Doctor Who Thread III: Reverse the Polarity of the Neutron Flow

[dehro]

So... I just sat down and saw the 1996 movie with a friend... and it was so terrible! I mean, okay, not terrible, terrible, but bad. The... Eight was decent enough but all the weird stuff with the Master, the Eye of Harmony, pretty much everything that happened in this movie was just so off...

Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that movie was bad.

it was terrible.. and I had mostly managed to forget all about it.

[Dienekes]

Prequel
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STRAX!! I thought he died. Maybe another from his clone batch?

In any case, I agree. Damn moon.

[Androgeus]

it was terrible.. and I had mostly managed to forget all about it.

That is also what I have heard. I think I may have seen it when it was first broadcast, but I was like 6 years old so I really don't remember anything that happened. Was there a cliff in it at some point?

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STRAX!! I thought he died. Maybe another from his clone batch?

In any case, I agree. Damn moon.

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Either a clone, he didn't actually die, Strax could be a name given to all disgraced Sontaran's or Moffat's favourite it's from some point in Strax's past.

We do need to take out those moonites though, I'm sure they are plotting against us

[Dienekes]

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Either a clone, he didn't actually die, Strax could be a name given to all disgraced Sontaran's or Moffat's favourite it's from some point in Strax's past.

We do need to take out those moonites though, I'm sure they are plotting against us

Also for a second there, when they said "The Great Detective" I was half expecting Benedict Cumberbatch to walk onscreen. I will just have to cope with my disappointment. WHICH I CAN DO BECAUSE OF STRAX!

[Mindfreak]

So...

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I finished the first season with the 11th Doctor. And I like him, I really do. It's just...
David Tennet was just so amazing. He was a brilliant combination of smartness and funny, he's just my favorite doctor, along with the 9th. Amy Pond is my favorite companion though, she's absolutely brilliant.

[Eldan]

Yeah, same here. Smith is just not as good as an actor. I can deal with it as long as the stories as good, especially since the Companions are really good, but when the writing gets worse later on, the show begins to suffer.

[CthulhuEatYou]

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STRAX!! I thought he died. Maybe another from his clone batch?

In any case, I agree. Damn moon.

Could just be a earlier point in his timeline, like the first time the doctor meats River Song and she sacrifices herself for him.

[Mindfreak]

Spoilers, sweetie

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So I thought that the Weeping Angels were creepy...
I wasn't prepared for The Silence.
...
I was so scared by the end of the episode, that I half-expected to find my arms marked.

[Dienekes]

So...

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I finished the first season with the 11th Doctor. And I like him, I really do. It's just...
David Tennet was just so amazing. He was a brilliant combination of smartness and funny, he's just my favorite doctor, along with the 9th. Amy Pond is my favorite companion though, she's absolutely brilliant.

Yeah, same here. Smith is just not as good as an actor. I can deal with it as long as the stories as good, especially since the Companions are really good, but when the writing gets worse later on, the show begins to suffer.

It's been said and discussed 100+ times, but hey, I'm bored and waiting for Christmas. Everyone has their favorite Doctor, or even their favorite in just the old and/or just the new. Personally, Smith is my favorite. Tennant was too melodramatic and human for my tastes, and some of the character traits he was given as the Doctor I found utterly annoying. Smith, while admittedly not as good an actor (I think he does jubilation and excitement better, but just about everything else worse) is to me far more likeable a character. His only downside has been this last half season which I found heavily flawed in just about every episode. And even then, I don't think the flawed episodes were his fault or were worse acted from him, on the contrary I think he's improved. But the episodes themselves just fell flat and lowered my enjoyment of the series.

Ultimately though, it's just opinions. There's no right or wrong answer and everyone has "their Doctor" that just clicked for them. Smith did for me, and I'm glad Tennant did for you.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

I keep being told to give Doctor Who another chance after being discouraged by Seasons 3 and 4 and swearing to never watch it again. Is Season 5+ notably different, enough that I could give it another shot? Because I'm not going into this thing without massive reassurance and maybe a football helmet.

Seriously, though. The End of Time was possibly the worst television episode I willingly watched (even worse than the finale of LOST and that's nothing if not impressive), I can't overstate how different these seasons need to be before I step back into the pool. Someone please please please talk me into it.

[Xondoure]

I keep being told to give Doctor Who another chance after being discouraged by Seasons 3 and 4 and swearing to never watch it again. Is Season 5+ notably different, enough that I could give it another shot? Because I'm not going into this thing without massive reassurance and maybe a football helmet.

