Doctor Who

[BBOvenGuy]

Holy cow! The look of this episode was like nothing I've ever seen in Doctor Who before - or much of anyplace else, for that matter. Did you all watch Doctor Who Confidential as well? I kept thinking, "Where are they getting all the money for this stuff? The old series probably didn't have this big a budget for the entire season. Even the quarry doesn't look like a quarry!"

The bit about them shooting underwater to get the right effect for the dead body floating off into space was absolutely brilliant. I would have never thought of that.

The Ood looked great, but the minute the people started to talk about how they were the "perfect docile servant race," I knew they were going to turn evil. We'll have to see how they do as monsters in the next episode.

It's a tricky business any time you have the good guys going up against Satan or some such "ultimate evil." If it's too easy for the good guys to win, then the "ultimate evil" ends up not looking quite so "ultimate" after all - and then you've got the question of what the good guys face next.

And lastly, the Doctor and Rose are getting way to flippant about the situations they land in. They keep laughing at everything when they first land. Russell Davies has dropped some hints about the two of them getting overconfident and facing a reckoning of some sort. I'm not sure I like the sound of that.

[billy]

It was great to have Gabriel Woolf on Doctor Who again. He sounds so evil - a perfect 'satan'.

My favourite thing about the last couple of episodes has been the reintroduction of the relationship between Rose and the Doctor. It seemed to be missing from the earlier episodes.

[Feena]

I watched Pyramids of Mars a few days ago to see how he's changed from his Sutekh days. Lots of OG discussion as to whether he's playing the same person, I think the jury's still out on that one.


"Your evil is my good. I am Sutekh the destroyer. Where I tread I leave nothing but dust and darkness."

"Your name is abominated in every civilized world! Whether that name be 'Sett,' 'Satan', 'Sados!'"

[billy]

"Your name is abominated in every civilized world! Whether that name be 'Sett,' 'Satan', 'Sados!'"

That's interesting. Even if they don't specifically mention Sutekh it could still be him. I've also been listening to him playing Sutekh in one of the Faction Paradox audios. Reminded me of the Goa'uld from Stargate.

Talking of audios I've been listening to the Sarah Jane Smith series which refers back to The Masque of Mandragora.

[Sasha]

Goddammit, I've got behind. Really must come here more often... have been spending more time on other forums, I'm afraid *shamefaced* Ok, very quick reviews...

Spoiler:

Age of Steel: TBH I can't even remember much about this episode. I do remember thinking that it was a good episode, nothing to complain about, and indeed quite scary, but it didn't interest me much. Not my kind of thing, I guess. *shrug* Only thing I can say is
[hysterical crying with no rational justification of opinions]noooooooooooooo, Miiiiiiiiiickey! I love Mickey! Come back Mickey! [/hysterical crying with no rational justification of opinions]


The Idiot's Lantern: I really don't know what to say about this episode. There was nothing to complain about really, except damn, it was BORING! That's the first time I've ever been bored watching Doctor Who!

The Satan Pit: Now THAT'S more like it! I loved, loved, LOVED this episode so much that I do not have enough superlitives for it. I think it may have taken over The Doctor Dances as my favourite Who episode. I really don't know where to start. I loved everything about this - the fact that it wasn't another boring Earth episode, the crazy scietific explanations, the return of the Doctor/Rosie shippiness... and especially the sheer creepiness. Posessed Toby was bloody terrifying. The manic grin... *shudders* WOW. And how appropriate, just before 06/06/06!
Oh, and I thought The Ood were cute.
Only small gripe I have is that the hologram of what is presumably 'the devil', that we saw on the screen for a split second (and it's also on the teaser at the official website), was very beast-like and traditionally devil-ish - the horns, and everything - and I don't find that nearly as scary. The crazy grinning red-eyed posessed human was far FAR more psychologically scary.
I can't wait for next week!

[Sheridan]

I thought it was creepy too, justin. Did anyone else notice a certain familiarity? A very evil Evil Thing, a seal, some minions...

Not to mention a blonde girl facing the armies of darkness. Oh and the doctors things you should never say, 'This will be Walford's best christmas ever'.

