Doctor Who

[linkster]

I like the concepts too, I know it's another "man's history being shaped by an ancient alien force" story, but there's something darkly convincing about it, and I like the little details like the Fendahleen's reaction to salt being the origin of our salt over the shoulder superstition.

Might dig the novelisation out in a minute. It only takes a few hours wallowing in Tom Baker stories on Youtube to give me the bug again.

Hopefully it'll also bring it home what a sack of shit this current run is.

[Davros sock drawer]

Hopefully it'll also bring it home what a sack of shit this current run is.

Aw, come on man. I'm enjoying it, despite the evident flaws. The only episode I've out and out disliked this series was the Shakespeare one. All the others have been great fun.

[Garwoofoo]

Aw, come on man. I'm enjoying it, despite the evident flaws. The only episode I've out and out disliked this series was the Shakespeare one. All the others have been great fun.

I can see why people dislike new Who - though I'm not one of them, I think it's bloody great - but I can't see how anyone can say that this season is worse than the last. I mean, last year in the first five episodes we had New Earth and Rise of the Cybermen, two of the worst episodes of Who ever (and I wasn't keen on Tooth and Claw either). This year's been much more consistent, and Gridlock at least is a stone cold classic to a lot of people.

[pretentious_helvetica]

I can see why people dislike new Who - though I'm not one of them, I think it's bloody great - but I can't see how anyone can say that this season is worse than the last. I mean, last year in the first five episodes we had New Earth and Rise of the Cybermen, two of the worst episodes of Who ever (and I wasn't keen on Tooth and Claw either). This year's been much more consistent, and Gridlock at least is a stone cold classic to a lot of people.

Tooth and Claw - the werewolf episode of last season? I thought that was briiliant - great CG effects, kick-ass monks and the birth of Torchwood? You must be dead inside.

[Ravern]

I wish the Daleks would fuck off so the writers could actually come up with some half decent new enemies. I've been calling for this since the end of the Ecclestone series, mind...

[Davros sock drawer]

I totally understand that point of view, but I think the Daleks are better written now than they ever have been. Genesis aside, natch.

[Hello Goaty ♥]

the whole story is going to be suddenly revealed one day isn't it? BAM! in yer face.

theres a reason why theres Daleks all over the place.. and not just because of no ideas.

[Hulot]

I totally understand that point of view, but I think the Daleks are better written now than they ever have been. Genesis aside, natch.

It'd be nice, though, if the show could be a little more covert about which monsters are to appear, Frontier in Space and Earthshock style, in place of OH BLOODY HELL: HERE COME YOUR FAVOURITE WHEELED, SALT 'N' PEPPPER SHAKER SHAPED, NAZI-INSPIRED CYBORGS AGAIN!. Surely there's a limit to the number of times 'Dalek(s)' can be used in episode titles?

Anyway, next week looks like we'll be caught in more sodding sub-soap histrionics instead of the exotic adventures in time and space which have been sorely lacking in the new series.

[Boyatsea]

Hopefully it'll also bring it home what a sack of shit this current run is.

A "sack of shit"?

Oh come on. You're just being daft now.

I totally understand that point of view, but I think the Daleks are better written now than they ever have been. Genesis aside, natch.

This. I'd say better than Genesis, as - for me at least - Genesis is more of a Davros story than a Daleks story. I prefer them and the helm.

[FishyFish]

I wonder what happened to the thousand Dalek / Human corpses left in the New York sewers (and the 100 Tommy Gun Exterminator weapons)? Does the Doctor have them stashed away in some 'Mass Grave' room of the TARDIS for later disposal?

Thought this was a pretty good two-parter all told. I knew Sek was knackered as soon as he started experiencing pain and emotions (which reminded me a bit of an old Star Trek episode where Spock goes all wierd). I'm guessing that the Dalek's temporal shift is puely a jump through time, rather than space? In which case, I wonder if it went forwards or backwards in time? That said, I'm kinda hoping for a Dalek story not set on (or around) Earth next time though. Just for a change.

On the subject of Fendahl - one of my favourite stories. The image (heh!) of the Fendahleen appearing at the end of the dusty corridor was pretty damned scary to behold when I was 8 years old.

As for Daleks in Torchwood - surely there has to be an "

" reference?

EDIT: Beaten to it by The Goat Keeper.

[Davros sock drawer]

It's easy to feel bitter when you're not enjoying your Who. I still remember how I felt after watching Rose, and then Rise of the Cybermen. I can best describe it as "Very Angry".

But the series' blessing, that it can be pretty much whatever it wants, is also its curse. That's why it can be this:

As well as this:

And still be Dr Who. Gotta love it.

[The Boatman]

I picked up a couple of Doctor Who New Adventures novels at a car boot sale this morning: All-Consuming Fire and Nightshade. 25p each, so I knew I couldn't go far wrong! Does anyone know if they're any good? I've not read any of the New Adventures before but I'm sure I've seen some positive comments about them in this thread before...

Nightshade's pretty good. It's one of the early ones and was written by Mark Gatiss who coincidentally appears in this week's episode, although it does demonstrate his predeliction for fifties/sixties retro. All-Consuming Fire features the Doctor teaming up with Sherlock Holmes. It's OK, but not one of the very best. Well worth what you paid anyway.

