Doctor Who (1963 - present)

Quite probably

ARGH! As strong as the episodes themselves were, I see this series as the equivalent of watching the last 10 minutes of Waters of Mars and then End Of Time 1 & 2 4 times over and him not even regenerating at the end, its that much of a let down. Now you can argue, well of course The Doctor wasnt actually going to die and obviously he wasnt but the way he escaped was so uninspired and essentially just a reset button resolution it just makes everything that preceded it seem pointless. :\

If this had been a 10 hour, series long build up to his regeneration, like he actually went through the phases of trying to escape it then facing up to it (even if it copies exactly what happened with EOT) it’d actually have some meaning and poignancy to it.

And then there’s those that say you shouldn’t pick it apart you should just enjoy it. I say “Well no, I should be able to pick it apart if its disappointing. its like saying. I’m gonna make a rabbit appear out of a hat. then when there’s no frigging rabbit of course its disappointing!”

When Russell T Davies made the regeneration cliffhanger in Series 4, that was brilliant ‘cos it was unexpected and when he obviously didnt regenerate, there wasnt massive disappointment because there wasnt 10 hours of hype building up to something that wasnt gonna happen.

Moffat is far too clever for his own good. Amy and Rory have been sidelined to make this season a fanwank to River Song, who’s lost all her interest as a character cos there’s no mystery surrounding her anymore but Moffats still probably gonna have her all over Season 7.

If I were Moffat I’d have done this when Smith was actually leaving, this whole season is gonna look so silly in a couple of years when he actually does leave. and its not gonna have any impact either. its like “Oh look, 11s dying. again.”

Personally, I found Russel T. Davies' regeneration 'cliffhanger' one of the biggest piles of crap he ever foisted on us. Along with his patently Gary/Mary Su, Rose bleedin' Tyler and her extended clan. It was nothing but a bloody cheap and nasty cop-out. Giving Rose Tyler her own 'pet' Doctor, but with half the hearts and none of the regeneration. Please. Talk about fanwank, the whole first four series were nothing but a Rose Tyler fanwank, even the sodding series she wasn't in.

Her and her bloody badly applied mascara. God - I hated that woman..... Almost made me miss Bonnie Langford. Almost.

Well, I enjoyed it. Although it was always going to be a Teslecta Doctor. Or possibly a Flesh Doctor. But then, it is a kids' programme. I'm not expecting Poirot.

I always felt the point of this series wasn't "How does the Doctor die" but rather "How does he not die".

Okay my thoughts: I love Moffat's way to get out of it.

Ten's not-regeneration was a cop-out IMO, I still enjoyed it though to a certain degree (the idea of a Human!Doctor was interesting in a sense ... until he was given to Rose as a substitute - the other problem is that besides the Doctor!Donna comments ... well it may have been less of a cop-out if Donna simply absorbed the Doctor-ness instead I suppose ... let's not go into that). At least with this Doctor I feel his not-regernation not a cop out - it was all set up before hand to make this very possible.

River hasn't lost her edge, yes we've learnt all about her but the question is - would you have rather they dragged her storyline out? It needed to be answered and now we can see a more equal relationship between them to continue into the next season (has it been confirmed the Ponds are coming back?). And the question - a fun little tie into the show ... and they still didn't reveal it love it sick.

Anyway thoughts on this episode and so SPOILERS, sweetie: the converging timeline was fun to play with, Amy and Rory ... just those two, River and the Doctor .... and how everything was answered so now the next season can build a new story - because Series 5&6 were really only one big story as I saw it.

I can't wait until next series!

I'm just really excited about this mystery of the Doctor's identity because I was always a huge fan of the Cartmel Masterplan and this is quite similar in execution.

Still an avid fan, but I'd quite like for the overall story 'arc' for the next series to be a little less convoluted ... at times, the twists and turns of this year's have made my poor head spin. Also would like the series to just be on for 13 consecutive Saturday evenings again instead of this 'split in two' nonsense ... although I hear the split is to happen again next year.

