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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

The Doctor's US debut

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Kali, Queen of Kitteh

18:06 / 20.03.06

Ah...Doctor Who. I remember it in the vaguest way from my childhood; lots of rubbery masks and indecipherable meaning. But I think of it fondly.

I got my first taste of the brand new Doctor this past Friday on Sci Fi channel.

My take: I enjoyed it a good deal. I like Chris Eccleston in the role and am unhappy to hear he won't reprise it. Nonetheless, though the effects were still slightly cheesy--an intended homage to the older series?--I found it engaging, funny, and worth tuning in for.

I understand you guys in the UK are in the second season and I am curious to know how the 10th Doctor is working out. (What was the deal with Eccleston leaving, by the way?)

Any other US folks catch this?

18:31 / 20.03.06

I saw it as well and I enjoyed it quite a lot. My memories of Dr. Who are similar to yours though with jelly babies and the multi-colored scarf. I look forward to more episodes. Did they switch the Doctors for Season 2 as a homage to the many Doctors of the classic show?

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

18:35 / 20.03.06

Oh, the scarf!! I remember the scarf! And also, there was an episode with giant spiders, wasn't there?

The rumor that I heard was that Chris Eccleston didn't want to become a celebrity and therefore quit. But um, isn't he already a celebrity?

Mister Six, whom all the girls

19:52 / 20.03.06

Season 2 has not started yet but Tennant has been in a brief 'skit' for Children in Need and a Christmas Special which got lots of coverage on our own lil 'lith.

Not really enough to judge him on yet, but I like him.

I've yet to hear a clear reason for Eccleston's departure. At first the rumor was the work was too much for him but he himself angrily debunked that. The 'I didn't want to be a celebrity' line doesn't really ring true with me, to be honest. I suspect it was similar to Peter Davison's reasons... the scripts.

Don't let what I have to say color the way you watch the series but I think Eccleston was a weird fit for the role. I enjoy his portrayal of the Doctor and think he brought LOTS to the program... but it often feels like he's going one way and the show is going the other.

I dunno... maybe it's just me.

In any case his run is very strong and his finale very well done. My other feeling on his departure was that it was planned to get as many original series concepts into the first series as possible (except for visiting an alien planet for some reason). We may never know.

Welcome to the new Who!

Keep watching, tell yer friends and enjoy.

20:56 / 20.03.06

I think Eccleston always planned to do just one series, perhaps thinking that the show would only last that long, perhaps he was keen not to become trapped in an ongoing TV role - the BBC's attempt to shield the programme from harm once it became public that Ecclestone was leaving muddied the waters in an extremely unhelpful way for all concerned...

But, yes YAY for Dr Who being on in the US. I'm very excited that people will get to see this on TV over there now, although many people have by now watched it through the wonders of bittorrent... I kind of hoped that it would have been picked up by a more family orientated channel, but i guess that was supremely unlikely. And I guess there is a lot more attention on the Sci Fi channel in the US these days in the wake of the success of Battlestar Galactica... In the UK the Sci Fi channel is is a far more marginal channel that doesn't even have access to programming part comissioned by its US sister channel...

Mister Six, whom all the girls

23:18 / 20.03.06

I think it'll be quite succesful on Sci-Fi. I've heard a few viewers reference that it appeals to fans of Farscape and while Battlestar is amazing, it does not fill the void left by Farscape.

Dr Who, with its quirky ideas and bizarre visuals certainly will tickle that Farscape fan fancy while offering something quite new.

I think it's a great strength of the new series that it doesn't rely upon knowledge of the 63-89 program but at the same time welcomes back fans of the original series.

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

16:51 / 21.03.06

I quite enjoy Eccleston's Doctor as he seems to be a bit inept, very quirky, and not the least bit concerned with any danger at hand unless it will affect him (or seemingly, Rose) personally. And though my childhood memories are cloudy, he does seem to be a Doctor that's easy on the eyes.

I definitely plan on watching this run on Sci Fi until its conclusion, but also look forward to seeing more current episodes as well.

And I'm so behind on Battlestar, it's a damn shame.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

16:52 / 21.03.06

Christopher Ecclestone has habit of doing mainly drama serials and one-offs, such as Our Friends in the North and The Second Coming, he likes his freedom and doesn't want to be typecast in a role, although he seems to overlook that he always plays mouthy Northerners. His character was killed off early in the second series of Cracker for much the same reason.

However, the last thing I saw him doing was Jackanory on kids telly, so he might regret giving up Doctor Who...

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

17:13 / 21.03.06

I know! He's such a well-known face in British cinema, I found the whole idea of his reluctance to continue to play the Doctor because of possible celebrity rather ridiculous.

