Maybe it's jsut because I'm new to the Doctor's fans (fanatics for you 19th century authors), but I'm really enjoying this series. Anybody know the easiest way to catch any of the earlier episodes in the States?
The best episode so far. This was really more about Charles Dickens and his "un-scrooging" of course, but that storyline was well done, and Dickens was wonderfully portrayed by Simon Callow. His moments with the Doctor were well played out.
I think that Eccleston is growing into his role very well. Not as much mugging this time around, and he continues to impress me with some of the subtleties he brings to the mystery behind this current incarnation of the Doctor. His knowing (guilty?) looks during the Gelph's discussion of the Time War were particularly interesting- reminiscent of his crying in the second episode.
I really like Rose- she's a very interesting companion, and I think she and the Doctor play off one another very well. Looking forward to seeing more of her, and though I suspect that by the end of the season, I'll have grown very fond of Eccleston, and will miss him next season, having Rose around to bridge the transition should help considerably. I just hope whoever the next Doctor is will have the chemistry these two have.
The only complaint I have is that this episode, like the previous two, don't really seem to capture the sense of urgency and imminent danger that I recall from many (if not all) of the previous stories of the Doctor. I think the single-part episode format that has been these past three episodes has been part of the problem, but I think they just haven't really presented us with any formidable adversaries either. This episode got the formula down better than the first two (and hey, zombies- always a plus with me), but I'm really looking forward to the multi-part storylines that will be coming out soon (I think as early as next episode?). The cliffhangers will hopefully crank the tension up considerably.
Anyone else out there still get chills just listening to and watching the opening credits after such a long hiatus?
The only complaint I have is that this episode, like the previous two, don't really seem to capture the sense of urgency and imminent danger that I recall from many (if not all) of the previous stories of the Doctor. I think the single-part episode format that has been these past three episodes has been part of the problem, but I think they just haven't really presented us with any formidable adversaries either. This episode got the formula down better than the first two (and hey, zombies- always a plus with me), but I'm really looking forward to the multi-part storylines that will be coming out soon (I think as early as next episode?). The cliffhangers will hopefully crank the tension up considerably.
I think that Eccleston is growing into his role very well. Not as much mugging this time around, and he continues to impress me with some of the subtleties he brings to the mystery behind this current incarnation of the Doctor. His knowing (guilty?) looks during the Gelph's discussion of the Time War were particularly interesting- reminiscent of his crying in the second episode.
I like the way that they are gradually revealing... something. Episode 2 let us see that he was the last Time Lord. Ep 3 has now revealed that there has been a Time War, which presumably ties in with the lack of other Time Lords now. Nice gradual reveal.
Cthulhudrew said:
The only complaint I have is that this episode, like the previous two, don't really seem to capture the sense of urgency and imminent danger that I recall from many (if not all) of the previous stories of the Doctor.
< snip >
The cliffhangers will hopefully crank the tension up considerably.
I agree; cliffhangers are so much part of everyday viewing now in soap operas it seems strange that the original cliffhanger program (Dr Who) isn't using the technique which others have snapped up Fingers crossed for the future...
Cthulhudrew said:
Anyone else out there still get chills just listening to and watching the opening credits after such a long hiatus?
I agree- I'm a bit skeptical about the redesign scheme they've chosen for the Daleks (supposedly spider-like), though I admit they do need a redesign of some sort (as much as I love the old look). Hope they turn out looking good, though.
I haven't heard whether the Cybermen are supposed to turn up this season or not, but I hope they do.
I am ashamed to confess to never watching The Doctor in my youth, so I am a newbie.
After the first episode (which I thought was pretty poor- I mean, a big plastic pile of goo as the bad guy and a really unconvincing fight scene!) I only kept watching due to its time slot making it easy watching fodder.
However, I think the episodes have continued to get better and now I like it. Afficionados may correct me, but the charming quirkiness seems to be a signature trade mark of the programme (presumably as it used to be?)
For all you long time fans I have a question- is this "Time War" we keep getting references to something which was revealed in previous series', or is this a new plot arc?
After the first episode (which I thought was pretty poor- I mean, a big plastic pile of goo as the bad guy and a really unconvincing fight scene!) I only kept watching due to its time slot making it easy watching fodder.
I'm a long time fan of the show, and I felt more or less the same about the first episode. Not poor, per se, but not exactly the Wow! I had been hoping for. It was mostly intended, as most people seem to suggest, as an intro to the series- which has been off the air for something like 15 years or so, IIRC.
The Nestene and the dummies (known as Autons, but not named in the story) were actually classic villains, but I agree that they were really not very convincingly portrayed as menaces in the pilot. Though I don't really recall them being all that scary originally, either.
However, I think the episodes have continued to get better and now I like it. Afficionados may correct me, but the charming quirkiness seems to be a signature trade mark of the programme (presumably as it used to be?)
For all you long time fans I have a question- is this "Time War" we keep getting references to something which was revealed in previous series', or is this a new plot arc?
So far, you (as a newbie) know as much as all of us old hands. There was never any reference to a Time War in the original series that I recall, and the Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann versions of the Doctor never dealt with it (the last two versions of the Doctor).
From what I've read online, there was a series of Doctor Who books recently, featuring the Paul McGann Doctor (the 8th) that dealt with a sort of war among the Time Lords of Gallifrey, and ended with only a couple of them known to have survived (I think there is a reference to four, including the Doctor and the Master). Whether this is what the Time War is about or not remains to be seen, though I suspect the tv show has gone in its own direction- the story, again from what I've read online, seems really continuity heavy- probably too much so for a show that has had such a long hiatus and is trying to gain new fans. It would be overwhelming to throw that many references to Doctor Who continuity into things. So I'd be very surprised to see that happen.
Until then, the hints we've gotten so far- the Doctor is the last Gallifreyan, the Time Wars wiped out whole races (the Gelph from episode 3, for example), and the Doctor may or may not be at fault for the whole thing.
I think we'll be getting more answers really soon. From what I've gathered *SPOILERS AHEAD*
there is a new companion showing up, possibly as early as next episode, who is a time traveller like the Doctor, though not a Gallifreyan. There has to be a connection to the Time Wars there somewhere. I also suspect that the soon to appear Daleks will be tied in to things somehow.
Fingers crossed for the future...
