People actually like Doctor Who?

[Tim Cornelis]

I've seen a picture of some alien thing whom you apparently forget when you no longer see him telling how they don't need guns as they rule the world and then gets shot by a Real 'Murican, and it looked pretty cool.
So I watched the first episode, and it turns out it's some shitty kid's show. No suspension of disbelief. She doesn't notice her boyfriend turned into plastic, no credible mourning of his death, non-credible and childish villains, etc., etc.
People actually like this show? Should I continue watching because it'll get better?

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Peter Capaldi is awesome, so it should get better. I don't watch it.

[Consistent.Surprise]

LOVE The Doctor. It's goofy with no real base in reality. Escapism at its best. Torchwood isn't campy but just as great.

[Il Medico]

Why you gotta be hating on the camp Timmy? :lol:

Anyways, the old series (1963-2005) was super campy (weird villains, laughable special effects, the whole shebang). The new series (2005-now) trends towards being more mature, but in the BBC 1 family friendly sort of way. It still has it's campy moments, especially early on in the new series, but not like the old series.

Anyways, watch through the first season with Eccleston and I guarantee you'll love it by the finale. If you don't you're dead inside and also probably have no soul. Just sayin.


(Oh! Rose doesn't mourn Mickey because he's Mickey; no one cares about Mickey.)

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

You have questioned the might of the Glorious Doctor.

You realize you have to die now, right?

[Zukunftsmusik]

You realize you have to die now, right?

Exterminate!

[Sasha]

Exterminate!

you will be upgraded!

[Sasha]

but yeah, doctor who is awesome though it does in places struggles in deciding whether its an really grim adult show or a children friendly thing or something campy in between, its gets more stable when the adult spinoff torchwood starts.
also it really depends which doctor, companion and most of all writer you have, I didnt really like ecclestone (the first doctor of the new series) but i love the two after that. on the companion field i had little with martha though she grew on me later.
and last but not least, any episode written by neil gaimann is excelent

[Red_Banner]

I saw a few episodes years ago and cringed becuase a Brit woman did such a bad job at an American accent.

[Il Medico]

and last but not least, any episode written by neil gaimann is excelent
The Moffat episodes from the Davies era (eg The Doctor Dances, Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Silence in the Library, etc) are some of the best in the series as well, imo.

[tuwix]

I've seen a picture of some alien thing whom you apparently forget when you no longer see him telling how they don't need guns as they rule the world and then gets shot by a Real 'Murican, and it looked pretty cool.
So I watched the first episode, and it turns out it's some shitty kid's show. No suspension of disbelief. She doesn't notice her boyfriend turned into plastic, no credible mourning of his death, non-credible and childish villains, etc., etc.
People actually like this show? Should I continue watching because it'll get better?

Well, the series is pretty appealing to that part of British society who like imperial past. The British prime minister is portrayed as a ruler of a world exactly as well as American president in their sci-fi movies and series. But in fact, certainly American president has something to do with power over the world although we all know that he's just bourgeois puppet, but it's sure that British prime minister is just a chief of pretty rich country with non-significant influence to the world affairs.

And this makes for me these series unreal even in sci-fi terms, but appealing to some part of British society.

[#FF0000]

I don't mind Dr. Who at all, but holy shit "Whovians", at least in America, are the worst. I might be a little bitter that all the people I told about the show years and years ago are just getting into it now but christ they are awful.

[Zukunftsmusik]

^Annoying as hell. One of my best friends is a "Whovian" but it seems to me he only is because he think it seems cool and geeky. Posts Dr. Who stuff all over facebook all the time

[Beeth]

In the third or fourth season, a frighteningly ugly woman accompanies the doctor - but for some reason everybody loves her, saying she is the best companion, even better than Rose (and the rest).:confused:

[Sasha]

I assume your talking about Catherine Tate? Shut up. A. For going for the ugly argument (i actually think she is quite pretty for her age, besides her sod off attitude was really nice after all the companions doe eyeing the doctor) b. You need to be familiar with contemporary British comedy to apriciate her really, its like the currently biggest SNL star getting a major role in the new startrek series. A pretty balsy gamble.

[Beeth]

I assume your talking about Catherine Tate? Shut up. A. For going for the ugly argument (i actually think she is quite pretty for her age, besides her sod off attitude was really nice after all the companions doe eyeing the doctor) b. You need to be familiar with contemporary British comedy to apriciate her really, its like the currently biggest SNL star getting a major role in the new startrek series. A pretty balsy gamble.

I am talking about looks only - she is fugly. Martha and Rose were far, far better. It has nothing do with age and everything to do with facial symmetry.

[#FF0000]

I am talking about looks only

1. so what
2. why
3. fuck you

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Are people seriously bagging the old doctor while cheering this Matt Smith fellow? Blasphemy!

