Well... THAT was different! :-)

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

My first Doctor was Nine, my favorite Doctor (so far) is Ten. I saw a bit of One and just now watched the movie with Eight.

Quite an experience!

There were a lot of elements in I'm used to from Nine and Ten's era.
In fact I think it was incredibly close to what is referred to as NuWho.

Only the TARDIS interior was a little over the top.
A cathedral? Really?

On the other hand I liked the decoration and furniture a lot. Couldn't they have kept those with the actual spaceship look on the new show?
I think it would have worked great visually.

On the whole I think we missed a few great years with an interesting Doctor.

Oh, and a final thought for the moment...
What was with that half human thing about the doctor? was that explained earlier? Did it have to do with Seven/Eight's regeneration gone wrong?

 

[Butters]

Oh, and a final thought for the moment...
What was with that half human thing about the doctor? was that explained earlier? Did it have to do with Seven/Eight's regeneration gone wrong?

You're mistaken, that never happened. They never did the half human Doctor thing. Honest...

 

[cb31]

Paul McGann is one of my favorites even if the movie wasn't stellar. He is excellent in the Eighth Doctor Audio dramas. I would have loved to have seen him in the series for a few years! I think most people just ignore the half human thing. It was never mentioned in any of the previous Doctor Who series.

 

[The]

There were a lot of elements in I'm used to from Nine and Ten's era.
In fact I think it was incredibly close to what is referred to as NuWho.

RTD has admitted before that he was inspired by elements of McGann's movie.

Only the TARDIS interior was a little over the top.
A cathedral? Really?

On the other hand I liked the decoration and furniture a lot. Couldn't they have kept those with the actual spaceship look on the new show?

Honestly, that was one of my favorite console rooms ever. I simply loved that Victorian slant the 7th Doctor had created for the TARDIS. Now, we've seen an "auxillary" console room before (Tom Baker's hardwood layout), so I'm left wondering: Was the "cathedral" as you put it THE primary console room, or simply another back-up? I'd ask the same thing about Nine/Ten's coral look, but, the shape and size of it lends itself more to being a burned-out/damaged/bare-basics version of the primary one from most of the series (perhaps a Time War-damaged console room). So, if McGann's massive living area was another back-up, then we could easily see it again (given anyone would ever need to bring it back).

What did you not like about it? Slightly pompous?

On the whole I think we missed a few great years with an interesting Doctor.

He's a great Doctor that deserves more time to shine. I see no reason he couldn't reappear at any time. I'd love to see a single-season miniseries starring McGann's Doctor.

Oh, and a final thought for the moment...
What was with that half human thing about the doctor? was that explained earlier? Did it have to do with Seven/Eight's regeneration gone wrong?

That is one of the top five most controversial subjects known to Doctor Who fandom. It might even rank number one, I don't know. All I can say is, it's open to interpretation. Two characters (Doctor and Master) state he's half-human (and The Master seems surprised about it). Yet, RTD has chosen to ignore this, and has even outright said he's all Time Lord. So, as I said, it's ever how you read it.

My pet theory? It's something Seven did to himself (or was victim of) during his era, due to unknown circumstances, and Eight changed it back during The Time War. Thereby, allowing Nine and Ten full Time Lords status again. I mean, if Ten can use a "Chameleon Arch" to make himself human (and The Master, as well, it would seem), I see no reason why he couldn't have had the idea in the first place during Seven's era (ala' the book it's based on). Just my personal theory, mind you...

 

[Captain Pike]

McGann was great. The movie itself was dire. As others have said, the half human-thing never happened.

It's funny how it's always referred to now as "the half-human thing" as if it's some unmentionable thing of almost universal embarrasment to fans. Which it is, of course.

 

[David cgc]

Personally, it amuses me to assume his mother is Donna, and the Doctor got so screwed up because as kid he accidentally reminded her of who he would be and blew up her brain.

Of course, he was so young he wouldn't remember much of her, hence why he didn't recognize her.

