Sooooo? What, did you all eat so much that you'd nodded off by 7? It must be on the web by now!
I've just seen the repeat on BBC3 (the dog decided to be ill, at 7 o'clock on December 25th, and needed an emergency trip to the vet. He's fine now. Git.) and thought I'd see what y'all thought.
On the whole, it was an improvement on last years, but I'll leave it there for now in case you're all still waiting to see it.
A savage review will follow...
Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
The episode wasn't bad, but Catherine Tate was about as irritating as shoving sandpaper in your underpants! For goodness sake, is she capable of playing any part that isn't loud-mouthed, stupid and common?
I did enjoy seeing the Tardis back at the birth of the solar system and hearing a little of the day when presumably the Timelords had just got around to mastering time. Was also a nice touch that the huon particles were visually similar to the effects we saw when Rose absorbed the time vortex...especially since huons are meant to now only exist inside the heart of the Tardis. Was also nice to see the Doctor refer to Galifrey by name for the first time since the revival. Could have done without the christmas tree again though...that wasn't amusing the first time they did it, and it hasn't improved any since last Christmas.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Killer Christmas trees, killer robots disguised as musical Santas, and a threatening spaceship hovering over London. Which DW Christmas special am I describing? Take your pick.
I don't recall if it was in last year's, but this one featured... wait for it... people on top of buildings!
Overall : underwhelming.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
Last year's had a third of the world's population on top of buildings, with the aliens threatening to make everyone jump off.
This year's wasn't too bad. I felt it dragged a little in places and certain parts didn't make sense(the first taxi they took at the beginning could've been paid at the Church, but instead they got out). Catherine Tate was annoying, and indeed loud mouthed, as usual. She even said some of her catchphrases. Still, it wasn't terrible. And it was nice to see some new Dr.Who.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Last year's had a third of the world's population on top of buildings..."
Good point. I didn't think of that. Though, I was thinking more in terms of the main characters.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Would you have preferred it if they were in a welsh quarry?
I ask you, when did Dr Who fans get so picky? Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reverend: I ask you, when did Dr Who fans get so picky?
If you had to pay the BBC �131.50 a year in license fees/tax, you'd be picky too. Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
I do.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
I was waiting to re-watch the special with friends at a party last night to write this. Incidentally, I had totally forgotten that "Runaway Bride" is a Richard Gere / Julia Roberts movie. Ironically, it's playing on TBS as I type this.
It was fun, it was overacted, it was basically a Doctor Who pantomime - and as I understand it, that was the whole point. In the grand scale of things, the Doctor was put through the emotional meat grinder with the loss of Rose, so what both he and the audience needed was a lightweight comedy episode to get everyone over her. I liked it, and although the best part for me WAS the third series preview, I hardly regret sitting there for the hour.
-The TARDIS gets a real workout here, being shown in actual FLIGHT more than ever before. Typically when in "flight", she's in the Vortex, and then materializes wherever she ends up. Here (and last season) we see her flying, spinning and interating with more physical objects than ever. In fact, in the entire original series I can only really think of two instances when she's in flight and interacting with other ships: the Sentinel Six defence satelite in "warriors of the Deep", and with a bus-shaped space cruiser in "Delta and the Bannermen". Oh, and Peri was really scared of them smashing into a comet in "Attack of the Cybermen" for some reason.
-Anyway, wheneverwe saw the TARDIS from outside in this episode, she's spinning. But whenever the door is opened, she's stationary. Only once do I think the Doctor meant for it to happen (when recuing Donna in the very cool car chase scene). Otherwise, does the TARDIS herself sense someone's headed for the door, and she stops?
-The opening dialogue between the Doctor and Donna was reshot, apparently to sync with the lighting and slight hair changes in this episode. That, or the Doctor would need to inexplicably turn on the lights in the console room during the opening credits.
-The Santa masks were better last year, but last year they didn't have to conceal robot masks underneath. Overall though, the masks were less conspicuous this time because they looked plasticky and face instead of metal clockwork. And how to the robots go from spiffy concealed weapons in their brass instruments, to standard G36 rifles they apparently stole from the British military?
-Despite his apparently transcendental pockets, this Doctor does not carry money. The seventh doctor did have a change purse, but otherwise he's typically without currency. The third Doctor must have carried money on him during his exile...
-They really didn't make much of an effort in concealing the fact that they were shooting this show in July. The daytime scenes looked especially summerlike, where most shows would turn the colour saturation down to make it look a little cooler. Also, the trees in the chase scene and elsewhere were really uncooperative. Really! How dare they maintain their leafy foilage when shooting a show like Doctor Who!
