[janetteB @replies]

@arbutus that sounds just like our family of an evening. Right now two of us are sitting at the table with laptops drinking coffee, one boy has gone off to see a film and the other two are still sleeping. (Though they should have been up hours ago. Teenagers!!!)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Two posts while I was typing. You guys are good. @purofilian. I love that suggestion. What time in October is it?

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

We see Clara as a baby not we do not know how she came into being. I do imagine her, (despite my previously stated absurd theory that she is her own mother) as being found swaddled up on the doorstep. We don’t know that the woman seen nursing her in Victorian LOndon is her natural mother. IT is suggested though that her parents in modern london are her parents. Um. The modern Clara is the original and we don’t see the parents of the “Claricles” so it is possible that the Claricles are born of Claricles so that restores that theory a little.

@serahni. I might be in the Grampians in October. Close but not close enough.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Two lovely clips. Thank you  @wolfweed I love that one of the reasons behind the choice of costume was so that children could emulate with with minimal effort and cost.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

BTW @serahni I either never realised or have forgotten that you are “across the border”. I should have realised given that you are also on “the day shift”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Maybe each Claricle has one child, a girl, who has one child, a girl. Clara is her own mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and on and so forth. That would apply to all the Claricle’s scattered around the universe. That does require that Clara be identical to her mother, which she isn’t however it would account for her mother’s early death, (possibly saving the Doctor from an auton though he didn’t notice at the time.) Or maybe each Claricle is the end of the line in the family. Clara is an only child and presumably has no children. Assumably the Claricle’s sacrifice themselves for the Doctor before having children unless they each reproduce the one Claricle. Is Clara a “foundling” in previous lives or does she always have the same parents? If not surely she would have different DNA.

I often wonder just how much thought Moffat has given to the matter. Has he devised just how the Claricles are born, live and die without disrupting the time/space continium? Moffat does seem to be rather good at devising simple solutions to complex problems so I am hopeful that some of the questions about Claricles will be addressed at some time in the future.

This is  what I love most about the Moffat series arcs. They provide so much to theorise about…

cheers

Janette.

 

[janetteB @replies]

@craig, All the best with the Snowden challenge and please do avoid “the local nick”. @phaseshift, Still wiping eyes after reading that story.

@rob Glad to hear that the walk is done and lots of money was raised. I hope the armour isn’t too rusty from all the summer rain.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Straying way offff topic now but the story I have heard is that Humpty Dumpty was a short, fat canon which fell off a wall, hence the line, “All the kings horses and all the king’s men…”

Back to something I was, or may have commented on last night re’ Missy. I am waving towards the view that she is an entirely new villian as befitting the “renewal” of the series in the wake of the 50th. (Apologies if I have already said this.) It is time we had a new “big bad”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@pedant I certainly did not miss Moffat explaining away that “bugbear” along with all the other historical anomalies of the RTD era. I certainly smiled at that line and I suspect the Moffat does want the series to fit, mostly, within actual history without putting all the script writers in straight jackets.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@serahni Excellent, spirited defence of Clara and thank you for the raising the cracker scene. At Christmas we saw Clara at her best. Now she is not so much “a long way from home” but far worse, “a long time from home” and her only chance of ever returning to her own time is The Doctor and she no longer knows what to expect of him. That would be unnerving for anyone. I think Clara is shaping up to be a very good companion. In so many ways this episode was as much about her as it was about the Doctor. (And when it comes to being superficial and judging people by their looks surely the Doctor is the prime culprit. Just look at all those former companions.)

It is now a long way back but @wolfweed thanks for putting up the cinema preview. Dear Strax..

I think you all have adequately explained away the historical anomaly of the giant dinosaur which left no discernable trace when it combusted. (Unlike my favourite bugbear, the Giant Stompy Robot). Moffat did say that there is only one significant difference between the world of Dr Who and our own, the former has no TV series called Dr Who in it. RTD stories played fast and loose with history. Moffat has tried to put that genie back in the bottle. The gaint dinosaur may well be a “plot point” even though he initially thought of it because it was amusing and even if he doesn’t have a narrative use for it now, one may well burst upon his astonished brain in the future.

