Doctor Who

[Warhammer]

A month or so back, I started catching some of the reruns of the new Doctor Who series. My oldest son would come home from school and be enthralled with the show. He started coming home and immediately running for the TV if I picked him up, or if the wife picked him up, he'd walk in and ask to have Doctor Who turned on.

I gotta say, the show has become must see TV for us. Plus, my son now wants to be Dr. Who for Halloween this year, and instead of playing army, he's been playing Dr. Who with his little brother.

I had to share, love watching my kids getting in touch with their inner geek.

[cuervo72]

My son was Doctor Who this Halloween. Most unfortunately mistook him for Harry Potter (the thing we had for a trenchcoat looked too much like a robe). Most Americans don't seem to know what Doctor Who is, unfortunately.

He does love the show though. He has a TARDIS, a cookie jar TARDIS, a couple of sonic screwdrivers.

[Peregrine]

I loved the old Doctor Who when I was younger, and now the new one also - good stuff. Most of the seasons of the new version are on Netflix Watch Instantly, also.

[Warhammer]

Its funny, he wants to be the 11th doctor for Halloween, but everything he wants, sonic screw driver, clothes (except for a fez), are all 10th doctor. I asked him about it, and he said he'd be the Doctor 10-1/2.

[Eaglesfan27]

I remember watching the old Dr. Who on PBS when I was 9 or so. Been a fan ever since.

[gstelmack]

I could probably dig up my copy of the Dr. Who pen-and-paper RPG if anyone needs a copy for their kid...

[wade moore]

I was a fan as a kid, but have not tried out the new ones. Guess I should.

[Marc Vaughan]

My son was Doctor Who this Halloween. Most unfortunately mistook him for Harry Potter (the thing we had for a trenchcoat looked too much like a robe). Most Americans don't seem to know what Doctor Who is, unfortunately.

He does love the show though. He has a TARDIS, a cookie jar TARDIS, a couple of sonic screwdrivers.

Heh - my youngest son was a Dalek last halloween.

If you look on English stores you can get a shocking amount of Dr Who paraphanalia - we have at least 4 remote control Daleks roaming the house of various sizes and its only my wifes sanity which has prevented me installing a full size Tardis somewhere on our property ....

PS - If you've never seen them give the Sarah Jones Chronicles and Torchwood a go.

Sarah Jane is aimed at younger viewers but enjoyable for all ages in the same way Harry Potter is.

Torchwood is a more 'grown up' Dr Who.

Both retain the 'spirit' and world of Dr Who, but have a slightly different 'take' on things - the 'Children of Earth' series of Torchwood especially was fantastic and well worth a watch imho.

[Warhammer]

Eccleston (9th doctor) was solid, but he took a while to warm up to. Tennant (10th doctor) is probably my favorite out of all of them. Smith (11th doctor) has really grown on me.

What I like about the new series is the quality of the supporting characters seems much better than the early series. Captain Jack is a favorite of mine. Rose was a very good companion, and there is something about Amy I love.

Of the new series, some good episodes are Blink (introduction of the weeping angels, cool stuff, plus the way the episode fits together is brilliant), the library one (with the Vashta Nerata, love this one), and the Pandorica (this makes your head spin, but it all fits together, very well done). Also, I can't remember the name of it, but the one set in WWII with the kid in the gas mask I enjoyed quite a bit.

[Warhammer]

I've been trying to watch Torchwood, but it comes on at a bad time for me. Guess I will have to start DVR'ing it.

[Marc Vaughan]

Eccleston (9th doctor) was solid, but he took a while to warm up to. Tennant (10th doctor) is probably my favorite out of all of them. Smith (11th doctor) has really grown on me.
Tennant is my favourite but Smith has surprised me by being very good as well.

What I like about the new series is the quality of the supporting characters seems much better than the early series. Captain Jack is a favorite of mine. Rose was a very good companion, and there is something about Amy I love.
One of the things I love about the 'spinoffs' is that there is continuity and characters shared between them all - I loved for instance explaining to my youngest son who 'K-9' is :D

[Eaglesfan27]

I've been trying to watch Torchwood, but it comes on at a bad time for me. Guess I will have to start DVR'ing it.

