@RobbyBevard:
Nope, haven't seen any of the confidentials. Its a pain enough to get the actual show stateside. The spinoff behind the scenes stuff? Even more so.
…just excuse a few bits of lame dialogue an inappropriate music
@RobbyBevard:
Nope, haven't seen any of the confidentials. Its a pain enough to get the actual show stateside. The spinoff behind the scenes stuff? Even more so.
…just excuse a few bits of lame dialogue an inappropriate music
Neat. Obviously leaves out quite a few things, (particularly stuff thats mentioned but not actually seen) but I suppose it does clarify the timeline for anyone that couldn't follow the out of sequence-ness of it.
Still doesn't explain what River was doing for 26 years between 1970 and meeting up with young Amy as Mels, other than "being a toddler".
I wish they'd left one or two more gaps in her timeline so that we could meet River in different regenerations (and personalities) and sometimes she'd be trying to kill the doctor and sometimes not… but it seems pretty tied up aside from some romancing... however long that goes on for. Would like to see it go past #11, even if only for a single adventure... but i suppose that really depends on how long Matt plans on sticking around. (Through the 50th anniversary, surely.)
@RobbyBevard:
Neat. Obviously leaves out quite a few things, (particularly stuff thats mentioned but not actually seen) but I suppose it does clarify the timeline for anyone that couldn't follow the out of sequence-ness of it.
I think that's slightly covered by showing her in AGMGTW coming back from Ice Skating in London
Still doesn't explain what River was doing for 26 years between 1970 and meeting up with young Amy as Mels, other than "being a toddler".
It's one of the few things that I don't really buy. What with her "being a toddler" until school age and then ageing at human rate.
I wish they'd left one or two more gaps in her timeline so that we could meet River in different regenerations (and personalities) and sometimes she'd be trying to kill the doctor and sometimes not… but it seems pretty tied up aside from some romancing... however long that goes on for. Would like to see it go past #11, even if only for a single adventure... but i suppose that really depends on how long Matt plans on sticking around. (Through the 50th anniversary, surely.)
I've always said that I really think they missed the trick by not having Mels as a companion but I'm still glad with the way things worked out.
I'd love Matt to do two more season, more than anything. I don't think 3 in the new-Who shows them in quite enough depth. Tennant definitely needed that last year even if most of the stories were total shite.
It's one of the few things that I don't really buy. What with her "being a toddler" until school age and then ageing at human rate.
If the line had just been "a toddler" instead of "a toddler in New York" we could assume there was another regeneration in there, which would have left the door open for some surprise. Instead we get an offhand remark about River being able to age backwards if she chooses. (To cover the actress aging forward, I realize… but its only been a couple years!)
I suppose she could always regen in NY twice, but that seems wonky.
Maybe eventually that bit will be cleared up. Or maybe its as closed as its ever going to be and River's story is done at this point, aside from random encounters where she and the Doc are about even in meetings.
But yes, Mels being a companion for a few episodes really would have been the way to go.
Did we ever decide on what Classic story to watch first for our thingy?
Did we ever decide on what Classic story to watch first for our thingy?
Not really.
I'm still not really convinced this thread gets enough traffic to even warrant a proper discussion on it. I'd love to do it though.
Well, for what it's worth, I'm still up for it.
And on the subject of Doctor Who, I just recently finished the Mind Robber serial. Pretty good serial overall, and it had a lot of mystery that kept you guessing till the end. This serial is also noteworthy for having the shortest Doctor Who episode ever, clocking in at about 18 minutes.
Making my way through The Krotons now.
Well, for what it's worth, I'm still up for it.
And on the subject of Doctor Who, I just recently finished the Mind Robber serial. Pretty good serial overall, and it had a lot of mystery that kept you guessing till the end. This serial is also noteworthy for having the shortest Doctor Who episode ever, clocking in at about 18 minutes.
Making my way through The Krotons now.
The Mind Robber is definitely one of my all time favorites. So inventive. The white robots, Zoe's arse, the TARDIS exploding, wrong Jamie, the clockwork soldiers, the forest of words. Man… so good.
The Krotons is definitely an underrated gem. I love their brummie accents.
