Vote for your favourite TV Dr Who! Plus series discussion...

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 00:51
VIEWED: 14412
PAGE 1 of 1

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 4:48 AM

I hear tell that Tennent is cool, but what do y'all say?

The laughing Chrisisall

TRAVELER

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:02 AM

I liked Tom Baker. He had a great sense of humor.
He was always handing out jellybabies.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

LWAVES

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 10:58 AM

My favourites would be (in order):
Peter Davison
David Tennant and Tom Baker
Matt Smith
Patrick Troughton
Sylvester McCoy

The best would be (in order):
Tom Baker
David Tennant
Matt Smith
Peter Davison
Patrick Troughton
Sylvester McCoy

I can't be arsed to work out the rest of them.

I've seen this show since a couple of episodes into Tom Baker's original run so I guess that makes him 'My Doctor'. And I've seen as many of the pre-Baker episodes as I can. I think that it's a great testament to the show that it has lasted all these years, kept it's original fans and brought in new ones. It even seems to be conquering America.

So Chris, have you begun watching the show or thinking of watching it?
I could give you some pointers towards the best places to start if you are thinking about starting.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

DAVESHAYNE

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:22 PM

Tom Baker! The warmest and most approachable Dr. He also has some of the best companions.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

So Chris, have you begun watching the show or thinking of watching it?
I could give you some pointers towards the best places to start if you are thinking about starting.

I was thinking maybe my Son & I should see it- was thinking of starting with the Tennent series, but everyone seems to love Tom Baker...

The laughing Chrisisall

EVILDINOSAUR

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:53 PM

I haven't seen all the doctors, unfortunately. If anyone can point out some good episodes that I might be able to find of them I'd appreciate it. I believe the ones I have not seen are 2, 5, 7, and 8. Obviously I know 8 is only in the TV movie, I just haven't gotten to watching that yet.

Of the doctor's I've seen, I can't really rate them, they're all good in their own ways. I will admit that 10 and 4 are probably my favorites, they're very similar in many ways. 11 is also pretty good. 9 was ok, had he had more time in the role I think I may have liked him more.

I didn't really care for 6, but I think that's more the scripts he had than the actor himself. 1 was pretty interesting, very different from all other incarnations. I have to admit it was hilarious watching how easy it was for him to defeat the Daleks on their first appearance. I also didn't really care for 3, I'm not sure, something about him I just didn't like.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

JONGSSTRAW

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 1:18 PM

Tom Baker was my favorite. I couldn't watch anyone else.

PHOENIXROSE

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 1:30 PM

My personal favorite? Matt Smith. However, I enjoyed the entire new series, starting with Chris Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, and Tennant was undeniably brilliant. There's actually a few bits of continuity that might make it worth it to start watching the new series at the beginning.
(I haven't watched the old series, but Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor seems quite beloved, and David Tennant reportedly based his Doctor somewhat on Peter Davison, the Fifth Doctor and his idol when he was younger.)

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

ECGORDON

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 2:07 PM

I wouldn't dare rate the earlier Doctors until I had a chance to see more of their episodes. I have seen all of the new series beginning with Eccleston, and I enjoyed him a lot, was disappointed he quit so quickly, but it took less than one episode for me to accept Tennant in the role. I have yet to do that with Matt Smith, and other than the fact that she is very pretty I don't care for Karen Gillan as Amy Pond. Arthur Darvill as Rory is another matter. He's great.

I know Tom Baker is regarded very highly by long-time fans, but the few of his shows I saw back when PBS was repeating it in the 70s were so cheesy I couldn't appreciate it, but I do intend to go back and watch as many of the classic series as I can one of these days. Many are available on DVD and/or streaming from Netflix. After Elizabeth Sladen appeared in Series Two of the revival I went back and watched the story arc just prior to her arrival, which was "The Green Death," which featured the last episodes with Katy Manning as the companion. Elizabeth arrived in "The Time Warrior," and that was with No. 3, Jon Pertwee. I liked those episodes much more than I had expected.

