2005 replies to this topic

[Jackanaples]

I've been avoiding this place and this thread in particular for weeks. Didn't feel like watching DOCTOR WHO and so stockpiled all the episodes until the season ended. Just finished watching the season finale.

God's Holy Trousers, was that fantastic! Without giving away anything, Moffat & Co. really showed everyone how it's supposed to be done: With ample amounts of courage, strangeness, a touch of horror, a near blinding sense of wonder, earned emotion as opposed to mawkish "crying time" on the TARDIS and all shot through with extraordinary displays of cleverness in abundance.

Easily the most satisfying or maybe that's The Only Satisfying finale of New Who for me since it began. Can't wait till Christmas and next year's Series 6!

[marktmurphy]

'Earned emotion'; yes, that's a good way of putting it. A 'metacrisis' isn't earned emotion because it's clearly been constructed purely to give the characters a reason to cry.

Same with the end of the Torchwood Children of Earth thing (if you haven't seen it I'm about to spoil it!): it's a great idea that Jack has to choose between killing a kid and saving the Earth, but the logic behind that choice isn't set up: there's no apparent reason for the choice other than it being a great dramatic moment. As you say, it isn't earned.

[Lachesis]

'Earned emotion'; yes, that's a good way of putting it. A 'metacrisis' isn't earned emotion because it's clearly been constructed purely to give the characters a reason to cry.

Same with the end of the Torchwood Children of Earth thing (if you haven't seen it I'm about to spoil it!): it's a great idea that Jack has to choose between killing a kid and saving the Earth, but the logic behind that choice isn't set up: there's no apparent reason for the choice other than it being a great dramatic moment. As you say, it isn't earned.

Yes that hits the nail perfectly I think and its the biggest difference between regeneration 10 & 11 harkings back to the heyday of old who imo!

[Jackanaples]

Oh, you can't spoil TORCHWOOD for me, Marktmurphy. I gave up on it back in the first season for pretty much all that you expressed about it in your post. Well, that and the fact that most of the crisis they faced were brought about by their own incompetence.

The "Cyberwoman" episode actually made laugh at loud when presented with the ridiculous moral dilemma at the center of it. I have friends who liked the show; for me it was everything I loathed about RTD's WHO minus the mitigating influences of a Moffat.

There was a moment in Series 5 of WHO where I despaired that Moffat was taking us down the same road that RTD favored: The Doctor, faced with an impossible crisis manages to get at least one person killed in gratuitously emotional fashion; tells someone "I'm so, so sorry." After a moment though, I realized that no, it was an indication of Moffat's great plotting.

While individual episodes of Series 5 didn't feel as strong as previous years, when seen as a whole they're stronger than what's come before I think. There's more connective tissue in the seasonal arc. Nothing feels tacked on as an afterthought here.

Smith's portrayal of the Doctor exceeded my absurdly high expectations for him. Eleventh Doc seems to have more levels and nuance to explore than most. He's certainly my favorite Doctor since the 4th at any rate.

In my opinion, Moffat, Smith, etc. have really fulfilled the promise of the new series. The best part is that I know we're just getting started and that he must have some cunningly elaborate plans for the future.

[Zorin Industries]

TORCHWOOD - CHILDREN OF EARTH was one of the finest pieces of British television writing last year that was both intelligent sci-fi and a scathing comment on Britain today... as all good TV dramas should be.

[Royal Dalton]

I had to pass on that. John Barrowman was in it.

[marktmurphy]

TORCHWOOD - CHILDREN OF EARTH was one of the finest pieces of British television writing last year that was both intelligent sci-fi and a scathing comment on Britain today... as all good TV dramas should be.

Good scenes with the cabinet making The Decision, but the ending was botched slightly in that I didn't believe the resolution.

[Jackanaples]

TORCHWOOD - CHILDREN OF EARTH was one of the finest pieces of British television writing last year that was both intelligent sci-fi and a scathing comment on Britain today... as all good TV dramas should be.

Yeah, I've heard some good things about that TORCHWOOD mini seriesit and certainly trust your opinion more than most, Zorin. I long ago gave up on the series as something that was not made for me. I may make the effort someday but it's extremely low on my to do list. There's so many other things to watch that I know I'll ejoy.