Hrm. NSFW? Nothing showing or anything, but…
[hide]
Oh Doctor. How often do you regenerate and then proceeed to go make a booty call with a previous companion?
Rose's greatest desire is finally satisfied:)
@Thousand:
Rose's greatest desire is finally satisfied:)
Yeah, but….
! She already hooked up with the 10th Doctor clone in Journey's End.
Ah, but 11 would have 200 years more experience.
Yeah, but….
! She already hooked up with the 10th Doctor clone in Journey's End.
What are you talking about? That character assasinating event never happened. No siree, not in my memory, nu-uh.
Well, it looks like it's gonna be a long wait until Series 7.
http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/moffat-explains-series-7-delay-27296.htm
At least there's still the christmas special coming around the corner.
I was also excited to find out today that there's a Doctor Who club starting up on my campus.
Yeah, a nine month wait. Its not actually any longer a break than any of the other seasons have had… it's just seems strange because this year was split oddly and stretched out over seven months to help segue into a fall schedule rather than a spring one... and so the Christmas special is a couple months right after the season instead of right before it.
(The show works better on dark fall nights, says Moffatt)
I hope Barrowman and Tennant come back for the anniversary and hang out with New Who. And Barrowman makes some jokes about having a two for one special or something. That would be awesome.
@RobbyBevard:
Ah, but 11 would have 200 years more experience.
Allegedly
@Thousand:
What are you talking about? That character assasinating event never happened. No siree, not in my memory, nu-uh.
Okay, I'll bite. How was that a character assassination?
@RobbyBevard:
(The show works better on dark fall nights, says Moffatt)
Incidentally, does anyone else feel like Moffat is trying to take Doctor Who down the horror genre route?
Because it turned Rose, a really fun and cool companion, into a total slut who would have settled with anyone so long as it had the Doctor's face. Like she wanted any old Doctor and not the man she spent years of her life with.
Incidentally, does anyone else feel like Moffat is trying to take Doctor Who down the horror genre route?
Well, Who has always been scary for the kiddies…
@Thousand:
Because it turned Rose, a really fun and cool companion, into a total slut who would have settled with anyone so long as it had the Doctor's face. Like she wanted any old Doctor and not the man she spent years of her life with.
He had all his memories up to that point. They were the same person, aside from the copy's human half diminishing his full time lord capabilities.
They were NOT the same. He was NOT the man Rose traveled with for so long, gone with on many adventures and survived through the most hellish of obstacles. The real Rose would never choose him over some copy. She succumbed to her feelings because she knew she could never get the original and that cost her her dignity as a character, the first companion of New Who, in my eyes.
You're being just as biased as Amy was towards Ganger Doc… only to find out at the end he was actually the original all along.
Same DNA, same memories, same history... its the same person at the moment of creation. Now, if Doc2 had been created 3 years prior and gone off on different adventures and then met up again for the finale... then he'd be a different person. But he was the same at that point. Minus the two hearts and ability to regenerate.
So he's a little more human... all the better for her in the long run.
So awesome
Trying to catch up on Big Finish however I'm so far behind I dunno where to start lol.
Anything in recent months that is REALLY worth getting? I noticed Axons, Sontarans and Voc Robots have all had new stories. How are they?
And I picked up Silver Turk already btw.
I know season 6 is coming out on DVD/Blu-ray soon. Just thought I would mention for those in the U.S. that two weeks later, starting Dec 6th and going through the 12th, B&N is having a 50% off all British TV sale. So you may want to wait.
Movie news,
quashed movie news,
there never was movie news,
it was always just that same old movie news.
There's also a mini-ep on Friday. Huzzah
Trying to catch up on Big Finish however I'm so far behind I dunno where to start lol.
Anything in recent months that is REALLY worth getting? I noticed Axons, Sontarans and Voc Robots have all had new stories. How are they?
And I picked up Silver Turk already btw.
This years releases havent been too bad really. Wasn't hugely keen on Heroes of Sontar but the Axon one was pretty cool and the Voc robot one was alright. Silver Turk is fantastic despite the… ummm... brave musical choices in the new theme tune. The Axon story really depends on how much you value the Brewster saga.... and I can't stand the character. The Six Brewster Trilogy is still far, faar better than the Five Brewster Trilogy though. Robophobia depends on how much you like the latter life Seventh Doctor stuff. It's no Frozen Time but it's not nearly as dull as Kingdom of Silver.
