I agree with the comments on this page.I thought Tennant was too lightweight at first but last night he really showed some acting-chops.He was very subtle and quite moving.Good work David.
I think this series is getting better and better. Can I now say, I think David Tennant is a better Doctor than Eccelston? He has far more emotion, and is far more fun. Yes, Eccelston had his moments of humour and dancing etc, but this Doctor is far more "up for it" and far more likely to make a tit of himself. He's also, ultimately, more hyperactive.
I don't think he grounds the series as much as Eccleston did- he had a great gravitas which Tennant doesn't quite have; but equally he was never at home with the humour which is a very big part of the Doctor and Tennant has just about the best comic timing around. If you could combine the two you'd have the greatest ever, but I'm more than happy with David- he's a big star.
The BBC's Doctor Who and Bleak House have triumphed at the British Academy Television Awards.
They each won two awards at the London ceremony, including best drama series for Doctor Who, and best drama serial.
Doctor Who's Billie Piper, who plays the Time Lord's sidekick Rose Tyler, accepted the award for best drama series on stage with a dalek.
The BBC One programme also took the Pioneer Audience Award, which was voted for by TV viewers, which Piper described as "a treat".
Speaking afterwards, Doctor Who writer Russell T Davis said: "It's lovely, it's gobsmacking, it's a programme that children watch and the family watch."
The BBC's Charles Dickens adaptation Bleak House, which had been nominated in four categories, also claimed the best actress award thanks to Anna Maxwell Martin's performance.
She beat fellow Bleak House star Gillian Anderson to the prize.
"I never expected to win," Maxwell Martin said after collecting her award.
"I didn't particularly want to beat Gillian Anderson. I think she's the most worthy of all of us in that particular category and obviously she's an incredible actress."
The Rdaio Times always seems to have the best Doctor Who stuff to me. And the sticker collection - something for me to waste my money on. )
Relax darling, I'm on top of the situation -{
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,749Chief of Staff
Tonight's episode - oh dear, what went wrong ?:)
Easily the worst of the series so far, although it did have some good acting to keep me interested. I suppose this episode suffered from two-part syndrome, where nothing really happens in part one.
Have to say that I hate what they have done with the Cybermen. Whilst updating the Daleks worked perfectly, they didn't tinker too much, this new version of the Cybermen just didn't work for me.
Indeed. I have a funny feeling they might feature in my dreams tonight. Despite their minimal on screen time tonight, they really did make the most of what they had. Swathes of Cybermen marching across the lawn, kicking their way through French windows... Quite an impact. They really are visually very impressive, just stunning to look at.
I think Tennant is brilliant, quite simply. The chemistry between him and Billie, and the other recurring characters, is just as complete as it was with Eccelston, if not more so. Great performance from Roger Lloyd-Pack though! I heard that he was only in a wheelchair because he broke his leg just before filming, but having him "able bodied" would have had far less of an impact.
Can't help but look at tonight's episode though, and see the full horror of Blair's ideal Britain
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,749Chief of Staff
Great performance from Roger Lloyd-Pack though! I heard that he was only in a wheelchair because he broke his leg just before filming, but having him "able bodied" would have had far less of an impact.
I caught some interview he did on the radio and he said that his character was always written to be in wheelchair, so when he broke his ankle he wasn't too bothered - who knows for sure though ?
I thought Roger's performance was outstanding also - though, for me, the rest was pretty poor. The Cybermen just didn't live up to my expectations and most of the dialogue was, for once in this series, forgettable. The only great line being "DELETE".
It certainly wasn't as good as last week's episode, but it was still strong.
It's funny, but the quality of the episode for me at the moment revolves around whether Billie Piper is having a successful attempt at acting. And it all seemed a bit hit and miss tonight. Certainly she didn't seem to have been given as believeable a brief this time around and her obsession with seeing her father pushes her character a little too far.