[marktmurphy]

It's the only version of Torchwood that actually worked. It's like they stood back form it and worked out what they had been doing wrong: they chuck out stupid Scooby Doo elements like the subterranean lair and the Mystery Machine and give it a more believable serious edge and consistent tone.

[Zorin Industries]

It's the only version of Torchwood that actually worked. It's like they stood back form it and worked out what they had been doing wrong: they chuck out stupid Scooby Doo elements like the subterranean lair and the Mystery Machine and give it a more believable serious edge and consistent tone.

Agreed.

[DamnCoffee]

Err...

Johnny Depp to star in 'Doctor Who' film?
Johnny Depp has been linked to a movie version of Doctor Who.

According to website Tor, an article appeared on PubArticles which allegedly quoted former showrunner Russell T. Davies.

Davies reportedly said that he was in the process of developing a Doctor Who movie and promised that the Daleks would be involved. However, the article was later removed.

Tor has now claimed that sources in the film industry have confirmed that Depp will star in a Doctor Who film, which would be released in 2012.

It is unclear how genuine the reports are as Davies has previously said that he has no plans to make a Doctor Who movie.

[sharpshooter]

That's nothing more than attention seeking garbage that other sites have since picked up. The story has since been deleted from the original blog.

I'm all for a Doctor Who movie, say for the 50th anniversary, starring, you know, actual Doctors from the show like McGann, Eccleston, Tennant and Smith. But something random like this? No way. Regardless if it were good or not, I would view it as an unnecessary scar on the franchise.

[Harry Fawkes]

LOVE this guy!

Smith is truly magnificent!!!!!

[Cabainus]

Favourite season of the revived series yet, a brilliant finale and Matt Smith is superbly eccentric as the doctor.

P.s. Anyone like Doctor Who AND Muse?
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Found this while messing about and loved it..

[Harry Fawkes]

Favourite season of the revived series yet, a brilliant finale and Matt Smith is superbly eccentric as the doctor.

P.s. Anyone like Doctor Who AND Muse?
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Found this while messing about and loved it..

Bloody right it was!

[Mr. Blofeld]

So... thanks to the miracle of modern technology that is Dailymotion, I finally gave in and watched The Lodger, The Pandorica Opens, and The Big Bang on my laptop, mostly because I had finally had it with BBC America pushing back the next episode by a week yet again.

It was...

Spoiler

fantastic! What a way to end the series!

To be fair, I was a little confused as to where the Doctor got his wedding suit, or how River Song retained all her memories when Amy barely did and Rory turned human, again. Also, at what point in time was River when she came back on the 26th, and how does she go back--

Never mind. Those questions will be answered later, I'm sure; for now, I'm going to let the happy feeling in my stomach remain.

11/10.

[captnash2]

It's the only version of Torchwood that actually worked. It's like they stood back form it and worked out what they had been doing wrong: they chuck out stupid Scooby Doo elements like the subterranean lair and the Mystery Machine and give it a more believable serious edge and consistent tone.

Agreed.

CoE works cos RTD gave it his full attention, first time since writing the season one opener 'everything changes'.

shame he wasn't so hands on with seasons 1 and 2.

[DamnCoffee]

Indeed.

I loved Series One, and Two. But I agree, that Children of Earth was the best of the lot. Brilliant writing, and fantastic television.

Plus, I love how much of a big hit it was, especially on BBC One. I think I'm correct in saying that it generated viewing figures on par with an average episode of Doctor Who? Now, that is extraordinary.

[captnash2]

CoE managed 6 million viewers per day on bbc1, 3 times its audience on bbc2/3.

not everyone may like the who specials that closed the RTD/tennent era but it gave davies breathing space to go back to TW and reinvigorate the show.

roll on the UK/US season 3 production.

[Zorin Industries]

To be honest, the ratings for that TORCHWOOD five night special are not that relevant - bearing in mind the time of year (i.e. the Summer) when the series aired.