I have to say, BI, as much as I love the twists I do hope they are toned down just a tiny bit as well. (I do love the twists but there have been quite a number of other timelines being reversed and coming back, and I know this is a show about time travel but it does need to be toned down a tad) ... I managed to work out how all the main character's timelines match up more or less now though.

The split is also annoying however I can deal with that.

In a way it will be good to see this toned-down Doctor presumably ... mmmmm ....

I'm in two minds about the split.

In one way, I'm glad because it spreads out the dosage. But I'm just getting into it when it stops. I like that there's not such a wait in between, but not that it doesn't last so long.

I suppose, really, I'd just like a split in the year, but thirteen episodes each :D

I am still enjoying the series though new season 6 was one of the lesser runs for me. The split may be responsible for the heavy bias to foreshadowing and repetition however and that is a problem in itself.

A bigger issue is that we are still dealing with baggage lumbered on the show by RTD, the Doctor as a god like creature whose fame preceeds him is a terrible millstone and pretty much the atithesis of the shows original concept. From the exile wandering without having real control only involved by proxy we move to a psudo-deity imposing himself on any and everything he chooses - the implications of that change of perspective are significant. Hopefuly Moffat is trying to move the show back to its core, downplaying the omnisiccent elements so that we, as viewers, can once again join the Doctor on his journeys rather than be consigned to only watch him lay a puzzle for us, (one impossible to solve as selective information is denied us till after we see the resolution).

I was glad to see the brief Dalek cameo in this Wedding episode...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4Czla6tXc&feature=related

Notable for two reasons - one, David Tennant appears to be a fervent fan of The Proclaimers; and two, Timothy Dalton getting down :D

Hahaha, excellent.

Loving the Ood and the Adipose throwing a few shapes.

Seem to remember DT popping up in the video of the Comic Relief version of 500 Miles, so I'd say you're right about his fandom Rave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaMRyn47Xg

Oh this is priceless....

http://www.jezebelcharms.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=27_33

Oh, Fae!!!! I think you might want to browse this site before you make your list for Father Christmas.

Rave - the first video with 'I Will Walk 500 Miles' had tears of joy in my eyes! They are all so CUTE! I love it - and also how awesome is that John, David and Catherine wrap-up song about RTD and Julie. I found it during exam time and it became my coping video!

And that is an awesome site - I shall have to convince Father Christmas to get me some but currently I think he's looking for a new laptop for Fae ... since my old one is going away! HUZZAH! But anyway I think that is all I'll be getting for Christmas ... still I will try :)

So, are we all looking forward to 'The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe' then?

Yes.

At least Katherine bloody Jenkins won't be assaulting my ears on Christmas Day this year.

Ravenstone wrote:

Yes.

At least Katherine bloody Jenkins won't be assaulting my ears on Christmas Day this year.

Och, she's allowed to assault me with everything she has anytime of the week. :*e*:

Anything, so long as she doesn't sing.

Ravenstone wrote:

Anything, so long as she doesn't sing.

We have ways to make her sing!!!!!! :cheers: (all done in the best possible taste :*e*: )

Pass the ear plugs....

Blunt Instrument wrote:

So, are we all looking forward to 'The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe' then?

Naturally. Narnia is one of my childhood books so I've loving the idea of taking elements from it and combining it with the Doctor. Should be an awesome bit of fun - cannot wait!

And also the trailer looks epic for it which is always encouraging.

After what seems an age two episodes thought lost have turned up, not exactly superaltive episodes, though anything with Troughton or Hartnell in is great imo, and sadly not ones that can complete any stories but its always a relief to get something back and reignites the possibility there is still stuff to be found.

Episode 3 of Galaxy 4 - Hartnell
Episode 2 of Underwater Menace - Troughton

story link here

Chameleon Circuit anyone?

A work colleague recently lent me the DVD of the Pertwee-era story 'Colony In Space'.

It's quite fun ... as you'd imagine though, there's quite a lot of it that provides unintentional chuckles for 'modern' eyes.