Nevertheless, Mickey is coming into his own in this series ...
Regarding the cybermen ... I rather like their makeover (after all it is a parallel dimension) although you never see more than about 12 in shot at any one time which was very "old Dr Who".
It was too slow though as a part one ... they could have developed the time vortex plot line a little more ...
Do you think so? You didn't think he might have been a little OTT? Just a bit?
For me; no. This all seemed a bit rubbish and a bit CBBC (alternate Mickey's big character difference being that he scowls. And that's it)- the Cybermen are superb but nothing else seemed as polished (ho ho!).
I can't believe some of the stuff they get away with in this show.The shots of the factory with the screams was genuinely unsettling.I think it was a smart move not to CGI the Cybermen.
FelixLeiter ♀Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
I thought I'd be far more impressed by this episode than I actually was. It was difinitely too slow, though I did enjoy seeing the Cybermen smash through the windows. :v
Roger Loyd-Pack was also brilliant - sorry for him about his ankle. But I thought he was absolutely fantastic. Hopefully next week's episode will show more of the Cybermen. In this episode, for me, there just wasn't enough.
Hmm, have to day I've gone off this series but I guess that's just me. I can't really believe in Tennant as the Doctor, he lacks gravitas... all that power struggle between him and Rose and sulky Mickey is like an episode of Hollyoaks, and every episode seems rushed and gimmicky.
I thought I'd be far more impressed by this episode than I actually was. It was difinitely too slow, though I did enjoy seeing the Cybermen smash through the windows. :v
Roger Loyd-Pack was also brilliant - sorry for him about his ankle. But I thought he was absolutely fantastic. Hopefully next week's episode will show more of the Cybermen. In this episode, for me, there just wasn't enough.
By the looks of Blue Peter last night it seems there will loads of them taking over the world!
FelixLeiter ♀Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
Oh good. I'll join 'em! :v )
Relax darling, I'm on top of the situation -{
FelixLeiter ♀Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
To quote the text I just sent my mate 'Bludey Hell! That was good!' I won't tell you the rest but... :v
I thought that was far far better than the last episode. There were Cybermen jumping out at you everywhere!
And Mickey! I can't believe he left them! Why? I like him this series! He's only in four episodes and last series when I didn't like him he wouldn't stop appearing. ) Oh why oh why?
But the Cybermen rocked! They so totally rocked and were far scarier than the Daleks.
Wait. Mickey is still with the series in the second season? Why? I've been watching episodes here and there of the first season er series er whatever and I can't understand why he keeps popping up when Rose keeps treating him like used spare kleenex. Have some pride man, stop whining about how she done you wrong and dump her already!
It took some time but I finally warmed to Ecclestone's Dr, and I thoroughly enjoyed him in the episode I watched last night "Boom Town" because he spent most of the time interacting with that very interesting and superbly acted Mayor Alien. But the rest of trhe scenes and his crew -- they're on a completely different and lower level. I've yet to warm up to any of them and the stuff with Mickey and Rose is like a bad slice of Eastenders. So why is it still going on?
I'm with ya, MBE. I watched "Boom Town" myself last night, and I just cringed every time Mickey was on the screen. Also, though I like Eccleston, I was a little bothered by his chummy nature around his companions (e.g., Jack saying of Mickey and Rose's hug, "Why don't I ever get any of that?" and the Doctor replying, "Well, come up here!")--in the past the Doctor always seemed to be several levels above his companions, not someone who'd hoist a pint with them and enjoy a good laugh.
By the bye, I got my local TV guide with my newspaper this morning, and it indicates Sci Fi Channel will be showing a couple of movies next Friday night, and not Doctor Who. The ep is supposed to be "Bad Wolf," with Anne Robinson providing the voice of a robot game show host, and I'd hate to think SFC would be pulling something that intriguing for a couple of their lousy movies!
EDIT: Just checked Sci Fi Channel's website, and "Bad Wolf" is scheduled for June 2. Too long to wait, I says!
