DOCTOR WHO 3.01
April 2nd, 2007 | brainjuice
I think there’s a sense in the production that David Tennant isn’t as “heavyweight” as Christopher Eccleston, and so consequently nothing written for Tennant really has the weight or shadow of the first-season stuff. Tennant’s Doctor is, however, becoming ever more eccentric, if not just outright batshit — Tennant with his shoes off, crooning “barefoot on the moooon” to himself — which, panto excesses aside, just about kept me interested in this humorous opening episode about an elderly female vampire armed with a drinking straw. Pure children’s television. Lili liked it.
It’s already fallen into rote, of course — the new assistant (or, as the production staff would have it in the behind-the-scenes followup programme, “Doctor Who girl”) has her own Wacky Family who will doubtless bore our tits off over the next two years like the last one did, and this year’s Famous Historical Personality episode is up next. But, you know, it’s a kid’s show, and kids like repetition.
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C’mon, you’ve gotta love Camille Coduri! She’d have been a better companion than Billie.
I agree with the writers not really providing David Tennant any serious material to work with. Which is sad, because from what I’ve seen, actors who do comedy really well (like David) more often than not also do serious and dark really well. Get over it, writers. Eccleston’s on Heroes now and he’s not coming back! Let. It. Go.
I just want to see John Simm’s “Saxon” making evil faces at Tennant as soon as possible.
Jeebus thanks for posting this–hadn’t realized they were airing it already. Downloading ep 3.01 now ; )
he’s an immortal time traveling scientist, what more do you want? if it’s pathos your looking for i direct your attention to anything that isn’t zany sci-fi antics… or politics…
You missed the Eccleston season, then.
(and, you know, any number of other seasons with other Doctors, but whatever.)
I’ve been really liking Tennant, moreso than Eccleston personally. There have been little twinges of the Eccleston dark and moody last season, but I’m blanking on specific examples, and I think he can pull it off if they give it to him.
Both seasons had their hits and their misses, I feel that this season is shaping up nicely though, from what I’ve heard. But I just bear in mind that I thought the opening episodes from both seasons were weak, followed by occasional stand alone eps of genius. If that’s what we get repeated, I’ll be happy.
Really Chris’ Survivor guilt was what made the first series for me.
I’d like to see Tenant be something other than “the wacky one”.
-SH.
I enjoyed the new one, as Charlie Brooker said in Saturday’s screenburn; it bucked the trend of the opening episodes by being a damn sight stronger.
The introduction of the new assistant was well handled, it’s hard to extrapolate from one episode but her performance seems to be different enough from Piper’s to keep my interest. However, I’ve still got this nagging feeling that the prominence given to Rose and her character development might end up overshadowing, or even worse creating a template for, any future assistant. I can’t remember another assistant whose character was treated in the same way as Rose’s. It was one of the story beats that made the new stuff stand out from the ‘classic’ series. This isn’t based on Agyeman’s performance, more on my misgivings about RTD’s writing.
There were a few nice little touches, the mention of her cousin in Canary Wharf, The Doctor mouthing along when she said “It’s bigger on the insideâ€. The little things made the episode for me.
His mention of a brother brought up a plot point that I’d heard was going to be used during the Pertwee run. If it means that who I think is coming back is definitely on the horizon than I can’t wait and I’d be happy to see either John Simm or Derek Jacobi play him.
J
So far, I personally prefer Tennant. Eccleston was almost too dark and serious. It got overbearing. Perhaps Tennant goes the other direction.
And Martha bothers me so far because she’s just too accepting and “okay” with everything. The way the previews implied it, I thought she was going to be extremely skeptical and… scientific. Looks like it’s just the opposite.
It’d have to be the Master this season. Who else is left after all? The Sontarians? The Ice Warriors? The freaking Mad Monk?
As long as it’s not sodding Daleks again.
I didn’t belive the designers on Dr Who Confidential when they explained the long design process for the Judoon, though. I reckon he just told them “Make them look like Sontarans, but with different heads.”
And was it just me or did that episode and a lot of the teaser trailer afterwards suggest that somebody in the Who production team is a wee bit fond of “The Fifth Element”?
Sontarans always made me really uncomfortable. Because they couldn’t move their heads. The idea made me incredibly uncomfortable.
It used to be I could get the latest Who in a few hours via eDonkey 2000. But those shits at the MPAA/RIAA killed it. Now it takes forever to get anything via eMule. Torrent?! Mine’s Dribble!
“The way the previews implied it, I thought she was going to be extremely skeptical and… scientific. Looks like it’s just the opposite.”
She’s been taken to the moon and met space rhinos, a man made entirely of leather and a vampire. Next week she’s travelling in a time machine that’s bigger on the inside than the outside to meet Shakespeare. How on Earth do you maintain a skeptical outlook in the face of that?
Ah, YouTube to the rescue. With a good plugin, I can get the entire episode within minutes! Not as good as eD2k, but good enough to watch NOW.
Looking forward to seeing this – though I wasn’t thrilled with series 2. I liked Sontarans, and although I saw them in the trailer, I’m sick of emo Daleks, too. And the Master would be pretty cool!!
[...] keep your critical faculties about you as you enthuse, though. I don’t 100% agree with Warren Ellis that: It’s already fallen into rote, of course — the new assistant (or, as the production staff [...]
[...] keep your critical faculties about you as you enthuse, though. I don’t 100% agree with Warren Ellis that: It’s already fallen into rote, of course — the new assistant (or, as the production staff [...]
[...] keep your critical faculties about you as you enthuse, though. I don’t 100% agree with Warren Ellis that: It’s already fallen into rote, of course — the new assistant (or, as the production staff [...]