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Dr Who Series 5 - Page 2

post #51 of 918
4/2/10 at 10:54pm
I'd certainly like to see him again. I was pleasantly surprised by, if not the movie itself, McGann's presence as the character. I was pleasantly surprised again when I found out that he apparently "counts" as one of the regeneration, even while Peter Cushing doesn't.

So yeah, give him another shot.
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post #52 of 918
4/3/10 at 3:08am
If they do a full length multi-Doctor adventure I wouldn't be surprised if McGann got left out, but I'd certainly like to see him show up; I think once you get beyond three Doctors the dynamics are hard to juggle. Maybe Eccleston would stay out of it, I don't know how keen he'd be to return, although I wouldn't object to seeing him again.
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post #53 of 918
4/3/10 at 5:08am
I spent the entire Tennant run hoping against hope that there'd be a Two Doctors episode with Eccleston. Maybe they're saving that for the movie.
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post #54 of 918
4/3/10 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fizzgig View Post
If they do a full length multi-Doctor adventure I wouldn't be surprised if McGann got left out, but I'd certainly like to see him show up; I think once you get beyond three Doctors the dynamics are hard to juggle. Maybe Eccleston would stay out of it, I don't know how keen he'd be to return, although I wouldn't object to seeing him again.
Eccleston would come back. He didn't leave Doctor Who in a huff or anything he just signed an initial one year contract and decided not to renew it. The only reason he doesn't speak about Who is that he felt it would be inappropriate to be involved in the process when there was another Doctor about. The only dark cloud surrounding Eccleston's departure is that he's still pissed at the BBC in general for announcing he was going before he could.
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post #55 of 918
4/3/10 at 4:52pm
Well that was rather fun. A nice opening act with little Amelia, some cracking lines (with the post office one winning out) and nice performances from the two leads. My only real complaints are the usual dodgy CGI (which isn't worth getting worked up about) and that the new theme tune is utterly awful but then I've always been a big fan of dear old Delia's classic take on it (moreso than the actual programme, truth be told) so understandably Murray Gold's dreadfully hamfisted bombast never fails to get on my nerves.

So yeah, a good start.

Oh yeah, honourable mention to the bit with Amelia sitting outside on her suitcase, that was just adorable.
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post #56 of 918
4/3/10 at 5:52pm
I knew I'd wish Murray Gold had left along with everyone else.
Bit over-the-top, but it had a lot to re-establish.
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post #57 of 918
4/3/10 at 6:14pm
Just waiting for IPlayer to finish downloading but I'll never understand the hate Murray Gold gets. I think his music works fantastically well within the show, the only issue is that the soundmix tends to fuck up the music volume at times. But I doubt the show would be as popular without the sense of power and energy Murray Gold gives the show.
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post #58 of 918
4/3/10 at 6:23pm
Murray Gold gets hate? I fucking love him.
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post #59 of 918
4/3/10 at 6:36pm
Murray Gold's bombastic opening is exactly what I always wanted a modern version of the theme to be. His work is great. I own the first album, and I love his work. If this isn't doing it for people, then I have no idea what they wanted from the show.
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post #60 of 918
4/3/10 at 6:44pm
Haven't heard the new version yet (gimme an hour), but I can't believe Murray Gold has done something to arouse actual, genuine hate. The man is hardly some talentless hack. I even used his "Tooth & Claw" episode main theme for entrance music for a while there . . .
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post #61 of 918
4/3/10 at 6:46pm
The new theme is so good.

Also in the first five minutes of this show Moffat has done more with the practicalities of the dimensions of the Tardis than RTD.

Smith is great, over the top and kind of a dick.
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post #62 of 918
4/3/10 at 7:30pm
Argh. The wait is getting frustrating.
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post #63 of 918
4/3/10 at 7:43pm
God that was so much fun I'm almost giddy.

Smith is tremendous, it's like he's been playing the Doctor for years and Karen Gillan looks like she's going to be a great counterpoint to him.
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post #64 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:24pm
Oh, don't get me wrong, Gold was good for years (though he bafflingly lost it last year- Planet of the Dead and Waters of Mars had horrible scoring).
I'd just like a change to someone a little more understated. Gold seemed better suited to RTD's version of the show than Moffat's.
Matt Smith, however, is doing excellently.
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post #65 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:25pm
I must respectfully disagree, chaps, I find his work dreadful and you're pretty much the first people I've seen anywhere who defend it. Oompa-oompa-stick-it-up-your-juumpah! rubbish and completely at odds with the atmosphere that most of the stories try to establish. Quite honestly, the guy wouldn't know eerie if jumped up out of the bog and bit his balls off. The latest version of the theme brings back some of the classic elements but buries them under a dozen layers of his 2 bit high school orchestra.

