posted
In a unique role-reversal, an American has to wait a year for a sci-fi show to catch up to the rest of the world before he can post at Flare about it, instead of the other way around.
Anyway, just to make this clear, I have NEVER seen the new Doctor Who until just a few days ago. I religiously stayed away from the discussion about it here, and didn't read any spoilers from any other source, or watched downloaded versions. So...
Episode 1- "Rose" - Loved the opening credits. Nice homage to the original opening music. It took me a while to get past the first few minutes of annoying techno-music before anyone actually says anything, but on second viewing, it bothered me less. I liked how the episode is made from Rose's point of view, since a new viewer to this show who had never seen the original would be learning what's going on right along with Rose. Love this new Doctor. He has both a mysteriousness and a humorous charm that is both like and unlike the previous incarnations. The vague references to a war in which he was the only survivor add to the mystery in a way that isn't in-your-face, but genuinely interesting. The only thing I found odd was that the Doctor seems to hint that he's just regenerated (the bit with the ears), yet Clive has evidence that he's been to at least three different points in time before now. So he never bothered to look at himself in a mirror until now? *(After discussing this with friends, we've discovered a possible way around this - that the Doctor visited those time periods *after* the events in "Rose." After all, he is a time-traveler, right? Yes, I know we're pulling strings here, but it is possible)*
I think it's pretty much a given that I like Rose as a companion. I mean, how could you not?
TARDIS - Exterior - Did anyone else find it amusing that Rose didn't know what a Police Box was? (I guess we always thought that everyone in Britain, no matter the time period, knows what one is. The old show certainly gave that impression :-)) TARDIS - Interior - Quite a difference from both the multitudes of designs in the original series, and the McGann movie. I read somewhere that during the movie, the producers never liked the low-tech look of the TARDIS console, and wanted a more alien look. Looks like they got it.
I'm guessing that the episodes are around 45 minutes long, since even with commercials it didn't seem that anything was cut out. Still, it was enough time to tell a good story.
The Story - It's the Pertwee premiere "The Auton Invasion" all over again, and then again...it isn't. Obviously the plot device of the Autons & Nestene consciousness were taken from "TAI", but there's where the resemblance ends. I really cared about the characters (except maybe Mickey, who's Auton duplicate seemed more interesting than him), and the eventual pairing of the Doctor and Rose worked well. Oh, and Rose's mum was Miranda from "King Ralph," if anyone actually saw that movie. The action is believable, unlike most of the action scenes of the later seasons of the original series. And Clive's comment about the Doctor's constant companion being death was quite chilling.
I caught the bit about the ears too. I also came to the same conclusion you did, that these other appearances in the past could be from "future" travels by this Doctor. However, I don't think the subesquent episodes this season will depict any of those instances.
Also - the Doctor did mention/imply he was on the Titanic. But that could have been in an earlier "life."
I KNEW I'd seen those killer mannequins before! A Pertwee episode! Thanks. That's been nagging at me for a bit now.
Overall I liked the second episode better than the first one, but I enjoyed both. I liked the opening music thought it was very similar to earlier seasons, but it's been a while since I've seen any Dr. Who besides the last TV movie.
quote:TARDIS - Exterior - Did anyone else find it amusing that Rose didn't know what a Police Box was? (I guess we always thought that everyone in Britain, no matter the time period, knows what one is. The old show certainly gave that impression :-))
The blue Police Boxes have been fased out over the last 40 years. The last functioning box was decommissioned a few years ago. There aren't any left and they haven't been nearly as ubiquitious in London for a long time. It's quite likely Rose hasn't seen one.
I've been a "Whoser" for a long time (People from Indiana are called Hoosiers....) When I was a teen I belonged to a local Dr. Who fanclub. I even helped at a Dr. Who convention in Indianapolis held at the PBS station. Met Sara Sutton and artist Tim Quinn and sat in "Bessie," the car from the Third Dr.
I've seen a couple of episodes from the first Dr., some of the second, most of the third, all of the fourth, NONE of the fifth, and half of the sixth. Colin Baker, the sixth Dr., was my favorite.
