Doctor Who returns tonight

[nobby the villan]

Watch out for "Blink" (S3 ep 10) - my favourite from this series.

Statues have never been more scary!




That was easily the highlight of this series for me and prbably the best episode since it's return.

[dbz]

Originally Posted by wayneklein

(my favs are still the episode where Dr. Who encounters "the last" Dialect and also the one where Tennant's Dr. discovers a planet orbiting a black hole--along with the Cybermen episodes--as the best.

My only complaint--not enough far off planets. Evidently those episodes didn't score as well with audiences although I suspect it had more to do with the budget busting production costs.

You mean DALEK? yes that was my favourite episode of the whole new Dr Who series. When the Dalek woke and said "Doctor?......... Theeeee Doctor?" sent chills down my spine.

Mind you those bloody things were the nightmares of my childhood.

And yes just like with the Jon Pertwee years (exiled to earth) the BBC Budget has been cut so that there will be a lot more earthbound episodes as its too expensive building all those Space Station sets

[Drew]

I don't understand why the new Doctor Who series would be hurting for cash... Unlike the old series which was shown on PBS, the new series is on Sci-Fi channel in the USA, which I'm sure pays a respectable amount of cash for the rights to air the program in the States. And I'd also think that with 300 channels of TV in most countries of the western world needing to be filled that it would be a cash cow for the Beeb even if the new series was a creative dud (which I don't think it is).

I agree "Dalek" from the first series was my favorite episode of the new show. I thought the Dalek episode from this year was my least favorite, even though its interesting that to see Doctor Who episodes that are supposed to be taking place in the USA.

[davenav]

The budgets are getting bigger. Wait till you see some of the eye-popping visuals in the new season! However, this has not resulted in all that many more stories set off-Earth.

So I think it's safe to assume that Russell T. Davies just likes Earthbound stories, although he publicly proclaims they are too expensive. He is now considered to be close to the top ten most powerful people in UK television, so if he really wanted more stories on other planets he could damn well have them. Perhaps he's a big Pertwee fan?

[KevinP]

The funny thing is, percentage-wise, Eccleston spent far more time on Earth or in its orbit than Pertwee, even pre-Three Doctors.

But I have to say, the aliens in Davies-penned stories are not my favourites, disregarding classic series aliens he brought back. They fart, drink blood with straws, become trampolines, etc. Then it gets very Flash Gordony with Rhino-people, tree-people, cat people, and two unrelated kinds of pig-people. And then there's the Absorbaloff...

Don't get me wrong: I love the new series...but maybe all these Earthbound stories are not such as a bad thing in light of how he writes aliens.

[wayneklein]

I have the feeling that Davies probably isn't all that good with creating "alien" environments and people

As to Sci-Fi and what they pay for Dr. Who---I heard that the show attracts a respectable audience but not as large as they wanted. They license the show for here. BBC America has been showing it a season behind Sci-Fi.

Honestly, the budget stuff was pure speculation ( I have no insight into this but had read somewhere at one of the Dr. Who sites that the budget played a part as well)but it is an expensive show for BBC to produce compared to other ones they do because of the CGI effects and the talent behind/in front of the camera. I think that KevinP hit it on the head in that Davies' aliens have never been as good as some of the others from previous writers but he has used the classic ones very well. Perhaps, again, creating aliens isn't an area of strength for him (much like Gene Roddenberry whose best alien creatures were created by other writers).

[davenav]

I think that may be true, but I also think he just has a different approach, much like Douglas Adams, of going OTT on purpose and having fun with it. The blood-sucking creature with a straw was a hoot I thought, and the Judoon in the same episode were certainly an example of a Davies-era type creature, scary and funny at the same time.

[wayneklein]

So what's the deal has David Tennant left Dr. Who? I was reading something at Imdb (yeah, I know it's not always the most reliable place) that they were already looking for someone to replace Tennent. Did I miss something?

[Shawn1968]

Originally Posted by wayneklein

So what's the deal has David Tennant left Dr. Who? I was reading something at Imdb (yeah, I know it's not always the most reliable place) that they were already looking for someone to replace Tennent. Did I miss something?

