"Be my pal, tell me, am I a good man?"
June 27, 2014 4:04 PM Subscribe
While the farewell scene between David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose has just topped SFX magazine's poll of greatest moments in sci-fi, the BBC has announced that on August 23rd, Peter Capaldi's 12th Doctor will appear in his first episode, entitled "Deep Breath" and directed by Ben Wheatley (previously). Here's a teaser.
To promote it in advance, Capaldi and Companion castmate Jenna Coleman, occasionally accompanied by Executive Producer Steven Moffat, will embark on Doctor Who's first world tour. Beginning August 7th in Wales and finishing on August 19th in Brazil, they will visit Cardiff, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro on their voyage across what Capaldi calls the "Planet of Fans".
To promote it in advance, Capaldi and Companion castmate Jenna Coleman, occasionally accompanied by Executive Producer Steven Moffat, will embark on Doctor Who's first world tour. Beginning August 7th in Wales and finishing on August 19th in Brazil, they will visit Cardiff, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro on their voyage across what Capaldi calls the "Planet of Fans".
My hopes are so high right now (no, I didn't click any link except the teaser).
posted by Leon at 4:31 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Leon at 4:31 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have high hopes. Capaldi is going to be a fantastic Doctor. (And Zarq, come back and keep posting Doctor Who Rewatches on FanFare.)
posted by cwest at 4:32 PM on June 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by cwest at 4:32 PM on June 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
While the farewell scene between David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose yt has just topped SFX magazine's poll of greatest moments in sci-fi
Poor sci-fi. Poor Doctor Who.
Poor sfx
posted by dng at 4:33 PM on June 27, 2014 [17 favorites]
Poor sci-fi. Poor Doctor Who.
Poor sfx
posted by dng at 4:33 PM on June 27, 2014 [17 favorites]
Is Peter Capaldi going to use his natural accent? Whether I watch or not is depending entirely on the answer to this question.
posted by Gin and Comics at 4:44 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by Gin and Comics at 4:44 PM on June 27, 2014
Is Peter Capaldi going to use his natural accent?
Yes
posted by Gary at 4:47 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes
posted by Gary at 4:47 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting Capaldi's line, I couldn't understand it on my crappy phone speaker. I am optimistic about this season, I hope Clara gets more developed we a character.
posted by Harpocrates at 5:16 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by Harpocrates at 5:16 PM on June 27, 2014
While the farewell scene between David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose yt has just topped SFX magazine's poll of greatest moments in sci-fi
I love Doctor Who and I'm generally a defender of the new series, but this isn't even the best moment the new series has to offer, never mind all of SF tv/movies.
posted by immlass at 5:24 PM on June 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
I love Doctor Who and I'm generally a defender of the new series, but this isn't even the best moment the new series has to offer, never mind all of SF tv/movies.
posted by immlass at 5:24 PM on June 27, 2014 [9 favorites]
HOW THE HELL DID THAT WIN BEST OF ANYTHING
were the only people allowed to vote the two actors in the scene
posted by neuromodulator at 5:29 PM on June 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
were the only people allowed to vote the two actors in the scene
posted by neuromodulator at 5:29 PM on June 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
Not even the best David Tennant moment. I honestly would have been happier if they'd picked the Abzorbaloff, at least I would have laughed.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:35 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:35 PM on June 27, 2014
Why does a show whose premise is any where, any time (and by implication any body) tend to keep at it until the horse is dead, the rod is splinters and the arm is ruined.
posted by wotsac at 6:21 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by wotsac at 6:21 PM on June 27, 2014
were the only people allowed to vote the two actors in the scene
I don't think Tennant would have voted for that moment. Indeed, Piper had much better scenes too that I'm sure she would have chosen over that one.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:24 PM on June 27, 2014
I don't think Tennant would have voted for that moment. Indeed, Piper had much better scenes too that I'm sure she would have chosen over that one.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:24 PM on June 27, 2014
So, I guess I was hallucinating the announcement yesterday about a certain actor being confirmed as a certain regenerated rival time lord for the new season? Or it was just a rumor/hoax?
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:35 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:35 PM on June 27, 2014
Saxon Kane - huh?
posted by the_royal_we at 7:26 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by the_royal_we at 7:26 PM on June 27, 2014
It is rumored that a familiar character will be returning in this series and it just so happens that the finale to the series is being filmed right now, but no official announcement has been made concerning the character's return or who would be playing that character should they return.
posted by plastic_animals at 7:40 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by plastic_animals at 7:40 PM on June 27, 2014
It is rumored that a familiar character will be returning in this series
The Abzorbaloff, obviously
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:09 PM on June 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
The Abzorbaloff, obviously
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:09 PM on June 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
That scene isn't quite so moving when you know that later on she gets a human clone of him and they go off to make Doctor Who porn happily ever after.
posted by XMLicious at 8:47 PM on June 27, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 8:47 PM on June 27, 2014 [6 favorites]
Wait so Capaldi is speaking in his natural (Scottish) accent. DW starts in August. The Scottish referendum is happening in September.
What happens if they choose secession? WHO GETS DOCTOR WHO?
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:11 PM on June 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
What happens if they choose secession? WHO GETS DOCTOR WHO?
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:11 PM on June 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Some leaked dialogue from the opener!
