Christmas 08: the Next Doctor. Review

[Sci]

Personally, this was the least cheesy, least contrived, least campy, least OTT RTD story I think I've ever seen.

What about "Midnight?" and "Utopia?"

I knew someone was going to point that out. It had to be you, didn't it?

J/K

Yep!

While the Futurekind damages Utopia's ranking for me, I think you summed up what I meant, below...

But it's probably the least campy of the Christmas specials, yeah.

However, this...

It's too bad, isn't it? I was hoping for something cheesier and campier for Christmas.

That kind of talk is only going to secure you a spot in hell...

What can I say? I loves me some Christmas cheese.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Well it was OK but did not feel like anything special, but that's probably to do with my dislike of the new cybermen.........still acting was good and it did entertain for the time it was on so it at least did that.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

im getting fed up with the obsession Doctor Who fans seem to have with Steampunk at the moment

And what, Wamdue, is wrong with steampunk, hmm? It's not really that awkward a fit with Doctor Who. Other franchises, it wouldn't really work. But Who? It can do anything.

 

[wamdue]

im getting fed up with the obsession Doctor Who fans seem to have with Steampunk at the moment

And what, Wamdue, is wrong with steampunk, hmm? It's not really that awkward a fit with Doctor Who. Other franchises, it wouldn't really work. But Who? It can do anything.

I agree, but the amount if time ive wasted reading Who fans bang on about it in internet forums, anyone would think the TARDIS was actually Steampunk.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

That was certainly the idea behind the eighth Doctor's TARDIS. It's supposed to look all Victorian and steampunky.

 

[26138]

...But, a giant robot with good FX always, always, always beats a slight rubber tentacle...

Hey, there's nothing wrong with Fury From the Deep... I like my Doctor Who to contain at least a couple rubber tentacles and wobbly sets!

 

[The]

^

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

 

[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.

 

[26138]

^

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.

It's fine until the last episode when the robot becomes a giant.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^

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

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

Good thing this was in London because had it been in the Old West Will Smith would have kicked that steampunk robot's ass!

That was pretty decent and even with the robot pretty restrained when it came to the OTT compared to the other specials. I really enjoyed the meat of the story which I saw as the mystery of the other Doctor rather than the Cybermen.

I saw someone mentioning the infamous Deus Ex Machina up there but I didn't see it, the DEM device only prevented the robot from falling on the populace it didn't actually resolve the ending or defeat the Cyberking. The "TARDIS" and the infothings were established earlier in the episode.

 

[jamestyler]

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

I will always remember Tom Baker fondly for trying to make running away from a robot who's top speed was one mile per decade look vaguely threatening. Then trying to outsmart it with a scarf.

 

[DWF]

^

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.

Given that it was 1974 there wasn't a whole lot in the way of visual effects otpions open to them. Still though Robot was my first Dr. Who story and it's one of my favorites.

 

[TedShatner10]

Good solid fun, a definite improvement over the last two more self-indulgent (albiet fun) Christmas Specials and almost as good as "The Christmas Invasion" and shows that Russell T. Davies can jot out very competent, meaty episodes if he applies care and restraint.

The Cybermen have been out of the loop for over two years so their familiarity has not bred contempt like the Dalek's familiarity has, while Mercy Hartigan was a more fresh and original villain than that manic and pompous old windbag, Davros. It is obvious that the Daleks and Cybermen banished into the Void built up their own respective empires in there, somehow, and possibly had thousands of years of fighting between them (I liked how the Dimension Vault looked so much like a Dalek's casing, while the Cybermen more likely stole the Dalek's software rather than the hardware, hence why the data tubes slotted into their chest sockets). The Cybershade were cheapo but had their charm.

The giant Cyberking was a silly idea that kept on the right side of fun and didn't outstay it's welcome (but I doubt we've seen the last of it, or the badguys onboard, if you just saw it being zapped elsewhere instead of being fully destroyed). Of course the plan with using child labor was over complicated and pointlessly ruthless, but worked well enough as a plot contrivance driving the narrative, but the real substance was with the real Doctor and fake Doctor (David Morrissey was convincing and it made a nice change that he was forced to think he was the Doctor instead of being a malignant cherlatan).

 

[Saul]

Best Christmas Episode yet. Cool Era to feature the cybermen in.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The Cyberking was steampunk, but what seriously is a Cyberman's personal powersource? Maybe they're incredibly green? ...I would have loved to have seen boilers and and steam pipes attached tot he cybermen's front plates and every now and then they yanked their own chain and a whistle blew...

 

[wamdue]

having watched it a second time, (the episode made me less angry the second time around) I was left wondering if all the Cybermen were on the Cyberking

 

[Starkers]

Well finally got the chance to come on here and talk about the Next Doctor. Have seen it twice now and I don't think my opinions have changed from one viewing to the next.

A very good episode, let down only by a few RTDisms (but for the most part not his worst RTDisms.)

Morisey was fantastic, for a while I almost wished he was the 11th Doctor. Tennant was superb as usual as well. The stand out of the story was Dervla Kirwan though, fantastic. The bit where she says Mercy was wonderful, and I loved the Cybermen graveyard massacre. The woman playing Rosita was fun but not the greatest actress in the world.

Though the Cybermen were much better here than in s2, they had more personality and felt more like classic Cybermen to me.

On the downside. Sorry but the Robot was a tad too silly for me, and though I thought the CG was ok, it didnt move right as far as I'm concerned. No comments about no mention in history of a giant robot attacking London (apparently Londerners didn't see the loch ness monster either ) but it was a bit RTD going big and epic for the sake of it, which is a shame as the quieter moments here show RTD at his best. Still at least the Cyberking didn't outstay its welcome.

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!

Anyway, aside from those small niggles I thought it was an excellent episode. Looking forward to the planet of the dead (and really hoping the 10th Doctor doesn't just trip over a brick)

 

[HappyDayRiot]

^

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

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I will never, never bash the CyberKing after seeing this. We got off lightly this time!

 

[Samurai8472]

I think a steam punk Tardis would have been great for Jackson lake. It could be a locomotive.

"Rosita more coal in the engine!" and then "the doctor" operates some knobs

I was expecting the doctor's enthusiam at seeing Jackson's stuff to die down once he caught on who Jackson was.

"OH! you've got a fob watch!"

"OH! I can't wait to see your tardis!"

 

[wamdue]

I think a steam punk Tardis would have been great for Jackson lake. It could be a locomotive.

and risk the Back to the Future refrences? why not have the new companion hang on to the outside of the TARDIS on a hoover board and then go back in time to have sex with their mother just for good measure.

& then after that, the Doctor should pick up a gay cowboy, and take him horse riding, just so we can make Brookeback Mountain refrences.