Doctor Who

[Dark Lord]

So I just started watching this British sci-fi hit "Dr. Who" on netflix. I'm halfway into the second season and I'm enjoying it quite a lot. The episodes are all pretty interesting, and I like subtle humor. Anyone else enjoy this show? Discuss.

[miniPhil]

We have a season six thread here but a little Doctor Who general never hurt anyone.
Smith is better than Tennant and Eccleston. Just sayin.

[The Rebel]

We have a season six thread here but a little Doctor Who general never hurt anyone.
Smith is better than Tennant and Eccleston. Just sayin.

Yeah, well Tom Baker beats them ALL, lol. Course, I've seen much of the original series, except for episodes related to the first and second Doctors.

[Eris]

Yeah, well Tom Baker beats them ALL, lol. Course, I've seen much of the original series, except for episodes related to the first and second Doctors.

I think you've misspelled Jon Pertwee. I'm not quite sure how you got it to come out as Tom Baker, but apparently it did.

Why is Pertwee better than Tom Baker, you ask? Well, he isn't. But he plays against Roger Delgado, which makes the most awesome villain in the history of villainy.

Just look at the actors portraying The Master.



Which one of them would you trust to take over the world? Ainley looks wholesome by comparison. Wholesome, I say! And all he ever does is stand behind some drapes snickering as the doctor blunders into his trap. You could train chimpanzees to do that.

[miniPhil]

Yeah, well Tom Baker beats them ALL, lol. Course, I've seen much of the original series, except for episodes related to the first and second Doctors.

It's a real pain trying to compare Doctors from the two series, the writing is just vastly different. There's a level of humanity in the new Doctors that wasn't there before. In the old series they were much more authority figures(something that the new series gets from the Doctors companions). The old series Doctor was based on the hero of the times, the strong authority figure. Very much an English policeman, which is why the Tardis is a police box. As the series went on they the show became less and less culturally relevant and tried to pander to the older seasons which is why they were less than amazing.
What RTD did for the new series was update the Doctor to be more culturally relevant, and have a much more human aspect. Moffat has kept up the tradition with a little more horror thrown in for good measure.

[The Rebel]

It's a real pain trying to compare Doctors from the two series, the writing is just vastly different. There's a level of humanity in the new Doctors that wasn't there before. In the old series they were much more authority figures(something that the new series gets from the Doctors companions). The old series Doctor was based on the hero of the times, the strong authority figure. Very much an English policeman, which is why the Tardis is a police box. As the series went on they the show became less and less culturally relevant and tried to pander to the older seasons which is why they were less than amazing.
What RTD did for the new series was update the Doctor to be more culturally relevant, and have a much more human aspect. Moffat has kept up the tradition with a little more horror thrown in for good measure.

Almost, but not quite right miniPhil. The reason the tardis looks like a police box is cause the chameleon circuit shorted out back when he was banished to earth back during the first Doctor. And the one time the Doctor tried to repair it, it still didn't work right and reset to the police box, then burned out again. After all, the Doctor technically Stole the Tardis in the first place.
I believe the original Doctors were portrayed more as meddlers then authority figures. But the difference between then and now is that back then, they didn't give them "darker" sides. Now, the Doctor is portrayed as having his darker side, willing to kill if he feels it's justified, where back then he didn't. Tom Baker for example had to decide to destroy the Daleks or not, and choose not to, only to have the bomb he set be tripped by a Dalek anyways.
But honestly, seeing as I've grown up on the old series, I have to say they have done a very good job with the new series. Especially with bring back some of the classic characters and such. Often, when they take an old series and "revamp" it for modern day, they change key elements like character appearances and such. But here, they have kept it true to the original for the majority of it. And the Doctor now having a "dark" side simply enhances the character more.

---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:26 PM ----------

It's a real pain trying to compare Doctors from the two series, the writing is just vastly different. There's a level of humanity in the new Doctors that wasn't there before. In the old series they were much more authority figures(something that the new series gets from the Doctors companions). The old series Doctor was based on the hero of the times, the strong authority figure. Very much an English policeman, which is why the Tardis is a police box. As the series went on they the show became less and less culturally relevant and tried to pander to the older seasons which is why they were less than amazing.
What RTD did for the new series was update the Doctor to be more culturally relevant, and have a much more human aspect. Moffat has kept up the tradition with a little more horror thrown in for good measure.

