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Suppose we should all go back to watching I’m Strictly an X-Factor Celebrity In The Jungle On Ice Brother or something. Conform, conform!
Certainly not, carry on being a nonconformist along with the 8.2 million other viewers!
What's wrong with being childish?
Just because something is aimed at a younger audience, it doesn't mean it has any less intrinsic merit than something aimed exclusively at adults.
What’s wrong with being childish?
Just because something is aimed at a younger audience, it doesn’t mean it has any less intrinsic merit than something aimed exclusively at adults.
There's nothing wrong with, I never said it had any less merit. It's absolutely right that a younger audience should get quality telly programs aimed at them, Dr Who is one of those, and good on it for that.
It's not so much the [i]watching[/i] of it I find weird.. (I mean I bought a DVD of Adventure Time, me!) it's the taking so seriously and discussing in ways like this -
[i]Incidental music is a bit of a mix. Some is good and atmospheric, some is a bit American style energetic action drama. The cinematography seems to be going for that too. Slight wider ratio (small bars top & bottom) I noticed for “film” look. Though also notice the trailers are wider still. I wonder if it’s actually shot wider and being cropped. Fine if they want to do a cinematic release but for a TV series it’s wasting space.[/i]
But, you see, I don't really [i]care[/i]..! It's just commenting my opinion on the forum. It's what we do innit. It's not gonna stop anyone watching it and nor should it.
@IHN - I played an album all the way through last night... from 1981, it was 🙂
Adventure Time is brilliant. Just sayin’
It’s not so much the <em class="bbcode-em">watching of it I find weird.. (I mean I bought a DVD of Adventure Time, me!) it’s the taking so seriously and discussing in ways like this –
<em class="bbcode-em">Incidental music is a bit of a mix. Some is good and atmospheric, some is a bit American style energetic action drama. The cinematography seems to be going for that too. Slight wider ratio (small bars top & bottom) I noticed for “film” look. Though also notice the trailers are wider still. I wonder if it’s actually shot wider and being cropped. Fine if they want to do a cinematic release but for a TV series it’s wasting space.
But, you see, I don’t really <em class="bbcode-em">care..! It’s just commenting my opinion on the forum. It’s what we do innit. It’s not gonna stop anyone watching it and nor should it.
This is what I've been trying to say, clearly not very well.
@IHN – I played an album all the way through last night… from 1981, it was
😆
Adventure Time is brilliant. Just sayin’
I have not the words to adequately express how whole heartedly I agree with this.
This is what I’ve been trying to say, clearly not very well.
If you agree it is of equal merit, why should it not be discussed equally and held to the same standards?
Adventure Time
It's a combination of the cinematography and the quality of the animation, isn't it.. 🙂
would you care when they killed off some random bit character like Han Solo
Wait - what now? Spoilers bro, spoilers. Next you'll be telling me that lass from the Crying Game has aged really badly, though I must see the end some time.
Nah, it’s the aspect ratio and the incidental music that really does it for me.
And Gunther. He’s my favourite
If you agree it is of equal merit, why should it not be discussed equally and held to the same standards?
Yeah, but, well, er, no, you see, er.
Nope, you got me.
I’m not telling anyone they shouldn’t be watching anything, but Dr Who really is kid’s telly, and I don’t understand the reverence/seriousness with which some adults seem to treat it.
If that really is the first you've watched since the Ecclestone re-boot then I can easily see why you would fail to see why lots of adults watch it. As I already commented in this thread, this episode was pretty simplistic as they had all the new characters to introduce. If you had watched any of the Capaldi episodes then you would definitely have seen a different type of performance. Themes can be pretty dark, there are very good comedy moments, adult content is often scattered around too and, like most good sci-fi, moral issues are brought up and discussed either directly or within the plot. I wasn't particularly impressed by this episode but I reckon the series will improve as we get into the characters more.
But there’s been some absolutely exceptional viewing also.
Agreed. The two parter "Silence in the Library" / "Forest of the Dead" is a fantastic example. Others include the aforementioned "Blink", "Dalek" and "The Empty Child" / "The Doctor Dances".
There has also been some ropey stuff too, it must be said.
Bring back Sally Sparrow, I say.
There has also been some ropey stuff too, it must be said.
Yeah. The Moon Is An Egg or whatever that episode was called was utter bobbins. What were they thinking?
Two episodes in and the sonic screwdriver is now the most important part of the plot lines. Pretty weak writing I thought.
I think you may be right there eddiebaby. A lot of the outstanding episodes discussed above, (blink etc.) were produced in the Russell T Davies era I think.
It's definately more about the writer than the main actor, and these first two new episodes leave me a little cold.
Anyone else thing Doctors have been quite samey since Tenant? With the exception of Capaldi in places.