-And then, there's the utter lack of snow until the end. I've never been to London, but can I assume that snow in December is pretty rare? How aobut rain or fog? I'm a Canadian bumpkin here, and my whole province (into which most of the UK can fit, I might add) is currently covered in snow.
-Henrik's is the store chain where Rose used to work. I take it that it's a fictional chain..?
-Torchwood just won't go away! Strange too that we get more information on the "main" branch of Torchwood than the main show itself. Also strange that this leftoer remenant of the organization still looks less dilapitated and cleaner than the office where Jack and company hang out. And how would those guys react to the inevitable report of ANOTHER spaceship hanging over London, and one that's using their stuff, no less? Isn't ANYONE from Torchwood still in London?
-I'm wondering if the Racnoss ship concealed at the centre of the Earth contradicts any of the other wierd stuff buried on the planet... Mind you, the Doctor has not been that far back in Earth's history before. He's been close, when he helped precipitate the start of human life on Earth in "City of Death", but he's not seen the CREATION of the planet yet. Now he's seen both ends of the life of his favorite place...
-But, unlike what he aid in dialogue, he HAS been this far back before - further, in fact. He was at the creation of the Milky Way at Event One in "Castrovalva", from which he escaped by jettisoning a quarter of his ship. Despite the questionable histroy of the creation of the galaxy by a massive "in-rush of hydrogen", he's basically been back to 13.6 billion years ago, which is about nine billion years before the creation of the solar system and Earth.
-In the wide shots of the final scene, you can see the snow blowing in from the side.
On another note, both the Christmas concert and Confidential special covering it were great. Kudos to the producers for taking the property some pretty interesing places! Too bad that the season's fun has been somewhat tainted with a stronger-than-usual rumour source that Tennant will be leaving halfway through series four to allegedly pursue his film career, for which he's allegedly being bombarded with offers. True or not, it sucks to be reading about this while watching Tennant having a genuinely good time at the concert. I was hoping that David would want at least four years, not two and a half. Stoopid Sun newspaper. Stoopid everything.
Matk
PS Next up, the Torchwood series finale double bill! And right after that, the premiere of the Sarah Jane Adventures!
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
quote:-And then, there's the utter lack of snow until the end.
2006 was the warmest year in 300 years. Even the Alps don't have much snow this winter.
One scene I particularly liked in this episode was the Doctor pouring down fire, water and general destruction down onto the Racnoss. I love it when the Doctor can forget compassion when there's no Companion around to nag him, and I've missed that 'dark side' of the Doctor in Tennant a bit, to be honest.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
The only place you can guarantee it'll inexplicably snow every year is Walford.
I thought Rose worked in Fenwick's(a real store), but it was kinda hard to tell.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Watched it just then. I enjoyed it. A Harmless bit of fun. Good makeup, good effects. I don't know this Catherine Tate woman - she didn't seem THAT bad - her character was supposed to be obnoxious, so why are people complaining about her being obnoxious.
I read where this was the first mention of "Gallifrey" on the New Doctor! WOOO!!
I'm sorry - Wha? David Tennet LEAVING? This is stupid. When do these people realise they don't have film careers after being in Doctor Who or Sci Fi for that matter. GIVE IT UP PEOPLE! I mean wtf is Billie Piper doing now? I also read where Christopher Eccleston is now doing a US tv show. WTF?
Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: When do these people realise they don't have film careers after being in Doctor Who or Sci Fi for that matter.
The thing is, though, Tennant apparently does have a future after sci fi judging by the amount of film offers he's apparently getting. He's not like a lot of the other actors who's only major role has been on Dr. Who (before Dr. Who Chris Eccleston made a career doing guest-parts & minor roles, and has gone back to where he started!)...David can actually act, and has other serious roles under his belt already. He's less likely to be type-cast.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
Andrew, Christopher Eccleston isn't doing any old American TV show, he's doing "Heroes", which is a runaway hit.
Meanwhile, Billie Piper has been filming a BBC period drama of some sort.
I'm disappointed about Tennant leaving too, but I don't think you can paint all Dr.Who actors with the same brush and say none of them can have big acting parts after the show.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Is it 100% sure that he is leaving?
Patrick Stewart was ALSO known for a career before Trek... but really - apart from a similar genre film trilogy - what else has he done?
Also - can't he do films in the off time of filming Dr. Who?
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Tennant has not confirmed the rumour, and the BBC has flatly denied it. The fourth series has not been officially commissioned yet, though you can bet everyone's working to make that happen.
