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BBC releases mini-ep/prequel on Aug 15

2

23skidoo

Admiral
Admiral
Pleasant surprise from the BBC: a prequel to Let's Kill Hitler is being uploaded to the BBC website on Monday. Unlike the last few which featured guest characters, this is more like a mini-episode as it'll feature the Doctor and Amy and according to the announcement will "bridge the gap" between A Good Man Goes to War and Let's Kill Hitler.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/n...ilable_Monday_The_Prequel_to_Lets_Kill_Hitler

Since the last ones were available worldwide, I'd imagine these will be too. Or if not someone will put it up elsewhere probably within an hour or so!

Alex
 
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That was... seriously underwhelming.

It was moody, sure, but a camera pan across the console was nothing more than the Doctor Who equivalent of a slow pan across a high-performance sports car, like that scene in Ferris Beuller's Day Off.

Amy's dialogue, which summarized the important stuff out of "A Good Man," showed, in two minutes, what a misfire that fifty minute episode was.

The only moment of significance was the final shot, but even the reaction shot wasn't necessary. The point of Amy's speech had already been made. We didn't need the reaction shot.

All in all, weak.
 
I thought it was fine. It was only intended to be a teaser, not a full out fully-realized story. I certainly didn't think that A Good Man was a misfire, since it was only a midseason finale. Let's wait till the season is over before we judge what's a misfire and what isn't. Remember everyone thought Moffat had frelled up The Time of Angels' continuity with that jacket thing, too. I have to admit I'm curious how Amy's dialogue illustrated the episode was a misfire. I thought it was a fantastic use of the "superphone" concept RTD introduced, and makes me wonder how many other "where are you" phone messages are on the answering machine from the likes of Peri, Tegan, Rose, etc. Did the Doctor forget to take his number off Donna's speed-dial?

Here's a link to the BBC feed via the Doctor Who News Page, confirming the BBC have made it available worldwide.

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2011/08/dwn150811120008-prequel-lets-kill.html

Alex
 
Wow, I liked that. Especially the reveal at the end. I definitely can see the idea of the Doctor's low point coming up. Also, the importance of what the Doctor is trying to do (even if we know what happens to Melody).
 
Yawn. Absolutely nothing we didn't already know, including the fact that the current TARDIS console has lots of little thingamabobs that go "whir." Nice v/o by Karen and reaction shot from Matt but really it's pretty much a waste of time.
 
As people say, nice voice over and a lovely shot of Matt, but overall this is meh!

Would have been cool if the answerphone message was Tom or Peter or another classic Doctor!
 
We already knew the Doctor would have a lengthy, abject failure to find the baby? That he'd be so ashamed of it he'd be screening his calls so he didn't have to admit it?

Let's keep in mind, this is an essentially disposable bonus. People would shit a brick if something vitally important was quietly released on-line. I have seen it happen, people complaining in the BSG forum whenever they asked a question and found out it was answered in a webisode, or a podcast commentary, or God forbid a deleted scene. I don't know why anyone would expect anything other than minor character development and mood-setting from a ninety-second prelude, but whatever it is you want from this sort of thing, you're probably never going to get.
 
The BBC would never allow anything "critical", story-wise, to be shown in a tiny clip like this. They would never require anything beyond the actual episode to be required viewing.

I take it for what it is, to whet the appetite a bit. Also, it may let us know a bit more than intended. After all, the Doctor was last seen almost jovial in learning who River really was, and merrily diving into the TARDIS to do... Something. Here we see that some time has past, no one's been found, and the Doctor is looking pretty somber as Amy calls. He didn't pick up the phone for a reason. And now, I want August 27th to come to find out why.

Mission accomplished, I'd say!

Mark
 
Trailers should be short most these days are far too long. Long doesn't make it more exciting.
 
My problem with these online prequels is that they are all basically the same. The one for The Impossible was Nixon in the Oval Office getting a phone call from the little girl. The Curse of the Black Spot was a tour of the pirate ship while Captain Avery writes in his log book describing everything that's established in the pre-credits teaser of the episode. And now this, a view of the TARDIS console with Amy phoning and leving a message on the machine recapping everything from A Good Man Goes to War.

Now, the online prequel for A Good Man Goes to War, that was good, interesting, and was a perfect setup to the episode.
 
I liked how this paralleled The Impossible Astronaut, though. Both the first half and second half are phone calls and an eerie mood. Plus, I do think it shows the gravity of the situation.

I agree that I didn't like the Pirate one. I think that partially had to do with the fact that I saw it after the episode, though. When you see it before, it sets the tone. TIA was creepy little child and Richard Nixon, which I thought was great. This is grave and somber Doctor and why this matters so much to everyone.
 
Yeah, I just think its a shame sometimes as things like this, and the emergency hologram etc, would be great and convincing ways to get old Docs a mention without having to explain why they're now older...and usually fatter!
 
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