The Snowmen Grading and Discussion Thread

[Count Zero]

DalekJim wrote:

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I'd say 2006 Tennant Who has dated far worse than 1963 Hartnell Who.

How so?

[DalekJim]

Count Zero wrote:

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How so?

It's a garish mess on a visual level and the constant pop culture references stand out as very dated. Shane Ward!? Nobody even knows who he is any more.

[Count Zero]

Yeah, the SFX looked cheap, still does but that's worse in the classic show. As for references to contemporary life, you have them in the old show as well. The fact that it's rooted in its present day is one of the things I've always liked about the show. And I get a kick out of seeing London in the swinging sixties every time that happens. It's the thing that got me through the otherwise mediocre The War Machines and it's part of the reason I like The Invasion so much.

[DalekJim]

I'm not on about the effects. I'm on about the production design, direction, cinematography et al. The Sontaran 2-parter in S4 is a total assault on the eyes. So much purple .

[The Mirrorball Man]

DalekJim wrote:

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I'm not on about the effects. I'm on about the production design, direction, cinematography et al. The Sontaran 2-parter in S4 is a total assault on the eyes. So much purple .

I'm fairly certain that contemporary audiences don't think that purple dates Doctor Who quite as much as black and white.

[Count Zero]

If you don't mind the wobbly sets of early Who, purple shouldn't be a problem.

[DalekJim]

I'd say audiences today would respond more to The Beatles in The Chase than Shane Ward in Fear Her.

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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I'm fairly certain that contemporary audiences don't think that purple dates Doctor Who quite as much as black and white.

I'd say the opposite. That a black and white colour scheme will never look garish in a way that blue and purple will.

[The Mirrorball Man]

DalekJim wrote:

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I'd say the opposite. That a black and white colour scheme will never look garish in a way that blue and purple will.

Yet black and white is anathema to modern audiences, and modern black and white movies are extremely rare.

[Count Zero]

DalekJim wrote:

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I'd say audiences today would respond more to The Beatles in The Chase than Shane Ward in Fear Her.

Probably, but that's luck. If the serial had included a clip of Gerry and the Pacemakers instead people wouldn't be very impressed.

[DalekJim]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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Yet black and white is anathema to modern audiences, and modern black and white movies are extremely rare.

I am the modern audience. I'm in my early 20s. To me New Earth looks hideous whereas the first episode of An Unearthly Child looks timeless .

[Count Zero]

DalekJim wrote:

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I am the modern audience.

So are most of us here, I would reckon.

DalekJim wrote:

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To me New Earth looks hideous whereas the first episode of An Unearthly Child looks timeless .

As they say, there's no accounting for taste. I like both but to me, early Who looks quite dated which is ok because it is old and it's ok for shows and films to look the time they were made in.

[Lonemagpie]

DalekJim wrote:

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It's a garish mess on a visual level and the constant pop culture references stand out as very dated. Shane Ward!? Nobody even knows who he is any more.

I didn't know who he was then! Still don't,,,

[Alidar Jarok]

DalekJim wrote:

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I am the modern audience. I'm in my early 20s. To me New Earth looks hideous whereas the first episode of An Unearthly Child looks timeless .

What about the second, third, and fourth episodes of An Unearthly Child?

I do like how Susan got confused because she thought British currency was decimal and then remarked that it hasn't changed yet. It was fortuitous that it did indeed change. I suspect there was a lot of talk back then to give them hints that they should make that reference.

[Mr Light]

I wish I had seen these Second Doctor episodes, that's really cool how they set up the bad guy in those!

[Count Zero]

There isn't that much to see, unfortunately. Only one or two episodes of each serial still exist. It's a shame because I really would have loved to see more of the Tibetan monastery in The Abominable Snowmen. And also of the young Lethbridge Stewart in The Web of Fear, naturally.