Are there new Torchwood episodes?

[sterlingice]

I still haven't warmed up to Matt Smith really, yet. But it's only one season in so we have time.

When's the next season scheduled for at that point, BTW?

SI

[jeff061]

Are there any Eccleston fans out there?

[sterlingice]

I liked him quite a bit

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

Its funny, he wants to be the 11th doctor for Halloween, but everything he wants, sonic screw driver, clothes (except for a fez), are all 10th doctor. I asked him about it, and he said he'd be the Doctor 10-1/2.

Fezzes are cool!

[Warhammer]

Are there any Eccleston fans out there?

He got better as the season went on, but I think a lot of that was character development and the writers being new. I don't like too hard edged of a doctor, I prefer mine with a bit of humor.

[ntndeacon]

The Girl in the Fireplace and and the two parter of the Empty Child and the Doctor Dances are two earlier favorites of mine.

[Eaglesfan27]

Are there any Eccleston fans out there?
I thought he was great but Tennant was even better.

[DaddyTorgo]

I thought the insider comments about Matt Smith's portrayal of the doctor as so hyperactive and scatter-brained like was actually very insightful and makes a lot of sense.

Basically, in a nutshell, his thinking is: the doctor is so smart that his thoughts are always 3 steps ahead of whatever he's saying, so that's why he has a tendency to just throw lines away one after the other rapid-fire.

[DaddyTorgo]

What about The Silence? Creepier than the Weeping Angels?

[Warhammer]

I don't know. I thought my first exposure to the Weeping Angels was much more powerful and creepy than The Silence. If you watch Blink, it totally creeps me out. The Silence did as well, but not to the same extent.

I do particularly like the current companion cast. This is aided by the fact we don't have an annoying mom character out there like we had with Rose, Martha, and Donna.

[CrimsonFox]

I don't know. I thought my first exposure to the Weeping Angels was much more powerful and creepy than The Silence. If you watch Blink, it totally creeps me out. The Silence did as well, but not to the same extent.

I do particularly like the current companion cast. This is aided by the fact we don't have an annoying mom character out there like we had with Rose, Martha, and Donna.


Agreed. What I've seen with Smith so far (which admittedly isn't much), were retreads of Tennent plots and monsters which I think is a mistake cause they just can't measure up the the original eps. Blink is by far my favorite episode, with Midnight a second.

[Peregrine]

I definitely love Blink as an episode, but I really like the Silence as well, especially as an example of the new, darker turn that Doctor Who is going to take this season. We'll see how it goes though - there were so many unexplained things going on in the last episode it leaves a lot to explore, but also a lot to potentially go wrong.

[Bad-example]

It is a crying shame how far this show has fallen. Sad.

[DaddyTorgo]

It is a crying shame how far this show has fallen. Sad.

Certainly not a GREAT episode, but in what ways other than this last episode not being amazing?

[Warhammer]

I think Doctor Who has always suffered when someone other than the main writer writes the story. It happened in Love and Monsters and a couple other Tennet episodes. This also happened with Bab5 when Stryzinski was not the writer.

[Bad-example]

I haven't really liked an episode since the last Doctor swap. The new guy isn't terrible but the writing has gone downhill in a major way. Rory adds nothing to the show and Amy doesn't wear enough skimpy clothes to make her interesting. The show is more like a fairy tale than sci fi now. I used to really look forward to new episodes but now it's more like I cringe when a new one shows up on my dvr.

[Warhammer]

You didn't like "The Pandorica Opens" or "The Big Bang"?

[Bad-example]

This show is in freefall.

[CrimsonFox]

I think Doctor Who has always suffered when someone other than the main writer writes the story. It happened in Love and Monsters and a couple other Tennet episodes. This also happened with Bab5 when Stryzinski was not the writer.