Been plowing through loaaaads of Big Finish recently.
Finished the Seven, Ace and Hex run, one of my favourite runs of the main monthly series. Finished the Dalek Empire releases (main series not spin off) of which only one or two were particularly great.
Going through the Divergent Universe saga at the moment starting with Time of the Daleks. Just finished The Natural History of Fear which was possibly one of the worst Big Finishes I've heard in a while.
Movie news,
quashed movie news,
there never was movie news,
it was always just that same old movie news.
So apparently now there is new movie news. The BBC reported it.
Going back to the roots and starting an entire new continuity is possibly the absolute worst idea I've heard in ages. Why not just go and start a new IP rather than shitting over 50 years of story?! Why bother trying to reach "new" audiences when Steven Moffat and Matt Smith have made the series more popular overseas than it's ever been… and it's still growing! Pointless idea. Cannot amount to a good idea. Not impressed.
Going back to the roots and starting an entire new continuity is possibly the absolute worst idea I've heard in ages. Why not just go and start a new IP rather than shitting over 50 years of story?! Why bother trying to reach "new" audiences when Steven Moffat and Matt Smith have made the series more popular overseas than it's ever been… and it's still growing! Pointless idea. Cannot amount to a good idea. Not impressed.
I don't like it either. I want it to at least tie in with the TV series continuity… Do you think they'll disregard it, just like with the Peter Cushing stuff?
I just keep imagining it to look like an abomination like this:
Theres just not a single thing about it that is a good idea. It's disrespectful and outright wrong. If it had Smith or dare I say Tennant in it and be set in the main continuity then yeah, sure, why not?! But all new starting from sctratch? Why bother?
I like Yates for the gig but Moffett and the usual cast should be involved. If not I want a timewars movie with McGann…and maybe Eccleston.
The possible film not having any ties to the show whatsoever is deflating.
Does anyone know if this has anything to do with the 50th anniversary.
Also, Im fairly new to Doctor Who but I am an obsessive type so I've learned a lot in the last few months. Its been fun. I haven't delved into a world quite so thoroughly since One Piece.
Does anyone know if this has anything to do with the 50th anniversary.
I'd thoroughly doubt it.
Anyway, some real Doctor Who news for now. Something I've been wanting to happen for a long long time and never thought I would actually see.
DAVID TROUGHTON IS PLAYING THE SECOND DOCTOR FOR AUDIO.
ALL OF MY YES
ALL. OF. MY. YES.
Does David sound like his father? To Youtube!
I just got done watching three Troughton stories. The Mind Robber - The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Krotons. He is easily one of my favorite doctors so far and I love that I can see Matt Smith in his performance (or visa-versa I suppose).
I haven't delved into the Big Finish stuff yet, which ones are most highly recommended? I know Colin is supposed to be quite good in them.
EDIT: Just checked out David and he will do a wonderful second doctor. For sure.
Sean Pertwee is a pretty dead ringer for his dad, as well, in face and voice. You'd have to throw a curly white haired wig on him, but…
@RobbyBevard:
Sean Pertwee is a pretty dead ringer for his dad, as well, in face and voice. You'd have to throw a curly white haired wig on him, but…
Yeah but as far as I know, he's never had the remotest thing to do with Doctor Who. I'd be really surprised if he ever did it. Not that I wouldnt love it.
David Troughton's involvement isn't too much of a stretch since he's been involved since what? 1969? It should be damn cool
He hasn't, but you know, the 50th anniversary is coming up and they'll need someone to be #3… Seems like they might have to recast 9 as well...
Well, depending on whatever the hell Moffat has planned for that. A giant 11 doctor pile on would be a little unwieldy. Maybe he'll do something where the Doctor is just randomly regressing to earlier forms, or full of flashbacks, rather than a big out of time meeting. Who knows?
I'd love to see the end of the time war with Mcgann/Bleacher/Dalton//Ecclestone(yeah, I know) at some point, and given all the time related escapdes that the time lords were supposed to be getting up to it wouldn't be a strech for earlier incarnations to turn up.