[DamnCoffee]

Well, I would think that they are pretty relevant, considering it was the first series of Torchwood to air on BBC One. If you think about it, Series One was BBC Three, and Series 2 was BBC Two. Going to BBC One was a great step up, and it payed off.


Oh, and here's a short cinema trailer I made for Children of Earth...

[Harry Fawkes]

Cool Mharkin. Thanks for that. Can't wait to watch it. Still on season 2 and it has me riveted to my chair!

[Brian Flagg]

BTW, has there ever been an espionage/spy story in Doctor Who? "The Deadly Assassin" is a political intrigue tale, so perhaps that counts, but has there been a honest-to-goodness spy story in any Dr Who adventure? This could include audio stories and novels, too.

[captnash2]

BTW, has there ever been an espionage/spy story in Doctor Who? "The Deadly Assassin" is a political intrigue tale, so perhaps that counts, but has there been a honest-to-goodness spy story in any Dr Who adventure? This could include audio stories and novels, too.

does it count that in the classic era the time lords had a shady black ops section called the celestrial intervention agency?

it is assumed they were responsible for using an unwilling dr to deal with incidents such as 'colony in space', 'curse of peladon' and 'genesis/daleks'.

[Lachesis]

BTW, has there ever been an espionage/spy story in Doctor Who? "The Deadly Assassin" is a political intrigue tale, so perhaps that counts, but has there been a honest-to-goodness spy story in any Dr Who adventure? This could include audio stories and novels, too.

Troughtons double take - The Enemy of the World (on audio) was perhaps the most overt take on the Bond style of spying, many of Pertwee's exiled stories have strong spy/Bondian elements though there's usually a big bad monster or Master at the end etc ^^

[captnash2]

BTW, has there ever been an espionage/spy story in Doctor Who? "The Deadly Assassin" is a political intrigue tale, so perhaps that counts, but has there been a honest-to-goodness spy story in any Dr Who adventure? This could include audio stories and novels, too.

Troughtons double take - The Enemy of the World (on audio) was perhaps the most overt take on the Bond style of spying, many of Pertwee's exiled stories have strong spy/Bondian elements though there's usually a big bad monster or Master at the end etc ^^

the virgin missing adventure novels also created a 'season 6b' strand based on the events of 'the two doctors', where troughton's dr is used by the c.i.a to undertake missions for the time lords before he was regenerated into pertwee's dr.

[Gogol Pushkin]

Well, I would think that they are pretty relevant, considering it was the first series of Torchwood to air on BBC One. If you think about it, Series One was BBC Three, and Series 2 was BBC Two. Going to BBC One was a great step up, and it payed off.


Oh, and here's a short cinema trailer I made for Children of Earth...

Fantastic trailer Mharkin, that managed to sell COE very well. Personally I thought it was the best piece of television broadcast last year and I have very high expectations for the fourth season (or full third season, not sure how they'll refer to it).

[Brian Flagg]

BTW, has there ever been an espionage/spy story in Doctor Who? "The Deadly Assassin" is a political intrigue tale, so perhaps that counts, but has there been a honest-to-goodness spy story in any Dr Who adventure? This could include audio stories and novels, too.

Troughtons double take - The Enemy of the World (on audio) was perhaps the most overt take on the Bond style of spying, many of Pertwee's exiled stories have strong spy/Bondian elements though there's usually a big bad monster or Master at the end etc ^^

the virgin missing adventure novels also created a 'season 6b' strand based on the events of 'the two doctors', where troughton's dr is used by the c.i.a to undertake missions for the time lords before he was regenerated into pertwee's dr.

Thanks to you both for your posts; I knew there had to be something!

[DamnCoffee]

If anyone hasn't heard, Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins have been confirmed for this years special. Plus, it's working title is 'Father Who'

Anyone think we'll get a sneak peak at the Christmas Special this year at Comic Con?

[Zorin Industries]

If anyone hasn't heard, Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins have been confirmed for this years special. Plus, it's working title is 'Father Who'

Anyone think we'll get a sneak peak at the Christmas Special this year at Comic Con?

Yep it's a take on A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Gambon no doubt playing a Scrooge inspired figure visited by the Ghosts of Doctor Who's past, present and future.....