LILI

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:03 PM

Oh, David Tennant is probably my favorite, but Matt Smith has grown on me very quickly. Tennant's Doctor was so emotional and able to tug at the heart strings, it was engrossing and could make me very happy or leave me sobbing. Matt Smith, on the other hand, is excellent at portraying the madness and brilliance and total badass-ness that is the Doctor; I've laughed and cheered a lot more during recent episodes. Chris Eccleston didn't last long, but he put a very cynical edge on the Doctor that I'm really not sure whether I liked or not. I tried to Netflix some of the old episodes with Tom Baker, since his image is synonymous with Doctor Who, but the terrible special effects and somewhat stilted dialogue did not encourage me to keep watching. Those are all I've seen.

Facts are stubborn things.

STORYMARK

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

So Chris, have you begun watching the show or thinking of watching it?
I could give you some pointers towards the best places to start if you are thinking about starting.

I was thinking maybe my Son & I should see it- was thinking of starting with the Tennent series, but everyone seems to love Tom Baker...

The laughing Chrisisall

You can watch the new series without seeing any of the old ones. But don't start with Tennant, start with Eccleston. It's just the one season, but it does set up much of what comes later with Tennant.

Tom Baker is great, but those shows are sooooo dated. They're still great if you grew up on them, but if you don't have that nostalgia salve, it can be pretty damned hokey. Now, with your taste in vintage SciFi, you could probably roll with it. Your son... might be a harder sell.

Id say start with Eccleston, and go on through Tennant (and eventually Smith). If you fall in love with the universe, then go back and revisit some of the older tales.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'd say start with Eccleston, and go on through Tennant (and eventually Smith). If you fall in love with the universe, then go back and revisit some of the older tales.

Sounds good; will do. Thanks, Story.

The laughing Chrisisall

LWAVES

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'd say start with Eccleston, and go on through Tennant (and eventually Smith). If you fall in love with the universe, then go back and revisit some of the older tales.

Sounds good; will do. Thanks, Story.

The laughing Chrisisall

I completely agree with what Story says. Start with Eccleston as you get the back story to why the Doctor is this way at this particular time. Also you get Rose's introduction and some other characters.
Also as you haven't been through a Doctor's regeneration it can lead to the familar feeling of 'he's not as good as the last one.' Tennant won me over straight away but it took me a couple of episodes to get used to Matt Smith. Now I think he's excellent. For the youngest actor playing the oldest Doctor he really nailed the eccentric-ness of the role. I'm used to going through the changes of Doctors (being an classic fan) and there is always an adjustment period. But for everything that changes in him there is something that stays the same. Each one is still the Doctor - just different - but still the Doctor.

If/when you do go back to Tom Baker I'd suggest City Of Death, The Deadly Assassin and of course Genesis Of The Daleks as a great starting point.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

IMNOTHERE

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

If/when you do go back to Tom Baker I'd suggest City Of Death, The Deadly Assassin and of course Genesis Of The Daleks as a great starting point.

Also, although the modern series is self-explanatory, the events in Genesis of the Daleks are pretty significant to the whole Daleks/Time War storyline.

I think Tom Baker is the definitive Doctor - in the years after the original series was cancelled, although there had been 3-4 subsequent Doctors, if someone wanted to go to a fancy dress party, or if a comedy show wanted to do a Doctor Who sketch, they'd most likely break out the floppy hat, long scarf and bag of jelly babies.

(In the UK, 'Who has always been mainstream TV with huge public recognition, and frequently parodied even when it had been off the air for a decade)

The style of acting in the modern show is so different from the new that its hard to make objective comparisons, but David Tennant is probably the best actor to take on the role... but Tom Baker is still the icon.

PENGUIN

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:35 PM

I only know the rebooted series.

Matt Smith was my first doctor, and my favorite.

Can we talk about tall, redhead companions??

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

IMNOTHERE

Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Penguin:

Can we talk about tall, redhead companions??

What?

(With all due respect to Ms Tate, maybe that wasn't who you were thinking of

)

STORYMARK

Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:02 AM

I would so go to the Special Hell....

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

DAVESHAYNE

Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Penguin:
I only know the rebooted series.

Matt Smith was my first doctor, and my favorite.

It's usually the case that your first Dr. is your favorite.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

OPTIMUS1998

Thursday, November 10, 2011 4:57 AM

Hey Chris, if you have netflix, pretty much the whole run, eccleston-smith is available for streaming. @ least the last i checked.

I personally started w/ Eccleston, but David Tennant is, and will always be MY Doctor.

I was a Lima loser for 29 years before "glee" introduced us to the term. -ME

CALHOUN

Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:01 AM

I've watched Dr Who for 30yrs or so and I think this new guy (Matt Smith) is brilliant! I hope he stays on for quite a while.

