend to exaggerate. That said, I don't like te idea of it being preachy. Drama that carries a specific social message can insult the viewers intelligence, by trying to influence instead of trying to provoke thought and debate. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 10 2018 at 08:44
You mean Lovejoy, surely?
|
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 29 2018 at 01:28
Finally got around to watching the finale and I agree with everything you said. I thought he was defeated a little easily but overall the episode was solid enough and seeing Tzim-Sha return was a welcomed relief. Still...overall this season is definitely the worst of the the reboot. At least it wasn't filled with camp like the RTD years, but those years definitely had better writing/ideas/development. Hopefully this can improve with future seasons. And you'll get your Dalek's at new years apparently. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 08:12
|
Definitely the worst of the reboot for me, and the worst since at least Tom Baker left for me (though not all of his were that great). I still haven't seen much of the first two Doctors (I should recify that), but I have seen every episode since then (couldn't make it through the Paul McGann "film" despite being a fan of his for Withnail & I, and the, I thought excellent TV series Paper Mask). I think my favourite episode of the season may have been "It Takes You Away" for the atmosphere (wasn't altogether into it), and the appearance of Kermit did not phase me one bit. Was nice to see Alan Cumming in The Witchfinders, but it just made me want to rewatch the, I think, awesome film Titus. I did like the cinematography of Demons of the Punjab. It was such a horrible time in history, and I don't think they quite did the era justice. Maybe they could do the Rwandan genocide if they want to do some gritty historical stuff (I've got a plot worked out for that, but I think it would be too dark). I'd really love one where they go back in time and meet Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, Jim Jones and throw in the Buddha and Confucius for "good" measure, but of course they wouldn't. Well, maybe they would with the Buddha and Confucius. Also quite liked another semi-historical with Rosa, but I found the time-traveler uninteresting (I understand why they wouldn't wish to make him a more nuanced and possibly sympathetic character, but I like complex protagonists and more ethical dilemmas). They could have done the episode in a more interesting way without the need for such a character at all which would have presented a more pronounced ethical dilemma. While this has been my last favourite season since the reboot, I'm still rather enjoying it and looking forward to the New Year's Resolution (which I hope will work well as the real finale of the season as the other finale I found rather weak, loved the first five minutes or so). Tzim-Sha was way too easily captured (the villains have been weak methinks) and I think having Graham kill him in self-defense would have worked better for me, but maybe would present the wrong message to the children (think of the children!). Hey, I would rather a world without needing to resort to killing, but as something of a consequentialist, such pacifism is not always the best course of action). I think the Doctor's self-righteousness is a bit irritating, how many worlds ended up being destroyed because of her dealings with him. In the first episode she was fine with what she did with the bombs and tampering with his device, but when the prey kicked him over the crane she was so patronising. I mean, I like a condescending, authoritative Doctor, but the way she is playing it as both sweet (all Team Tardis), sometimes accepting her own foibles, and as a self-righteous person grates with me. Yes the Doctor should be a positive role model, and yes the Doctor is complex.... I have to remember that Doctor Who is still a kid's show, and the brand of darkness that I tend to go for may not be child appropriate (think Black Mirror, Utopia, Les Revenants, Real Humans, Westworld, Dead Set, and things like the imo brilliant Fargo etc.). My favourite Doctor Who Episodes of the reboot were probably "Heaven Sent" (that was "art") and "Blink". And in the Who universe, I loved Torchwood's Children of Earth. On Christmas my brother and his wife came over for dinner, and we talked Who. They love this season/series, but she didn't like Capaldi. I felt bad being critical about it and so I said little (online I'm more comfortable being my negative self even if I still hold myself back as I don't want to come across as a total misanthrope). While I agree that the writing, particularly Chibnall's writing, is the weakest part of it, I'm not sold on the Doctor or the whole Team Tardis dynamic (I like Graham the most of Team Tardis, aka "The Fam"). Peter Capaldi got what I wanted in Heaven Sent, a "mostly" companionless episode, I hope that Whittaker gets something similar. Perhaps because I was rooting for Olivia Colman (like Whittaker, she was in Broadchurch) as the new Doctor, I have felt that I may have been too uncharitable with Jodie, but I think her Doctor needs more work and focus to become a really interesting, compelling character. Not having a story arc (well, a little with the return of the Tooth Fairy) made it harder to become invested in this season. Anyway I think it will improve and we might not need any Adric moments (I liked his character