Doctor Who Talk
- mister j-y
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
Hmmm...my two cents is that the whole "Who" thing is a bit hard to pin down...the main thing is that it has aspirations of appealing to people who watch Sci-Fi (the genre) and want a little bit more imagination and story-telling than the stuff you get on the Sci-Fi (the channel), but also it has to justify its budget so is placed mid-evening on a Saturday in the UK. Being the most popular slot in the whole of UK telly (and, importantly, made by the BBC) there is only so far it can go with the scares/violence because kids from 7 and up ought to be able to watch it with their parents.
This presents the writers with a real problem and I have to say that more often than not I've been disappointed with the way in which some story lines are cheaply resolved, especially when it comes to trying to deal with more abstract Science (Fiction) concepts. Sometimes it really works (the last few episodes of David Tennant's doctor for instance), but most of the time it can seem like a bit of a knock-about-adventure just to satisfy the BBC execs.
On the plus side, so far the re-booted Doctor actors have been excellent (although Chris Ecclestone kind of hammed it a bit too much for my own personal tastes, in a quite hammy role already) and it's a great platform for shoe-horning in some more fundamental questions about life and the universe in an entertaining way. Also the production values are great (see: prosthetic make-up and CGI).
Finally, I think it kind of represents the UK. The tropes of UK life, characters and attitudes are discussed. You could say, just like the UK it's brilliant and weird but a bit mixed up and not very comfortable with violence
This presents the writers with a real problem and I have to say that more often than not I've been disappointed with the way in which some story lines are cheaply resolved, especially when it comes to trying to deal with more abstract Science (Fiction) concepts. Sometimes it really works (the last few episodes of David Tennant's doctor for instance), but most of the time it can seem like a bit of a knock-about-adventure just to satisfy the BBC execs.
On the plus side, so far the re-booted Doctor actors have been excellent (although Chris Ecclestone kind of hammed it a bit too much for my own personal tastes, in a quite hammy role already) and it's a great platform for shoe-horning in some more fundamental questions about life and the universe in an entertaining way. Also the production values are great (see: prosthetic make-up and CGI).
Finally, I think it kind of represents the UK. The tropes of UK life, characters and attitudes are discussed. You could say, just like the UK it's brilliant and weird but a bit mixed up and not very comfortable with violence
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
I have seen almost every episode that currently still exists, and have "watched" some of the episodes we only have audio recordings of like they were radio plays. Doctor Who is something that I used to watch in Elementary School when I got to stay up late at my cousins house since her father was a fan, and I forgot about it until I got highspeed and could download old episodes (since no store carried them). Is it campy, hell yeah its campy, the main villains look like salt and pepper shakers. But campy doesnt make it bad. I enjoy most every episode they release, mostly because it is just a fun show.
The reason that most Americans do not know about the series until a couple years ago is that after the movie bombed in 96, they shelved the series. It was not until the reboot in 2005 where they reformed the show that people started getting it, really it was not until 2007 when Scifi/Syfy started showing it.
The reason that most Americans do not know about the series until a couple years ago is that after the movie bombed in 96, they shelved the series. It was not until the reboot in 2005 where they reformed the show that people started getting it, really it was not until 2007 when Scifi/Syfy started showing it.
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
The US made 96 movie was an abomination. I've seen all of the old episodes at least once each, with the Tom Baker ones being my favorites and seen the most. Saw the shit movie, then only the first ep when it was rebooted as I don't watch TV and haven't bothered to watch online.
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- mister j-y
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
fastbilly1 wrote:I have seen almost every episode that currently still exists, and have "watched" some of the episodes we only have audio recordings of like they were radio plays. Doctor Who is something that I used to watch in Elementary School when I got to stay up late at my cousins house since her father was a fan, and I forgot about it until I got highspeed and could download old episodes (since no store carried them). Is it campy, hell yeah its campy, the main villains look like salt and pepper shakers. But campy doesnt make it bad. I enjoy most every episode they release, mostly because it is just a fun show.
The reason that most Americans do not know about the series until a couple years ago is that after the movie bombed in 96, they shelved the series. It was not until the reboot in 2005 where they reformed the show that people started getting it, really it was not until 2007 when Scifi/Syfy started showing it.
I am really heartened by the fact that the show, despite my grumbles, is very close to the heart of the British (IMO), and so many people I respect here give it time and especially like fastbilly actually love it! I used to say the show was "hokey", but you're right "campy" is the word!
By the way Hobie, Tom Baker's Doctor (and also Tom himself) is the yardstick by which all men ought to be measured

