Black and white version of Deep Breath has leaked

[Allyn Gibson]

And for a "feature-length" episode is remarkably unambitious, blowing it's budget in the first five minutes and then being mostly people standing or sitting around talking. (With more than a few scenes that pretty much repeat what's already been covered by earlier scenes.) Do they not have a Script Editor any more?

When I read the script, I could see why it was "feature-length." It's "feature-length" because it's a two-parter without a cliffhanger in the middle. Virtually nothing happens for the first fifty pages or so. It's overwritten and totally lacking in subtlety. With a solid edit and rewrite, it could have been brought down to the 50- to 60-minute range quite easily and been stronger for it. As it stands, at least as a script, I think it's likely to be one of the series' weakest Doctor intros.

 

[Candlelight]

And for a "feature-length" episode is remarkably unambitious, blowing it's budget in the first five minutes and then being mostly people standing or sitting around talking. (With more than a few scenes that pretty much repeat what's already been covered by earlier scenes.) Do they not have a Script Editor any more?

When I read the script, I could see why it was "feature-length." It's "feature-length" because it's a two-parter without a cliffhanger in the middle. Virtually nothing happens for the first fifty pages or so. It's overwritten and totally lacking in subtlety. With a solid edit and rewrite, it could have been brought down to the 50- to 60-minute range quite easily and been stronger for it. As it stands, at least as a script, I think it's likely to be one of the series' weakest Doctor intros.

Cut everything from the victorian scooby doo gang and it would've been better.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Cut everything from the victorian scooby doo gang and it would've been better.

Yet, I think (again, just going by the script) this was the first time since their first appearance where I've really liked them. The reason is that I finally "got" them.

I've always known that Vastra is Sherlock Holmes, but then who are Jenny and Strax? The script helped me to see how the function -- Vastra is the Basil Rathbone Holmes, while Jenny and Strax are both the Nigel Bruce Watson. (Based on some dialogue in "Deep Breath," I really wanted to say that Jenny is Mrs. Hudson, but Mrs. Hudson doesn't go out in the field while Jenny does.) In other words, Vastra's the brains of the outfit, while Jenny and Strax are both dim muscle who don't realize it.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Maybe there's a reason they gave them a B&W unfinished episode.

This is something I really don't get. I work for a post production facility and the absolute last thing we do is send - or receive - anything in monochrome. It can be unfinished, it can have burnt in text on screen but converting it to black and white is a bizarre step I've not seen before.

I thought it seemed pretty extreme. I'm not sure what the purpose of that screener is but I would think being BW would make it hard for whoever is using it. Maybe it could be run through that process that restored the color to that 3rd Doctor story.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I can understand black & white screener prints & work prints back in the olden days when they were doing it on actual film. (For quite a while, certain scenes from the original Star Trek pilot were only available in black & white.) But it does seem odd in this modern day of digital everything.

I'm not very tech savvy and I'm rediculously paranoid about downloading anything. But I'm still really curious, and kinda don't give a toss. Mostly because they've left us for far too long without any real notion of what the new Doctor is going to be like. (On top of a couple years of barely dribbling out new episodes prior to this.) Personally, I was always saying that they should have fasttracked post-production on Capaldi's first story and done it as an Easter special.

I would at least like to see a few choice clips of Capaldi to tide me over. How long did it take us to get the first clips of Matt Smith in "The Eleventh Hour"? (I distinctly remember seeing a preview of that scene where Amy has him handcuffed to the radiator. "Do I just have a face that no one listens to... again?")

 

[kirk55555]

And for a "feature-length" episode is remarkably unambitious, blowing it's budget in the first five minutes and then being mostly people standing or sitting around talking. (With more than a few scenes that pretty much repeat what's already been covered by earlier scenes.) Do they not have a Script Editor any more?

When I read the script, I could see why it was "feature-length." It's "feature-length" because it's a two-parter without a cliffhanger in the middle. Virtually nothing happens for the first fifty pages or so. It's overwritten and totally lacking in subtlety. With a solid edit and rewrite, it could have been brought down to the 50- to 60-minute range quite easily and been stronger for it. As it stands, at least as a script, I think it's likely to be one of the series' weakest Doctor intros.

Cut everything from the victorian scooby doo gang and it would've been better.

I love the victorian gang. They are awesome, and I've liked them every time they've appeared. Having watched the episode, they were as enjoyable as ever, and had some great moments. They helped make this the second best post-regeneration story of NuWho. It was 1000x better than Tennant barely making a cameo in a christmas special, and if we count Rose as a post regeneration story (and we should, because The Doctor looks in a mirror and makes a comment implying that he had never seen that face before), then Deep Breath, in my opinion, was better than Rose, too (although I like Rose as well, it was the first Doctor Who I ever saw). I think The Eleventh Hour might have been a bit better, but I think Deep Breath was solid.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

The Eleventh Hour is a hard act to follow. It totally works on every level. Easily the best NuWho post-regeneration story.

