Jump to content

Doctor Who


DRW50

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 1.2k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

  • Members

Peter Capaldi One Show interview. Between his clear embarrassment at the ebay segment and his clear surprise and annoyance at the female host asking him about Jenna Coleman leaving without clearing it first, it's more entertaining than expected.

Turn your volume down.

Please register in order to view this content

Edited by DRW50
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Capaldi's got this. He was wonderful and I'm really liking the shift in tone away from romance. I'm looking forward to a new companion. Clara's just a poorly-written mess and I can't bring myself to care about her at all.

The Paternoster gang is always a pleasure to me and it was nice to see Vastra and Jenny's marriage fleshed out a little bit.

I found some of the comments about The Doctor's age to be way out of line. At first I was glad they nodded to the change but after a while I got tired of them acting like the doctor regenerated as a paraplegic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I watched “Deep Breath” last night.

It was about what I expected (plotless, padded, interminable at times, and as with last season, still struggling to define what should be our main characters), and yet in places still strong (I loved the use of Vastra as the Brigadier, and I love that she has her own Brigadier [the police inspector]; the writing for Jenny/Vastra was hamfisted at times but I appreciated learning more about the dynamics of their relationship; after being annoyed by him in some previous episodes Strax genuinely amused me here; I thought Capaldi was appropriately downbeat and lost, even if I at times struggled to hear what he was saying; some of the clockwork sequences were superb; Clara had some poignant and combative moments Jenna sold [and I loved the tear down her cheek when she was trying not to breathe]; Matt Smith’s cameo broke my heart and was done superbly). All in all I’d say it was a 6/10, which is not bad for the recent years of the show.

My main complaints are, yet again, about Clara’s characterization.

I don’t believe the show ever did enough to believably establish her as being in love with the Doctor to warrant having her be so lost as to not having the man she loved. This was, at the most, a flirty bond, and even that was couched in problematic material never dealt with (he lied to her, he manipulated her).

Were they using her to try to reach out to fans who are upset that the Doctor is no longer young and beautiful? That his “mask” is no longer tailored to them? Perhaps. If so, then once again she is a plot device, not a character.

I also don’t understand why someone who was “born to save the Doctor” and who was there in every incarnation he had would not understand regeneration. Was all that wiped away? If so, then she truly is just a generic companion, with nothing ever being about her.

And why can’t we ever have her talking about her past/other self’s experiences in “The Snowmen,” since this is her second episode set in the Victorian era?

If she does not remember any of this, then what was the point? And what is her characterization? Was an entire season of her worth absolutely nothing, beyond being in love with the Doctor?

It’s a shame, because at times she reminds me of Lis Sladen/Sarah Jane during her golden years with Four. Yet nothing in the writing backs this up. It’s just scraps and wasted potential.

Edited by DRW50
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Capaldi is terrific. And this coming from someone who was lukewarm on Tennant and loved Matt Smith. But I have always loved Capaldi so no surprise.

The constant reminders of his age, well I started wondering if it's because the younger part of the Who fanbase in GBr are still sort of freaked out with an older Dr. Who. I think Capaldi will win them all over in time and like you I am thrilled that the romance aspect will be taking a backseat, if not disappearing in it's entirely. That's never really been what the Dr. has been about and I sometimes wonder if the shift towards that with Tennant and Smith had to do with not only the youth of the leads, but the show's growing appeal in the US.

I think the problem with Clara IMO has always been her motives. It's never been clearly established why she's on this journey with the Doctor outside of a possible romantic interest I guess, something that I never felt was lacking in his prior companions, and frankly I am really looking forward to her departure.

Edited by JaneAusten
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Most of the fan reaction I've seen online (at least, in the UK which is honestly most of where I bother taking any online reaction seriously) said this was an incredible showcase for Clara - I don't know about that, because I thought they began developing her better in Day of the Doctor and continued from there, I don't see much of a difference or more intense focus so much as just more of a steady thing from the last few stories. I don't think they tried to indicate that she was ever in love with the Doctor or he with her, but it was a different, more flirtatious dynamic which the new Doctor is no longer interested in. (I could see some of it in Series 7, but I honestly never took it seriously - I think they talked about it more in the press than it was ever onscreen, frankly. And I think Eleven was more into just having someone to pal around with without all the baggage from Amy and Rory, though he loved them; Clara was intriguing and yet far less complicated.)