Doctor Who has what is often called the world's most gruelling filming schedule. They take NINE MONTHS to film fourteen one-hour episodes; most North American shows do twice that amount in less time. The reasons behind this are many, but besides the large amounts of effects work and location shooting, the British unions severely limit the number of hours you can work a week in the film industry. The Trekkian standard of 16-hour days and cranking an episode out every six or seven days doesn't exist... I recall a convention where Marina Sirtis was astonished to learn an average episode of Absolutely Fabulous that a friend of hers was shooting took two months to rehearse and three weeks to film.
The tradeoff here of course is quality, and shows such as Doctor Who really speak for themselves. In any case though, it's nearly impossible for a lead actor to do any substatial roles in other productions when you've got one going already. Tennant will have to balance being the Doctor and ONLY the Doctor for several years, against the decisions of doing career-defining lead movie roles while he's still in his thirties. Movies also tend to pay a hell of a lot more for less time spent working, which will doubtless be a factor as well. That said, I still hope he stays for a couple more years. He's well known for saying that this is his dream role and the reason he became an actor in the first place; time will tell if he'll want to stay now that he's done it, and done it so well.
Mark
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Preferred this to "Christmas Invasion" but that's not saying much. Did anyone catch what that tank commander said before opening fire on the spaceship? "By order of someone or other?"
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
"By order of Mr. Saxon". They've been subtle about it, but this is apparently the new Prime Minister following Harriet Jones. They mentioned him a couple times in print or posters here and there - if you look at the present-day dance hall in episode 12 of Torchwood, you'll see "VOTE SAXON" posters everywhere.
Mark
Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mark Nguyen: They've been subtle about it, but this is apparently the new Prime Minister following Harriet Jones.
I hope not...seems such a boring concept to have him be Prime Minister. You'd have thought if he was working for the state that he could at least have stolen some of the tech left behind when Torchwood-One fell...after all, they're not using it! But instead he gets a tank. It would be far more interesting if he were some lunatic who tried to get elected but was too insane...some kind of nut case in charge of a "Homo Sapiens Only Party", who's fallen into being the galactic equivalent of the BNP. Could make a point about how stupid bigoted people are then...but it doesn't seem to be Doctor Who's style to do social commentary.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Could we get that last post in English, for those of us who... uh, aren't English? Is Saxon a real person?
Mark
Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mark Nguyen: Could we get that last post in English, for those of us who... uh, aren't English?
All I'm saying is that instead of just making him a boring old Prime Minister, they could play on all the alien attacks Britain has seen over the years by making him a character that firmly believes that Britain needs to make a stand against the alien threat. Play the character off as being a highly offensive figure that occupies the lunatic fringe amongst the bodies that know of aliens, an equivalent of the British National Party (a neo-Nazi group) in galactic relations. I'm sure there would be sections of the political community that would respond with fear and hatred if presented by the kind of attacks and threats that seem to come every week in the Doctor Who universe, and there could be potential there to pass commentary on the recent rise in support for fascist organisations in the world and how disgusting it is that certain section of society are basically cretins...although social commentary has not historically been a major avenue for the series. Possibly be best leaving Torchwood to do that.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
So, his name is mentioned all of once, and shows up on a poster the same number of time, and you've already formulated a detailed opinion about the character, and everything they've done wrong with him? Despite their not having done anything with him?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: So, his name is mentioned all of once, and shows up on a poster the same number of time, and you've already formulated a detailed opinion about the character, and everything they've done wrong with him? Despite their not having done anything with him?
Sounds like a true TREK fan! Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: So, his name is mentioned all of once, and shows up on a poster the same number of time, and you've already formulated a detailed opinion about the character, and everything they've done wrong with him? Despite their not having done anything with him?
I was commenting on POTENTIAL PLOTLINES. I fail to see why it is so difficult for people to get to grips with the concept that it's possible to actually, shock horror, have an thought about something that isn't "oooo, it's wonderful...I think I'll go have a wank over how great that is". The day people stop thinking about where there could be potential is the day the creativity becomes stunted, and that's the day you get depressingly repetitive plots and your series is canceled. We're human beings, not mindless drones...and we're supposedly able to form an opinion over where we'd take a plot and speculate. That doesn't mean what TPTB eventually comes out with will be bad, it just means that I feel there's more potential there than just putting in the next Prime Minister and am speculating on where things could go. Maybe that potential will be picked up on, maybe not...that remains to be seen.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
The name Saxon, for me, immediately brings up certain associations. I've not been following any spoilers regarding upcoming s3 episodes, so I don't know if there's anything involving a rightwing British government in there.