I resist saying Rose is that, but given that its from Rose's POV (whereas the rest of the series is evenly divided to the Doctor and Rose), I suppose it can work. If we do look at it like that, I really, really like it - but its rough, for sure. That said, its the perfect re-introduction to DW. It opened the Doctor Who world to me (it and, surprisngly Blink), so its got a special place in my heart for that. The Christmas Invasion is OK, but its too long. Probably one of the weakest post-regen stories overall.

IMO, The Eleventh Hour and Spearhead from Space are the best post-regen stories, and I haven't actually listened/saw Power of the Daleks yet to say for sure, with Rose as an optional fourth choice.

 

[The Wormhole]

IMO, The Eleventh Hour and Spearhead from Space are the best post-regen stories, and I haven't actually listened/saw Power of the Daleks yet to say for sure, with Rose as an optional fourth choice.

I'd also include Robot, but otherwise I agree.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Robot is one that I also like, just less than the above mentioned. Its certainly better than Castrovalva, Christmas Invasion, The Enemy Within and, of course, Twin Dilemma and Time and the Rani. It really is nice to see the Fourth Doctor in a proper Third Doctor environment.

Really wondering where Deep Breath is gonna end up in.

 

[Green Lantern]

Spearhead in Space was quite decent, Robot was average (but other than Tom Baker and a few minor changes it really was just a third doctor UNIT story with tom Baker in), Castravalva was crap and an even bigger anti-climax due to the great "Keeper of Traken" and "Logopolis", Twin Dilemma was dog crap, Time and the Rani was a rainbow filled wet fart, the 96 movie was damn well awesome (but I'm unsure whether to count it as a post-regen story, but if I count Rani I count this), Rose was average or maybe bellow average, Christmas Invasion was a slow going piece of boredom with a disturbing lack of Tennant and Eleventh Hour was one of the finest post regen stories ever and one of the only above average Smith stories out there, so I'm not sure how Deep Breath will stack up but from what I know, I'd better look forward to an hour of disappointment.

 

[kirk55555]

Well, I was only talking about NuWho post regenepisodes , but if I were to put the regen stories I've seen in order

The Eleventh Hour>Spearhead from Space>Deep Breath>Robot>Rose>TV Movie>The Twin Dilemma>The Christmas Invasion>Time and the Rani

I haven't seen/heard Power of the Daleks or Castrovala.

 

[Sparky]

I rather enjoyed the episode, but I'm not going to have any spoilers here. Am I glad I watched it? Yes, as I have already read the leaked scripts and as far as I can tell it's pretty much word for word the same. There were a handful of clunky moments, but that could be part of the unfinished state of the leak. It's black and white, watermarked up the wazoo, title and end sequences are from last season and still say Matt Smith/Jenna Coleman. It has basic storyboard CGI and/or no CGI/SFX in scenes, an obvious temp score, placeholder shots that are going to be replaced, the editing is not finished yet as there are obvious trims/inserts that need to be done, and the voices do not always match up with the shots. I can't wait to see the finished product. I don't even know if the takes used in this print are going to be the takes used in the final episode. it could have a completely different tone to it than this workprint.

I would suggest that everyone download it, and watch it after viewing the completed episode. It's a fascinating look at part of the process of making an episode of Doctor Who.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Robot is one that I also like, just less than the above mentioned. Its certainly better than Castrovalva, Christmas Invasion, The Enemy Within and, of course, Twin Dilemma and Time and the Rani. It really is nice to see the Fourth Doctor in a proper Third Doctor environment.

Really wondering where Deep Breath is gonna end up in.

Planet of the Spiders and Robot hold a special place in my heart as these were the first time i lost a Dr , and the first time i got a new Dr .

 

[Bob The Skutter]

This screener was for purposes of translation for the Latin American audience. As they're going with a worldwide (simulcast?) same day broadcast they need it done ahead of time to have it ready to go.

 

[Candlelight]

I would suggest that everyone download it, and watch it after viewing the completed episode. It's a fascinating look at part of the process of making an episode of Doctor Who.

That's exactly why I've done it. I haven't watched it yet but plan to before the 23rd (otherwise I probably won't care to watch it for ages. )

 

[Tom]

Pretty good for a raw screener.

Spoiler: The Doctors Face..

The scene were he talks to the homeless guy about his face and why it looked familiar to him was interesting. Also how his subconscious chooses how or who he looks like.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

This screener was for purposes of translation for the Latin American audience. As they're going with a worldwide (simulcast?) same day broadcast they need it done ahead of time to have it ready to go.

Thats exactly what i heard about it too...

 

[The Doctor]

I watched parts of it and found it telling that the only part that I was really engaged with was the phone call between Eleven and Clara. Much of it was hard to follow because the sound mix wasn't final and there quite a few sections with loud footsteps covering the dialogue. It also seemed to lack a certain energy, like it was far too drawn out. The (supposedly) tense scene between the robot and The Doctor felt limp and lifeless.

I'll try and reserve judgement until the finished copy, however. Maybe some editing to tighten up the sequences and the appropriate soundtrack will provide that added bit of spice.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

Thats a major spoiler there Stig.

 

[The Doctor]

Thats a major spoiler there Stig.

The phone call was leaked months ago.