Watching NuWho

[Willie Oleson]

Because I couldn't decide where to start with the classic series.
The beginning? The first two doctors aren't considered the pinnacle of the series (although I'm sure some fans would disagree. Heck, I'm a fan of pre-Barnabas Dark Shadows) and I figured it would be too much to plough through. The sixties episodes may provide some interestingly retrospective value, sort of "prequel watching".

The Fourth Doctor seems the most obvious choice for my personal timeline as those were the first episodes I could have watched, but then it didn't feel right to start halfway the seventies decade. And the Third Doctor was a significant reinvention anyway, if only for the first colour episodes. But at that point I felt I came closer and closer to the very beginning so maybe I should start with the First Doctor anyway!
And so I emptied my amazon basket for the umpteenth time.
I tried some "best of Doctor Who stories" lists on youtube but I was still none the wiser, however, I stumbled upon some clips of NuWho starring David Tennant and I was blown away by his super-energetic performance. It looks I'm going to stay with Prime for a while.

The first next generation doctor is Christopher Eccleston and now I want to watch every movie/series he's done.
It took me a few moments to realize that this series is still very much a children's programme; nothing is being questioned in a serious manner and the best way for me to enjoy it is to embrace the goofy and lampoony tone like a child would do, because children aren't very interested in real-life rules.
This sci-fi Willy Wonka is definitely a fantasy I can get on board with, as opposed to fantasies like LOTR and GOT that takes their respective worlds and rules very seriously. People actually lived in the Middle Ages and before that, therefore I find these mammoth alternative realities unnecessarily convoluted and headache-inducing. And not much fun.

The scary parts in Doctor Who are also funny, but perhaps it's that continuous bouncing between genres, like a molecular energy, that makes it surprisingly scary. Straightforward horror almost never does that.
The whirlwind character that is Doctor Who doesn't really comfort the viewer that everything's going to be all right which adds to the surprise when he does get it right.
It reminds me of a 70s children's TV show about a wizard whose experiments to create the perfect strawberry always resulted in unwanted magical situations that caused a lot of upheaval amongst the townsfolk. (I have the DVDs)

While NuWho is a fresh start it mentions the series' epic background: "political diaries, conspiracy theories, ghost stories".

Rose: If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?

Doctor: Lots of planets have a north.

I had never thought of it that way!


The mall "massacre" looks great, with people running and screaming. So funny and yet so unnerving.
Rose's mother Jackie is a total airhead and she tries to seduce the Doctor - that's a good start.
In the last scene, Billie Piper changes her mind and runs into the Tardis. It didn't come as a surprise but it made me feel happy. And confident.
Hopefully it will make me look a bit younger, too.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Episode 2 is about the end of the world which is presented as a spectacle to enjoy, but a bizarre looking creature who considers herself the last human being has different plans.
She reminds me of this character from BRAZIL, only more extreme.


Episode 3 is about Charles Dickens and alien spirits who use dead people as a host.
The performances are wonderful and it makes everything come to life. Rose and the Doctor have great chemistry and Billie Piper is everything.
I didn't know it was going to be so addictive, maybe there's an antidote lying around the Batcave.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Episode 2 is about the end of the world which is presented as a spectacle to enjoy, but a bizarre looking creature who considers herself the last human being has different plans.
She reminds me of this character from BRAZIL, only more extreme.
View attachment 40721

Episode 3 is about Charles Dickens and alien spirits who use dead people as a host.
The performances are wonderful and it makes everything come to life. Rose and the Doctor have great chemistry and Billie Piper is everything.
I didn't know it was going to be so addictive, maybe there's an antidote lying around the Batcave.

Doctor Who is a very addictive show.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. The antidote is the milk from a queen bat!

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Because I couldn't decide where to start with the classic series.
The beginning? The first two doctors aren't considered the pinnacle of the series (although I'm sure some fans would disagree. Heck, I'm a fan of pre-Barnabas Dark Shadows) and I figured it would be too much to plough through. The sixties episodes may provide some interestingly retrospective value, sort of "prequel watching".

The Fourth Doctor seems the most obvious choice for my personal timeline as those were the first episodes I could have watched, but then it didn't feel right to start halfway the seventies decade. And the Third Doctor was a significant reinvention anyway, if only for the first colour episodes. But at that point I felt I came closer and closer to the very beginning so maybe I should start with the First Doctor anyway!
And so I emptied my amazon basket for the umpteenth time.
I tried some "best of Doctor Who stories" lists on youtube but I was still none the wiser, however, I stumbled upon some clips of NuWho starring David Tennant and I was blown away by his super-energetic performance. It looks I'm going to stay with Prime for a while.

