The Dr Who thread

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:26 am 0

Having just watched it again I fail to understand the lukewarm reception. It was deliberately 'old Who' in not relying upon digital effects and much like some Pertwee stories minus the Master and the people in rubber suits. Much of it also reminded me of Ghostlight from McCoy's era. The Sapphire and Steel elements were also evident, of course, but with one major difference: I understood what was going on in Fear Her

This was the story in which they finally did the TARDIS door gag and also played upon my personal phobia about reality distortions involving dimensional reduction. I suppose that most of you wouldn't understand how freaked out I was by the attack of the scribble

Oh, and I thought that young Abisola Agbaje did an excellent job carrying the episode

merman wrote:Tonight's episode was OK, like Tooth & Claw they seemed to rush the explanation of what was happening and just let it happen...

I think that Davies focuses on character, emotion and dramatic flow, treating surface plot details as little more as a catalyst for these in a manner that seems inspired by Whedon. He leaves the SF stories (and very little of classic DW was true SF) to others.

Matrixxx wrote:I don't mind spoilers, they just give me more to look forward to, so I read IMDB...... My reaction ?

BRING IT ON !!!! BABY !!!!

A little caveat here: I do seem to recall false information appearing on IMDb before some of last year's episodes

H.
_________________
How To Write Good
24. Who needs rhetorical questions?

[Feeblez] · Post by **[Feeblez]** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:36 am 0

I thought last weeks episode was pretty good, but tonight's episode was UTTER SHITE!

Darkflame · Post by **Darkflame** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:47 am 0

Putting up false info is fun.
btw...we should slow down out postings and time the 100 page for the season final no?

Harlequin · Post by **Harlequin** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:03 am 0

[Feeblez] wrote:I thought last weeks episode was pretty good, but tonight's episode was UTTER SHITE!

Can you explain why you felt this?

And why don't we see you on IRC these days? I miss you

Darkflame wrote:Putting up false info is fun.

So it was you, you cunt!

Darkflame wrote:btw...we should slow down out postings and time the 100 page for the season final no?

I think there'll be too many posts next week anyway to save page 100 for the end of the season

H.
_________________
"A common man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace."
[Confucius]

Post by **Snakey** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:08 am 0

Harlequin wrote:
[Feeblez] wrote:I thought last weeks episode was pretty good, but tonight's episode was UTTER SHITE!
Can you explain why you felt this?

Yeah, I don't get that either. This one may not have been the greatest thing ever, but it was ok. Whereas last weeks... I'd have been happier if I'd never seen it.

The only thing that let down this ep was the fact that it was - well - a bit too silly. 80,000 people disappear, and then reappear - and they stay exactly where they were and carry on doing what they were doing? Fuck that, I'd have been off

[Feeblez] · Post by **[Feeblez]** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:02 am 0

Snakey wrote:
Harlequin wrote:
[Feeblez] wrote:I thought last weeks episode was pretty good, but tonight's episode was UTTER SHITE!
Can you explain why you felt this?
Yeah, I don't get that either. This one may not have been the greatest thing ever, but it was ok. Whereas last weeks... I'd have been happier if I'd never seen it.

Well i don't think i need to explain myself, it's just a matter of taste, but i will try, just this once...

When i was a kid i absolutely hated with a passion Children's BBC Drama/Sci-Fi. (There seemed to be an awful lot of it that was really bad when i was a youngster. I should point out that i'm not including quality stuff like Grange Hill, or the Friday Film Specials, remember the kid with the Tiger t-shirt that gave him super powers?)

Anyway, the thing that drove me up the wall, above everything else, was the god awful background music, i can still hear it now like 20 years later. I think they must have hired the same 'musician' for numerous tea time drama shows, and that person really did cause me a lot of mental anguish in my formative years.

Okay, ignore what i just said about music, the music in Doctor Who is bearable, and while it can be a bit cheesy and predictable at times, that was not my problem so much with this episode.

