Author Topic: Doctor Who  (Read 4325 times)

Denim Gremlin

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Doctor Who
« on: May 18, 2011, 01:47:51 AM »
The old Doctor Who thread seemed long abandoned so I'm starting a new one for any other Who fans out there who want to talk about it.

I just watched the last episode and it was amazing! I've been up and down on the Matt Smith seasons, but generally favorable. I think he's doing a fantastic job as The Doctor, he's probably actually my favorite of the new Doctors so far. Though, I never really understood all the pandemonium over David Tennat. Anyway, The latest episode (written by Neil Gaiman!!) shot right to the top of my favorite new Who episodes. It's definitely one of the best of the last couple of seasons in my opinion.

so, let's talk Who! anyone else out there watching?
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dave from knoxville

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2011, 09:15:36 AM »
The old Doctor Who thread seemed long abandoned so I'm starting a new one for any other Who fans out there who want to talk about it.

I just watched the last episode and it was amazing! I've been up and down on the Matt Smith seasons, but generally favorable. I think he's doing a fantastic job as The Doctor, he's probably actually my favorite of the new Doctors so far. Though, I never really understood all the pandemonium over David Tennat. Anyway, The latest episode (written by Neil Gaiman!!) shot right to the top of my favorite new Who episodes. It's definitely one of the best of the last couple of seasons in my opinion.

so, let's talk Who! anyone else out there watching?

I am afraid I won't be able to follow it unless I watch every episode of the first 127 seasons. But I would have to be able to personally warp time to fit that all in within my single lifetime.

Sarah

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2011, 10:21:29 AM »
Oh, pshaw, DfK.  You could start with the next episode and not be too at sea. It ain't rocket science.

TKC, my first post as a FOT had to do with the rebirth of the Doctor Who franchise.  I have been a fan for (gulp) forty-plus years. And I, too, think Matt Smith is doing a fine job.  I was worried when he took over, because he's so young, but he managed very quickly to win me over. I don't like Karen Gillan much--her practice of widening her eyes and thrusting her head forward to indicate intensity irritates me--but them's the breaks.  At least, after putting the potential for sexual tension front and center in the early episodes of MS's tenure, it has largely been set aside.  (I like my doctors sexless, as they historically have been:  companions may drool over them, but their love should forever be unrequited.  After all, a Time Lord canoodling with a human would be akin to a human messing around with a dog.  Yuck.)

The Gaiman episode was very good, even though it managed to remind me very much of both the original Star Trek and Lexx.   I hadn't much liked the first three of this season, so it was comforting actively to like an entire episode, instead of just appreciating isolated bits and pieces of it.

fonpr

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2011, 10:23:45 AM »


I am afraid I won't be able to follow it unless I watch every episode of the first 127 seasons.

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dave from knoxville

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2011, 10:24:55 AM »


I am afraid I won't be able to follow it unless I watch every episode of the first 127 seasons.

Who makes these rules?

Why do you never call me? Or Facebook me? Or Twitter me? This script ain't going to sound-collage itself.

Denim Gremlin

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2011, 04:08:48 PM »
Oh, pshaw, DfK.  You could start with the next episode and not be too at sea. It ain't rocket science.

TKC, my first post as a FOT had to do with the rebirth of the Doctor Who franchise.  I have been a fan for (gulp) forty-plus years. And I, too, think Matt Smith is doing a fine job.  I was worried when he took over, because he's so young, but he managed very quickly to win me over. I don't like Karen Gillan much--her practice of widening her eyes and thrusting her head forward to indicate intensity irritates me--but them's the breaks.  At least, after putting the potential for sexual tension front and center in the early episodes of MS's tenure, it has largely been set aside.  (I like my doctors sexless, as they historically have been:  companions may drool over them, but their love should forever be unrequited.  After all, a Time Lord canoodling with a human would be akin to a human messing around with a dog.  Yuck.)

The Gaiman episode was very good, even though it managed to remind me very much of both the original Star Trek and Lexx.   I hadn't much liked the first three of this season, so it was comforting actively to like an entire episode, instead of just appreciating isolated bits and pieces of it.

I totally agree on that. All that Doctor/Rose business is what kinda spoiled the David Tennant era for me. Plus, I just really like Matt Smith's portrayal of the Doctor. I think the smug, kooky Sherlock Holmes thing he's doing is way more in the spirit of the series then all that tortured soul/avenging angel shit Tennant was doing later in his run.
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Sarah

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2011, 04:42:02 PM »
Or even the angry, devastated tack Eccleston took. Matt Smith seems alien, and that's what I want in my Doctor.

ChipSuey

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2011, 05:34:09 PM »
I'm all for this.

As long as we can figure out what's cooler:  Bow ties, Fez'es(ezes?), Stetsons, and now possibly bunk beds.

And never speak of whatever it is they did to the Daleks that turned them from scary to laughable and Playmobil looking.