It was one of the only television series I watched as a kid that had the capacity to go themewise from a children's adventure movie to an 'everyone dies brutally' horror flick - terrifying but at the same time captivating. I also think the middle-aged doctors were a lot cooler than some suave guy with a sprucey haircut and an explosion of non-sequitors to inject some bland comedy into the newest series.

[Consistent.Surprise]

Star Linn, I love ALL my doctors! 4th was my first ;-)

Tate was fantastic! The interaction between her & Tennent was magical just as it was with Smith & Kingston!

Stop picking on the pretty, older (more natural) ginger! Yes, Karen Gillan's hair isn't naturally that color; look at her eye brows

[human strike]

Liked it before Moffat ruined it. Now I hate-watch it.

[Beeth]

1. so what
2. why
3. fuck you

1) Because an audience would normally want to see good-looking people on screen.

2) Facial symmetry

3) :)

[#FF0000]

1) Because an audience would normally want to see good-looking people on screen

Meanwhile...


In the third or fourth season, a frighteningly ugly woman accompanies the doctor - but for some reason everybody loves her, saying she is the best companion, even better than Rose (and the rest).:confused: Nah you're just an asshole, dude.

[Klaatu]

I used to watch the old Dr Who in the 1960s-70s. Also the American series The Outer Limits. Bad special FX (horrible!) but really good stories.

[Beeth]

Meanwhile...

Nah you're just an asshole, dude.

:laugh:

Logically, an audience would love to see good-looking people on screen. They'd rather see Brad Pitt than you or any average Joe, right? So what baffles me is, how come they put up with this woman when she is ugly as a horse's butt?

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

:laugh:

Logically, an audience would love to see good-looking people on screen. They'd rather see Brad Pitt than you or any average Joe, right? So what baffles me is, how come they put up with this woman when she is ugly as a horse's butt?

Cringe.

[Art Vandelay]

I remember seeing an episode on TV one time and attempting to watch it and being all like: 'what the hell is this piece of crap show?' Also is 'whovians' an actual word? :laugh: And what's campy mean?

[Le Libérer]

Two words, weeping angels.

[Comrade Jacob]

Doctor who can have some mind-blowing episodes (if you've followed it long enough).
It's good.

[Yuppie Grinder]

I like the old campy doctor who that had no special effects. The new one is on some disney shit and i fuck with it on no level.

[Lobotomy]

Apparently my avatar is from doctor who. I had no idea. I just found this pic on the internet somewhere and I liked it because it makes me laugh my ass off.

I think I watched an episode once, was neither impressed nor unimpressed.

[Invader Zim]

:laugh:

Logically, an audience would love to see good-looking people on screen. They'd rather see Brad Pitt than you or any average Joe, right? So what baffles me is, how come they put up with this woman when she is ugly as a horse's butt?

This is such a ludicrously vacuous, shallow and inane comment. And if success is determined by proximity of looks to Brad Pitt, why do so many successful actors not look anything like him? In fact, plenty of actors do look like 'any average Joe', and many of them are A-List actors. Indeed, the whole running gag in Zoolander is that the guys playing top male models do not look anything like male models and look just like 'average Joes'.

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/zoolander-owen-wilson-ben-stiller.jpg

You're an idiot. Or a troll.

[Beeth]

This is such a ludicrously vacuous, shallow and inane comment. And if success is determined by proximity of looks to Brad Pitt, why do so many successful actors not look anything like him? In fact, plenty of actors do look like 'any average Joe', and many of them are A-List actors. Indeed, the whole running gag in Zoolander is that the guys playing top male models do not look anything like male models and look just like 'average Joes'.

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/zoolander-owen-wilson-ben-stiller.jpg

You're an idiot. Or a troll.

Calm down, kid. It is okay to be an average Joe, I get that. But is it okay to be hideously ugly - wouldn't that make it hard for the audience to watch?

[Beeth]

This is the definition of beauty:



This is ugly:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00644/news-graphics-2007-_644984a.jpg

[Sasha]

Just shut up, esp if you are going to claim your point by taking a picture of Tate IN FUCKING CHARACTER as an spotty anoying teen.
I could find plenty of gorgeous pictures of Tate but I'm not going to because a. everyones definition of beauty differs, way to cheerlead the sexist objectivist agenda of the industry b. maybe people don't need their Dr who characters anyways like in stupid superficial US shows like CSI where even the janitor is a bloody supermodel.
Maybe you expect every minute on tv to be wank material but we don't.

[Il Medico]

Beeth, you are either a massive troll or an unabashed misogynist/ idiot. So, kindly sod off and do something more productive with your life (like say, playing in traffic).