[Feena]

BBC Doctor Who site

Spoiler for 'The Beast' - and turn up your volume!!

[werewolf123]

The beast looks like me , early in the morning.

Spoiler:

Forbidden Planet.?

[Gatito Grande]

Wow.

And furthermore, wow.

No, no, no: not whatever it is that you Brits/DSL-types are watching. But what we Yanks got this week on Sci Fi, The Parting of the Ways: so long CE (we barely knew ye! ), hello DT.

I don't think anything was more gobsmacking, than that BOTH Mickey and Rose's mum came 'round (did they find a stronger chain, as well as vehicle, in order to "pop the hood"---um, is that "bonnet"? ---on the TARDIS? Very dangerous, standing too close!). And nice reference, back to Rose's dad, BTW.

As the Daleks were moving in on 200K Earth, did anyone else have a "Borg move in on Best of Both Worlds Earth on ST:TNG" kinda feeling? (OK, maybe that was just me!)

Thus ends S1, eh? Now, how long until we get S2 (are we ever gonna get caught up w/ you guys across the Pond. Call me the "Ugly American" but being so far behind y'all feels all wrong! )

GG One more observation: did anyone else get a weirdly m/m homoerotic feeling to that space station? The encircling semi-rings, w/ the, um, "swollen heads"? No? Nevermind! Out

[BBOvenGuy]

I have some friends who were actually unspoiled for tonight's episode. It was killing me when I saw them this past Saturday and they were talking about how much they were looking forward to the finale.

The ratings for Doctor Who haven't been good over here. Less than 20% of what the show's getting in the UK. I don't know if that will be enough for SciFi to sign up for Season 2.

[werewolf123]

Gatito Grande ; You had to go looking for sub-text in the image of a space station for human erotic behaviour in this episode? I would have thought that jack farewell to the doctor and rose was slightly more then sub-text.

[Gatito Grande]

werewolf, two men kissing simply doesn't make me go "Eek!", the way giant flying phalluses do...



GG That's really too bad, Bob, re the ratings---I hope we get S2. Out

[BBOvenGuy]

Just finished "The Satan Pit," and... well, that was odd. Or maybe it was Ood.

Strange to have the Doctor cut off from all the action, with David Tennant mostly doing monologues through half the episode, but it worked. Rose got to take charge, and she even got to slay the bad guy this time. I'm afraid the "how is the Doctor going to escape?" suspense didn't work for me, though, because once the elevator cable broke, I knew exactly where the TARDIS was. And actually, I'd suspected that even before then.

I'm not sure what to make of the prediction that Rose will die in battle. There have been rumors flying for almost a year now that Billie Piper was leaving the series, all of which have been denied by the BBC. Besides, there's only been one Doctor Who companion who's ever been killed off - on TV, anyway.

[justin]

Well it's hard for them to create suspense about the Dr's fate. Since there's still a few episodes left in the series (and a third planned) and we haven't heard about a new Dr being cast, we can be pretty certain he was going to escape unscathed.

I liked the Dr being willing to destroy the monster's prison because even though he didn't believe in Gods and demons he did believe in Rose.

It was an interesting concept that the reason why the Tardis couldn't translate the writing because it was from a previous universe.

So were the people who trapped the monster there really Gods or were they just really technologically advanced, like the Vorlon.

I'm not sure what to make of the prediction that Rose will die in battle.

Well you have to remember that it was the Prince of Lies who made that prediction.

Anyway I remember Russell Davies saying in an interview that killing off Rose would be sadistic and cruel (those weren't his exact words but it was something to that affect). Now he could be 's evil apprentice, but at the moment I'll assume this is just an attempt to create some dramatic tension

[billy]

Anyway I remember Russell Davies saying in an interview that killing off Rose would be sadistic and cruel (those weren't his exact words but it was something to that affect). Now he could be 's evil apprentice, but at the moment I'll assume this is just an attempt to create some dramatic tension

That's what I had been thinking but the way the Doctor and Rose's relationship is heading especially after this episode I'm finding it difficult to imagine Rose willingly leaving him.

