Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Greg]

So, back in time - and a bit of a repeat of the Doctor saying they've arrived in one city when it turns out they are in another.

I don't know - there was something missing from this episode. The actual main storyline seemed to be glossed over and some possibly amusing character pieces and confrontations took centre stage. The Pyrovilians were actually goof looking monsters, but they were only ever on-screen for short periods and generally seemed ineffective when they were. (Mind you, there name appears to simply be 'fire villains', which is more lazy naming!)

The conflict between the Doctor and his companion over trying to save the inhabitants of Pompeii is a throw back to the very early days of the series, and resembles a similar discussion in The Fires of Vulcan (a Big Finish audio set at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius - and of course Captain Jack referred to 'Volcano Day' back in The Doctor Dances. However, given how emotionally juicy such a conflict could be, the story doesn't play it for what it is worth. The two don't really argue it out, and it's only Donna looking really sad that gets him to go back and save the family. (And even there Catherine Tate does a lesser job than either of her predecessors in the new series, either of whom would have managed tears!)

We only occasionally get to see glimpses of the man who could condemn both sides of the Time War to destruction, and here was one. The Doctor condemning 20,000 people to death (and, I guess, the genocide of the Pyrovilians). And yet this decision is undermined by the Doctor and Donna smiling at each other, as if they had achieved something good.

Overall, there was a good story here, trying to get out. Sadly, the writing concentrated on the less good parts and we're left with something that should have been better.

[Sulp Niar]

Wait... Donna was in tears for practically the last fifteen minutes, wasn't she?

I haven't yet listened to 'The Fires of Vulcan', so this probably was more impressive to me than it should have been. I think maybe that's the thing with the New Series; it seems like an old-hat argument to us, but really it's as revolutionary to a New Series audience as it was to us watching 'The Aztecs' (or, in a more complicated way, reading 'Interference'). Personally I thought it worked really well.

Barring a few slightly OTT and over-emotional moments, it was well-acted and well-scored (different eerie music! Hooray!). The Doctor and Donna are - yes, I openly admit it - fun. Very fun. They're also compelling because they're at such opposite ends of personality (I could believe Donna's decision in this story, but only cos it was Donna; had it been a previous companion I wouldn't. Like how Evelyn's sudden decision in '100' to - er, no spoilers... - was rather unlikely).


And this 50 mins structure really does allow for more thorough and complex storylines, I reckon. There's a fair few characters in this one.

Overall I thought it was good. Certainly it had far more genuine heart and impetus than, say, 'The Shakespeare Code', even if it's occasionally a bit too much. So, a "Good" rating for me (very very very close to "Great" though).

[Greg]

[Panecea]

This episode is light years ahead of last week. This very nearly did earn a great from me. Donna actiually does have some emotional range. Story was a little more complex than I expected.

[Dazza]

Phew...........series is back on track.

Very enjoyable episode.

[meglos]

Great. Donna is great, David Tennant is great. Donna having something on her back is one to watch out for if the rumours are true . And I think I spotted a Fawlty Towers reference

[dave]

Loved this episode. Looked great, lots of funny lines, and I thought it was well-acted. Just amazing stuff.

[Hiruma]

I enjoyed this episode. It appears like they spent some money on the setting and always like it when the language question arises in Dr Who. And now we know if they do use the native tongue, it sounds likely something completely different.

The CGI Monsters seemed quite 'hot'. I felt sorry for the Sisterhood, their original purpose had been corrupted by these new aliens. They also reminded me a lot of the Sisters of Karn (old series). I felt a strange sense of deja vu the whole episode.

All in all, not a bad episode. Next weeks episode has the potential to be great.

[Davros]

[KnottyEmily]

Is this the first time in the new series that we've been taken back to an actual event in this way? I can't think of another time when the Doctor has been unable to do anything because the event is fixed, and the event wasn't fictional. Of course, my memory could just be failing me

Anyway, I really enjoyed it. It was definitely miles ahead of Partners In Crime, and it looked great. I especially liked the Doctor's little speech about how he sees the universe, Tennant's acting never disappoints me.

[Tegan]

It started just a little bit "Carry On Up Pompeii" but quickly got over that and became a rather nice story.

Donna has thankfully been written as a real person, not as she was in the Runaway Bride which looked to me like a second banana in some kind of panto.

I liked the concept of the Pyrovile and the dilemma that the Doctor found himself confronted with. A much meatier story than last week.

Donna looks like she'll be a much needed conscience for the Doctor, and I'm happy to say I underestimated Catherine Tate in the role based on TRB.

[FredDag]

I was really impressed with this story. It's got a lot of meaty stuff in it, pity it wasn't too parts as there was so much more to explore. Secretly I'd like most of the new series to be in two parts, but gotta go with what we have and what works.

Anyway Donna is proving to be a brilliant companion, those who say Catherine Tate can't act beyond comedy probably haven't seen this episode yet as she does a great job of the sad emotions. She actually looked extremely torn and deeply and I mean deeply sad about the events taking place in Pompeii. After seeing this story I say, pity she'll only be around for 1 season.

Only thing that I get frustrated about is the limited time CGI sequences as shown on the screen. I guess this is because of the budget. I read in a DWM that the production team pay for a limited amount of on screen CG special effects, so I guess that's why. Though I thoughtt this ep looks like it almost had the budget of a Hollywood movie (apart from the limited GGI). Overall a very impressive 45 mins.

[feez]

Where's all the threads for the rest of S4 episodes. Most of the titles have been released and I'm suprised this forum isn't alight with theories and speculation about each and every one of them.

[Greg]

[feez]

Yeh I know. Just been away from the site for so long I felt a bit apprehensive about swinging in and starting new threads. Just wanted to check out the banter.

[Ohica]

This was the first ep I saw and I loved it. I love the Doctor and Donna together. They are good partners. She's up for anything but still has a big heart and loads of compassion. I think they are really going to thrash this "Donna keeping the doctor [human] on track" theme. Well, anything is better than the "unrequited love and loneliness" themes of the last 2 years. I was really getting sick of that. I think there will be more fun in this season.

I"m so glad that Donna made the Doctor go back for those people. I was disappointed in him then. He would have done that himself once,and now he's a hard old heartsless cynic. I hope that doesn't get worse. I think Donna will give him a new lease of life. He needs to do some serious chilling out.

[Ickabod]

[Theta Sigma]

This is James Moran's first Doctor Who episode and the second for the Whoniverse after the season 2 Torchwood episode Sleeper. Interestingly enough both episodes were the second episodes in their respective seasons.
The Big Finish audio story The Fires of Vulcan also had the (Seventh) Doctor and companion (Mel) visiting Pompeii at the time of the volcanic eruption. I am glad that The Fires of Pompeii does not appear to contradict the audio story.
Maybe that is why the Tenth Doctor was so anxious to get out of Pompeii the moment he knew where he was - trying to avoid meeting the Seventh Doctor perhaps.
Quite funny with both the Doctor and Donna each calling themselves Spartacus.
Quite a shocking moment seeing Lucius' arm made out of stone.
Donna looked really good in that purple toga.
So funny seeing the Doctor using a water pistol.
Quite interesting that it was the Doctor who caused Mount Vesuvius to erupt.
Glad the Doctor saved the family that he and Donna had met in an emotional moment seeing the end of Pompeii.
Laughed when I saw the Doctor, Donna and the TARDIS on the stone carving at the end.