Almost, but not quite right miniPhil. The reason the tardis looks like a police box is cause the chameleon circuit shorted out back when he was banished to earth back during the first Doctor. And the one time the Doctor tried to repair it, it still didn't work right and reset to the police box, then burned out again. After all, the Doctor technically Stole the Tardis in the first place.
I believe the original Doctors were portrayed more as meddlers then authority figures. But the difference between then and now is that back then, they didn't give them "darker" sides. Now, the Doctor is portrayed as having his darker side, willing to kill if he feels it's justified, where back then he didn't. Tom Baker for example had to decide to destroy the Daleks or not, and choose not to, only to have the bomb he set be tripped by a Dalek anyways.
But honestly, seeing as I've grown up on the old series, I have to say they have done a very good job with the new series. Especially with bring back some of the classic characters and such. Often, when they take an old series and "revamp" it for modern day, they change key elements like character appearances and such. But here, they have kept it true to the original for the majority of it. And the Doctor now having a "dark" side simply enhances the character more.

[Ranshiin]

Almost, but not quite right miniPhil. The reason the tardis looks like a police box is cause the chameleon circuit shorted out back when he was banished to earth back during the first Doctor. And the one time the Doctor tried to repair it, it still didn't work right and reset to the police box, then burned out again. After all, the Doctor technically Stole the Tardis in the first place.
I believe the original Doctors were portrayed more as meddlers then authority figures. But the difference between then and now is that back then, they didn't give them "darker" sides. Now, the Doctor is portrayed as having his darker side, willing to kill if he feels it's justified, where back then he didn't. Tom Baker for example had to decide to destroy the Daleks or not, and choose not to, only to have the bomb he set be tripped by a Dalek anyways.
But honestly, seeing as I've grown up on the old series, I have to say they have done a very good job with the new series. Especially with bring back some of the classic characters and such. Often, when they take an old series and "revamp" it for modern day, they change key elements like character appearances and such. But here, they have kept it true to the original for the majority of it. And the Doctor now having a "dark" side simply enhances the character more.

I was always under the belief it was the cost of additional props for the 'outside' of the TARDIS making them stick with the police box in the long run? They of course would have to come up with an excuse to use in-show as to why (the chameleon circuit being broken being the show's excuse, as it still is).

That and the police box very quickly became synonymous with Doctor Who ... kinda like the mascot of the show, in a way. So maybe changing that would have proven negative and they opted not to?

I'm just speculating on this, really.

[miniPhil]

Almost, but not quite right miniPhil. The reason the tardis looks like a police box is cause the chameleon circuit shorted out back when he was banished to earth back during the first Doctor. And the one time the Doctor tried to repair it, it still didn't work right and reset to the police box, then burned out again. After all, the Doctor technically Stole the Tardis in the first place.

But that's the fluff, it doesn't mean that the reason for choosing the Tardis can't be the fact that it was modeled after the authority.

I believe the original Doctors were portrayed more as meddlers then authority figures.

Being a meddler doesn't automatically make them not authority figures. Look at Columbo for example, he almost never walks straight in and presents himself as he is to work out the case. He plays dumb, looks around, tricks people into giving away more than they should making him very much a meddler but still a big time authority figure.

But the difference between then and now is that back then, they didn't give them "darker" sides. Now, the Doctor is portrayed as having his darker side, willing to kill if he feels it's justified, where back then he didn't. Tom Baker for example had to decide to destroy the Daleks or not, and choose not to, only to have the bomb he set be tripped by a Dalek anyways.[COLOR="Silver"]

Again, the more humanity that RTD added.

Didn't mention who my favorite was. I think Baker in the old series and Smith in the new.

[Thefringedninja]

We have a season six thread here but a little Doctor Who general never hurt anyone.
Smith is better than Tennant and Eccleston. Just sayin.

BLASPHEMY! Lol
I totally don't agree!
I loved Tennant and was devastated when he left...I can't watch it now, as I really don't like the writing anymore.

[aether]

BLASPHEMY! Lol
I totally don't agree!
I loved Tennant and was devastated when he left...I can't watch it now, as I really don't like the writing anymore.