Seriously, though. The End of Time was possibly the worst television episode I willingly watched (even worse than the finale of LOST and that's nothing if not impressive), I can't overstate how different these seasons need to be before I step back into the pool. Someone please please please talk me into it.

Well first of all, you're asking to be talked into it so you're half way there. Does the deus ex machina stop? No. So if you can't deal with that, not the show for you. However Amy and Rory are by far the best companions (in my opinion) so there is that, and the story arcs begin to incorporate more than just a final two/three parter. On top of that I think the humor takes a bit of a leap forwards (no farting aliens, no Donna Noble) and Neil Gaiman has written a few episodes.

[Dienekes]

I keep being told to give Doctor Who another chance after being discouraged by Seasons 3 and 4 and swearing to never watch it again. Is Season 5+ notably different, enough that I could give it another shot? Because I'm not going into this thing without massive reassurance and maybe a football helmet.

Seriously, though. The End of Time was possibly the worst television episode I willingly watched (even worse than the finale of LOST and that's nothing if not impressive), I can't overstate how different these seasons need to be before I step back into the pool. Someone please please please talk me into it.

New Doctor, less melodramatic, more crazy. No one even says the name Rose. New style of writing that goes for a bigger central story arc, this can either be considered good or bad, while I personally think it's pretty interesting the more you break it down the less sense it makes. Personally I think season 5 and 6 were great. Much better than 3 as a whole (though I'll admit I loved the first two Master episodes of that season, the season finale was disappointing though). And while yes End of Time was crap, I also really enjoyed Donna as a companion so I don't think back on Season 4 as negatively as you do.

Season 5 and 6 are mostly about exploring a new doctor and his relationship with his new companions, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, and the previously seen River Song. Many see River as a Mary Sue, though in my opinion she's not as big of one as the Doctor himself. She does however at times one up the Doctor, while I personally think it evens out with the Doctor rather frequently saving her life or one uping her, many do not see it that way and believe that the seasons suffer for it. Amy and Rory became my favorite of the Doctors companions, but again, folks disagree. They're both pretty flawed with Amy being a bit selfish and Rory starting out as a rehash of whatever Rose's first boyfriends name was (Mikey wasn't it?), though he develops far beyond him in my opinion.

So yeah, overall they're possibly my favorite seasons of New Who (though my favorite episodes are Dalek and the first two Master episodes) but like all of Doctor Who they have problems. They are better if you can sit and enjoy a cool ride without over-analyzing things (especially when things are explained away by furious hand-waving and shouting TIME TRAVEL!). So basically the same as Doctor Who has been since it's reintroduction. There are no episodes I have found as repugnant as The End of Time, Fear Her, and Love and Monsters, at least not until Season 7 which I found as a drop of quality for the first 5 episodes shown. I'm waiting to see how the second half of the season goes.

I would suggest no matter what, you at least watch up to the episode written by Neil Gaiman entitled The Doctor's Wife. Because it's awesome.

[dehro]

I would suggest no matter what, you at least watch up to the episode written by Neil Gaiman entitled The Doctor's Wife. Because it's awesome.

you probably had him at "Neil Gaiman"

[DJ Yung Crunk]

you probably had him at "Neil Gaiman"

Nope. Don't even know who that is.

[Dienekes]

Nope. Don't even know who that is.

Celebrated author, writer of the absolutely fantastic "Sandman" comics, as well as the books Coraline, Stardust, American Gods, and more but these names will probably be meaningless to you.

In any case, he's a very good writer of science fiction and fantasy and has quite a following.

In any case, two minorly spoilery links. The Time and Space shorts were basically what made me decide to watch Doctor Who in the first place. If you think the humor and relationships seem fun in the two of them I'd go for it. If you don't, of course, don't.

Part 1: Time
Part 2: Space

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Celebrated author, writer of the absolutely fantastic "Sandman" comics, as well as the books Coraline, Stardust, American Gods, and more but these names will probably be meaningless to you.

Haven't read any of them although I saw the film adaptations of Coraline and Stardust. Can't say I cared for either of them.

[dehro]

you disliked stardust?

[DJ Yung Crunk]

you disliked stardust?

Sure. Let's say "disliked". That's a way of putting it.

[Beacon of Chaos]

Rumour has it that David Tennant will be doing a 50th anniversary Doctor Who special. This is from an unconfirmed "solid source" though, so take it with a grain of salt. David himself was apparantly dropping hints, but nothing has actually been confirmed.

[Kato]

Also for a second there, when they said "The Great Detective" I was half expecting Benedict Cumberbatch to walk onscreen. I will just have to cope with my disappointment. WHICH I CAN DO BECAUSE OF STRAX!

