Doctor Who - Series 4

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:27 pm

Who's watching, eh?

Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha!

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:36 pm

I'm enjoying it, though it does all fall apart the moment I think too hard about any of it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:45 pm

Hmm. Never actually got the connection between the probic vent and the cloning before, despite having watched Space Above and Beyond all those years ago.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:30 pm

Brendocon wrote:I'm enjoying it, though it does all fall apart the moment I think too hard about any of it.

As does Buffy, Smallville, BSG, etc. IMO.

Er, thats not an excuse tho.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:37 pm

Yeah, but sadly in this instance "too hard" seems to be "at all".

Especially in regards to why UNIT would fit a system they're investigating... given that supposedly the MoD don't fit airbags because they're not convinced about their safety. And even if they did, they'd have little need for the free SatNav seeing as they've got their own GPS...

Post by **Best First** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:41 pm

I am mainly loving it - think Pompey was probably the highlight so far, especially Donna's "never mind about us" moment.

I think its entertaining, witty and engaging enough that it can get away with the occassional plot curiosity - altho like Dave says not an excuse.

Loving the Sontaran culture - "ah, excelent, he is still alive and will make the upcoming ruck more difficult to win"

Oh, and the Doctor being good at squash is ace.

(as is the idea of cloning Freema...)

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:46 pm

Best First wrote:I think its entertaining, witty and engaging

Mmm. It keeps me happy for fifty minutes of Saturday tea-time. And that is all I ask of it.

Would prefer it if huge aspects of the plot weren't contingent on things that make me go "eh", though. But nothing's perfect. Except Firefly.

Donna annoys the hell out of me.

Post by **snarl** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:53 pm

I watch it a lot, I find myself getting mildly irritated at parts but it is charming. Tennant is very watchable.

One thing - the production values for the music seem high - but I often find the music they use is completely out of tune with the mood of the scene. That gets my beef.

It's like RTD just says "oh, we spent a lot of money on that orchestral piece, just dump it over this scene even though it overwrought and ill fitting."

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:11 pm

Best First wrote: I think its entertaining, witty and engaging enough that it can get away with the occassional plot curiosity

There's a feast of lovely acting, great effects (both prosthetics and digital) and good humour, that I honestly couldn't care. In most other TV programmes I profess to like, plot holes drive me crazy. Maybe because they take themselves so seriously. (24, Prison Break, Lost and a load of other US shows come to mind).

The UNIT/ATMOS thing can be explained by bureaucracy tho, no?

Brendocon wrote:
Donna annoys the hell out of me.

I've really enjoyed Donna and been impressed by Tate's acting. But the character seems totally different to the thicko in The Runaway Bride.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:13 pm

The Sontarans one is the only one so far that has left me just going "feh". Is it set in some alternate universe where car windows are made of some kind of transparent kevlar that renders them unbreakable?

"Oh no, I'm trapped in a jeep with an armed soldier, and the jeep's heading into the river! There's no way we could just, I don't know, shoot out the windscreen or anything..."

"Oh no, my grandad's trapped inside the car that's filling with gas! And there's no way to get him out! I couldn't just pick up a housebrick and smash the window, I'll just stare angstily up the street for a bit..."

Everything in this episode just seemed...off. The Doctor snarling at the UNIT commander for carrying a gun, the interplay between Donna and Martha, the geek joining in the Sontaran celebrations, the Sontarans themselves (who looked frankly ridiculous)...I dunno, it just left me feeling cold. It was like I was watching a Sylvester McCoy episode, rather than the slick new adventures we've come to expect.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:16 pm

Oh, and I've been spoiled rotten by US TV lately. Lost is ****ing brilliant at the moment - S4E9 is unbelievably good - and S4E3 of BSG...jaw on the floor stuff.

Who's gonna have to up its game if it's going to impress me.

Post by **snarl** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:20 pm

Yeah, Dexter and Lost is some smashing TV right now.

