Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Beatly]

I'll keep it spoiler-lite/spoiler-free, but I just have to say: "great!"

You won't be disappointed. The writing sparkles, the sets, make-up and effects are wonderful, and the nods to The End of the World extend beyond the Face of Boe and Cassandra. RTD apparently wrote it as a comedy episode for Billie Piper, and it is. But don't let that put you off - it's more than that.

We get an arc set up (I think), and there are a few apparently minor points that might also be part of an arc. My suspicions may be confirmed next week. I don't know what this year's "Bad Wolf" might be, though...

The Confidential that followed it was enlightening, with a few brief clips of future episodes, and with only a very little footage from the 1963-89 series. The "next time" trailer also looks fab!

Piper and Tennant are both fantastic, as are the supporting cast. He's an action Doctor! He's a comedy Doctor! He's a dark Doctor. He's... well, he's the Doctor! This is going to be a great ride.

[kangamac]

Well, I must admit I personally am a little nervous after reading the comments of some fellow Whovians in the UK. The following comments come from three of them who were of mixed opinions about it. I only included the comments that did not contain spoilers in them...

Anthony:

"What can i say?

I'll be adding more in depth comments to the review..but that was utter tosh, and believe me i hate saying that.

It was just a nothing story. The plot was all over the place, rushed, had elements that were not needed, some bad comedy moments, the list could go on. It was 8 year olds fare.

Tennant did well, was the only plus point but man they gave him two bad stories to open up with. Tooth and Claw will probably see DW get back on form."

John:

"While it was not great, it did have its moments.

It certainly wasn't as bad as 'Aliens of London'.

Hmm! I'll watch it again before commenting fully."

Christian:

"I'll have a painfully written review around lunchtime tomorrow ready to read fellows..."

However, as you seem to like it Beatly, I shall try to remain positive. In any event, no matter what it ends up being like, I still look forward to seeing it - I am a Doctor Who fan after all...

Fingers crossed for the future!

[Beatly]

I often find myself wondering if my faculties for critique have crumbled away at some point. I'm a fan of Doctor Who, but I'm a pretty laid-back and accepting fan. Warts and all, if you like. Everything, like the Fast Show character would insist, is "brilliant!" Or to quote someone more apposite, "fantastic!" I don't look too deeply into it. I enjoy it for what it is, and then disport myself a great deal thinking about it. Little room for analysis, I suppose. I watched this episode and saw the same things your UK friends saw:

All over the place? No, busy.
Elements that were not needed? No, setting up story arcs. Or busy.
Bad comedy? Decent comedy. Not the most high-brow comedy, but it doesn't have to be.
8 year olds fare? Well, it is aimed at 8 year olds - as well as 28 and 48 year olds.
Not great, it did have its moments? Yes! Lots of great moments!
Wasn't as bad as Aliens of London? Indeed not. Considerably better, in fact.
Watch it again before commenting fully? Good idea.

Maybe I'm just easily pleased.

[kangamac]

I suppose it could all come down to a case of what our personal expectations are regarding a particular story - or perhaps Doctor Who in general.

Sometimes some people will be pleased - and sometimes they will be disappointed. I imagine it may well vary from one individual to the next concerning one story to the next...

Everyone's different.

[Tegan]

***Minor spoiler for The Christmas Invasion*** also in here.





I liked the episode. After series one spent all of its time on and around Earth, they decided to go to another planet... entirely like Earth.

It was very hectic. After having very little to do in TCI they've had to introduce the new new Doctor, establish a character for him, and I do like this one. Different from CE, but not unlike some of the first 9 Doctors.

Almost as good as the 5th incarnation, but I'm biased.

Rose gets a chance at comic acting, but it doesn't slow the episode at all, and the Doctor gets a chance as well.

There are a few plot holes and a couple of "oh yeah, right" moments. But at least no one tries to reverse the polarity of neutron flow of anything.

The first episode of series 1, Rose, took me quite a few minutes to warm to, but as soon as CE was on screen, I was hooked. DT has the same effect, but in a different way.

A solid start to the new series. I think there will be somewhat more comic moments in this series, and I am so looking forward to the cybermen. As a child they scared me much more than pepperpot Daleks.

7 out of 10 for this one.

[meglos]

Excellent. 8/10

[Todd]

Having now seen the episode I'd have to say it was a patchy start.

I think there were too many elements vying for attention, which watered down all the threats.

Although the first 10 minutes were great and visually so to, the rest I felt was a mess. Like a half baked cake.

Billie, in particular, I thought did not rise to the occassion. And I hated the Doctor's solution to the whole thing.

