Doctor Who

[seany t]

I'm not going to use this forum as an excuse to launch into a tirade about my favourite programme of all time, as I've really really enjoyed having it back.

BUT I'm worried what direction it's going in. The last series was possibly the best one yet overall, but Russell T Davies (the head writer and producer) contributed arguably the only 4 weak scripts to the show, and managed to make probably the most confused and cheesy season finalé to a TV show ever.

And today, I hear Catherine tate is his new assistant. Surely we've done the whole 'female companion fancying the Doc' thing now? What about someone a bit more interesting, not a washed up "comedian"? Or him travelling on his own for a while.

Seems a shame they're cutting budgets for the show in order to keep the dire Torchwood afloat and relegating Martha to bit parts when Tate's character was one of the show's most aggrivating to date

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Can you believe Captain Jack is really the face of Bo...It's all a bit mixed up.


Bring back Tom Baker and dodgy scenery!!!

 

[JoshC]

what didnt uderstand is how evryone shouting his name helped him to regenerate??

 

[seany t]

That will be lost on me too forever. I think its known as a plot hole.

And how last week Tennant said, when he saw his tampered with TARDIS, "I can't do anything to it". This week Jack runs in and shoots the **** out of it, and hey presto...

I'm up for a bit of fun, but most of this weeks' was plain nonsensical

 

[Bluesmanager]

Last I heard, Tate was just a reccurring, and Tom Ellis who played that Tom doctor bloke in the finale was the full-timer. Torchwood's also got Martha in it next year as well as the latter half of DW.

 

[seany t]

Well I'd be happier with that. Please God let that be the case...

 

[J]

Doctor who... :D

 

[Bluesmanager]

Well I'd be happier with that. Please God let that be the case...

I'm certain on the Martha relating to Torchwood and DW, that was supposed to be confirmed yesterday, but word leaked (for the first time this series) to a major DW forum. This is the first I've heard of Tate coming back though. And I can't be sure on Ellis either.

On another (slightly related) note - Kylie Minouge playing a passenger on the Titanic in the Christmas Special... Bit undecided on that.

Ah. Just hit a snag - The following is quote from Outpost Gallifrey:

The official BBC Doctor Who website has announced that comedienne and actress Catherine Tate, who guest starred in the 2006 Christmas episode The Runaway Bride, is to return to the role of Donna Noble as a full-time companion of the Doctor throughout the fourth series of Doctor Who in 2008.

Balls. Can't say I liked her too much myself.

 

[Cricko2]

On another (slightly related) note - Kylie Minouge playing a passenger on the Titanic in the Christmas Special... Bit undecided on that.

*Sets Sky+ already*

Mmmmm.

Any excuse to put a pic of Kylie up suits me ..:p

 

[seany t]

This is the Tate announcement: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6267680.stm

I have no idea why I care so much. Its a programme I grew up loving I guess, and most of those are long gone. But Tate is just SUCH an annoying individual. 13 episodes of her scares me senseless...

 

[Bluesmanager]

D'you think her main costume'll have pockets? :p

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

I was a big Doctor Who fan from the 80's, I loved watching it as a kid. I've collected many DVDs and videos from series featuring doctors Tom Baker, Peter Davidson and Colin Baker. I was pleased when Doctor Who was being brought back in 2005, however I was disappointed with what I saw a couple of years ago and have stopped watching it since.

What I loved about the old series were the nasty characters and the seriousness of them. Take Davros (he's my hero, hence my avatar!), he was truly evil and scary to watch. The Master was also a fantastic villain, with his evil laugh you always knew he meant business. The cyberman, rallied by the Cyber Leader were always ruthless and deadly. Also, stories would be four episodes long or two long episodes, enabling a plot to develop. Modern episodes seem to have brief stories with little substance.

The post 2005 series have deviated too much from the original themes which made Doctor Who so exciting, replacing scariness with romance and violence with cheap gags. Perhaps the rules for prime time tv thesedays are different to those over 20 years ago which restrict the amount of violence that can be shown. I want to watch Doctor Who for science fiction, not romance and bad jokes!

Similarly, I've been watching Wimbledon recently and can't believe some of the cringeworthy 'humour' they are trying to incorporate into their coverage. Why can't they just stick to Tennis? Also the BBC's football coverage seems to enjoy making us suffer the irritating Motty/Lawro panto act, can't they just commentate on the football? If I want humour I'll watch a proper comedian who is actually funny.

 

[Bluesmanager]

To be honest, I'm the opposite (I assume it's due to the P2005 series being the only ones I ever watched in full). I've got Genesis of the Daleks on DVD, and while I can see why it could be classed as a classic story (decent premise, effective telling), the effects and acting just seem a tad... woody for me. The graphics are woeful (give the 2005 lot their due, they have made the Daleks a lot more scary than the Genesis ones, they take less time to kill people), Sarah-Jane is cack (that scream when she "falls" from the rocket scaffolding is dire). Admittedly I liked the Doc and Harry, and Nyder was alright (I always get a lot of the Demon Headmaster whenever I see him), but the make-up on Davros just doesn't cut it for me. Looks like someone's been sick all over him and he's let it dry to be honest.

Davros himself is decent (at least he isn't voiced by Nick "I can do anything" Briggs), that bit with the "power of the gods" speech is great, but the story just doesn't do it for me, I get bored after about episode 3.

TV has moved on since then. Series 3 acknowledges that. They bring back the Macra (though to be honest they are a tiny bit cack), and the Master. TBH, I think series 3 is a reboot of sorts after Billie left at the end of series 2. Now with Martha Jones, a doctor in training (which helps set up episode one starring Judoon, space police rhinos), the series continues the jokes (though, thankfully, we don't have any "Scottish" accents from Londoners or Billie Piper acting like a twit), and brings in a lot of onimosity and seriousness that I think the first two lacked (aside from the end of the 2-part Cyberman episode of series 2). And it adds in a lot more twists, turns and downright outrage at some of the plans cooked up. My personal favourates are The Shakespeare Code (no, it doesn't play on That novel), Gridlock, Human Nature/The Family of Blood (adapted by Paul Cornwell from his novel), and the three part finale.

Not to mention the fact that Ecclestone's Doc and David Tennant's Doc are two completely different Docs of course. DT's is a lot funnier, emotional (but not in CE's way), and a heck of a lot darker.

 

[shrimpled]

I am led to believe by a family member that the next doctor who series will be he last. It's costing too much money for the BBC.

 

[seany t]

If they stopped funding Torchwood that'd solve things.

It sells really well worldwide, so they need to decide if its really worthwhile. i think it is personally. And if they started doing more clever episodes then they could tone down all the cgi and elaborate sets. Who has never done this very well

I'd rather have that than the Premiership any day... ITV can have that!

 

[shrimpled]

I'd rather have the prem! I've never watched any of it, it doesn't interest me really but i know people who love it, but if they're losing money on it, it makes sense.

 

[Bluesmanager]

You're all right - There is a series next year, then 3 specials on Bank Holidays in 09, then a full series in 2010, to give David a break to do some Shakespeare play (and no, it's not Love's Labours Lost, I think it's Hamlet or something).

 

[SUFCEssex]

My Daughter and step son absolutely love it and my house is getting full of Doctor Who stuff. I see BBC3 are showing it at 7pm weeknights so we having to watch it all again and again and again.

 

[osymandus]

I am led to believe by a family member that the next doctor who series will be he last. It's costing too much money for the BBC.

Unlikley given how well it sells round the world and all the merchandishe they get from it .

Propably only Second to Top Gear ;)

Have to say The Family of Blood episode was propably one of the finest pieces of televsion (IMHO ) of the past decade.