Rome is a family show compared to Torchwood.
Doctor Who as revived by Davies is no more or less a children's show or "family friendly entertainment" than the Star Trek franchise, and it's a great deal less prone to pompous solemnity.
DR.WHO..worth it?
- Thread starter RobertScorpio
- Start date
Rome is a family show compared to Torchwood.
Doctor Who as revived by Davies is no more or less a children's show or "family friendly entertainment" than the Star Trek franchise, and it's a great deal less prone to pompous solemnity.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Okay...Im gonna watch. If I watch previous seasons, which are available on NETFLIX streaming, will it ruin the new season? or are they stand alone shows?
Rob
Rob
It will only enhance the new season by giving the character and his foibles and his history some depth.
I suppose you're right. "Family show" does carry certain connotations with it that don't really apply. Still... it's a good thing to be able to enjoy the show with my wife and kids.
I wouldn't say it would ruin the new series. As others have said, it will add depth for you.
Just let us know what you think.
They're usually pretty standalone, but the new series has some callbacks to previous eras.
I'd recommend catching a couple of Sarah Jane episodes before season 2 of Nu Who, to get who she is. Then, say, Claws Of Axos, Sea Devils or Frontier In Space and the New Beginnings trilogy somewhere between seasons 2 and 3 of Nu Who, and watching Genesis Of The Daleks before Journey's End.
Trust me on that.
My recommendation is similar to others in that you should start with the first episode of the recently debuted series/season, "The Eleventh Hour". If you like it, you can just continue on with the new series, or go back and watch the rest of new Who to add to the backstory. Those previous series' aren't often the best IMO, and in fact I gradually gave up on it as it went along, but there were some very good episodes in there as well and quite a few people here obviously enjoyed them, so you may as well.
^ Mr Magpie is quite correct on this.
I'm surprised it's never crossed your radar before now. But then, I've been watching it since I was a little kid, and the Doctor was Patrick Troughton, it's always been aprt of my life.
I concur with everyone else, start with the 2005 ep 'Rose' and go from there. If you can watch Trek TOS and appreciate the storytelling despite the very 60s design and dodgy effects, then you'll probably be okay with old style who, but go with the eps lonemagpie mentions.
I'm surprised it's never crossed your radar before now. But then, I've been watching it since I was a little kid, and the Doctor was Patrick Troughton, it's always been aprt of my life.
I concur with everyone else, start with the 2005 ep 'Rose' and go from there. If you can watch Trek TOS and appreciate the storytelling despite the very 60s design and dodgy effects, then you'll probably be okay with old style who, but go with the eps lonemagpie mentions.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
I guess I've never really set out to see it. I've seen people on here talking about it for years. But I kept confusing it with another show called Blake-7.
As I get older I like to back on old shows like TOS, and perhaps Dr. who now, and watch them with their cheesy stories and effect and just get a kick. They made those shows on shoe string budgets and had no CGI to help them. oldBSG is kind of like that now as well...I appreciate their efforts and all and have fun watching.
Rob
Bear in mind also that BBC shows have always had a lower budget than US shows, so 70s Dr Who or Blakes 7 (which is also worth a look) effects are generally worse than their US equivalents.
Where the Beeb makes up for this is in period sets, and creature design - even old Who has a wider variety of impressive make-up jobs than the whole of Trek...
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Like I said, I like old shows for all those reasons.
Here in San Diego, maybe elsewhere, they have this ditsy religion channel. This lady claims to be from another planet, and she has all these followers. They film these awful scenes with her preaching and/or scenes of her followers re-enacting meeting aliens in the past. Its awful; but fun to watch just because its fun to watch.
TOS/Blake-7, while not as bad, are fun to watch, IMO, just to see them pull off some of their stunts/fx/makeup/sets because they had no budget and really had a 'fly by the seat of your pants' production.
Rob
Here in San Diego, maybe elsewhere, they have this ditsy religion channel. This lady claims to be from another planet, and she has all these followers. They film these awful scenes with her preaching and/or scenes of her followers re-enacting meeting aliens in the past. Its awful; but fun to watch just because its fun to watch.
TOS/Blake-7, while not as bad, are fun to watch, IMO, just to see them pull off some of their stunts/fx/makeup/sets because they had no budget and really had a 'fly by the seat of your pants' production.
Rob
Some of WHO's cast have appeared in Blake's seven and vice versa (Including one of the Doctors, Colin Baker). They even appeared on the same BBC blooper reel, I believe.
Also if you like WHO, there are a few spinoffs. Most notable are the new series spinoffs TORCHWOOD and SARAH JANE ADVENTURES. Both have former WHO companions as the leads, and ocassionally tie into DW (Most notably in the fourth season finale).
There have been various other spin-offs, including two that feature K-9 (The original, K-9 AND COMPANY, only lasted one episode-although it's canon with DW and Sarah Jane Adventures), while another one just debuted.
Also if you like WHO, there are a few spinoffs. Most notable are the new series spinoffs TORCHWOOD and SARAH JANE ADVENTURES. Both have former WHO companions as the leads, and ocassionally tie into DW (Most notably in the fourth season finale).
There have been various other spin-offs, including two that feature K-9 (The original, K-9 AND COMPANY, only lasted one episode-although it's canon with DW and Sarah Jane Adventures), while another one just debuted.
What rot. There's more to life than special effects, you know. Most modern television and films leave me cold, they don't have the intensity and warmth and depth of performance of shows made in the classic era. Some of us may actually prefer the style of multi-camera vt drama, with real actors giving proper theatrical performances. The old Doctor Who series is better than the modern incarnation for many reasons, but that's one of them. I'm a fan of the current show - Tennant got on my tits a fair bit, but I'm liking what I see of Smith so far - but it doesn't compare to the original.
No, the Daleks are the most evil creatures in the universe. They could easily twat any other alien race from any other show you care to mention.
26 in its first run (1963-1989), then a 1996 TV movie before it came back properly in 2005. The 2005 season with Christopher Eccleston (first episode Rose) should be a good place to start, as it pretty much assumes that the viewer is not an existing fan.
Also, despite its huge cult status the show has always been a family show with kids as the more important demographic, so bring an inner child.
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If you're going to just go by SFX, how many old SF shoes do still stand up? Watched an episode of classic (unremastered) Trek, Buck Rogers, or old BSG lately? Its the stories that make it enjoyable.
But anyway, like so many others have said, start with the post 2005 series, and check out the classic version once you've gotten grounded in the shows premise.
In fact, you might want to spend awhile browsing Youtube. Theres quite a collection of episodes, and clips available there.
Yeah but come on. Unless they're an energy being or Species 8472, who else is going to stand much of a chance?
But anyway, like so many others have said, start with the post 2005 series, and check out the classic version once you've gotten grounded in the shows premise.
In fact, you might want to spend awhile browsing Youtube. Theres quite a collection of episodes, and clips available there.
Yeah but come on. Unless they're an energy being or Species 8472, who else is going to stand much of a chance?
The seasons of the old series varied greatly in length.
I'd mention the Shadows, but they'd probably just team up.
As it happens, I've just spotted a new article on IO9.com called Everything You Need To Know About Doctor Who.
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