[Feena]

I'm not sure what to make of the prediction that Rose will die in battle. There have been rumors flying for almost a year now that Billie Piper was leaving the series, all of which have been denied by the BBC. Besides, there's only been one Doctor Who companion who's ever been killed off - on TV, anyway.

*decides not to open the "Were Sara Kingdom and Katarina companions or not" canon of worms*


If this programme was aimed at an older audience, like a certain other one was, than I could see Rose's death being the end of her story arc. But this is watched by the whole family together (certainly in the UK at least) and the BBC acknowledge this. The Fear Factor (click on link at top far right of screen) on the official site is a review by a family with four children aged 5 to 13 (spoiler-free before an episode, in-depth afterwards). Knowing this, I don't think RTD would kill Rose, the person millions of children as young as 5 (and younger) identify with.

I was gutted when Adric died (I was 13 ) and cried for ages. But Rose is the first one where we know so much about her home life, her family. I think some children might see her as a kind of older sister, their way of seeing into the Doctor's world.

Of course, I could just be deluding myself. I do get worrying flashbacks when I think - RTD wouldn't do that, I trust what he says.

[BBOvenGuy]

*decides not to open the "Were Sara Kingdom and Katarina companions or not" canon of worms*

And there was much rejoicing...

The thing is, if you go by "Chekov's Law," now that they've made the prediction that Rose will die in battle, they pretty much have to have Rose die in battle - or at least make it look like Rose dies in battle. After all, Captain Jack died in battle last season, and now he's alive and well. For that matter, it looked like Rose died last season, and she's alive and well, too. But you're right, in the post-Joss world, there's always room for doubt.

("Chekov's Law" is usually described this way - "If you use a gun in Act Three, you must show the audience a gun in Act One. If you show the audience a gun in Act One, you must use that gun in Act Three.")

[Feena]

I can see the end of episode 13 finishing with the cliff-hanger of us wondering if she's dead, and not finding out until Christmas what actually happens.

According to someone on OG, they start filming the Christmas special next month, so hopefully we'll get set reports that she's there alive (assuming you're in the 'I like Rose, I don't want her to die' camp)

[Sheridan]

Enjoyed Saturday's epsiode and of course couldn't help noticing which agency had dispatched the expedition...
Anyone have anything definite on when we can expect Torchwood to actually hit our screens?

[justin]

According to this story on the BBC website it's supposed to be late this year.

[BBOvenGuy]

Well well, I guess ratings are relative. Despite an audience that was only a fraction of the what the BBC has been getting, the SciFi Channel is claiming victory with Doctor Who:

Doctor Who averaged a 1.3 household rating and 1.5 million total viewers in its 9 p.m. Friday timeslot, a 44 percent increase in ratings and a 54 percent increase in viewership over the same timeslot in the second quarter last year.

In key demographics, Doctor Who averaged 778,000 viewers aged 18-49, a 57 percent increase over 2005, and 942,000 viewers aged 25-54, a 56 percent increase.

We may get the next season over here after all...

[Twisted Minstrel]

We may get the next season over here after all...

That's great news...after reading all the above, it would be cruel to have to wait for the DVDs.

[BBOvenGuy]

After months of rumor and speculation, the BBC is now officially confirming that Billie Piper will leave Doctor Who at the end of this season. Details here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cul ... 2946.shtml

And really, two years is a fairly average tenure for a companion character. The longest-serving companion - on TV, at least - is still Sarah Jane Smith, at 3-1/2 seasons. Unless you count the Brigadier, that is, but I don't want to start that debate.

I just hope they don't kill Rose off. They've had lots of ways over the years to write companions out without killing them off.

And I can't help wondering if maybe Big Finish can get Billie and Christopher Eccleston to do a few Ninth Doctor audio dramas...

[Feena]

I'm amazed they've kept it quiet for so long if she's leaving at the end of S2 rather than the Christmas show.

One thing Billie says gives me a bit of hope, unless she's just being cagey too:

"It has been an amazing adventure, and I can confirm it comes to an end, for now at least, as series two climaxes.

