Doctor Who

[kxk]

I'm not easy to please by any stretch, but i've loved ALL of the new series companions, from Rose through to Captain Jack on the other end of the spectrum, and including Clara, and Martha, who cops a lot of flack here.
That's the good thing about opinions though - everyone's favourites are different, and for differing reasons.

Ditto.
Poor Martha. I liked her a lot too, and I loved how she ended up military awesome Martha.
I loved that her character is a smart real doctor.
She had a tough act to follow Rose - and the unrequited thing, reinforces David as the most romantic doctor ever, can't be helped, just is.
And how in the 50th, the 3 incarnations lined up, lover, child, old man/soldier.

And I love Amy/Rory - but I hate what moffatt did to them, hate how he just kept on torturing them, it was grim.
River was Ok for a minute, she really shit me in the middle part of her, then I liked her goodbye

 

[Evan44]

I just find Clara very whiny and irritating, but that is just me, and admittedly she and the Doctor had a much better episode last night than any other time in this current series.
I loved Donna/Catherine Tate, and going way back............the first Romana.

 

[Evan44]

Tom Baker will always be the best Doctor, but close behind are Peter Capaldi and David Tennant and the very underrated Christopher Eccleston.

 

[BigBrotherCritic]

The only companion I hated was Adam, Stupid fucking twat!

 

[kxk]

What about this reference to - ADDICTION???

I had a thought about Clara and this, is she still IMPOSSIBLE?
Maybe it is impossible for her to give up the Doctor and the TARDIS, she is linked to them forever.
Could account for that weird last scene of abrupt changes, no control.
How does that impossible stuff work now? Is it gone. hmm??????

 

[Evan44]

Best companions ever: Donna, Rose, Martha, Romana(the first one), Leila.

How about the next Dr Who companion be a man, perhaps the odd jobs guy from last night?

 

[BigBrotherCritic]

I love the fact that the lady at the start of the episode was singing Freddie Mercury!

 

[Mr Stickyfingers]

Mr Sticky!! Those book cases!! I forgot about them.

Would you say they' reminiscent of the 7th Doctors TARDIS. Just reminds me of the regeneration scene in the TV Movie. It was a very gothic like tardis, with bookcases and arm chairs...

So many throwbacks in this episode! I think I need to watch it again!!!

...actually inumeenu... I'm glad that you mentioned that... here are some screenshots of McCoy's and McGann's Tardis...





...here is a clearer photo which you can't see too well in the movie...



...they do look kind of familiar in a way don't they?... I actually like the look of their Tardis to be truthful... I would love to see a full-on Victorian/Gothic/Steampunk version of The Tardis interior... I think that it would look so cool!... I know that it will never happen but wow that would look good,... cheers.

 

[iJake]

I just find Clara very whiny and irritating, but that is just me, and admittedly she and the Doctor had a much better episode last night than any other time in this current series.

Yeah, I actually liked Clara for what feels like the first time last night. It was nice to see her being written differently. As has been the case for the last couple seasons, I feel like Moffat can't write companions properly whatsoever. He's always thrusting his LOOK AT ME writing style onto them and it makes them come across very one dimensional. My only gripe with this season so far is the fact that Moffat seems to be writing a lot more of it!

As for the TV movie TARDIS, I really like it too, but I wish it looked less like... a random room, I suppose. Strangely for a ship that is infinitely large internally, I felt like it needed to be a bit more enclosed or something. idk. But I am loving the book cases in the current console room!

 

[nutmeg]

It will be on here in a few hours. Sounds like a fun episode. By the way, Poirot was from Belgium, he always got grumpy when people assumed he was French.

Haha, well I would have made him grumpy then, I obviously don't watch/read mysteries.

We need a live chat just for Doctor Who! Hahaha

I'd love to live chat, but DW is so fast moving I think I would miss too much.

Anyone think Perkins had something to do with Gus???

What do you guys think about the frequency of soldiers as themes in the shows this season?

The soldier theme is definitely leading to something. Interesting that Danny extended the theme to label the Doctor as an officer, implying he's one of the heartless elite who creates the situations, messes and sometimes impossible demands that soldiers need to try to sort out. And especially interesting considering past themes that the Doctor is no different from a soldier, complete with orchestrated attacks, fatalities and casualties.

