The Dr Who thread

XOR · Post by **XOR** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:15 pm 0

Flabio wrote: 1) theres no way they were only 42 minutes away from that star, based on the opening shot they were a very long way away. Unless it was a very small star.

I'm only 42 minutes away from Bristol, and Bristol is tiny from here but massive when you get there.

That's science at work that is.

Sir_LANs-a-lot · Post by **Sir_LANs-a-lot** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:16 pm 0

Harlequin wrote:Hardly any DW story for over 42 years has been hard Science Fiction, despite the series' original brief. It has mostly been Sci-Fi, fantasy with SF concepts and trimmings; more Star Wars than 2001: A Space Odyssey.

If one requires consistent accurate representations of proper science then I am afraid that one is watching the wrong family adventure show.

Sir_LANs-a-lot wrote:
HGFB wrote:
Sir_LANs-a-lot wrote:What was the significance of the "42" title?
The episode took place in real time across 42 minutes. Didn't you notice the countdown going on? It started at 42 minutes and a few seconds.
Ah. I thought it was some kind of homage to Hitchhikers.
I think that is was both, in part, along with the reversal of digits from a popular U.S. series featuring 'real-time' clock watching.

I guess it could've been a nod towards "Disaster Areas" grand finale of a Sun Dive..

merman · Post by **merman** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:24 pm 0

I was trying to keep an eye on the numbers, see if there was anything significant (there was also the numberpad sequence dialogue, which was quite geeky)...

I also make a lot of comparisons with The Impossible Planet (first part of it at least). This one didn't feel quite as tense for some reason. But still, another above average episode that fits comfortably into the season.

Governmentyard · Post by **Governmentyard** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:30 pm 0

haHA! 'tis on alt.thingy.drwho, now downloading at 200kbps

benedictw · Post by **benedictw** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:33 pm 0

Flabio wrote: 2) People not in pressure suits going outside a ship will pop messily, not drift romantically.

http://www.sff.net/people/Geoffrey.Landis/vacuum.html

Great episode - the magnetism bit was a touch corny but at least they didnt escape by the Doc using the sonic screwdriver. Having a few people in peril is more effective than the Whole World In Mortal Peril stories.

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:44 pm 0

Having a few people in peril is more effective than the Whole World In Mortal Peril stories.

Absolutely.
A lot of writers forget that.

I rather enjoyed that. Now if we can just send someone around to drag Stereotypical Meddling Mother-Unit off to a nice, safe broom-closet for the rest of the season. I mean, really - the Gubment types who were there. Who the smeg would be around people like that and not just spontaneously realise they were Utter, Utter Bastards(tm)?

One of the rules of tv isnt it?

Any secondary charecter automaticaly believes anything they are told by anyone not the hero of the show especialy if they are cunts.

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:47 pm 0

Flabio wrote: 1) theres no way they were only 42 minutes away from that star, based on the opening shot they were a very long way away. Unless it was a very small star..

Or they were going very very fast?
====

Incidently, I think there was a slight hitchhikers guide referance with some of the music towards the end.

XOR · Post by **XOR** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:52 pm 0

Darkflame wrote:
Flabio wrote: 1) theres no way they were only 42 minutes away from that star, based on the opening shot they were a very long way away. Unless it was a very small star..
Or they were going very very fast?
====

It doesn't matter how fast I drive to Bristol, it's still tiny for ages, then really fucking massive when I get there. It's just science.

Post by **Jedburgh** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:04 am 0

Flabio wrote:I've never once seen a sci-fi show where everything in space is utterly silent.

I refer the honourable gentleman to Firefly.

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:23 am 0

Jedburgh wrote:
Flabio wrote:I've never once seen a sci-fi show where everything in space is utterly silent.
I refer the honourable gentleman to Firefly.

indeed.

Of course, the other explanation is;

"well, duh, the cameraman must have something to breath!"

Kamineko · Post by **Kamineko** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:25 am 0

They'd be accelerating toward the star wouldn't they?

The impact timer would probably indicate the time until the available power would become insufficient to escape the star.

Flabio · Post by **Flabio** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:40 am 0

See, now I've made you over analyse it. And that was precisely why the point I was trying to make was that I *don't*.

And I'd forgotten they did it right in Firefly. I guess it's cause it doesn't really sit in my 'sci-fi' mental category thingy.

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:51 am 0

Jedburgh wrote:
Flabio wrote:I've never once seen a sci-fi show where everything in space is utterly silent.
I refer the honourable gentleman to Firefly.

And, indeed, Babylon 5.

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Sun May 20, 2007 1:38 am 0

yeah, Firefly isnt really a sci-fi imo. (its a bloody good drama set it the future).
B5 however, is very much a sci-fi.

Is never bothered me too much though the sounds-in-space issue.
I put it down to a side-effect of bending space

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Sun May 20, 2007 2:01 am 0

Both Babylon 5 and Firefly are Sci-Fi. The former, however, has far more Science Fiction (disregarding elements such as the telepaths).