Well you may be pleased to know Matt Smith is leaving now and is going to be changing at around Christmas time

[Dark Lord]

Is Smith the newest actor or an older one? I personally liked Christopher Eccleston better than David Tennant.

[Eris]

Is Smith the newest actor or an older one? I personally liked Christopher Eccleston better than David Tennant.

Doctors, in order of occurrence:

1: Hartnell
2: Throughton
3: Pertwee
4: Tom Baker
5: Davison
6: Colin Baker
7: McCoy
~~~~ original run ends ~~~~
8: Herp derp movie doctor
~~~~ new series begins ~~~~
9: Eccleston
10: Tennant
11: Smith

Tennant was reasonably good in the beginning, but after a couple of seasons he sort of developed the character in an unfortunate direction (that is, the most awesome person in the world that is also Q_Q emo forever alone). Though Russel T Davies also shares responsibility for this. Though RTD left with Tennant, and a glorious era of Matt Smith with Karen Gillian and Steven Moffat dawned upon the series.

[aether]

Doctors, in order of occurrence:

1: Hartnell
2: Throughton
3: Pertwee
4: Tom Baker
5: Davison
6: Colin Baker
7: McCoy
~~~~ original run ends ~~~~
8: Herp derp movie doctor
~~~~ new series begins ~~~~
9: Eccleston
10: Tennant
11: Smith

Tennant was reasonably good in the beginning, but after a couple of seasons he sort of developed the character in an unfortunate direction (that is, the most awesome person in the world that is also Q_Q emo forever alone). Though Russel T Davies also shares responsibility for this. Though RTD left with Tennant, and a glorious era of Matt Smith with Karen Gillian and Steven Moffat dawned upon the series.

I remember as a kid watching the older series of Doctor Who on the old VHS tapes, especially the Tom Baker era and wasn't it Colin Baker who wore a vegetable on the cricket outfit?

[Eris]

I remember as a kid watching the older series of Doctor Who on the old VHS tapes, especially the Tom Baker era and wasn't it Colin Baker who wore a vegetable on the cricket outfit?

I think you're referring to Davison.

[Ωmega]

Is Smith the newest actor or an older one? I personally liked Christopher Eccleston better than David Tennant.

BLASPHEMY!!

Though I did love Eccleston as the 9th doctor....he was just very....unforgiving. I cried in episode where the Dalek develops feelings. I cried like a little baby.

David Tennant will still always be my favorite doctor though. My favorite...very sexy doctor.



Random: Its a shame they never chose an American to be the Doctor. I wouldve loved to see Gene Wilder in his prime as a Doctor

[Eris]

Random: Its a shame they never chose an American to be the Doctor. I wouldve loved to see Gene Wilder in his prime as a Doctor

The doctor doesn't carry a gun. The only DW character that got to shoot at stuff was Lethbridge-Stewart. I know River Song does it too, but she's a hardened criminal.

[GameGeeks]

Random: Its a shame they never chose an American to be the Doctor. I wouldve loved to see Gene Wilder in his prime as a Doctor

As far as I'm aware, it's shot in Britain so kinda makes sense many if not most of the actors are from there.

[Ranshiin]

As far as I'm aware, it's shot in Britain so kinda makes sense many if not most of the actors are from there.

I only know the most recent series is shot primarily in Wales ... as for the earlier "reboot" series, I don't know as I forgot.


Also here's a bit of a "It's a small world" moment - a moderator on my forum is friends with the actor who plays the Doctor's sidekick in the current series. I could be a complete jerk and ask my friend to get her to send me a message.. lol.


edit

We also all know the original Willy Wonka movie was epic. Let's just leave it at that

We have a season six thread here but a little Doctor Who general never hurt anyone.
Smith is better than Tennant and Eccleston. Just sayin.

I unfortunately have to disagree. Whilst I can agree that Smith is better than Eccleston (who was also good, mind you, but I could never really get to like him), saying Smith is better than Tennant is ... well, very difficult.

Now, I'm not necessarily saying he's bad - and let's face it, my whole family laughed at the whole "fish fingers and custard" thing in the first episode - but really, I don't think Smith is as good as Tennant. Not yet, anyway. Smith is incredible in his own way, but really he has some ridiculously large boots to fill. I think he's doing a damn good job though.


