I've Given Up...

[DangerMouse]

I sat through the first 10 mins last night, and decided I'd had enough.

Rory being wet and pathetic, Amy pulling pouty faces, them together on the tardis (because we've all had mind altering therapy that's magically made us forget we've seen this all before with Rose), another repetitive storyline...

I think Matt Smith genuinely has the ability to be a great doctor, but the people around him just aren't strong enough.

Sigh

 

[Classic Fan]

Well, to be honest, i sat through it and was rolling my eyes on occasions, the fact that we have, as you said, a week weedy nerdy character that just seems to be, well, just there and going nowhere, however, he has his great moments in the show.

However, after 20 or so minutes, it improved and i kinda enjoyed it.

It was just the whole RTD-esque opening 10-15 mins that was just boring. The sickly sweet opening with the guy and a bike and his son etc was just crappy. All we needed was them to scrap that wasted scene, have the Tardis land and the Doctor investigate then, the scene in the confidential that they deleted, which looked great by the way, of Amy and the Doctor walking down the lane to the drilling platform describing it all couldve been left in, also, get rid of that god awful scene of Amy and Rory waving at themselves 20 years in the future. Yeah, it was a nice little wibbly wobbly timey wimey touch that we could discuss forever, but it was a few minutes of crap that we didnt need.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

Got to agree with you there Classic. That deleted scene was a big mistake to leave out, as the only thing Amy did otherwise this episode was complain or look scared, which isn't exactly a great combination, especially with the other problems this series has so far when it comes to her character.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I sat through the first 10 mins last night, and decided I'd had enough.

Well obviously it's not for everyone. I'm enjoying it quite a lot.

I think Matt Smith genuinely has the ability to be a great doctor

I think Matt Smith is a great Doctor.

 

[The]

I sat through the first 10 mins last night, and decided I'd had enough.

Rory being wet and pathetic, Amy pulling pouty faces, them together on the tardis (because we've all had mind altering therapy that's magically made us forget we've seen this all before with Rose), another repetitive storyline...

I think Matt Smith genuinely has the ability to be a great doctor, but the people around him just aren't strong enough.

Sigh

Damn. That's a shame, man. I'm sorry you can't get into it. How about just skipping last night, and next week's episode, and then come back in a week or so and finish the season out? Might get better for you, never know. Doctor Who is nothing, if not change. Sure, the corporate-required character arcs can be a bit hard to accept in Who (i.e. the recurring romantic theme, etc.) But, I find Moffat is doing a pretty nice job of keeping it balanced out and in perspective. Rory himself is probably something of an acquired taste if you're not already dispositioned to enjoying that character-type. However, I don't see him lasting past this season. But, we'll see. Personally, I'm enjoying this Doctor actively working on getting them together.

No matter, I hope you can find something to come back to.

I think Matt Smith is a great Doctor.

Absolutely! He has conquered the part in less than a season. Fantastic actor!

 

[davejames]

Got to agree with you there Classic. That deleted scene was a big mistake to leave out, as the only thing Amy did otherwise this episode was complain or look scared, which isn't exactly a great combination, especially with the other problems this series has so far when it comes to her character.

I don't know. I'm all for little character moments (and of course Matt and Karen are always fun to watch together), but frankly it kind of DID feel like unnecessary filler to me. Just a couple minutes of small talk about Rory that didn't really go anywhere.

As for the future Amy and Rory on the hill... we may not have needed that either, but at least it was a fairly fun and unexpected moment I thought.

 

[23skidoo]

Damn. That's a shame, man. I'm sorry you can't get into it. How about just skipping last night, and next week's episode, and then come back in a week or so and finish the season out? Might get better for you, never know. Doctor Who is nothing, if not change.

That's the beauty of the show. Unlike, say, Heroes where if you don't like a particular storyline you're screwed for the season, even with the arcs Doctor Who is always changing it up. Of course if you don't like a particular Doctor, or production team, or certain aspects of the current era's storytelling, then you're lost. Fortunately there's plenty of past seasons to enjoy, and you can always come back in a year or two when they change again.

I'm not being snarky here -- the "it's lost me" argument has been made by fans going all the way back to the show's earliest days. Lots of people disliked the darker, more gothic tone of the Graham Williams era. When Douglas Adams was script editor the show turned to near-comedy and that turned people off. Lots of people hated Adric as a companion. Others were offended because of Leela's legs and Peri's cleavage. Colin Baker's costume was known to spark projectile vomiting in the more sensitive viewers. But the thing is, nothing stayed the same forever. Granted, haters of John Nathan Turner had to wait pretty much from 1980 to 1996 to have someone new in charge. Likewise those who never warmed to RTD's vision had to wait 5 years as well. But they still ended up getting the change they needed.