by the way, but not as much as Vislor Turlough) for what I find to be dull companions. And please, Team Tardis, enunciate! Heck, I'll teach them as I played second codpiece in a Burlesque production of Hamlet (that's not true, I understudied for Hamlet for a quite small theatre production - I did it with a cod English accent, which is strange since Hamlet is Danish but you know, it's Shakespeare). I quite miss BBC and more "posh" English. I want to see Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen, Psychoville, Inside No. 9) collaborate on an episode, maybe bring back Mark Gatiss to work with them (they have played characters in Doctor Who), but then I guess it's out with the old. So, maybe I can't hope for another Neil Gaiman story either. Also, such a shame Missy died (love me some Missy) and Michelle Gomez has said that she's not coming back, now she could have been a great foil to Jodie's Doctor, and maybe the Doctor could have learnt a thing or two from her (like dabbing techniques) . She worked so well against Capaldi. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 14:13
|
I agree with most of what you said.....I think Whittaker is ok but the stories are not very good imho though the last 2 weren't too bad. I really think something is missing by not having a male Dr Who.....this is not about women but about Dr Who a and the writing. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 14:42
|
I as well agree with most of what you said. Hopefully things will improve, especially as there will be a small gap in the production. The thing that gets me about the female doctor is...in a way I thought they would make her a stronger character. You know...make a female as strong as a male character would typically be. There are multiple times where she just seems almost happy to just go with what's happening instead of making things happen. (I might not be articulating what I mean very well...). She just seems overly passive and 'space cadety' (for lack of a better term) in a way that doesn't really reinforce traditionally strong female archetypes. Also, all this love and 'fam' and sh*t has to stop immediately. All of this comes down to the writing and character development for me. I think Whittker could be good (or at least I don't think she can only be sh*t) but everything else about the production isn't really giving her a chance to explore/develop/grow the character. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 31 2018 at 17:30
| ^ That makes sense to me, and I do think that you're articulating it very well. I agree with what you said, and I am not in complete agreement with everything I've said in this thread. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 03 2019 at 13:21
|
IMO the actress who played Missy as the Master would have been a better choice...more dynamic and hard edged....more backbone and intelligence behind the eyes. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 03 2019 at 13:48
|
The actress who played Missy would have been awesome as The Doctor, and since apparently a Time Lord can choose his or her own face (we saw it with Capaldi's Doctor and his face frowned from Caecilius and with Romana taking on the appearance of Princess Astra), Michelle Gomez could have played both The Master followed by the Doctor (which is not to say that Chibnall would want to go that route, and it is kind of creepy considering the Doctor/Master relationship). From the Broadchurch cast, I was keen on Olivia Colman and she was in Matt Smith's first episode, The Eleventh Hour. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 03 2019 at 21:58
|
^ I agree Michelle Gomez would have been excellent. Though I'm not a fan of the idea of the doctor choosing the master's face. As for the new years episode... SPOLIERS AHEAD It was alright...not great, not sh*t. Although I have a couple of questions. Can humans touch Daleks without consequence now? I seem to remember touching them in the past caused some problems for humans (although I suppose that might have been important to a specific story line). Also, what happened to the other parts of the dalek that were buried in places much more remote than England? No worries about them? I also wish they would kill some more people on this show. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: January 04 2019 at 09:04
|
Jon Pertwee is definitely my favourite. Showing my age
|
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 06 2019 at 12:11
Nor really a fan of Gomez as both The Master and The Doctor, though I like the idea of the mind-f***edness of it (part of that is the troll in me). I quite liked Resolution, although I wish they'd call it "Resolution of the Daleks" (at least in the end credits). For those not versed in classic Who, there were episodes called Revelation of the Daleks, Resurrection of the Daleks, and Remembrance of the Daleks. Of course in the episode Dalek (with Eccleston), when Rose tocuhed the Dalek it cause the Dalek to revuild itself (I think that had to do with residual time energy rather than Rose's DNA, which the Dalek picked up from Rose, but she was unharmed as I recall whereas it mutated the Dalek somewhat). I forget other instances. As for the other parts of the Dalek that were buried around the world, I thought it was clear that they all were transported to the English sewer to rejoin that piece being held under the ultraviolet light there (all the pieces were rejoined to recreate "Squidward").