@scaryb, and Serahni hope you are both well again soon.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

We won’t nuke you @vashtanerada for a politely expressed opinion. (We are nice, mostly…) I would suggest however that you give Peter Capaldi a little more time. OFten a newly regenerated Doctor takes getting used to. My partner really disliked David Tennant initially but he was quickly won over. Some people still don’t like Tennant’s Doctor, others never warmed to Matt Smith. Personal tastes vary and that makes life more interesting and it certainly gives us plenty to discuss on this forum.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

That @barnable is brilliantly bonkers. Well done. I am certain that would account also for why a T Rex splashing about in the Thames does not rate a mention in any reputable history of Victorian London. (Just don’t ask me how or why.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@okies (Sorry about the misdirection earlier) It is possible that the words were written with a dual meaning in mind. The Doctor, I am certain, meant the words for Clara. The question is, has he actually met Missy before, are they also travelling on different time streams, as with River or is Missy purely dellusional? She appears to exist in a fantastical world.

Probably not in any way connected but late 18th century France was home to many automata. Victorian London was an age of clocks. I really like the steam punk vibe of it.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@Evs Her step-mum. Hence the chilly relationship.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Whew so much to catch up on. The “night” shift have been hard at work. (It is after all, a question of perspective.)

I am wavering towards Missy being an entirely new character partly from a writing perspective. I think post 50th Moffat wants to refresh the show and so is unlikely to rest the story arc upon the resurgence of an overworked villian from the past 50 years. It is time for some new “big bads”. He is however clearly teasing us with the possibility that Missy might be the Master just to fuel our bonkers theorising. I often wonder he he reads through our posts and chuckles to himself.

@thommck I was interested in your reference to the character “Melissa” from a novelisation which featured clockwork driods. Which story was that?

@silverman, welcome. On the size of the Dinosaur, It wasn’t stated but it had swallowed a Tardis. Maybe that affected its size. It’s a bit feeble but it kind of works as an explanation for the want of anything better. I do sympathise with your objection to the Dinosaur in the Thames on the grounds that is itsn’t mentioned in history but one, albiet oversized T.Rex splashing about for a day in the Thames I can forgive, but history and I cannot overlook a giant stompy robot crushing half the city. (The Next Doctor)

I think it was @wolfweed who posted the close up of the newspaper clipping with the references to Rivers and of course the story is centered around the Thames. It seems that River is still a presence though maybe an incorporeal one. I doubt those references are purely coincidental, not this time anyway. It would seem that the historical inaccuracies in the newspaper in Snowmen were but I doubt that detail is something that would be left to the mercy of the props department a second time. Let’s hope at least that Moffat had a hand in it.

Re’ the discussion about Clara’s reaction to the new face of the Doctor. I think in some way it does reflect the audiences’ sense of loss when one actor leaves and another takes up the baton however we have had months to grow used to the idea of the pending regeneration and we have a familiarity with Peter Capaldi and so high expectations of what he will bring to the role. For Clara the loss is fresh and she has no expectations of what the new regeneration will be like. And to be fair, if she does recall what she saw of his past regenerations while in the time stream then she remembers the horrors of certain past regenerations. For all she knows she might be about to travel with another C.B. (I hope he isn’t lurking on this forum. I know I shouldn’t be so mean but he did commence his tennure in the Tardis by trying to strangle Peri, though I admit he did have cause. That accent….)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Good point @purofilion about Clara’s claim about being born in a clock tower. I had forgotten that.