Well throughout the history of the show there was always a "pool" of writers but in large part I agree. Back in Tom Baker days there was also one guy that wrote the most memorable episodes. I also think the Doctor really sets the mood and pace of the whole series. Baker and Tennant had this wild eyed freaky nature about them and also an urgency. Ecclesston had the giggly schoolboy punk spazz kinda thing. But Smith...seems to be more like a quaint Schoolteacher. Similar to when Davison took over. Davison and Smith do have parallels for sure and both trying to live up to their megapopular predecessors. Granted I do LIKE PDavison as, bland as he was, he still had some great writers behind him and some VERY good companions. (Nyssa, Turlough, Kamelion) and had a lot of good "The Master" episodes. I think they will replace him quick if he doesn't work. (a la Colin Baker)

[Bad-example]

Anyone willing to say they are honestly happy with the direction of this show?

[Bad-example]

I think Doctor Who has always suffered when someone other than the main writer writes the story. It happened in Love and Monsters...

That was a top ten episode in my book.

[DaddyTorgo]

That episode was just kinda weird. Didn't really seem like the doctor "rising to his highest heights" and I didn't see any "falling to his lowest lows" either. And the revelation of who River Song is....not sure I really like that.

[Coffee Warlord]

With you on all of those. Was just weird and not terribly interesting.

[Warhammer]

The rising to the highest heights was the apparent victory over the base. The lowest low was being out-thought by his opponenet every step of the way.

I agree, I'm not sure I like the River Song revelation, but I don't necessarily reject it either.

I think a lot of the issue is that people are expecting a Tennant in every episode and this doctor is different, just like Baker and Davidson were different, etc.

The big problem I see is that nearly every episode fits into the next. Outside of the Black Spot and the Doctor's Wife, each episode was crucial, even though you might not realize it at the time. That results in a, "What the?" when you first see it, then a "Oh I get it..." three episodes later.

[DaddyTorgo]

The rising to the highest heights was the apparent victory over the base. The lowest low was being out-thought by his opponenet every step of the way.

I agree, I'm not sure I like the River Song revelation, but I don't necessarily reject it either.

I think a lot of the issue is that people are expecting a Tennant in every episode and this doctor is different, just like Baker and Davidson were different, etc.

The big problem I see is that nearly every episode fits into the next. Outside of the Black Spot and the Doctor's Wife, each episode was crucial, even though you might not realize it at the time. That results in a, "What the?" when you first see it, then a "Oh I get it..." three episodes later.

Eh - well the base wasn't built up enough for me to feel like it was his biggest victory I guess. I mean geez - if you want his highest high then you've got to build the enemy up to be somehow more dangerous/diabolical than the daleks i'd say. these headless monks and army people really just seemed like "generic villian of the week #3" on a slightly more personal scale. I mean sure they obviously abducted Amy at some point a ways back, but they could/should have spent more time on the planning of all that and they could have used that to build them up in importance/evilness.

I get the lowest-low part I suppose...yeah.

And the River Song thing...it was fine I guess. Not really all that interesting in a sense I guess. Didn't "add" anything so much as it like...wrapped things back in on themselves I guess would be my comment.

[Warhammer]

The more I think about it, the more I don't like the River Song revelation. They've been using it as a bit of a River Song isn't who you think she is as far as her character goes. As DT points out, this wraps things back in on themselves.

[Bad-example]

The kid with the monsters in the cupboard has to be in contention for 'worst...episode...ever'. Yikes.

[Marc Vaughan]

The kid with the monsters in the cupboard has to be in contention for 'worst...episode...ever'. Yikes.

I actually REALLY enjoyed that episode - it was a nice return to the 'roots' of the Doctor and away from the psuedo soap opera stuff which had laden recent episodes.

Dr Who works best for me when its got a clear problem which the Doctor solves with a bit of intuition and cleverness ..... the occassional 'epic' and 'ongoing story' is nice .... but give me a one off blast and I'm a happy man :D

[Bad-example]

I hear you. But the ending of, "all you have to do is love your son and all the danger will disappear!" just seemed like a lame cop out, like the "quit torturing the whale and it will carry the city willingly!" and the "just remember me and I will somehow spring back into existence" endings.