I suspect it is going to end up that a soldier is a hero who does their best in difficult circumstances ... after all, they build wells, lol. I'm not sure that given the current climate they could go anywhere else with that ... the UK take the deaths of their soldiers in Afghanistan pretty hard, and they get mad when stories come out about their long suffering veterans being let down by 'the system' on their return from service. So I assume that this will end sympathetically to soldiers.

If I'm right, this might also end badly for the Doctor, as part of the 'am I a good man?' theme. But I hope not ... I get a bit sick of production continually trying to create reasons for us to not like the Doctor, mainly because he 'makes' people risk their lives, but at least Capaldi's Doctor is countering that to some extent, presenting him as a realist rather than reckless.

Peter Capaldi is great in the role.
Jenna Coleman on the other hand - I can't wait until she exits the series, easily one of the worst companions ever, she was dull with Matt Smith and she is even duller with Pete Capaldi.

I LOVE Clara. I think she is witty and smart, and I think Jenna plays her so well. I love the concept of the Impossible Girl, and like kxk, she won me over from Souffle Girl, it was so sad.
But it would be dull if we all thought the same.

By the way, BBC radio 4extra has been running a really good, complex radio story with the Doctor. It's too bad that most the episodes are no longer available online, but the last two are. May be hard to follow everything though. I wish they would just leave all the episodes up! You can listen to the episodes on their player, it isn't country restricted.

I love the BBC iPlayer, I listen to a lot of the comedies on radio4. I've listened to quite a few DW adventures on the iPlayer over the years, but haven't checked for a while ... thanks for the heads up.

I love the fact that the lady at the start of the episode was singing Freddie Mercury!

I love that song, and it was a terrific version. Two of England's great loves combined ... Doctor Who and Queen, lol.

 

[inumeenu]

...actually inumeenu... I'm glad that you mentioned that... here are some screenshots of McCoy's and McGann's Tardis...

View attachment 43336

View attachment 43337

...here is a clearer photo which you can't see too well in the movie...

View attachment 43335

...they do look kind of familiar in a way don't they?... I actually like the look of their Tardis to be truthful... I would love to see a full-on Victorian/Gothic/Steampunk version of The Tardis interior... I think that it would look so cool!... I know that it will never happen but wow that would look good,... cheers.

I'm definitely seeing similarities Mr Sticky!!

 

[tickytoc]

I love the fact that the lady at the start of the episode was singing Freddie Mercury!

Saw her in concert in June.

 

[BigBrotherCritic]

Saw her in concert in June.

Any good?

 

[tickytoc]

Yep She sang this and everyone went oh that's you

 

[oddjob]

You knew this was dangerous!

I didn't know... I certainly hoped...

heh.

 

[Meglos]

CLASSIC WHO MARATHON

It's been awhile, but I haven't missed a day, I finished The Aztecs today.
For a long time it was something of an under-appreciated story in fandom. Nobody ever said anything bad about it, but it wasn't exactly regarded as a classic either. The problem was, as with all the other historicals, no one had seen it for well over 20 years. On the upside, at least it existed, having somehow escaped being wiped or trashed, so the possibility of redemption was there, someday. In 1984 the Target novelisation was published, and while it was certainly enjoyable, the trend at the time was for brief retellings, so it was hard to tell exactly what it might have been like. Then, in 1992, redemption came, with the story being released on video. The DVD release a decade later compounded it's reputation, and in recent years a special edition was released, with the original beautifully vid-fired (cleaned up). The story is now regarded as a prime example of just how good historical Doctor Who could be.