"He changed the rules"

I like Ben, he's a nice guy.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:28 pm

Tennant is infinitely watchable, I should say.

The UNIT/ATMOS thing can be explained by bureaucracy tho, no?

It could be, but it'd be nice if they'd given explaining it a decent shot. If they didn't trust it, surely they would have just ripped it out once they were out of their bosses' eyeline?

Metal Vendetta wrote:"Oh no, I'm trapped in a jeep with an armed soldier, and the jeep's heading into the river! There's no way we could just, I don't know, shoot out the windscreen or anything..."

"Oh no, my grandad's trapped inside the car that's filling with gas! And there's no way to get him out! I couldn't just pick up a housebrick and smash the window, I'll just stare angstily up the street for a bit..."

[...] the geek joining in the Sontaran celebrations

Yes, yes and yes.

Bit behind on Lost - not caught up since the break.

Not seen any BSG yet - will be marathoning tomorrow. Have been spoilered on one thing though, sadly.

Post by **Best First** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:23 pm

Brendocon wrote:Tennant is infinitely watchable, I should say.

The UNIT/ATMOS thing can be explained by bureaucracy tho, no?
It could be, but it'd be nice if they'd given explaining it a decent shot. If they didn't trust it, surely they would have just ripped it out once they were out of their bosses' eyeline?

soldiers are not well known for not following orders mate.

Then again you would think UNIT would have some kind of special dispensation....

I have given up on Lost to be honest.

Behind on BSG.

HOWEVER - if you have not/are not watching The Wire you are genuinely missing the best thing on TV by a country mile.

Post by **snarl** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:34 am

I thought the first season was a cracker, but that whole docking angle in series two was just not as good as the gangsters running the towers.

For me.

Mcnulty thouhg. Badass.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:59 am

snarl wrote:"He changed the rules"

I like Ben, he's a nice guy.

He said way back in S2, "We're the good guys" and he may well have been right. Though if he goes anywhere near Penny, I'll be very, very cross.

Catching up on the Wire thanks to the inestimable Mr. Brooker's recommendation.

spiderfrommars wrote:
Brendocon wrote:I'm enjoying it, though it does all fall apart the moment I think too hard about any of it.
As does Buffy, Smallville, BSG, etc. IMO.

BSG falls apart the second you try to apply logic to it, it's just as well that it's so darned good I let it get away with murder. Was having this conversation with my boss last night though, and it does make no sense whatsoever. Even covergent evolution doesn't cover it.

Very much hoping Saturday's Who will make up for the weak opener.

Post by **Best First** » Fri May 02, 2008 7:55 am

snarl wrote:I thought the first season was a cracker, but that whole docking angle in series two was just not as good as the gangsters running the towers.

For me.

Mcnulty thouhg. Badass.

Mate

do season 3 & 4.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:29 am

Back on topic, anyone else think that Adam from S1 would have been a perfect shoe-in for the angry geek role?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:09 am

Almost perfect. Adam's native time was 2012, and the present day is 2009, so he probably hasn't even crossed the Atlantic yet.

Post by **Best First** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:18 am

speaking of good fits - thought it was a nice touch having Martha engaged to Doctor whathisface from the Master eps.

Off topic again: The Wire! The Wire! The Wire! Omar! Bunk! Bubs! My god!

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue May 06, 2008 7:34 pm

Well the second half wasn't bad. Thank goodness Donna's mum remembered that you *can* break glass, though it did kind of castrate last week's cliffhanger. Liked the way the UNIT guys came up with a way to **** up the Sontarans (despite the Doctor's predictions) and good to see the Valiant again. "Are you my mummy?" was a lovely self-referential touch, and the burning sky special effects were top notch.