It may all come to nothing, be a red herring. . . But the nature of the namedrops is weird.
"VOTE SAXON?" The only people who'll vote for him are the inhabitants of his own constituency - unless by some huge coincidence he is a Cardiff MP (and therefore more than likely Welsh, and not the sort of person you'd expect to lead a nationalistic British political party); the only "VOTE BLAIR" signs I ever saw had "GET BROWN" after them, and were by a different party.
"Open fire, by order of Mr. Saxon?" Er, no, you're in charge of the tank detachment, they'll open fire by your order, and that's not something you'll be questioned on by the men under your command since you've obviously been despatched onto the streets with a full ammunition load in response to an alien threat.
quote:Mr. Saxon is a name that has now been referenced twice in the series, first being mentioned in the 2006 season episode Love & Monsters, where it appeared in a headline on a copy of The Daily Telegraph being read by the Abzorbaloff, in which it is stated that he leads polls for a general election.
It is then heard in The Runaway Bride, when the tank commander who opens fire on the Empress of the Racnoss' ship says he has orders from "Mr. Saxon". The nature of how the name has been slipped in to these episodes can be compared to the how previous 'arc words' were referenced. It was confirmed on the commentary track for Love & Monsters on the series 2 DVD boxset that 'Mr. Saxon' will be the story arc for the upcoming 2007 series.
Additionally, the Captain Jack Harkness episode of Torchwood features the words 'VOTE SAXON' on a poster on the door of the derelict dance hall. Like the Love & Monsters reference, the poster is political in nature and references an election.
Posted by StationMaster (Member # 63) on :
Well, a quick one from me on this....
Tate... rubbish. Gobby, common and obnoxious.... and it appears not well suited to a wedding dress as she looked fat (arn't wedding dresses meant to do the opposite?!") However that all said, the part was written for her and it worked well with the story.... in a way.
The Doc... ohhh... love the darkness. Tardis chase.... that was so much fun. Chrimbo tree.... funny first time round, very predictable the second time. The Racnoss (?) - well acted for the most part and the make up was superb (love the eyes blinking)
Was it plausable... well, not really. But that was half the fun....
One thing I did not like however was yet ANOTHER Torchwood reference.... please stop.... PLEASE....
Anyhow..... off to majorly beat Torchwood to death in my next post.
7/10 Funny, interesting and brightened up my Chrimbo.... plus I loved next seasons spoilers Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Oh, yes, as has been pointed out elsewhere. . .
Mister Saxon = Master No. Six
. . . Which he would be, if you discount non-canon portrayals (Jonathan Pryce, various radio plays) and the near-extra who played him for a few seconds in the 1996 TV film.
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
Now why did you have to say that and get my hopes up? When it turns out to be something about torchwood, I'm gonna be so angry.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
I don't think it's Torchwood-related. But we can be sure that the Master will appear eventually - after all, we've had Autons, Daleks, Cybermen, former Companions, and K-9 - and we're also sure that sooner or later (maybe this season) we'll find out that there are other Timelords/Gallifreyans surviving.
Which works better dramatically - the Doctor first learning the Master is alive, and form then daring to hope that others of his race might be too; or, re-discovering others of his race, but not then considering that maybe that means that less-desirables like the Master are alive too?
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
I think the first.
On a slightly related note, my housemate once played cricket against Anthony Ainley (I think it was his team against the MCC 93rds or something), and bowled him for a duck.
Perhaps he should have tried his hypnosis!
Posted by Zipacna (Member # 1881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lee: But we can be sure that the Master will appear eventually
The question is though if the Master does appear, will it be the TV movie Master somehow surviving death yet again or will it be an earlier regeneration of the Master. If it is that he's survived again, that guy must be like the Road-runner...no matter how much Acme crap you fling at him, nothing takes him down! Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
The Master's desperation to continue living at all costs was a big theme of his later years (almost odd that it wasn't when we first met him, as it was already his thirteenth incarnation). WHEN (not if) he shows up in the new show, you can bet that whatever the reason for his continued existence will ultimately play into how the Doctor will continue beyond his thirteenth. However, given that the producers will probably not even address the Doctor's lifespan until they get to the final incarnation, I'm just fine with an extremely hot new version of the Rani instead.
Mark
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
I'm watching this ep now. The "What? WHAT? WHAT!?" made me wonder if Samuel L. Jackson was going to pop in for a visit. "DO THEY SPEAK ENGLISH IN 'WHAT', MOTHERFUCKER!?"
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