Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Beatly]

Well, I've just seen it, and here are my initial thoughts, etc:

It's fab.

Also, there are quite a few continuity references, including, of course, Harriet Jones, and a couple of mentions of the events of Aliens of London and World War Three. A chunk of the first half of this new episode is reminiscent in part of the first half or so of the first of those two episodes - tension, news reports, etc. This episode begins in a manner very very similar to Rose.

We see members of UNIT, and Torchwood gets mentioned a few times - it seems they're some sort of organisation more secret than UNIT, and not even the Prime Minister is supposed to be aware of them. Torchwood acquired technology from an alien spacecraft which crashed on Earth "ten years ago". It's stated pretty explicitly that Earth has encountered several other alien species, although today's lot, the Sycorax, are the first ones whose existence can't be denied or covered up.

Harriet Jones, Prime Minister, asks an aide if there has been a "code nine" - mentions of the Doctor. The Doctor tells Harriet that the planet can expect more visitors in the future. Rose mentions the Gelth and the Daleks as well as the Slitheen. The new Doctor is funny but has a mean streak. "No second chances," he says at one point, "I'm that kind of man." We finally see another part of the TARDIS interior, although only briefly.

There are a few sneak previews of the new series right at the end, including shots of Sarah Jane, a Cyberman, K9, some of those cat women, Anthony Stewart Head's character, Queen Victoria, and the Doctor telling Rose that they're going further than they've ever gone before.

I didn't get to see the "red button" episode following it, so I can't comment on that yet.

[meglos]

I watched it last night and thought it was brilliant. better than I expected actually. David Tennant looks like he was born to play The Doctor. I can't wait for the new series to begin, because going on the trailer played at the end of the episode, it's going to be brilliant!

[Amano07]

i just finished watching it and i liked it alot...still i remember them saying that he was going to have his own scottish accent? it didnt seem to appear anywhere and it wasnt in the 2006 trailer (which was fantastic!)

[Hiruma]

Damn, the Christmas Invasion screened locally and i missed It? You gotta be kidding me right.. I saw no promos for it at all!

Matt

[charlie]

Yeah I havent heard anything about it. I was really disappointed when I read that I missed it.

[meglos]

Don't worry, you hav'nt misssed it, it has'nt screened in Australia yet

[Hiruma]

THen isnt this technically a spoiler and should be placed in the corresponding part of the forums?

Also a note. As this is the official forums for the Im guessing registered Doctor Who Club in Australia, It is advisable that no reference to downloading episodes or similar naughty activity is made. TV Stations and publishers are pretty tough on such people nowadays.

[Beatly]

I cogitated for surprisingly longer than you'd think about where to place this thread; I eventually chose the "Series One" section: as it says, For those who have seen the whole 1st series. If it is a spoiler, and I guess it is, then you're sufficiently warned before coming to read it.

I wanted to share straight away my reaction to it - the closing music was still in my ears as I dashed to the computer to do so. I knew that it wasn't being screened in Australia just yet, but I also knew that there'd be some people downloading it (tsk, naughty!), or employing some sort of mystic remote viewing technique (ooh, clever!), to watch it as soon as possible, so I just had to get in there first!

It's probably my duty, or some such similar tosh, as the local pom (do you guys still use that word?) to report things as they happen in the UK. I do hope these forums don't require DWCA membership, as I'm obviously not a member - this was the most literate, sensible, friendly and intelligent Doctor Who forum I managed to find. That's a compliment!

[Hiruma]

Actually knowing Australian TV habits, its likely that the Dr Who Christmas Special might be played sometime in late may... that is after all when you catch a sitcom and think.. what the as their christmas episodes airs. (Although I have tended to notice that it appears a very almost British thing to have a Christmas special. I cant say Ive noticed that Australian tv shows do it).

Sorry, I didnt mean to sound gruff I just though the forum just below this with the spoiler warning in the topic might be a better place for this. Im looking forward to seeing this.

As a former copyright clerk for the state government here, I guess Im also a little antsy when people talk about viewing something that hasnt aired here yet.

Im not a DWCA member either, but Im pretty sure its a registered organisation within australia which means in terms of copyright that if people pick up that people are promoting downloading of overseas aired eps of Dr Who that it would possibly cause financial pain somewhere down the future.

[Dougy]

So do we know what the deal is with the ABC and getting this or not?

[Amano07]

If Canada can get their act together and screen the Christmas Invasion around Christmas time i dont see why the ABC couldnt have. Its for this reason that i used my mystic remote viewing technique to see this wonderful episode. i have every intention of watching it when it eventually comes on the ABC as well as buying it on dvd ..but i need to see new episodes now!!!!!

[Hiruma]

The ABC has never and will never do anything that quickly in such a short space of time. As a government funded organisation I dont see how you can think otherwise

Seriously though, the way Scifi is treated on Australian TV, Im somewhat surprised Dr Who was even aired in the first place (although big Kudos to the ABC). THe chance of us getting the Christmas Special at Christmas? Zilch. Nowadays the ABC adopts the wait and see approach ( and I think this is partly due to their miniscule budget). If it does well there, It will probably do well here. Just dont expect anything in a hurry.

Matt
Somewhere in Dullsville aka Perth

[Tom N.]

And besides, Canada's CBC are co-funding the new series, so I guess they'd be eager to see their investment mature as soon as they can. I think Canada was also the first non-UK country to buy and broadcast Series One.

In any case, while I'm very glad to see positive reviews for TCI, I'll still wait until it gets screened in Aus (which seems very likely considering the ABC's recent scheduling habits - Casanova and Blackpool vs. The Second Coming and Cracker at a similar time last year). But that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to it!

[SharazJek]

[eastsydneyboy]

[Odnet]

Personally I feel that the ABC has a responsibility to their viewers to air The Christmas Invasion before the next series starts. It's a vital piece of the Doctor Who puzzle and it should never be a question of whether or not they will air it. The ABC is pushing this series and making money out of merchandise sales so there really should never be any question of if it will air. It just should.

A question for those lucky ones who have seen The Christmas Invasion,
Do they play the Children in Need bit before the episode starts? Because surely it's an inportant piece and it would seem a bit odd without it, wouldn't it?

[Wester]

Odnet - i agree. Lets hope its sooner than later. We might be pleasantly surprised!

[SharazJek]

[the penguin]

can you give me a sight to download it i know it is wrong but i must see it plese!!!!

[Hiruma]

Im guilty of it too, I just get a little self guilty I guess. Unfortunetly due to the hours I work I dont get to tape Dr who I can Honestly say I never did either. Of course I only really ever watched Dr Who after getting home from school, and if I missed an ep.. I missed an ep.


Matt