Been meaning to start a thread on this for years and never have for some reason. Big fan of both the original (what I've seen/remember of it...) and the rebooted series.
Originally Posted by vailpass:
Aren't these the highest rated Dr. Who episodes ever? In part that popularity has to be attributed to the writing being less "nerdy".
I'm not sure which episodes are the highest rated ever, but so far I haven't enjoyed the Doctor 11 series as much as I did the ones with Doctor 9 & 10. They're still good, but I think Moffatt is just better as a writer rather than a showrunner. I liked series 6 okay, because it did have some fun moments that were almost Star Wars-esque, but series 5 was one of my least favorite series to date. It was really boring and tedious to me aside from the Van gough and series finale episodes. I'll take the campy Absobaloff episode over "Victory of the Daleks," any day, but admittedly... both of those are terrible and rank among the worst of the modern Who episodes.
However, I do like Matt Smith as the Doctor. I just think the overall direction and team as a whole is missing something. I just finished watching Colin Baker's "Trial of the Timelord," series, and while it wasn't great, it wasn't as bad as I previously thought. I think that series 6 reminded me a bit of Colin's final season, and Matt's Doctor is a whimsical mix between Doctor 6 and 2.
They're potentially bringing Benedict Cumberbatch in as the new master in the up coming season 7, which is great, but with Benedict already playing in Sherlock, Star Trek 11, and the Hobbit- we may be Cumberbatch having a bit of a geekdom overload. However, if he does it. I think he'll do a fine job. The classic Master vs Valeyard vs the Doctor episodes from the Trial of the Time will be hard for any other master to beat though! [Reply]
Originally Posted by whoman69:
They are really trying to create an American niche.
I hope they do that very rarely. This show needs to stay British. When they've tried to be more American in the past it never worked out well. However, I think a Wild West episode is one that I'd still like to see. I'd love even more Time Travel episodes that harken back to the first Doctor-type adventures as well. It seems like when they're traveling back in type in recent episodes, the historical time settings are only minor background items. I'd love to see a more modern Aztec-type of episode. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Jawshco:
I'm not sure which episodes are the highest rated ever, but so far I haven't enjoyed the Doctor 11 series as much as I did the ones with Doctor 9 & 10. They're still good, but I think Moffatt is just better as a writer rather than a showrunner. I liked series 6 okay, because it did have some fun moments that were almost Star Wars-esque, but series 5 was one of my least favorite series to date. It was really boring and tedious to me aside from the Van gough and series finale episodes. I'll take the campy Absobaloff episode over "Victory of the Daleks," any day, but admittedly... both of those are terrible and rank among the worst of the modern Who episodes.
However, I do like Matt Smith as the Doctor. I just think the overall direction and team as a whole is missing something. I just finished watching Colin Baker's "Trial of the Timelord," series, and while it wasn't great, it wasn't as bad as I previously thought. I think that series 6 reminded me a bit of Colin's final season, and Matt's Doctor is a whimsical mix between Doctor 6 and 2.
They're potentially bringing Benedict Cumberbatch in as the new master in the up coming season 7, which is great, but with Benedict already playing in Sherlock, Star Trek 11, and the Hobbit- we may be Cumberbatch having a bit of a geekdom overload. However, if he does it. I think he'll do a fine job. The classic Master vs Valeyard vs the Doctor episodes from the Trial of the Time will be hard for any other master to beat though!
I'll bow to your subject knowledge which far exceeds mine. Thanks for the thought-out reply. [Reply]
I like this doctor a lot, but I've never liked rory, and as much as it suprises me to say it, amy has been around about a season and a half too long for my taste. And I think the two of them bring the total quality down for me.
Originally Posted by Jawshco:
However, I do like Matt Smith as the Doctor. I just think the overall direction and team as a whole is missing something. I just finished watching Colin Baker's "Trial of the Timelord," series, and while it wasn't great, it wasn't as bad as I previously thought. I think that series 6 reminded me a bit of Colin's final season, and Matt's Doctor is a whimsical mix between Doctor 6 and 2.
I hadn't really ever thought of Smith comparing to Troughton. Colin Baker was a blowhard, but had a kindly way with people once they realized he was overplaying himself. Neither match Smith's daunting undercurrent. The last word I would use to describe Troughton would be daunting. Smith makes the bad guys wet their pants. [Reply]
Originally Posted by whoman69:
I hadn't really ever thought of Smith comparing to Troughton. Colin Baker was a blowhard, but had a kindly way with people once they realized he was overplaying himself. Neither match Smith's daunting undercurrent. The last word I would use to describe Troughton would be daunting. Smith makes the bad guys wet their pants.
