Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Beatly]

Remember last week that I said that the much-maligned New Earth was good? Well, this week's Tooth and Claw is even better! It is a tighter story than the first episode, and, although I'm sure people will pick up on errors and inconsistencies, I didn't notice any.

It's tricky trying to avoid giving out any spoilers, but I'll try anyway... we all know about the Dr James McCrimmon bit, I'm sure. The pre-credits sequence (the monks fighting and flying) looks as good as the trailers promised, and the werewolf is a triumph. The whole episode looks and feels like a good monster horror movie. The science fiction elements are kept very low-key. There's very little faffing around, the pacing is excellent, and the action kicks off much earlier on in the episode than we've come to expect. The denouement and resolution make sense.

There's a reference to last year's bad wolf thread, without actually using those two words, and there's also a direct reference to the events of The Parting of the Ways, which I didn't expect. It would seem that RTD isn't finished with all of that yet...

Torchwood continues to be set up. It's no real spoiler to say that the episode takes place in a building of that name.

Next week's episode looks like it'll be good as well. It would seem that the Doctor and Rose take on undercover jobs in the school - Rose as a canteen assistant and the Doctor as a teacher. Now why couldn't I have had any teachers as cool/scrummy as him?

[Beatly]

Oh, and Rose does a proper companion-style scream (well, wouldn't you?), and there's another bit of RTD's flavour of Christian iconoclasm, again.

[dave]

Wow...damn that was good! I didn't post anything about New Earth because I found it so disappointing, but Tooth and Claw - fantastic!

The opening scene was very well done, I thought, and finishing with the screams of the prisoners when the creature in the cage was revealed was very cool. Unfortunately, if the wolf only comes out during the full moon, then it becomes difficult to understand the strength of the reaction, but it just set the atmosphere perfectly for the rest of the episode...(what was that about picking mistakes, Beatly? One more to come...)

The werewolf looked awesome, I thought, and the the transformation sequence was a treat. I was happy with the way the wolf was often obscured by shadows, lending it an even greater sense of menace. I was also very happy that although nothing graphic was ever seen, the screams produced by various people - especially Sir Rab (a reference to the seriesBook Club, btw) - were truly spine-chilling. I'm sure this one will have the kids hiding behind the sofa again...if they do that kind of thing these days.

I really like Tennant as the Doctor, and he and Billie have some great on-screen chemistry. Rose's attempt at a Scottish accent, even though I'd seen it in a preview, was hilarious. And the glasses! Love the glasses! The conclusion was quite nicely worked out, I thought, although I couldn't quite work out why the beam stopped when the beastie was expelled...(Oops, is that another mistake? )

My major disappointment was that the monks were completely forgotten about once the wolf was dealt with. They were armed, and were obviously considerable fighters...did they just leave when they realised the wolf had either been killed or succeeded in its mission? I would have liked to have found that out.

I thought this was a very good episode, which makes up somewhat for how disappoiting I found New Earth to be (yes, I know, I'll have to go and make a comment in the appropriate thread...maybe). The quality of everything - the script, the shooting, the performances, the special effects - everything was top-notch. I just wish this had been the season opener, and I really think it should have been. Hopefully things will continue in this vein - or even get better!

After all, Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 next week! What could possibly go wrong? (School Reunion is my most anticipated episode this season, although closely followed by the cybermen...but SJS was always my favourite companion by far...)

[kangamac]

It is highly encouraging to read such a positive comment about the second Doctor Who story - especially considering the somewhat lacklustre response I have generally encountered regarding the first. It certainly sounds like things are picking up.

"After all, Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 next week! What could possibly go wrong? (School Reunion is my most anticipated episode this season, although closely followed by the cybermen...but SJS was always my favourite companion by far...)"

I hope you "touched wood" after typing that comment - just to be on the safe side. However, I'm sure that Sarah and K9 will do well - fingers crossed.

[dave]

Well, ant, the 'what could go wrong?' comment was certainly made tongue-in-cheek. Hopefully, however, it'll be a good 'un.

Another comment on Tooth and Claw though - I quite enjoyed Rose's attempts to get Queen Victoria to say 'We are not amused', and the way the Doctor reacted to it. Maybe not for everyone, but I found it really funny.

Which brings me around to a general comment on RTD's writing. I don't think he has a very good grasp on science-fiction at all - if nothing else, New Earth certainly showed me that. But his characters are great, and the humour he employs I really enjoy...with the exception of certain farting aliens...

I'm hoping he'll stick to doing period pieces in future, and not attempt too many straight 'sci-fi' stories, because they often just don't fit together properly, IMO - too many things not thought through or not completely explained. Whilst I do understand that the show has to work on many levels when it works well, I don't think that because it's aimed at a broad audience that that should be an excuse for what seems, to me, to be sloppy writing.

To get somewhat towards being back on-topic, I think Tooth and Claw is my favourite RTD script thus far. I preferred this to anything he wrote for the first season, although the two-part finale came close. Hopefully he can continue with stories of this quality, rather than some of his less-inspiring efforts, both recently, and from season 1.

