Human Nature: Book vs. episode

[Chris227]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/ebooks/human_nature/


Any thoughts on how they compare? There are a few key differences that are readily apparent:


-We're dealing with the Seventh Doctor and Bernice Summerfield (A companion that appears only in WHO expanded fiction). Bernice of course isn't in love with the Seventh Doctor, but she does fancy the Eighth.

-The villains are similar but have more in common with the bad guys from SCHOOL REUNION physically then the Family of Blood.

-The Doctor decides to become human on a whim instead of hiding.

-The novel introduces the cat Wosley, who is a semi-companion of the Doctor's for the Seventh and Eigth Doctor novels.

-In an interesting twist, a fake Tenth Doctor shows up to try and trick Bernice. Bernice only spots it because the Doctor is apparentally a Vegan (because of The Two Doctors). Of course I'm pretty sure that the Doctor has eaten meat in the New series, though....

 

[votd]

I downloaded the free e-book from the BBC website a few months ago; I quite enjoyed it as I'm a fan of the 7th doctor.

I believe the Doctor became human because he was in pain over the loss of companions/his cat from a previous novel. I liked the fact that he had to go to a third party for the change and didn't just have the apparatus on the TARDIS; I also greatly preferred Bernice over Martha.

There seemed to be a theme of sexual oppression throughout the book, both towards women and homosexuals I think was there just to remind you of the time the book took place, as opposed to the racism presented in the tv version.

I liked both versions but overall I think I preferred the novel.

 

[USS KG5]

The episode is one of nu-Who's high points for me, brilliantly cast, acted, directed and with a genuinely heartbreaking tribute to the fallen of WW1 at the end (I have to admit, I blubbed, but that poem always makes me tear up).

I have not read the book - but I think it is always harsh to compare printed literature and television, the two mediums are very different.

 

[Blamo]

From what I remember the novel had a very different tone, especially at the end where the old timothy(latimer or whoever the books version was) was wearing a white poppy.

It also had latimer being hanged (and coming back to life) and quite a few grizzily deaths.