"...That's why you have to stay in the Tardis, to influence things. In here, you can influence things, you can delay things. Out there, you're just another fucking mouthy, fucking shouty mad fucker who people don't want to make eye contact with."
posted by Renoroc at 9:12 PM on June 27, 2014 [10 favorites]
"...That's why you have to stay in the Tardis, to influence things. In here, you can influence things, you can delay things. Out there, you're just another fucking mouthy, fucking shouty mad fucker who people don't want to make eye contact with."
posted by Renoroc at 9:12 PM on June 27, 2014 [10 favorites]
I was knitting a particular scarf during the early seasons of NuWho, and it got to the point where I started throwing balls of yarn at my tv during certain Rose-y scenes in Tennant's run as the Doctor. I never liked the way Rose treated Mickey and Jackie during the first series, but she became downright insufferable in the Tennant era. Rose wasn't any more special than any of the other companions. That was the whole point of the companions, in the before time. They were just regular people, like you or me, and I haaaaaate the way that every NuWho companion, save Martha, is a super special magical snowflake. Rose was the Doctor's TwuWuv, Donna, badass though she was, was DoctorDonna, Mickey Smith was Defender of the Universe (admittedly well deserved), Amy was the girl who waited and wished the Doctor back into existence, Rory was the Centurian, and Clara was the impossible girl. I miss the ordinary people. But I especially dislike Rose. I wasn't a big fan of Susan, either, but I think her departure was more poignant. And not just because she, unlike Rose, actually stayed gone.
posted by Ruki at 9:14 PM on June 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 9:14 PM on June 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh, wait, Martha walked the Earth to wish Tinkerbell Jesus Doctor back to power, but at least she had the good sense to walk away in the end.
posted by Ruki at 9:16 PM on June 27, 2014
posted by Ruki at 9:16 PM on June 27, 2014
"It's bigger on the inside. Come the fuck in or fuck the fuck off."
Will mashing up The Doctor with Malcolm Tucker ever get old? I hope not.
posted by MrBadExample at 9:43 PM on June 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
Will mashing up The Doctor with Malcolm Tucker ever get old? I hope not.
posted by MrBadExample at 9:43 PM on June 27, 2014 [4 favorites]
It is rumored that a familiar character will be returning in this series ...
Sorry, everyone: it's Adric.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 9:51 PM on June 27, 2014 [10 favorites]
Sorry, everyone: it's Adric.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 9:51 PM on June 27, 2014 [10 favorites]
Dude. There are some things we just don't even joke about.
posted by webmutant at 11:39 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by webmutant at 11:39 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
a certain regenerated rival time lord
Oh! plastic_animals - don't be coy - John Simm back or a new actor?
posted by communicator at 12:15 AM on June 28, 2014
Oh! plastic_animals - don't be coy - John Simm back or a new actor?
posted by communicator at 12:15 AM on June 28, 2014
Actually there's only one answer to 'regenerated'. So I change my question to, what new actor?
posted by communicator at 12:16 AM on June 28, 2014
posted by communicator at 12:16 AM on June 28, 2014
There are some things we just don't even joke about.
It's Doctor Who. If we can joke about Morbius' surrogate body tumbling off a cliff, or every episode of "Meglos", anything and everything else is fair game.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:12 AM on June 28, 2014
It's Doctor Who. If we can joke about Morbius' surrogate body tumbling off a cliff, or every episode of "Meglos", anything and everything else is fair game.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:12 AM on June 28, 2014
And I mean that in an endearing way.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:13 AM on June 28, 2014
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:13 AM on June 28, 2014
I would be reasonably satisfied if the next season kept with the theme so far and was 50% close ups of Peter Capaldi's eyes.
posted by jeribus at 2:32 AM on June 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by jeribus at 2:32 AM on June 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
I do wonder what the Beeb's definition of a 'feature length' opener is. It'd be nice to see it in cinemas again after the success of the 50th screenings.
posted by brilliantmistake at 2:34 AM on June 28, 2014
posted by brilliantmistake at 2:34 AM on June 28, 2014
If they're bringing back the Master, the actor has to be Craig Ferguson, doesn't it?
posted by peppermind at 2:39 AM on June 28, 2014 [11 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 2:39 AM on June 28, 2014 [11 favorites]
I love Doctor Who and I'm generally a defender of the new series, but this isn't even the best moment the new series has to offer, never mind all of SF tv/movies.
My favorite may be the whole "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically...run!" sequence. Or basically...anything other than Rose Tyler.
posted by happyroach at 3:00 AM on June 28, 2014
My favorite may be the whole "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically...run!" sequence. Or basically...anything other than Rose Tyler.
posted by happyroach at 3:00 AM on June 28, 2014
the best Tennant moment was him and Doctor Donna. And then Rose gets to make doctor clone porn forever and ever in the same episode. It was the best of all things.
posted by angrycat at 4:49 AM on June 28, 2014
posted by angrycat at 4:49 AM on June 28, 2014
the farewell scene between David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose yt has just topped SFX magazine's poll of greatest moments in sci-fi
The same group of people who voted for this must love Star Wars episodes 1 to 3 and Nickelback because the new Doctor Who succeeds in being just as horrible as them.
posted by juiceCake at 5:01 AM on June 28, 2014
The same group of people who voted for this must love Star Wars episodes 1 to 3 and Nickelback because the new Doctor Who succeeds in being just as horrible as them.
posted by juiceCake at 5:01 AM on June 28, 2014
What's the point? Seriously, these sad fuckers have just shown they're willing to undo seven years of plot because some Suzy-Come-Lately stares wistfully at a crack in the wall and says 'Please, sirs - can he have some more?' Why get invested again, when they're likely to just say '...but it was all a dream' again?
Pricks.
Hacks.
Hacky pricky prick hacks.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:27 AM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pricks.
Hacks.
Hacky pricky prick hacks.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:27 AM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Doctor Who "world tour" is complete British bullsh*te.
Two appearances in the UK, about 150 miles apart... and one appearance on the East Coast of the US?
