Doctor Who

[Elliot Kane]

If it IS what it looks like, they've managed the best press blackout ever, I have to give them that!

A lot of good moments, but one of my favourites has to be: "The aliens are coming, and they have a message for the people of Earth..." "Ex-ter-min-ate! Ex-ter-min-ate! Ex-ter-min-ate!" ;D

[SPS]

Sounds like I'm missing alot. Thankfully where I live has cable access so I can start catching up on Friday with the Sci-Fi airings.

[Elliot Kane]

Very solid series ending, I thought, overall. There are a few skate over very fast bits, but overall it worked and is certainly a good overall ending to Davies' run.

I can't help thinking it lost a bit of steam towards the end, as the tying up takes a bit TOO long once the action is over, but nonetheless, I did like it.

Some very nice twists, too. Especially the parts where the odd throwaway reference or novelty item turns out to be crucial after all.

So yeah - liked it

[Gray Lensman]

Overall, I found the ending enjoyable. Although there were some bits that are incredibly silly if you think about it too much.

They actually found a way to make Donna enjoyable, too, if only for a few minutes. ;D Although her ending was probably inevitable, I kind of wish they'd let Donna keep all that Time Lord knowledge. She was vastly more interesting with it, and it made her a lot less irritating. But I can see what they were trying to do with that.

Davros was sheer greatness throughout; this may go down as one of his more memorable stories, all in all. I don't believe for a second he's gone for good, either. He's too good of a villain for that.

Good to know that David Tennant will be the Doctor for a while longer, though. And that they now have a way to keep Tennant around even after the Doctor regenerates again.

Oh, yes, and the Christmas special should be a lot of fun. About time they came back...

[Elliot Kane]

SPOILER: Click to show

I'm wondering if Tennant now counts as the 10th AND 11th Doctors. Bit of a headache, there, really, but a nice twist.

Loved the bit with Eve Myles (Who plays Gwen in Torchwood but who also played the Welsh servant girl in the Gelf ep). The Doctor and Rose commenting on how much Gwen looks like the other girl made me laugh out loud.

Rose finally getting her happy ending was cool, even though it certainly means her story is now completely over. She CAN never return, really, after that. A shame in a way, as she was/is by far the best Companion from the new series, being kind of the quintessential essence of the Companion role. And also so believable you could walk down any London street and meet a dozen girls or more just like her. The girl next door, indeed.

Donna was always likely to leave (Thankfully!) after one series, as Catherine Tate is far too busy and far too popular as a comedienne to tie her future to Doctor Who for TOO long. She still grated, but nowhere near at the level of Runaway Bride, thankfully! I'm quite saddened that they didn't kill Donna, but then I've always been a vindictive bastard ;D

'Mega-brain Donna' was fun for the five minutes she was around, but would have been VERY wearing in large doses, and I think they were right to keep that to the minimum required by the plot. She would also have made the Doctor redundant in his own show, which would not be a good plan.

I thought the use of the hand and the 'double Doctor' was very imaginative and well thought out, though the instant the second Doctor mentioned having only a single heart I guessed his fate. The only real reason Rose is in the story is to give her her happy ending after all, and that was well telegraphed.

I was a bit disappointed by the Osterhagen key. What a dumb idea. I really can't see any organisation creating the thing, let alone ever using it. Even as a revenge plan, it doesn't really work. Humanity is nothing if not tenacious. However, it did give the Daleks a GREAT moment, where they listen patiently to all the threats, then teleport the threateners into captivity. Funny ;D

I guess it stands or falls as a story on whether or not Davros would have built over-rides to allow him control of all Daleks at will, and... he would, wouldn't he? He's the ultimate control freak. It makes perfect sense for him as a character - and allowed him to be defeated by his OWN control-freakery. Nice touch.

Loved the way Dalek Caan played everyone to bring HIS master plan to fruition, too. Nice twist.

Davros is one of the great Who villains - he'll be back. Not TOO soon, though. He and the Daleks need a rest, now. Next time we see a Dalek, he needs to be as utterly dangerous as the one we saw in the episode Dalek - the unstoppable killing machine.

As usual, the Daleks do a LOT of damage before their defeat, but they are nonetheless in danger of both over-use and becoming less scary by virtue of that. Neither would be good.

Still... Three specials over the next year should get The Doctor and us a bit of a break before the inevitable S5 which will need some brand new Companions...

In the meantime, though, I think we saw the next Torchwood group...

[END SPOILERS]

[Gray Lensman]

All in all, that sounds about right.

The only problem I see with Davros having a master switch for the Daleks is... why did he allow the Supreme Dalek to order him around? Though I suppose Davros could have allowed him to think he was in control for his own nefarious purposes. Still, yes, Davros would never allow the Daleks to completely escape his control... he knows all too well what happens when they do. Which the Doctor would have known... and therefore, so would Donna.

