Doctor Who

[SeanR]

Did anyone link to this:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320...7200234,00.html

A STRING of bets on an unknown bald actor becoming the next Dr Who has left bookies in a spin.

Enthusiastic punters have staked cash on 5ft 7in Julian Walsh taking over the Tardis in the BBC sci-fi hit.

One even asked for a £2,500 bet — amid rising speculation that current Doctor David Tennant, 35, will stop playing the Time Lord after the third series.

Gamblers piled in after bookies began taking bets on who will become the 11th Doctor.

And many backed Mancunian Julian, 37 — even though he is best known as a child star from 80s show Jossy’s Giants, and his current claim to fame is an ad for Warburton’s BREAD.

???

[Ste Pickford]

I know that it's not the same thing, that time is more on the films side etc and that they have more time to pace things out, I just think that in terms of set up and flow Who is suffering a bit at the moment with the one story per 45 mins general rule and the shooting schedule inherent in getting a new series in year on year plus a Christmas special. I know I look forward to seeing it, but I do think that a break and a slightly more brave view on sequential storytelling, larger budget (I mean come on, have the toys not added anything to it yet?) and braver choice in settings would give us better Who in the longer run, also I assume that the working schedules must burn out the cast quicker and I've no wish to see a new Who again for a while if it could be avoided. In the olden days how long was it between series?

While I agree about the 45 minute episodes being a little too short, I'm not sure I understand what the year on year shooting shedule has to do with anything.

All the problems to do with the current series are down to the scripts. Nothing to do with the production, which is fine (well, subject to the usual criticisms, the odd dodgy effect etc., but nothing spoiling the show for me).

Poor plotting, repetitive plotting, lazy plotting, lame endings etc can all be avoided cheaply, and relatively quickly, I would have thought, regardless of how many episodes the production team have to make in a year.

Each writer on board (excepting RTD) only seems to write one or two episodes a series. Surely that gives them long enough to get it right?

[Davros sock drawer]

Er, since when was it officially "decided" that this series isn't any good? Apart from the Shakespeare one it's been fantastic.

[linkster]

All the problems to do with the current series are down to the scripts.

Actually I'd say the acting has been the biggest killer. The scripts have been poor on the whole, but have had moments that could have been truly memorable if they'd not been so badly staged.

[Bluejam]

Like I said a few pages back, I ended up watching Parting of the Ways when I couldn't sleep one night and was just gobsmacked by how much better it is than anything I've seen since about mid way through S2.

Aye, Parting of the ways is fantastic. Dalek and The Unquiet Dead are brilliant as well. Those 3 are yet to be beaten in my opinion although Girl in the Fireplace is up there.

World War III and Aliens of London were better than i remembered as well - even with the farting

I still enjoy Who a hell of a lot and Season 3 has been very very good IMO. In fact, now that Life on Mars has finished, its the only programme i watch religiously.

Maybe, now we are nearly 3 1/2 seasons down, its lost a bit of appeal as its not 'new' anymore?

[linkster]

Aye, Parting of the ways is fantastic. Dalek and The Unquiet Dead are brilliant as well. Those 3 are yet to be beaten in my opinion although Girl in the Fireplace is up there.

World War III and Aliens of London were better than i remembered as well - even with the farting

I still enjoy Who a hell of a lot and Season 3 has been very very good IMO. In fact, now that Life on Mars has finished, its the only programme i watch religiously.

Maybe, now we are nearly 3 1/2 seasons down, its lost a bit of appeal as its not 'new' anymore?

Nah, I don't buy that. I've devoured two seasons of Deadwood and am hungry for more. It's just Who isn't playing to the strengths of the first season. The focus groups have kicked in - "give us a pairing we can put on the cover of GQ" Plus the Doctor's brooding is in stark contrast to Ecclestone's simply wonderful enthusiasm for everything. I don't want another fucking typical American sci fi show.