The watch could not be the one from Human Nature as he gave that to Latimer. Matt Smith did wear a stop watch. Maybe giving that watch away was merely another signifier of the shedding of the Eleventh’s persona. It was an essential part of his costume which this new Doctor has no need for.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Just a random thought. Missy does rather resemble Mary Poppins and Clara was once a governess. I don’t suspect that Missy is Clara or a Claricle but there may be some connection. The mad governess reference is almost certainly Moff throwing out bait, but whether a clue or a red herring remains to be seen.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@purofilion. I actually live north of Adelaide, conveniently close to the Barossa.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Whew. I took a few cups of coffee to get through the posts made since last night.  I have scribbled down a few comments so here goes

Firstly @phaseshift, No need to apologise for being overly harsh. I applaud you for protecting this forum from the mindless barrage of hate posts that have afflicted the Guardian.

@Cath Annabel Welcome back and thank you for pointing out the Bleak House quote. Spontaneous combustion made me think of it instantly but I had forgotten the quote about the dinsoaur. Clever Moff.

@giulia42 Excellent first post welcome and welcome to other new members too.

@juniperfish welcome back. Sorry to hear that you are posting from a hospital bed. Hope you will soon be fully recovered. I like your description of Vastra as “hardcore dark”. There have been some remarks concerning her treatment of Jenny. Vastra is a lizard from a very different culture to ours not a role model for a non-hetro relationship. I think some people forget that. She does not treat Jenny as an equal but then again, she does not consider humans to be her equals however she does find them quite tasty. One has to make some allowances and Jenny seems quite able to hold her own. In many ways she is to Vastra what the Companion is to the Doctor.

@purofilion I loved the phone call from Doctor 11. I found it very moving, not so much because it was a reminder of the past but for what it meant for the new Doctor. It highlighted his desperate need to be accepted reflecting the actor’s own personal need for the audience to accept him as the Doctor, a character whom he has loved since childhood. We see, not just how much Clara’s acceptance means to the Doctor but how much the audience’s acceptance means to Peter Capaldi. Moving stuff indeed.

@Bluespeakpip I loved your point about Victorian London being “home” for the Doctor.  In post 30132 you remark upon the Telepathic link between Clara and the Doctor. I think you have a point there and I am still suspecting that Clara is not and never was just an ordinary girl. The continuation of her link with River in TNotD implies that she has enhanced telepathic powers.

Someone way back, I didn’t note who so I apologise for the lack of reference, mentioned that Missy was too malevolent to be the woman in the shop which is what I think.  Clara may or may not be just “an ordinary girl” but it think it is clear that her role is to save the Doctor and that is reinforced in this episode. That implies that the woman in the shop was interceding on the Doctor’s behalf.

A few other random thoughts since last night. The dinosaur was a lovely ‘red herring”. It appears to be the ‘big bad” for the episode but the actual baddy is just a little, insignificant person lurking on a street corner. The Dinosaur becomes a metaphor for the Doctor, alone, lost and confused. A beautiful start to the story.

I wonder if the watch which the Doctor swapped for the coat will have any significance in the future. Watches and clocks seem to be a theme of this new series.

Last point. The Doctor now drinks coffee. Yay!!

And last, last point. Loved the accent. Don’t understand the complaints about it.

Cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

@timeloop I think the Doctor persuaded the droid to jump which is really no different to pushing him but I prefer never to know. I like the ambiguity of that just as we will never really be certain that the Doctor planned to return and save Clara when the door shut. I like your point about a new villian but I suspect that Missy is the Master. We don’t know that Missy is the woman from the shop though I doubt very much that she is River.

@purofilion It is a pity that you can’t pop down to Adelaide to watch “Who” with a more appreciative audience.

I have just spent an hour on the Guardian blogs and I feel somewhat damaged. So nice to come back here where there is civilised discussion.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Currently rewatching while finishing off the jelly babies and fishfingers. I really enjoyed it. The story was a simple framework upon which to hang the real matter of the episode, how the Doctor deals with his new body and how Clara accepts it. Peter Capaldi does not leap into the role as Matt did. He fumbles about, feeling his way, a new, different Doctor but still our Doctor. Clara is really coming into her own now, she is strong and smart and is bringing new depth to the role.

I was overjoyed when the woman in the shop was referenced. Finding out who she was was one of my wishes for this series. Now for Ian.