I think Capaldi and Coleman are very, very, very good together, better than what she had with Smith. The restaurant scene was priceless. And he is already a wonderful force to be reckoned with. The whole episode was a massive stylistic departure, in terms of Ben Wheatley's direction and the tone and pace as well - I thought it was a risk, but I thought it paid off. Was it the greatest premiere? No, but I thought it was quite good. I don't think most of the recent series have been plotless, but I do think this story definitely was, relatively, because it was more about the characters and that interplay, the Doctor and Clara and how they will relate to each other now, how the Doctor relates to the robot monsters and so on. The mystery was incidental to their dynamic, which I was fine with in this case.

Overall I thought it was an impressive change of pace and I hope it continues. They clearly are not interested in keeping the existing audience feeling safe and cosseted and they took a lot of risks with how to tell that story and execute it onscreen. And I do think some of the commentary on regeneration was, partly, a thumb in the eye to a lot of more recent fans, and I think some of them deserve it.

I will miss Jenna if she is out this year. She is just starting to come into her own IMO, especially opposite Capaldi. She is largely a functional, standard companion, but with so much spark and verve - and that's really what the best of them used to be. The proof will come in what they do with her going forward, though, assuming they intend to continue developing her.

Edited by Vee
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

They give Clara lot of fast dialogue and moments that are memorable on the surface, but there's no inner life. Sometimes I do care about her, but I don't connect.

I felt a little sorry for Capaldi with the age comments, but so many fans are upset about having an older actor in the role, I can see why they addressed it.

The homeless man the Doctor met and spoke with was played by Brian Miller, Lis Sladen's husband.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

My biggest problem with Clara has always been why is she there. I've never gotten a real sense of that. Clara's initial reaction to the regeneration and the "new" Dr. is a perfect example of this. I found her shock, if you want to call it that I guess, very strangely played.

But I kind of agree with Vee in that the banter with Capaldi was better than the banter or flirtatiousness she had with Smith, something that, while I adored Smith, never really worked for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Loved that it was Lis Sladen's husband... I thought that it was strange that Clara had that reaction, and wasn't sure why it was being acted in that way either. I took it as a direction issue, and the fact that Jenna felt odd being so negative about Peter's long and between takes would apologize...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

For me, it's gotten better by episode. I had to resort to reading a transcript for Deep Breath. And it wasn't the accent for me, it was a combination of some mumbling going on and a lot of fast talking.

That being said, I'm thoroughly enjoying this season, and Capaldi's take on the Doctor. I think the change has also been good for Jenna Coleman's Clara. I'm starting to get attached to her for the first time. I'm also really enjoying this Danny Pink guy. We need a new Team TARDIS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • They didn't need to have some slutty gay dude as their representation. Just a 'normal' guy getting involved with another guy or two (or three). Just like the straight characters. Thinking about it, they missed the boat by not having a few other single charcters at the beginning. Maybe Naomi or Ashley could be shown meeting Derek/Jacob and  we could follow their romance. Too many characters were coupled up at the start. As a tattoo hater I was surprised to see Tomas so inked. Don't find it attractive or sexy. I'm surprised an actor would do that as it's definitely a statement and may not be appropriate for some roles. Suppose they can cover if necessary. I didn't buy Kat being all girly and then paying off Darius to get into Eva's room. Way too cliche. She should have just come along when the housekeeping was leaving and breezed in saying it was her room. And her smug looks in the hotel room and 'Now I've got you!!' talks to herself at Orphey Gene's...no.  
    • Omg I was so annoyed. Like girl calm down. Coming on way too strong. Omg I forgot about this