Perhaps BBC isn't noticing who's driving their growth? We have way more viewers than Australia, France, or basically anywhere else, not to mention a hugely disproportionate impact on social networks... and they can't be bothered to do a single stop on the West Coast? Hell, we get treated more kindly from the Japanese when it comes to anime, and we *expect* them to be xenophobic gaijin haters!
It's fandom without representation! We should all dress up like Cybermen and throw Steven Moffat into New York Harbor.
posted by markkraft at 5:37 AM on June 28, 2014
Two appearances in the UK, about 150 miles apart... and one appearance on the East Coast of the US?
Perhaps BBC isn't noticing who's driving their growth? We have way more viewers than Australia, France, or basically anywhere else, not to mention a hugely disproportionate impact on social networks... and they can't be bothered to do a single stop on the West Coast? Hell, we get treated more kindly from the Japanese when it comes to anime, and we *expect* them to be xenophobic gaijin haters!
It's fandom without representation! We should all dress up like Cybermen and throw Steven Moffat into New York Harbor.
posted by markkraft at 5:37 AM on June 28, 2014
why am I going to do this to myself again?
posted by Legomancer at 7:12 AM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Legomancer at 7:12 AM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Two appearances in the UK, about 150 miles apart... and one appearance on the East Coast of the US?
Plus Australia, South Korea, Mexico, and Brazil—and over the course of less than two weeks. The Beeb has definitely taken notice of Doctor Who's international popularity, e.g. in South Korea, and Capaldi is clearly willing to represent it abroad. Admittedly, the San Diego Comic Con panel was cancelled, ostensibly because it conflicted with the production schedule, but at this point, it's like Apple running its own announcement event instead of attending the overcrowded Consumer Electronics Show.
why am I going to do this to myself again?
It is, frankly, a weird time to be an old-school Doctor Who fan. After its ignominious cancellation (just when it seemed to have turned the corner after a period of extended awfulness) and two unsuccessful and unsatisfying attempts to reboot it in very different forms (as a US co-production series and a web animation series), to have it back and more popular than even during Tom Baker's heights or Dalekmania—in what is only a slightly different format—is a rather disorienting state of affairs. My own deep affection for the programme can't help but be tinged with irony, yet the young generation of Whovians is wholly sincere in their newfound love, as demonstrated in the SFX poll (which, ultimately, reflects the expectations that Capaldi is up against). The new series is neither as tied up in continuity issues as the Star Trek franchise nor as sweepingly unrelated as BSG, and the showrunner production structure produces considerably more uneven results over the course of a given series than the old script editor model. Nonetheless, it's nice to have the Doctor back on the air, with an eagerly anticipating audience.
Highlights such as "Dalek", "Blink", "Midnight", "The Eleventh Hour", etc. are enough, just as long as the low points don't reach the depths of "Time and the Rani" or "Timelash".
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:29 AM on June 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
Plus Australia, South Korea, Mexico, and Brazil—and over the course of less than two weeks. The Beeb has definitely taken notice of Doctor Who's international popularity, e.g. in South Korea, and Capaldi is clearly willing to represent it abroad. Admittedly, the San Diego Comic Con panel was cancelled, ostensibly because it conflicted with the production schedule, but at this point, it's like Apple running its own announcement event instead of attending the overcrowded Consumer Electronics Show.
why am I going to do this to myself again?
It is, frankly, a weird time to be an old-school Doctor Who fan. After its ignominious cancellation (just when it seemed to have turned the corner after a period of extended awfulness) and two unsuccessful and unsatisfying attempts to reboot it in very different forms (as a US co-production series and a web animation series), to have it back and more popular than even during Tom Baker's heights or Dalekmania—in what is only a slightly different format—is a rather disorienting state of affairs. My own deep affection for the programme can't help but be tinged with irony, yet the young generation of Whovians is wholly sincere in their newfound love, as demonstrated in the SFX poll (which, ultimately, reflects the expectations that Capaldi is up against). The new series is neither as tied up in continuity issues as the Star Trek franchise nor as sweepingly unrelated as BSG, and the showrunner production structure produces considerably more uneven results over the course of a given series than the old script editor model. Nonetheless, it's nice to have the Doctor back on the air, with an eagerly anticipating audience.
Highlights such as "Dalek", "Blink", "Midnight", "The Eleventh Hour", etc. are enough, just as long as the low points don't reach the depths of "Time and the Rani" or "Timelash".
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:29 AM on June 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
why am I going to do this to myself again?
Because Peter Capaldi. (That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.) Also, we will have at least a glimmering of canon when Moffat FINALLY steps down as showrunner and there's at least a chance I won't sigh deeply during any given episode.
posted by kalimac at 8:24 AM on June 28, 2014
Because Peter Capaldi. (That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.) Also, we will have at least a glimmering of canon when Moffat FINALLY steps down as showrunner and there's at least a chance I won't sigh deeply during any given episode.
posted by kalimac at 8:24 AM on June 28, 2014
Regarding my earlier cryptic comment ... potential (but not really) SPOILERS! ahead.
Still here?
OK.
There's been a good bit of fan speculation/wishful thinking that Charles Dance (aka Tywin Lannister) would be cast as the new Master opposite Capaldi's Doctor. A couple of days ago on my FB feed there was an announcement that Dance had been confirmed as the Master. As it turns out, it was a simple lampoon.
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:36 AM on June 28, 2014
Still here?
OK.
There's been a good bit of fan speculation/wishful thinking that Charles Dance (aka Tywin Lannister) would be cast as the new Master opposite Capaldi's Doctor. A couple of days ago on my FB feed there was an announcement that Dance had been confirmed as the Master. As it turns out, it was a simple lampoon.
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:36 AM on June 28, 2014
Now I'm imagining all the Game of Thrones actors as potentially up for the Master.
