The endless Doctor Who thread

[Philip Ayres]

Get Lord Tom a Knighthood

[Bogatan]

payres said:

He's almost certainly going. Have you heard his interviews of late, the bit at the end of the S3 video diary etc ?

Although much of RTD's actual writing hasn't been to my taste - I liked Rose, Tooth & Claw, the S2 end 2 parter, Smith and Jones and this Christmas special out of what he has done - the overall management of the show has been pretty good. It could have died on it's arse back in 05.

I'd like to see Stephen Moffat in charge.

I agree last year Moffat was responsible for much good. Nothing against RTD, but maybe after this year someone else guiding the series would be a benefit.

Still hope the 09 movies cover the time wars and bring back Mcgann.

Andy

[The Doctor]

transforce said:

Who can honestly say they were excited by the series four preview?

I was. Honestly. Not just saying that to disagree with you.

Like it or not, RTD will be around for a while yet. He's involved in the production of series 4. He was announced as the writer of the 2009 specials. The revival of Doctor Who has become the stuff of industry legend. It's reasonable to assume the BBC will bend over backwards to keep him on the show as long as possible. And they are never going to take notice of what a handful of folk on message boards say (positive or negative) anyway out of an average audience of c8 million viewers every week.

Eventually, yes, RTD will chose to move on and someone else will make the show. It's too valuable for the BBC to can it when he moves on, despite what some hysterical corners of the internet may scream. Various head honchos have come and gone throughout Doctor Who's history. Don't like the current version? That's OK, we all have different tastes. Tune back in when someone else is in charge. And there's still loads of Who produced in other mediums anyway (audio plays, novels, comics from 4 different publishers, etc). Not to mention the accelerated release schedule of the original series on DVD. There really is a brand of Who being produced for every taste. Heck, I've been a fan all my life and there are still loads of episodes of the original series I haven't seen (or in the case of some 60's episodes, heard) yet. Always 'new' stuff to sample.

I haven't liked all of New Who. There have been a few episodes I thought were duff, and some creative decisions that annoy but overall I rather enjoy it. The novelty of 'Doctor Who is back on telly!' has long since worn off. I watch it because I like it. For 25/45 minutes I can switch off my worries and watch a slice of mad fun.

And yes, one day, it will fade from our screens yet again. Not a problem really. Nothing stays popular forever. Let's just enjoy it (or whatever) while it's on. Doctor Who has given me a lot of enjoyment in my life and been a handy source of escape during difficult times, but at the end of the day it's just a TV show.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Heck, I've been a fan all my life and there are still loads of episodes of the original series I haven't seen (or in the case of some 60's episodes, heard) yet. Always 'new' stuff to sample.


-Ralph

Actually, now I've come to think about it, and for the interest of absolutely no-one, the Old Who that I've yet to experience is:

The Keys of Marinus - episodes 2-6
The Reign of Terror - episodes 4-5
The Chase
The Savages
The Smugglers
The Underwater Menace - episodes 1-2, 4
The Enemy of the World - episodes 1-2, 4-6
The Wheel in Space - episodes 1-2, 4-5
The Dominators
The Space Pirates - episodes 1, 3-6
Frontier in Space - episodes 2-6
The Monster of Peladon
Planet of the Spiders - episodes 2-6
The Brain of Morbius
The Seeds of Doom
The Invisible Enemy
The Ribos Operation*
The Stones of Blood*
The Androids of Tara*
The Power of Kroll*
The Armageddon Factor*
Meglos
Full Circle
State of Decay
Warriors Gate
Black Orchid+
Snakedance+
Mawdryn Undead - episodes 2-4+
The King's Demons+
Warriors of the Deep+

*Recently acquired on DVD, to be watched soon
+I probably saw them when very young as I was watching from at least Earthshock but can't remember anything about them at all

Hmmmm, more than I thought! But then I know every story backwards and forwards anyway through the novelisations, reference books, etc.

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I'm with Paul to be honest. New Who / RTD is a bit like Buffy / Joss Whedon. Very fresh new style of television writing for a year or so, then they just settle down to the successful formula.

