tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post840667207892755667..comments2024-01-09T12:26:53.045+00:00Comments on Howeswho: Doctor Who - MidnightDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752147546933122889noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-53346390696828913252008-06-25T21:30:00.000+01:002008-06-25T21:30:00.000+01:00Hope you're well David; I noticed that you haven't...Hope you're well David; I noticed that you haven't reviewed "Turn Left" yet.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it turned your stomach like it did for most Whovians ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-80661232920376219502008-06-18T07:41:00.000+01:002008-06-18T07:41:00.000+01:00I've been overwhelmed with work and family matters...I've been overwhelmed with work and family matters and have not had a chance to comment much on the recent episodes. I finally found the time to watch Saturday's episode this morning (Wednesday!) on the journey to work and finally enjoyed something from the new season.<BR/><BR/>Yes, it's been done before - it reminded me a lot of The Twilight Zone, with a bit of Star Trek thrown in (those poor old "additional crew members"). Nonetheless, I felt that the episode drew upon Russell Davies's strengths as a writer rather than his weaknesses (which I fear are doomed to show up in the next couple of installments) and also made good use of the 45 minute format.<BR/><BR/>For once, we had an episode based upon the interplay of characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The threat is so abstract as to be secondary - the threat comes more from the beast within (strong shades of Lord of the Flies). Now this is also not a new concept, but what was nice is that there was almost no preaching in this episode. The moral tension is represented through the development of the situation rather than by being spelled out for the audience. The limited setting gave the programme something of a theatrical aspect, but this was only to its advantage: it meant that the piece was made or broken by the central pillars of drama through the ages, the writing and the performances. The design, costumes and effects were secondary.<BR/><BR/>It seems that the entire casted sensed they were on to a winner because everybody seemed to play their parts with such great relish. I totally failed to recognise David Troughton (he's aged a little since I last saw him on TV, which was probably in A Very Peculiar Practice) but I felt he struck just the right balance between real intelligence, expertise and passion in his field on the one hand, and pomposity on the other. This was supported by Davies's avoidance of the cliches of the all-knowing Professor Hayter-style man of science. <BR/><BR/>The two parents and their 'orrible teenage son (he was cast a little too old or they were casta little too young, but never mind) were also well presented. In particular, I was impressed at the way that Jethro makes the switch from enjoying the freak-show of the wierdo fellow traveller to realising the seriousness of the siutation and participating in the discussions in a serious manner. <BR/><BR/>However, it was David Tennant who really shone through. I felt that in this episode, he was truly a Doctor-y Doctor, and gave a performance that could stand proud with the best of his predecessors. After some travesties this year (which reached an all-time low with the ridiculous "Doctor's Daughter") he was finally give a story in which he could reveal all the subtlety of his craft.<BR/><BR/>Even the music was better - no bombastic overkill, but more subtle moods (shades of Bartok, I thought) common in the earlier days of the classic serial.<BR/><BR/>In summary: totally original? No. Compelling? Absolutely.Abu Yairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937423658859138797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-48084747220058887722008-06-16T05:19:00.000+01:002008-06-16T05:19:00.000+01:00Kliks definitely was referring to distance; it's u...Kliks definitely was referring to distance; it's used by the US Army to mean 'kilometer,' and has been used in military SF for a long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-36430526878422566702008-06-15T23:21:00.000+01:002008-06-15T23:21:00.000+01:00A klik's a kilometre! It's either used to mean km ...A klik's a kilometre! It's either used to mean km or km/h.<BR/><BR/>Dave.Dave Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01963132416741109974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-10537680414337586872008-06-15T22:56:00.000+01:002008-06-15T22:56:00.000+01:00Klicks.I too was glad of something a little differ...<A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klick" REL="nofollow">Klicks</A>.<BR/><BR/>I too was glad of something a little different. What Matthew describes was my favourite part of it; the Doctor's generally a bit of a wanker (though, a lovable one) and it was nice to see the other side of people's reactions to him for a change.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15143305156575329353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-39382173531444727062008-06-15T22:49:00.000+01:002008-06-15T22:49:00.000+01:00*Shrugs*I've seen it all before, that's the proble...*Shrugs*<BR/><BR/>I've seen it all before, that's the problem. Whether it be big budget thrillers like 'Sphere','Event Horizon' or more pertinently zero budget fan productions.<BR/>Fan-made fare uses the exact same plotting (out of necessity) and often delivers the same 'make up your own mind' conclusion to the story, but I find it grating when used here - I didn't even care much for it in 'Edge of Destrustion' but that story offered an explantion for it all...<BR/><BR/>It was 45 minutes of nothing really. I can't condemn it as i can see what they were going for and it was experimental in a way, but neither can i really find anything to praise in it - it was just filler pure and simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-42282208203039280712008-06-15T22:30:00.000+01:002008-06-15T22:30:00.000+01:00A Marmite episode - you either loved it or loathed...A Marmite episode - you either loved it or loathed it.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I really enjoyed it. I think this is the first RTD script that delivered a top notch plot without it being drowned out by a cacophony of screeching storyline mechanics. It was a terrifying story: no unsubtle authorial didactic messages shoe-horned in; no clawing attempts to show this is "proper" drama. Just a good story well told.<BR/><BR/>There were clever allusions to real-life issues in the UK though; for example, a clever dig at tabloid anti-immigration hysteria. But was I alone in seeing a possible parallel to the US led occupation of Iraq? The shuttle is filled with "Crusader" logos; a group of naive, passive consumerists blunder into a dangerous situation that could have been avoided by more thorough reccie of the situation? I could be wrong though!<BR/><BR/>There were some elements that didn't work as well- too many paper-thin characters and a plot that is streamlined to the point of being oversimplistic - I don't think you could rewatch this episode very often. Also, David Toughton was great ... but why have we seen 2 children of DT's predecessors in this series? Coincidence or an attempt to generate publicity?<BR/><BR/>The teaser trailer for next week looked good but I've had my hopes dashed by the last 2 years' closing stories.<BR/><BR/>(Please no naff Aussie soapstar's pop music or the Daleks in ultra camp bitchy mode.... Now swear on Rassilon's hilarious novelty slippers RTD!!!!!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452303.post-22669198183449152212008-06-15T19:41:00.000+01:002008-06-15T19:41:00.000+01:00Personally, this episode really annoyed me. The Do...Personally, this episode really annoyed me. The Doctor came across as incredibly arrogant, going on about how smart he is, and then he caused the death of the Hostess by telling them that they can't throw Sky out. To be honest, if I was in that situation I certainly wouldn't listen to some arrogant guy who won't even tell anyone his name, and I'd be all for throwing her out. The concept was interesting, but I just didn't like the execution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com