Don't like Rory? He'll leave, eventually. Ditto with Amy, the Eleventh Doctor. And the show will continue. Be patient, or simply go and enjoy the 30 years that preceded this and be content.

Alex

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Fair enough, Dangermouse. I wish more people were like you and just admit they don't like something rather keep watching and whingeing every week.

And as others say, the nature of the show means you can always come back to it at some point.

 

[davejames]

Yeah Rory may be a bit "wet and pathetic", but I really get the sense from the actor that there's a lot more going on beneath the surface-- that there's a real, soulful human underneath that.

And the fact he doesn't completely trust the Doctor, and isn't in complete awe of him like everybody else also makes him pretty interesting I think.

 

[Shazam!]

Yeah, I'm not that into Rory either. He has that annoying BBC3 comedy thing going on.

 

[KevasTrader]

Rory is a terrible character! Is he supposed to be funny? Where are solid, dependable male companions like Harry or Jamie?

 

[Australis]

I'm pretty sure Rory will improve. His speech to the Doctor in Venice shows there's something going on underneath. Besides, his presence gets rid of the whole "Dr-Amy will they won't they" thing, which could have been annoying.

 

[WillsBabe]

Once again I find myself out of step with the march of fandom. I like Rory.

 

[Yminale]

Hey I like Rory. It's about time there was companion that saw through the Doctor's schtick. It's Amy I have a problem with. She's become standard female companion and that's dull.

 

[Skywalker]

I quite like Rory, to be honest. I'd prefer to see him develop his self-confidence over the course of the season, and finally get over his self-esteem issues regarding the Doctor and his relationship with Amy.

And I agree that Matt Smith already is a great Doctor. I was sold on him from moment one, and I haven't been disappointed since. He's fantastic.

 

[Hermiod]

I'm pretty sure Rory will improve. His speech to the Doctor in Venice shows there's something going on underneath. Besides, his presence gets rid of the whole "Dr-Amy will they won't they" thing, which could have been annoying.

He doesn't really prevent that, he just gets to stand around being insecure the whole time.

 

[tomalak301]

I think this might be the first time the word "Wet" has been used to describe someone other than having water all over him/her? Is that a common thing "Wet and Pathetic" because I've never heard it as that phrase before.

I like Rory too, and this season, while not as good as season 4 or 1, has been fun.

 

[Cutter John]

Once again I find myself out of step with the march of fandom. I like Rory.

I'm with you.

Screw'em. Lets start our own parade.

 

[I am not Spock]

I think this might be the first time the word "Wet" has been used to describe someone other than having water all over him/her? Is that a common thing "Wet and Pathetic" because I've never heard it as that phrase before.

I like Rory too, and this season, while not as good as season 4 or 1, has been fun.

'Wet' to describe someone as being rather pathetic, is a commonly used Brit expression!

 

[Starkers]

Rory's growing on me, but I agree with some people that his acting style seems somewhat at odds with Karen and Matt's. I don't profess to know enough about acting to really comment. He just seems a lot broader, less subtle.

It would be nice to see another Jamie like character in the TARDIS someday, it does seem to be a trope of the series that the male companions (for decades now) have been somewhat on the wet side. Harry: Wet. Adric: Very wet. Turlough: Not wet but cowardly, which is different at least. Mickey: Wet. Rory: Wet. Now most of them turn out to be heroic and all anyway, but that doesn't stop the underlying limpness of their characters.

Jack breaks the mold, but then I tend to think of Jack as more of the Doctor's equal/opposite (like the Brigadier) rather than as a companion.

Having just watched the War Games I have to say that as companion partnerships go, Jamie and Zoe is near perfect. She's smart, brave and doesn't descend into screaming at the drop of a hat. He's brave and impusive without ever becoming thuggish. Both are really strong, yet neither detract from the wonder that is Troughton. It's really a great Tardis crew.

I think this might be the first time the word "Wet" has been used to describe someone other than having water all over him/her? Is that a common thing "Wet and Pathetic" because I've never heard it as that phrase before.

I like Rory too, and this season, while not as good as season 4 or 1, has been fun.

'Wet' to describe someone as being rather pathetic, is a commonly used Brit expression!

Shortened (I think) from wet lettuce, implying something a bit limp!