The first next generation doctor is Christopher Eccleston and now I want to watch every movie/series he's done.
It took me a few moments to realize that this series is still very much a children's programme; nothing is being questioned in a serious manner and the best way for me to enjoy it is to embrace the goofy and lampoony tone like a child would do, because children aren't very interested in real-life rules.
This sci-fi Willy Wonka is definitely a fantasy I can get on board with, as opposed to fantasies like LOTR and GOT that takes their respective worlds and rules very seriously. People actually lived in the Middle Ages and before that, therefore I find these mammoth alternative realities unnecessarily convoluted and headache-inducing. And not much fun.

The scary parts in Doctor Who are also funny, but perhaps it's that continuous bouncing between genres, like a molecular energy, that makes it surprisingly scary. Straightforward horror almost never does that.
The whirlwind character that is Doctor Who doesn't really comfort the viewer that everything's going to be all right which adds to the surprise when he does get it right.
It reminds me of a 70s children's TV show about a wizard whose experiments to create the perfect strawberry always resulted in unwanted magical situations that caused a lot of upheaval amongst the townsfolk. (I have the DVDs)

While NuWho is a fresh start it mentions the series' epic background: "political diaries, conspiracy theories, ghost stories".


I had never thought of it that way!

View attachment 40718
The mall "massacre" looks great, with people running and screaming. So funny and yet so unnerving.
Rose's mother Jackie is a total airhead and she tries to seduce the Doctor - that's a good start.
In the last scene, Billie Piper changes her mind and runs into the Tardis. It didn't come as a surprise but it made me feel happy. And confident.
Hopefully it will make me look a bit younger, too.

So much to say.

Doctor Who fans have their favorite eras and characters.

Personally, I prefer Seasons 1-23 Classic Series emphasis on Seasons 1-16, 21-23, Seasons 1-10 NuWho, emphasis on Seasons 1-5

Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker are my favorites. William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Colin Baker and David Tennant are also high on my list.

Episode 2 is about the end of the world which is presented as a spectacle to enjoy, but a bizarre looking creature who considers herself the last human being has different plans.
She reminds me of this character from BRAZIL, only more extreme.
View attachment 40721

Episode 3 is about Charles Dickens and alien spirits who use dead people as a host.
The performances are wonderful and it makes everything come to life. Rose and the Doctor have great chemistry and Billie Piper is everything.
I didn't know it was going to be so addictive, maybe there's an antidote lying around the Batcave.

I thought episode 3 was really well done. I think it placed the new version on an upward trajectory.
Episode 2 was so-so, I thought
Episode 1 with the Autons and CE's terrific performance gave me confidence in the new series.

 

[Willie Oleson]

The next story is in two parts and it's all non-stop fun. Kids will love the fart jokes, of course, but there's more to enjoy and we get see more of Jackie's maternal side.
Most of the action takes place inside 10 Downing Street but the world outside feels real enough.
It all starts with a fake alien invasion in London and it ends with Mickey launching a missile from his Windows XP computer in order to destroy the real aliens.
The aliens are more sinister but also funnier in their human disguises.


I don't know how the TARDIS works in the classic series but all the scenes inside this TARDIS are awesome because it combines the super hi-tech with hissing and puffing pumps, hydraulic equipment and whatnot. Kinda like a Jules Verne-style submarine in space.

 

[Hawkman]

I don't know how the TARDIS works in the classic series but all the scenes inside this TARDIS are awesome because it combines the super hi-tech with hissing and puffing pumps, hydraulic equipment and whatnot. Kinda like a Jules Verne-style submarine in space.

The TARDIS interior of classic who is a simpler design, basically white with a hexagonal console and a central column. Obviously made back in the day the possible fx was limited.
To explain the incredible complexity of Nu Who TARDIS designs it was implied the " classic " Doctor just never got round to customizing his TARDIS, and kept it as it was " off the peg" as it were.
Here's a short 2minute vid showing all TARDIS interiors from 1963 to 2021.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

The next story is in two parts and it's all non-stop fun. Kids will love the fart jokes, of course, but there's more to enjoy and we get see more of Jackie's maternal side.
Most of the action takes place inside 10 Downing Street but the world outside feels real enough.
It all starts with a fake alien invasion in London and it ends with Mickey launching a missile from his Windows XP computer in order to destroy the real aliens.
The aliens are more sinister but also funnier in their human disguises.
View attachment 40779

I don't know how the TARDIS works in the classic series but all the scenes inside this TARDIS are awesome because it combines the super hi-tech with hissing and puffing pumps, hydraulic equipment and whatnot. Kinda like a Jules Verne-style submarine in space.

