Doctor Who

So, I just watched the 1996 TV Movie.

...

I don't like it.

The plot was confusing and made even less sense than the Masters' plans usually do; the Master himself was played by Eric Roberts, who seems to be a total hack; and the story decided to reintroduce the Doctor to a potential new generations of fans by... having Seven show up for 15 minutes, hardly do anything, and then get offed and replaced by the new Doctor, who... hardly does anything until the last 7 minutes. (See what I did there?) The only good point was Mc Gann, who I liked, and look forward to seeing more of in the audios, but at the same time, he didn't really get much of a chance to settle into his character or really show what he could do.

Ultimately, what could have been a glorious revival of the show instead turned into a mediocre footnote in Who history, not that it wasn't important. It introduced a new Doctor, but also brought many advanced directing and cinematic techniques that had never really appeared in Doctor Who before. But aside from that? It's mostly just 'BLEH!', is what it is.

edited 26th Mar '15 10:30:51 AM by kkhohoho

The writer's intent with including 7 was to give the audience a sense of who the Doctor is before he forgets himself. Would've worked better if a series was picked up from it and you could see Eight go on to be Eight.

I think the Master's plan is totally Xanatos Speed Chess.

Game people: I'll be available Sunday at 1:30, but I'm working all day Saturday.

edited 26th Mar '15 10:41:35 AM by TParadox

I have a school thing Sunday. It starts at 11 but I have no idea how long it will be—and it's me, acting, in front of a camera, so it's not like I'll be able to run the game discretely while it's happening.

Most people didn't.

No offense, but Americans tend to break everything they touch.

edited 26th Mar '15 1:35:41 PM by HextarVigar

Hey, we made Queer As Folk and The Office so much better.

Although we did completely ruin Broadchurch.

The American Red Dwarf made me laugh in unintended ways

As I stated: "Break everything"

What about the American IT Crowd, guys?

Okay now, to be fair to me I did say "tend to."

The awful pilot with Joel Mc Hale or the proposed new adaptation?

How about The Thick of It vs Veep?

The Joel Mc Hale one. I mean, it was apparently bad enough to not even air, but at least they had the sense to keep Richard Ayoade, aka the best part of the IT Crowd.

Yeah, so? The American Red Dwarf had the sense to keep Robert Llewellyn and the American Young Ones had the sense to keep Nigel Planer. What's your point?

Any piece of media that has a good actor in it automatically has to be a good film. Like Smurfs 2, which has Neil Patrick Harris in it.

...Define "good".

EDIT: "Spin, rinse and repeat... I'm just altering time and space. Oh yeah, and history. No biggie."

Life Is Strange is a Faction Paradox story.

For realsies.

edited 26th Mar '15 2:12:55 PM by unnoun

So, since I don't really bother to get out enough, I also watched the first three episodes of the new series today, and... I like it. I don't think it's great or anything so far, but I'm willing to give it a chance, and I've liked what I've seen. The most noticeable thing about them was that there was a change in scale; instead of the big, sprawling, plot-focused, stand-alone stories of the classic series, we instead have more small-scale, intimate, character-focused, connected stories. I can see why they changed it up, as the 'classic' stories of old Who just wouldn't work in the new series outside of the odd two-parter, thanks to the format change, and I do appreciate parts of it.

Compared to the classic series, there's more of a focus on character development and emotion here, which is a double-edged sword; on the one hand, the new series can be touching, emotional, and in-depth in ways that the classic series rarely was, but on the other hand, it can go a bit too far, being just a bit too sappy at times, almost as if they're trying too hard. But at the same time, we're still early on, and I also see what they're trying to do. RTD was trying to introduce the Doctor to a new generation, taking things one step at a time. He started with three simple, low-key stories; one in the present, one in the future (and in space,), and one in the past, and next up is the first feature-length story of the new series. Throughout all of this, the stories are told primarily through a young every-girl, Rose; the audience is taken in slowly and carefully, and through someone they can relate to while they gradually begin to get to know the Doctor.

All of that said, while I like this approach, it's still a different style of story-telling compared to the classic series, though if I want more of that, I can just listen to some Big Finish. The new show's still everything that the 1996 movie should have been, and then some.

Were you surprised to enjoy the start of series 1?

Not really, but neither was I was expecting to enjoy it; I wasn't expecting anything either way. I went into it with an open mind, and so, when I finally watched it, I wasn't surprised or dismayed because I didn't have many preexisting conceptions of it.

You picked an appropriate time to watch that episode. I'm pretty sure Rose came out exactly 10 years ago today.

He loosens up as the series goes on. Still undecided about the latest Doctor, but that's neither here nor there.

edited 26th Mar '15 3:45:09 PM by HextarVigar

Who loosens up? The Doctor? Because I didn't really mention him at all.

I was just about to ask what you thought of 9, actually.

It's kind of early to tell. So far, he seems like a friendly, somewhat manic and rather likeable chap, but one without a lot of patience. He's also one of the more alien doctors, calling humans 'stupid apes' while still being rather fond of them, or at least of what they can one day achieve, and as The Unquiet Dead shows, he doesn't really abide by humanity's rules or customs. And again, he doesn't have a lot of patience; if you tick him off, he can be rather abrasive. He's basically a Jerk with a Heart of Gold; generally a good guy, but one who is perfectly honest about what he thinks.

And of course, there's the Time War. While I do think there was more that you could have done with Gallifrey, it does create a noticeable change in the Doctor compared to prior incarnations; he's a sadder, more somber man, who has been deeply hurt by the fact that he is now the last of his race. He may never have liked his race much, but that doesn't change the fact that he's now one of a kind. It's basically an attempt to give the Doctor more angst and depth, but I'm not sure how I feel about resorting to a Deus Angst Machina to do so.

But overall, I like Nine, though it's still a bit early to make any definite thoughts on him.

edited 26th Mar '15 5:29:03 PM by kkhohoho

I haven't seen Veep yet, but I find it very hard to believe that anyone could improve on The Thick of It, American or otherwise. That show was pure gold.

What do you think of comparisons between 9 and 4? Apparently you actually started with Classic Who and are now watching New Who for the first time? If that's the case, we're an interesting match because I've done the opposite. I was done with Matt Smith before I started Classic Who. Kept up with Capaldi as I watched Classic Who. I'm currently done with Seeds of Doom but have not started Masque yet.

Personally I agree with the idea that 9 is a Darker and Edgier 4, as well as 11 being heavily inspired by 2, though it doesn't sound like you're far enough to judge that. And 12 being inspired by 1, of course.

edited 26th Mar '15 4:25:06 PM by SolipSchism

I wouldn't say that. 9 has some of 4's manic behavior and alien nature, but he's not nearly as calm and aloof as 9, and so isn't quite as alien either. While he may borrow some of 4's traits, I can't say that 9 is a 'darker and edgier 4', at least at this point.

The latest Doctor is sort of a cross between one and two; older fellow, kind of lacks a sense of humor.

edited 26th Mar '15 4:59:30 PM by HextarVigar