The fairy tale nature of the show is a complete turn off for me.

[Marc Vaughan]

The fairy tale nature of the show is a complete turn off for me.

I can understand that to some extent - but bear in mind most brits start watching it 'young' so that 'fairy tale' nature is part and parcel of that, Dr Who is something which sticks with you ;)

I like the simple elegance of some of the 'solutions' myself - not everything has to be complex ... even if the story line potentially is.

[sterlingice]

We just finished the second half of season 6 and were thoroughly underwhelmed. We didn't need another Craig episode and there was a lot of filler coming down the stretch. I was lukewarm on the "highest high/lowest low" as it seemed like it was just another middle of the season. The individual episodes were ok to good but not really more than that

River Song was brilliant in Silence in the Library. And has never been much since, which is surprising since she was Moffat's character, presumably. And I liked the reveal: it explained to us why seasons 5 and 6 were about Amy and Rory- because it was basically a continuation of River Song's story, too. But she went from being witty and intelligent to the one note thief archaeologist stereotype in the mold of Lora Croft or Vala from Stargate SG-1 or even Raven from Highlander. In short, she got dumber as the show progressed.

And it's not really Matt Smith's fault: Tennant died and, really, needed to die. The Doctor was becoming too big, too grand. And Matt Smith plays this quirky new doctor that isn't as good as 11 but could definitely be The Doctor.

I know we have our disagreements on here about Russel T Davies but one thing you cannot accuse him of is skimping on scope. However, you can't base the whole season on the Doctor dying because it's too much belief to suspend: he can't die or else the show is over ergo he can't die. And there were some clunker episodes, to be sure, but there was usually a shiny bauble to keep us interested: either something about the grand plot for the season or something that captures the British imagination, be it Churchill, Shakespeare, or Queen Elizabeth or human imagination in Pompeii, the last day of Earth, or the Devil (admittedly somewhat cheesy).

But are those broken and played out? Is the scope too small for Doctor Who now? This relegates them to play little horror games in metafiction Outer Limits-like the Night Terrors or the God Complex or throwaway junk like Closing Time

So, if you're Moffat, where do you go from here? What direction do you go?

SI

[Danny]

I love Doctor Who, it's become my favorite non sitcom show.

[AlexB]

We just finished the second half of season 6 and were thoroughly underwhelmed. We didn't need another Craig episode and there was a lot of filler coming down the stretch. I was lukewarm on the "highest high/lowest low" as it seemed like it was just another middle of the season. The individual episodes were ok to good but not really more than that

River Song was brilliant in Silence in the Library. And has never been much since, which is surprising since she was Moffat's character, presumably. And I liked the reveal: it explained to us why seasons 5 and 6 were about Amy and Rory- because it was basically a continuation of River Song's story, too. But she went from being witty and intelligent to the one note thief archaeologist stereotype in the mold of Lora Croft or Vala from Stargate SG-1 or even Raven from Highlander. In short, she got dumber as the show progressed.

And it's not really Matt Smith's fault: Tennant died and, really, needed to die. The Doctor was becoming too big, too grand. And Matt Smith plays this quirky new doctor that isn't as good as 11 but could definitely be The Doctor.

I know we have our disagreements on here about Russel T Davies but one thing you cannot accuse him of is skimping on scope. However, you can't base the whole season on the Doctor dying because it's too much belief to suspend: he can't die or else the show is over ergo he can't die. And there were some clunker episodes, to be sure, but there was usually a shiny bauble to keep us interested: either something about the grand plot for the season or something that captures the British imagination, be it Churchill, Shakespeare, or Queen Elizabeth or human imagination in Pompeii, the last day of Earth, or the Devil (admittedly somewhat cheesy).