I reckon there's two types of TV viewer, neither of them right or wrong. The first type watches something while it is new and original, then loses interest as it goes into variations on a theme (even if the quality is just as good - or even slightly improving). The second type will keep watching it and enjoying it as long as the quality remains good. I'm definitely in the first category, which is why I went off Star Trek after TNG finished, why I lost enthusiasm for Buffy and Doctor Who after a few years, and why I don't buy TF comics any more.

Whether I rate Patrick Stewart and Christopher Eccleston more highly than their successors purely on their merits, or whether the fact that the novelty had worn off the franchises contributed, I can't say. Probably both play a part.

However, unlike the Trek and Buffy franchises, I won't stop watching Who and Torchwood when I get bored of them, on account of them being filmed where I live.

I think all the Doctor Who Christmas specials have been below average for the current series, and this was no exception. The slow-motion falling scenes were pretty dire. I liked the Queen though.

Martin

[Philip Ayres]

Out of what you listed

The Brain of Morbius

Absoloute cracker

The Seeds of Doom

I don't like this - bucking the trend - but any story with Camp Freddy (from the Italian Job) as the villain and Boycie (from Only Fools and Horses) as his henchman can't be all bad.

The Stones of Blood

Superb, especially the first 2 episodes.

The Androids of Tara

Fun.

Full Circle

Good, despite it's major crime against humanity.

Warriors Gate

Stunning.

Black Orchid

Great for a 2 parter. Long overdew for a DVD release so i can get rid of a double pack off the shelf.

Mawdryn Undead

Fabulous stuff

[Andy Turnbull]

UK Gold is starting a rerun of the Tom Baker shows in the new year at tea time on weekdays.

Andy

[Philip Ayres]

Tape R the ones he's missed will you ?

[The Doctor]

I've started watching The Key to Time season. My word, The Ribos Operation bored me absolutely shitless! Luckily, The Pirate Planet was up next, the only story of the season I have previously seen and about which I will not hear a word against! One episode into The Stones of Blood so far, nicely atmospheric. Not bad so far though I couldn't give a toss about the Key to Time plotline overall as it just gets in the way of the stories and is utter, utter, utter guff. I am thus far mystified that it has attracted such fan attention as a plot device.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

I'm with you on Pirate Planet, splendid stuff. Liz hadsn't liked it but watched it today with a 4 year old visitor to the house and pronounced it "Much better than she thought"

[The Doctor]

"Life force dying! Life force dying!"

I've often heard that in my head during boring work meetings.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

In an odd way Pirate Planet feels very Blake's 7 to me when I watch it now. Not that that's a bad thing

[The Doctor]

Blake's 7! Now there's something I haven't seen in a while! And the DVDs are so bloody expensive and in such flimsy packaging. To the, er, torrents...

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

payres said:

Get Lord Tom a Knighthood

I don't agree with the honours system so I shall pass. He shall however always be an imaginery 'Lord Tom' to me!

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

martinm said:

I reckon there's two types of TV viewer, neither of them right or wrong. The first type watches something while it is new and original, then loses interest as it goes into variations on a theme (even if the quality is just as good - or even slightly improving). The second type will keep watching it and enjoying it as long as the quality remains good.

I think all the Doctor Who Christmas specials have been below average for the current series, and this was no exception.

Martin

I would say I've mostly been Type Two (for telly, radio, books, comics, towels,etc) with entertainment historically, though in the last couple of years I find myself veering more towards Type One. Life just seems too short now to perservere with series (in any media) that take a dip in the hope they will get better later on. Case in point was the Heroes TV show. Season 1 was mostly entertaining tosh but I didn't feel it had legs to keep going so didn't watch Season 2. Heck, I've been a life-long buyer of the Fantastic Four comic but am dropping it after the next (and last) issue of the current creative team as I don't care for the team taking it over whereas previously I would have bought it anyway, because, you know, it's the Fantastic Four.

Interesting how tastes change with age.

