Doctor Who, baby

[Head Mutant]

Ah, and we thought this thread would've been started by Kyle.

Anyway, although I mentioned it on another thread, I've just gotten through watching Season One of the new, updated Doctor Who for the BBC. Having never watched any of the older (campier) shows, I didn't know what I was in for -- but it turns out that this is truly awesome TV.

BBC always had a soap operaish look to their programming, but this is easily on par with Battlestar Galactica/Firefly in terms of a mix of excellent writing, acting and FX. The whole season sucked Caramel and I in, and we were pretty crushed when it ended and we're left waiting for season two to hit DVD.

Geeks of the world, please check this out. Some other plusses:

- The Doctor has this weird manic quirk about him, and you can't help but cheer when he's the most optimistic person in dreadful circumstances.

- Rose is easy on the eyes and cries very well.

- There are multiple story threads that run for the whole season (it's more like a miniseries in this way), some of which aren't made too clear until later on.

- A couple very creepy shows ("Are you my mommy?")

- It has a new coat of gloss about it, but the whole enterprise also retains its campy roots (the aliens, robots, etc).

Anyway, good stuff.

[famousmortimer]

The second series, with David Tennant (star of the extraordinarily good and also Russell Davies-written "Casanova") is campier, for sure, so when the Doctor gets angry it's slightly less believable. Still, I like camp, so it's all good, and I'm looking forward to more of the same, although it would have been nice to have the overall tone be more serious.

[DTH]

Ok, from the get go, I ought to mention that one of my first words* was "Doglick" (ok, I was young, I couldn't say "Dalek" ), so that might indicate how much of a Doctor Who fan I am.

I had a dream a long time ago that Doctor Who would return to our screens. I never told anyone because the last time I had a dream about something like that, I was mocked back in to my cave.

Anyways, when Doctor Who finally did return, I had a self-satisfied smile on my face. When I actually sat down to the watch the show, my smile faltered. Over subsequent episodes, my smile broadened to a grin and sometimes shrank to a wan look of bemusement.

When the series ended, I wasn't smiling anymore, I was down right laughing and whooping.

Chris Eccleston ("Shallow Grave", "Our Friends In The North") as the Doctor was an inspired choice. He's a serious, well known English actor and consequently, it could have gone very badly. However, I felt it worked and the relationship between he and his "companion" (semi-successful English pop star, Billie Piper) was extremely well done.

The stories ranged from typical Doctor Who to the more campy element through to the truly dark and gothic Doctor Who, and it is the latter when the show truly works, IMO. For good examples of quality earlier (pre-21st Century) Doctor Who stories check out the following (that can be rented on DVD and/or downloaded somewhere):

- Ghostlight
- Curse of Fenric
- Rememberance of the Daleks
- State of Decay
- The Keeper of Traken
- Planet of the Spiders
- The Sea Devils
- Trial of a Timelord
- The Hand of Fear
- The Masque of Mandragora
- Logopolis

Remember that Doctor Who ran from 1963 until 1987, so it has moments of genius and moments of unadultered nonsense.

As for the 21st Century series, they are on the whole very, very good. David Tennant (modern Doctor #2) is absolutely amazing. He completely captures what the character is about and if I could be anyone in the universe, I'd be him (ok, so I've always wanted to be the Doctor).

Thinking about it, I find it impossible to decide which series I prefer.

Christopher Eccleston has some truly amazing stories ("The Unquiet Dead", "Dalek", "Father's Day" and "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dancers") as does David Tennant ("Tooth & Claw", "School Reunion", "The Girl In The Fireplace" and "Army of Ghosts"/"The Parting of the Ways").

These are some of the best written, best acted sci-fi stories you'll see. Ever. "The Girl In The Fireplace" is the best Doctor Who story ever. Ever.

I urge everyone to watch this show. NOW!

*My second word was "No man". As in, "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Yes, I was born a sci-fi nerd

[StarOpal]

I have nothing to add really, but I heartily agree.

The latest Dr. Who (I've never seen the old ones) owns a special place in my heart. I normally don't really, really like scifi (other than Firefly), but this show just grabbed me from the moment I set eyes on it. From making me grin to keeping me on the edge of my seat, this show is great. Great cast, smart writing, and the right mix of serious and quirky.

I'm just itching to get my hands on the second season.

[DocD83]

I know Rowan Atkinson has always wanted to play the Doctor, and apparently did in a one-off episode for charity. Is there any talk of having him be the next regeneration?

[Hilasophy]

I had no idea this show goes back decades! I was on my spring break last week and one morning after waking and getting some coffee, I plopped onto the couch to spend some precious time with the TV. I flipped channels and while I don't usually linger on the SciFi channel I stopped because I thought I recognized "Doctor Who" from this very message board! ha ha, not having read the thread I had no idea what I was getting myself into...but I spent the next three hours in front of the TV mesmerized by this ridiculous little show. It was just delightful. I still really don't have a clue what the show was about--I just know I enjoyed it.

Now I'm back at school and my local library has four copies of season one (2005) but I'm 24th on the waiting list...so I guess I'll have to catch him on cable.

[Hilasophy]

The internet saves the day! www.vid2c.com has 'em all.

[sarahbot]

Um, wow. That's one huge site. I'm going to ignore it for my own well-being. I could procrastinate from studying for three weeks with only a bit of string, a bent spoon and a damp toothpick, so...yeah, that's dangerous.

Anyway, I saw my first episode of Doctor Who Friday night. I've tried to watch the older ones now and again, but have to admit I turned them all off within a few minutes because of the slooooowness and pic quality. But this was one of the newer ones, with Eccleston, and I have to say it was pretty good.

[Hilasophy]

Ha ha, yeah, those sites are dangerous! My self control has gotten better with time:) The Eccleston ones are my favorite so far.

[kylerexpop]

eccleston was SO good SO quickly, it was astonishing.

if he's still involved with the remake of 'the prisoner,' i feel a little more enthusiastic about it.

but, yeah: eccleston's ninth doctor will be a favorite of many for a very long time, based solely on one short season of stories. nice work, dude!

[StarOpal]

Here! Here! Eccleston was fantastic.





(...There! There!)

[Head Mutant]

I'm gradually working on a Season Two review, but I think my feelings can be summed up in: I like the 10th Doctor better than the 9th (although he wasn't bad at all), but the 9th Doctor's stories better.

[Hilasophy]

I just watched the last episode of season 2 Friday afternoon on SciFi and...I think I cried. Never in my life did I ever think campy, corny, Brit-scifi would bring a tear to my eye.

[DocD83]

Was it just me or was that bridezilla really annoying in the season 3 special/opener?

[StarOpal]

I watched the season 2 ending the first time they ran it on SciFi, and I'm still not over it. It's one of my favorite season finales, but strangely traumatic for a goofy-ish show. I have the season 3 stuff waiting while I ready myself emotionally.

I think I heard somewhere that they were trying to talk Billie Piper back for season 4. Anyone know about that, or was that just a rumor or something?