But are those broken and played out? Is the scope too small for Doctor Who now? This relegates them to play little horror games in metafiction Outer Limits-like the Night Terrors or the God Complex or throwaway junk like Closing Time

So, if you're Moffat, where do you go from here? What direction do you go?

SI

Re: River Song - remember every time you see her she is younger than the first time you saw her (in the Library). At that point she was the oldest and wisest she would ever be, the fulfillment of her travelling and adventures, so every subsequent time she appears, she is naturally going to be less knowledgeable and evolved compared to the Library

[sterlingice]

I realize that, but the base of the character should still be the same

SI

[Abe Sargent]

I think season six made it clear to me that Steven Moffat needs an editor, because his ideas are a bit too much. In my opinion, season 6 was the worst of the six seasons of the Doctor, and RTD had a lot of weaknesses and strengths as a writer and so forth, but Moffat seems to be overthinking things a bit. I was not a fan of the basic theme of the deconstruction of the Doctor.

[Marc Vaughan]

We just finished the second half of season 6 and were thoroughly underwhelmed. We didn't need another Craig episode and there was a lot of filler coming down the stretch. I was lukewarm on the "highest high/lowest low" as it seemed like it was just another middle of the season. The individual episodes were ok to good but not really more than that
I thought it was 'alright' and there were some sporadic nice touches - but overall it was a bit too 'grand and sweeping' for my tastes ...

I prefer Dr Who to be as it was originally intended, each episode largely 'self contained' or a two/three part adventure at most ... did like D&D really, all these 'grand vistas' is a bit much for something which is basically meant to be a bit of a laugh for adults and allow them to relive their childhood somewhat.

(if you've never seen it watch the 'Sarah Jane Adventures' - they were really good at capturing the original 'essence' of Dr Who imho - abeit aimed slightly more at kids ... but still bloody good fun, my youngest boy loved them :D)

[sterlingice]

I don't see what was grand and sweeping about the most recent season except that the Doctor was "going to die". You had some group after him but as someone said above, they're no Daleks or Cybermen, it's just villain of the week #3. In the season finale, it got larger in scope in theory- the whole silence will fall when the question is asked thing. However, that parts is just coming up a little lame, I think. Hell, it could have nothing to do with the Silence (capital "S" for the villain group) at all.

BTW, I loved the original Angels episode but they seem to be pulling them out too often now. A 2 parter in season 5, in the haunted hotel episode of season 6, and now it looks like an episode in season 7.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

I don't see what was grand and sweeping about the most recent season except that the Doctor was "going to die". You had some group after him but as someone said above, they're no Daleks or Cybermen, it's just villain of the week #3. In the season finale, it got larger in scope in theory- the whole silence will fall when the question is asked thing. However, that parts is just coming up a little lame, I think. Hell, it could have nothing to do with the Silence (capital "S" for the villain group) at all.

BTW, I loved the original Angels episode but they seem to be pulling them out too often now. A 2 parter in season 5, in the haunted hotel episode of season 6, and now it looks like an episode in season 7.

SI

Agreed with all of this. Still can't wait for the new season to start.

[Warhammer]

My problem with the Angels is that they became something they originally weren't. At first they were scary, not necessarily evil, and now they become this killer race.

That said, I think that the best episodes always were the Moffat ones, but he was always doing one off episodes. Now that he is doing everything, he is too grand in scope. We need more monster of the week episodes to give more gravity to the Cybermen and Dalek episodes.

[Critch]

First episode of the new season on BBC America tonight. Having been a bit of a Whovian geek for a long long time, I couldnt wait that long.

I thought the first episode was kickass, and it's not been that often I could say that in the Matt Smith era (not that I blame him, he's not a bad Doctor).

I'll stop there to remain spoiler-free.

[CrimsonFox]

I agree. I like Smith now that I've seen a couple. When he started I didn't like him much. Mainly I think because many of the episodes were like Tennant story "sequels" so there was nothing new or scary or or unknown about things.

[DaddyTorgo]

I was looking for this thread to remind folks that this was on tonight.

I'm excited that Verizon is giving us BBC America in HD now too.