He's leaving after the next series/season, along with Russell T. Davis. I'm actually looking forward to the change as change is usually good for the show in keeping things fresh. Plus maybe it will mean more episodes based outside of the earth and moon

[wayneklein]

I am a bit disappointed that Tennet is going so soon. Davies did a good job but I agree that it is time for some fresh blood. Dr. Who is probably the only on going series that has none of the original creative/acting folks from its origin to the current series (L&O that is true as well except that producer Dick Wolf has been around forever).

[Shawn1968]

Yeah, I think Tennet brings quite a lot to the role. But Davies' style is getting on my nerves a little bit so I'm not sorry to see him go. So let's keep our fingers crossed that the change will be for the better.

[Phil Elliott]

The reports that David Tennant is leaving started around the end of last year; a more recent interview with "Wales On Sunday" seems to contradict this:

"“From the moment I took the job there has been speculation I was leaving. I’m having the time of my life and I wouldn’t want it any other way at the moment,” the Scot said."

I won't quote the full article, as it contains minor spoilers if you're the opposite side of the pond from me - the full online article is here however.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100n...name_page.html

Now ...

I'm not the biggest fan of Doctor Who, I don't really do "cackling baddies", so to speak. But there are a few epsiodes in this series that have something else to offer; a "must see" is the episode entitled "Blink"; written by Stevan Moffat. It's astonishing, and is right up there with his "Girl In The Fireplace" episode from series 2.

[davenav]

The thing that impresses me the most about this series, and especially the latest one, is what they are able to achieve with the budget restraints they have. People might complain about Davies' style, but I think Doctor Who is the best SF currently in television production. Miles above the soap operas, I mean BG and SG.

I too will be sad to see Tennant leave, but so far everything is just rumors. The fact that he is the highest paid actor in British television must be a factor in his staying on, I'd have to believe. That and the fact that he and Davies (and dear Chris Eccleston) have made this the flagship program on the BBC.

[adriatikfan]

I think Season 2 and Season 3 have both been tremendous. Tennent and Billie Piper had a wonderful rapport which hasn't quite been there with Freema Agyemon but Season 3 has had spectacular highlights,

The final 5 minutes or so of the two parter 'Family of Blood' were emotionally very difficult and, as others have stated 'Blink' was outstanding.

From Season 2 my personal favourite was the 'Satan Pit', with the quote from Thomas B. Macauley:

'And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods?'

This was intoned as a crew member was lost, combiining top-rate acting, production and writing.

Can't wait for the next Christmas Special and new season.

These three seasons have drawn bigger audiences, attracting back to the show many people - like myself- who grew up with it (I can still remember seeing the first ever show, delayed by the BBC because of another more important event and being rebroadcast the following week).

Many people then outgrew the show as it became sillier - the current team has managed to put together something quite magical, appealing to young and old alike with terrific scriptwriting and casting. Now where did I put that DVD ...?

Best Wishes
David

[wayneklein]

That's what appealed to me about the current series. It still manages to balance humor with suspense something that was sorely lackly after Peter Davidson left.

[Quasimodo]

anyone watching this season, it's been pretty good, rumor has it that Davros returns at seasons end

[Todd Fredericks]

Thanks for the spoiler...............

[Quasimodo]

Originally Posted by Todd Fredericks

Thanks for the spoiler...............

i said it was a rumor

[apileocole]

Originally Posted by wayneklein

As to Sci-Fi and what they pay for Dr. Who---I heard that the show attracts a respectable audience but not as large as they wanted. They license the show for here. BBC America has been showing it a season behind Sci-Fi.

If there are problems, blame 'em on involving the SciFi Channel. And whatever the matter is, good odds you'd be right...

Originally Posted by adriatikfan

Many people then outgrew the show as it became sillier - the current team has managed to put together something quite magical, appealing to young and old alike with terrific scriptwriting and casting.

Exactly.

[Frodis]

Originally Posted by dinchart

Thanks for the heads up. On the subject of BBC sci-fi, is it too much to hope that Red Dwarf will ever return to US TV?

I had to buy the last season to see it as it was never aired here. I LOVE Red Dwarf!!

As for Doctor Who, I'm still a Tom Baker fan. LOVE the scarf! I think it reminds me of the famous towel from the Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series.