Dr. Who

[Rían]

ok, a brit friend of mine on another board told me that the new dr who christmas special is based on the lion, witch and wardrobe - interesting ... but why isn't it on my tv schedule here?! :mad: when do we get to see it? :(

(not that I'm reconciled to Matt Smith yet ... I've given him a lot of chances, but ... eh ... )

[Rían]

David Tennant & cast & crew do music vid of The Proclaimers:

http://io9.com/5854705/a-charming-music-video-starring-david-tennant-and-the-cast-crew-and-aliens-of-doctor-who/gallery/1

(Rian, you might like this)
thanks for the link - wonderful!!

[mithrand1r]

ok, a brit friend of mine on another board told me that the new dr who christmas special is based on the lion, witch and wardrobe - interesting ... but why isn't it on my tv schedule here?! :mad: when do we get to see it? :(

(not that I'm reconciled to Matt Smith yet ... I've given him a lot of chances, but ... eh ... )

In the USA Doctor Who (http://www.bbcamerica.com/schedule/) is on at 21:00 EST on Christmas night. :)

[mithrand1r]

First impressions:

It was an interesting episode.

The title gave me the impression that it would be related to the CS Lewis story.
The story had some references to TLWW, but otherwise it was a Doctor Who episode.

I did not care much for the drop to Earth. It stretched my sense of believability a bit. Madge and the children were fun to watch.

I liked the doctor as caretaker of the house. The repairs he made usually were interesting and fun outcomes. I loved the Christmas tree.

I would not like to sleep in a hammock. It makes my back scream out in protest. I guess a hammock would have been cool as a kid. I liked the bear in the blanket routine.

The trees in the other world were cool. I liked the tree creatures. They had a nice look.

The story with the tree harvesters was enough to move the story.

The message about being alone during Christmas was well done and the ending was nice.

[Nerdanel]

ok, this actually has nothing to with doctor who, it's just an awesome clip of pelicans and flying rays (yes, actual rays above water. voluntarily.), narrated by david tennant.

awesomeness.

http://youtu.be/nHrrS_hOnZw

[Draken]

First impressions:

It was an interesting episode.

The title gave me the impression that it would be related to the CS Lewis story.
The story had some references to TLWW, but otherwise it was a Doctor Who episode.

I did not care much for the drop to Earth. It stretched my sense of believability a bit. Madge and the children were fun to watch.

I liked the doctor as caretaker of the house. The repairs he made usually were interesting and fun outcomes. I loved the Christmas tree.

I would not like to sleep in a hammock. It makes my back scream out in protest. I guess a hammock would have been cool as a kid. I liked the bear in the blanket routine.

The trees in the other world were cool. I liked the tree creatures. They had a nice look.

The story with the tree harvesters was enough to move the story.

The message about being alone during Christmas was well done and the ending was nice.

Thought it was OK. Not great, but some good bits, and worth watching. Maybe Steven Moffat has a finite amount of Great Writing in him and used a lot of it up on 'Sherlock' - the opening episode of Series 2 went out on New Year's Day and was stunningly good.

[Nerdanel]

Thought it was OK. Not great, but some good bits, and worth watching. Maybe Steven Moffat has a finite amount of Great Writing in him and used a lot of it up on 'Sherlock' - the opening episode of Series 2 went out on New Year's Day and was stunningly good.

yeah, well, i never expect too much from the christmas specials... they always seem to be aimed towards a wider audience than those who usually watch doctor who. considering that, i thought it was a decent episode. :) i might also be scarred by that blowing-things-up-with-love horrible stuff, so now my expectations are reasonably low. ;) it's too bad, though, i always really loved moffatt's stuff when he was not the main writer/executive producer.

but awesome to hear that there's more sherlock happening! 8)

[Rían]

ok, this actually has nothing to with doctor who, it's just an awesome clip of pelicans and flying rays (yes, actual rays above water. voluntarily.), narrated by david tennant.

awesomeness.

http://youtu.be/nHrrS_hOnZw
That is so cool! I'm happy to see anything with David Tennant (I would watch a documentary on paint drying narrated by David Tennant!)

Xmas special started out good, kinda fizzled out near the end, but the thing that I really loved was the music ... anyone else like the music?

[Earniel]

I :heart: Earthflight.

I had almost not recognised his voice. His speechpattern in DW is so different from what a documentary needs.

[Nerdanel]

I :heart: Earthflight.