Stetsons are cool

Fezs are cool

PHOENIXROSE

Thursday, November 10, 2011 4:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:
Stetsons are cool

Fezs are cool

*fansquee* Bow ties are cool!

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

STORYMARK

Thursday, November 10, 2011 4:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by optimus1998:
Hey Chris, if you have netflix, pretty much the whole run, eccleston-smith is available for streaming. @ least the last i checked.

Still there, though they only go up through Smith's first year. They won't have the most recent run until after it comes out on DVD.

Also, Chris, just FYI, there are currently 5 seasons available (via streaming or DVD) of the current series, but there's also a group of 4 specials set between seasons 4 and 5 (The Next Doctor, Waters of Mars and The End of Time prts 1&2), which wrap up Tennant's run.

ETA: Oddly, The Next Doctor is no longer available for streaming, but the rest still are.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

TRAVELER

Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:30 PM

I think it was the jelly babies that hooked me.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 11, 2011 4:45 AM

That's so funny!

The laughing Chrisisall

FREMDFIRMA

Friday, November 11, 2011 8:14 AM

Tom Baker, hands down.

And yes, Jelly Babies, lol - and the ridiculous scarf, to the point where I actually HAVE one, in company colors no less.

-F

JAKE7

Friday, November 11, 2011 5:51 PM

Tom Baker and David Tennant tied for first
Peter Davidson and Christopher Eccelston tied for second.

--------------
MAL: Everybody's makin' a fuss.
***********
"They just float out there, sending out raver breeding parties..."

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 11, 2011 9:46 PM

Hey guys, we started with the Tennent Christmas episode- we'll muddle through without seeing the first season, maybe later. Anyway Sonisall & I are thrilled! Good show! Love this Tennent dude. I'll have to read up on the Timelord & such. Off to watch another now at Sonisall's demand.

Cheers!

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 11, 2011 11:27 PM

Okay, instant fans here. We push on with with the third ep...

The laughing Chrisisall

ECGORDON

Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:04 AM

Not sure why you decided to skip over Eccleston's year. There are a couple of plot threads that carry over into the Tennant stories that you should have seen first.

Also, I'm sure you'll recognize one of the guest stars in "School Reunion."

CHRISISALL

Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Not sure why you decided to skip over Eccleston's year. There are a couple of plot threads that carry over into the Tennant stories that you should have seen first.

Also, I'm sure you'll recognize one of the guest stars in "School Reunion."

Basically, Sonisall liked Tennent at first sight (as I conjured he would) and we'd seen Eccleston in Heroes, and he didn't seem to cotton to his style. Personally, I'd have started with the first series, but I didn't want Sonisall to get turned off. He can always go back to see it (I know I will now), but my guess is Tennent is HIS Doctor, and no one else will suffice after this. I'm just amazed how FAST he took to this show.
And yeah, looks like Giles is in the next one.

I am not remotely unamused.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:25 AM

OH, and cool thing- both Sonisall & I are HUGE Prisoner fans, so it's funny to see Ron Granier's name as the theme writer!!

LWAVES

Saturday, November 12, 2011 10:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
OH, and cool thing- both Sonisall & I are HUGE Prisoner fans, so it's funny to see Ron Granier's name as the theme writer!!

The theme tune has been as much a part of the show as anything else. There have been good and not so good versions. I personally like Peter Howell's arrangement that ends out Tom Baker's era and goes through Peter Davison's. Although the one used during Tennant's run is a very close second and sounds great with an orchestral backing.

Glad you're both loving the show. Just remember that after Tennant's regular series there are some specials that finish off his run. Plus the other Xmas specials. Might be worth checking out an episode guide to get them in the right order as they do contain continuing themes.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CHRISISALL

Saturday, November 12, 2011 10:49 AM

Thanks!
Now, how in the world would I ever make a cutaway model of Tardis...???

The laughing Chrisisall

PHOENIXROSE

Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Now, how in the world would I ever make a cutaway model of Tardis...???

You'd need to figure out how to bend space, if not time.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, November 12, 2011 6:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Now, how in the world would I ever make a cutaway model of Tardis...???

You'd need to figure out how to bend space, if not time.

Heh, I actually figured out a simple way. Might try it sometime...