[Amano07]

Apologies if some of the things I say have already been said but I cannot contain myself about this episode. It was brilliant!!!! I loved this episode it made up for the good but somewhat disappointing New Earth, I love the fact that the doctor took Jamie's name at the beginning the werewolf was great and the plot behind it was rather good, I did not care for the Scottish kung fu monks to much but that was my only problem with the episode 8/10 !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hiruma]

Am I the only one not to have liked this episode? seriously I wanted to enjoy this episode but in the end it came down to a character and their actions for me not liking this episode: That being Rose Tyler


From her early bet with the Doctor about getting Queen Vic to say 'We are not amused' it just got played up too much and her constant giggling and smiling at the most inappropriate of times got a little on my nerves. Apart from that the episode was quite good, but in the end I really couldnt overcome my dislike of what Rose had done to the story. Her watching off the werewolf slaughter the captain of the queens guard or watching the werewolf come up to shred her was also a mystery, when everyone else was running. I half expected her to burst into laughter when she watched the Captain die.

Next week does look good however.

[Beatly]

I found Rose annoying too, but it's starting to seem as though that is deliberate, going by what people on Outpost Gallifrey are saying. Maybe some remnant of Cassandra, or of the Time Vortex, or she's burst a synapsis somewhere along the line and is going crazy?

[Hiruma]

Thanks Beatly, I was beginning to think I was the only person who didnt like the episode and was just about to be stoned with lots of sharp rocks


On the subject of the Torchwood 'Institute', obviously its the Bad Wolf for the 2nd series. How does this affect Unit, which I believe has the UN mandate to giard earth against such... incursions, or develop technologies.
Are they effectively making Torchwood obsolete or can I hope for some Unit V Torchwood conflict in the new show. Lets hope so.

Matt

[Tegan]

Great episode! The werewolf was brilliant!

I'm lead to believe that this year's meme is one of four words.

Queen Vicky says "not of my world" a couple of times in Tooth and Claw.

My early guess is that this has something to do with it.

BTW, did anyone else notice that the Doctor introduced himself as Dr James (Jamie) McCrimmon?

And I now know why I can never get a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas!

[arturo]

I think this may be my first PHWOAR of the new season.

This was awesome. I really did enjoy New Earth, largely because it was new Who and Im conditioned to enjoy sich things, but Tooth and Claw has blown me away.

Dave, I don't know if kids hide behind the sofa anymore but my neice certainly was hiding behind a cushion for most of this epsiode! And holding on to me so tightly that it hurt. It was good to see an episode that I was more concerned with my reaction than hers though.

For me the highlight was from the cellar when rose was trying to free the servants. My innocent neice thought that Rose had said a dirty word. Evidently " Help yer Lady ship" sounds a lot like help you lazy sh**" to a five year old.

By far this is RTD's strongest script to date, well written, well executed and genuinely spooky.

Im interested to hear exactily what people didn't like about this one

[Hiruma]

Arturo: I think the whole hide behind the couch is a bit of an urban myth myself. I dont know anyone who watched Dr who and ever did that. I was only alarmed a few times in Doctor Who but I dont remember ever being at the point where I hid to avoid seeing a scene.

I hear it a lot, but how many of us actually did?

[arturo]

To be blunt.....

Yes, yes I did. The rest of the family was allowed to watch Doctor Who but I wasn't. I found that I was able to sneak up behind the couch and sit (or lie underneath it) nd watch the program without getting in trouble (Until I panicked and gave myself away). So Behind the sofa is not an urban legend.....more a way of life!

[Dazza]

Much better than New Earth.

Very atmospheric, great performances from the cast and the special effects were quite good. When I saw the preview last week, I thought we would only see a couple of shots of the werewolf, but they were certainly generous with the CGI. The werewolf was much better realised than the Slitheen in series one.

I alway felt that magic and witchcraft didn't work in Doctor Who and it was great to see a sci-fi explanation for the werewolf - something that worked well in the Hinchcliffe/Holmes years.

I thought the fast pacing suited this episode.

David Tennant has the potential to be one of the best Doctors ever.

School Reunion looks very good. Sarah still looks like a bit of a hottie (gee I'm getting old).

[meglos]

Just seen it. Awesome. 9/10. Just a quick aside note. In the preview for School reunion did anyone notice when the headmaster was standing outside his door all you could read was Master. I know it's been said that he is not coming back and I'll guess we will find out next week but it is a good theory is'nt it?

[kangamac]

Unless the production team are aware of the rumours surrounding that individual - and simply enjoy teasing the public - or certain members thereof...

[meglos]

Yeah I thought that as well, but I was trying to convince myself otherwise

[SharazJek]

I was completely taken aback by the way Queen Vic treated the Doctor and Rose at the end of the episode. And even more so when the pair simply accepted the fact and returned to the Tardis happy as Larry, with laughs and wold howls eminating from the time machine.

I found those final scenes made me feel somewhat dejected, but it's no doubt intended to inject some emotional realism (on the part of Queen Vic) to the show.

There were some genuine out of your skin frights in this one. Very scary.

Wonderful location.

I find I can't rate the new eps (other than excellent!) as they're all too new and my opinions on them will probably change over time. I'd rather not be critical at this early stage and just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

[kangamac]

[Todd]

What a fantastic episode 9/10. That's all I can say really, bring on the next!