Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Tegan]

The possibilities are endless, but I do believe Boe was a boy.

I think if I'm going to have a theory, it should be a really big theory.

After all, no-one ever won a Nobel Prize by aiming low.

[Tegan]

Ooh. I was right after all...

The Face of Boe is the Doctor's... Ally

You only thought you read son. I really did mean to type Ally. Err, Jack..

You think I'm fibbing don't you?

[Speckled Jim]

Great theory Tegan, but what the hell did the Doctor jump into bed with in order to sire a giant head in a jar????
Anyway, this episode was an absolute diamond, and goes down as my favourite in the entire lot of the new series, no questions asked. Steven Moffatt is a godsend to the Who scriptwriting team, and I'd certainly like to think he branches out into writing sci-fi novels one day; his warped, brilliant technique of cutting and pasting events, building suspense and throwing in twists is just what the New Who should be all about, says I.
It was one of those episodes where a top script, great editing and some top notch acting combined to really floor me by the time the credits rolled.
And you gotta love the bit about his "timey wimey" device being able to fry an egg at 30 paces, which is why you should steer clear of hens when using it. Very Douglas Adams.
Someone mentioned it reminded them of the Hinchcliffe era. Made me come over all sentimental like....

[Ickabod]

hmmmmm.......

Larry describes the house as "Scooby-Doo's house", a reference to the dilapidated mansions that the Scooby-Doo gang (Mystery Inc.) would usually visit. The BBC fact file notes that 1969, the year Martha, the Doctor and Billy are sent to, is the first year Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! aired.

The newspaper shown to Kathy in 1920 has the headline "Hull FC to play Hull Kingston Rovers", a reference to the two professional Rugby League teams in Hull.

Billy mentions that the windows of the TARDIS are the wrong size for a real police box. In 2004, when the first photographs of the new series' TARDIS prop were revealed, there was a vigorous discussion of the box's dimensions on the Outpost Gallifrey Doctor Who discussion forum, in which some fans complained that the prop's windows were too big. Writer Steven Moffat has confirmed that this line is an in-joke aimed at the Outpost Gallifrey forum.

The name of the dilapidated house, Wester Drumlins, is taken from a previous residence of Steven Moffat from the late 1990s.

Haven't seen it yet..... but looking forward to it

[Theta Sigma]

Like many others I read the short story which formed the basis of this episode, What I did on my Christmas Holidays by Sally Sparrow from the 2006 Annual and I loved it.

Was quite surprise when I found out that it became Blink on the TV series.

It is an excellent adaptation of the story. Like last year's Love and Monsters the Doctor only has a limited presence in it and Blink is a way better episode than that earlier episode. The suspense was gripping, the Weeping Angels very scary and it was funny when Larry was shocked that Sally only had 17 DVDs!

[Theta Sigma]

For those who do not know, the Funday Telegraph in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph is section for kids which includes comics and a schedule for the 7 day week which recommends programs on TV for kids to watch. In yesterday's Funday Telegraph it listed on the schedule for Saturday September 1, Blink.

This is the first time that the Funday Telegraph has recommended a Doctor Who episode and about time to.

Also Judy Adamson in the Sydney Morning Herald Guide has given it the thumbs up. She gives a description of the episode's plot and says at the end, "Love it."

[old_and_nu]

I've been watching Dr Who since Patrick Troughton was in the role, and, IMHO, this is one of the best episodes ever made. Well done (again) to Steven Moffat for an excellent piece of writing and to the cast for a particularly good performance, especially Carey Mulligan (Sally Sparrow).

There. Having said all those nice things, surely I could get a date with Carey now?

[montypython]

A great episode.

[KnottyEmily]

I loved it, another great story from Moffat. I loved the montage at the end with all of the statues around the city cut in with the Doctor saying "Don't blink. Blink and you're dead.Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good luck." That would've scared the kiddies

[montypython]

One question - when the Doctor told Sally "Look to your left", how did he know Lawrence was there? Was that in the transcript?

[Theta Sigma]

I am not sure.

Now that Blink has already been shown on the ABC, here is the link for Steven Moffat's original short story What I Did On My Christmas Holidays By Sally Sparrow:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/blink_annual.shtml

[Greg]

[kangamac]

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and voted excellent...

And I think the main reason for this is because it was a "Doctor-lite" story. I know the TV show is called Doctor Who, but there are times when I feel that the Doctor's presence - like his comments and actions - are rather overbearing and unwelcome.

To have him in the background, appearing as an enigma and then later directing the actions of others was a refreshing change and handled much better than it had been in the previous story. However, I do have one question - why must the "Doctor-lite" episode always be a single episode story. Why could it not be a part of a longer story?

And I finally encounter a new species that I want to learn more about. They were absolutely fascinating and very interesting. For me, they are one of the most original concepts I have seen in DW since either the Daleks or the Cybermen. Their potential is tremendous and I hope to see more of in later stories...

The only downside for me with this sory is the ending. I found it quite dsappointing and rushed. I would have much preferred to see them take their time and perhaps share a cuppa in a local cafe - especially considering all of the trouble that Sally went through on behalf of the time travellers...

Apart from that, I enjoyed the story - although I did find Martha to be extremely irritating on this outing. However, that is only a small matter when compared to all that was good about "Blink"...

[lodgey]

Poor.

This seems to be the second time I have disagreed with the majority here. The first was the incredibly woeful "Father's Day" from series 1 of the new Dr Who.