Jon Pertwee is my favourite overall, though I do love Capaldi (and Tom Baker and Smith and others -- I like Colin Baker very much despite not liking many of the stories nor his fashion sense). Pertwee was my first Doctor (albeit in re-runs). I really love the UNIT stories and his interactions with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. I like how authoritative, intelligent/ intellectual and wise he was. He did not suffer fools gladly and had a strong moral code (as do all Doctors). As well as being serious, he could also be very funny in it (well, Pertwee was a comedian) and fun. Maybe the Venusian Aikido and action-manness of him could seem a bit too silly. For me, Pertwee set the template of what I most love in The Doctor and I wish there were more Pertwee-esque qualities in the newest Doctor. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 06 2019 at 20:31
Agreed with your point re: the title. That would have been nice. And ahh...I guess I missed that bit somehow. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: January 07 2019 at 02:24
|
I'm having a hard time with Pertwee. Breezed through Hartnell and Troughton (even the reconstructed episodes), but Pertwee is a slog, probably my least favourite Doctor so far. ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: January 07 2019 at 06:11
Wait till you get to McCoy then.
|
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 07 2019 at 07:17
I more or less gave up on Dr Who at Davidson, back in the day. The few episodes with McCoy left me completely cold. I actually thought Paul McGann would have been a really good Dr Who for the comeback, based on his performance in the one off feature length, even if the story was utter guff. I thought Eccleston & Tennant were both very good. Peter Capaldi can only ever be Malcolm Tucker to me, and this latest offering, I really don't have a strong opinion either way. I do like Jody Whittaker as an actress generally. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: January 07 2019 at 09:46
I agree entirely, especially about McGann, I would like to have seen him carry on.
|
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 07 2019 at 11:25
|
I loved The Thick of It (and various films Capaldi had parts in), but I was most excited about Peter Capaldi as the Doctor because of his, I think superb and tragic, role in Torchwood's Children of Earth as John Frobisher. I'm okay with Jody Whittaker, even if I wish she would enunciate more in Doctor Who and I hope the character evolves in a rather different direction. I would love for her to get a "Heaven Sent" sort of episode (my favourite episode of NuWho). I really would like to see both better scrips and a rather different "Team Tardis" dynamic. If the show is successful as it is, though, good on it. I'm more excited about the next series of Westworld, Game of Thrones, Fargo, Stranger Things, Black Mirror and Inside No. 9. I had stopped paying attention to Doctor Who when Davison was doing it. Although now I like many of his episodes and him as a Doctor, at the time I lost interest in the show -- even before that during the latter part of Tom Baker's career, much as, say, I love Douglas Adams, as I was more into Blake's 7 than Doctor Who back then. By the way, I really love Peter Davison's 2013 The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot with Peter Davison, Colin Baker and McCoy (to me that was the 50th anniversary highlight, much as I did like The Day of the Doctor. I was sad that Davison got hate for his comments about the Doctor as a woman issue, which I thought reasonable. McCoy is my least favourite Doctor, he's too vaudevillian and his rolling of the R's I find unappealing. That said, I still like some of his episodes such as The Curse of Fenric, and I don't dislike him. I hadn't thought of McGann as quite canon before with just his made-for-TV movie, and I have never made it all the way through that, but I liked the short Night of the Doctor very much, he's done fine Doctor Who Big Finish work, and I loved Withnail & I, and Paper Mask I found really terrific. He's an excellent actor. With Pertwee, as he was my first Doctor when I was small (think I was four when I started getting into Doctor Who), there is some nostalgia factor there. "Inferno" is one of those episodes I never seem to tire of -- the "Mirror, Mirror" (Star Trek) of Doctor Who, though instead of a character getting a beard, one lacks a mustache --. The Claws of Axos, The Sea Devils and The Monsters of Peladon had a big impact me when I was very small. I like the pacing in the Pertwee era, the stories and dialogue, and have never found any of those episodes to be a slog, but we all have different personalities so different aspects resonate.... |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: February 01 2019 at 06:52
|
I really enjoyed the latest series, and (importantly) my 13 and 16 year old daughters both loved it! They've watched the last few series with us, but we had comments about how great it has been to have a female doctor, and also that the stories were easier to follow. This is important, as we don't have time to rewatch episodes like some do.... I think that the next series will be darker and will develop some story arcs, but I hope they don't get too complicated...
