Doctor Who - Spoilers!

[Rogue Trooper]

On BBC4 today they had the first episode with the Daleks and the William Hartnell doctor. Thought it was really good and the story line was kind of like the movies from the 70's

 

[Darth Caedus]

Honestly, I love Dr. Who, but if I want to watch a show about robots in space, I'll watch Battlestar Galactica. I think the daleks are getting overused in the new series. I want to see more space interaction and character development, not just the daleks all the time. More episodes like BLINK and FAMILY OF BLOOD

 

[pixletwin]

I am inclined to agree. The daleks are getting too much use. Heck it seemed you were lucky if one doctor had 2 episodes with Daleks during their entire tenure.

 

[bcm77]

More episodes like BLINK and FAMILY OF BLOOD

I sincerely hope not. One doesn't even deserve to be called a Doctor Who episode as he made little more than a cameo and the other was a rare 2-part story wasted with the Doctor pretending to be a teacher which I found dull as dishwater. Along with Love & Monsters they to me represent the worst of Nu-Who so far and I really can't see why they have gotten so much praise. After watching so many Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker stories on DVD in recent months I think even the best Nu-Who episodes struggle to match the worst stories from that era. Nu-Who may have slicker presentation but the writing is largely poor.

 

[pixletwin]

As a fan of the classic series (I have been watching Dr. Who since the late 70's) I have to say Family of Blood and Blink were among my favorites too.

 

[pixletwin]

I think even the best Nu-Who episodes struggle to match the worst stories from that era. Nu-Who may have slicker presentation but the writing is largely poor.

I can sort of see where you're coming from. For me each has its obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. Really I think Caedus and bcm are both basically saying the same thing.

 

[bcm77]

Don't get me wrong,I do like Nu-Who a lot and without it I probably wouldn't have got into the Classic series but having seen both I prefer the 4 or 6 part serial format of the Classic series as opposed to the one off stories that are prevalent with Nu-Who.
My favorite Nu-Who stories have been 2-parters like The Impossible Planet/Satan Pit but I felt that the Human Nature/Family Of Blood story dragged especially the first part and as far as Blink is concerned I just don't get the point of having an episode where the Doctor was barely in it though it was better than the previous "Doctor lite" episode Love & Monsters which was atrocious.
I agree that the Daleks need to be given a rest after this series as they have been overused and I think that some of the creatures that have only appeared in Nu-Who need to be given the chance to become "classics" in the same way as the Daleks & Cybermen have. The Ood are already returning in this series which is a start and I'd also like to see the Sycorax and Judoon make another appearance at some point.
In addition I'd also like to see more episodes set away from Earth as there's not really been too many which kind of goes against the Doctor's ability to travel in "time & space".

 

[pixletwin]

I wouldn't complain if there were more Ood and Judoon (especially Judoon). I also like the 4 part serial format better.. I think RTD wants a faster paced show though. Who knows, once he gets off the DW bandwagon it may return to that format.

 

[bcm77]

I wouldn't complain if there were more Ood and Judoon (especially Judoon). I also like the 4 part serial format better.. I think RTD wants a faster paced show though. Who knows, once he gets off the DW bandwagon it may return to that format.

I can understand the thinking behind the current format as modern audiences are more used to something that gives them a "quick fix" as oppposed to a more measured approach but I think it makes many of the episodes very throwaway in nature and not really worth a second viewing.

 

[Blackhole]

Some episodes I've never gone back to...

Like Fear Her...I didn't like that one...

 

[bcm77]

I think "The Fires Of Pompeii" is yet another episode that can go down as a waste of 45 minutes and aside from some nice moments from the leads it sucked,the supporting cast were typically cardboard and I found myself wanting the volcano to erupt about 5 minutes in.
Why is it that no matter what period in history the Doctor visits the people all speak the same overly cliched modern English? I know it's not necessarily meant to be historically accurate but having a Roman family behave in much the same way as a stereotypical modern British or US one is not really gonna get people to suspend their disbelief and to me it just smacks of lazy writing.
Bring on the Ood!!!

 

[Rogue Trooper]

"History is back to normal and everyone dies!"

I thought it was a good epiosde not great but good. Very cool set , it was filmed in Rome, Italy and was the same set for the HBO/BBC Rome was hoping for a glimpse of Luicus Verius but alas.
Would like to no a bit more about those balrog type creature which i forgot the name of.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I haven't watched it yet, but I agree BRING ON THE OOD

The Beast and his armies will rise from the pit to make war against God

 

[Blackhole]

That guy in today's episode looked like a rabbit...especially with that hair...

Some good moments, and great effects, but really just a time filler for the coming episodes...

 

[Memnoch]

I thought Fires of Pompeii was really good, and an interesting glimpse into what's to come. "There's something on you're back". Oh, and the Medusa Cascade. Shame no Jack though. So far I've been pleased with everything from Series 4, and really really love Donna.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I thought Fires of Pompeii was really good, and an interesting glimpse into what's to come. "There's something on you're back". Oh, and the Medusa Cascade. Shame no Jack though. So far I've been pleased with everything from Series 4, and really really love Donna.

Hmmmm, maybe donna will be less annoying in this episode. Going to watch it later tonight then I'll judge

 

[bcm77]

Hmmmm, maybe donna will be less annoying in this episode. Going to watch it later tonight then I'll judge

Donna has for me been the biggest suprise so far and hasn't been anywhere near as irritating as I expected. I'm hoping the next 3 episodes step things up a bit as the first 2 episodes for me have been average/poor. A storyline about Pompeii has a lot of similarity with something like Titanic in that the ending is already known so it's more about the journey but in this case it was not executed very well.
The FX were very good though and they made a mockery of the "lack of budget" BS that RTD uses as an excuse for the endless Earth based stories or lack of exploration of the Time War.
The BBC should take a look at the success of the various Clone Wars spinoffs for Star Wars and see what a potential money spinner a Time War spinoff could be,they could do it in a "gap year" between a full series,four 60 minute specials should be enough to cover it.
Paul McGann and Christopher Eccleston could probably be convinced to return (have the regeneration at the end of part 2) if enough cash was thrown their way and there'd even be an angle to bring back a couple of Classic companions as Romana was the President of the Time Lords at the time of the war and Leela was her bodyguard. Derek Jacobi could also return as The Master as the Time Lords resurrected him to help fight the war.
Seeing the Doctor fighting on the front lines,watching planets fall,getting badly injured so that he has to regenerate and then his ultimate anguish at destroying the Daleks only at the expense of his own people would surely be better than another round of one off stories set on Earth with the same overly cliched supporting characters or 3rd rate spinoffs like Torchwood.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I quite enjoyed Fires of Pompei; well everything but Donna. Pretty good FX and story for the episode. Looking forward to more OOD

 

[pixletwin]

I really enjoyed FoP. I liked the angle of the story and I think it features some of the best FX Nu-Who has ever shown. Donna (who really annoyed me in the Xmas special) is starting to grow on me and I thought it really had an classic DW feel to it (minus the 4 part format... it kind of reminded me of a Key to Time episode for some reason).

Bring on the Ood!

 

[Memnoch]

I like how so far things have been seeded for the season. You know who in PiC, then the Shadow Proclamation and Medusa Cascade in FoP. Wonder what we are in for next week.

Also, can we all be in agreement that PiC is fair game for open spoilers after the 25th? So that makes Sci Fi three or four weeks behind the BBC?