I agree with the above comments re’ the new music. The visuals were great but the music lacked oomph.

And so it begins, a whole new mystery to solve. Like @bluesqueakpip I was thinking that Missy might well be the Master. There has been some speculation that he might regenerate as a woman. The next question is why “rescue” the robot? Is Missy making a collection of all the Doctor’s vanquished foes? It appears that Missy is the woman from the shop. At a first wild guess I would say she isn’t. The woman in the shop might be her nemesis, maybe even Clara, or an aged Claricle. Clara might well not recognise herself in her eighties. I am still hoping that the woman in the shop is either Susan, River or even Romana. Another question, are we going to find out who is behind the Marie Antionette and the Madame Pompadour? The civilisation from which they originated clearly was familair with human history and had time travel capabilities. Maybe Moffat is doing  a little more than mining an old scrip for a good idea. Maybe he wants to take the story further and the story here is not merely a background for the Doctor’s regeneration but the setting up of a new story arc. (rubs hands with glee and reaches for theorising hat.)

Comment from Owain, my youngest, they should not have shown the impaled robot at the end. The top hat falling was “cool” and all that was needed. I get the feeling that it is not the Doctor who is lying at the end. Just as we find out he did not steal the coat I think we can assume that he did not push the droid. Thanks to @magnetite for pointing out that that was Elizabeth Sladden’s husband.

I liked the call from Doctor Eleven. It brought a tear to the eye which makes it a pass at least.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Happy Who Day all.

@phaseshift Surely endangered species can be cultivated to enjoy Dr Who too. @Purofilion I hope that bro Ilion does not interrupt viewing. @vashtanerada I hope you have Jelly Babies at the ready!! (I am certain that the Vashta Nerada would love jelly babies) @barnable I hope you enjoy the screening. I went last year and the atmosphere was electrifying. The cinema was packed with fans of all ages, and there were many scarves, bow ties and fez(es?) to be seen.

I won’t be about tomorrow until late afternoon, (our time) but looking forward to joining in the discussion then.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@timeloop nice to have you back. In the last few days we have rewatched the last few stories. tomorrow we shop, as usual, go to the pub and then maybe watch some more BG Who over dinner tomorrow night. On Sunday, when we get to see the new episode in Oz, the two elder boys have leave until 4.00pm by which time I hope the chips will be hot, the souffles cooked and the fishfingers and fake fishfingers and custard on the table and awaiting consumption as we watch Deep Breath. I expect I will spend most of Sunday making souffle and fake fish fingers. (I will not be getting up at 4.00 am Sunday morning to watch the first broadcast)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

We attempted to rewatch these episodes a couple of months ago and did not make it past the first few minutes so I really appreciate your review @arbutus though I am still not inspired to rewatch them, (as I was after reading your remarks about “Waters of Mars”.)

Wilf and Donna are always worth watching but I am afraid the negatives far outweigh the positives in this story for me which is a shame because I really liked DT as the Doctor but I find his final moments unwatchable. He deserved so much better than this. I love Matt’s final moment. (Have rewatched The Time of the Doctor twice in the past week, once alone and again with family in preparation for Sunday) It has the right degree of pathos for someone who is not dying, just renewing and as he so correctly observes we all change every day. Change is a condition of life. DT’s final moments ramp up the emotion to maudlin and for a man who has already had ten or eleven lives, it is excessive.

Doctor Who is at its’ best when it delivers as many (or more) laughs as tears. I am with you @arbutus on hoping that there will be no shortage of laughs this season.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I have just read Dan’s article. I think it is one of the best of the deluge in the past week or so. Though I am no spoiler phobe there far too many spoilers in many of them even for me.