Master Varys would be good. Master Tyrion can't pull off the accent. Master Hodor.
posted by painquale at 11:36 AM on June 28, 2014
Master Varys would be good. Master Tyrion can't pull off the accent. Master Hodor.
posted by painquale at 11:36 AM on June 28, 2014
Yeah, I really don't understand the NuWho haters. Sure, the new version has its own problems. But nothing so bad as the Colin Baker-Nicola Bryant years. And nothing so misguided as the TV movie. To me, it feels very much like the bones of the old show fleshed in an updated format. That said, I'm not a fan of Moffat's multi-season arcs that consistently fail in the payoffs. And can we be done with the season finales that Must Top the Last Season Finale law of diminishing returns...?
posted by rikschell at 11:37 AM on June 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 11:37 AM on June 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
I did not like that teaser. Slow motion effects and camera zoom ins are not going to make for good Doctor Who.
posted by Catblack at 12:53 PM on June 28, 2014
posted by Catblack at 12:53 PM on June 28, 2014
Best of WHAT?!
When you find a scene that beats Spock's Death in Wrath of Khan, call me.
Until then, STFU.
posted by John Kennedy Toole Box at 2:18 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
When you find a scene that beats Spock's Death in Wrath of Khan, call me.
Until then, STFU.
posted by John Kennedy Toole Box at 2:18 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I hope Capaldi's new job doesn't interfere with the second season of the Musketeers.
posted by ersatz at 2:33 PM on June 28, 2014
posted by ersatz at 2:33 PM on June 28, 2014
Yeah, I really don't understand the NuWho haters. Sure, the new version has its own problems. But nothing so bad as the Colin Baker-Nicola Bryant years. And nothing so misguided as the TV movie.
There are NuWho haters? Where? On another site?
Those who have come to dislike the show are seldom, if ever, even contrasting it to the old show, but criticizing it as it stands on it's own.
But if forced to contrast the too, I'd say many of us find the writing to be even worse then the Colin Baker seasons and indeed, far worse for the fact that unlike the show at that time, the current show runners have support and budget behind them. It's not just an afterthought of the BBC in those terms, but in terms of writing, it''s quite simply terrible. A prime example is how nothing is at all relevant or meaningful. It sets up these grand dramatic moments and them makes them irrelevant the following episode or the following season. There is far to much, "Hey look at this, he's cool!!! Wowzeeee!" But that said, I don't believe many people are comparing old to new, just looking at what's going on now.
It's not uncommon in science fiction for say a planet to be a planet of sand, or a planet of water, etc. It is fiction, and therefore, such metaphors exist. In Doctor Who, he's every single metaphor you can think of. He's God incarnate, he's Jesus, he's Buddha. There's no balance in the show. Planets of sand are planets of sand for story telling reasons whereas in Doctor Who, we have 1000 billion Daleks in the sky because it's more dramatic and bigger! This makes it far worse than the half assed scripts Colin Baker had to work with and if anything, the new Who takes the FOX/BBC movie as it's model and extends it in appealing to the widest possible audience, which means the show bleeds into soap opera and overwrought melodrama territory. Indeed, I"m surprised to hear a fan of the new Who doesn't absolutely adore worey morey the movie. It's fine that many people apparently love this soap opera sci-fi, and they're free to express their love for it. I don't feel the need to understand why others feel differently then I do about drama, or music. It's fairly common. But those of us who dislike what has happened to the potential of the show are free to express it as well.
That the old show had horrible writing and episodes is irrelevant to criticizing the new show for the same or worse.
I have actually quite liked most of the actors but the writing and the incidental let's make sure you know this is really, really dramatic music have finally driven me entirely off the show (I didn't bother watching much of Colin Baker's arc at the time it was broadcast and none of McKoy's, though again, that's irrelevant). Once Moffat fucks off I'll have another look but I thought the same when Davies fucked off, but Moffat has made it even worse. I'll probably miss all of Capaldi's run.
It has become, for me, like the new BSG. A lot of promise, good budget, full support in terms of production, only to ultimately produce grade C American network television melodrama/soap opera with space stuff in it. I can't in good conscience recommend either show at all to any good friends. I couldn't do that to them. It would be like holding a Nickelback listening party.
posted by juiceCake at 6:56 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
There are NuWho haters? Where? On another site?
Those who have come to dislike the show are seldom, if ever, even contrasting it to the old show, but criticizing it as it stands on it's own.
But if forced to contrast the too, I'd say many of us find the writing to be even worse then the Colin Baker seasons and indeed, far worse for the fact that unlike the show at that time, the current show runners have support and budget behind them. It's not just an afterthought of the BBC in those terms, but in terms of writing, it''s quite simply terrible. A prime example is how nothing is at all relevant or meaningful. It sets up these grand dramatic moments and them makes them irrelevant the following episode or the following season. There is far to much, "Hey look at this, he's cool!!! Wowzeeee!" But that said, I don't believe many people are comparing old to new, just looking at what's going on now.
It's not uncommon in science fiction for say a planet to be a planet of sand, or a planet of water, etc. It is fiction, and therefore, such metaphors exist. In Doctor Who, he's every single metaphor you can think of. He's God incarnate, he's Jesus, he's Buddha. There's no balance in the show. Planets of sand are planets of sand for story telling reasons whereas in Doctor Who, we have 1000 billion Daleks in the sky because it's more dramatic and bigger! This makes it far worse than the half assed scripts Colin Baker had to work with and if anything, the new Who takes the FOX/BBC movie as it's model and extends it in appealing to the widest possible audience, which means the show bleeds into soap opera and overwrought melodrama territory. Indeed, I"m surprised to hear a fan of the new Who doesn't absolutely adore worey morey the movie. It's fine that many people apparently love this soap opera sci-fi, and they're free to express their love for it. I don't feel the need to understand why others feel differently then I do about drama, or music. It's fairly common. But those of us who dislike what has happened to the potential of the show are free to express it as well.
