You don't know Kwai Chang Kane? Better known as "Hey, Chinaman!".
Continuing to Discover Doctor Who
- Thread starter S. Gomez
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You don't know Kwai Chang Kane? Better known as "Hey, Chinaman!".
To kill the joke, David Carradine is about as Asian as the late John Bennett was. 
It's interesting that Tom Baker's Doctor - particularly in the later stages of his tenure - tended to grate on my last nerve, yet some of my favourite serials are from his era. "Robots of Death" and "Talons" fit squarely into that category.
It's interesting that Tom Baker's Doctor - particularly in the later stages of his tenure - tended to grate on my last nerve, yet some of my favourite serials are from his era. "Robots of Death" and "Talons" fit squarely into that category.
Although I do like City of Death.
See, I'm different. For me, when JNT took all the humor out of show near the end, that's when it was time for Tom to go. He wasn't being allowed to utilize the key factor of his Doctor that made the show the international success it was: his sense of humor.
Of course, I think that's a strange little comparison between the US and the UK's television tastes. We (US) love our "serious" shows like BSG and the like. Yet, the most popular and favored of all the Classic Doctors is Tom Baker. Sure, some of it is because his episodes were the prominent ones that defined the series over here. But, also because he as a master at the silly UK wit. That's what made The Doctor for us. Meanwhile, in a strange turn of the times, you'll find a majority of Americans (at least the ones I've spoken with) prefer Eccleston's gruff-yet-gleeful Doctor to Tennant's silly, gurning geek-chic. It's a strange phenomenon. Someone should write a paper on it...
Of course, I think that's a strange little comparison between the US and the UK's television tastes. We (US) love our "serious" shows like BSG and the like. Yet, the most popular and favored of all the Classic Doctors is Tom Baker. Sure, some of it is because his episodes were the prominent ones that defined the series over here. But, also because he as a master at the silly UK wit. That's what made The Doctor for us. Meanwhile, in a strange turn of the times, you'll find a majority of Americans (at least the ones I've spoken with) prefer Eccleston's gruff-yet-gleeful Doctor to Tennant's silly, gurning geek-chic. It's a strange phenomenon. Someone should write a paper on it...
I'm certainly not saying he over-stayed his welcome or anything. It's just that he seemed to have lost the spark by the end. He looked tired and miserable, instead of his wide-eyed, quick-witted grinning self, you know?
Season 17 wasn't the best. Except for City of Death, of course. It was the best ever...
Season 17 wasn't the best. Except for City of Death, of course. It was the best ever...
I'm certainly not saying he over-stayed his welcome or anything. It's just that he seemed to have lost the spark by the end. He looked tired and miserable, instead of his wide-eyed, quick-witted grinning self, you know?
Season 17 wasn't the best. Except for City of Death, of course. It was the best ever...
Baker had also gotten rather sick during that last season and lost some weight as well.
Interesting. I only know one other Doctor Who fan personally, and he likes Eccleston better (he rates him second behind T.Baker). It took me several episodes to appreciate Eccleston, but I'd only rate him sixth out of the eight doctors I've seen so far, with Tennant number one.
Of course, Tennant was the first doctor I've seen, so that may give him an unfair advantage for me.
I dont know about that, my first Doctor was the 9th, but I would say the 10th Doctor is more my DoctorExactly. I think it's a fairly even, universal rule that your first Doctor is your Doctor...
anyways lets skip back a few decades to the 3rd Doctor.
so ive just seen the first two episodes of Time Warrior (Parts 3 & 4 on Sunday)
anywas this thing that strikes me is the Doctor has yet to do anything Doctorish, so its unfair to judge the whole thing just yet, but, and im not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, it appears the show has never heard of background music to build up the atmosphere.
actually I can nit pick alot right now, but alot of that is probaly down to the fact the story is unresolved, and there are alot of elements that have so far coming to nothing.
Sara Jane plotting against the Doctor, how dare she, its a good job I know of her future, or I might take a dislike to her.
I dont know about that, my first Doctor was the 9th, but I would say the 10th Doctor is more my DoctorExactly. I think it's a fairly even, universal rule that your first Doctor is your Doctor...
I understand, which is why I clarified it with "fairly even". The first Doctor I ever saw was Tom, but I think the one I love the most is Eccleston. So, go figure.
Also wamdue, try and look at Classic Who in terms of a live stage play, versus the cinematic experience of the modern era. It's a big leap, I know...
"live stage play" that would explain the wide shot, where the Doctor just runs around alot trying to avoid people, until he trips & falls into some hay?
actually I like what they have set up so far, it should all lead to a thrilling finale, its just takes its time getting there & I miss the Brig I want him to be in the middle ages as well. (dont think ive seen a 3rd Doctor story outside of UNIT before actually)
actually I like what they have set up so far, it should all lead to a thrilling finale, its just takes its time getting there & I miss the Brig I want him to be in the middle ages as well. (dont think ive seen a 3rd Doctor story outside of UNIT before actually)
Personally, I don't know if I "have a Doctor". My first Doctor was... the First Doctor! I've found tons to appreciate in each of the four I've seen so far. I tend to think of him as always being the same character (which, after all, he is) but with some interchangeable personality quirks. I can also see that in the actors themselves.
There was a poll on the whole "was your first Doctor your Doctor" thing a while back, but I can't find it. For me, it certainly isn't the case. Tom Baker was the first Doctor I saw and I'm one of the few who isn't a big fan of his version. I'm also one of the few who puts Pertwee at the head of the queue, and thanks to the weird way repeats were organised here he was (I think) the third Doctor I saw after Baker and Davison. So...to each their own, I suppose. 
Oh, certainly there were some excellent serials in the Williams era (The Ribos Operation is one of my favourites), but in general the programme was nowhere near as good as it had been for Tom's first three years. It's due in part to the decreasing budgets and the shift to doing very cheap looking space operas, but it's also Tom's lazy, and shall we say overly lubricated performances.
I think City of Death is the exception - it is what a lot of the other stories around that period, particularly in Douglas Adams' season 17 were trying to do. That somewhat smug undergraduate humour. With the other scripts, you had Adams and Baker dropping in rubbish jokes to other peoples' scripts, whereas City of Death is designed to be a more humourous Who. It's also got far, far better production values than any of the surrounding stories, and the cast is second to none in Doctor Who.
The Invasion of Time
Wow. I can't believe I have to say this. Really, I can't... I wish this had been only four episodes. Why? Apart from being rather slow and dull to get on with things, and from being somewhat confusing in its plot and execution (for me at least)... four episodes was about all I could take. I turned it off after that. I actually turned it off. I still can't believe I did it. This is the first time the show has ever truly disappointed me. Sure, there's been stuff that wasn't all that great, but this... this really was rather bad. I don't know how other people feel about this one, whether or not its a fan favourite, but then I've never been known for following the crowd!
Wow. I can't believe I have to say this. Really, I can't... I wish this had been only four episodes. Why? Apart from being rather slow and dull to get on with things, and from being somewhat confusing in its plot and execution (for me at least)... four episodes was about all I could take. I turned it off after that. I actually turned it off. I still can't believe I did it. This is the first time the show has ever truly disappointed me. Sure, there's been stuff that wasn't all that great, but this... this really was rather bad. I don't know how other people feel about this one, whether or not its a fan favourite, but then I've never been known for following the crowd!
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