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Sunday, November 13, 2011 3:53 AM

Oh my Buddha! This is nearly Firefly quality! I am SO loving it! Sonisall as well! When Rose's BF stayed on the alternate Earth, there were tears....

The tearful Chrisisall

LWAVES

Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Oh my Buddha! This is nearly Firefly quality! I am SO loving it! Sonisall as well! When Rose's BF stayed on the alternate Earth, there were tears....

The tearful Chrisisall

If you were in tears at that just wait until a particular upcoming beach scene.
But the one that got me was the end of Tennant's run. "He will knock four times." When I realised the real meaning behind this I went from a moment of happy 'Yeah, he did it' straight to a moment of 'Oh f***.' One of the best bits of TV ever IMO.
I shall say no more so as not to spoil it.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

DREAMTROVE

Sunday, November 13, 2011 12:57 PM

Tom Baker is the king, but Tennant is also the king. We recently pondered this very question, so me and sis decided to what the docs intermingled, in random ep, and we really love them all differently, but we had to concede to the awesomeness of Tennant.

As for Amy Pond...

Your son will be eternally grateful for the introduction.

You don't actually get much of Amy Pond and David Tennant together, she comes with Matt Smith, but start with Eccleston, at the beginning. Most of the seasons are Tennant in the middle.

Amy Pond is for those times when Hermione Granger has a headache ;) but Martha and Rose are pretty hot. But OMFG.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

PHOENIXROSE

Monday, November 14, 2011 12:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Oh my Buddha! This is nearly Firefly quality! I am SO loving it! Sonisall as well! When Rose's BF stayed on the alternate Earth, there were tears....

Oh man, the tears haven't even started... And Rose's story isn't even the most gut-wrenching, imo.

(Side note, one of the very few things I would consider changing my last name to is 'Tyler.' Just because, well, how cool would that be?)

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

IMNOTHERE

Monday, November 14, 2011 2:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Heh, I actually figured out a simple way. Might try it sometime...

Just reverse the polarity of the 4th dimension...

I.e. build it inside-out, with the outside detail of the blue box on the inside and everything else (literally) outside.

...and yes, I think the producers were taking a very, very close look at Buffy/Angel and maybe Firefly when they rebooted the series. A couple of seasons down the line there's an alien market scene that is very Firefly.

CHRISISALL

Monday, November 14, 2011 2:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:

Oh man, the tears haven't even started...

I gotta go buy some tissues...

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Monday, November 14, 2011 2:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:

Just reverse the polarity of the 4th dimension...

Been there done that. Clearly you never did. I didn't need to go through my teens TWICE. But hey, how many times can you change time?

OPPYH

Monday, November 14, 2011 4:20 AM

Tom Baker. I grew up watching him.
I thought the sfx were hokey back then, so when I revisit episodes on Netflix I'm not shocked at how bad they are. There is almost a special charm to them.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

DREAMTROVE

Monday, November 14, 2011 2:03 PM

I concur. Tom Baker was great. And Sarah Jane :(

They were slower paced, but there was a certain charm to them. I grew up with Tom Baker, and he was my fave doc, but I didn't dislike the others, they all had a certain charm. I was recently rewatching some william hartnell. I guess the rapport with the companion is key. The new ones I think to avoid the obvious conclusion they've started giving companions boyfriends, but that only seems to raise the sexual tension. I've only seen a couple of the new Matt Smith ones, but I had this sense of retargeting stories to a younger audience. New writer? Anyone else notice this?

I thought the Eccleston and Tennant shows were incredibly dark. Oh, and can we talk about how hot Amy Pond is. Um, as in, um. I don't remember Tom Baker shows having Kiss-o-grams. I think that might be a little more fun than a strip-o-gram, though I got the feeling she did that too, but that it was edited out for kiddies.

Speaking of hot, I noticed this happen in the episode with the clones and the 7 day war...

Yowza. She's actually Peter Davison's actual daughter, and Tennant quit the show and ran off with her. Is that incest? And more importantly, why are we not seeing this fling on camera?

I guess this is why Dr. Who always worked better for me than, say, Star Trek, because the character relationships are stronger, and if the sci-fi worlds are sometimes going to be a bit hokey, which they always are, then you need this.

Anyway, new who is just good. No complaints here. And Amy Pond. Yikes.

