Doctor Who

[Nick R]

Also...can someone explain to me why a Medical Doctor would be in charge of a teleportation device project?

Or why an evolutionary biologist would be on TV talking about astronomy.

I've only recently caught up with this series (and this thread). I didn't think the early episodes were anything special, but it really improved with the Agatha Christie episode (which I thought was a really fun - and camp - piece of entertainment, particularly the flashback scene); and of course the Steven Moffat two-parter.

While I was catching up with this thread I saw a few posts where people have posted links to a blog by a former Doctor Who novel writer who doesn't seem to like Moffat. I didn't read much of it, but he comes across a bit like the Doctor Who equivalent of Douglas Adams' biographer M.J. Simpson.

Tennant can do 'serious' (see his reaction when she whispered his name), but then has to ruin it by being all jolly and upbeat again at the a flick of a switch. I wish he'd be a bit more subtle more often. He's either 'woo-yay' or 'grrr-shouty'!! I liked his subdued stunned reaction. "Are we good?" "Yeah, we're good".

I actually really liked that scene where he switches from devastated silence back to manic mode. It implied that being "on" - enthusiastically brainstorming ideas with everyone around him - is to some extent a performance that he tries to keep up.

After the Library episodes I thought "Midnight" would be back to the silly humour of the Christmas specials, but it turned out to be really surprisingly intense. A brilliant episode. (My recording had missed off the first couple of minutes, so I missed the throwaway word that sparked all that discussion earlier in this thread. ) When Sky started speaking before the Doctor, I thought that the learning progression the creature was going through was repeating --> mind-reading --> predicting the future...

"Turn Left" continued the run of very good episodes (although the labour camps reference was a bit heavy-handed). I wasn't sure if the fortune teller had specifically targetted Donna for the beetle because she knew she was with the Doctor, or if it was just coincidence that she turned out to be important?

Its ending promised something very epic... which tonight's episode delivered on. That shot of all the Daleks invading the SHIELD Helicarrier Valiant was particularly great. I was expecting the Shadow Proclamation to be some kind of major speech or law, rather than an organisation, and the Medusa Cascade to be whatever process will cause "the stars to go out" as we saw in Turn Left. I couldn't tell from Rose's few lines if she still sounded like she'd been to the dentist that day...

"Clom's gone? Who'd want Clom?"

[Hexx]

There is a fifteen minute segment of The Sound of Drums which consistently amazes me with how good it is, but I think overall it's better, as it plays more to RTD's strengths (characterisation and camp drama) and minimises his weaknesses (celebrity cameos and poor pop culture references).

Your gonna have to qualify that "it"

For me it's a close tie between SOTD and SE.

SOTD had an good sense of dispair and hopelessness (e.g. when they first walk behind the perception filter), and for the most part had a "how are they gonna fix this" element I liked. Then the last 10 or so minutes with the Valiant and massive invasion - and you just knew that the reset button was gonna be pushed.

I think SE feel like much more of an "extra big special" episode and is brilliant, but it loses something because from the get go you pretty much know it's gonna be reset.

Hard choice. Both very good it other way - but both piss on Bad Wolf/Army of Ghosts.

Why are you making me choose?

[Jack]

'She won't let me have a webcam, she says they're naughty.'

[cassidy]

BTW I think everyone's wrong about the companion thing. What companion has the dr had with him since the beginning, hence his most faithful

[Rudi von Starnberg]

Bernard Cribbins continues to be fucking superb.

[Boyatsea]

Um, yeah, great. I'm definitely trying to win a pissing contest where I'm better than everyone, so kudos to me, absolutely.

Nah, just kidding. Not actually trying to be a wanker or start an argument. Just messing about.

I just find it very hard to believe that anyone can accuse RTD of being predictable when he's just dropped one of the biggest surprises in the show's history on us, whatever happens next week.

[Hexx]

BTW I think everyone's wrong about the companion thing. What companion has the dr had with him since the beginning, hence his most faithful

TARDIS...we've already seen it dying last week (it's lights going out) and Caan didn't say death, he said "Eternal dakrness"

I said that ages ago...