I just checked the online TV Guide listings and the next new Dr. Who "Bad Wolf" is listed for June 2nd. So yes it's being bumped for one of the risible Sci Fi "original" TV movies.
Someone please explain to me how Sci Fi as a channel can produce the excellent "Battlestar Gallactica" series (but so dark I have trouble making it a mainstay) and yet still produce the worst imaginable TV movies and Mini-Series (what they did to Earthsea should be considered a crime!).
By the bye, I got my local TV guide with my newspaper this morning, and it indicates Sci Fi Channel will be showing a couple of movies next Friday night, and not Doctor Who. The ep is supposed to be "Bad Wolf," with Anne Robinson providing the voice of a robot game show host, and I'd hate to think SFC would be pulling something that intriguing for a couple of their lousy movies!
EDIT: Just checked Sci Fi Channel's website, and "Bad Wolf" is scheduled for June 2. Too long to wait, I says!
Ooh- those two are crackers; I'd forgotten that Anne Robinson and the Weakest Link will actually make sense in the US: I remember being quite taken aback when I saw her face looking down at me from the billboards in Times Square! But yes- be prepared for some fireworks when you get to see them!
Believe it or not I ended up actually preferring Mickey this season- something's gone a little awry with Rose so far this series: whereas her faults made her human in the first series they've been pretty much all we've seen of her this year which has made her a little annoying. Mickey on the other hand has actually been working out for himself just what you said- he's been getting annoyed at being a spare part and has taken matters into his own hands!
Ooh- those two are crackers; I'd forgotten that Anne Robinson and the Weakest Link will actually make sense in the US: I remember being quite taken aback when I saw her face looking down at me from the billboards in Times Square! But yes- be prepared for some fireworks when you get to see them!
Yep--Anne Robinson had her 15 minutes of fame here, and for a while "You are the weakest link!" was a catchphrase. As so often happens, though, the novelty of Weakest Link soon wore off, the show was cancelled, and Ms. R was packed off to England, grumbling that the show didn't make it in the U.S. because we Yanks are just too stupid for it. (Never mind that Jeopardy! is one of the most popular--and arguably the smartest--game show in the country.) And, unfortunately, I know what the big surprise is in "Bad Wolf," since I tend to check the BBC site from time to time. Stupid me.
Speaking of the Beeb's website, I couldn't help but notice a lot of people here expressed disappointment with "Rise of the Cybermen," so I hope "The Age of Steel" is better. I'm rooting for it because I LOVE the look of the new Cybies: far more traditional than the fat-faced, glass-chinned group from the 1980s; no more tinfoil pajamas; and those voices are just creepy. "You will become like us"--infinitely more terrifying than "Exterminate! Exterminate!"
Yep--Anne Robinson had her 15 minutes of fame here, and for a while "You are the weakest link!" was a catchphrase. As so often happens, though, the novelty of Weakest Link soon wore off, the show was cancelled, and Ms. R was packed off to England, grumbling that the show didn't make it in the U.S. because we Yanks are just too stupid for it. (Never mind that Jeopardy! is one of the most popular--and arguably the smartest--game show in the country.) And, unfortunately, I know what the big surprise is in "Bad Wolf," since I tend to check the BBC site from time to time. Stupid me.
Indeed; bless her- it's still grinding on here but not at the same level of a couple of years ago. Who Wants to be a Millionaire's still going too- must be about eight or nine years now. The other shows lampooned in Bad Wolf are a bit more Brit-centric, I'm afraid. Of course you have your Big Brother, but it's the UK version with its
logo, theme music and presenter you'll hear (very graciously lent to the BBC by one of our other channels).
As for the surprise, didn't the next time trailer in Boom Town spoil it? Spoilt it for me, anyway!