That the old show had horrible writing and episodes is irrelevant to criticizing the new show for the same or worse.
I have actually quite liked most of the actors but the writing and the incidental let's make sure you know this is really, really dramatic music have finally driven me entirely off the show (I didn't bother watching much of Colin Baker's arc at the time it was broadcast and none of McKoy's, though again, that's irrelevant). Once Moffat fucks off I'll have another look but I thought the same when Davies fucked off, but Moffat has made it even worse. I'll probably miss all of Capaldi's run.
It has become, for me, like the new BSG. A lot of promise, good budget, full support in terms of production, only to ultimately produce grade C American network television melodrama/soap opera with space stuff in it. I can't in good conscience recommend either show at all to any good friends. I couldn't do that to them. It would be like holding a Nickelback listening party.
posted by juiceCake at 6:56 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
juiceCake described it perfectly, but I'll just sum up: I don't dislike NuWho. I dislike Moffat's handling of it.
Also, let's all agree that "better than Timelash" is not the same as "good" or even "not so bad". I've had intestinal parasites who were better than Timelash.
posted by Legomancer at 5:31 AM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, let's all agree that "better than Timelash" is not the same as "good" or even "not so bad". I've had intestinal parasites who were better than Timelash.
posted by Legomancer at 5:31 AM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
When NuWho is bad, it's a very different sort of bad from how Classic Who could be bad.
Much of, say, Colin Baker's run is garbage, but it had an "amateur revue" quality which allows us to view it through high-powered nostalgia goggles. That said, if you're watching Colin Baker's run for the first time...I mean...it doesn't come pre-packaged with nostalgia goggles.
However, when NuWho is bad, it seems like a slicker, smugger, and less lovable sort of bad.
IMHO, Moffat is at his best when he does one-shots, or when he's working within some sort of limitations. I loved Series Five, before he got too cocky. I loved the 50th Special, where he had to make everything fit for everybody.
He's at his worst, however, when he's too powerful and too reflexive.
"Love River Song? Here's more of her, but more X-TREME!" Bleh. No thanks. I like enigmatic, mysterious, evocative versions of Indiana Jones. Not so crazy about a walking smirk. A little bit goes a long way, especially if we're straying into Poochie territory, especially if her Big Dark Secret isn't even anything that is properly her responsibility. It would have been much more interesting if she had freely chosen to do something she would be ashamed of.
"Loved Series Five? Well, I'll make Six and Seven go even BIGGER, with more TWISTS!" Bleh. Twists are a dime a dozen, and even less valuable when they undermine existing aspects of the show. Bigger climaxes aren't necessarily any more interesting - they're often less interesting than more personal climaxes.
"Think I give my lady characters short shrift, eh? Well, let's just make Clara just about the cutest, most amazing, most perfect Companion ever!" Bleh. I miss Donna. I miss Amy. I miss Rory. I miss Martha. Give me interesting characters who aren't mere plot points, who have relatable wants and needs of their own, and who aren't all-powerful. There's something fundamentally wrong with the writing if it seems like a Companion can only ever one-up the Doctor or be one-upped by the Doctor.
...
I write all of this as a big fan of all kinds of Who, especially NuWho.
I'm still in Moffat's corner, I just dislike the past two season arcs, and I don't like where they've taken Clara's character.
Doctor Who is typically at its best when it features the Doctor and his Companion fumbling their way through a situation, learning things as they go. It's at its worst when the plot spins wheels around them, or when plot twists exist for their own sake, or when the show thinks that a "capable" character is the same thing as an interesting character.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:40 AM on June 29, 2014 [3 favorites]
Much of, say, Colin Baker's run is garbage, but it had an "amateur revue" quality which allows us to view it through high-powered nostalgia goggles. That said, if you're watching Colin Baker's run for the first time...I mean...it doesn't come pre-packaged with nostalgia goggles.
However, when NuWho is bad, it seems like a slicker, smugger, and less lovable sort of bad.
IMHO, Moffat is at his best when he does one-shots, or when he's working within some sort of limitations. I loved Series Five, before he got too cocky. I loved the 50th Special, where he had to make everything fit for everybody.
He's at his worst, however, when he's too powerful and too reflexive.
"Love River Song? Here's more of her, but more X-TREME!" Bleh. No thanks. I like enigmatic, mysterious, evocative versions of Indiana Jones. Not so crazy about a walking smirk. A little bit goes a long way, especially if we're straying into Poochie territory, especially if her Big Dark Secret isn't even anything that is properly her responsibility. It would have been much more interesting if she had freely chosen to do something she would be ashamed of.
"Loved Series Five? Well, I'll make Six and Seven go even BIGGER, with more TWISTS!" Bleh. Twists are a dime a dozen, and even less valuable when they undermine existing aspects of the show. Bigger climaxes aren't necessarily any more interesting - they're often less interesting than more personal climaxes.
"Think I give my lady characters short shrift, eh? Well, let's just make Clara just about the cutest, most amazing, most perfect Companion ever!" Bleh. I miss Donna. I miss Amy. I miss Rory. I miss Martha. Give me interesting characters who aren't mere plot points, who have relatable wants and needs of their own, and who aren't all-powerful. There's something fundamentally wrong with the writing if it seems like a Companion can only ever one-up the Doctor or be one-upped by the Doctor.
...
I write all of this as a big fan of all kinds of Who, especially NuWho.
I'm still in Moffat's corner, I just dislike the past two season arcs, and I don't like where they've taken Clara's character.