It was great to see the return of UNIT, I wish the Brigadier was in the story.
Didn't care for the Slitheen, a less than worthy adversary for the Doctor. The Zygons would have been a better choice IMHO

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

It was great to see the return of UNIT, I wish the Brigadier was in the story.
Didn't care for the Slitheen, a less than worthy adversary for the Doctor. The Zygons would have been a better choice IMHO

At least they brought the Zygons back for the Fiftieth Anniversary story The Day of the Doctor.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Oh it's just getting better and better. Just watched the FATHER'S DAY episode and of course it's not an ordinary butterfly effect but the END of the world, eaten up by time-wound dragons. Yeah!
Also featuring mini-Mickey and music by Bronski Beat Communards and Rick Astley.

As with Batman and Robin, the TARDIS duo will always find a way to fix things, but I think the strength of this series is the ongoing juxtapostions that gives it such a dynamic vibe. Creepy and funny, lovely and ruthless, realism and bollocks - but the Doctor makes sense of it and Rose shows us why.
Some episodes will be better than others, that's always a given, but I think I'm going to miss the Ninth Doctor. At the same time it will be exciting to see what the new Doctor will bring to the series.

John Barrowman is going to guest star in the next episode. The preview looks quite spectacular.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

At least they brought the Zygons back for the Fiftieth Anniversary story The Day of the Doctor.

True, although I didn't much care for the 50th, except for Tom Baker.
The 50th was a missed opportunity, IMHO. No classic doctors, No McGann, No Eccleston (I know he declined)
No classic or even new companions, except for a misused Rose, and Clara
Script was middling, Tennant was not utilized as best as he could, don't care for the whole
John Hurt missing Doctor subplot.

Oh it's just getting better and better. Just watched the FATHER'S DAY episode and of course it's not an ordinary butterfly effect but the END of the world, eaten up by time-wound dragons. Yeah!
Also featuring mini-Mickey and music by Bronski Beat Communards and Rick Astley.

As with Batman and Robin, the TARDIS duo will always find a way to fix things, but I think the strength of this series is the ongoing juxtapostions that gives it such a dynamic vibe. Creepy and funny, lovely and ruthless, realism and bollocks - but the Doctor makes sense of it and Rose shows us why.
Some episodes will be better than others, that's always a given, but I think I'm going to miss the Ninth Doctor. At the same time it will be exciting to see what the new Doctor will bring to the series.

John Barrowman is going to guest star in the next episode. The preview looks quite spectacular.

Father's Day was excellent. CE was brilliant, showing the Doctor's many sides - Time Lord, frustration, edginess, alienness,
earth and universe protector/martyr. It's too bad his attitude toward the show only gave us one season

 

[Willie Oleson]

Oh it's just getting better and better

And yet I was not prepared for the next episode: THE EMPTY CHILD

My goodness, what a ride! How they managed to turn everything but the kitchen sink (although the sink was mentioned) into a cohesive story of science fiction and human drama is simply beyond me.
I found myself laughing, being spooked, getting misty-eyed and question my sexual orientation (courtesy of Billie Piper) within the time span of a single minute.
Fabulous sets and props, great humour ("doctor, I went into the hospital with one leg, now I've got two" / "there's a war going on, perhaps you miscounted?") and John Barrowman was perfect in the role of Captain Jack.
When everything's moving so fast it's easy for those important moments to miss the mark or look like misplaced sentiment, but miraculously enough that never happens in these episodes (or the previous ones).
I'm sure a lot of effort was put into the writing and production but part of the trick is to make it look effortless.

All this excitment calls for a dramatic announcement:
I hereby officially and factually declare the Doctor Who Revival the best series ever made (sorry Twin Peaks, Dallas, Peyton Place, Oz, The Shield, Six Feet Under etc etc).

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Just seen a video on YouTube where apparently Russell T Davies has confirmed on social media that he's staying for seasons 14 and 15.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Those rotten smilies, is that a "how dare you!" kind of "wow"?

 

[James from London]

Those rotten smilies, is that a "how dare you!" kind of "wow"?

No it’s a genuine surprise Wow, but in a good way, not like the surprise I’ve just had on a train where a bag (mine) fell off the overhead luggage rack and landed on my head. I tried to make a joke out of it but the other passengers all ignored me which made hate them a bit. Then it happened again thirty seconds later and I could feel them all looking at me but this time I ignored them and now it all feels really awkward. Oh well, only another TWO HOURS before I reach my destination and can pretend none of it ever happened.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

No it’s a genuine surprise Wow, but in a good way, not like the surprise I’ve just had on a train where a bag (mine) fell off the overhead luggage rack and landed on my head. I tried to make a joke out of it but the other passengers all ignored me which made hate them a bit. Then it happened again thirty seconds later and I could feel them all looking at me but this time I ignored them and now it all feels really awkward. Oh well, only another TWO HOURS before I reach my destination and can pretend none of it ever happened.