Dr Who extra sounds promising. Confidental was ok, sometimes I enjoyed it, sometimes I turned it off. Even though I am interested in the behind the scenes aspects of productions sometimes seeing the mechanics of the show did diminish the illusion.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

That list definitely makes it sound as though Clara is written out mid series but that is clearly not so as it has been confirmed that she will be in the Christmas Special, although with Dr Who and Moffat anything can happen.  Maybe the tabloid story was picking up on that and misreading it or maybe they have been listening in on conversations again. Of course the interesting thing about Clara is that she can return to the series at any time. Even if Clara dies because there are thousands of Claricles out there roaming the universe, saving the Doctor. It would be fun if in a future story, or even a future regeneration we encounter some Claricles. It is a wonderful “get out of gaol free card” that I am certain many script writers wouldn’t hesititate to utilise.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Having only seen her in the Christmas Special she did seem a little too saintly for a full time companion but I guess it is all dependant upon the characterisation and acting ability.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Still waiting for the official announcement however I think it would be be fitting to cast a Welsh actor in the role when Clara does leave. I would also like to see a break from the modern day, family on the estate, kind of character, so maybe a welsh girl from the time of Glyn Dyr or a future/off worlder. I’m assuming that Peter Capaldi’s choice of Susan as the companion from the past he would most prefer is purely a random reply to a random question but I can see why he would make that choice. Perhaps he will encounter the Doctor’s Daughter’s daughter at some point and take her roaming the universe.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Interesting episode titles. Thanks for the link @wolfweed.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I saw that article on FB earlier. It was so badly written it lacked any credibility. I will wait until I hear the news from a more trustworthy source before I believe it, however if it true I suspect a festive grisly death is definitely on the cards.

I was rather hoping that Clara would stick around for another series as I think she is just maturing as a character so I’m rather hoping that is is just a wild rumour.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@miapatrick  Yes from young/old to old/young. It is also good to have a complete flip of the coin this time as Matt was in many ways comparable to Tennant. Though each actor brought a lot to the role they were not dissimilar which at times disadvantaged Matt by casting him in Tennant’s shadow and, though skinny, it was an impressive shadow.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I have told the boys that Sunday 24th is a “Family Day” which means strictly no interruptions, no visting friends or inviting friends over. Monday I have to go to the city so will hopefully be able to hunt down some English jelly babies as the local supplier closed down a few months back. Unfortunately I don’t think anywhere sells imported English biscuites so will have to make do with the Aussie equivilent to Jammy Dodgers and souffle recipies are at the ready. Childish? I don’t care if it is. “What is the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.” 🙂

@wolfweed thanks again for all the links.  I also preferred the Sydney Q&A but maybe that is something to do with national cultural habits.  I disliked the shouty introduction as much as the selfie at the end of the U.S Q&A though there were some good questions especially the one about fan productions in light of this morning’s news about the opening titles.

cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

@miapatrick. I think you are spot on with the “older actor playing younger” and like you I am counting down the days because everything I have seen thus far of Capaldi’s doctor indicates that he is going to fit the part perfectly.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Lovely clip. The fan reactions brought a big smile to the face. They expressed just how I feel about the show. Thanks @wolfweed

However I can’t help but think it was rather unfair to expect Peter and Jenna to suffer a long haul flight the morning after finishing shooting. Do the BBC not realise that even actors occasionally need sleep, still I guess they weren’t subjcted to the discomforts of economy.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Urgh. I made the mistake of reading your review @phaseshift before watching the episode. Now I’m wondering if there is enough alcohol in the house to wash it down with when I do. I think I am going to need some serious pain relief when I do watch it.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

What I found amusing about the video is how dominant Colin Baker’s facial type was perhaps because almost all the other actors tend to have long thin faces so his square head have a big effect on the final face shape. I also noticed a surprising similarity between Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.

I love the felt Strax. A perfect kid’s toy. BBC take note..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig. Thank-you for that link. Interesting article and the “mechanic of the page” was very impressive.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Finally finished watching episode one. I am not going to have the usual difficulty in watching this story one episode a week I can tell.