|
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 18:33
|
Well, season 12 just started on New Year's Day. I have to say I rather enjoyed the first episode. It had a kind of "James Bond" feel to it, including the return of one special character (won't mention who if you haven't watched it yet) that was thought to be dead and a new set of interesting aliens that The Doctor has never encountered before. A promising start. Crossing my fingers that this season will be more interesting than the last. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 08 2020 at 14:38
Spyfall is certainly the best thing from the CC era. I still had a couple of issues with it, but it definitely gives me hope that this season won't be a big mess again. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 08 2020 at 15:31
| In my view, Jon Pertwee was the best Doctor Who and Sylvester McCoy was the worst. |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 08 2020 at 16:28
|
currently Season 23 and Season 3 are being aired on German TV each
Tuesday. the first eight episodes of Season 23 were broadcast on Dec
17th and Jan 7th (four episodes each). also broadcast on Jan 7th were
two episodes of Season 3 ("Don't Blink" and "Utopia"). Tuesdays are our
long Doctor Who nights. you can choose between watching the episodes in
English or in German synchronization; we do of course watch the English
originals. we like David Tennant better than Colin Baker (he is a bit
too comical for our taste). we like Jodie Whittaker a lot too; it is
good to see a female doctor for a change. we are looking forward to the
new episodes with her in 2020
-------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 01:03
the same for me The very early B/W episodes with Pertwee were the scariest ever imo McCoy was horrendous. The only other Doctor I liked in that era was Colin Baker ( and I also seem to remember he had a 'well endowed' companion played by an American actress
 ) . It recovered a much needed darker edge until McCoy turned it into pantomime. |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 03:29
Lord, I can't stand Pertwee, he's my least favourite Doctor so far. Going through his material has been a slog. Bill Hartnell is my favourite so far, and I'm enjoying the "team" aspect of the current incarnation, reminds me of Susan, Ian and Barbara.  ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 05:56
|
Love the show. STILL making efforts to follow it these days. Nothing else like it on TV. It's hard to pick favourites, but I didn't warm to Colin Baker. In his first episode he tries to strangle his companion! Fans have attributed this to "post-regeneration" madness. To which I say, OK, YOU come live next door to a wife beater and dismiss that! Plus his pompousness rubbed the wrong way. But I still enjoy it. I still can't believe the discussions and rage it's generating when if you watch the show... It was always a flawed series! That's why it's great to watch! Stuff isn't set in stone. Writer's conveniences keep happening. And I can live with it. People taking it far too seriously, they seem to be watching a different show! Sublime hand in hand with the ridiculous. And basically, the only BBC thing I bother with. Licence fee can't end quickly enough. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 07:43
I wasn't keen on either Peter Davison or Colin Baker as Doctor Who, but I thought Tom Baker was great and second only to Jon Pertwee. As you say, the episodes with Jon Pertwee were the scariest of all. Even the opening theme music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop used to give me the creeps.