First, the Doctor hardly appeared. He had one major scene and that was about it, aside from the end, the rest of his scenes were just snippets from his big scene. I understand that it is possible to write good stories without the Doctor (Dr Who isn't the only show I watch), but if you are going to write a story that largely leaves out the title character, why are you writing Dr Who stories in the first place? It would be like watching "House" without Dr House.

The way the angels were presented was very inconsistent. The Doctor said they were extremely fast, and the speed they were able to empty the place where the TARDIS was held supports this, yet they seemed to slow down in the old house when trying to attack Sally and Lawrence.

I don't get how or why they didn't get Sally at the beginning of the episode, or how they failed to get Sally and Lawrence during the climax - 4 against 2. There was no way the could have watched all of them, yet the angels never seemed to think of sneaking up on the pair at any time.

The episode moved incredibly slowly. Over half way through while they were still trying to create suspense, I was saying "I get it, the creepy stone angel things are bad". The only person who could shed any light on the matter kept on getting turned off. Granted that in the course of the story it made sense to keep turning him off, but it seemed much more irritating than suspenseful.

Not completely without merit, the climax in the house wasn't bad if you could stretch your suspension of disbelief even further that is generally required of you in the show, but definitely a low point of the season.

The first half of this series was generally very good, although "The Shakespeare Code" wasn't brilliant it wasn't poor either. I enjoyed Gridlock, and even though the Daleks are starting to look a tad overused, I enjoyed that double episode as well. Here's hoping the rest of the season will pick back up again.

[Speckled Jim]

[ADAMK]

[Kaileena]

I loved this episode!!!

Mostly because it gave me the opportunity to freak out my youngest sister, but I think this 'Doctor-Lite' episode was pretty good. It was like the Doctor 'Guardian Angel' versus the Weeping Angel 'Demons'.

In a discussion with my dad, he compared Moffatt's (sp?) work to Stephen King with his scary twist on ordinary things. My sisters and brother have sworn off visiting cemeteries etc. because of this eppi!!

Rielly (youngest sis) was going to throw out this beautiful picture of an angel (which was weeping, but didn't have it's eyes covered) that I took in a cemetery in Perth! What a pansy! Anywho, moving on.

I thought the Doctors time-wimey ball thingie explanation was cute, but rather pathetic. I've heard better on video games (prince of persia games mostly, the two thrones, for example) The main character of those games alikened the passage of time to an stormy ocean; everything intermingling and moving back and forth and side to side. Rather effective, I thought.

I liked Billy Shipton, a great character for all of the 5 minutes he was there. And Lawrence was cool too. Did anybody else notice that when he met Sally properly, he covered 'himself' with an ashtray or somesuch, even though he was fully clothed! lol.

My theory on the whole weddings thing is this:

The Master is the Doctor Son!

If I'm wrong, I have a 'didn't-get-to-see-all-of-the-original-episodes' handicap!

But hey, I guessed a whole heap of other stuff about this season correctly. Two long-time members of the West Lodge (perth doctor who club) live in the next town over, so I was able to run a few theories by them.

Can't wait for the next few Episodes!!!!!!!!

Leena Out!

[kangamac]

"This seems to be the second time I have disagreed with the majority here. The first was the incredibly woeful "Father's Day" from series 1 of the new Dr Who."

Well, we can't all like exactly the same things for exactly the same reason. If we did, what would be left to discuss on a message board?

"First, the Doctor hardly appeared."

That was what I liked about this story. I think DT would be more effective with less screen time per story - or at least for many of them. In fct, this current incarnation appears, the better. He is overbearing and I find his behaviour and mannerisms spoil many aspects of an otherwise sound story.

"He had one major scene and that was about it, aside from the end, the rest of his scenes were just snippets from his big scene."

It's not the quantity but the quality that counts sometimes.

"I understand that it is possible to write good stories without the Doctor (Dr Who isn't the only show I watch), but if you are going to write a story that largely leaves out the title character, why are you writing Dr Who stories in the first place?"

In the early years of the original TV series, there were episodes where the Doctor or a companion may not have apeared at all. Mind you, as they were making twice as much DW back then compared to now, they had a good reason...

"It would be like watching "House" without Dr House."

Which would still be quite fine if the story was a good one. House is not the only character in the TV series. Provded he made an appearance at some pooint, I'd have no complaints.

"The way the angels were presented was very inconsistent. The Doctor said they were extremely fast, and the speed they were able to empty the place where the TARDIS was held supports this, yet they seemed to slow down in the old house when trying to attack Sally and Lawrence."

Well, the angels had to make sur that they did not see each other - as well as making sure that Sally and Lawrence did not see them either.

"I don't get how or why they didn't get Sally at the beginning of the episode, or how they failed to get Sally and Lawrence during the climax - 4 against 2. There was no way the could have watched all of them, yet the angels never seemed to think of sneaking up on the pair at any time."

Again, because there was more than one angel present at the climax, they had to make sure they did not see each other as well.

"The episode moved incredibly slowly."

Again this is yet another bonus. Although to be honest, it still did not move slow enough. Watch "The Time Meddler" - now that is a perfect paced story for me.

"Over half way through while they were still trying to create suspense, I was saying "I get it, the creepy stone angel things are bad". The only person who could shed any light on the matter kept on getting turned off. Granted that in the course of the story it made sense to keep turning him off, but it seemed much more irritating than suspenseful."

Again, the Doctor's presence in the background - rather than front and centre - was a relief. I found him much more effective that way.

However, in the end, it is a case of each to their own.

[kangamac]

[kangamac]