The only seventh Dr. I've seen was the beginning of the TV movie where he regenerated into the 8th Dr.
It will be interesting when we catch up with where the BBC currently is. My understanding is that they have finished this season and are waiting to start the 2006 season.
I'd forgotten about the discussions on here. Now, off to catch up!
Registered: Feb 2004
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The season that's airing now on Sci-Fi finished up on the BBC last June. The next season starts probably next month.
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote:I've seen a couple of episodes from the first Dr., some of the second, most of the third, all of the fourth, NONE of the fifth, and half of the sixth. Colin Baker, the sixth Dr., was my favorite.
Well, many of the First Doctor's (and almost all of the Second) episodes no longer exist. My local public television station is doing "Pertwee overkill" for some reason; they keep repeating Pertwee's run instead of continuing with Tom Baker's. And it's surprising to hear someone say that they like Colin Baker the best; as he's been universally reviled as the worst Doctor (although it wasn't his fault).
quote:The only seventh Dr. I've seen was the beginning of the TV movie where he regenerated into the 8th Dr.
Ironic, as McCoy's portrayal in the movie was probably his best performance of his Doctor Who career. Not that he was bad in the show; it's just by that time the stories had become so convoluted and hard to understand that he just didn't have a chance to shine.
Registered: Jun 2000
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quote:Originally posted by HerbShrump: The blue Police Boxes have been fased out over the last 40 years. The last functioning box was decommissioned a few years ago. There aren't any left and they haven't been nearly as ubiquitious in London for a long time. It's quite likely Rose hasn't seen one.
There are still a few about here and there, but they've been left as interesting features rather than functional police boxes. There are three in Glasgow that I can think of off the top of my head, though one of them has been painted red and another has been turned into a little coffee kiosk called "Coppucino". There are even some pics here.
According to this article on the BBC there are 237 of them still on the map across the UK. Interestingly the police box idea is making a comeback: they recently put a new chrome police box in Glasgow that works with touchscreens and provides crimefighting information. You can find a pic here, but I think it lacks the charm of the older models.
quote:Originally posted by HerbShrump: It will be interesting when we catch up with where the BBC currently is. My understanding is that they have finished this season and are waiting to start the 2006 season.
I think it's due to start on BBC1 in April. In the meantime if you want a taste of what's on the way you can always check out the BBC Doctor Who website: they have put the interactive episode "Attack of the Graske" up for anyone to play. Needs Flash and a fast connection. You might not want to check it out if you want to avoid any and all spoilers for future episodes but if you can, check it out - you get to fly the TARDIS.
-------------------- Quidquid latine dictum sit altum viditur
Registered: Nov 2004
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quote:Interestingly the police box idea is making a comeback: they recently put a new chrome police box in Glasgow that works with touchscreens and provides crimefighting information.
If the villain you wish to fight is a member of an international criminal organization, press one. If she or he can harness water, ice, or weather manipulation powers, press two. If you are facing a fellow crimefighter who is ironically unaware of your own crimefighting status, press three.
Registered: Mar 1999
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Woohoo! Next month! Now is the crunch time, can the excitement that the first series generated be maintained? I don't actually know how The Christmas Invasion did in the Christmas ratings battle. . . And word-of-mouth isn't encouraging, consisting as it does of reports of excessive celebrity cameos.
But it's good to see the show get a proper airing on the other side of the pond. Hope y'all enjoy it, we'll try not to spoil you too much, Ducky. 8)
One question for you all: is Billie Piper sexy? That is, does she tick all the boxes in the sex appeal factor for that teenager-to-twentysomething demographic that most of you occupy? She doesn't do anything for me, but then I'm old enough to be her husband (sorry, but no Billie discussion is complete without at least one Chris Evans gag). She's no, um, er, whatserface, you know, slinky 4th Doctor companion, it's thirty years ago, how am I supposed to remember without Googling or Wikifying?