Still, it's a good sign when all you can find to bitch about is the soundtrack, isn't it? Looking forward to next week's ep!
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post #66 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:33pm
This is also the first time I have ever seen anyone defend Gold's work to be honest. Refreshing. The dramatic stuff can be a bit bombastic at times but I think that has a lot to do with the audio mix itself, like Spike suggested. Considering the wild and diverse range of moods, tones and the no doubt punishing schedule he is working on, I think Gold's doing a fucking fantastic job. His and Bear McCreary's work on Battle Star Galactica is the only scores for Television drama I have ever listened to out of context other than Badalamenti's Twin Peak stuff, back in the day. I think it's great.
Snuck a quick peak in this thread just to see what peeps thought of the episode; elated to hear it's positive.
Can't. Wait.
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post #67 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:35pm
Another thing I like: there's an innocence about it that was never present during the RTD stories. Felt very reminiscent of the old series.
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post #68 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:44pm
Well innocent aside from the Porn joke and the fact that Amy Pond is all but a stripper.

But yeah the stuff with Young Amy and how generally childish the Doctor is was awesome. It feels a lot more like a kids show this time, but in the way Pixar would make a kids show.
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post #69 of 918
4/3/10 at 8:59pm
Loved it. Thought it was pretty great and energizing. Loved the Doctor as Peter Pan in a sense and yet he brings out the personality of Miss Ponds (who seems quite great). Absolute blast!
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post #70 of 918
4/3/10 at 9:59pm
Episode is an absolute blast! At this pace, people will get over Tennant's departure by the third episode, max. Everything clicked perfectly, and the one thing I really dug was the quasi-science used to solve the problem was both broadly plausible enough AND explained clearly enough to make perfect sense. Something Davies could never quite seem to manage with his "uh . . . a wizard did it!" solutions.
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post #71 of 918
4/4/10 at 11:53am
Some thoughts from Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool on the new Doctor and this season.
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post #72 of 918
4/4/10 at 1:31pm
Matt Smith is one hell of a talent - that was one of the most assured debut performances I've seen, even Tennant was wobbly on his feet when he started out on the show. Smith has his character down pat, I love it. Give him a season of this quality work and I might have my new favourite Doctor. The montage of past Doctors was a nice way to establish Smith as a worthy successor, but I think he managed that 10 minutes into the episode. Still, that scene did send chills down my spine. Great stuff, I knew Moffat would set us off to a great start.
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post #73 of 918
4/4/10 at 1:42pm
Seriously Matt Smith turned something that should have been inherently childish, for an adult audience, into something amazing. The food tasting sequence right at the start is something definitely designed for the younger kids, but Smith just made it work past its inherent grossness. I have no idea how he did that.

I also loved how kind of weird and understated he is at times, his reading of 'Basically...run' and the fact that he grabs Amy's hand to THROW her along the corridor were great.
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post #74 of 918
4/4/10 at 1:53pm
That was awesome. Strongest opening for any of the current series yet by a comfortable margin. Smith eases any doubts; has that quality of coming across as genuinely "Alien" and superior but being just a bit baffled.
The trailer for the next season was just fantastic- Van Gogh, Riversong, Silurians and Nighy?
We are in for some gold, methinks.
New TARDIS looks amazing.
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post #75 of 918
4/4/10 at 1:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spike Marshall View Post
Seriously Matt Smith turned something that should have been inherently childish, for an adult audience, into something amazing. The food tasting sequence right at the start is something definitely designed for the younger kids, but Smith just made it work past its inherent grossness. I have no idea how he did that.

I also loved how kind of weird and understated he is at times, his reading of 'Basically...run' and the fact that he grabs Amy's hand to THROW her along the corridor were great.
That food sequence had me laughing pretty hard, That surprised me because, as much as I love this show, the humour since the relaunch has rarely been one of its strongest suits. Smith managed to pin down the eccentricity behind the scene, making it seem like the flights of fancy of a madman, whereas it could have so easily come across as cheap buffoonery. He managed to take even the silliest of things seriously, and that made it much funnier.

Honestly, this feels like a Who that I could show to someone that never watched the show and I wouldn't have to feel like an apologist afterwards.
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post #76 of 918
4/4/10 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
Fantastic start to the series, I'm now totally on the Matt Smith train. Can't Help feeling that eppisode was a snub to the detractors who say the Doctor solves every problem with ether his screwdriver or the Tardis.