 

[Guy Gardener]

He played cricket as a boy.

He's either half human or living in the same universe as Arthur Dent.

 

[Worf2DS9]

All I can say is, it's open to interpretation. Two characters (Doctor and Master) state he's half-human (and The Master seems surprised about it).

Y'know, I just watched the movie on the weekend and I can't recall when the Doctor himself mentioned the bit about being half human. When was that?

Maybe they added the half-human thing so American audiences would have an easier time relating to a character partly "like them" rather than some full alien dude.

I also enjoy the Movie. Sure, it's not the best DW episode out there, but it's Eight, dang it. Also, how cool was it seeing Seven manning the controls of the TARDIS again? And I did like the interior set design. I also quite enjoyed Daphne Ashbrook as Grace. I thought she had some great comic timing and was fun to watch.

As for more 8th Doctor stuff, I would definitely love to see him return in a television special (maybe a multi-Doc outing), but in the interim I'd also recommend McGann's Big Finish audios.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

What was with that half human thing about the doctor? was that explained earlier? Did it have to do with Seven/Eight's regeneration gone wrong?

That is one of the top five most controversial subjects known to Doctor Who fandom. It might even rank number one, I don't know.

Rounding out the top-five...

5)
4) Susan is the Doctor's granddaughter.
3) Hartnell isn't the first Doctor.
2) The Doctor has sex.

Okay, okay, I couldn't actually think of a number 5. Two is controversial, because the only evidence for it is number four, but people have tried to explain away number four, hence explanations like the Looming business and the Other.

All I can say is, it's open to interpretation. Two characters (Doctor and Master) state he's half-human (and The Master seems surprised about it). Yet, RTD has chosen to ignore this, and has even outright said he's all Time Lord. So, as I said, it's ever how you read it.

The major problem with saying that it's not true is that the plot of the film depends on the Doctor being half-human. The Master says that the Doctor has human eyes because he's half-human, and that's why the Doctor can open the Eye of Harmony when the Master can't.

My pet theory? It's something Seven did to himself (or was victim of) during his era, due to unknown circumstances, and Eight changed it back during The Time War.

That's the explanation that Tony Lee gives in The Forgotten. It doesn't make a lot of sense, because then the question is raised how could the Doctor regenerate from Seven to Eight if he had already used the Cham Arch on himself to turn himself human. Oh, and how did the Doctor know the Master was going to escape so he could spring precisely this trap? The improbabilities pile up too quickly, I think.

I personally have no problem with the Doctor being half-human. Hell, I make a direct mention of his human mother in "The Spindle of Necessity."

 

[The]

Rounding out the top-five...

5) UNIT Dating
4) Susan is the Doctor's granddaughter.
3) Hartnell isn't the first Doctor.
2) The Doctor has sex.

The major problem with saying that it's not true is that the plot of the film depends on the Doctor being half-human. The Master says that the Doctor has human eyes because he's half-human, and that's why the Doctor can open the Eye of Harmony when the Master can't.

Which HAS to be the biggest plot hole in logic...why would Gallifreyan's create a human-eye lock on TARDIS-tech? Better yet, why would the Doctor? Or are we to infer that because The Doctor was half-human, that HE changed the system to recognize human retinas?

My pet theory? It's something Seven did to himself (or was victim of) during his era, due to unknown circumstances, and Eight changed it back during The Time War.

That's the explanation that Tony Lee gives in The Forgotten.

Was it? Maybe I picked it up subconsciously from that, then.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, because then the question is raised how could the Doctor regenerate from Seven to Eight if he had already used the Cham Arch on himself to turn himself human.

Oh, and how did the Doctor know the Master was going to escape so he could spring precisely this trap? The improbabilities pile up too quickly, I think.

Who is to say...and I'm only playing Devil's Advocate, because I hate the whole issue...that he turned himself completely human? Maybe he turned half-human, and reset all the controls for exactly that reason? We don't know it was specifically for The Master.



Stretch, I know.