Maybe even have matt smith thrown back into it as an observer.
Really looking forward to some kind of mult-doctor mashup. I remember when I first watched the three doctors, I'd keep getting impatient when just pertwee was there because I wanted to see more troughton.
Doctor Who did a short sketch for children in need, & aired a Christmas promo:
Bill Bailey Narnia.
The donated suit has already passed £10k, which is pretty cool:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230703619118
The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe?
Nice.
So exciting. It has big shoes to fill. Last years Christmas special was great.
Well, it took me a while, but I finally finished the War Games. You know, given how long it is, I was worried that it might end up becoming boring or tedious, especially since there are many instances of fairly obvious filler in Classic Who, but this serial was very entertaining from beginning to end. Every episode seems to have a purpose by advancing the story or building up the action. Also, I loved discovering that the Time Lord message box from The Doctor's Wife was in fact a callback to the classic series, as it appeared in this serial. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this first time that the Time Lords are mentioned by name?
Lastly, I have to say that, even though I skipped over most of his episodes, Patrick Troughton was an amazing doctor and I do prefer him over Hartnell.
I just finished The Three Doctors, and I really liked it. Troughton was awesome, and my brother found him particularly amusing. First time seeing a Pertwee episode, which set a great first impression. Great voice, too.
Wished Hartnell could've done more, although I heard he wasn't feeling so great during the time of the filming. I heard he died shortly after that serial.
Just watched Revelation of the Dalek. Not amazing but decent. The only other Colin story I've seen is Vengance of Varos and I think it was a tad better then Revelation. Neither were great but I enjoyed both slightly more then I was expecting. Next up, Mindwarp.
I'm not too sure what the general consensus is on modern Doctor Who is on this board but I am not a huge fan of Moffat's writing on Who. Recently during the season finale I have been reliving the Tom Baker years and loving each episode despite some of the campy acting and low budget yet charming special effects. I think it's the fact that Doctor Who works best when separated into multiple episodes and sadly it is not possible to do this with the 13 episode seasons that have come out in recent years. An average classic Who episode would be broken into about 4 parts (roughly 2 hours) whereas new Who likes to go for a more episodic feel with hour long stories. I think this compressed story telling makes each tale seem rushed in the end not giving as great a pay off then investing in an 8 week serial.
2011 was a solid season for Who but did not achieve anything really that spectacular. The montage at the beginning of the finale made me wish they gave more spotlight to the Doctor fighting against the silence and building these new antagonists up as a major threat but the whole "If the Doctor doesn't die time will deteriorate but if a shape shifting robot that looks like the Doctor dies all will be well" felt like quite a cop out to me. I must admit, I have not watched the new season since it was aired on television so I may be slightly wrong on the facts regarding the final episode. I still have high hopes for Matt Smith for taking the Doctor's throne but at the moment, due to the newer writing style from Moffat, I doubt he will be as remembered as fondly compared to some of his predecessors.
Well, it took me a while, but I finally finished the War Games. You know, given how long it is, I was worried that it might end up becoming boring or tedious, especially since there are many instances of fairly obvious filler in Classic Who, but this serial was very entertaining from beginning to end. Every episode seems to have a purpose by advancing the story or building up the action. Also, I loved discovering that the Time Lord message box from The Doctor's Wife was in fact a callback to the classic series, as it appeared in this serial. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this first time that the Time Lords are mentioned by name?
Lastly, I have to say that, even though I skipped over most of his episodes, Patrick Troughton was an amazing doctor and I do prefer him over Hartnell.
The War Games is probably my all time favourite. Pacing is perfect, acting is good throughout and having the Time Lords as something to be afraid of was really amazing compared to the campy joke they became. Yeah it is the first time the Time Lords are mentioned by name. Gallifrey isn't said to Jon Petwee's last season!
Just watched Revelation of the Dalek. Not amazing but decent. The only other Colin story I've seen is Vengance of Varos and I think it was a tad better then Revelation. Neither were great but I enjoyed both slightly more then I was expecting. Next up, Mindwarp.