Speaking of the Beeb's website, I couldn't help but notice a lot of people here expressed disappointment with "Rise of the Cybermen," so I hope "The Age of Steel" is better. I'm rooting for it because I LOVE the look of the new Cybies: far more traditional than the fat-faced, glass-chinned group from the 1980s; no more tinfoil pajamas; and those voices are just creepy. "You will become like us"--infinitely more terrifying than "Exterminate! Exterminate!"
I wasn't a big fan of 'Rise'- bit clunky in places, but 'Age of Steel' romps along- it's extremely exciting (if cheesy!), although the resolution of the cliffhanger is very disappointing, I'm afraid. But a lot of it is taken straight from Hollywood blockbusters and it really feels epic. And the Cybermen are scarier than ever before- mostly because we see the fear of being turned into them. Especially when (weeny spoilerette!) one of our favourite characters gets turned into one! The stuff of a few nightmares tonight, I'll wager!
And the Cybermen are scarier than ever before- mostly because we see the fear of being turned into them. Especially when (weeny spoilerette!) one of our favourite characters gets turned into one! The stuff of a few nightmares tonight, I'll wager!
Oops--I was just on a "Who" discussion thread and I guess I found out who bites it. Can't say I'm that disappointed, though. Anyway, here's something I found on that thread that I think everyone here will appreciate:
Oh, and before I sign off--MBE, I know what you're saying about Sci Fi Channel's original movies. What they did to Philip Jose Farmer's brilliant Riverworld novels is nothing short of criminal!
I SO HATE ITV so I already own tnd on dvd sorry :007) i'll be watchin the doctor
FelixLeiter ♀Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
The Doctor's always right. But one thing I convinced my cousin of is that if he eats an apple everyday, there still is that tiny chance the Doctor might stop by.
One of my criticisms of the new DW,apart from the obvious fact that they never seem to visit other planets anymore,is the tendancy to make the monsters more human.I'm not interested in the origin of the cyberman.I don't want to feel sorry for them.I just want them to be evil and scary.Same with the Daleks.
FelixLeiter ♀Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
One of my criticisms of the new DW,apart from the obvious fact that they never seem to visit other planets anymore,is the tendancy to make the monsters more human.I'm not interested in the origin of the cyberman.I don't want to feel sorry for them.I just want them to be evil and scary.Same with the Daleks.
Sort of missing the reason they're scary. You can be turned into one of them just because of your mobile phone- that's the scary bit. It's not just that those big silver meanies are coming for you; it's that they might make you like them.
One of my criticisms of the new DW,apart from the obvious fact that they never seem to visit other planets anymore,is the tendancy to make the monsters more human.I'm not interested in the origin of the cyberman.I don't want to feel sorry for them.I just want them to be evil and scary.Same with the Daleks.
Sort of missing the reason they're scary. You can be turned into one of them just because of your mobile phone- that's the scary bit. It's not just that those big silver meanies are coming for you; it's that they might make you like them.
I see your point but I don't think too much exposition is always neccesary.It's like the zombies in the George Romero films.They never actually explained why people started coming back to life*.They just did and it's creepy.
*There was a brief mention of a space-probe in NOTLD as a 'possible' part-explanation but they never expanded on it or mentioned it again.
Comments
I don't think he grounds the series as much as Eccleston did- he had a great gravitas which Tennant doesn't quite have; but equally he was never at home with the humour which is a very big part of the Doctor and Tennant has just about the best comic timing around. If you could combine the two you'd have the greatest ever, but I'm more than happy with David- he's a big star.
The BBC's Doctor Who and Bleak House have triumphed at the British Academy Television Awards.
They each won two awards at the London ceremony, including best drama series for Doctor Who, and best drama serial.
Doctor Who's Billie Piper, who plays the Time Lord's sidekick Rose Tyler, accepted the award for best drama series on stage with a dalek.
The BBC One programme also took the Pioneer Audience Award, which was voted for by TV viewers, which Piper described as "a treat".