Oh, and Rose too. Did anyone catch Billie Piper auditioning for the role to be the next Dr. Who? If I recall, not once, but twice, and some other role. She wants back in badly. Also, Tennant wants not in. Bad break I guess.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

STORYMARK

Monday, November 14, 2011 6:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Hey guys, we started with the Tennent Christmas episode- we'll muddle through without seeing the first season, maybe later.

....whatever dude... [rolleyes]

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 4:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:

Yowza. She's actually Peter Davison's actual daughter, and Tennant quit the show and ran off with her.

They'll have some happy years together, no doubt.

The laughing Chrisisall

DREAMTROVE

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 5:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:

Yowza. She's actually Peter Davison's actual daughter, and Tennant quit the show and ran off with her.
They'll have some happy years together, no doubt.

The laughing Chrisisall

If not, they can just go back and try again ;)

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

PHOENIXROSE

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 6:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
why are we not seeing this fling on camera?

My guess? Because on camera it would be incest, since she was technically his daughter on the show. (And he didn't quit the show to run off with her, they've been dating since before his run was up)
But yes, that relationship seems a bit meta, seeing as how he grew up watching Davison and idolized him and now he's marrying his daughter, who is the Fifth Doctor's real-life daughter playing the role of the Tenth Doctor's daughter and then marrying him in real life... Breaks my brain a little, but it's sweet.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

DREAMTROVE

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 12:41 PM

;)

Actually, might have made good awkward onscreen chemistry. My understanding was they hooked up shooting that ep, but we don't see them together afterwards.

I gather he had a bad break with producers over something, but seeing as he just married into the family, or his own family, now there's no escape. He'll be back. I hope she will, she has a certain spunk.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

STORYMARK

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 5:01 PM

The Doctor doesn't hook up with anyone. It's part of the BBC's family-friendly charter for the show.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

PHOENIXROSE

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 6:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
I gather he had a bad break with producers over something

I never gathered that. His departure was planned well in advance, and you can spot all the foreshadowing of it and stuff, and Matt Smith was cast months before he appeared as the Eleventh Doctor. Maybe something happened later on, but I don't think there was any bad blood leading up to David Tennant's departure. He'll be back for some kind of multi-Doctor special, I'm sure. They're probably planning one for the fiftieth anniversary.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

STORYMARK

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7:38 PM

Yeah, I don't think there was any bad blood. Davies wanted to difinitively cap his run, and Moffat wanted to start fresh with his own Doctor.

There were also other factors, such as his stage work, and injuries sustained doing them. Part of the non seasons of 4 specials was due to him playing Hamlet with the Royal Shakespear Company, during which he injured his back, cutting the run short.

From what I understand, Tennant didn't want to leave yet (Ive heard his impassioned "I don't want to go" cry in his final episode was added by the actor), but understood the reasons for replacing him, and agreed amicably, if somewhat sadly.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

STORYMARK

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7:47 PM

Meanwhile....

It hit the news yesterday that David Yates (director of the last few Harry Potter flicks) has entered a deal with the BBC to develop a Doctor Who feature film, with the aim being to release it in 3-4 years.

The bad news - it will be completely unassociated with the series.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

PHOENIXROSE

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
David Yates (director of the last few Harry Potter flicks) ... Doctor Who feature film ... will be completely unassociated with the series.

Owwwww, my soul is hurting.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

DREAMTROVE

Friday, November 18, 2011 1:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
The Doctor doesn't hook up with anyone. It's part of the BBC's family-friendly charter for the show.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

Story,

Imagination?

PR,

He said so in an interview, that's where I gathered it. It wasn't speculation.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

PHOENIXROSE

Friday, November 18, 2011 5:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
He said so in an interview, that's where I gathered it. It wasn't speculation.

I can find nothing of the sort. Link or it never happened

(BTW, what I can find in terms of interviews mentioning why he left the show:
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/623834/david_tennant_on_leaving_do
ctor_who_behind.html
http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/david_tennant/ )

And this one, too:

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, November 19, 2011 1:18 AM

That was a great interview. Thanks PR!

The laughing Chrisisall

IMNOTHERE

Sunday, November 20, 2011 9:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
BTW, what I can find in terms of interviews mentioning why he left the show:

The burn-out rate for Doctors is quite high... One factor touched on the the interview that may not be obvious to US viewers is that, here in Blighty, its not some quirky cult show on cable - its one of the highest-profile roles on British TV, with intense media scrutiny. (The Xmas Specials go out, on one of the two main terrestrial channels, early evening on Christmas Day and often top the ratings). When Tennant talks about media interest in 'the succession' he's not talking about genre magazines and crowds at SF convention: he's talking about the mainstream paparazzi.