Yeah, I think we have a new Torchwood team ahead... and I think it's quite a good idea. If it's who we've seen, it'll end up being a much more interesting group.

Rose's story is now over for good... but then, I think it has been ever since S2. This just wraps up the last loose end for her. I'll miss her, but I'd rather she not return after this.

I'm also looking forward to seeing who joins up next. But then, there are some great potential Companions already out there, especially once Moffat starts his run. Sally Sparrow or Jenny would be great, and knowing Moffat, I could eventually see a young River Song... lots of possibilities.

[Elliot Kane]

Sally or Jenny... or both! The last time the doc traveled with a relative was waaay back in William Hartnell's day with Susan. And that really was a very grandfather-granddaughter relationship. He's never really had a a father-child relationship with anyone, and Jenny seems as precocious and impossible to keep under the thumb as any Time Lady. That would be great.

Sally is cool for so many other reasons, not least of which is she's a complete counterpoint to Jenny. Where Jenny is excitable and impulsive, Sally is cool and calm and plans well.

I think they'd be fiends, working together ;D

[SPS]

There's an interesting rumor over at comic book resources Lying In the Gutters Column:

Tom Baker will be back in 2010.

It is unknown whether it will be as the Master or the Doctor. Baker says it will be as the Master, but a two or three Doctors episode would be cool, and I think Moffat could do a two or three doctors story that would work. But the Master idea seems more likely since it would probably be hard to get the 7th Doctor and his companions reunited.

And yes I would love to see Baker, Eccleston and Tennant together.

[Gray Lensman]

Interesting, SPS.

There have been rumblings over Baker coming back before. I know Baker once suggested that he'd wanted to return as the Master... IIRC, it was a joke, but I'm not entirely certain. Whichever, it never panned out. So for all I know, this could be the same kind of thing.

Then again, Moffat brought back Peter Davison, so a return appearance by the Fourth Doctor isn't entirely out of the question. There's a perfect point in time where Baker could be plucked away, too... say, right after "The Deadly Assassin", where he had no companions.

Would it happen? Darned if I know. A Baker/Tennant crossover would be awesome, though.

[Elliot Kane]

I can't see it being as The Master. He's too old but more importantly he's VASTLY too well known as The Doctor for it to really work.

They need someone like Alan Rickman to play The Master. Simm was great, don't get me wrong, but Rickman is the dream casting.

[SPS]

Storytelling Engines: Doctor Who

This is a fascinating thread on Doctor Who, and I have to agree with what Seavey says. Doctor Who is the perfect Storytelling Engine because it allows all the other ones.

[Elliot Kane]

Good find, SPS. That's absolutely spot on.

***

There are as usual many rumours floating around about upcoming Who - amongst the most interesting being that John Simm is due to make a return and (Not so good from my POV) that Catherine Tate might as well. Both in the tele-films that will be next year's Who rather than Moffat's upcoming series.

It seems that Tennant is also now 'very likely' to sign up for the next full season, which is great

[met]

linking in the possibilities left dangling in Silence in the Library would be cool - and be a series-spanning build-up where we discover why he trusted her so much. It was written by Moffat, so the continuity is there...

[SPS]

Confirmed: Tennant leaving Who

Very bad news. Tennant was awesome, and the 11th Doctor better fill the massive shoes Tennant will leave behind. Moffat will lessen the blow though, I'm sure.

[Gray Lensman]

Blah, that absolutely sucks. Tennant has had an extraordinary run as the Tenth Doctor, so much so that I can't envy anyone replacing him. On the other hand, Moffat will be starting his tenure with a clean slate... and I'm curious to see how this plays in to the future hinted at in "Silence In The Library".

Hopefully his replacement will be able to live up to the high standards of this series. Guess we'll see what Moffat has up his sleeve soon enough.

[rhiian]

i want to know how he's gonna stick around for 4 specials whilst the series ended with him morphin...

[Gray Lensman]

Not too hard to do. Tennant can always come back, just as the "Doctor" that grew from the Tenth Doctor's hand at the end of Season 4. It's the Tenth Doctor we're losing, not so much Tennant. Tennant can always return in the future if he ever needs to.

[Galadriel]

I don't know if it's mentioned here already, but I saw HP and the Goblet of Fire again and recognized Barty Crouch Jr. as David Tennant. I didn't saw that the first time I watched that movie, cuz I hadn't seen a Doctor Who episode before.

Btw, can anyone help me to find that one episode back called "Blink"? I want to introduce someone to Doctor Who and therefore I want the best episode I saw. Thx

[Elliot Kane]

2008 Xmas special - The Next Doctor - is absolutely freakin' awesome! Do not miss it!

[kitty]

My best mate (born pom) made his GF a Tardis cake for her birthday........................( it was delicious!)




^^ gotta love the dr. who fanatic brits