Doctor Who

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Not sure if this is the thread we were using for discussing the release of all the old Doctor Whos on the iPlayer.....a while back I expressed my dismay when Liz Shaw was replaced by Jo Grant. Well, having now finished watching all the Jo Grant episodes I can confirm I agree with whoever pulled me up - she turned out to be excellent. Not as good as Liz Shaw, but excellent nevertheless.

I am now starting the first Sarah Jane Smith episode. Crikey she looks young, but so far hasn't gasped 'Doctor!'. I found her to be very annoying when I was a teenager. Let's see how it pans out.

In this first episode I thought 'I recognise that actress'. A rather posh woman. I waited for the credits......June Brown. Later to emerge as Dot Cotton. Also the first appearance of the Sontarans. Good times.

 

[Sorrel]

Not sure if this is the thread we were using for discussing the release of all the old Doctor Whos on the iPlayer.....a while back I expressed my dismay when Liz Shaw was replaced by Jo Grant. Well, having now finished watching all the Jo Grant episodes I can confirm I agree with whoever pulled me up - she turned out to be excellent. Not as good as Liz Shaw, but excellent nevertheless.

I am now starting the first Sarah Jane Smith episode. Crikey she looks young, but so far hasn't gasped 'Doctor!'. I found her to be very annoying when I was a teenager. Let's see how it pans out.

In this first episode I thought 'I recognise that actress'. A rather posh woman. I waited for the credits......June Brown. Later to emerge as Dot Cotton. Also the first appearance of the Sontarans. Good times.

Fantastic to hear - I’ve only seen all the episodes through in order around five times, so plenty more times to enjoy them yet!

 

[sparkie]

The classic series are still great although I remember giving up on it when McCoy was the doctor.

I'm on the edge of giving up on it again as I didn't enjoy 4 of the 8 episodes last series which is a high "miss rate". I thought episode 8 was abysmal after a decent episode 7.

No doubt I'll watch the Christmas Day episode but after that probably not.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

That episode is going to upset the gammon.

Stand by for mockery incoming

 

[Super Steve Earle]

That episode is going to upset the gammon.

Strand by for mockery incoming

I doubt it. Like me, they will have stopped watching at least a series ago.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Thought it was quite good

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I doubt it. Like me, they will have stopped watching at least a series ago.

And . . . here we go

 

[The Clamp]

I doubt it. Like me, they will have stopped watching at least a series ago.

I stopped watching when Jodie Whitaker took on the role. I’m not a fan of her. I tried a few episodes but thought they were quite poor.

To the wider board;

What’s the new guy like? New episodes any good? Worth a peek?

 

[Deadly Danson]

That episode is going to upset the gammon.

Strand by for mockery incoming

It's been a really strong season so far. 2 classics and 2 very good stories. If, as seems likely, this is the last season for a while then it's going out on a high. And if it pisses off the dumbasses then so much the better.

 

[Deadly Danson]

I stopped watching when Jodie Whitaker took on the role. I’m not a fan of her. I tried a few episodes but thought they were quite poor.

To the wider board;

What’s the new guy like? New episodes any good? Worth a peek?

If you start last season with Episode 2 then it was very good and this season has been excellent. Not everything has been to my taste but considering it's a 60 year old show there have been quite a few totally unique stories. Gatwa is pretty good.

 

[The Clamp]

If you start last season with Episode 2 then it was very good and this season has been excellent. Not everything has been to my taste but considering it's a 60 year old show there have been quite a few totally unique stories. Gatwa is pretty good.

Thank you

 

[Deadly Danson]

Thank you

No problem and like you I didn't especially enjoy the Jodie era - she wasn't great (not because she's a woman) and the writing wasn't up to much but the good thing with DW is there's normally good stuff around the corner.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I stopped watching when Jodie Whitaker took on the role. I’m not a fan of her. I tried a few episodes but thought they were quite poor.

To the wider board;

What’s the new guy like? New episodes any good? Worth a peek?

Poor. Too lightweight. Zero gravitas. But hey, I'm sure the beeb isn't aiming at former fans from the very first episode. Jodie Whittaker was actually marginally better and she was like some yakky northerner playing it like an episode from Corrie.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I stopped watching when Jodie Whitaker took on the role. I’m not a fan of her. I tried a few episodes but thought they were quite poor.

To the wider board;

What’s the new guy like? New episodes any good? Worth a peek?

The new guy is very good. The story arc is strong, and there is a good mix of light and dark.
There is a growing sense of threat.
There is quite a lot of social commentary which will annoy all the people I like to see annoyed.

Edit: I disliked Whittaker for the open-gob gurning, but the stories were good.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I gave up towards the end of the last series. Do I need to pick it up again?

I don't care who plays the Doctor, I just think the scripts have been crap for a while now.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I gave up towards the end of the last series. Do I need to pick it up again?

I don't care who plays the Doctor, I just think the scripts have been crap for a while now.

I am currently 'doing the lot' and watching the new stuff in parallel.

I am up to Peter Davidson on 'the lot'. I have been surprised how good the stories were.
But the sixties stuff was very sexist and patronizing (my dear).
And the late 70s and early 80s had some crappy pantomime-horse monsters.

My feeling is the old stuff and the new stuff is all great.
The old stuff suffered with cliche 'starship bridge' and officers syndrome
(can we make the captain's costumes slightly different?)
and dodgy monsters.
And annoying female companions (Sarah Jane, Perri)
The new stuff is.....pretty much excellent.
It is very socially aware (politically correct) and satirizes current populist nobber politics (fake news),
but I obviously like that.
Take tonight's satire of a Tommy Robinson type

 

[Curious Orange]

And the late 70s and early 80s had some crappy pantomime-horse monsters.

The Myrka was literally played by the same actors who performed Dobbin in Rentaghost.

 

[Eeyore]

In the short time Ncuti has been in roll, he has become my favourite doctor. He was born to do it. He just seems to bring all its best elements together. It's him who I watch it for.

Also the scripts have got better. Having watched all the previous episodes of the new incarnation, I stopped watching during Jodie's time. Much less because of her, more because of poor writing and not really liking the companion casting.

I can't see Ncuti lasting though. He's such an adaptable actor I think he will move on. He won't want the roll to define him. I also have doubts as the whether Dr Who can survive much longer. Which is a shame.

Ncuti is the UK's Eurovision spokesman in a couple of weeks. Pure camp.

 

[Weststander]

@Harry Wilson's tackle
What do you think of this lot, compared to your own thoughts?
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/03/the-greatest-doctor-who-ranked

I’m elated to see Tom Baker rated so highly, he was great …. memories of watching it after seeing the Albion beat all comers at the Goldstone. Also Ecclestone, he was excellent and got the new era going.

 

[sparkie]

A show I used to love. I don't watch it any more.

I saw the first episode of this series and that was that. My epiphany. "Planet of the Incels". Is this what family sci-fi entertainment has come to ? FFS.

Sack Russell T Davies.