Despite it being fucking bizarre and despite Alexi Sayle's…. fucking weird performance as the DJ... I really, really like Revelation. It's different to say the least but hey, at least now you know why Davros has a robot hand in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End. Of all the Davros/Dalek stories, Destiny is certainly the worst.
@city_lights31:
Next up, Mindwarp.
…ah. Yeah. about that.
I'm not too sure what the general consensus is on modern Doctor Who is on this board but I am not a huge fan of Moffat's writing on Who.
For the most part, I think I can safely say that we really like it.
Recently during the season finale I have been reliving the Tom Baker years and loving each episode despite some of the campy acting and low budget yet charming special effects. I think it's the fact that Doctor Who works best when separated into multiple episodes and sadly it is not possible to do this with the 13 episode seasons that have come out in recent years. An average classic Who episode would be broken into about 4 parts (roughly 2 hours) whereas new Who likes to go for a more episodic feel with hour long stories. I think this compressed story telling makes each tale seem rushed in the end not giving as great a pay off then investing in an 8 week serial.
I honestly like the more fast paced, more episodic feel. In this day and age you couldn't get away with it in any slower a pace. I don't think it's any better or worse though, just different. Doctor Who is one of the few series on TV thats malleable enough to continually change things up like that. The arc this year wasn't solidly the same thing through every episode. In fact, we had two story arcs that converged for the same ending, The River arc and the Doctor's Death arc. All that ended up spanning just 5 of the 13 episodes, with little hints cropping up here and there. It's not easy to break down and say that the "average" classic Who is roughly two parts because some of that ones considered that are considered the best are way more than that and kind of act as their own self-contained story arcs rather than a 2 hour serial.
The Daleks Master Plan (13 Episodes)
The Evil of the Daleks (7 Episodes)
The Invasion (8 Episodes)
Inferno (7 Episodes)
Frontier in Space/Planet of the Daleks (12 Episodes)
and that's literally just some I can think of off the top of my head. Even so, story arcs aren't a new thing to the series. The Daleks Master Plan, Dalek War, The Key To Time, The E-Space Trilogy, The Black Guardian Trilogy, The Trial of a Time Lord just to name some of the main ones. Do I think it works well as a self contained 4 episode serial? Hell yeah! But I think that because of Doctor Who's potential for continuity and wide spanning stories, story arcs can work just as well. Why not live up to that?
2011 was a solid season for Who but did not achieve anything really that spectacular. The montage at the beginning of the finale made me wish they gave more spotlight to the Doctor fighting against the silence and building these new antagonists up as a major threat but the whole "If the Doctor doesn't die time will deteriorate but if a shape shifting robot that looks like the Doctor dies all will be well" felt like quite a cop out to me. I must admit, I have not watched the new season since it was aired on television so I may be slightly wrong on the facts regarding the final episode.
I'd watch it all again. Nothing particularly felt like a cop out to me. Everything was eluded to in earlier episodes and it all tied up quite nicely.
I still have high hopes for Matt Smith for taking the Doctor's throne but at the moment, due to the newer writing style from Moffat, I doubt he will be as remembered as fondly compared to some of his predecessors.
Utter bollocks. Utter bollocks mate. There's been many many script editors and producers and Moffat's done more for the show than most others, managing to take it out into more expanded medias and made it the most successful it's ever been world wide. I'm not a fan of RTD all that much but christ, I still have a shit load of respect for the man. It's fine to not like his writing style but to say that he wont be as fondly remembered is just outright unfair. Were still talking about Terrance Dicks/Barry Letts 40 years later, were still talking about JNT, about Philip Hinchcliffe, about RTD and you can bet we will still be talking about Moffat.
Anyone seen the Night and the Doctor shorts yet? First Night and Last Night are particularly good.
I honestly like the more fast paced, more episodic feel. In this day and age you couldn't get away with it in any slower a pace. I don't think it's any better or worse though, just different. Doctor Who is one of the few series on TV thats malleable enough to continually change things up like that.
Now I can't really debate with a matter of preference but I have felt that throughout a lot of the newer episodes the build up has outweighed the final pay off. For example the third act of the pirate episode came directly out of left field.