Oh. I should point out that I'm retarded and I have not watched a single episode of the new series ... so my post is very much a moot point because I'm not aware of whether he's improved or not in the last two or three episodes that have aired.


Oh, and people still quote random Tennant lines around here. lol.

[aether]

As far as I'm aware, it's shot in Britain so kinda makes sense many if not most of the actors are from there.

What you need to remember is that most scenes of doctor who are shot in an old quarry in Wales and when they are doing scenes like the park from manhattan with the daleks trying to create new daleks they CGI'd the landmarks in and shot the scene in a park here in the UK.

Also
This is just general stuff now
The doctor never uses a weapon like a gun for he has the sonic screwdriver that can pretty much do everything that he needs so having a gun is pointless.

Another note
Doctor Who is the longest running TV show in the world since it has been going since the 60's, and the original creator wanted the series to avoid the typical bug eyed alien effects. The show was meant to be educational with the Historical settings teaching about the past hence why one of the travel companions was a history teacher and the future settings were to teach moral stories.

[GameGeeks]

What you need to remember is that most scenes of doctor who are shot in an old quarry in Wales and when they are doing scenes like the park from manhattan with the daleks trying to create new daleks they CGI'd the landmarks in and shot the scene in a park here in the UK.

Also
This is just general stuff now
The doctor never uses a weapon like a gun for he has the sonic screwdriver that can pretty much do everything that he needs so having a gun is pointless.

Another note
Doctor Who is the longest running TV show in the world since it has been going since the 60's, and the original creator wanted the series to avoid the typical bug eyed alien effects. The show was meant to be educational with the Historical settings teaching about the past hence why one of the travel companions was a history teacher and the future settings were to teach moral stories.

Actually I'll have to say no to it being the longest running. You can't count the period of time between the 7th Doctor and the 9th Doctor. The 8th Doctor was a movie so it doesn't count. That Distinction falls to NBC's Meet the Press which has been on the air since 1947. And you're also wrong on the gun aspect. The 4th Doctor used one developed on Gallifrey known as the De-Mat Gun.

[Dark Lord]

BLASPHEMY!!

Though I did love Eccleston as the 9th doctor....he was just very....unforgiving. I cried in episode where the Dalek develops feelings. I cried like a little baby.

David Tennant will still always be my favorite doctor though. My favorite...very sexy doctor.



Random: Its a shame they never chose an American to be the Doctor. I wouldve loved to see Gene Wilder in his prime as a Doctor

I just prefer the way Eccleston handled the character. Don't get me wrong though, Tennant was great.

[Ωmega]

As far as I'm aware, it's shot in Britain so kinda makes sense many if not most of the actors are from there.

Willy Wonka was shot in Germany, so I dont think him traveling wouldve been a huge issue to shoot the series in Britain.

The doctor doesn't carry a gun. The only DW character that got to shoot at stuff was Lethbridge-Stewart. I know River Song does it too, but she's a criminal.

.....Im aware of this, not really seeing how its relevant, unless its a Blazing Saddles reference of some sort. Though the 9th doctor -does- carry a gun in the Dalek episode.

[GameGeeks]

Willy Wonka was shot in Germany, so I dont think him traveling wouldve been a huge issue to shoot the series in Britain.


.....Im aware of this, not really seeing how its relevant, unless its a Blazing Saddles reference of some sort. Though the 9th doctor -does- carry a gun in the Dalek episode.

Considering Wonka was a movie and Doctor Who is a series, that means they spend a good deal more time then they could for a movie. Especially if they do multiple seasons. If anything, it's no different then anime. It's made for Britain but we just happen to also like it so it gets aired here too. It's no different then say the Brits liking Eureka.

[Ωmega]

Considering Wonka was a movie and Doctor Who is a series, that means they spend a good deal more time then they could for a movie. Especially if they do multiple seasons. If anything, it's no different then anime. It's made for Britain but we just happen to also like it so it gets aired here too. It's no different then say the Brits liking Eureka.

Youre missing my point in my wonderful world of hypothetical.

[Eris]

.....Im aware of this, not really seeing how its relevant, unless its a Blazing Saddles reference of some sort. Though the 9th doctor -does- carry a gun in the Dalek episode.

My faith in Americans doing British TV right is wafer thin. Though it may just be that Hollywood execs are boneheads that underestimate their audience. Whatever, there's been too much of this type of crap