This is not only the first time I’ve watched this but the first full CB episode I have ever watched. Despite its numerous flaws as others have covered, I found it better than expected. (I had very low expectations) It begins well with a lovely period setting and music. I do like the historical stories and this is a very interesting period historically though I have a few issues with the representation here which I will come to. Firstly however a few comments about the characters. Colin had some good moments in this story. The arrogance which seems to be rather a trademark of his acting was less evident than I expected. (I was watching this in a very poor format however as I realised when I sat down to watch this story that we don’t have any of the C.B stories in our Who collection) I feel at times that his Doctor might have been more acceptable if he wasn’t dressed as a clown. The miner’s costume was a decided improvement. However at the end when he is bobsledding towards death there was not the usual need for the reassuring reminder that he will survive becasue the character is still weilding the sonic and roaming the universe in the blue blox which just went hurtling down the mine shaft.

The  historical characters are good, so good that at times it feels like two different tv shows intercut. The ham acting of the leads seems to have no place within the historial framework. Colin has plenty of competition when it comes to “ham” acting. The Master of Pork irritates me. He is such a pantomine villian and his presence really lowers the tone of the story. The Rani is a far more interesting and complex villian and as has been said, quickly becomes the character which whom one empathises even though she is totally immoral. (especially after that pro vegetarian speech.) Peri is irritating. She is whiny, slow, and cowardly. I don’t think she would make the grade as a modern companion.

I have a few comments to make about the depiction of the Luddites but I might save them to the next post as I have a bad feeling that my browser is about to crash.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Thanks again @wolfweed. Not so spoilery thankfully. I did watch at first with some trepidation. (I am certainly not a spoiler phobe but I don’t want to squander all the surprises.) PC is looking fantastic, in fact, in short, he appears to be “The Doctor”. No more need be said.

I did not know that TV series merited red carpet premieres. Is this another first for Dr Who? It made me feel rather smug seeing this show which I have loved for so long and was for so long ignored or derided getting the blockbuster treatment.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig  I echo @arbutus‘ words. Both are lovely posts and I am pleased for our Dan but the words on that Tube notice are worth recording. They express just what makes Dr Who the wonderful creation that it is. (I was going to use the word “show” but it is so much more than just a TV show.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I wanted to put something together that could be imitated cheaply.”
“Kids could “do up their school shirt” he told BBC Radio Wales or “grab something from the wardrobe” to look like the new Time Lord.

 

AWWW. How nice. That says a lot about PC. I am sooo looking forward to the 24th. (A day late in Oz)

@wolfweed I also love the pic of the Doctor and Clara in front of Cardiff castle. I have a photo taken from just a few paces back, sans Tardis of course but a little bit of photoshop can always fix that.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I am glad to hear that @wolfweed. I didn’t know that there were rumours circulating regarding her departure. I hope she does at least one more series. She was only just settling into the role at the end of series 7. Look forward to seeing further character development in the next series.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@jimthefish your post reminded me that I have yet to comment on this one too.

I really enjoyed it much to my surprise. I had never seen the story before and it somewhat changed my estimation Davison’s tenure as the Doctor. Davison himself I still find to be likeable but bland. He lacks one quintessential Doctorish quality, eccentricity.

The Malus is a good monster and definitely worthy of a return to Who however I don’t see it as having the narrative potential of an ongoing “baddie”. It would be a good replacement for the Angels, though, being so gargoyle like it almost is a mini angel.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I have not had time to catch up on any Who this week so tomorrow it is a choice of The Next Doctor or C.B. I know I should watch the later and the memory of the giant stompy robot makes that considerably easier. However after five minutes of C.B. even giant stompy robots might become appealing.

As I don’t think I will fit in both I will comment on this from memory. It was not the worst of the Christmas specials, after all it did not have Kylie in it, but it gave the Titanic story some stiff competition for that claim. Christmas specials are meant to be watched in a kind of winey, puddingy haze. The problem was that by the time we got to see them in Oz the Christmas day haze had worn off so the workhouse kids looked like badly made up extras, the sets like the christmas cards already beginning to gather dust, and the overall feel felt like it was going stale.