I had almost not recognised his voice. His speechpattern in DW is so different from what a documentary needs.

yeah, and his accent is not as strong in doctor who - which is too bad :D

[Earniel]

Yes, I was quite surprised how much control he has over the accent in Tooth and Claw, one of the earlier Tennant episodes (and one of my faves).

[Rían]

yeah, and his accent is not as strong in doctor who - which is too bad :D

That was a deliberate choice to keep a little continuity - and besides, a thick Scots accent is really hard to understand! :eek: (although his is very understandable)

I'm sure that episode of DW was really fun for him - getting to speak naturally.

[mithrand1r]

That is so cool! I'm happy to see anything with David Tennant (I would watch a documentary on paint drying narrated by David Tennant!)

Xmas special started out good, kinda fizzled out near the end, but the thing that I really loved was the music ... anyone else like the music?

I liked the music. I agree that the story was weaker towards the end. The military guys did not make much sense and there was little background information given about them. They seemed to be a convenient way for mom to get a vehicle to use for getting to her kids quickly.

[Rían]

Just thinking as I'm waiting for the new season - maybe part of what made David Tennant so great as DW is that he really loved the series so much growing up. OTOH, Matt Smith hadn't even seen a DW episode until he got cast (or maybe was in the casting process, don't remember. but certainly not before that). I think it just shows that Tennant feels at home in and loves the Whoniverse, while Matt Smith seems to be coming at it from the outside, so to speak.

I'm starting to get my older sister interested in DW, and am choosing episodes for her to watch. Of course I always recommend "Blink" first, and she really liked it. I think I'll do "Rose" next, because I think it's an important background-setting episode as well as a good episode in itself (the plastic Mickey is hysterical!) Then I thought perhaps "The End of the World", because it was Rose's first trip in the Tardis, and I love that episode, too (who wouldn't love Cassandra? :D ) Then I picked out a few more, and lo and behold, they were all Eccleston's!

I'm starting to appreciate Eccleston's episodes more and more. Although I like Tennant better as the Doctor, I think Eccleston's episodes are pretty brilliant overall, and very funny, too. Anyway, any recommendations for my sister in the Doctor 9/10 series? I think I'll do Eccleston's first two, as a good background, then perhaps another Tennant ...

[Earniel]

"Tooth and Claw" was a very good one, early Tennant. "Dalek" is a good one from Eccleston. I haven't seen any of the 11th Doctor yet.

[Rían]

No rush to see them ... :(

[Earniel]

I have to say, the bits and pieces of the new doctor and his companions that I saw while taping the episodes don't really invoke the 'oooh-wanna-see!' response I was hoping for. Still, we'll give them a shot when I've gotten through my huge back-log of other series that I want to see first.

[mithrand1r]

In the US

New season of Doctor Who

Today

Saturday

2012-SEP-01 21:00

on BBCA.

Hope it will be worth the wait.

[mithrand1r]

Interesting twist at end that I did not expect.

Somewhat spooky feeling at times.

Some remaining questions:


Will the doctor have any effects from the nanotechnology?

Will the daleks continue to pursue the doctor since they collectively forgot who he his?

What were all the names referenced near the end of the episode?

[Rían]

By far one of the best of the Matt Smith years - the twist at the end was so tragic ... :(

I thought they played it just right with the hints - where did the milk come from? - but it seems such an innocent question that it doesn't set off huge alarm bells in your head ... then wham, at the end it makes sense ... :(

[mithrand1r]

By far one of the best of the Matt Smith years - the twist at the end was so tragic ... :(

I thought they played it just right with the hints - where did the milk come from? - but it seems such an innocent question that it doesn't set off huge alarm bells in your head ... then wham, at the end it makes sense ... :(

I agree regarding the milk. The dalek conversions were odd looking to me. The stalk from the forehead did not seem right.

[mithrand1r]

Better episode than I thought from the title. 2½ of 4 stars

The robots acted in ways that I did not expect.

I did not know the doctor could repair damaged legs.

I like the reference to Arthur C. Clarke and HAL 9000.

[Rían]

I missed that reference - what was it?

For me, it was pretty disappointing, especially after the previous episode, which I thought was really stellar (no pun intended)

It just seemed like "hey, we have dinosaurs in this episode, so we don't have to worry much about the dialogue or storyline!"