[Boyatsea]

BTW I think everyone's wrong about the companion thing. What companion has the dr had with him since the beginning, hence his most faithful

The TARDIS?

I actually think Donna is probably his most loyal companion, because she's not with him because she fancies him/is in love with him.

[Ravern]

Or the sonic screwdriver. PLEASE DESTROY THE SONIC SCREWDRIVER.

[Hexx]

Or the sonic screwdriver. PLEASE DESTROY THE SONIC SCREWDRIVER.

They already did that...he just built a new one

[Ravern]

Maybe it'll be his precious supply of pinstripe suits and converses, then.

[Scribblor]

I just find it very hard to believe that anyone can accuse RTD of being predictable when he's just dropped one of the biggest surprises in the show's history on us, whatever happens next week.

Okay. But as I said earlier, maybe I mistyped and should have said 'telegraphed' rather than predictable.

Obviously I didn't see the opening credits and think 'Hmm. I reckon the Doctor's going to get shot by a Dalek just before the end', but as soon as Rose appeared, I just knew what was going to happen.

[Hexx]

Maybe it'll be his precious supply of pinstripe suits and converses, then.

They already have that problem. There's no more material for one of the suits (Brown I think) and they're always worried it'll tear and be unrepairable.

[Hello Goaty ♥]

I see jeebus has posted some Slyvester McCoy.com spoilers

been using that site for a couple of years.. accuracy is SCARY

[Jack]

Yeah, could anyone posting spoilers for the final episode actually say they're for the final episode and not just covered-up discussion of this episode just gone now?

[Boyatsea]

Okay. But as I said earlier, maybe I mistyped and should have said 'telegraphed' rather than predictable.

Obviously I didn't see the opening credits and think 'Hmm. I reckon the Doctor's going to get shot by a Dalek just before the end', but as soon as Rose appeared, I just knew what was going to happen.

Fair dos.

I don't think being able to tell what happens seconds before it actually happens is an especially damning trait for a writer, though, or one that is especially tied to RTD's writing, either. If I sat and thought about it, I could probably pick out some very similar instances in The Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.

[SeanR]

spoiler for next episode

everything gets sorted out, no one really dies, and they go home for a nice cup of tea

[Hello Goaty ♥]

Yorkshire tea? with those snazzy T shaped biccies

[Links]

I just find it very hard to believe that anyone can accuse RTD of being predictable when he's just dropped one of the biggest surprises in the show's history on us, whatever happens next week.

I disagree. I think what happens next week will make or break how we look back on the ending of this episode. Of course I'm hoping it'll be fantastic but there's a part of me that feels they've bitten off more than they could chew and will rely on a throwaway resolution that lessens the impact of tonight.

[Lorfarius]

Yorkshire tea? with those snazzy T shaped biccies

Spoilers!

[Comrade]

I doubt Donna is going to die. They've forshadowed it waaay too much - they're blatantly planning a bait and switch (a bit like the end of the library story).

[Jack]

Or when Rose died.

[Lorfarius]

I doubt Donna is going to die. They've forshadowed it waaay too much - they're blatantly planning a bait and switch (a bit like the end of the library story).

I thought Tate only had a contract for this year?

[Hexx]

She does.

[The-G]

She does.

Proof?

[Lorfarius]

She does.

So it makes the most sense to kill her off, especially if they dont want to pay her to come back to do more. Then again the same could have been said for Martha and Rose. Somebody better peg it

[Hello Goaty ♥]

I doubt Donna is going to die. They've forshadowed it waaay too much - they're blatantly planning a bait and switch (a bit like the end of the library story).

think again good buddy!

thats all i'm saying.

[Hexx]

Dick post about spoilers.

Stop being a dick

[SeanR]

think again good buddy!

thats all i'm saying.

yeah goaty, wtf?

[Hello Goaty ♥]

hardly any spoilers at all.