The Dr Who thread

Post by **Snakey** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:46 pm 0

Darkflame wrote:I feel a lot of words are being put in my mouths here

How many mouths have you got?

Just kidding, I pretty much agree with what you're saying.

(Except I thought this episode was complete cock.)

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:02 pm 0

kalmar wrote:But I think there's big a difference between the family / emotional drama in Battlestar (or as another example Buffy), which most would agree is a good part of a good sci-fi series, and the sort of predictable drivel that you find in the soaps that you mentioned.

You follow all of the programmes I mentioned?

juice · Post by **juice** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:13 pm 0

I thought this episode was unbalanced - though as other people have mentioned, that may have been because I can't stand the cheap soap-opera chunks which got crowbarred in. The bit at the end was exceptionally poor - not so much hammering the point home as piledriving a car through a castle wall...

Beyond that: the Doctor was fine, though he seems to be getting ever more insane - what the smeg was the foot-waggling bit about, other than cheap laughs?

There was also the usual bevvy of contrived plot devices and contradictions - and as Bog said, they must have been dying to pull those racks over in the corridor

Oh, and all the aliens were wearing New Rock boots. Not exactly reknowned for space-worthiness - kinda like watching a Hells Angel riding his bike while wearing pink fluffy slippers

Post by **Snakey** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:18 pm 0

juice wrote:Oh, and all the aliens were wearing New Rock boots.

Indeed they were (and they made sure you saw them often enough too.) Completely ruined the 'alien' illusion for me that one. Must try harder.

juice · Post by **juice** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:20 pm 0

IronGiant wrote:
HGFB wrote: Oh wait. Darkflame in talking bollocks shocker.
FWIW I think Darkflame is spot on.

Sod the angsty family bollocks, we get enough of that with Eastenders and the other cack soaps.

I wouldn't mind it as much if it didn't feel so forced (and generally played up for comedic value). I suspect it's a failing of the 45-minute format: they have to compress and cram things in to be able to get a nice, neat ending in, which leads to the over-the-top acting/scripting.

Good sci-fi isn't about the technology - or at least it shouldn't be (though giant robots and spaceships are always appreciated!). It should be about people, and how they work and interact within a given situation, whether it be on a spaceship, in a magicians tower or just down at the pub. It's a hard balance to maintain, and generally, I'm not impressed with what's been done in Dr Who...

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:27 pm 0

hmz..
Something I just thought off...
I wonder how many people investigating the hole were squashed when the hospital landed again

Snakey wrote:
juice wrote:Oh, and all the aliens were wearing New Rock boots.
Indeed they were (and they made sure you saw them often enough too.) Completely ruined the 'alien' illusion for me that one. Must try harder.

Well, maybe they picked them up with the Rhino DNA?

Good sci-fi isn't about the technology - or at least it shouldn't be (though giant robots and spaceships are always appreciated!). It should be about people, and how they work and interact within a given situation, whether it be on a spaceship, in a magicians tower or just down at the pub.

Indeed.
Imo, The best sci-fi is about how people deal and react with situations that wouldnt be possible outside a sci-fi context.
Its very hard even in even the best sci-fi's to get this, however.
Its more often you have regular human problems displaced in a new sci-fi setting. (nothing wrong with that, mind).

kalmar · Post by **kalmar** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:31 pm 0

Harlequin wrote:
kalmar wrote:But I think there's big a difference between the family / emotional drama in Battlestar (or as another example Buffy), which most would agree is a good part of a good sci-fi series, and the sort of predictable drivel that you find in the soaps that you mentioned.
You follow all of the programmes I mentioned?

I'm not an idiot.

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:36 pm 0

kalmar wrote:
Harlequin wrote:
kalmar wrote:But I think there's big a difference between the family / emotional drama in Battlestar (or as another example Buffy), which most would agree is a good part of a good sci-fi series, and the sort of predictable drivel that you find in the soaps that you mentioned.
You follow all of the programmes I mentioned?
I'm not an idiot.

I did not think that you are an idiot. If you were, I might expect you to form the opinion that all of the soap operas are predictable and that they are drivel without even following them.

kalmar · Post by **kalmar** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:42 pm 0

Harlequin wrote:
kalmar wrote:
Harlequin wrote:
kalmar wrote:But I think there's big a difference between the family / emotional drama in Battlestar (or as another example Buffy), which most would agree is a good part of a good sci-fi series, and the sort of predictable drivel that you find in the soaps that you mentioned.
You follow all of the programmes I mentioned?
I'm not an idiot.
That is not what I was asking. I was wondering how you formed your opinion that all of the soap operas are predictable and that they are all drivel.

Well it's a generalisation based on the limited number of, and snippets of said soaps that I have seen, as well as reading of the fuss caused by occasional "scandalous" storylines as news articles.

That's how I formed my opinion, my subjective opinion of a perceived trait of a television programme. Nothing to get worked up about. I shall choose to employ an emoticon at this point to emphasise that I am not having a go at you, nor overly serious about everyone who watches soap operas being an idiot (although it's a close one)

kalmar · Post by **kalmar** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:44 pm 0

Harlequin thought of a snappier comeback and wrote: I did not think that you are an idiot. If you were, I would expect you to form the opinion that all of the soap operas are predictable and that they are drivel without even following them.

Ooh, good shot! See the above smiley.

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:47 pm 0

kalmar wrote:
Harlequin wrote:
kalmar wrote:I'm not an idiot.
That is not what I was asking. I was wondering how you formed your opinion that all of the soap operas are predictable and that they are all drivel.

Damn, you caught me mid-edit!

kalmar wrote:Well it's a generalisation based on the limited number of, and snippets of said soaps that I have seen, as well as reading of the fuss caused by occasional "scandalous" storylines as news articles.

Snippets do not accurately portray the twists and drama of entire storylines.

Flabio · Post by **Flabio** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:47 pm 0

Guys, get a room or something.

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:53 pm 0

kalmar wrote:
Harlequin thought of a snappier comeback and wrote: I did not think that you are an idiot. If you were, I would expect you to form the opinion that all of the soap operas are predictable and that they are drivel without even following them.
Ooh, good shot! See the above smiley.

I refuse to employ emoticons here. You can, however, have a

*HUG*

as can Darkflame. But not HGFB. If I ever find myself invited to fill a Sparrow/Harkness Captain Jack sandwich I shall deny him the opportunity to join me.

kalmar · Post by **kalmar** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:56 pm 0

Can't say fairer than that

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:17 pm 0

I have to point out, as much as I personaly hate all the soap's I have seen, I do admire those that create them.
The rate the eppisodes are turned out it is extremely impressive, and they also have some of the most efficiant editing possible.

The fact that anything churned out that regularly gains the viewers they do is very impressive and a skill not to be underestimated.

Personaly, I just cant stand them.

As for their viewers being idiots...probably a higher percentage then sci-fi fans, yeah.
But then, a higher percentage of sci-fi fans are inteligent, but probably social retards

We live with the cliches.