Otherwise, still a bit meh, tbh. Maybe it was poor direction or something, but I still wasn't feeling the "OMG Doctor Who" love that I usually do. Christ, what if it's got something to do with being 30? *panics*

Though the trailer for next week definitely has me intrigued...a little fearful, but definitely intrigued.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:00 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:Christ, what if it's got something to do with being 30? *panics*

Nah, we've got a Steven Moffat two-parter still to come, and what looks like a pretty explosive last few episodes. I think its a case of these Earth invasion episodes sometimes feeling like they're going through the motions a bit. Me, I got a kick out of seeing the Sontarans return and it was a fun and epic ending, though I suppose people are gonna complain about the science on that one.

My one nitpick is a brief WTF moment when the Sontaran who got taken out by Mace appeared on the ship again later. *shrug*

Next episode... that's Peter Davison's daughter! Didn't he do well?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:22 am

spiderfrommars wrote:My one nitpick is a brief WTF moment when the Sontaran who got taken out by Mace appeared on the ship again later. *shrug*

Umm.. They're clones. They all (are meant to) look the same?

Or do you mean Commander Skorr was addressed by name after his death?

spiderfrommars wrote:Next episode... that's Peter Davison's daughter! Didn't he do well?

I looked her up on IMDB. He's a grandfather!

Of a boy. Who isn't called Susan. Just to be clear on that.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:40 am

Moffat FTW.

And Davison's daughter? Crikey, she's gorgeous.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:44 am

Rebis wrote:
Umm.. They're clones. They all (are meant to) look the same?

Or do you mean Commander Skorr was addressed by name after his death?

Skorr and Stahl don't look the same. And despite being clones, no two Sontarans have ever been identical. Hence, confusion!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 07, 2008 11:44 am

spiderfrommars wrote:Skorr and Stahl don't look the same. And despite being clones, no two Sontarans have ever been identical. Hence, confusion!

Well, if you're arguing production issues, the Tardis, despite being locked into a single form by a faulty chameleon circuit, has also changed appearance (and not including 6th Doctor story Attack of the Cybermen, where the Doctor 'fixed' the circuit temporarily).

They probably created a mask based on Christopher Ryan's features so that he would still be recognisable, and then had 'generic Sontaran face' for any other uncovered Sontarans.

They were meant to look identical, hence Rattigan's line about how do they tell each other apart.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:16 pm

Rebis wrote:They were meant to look identical, hence Rattigan's line about how do they tell each other apart.

Then they should have had the sense not to use that line when he was looking at two Sontarans with radically different faces.

Unless it was an attempt at what you Earthlings call "humour".

Am almost uptodate on BSG and Lost again. [composite word including 'f*ck'] me they're awesome.

Post by **Best First** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:16 pm

Rebis wrote:
They were meant to look identical, hence Rattigan's line about how do they tell each other apart.

er - wasn't the Sontaran response to that that all Earthlings look the same to him?

implying that Sontarans are not in fact identical and they were not meant to look exactly the same and its just the perspective of another race?

or did i imagine that?

Also - Medusa Cascade - eh? EH?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:40 pm

Best First wrote:er - wasn't the Sontaran response to that that all Earthlings look the same to him?

implying that Sontarans are not in fact identical and they were not meant to look exactly the same and its just the perspective of another race?

or did i imagine that?

That was what I thought, too, but I normally defer to Rebis being right on most stuff. He's using his powers for evil!

Also - Medusa Cascade - eh? EH?

Maybe the rift is why we keep getting Billied?

Don't forget the missing bees. I saw a trailer for the new Shyamalalanamananaalan film before Iron Man. That was going on about bees disappearing... I wondered what the hell I was watching for a while... I thought my geek radar had fritzed and we were getting a movie.

Post by **Best First** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:43 pm

i googlisiseded the Medusa Casacde and there was some other interesting (hmm) stuff - there have been 2 races that have lost their worlds (plus Gallifry) when that MC has been mentioned and equally it has been pointed out there seems to be a bit of a procreation bent to this series - The Fat Kids (TM), The Lava Monkeys (TM) and now Mr Potato Army (TM). Oh and next week its is Time Sprog (TM) time.

Also - i should be in marketing.