Doctor Who is typically at its best when it features the Doctor and his Companion fumbling their way through a situation, learning things as they go. It's at its worst when the plot spins wheels around them, or when plot twists exist for their own sake, or when the show thinks that a "capable" character is the same thing as an interesting character.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:40 AM on June 29, 2014 [3 favorites]
I don't like where they've taken Clara's character.
I'd settle for her having one, as opposed to a plot function. I know in ye olde days, companions sort of had to forge their own personalities in the straitjacket of "companion" for the most part, but Coleman hasn't managed that within the constraints of the role yet. She's not Peri or Mel level bad, but she brings nothing to the show right now.
Moffat is burned out, and the similarities between Sherlock S3 and a lot of stuff that has happened in his reign as showrunner for Who demonstrate it. I'm really hoping he'll get Capaldi settled and let someone else take the reins of Who. Moffat can write and shepherd good characters/stories, but nothing he's done lately has been anything close to his best work for Who or Sherlock.
I say this as a fan of both Who series (and I recently watched a Colin Baker serial, which wasn't nearly as terrible as I expected) and of Sherlock. Sticherbeast's analysis is about right--though it hasn't touched on any of the ew factor of Davies' run (nothing Moffat has done has been as bad as Tinkerbell Jesus, nor do the Moffat companions revolve around hots/twu wuv for the Doctor, or in Donna's case, the loudly proclaimed lack thereof). On the other hand, it hasn't touched the depths of JNT's term in charge in the 80s.
Bitching about the showrunner is eternal for Whovians. This too shall pass.
posted by immlass at 7:24 AM on June 29, 2014
I'd settle for her having one, as opposed to a plot function. I know in ye olde days, companions sort of had to forge their own personalities in the straitjacket of "companion" for the most part, but Coleman hasn't managed that within the constraints of the role yet. She's not Peri or Mel level bad, but she brings nothing to the show right now.
Moffat is burned out, and the similarities between Sherlock S3 and a lot of stuff that has happened in his reign as showrunner for Who demonstrate it. I'm really hoping he'll get Capaldi settled and let someone else take the reins of Who. Moffat can write and shepherd good characters/stories, but nothing he's done lately has been anything close to his best work for Who or Sherlock.
I say this as a fan of both Who series (and I recently watched a Colin Baker serial, which wasn't nearly as terrible as I expected) and of Sherlock. Sticherbeast's analysis is about right--though it hasn't touched on any of the ew factor of Davies' run (nothing Moffat has done has been as bad as Tinkerbell Jesus, nor do the Moffat companions revolve around hots/twu wuv for the Doctor, or in Donna's case, the loudly proclaimed lack thereof). On the other hand, it hasn't touched the depths of JNT's term in charge in the 80s.
Bitching about the showrunner is eternal for Whovians. This too shall pass.
posted by immlass at 7:24 AM on June 29, 2014
OldWho had its problems. It was also many, many decades ago, and we should know better by now. Much better. Because really, 'It's not as bad as something made out of cardboard and filmed in the local gravel pit back in the 70s' isn't much in the way of praise.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:44 PM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:44 PM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think people are rather unfair to Moffat, and indeed Davies about the shows problems. Both of them had failings as a writer, the former has a tendency to write three different women while the latter would write plots which dissolved into nonsense and were resolved with an arm wave.
But look, this is a flagship show for the BBC that isn't well supported by the BBC. It lacks the money it needs for true grandeur and over the last couple of years has been split in two. It is a show that is meant to attract children, so while I really liked Moff's first season I can understand why some called it confusing. The solution was to have one off episodes which was a problem in of itself because clearly some of them really needed space to breathe and as a result came up as a bit of a hot mess.
I still think there have been some solid episodes of television in new Who, with the Day of the Doctor being pretty much a triumph (sadly the other two were quite naff and messy again). I also try to be sympathetic to the idea that this is a show that is meant to appeal to children, so can happily enjoy episodes like Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
[Although, subnote here, apparently the excuse for "Fear her" being as bad as it was was that it was for kids. Then why the hell was it about a young girl fearing her abusive father? I guess that is technically a plot that kids could engage with, but its pretty dark, right?]
I am hopeful for Capaldi because his nature should change the kind of plots that will be created for the show. I am also hopeful that Moff will finally define who Clara was. Clara suffered from being introduced during a series of one off episodes and also not being the same person for most of it. Its never been entirely clear what she wants. I actually think by finally introducing her family and job we might get a better grasp of who she is.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 2:21 AM on June 30, 2014
But look, this is a flagship show for the BBC that isn't well supported by the BBC. It lacks the money it needs for true grandeur and over the last couple of years has been split in two. It is a show that is meant to attract children, so while I really liked Moff's first season I can understand why some called it confusing. The solution was to have one off episodes which was a problem in of itself because clearly some of them really needed space to breathe and as a result came up as a bit of a hot mess.
I still think there have been some solid episodes of television in new Who, with the Day of the Doctor being pretty much a triumph (sadly the other two were quite naff and messy again). I also try to be sympathetic to the idea that this is a show that is meant to appeal to children, so can happily enjoy episodes like Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
[Although, subnote here, apparently the excuse for "Fear her" being as bad as it was was that it was for kids. Then why the hell was it about a young girl fearing her abusive father? I guess that is technically a plot that kids could engage with, but its pretty dark, right?]
I am hopeful for Capaldi because his nature should change the kind of plots that will be created for the show. I am also hopeful that Moff will finally define who Clara was. Clara suffered from being introduced during a series of one off episodes and also not being the same person for most of it. Its never been entirely clear what she wants. I actually think by finally introducing her family and job we might get a better grasp of who she is.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 2:21 AM on June 30, 2014
Sorry, everyone: it's Adric.
