FTA-TV Doctor Who

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As mentioned yesterday, I was lucky enough to watch the season premiere at Gold Class. Accordingly, we had the introductory coda from Strax about the ever-changing Doctor. Quite amusing but I find myself agreeing with the Age's recap of the episode that Moffat has flogged the Paternoster Gang to death recently and Strax, unfortunately, has copped the brunt of it, by playing the comic relief role. Although Strax has always been painted as an atypical Sontaran, it would be difficult to reconcile the Sontarans as a worthwhile villain for Dr Who after the way Strax has been shoved down our throats.

We also had a Dr Who Confidential (Moffat has changed the name to something else I can't remember, but it's the same as what RTD used to do when he was show-runner) that went about 10 minutes and had footage from Capaldi's first read-through as the Doctor and his first filmed scene as the Doctor (it was, apparently, the scene on the Thames riverbank when the TARDIS is vomited by the T-Rex).

As for the episode itself, although I agree with Northworth that the cameo was heartfelt, in retrospect, I found it unnecessary and somewhat disrespectful for Capaldi. I take the view that it's probably been written into the episode to help transition the Americans away from Matt Smith to a new actor whom they wouldn't necessarily be familiar with nor expect to take the role, but for someone like myself who has watched a lot of the episodes, going back to the original series, I think that a new Doctor should be allowed to find his own voice without necessarily having a tie to the previous Doctor who has just been replaced.

I enjoyed the episode watching it the first time, and I thought Moffat managed the introduction of a new Doctor as well as anyone else has been able to do in the past. The primary on-screen villain was really well done and harks back to some of the earlier episodes in respect of the scary nature of the villain. But I think the longer-term story will revolve around the coda at the end of the episode.

There already a couple of theories emerging about Missy.

First, Missy is the Rani reincarnated. I don't really remember the Rani episodes all that well as I didn't watch much of Colin Baker's turn as the Doctor in which the Rani was a key villain, but I think there is some superficial similarity between Missy and the actor who played the Rani in the 80s.

Secondly, Missy could be short for Mistress, which is the female equivalent to the Master. To be honest, though, I always see Missy as being short for Melissa, which doesn't quite work as well. :D
 

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Really disappointing, verging on boring episode but capaldi worked well with the material he had which is an indication he will be very good.

Still if that is the best story they could muster for a debut episode I'm a mite concerned. When you think about it, if we are supposed to accept doctor had the physical strength to out wrestle the droid all along, surely everything could have been wrapped up with a MMA sleeper hold 30 minutes earlier when he first saw him, at no personal risk to his various friends?

Personally I think Strax remains a golden, golden character, his delivery gets me every time. Just a personal taste thing.

On the down side I miss Amy Pond very much. Clara is a poor substitute for the ginger ninja.
 
Total_Juddshanks said:
Really disappointing, verging on boring episode but capaldi worked well with the material he had which is an indication he will be very good.

Still if that is the best story they could muster for a debut episode I'm a mite concerned. When you think about it, if we are supposed to accept doctor had the physical strength to out wrestle the droid all along, surely everything could have been wrapped up with a MMA sleeper hold 30 minutes earlier when he first saw him, at no personal risk to his various friends?

Personally I think Strax remains a golden, golden character, his delivery gets me every time. Just a personal taste thing.

On the down side I miss Amy Pond very much. Clara is a poor substitute for the ginger ninja.
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The problem with Clara is she talks like Steven Moffat. Not like a 27 year old woman. What 27yo says "proper bonkers" ffs?

That's the major problem for me. All the characters talk and sound the same. There's limited individuality. Moffat's a brilliant writer, don't get me wrong. But the universe he's created is all beginning to feel the same. Maybe he's best used writing scripts for universes other people create.
 
Random note - I'm 99% sure that one of the droids in Mancini's Family Restaurant was played by the same actor who played Queen Victoria in the werewolf episode from the Tennant/Piper era. Probably nothing to it.
 
Very average episode at best. I'm sick of Clara already.... She's already Amy-esque, and that's bad.

Strax and the Mystery Gang need to go. Sick of them too. Sontarans' are not meant to "join forces" with anyone, and are now far too comical to be taken serious.

I imagined Capaldi to be like Jon Pertwee (or perhaps that was wishful thinking!). He seems good though, I'll give him a chance.

The first 80% of that episode was very boring. No plot, just soppy drama. Let's hope next week's is an improvement.

Oh, and Daleks? :eek:
 
Dixie Flatline said:
There already a couple of theories emerging about Missy.

First, Missy is the Rani reincarnated. I don't really remember the Rani episodes all that well as I didn't watch much of Colin Baker's turn as the Doctor in which the Rani was a key villain, but I think there is some superficial similarity between Missy and the actor who played the Rani in the 80s.

Secondly, Missy could be short for Mistress, which is the female equivalent to the Master. To be honest, though, I always see Missy as being short for Melissa, which doesn't quite work as well. :D
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As soon as I saw that character at the end, I immediately thought Rani. Interesting that others thought the same. The Rani was a great character in the Baker/McCoy days, however, wasn't exactly pivotal, only appearing in "Time and Rani" and "Mark of the Rani". Would be a great character to bring back as a nemesis though. Hopefully some interesting times ahead!
 
Kram81 said:
I can't believe that they are having a Dalek episode already, used far too much in the new series.
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This. Couldn't agree more. They've lost their wow effect. Seems like they're just using them as a money-making drawing card now.

In the classic series, you'd be lucky to see them every couple of seasons. Heck, in Tom Baker's seven years as the Doctor, I think he only encounters them twice (Genesis and Destiny?).
 