I know it's only four episodes in, but this season is already turning into one of my favorite of what I call the "we can afford more than used carpet samples to make our creatures" series.

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wood and iron

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2011, 08:02:37 PM »
I'm watching and absolutely loving Matt Smith and Moffat era Who. And of course, last episode was fantastic in the Neil Gaiman way which is find something that is always there and add some magical twist to raise the ordinary to extraordinary. The exploration of the relationship between the TARDIS and the Doctor was ingenious.

Rick in Salt Lake

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2011, 08:29:32 PM »
I've heard really good things about the rebooted "Dr. Who", but I have a serious question for you:

Would the newer version of the show appeal to people who never really cared for the original? Due to what I've heard as of late, I'm curious about the newer version. But I always found "Dr. Who" to be... Kinda stupid, to be honest. I can't exactly say why. It wasn't just the production values and I don't recall the acting of the few episodes I watched (primarily Tom Baker, allegedly the best Doctor) being bad... Just... Something about it really turned me off...

I'm honestly not trying to flame "Dr. Who" fans; that's not they way I operate. But I am wondering if somebody in my position might find it worth while...
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Sarah

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2011, 09:27:02 PM »
Heck, I don't know.  Just watch an episode and see.  It'll only be an hour of your life wasted if you don't like it.


Rick in Salt Lake

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2011, 09:43:44 PM »
Heck, I don't know.  Just watch an episode and see.  It'll only be an hour of your life wasted if you don't like it.

Yeah, the thing is I don't get BBC America so I'd probably have to pay to stream it through Amazon. But before I do I'm just interested if the re-vamped version would appeal to those of us who never really cared for the original or if it's appeal is still limited to the fan base of the older episodes. In this respect I thinl fans of "Dr. Who" can be objective enough to give me an idea as to whether it wold in much the same way fans of a band can still tell you that an album is good but not to bother if you're not already converted...

Even if I were to pay to stream it I would like to know a good place to start. For example, which of the recent seasons are better than others. There are... what, like five or six seasons?
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Denim Gremlin

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2011, 10:53:41 PM »
Heck, I don't know.  Just watch an episode and see.  It'll only be an hour of your life wasted if you don't like it.

Yeah, the thing is I don't get BBC America so I'd probably have to pay to stream it through Amazon. But before I do I'm just interested if the re-vamped version would appeal to those of us who never really cared for the original or if it's appeal is still limited to the fan base of the older episodes. In this respect I thinl fans of "Dr. Who" can be objective enough to give me an idea as to whether it wold in much the same way fans of a band can still tell you that an album is good but not to bother if you're not already converted...

Even if I were to pay to stream it I would like to know a good place to start. For example, which of the recent seasons are better than others. There are... what, like five or six seasons?

I think if you like sci fi, especially sci fi with a sense of humor, I think you'll have no problem getting into the new Who. It also helps if you're a bit of an anglophile since it's about as British as it gets.

Comparing it to the original series, it's definitely a more modern show for a more modern audience. They clearly have a much bigger budget for effects and stuff so it has a lot less of that "guy in a rubber lizard suit" sort of feeling that some people find charming about the old show.

It's certainly not essential viewing for everyone, but if you like fun, adventurey sci fi stuff with a sense of humor like Firefly or Farscape or The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.  you'll love it.

If you wanna watch it I say just start with the first season of the reboot. You don't have to really but things will make a lot more sense.
If you're completely unaware of anything from the original show there's gonna be references and callbacks and stuff that you won't understand but it's not hard to just read up a little and fill yourself in (I've had to do it a few times since before watching I'd only watched a hand full of the Tom Baker era shows.) but geeks on the internet are very good at providing any info you need.

Though, I think the new series does a good job of reestablishing the universe and then making it it's own thing. I doubt you'll have a problem.
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CSW

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2011, 05:49:39 AM »
It also helps if you're a bit of an anglophile since it's about as British as it gets.


I don't wanna come off as a dick but....

I'm not sure about that. I live in the UK and I don't know many people who are into it. My American brethren however are very much getting into it. Somewhat like that whole Royal Wedding business.

And further - "it is about as British as it gets" - again, the vision of Britishness as seen from the outside. The parts of the UK outside of London, not so much. The North of England could not be further removed from the ideal of Britishness shown through the media. (Consider the New England Yankee ideal often shown through American media compared to say, the heartlands of the South?)
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Sarah

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Re: Doctor Who
« Reply #14 on: May 19, 2011, 09:43:10 AM »
Thanks for answering so carefully, TKC.  (I wasn't trying to give you the brush-off, RiSL; I just didn't have the energy to respond more thoroughly. Partly because I don't care enough about your watching the show to try to explain why you might like it.  Watch it or don't--it's no skin off my back.)

I don't think Who is deeply British, by the way, except in that it's supposed to be an institution over there.  But I watch so much British programming, I'm not a good judge, probably.