Doctor Who

[Jack]

John Hurt, Tom Baker and Capaldeyes were good, shame about the rest.

[Darren]

That was all kinds of brilliant.

I'm confused by how it follows from the end of the last series, but I imagine the Christmas episode will answer that, and it doesn't really matter, because that was nigh on perfect.

[keineboom]

Some great moments, but thought it was a mess, and for a large part - boring.

Certainly didn't live up to the BBC's hype.

I'm sure I'll be the only one thinking this, so what do I know?

[Alex W.]

I watched the prologue on the train the other day and I wound up thinking that with all the histrionics and clowning, they wouldn't know what to do if the Doctor had to just sit down and talk for a while. Well, this episode certainly put that worry to rest. It also goes to show how interesting The Doctor can be when he's not the smartest, strongest, oldest, wisest, most persuasive character on screen all series, when he is with peers in other words. More of that please.

I really liked this. As a celebration of the show, as the next step in the story, and simply as television.

[footle]

BBC Three.

"how much does the show resemble the show you starred in fifty years ago?"

"not at all"

"did you enjoy it?"

"I didn't actually see it"

[footle]

I'm confused by how it follows from the end of the last series, but I imagine the Christmas episode will answer that, and it doesn't really matter, because that was nigh on perfect.

Quite. It's convenient they've chosen the most recognisable eyebrows in showbiz, and left doctor thirteen to work out how to avoid the next regeneration..

[mdn2]

That was great. Massively disappointed we didn't get the Hurt to Eccleston regeneration, though.

I liked that it was Hurts story, but it was the dialogue between the three was what made it.

[El Pibe]

Hurt was very good. Wish there'd been more of the older Drs.

Overall it was good but I'm glad I didn't go to the cinema to see it!

A shame Eccles wouldn't do the regen scene!

[Hexx]

Quite. It's convenient they've chosen the most recognisable eyebrows in showbiz, and left doctor thirteen to work out how to avoid the next regeneration..

I really wish they hadn't announced Capaldi, and then done it via the flash of his eyes

[Flub]

That was fucking amazing you stone hearted wankers.

[JPickford]

That was fucking amazing you stone hearted wankers.

Agreed.

[El Pibe]

"Hello Sweetie"

Fuck off.

[mdn2]

I loved the scene with the three of them trapped in the tower. Their escape solution was a great idea, and the disappointment on their faces when Clara spoilt it was well done.

[SonOfSoAngry]

I really liked this. As a celebration of the show, as the next step in the story, and simply as television.

That was fucking amazing you stone hearted wankers.

Yep.

[Jug McKenzie]

.

[Davros sock drawer]

Actual tears here. Just wonderful.

Only wish they could have prevented the continuity announcer talking over the full length credits.

[SpagMasterSwift]

Really enjoyed that, Tom bit was too far with the wink wink stuff and it's left me a little confused as to how that would actually happen.

Great having the three doctors together, top stuff!

[footle]

This Christmas: five seconds, then Sherlock.

Which was a cunning idea.

[layten]

I really wish they hadn't announced Capaldi, and then done it via the flash of his eyes

Can't see this fucker talking about timey wimey.

[Gorf King]

Some great moments, but thought it was a mess, and for a large part - boring.

Certainly didn't live up to the BBC's hype.

I'm sure I'll be the only one thinking this, so what do I know?

Nope, you're not. The extremely long middle section seemed to go on forever, and there wasn't really much happening apart from what was essentially navel-gazing. It was just too self-indulgent, a flaw that seems to be widening in the series, and then it only perked up into meaningful action with another 'we can go back in time and change things even though we always said they were unchangeable' deus ex machina. It's hardly Who's fault as a series that this happens - it's not supposed to be taken that seriously - but the increasingly grand, apocalyptic story lines, every other episode a case of the destruction of an entire race, a galaxy, a universe - have lost any weight. Because in the end, timey wimey.

It's funny that this one's all about character, but there wasn't really a lot of it on show - mainly us being told by others that the Doctor's brilliant, the War Doctor's a figure of dread, etc. Nothing much interesting character-wise from the actual people involved though, and unfortunately the story didn't really boil down to anything much either. I agree with Davros that they need to go back to smaller-scale adventures, try to ditch the massive arcs and endless tips and winks and nods and cross-referencing, and do some two- or three- or four-parters to tell relatively small-scale stories with actual cliffhangers, and some actual, interesting characters. You could say it's because it's a special, but it had the same problems you find in many of the regular shows - it's all fan service, all the time. I doubt they can do that though, with his new quest already set up.