One slight gripe though, the Wedding subplot. Honestly I think we didn't need that twist, I would hace prefered if she had simply gone with him for the adventure rather than having that hanging over the series.
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post #77 of 918
4/4/10 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spike Marshall View Post
Also in the first five minutes of this show Moffat has done more with the practicalities of the dimensions of the Tardis than RTD..
LOVED that bit. Once I realized what was happening, it seemed so obvious, I'm amazed no one tried it before.

I love the dynamic between the Doctor and Amy. It doesn't feel romantic, but more like the call of adventure that so many of the earlier Doctor/companion dynamics had. The idea that there's so much cool stuff out there, the Doctor just HAS to share it with somebody is a great way to go. And I hope the cracks in the universe continue, as it's a great natural through-line for the season, and most likely something that will turn out to have been caused by things Tennant's Doctor did.

And the symbolic passing of the torch was amazing. It almost felt like he had to face this threat before he truly took on the mantle of the Doctor, and seeing all the previous incarnations felt like he'd earned their approval.

Oh, and possibly my favorite thing in this episode? This:

A silly little detail that just felt so absolutely right.

I'm not ready to say "Tennant who?" just yet. But I'm a damn sight closer than I thought I'd ever be.
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post #78 of 918
4/4/10 at 7:21pm
I liked the typewriter too! I liked the episode a lot, looks good for this year. I just wish it all didn't feel so rushed. That has been my biggest complaint about the new series, a lot of people running around, slow it down a little. But a really nice start!
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post #79 of 918
4/4/10 at 7:50pm
I have to say I'm really liking Smith, and the slightly more whimsical feel of the show. Can't wait for the next episode! I also wonder about the image of what looked to be the crack in space-time that was on the monitor when the Doctor told Amy that he didn't have any reason in particular for wanting her to come along.
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post #80 of 918
4/4/10 at 8:39pm
Yeah they really kind of focused in on that wave pattern. Also, her as a little girl hearing the TARDIS come back: was that a dream or a memory? I thought it was left kind of open.

If they had to change the music would love to see them bring in Moon Wiring Club or Burial to do it.

But damn it was fun and a great way to kick things off.
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post #81 of 918
4/4/10 at 8:47pm
I was going to take a HD screengrab of it, but somebody already did.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8...5x01theele.jpg

It's definitely a version of the crack at least. Maybe that's going to be a theme this year, also love the weird little teddy bear in the bottom left of the screen. I think it's just a light trick but it looks odd.

The interesting thing is the way the Doctor shut the thing before Amy could see.
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post #82 of 918
4/5/10 at 2:30am
Exceeded my lofty expectations. Loved it.
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post #83 of 918
4/5/10 at 10:16am
I loved this new doctor less that 20 minutes into the new show where it took me about the first season of Tennant to really get into him. I can't quite say what my favorite scene but if I had to choose it would be close to the end with him talking down the aliens, capping it off with, "Basically.. Run.". And I can't forget Amy Ponds legs.. Mmm..

Can we talk about the season preview? I know someone mentioned it before but I wanted to get a consensus before I say a few things, don't want to spoil people who don't watch them.
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post #84 of 918
4/5/10 at 11:37am
My wife and daughter are the obsessive Who fans, but I usually watch it with them, and I thought it was interesting that, watching the season preview, every bit that had me rolling my eyes (What-- Daleks, cybermen, angels, again??) had my daughter whooping with delight (though even I had to chuckle appreciatively at the sight of the Great God Nighy).

And we all did seem to think that it was a fun episode, and that the new Doctor worked out just fine. Though, as with the season preview, it felt to me as though they were sticking a bit much to the tried-and-true: the new Doctor felt more like a good variation on Tennant than his own character, whereas the Eccleston-to-Tennant handoff had established the new Doctor as something pretty completely "new."
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post #85 of 918
4/5/10 at 11:43am
The season preview looked great, plus it seemed to have much better effects showing than this actual episode did. I liked it a lot though and I'm not really a Who kind of guy. I get why people didn't like RTD though, even though I think sometimes he wrote some really great episodes/ideas.

Well done to Smith though, he has this unforced energy about him that I liked. I could've done without dubious CGI spaceships flying about though. Neither the designs or the CGI was any good.
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post #86 of 918
4/5/10 at 11:28pm
Another thing I loved and grabbed me when I watched it the first time, the Doctor snapping his fingers to open the TARDIS.
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post #87 of 918
4/6/10 at 12:43am
Late to the party, (only got to watch it now as I'm on holiday). Wow, I was very much sold. Smith did a very good job, and Moffat kept it light enough that I don't think we have to worry about losing the kid factor just yet. The whole fish fingers in custard, "apples are rubbish!", bit went on a little too long for my tastes, but I can imagine the kids lapping that up.