Adric is back (or coming back) in the Big Finish audios.
posted by Mezentian at 5:42 AM on June 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Adric is back (or coming back) in the Big Finish audios.
posted by Mezentian at 5:42 AM on June 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
'It's not as bad as something made out of cardboard and filmed in the local gravel pit back in the 70s' isn't much in the way of praise.
Seen recently on tumblr, of all places: "remember when doctor who didn’t have as big of a budget so they had to rely on plot"
But seriously, for me, one of the differences (and I'm a fully-caught up watcher of NuWho and have rewatched not quite 60% of the old series, with that count including the lost episodes) is that the expectations of children have lowered significantly since the 60s-80s when the original show ran.
Doctor Who is a family show, which means it's supposed to be suitable for children but watchable for adults. There are some pretty scary and serious episodes in NuWho--the bottle episode on the shuttle is kind of terrifying--but the overall level of serious story and maturity in subject matter (and I don't mean sex here, I mean things like making adult moral choices) seems lower. And that jibes with a lot of my other observations about how differently children are raised today compared to when I was a child in the 70s: things like helicopter parenting, the close watching of children, the general expectation that kids can't handle as much srs bzns and are helpless without parental aid and supervision. I don't know that the kids are less sophisticated--I imagine not, actually--but it seems like the adults who make the show and generally guide the direction of the show (and other TV) seem to expect them to be.
(Which is not to say there aren't a lot of improvements to be made to Classic Who. Leaving behind the yellowface is a big plus.)
posted by immlass at 8:02 AM on June 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Seen recently on tumblr, of all places: "remember when doctor who didn’t have as big of a budget so they had to rely on plot"
But seriously, for me, one of the differences (and I'm a fully-caught up watcher of NuWho and have rewatched not quite 60% of the old series, with that count including the lost episodes) is that the expectations of children have lowered significantly since the 60s-80s when the original show ran.
Doctor Who is a family show, which means it's supposed to be suitable for children but watchable for adults. There are some pretty scary and serious episodes in NuWho--the bottle episode on the shuttle is kind of terrifying--but the overall level of serious story and maturity in subject matter (and I don't mean sex here, I mean things like making adult moral choices) seems lower. And that jibes with a lot of my other observations about how differently children are raised today compared to when I was a child in the 70s: things like helicopter parenting, the close watching of children, the general expectation that kids can't handle as much srs bzns and are helpless without parental aid and supervision. I don't know that the kids are less sophisticated--I imagine not, actually--but it seems like the adults who make the show and generally guide the direction of the show (and other TV) seem to expect them to be.
(Which is not to say there aren't a lot of improvements to be made to Classic Who. Leaving behind the yellowface is a big plus.)
posted by immlass at 8:02 AM on June 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
but the overall level of serious story and maturity in subject matter (and I don't mean sex here, I mean things like making adult moral choices) seems lower.
I watched a Second Doctor episode the other day. It involved being kidnapped and shrunk down by a couple of space carnies, then chased by giant worms. Real subtle and mature storytelling.
Of course my wife still tells the story of my showing her OldWho; "There were a bunch of people wearing dog veterinary cones wandering around a quarry, and then I fell asleep." She didn't even get to the point where the people in veterinary dog collars put the Doctor on trial. There were a lot of. Ponderous. Statements. Explaining. Dodgy. Science. Then I fell asleep.
And then I watched the acclaimed Fenris episode, which managed to be have a lot of incoherent proclamations, running from one side of the outdoor set to the other, and then a truly anticlimactic ending. "Damn it, if you could kill Fenris with a grenade, you could have done so about four hours ago rusted of mucking about with the chess game! I could have gone to bed hours ago!" I suppose three might of been some interesting dramatic point, but it was totally lost in the bad writing.
Nostalgia only takes you so far. Claiming OldWho had any greater quality of writing is basically seeing shapes in clouds. What it did have though was a much greater use of grinding, plodding, tedium.
posted by happyroach at 2:52 PM on June 30, 2014
I watched a Second Doctor episode the other day. It involved being kidnapped and shrunk down by a couple of space carnies, then chased by giant worms. Real subtle and mature storytelling.
Of course my wife still tells the story of my showing her OldWho; "There were a bunch of people wearing dog veterinary cones wandering around a quarry, and then I fell asleep." She didn't even get to the point where the people in veterinary dog collars put the Doctor on trial. There were a lot of. Ponderous. Statements. Explaining. Dodgy. Science. Then I fell asleep.
And then I watched the acclaimed Fenris episode, which managed to be have a lot of incoherent proclamations, running from one side of the outdoor set to the other, and then a truly anticlimactic ending. "Damn it, if you could kill Fenris with a grenade, you could have done so about four hours ago rusted of mucking about with the chess game! I could have gone to bed hours ago!" I suppose three might of been some interesting dramatic point, but it was totally lost in the bad writing.
Nostalgia only takes you so far. Claiming OldWho had any greater quality of writing is basically seeing shapes in clouds. What it did have though was a much greater use of grinding, plodding, tedium.
posted by happyroach at 2:52 PM on June 30, 2014
Sorry, everyone: it's Adric.
Adric is back (or coming back) in the Big Finish audios.
It was only a joke! I didn't mean it! Augh!
Well, at least if they bring Adric back he won't get the (completely undeserved) most badass companion death ever.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 4:44 PM on June 30, 2014
Adric is back (or coming back) in the Big Finish audios.
It was only a joke! I didn't mean it! Augh!