As for Evolution of the Daleks, it did borrow from The Evil of the Daleks, although that was more about mixing human psychology (the 'Human Factor') with Daleks than actual human genes. And the confrontation was indeed reminiscent of Remembrance of the Daleks. The great thing about it was that it always felt like homage and never like a rip-off. I think the way the new series in general (and this season in particular) has treated continuity has been just right; unlike the Movie, it's never felt burdened by 26 years of history.

[Hello Goaty ♥]

Here,

any reason why Doctor Who can't set his Tardis to arrive before/during the great time war?

[The Boatman]

The Doctor can't travel back along his own (i.e., Gallifrey's) timeline - the only significant instance of that happening is in the New Adventure Lungbarrow. Genesis of the Daleks sort of implies that even travelling back along the Daleks' timeline is dicey, which would seem to indicate that the Daleks' and the Time Lords' respective timelines are linked in some way...

[Alex W.]

I think I've said this before, but that is the single greatest monster I have ever seen in a TV show. I have yet to watch that actual episode to avoid disappointing myself, but the only thing I could concieve of being better would be a malevolent Smash martian.

[DeNeo]

I think the idea is that the time the war took place within was destroyed/erased.

Or that it happened outside of time/space.

[linkster]

I can see why people dislike new Who - though I'm not one of them, I think it's bloody great - but I can't see how anyone can say that this season is worse than the last. I mean, last year in the first five episodes we had New Earth and Rise of the Cybermen, two of the worst episodes of Who ever (and I wasn't keen on Tooth and Claw either). This year's been much more consistent, and Gridlock at least is a stone cold classic to a lot of people.

I don't dislike new Who. I hate the fact that someone makes such a generalisation just because I think the current run has been rubbish (even the Shakespeare one which was a good story was a lousy bit of television). I didn't like last season much either, but it had three standout episodes - for the entire show, I mean - by the half way point. When this one is over they can be properly compared.

I'd say better than Genesis, as - for me at least

And you call me daft

[sweetdaddyg]

Now THAT was a fucking storyline.

Seriously children, never mind this pap, read the books.

I wasn't referring to the books. This is official canon as per Davies.

[linkster]

I wasn't referring to the books. This is official canon as per Davies.

I presume you're talking about Confidential then? I never watch it.

[sweetdaddyg]

Here,

any reason why Doctor Who can't set his Tardis to arrive before/during the great time war?

Sweet fucking Christ

for the third and hopefully final time....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinovitch_Limitation_Effect

fucking read it this time.

[sweetdaddyg]

I presume you're talking about Confidential then? I never watch it.

Wrong, he did a wee time war back story in the official 2005 annual.

Outlined the whole time war and stated Romana was president at the time gallifrey went boom.

[linkster]

Wrong, he did a wee time war back story in the official 2005 annual.

Outlined the whole time war and stated Romana was president at the time gallifrey went boom.

I don't see how that makes it any more official than the books. They're better anyway.

[Davros sock drawer]

I've still never read a New or Missing adventure. I just can't understand the appeal of reading a non-televised story.

[linkster]

I've still never read a New or Missing adventure. I just can't understand the appeal of reading a non-televised story.

It wasn't until UK Gold came along that I saw most of my favourite stories for the first time because I knew them only as books. Anyway..

I didn't read the New adventures until after series 1 of this current run and I just cannot recommend them highly enough. All the credit I'd given RTD for reinventing the Doctor in the modern era was misplaced cos the books do it all and more.

Plus Faction Paradox is simply the best adversary he's ever had. Creeps me the fuck out.

Do it, Davros. I'll lend you one to get you started if you like.

[cassidy]

I've still never read a New or Missing adventure. I just can't understand the appeal of reading a non-televised story.

You'll never bloody learn will you

Story wise their some of the best Who ever written. Budgetwise its limited only by your imagination for those reasons alone they demand to be read.

Love and War and The Also People and Damaged Goods(by RTD himself and a lot darker than his TV stuff) are all you need to read to fall in love the NA's, well its what did it for me and about another 15 books on top of those.

Same goes for the 8th Dr books and Alien Bodies and The Adventuress of Henrietta Street.

I also second what Linkster said above, Faction Paradox were the best thing to have happened to Dr Who fiction. Wait till you read what happens on Dust. That upset the fans I can tell you.

[Treble]

Sweet fucking Christ

for the third and hopefully final time....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinovitch_Limitation_Effect

fucking read it this time.

Honestly, you'll be better of putting it in your sig and pointing people at it.

Although I think Goaty's pretty successfully bearded you there, tee-bee-eff-aitch

[Davros sock drawer]

I dunno, they look a bit...fan-fiction to me.

[linkster]

I dunno, they look a bit...fan-fiction to me.

They... look?

[cassidy]

I dunno, they look a bit...fan-fiction to me.

That'd be the self same fans who now write and produce TV Who. So your sort of right

[linkster]

Wait till you read what happens on Dust. That upset the fans I can tell you.

Which book was that? I only read the aftermath in Alien Bodies.