It started promisingly. The rapport between Tennant and Morrissey was good. Jackson Lake was an interesting and sympathetic character and his Tardis and sonic were lovely. The graveyard scene was beautifully acted and shot. After that scene things really began to fall apart and the silliness set in.

Nearly always in Who is is possible to imagine that the events depicted could really have taken place, or at least until AG Who. Even the dinosaurs in London were kind of explained by the evacuation of the city. There were “emergencies” but the outside world was kept in the dark as to the cause and of couse most of those stories which did impact on human history were set in either present, future or in an alternative present or future. Donna might have missed the alien attack on London and various other such incursions but surely she learnt in history about the gaint stompy robot destroying half  of London. Everyone would have known about it. There would have been Hollywood films made about it, numerous books, comics and stories written about it. The Giant Stompy Robot stomps all over history and the credibility of Dr Who. S.M. attempts to paper over that in one of the recent series, (I don’t recall when now), for which I was very grateful.

Bit of a rant there. Sorry but G.S.R. was for me a massive let down and The Next Doctor is not a story I enjoy re-watching. So now off to watch a little C.B.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I don’t think you missed anything @Stormaggeddon I think the apparant gap between the two stories was because Moffat had to pull off two major stand alone stories together and so one does not flow on from the other.

Good to see you back also.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed the trailer for the real series 8 is excellent. You should be a professional trailer maker.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I will watch or at least attempt to watch Mark of the Rani during the week as I don’t feel it is fair to impose it on other family members.  Might be able to convice them to watch The Next Doctor tonight as they don’t share my aversion to giant fighting robots.

@wolfweed that looks like a captions pic..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

The two episodes are so typical of a RTD series ending in which he pulls all the stops to make a big noise but the result is hollow. In trying ot outdo himself he falls flat on his face. Well not quite but the two episodes certainly failed to live up to the promise of what preceded them. There are some lovely moments and it is nice to see so many “old faces”. I liked the inclusion of the Torchwood team though  I never warmed to the series. I much preferred SJA and agree with previous comments about the wonderful Liz Sladden.

@arbutus makes an excellent point about Martha. Previously she was a healer. In order to make a point in this story RTD makes her a warrior. It is not consistent with the character as portrayed in the previous series and what of her boyfriend? It seems that RTD has forgotten that she is engaged.

The scenes in the Tardis with Donna and Doctor-Donna are excellent. Tennant does “motor mouth” so well. His acting was always a pleasure to watch and he gives so much to the role.

The ending it more than sad. It is bitter and cruel. I would have preferred for Donna to die than to revert to the frustrated, unfulfilled angry woman of Runaway Bride.

It wasn’t just Martha who lost my sympathy in this story. After Rose’s welcome return in Turn Left I found her to be extremely irritating in the two parter. Rose was always preferable when not being posessive over the Doctor. I always feel like reminding her that he is a 900 year old Time Lord, and not her property. I went out to make Milos when they got to the Bad Wolf bay beach. That is not a scene that stands up to repeated viewing.  Likewise Rose’s conversion into warrior with big gun is also rather contrived to suit the needs of the script and not necessary consistant with her character.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I always felt sorry for Paul because he was good but everything else about the film was shite. He worked hard to prove himself to fans through the radio productions. I have only listened to two, one of which featured him as Doctor. He is blessed with a rich, expresssive voice and so came across very well in audio only. But Paul’s moment of acceptance really was the minisode and I think very few would now begrudge him his place in the life and history of the Doctor. I think he deserves to have more screen time as “The Doctor”, maybe in a series of minisodes. There are so many possibilities these days with the variety of media available.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thanks for elaborating @whisht. I enjoyed the story but I can see the validity of your and @bluesqueakpip‘s criticisms.

I had stopped watching Dr Who by the Davison tenure. I think most likely because it coincided with leaving home but I also lost interest. Davison felt a little too “lightweight” as an actor for the role. IT isn’t a reflection on his acting ability but what he did or did not bring to the role. AT the time I simply thought he was too young but Matt Smith has now shown that age is not an issue.

cheers

Janette.

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