I may revise my opinion once I have watched the show again but I feel it was a missed opportunity and was definately on par with the weakest episode of series 1.

On a positive note I think the relationship between Rose and the New Doctor is Brilliant. And David Tennant is so much more into the role at this point than Chris ever was.
His ranting however was unconvincing.

The trailer for next weeks episode was grrrrrrrreaaaaaaat

Overall 4/10

[drouyn]

I'll give it 6/10, and agree that it was good, but a bit patchy. Plot holes you could drive a truck through, but that's never stopped my enjoyment of DW before!

[Beatly]

I stand by my original verdict of great. This episode is attracting quite a lot of over-analysed venom on the Outpost Gallifrey forums (otherwise known as Doctor Who and the Terror of the In-Joke), and I'm starting to understand how Doctor Who fans are Doctor Who's worst enemy - forget the power-mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans... Cybermen. They're still in the nursery compared to us.

[Tegan]

[arturo]

Some good comments here, I really cannot understand the expectations and attitudes of some fans. I think that they have crazy expectations for the program forgetting the concept of family programming. I suspect that part of the reason for the negative reaction to New earth is simply that people have had too long to build up expectations.

I believe I am a fairly harsh critic and a major Doctor Who fan but find some of the whining and carrying on difficult to understand. I suppose though that my reaction to new episodes is affected by the reactions of my 5 year old niece. The only thing I enjoy more than the program is her reactions to it. (We now have an axolotl named Boe becasue it is kept in a fish tank.....as Boe is........ She also has care bears called Doctor, Rose Tyler and Cap'n Jack).

Sorry I'm digressing, the thing that impressed me most about this episode was the amazing prosthetics for the Sisters. They were fantastic and our cat has spent the best part of the day with a tea towel on he rhead pretending she is a Nun (not my doing). The plot was entertaining and i welcome a bit of moralising and what if scenarios by basing a stroy on issue that are current and debateable. I think that Billie Piper was better than ever and once again proved that she is a capable and entertaining actor. Tennant is also brilliant and the cringe worthy "samba" line from the trailer didn't annoy me as much as I thought it would. I really enjoyed seeing the change in Cassandra by the end of the episode though was a little surprised by the Doctors gentile nature after his no second chances response to Harriet in TCI.

My only complaint was the slightly unsatisfying ending. The "healing" was a little disappointing, the concept could have worked but I thought a little more explanation was needed.

My Niece thinks its the greatest episode ever, probably because its the newest but I love her enthusiasm.

It is a well crafted and cleverly executed episode of a great series. Not perfect but I can't think of anything that is. Even Firefly adn Battlestar Galactica have their naff bits.

And my Girlfriend liked it too, having never watched DW before she can now accept and kinda understand my obsession. I no longer have to be ashamed of my Dalek underpants!

[Tegan]

[hallhotdogma]

[Dazza]

Good but not great.

The visuals were good and Tennant already looks comfortable in the role. However it was typical RTD - great dialogue but a weak story.

I was hoping for a better start to the series - perhaps my expectations were too high.

The preview of the next episode looks good and I very much looking forward to School Reunion and Rise of the Cybermen.

[SharazJek]

[Beatly]

[Todd]

Having seen the episode for a 2nd time, I have to say things improved somewhat. I picked up lines of dialogue that I missed first time round.

Billie still underplays Cassandra imho. But I enjoyed the Cat people more.

The people who I showed the episode to liked it, which surpirsed me. They didn't however think much of the way in which the cure for the diseases was distributed. I thought all the infected should have gone into the lifts to be disinfected. Although the touching things is in line with the way they were inftecting others

I have revised my opnion.
5/10

[Hiruma]

Further to what SharazJek said about How Tomb of the Cybermen may of looked if it had been done today, that sickly green light actually reminded me more of the Borg cubicles. Esp the pan shot when you saw thousands and thousands of compartments. ( think the scene in Best of Both Worlds Part 1+2 from TNG is a good comparison).


I must admit I enjoyed most of the episode. The cat people reminded me much of the Kitlings from that finale of Dr Whos past. In fact, they could be a relation . Perhaps the kitlings would of been more like them had the budget for Dr Who been that way back then.

Lets face it, Rose 'tarting' herself up was put there for the male viewers .. and I must say it worked a charm

What I didnt get was, they have flying cars.. yet they still use drip IV's ... the elevators still use cables?. I know the Doctor referenced that earth was going through an obsession with old things but ... I dont think these things quite jelled. There was no reason to show the elevator shaft in my opinion.

Small things yes, but I think important things.

All in all a decent episode. But no Pyramids of Mars yet

[Dazza]

[Tegan]