Something big is going to happen and I think that

Spoiler:

Jackie might die.

eta

Just read another site

Spoiler:

Bugger.

"Doctor Who producers have announced they will be killing off Billie Piper’s character Rose at the end of the current series."

eta again

OG is full of bluff and double-bluff rumours so who (ha!) knows what will happen!!

[BBOvenGuy]

Just read another site

Spoiler:

Bugger.

"Doctor Who producers have announced they will be killing off Billie Piper’s character Rose at the end of the current series."

Well, like I said a few days ago, now that we've heard this big prediction that Rose will die in battle, they pretty much have to have Rose die in battle - but that doesn't mean it has to be permanent.

[billy]

Well, like I said a few days ago, now that we've heard this big prediction that Rose will die in battle, they pretty much have to have Rose die in battle - but that doesn't mean it has to be permanent.

Considering who the bad guys are going to be in the final two episodes there could be a fate even worse than death for Rose, but I'm sure that wouldn't be permanent. And if she is returning next season even if it's only for an episode or two that could be the way they go.



I just noticed an interview with Billie in this week's What's on TV:


COMING UP ROSES

The past few years have been a whirlwind for Billie Piper. A pop star at 15, married by 18, and now - at the tender age of 23 - she's the hottest actress on TV, thanks to her role as sidekick Rose Tyler in Doctor Who.

And what adventures Rose has had so far this series - meeting Queen Victoria and battling Cybermen, plus her encounter with the weird-looking Ood, which continues this week in the second episode of a two-part story.

'I love the fact that all the stories in this series are so different,' says Billie. 'It makes it really interesting for the viewers and the actors too.'

But while Billie loves the action-packed episodes, she admits that she doesn't always enjoy doing her own stunts.

'I'm the unfittest assistant known to man,' she smiles. 'There's lots of physical stuff and I love all that. But sometimes it's strenuous and tiring, especially after a few takes. When you've been in a harness for 10 minutes, the novelty starts to wear off a little. It starts off a lot of fun and then suddenly my thong's going up my bum!'

Since becoming the Time Lord's sidekick, Billie has proved to be a huge hit with the viewers, who have inundated her with fan mail.

'It's all so nice,' she says. 'I get lots of pictures from little kids and gay guys all dressed up as Rose. It's great - I love it.'

Billie even has a special place where she keeps all her Doctor Who goodies, having started to collect memorabilia from the show, including a life-sized Dalek.

'My dad always tells me to save everything from the show - he's such a Del Boy,' Billie laughs. 'All my friends think it's funny that I have a shrine to Doctor Who in the spare room!'

[justin]

Spoiler:

Well if Russel Davies is questioned about killing Rose off then I guess his answer will be

Why you gotta kill Rose Tyler off
Because I want to! Because I want to
Why you have to upset your fans
Because I want to! Because I want to

or something

[Candleshoe]

'I get lots of pictures from...gay guys all dressed up as Rose.

Well, now we know what some of the kittens do in their spare time!

[Feena]

What a funfilled evening

I loved Love & Monsters and Outpost Gallifrey implodes

I'll post more later, but I'm going back to sit and watch the fun (pitchforks and flaming torches are on display!!)

[BBOvenGuy]

Outpost Gallifrey is imploding? Whatever for?

Yeah, "Love & Monsters" was kind of silly in spots, but that's Russell T. Davies for you. In other ways, it's really what Doctor Who is all about. I mean, Elton's speech at the end connected with me on soooo many levels.

In some ways, this is Doctor Who's version of Galaxy Quest - a lighthearted look beyond the confines of the show itself and into what the show really means to people. Galaxy Quest won a Hugo for doing that. "Love & Monsters" should at least be in the running this time next year.

On another note, this week's Doctor Who Confidential shows just how much Rose has appealed to the younger viewers, and how much they identify with her. Now, some producers I could mention would be licking their lips in eager anticipation of the pain they could cause by killing Rose off (not to name any names or anything... ) - but I don't think Russell Davies will do that. I still think Rose might very well be killed temporarily, but I think she'll end up alive and well - just not able or not willing to travel with the Doctor any more.