[Boyatsea]

That, for one. Or that Daleks episode where SuperRose destroys them all. Or the other Dalek episode where the Doctor sucks them all through a portal. And in this one, he's saved at the last moment by the Dalek zombies not shooting at him because his DNA magically travelled into them (through electricity!). I don't know if it's supposed to make him seem really clever or what, but it tends to be a bit unsatisfying to watch.

And yeah, he shouts quite a lot in these, too (yelling at the Daleks, mostly).

I was talking about this story, specifially, and...

...because his DNA magically travelled into them...

...is what you call Science Fiction. The day Doctor Who turns into an Open University lecture is the day I switch off.

He's alien. Who knows what he can do?

[Boyatsea]

When I watch the like of Life on Mars and am quite frankly blown away by its stories and scripts. I start wondering why the BBC cant manage a similar level with Dr Who.

I was actually very disappointed with the second series of Life on Mars. It started to become a parody of itself.

I'd take this series of Who over it anytime.

[Popo]

Er, since when was it officially "decided" that this series isn't any good? Apart from the Shakespeare one it's been fantastic.

I think the deciding line for me was "EMERGENCY TEMPORAL SHIFT", to be honest.

[Jug McKenzie]

SeanR said:

 

[cassidy]

Breaking news

Next weeks episode of Doctor Who titled 42 has been postponed by a week due to the amazingness that is Eurovision. Nice work BBC 1 schedulers.

[linkster]

I guess they only have room for one overly camp Saturday night show.

[Davros sock drawer]

I think the deciding line for me was "EMERGENCY TEMPORAL SHIFT", to be honest.

Worked for me. The Dalek was so terrified of the Doctor actually offering to help them, that it used the one device which fucked them up so much last time.

Earlier in the thread someone was saying they'd like to see Tennant play against the Daleks a bit differently. Well, I think he started to do so in that scene. He moved from an impersonation of Ecclestone's anger, to genuine pity. The Dalek didn't like that.

I'm optimistic about the rest of the season.

[DLNY]

Tennant's Doctor has greatly improved this year. Aside from the usual suspects (School Reunion; GITF), last year he was essentially the superfan who finally had the keys to the kingdom. This year he seems to have settled into things and spends less time veering manically between stamping his own take on the Doctor and shouting.

I really think Eccles spoiled the lot of us. 'Dalek' was pitch-perfect and really suited RTD's update. The Last Dalek. It was a thing out of time, still deadly as ever. Now there's swarms of them and they seem less threatening. And another 'Emergency Temporal Shift'? Where will that pesky scamp show up next? Series 4, you can guarantee it, probably with lots of his buddies.

[Davros sock drawer]

Breaking news

Next weeks episode of Doctor Who titled 42 has been postponed by a week due to the amazingness that is Eurovision. Nice work BBC 1 schedulers.

Whaaaaaaaat!?

[cassidy]

I guess they only have room for one overly camp Saturday night show.

Not watched Any Dream will Do then? Or last years Dance Fever?

[linkster]

Not watched Any Dream will Do then? Or last years Dance Fever?

Hell no. But point taken.

[cassidy]

Hell no. But point taken.

Put me in the enjoying S3 camp. Although the Dalek episodes were the weakest in S3 so far, I did enjoy part 2 and I think their in a different league of quality compared to last years Cyber 2 parter.

For me this is how I expect S3 to pan out

Lazarus - seems OKish

42- Okish its by Chris Chibnall who wrote Cyberwoman so it could be really really bad. But the real time element sounds interesting

Human Nature - Great book and its by Paul Cornell and stars Jessica Stevenson(or whatever her name is now) so I'n expecting big things from this one especially

CREEPY SCARECROWS AND THE DOCTOR TURNING HUMAN

Family of Blood - Part 2 of Human Nature

Blink - Steven Moffatt NUFF SAID

Utopia -

Jacks back baby

and Derek Jacobi

Sound of Drums - featuring the return of

a certain acquaintance of the Doctors

Last of the Timelords - Part 2 of the above tale.

