Dr Who

(22-11-2015 18:42 )wackawoo Wrote:  Mean while in the real world.

I was watching a clip from Clara's first appearance, Asylum of the Daleks. Wow, what a contrast. Real drama, real acting from Matt Smith. The way the camera panned around to make the 'reveal' that she was actually a dalek was almost genius, and genuine emotion as she comes to that realisation herself. It really was a million miles away from the slapstick kiddies tv fare we are being served up now, with the ridiculous sonic goggles, and guitar playing, and almost amateurish story-telling.
Whilst it's kinda sad to see JC leave, she is better off out of it quite frankly, it's hard to see things improving anytime soon. I thought some of the previous series left a bit to be desired, but I am seeing them in a whole new light now, and have a new appreciation for them that was lost on me at the time. I really don't think I'll be saying that about this series in a few years time, but obviously that will depend on how much worse it gets from here on

Very defensive interview from Mark Gatiss in Radio Times recently raging about how ratings don't reflect real viewing figures in days of timeshifting and iPlayer etc and bemoaning comparisons with viewing figures for reality TV shows and Rugby World Cup etc, and saying it's all nay-saying journalism and that there's no story in saying "Dr Who's ratings remain roughly the same as they always were". (Not necessarily invalid points to make).

Viewing public gets bored easily though ? I think the casual viewing figures must be down, I'd guess it's probably not seen as a family must-see show in quite the same way as it was in the first few years of it's revival ?

I'd suspect - like Classic Who before it - it's got to the stage where it's regarded as too self-referential and "for-fans-only"-genre-TV again; and there will be the perception that if you haven't been watching it religiously for the last few years you're not going to follow all the in-jokes and story-arcs etc. Again, that's probably inevitable for any long-running series ? The first generation of kids that watched the revival now grown out of it : Peter Capaldi's not "their Doctor" ; presumably in the same way that not all Hartnell /Troughton fans might have taken to the Pertwee/UNIT era and so on and so on....
Things can never stay still.
In the classic era, the producers would change fairly regularly - almost as often as the actors playing Doctors, every 3 - 5 years - actually often more frequently than the actors ? Until the 80s of course....

Think Cara's death is going to be a massive 'lurk worm' fake out. They spent enough time with the whole people see what they expect to see lark and then a lot of time scaring Me and convincing her Cara was about to die.

Radio Times would love Mark Gatiss to be Moffat's replacement.

The fundamental problem with the "death" of a companion is that so many characters have been killed off, only to be magically resurrected, in the past 5-10 years, that who is seriously going to believe in it any more?

Isn't Clara the 'impossible girl' though? I expect to see her again at some point.
Meanwhile, isn't a coincidence that just at the same time, Ola Jordan announces she is leaving Strictly ?

(23-11-2015 22:45 )circles_o_o_o Wrote:  Isn't Clara the 'impossible girl' though? I expect to see her again at some point.

I may have missed it, but I never thought it was ever really satisfactorily explained just why Clara wasn't torn to pieces when she jumped into the Matt Smith Doctor's timestream to rescue him. Matt Smith just somehow wandered in and took her by the hand and then there was the massive distraction of John Hurt's big face in end-of-series-crashing-close-up...and just how they both got out again was quietly skipped over in the 50th anniversary special.

I've been viewing this current series via the iPlayer. I have noticed that I am struggling sometimes to understand what Capaldi is saying (no, nothing to do with his Scottish accent). He simply rushes his lines and they end up jumbled together.

Some of the storylines have been terrible. The under the lake one and the sleep dust one were abysmal - poorly written tripe.

Also, I have noticed that the Doctor doesn't use the metric system (a fop to the American audience perhaps?). Surely a time-traveller would use the metric system?

(28-11-2015 19:21 )Billy_Nomates Wrote:  I've been viewing this current series via the iPlayer. I have noticed that I am struggling sometimes to understand what Capaldi is saying (no, nothing to do with his Scottish accent). He simply rushes his lines and they end up jumbled together.

Some of the storylines have been terrible. The under the lake one and the sleep dust one were abysmal - poorly written tripe.

Also, I have noticed that the Doctor doesn't use the metric system (a fop to the American audience perhaps?). Surely a time-traveller would use the metric system?

Do Time Lords use metric time though?

(28-11-2015 19:21 )Billy_Nomates Wrote:  Also, I have noticed that the Doctor doesn't use the metric system (a fop to the American audience perhaps?).

Maybe he's trying to ingratiate himself with Eurosceptic / UKIP voters ?

There appears to be a massive Radio Times spoiler* for next week's episode (the magazine out already because of Christmas) - although I don't bother with previews and online stuff so it's maybe it's all old news and already been officially leaked and trailed.

*Rhymes with "Dime Hordes" ?