I have to admit, though, I don't mind the Lancashire accent in the least.

Mister Six, whom all the girls

12:27 / 23.03.06

On that note... Dead Rings special

I cracked a single smile during it, but if you're in the US, it's a neat thing.

Oh and browse youtube.com for lots more... of anything including the XMAS Invasion... but don't watch it if you've not seen all of season one. It's just not a good idea.

13:20 / 23.03.06

I grew up in the US but have lived in the UK for the last 18 years. I was a total newcomer to Dr Who until seeing the first season last year. My knowledge of any previous encarnations was limited and I thoroughly LOVED this Dr. Who.

For me the entertainment works on so many levels. The Doctor, while a familiar face on tv, works the Russell T. Davies script so well.

Rose Tyler is finally a pre-teen role model who is not a trampy slag (the best ones of those right now are from Footballers Wives!)

I dont mind losing Christopher Eccleston after just one year because I wanted to catch up with everyone else and see what this re-generation stuff was all about. I cried in the Christmas season finale!

Russell T. Davies is well known for other well written and entertaining televison dramas such as, Queer as Folk, Mine All Mine, and Cassanova. It is from Cassanova (also worth a good look)that we get the next Doctor, David Tennant. I saw the Children in Need little teaser and I CANT wait for the second season to start.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

20:26 / 23.03.06

Sex is not the enemy, though it's made entirely of spoilers for people coming to the series fresh on the Sci-fi channel.

21:00 / 23.03.06

Your right, that link is very full of spoilers for those that haven't already seen season one...

21:09 / 23.03.06

I note no one's mentioned that Mickey is a better 'pre-teen role model' (whatever that means) than the slutty himbos on 'Footballers' Wives'...

ONLY NICE THINGS

21:59 / 23.03.06

Well, Mickey's not necessarily a great role model, unless one is waiting for a bus and a bit cross about it. Probably a better role model than bonzoid, mind.

So... when is the next series starting?

22:17 / 23.03.06

I was under the impression that "pre-teen role model" was probably meant as "role model for pre-teens". I'd concur (except the use of "slag", natch) that Rose was a better role model for anyone than any single character in Footballers' Wives, especially the men. Bonzoid, be careful with the epithets round these parts, but keep spreading the Who lurve by all means.

22:19 / 23.03.06

Around April 17, if current rumors are to be believed... expect a raft of new promotional merchandise this time round though...

22:22 / 23.03.06

So... when is the next series starting?

My guess is 29th April. They timed it so well on a Bank Holiday last year, they'll do it again. Will fill you in when I get teh sekrit nollej. Promise not to spoil or annoy in any way, though. I will, as requested "shut the fuck up".

22:28 / 23.03.06

All this talk of role models makes me want to talk of Capt. Jack... but that would be a spoiler... - so hurry up us people...

And on a side note - if you liked the first two episodes, you haven't seen any of the FOUR episodes nominated for the Hugo awards yet. But yes, i don't think any other TV series has got as many of its episodes nominated for awards - and remember that this is a 13 episode season...

07:32 / 24.03.06

Right folks, will take my enthusiasm elsewhere. Don't suppose there's a Lost in Space thread?

08:20 / 24.03.06

Don't be silly, no one's suggesting that your comments in general weren't welcome. I just don't like derogatory descriptions of women, is all.

Pre-teen role model - I was confused by the idea that the character of Rose and any of the characters from Footballers' Wives were comparable in terms of what the writers set out to do with them, and by the idea that they would be seen as role models specifically by under-thirteens (girls, I suppose). But having said that I don't watch a great deal of television and don't know any children well, so I may have a totally skewed perception on these issues.

08:23 / 24.03.06

Before I go, I do want to make it clear that in my comments regarding the new Dr Who, I was only trying to make the point that I felt that the character of Rose Tyler was a welcomed role model for pre-teen girls. That's all I meant to say. You may disagree. I dont know how this reflects on myself as a role model for anyone. I purposely did not want to discuss other characters or events. I was trying to express my enthusism for a realy fun television show, without spoiling anything for any American viewers.

ONLY NICE THINGS

09:06 / 24.03.06

bonzy, you started by making a mistake. What you are now doing is making a fool of yourself.

Here's the thing: if you had said, say, that to have a female character in a programme aimed at pre-teens who was not defined by her sexual relationships, then I don't think anyone would have disagreed. That would have been a comment on the limited and limiting roles written for female characters, even if Footballers' Wives is an odd choice for another show aimed at the same age group.

However, the term "trampy slags", used as editorial, was going to raise hackles, expecially at a time when Barbelith's attitudes to women are going under the microscope.