So I'm expecting about 2 more average eps then a whole lot of greatness

[JPickford (retired mod)]

Human Nature is a book adapation?

Edit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-Nature-New-D...4915&sr=8-1

What's going on? Who's Benny?

[cassidy]

Human Nature is a book adapation?

Edit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-Nature-New-D...4915&sr=8-1

What's going on? Who's Benny?

Its a reworking rather than a straight adaptation. it was up on the BBC site but its gone for some reason

Benny is Bernice Summerfield a very popular companion from the New Adventures. Archaeologist from the 25th Century with a penchant for drinking and shagging her way through time and Space.(well there's a lot more to her than that) I imagine Wiki can help. She wont be appearing in the TV version though.

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

[SeanR]

Julian Walsh, yesterday.

+

/

[CussYouBad]

I am enjoying this series, too. It has a real air of confidence about it, and seems a bit more ambitious. Plus it has just been downright entertaining.

Yes.

[Lorfarius]

I am enjoying this series, too. It has a real air of confidence about it, and seems a bit more ambitious. Plus it has just been downright entertaining.

Yes.

What air of confidence? What ambition? Even Martha has commented about how they seem to be going to all the places him and Rose went to before. Its treading old ground in a lot of ways and depending on too many cliches. How many more times can the sonic screwdriver save the day?

[Beta]

I pretty much agree with cassidy here. Overall I've enjoyed S3 so far (and I also found this parter to perhaps be the weakest story we've yet seen in it), but it's towards the end of the series that it looks like things will really pick up. Interesting to see that a book plot is being used, part of me is quite happy to see that (given that the plot sounds very interesting) but at the same time part of me is a little fearful. I really agree with Ste, when I'm not enjoying an episode it's almost always down to problems with the script, and on one level the need to make use of plots from existing fiction doesn't bode too well for the creativity of the writing team. Still very looking forward to seeing the rest of this series and seeing how it measures up against the first.

[linkster]

and on one level the need to make use of plots from existing fiction doesn't bode too well for the creativity of the writing team.

Crazy talk. If it's a good story why not dramatise it? 0.1% of the audience will ever read the books. Besides, the plots and characters are on the whole infinitely more interesting than anything seen so far this season.

[cassidy]

Crazy talk. If it's a good story why not dramatise it? 0.1% of the audience will ever read the books. Besides, the plots and characters are on the whole infinitely more interesting than anything seen so far this season.

Your point is very true and the fact the original author is handling the re-working means its should be done well.

I personally dont rate Human Nature that highly, its very good, but IMO there are better Who books.

[CussYouBad]

How many more times can the sonic screwdriver save the day?

75? 12? What is the right answer, here? Give me a clue. Is it more than thirty?

[cassidy]

75? 12? What is the right answer, here? Give me a clue. Is it more than thirty?

42

Forgot to mention some other good news. You know the annoying girl that everyone hated in Sarah Jane Adventures, Kelsey. Well she be gone.

[Nick R]

Breaking news

Next weeks episode of Doctor Who titled 42 has been postponed by a week due to the amazingness that is Eurovision. Nice work BBC 1 schedulers.

So you could say... it's EMERGENCY TEMPORAL SHIFTed a week into the future?

[Exidor]

Interesting to see that a book plot is being used, part of me is quite happy to see that (given that the plot sounds very interesting) but at the same time part of me is a little fearful. I really agree with Ste, when I'm not enjoying an episode it's almost always down to problems with the script, and on one level the need to make use of plots from existing fiction doesn't bode too well for the creativity of the writing team.

If season 1's "Dalek" hadn't been cribbed from one of the Big Finish audios, you might have had a point. That audio was considered by many to be a high point in the audio range and the tv remake pissed all over it.

In a good way.