The Doctor has certainly got progressively more excitable in the last dozen or so incarnations...
Two episodes in and the sonic screwdriver is now the most important part of the plot lines.
Always was. Traditional way of instantly sorting out any corner you'd written yourself into. Just reverse the polarity of the doo-dah and send them screaming back where they came from etc.
Thought I'd give this one a go, looked like decent production values, felt a bit sad for Art Malik's career, then got to the bit where dozens of robots can't shoot straight even at point blank range and a slow-moving Bradley Walsh to aim at. And then were conveniently dealt with with the sonic screwdriver. Sighed, then switched channels.
Plus she is annoying.
Agreed. The two parter “Silence in the Library” / “Forest of the Dead” is a fantastic example. Others include the aforementioned “Blink”, “Dalek” and “The Empty Child” “The Doctor Dances”.
The list of ropey ones is far, far longer than the standout episodes. You could include 'Girl in the Fireplace' in the good list, but I'm struggling to remember many others which were top-notch.
Sarah Jane Adventures, which WAS a kid's show, seemed to me far, far better than most of the dross from the Moffatt era.
Just to be clear, I don't have a beef about the aspect ratio / music, in the way some object to the slightest change and throw their toys out of the pram saying they'll never watch it again. It was just an observation. Not even a dislike.
What’s wrong with being childish?
Two episodes in and the sonic screwdriver is now the most important part of the plot lines.
Starting gently with no big grand story arc to fit in is another thought. Yeah the sonic kept it moving along there. For new viewers we covered the Guns are Bad mm'kay bit and that working together is better than flying solo.
The "sonic" is too much of a magic wand. The Doctor has become a bit Gandalf.
Yes you can use it to keep the story going instead of dealing with how to open a door, or you could just use a door knob or button and not have the door locked in the first place, or not even have the door.
JNT had the right idea in the 80s and got rid of the thing (and K9).
Sells toys though, so it's not going away.
Oh, bravo.
That was very bold and very, very well done.
Uncomfortable to watch, in a good way. Bold indeed and nice to get a decent historical story that's not really about the aliens.
Hoping it's a good educational story too. I've learnt things from it, having not really paid much attention to the events. Would be great if schools could pick up on it too. We never did any kind of history like this at school in my day.
Way better written than I expected it to be.
Kids' show eh?
Did she fix everything with her sonic screwdriver this week?
Not so far, it's a plot device though in case you missed that. Great episode for the current climate. Some people need reminding what happened and what happens when people want to change it
Did she fix everything with her sonic screwdriver this week?
Nope. It pretty much did what it should- provided a way to move the plot along by finding things quickly (rather than resolving problems), did a little bit of talking to future tech and unlocked some padlocks.
I like it when it does something clever or is used in a clever way, but within the bounds of what it's supposed to be able to do- the getting theroug the door problem in the 50th special being a case in point.
As for tonight- I thought it started well, was a little concerned about the role they were going to play halfway through, but then forcing them to be a part of it was clever and really quite uncomfortable.
As for tonight- I thought it started well, was a little concerned about the role they were going to play halfway through, but then forcing them to be a part of it was clever and really quite uncomfortable.
Very much so, and so glad it ended they way it did
Oh that was good! Just watched.
Excellent episode, very, very relevant with the current climate in the US. I’m wondering how the Americans will take it when it gets shown over there; Agent Orange will probably throw a tantrum, with luck.
Sending that ex-convict back in time is going to come back to haunt them......
Watched it with my kids and they really engaged with it and asked lots of questions.
I too think that the Racist from Outer Space will be back.
I thought he was great. Surely a recurring character.
Sending that ex-convict back in time
Forwards? 27C wasn't it?
That's where he came from? With Chibnall referencing his time on Torchwood.
Said he was sent a long way back in time.
. I’m wondering how the Americans will take it when it gets shown over there; Agent Orange will probably throw a tantrum, with luck.
He’ll probably say - see it’s in a sci-fi drama - it was never real and claim it was the start of fake news in the fifties....
Or point out that there were only insufficient seats on the bus because of the three brits and say “we need to tighten our borders to aliens”
While last night's episode was enjoyable enough and nicely shot, it was more than a bit reminiscent of "Back to Future" with the manipulating-history-with-small-interventions plt, with a risk that it wasn't too far from hitting Bill-and-Ted territory of "we'll just go back to before he did that, and hide the keys.."
And yes, it's a worthwhile story to bring to people's attention, but it was all a bit hamfisted, with the one-dimensionally racist white Alabamans and the appalled modern sensibilities hitting each other head on with no hint of nuance, or any real attempt to explain context, we were just left to assume that white people in Alabama in the 1950s were just Bad People.