I loved the moody robots, though. And it was also fun to see 2 Harry Potter actors together in a Dr Who episode :)

Yes, the leg repair was odd, then I thought that it was more that at that time, the equipment was available to do that repair, and he just used the equipment (knowing how to use it because he's the Doctor and brilliant :D )

Anyway, 3 more episodes of Amy, then the new companion! (I'm not wild about Amy, so I'm looking forward to that)

[mithrand1r]

When the Doctor disables (shutsdown?) the robots they start saying: "Daisy ..."

That was IIRC the song that HAL 9000 sang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuEN5TjYRCE) (Daisy Bell) when he was being shut down in 2001: Space Odyssey.

The Doctor was called Arthur C. Clarke by Brian (Arthur's dad).


I agree with the HP actors though I did not recognize them for who they were. Solomon was more familiar looking to me.

I am indifferent about Amy. I liked Tate the best of the new DW companions.

I missed that reference - what was it?

For me, it was pretty disappointing, especially after the previous episode, which I thought was really stellar (no pun intended)

It just seemed like "hey, we have dinosaurs in this episode, so we don't have to worry much about the dialogue or storyline!"

I loved the moody robots, though. And it was also fun to see 2 Harry Potter actors together in a Dr Who episode :)

Yes, the leg repair was odd, then I thought that it was more that at that time, the equipment was available to do that repair, and he just used the equipment (knowing how to use it because he's the Doctor and brilliant :D )

Anyway, 3 more episodes of Amy, then the new companion! (I'm not wild about Amy, so I'm looking forward to that)

[Rían]

oh, OK - yes, HAL sang "Daisy" when he was being shut down. Funny, I just saw that part on TV last week!

I didn't catch the Arthur C. Clarke bit - I'll try to catch it next time around.

Solomon was Filch, the caretaker, and Rory's dad was Mr. Weasley.

[mithrand1r]

It was an ok episode. I am curious what becomes of the cyborg.
If the cyborg was going to shoot all in town if he did not get his man, why was he restrained (in his shooting) at the end?

Interesting that the Doctor was doubting himself if he did the right thing by being merciful to his past foes.

What to do with those who are not all evil? It becomes a more difficult question when one does good deeds as well as bad.

The episode seems to imply that the doctor has been traveling alone for extended periods of time.

If the doctor can travel through time & space, why are his return visits to Rory and Amy getting further (from their POV) apart time wise?

[Rían]

Agreed - ok. I liked it better the second time around, though (I usually watch it on my own when it airs, then with my Dr Who fan son when he gets a chance). I think the first time around, all those western-themed background things were kind of irritating.

As far as the cyborg, I think that he clearly has mercy still inside of him, or else he would have just come right in and started shooting up the place to get to Kahler-Jex. I think it was just a threat, or a threat plus his frustration at not being able to get to Jex, that made him say he was going to shoot up the whole town.

Also it wouldn't have been a story if he came in right away :D

But yes, it's complicated - but life is complicated, and it's truer to life when the bad guys have good sides, too.

The doctor mentioned his age, I think - it went by so fast, I wasn't sure. I think he said a number in the thousands. Did anyone else catch that? So yes, he was traveling alone for a while - after whenever he left Rory's dad.

[Tessar]

I don't even watch Dr. Who, but I caught the ending of the last episode that was on (my mother was watching it) where they are setting up to switch out the Dr.'s companions (from Amy and Rory to we-know-not-who) and that was a major tear jerker! Even not knowing the characters much at all, I was sniffling.

[Rían]

Yes, for not liking Amy that much, it was a pretty good episode. And how cheeky was that to make the Statue of Liberty "infested" with an angel! :D

I'm so looking forward to meeting the new companion!

[mithrand1r]

The last episode was good overall. Amy's decision at the end fit the way her character was portrayed.

I do not completely like/understand the Doctor not being able to go to certain areas or change certain events. I think this was put in to prevent havoc with story lines.

Just think if the Doctor could go and rescue Adric (or insert name here).

It would reduce the drama and/or tension if the Doctor could erase bad events or outcomes and make for a weaker show. IIRC this was somewhat touched upon in the Waters of Mars.

I am also looking forward to the new companion(s) and new adventures.

[Rían]

yes, it's definitely inconsistent - but we fans have to just live with it, because it makes for better stories! :)

[Draken]

How can anyone not like Amy? She did the usual 'moral compass' job while being interesting, independent and stunningly beautiful (ah, I think I've stumbled on why some people don't like her right there!). Most of her life was intertwined with the Doctor's and we got to see the consequences of that. She came as a package with Rory, who was an absolutely brilliant character - in fact the Gillan/Darvill/Smith chemistry was about as good as any I've ever seen. And as a special bonus she didn't mope around after the Doctor with puppy dog eyes like certain other companions (Donna being a notably brilliant exception).