So.... does it live up to its reputation? Well, put it this way.... Watching it this week, in context... it's absolutely GORGEOUS. It really is that good. The whole thing is reminiscent of a Shakespearean play, but with a modern twist that incorporates just the right amount of sci fi, and is just as strong and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. Star of the show here is Barbara, who absolutely shines as the centre of drama, providing the moral compass through whom a whole society is judged. Mistaken for the reinarnation of the High Priest Yetaxa in female (Priestess) form when the TARDIS materialises inside a sacred tomb, Barbara quickly takes control. We are taken on a tour through ancient Aztec morals as Yetaxa attempts to change the course of history. The Doctor is adamant that not one single line can be changed, but Barbara believes that she can put an end to human sacrifice in order to create a gentler society. That she is doomed to fail dismally is apparent from the outset, and provides the backbone of the story, and a dramatic conflict with the Doctor, who has clearly already learned that life lesson. When I described the production as like a play, it was no criticism. The sets are inventive and effective, the use of flats and backdrops blending in to create a sense of perspective that works perfectly in black and white. The costumes are amazing too, as as the guest performances. Tlotoxl is a brilliant Richard III, backed by henchmen Tonila and Ixta, who provides a sparring partner for Ian, who is also used very effectively. Barbara makes an ally in Autloc, a man she inadvertantly betrays. Susan, meanwhile, stands up for herself quite well in refusing an arranged marriage. That isn't the only relationship going on - the Doctor is afforded a rare dose of romance as he becomes fond of Cameca, and hilariously manages to accidently propose over cocoa beans. Hartnell is brilliant in these comedy moments.

In summary, The Aztecs, like Marco Polo, is absolutely marvellous.

 

[nutmeg]

CLASSIC WHO MARATHON

Great review Meglos.

I love the historical episodes, and I love that you can learn something from them (like that the Aztecs didn't have the wheel, although I think the Doctor left his pulley their, oops); the classic series' historical adventures tend to be quite literal in many ways, well apart from people from the future swanning in and meddling.

I read on Wikipedia that this was Jacqueline Hill's favourite episode, and I don't blame her, she really got to stretch her acting muscle in this one, Barbara did everything from being a grand ruler to being confused and defeated. I also read that Carol Ann Ford took two weeks off in the middle of this one, which was quite apparent when Susan came back with a tan (it could have been makeup, but I'm sticking by my tan theory). And the Doctor was hilarious when he accidentally got engaged, not happy Jan ...

... although I did feel a little sorry for Cameca when they had a couple of tender moments towards the end, while the Doctor stares almost sternly off in the distance, almost with his back to her. She was loyal and brave, so I wished he'd been a bit more sentimental, it was the original 'can't say I love you' from Tennant's era. Ok, he didn't exactly love her, she was no Rose, but I thought he quite liked her. Ian (or as the Aztecs say, Ee-ahn) did fine in this one too, but it was really the Barbara show.

The music was terrific, I have no idea if it was authentic, but it sounded really Aztec-y to me, and was very dramatic where it needed to be. Although mr nutmeg was listening (he's still banned from watching, although I'm not sure he would have found too much to make fun of in this adventure) and when the lighter tunes were on, a couple of times he said that the leprechauns were coming, lol.

The costumes were amazing, especially the beaked bird with the long feather headdress that Ian wore at the end. This pic doesn't really do it justice, it needs to be in profile to see the beak properly, but you get the idea.

Barbara's headdresses were lovely too, even the one that looked like she had a chimney on her head, lol.

But the best stuff was the messages about having to accept other cultures, even when you don't understand them. The offence taken by The Perfect Victim at Barbara trying to stop his sacrifice was beautifully done, and as you say Meglos, the messages are just as valid today as ever. So glad you say that this story is now appreciated by fans, because it is a ripper.

Next ... The Sensorites

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan arrive in the TARDIS on board a spaceship. Their initial concern is for the ship's human crew, who are suffering from telepathic interference from the Sensorites, but is that the full story?

Ready for the new episode in a few hours, damn it I've stayed up too late, again.

 

[Mr Stickyfingers]

...Meglos and Nutmeg... such awesome reviews!... they're a credit to both of you!... I'm so loving them... so many floods of memories from when I was a kid watching them!... thanks from one very pleased Doctor Who nutter right here!...

...hmmmm!... maybe it's the fact that I've been up all night Photoshopping and am waiting for the latest episode to start in a few minutes or not... but seeing that image of Barbara in that Aztec costume I kind of think that shes looking quite... erm... um... SEXY and HOT!... is there something wrong with me?... do I need to seek help?... she's quite attractive to me!... (perhaps I need to have a sleep eh?)... I'm scared!... um... yeah!... erm... cheers.

 

[Mr Stickyfingers]

...8 minutes and counting... cheers.

 

[Meglos]

Excedllent review nutmeg. We're on a roll now, it will be interesting to see how we feel after the next one.

Got my cuppa ready for the new episode now!

EDIT : Thanks Mr Sticky.