 |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 13:27
same here in this all-female household (my wife Friede, my sister Bea, our daughters Alice and Dorothy and I)
------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 14:19
I think most Doctor Who fans would agree that the Daleks were the scariest monsters of all. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 09 2020 at 15:01
|
Also a fan of Dr Who.....liked all the Docs to some degree, but I agree that McCoy left a lot to be desired. Big fan of Baker, Tenant, Smith and Capaldi. I started watching with Pertwee...went back to see the early ones. I really wish Capaldi would have stayed on for another season or 2. Whittaker is a fine actress but she simply doesn't capture Dr Who for me. As Logan said, I hope it moves in another/different direction . ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 11:38
|
Just watched the latest episode...Praxeus...am I the only one that thought it was lame..? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 11:59
|
I haven't been able to bring myself to watch any full episodes from this season. I started on the Skyfall, erm Spyfall episode, but stopped when Stephen Fry's character was killed. It felt like a chore to watch the last season -- something that last happened to me in the 1980s with Doctor Who. Here's a young Chris Chibnall criticising Doctor Who in 1986 (he has now distanced himself from his early criticism calling it nonsense, perhaps because of the amount of criticism he gets). Forget the title of the video, that's a joke as he wrote 42 for 2007's Doctor Who (I actually rather liked that episode). |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 15:02
Thanks for the link.....I'll watch it. I miss Capaldi, Smith, Tenant, and imho some of the past writing wasn't bad..I enjoyed many of the episodes. I know some disliked the River Song stories but I liked them and her character.....so the new issues for me is not the fact we now have a Lady Doc...I just don't think she captures DR Who for me. I'll keep watching because I'm a Who fan, but.......
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 21:19
They are certainly hammering home the ecological themes this season. I do think overall this season is a step up from last year, but overall just ok. They are definitely building up tosomething though, so I suspect my feelings for the season as a whole will be tied to how these loose ends tie up. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: February 04 2020 at 10:52
|
^That's my thought too. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: February 07 2020 at 16:13
|
Tom Baker Sylvester McCoy Peter Capaldi Patrick Troughton Jon Pertwee |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: February 16 2020 at 06:57
|
Long, long dead. The only thing I enjoyed about Dr Who, after Tom Baker, was the theme music. Which is why I did my own variation it. I'm considering doing another jam track around the Dr Who theme for the next album. https://brotherhoodofthemachine.bandcamp.com/track/1variations-on-a-theme" rel="nofollow - https://brotherhoodofthemachine.bandcamp.com/track/1variations-on-a-theme ------------- |
Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: February 18 2020 at 13:54
|
Reboot Doctors 1. Capaldi 2. McGann 3. Smith 4. Eccleston 5. Whittaker 6. Tennant |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 18 2020 at 14:36
|
Watched the Byron/Shelly episode the other night...and again while I enjoyed the 19th century tale...it was a mediocre episode. I'm starting to get tired of the fact of them reusing Cybermen and Daleks whenever they run out of ideas. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: February 18 2020 at 15:45
| Starting to get tired of it? I got tired of it in the David Tennant years. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 18 2020 at 16:31
Too young for Hartnell, but grew up on Troughton, Pertwee and Baker. Drifted away after that (life and other things got me out of the routine). Loved the re-boot and it coincided with my children being of an age to enjoy it with me. I thought the Tennant years were wonderful - the writing was top notch, and even Smith and Capaldi maintained the high standard (helped by good companions too). Never liked the idea of a female doctor, but gave Whittaker a chance - but she is just not a good actor (never liked her in Broadchurch) - although to be fair she is not helped by the dreadful scripts - most of which are so worthy and educational, you feel patronised by their messages. It's a real shame - I don't get the buzz at present - but hopefully it'll return - but think a new re-boot is called for again  ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: February 19 2020 at 06:09
That's a good point. It reminds me of the Goa'uld on Stargate SG-1, but they were able to conclude that story line and introduce new "villiains," like the replicators. Doctor Who could use a new rivalry of sorts. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 19 2020 at 06:36
The McCoy period basically killed off Dr Who for most people - he's a good actor but the whole era was woeful imo.
|
Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: February 20 2020 at 00:30
I disagrees, it didn't koll it off at all. It was just the change in TV in general, so many old things ended. And so much new shortlived stuff started on UK tv. I loved the McCoy period, and I know it has a huge fan base, as does every doctor. It was sinister in a unique way, similar to how Sapphire & Steel was cosy and sinister at the same time, and Ace was a great conpanion. I really didn't like the Davidson and Colin Baker years though, they were pale imitations of the Ton Baker years. |
Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: February 20 2020 at 00:37
Exactly, she isn't a good actor at all. And Yes it is so preachy and socially correct all the time, so boring. It's like watching a primary school teacher taking her class on an outing, where they are all so well-behaved. |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: April 05 2020 at 09:06
All I'm saying is that I'm writing music again aaaaand....... well. Draw your own conclusions from the artwork for the single from the album (which is called Omnivac, incidentally).  ------------- |