Christmas 08: the Next Doctor. Review

[Jim Steele]

I'd hate to be the guy at the RTD meeting who says "we can't do that, people on the internet would make referential jokes".

"Sack that man, he clearly doesn't know how we roll".

 

[Cutter John]

I've always wondered why they made such wimpy (not to mention limpy) wrists on such a bulky robot.

Thank you! I thought I was the only one who ever thought that. Those damn claws would snap right off if the robot ever tried to lift anything heavy.

Its worth getting the DVD of Robot just to listen to the actors and writers ragging on the piss poor FX at the end.

 

[wamdue]

I'd hate to be the guy at the RTD meeting who says "we can't do that, people on the internet would make referential jokes".

"Sack that man, he clearly doesn't know how we roll".

we will find refrences to make, we don't need them shoved down our throats

 

[Jim Steele]

Such venom against something that didn't actually happen.

 

[wamdue]

Such venom against something that didn't actually happen.

I just dont like the idea, and gave the reason why I didnt like it, after that I was just having some fun.

 

[davejames]

One thing that does annoy me is the contant need to big up the Doctor. Oh isn't he brave, isn't he wonderful etc etc...let's be honest here. Who was braver in this episode? The Doctor (with his regenerations to fall back on, his knowledge and sonic screwdriver) or Jackson Lake? So I could have done without the three cheers for the Doctor stuff at the end...oh and whilst I'm in rant mode. We get it already you know Russell. The Doctor's lonely, companions always leave him, boo hoo yadda yadda yadda- please stop hitting us over the head with that!

I rather like how the new series plays up the Doctor as almost a mythological figure at times. And the idea of him being lonely makes sense and is compelling too (and is only ever touched on briefly anyways; the vast majority of the time he's as cheerful and happy-go-lucky as can be).

Besides, there aren't a lot of other deep issues or conflicts you can explore with this character. You gotta have something there.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Next up: "Planet of the Dead". Intriguing. Can't wait.

On that note I agree, it was an interesting title, less chance perhaps of a silly twist like the next Doctor not being the next Doctor.

 

[timelord1010]

I was kind of hoping that the Rani was the Cybermen's ally. She would have been perfect.

 

[Starkers]

One thing that does annoy me is the contant need to big up the Doctor. Oh isn't he brave, isn't he wonderful etc etc...let's be honest here. Who was braver in this episode? The Doctor (with his regenerations to fall back on, his knowledge and sonic screwdriver) or Jackson Lake? So I could have done without the three cheers for the Doctor stuff at the end...oh and whilst I'm in rant mode. We get it already you know Russell. The Doctor's lonely, companions always leave him, boo hoo yadda yadda yadda- please stop hitting us over the head with that!

I rather like how the new series plays up the Doctor as almost a mythological figure at times. And the idea of him being lonely makes sense and is compelling too (and is only ever touched on briefly anyways; the vast majority of the time he's as cheerful and happy-go-lucky as can be).

Besides, there aren't a lot of other deep issues or conflicts you can explore with this character. You gotta have something there.

Spoiler: spoilers for s2-4!

The trouble is its touched on more than briefly. At the end of S2 her'd lost Rose, then in S3 he lost Martha and the Master, s4 Donna etc etc...Be nice if one season started with the same Doctor/companion team up the previous one ended with.

 

[Guy Gardener]

He needs to build himself a new K9.

But then, that's the plot of my best friends girl ain't it? K9 seems Loyal, but he keeps chasing tail whenever it leaves the TARDIS... Did you ever wonder about K9's groundlevel security recordings' perspective of Leela?

I think one of the idas for the oneshots is to see a new companion halfway through their tenure with the doctor, which should be... I've got my fingers crossed for that cute little sailor girl from the Extra's Christmas Special.

 

[wamdue]

He needs to build himself a new K9.

I actually agree, however as im sure you know there are some legal rights about K9, which make that seem unlikely

and if we are having a special with a companion already with theDoctor then can she please feature in the books

 

[wamdue]

^

Yeah, and isn't there precedents for a giant Robot stomping around London? This is just the version with a budget...

maybe they should bring back the Robot for SJA, but this time with a SJA budget. In that shot he is actually smaller than the Cyberking.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

^

Yeah, and isn't there precedents for a giant Robot stomping around London? This is just the version with a budget...

I think its best I never see that, as I get the feeling I might have some very unkind comments about the FX.

The special effects for the giant Robot are Oscar winning compared to the arrival of the Unit tank...which was just a 70s toy action man tank, shot in front of the Robot.

 

[wamdue]

^

Yeah, and isn't there precedents for a giant Robot stomping around London? This is just the version with a budget...

I think its best I never see that, as I get the feeling I might have some very unkind comments about the FX.

The special effects for the giant Robot are Oscar winning compared to the arrival of the Unit tank...which was just a 70s toy action man tank, shot in front of the Robot.

I had a quick read up on this episode, and it seems the robot didnt get huge till the last part, I have to wonder why they just didnt think "well we are going to use an action man toy tank do we really have the budget to do this well? , should we not just skip the bit when he grows really really big? and maybe one day the world wont look back on us & laugh"

 

[The]

^I think he was still growing at the time...

 

[wamdue]

^I think he was still growing at the time...

becasue what they thought it would be cheaper and better looking when it got bigger?

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I have to wonder why they just didnt think "well we are going to use an action man toy tank do we really have the budget to do this well? , should we not just skip the bit when he grows really really big? and maybe one day the world wont look back on us & laugh"

With that kind of thought, Doctor Who would never have been created!

 

[wamdue]

I have to wonder why they just didnt think "well we are going to use an action man toy tank do we really have the budget to do this well? , should we not just skip the bit when he grows really really big? and maybe one day the world wont look back on us & laugh"

With that kind of thought, Doctor Who would never have been created!

I thought someone might say that

 

[davejames]

The special effects for the giant Robot are Oscar winning compared to the arrival of the Unit tank...which was just a 70s toy action man tank, shot in front of the Robot.

Is there some particular reason the BBC never put any money behind DW until the new version? I thought it was their most popular show or something (at least for a while).

Or was it just their way?

As good as the writing often was, it's just amazing to me that the production values always look like they're straight out of Peewee's Playhouse. Or The Adventures of Superman in the 50s.

 

[wamdue]

The special effects for the giant Robot are Oscar winning compared to the arrival of the Unit tank...which was just a 70s toy action man tank, shot in front of the Robot.

Is there some particular reason the BBC never put any money behind DW until the new version? I thought it was their most popular show or something (at least for a while).

Or was it just their way?

to be fair the BBC probaly wasn't producing any Sci-Fi shows with better FX at the time.