However, while visiting the US recently I passed a bike shop with a sign in the window saying:

"I ride with fenders* now. Fenders are cool."

...so the BBCs recent efforts to "break" the show in the US might be working. At least in Berkeley CA :-)

(* My USAian is a bit patchy but, by cunningly observing the artifact hung beside the sign I deduce that a "fender" is probably a mudguard, and not a device to stop boats banging against the quay).

LWAVES

Monday, November 21, 2011 10:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:
My USAian is a bit patchy but, by cunningly observing the artifact hung beside the sign I deduce that a "fender" is probably a mudguard, and not a device to stop boats banging against the quay.

A 'fender' is a bumper to us Brits, rather than a mudguard. Or at least that's the way I always figured it.

Yeah, I completely agree about the profile of the show in this country. Along with Only Fools And Horses (in it's prime) it's the one show that could take on (and beat) the soaps on Christmas Day. It's a huge huge show that spans so many generations of viewers, especially since the newer series launch.
Tennant touched on a big part of it as well from the actors point of view. Once you've been the Doctor you will never get away from it. It doesn't matter how much success they have after they will always be known for Doctor Who. In much the same way as actors who play James Bond, or those in a major Star Wars or Star Trek role.
I always think that was a big part of Christopher Ecclestons reasons for leaving so soon. I don't think he knew what he was getting in to and of course when the show relaunched and became successful it hit him. Here was an actor that usually did more serious, quieter roles and suddenly he was this iconic figure.

Maybe some US fans could elaborate more on gow big the show is in America? Is it a cult show or does it have a wider audience?
I got the impression from the pilot screening and various other events that it had achieved 'some' level of success beyond being a cult show.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

ECGORDON

Monday, November 21, 2011 12:03 PM

I think it is still a cult show here, since the reboot has only aired on either the Sci-Fi Channel and BBC-America. I doubt it would last very long on one of the major networks, but then again hardly any sci-fi lasts very long here.

PHOENIXROSE

Monday, November 21, 2011 4:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
I always think that was a big part of Christopher Ecclestons reasons for leaving so soon. I don't think he knew what he was getting in to and of course when the show relaunched and became successful it hit him. Here was an actor that usually did more serious, quieter roles and suddenly he was this iconic figure.

I had heard that he agreed to only one year from the very beginning for that reason; he was fine with helping re-launch the show by lending his acting reputation to it, but didn't want to go more than a year. You could be right, though, it could be that he came to that conclusion later on.

Quote:
Maybe some US fans could elaborate more on gow big the show is in America? Is it a cult show or does it have a wider audience?

The audience is getting wider, I think, but it would still be classified as a cult show. A couple million people watch it on BBC America, but that doesn't truly mean success; a show here isn't a huge success until it breaks 20-30 million. Although, that's for network TV, there might be lower numbers for cable success. Still higher than what Who currently gets, though.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

STORYMARK

Monday, November 21, 2011 5:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
The audience is getting wider, I think, but it would still be classified as a cult show. A couple million people watch it on BBC America, but that doesn't truly mean success; a show here isn't a huge success until it breaks 20-30 million. Although, that's for network TV, there might be lower numbers for cable success. Still higher than what Who currently gets, though.

That it is. Though I havn't seen how the second, post-hiatus half of the recent season did, the first half back in the spring showed a drop in British viewers, accompanied by an increase in US viewers.

And yeah, for cable, a show is considered a hit with far fewer viewers. The Walking Dead is the biggest cable show ever, and it's peak has been around 8 million.

Who's American peak, ratings wise, has been about a million and a half. So, it's still a ways off from being a huge hit here.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

IMNOTHERE

Monday, November 21, 2011 6:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:

That it is. Though I havn't seen how the second, post-hiatus half of the recent season did, the first half back in the spring showed a drop in British viewers, accompanied by an increase in US viewers.

I think they've taken a slight risk - the last series seemed to be pitched at a more adult/SF-liking audience at the risk of alienating the UK child audience (the other thing about the show in the UK is that it hits the elusive 'ages 7 to 70' demographic). By 'adult' I mean wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey temporal paradox plots (e.g. River Song's life story). I do like Moffat's mindfrack stories (other writers treat time travel as just a way of getting to interesting places) but I wonder what the kids make of it all. Not sure how many 7-year-olds know who Richard Nixon was, either.