. . . Ok, that's embarrassing. I'm Lee, I have a daughter we call Lula, you'd think I could remember a name like "Leela." God she was hot. But I now realise that a) she was later the love interest in Bergerac, and b) it was definitely her I stood next to on the Tube sometime in the early Nineties.
quote:Originally posted by Lee: Woohoo! Next month! Now is the crunch time, can the excitement that the first series generated be maintained? I don't actually know how The Christmas Invasion did in the Christmas ratings battle. . . And word-of-mouth isn't encouraging, consisting as it does of reports of excessive celebrity cameos.
Next month indeed...Saturday April 15th is the date I've heard mentioned so here's hoping. I think they'll be able to keep the excitement going: the first series made a good start and as long as they keep building on that they should be fine.
As for The Christmas Invasion I didn't think it had an excessive amount of celebrity cameos...none spring to mind, anyway. I think it did very well indeed in the ratings: if memory serves I think only the Christmas episode of Eastenders did better on the big day. TCI was at number 2, with Coronation Street coming a close third.
quote:Originally posted by Lee: One question for you all: is Billie Piper sexy? That is, does she tick all the boxes in the sex appeal factor for that teenager-to-twentysomething demographic that most of you occupy?
I think she's attractive enough, but not really my cup of tea...then again that might be something to do with mental associations between her and Chris Evans. Or her pop career. Yeeesh. Attractive, yes. Sexy? No.
quote:Originally posted by Lee: She's no, um, er, whatserface, you know, slinky 4th Doctor companion, it's thirty years ago, how am I supposed to remember without Googling or Wikifying?
Ahhhh. Leela. Excellent.
quote:Originally posted by HerbShrump: I kinda liked Sara Jane too
Sarah Jane? Sarah Jane? Sarah "Ooooh Doctor I've twisted my ankle!" Jane? If she wasn't screaming, whimpering or otherwise being crap she was being saved or putting someone else in danger. She was supposed to be this fearless investigative journalist, for god's sake. Wetter than an otter's pocket, she really was.
-------------------- Quidquid latine dictum sit altum viditur
Registered: Nov 2004
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Reguards TARDIS innards... as you all know - I *ADORE* the Movie/Paul McGann interior - it just WORKED it looked quaint, classic, breathtaking, mysterious and stylish all in one.
-------------------- "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." - Jim Halpert. (The Office)
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Sorry, should have clarified. The celebrity cameos are what's being reported about the new, second, series (Doctor Who is far too British to have seasons, dammit). I mentioned TCI in the context that its ratings have a bearing on whether the first series' success was transient and based on hype, or that the show truly does have what it takes to hold an audience. Of course, TCI was incredibly hyped in the BBC's Christmas schedules. But even scheduled as it was slap-bang in the middle of the loll-bloated-in-front-of-the-telly-not-bothered-what-you-really-watch Christmas Day evening prime-time slot, all the hype in the world ain't gonna make people watch if they aren't interested.
posted
Well I thought the series was pretty good. I enjoyed the second episode more that the first since I found it a little silly. Anyways Billie Piper is pretty but is also not my cup of tea. As for Chris Eccleston, I think he does a good job of appearing strange yet humorous. Considering that I never knew of this franchise until a couple months ago, I think I'll like this series.
[ March 22, 2006, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: Mars Needs Women ]
Registered: Feb 2005
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Mars, you might wanna edit that post - Dukhat has remained largely spoiler-free, and while we've touched on what's coming up in series 2, we haven't mentioned anything specific to do with series 1 in this thread. . .
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Well, I don't know what was said before the edit, but there are spoiler warnings in the title. Unless it was about something other than "Rose"...
"Sarah Jane? Sarah Jane? Sarah 'Ooooh Doctor I've twisted my ankle!' Jane? If she wasn't screaming, whimpering or otherwise being crap she was being saved or putting someone else in danger. She was supposed to be this fearless investigative journalist, for god's sake. Wetter than an otter's pocket, she really was."
Well, that's a little unfair. Almost all the female companions were like that. That was practically their raison d'�tre. Relatively speaking, Sarah was one of the least helpless.
Registered: Mar 1999
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