[L.A.P.]

in Indian television, being part of the tiny minority of light-skinned Indian that fit the British colonial beauty-ideal is literally the sole trait that qualifies one to be an actor. Beeth, clearly a petty bourgeois (fuck the people who basically pulled the "how old are you" shit on me after I called Beeth out on being a finance manager. I'm talking to you, blake 3:17) Indian, can't comprehend people being on tv for their acting skills. It's part of the reason contemporary Bollywood films are so shit.

they're not trolling at all

[Marshal of the People]

I absolutely love Doctor Who, though I'm not sure I'll like the new Doctor (Peter Capaldi), I do have to admit Doctor Who sometimes makes Star Wars look like an educational science video (not including the force, that's just silly)

[HoboHomesteader]

My partner is really into the show, multi generational thing in her family. I haven't checked it out but like listening to all the years of theme music.

VkcHgI_TIYQ

[zoot_allures]

Yes, I absolutely love Doctor Who. It's by far the greatest tv show of all time in my opinion. I watch at least one DW episode a day, when I eat dinner.


So I watched the first episode, and it turns out it's some shitty kid's show. No suspension of disbelief. She doesn't notice her boyfriend turned into plastic, no credible mourning of his death, non-credible and childish villains, etc., etc.
Wait a minute, that doesn't happen in the first episode. Perhaps you're confusing Doctor Who with some other show. I do understand, because over the last few years there has been a show with the same name and some similar themes as Doctor Who. It's not Doctor Who though. I don't care what they say, it's just not.

Simple test: does it have wobbly sets, monsters made of bubble wrap, tuneless synthesizer music, alien planets that always look suspiciously like British quarries, and contrived cliffhangers at the end of every episode? No? Then it's not Doctor Who.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Doctor Who, old and new, is my favorite television show of all time. I've seen just about every episode of it from 1963 to now (excluding the lost episodes of the 1960s, that is).

Those who don't like it make me want to ship them off to hard labor in Siberia. :lol:

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Also, it was a show that got away with satirizing Thatcher while she was PM.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Despite being a massive geek who loves his sci-fi, I could never really get into Doctor Who, old or new. I think it's because I can't escape the feeling that there's something about the ability to travel literally anywhere in time and space as a matter of course (as opposed to how time travel is more usually depicted in most other science fiction universes, where time travel is either extremely difficult, happens accidentally or is for some other reason an unusual occurrence), that renders narrative conflict and dramatic tension ultimately irrelevant. Why worry about the bad guys in the here'n'now when one can simply travel to the past and strangle the fuckers in their sleep before they even know that you're the enemy?

Having said that though, the new Doctor Who stuff that I have seen is definitely a cut above 95% or more of the shit that's on television these days.

[Sasha]

Why worry about the bad guys in the here'n'now when one can simply travel to the past and strangle the fuckers in their sleep before they even know that you're the enemy?


can't, time paradox, http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Temporal_paradox, its complicated...

[zoot_allures]

So I watched the first episode, and it turns out it's some shitty kid's show.
To be a bit more helpful than my previous post: you need to keep in mind that Doctor Who is a teatime family show. Kids are as much a part of the target audience as adults are. So naturally, there will be parts of it that are lighter, sillier, designed to appeal to kids.

For DW stories that are darker, scarier, or just generally deal with more adult themes, check out (I've starred what I'd consider the top three):

Classic series:

The Enemy of the World
Doctor Who and the Silurians
Inferno*
The Mind of Evil
The Green Death
Genesis of the Daleks*
The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Revelation of the Daleks
The Curse of Fenric

New series:

The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
The Girl in the Fireplace*
The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit
Blink
Midnight
The Waters of Mars
Amy's Choice

I think all of these are somewhat more adult, and they're also all very well-regarded stories. Check out a few of them, if you're still not into it afterwards, I'd recommend just giving up for now.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

can't, time paradox, http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Temporal_paradox, its complicated...

What paradox? Removing one's enemies isn't like killing one's grandfather - one can exist without enemies, in fact if anything it's easier for one to exist without enemies.

To illustrate:

Person A meets Person B, and they have a serious falling out with each other. Person A makes their excuses to leave and then travels back in time to meet Person B, who being in the past doesn't recognise Person A as a threat and is therefore easily shot to death/blown up/vapourised/whatever. Person A travels back to the future to find that the person who was going to have been their enemy is in the grave. Person A can now declare victory and move forth in the new present unopposed by Person B.

So unless there's some element of Whovian temporal mechanics that I'm missing, then it seems that persons/organisations with the ability to travel arbitrarily in time will basically be able to steamroller everyone else who can't travel in time so easily, while at the same time being locked in a fierce stalemate war with every other time-travelling faction as the timeline is constantly being altered and re-altered by the different sides.

I know that there are "fixed points in time", but they aren't enough to prevent a temporal war from basically engulfing the entirety of space-time. Prevention of a universal temporal war would require that all of space-time be fixed, but that would essentially make everything predetermined and thus render time-travel useless for anything other than sight-seeing, as any attempt to change the past (or the future!) would in fact end up fulfilling it.