As for Doctor Who, the Christmas specials are arguably aimed at a different audience with a different function from the regular series and so I appraise them differently.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Continuing through The Key to Time. Watched the rest of The Stones of Blood. Pretty bonkers. Not sure it's one to re-watch much but entertaining enough for a spin and passed a pleasant 90 mins this evening. The Ogri are great. RTD must do a story on the planet of the Ogri that is mentioned! I also wish to see Nimon V Ogri. And also, I'd like a pony.

Watched the first two episodes of The Power of Kroll. Watchable with a faint air of crap. I think this is probably best watched with beer but I only had pepsi.

Hmmm. So far, only The Pirate Planet is what I would call brilliant. The season will have to pick up if it's not to be fed to ebay.

El cheapo ebay-procured remastered soundtrack of Fury From The Deep arrived today. Hurrah! So looking forward to hearing that without all the tape hiss, etc.

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

I pretty much agree with everyone concerning New Who. I think Ralph is correct in that it's amazing how it's kicked off and found a huge new audience. I think RTD has generally done a great job in bringing it back and giving Who a new life. But I also agree with Martin, in that, for me, it's slipping into a set formula- the Buffy analogy is spot on. I am dreading the involvement of Tate. I don't think that's gunna work at all.

[panderson]

I too fear the coming of tate - but James Marsters aka Spike looks funky - interested to see who he will be

[The Doctor]

Not that bothered about Tate. Can't judge her companion really until the actual episodes air. Besides, Who has had crap companions before and still had good stories. I enjoy the likes of 'Earthshock' even though it has Tegan in it.

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Let us not forget the crapfest that was Adric at times either.

Andy

[The Doctor]

Ah yes. Who can forget his 'writhing in pain' acting in the Master's, er, device in 'Castrovalva'.

-Ralph

[legios]

I'd agree with Ralph, it isn't really possible to judge what Catherine Tate will be like until we actually see here in the role. I was discussing this with my sister after rewatching the 2006 Christmas special and it occured to me that there are in that seventy minutes actually several different versions of what the character of Donna might be like - she goes through permutations that are far enough apart that they could easily be separate characters. What the character will actually turn into in the context of the weekly show is anyone's guess.

(actually the more I think about it the more interested I am in having a more mature actress in the slot. Not 100% on their actual choice, but the general idea of it seems like a good idea. They have very much drifted into the format of "The Doctor and a young, slightly niaeve 'girl' sidekick" as the core characters of the series. Reusing Donna might be an attempt to try to feel out the limits of their format by changing the nature of the character relationships).

Karl

[panderson]

Just watched this love fest fro Blakes 7 on BBC4 and what you just said rang something with me
When Sarah Jane came back it worked...with an older woman
I agree..a woman with maturity will be a good change...bring in Servalan grin

[Shockprowl]

Seeing Tate in the Christmas special was enough for me I'm afraid. And I am aftraid.

Is there a rumour of Davros comming back? Or did I dream it?

[Philip Ayres]

There's a rumour....

[Hero]

I heard that rumour too.

At the end of the Season 4 teaser there was a guy in a dog collar. I've seen him somewhere before but I am not entirely sure where.

===KEN

[The Doctor]

There have been 'Davros returns' rumours every series since the show came back. The current rumours may have more of a grain of truth to them as the return of the Daleks' creator could make story sense after the events of Evolution of the Daleks. We shall see.

In other news, I'm still making my way through The Key To Time boxset. Well, there's a lot in it! Caught up with the docus on the first four stories, which are all very well done, in particular the spotlight on producer Graham Williams which does a lot to humanise the man and explain some of the creative decisions of his era better than anything else I've seen/read. Watched The Androids of Tara. Quite good fun, though a point knocked off for only one short appearance by the fantastically crap monkey beast creature thing in part 1. Though infinity points added on for having Mary Tamm play three characters. Phwoarrrrrr!



-Ralph

[Hero]

Mary Tamm RULES!!!

UK Drama have been showing all four parts of Robot. The picture is somewhat different to the DVD version.

===KEN

[Philip Ayres]

The BBFC today administers a double whammy in that Black Orchid has been submitted for classification containing a coming soon - Invasion of Time trailer.

[Andy Turnbull]

Invasion of Time - haven't seen that in years and it was a fond favourite when I saw it!

Andy