Speaking afterwards, Doctor Who writer Russell T Davis said: "It's lovely, it's gobsmacking, it's a programme that children watch and the family watch."
The BBC's Charles Dickens adaptation Bleak House, which had been nominated in four categories, also claimed the best actress award thanks to Anna Maxwell Martin's performance.
She beat fellow Bleak House star Gillian Anderson to the prize.
"I never expected to win," Maxwell Martin said after collecting her award.
"I didn't particularly want to beat Gillian Anderson. I think she's the most worthy of all of us in that particular category and obviously she's an incredible actress."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/05/08/31886.shtml
The Rdaio Times always seems to have the best Doctor Who stuff to me.
Easily the worst of the series so far, although it did have some good acting to keep me interested. I suppose this episode suffered from two-part syndrome, where nothing really happens in part one.
Have to say that I hate what they have done with the Cybermen. Whilst updating the Daleks worked perfectly, they didn't tinker too much, this new version of the Cybermen just didn't work for me.
I hope part two is much better.
Indeed. I have a funny feeling they might feature in my dreams tonight. Despite their minimal on screen time tonight, they really did make the most of what they had. Swathes of Cybermen marching across the lawn, kicking their way through French windows... Quite an impact. They really are visually very impressive, just stunning to look at.
I think Tennant is brilliant, quite simply. The chemistry between him and Billie, and the other recurring characters, is just as complete as it was with Eccelston, if not more so. Great performance from Roger Lloyd-Pack though! I heard that he was only in a wheelchair because he broke his leg just before filming, but having him "able bodied" would have had far less of an impact.
Can't help but look at tonight's episode though, and see the full horror of Blair's ideal Britain
I caught some interview he did on the radio and he said that his character was always written to be in wheelchair, so when he broke his ankle he wasn't too bothered - who knows for sure though ?
I thought Roger's performance was outstanding also - though, for me, the rest was pretty poor. The Cybermen just didn't live up to my expectations and most of the dialogue was, for once in this series, forgettable. The only great line being "DELETE".
It's funny, but the quality of the episode for me at the moment revolves around whether Billie Piper is having a successful attempt at acting. And it all seemed a bit hit and miss tonight. Certainly she didn't seem to have been given as believeable a brief this time around and her obsession with seeing her father pushes her character a little too far.
Nevertheless, Mickey is coming into his own in this series ...
Regarding the cybermen ... I rather like their makeover (after all it is a parallel dimension) although you never see more than about 12 in shot at any one time which was very "old Dr Who".
It was too slow though as a part one ... they could have developed the time vortex plot line a little more ...
Do you think so? You didn't think he might have been a little OTT? Just a bit?
For me; no. This all seemed a bit rubbish and a bit CBBC (alternate Mickey's big character difference being that he scowls. And that's it)- the Cybermen are superb but nothing else seemed as polished (ho ho!).
Roger Loyd-Pack was also brilliant - sorry for him about his ankle. But I thought he was absolutely fantastic. Hopefully next week's episode will show more of the Cybermen.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
By the looks of Blue Peter last night it seems there will loads of them taking over the world!
I thought that was far far better than the last episode. There were Cybermen jumping out at you everywhere!
And Mickey! I can't believe he left them! Why?
But the Cybermen rocked!
It took some time but I finally warmed to Ecclestone's Dr, and I thoroughly enjoyed him in the episode I watched last night "Boom Town" because he spent most of the time interacting with that very interesting and superbly acted Mayor Alien. But the rest of trhe scenes and his crew -- they're on a completely different and lower level. I've yet to warm up to any of them and the stuff with Mickey and Rose is like a bad slice of Eastenders. So why is it still going on?
MBE
By the bye, I got my local TV guide with my newspaper this morning, and it indicates Sci Fi Channel will be showing a couple of movies next Friday night, and not Doctor Who. The ep is supposed to be "Bad Wolf," with Anne Robinson providing the voice of a robot game show host, and I'd hate to think SFC would be pulling something that intriguing for a couple of their lousy movies!