Ha! I agree that Troughton is anything but daunting; but he is funny, self-deprecating, and bumbling- which Matt Smith does quite a bit. I actually do see Colin Baker's Doctor as being daunting though- when he's taking on the entire timelord counsel in his trial, there are some nice moments there for him. Sure Colin Baker can be a blowhard, but so can Matt Smith- his speach at the end of the "Beast Below" had me rolling my eyes the first time I watched it. This dauntingness is something you also see with Jon Pertwee's Doctor a bit as well. I always thought of Pertwee and Colin Baker as being the two more physically intimidating Doctors- neither of those dudes had to depend on their sonic screwdriver to get out of scrapes- which something Tennent and Smith do. [Reply]
Is This Piping-Hot Blonde Actress The Next DOCTOR WHO Companion??
!
Bleeding Cool is making the argument that the BBC may be about to announce Sophia Myles – ex-girlfriend of former “Who” star David Tennant – will play the next “Who” companion.
Myles, who played a guest role in the episode “The Girl in the Fireplace,” was the female lead in CBS’ short-lived Vampire drama “Moonlight” and played Erika in the “Underworld” vampire movies. She also played Lucy Westenra in the 2006 TV Movie “Dracula.”
Her other big-screen credits include “Mansfield Park,” “From Hell,” “Thunderbirds” and “Tristan + Isolde.”
I say Myles is too big a deal to play s “Who” companion for any length of time, but I’m willing to entertain the theory just for the opportunity to stare at her:
So the new companion is Jenna-Louise Coleman, and Amy/Rory are bowing out in episode 5 in what Moffet's calling a "final encounter with the Weeping Angels." He goes on to add that "not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time." [Reply]
All the new things we’ve found out about Doctor Who series 7
Simon Brew
Lots of new details about Doctor Who series 7, right here!
Published on Mar 21, 2012
It’s been a busy day in the world of Doctor Who, with a press conference this morning unveiling the identity of the Doctor’s new companion for part of the series ahead.
If you don’t want to know a single thing more about Doctor Who series 7, then we’d advice you look elsewhere, now.
Still here?
Okay then. The new companion, as we reported earlier, is former Emmerdale star Jenna Louise Coleman. She’ll join the show in this year’s Christmas special, and travel with the Doctor from that point onwards.
If you buy into the idea that Matt Smith is leaving in 2013 – which has been strongly rumoured, but never confirmed, and certainly wasn't this morning – then her casting could be even more crucial than usual, given that she’d have the job, potentially, of working with two different Doctors. Just a thought, there.
Steven Moffat, in the official press release, said: “It’s not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it’s about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that’s all you’re getting for now. Who she’s playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor’s standards, this isn’t your usual boy meets girl.”
We now know the transmission shape of the next series, too. Series seven (since the show was revived) will feature 14 episodes, including the Christmas special. We’ll get the first six of those this year, with the remaining eight screening in early 2013. 2013, as many of you well know, is Doctor Who’s 50th birthday year.
The end of the Ponds will come with episode five of the new run, so the last one before Christmas. This is where Amy and Rory, played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, will depart the show. We know that episode five will see the latest appearance of the Weeping Angels, too. As Steven Moffat said, “Amy and Rory will leave in a final encounter with the Weeping Angels in episode five. Not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time”.
We also know that the Daleks will be back in 2013. It wouldn't be a birthday party without them. [Reply]
BBC HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND AINT IT COOL NEWS ARE OFFERING YOU A FINAL CHANCE TO SNAG FOUR VERY COOL 'CLASSIC' DOCTOR WHO DVDs!!
Published at: Mar 23, 2012 11:18:56 AM CDT
Merrick here...
BBC Home Entertainment and Aint It Cool News recently announced a special screening of the recently resorted WHO classic "The Three Doctors" at the new Alamo Drafthouse on Slaughter Lane in Austin. The screening will happen THIS WEEKEND at 1pm, Saturday March 24, and is general admission (first come, first seated) - although a $5 reserved seat meal voucher can be purchased in advance HERE. These vouchers are moving nicely...act quickly if you're interested in reserving a seat.
Our original announcement on the screening is HERE!
To commemorate this extremely exciting and very cool event, BBC Home Entertainment and Aint It Cool News have been offering a number of prize packs in the weeks leading up to our screening - each recipient receiving all of BBC Home Entertainment's release of classic DOCTOR WHO stories for this month (March).
These excellent DVDs are loaded with extras and feature resorted image and sound work - the episodes they contain look and sound great, and extras are extremely insightful and informative.
