Topic: Doctor Who

[Dragonfire]

To be honest, matthias, the real power of Doctor Who is when you invest in the characters over the series. Picking out single episodes, yes, you will find classics, but you miss out on the real subtleties of the character.

As someone who has just gotten into the show, I agree with this.  While I enjoyed the first few episodes that I watched, I did miss a few things.  The first episodes I watched were actually in season 5 with the 11th Doctor and Amy.  BBC America just happened to be playing a marathon that day of the newer episodes.  Then the show went back to the first season episodes...around the middle of the season I think.  So I was a bit confused at first.  But I got less confused as I watched more...and the more of the show I saw, the more I loved it.  The characters just get stronger and stronger as you keep watching the show.

[goodguy]

... Stephen Moffat, who is the current writer/producer of Doctor Who...

Based on my limited experience, that seems to be a big improvement. I've seen the entire S4 and the first two episodes of S5. For S4, he only wrote the library episodes and they easily were the best thing of the entire season. And the start of S5 with two episodes in a row written by him is very promising. If that holds up I might become a DW convert after all.

EDIT:
I'm now six episodes into S5 and so far I'm loving it, with the (more traditional) Dalek episode being the only clunker. I guess I started one season too early.

[Najemikon]

... Stephen Moffat, who is the current writer/producer of Doctor Who...

Based on my limited experience, that seems to be a big improvement. I've seen the entire S4 and the first two episodes of S5. For S4, he only wrote the library episodes and they easily were the best thing of the entire season. And the start of S5 with two episodes in a row written by him is very promising. If that holds up I might become a DW convert after all.

EDIT:
I'm now six episodes into S5 and so far I'm loving it, with the (more traditional) Dalek episode being the only clunker. I guess I started one season too early.

That's harsh considering the tone of the thread! "Doctor Who is all crap except for this bit..."  In truth, I enjoyed this season as much as any other and it possibly contains my favourite episode (The Lodger), however, I think it's clear you enjoy the fairy tale style Moffat uses. He was always the best at the scary stuff; I think the WWII one with the kid in the gas mask from the first season (with Eccleston) was his and I know it still gets mentioned now.

But, he doesn't seem to be able to handle the classic, pure sci-fi themes of Who, which is the broad, universe-on-edge-of-destruction, Deus Ex Machina pulp fiction that is Doctor Who. The finale of Season 5 was clever, funny, but... very internal. If that's the right word. It was about the Doctor and the sudden appearance of all his enemies felt forced to me. Like someone said, "Oh bugger, we forgot the proper villains!". The Dalek episodes from the Tenant years were awesome and the arc with the Master, etc. If he can't pull off one of those, I doubt Moffat's run will have Davies's longevity.

I hate to go on about it, but when you say, "started a season too early", have you at least seen the four specials that ended Tenant's run? There are several themes in there I can't believe you could dismiss so readily and Series 5 couldn't get near yet.

[Dragonfire]

This reminds me...I have a question I've been meaning to ask.

Was The Master around in the original run of the series?  And if he was, was he as...umm...crazy?

[DJ Doena]

This reminds me...I have a question I've been meaning to ask.

Was The Master around in the original run of the series?  And if he was, was he as...umm...crazy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_%28Doctor_Who%29

[Dragonfire]

Interesting.  Thanks.
Not sure why I didn't think to check there myself.  lol  Must have had a blonde moment.   

[Najemikon]

The other night was the National Television Awards. Doctor Who and Sherlock not winning anything was only as surprising as those that did! Although official National Treasure David Jason certainly deserved his award. But anyway! The coverage of the show started with a special scene of host Dermot O'Leary oversleeping and missing the awards, only for the Doctor to arrive and whisk him via the Tardis to the ceremony. It's pretty funny, though I doubt you will recognise anyone in it.

As a helpful guide, with clues to the jokes, they briefly meet:

Ant and Dec: a double-act of presenters and a staple of ITV entertainment shows. They've won dozens of awards and are very well known, but the running joke is, they are never seen apart. Hence the gag.
Dot Cotton from Eastenders: long running soap character who runs the laundrette. Depicted as pretty old and always smoking... hence that gag.
Bruce Forsyth: Mr Entertainment or Mr Saturday Night are just two nicknames of possibly the UKs longest serving all-round entertainer... "Nice to see you, to see you... nice!" . The man is in his 80s I think, but shows no signs of stopping. Even if the BBC lasted well into the future?
Graham Norton: Irish comedian turned presenter on the BBC. No way would anyone think of him as a newsreader.
Amanda Holden: Actress currently working as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Absolutely not a politician.
erm... the next one is someone from Coronation Street, another soap. Don't really know her, but I liked the "Hot Pot" reference and, btw, it's set in "Weatherfield", which will explain the Doctor's inference of them being alien.

The actual coverage started with Dermot stepping out from the Tardis onto the stage. Quite cute and I thought you'd like to see an excuse for more Who clips!

[Dragonfire]

I did like that.

I know who Graham Norton is.  I've been watching his show on BBC America.  I even mentioned seeing it before.  :p  I first watched it because of a special episode with David Tennant...and I've kept watching.  I like his show.
I have seen Amanda ...whoever before..though not much.  I didn't know she was an actress.  But I'd seen her in clips of Britans's Got Talent.

Well that sucks that Doctor Who and Sherlock didn't win anything.

[Dragonfire]

I got a book about Doctor Who... Doctor Who: Companions and Allies.
I've seen that there are other books about enemies and monsters.. It is probably only a matter of time before I get them too.

This is all your fault Jon.   

[Najemikon]

 

[Dragonfire]

I'll take that as an acceptance of your guilt in this matter.

 

[Dragonfire]

I just ordered the second season of Doctor Who.  It is on sale..sort of.  $42.99.  The cheapest I've seen it for a few months, so I decided to order it.  Seasons 2 and 4 are the same price right now too...I'll probably end up getting them soon too.

Another purchase that is all your fault Jon.

[Najemikon]

This is fun! Stephen Moffat wrote a Doctor Who in 1999. It was that years Red Nose spoof, so not remotely serious and very funny with a lot of famous faces in it:

[Dragonfire]

I found those on Youtube before and watched them.  Very entertaining.

[goodguy]

This is fun! Stephen Moffat wrote a Doctor Who in 1999. It was that years Red Nose spoof, so not remotely serious and very funny with a lot of famous faces in it:

The other one was tolerable, but here I had to give up after 3 minutes into the 1st part.