      Please register in order to view this content

    • I thought it got stale before Jocks death lol. His death picked things back up for me.
    • 1976 Pt 5 Tony is summoned to the reading of the will in the Llanfair library,as he’s a principal in the will. He tells Joe there’s not a chance of coming to terms with Dorian, as he is sure she brought about Victor’s death by torturing him emotionally when he was her helpless prisoner after his stroke. Ironically, Chapin hand delivers to Viki a letter her father wrote before his stroke, praising Dorian and asking Viki to befriend and support his widow when he was no longer there. Viki feels a responsibility to her father’s wishes and vows to try with Dorian. Victor’s will leaves the expected amounts to members of his family and staff, with the lion’s share of his stock and property going to Dorian. Victor’s will explains that his son Tony expressed the desire that he not be “bought from the grave,” and, in keeping with his son’s wishes, the only bequest to him is the knowledge of his father’s love and respect. Tony is deeply moved. Dorian’s first attempt to use her new power is the recommendation of Peter as head of the Merideth Lord Wolek hospital wing, claiming that naming Larry would be virtual nepotism. Peter, who has devoted considerable time and effort to helping Jenny get over Tim’s death with gentle, affectionate support, is happy at this suggestion, but Jenny points out Dorian is merely using him to hurt Larry. Viki disregards Dorian’s ingenuous assurances that she’s not trying to wield her new power but is merely putting Peter up for consideration for a future opportunity, if not this one, and tells her she won’t be able to fulfill her father’s desire that they be friends unless Dorian stops interfering. Larry, fully understanding Dorian’s personal motives, warns her he’s going to fight for the appointment no matter what. Realizing that she has made a tactical error, Dorian announces that she won’t even attend the board meeting but will give her proxy to Jim. She admits to Matt McAllister, still her confidant, that this was humiliating, but it was a necessary protective tactic. Dorian manages to win her next round at Joe’s office when, after he praises her decision to yield on appointing Peter, she expresses concern for Viki “at a time like this.” Joe, of course, jumps on her words, and Dorian, pretending great distress at having mentioned something she shouldn’t have, is “forced” to explain that she knew about the congenital heart condition Megan had and that any child of Joe’s is likely to inherit it. She overheard the doctors discussing it at the time of the accident, she continues, and naturally assumed that Joe already knew.  Joe arranges a meeting at home with Viki and asks her how she could live a lie like this; how she could go through their lives as if everything were fine while every moment was a lie. He is further upset when, in trying to explain that it was out of her love for him that she kept the truth from him, she mentions that Jim and Larry also know but Cathy still hasn’t been told. Viki tells Joe that Dorian deliberately told him this way to hurt their marriage, and she is very upset when he starts toward the door, pleading that they have always talked things out in the past. Joe coolly points out that she didn’t do that when she learned about Megan and continues out the door.  A tearful Viki is shaken and when Joe later returns, having spent several hours in a bar drinking only soft drinks,she breaks down, crying that she was convinced he’d left her. Joe assures her they can get through this despite everything, because their relation is based on love and mutual respect. 
    • If you think about it, DALLAS and DYNASTY grew stale right about the same time, even if the ratings were slow to reflect that.  FC and KL, on the other hand, tried to stay fresh, but KL was way more successful at it, I think, than FC.  (That [!@#$%^&*] with The Thirteen does not hold up well, lol).