Daleks said:
In the classic series, you'd be lucky to see them every couple of seasons. Heck, in Tom Baker's seven years as the Doctor, I think he only encounters them twice (Genesis and Destiny?).
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Yeah, Pertwee's Doctor only came across them a couple of times in 5 years as well.
 
Daleks said:
This. Couldn't agree more. They've lost their wow effect. Seems like they're just using them as a money-making drawing card now.

In the classic series, you'd be lucky to see them every couple of seasons. Heck, in Tom Baker's seven years as the Doctor, I think he only encounters them twice (Genesis and Destiny?).
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I can't remember if I've read it somewhere, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Dalek's making an appearance once every series is due to contract issues. They had massive issues getting the rights to use the Dalek's way back in 2005, so much so that RTD had written another script for *that* episode with a generic monster instead of the Dalek. So it wouldn't surprise me if, similar to how Sony have to keep making Spider-Man movies or lose the rights, they have to have the Dalek's pop up at least once a year or face some kind of penalty.
 

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ManWithNoName said:
I can't remember if I've read it somewhere, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Dalek's making an appearance once every series is due to contract issues. They had massive issues getting the rights to use the Dalek's way back in 2005, so much so that RTD had written another script for *that* episode with a generic monster instead of the Dalek. So it wouldn't surprise me if, similar to how Sony have to keep making Spider-Man movies or lose the rights, they have to have the Dalek's pop up at least once a year or face some kind of penalty.
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They do. They have to have the Daleks feature on screen at least once a season, in order to retain the right to continue using them. It's all because when Doctor Who had its massive hiatus, the guy who designed the villains handed down the rights to his family and they struck a bargain with the BBC. To be honest, it's a smart move by the current owner. Unfortunately, they start to lose their fear factor. Much like Strax and the Sontarans
 
Bryce_Jersey17 said:
They do. They have to have the Daleks feature on screen at least once a season, in order to retain the right to continue using them. It's all because when Doctor Who had its massive hiatus, the guy who designed the villains handed down the rights to his family and they struck a bargain with the BBC. To be honest, it's a smart move by the current owner. Unfortunately, they start to lose their fear factor. Much like Strax and the Sontarans
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Just put a dead Dalek up the back of the TARDIS. Problem solved.
 
Like Capaldi's portrayal so far ... he just about saved the episode. Someone please give him some good scripts ... bring Terrance Dicks back.

Clara is as hot as ever but as a companion ... give me Amy any day. Still, we know she's leaving at the end of this season now.

Yes, Troughton only encountered the Daleks twice, Pertwee 3 times, Tom Baker twice and Davison once (excluding The 5 Doctors) .

And the 'Mystery gang' - I agree, get rid. I'm not tuning in to watch them.
 
benji2 said:
Like Capaldi's portrayal so far ... he just about saved the episode. Someone please give him some good scripts ... bring Terrance Dicks back.

Clara is as hot as ever but as a companion ... give me Amy any day. Still, we know she's leaving at the end of this season now.

Yes, Troughton only encountered the Daleks twice, Pertwee 3 times, Tom Baker twice and Davison once (excluding The 5 Doctors) .

And the 'Mystery gang' - I agree, get rid. I'm not tuning in to watch them.
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Even though the Daleks were cut in the movie version. ;) Davison's Resurrection of the Daleks though, has to be top three best ever episodes.
 
Dixie Flatline said:
Secondly, Missy could be short for Mistress, which is the female equivalent to the Master. To be honest, though, I always see Missy as being short for Melissa, which doesn't quite work as well. :D
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Mistress is also what K-9 called Romana
 
as a fan of the classic series, especially Tom Baker, I thought i would give the new stuff another go with a new older doctor who hopefully would not have a nauseating girl assistant/quasi romantic interest. Jeepers that first half hour was horrendous. dull and those comic relief aliens can piss off. the new doctor came more into his own when he was alone in that alley. I hope this doctor can establish some dramatic superiority with a sprinkling of wry humour. Sick of these clueless 2 dimensional female assistants of the modern series. They need to go more dramatic and dark and less campy humour. the character actors they have on the modern series pale in comparison to the past. Of the modern series I liked Christoper Eccleston version the best. I still hold out hope this doctor can make me forget David Tennant and to a lesser extent Matt smith
 
tek87 said:
as a fan of the classic series, especially Tom Baker, I thought i would give the new stuff another go with a new older doctor who hopefully would not have a nauseating girl assistant/quasi romantic interest. Jeepers that first half hour was horrendous. dull and those comic relief aliens can piss off. the new doctor came more into his own when he was alone in that alley. I hope this doctor can establish some dramatic superiority with a sprinkling of wry humour. Sick of these clueless 2 dimensional female assistants of the modern series. They need to go more dramatic and dark and less campy humour. the character actors they have on the modern series pale in comparison to the past. Of the modern series I liked Christoper Eccleston version the best. I still hold out hope this doctor can make me forget David Tennant and to a lesser extent Matt smith
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Talk about rose coloured glasses.

On one hand you talk about wanting it to be more like the classic series. Then you want it to be dark and dramatic and not have campy humour. Those things are direct contradictions of each other.
 
Kram81 said:
Could put up with Rose in the first year with Eccleston but was simply unbearable next to Tennant, just the jealousy rubbish alone in School Reunion was enough for the character to need a bullet.
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I liked it. It was something different to what had been before. The sheer unlikelyhood that he'd have that many companions but never get like that with ANY of them? Come on.

Plus Doomsday is among the most traumatic experiences of most people's lives.
 
ManWithNoName said:
I liked it. It was something different to what had been before. The sheer unlikelyhood that he'd have that many companions but never get like that with ANY of them? Come on.

Plus Doomsday is among the most traumatic experiences of most people's lives.
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Traumatic? It was brilliant for the Rose haters. Hence, I loved it.
 

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FTA-TV Doctor Who

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