If nothing else, though, I'm sure it was an intentional doubling down for the gammony types who were already incensed by the casting of a female actor to play the Doctor. I can imagine plenty of comment from those who refer to the "British Bolshevik Corporation" - I dare say there was more than one online comment venue last night resounding to the proclamation that political correctness had, yet again, gone mad. Good.
It was enjoyable even if I felt like I was watching an episode of Quantum Leap at times.
And yes, it’s a worthwhile story to bring to people’s attention, but it was all a bit hamfisted, with the one-dimensionally racist white Alabamans and the appalled modern sensibilities hitting each other head on with no hint of nuance, or any real attempt to explain context,
Lest we forget, it's a kids entertainment show, not a documentary series.
The ex-con was sent back in time. Given he had intentions to nudge history, he could be instrumental in changing lots of things. However, Chibnall has said that all episodes in this series will be stand-alone (even though the Stenza got a mention in Ep2.....).
it’s a kids entertainment show
I do wish people would stop saying this. It's a family show. There is a difference.
My kids (who both watched it) had already learnt a lot more at school about Rosa Parks than I ever did. Kids old enough to appreciate Doctor Who are able to handle the history of the civil rights movement with a lot more sophistication than the "white people bad, black people downtrodden" narrative that they gave us last night, and it would have been nice if they had. What we got was no more than the simplest "oh those ignorant olden times people" line with the contrast to our oh-so-enlightened modern (can I say "woke" without being laughed out of town") perspectives. It's the laziest of angles on history that reveals nothing more than the writer's ignorance and laziness in setting up "us" as the apotheosis of goodness and enlightenment in contrast.
There was so much scope to play against the one-dimensional and boringly predictable caricatures - probably wise not to mess with Parks and King personally, but it would have made a stronger story for me if there had been at least one white character who recognised the injustice, but we saw them struggle against the expectations of their role in society, or maybe a black character who accepted the white narrative and accepted their allotted, subjugated role in society as God's will and thought those who fought the fight were causing trouble. Just something, every character they met was so one dimensional..
Lest we forget, it’s a kids entertainment show, not a documentary series.
It was originally intended to be educational when launched in the 60s. Hence a large amount of purely historical episodes back in those days. They stopped doing those after a while. This episode is possibly one of the closest to that kind of episode we've had since then.
It was enjoyable even if I felt like I was watching an episode of Quantum Leap at times.
Yeah, I was thinking that too. Waiting for Ziggy to get them out of there.
I guess the bad guy was basically the anti-Sam...
I watched it in the wee small hours and found it a strange contrast of happy/sad documentary and the Doctor doing the relentless having fun thing. The sadness of being forced to stay on the bus to ensure Rosa's arrest was a nice touch.
And if the "Mexican girl" knew all about Rosa Parks from school we didn't really need the full story of Rosa's subsequent life spelled out. A good enough one and I'm very impressed by Bradley Walsh not distracting from the story in the way that other celebrity sidekicks have - I'm looking at you Catherine Tate!
I thought at one point that Bradley was going to have to step in as the racist bus driver, which would have put an interesting spin on the dynamic between him and his Grandson.
Yeah, I thought that's where they were going too. The driver's gone missing and, oh look, Graham's a bus driver. I'm glad they didn't.
(can I say “woke” without being laughed out of town”)
Get out of town.
There was so much scope to play against the one-dimensional and boringly predictable caricatures – probably wise not to mess with Parks and King personally, but it would have made a stronger story for me if there had been at least one white character who recognised the injustice, but we saw them struggle against the expectations of their role in society, or maybe a black character who accepted the white narrative and accepted their allotted, subjugated role in society as God’s will and thought those who fought the fight were causing trouble.
While I agree with you to some extent - it is a lot to ask to squeeze in those kind of characters in a sub 1 hour TV drama where we're still getting to know the main characters - that said they could've fleshed out the baddie a little more.Was slightly disappointed that Ryan is still shooting first...
I thought it was clunky.
Woohoo, huge, scary spiders and an egotistical hotel owner running for President!
That was good. My kids screamed at least half a dozen times!
Was that episode a side swipe at the donald?
Tacky hotel, your fired, narcissistic personality etc.
Liked that one.
Definitely a different "vibe" to this series possibly being post Steven Moffat
Was that episode a side swipe at the donald?
Almost certainly not!! Why would anyone do such a thing, even down to the hand washing....
Good and fun, some good misunderstood monsters though I wish they had met some more peace loving and progressive looking spiders to balance the plot out a little.
A general thought from me is although nothing is meant to be part of a bigger plot and no big story arcs we are being teased with some might return characters - bad guy auditions 🙂
Also spotted a Daily Hate headline in a newsfeed that "some" people are upset that it's got a bit too inclusive, you know a bit too white dude and pretty girl fix problems.