Friend of mine was hoping throughout the whole scene Cumberbatch would be the shadowy figure against all odds. Poor girl, still thinks Moffat liked his viewers


To be hinest, I'm not quite sure what to expect with the christmas special... 2011 was fun but 2010 was a total bummer for me... And evil snowmen...

[Androgeus]

Rumour has it that David Tennant will be doing a 50th anniversary Doctor Who special. This is from an unconfirmed "solid source" though, so take it with a grain of salt. David himself was apparantly dropping hints, but nothing has actually been confirmed.

These kind of hints? (it's at about 0:50)
Or these?

[CarpeGuitarrem]

I keep being told to give Doctor Who another chance after being discouraged by Seasons 3 and 4 and swearing to never watch it again. Is Season 5+ notably different, enough that I could give it another shot? Because I'm not going into this thing without massive reassurance and maybe a football helmet.

Seriously, though. The End of Time was possibly the worst television episode I willingly watched (even worse than the finale of LOST and that's nothing if not impressive), I can't overstate how different these seasons need to be before I step back into the pool. Someone please please please talk me into it.

RTD is out, Moffat is in, and the difference is very pronounced at times. The Doctor is no longer arrogant and angsty (and considerably less genocidal), and it's a much more mellowed show, much less flashy dramaticism. Moffat started it with the vision of making Doctor Who more "fairy tale-esque", and it certainly shows.

It has some of the best episodes of NuWho, period.

Also: you know The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances from Season 1, The Girl in the Fireplace from Season 2, Blink from Season 3, and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead from Season 4? All done by the current (Season 5+) lead writer.

Season five, more or less, is a "soft reboot". It retains continuity with the old series, but it almost entirely never references Seasons 1-4, with one very notable Moffaty exception. Well, okay. Two exceptions, now that I think of it.

[Tvtyrant]

RTD is out, Moffat is in, and the difference is very pronounced at times. The Doctor is no longer arrogant and angsty (and considerably less genocidal), and it's a much more mellowed show, much less flashy dramaticism. Moffat started it with the vision of making Doctor Who more "fairy tale-esque", and it certainly shows.

It has some of the best episodes of NuWho, period.

Also: you know The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances from Season 1, The Girl in the Fireplace from Season 2, Blink from Season 3, and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead from Season 4? All done by the current (Season 5+) lead writer.

Season five, more or less, is a "soft reboot". It retains continuity with the old series, but it almost entirely never references Seasons 1-4, with one very notable Moffaty exception. Well, okay. Two exceptions, now that I think of it.

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"More Guilt!" Image stays the same.

[The_Admiral]

PEOPLE, Breaking news.

Galilfreyan

And Time Lord Kindergarten Maths

[dehro]

PEOPLE, Breaking news.

Galilfreyan

And Time Lord Kindergarten Maths

this thing wants me to download stuff before showing anything.. is that the way it's supposed to be?

[The_Admiral]

It's a PDF file, opening it is technically downloading.

[Kato]

PEOPLE, Breaking news.

Galilfreyan

And Time Lord Kindergarten Maths

I wonder what my Professor would say if I was to write my Master thesis in Gallifreyan.... (pun not intended)

[Androgeus]

PEOPLE, Breaking news.

Galilfreyan

And Time Lord Kindergarten Maths

I'm totally a "stop having fun" guy when it comes to this. My main problem with is that people will start trying to translate the Galilfreyan that appears in the show and then be disappointed when it doesn't make any sense.

In other news, today is the 49th anniversary.

[Hullabaloo]

So I watched the first half of the first season of the eleventh Doctor about a year ago. And saw On-Demand BBCAmerica about 2 weeks ago that they had all of that season (5th?) the next season and the most recent season... But only until Dec 1st.

Needless to say I spend almost all of my nights watching 3-4 Doctor Who episodes and drinking tea.

I'm all caught up now, and thoroughly hooked. Might start looking around to start watching the early seasons of the tenth Doctor, he seems pretty crazy and enjoyable. Is the only way to see these on DVD?

[Androgeus]

So I watched the first half of the first season of the eleventh Doctor about a year ago. And saw On-Demand BBCAmerica about 2 weeks ago that they had all of that season (5th?) the next season and the most recent season... But only until Dec 1st.

Needless to say I spend almost all of my nights watching 3-4 Doctor Who episodes and drinking tea.

I'm all caught up now, and thoroughly hooked. Might start looking around to start watching the early seasons of the tenth Doctor, he seems pretty crazy and enjoyable. Is the only way to see these on DVD?

I believe the entirety of the new show is on netflix, but you'll have to get someone who actually has netflix in the states to confirm that.