EDIT: Just checked Sci Fi Channel's website, and "Bad Wolf" is scheduled for June 2. Too long to wait, I says!
Someone please explain to me how Sci Fi as a channel can produce the excellent "Battlestar Gallactica" series (but so dark I have trouble making it a mainstay) and yet still produce the worst imaginable TV movies and Mini-Series (what they did to Earthsea should be considered a crime!).
MBE
Ooh- those two are crackers; I'd forgotten that Anne Robinson and the Weakest Link will actually make sense in the US: I remember being quite taken aback when I saw her face looking down at me from the billboards in Times Square! But yes- be prepared for some fireworks when you get to see them!
Believe it or not I ended up actually preferring Mickey this season- something's gone a little awry with Rose so far this series: whereas her faults made her human in the first series they've been pretty much all we've seen of her this year which has made her a little annoying. Mickey on the other hand has actually been working out for himself just what you said- he's been getting annoyed at being a spare part and has taken matters into his own hands!
Yep--Anne Robinson had her 15 minutes of fame here, and for a while "You are the weakest link!" was a catchphrase. As so often happens, though, the novelty of Weakest Link soon wore off, the show was cancelled, and Ms. R was packed off to England, grumbling that the show didn't make it in the U.S. because we Yanks are just too stupid for it. (Never mind that Jeopardy! is one of the most popular--and arguably the smartest--game show in the country.) And, unfortunately, I know what the big surprise is in "Bad Wolf," since I tend to check the BBC site from time to time. Stupid me.
Speaking of the Beeb's website, I couldn't help but notice a lot of people here expressed disappointment with "Rise of the Cybermen," so I hope "The Age of Steel" is better. I'm rooting for it because I LOVE the look of the new Cybies: far more traditional than the fat-faced, glass-chinned group from the 1980s; no more tinfoil pajamas; and those voices are just creepy. "You will become like us"--infinitely more terrifying than "Exterminate! Exterminate!"
Indeed; bless her- it's still grinding on here but not at the same level of a couple of years ago. Who Wants to be a Millionaire's still going too- must be about eight or nine years now. The other shows lampooned in Bad Wolf are a bit more Brit-centric, I'm afraid. Of course you have your Big Brother, but it's the UK version with its
logo, theme music and presenter you'll hear (very graciously lent to the BBC by one of our other channels).
As for the surprise, didn't the next time trailer in Boom Town spoil it? Spoilt it for me, anyway!
I wasn't a big fan of 'Rise'- bit clunky in places, but 'Age of Steel' romps along- it's extremely exciting (if cheesy!), although the resolution of the cliffhanger is very disappointing, I'm afraid. But a lot of it is taken straight from Hollywood blockbusters and it really feels epic. And the Cybermen are scarier than ever before- mostly because we see the fear of being turned into them. Especially when (weeny spoilerette!) one of our favourite characters gets turned into one! The stuff of a few nightmares tonight, I'll wager!
Oops--I was just on a "Who" discussion thread and I guess I found out who bites it. Can't say I'm that disappointed, though. Anyway, here's something I found on that thread that I think everyone here will appreciate:
Oh, and before I sign off--MBE, I know what you're saying about Sci Fi Channel's original movies. What they did to Philip Jose Farmer's brilliant Riverworld novels is nothing short of criminal!
Sort of missing the reason they're scary. You can be turned into one of them just because of your mobile phone- that's the scary bit. It's not just that those big silver meanies are coming for you; it's that they might make you like them.
I see your point but I don't think too much exposition is always neccesary.It's like the zombies in the George Romero films.They never actually explained why people started coming back to life*.They just did and it's creepy.
*There was a brief mention of a space-probe in NOTLD as a 'possible' part-explanation but they never expanded on it or mentioned it again.