Also spotted a Daily Hate headline in a newsfeed that “some” people are upset that it’s got a bit too inclusive, you know a bit too white dude and pretty girl fix problems.
What, you mean they’ve got over the bit about the Doctor is now female, and are snivelling about something else already?
Regarding story arcs, returning monsters, I’m sure I read somewhere that the writers have made a conscious decision to stay away from all of the classic protagonists this season, so no Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, etc. Which I welcome, it’s good to have a new Doctor who has to deal with a whole bunch of completely new situations, which in turn makes things more interesting for us viewers, not knowing what’s coming at all.
That was good. My kids screamed at least half a dozen times!
My g/f absolutely refused to watch it, she was laying on the couch by my side with a blanket over her head, and in the end told me to turn it off! Fortunately I was recording it at the same time, just in case. 😱 😬
What, you mean they’ve got over the bit about the Doctor is now female, and are snivelling about something else already?
Yaz is clearly gay for the Doctor and door's open for lesbian Doctor. That's enough for a melt down at the Heil.
And then they go mock Trump 😁
So, racism and Trump over the last two weeks. What's next week? Brexit?
So are we meant to infer that locking them away to die a slow death from starvation is apparently fine while quickly ending the life of one that was dieing a slow death from suffocation is not OK? Questionable moral stance there?
And was really hoping for an Aliens moment where the bodyguard was still alive in his coccoon, but that's probably not Sunday evening viewing...
What’s next week? Brexit?
I hope so. Our Reptilian Overlords to be un masked. Farage to be outed as a toxic Space Turd.
Won't link the bloody rag, but DM headline - "Doctor Who: Fans rejoice as they claim Yaz is bisexual and in LOVE with the Time Lord after cryptic scene as they praise the PC series"
Weakest episode of the new series yet - all filler no killer.
More like last weeks please.
My main thought was this was the exact same plot as The Green Death from 3rd Doctors days. Toxic waste ending up in a mine causing bugs to mutate and grow to a huge size - though it was spiders this time not maggots.
And also locking the spiders in a room to die slowly was pretty grim.
Liked the spider special effects but not my favourite episode.
Who would have guessed the LEAST annoying thing about the new series would be Bradley Walsh?
I want to like it (mostly for nostalgia), but going to have to accept it is no longer worth watching (and hasn't been for a while). I don't mind the PC thing if it doesn't get in the way of good stories, but the stories aren't good. It's not easy to cater for both 8 year olds and adults.
Felt more like a traditional Doctor Who. A lot of reaction is it put a lot of kids (and some adults) back behind the sofa, so that's more like it should be 😀 . Though it's a bit naff plot wise but that's fairly normal for Who.
Wish they'd actually made Mr Business Guy, Trump, orange hair and all. Oddly he was everything Trump including the hotel (immediately though, that's Trump's golf place in Scotland isn't it?), but then comes out saying he hates Trump.
Anyway, Green Death is miles better, and has Pertwee in drag!
Yep, top marks for Bradley just doing what the role needs.
And also locking the spiders in a room to die slowly was pretty grim.
Yeah, I thought that was a strange choice for a person of the doctors high morals. As was the discussion about the giant spider in the ballroom being suffocated but it's own weight. Thought The Donald's approach to dispatching of it quickly was bob on. Not that one bullet from a handgun would have done it quite so rapidly!
Agreed ^^
They've set the bar pretty high this season but that was a weak one.
I haven't checked, has the bottom half of the Internet exploded yet?
I quite enjoyed the episode as a whole, good situation and nice build up of threat, etc.
Until they revealed the fearsome creature itself. A Pokemon.
I did let out an audible sigh.
Made me laugh. Lighten up.
Yeah I did laugh trough it, so many tough and successful women through, who is at home looking after the kids!!
It's getting better., slowly but definitely.....but Pikachu???
Aside from the ludicrous name, I thought the Pting was brilliant.
so many tough and successful women through
The guy in charge of the ship was, er, a guy. That should be enough to keep those "men who exclusively love only other men" happy, no? And the shit hot engineer was a man as well. More meat for the men who only like man meat.
Last week's was good but the way the spiders were dispatched was a bit odd. This week's was terrible though 🙁 Did they get back to the TARDIS? We switched it over after the Pting ate the bomb and couldn't take any more of Ryan banging on about being a dad.
Did nobody else think of this when they heard last nights character was called Pting?
This one & last weeks were very meh episodes.
Yaz seems a bit pointless, which is a shame. It started well, but it's going downhill, will keep watching & hope for improvement.
Still waiting for a Doctor moment & the script where she keeps comparing things to pop culture or current tech (the iphone of cern generators) doesn't feel very Doctory, if one of the companions said it then it'd sit better...