On the minus side, is it just me or are the plot holes getting bigger of late? I don't MIND plot holes, I mean it's sci-fi not a documentary after all, but are we really saying, for instance that NOBODY would see the Statue of Liberty walking around, even at night? I know we can't expect a "Blink" every time Moffat picks up his pen, but I'm feeling vaguely disappointed with his tenure (though maybe "Blink" just set the bar too high. There HAVE been some truly great episodes).

Anyway, if losing the Williams/Ponds made you a bit sad, maybe you shouldn't watch this recreation of a deleted postscript to their story...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/13/video-the-doctor-who-deleted-scene-that-ends-the-story-of-all-three-ponds/

[Nerdanel]

How can anyone not like Amy?

i absolutely loved amy in the beginning - she was incredibly clever and fun and clearly had a great background. lately, though, she just became more and more boring, didn't show many signs of that intelligence that i appreciated so much, and looked more and more plastic. she was supposed to look older in that last episode? yeah, right. they did a great job with old amy in 'the girl who waited', but not so much here.

but rory just got better and better as time passed.

it was time to change companions, i think. i was on the verge of giving up on doctor who after the previous season and the first episodes of this one (it feels like the show has become, sorry to put it this way, more american: higher saturation, smoother skin, more explosions, younger and younger people...), but fortunately, i didn't. i quite enjoyed the last one and i think there's still some hope that we'll get more of that brilliant moffat stuff. :)

[Rían]

How can anyone not like Amy? I think she was too "perfect" - unrealistically fearless. Like no matter what was happening, she was "Jumping off a cliff? Wow, what fun! Fighting an army? Wow, what fun!" She did have some fearful moments, but she just wasn't realistic in that area, IMO. She was rather one-dimensional and just kind of boring to me.

OTOH, I think they did great things with Rory, and I liked him a lot - he was far more real.

She came as a package with Rory, who was an absolutely brilliant character ...Yes, I think they did a great job with him - started off as a kind of Mickey character (from Mickey/Rose), but really grew, while staying very real.

On the minus side, is it just me or are the plot holes getting bigger of late? I don't MIND plot holes, I mean it's sci-fi not a documentary after all, but are we really saying, for instance that NOBODY would see the Statue of Liberty walking around, even at night? I loved the idea of the SoL being a weeping angel, but after the split second of "Wow! love that idea!" came the "how in the world did people not notice?"

I know we can't expect a "Blink" every time Moffat picks up his pen, but I'm feeling vaguely disappointed with his tenure (though maybe "Blink" just set the bar too high. There HAVE been some truly great episodes). Blink was bloody brilliant. My all-time favorite episode (my son has a "the angels have the phone box" t-shirt :D ) There have been quite a few good episodes besides Blink, but yeah, I wish they could have made the Statue of Liberty thing a bit more believable - some kind of "perception filter" block maybe? that the angels could generate?

[Earniel]

I've finally managed to see End of Time, Tennant's last episodes. (I admit, I had been saving them even if that means arriving late at the party, three years after everybody else. :rolleyes:) Wow is all I can say. Man, he was such a great Doctor.

As it happens, the first season of the 11th Doctor has just started a re-run on one of the BBc channels, so I'm guessing it's time to catch up. :D

[mithrand1r]

Blink was bloody brilliant. My all-time favorite episode (my son has a "the angels have the phone box" t-shirt :D ) There have been quite a few good episodes besides Blink, but yeah, I wish they could have made the Statue of Liberty thing a bit more believable - some kind of "perception filter" block maybe? that the angels could generate?

Blink was excellent. The other appearances by the angels were not as good and in some cases disappointing. In all fairness, I do not think that the Angels are an easy character to use well.

I did not care much for the angels in the last episode. The hard part with the angels is balancing how powerful/fearful they are in episodes.

This one had the angels more fearful, but they appeared way too powerful. As I said: the Angels are not an easy character to use well.

[Rían]

Just watched season opener of Dr. Who. Great opening premise - that the doctor was going to save someone, as he often does, but this time it's a little boy, and the boy's name is ... Davros! who created the killer Dalek race!. So do you save him or not?