The show was saved simply by 'appearances' from the old Doctors. I don't think anyone would deny that the best bit was them being shown on screen at more or less the same time - there was almost a buzz there, I think for the only time in the whole programme. And if the best bit is some old footage of previous incarnations, you know you're in trouble. But I seem to be having problems that many others aren't having with sci-fi TV shows and films recently, so maybe it'll just be me and keineboom who didn't rate this. And perhaps some of the problem is I've been watching a few of the old shows fairly recently, and this was nowhere near as much fun, or as dramatic, or dark, or genuinely humorous. I think the last few series have ended up losing themselves up their own mythos, which has become totally confused.

Or maybe it's just me who's become confused.

EDIT: Ha! Took me so long to type that I missed all the praise inbetween k's post and mine. Gravity-style negageddon incoming!!

[El Pibe]

I wanted if they had wanted to do that? I'm sure I read that they hadn't planned that announcement show but it got leaked?

[Alex W.]

That's all true Gorf, but this was still a huge stride back in the right direction for the show.

[Barnard]

I could watch Smith, Tennant and Hurt with a bit Baker mixed in all night. Sod all that other overwrought rubbish.

[JohnC]

They didn't even list Capaldi with the rest of the Doctors. And he's one of the ones who actually showed up.

I tried watching something else after, but I couldn't focus on it. Just kept getting distracted thinking back on this episode.

[NEG]

Uneventful, far too obvious plot for the fans, but fun.

And fun is where it mattered.

Edit: Would love to see more War Doctor, honestly. A shame.

[Jack]

I've already forgotten what the Zoidbergs were supposed to be up to.

[El Pibe]

I want more McGann!!

I've already forgotten what the Zoidbergs were supposed to be up to.

No good!

[Davros sock drawer]

Nope, you're not. The extremely long middle section seemed to go on forever, and there wasn't really much happening apart from what was essentially navel-gazing. It was just too self-indulgent, a flaw that seems to be widening in the series, and then it only perked up into meaningful action with another 'we can go back in time and change things even though we always said they were unchangeable' deus ex machina. It's hardly Who's fault as a series that this happens - it's not supposed to be taken that seriously - but the increasingly grand, apocalyptic story lines, every other episode a case of the destruction of an entire race, a galaxy, a universe - have lost any weight. Because in the end, timey wimey.

It's funny that this one's all about character, but there wasn't really a lot of it on show - mainly us being told by others that the Doctor's brilliant, the War Doctor's a figure of dread, etc. Nothing much interesting character-wise from the actual people involved though, and unfortunately the story didn't really boil down to anything much either. I agree with Davros that they need to go back to smaller-scale adventures, try to ditch the massive arcs and endless tips and winks and nods and cross-referencing, and do some two- or three- or four-parters to tell relatively small-scale stories with actual cliffhangers, and some actual, interesting characters. You could say it's because it's a special, but it had the same problems you find in many of the regular shows - it's all fan service, all the time. I doubt they can do that though, with his new quest already set up.

The show was saved simply by 'appearances' from the old Doctors. I don't think anyone would deny that the best bit was them being shown on screen at more or less the same time - there was almost a buzz there, I think for the only time in the whole programme. And if the best bit is some old footage of previous incarnations, you know you're in trouble. But I seem to be having problems that many others aren't having with sci-fi TV shows and films recently, so maybe it'll just be me and keineboom who didn't rate this. And perhaps some of the problem is I've been watching a few of the old shows fairly recently, and this was nowhere near as much fun, or as dramatic, or dark, or genuinely humorous. I think the last few series have ended up losing themselves up their own mythos, which has become totally confused.

Or maybe it's just me who's become confused.

EDIT: Ha! Took me so long to type that I missed all the praise inbetween k's post and mine. Gravity-style negageddon incoming!!

For once I just think you're over-thinking it Gorf. If you can't be self-indulgent on your birthday, then when? This was a massive love letter to the fans, and as someone born in 1974, directly to my childhood. And I loved it back.

Oh, and one of the best things was how funny it was throughout, I thought. It wasn't anywhere near as po-faced as I'd feared. In fact, it was pretty self-deprecating, which as someone who hasn't rated the show since middle period Tennant, I appreciated.

Then Tom Baker appeared. I lol'd, then I blubbed.

[mrsnrub]

I enjoyed it, but to be honest I could have done without Stacey from Gavin and Stacey and felt she was a bit of a weak link..and I still feel the Hurt Doctor was just shoehorned in because Ecclestone wouldn't come back. They could have had McGann, especially in light of his wonderful minisode.

Another alternative would have been to have had the Hurt Doctor fade away instead of regnerate so that he became a bit like the Valeyard, a Doctor who never ultimately existed and then the number count wouldn't be wrong...

Otherwise, phenomenal stuff.

[El Pibe]

What made you blub, Dav?