I know we'd already done the "I'm the Doctor... Look me up" bit in the Library episode, but it was a nice touch. (thought I though they'd defused that gambit with Children of Earth, though I guess that just shows you can't use the gambit if you're Captain Jack!)

I have lots of faith in Moffat, he's written most of my favourite eps, but Smith has impressed me beyond my expectations. Roll on the season.
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post #88 of 918
4/6/10 at 1:09am
I do think it was very smart of them to shoot two or three episodes before filming the season opener...Smith absolutely owned the part (though for all I know he's owned it since the very first shot of the very first episode of the first block, I dunno).

I know Tennant's said that he didn't really feel that he was totally clicking with the part until his 4th episode (Tooth & Claw--3rd to air, 4th to shoot).
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post #89 of 918
4/6/10 at 6:39am
Kinda loved that Smith-Doctor is obviously more cynical about the human race. I mean, he loves 'em and all, but the camera-phone thing clearly irritated him and I don't think he's going to be fawning over them constantly like Tennant did.

Plus, "silence will fall"? Are the Vashta Nerada going to be the Big Bad this year or something? I hope Moffat's come up with something totally new as the overarching villain.
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post #90 of 918
4/6/10 at 6:48am
The big bad is a unique villain as far as I’m aware. Apparently it makes an appearance every episode this season.

What impressed me about Smith is that you can tell the script was written for Tennant, although Moffat claims he just writes the Doctor you can certainly here Ten in the dialogue, but Smith just made it sound unique and different.

Also watching it again in HD I’ve got to say that the series looks incredible. Moffat is apparently going for a dark fairytale feel to the show this season and it really works, but in terms of general cinematography the show has never looked better.

I’m not even talking about the use of HD Cameras, which certainly help, but everything from the framing to the editing just feels far more cinematic and interesting which is impressive considering they’re dealing with a reported budget cut.
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post #91 of 918
4/6/10 at 6:52am
nother plus: Amy Pond and her homely locale not being all hip and relevant big-city Londoner nonsense. Brought back memories of Pertwee pootling around with UNIT.
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post #92 of 918
4/6/10 at 9:35am
Thread Starter 
I'm sure they said Leadworth was in Gloucestershire as well, which was kinda cool.
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post #93 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:00am
Question: What was with Annette Crosbie and her comedy grandson? Were they supposed to know Amy well, or is it just the "everyone knows everyone in a small village" thing? I'm guessing they're going to be this incarnation's Jackie & Pete (with Fiancé Nurse as Mickey).

Funny how the tabloids played up the kissogram angle something fierce when its sole purpose seemed to be to set up the reveal that the policewoman was in fact Amy.
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post #94 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:14am
Yeah, I'm gonna echo the love. I was dubious about Smith, but definitely willing to give him a chance. He exceeded all expectations by a wide margin, and the story was thoroughly engaging and fun, thus I'm really excited for this season now.

On a personal note, I think Smith's craziness is exacerbated for me due to the fact that he has a serious Crispin Glover vibe going on.
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post #95 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:19am
I've seen a couple of reviews that said Smith was too much like Tennant, which I frankly didn't see at all.
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post #96 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:33am
Maybe I need to watch it again but who was looking after Amelia right at the start. I know she’s an orphan, but the show seems to set up that she’s there on her own (hence being able to cook).

I have no idea who Annette or Jeff were supposed to be, at first I guessed an Aunt and Cousin but the way Rory reacted to Jeff suggested something else.

Smith was given a Tennant like script, but I think he did a great job of playing his own man. In fact if anything else he kind of reminded me more of Eccleston than Tennant.
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post #97 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:36am
Amelia mentioned that she had an aunt, but that she was always out - which was why she knew how to cook and take care of herself.
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post #98 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 
I think they were just people she knew from the villiage.
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post #99 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:43am
Not like Tennant at ALL. Much weirder and more alien at points. Tennant was a classic superhero-type - very intelligent, very brave, uber-charismatic. Smith seems like an old guy in a young man's body. Him telling Amelia not to ask stupid questions was very much a departure from Tennant, who would probably have coddled a small child rather than treating her like a bizarre equal.
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post #100 of 918
4/6/10 at 10:56am
I also don't get any hint that things will turn romantic between the two of them, not because there's no chemistry, but because Smith's Doctor simply seems too occupied for such things.

And I liked the food-tasting bit. It was a fun way of showing how this incarnation learns about himself without a lot of angst. I also appreciated that there wasn't a lot of "Oh how I miss who I used to be." A clean break was needed, and we got it.
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