We have ONE (1) more set of these DVDs to offer one (1) lucky recipient this weekend. Here's a list of what's up for grabs, along with BBC's description of each show...
"THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN"
For centuries, the disappearance of the Cybermen from the universe has been a mystery. The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive on Telos - once the Cyber home world - just as an Earth expedition uncovers the entrance to a long-lost control centre filled with baffling technology. With the Doctor's help, the archaeological party discovers the last of the Cybermen, frozen and entombed in a vast underground cavern. But by entering the tombs, the humans have sprung a fiendish trap. All around them, the Cybermen begin to rise from the dead.
"THE ROBOTS OF DEATH"
The TARDIS, carrying the Doctor and his new companion Leela, arrives aboard a huge sandminer on a deserted world. The small human crew relies almost entirely on robots to carry out their every task and whim while they mine the planet's rich minerals. Suddenly, one by one, members of the team start to disappear. The time travelers discover that someone or something is murdering the crew - but, of course, nobody believes it could be the robots.
"THE FACE OF EVIL"
When the TARDIS arrives on a jungle planet, the Doctor encounters two warring tribes, the Sevateem and the Tesh. The Sevateem worship a god called Xoanon and the Tesh are supposedly keeping Xoanon prisoner... But why do the Sevateem call the Doctor the Evil One? And what are the invisible creatures in the jungle? The Time Lord, with the help of a girl called Leela, is about to find out.
"THE THREE DOCTORS"
The Time Lords are in crisis. A powerful force is draining their energy into a mysterious Black Hole - and they must recruit the Doctor to save them. But one Doctor isn't enough for this mission. All three of the Doctor's incarnations, aided by Jo Grant and UNIT, must face the wrath of Omega - a fallen Time Lord trapped in a universe of anti-matter, with one thing on his mind: revenge.
We have ONE (1) more sert of these DVDs to offer one (1) lukcy recipoient this weekend. How do you get this set? Between now and 11:59 PM CST USA on Sunday March 25 , I've pre-selected one (1) time of day on one (1) pre-selected date. Whoever e-mails me at, or closest to, my pre-selected time on my preselected date will win this prize pack.
How do you get this set? Between now and 11:59 PM CST USA on Sunday March 25 , I've pre-selected one (1) time of day on one (1) pre-selected date.
Whoever e-mails me at, or closest to, my pre-selected time on my preselected date will win this prize pack. Only THREE ENTRIES PER PERSON, PER DAY, will be allowed. Anyone deviating from this limitation will see all of their entries for that day summarily discarded.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR FULL ADDRESS IN YOUR SUBMISSION. This is to expedite shipping of your prize only - no Spam lists or mass mailings or anything like that. All entries will be summarily deleted once a recipient is chosen.
BE SURE TO SEND FROM A FREQUENTLY CHECKED E-MAIL ADDRESS!! If I need to contact you and can not do so, I'll quickly move on to the next closest entry.
IN THE SUBJECT LINE, include the phrase "Jelly Babies?" If this is not in your subject line, your message won't be filtered correctly and I'll most likely not see it.
BE SURE YOU SEND E-MAIL TO THE ADDRESS LINKED BELOW!! You'd be surprised how many people send entries to the wrong place.
CONTEST OPEN TO NORTH AMERICAN READERS ONLY!!
Have fun, best of luck, and thanks so much for your time and support!
Originally Posted by keg in kc:
So the new companion is Jenna-Louise Coleman, and Amy/Rory are bowing out in episode 5 in what Moffet's calling a "final encounter with the Weeping Angels." He goes on to add that "not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time."
Amy & Rory gone with Matt Smith soon to follow? Get ready for the show to start losing the gains it has made in American audience. [Reply]
he First Promo For DOCTOR WHO Season/Series 7 Is Here!!
Published at: Mar 26, 2012 6:37:16 AM CDT
Merrick here...
Along with news that Amy and Rory's previously announced departure from DOCTOR WHO will occur this Season/Series during a Weeping Angels episode set in New York City, the first promo for S7 came out of the Official DOCTOR WHO Convention in Cardiff over the past weekend.
A shaky cam version of this promo has been online for a few days now, but here's the real thing, bright and shiny, newly issued by BBC. The reel appears to center chiefly on the Ben Browder-guesting Western episode we'd recently heard the series was shooting in Spain - which makes sense as this episode likely represents the lion's share of available S7 material to date (they haven't been shooting all that long).
Here's the first promo for S7, which transmits five new episodes later this year, followed by a Christmas Special which will introduce the Doctor's new companion (Jenna-Louise Coleman). 8 further episode will air next year. DOCTOR WHO will return to BBC One and BBC America. [Reply]