    • GH 1976 Pt 8 Heather takes advantage of the situation by asking Jeff to come and look at Tommy. She uses sympathy, compassion, and her own feminine wiles, together with his misery and his pills, to lure him into bed. Later, sober, he apologizes. Learning from Pearson that Monica has seen a divorce lawyer, Jeff confronts her, and she insists it’s a lie. Avoiding his attempts to kiss her, she musses her hair and tears her blouse, then rushes to Rick’s, claiming that she can’t stay with that maniac any longer. They wind up in Rick’s bed, and after making love he confesses he always loved her. Rick replies to her question of whether he wants to marry her by saying he has to talk to Jeff. Monica insists that Jeff not bear any pressure from their problems. As she leaves, Rick gives her a key to his apartment. Jeff, having spent the night drinking, misses his surgical assignment, and Steve, informing him that his personal life can’t interfere with his profession, puts him on suspension. Rick can’t persuade Steve to reverse his decision, but Mark, sensing what’s at the heart of Jeff’s problem, convinces Steve to lift Jeff’s suspension and transfer him to Mark’s service. Rick asks for his key back, telling Monica they can’t do anything as long as she’s under Jeff’s roof. So she has a duplicate made and moves into intern’s quarters, explaining that Jeff’s violence drove her out. She tells Jeff she needs privacy to work things out, and tells Rick Jeff wanted her out. Thinking that this is the preliminary to a divorce, Rick tells her she can come to his place. In New York, Leslie’s abortion is delayed by a mix-up in scheduling, and she calls Terri to commiserate. Rick overhears Terri’s conversation and forces the whole story from her. He flies to New York to stop Leslie, feeling responsible for pointing out how evil Cam was, and arrives to find that she has decided she can’t deny her child the right to live. Monica, meanwhile, expecting that Rick will be home, uses her key to let herself into his apartment and is shocked to find Mark there; knowing that Mark was uncomfortable at the hotel, Rick offered Mark use of the apartment in his absence. Monica is upset to learn that Rick is in New York with Leslie, and Mark doesn’t know why. Mark does advise Monica to play fair with Jeff, but she resents his interference. The next day, while covering for Leslie at the clinic, Monica discovers Leslie’s lab test report and jumps to the conclusion that the baby is Rick’s. When Rick and Leslie return, Monica wastes no time in accusing him. He is dismayed to see that she is still as suspicious and possessive as she was before he went to Africa, and points out that her making a duplicate  key proves she hasn’t changed. Terri encourages Leslie to see Rick in a romantic light and then suggests to Rick that Leslie is interested in him. Rick likes this idea and tells Mark he’s growing ‘unwilling to cope with Monica’s unreasonable demands. But Monica immediately recognizes the threat Leslie represents and decides to attack. She goes to Leslie and tells her flatly that she and Rick are having an affair and he’s her exclusive property. Leslie, who realizes she has been falling in love with Rick, is hurt, and Rick is mystified when he feels Leslie pulling away from him. Monica’s big moment comes when she brings Rick a housewarming gift and seduces him into letting her stay overnight. She is in the bedroom when Leslie stops by to apologize for refusing his dates, and makes a dramatic entrance into the living room draped in Rick’s bathrobe. Leslie turns and runs out. Rick later informs her he’s disappointed in her, because she prejudged Monica and him rather than giving him the benefit of the doubt. Heather tries to arrange another tryst with Jeff, but he replies that he still loves his wife. Heather decides there’s only one way to get Jeff to be pregnant with his child. She manages to overhear Monica putting Jeff down by telling him he no longer turns her on and should look for someone he does. Heather goes to Jeff and tells him that she heard Monica and that she is the one he’s looking for. She manages to get him into bed again, and sweetly assures him this is right. She then sets the stage for future meetings. Steve, meanwhile, offers to help Monica and Jeff work out their problems. Jeff is willing, but Monica turns the idea down. Instead, she presses Terri to convince Jeff to end the marriage. Terri now knows that Monica isn’t a good wife for Jeff and promises to try. But Jeff makes it clear to Monica that he still loves her and won’t let her go. She is bitter and upset, as she has already implied to Rick that she will soon be free. Audrey is upset to find that Florence Andrews has been inquiring about Tommy and herself. She goes to Florence’s home and finds she’s away now. Florence has gone down to Mexico to sign a sworn statement that she purchased a false death certificate for Tom, to protect his son after his wrongful conviction. Tom, learning from her that Steve and Audrey are to be married and Steve is planning to adopt Tommy, tells  Florence not to do anything, as there’s still no assurance that he’ll ever get out. But the judge does accept the statement, and, ironically, on the day that Steve  and Audrey are married, Tom is released from prison.