It is great that RTD is back in charge. Hopefully he can bring the show back to respectability, and thrive again. It will be a tall task after the fiasco of Chibnall and Whitaker

 

[Willie Oleson]

not like the surprise I’ve just had on a train where a bag (mine) fell off the overhead luggage rack and landed on my head. I tried to make a joke out of it but the other passengers all ignored me which made hate them a bit. Then it happened again thirty seconds later and I could feel them all looking at me but this time I ignored them and now it all feels really awkward. Oh well, only another TWO HOURS before I reach my destination and can pretend none of it ever happened.

Why is there no "show-online-sympathy-for-but-secretly-chuckle-at-train-passenger-with-two-bag-incidents-ratings-smiley" ?

It is great that RTD is back in charge.

How did he get involved with James' train-spot of bother?

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Why is there no "show-online-sympathy-for-but-secretly-chuckle-at-train-passenger-with-two-bag-incidents-ratings-smiley" ?

How did he get involved with James' train-spot of bother?

Goodness knows.

All I can think of is that it's possibly in breach of Starfleet regulations!

So, he must be a member of the Maqui!

I can order Federation security to arrest him if you like.

Send me a full report & I'll despatch Federation security to his home.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I have watched my first full series of one of the Doctors.
The Doctor and Rose become housemates (!!) in a Big Brother show run by lif-size playmobil robots and then somehow it becomes an epic war saga with the Daleks.
("do.not.blaspheme!do.no.blaspheme!").

This was the only question I could have answered correctly:


Next up: a christmas episode featuring the Tenth Doctor. Christmas episodes often suck because of the obligatory and rather commercial sentiment but maybe this is going to be something different.

 

[James from London]

I have watched my first full series of one of the Doctors.

Congratulations! I wanted to wait till you'd got this far before commenting.

I'm a fan of pre-Barnabas Dark Shadows

Me too, like I'm a fan of pre-Amanda Melrose Place. (And pre-Abby and Alexis Knots and Dynasty of course, but that's different somehow.)

The first next generation doctor is Christopher Eccleston and now I want to watch every movie/series he's done.

May I humbly suggest you start with Cracker, which is an absolute cracker.

It took me a few moments to realize that this series is still very much a children's programme

Like absolutely everything else about Who, that is up for debate. But I vividly remember a TV interview Eccleston did when he took on the role (at least I think I do -- he didn't do many interviews and I've not been able to find it since, so I'm beginning to think I dreamt it) where he firmly stated that this new version of the series belonged to the children of today (i.e. 2005) just as the original had belonged to previous generations of kids. I loved that. It meant it wasn't my Doctor Who, but I had the privilege of watching it anyway. (I took that same attitude to New Dallas as well: this wasn't mine; I had no ownership of it, and somehow that made it an even more exciting experience.) I remember thinking how much kids would be loving the farting aliens, which the BBC never would have stood for when I was growing up. It wasn't until years later that I discovered how unpopular the farting aliens were with Who Fandom, who take the whole thing altogether more seriously.

nothing is being questioned in a serious manner and the best way for me to enjoy it is to embrace the goofy and lampoony tone like a child would do, because children aren't very interested in real-life rules.

I don't think I felt it was un-serious as such. Like New Dallas, New Who was/is a much more emotional viewing experience than the original, but it was also bolder, brighter and more audacious. But yes, going along for the ride is definitely the best way to enjoy it. However, that means accepting that sometimes it isn't a children's programme after all, and then the next week it is again. More than any other series, perhaps, Who is a show about change. It changes from Doctor to Doctor, and from episode to episode. What was wonderful about that first Eccleston series is that I had no expectations and so it all came as a thrilling surprise.

The whirlwind character that is Doctor Who doesn't really comfort the viewer that everything's going to be all right which adds to the surprise when he does get it right.

It's taken me years and years, but I've now re-watched almost all of New Who (apart from the most recent season), but in a time-wimey, higgledy-piggedly out of order order, and I've noticed how often the Doctor will act like he's got a plan and get everyone to trust him, but then someone will ask him what the plan is and he admits he doesn't really know.

 

[darkshadows38]

i loved the farting aliens really only cause i got a f.. up sense of humor and yes they are one of the stupidest ideas but it's one of those that is so stupid it's funny.
honestly the past few years haven't been as good as it used to be it really does feel like it's on it's last leg and i think bringing Russell T. Davies back i think is a last attempt on keeping it on the air. i dunno how well it's been doing recently but that's just what i think anyways