 

[The]

Y'know, I just watched the movie on the weekend and I can't recall when the Doctor himself mentioned the bit about being half human. When was that?

At the New Year's party, when he swipes the access badge for the Beryllium Clock... "I'm half-human...on my mother's side..."

Maybe they added the half-human thing so American audiences would have an easier time relating to a character partly "like them" rather than some full alien dude.

Totally agree.

 

[Captain Pike]

Speaking of nonsense plot holes, why the hell would the eye of harmony be in the TARDIS in the first place? It's the nucleus of a black hole and the source of power that sustains Gallifrey, last seen beneath the timelord citadel in The Deadly Assasin - it has no business being in the TARDIS whatsoever!

 

[The]

^I honestly think that was just a misunderstanding in terminology. I think that was just the "tap" to the Eye of Harmony, since that's supposedly where all TARDI...i(?)...draw their power.

Or did, before the invention of Wales...

 

[Captain Pike]

Sounds like some fanon rationalization for what was an all too obvious gaff on the part of the film makers, but ok..

And surely Wales was 'invented' a few thousand years before you was born?

ETA: Ahh I get it now, that was a new series reference! The rats maze is a little slow today..

 

[Joy]

I adore Eight. The movie was, well... typical American camp. I've seen much worse, so it didn't phase me.

I LOVE the interior of the TARDIS in the movie. Absolutely beautiful, and the spaciousness really helps you feel the whole "bigger on the inside" deal.

I'd love to see McGann come back for a mini-series or special episode or just... anything to see Eight again. I don't have any of the audios, and really can't afford to buy any, so I'll have to wait, unfortunately, to listen to them.

Personally, it amuses me to assume his mother is Donna, and the Doctor got so screwed up because as kid he accidentally reminded her of who he would be and blew up her brain.

Of course, he was so young he wouldn't remember much of her, hence why he didn't recognize her.

Okay, ^THAT is quite possibly one of the awesomest ideas I've read. I totally want to read a fanfic utilizing this idea.

 

[Davros]

What was with that half human thing about the doctor?

It never happened. The Doctor is not half human.

 

[Worf2DS9]

Y'know, I just watched the movie on the weekend and I can't recall when the Doctor himself mentioned the bit about being half human. When was that?

At the New Year's party, when he swipes the access badge for the Beryllium Clock... "I'm half-human...on my mother's side..."

D'oh! Of course! His big secret revealed!

I like Grace's excuse "he's British" to explain his odd behaviour. Then: "Yes, I suppose I am." So the Doctor is not only half-human, but British too (not that there's anything wrong with that).

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Honestly, that was one of my favorite console rooms ever. I simply loved that Victorian slant the 7th Doctor had created for the TARDIS. Now, we've seen an "auxillary" console room before (Tom Baker's hardwood layout), so I'm left wondering: Was the "cathedral" as you put it THE primary console room, or simply another back-up? I'd ask the same thing about Nine/Ten's coral look, but, the shape and size of it lends itself more to being a burned-out/damaged/bare-basics version of the primary one from most of the series (perhaps a Time War-damaged console room). So, if McGann's massive living area was another back-up, then we could easily see it again (given anyone would ever need to bring it back).

What did you not like about it? Slightly pompous?

As I said, i like what he did with the place. But it didn't really feel like a spaceship anymore with the stonewalls, -stairs, dry leafs and bats and all. That was a little to much for me. Other than that? Great, bring it back. What are the chances with the the upcoming console room to look that well decorated?

 

[WillsBabe]

I like Grace's excuse "he's British" to explain his odd behaviour. Then: "Yes, I suppose I am." So the Doctor is not only half-human, but British too (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I've always considered the Doctor to be virtually British. There is so much about him that's British I even made an icon (featuring 10 rather than 8, though)!

 

[Starkers]

Or did, before the invention of Wales...

There are several things about the TVM that I really love, and I'd have loved to have seen more of McGann. On the whole though it just feels too American, which is fine for an American show but the nature of Who just didn't suit it.