LWAVES

Monday, November 21, 2011 9:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
I had heard that he agreed to only one year from the very beginning for that reason; he was fine with helping re-launch the show by lending his acting reputation to it, but didn't want to go more than a year. You could be right, though, it could be that he came to that conclusion later on.

Hey PR,
This is my opinion garnered from interviews with Eccleston, Billie Piper and Russell T Davies from before the show started airing to the end of the first season. It's also me reading between the lines a bit with exactly what they said and the way they said it.
I too heard that Eccleston was on board for only a year, I believe they all basically were because nobody really knew how a new Doctor Who would go down with the audience so one year didn't commit anybody long term. The show definitely fitted into the definition of 'taking a gamble' and one interview with RTD just before the first episode aired had him saying that he'd be very happy just to get to a second season. He thought they had something worthy and that he understood the need to please the classic fans and bring in new ones during a primetime Saturday teatime slot. Not exactly a small task especially with all the publicity surrounding the relaunch.
Of course it became a big hit really quickly and I gathered none of them expected it to get so big, so fast. I think this along with the added attention and the fact that he wasn't signed on to a second year aided Eccleston in his decision. Like you said he'd used his 'clout' to relaunch the show, he waited to see what the outcome was and when that had been achieved very successfully he announced he was leaving at the end of the season. Bearing in mind as well that his announcement came very soon after the relaunch (about 2 or 3 episodes in if I remember correctly).

Of course this could all just be my right or wrong interpretation of events. Who knows (pun intended)?
I certainly don't blame him for going, whatever the reasons behind it were. He helped bring back one of my all-time fave shows. Plus if Eccleston had continued we wouldn't of had Tennant replace him and IMO he took the show even further and made it a monster success.

My hope now is that when the 50th Anniversary comes around in 2013 that the they manage to get the three new Doctors together for a special show. It's been done several times before and it will be worth watching in so many ways.

And as a trivia point that US fans may not know (and maybe UK fans) but two big mysteries started on the same day in November in 1963. The very first ever episode of Doctor Who aired on the same day that JFK was assassinated. Leaving us with who killed Kennedy and who is the Doctor?

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

STORYMARK

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 12:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
Quote:

My hope now is that when the 50th Anniversary comes around in 2013 that the they manage to get the three new Doctors together for a special show. It's been done several times before and it will be worth watching in so many ways.

That's what most fans are hoping for, I think.

Though Id like them to include 8th Doctor Paul McGann as well. It wasn't his fault the TV movie was terrible, he was a pretty decent Doctor. And it'd work well title wise. They've done "The Three Doctors" and "The Five Doctors" already. Doing one with four is a natural fit.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME

ECGORDON

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 1:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
The very first ever episode of Doctor Who aired on the same day that JFK was assassinated.

Actually, it was the day after the assassination.

LWAVES

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 9:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
The very first ever episode of Doctor Who aired on the same day that JFK was assassinated.

Actually, it was the day after the assassination.

Okay, I stand corrected.
I knew I should have checked my trivia before posting that.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

LWAVES

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 9:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
That's what most fans are hoping for, I think.

Though Id like them to include 8th Doctor Paul McGann as well. It wasn't his fault the TV movie was terrible, he was a pretty decent Doctor. And it'd work well title wise. They've done "The Three Doctors" and "The Five Doctors" already. Doing one with four is a natural fit.

Just for completion they've also done The Two Doctors which starred Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton. So that would be 2, 3, and 5 so far (not counting 1 as that would be every other episode). So, doing The Four Doctors would make sense and Paul McGann should get another shot at it. Like you say it wasn't his fault, he did make a good Doctor just that the rest of it was terrible. Plus he still has age on his side.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

PHOENIXROSE

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
That was a great interview. Thanks PR!

Welcome. Another great interview: Tennant was just on Chris Hardwick's Nerdist podcast. He talks about getting cast as the Doctor before series one had even gone to air, which seems to confirm that Eccelson was only ever on for the one year.
Also, I got "The Complete David Tennant Years" boxset for my birthday, so I've just been on a Who binge. I have to say, there are not fewer tears upon re-watch. I love this show.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.