Well, at least if they bring Adric back he won't get the (completely undeserved) most badass companion death ever.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 4:44 PM on June 30, 2014
Since so far in this thread we've heroically managed to resist the temptation of linking to the leaked scripts of the first five episodes (in what the Beeb blandly described as a "security issue"), here are a couple of international parodies: a star-studded US Doctor Who 50th anniversary trailer; and a tokusatsu-style Japanese Doctor Who fight scene.
Oh, and there's another official Series 8 teaser...
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:37 AM on July 10, 2014
Oh, and there's another official Series 8 teaser...
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:37 AM on July 10, 2014
Well, at least if they bring Adric back he won't get the (completely undeserved) most badass companion death ever.
I imagine the stories are set before he took his one way ride to never knowing if he was right.
Just think, only six weeks of avoiding spoilers from the leaked scripts! (Or 11 weeks until the fifth episode airs and we are in the clear).
posted by Mezentian at 11:22 PM on July 12, 2014
I imagine the stories are set before he took his one way ride to never knowing if he was right.
Just think, only six weeks of avoiding spoilers from the leaked scripts! (Or 11 weeks until the fifth episode airs and we are in the clear).
posted by Mezentian at 11:22 PM on July 12, 2014
The "security issue" is worse than initially thought. The BBC has announced that black-and-white rough cuts of several episodes were on the same BBC Worldwide server as the scripts. Reading that report though this sounds more like incompetence, putting internal materials on an external-facing server that can be indexed by Google, than a leak.
posted by plastic_animals at 4:38 AM on July 13, 2014
posted by plastic_animals at 4:38 AM on July 13, 2014
. The BBC has announced that black-and-white rough cuts of several episodes were on the same BBC Worldwide server
I agree with your assessment of the security at BBC America (or BBC Telemundo or whatever), and I did wonder about what the Bleeding Cool article was about today, but having made the poor decision to watch a pre-release VHS of Return of the Jedi waaaay back when I prefer to avoid mad copies of films (I did watch half of a CAM version of Superhero Movie, and the merits of that film aside, my decision seems to have been otherwise sound), but I must ask: why a B&W version?
I've been out of the film editing game since before we had digital edits, so I am assuming the B&W version is a security "feature".
The BBC has since launched a #keepmespoilerfree social media campaign
Awww. #Bless.
posted by Mezentian at 5:52 AM on July 13, 2014
I agree with your assessment of the security at BBC America (or BBC Telemundo or whatever), and I did wonder about what the Bleeding Cool article was about today, but having made the poor decision to watch a pre-release VHS of Return of the Jedi waaaay back when I prefer to avoid mad copies of films (I did watch half of a CAM version of Superhero Movie, and the merits of that film aside, my decision seems to have been otherwise sound), but I must ask: why a B&W version?
I've been out of the film editing game since before we had digital edits, so I am assuming the B&W version is a security "feature".
The BBC has since launched a #keepmespoilerfree social media campaign
Awww. #Bless.
posted by Mezentian at 5:52 AM on July 13, 2014
And now, acting as though nothing has happened, the Beeb has released the full-length trailer for Series 8.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:38 PM on July 13, 2014
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:38 PM on July 13, 2014
Well that's quite a jump in his stated age. Maybe he was being demure before.
posted by XMLicious at 5:02 PM on July 13, 2014
posted by XMLicious at 5:02 PM on July 13, 2014
He claimed to have spent 200 years doing his farewell tour before accepting his death in The Impossible Astronaut, and then he spent 900 years defending Trenzalore from wooden Cybermen in The Time of the Doctor. Half his life so far was spent embedded in a bad plot.
In narrative time, Tennant's Doctor lived about five or six years and Smith's Doctor lived for 1200 or so. It's a pretty big difference.
posted by painquale at 3:00 AM on July 14, 2014
In narrative time, Tennant's Doctor lived about five or six years and Smith's Doctor lived for 1200 or so. It's a pretty big difference.
posted by painquale at 3:00 AM on July 14, 2014
On the one hand, it has the Tardis neglecting to have fuses. Again. On the other hand, it's got Dinosaurs. Hmm.
posted by happyroach at 3:31 PM on July 14, 2014
posted by happyroach at 3:31 PM on July 14, 2014
McCoy's Doctor was 1,200 years old at one point.
It's really since the show has become focused focused on the issue.
And, if I may correct happyroach:
I watched a Second Doctor episode the other day. It involved being kidnapped and shrunk down by a couple of space carnies, then chased by giant worms. Real subtle and mature storytelling.
That's the Third Doctor and Jo in The Carnival Of Monsters, unless I am mistaken.
I think the moral was about white guilt and circuses or something. And I believe you will find the "worms" (hand puppets as I recall) are Drashigs, one of the most dangerous predators in the universe!
posted by Mezentian at 2:59 AM on July 15, 2014
It's really since the show has become focused focused on the issue.
And, if I may correct happyroach:
I watched a Second Doctor episode the other day. It involved being kidnapped and shrunk down by a couple of space carnies, then chased by giant worms. Real subtle and mature storytelling.
That's the Third Doctor and Jo in The Carnival Of Monsters, unless I am mistaken.
I think the moral was about white guilt and circuses or something. And I believe you will find the "worms" (hand puppets as I recall) are Drashigs, one of the most dangerous predators in the universe!
posted by Mezentian at 2:59 AM on July 15, 2014
After a quick skim of the thread, seems to me that the unstated reason why Ten + Rose won the poll was that they're perfect for shippers. That's a huge demographic, especially among newer viewers of the show.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:36 AM on July 15, 2014
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:36 AM on July 15, 2014
Buzzfeed blogpost: What If “Doctor Who” Was American?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:01 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:01 PM on July 15, 2014
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posted by Zack_Replica at 4:27 PM on June 27, 2014 [1 favorite]