So, your enthusiasm is welcome, your choice of words less so. That's all.

09:21 / 24.03.06

I was only trying to make the point that I felt that the character of Rose Tyler was a welcomed role model for pre-teen girls. That's all I meant to say.

Hopefully you won't actually go away, bonzoid, but perhaps the responses to your post might make you think that if that was all you meant to say, perhaps that's what you should have said? What I mean is that your point might have been made more clearly, and accepted more readily, if you hadn't felt the need to big up Rose at the expense of all other female characters on telly, and in particular if you hadn't used the phrase 'trampy slags' (which seems to imply, controversially, that all sexually active women are bad role models for younger girls).

09:31 / 24.03.06

Probably a better role model than bonzoid, mind.

Come on, that was outright personal sniping based on one (very first) post that used some ill-considered language. Fair enough, you could say that since that post was the whole of his oeuvre so far then you could make the point that every post he had made up to that point gave you the right to say he's a bad role model. It's a bit disingenuous, though to extrapolate that all his posts will be like that.
Yes, he should be aware that it would be a bad move, and you're sick of telling everyone about this but my feeling is that was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction which, as ever, is bound to make him go on the defensive.
FWIW, I think Footballers' Wives' popularity is all about cheering on the sexually liberated women at the same time as condemning them as stereotypical villanous women whose actions are reprehensible. I'm not sure the terms would actually be inappropriate to describe what the characters are supposed to be seen as.

09:38 / 24.03.06

So people cheer on women for being sexually active and liberated, and find it appropriate to refer to the same women using derogatory language? I suppose this is the kind of thing one sees in some of the tabloids and magazines, but it relies on a very stereotyped (as you say) vision of female sexuality and desire, that's effectively licensed by the media that present it. However, it would probably be better to take this discussion elsewhere... I'll try to come up with a thread (maybe later this weekend, it requires some thought!).

ONLY NICE THINGS

09:42 / 24.03.06

Cube, it's either disingenuous or knee-jerk. Decide which you want, and we'll go from there.

10:04 / 24.03.06

[Quickly checks disingenuous to find he's been using it inaccurately for years. Ah, well, live and learn. I'm going to have to find a new word to replace by what I thought I meant as disingenous.]

OK, let's go for knee-jerk. To react to a first post saying that comments are unacceptable would have, I feel, been an understandable, valid and correct action. Your reply took limited evidence to form a personal attack on the character of the poster.
This may be based on the experience we've all had of such comments turning into hissy fits and defensive reactions which later confirm the prognosis, but to extrapolate that experience to assume that all people who make such mistakes should have their character condemned before the opportunity for an apology is, I feel, unhelpful. It just went too personal too quickly.

10:12 / 24.03.06

(My post crossed with Haus's btw)

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:49 / 24.03.06

Right you are, Cube - it was a little harsh, and that is a shame, and a quick appology on all sides would no doubt do wonders for harmony. However, as a role model for valuable and useful poster to Barbelith who does not cause threadrot by forcing people reluctantly to ask once again that we not fear the woowah in public discourse, thus derailing the thread, I think I kind of stand by my conviction on that one. It's certainly subject to change - as you say, it's only one post. That's just where I am

11:11 / 24.03.06

Hello everybody. I am really really sorry that I offended people in my first post. You would have had it earlier but I got a bit defensive first before the dust (and my thoughts) could settle. It was never ever my intention to offend anyone and I will be more thoughtful in the future.
Brian

ONLY NICE THINGS

11:22 / 24.03.06

Cheers, B. And I'm sorry I was snarky. The representation of women has been a big-button issue on Barbelith recently - I'm sure I speak for us all when I say that we appreciate your willingness to look at how you came across and react so positively.

Looking forward to your posts.

11:29 / 24.03.06

Thanks bonzoid, I appreciate that.

Mister Six, whom all the girls

12:40 / 24.03.06

As illuminating a discussion as this is (not being sarcastic, there should be a thread somewhere to discuss this)... Can we get back to the topic??

As a viewer of Dr who in the 80's on PBS, I was very much in a minority. Many viewed the series a PBS production made in the 80's for some reason.

So seeing it come back now on Sci-Fi is going to be a major shot in the arm to the franchise. Suddenly there'll be this program sitting there for American sci-fi fans to explore. A program with a 26 year history.

Will fans of new Who watch the classic series? I dunno.

New episode tonight, quite a nice one. My favorite of the new series, actually.

Please post reactions here.

12:49 / 24.03.06

I'm not sure I'd really want to try and push/sell the old series off the back of the new one since they are very different...

Having said which, I still enjoy them...

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