Series 5 - The Verdict

[RitaLittlewood]

Wow! After a naff start with appalling CGI, I have to say that is the first episode I have throroughly enjoyed since the series came back! It was brilliant. Loved the footage with past Doctors and monsters mixed in with 2005+ stuff. Matt Smith's Doctor reminded me of Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker. I think he's going to be good and Steven Moffatt will do an excellent job because he's a REAL fan with plenty of experience writing for it (Big Finish).

10/10

Now everyone can get off the floor with the shock at my praise. LOL!

Patsy

[Nick]

Not too bad and I suppose Matt Smith is quirky enough...but surely there can't be,after all of the 'end of the world' scenarios in the last 5 years,anyone who hasn't heard of the Doctor and knows about his TARDIS.

I do stick with my original thought though that one episode per story is not enough to give the stories any depth

[RitaLittlewood]

I do too but this was an hour so a good start.

Patsy

[Nick]

Yes fair do's ..Matt did a good job


And I am glad RTD has gone...I just wish they would leave the daleks alone for awhile..there is such a thing as less is more

[RitaLittlewood]

I LOVE Daleks but became incredibly bored with these. Dalek was a good premise and the first 20 mins was fine. Once it broke loose it was crap and repetitive like RTD's. With so many guest writers it could bring a whole new dimension to the series, as it was in the olden days.

Typically a friend of mine completely slagged it off. But he only likes Pertwee and Baker so should belt up. He even had a go at me because I said I liked it. He knows my thoughts since 2005 haven't been exactly positive, unlike many who still do think everything's wonderful when it isn't. But there have been good bits and even Pertwee & Baker had some crap.

Patsy

[Deleted]

We liked it - I already like Matt Smith's interpretation, which is a relief, because I was getting very bored with David Tennant, who seemed to me to be over-characterising himself towards the end of his stint - just too much mania, too much gurning, too many wide-eyed moments.

Karen Gillan as Amy looks very promising too.

I agree with Patsy - the CGI was pretty dreadful, and in fact I thought the whole thing looked a bit 'cheap', but then I suppose this episode was pretty much simply a device to introduce the Doctor properly, and it does look like there's some exciting and spectacular stuff to come.

9/10

[sallywebster]

I enjoyed it - I like Matt Smith a lot.

[sootycat]

I am amazed to say I really enjoyed it.

I like the idea that I haven't heard of ( or seen ) either the Doctor or his companion before.
I like the way Matt Smith doesn't 'gurn'
I like his energy and I enjoyed the episode.
I think this is going to be a success ( even more so than RTD )

It got over 8 million viewers.

[RitaLittlewood]

I really hope so. The RTD years made me bored of the whole thing. I haven't watched or bought any old series for several years. This is my last crack at the revival and am glad I enjoyed it so far. Steven Moffatt is an excellent writer and true fanboy and this is just want the show needed after the ego trip of RTD. There were some cracking lines in it as well and it was quirky in the original series way. Agree about the manic gurning.

Patsy

[sootycat]

I can't wait for the return of the 'Weeping Angels'

I expect there will now be a lot of kids wanting Fish Fingers and Custard. ;D

[RitaLittlewood]

LOL! Bleurgh!

I'm as excited about this as I was when it came back so hope I'm not as disappointed. I still think 2005 was the best because it was fresh. After that it got stale. I also hope there'll be less flaming family!

Patsy

[Nick]

I agree Chris Eccleston was great he had a 'hard' edge to him..David Tennant became a gurning ninny..I have high hopes of Matt..he has youth on his side which makes his quirkyness fun


How old was Peter Davison when he took the role?

[Deleted]

I agree Chris Eccleston was great he had a 'hard' edge to him

Me too - in fact he was my all-time favourite Doctor.

[sootycat]

I think Peter Davison was 30 when he took the role on.

[RitaLittlewood]

I know many people didn't like Eccleston but I did. I thought he was great but the only things ruining it was the stupid lurve codswallop and Rose's damn family & Mickey. Tennant started off okay but then it just got stupid. This definitely has promise.

29 or 30. Youngest at the time anyway. The wet vet. LOL! I didn't like him and stopped watching originally then. He didn't command authority and still doesn't.

Patsy

[Nick]

Well I quite enjoyed tonights..it was a bit like the DW of old..Doctor and assistant split up she gets captured etc..etc...very well executed

[RitaLittlewood]

Are we keeping it in one thread? Actually it makes sense.

Agreed and I said to Rowan it reminded me of old Who. It was also the way it was paced. You can really tell RTD's no longer in charge. Even those he didn't write made no sense, had too many unanswered questions and massive plot holes. This was brilliant and I loved the twists. Just when you thought it was over, something new was revealed. THAT'S how it should've been the past 4 series. This story really fitted into the time slot too with nothing being rushed.

Only negative is the inclusion of the bloody 'Next Time' bit. Grrr! The lead in to the story at the end should have been enough.

Really enjoyed both eps. It needed this freshness a couple of series ago. I'm back to loving the Doctor!

Patsy

[Deleted]

Only negative is the inclusion of the bloody 'Next Time' bit

I agree - wish they wouldn't bloody do that - it's so unnecessary, and can completely ruin any potential surprise.

Yes, another good episode!

...and even a bit scary for me, as I have a distinct loathing of clowns and old-fashioned wooden ventriloquist dummies!

[sootycat]

Another good spisode.

There is something about Matt's portrayal of the Doctor that is very appealing. ) and I never thought I would say that ! )
In fact, I prefer him to David.
Good storyline as well.
I must say if the rest of the series is as good as these two episodes then we are in for a real treat

[RitaLittlewood]

Jon Wise in the People hated it, claiming it was too confusing. No it wasn't. Queen nabbed whale, made them torture whale, whale was volunteering in the first place. Simple! Mind you I had to explain it to my dad because he lost the plot too. LOL!

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

Well that's 3 out of 3 I've enjoyed. Excellent writing, pace and tension. The only thing I didn't like was the space spitfires. I couldn't take it seriously after that. This really is like old Who and again, worked well in the short time slot. The Jammy Dodger was like Tom Baker having a deadly jelly baby. LOL! I love these little nods to the past RTD didn't want.

Patsy

[Nick]

Mmmm...unsure .. I feel it was a Dalek story too much and too soon...the Jammie Dodger bit was good though

And odd that no one was surprised to see Amy in such a short skirt

[RitaLittlewood]

One thing I hated about the RTD era Dalek stories was everything was OTT and repetitive with gimmicks. That was missing in this. Agree about the short skirt.

I have noticed Steven Moffatt is changing everything RTD did.

Patsy

[Nick]

Overall I do like Matt as the Doc .. much better than the caricature that David Tennant turned into

[RitaLittlewood]

Yes. He's a bit Troughtonesque I think. A Doctor who looks older than his years but very wise with it. He's really good and I'm glad the stories are as you said before - Doctor and companion get split up. That was the whole premise then other strands of the story can develop and was missing in RTD's time. It's great with no family, snogging, companion in lurve with the Doctor, companion saving the day etc etc. It's like a completely different show to the past 4 years.

Patsy