Dr Who

Am I the only one that thought this episode was another lame one; more pc drivel.

OK, it's time for my review of the new series so far.

The Pilot

A suitable plotline for a Who story with an innocent being possessed by a possibly malevolent entity. I thought the use of modern technology to create the water effect transformation was very good. Unfortunately the story suffered somewhat through the second half of the episode with most of the focus being on Bill and her sexuality. It recovered some interest for me with a decent explanation to conclude the story but for an opening Doctor Who series episode it was a mixed bag. That shouldn't be the case. 6/10

Smile

It was important to build on the Doctor's and Bill's relationship and connection for the coming remainder of the series. This episode did that very well as Doctor and companion established a trust that is essential to any Who series. The enemies, voiceless robots that only communicate through emoticons, was an exciting element. There's always an extra fear factor and therefore an interest in a story when the enemy is difficult to communicate with. Despite a lame anticlimactic ending, Smile was still a decent entry in the new series. 7/10

Thin Ice

Sorry - my least favourite episode of this series so far, and actually one of my least favourites of all of Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor. The race / slavery thing was overplayed and for me the episode lost credibility with a pathetic villain called Sutcliffe (WTF?! ) and a monster that was made to look helpless and pitiful. There weren't enough explanations for what was happening ("how did the creature get there" - answer - "it's always been there" ) and despite Bill's tiring, incessant questioning, we didn't really get the reveal to satisfy the confusion of a very muddled and quite boring story. Very much a let down. 4/10

(01-05-2017 12:09 )Regenerated Wrote:  a pathetic villain called Sutcliffe (WTF?! )

I'm bemused how little this seems to have bothered people What next, Earl Shipman?

Maybe people haven't noticed yet. It took a a while when they showed " Gavin & Stacey. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_%26_...cter_names

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-joke.html

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-n...al-killers

That doesn't surprise me as much, I thought that show was ghastly anyway.

New Season so far is disappointing, Pilot was ok, Smile worse and last Saturdays offering very poor. I am hoping it improves but not holding my breath.

Another good one this week, helped by the great David Suchet

(07-05-2017 07:17 )Doddle Wrote:  Another good one this week, helped by the great David Suchet

David Suchet was stand out for sure.

Did anyone watch / listen via Iplayer as special audio version online with binaural?

I'm quite liking Bill. She reminds me a bit of Rose, in the way she is played. Some of the assistants inbetween have been a bit 'amateur dramatics', they were a bit over-acted for me, but Piper played Rose in a very natural kind of way, and Bill comes across that way as well for the most part.

The episodes have been the usual hit and miss. The Smile episode was a bit naff I thought. An advanced civilization with the technology to travel across the universe to colonize other worlds, and harness miniature robots to do their bidding, and yet the 'emoji robots' were the pathetic sort of things they were demonstrating on Tomorrow's World when I was a kid, the sort of robots they are selling in Toys'R'Us right now, seriously, is that the best they could do with all that technology!

Last night's was the usual predictable fare (lifted by the usual fine performance from Suchet).



On another note, I have been watching the aussie show Whovians, a chat/entertainment show looking at each episode. I've no idea who the participants are, but I guess they are well known down under, but even so, I'm quite enjoying it, I'd go so far as to say I enjoy it more than the actual show

http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/articl...series-10/

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/whovians/

Quite surprised the beeb haven't launched something like this given the penchant for such companion shows for the various reality shows these days. I know they have the various online and red button stuff, but DW is one their big flagship shows now, thought they might have tried to cash in with something a bit more mainstream, and something they could then sell to the overseas markets alongside the main series.

(07-05-2017 13:50 )munch1917 Wrote:  I'm quite liking Bill. She reminds me a bit of Rose, in the way she is played. Some of the assistants inbetween have been a bit 'amateur dramatics', they were a bit over-acted for me, but Piper played Rose in a very natural kind of way, and Bill comes across that way as well for the most part.

The episodes have been the usual hit and miss. The Smile episode was a bit naff I thought. An advanced civilization with the technology to travel across the universe to colonize other worlds, and harness miniature robots to do their bidding, and yet the 'emoji robots' were the pathetic sort of things they were demonstrating on Tomorrow's World when I was a kid, the sort of robots they are selling in Toys'R'Us right now, seriously, is that the best they could do with all that technology!

Last night's was the usual predictable fare (lifted by the usual fine performance from Suchet).

Spoiler: Show

All the housemates are eaten - apart from Bill our heroine, handy that. And then when the Doctor saves the day, all the housemates are magically resurrected, no-one dies, even more handy that!!

On another note, I have been watching the aussie show Whovians, a chat/entertainment show looking at each episode. I've no idea who the participants are, but I guess they are well known down under, but even so, I'm quite enjoying it, I'd go so far as to say I enjoy it more than the actual show

http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/articl...series-10/

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/whovians/

Quite surprised the beeb haven't launched something like this given the penchant for such companion shows for the various reality shows these days. I know they have the various online and red button stuff, but DW is one their big flagship shows now, thought they might have tried to cash in with something a bit more mainstream, and something they could then sell to the overseas markets alongside the main series.

BBC have a launched companion show for Doctor Who. It's called Doctor Who: The Fan Show which is on the Doctor Who you tube channel. Here is yesterday's episode (click on the link)

https://youtu.be/SPk2d7LNr5k

Thought yesterday's ep was the best of the series so far with David Suchet very good as the villain