[zoot_allures]

ÑóẊîöʼn: the trick is just not to think about it. Most DW plots fall apart if you analyse them in any detail (and not just because of time-travel incoherencies).

[Ele'ill]

I hate the show, boring

[Sasha]

I would even say that that's the charm of Dr who, the scientific plotholes are so big you can drive an galaxy through them that it doesn't matter anymore. If shit in starttrek is impossible its super annoying because you expect them to get it right. In Dr who everything is almost possible with an "timey whimy, its complicated"

[Orange Juche]

Liked it before Moffat ruined it. Now I hate-watch it.

I feel the same way, I can't wait for the day he announces he's leaving.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

The Doctor, The Master, Daleks / Davros, Cybermen, Angels...

It's all just fucking great :grin:

(and it IS a kid's show, essentially, but that's doesn't have to be a negative),

(oh oh and there was extra geeky fun when a 1986 transformers toy - Galvatron! - appeared in a random kitchen scene recently :))

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Originally Posted by whatever singularity http://www.revleft.com/vb/revleft/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.revleft.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2662544#post2662544)
Liked it before Moffat ruined it. Now I hate-watch it.

I feel the same way, I can't wait for the day he announces he's leaving.

..have to admit I feel the same...Moffat's writing can be very frustrating and taints shows that I do like but I which could have been better (Jekyll, Sherlock)

[Comrade #138672]

Why is the doctor always a white male? I would prefer a multicultural and intersectional doctor.

[Tim Cornelis]

Why is the doctor always a white male? I would prefer a multicultural and intersectional doctor.

That's genocide bruv.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Why is the doctor always a white male? I would prefer a multicultural and intersectional doctor.
In theory, there's no reason the Doctor has to be a white man. At this point, I'd settle for fewer white men writing and directing the show.

[Sasha]

it wouldnt surpise me that after the up coming one they would go for a female, they even already hinted at the possibility in the short for the upcoming big episode: -U3jrS-uhuo

[Sasha]

That was pretty epic... Complicated, but epic... And john hurt made a good doctor, shame he won't get his own series.


No more...

[Marshal of the People]

This is the definition of beauty:



This is ugly:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00644/news-graphics-2007-_644984a.jpg

How dare you insult Donna Noble!

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I don't think anybody is actually like Doctor Who. There are some new-age wingnuts doing astral projection shit who claim to be, but I remain skeptical.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I saw one episode and I don't get.

[Futility Personified]

Was actually damned good. Enjoyed it massively.

[Sasha]

How cool was that.... New doctor, I'm curious, not convinced yet but I have a good feeling about it ..

[Il Medico]

How cool was that.... New doctor, I'm curious, not convinced yet but I have a good feeling about it ..
Capaldi was the safe choice for the role being a veteran tv actor and Moffat, for all the hate he's getting in the thread, hasn't miscast yet. So hopefully it'll be good.

Though personally, I would have preferred Damien Molony who was apparently also in the top ten for the role.

[The Feral Underclass]

My house mate cried when Matt Smith died on Christmas day.

[BIXX]

My house mate cried when Matt Smith died on Christmas day.


I didn't really like Matt Smith, I say find some way to bring Tennant back!

[Sasha]

I have to do it, i just have to say it....

SHERLOCK IS BETTER THAN DR WHO

:ohmy:

[tallguy]

In the third or fourth season, a frighteningly ugly woman accompanies the doctor - but for some reason everybody loves her, saying she is the best companion, even better than Rose (and the rest).:confused:
I happen to find her a very attractive character as it happens. But, then I have a thing for "don't-take-no-shit-from-no-one" women. No doubt, some wanky, Freudian analysis would conclude it's cos my Mam's like that. She brought us up on her own and had to work day and night to keep us fed and housed cos our dad didn't send any money after he left her and us. She was (and is) as tough as nails because she had to be.

I saw a movie recently where a daughter asked her mother why she was such a cantankerous old *****. To which she replied, "sometimes, being a cantankerous old ***** is all a woman has left to hang on to". Reminded me of my grand, mad old Mam.

Anyway, I like the character that actress plays.

[tallguy]

I have to do it, i just have to say it....

SHERLOCK IS BETTER THAN DR WHO

:ohmy:
Yeah, gotta agree with that

[Psycho P and the Freight Train]

I feel like the fans make the show leave a bad taste in a lot of peoples' mouths. Admittedly I've never seen a minute of that show but it sounds horribly cheesy and definitely not something I'd be in to. It strikes me as odd that it has such a huge fan base. It seems like a show like that wouldn't do all that well.

[BIXX]

It's a show I simply find fun. That's why I'm into it.

[ArisVelouxiotis]

It has comedy,action and the twists in the plot sometimes cause of time travell are awesome.I think I found a new Stargate