Going back to my memories of watching kid's drama shows...
I wanted to punch all the child actors repeatedly through the face, because in my eyes they were ruining what might have been a half decent story.

e.g. "I won't! I won't! I simply won't go to my room! I hate you! I hate you!" <- this is a typical line which would be 'spoken' by a snivelling snooty kid with a blonde pudding bowl haircut, probably wearing a sailor suit.

Okay, you're probably thinking what the f*ck is Feeblez on!? Where is this going???

Well i will tell you, this episode reminded me of those shows i wanted to watch when i was a kid, but i couldn't because they were too bloody annoying!

A child actor with really bad delivery, (especially when talking as the alien), adult actors who aren't much better, slow and un-inspired cliche ridden plot, too far fetched and silly. (trapping the tardis in a piece of paper, drawing the world, cheap and pointless olympics tie in, scribble monster, etc.)

Overall i thought it was visually quite dull making the production values seem rather poor, especially when compared to every other episode.

There were a couple of interesting ideas in the plot, but overall it wasn't enjoyable or rewarding to watch at all. It's the weakest episode i have seen by a long long way, and i have no intention of ever watching it again.

"I love Chloe Webber! I love Chloe Webber!"... meh!

The only thing that really suprised me about the episode was that it wasn't written by Russel T. Davies!

CarlBillen · Post by **CarlBillen** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:44 am 0

I'm a bit confused about the 'next week's' trailer; I thought it was about the Cybermen but...

...I thought I saw someone get zapped by a Dalek ray gun?

Post by **Snakey** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:56 am 0

I didn't even watch the 'next week' trailer. Never do.

Governmentyard · Post by **Governmentyard** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:04 am 0

CarlBillen wrote:I'm a bit confused about the 'next week's' trailer; I thought it was about the Cybermen but...
...I thought I saw someone get zapped by a Dalek ray gun?

Lots of things can fall into the hands of lots of different people. Torchwood, for example.

Ollie · Post by **Ollie** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:45 am 0

What the hell was that? I feel quite insulted! The pod can be recharged by the Olympic torch because some TV presenter (who btw still thinks the torch is bigger news than an entire stadium of people vanishing into thin air) says it's a "torch of love"? Fuck off! What sort of a bullshit can't-think-of-a-proper-ending shenanigan was that?

Ollie · Post by **Ollie** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:48 am 0

goatboy wrote:Lots of things can fall into the hands of lots of different people. Torchwood, for example.

Yes, but surely not if it's

had every single atom of its existence divided?

Post by **Snakey** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:50 am 0

Heh. Yeah, now that you mention it, it was all a bit shit really.

Maybe my judgement was clouded by the fact that last weeks was utter pigshit. At least it was better than that

Still, whatever the reason, it entertained me for a little while, which is more than a lot of eps this series have done.

Somehow, I won't be surprised if, come the end of the series, there's still only 3 episodes that are actually good.

Driller · Post by **Driller** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:29 am 0

I thought that this season was a bit more hit and miss than last. Full marks for wanting to do something new but I don't think last week's or this week's ep worked.

When they get it right (School Reunion, Impossible Planet/Satan Pit) then it's easily as good as anything in past Who, unfortunately some of the writing for other episodes wasn't as good. I think, going off the episodes seen so far, I like maybe half.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:56 am 0

That episode continues this series' worst moments: not enough of the bloody Doctor and Rose always saving the day. Empowered companions are not a bad thing but stop making all the stories about her!

Wasn't a bad episode in itself mind, but every week (certainly of the last four or five) there's not enough Doctor and it's growing tedious. They should have been spread out better through the series at least.

The only absolute-grade-A episode for me is still Madame Du Pompadour. Perfect Doctor Who, that.

IronGiant · Post by **IronGiant** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:11 am 0

Harlequin wrote:The Sapphire and Steel elements were also evident, of course, but with one major difference: I understood what was going on in Fear Her

I think that was *partly* what caused the problem for me, ie there was nothing whatsoever that fired my imagination or left me mulling over the episode afterwards (escept in a negative way). It was all spelled out, all neatly wrapped up. Now I'm not against things being understandable, but it has to be imaginative, well plotted, well written, well acted, well directed AND with great characters and an emotional attachment ....... this was neither of those.