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Re: Doctor Who Talk
BBC is streaming all five episodes of Children of Earth this week, arguably the best Torchwood episodes ever(certainly up there at least), and certainly on par with some of Doctor Who's best
http://www.bbcamerica.com/torchwood/vid ... l-episode/
http://www.bbcamerica.com/torchwood/vid ... l-episode/
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- ZeroAX
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
Matt Smith, by far the best doctor of the new who era. Though he was greatly helped by the lightyears wide jump in writing quality the show had when the head writer position was passed to Moffat.
Seriously these days I just tell people to start from series 5.
I enjoyed the previous Doctors and series, but honestly I was kind of dragging my feet when it came to watching them. It took me 14 months to watch series 1-4 and 2 weeks to watch series 5 and 6. (Amy <3).
As for why everyone prefers David Tennant...I just think he was the first Doctor for most people. Christofer Eccleston only stayed for a single series so people didn't have time to warm up to him, not to mention the show hadn't caught on by that point, so he wasn't missed cause not a lot of new fans got the chance to "meet him" while he was active.
Tennant on the other hand last for 3 series, which themselves last like 5 years, so for most new fans he WAS the Doctor. I too just did NOT want him to go when I was watching the specials, and I saw some pictures of Smith online and I thought to myself he looked stupid, with his bowtie.
1 episode later (yes The Eleventh Hour was enough to get me to love him), I did not care about Tennant. 1 season later, and with what is the most amazing series finale for modern Doctor Who to date imo, and he was MY doctor (any doctor who fan knows what that means
)
Also, best villains ever:
and as for the bowtie part....

Seriously these days I just tell people to start from series 5.
I enjoyed the previous Doctors and series, but honestly I was kind of dragging my feet when it came to watching them. It took me 14 months to watch series 1-4 and 2 weeks to watch series 5 and 6. (Amy <3).
As for why everyone prefers David Tennant...I just think he was the first Doctor for most people. Christofer Eccleston only stayed for a single series so people didn't have time to warm up to him, not to mention the show hadn't caught on by that point, so he wasn't missed cause not a lot of new fans got the chance to "meet him" while he was active.
Tennant on the other hand last for 3 series, which themselves last like 5 years, so for most new fans he WAS the Doctor. I too just did NOT want him to go when I was watching the specials, and I saw some pictures of Smith online and I thought to myself he looked stupid, with his bowtie.
1 episode later (yes The Eleventh Hour was enough to get me to love him), I did not care about Tennant. 1 season later, and with what is the most amazing series finale for modern Doctor Who to date imo, and he was MY doctor (any doctor who fan knows what that means

Also, best villains ever:
and as for the bowtie part....


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Re: Doctor Who Talk
I think Tennant and Smith both have a different vibe. Tenant was very dark and ruthless at times, and had an ego that he struggled to keep in check. There was a scary side to that Doctor. Push him too far and it was like facing Satan himself. Smith is much more of a goofy, carefree, absent-minded professor Doctor. He's a bit friendlier and more approachable than his last two incarnations. He just comes across as "nicer"
I think Smith is fantastic. He made the role his own and brought a unique take to it, but I prefer Tennant's darker doctor. You got a real sense of the rage, torment, hubris, and soul crushing responsiblity that comes with being the Doctor with him. He was more interesting to me. His final episode was fascinating, the way he reacted to having to regenerate left a lasting impression on me.
Smith's doctor is noticeably different from his last two incarnations. It's like much of the anger and darkness of Eccleston and Tennant have been purged from Smith's incarnation.
I think Smith is fantastic. He made the role his own and brought a unique take to it, but I prefer Tennant's darker doctor. You got a real sense of the rage, torment, hubris, and soul crushing responsiblity that comes with being the Doctor with him. He was more interesting to me. His final episode was fascinating, the way he reacted to having to regenerate left a lasting impression on me.
Smith's doctor is noticeably different from his last two incarnations. It's like much of the anger and darkness of Eccleston and Tennant have been purged from Smith's incarnation.
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
But the thing is that they have focused more on the potential dark side of the doctor in the Moffat era than they did in the Davies era, though I will agree Tennant's Doctor was less compassionate (and also kind of a dick to Martha
)


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Re: Doctor Who Talk
ZeroAX wrote:But the thing is that they have focused more on the potential dark side of the doctor in the Moffat era than they did in the Davies era
Which I find so ironic because Smith's personality is so much less dark. It's kind of weird. Much of the dark foreshadowing they are doing for the Doctor doesn't really fit his personality. It fits Tennant's more. Tennant's the guy who put a group of aliens in an eternal hell custom tailored to each of their respective personalities just because they pissed him off in one episode. He trapped one of them in a mirror forever. It was cold and cruel. Not that they were saints, but it still showed what he was capable of. He quite literally was Satan in that episode doling out eternal torment
I just can't imagine Smith ever doing anything like that. He's a very different doctor.
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Re: Doctor Who Talk
Gamerforlife wrote:Which I find so ironic because Smith's personality is so much less dark. It's kind of weird. Much of the dark foreshadowing they are doing for the Doctor doesn't really fit his personality. It fits Tennant's more. Tennant's the guy who put a group of aliens in an eternal hell custom tailored to each of their respective personalities just because they pissed him off in one episode. He trapped one of them in a mirror forever. It was cold and cruel. Not that they were saints, but it still showed what he was capable of. He quite literally was Satan in that episode doling out eternal torment
Yeah.....about that.....I know this is more the fault of the writers, but the Doctor's ethics tend to be all over the place.
But Moffat has improved that a bit I think. Not that individual writers don't also screw up, but in general I would say Smith's doctor is more consistent.
ok question for old doctor who fans: what's so special about the master? the episodes he was featured in were honestly quite shit imo. Even in his best ones (the end of time), the master was the weakest link.
Maybe it's the fault of the actor for not feeling threatening, but in general the master didn't seem like an equal to the doctor. He just seems like a madman who was given the keys to a tardis.
Was it different in the old who episodes? was he more threatening?

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