The arc this year wasn't solidly the same thing through every episode. In fact, we had two story arcs that converged for the same ending, The River arc and the Doctor's Death arc. All that ended up spanning just 5 of the 13 episodes, with little hints cropping up here and there. It's not easy to break down and say that the "average" classic Who is roughly two parts because some of that ones considered that are considered the best are way more than that and kind of act as their own self-contained story arcs rather than a 2 hour serial.
I cannot argue that the River Song arc was great and solidly executed despite the rather predictable twist about River being Amy's daughter.
I'd watch it all again. Nothing particularly felt like a cop out to me. Everything was eluded to in earlier episodes and it all tied up quite nicely.
Oh cool. Do you know when the new season sets will be coming out?
Utter bollocks. Utter bollocks mate. There's been many many script editors and producers and Moffat's done more for the show than most others, managing to take it out into more expanded medias and made it the most successful it's ever been world wide. I'm not a fan of RTD all that much but christ, I still have a shit load of respect for the man. It's fine to not like his writing style but to say that he wont be as fondly remembered is just outright unfair. Were still talking about Terrance Dicks/Barry Letts 40 years later, were still talking about JNT, about Philip Hinchcliffe, about RTD and you can bet we will still be talking about Moffat.
Okay I went a little overboard there with my wording there but I just haven't been feeling Matt Smith these past seasons despite how much I try. He is growing on me I'll give you that.Matt's acting really shines when he can bounce off other cast members, only problem is the comedic scenes can considerably slow down the pace of the story cutting down the real sci-fi meat of Who.
Most recently I watched "The Deadly Assassin" where Tom Baker goes back to Gallifrey to stop an assassination. Interestingly enough this episode is the first to include the fact that a Timelord's maximum number of regenerations is 12. Has anybody over here speculated what will happen once we get to the 13th era of Doctor Who. Now I'm not a walking Who encyclopedia so if anybody had seen an episode that had debunked this statement please ignore my obsessive ramblings.
Now I can't really debate with a matter of preference but I have felt that throughout a lot of the newer episodes the build up has outweighed the final pay off. For example the third act of the pirate episode came directly out of left field.
I found the pirate episode to be fairly average anyway. I admit I prefer Moffat's work to RTD's by a wide margin, but that episode was a stinker.
Every season will have its hits and misses.
I cannot argue that the River Song arc was great and solidly executed despite the rather predictable twist about River being Amy's daughter.
I had read that particular spoiler months before the episode aired, so I can't really comment on predictability, but I do think that so many people were throwing all sorts of oddball theories around that someone was bound to get it right and get disappointed afterwards. Not saying that it's the same for everyone, but that is the feel I got elsewhere.
Oh cool. Do you know when the new season sets will be coming out?
Not sure where you live, but I think it came out in the UK yesterday. That reminds me, I still need to buy that one.
Most recently I watched "The Deadly Assassin" where Tom Baker goes back to Gallifrey to stop an assassination. Interestingly enough this episode is the first to include the fact that a Timelord's maximum number of regenerations is 12. Has anybody over here speculated what will happen once we get to the 13th era of Doctor Who. Now I'm not a walking Who encyclopedia so if anybody had seen an episode that had debunked this statement please ignore my obsessive ramblings.
I think they'll just find a way to bullshit around it. Seen a lot of theories in other places, but honestly, I'm not expecting anything special to happen.
and there was that one Sarah Jane Adventures episode written by RTD, but I tend to treat that 'debunking' as a joke.
@Silent:
I found the pirate episode to be fairly average anyway. I admit I prefer Moffat's work to RTD's by a wide margin, but that episode was a stinker.
Every season will have its hits and misses.
You ARE aware that Steven Moffat had bugger all to do with that one yeah?
I don't think Curse of the Black Spot was that bad. Same deal as Vampires of Venice. It's nothing particularly special but it's just classic Doctor Who right down to it's most basic level.
@Silent:
I found the pirate episode to be fairly average anyway. I admit I prefer Moffat's work to RTD's by a wide margin.
It's the opposite for me. I enjoy the Russell T Davies episodes much more than the Moffat's ones (even if some of Moffat's episodes are very good).. Espacially the season finals
Oh and I was kind of disapointed about River song being Amy's daughter, but that's because I don't really like River Song.