    • 1976 Pt 12 Final part Laurie agrees with Stuart that Peggy is rushing into marriage to prove that the rape didn’t ruin her life.  She points out that the only way Peg can be sure is to make love with Jack before the wedding. Stuart admits she’s right but points out that he can’t suggest that to Peggy. As the wedding approaches, Peg seems happy that Jack’s become close to the family. However, her happiness is shattered by a nightmare in which her loving bridegroom turns into a leering Ron Becker, forcing her to cancel the wedding. Jack reassures her he’ll wait as long as it takes, and Chris confides that she and Snapper didn’t consummate their marriage on their wedding night because of her own rape experience, but Peggy tells Chris she might never be ready.  Despite her desire to keep Karen as her own daughter, Chris helps a police artist create a sketch of Nancy so it can be printed in the newspaper as part of a search for her. When the attempt proves fruitless, however, Chris asks Greg to file application for permanent custody of the child. Greg points out that adoption is the only way to prevent Ron from returning and claiming the child, and that it will take quite a while. Meanwhile, a nurse in the psychiatric ward sees a resemblance  between the newspaper drawing and her autistic patient, Mrs. Jackson, but since “Fran” doesn’t respond to the name Nancy and no one else sees the similarity, she fears she’s mistaken. Jill is horrified to overhear Kay, when brihging baby Phillip a Christmas gift, telling the child she remembers the night he was conceived. Kay has to then admit to Jill she saw her with Phillip in the bunkhouse that night. Jill is aghast to realize that Kay new the truth all along and put her through such agony in spite of it, denying her baby his father’s name. Lance tells Laurie they’ll marry on Valentine’s Day. He laughs that it’s corny but agrees, secretly wishing it were sooner, as Vanessa has vowed to prevent it. Indeed, Vanessa makes an unprecedented venture out of the house to visit Brad, telling him to rebuff any advance Leslie might make to him, as she’s reaching out to him only from a sense of duty. But Laurie then makes a concerted effort to reach Vanessa. Without being sure why she’s trying so hard, she tries to assure the woman she’s not losing Lance and she, Laurie, will help her find a plastic surgeon somewhere who can help her. Grudgingly, Vanessa seems to be reconsidering her view of Laurie, and Laurie is delighted when Lance offers her a choice between two diamond necklaces, explaining that her preference will be Vanessa’s Christmas gift. Learning from Les about Brad’s blindness, Stuart tells Brad he could have turned Leslie away only out of great love. Knowing that Les is going to see Brad again, Laurie warns him not to bring the baby into their discussion, as Leslie will come back only she’s convinced he loves her, not for the babies sake. Leslie finds Brad disheveled and sloppy, and proceeds to straighten the apartment, stating that she can't respect him if he lets himself go. Realizing that neither Brad nor Les will make the first move, Laurie hurries things along by refusing to help Brad with his grooming, saying he should ask his wife. Then, having learned  that Brad offered Les the use of their piano, Laurie untunes the Brooks' piano forcing Leslie to accept his offer. By refusing to cater to his  blindness, Les manages to get Brad to stop wallowing in pity, and by the time Leslie’s Christmas braille message of her love and her need for him arrives, they are husband and wife again Lance takes Laurie on a business trip on New Year's Eve, and tells her, on board his plane, she won't be  won't be able to call him “Mr. All Talk and No action” after tonight. When Laurie protests that waited this long and will continue to wait until married, Lance delights her by instructing his pilot to land in Las Vegas, where they are married immediately.
    • Yeah, not sure why Jack and Jen didn’t rush to Marlena - or even Carrie - to offer their condolences. A few flashbacks would've been a nice touch too. Instead, we got a whole episode of them talking about Chad and Abby? Come on. On the bright side, I loved Anna’s scenes with Marlena and Carrie - sweet and heartfelt, felt like a real 80s throwback.
    • Martin and Smitty were designed to avoid the stereotype of gay men sleeping around (which to an extent is true). If you recall Martin had a line about them not being open when Chelsea came to talk to him. The producers are walking a very fine line right now and it might not be popular to say but I can understand it. Establishing enough footing to ward off complaints will let them showcase gay characters more openly later.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy