SamTherapy opened this issue on Sep 01, 2012 · 102 posts
SamTherapy posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 5:26 PM
Is it just me or did anyone else find the episode a huge disappointment?
After the buildup, the stills, the trailers, all the hype, I expected to see at least a reasonable episode. The plot seemed too contrived - even for Doctor Who - rushed in places, dragging in others. The "Plot Twist" was pretty damn obvious from pretty much the beginning, there were enough holes in the plot to drive a fleet of buses through and at least one huge continuity error.
All in all, a great big letdown.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Shadowdancer posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 5:56 PM
I agree.
All I have to say re Doctor Who is :- rerun the old Tom Baker stories. The effects may seem amateur by todays standards, but you had good stories & good acting & the doctor didn't look like someone who, if you added a scar across his forhead & bolts on the neck, resembled the Boris Karloff incarnation of Frankenstein's monster.
Sorry, but i do happen to think Matt Smith fell out of the ugly tree & hit every branch on the way down.
On the up side 2+ years Catherine Tate free.
Khai-J-Bach posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 6:08 PM
erm Sam... we don't think we've seen the plot twist just yet... a clue. check the casting.
WandW posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 6:12 PM
Doctor...Who? 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wisdom of bagginsbill:
"Oh - the manual says that? I have never read the manual - this must be why."
SamTherapy posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 6:47 PM
I like Matt Smith as the Doctor, ugly or not, he's a good actor and plays the part very well. I think the standard of acting overall is far better than the earlier shows. In general, I'm a huge fan and I've watched it from the very beginning, almost 50 years back.
In fact, this may be heresy but I think Smith is one of the best Doctors so far. Tom Baker was always my favourite but I liked Tennant as much - most of the time. Smith, I believe, is on par with both of 'em.
This episode, though... what a wasted opportunity.
@ khai - I think I know what you mean but within the confines of this particular episode, the "surprise" was anything but.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
jjroland posted Sat, 01 September 2012 at 6:52 PM
My son has been obsessed with that show for about the last month. He just discovererd it and has been Netflixing like crazy. I've never seen it.
I am: aka Velocity3d
thefixer posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 3:11 AM
I enjoyed it personally, and I didn't see the twist till late on....I think the fact you mentioned it will have prolly spoilt it for those that haven't seen it now....
As to the Doctor...I didn't like him to begin with, but he's grown on me and I now think he's one of the best of the recent ones, the last one aside....
Sylvester McCoy anyone...!
Exactly....
Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.
Khai-J-Bach posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 6:31 AM
McCoy was shaping up to be a brilliant Doctor.. see Rememberance of the Daleks or Battlefield and you'll see what I mean..
or his reading (cold) of the Pandorica Speech...
Netherworks posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 9:46 AM
Haven't seen the episode yet but would love to. I like all things Doctor Who.
That being said, it took me a little while to get used to Matt Smith. He's a little odd looking but he slips into the role well. I'd like to see an older doctor again.
I think the only thing that kind of bothers me a bit about the last two doctors is that in some episodes they are written in as being so "full of themselves" and they come off as "you better run because I'm the doctor". While yes, he is a dangerous enemy, I think it could have been a bit more low key. I don't know if this is coming across right or others feel the same way.
I still enjoy watching all the episodes.
.
Shadowdancer posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 10:05 AM
I was glad when RTD left the show - his stories were the most contrived & predictable & he just didn't get the character of the master.
He turned the Master from a Machiavelian Manupilator ( as played by Roger Delgado & Anthony Ainley) to a raving lunatic (played by John Sim), the second worst piece of casting in the revived show, the worst being Catherine Tate who just ended up playing the same basic character she did in her so called comedy show.
Having said that I did like Captain Jack, quirky as he is, he is a better companion than Rory who tbh comes across as a bit wet behind the ears.
That said, David tennant was good, Matt Smith is improving, but for me the Doctor's best moment was in Genesis Of the Daleks when the Doctor agonises over wether he has the right to commit genocide, even if by so doing, he would save billions of lives.
cedarwolf posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 10:18 AM
I think one of the reasons Mat Smith works for me is he looks, well, slightly alien all by himself. Human, but not quite...if you know what I mean. That makes the character a bit more realistic to me and I've been watching since the old Pertwee episodes.
Netherworks posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 10:45 AM
Well I like Rory. He plays a good everyman character but yeah, he's basically a repeat of Mickey (who I also liked). I didn't really care for Rose (bratty), though she had her moments. Both Donna and Amy are sassy and headstrong, which is fine with me. Definately like River.
I liked the storyline with the parallel worlds. I like the girl in the fireplace. The Astronaut line was fine, though I found some of the individual stories to be kinda weak. But, you know, it's still Doctor Who. :) Really liked the "angels" stories. I like the concept of "the silence".
.
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 12:06 PM
I've enjoyed the show from day one, all those years back. Overall there have been more good episodes than bad and more good cast choices than bad. For a show that's almost 50 years old it's not a bad average.
I've enjoyed almost everything about the comeback series (not a reboot, btw), including RTD's stories, for the most part. This particular episode, though, I thought was a real let down. The huge continuity error with Rory and the dormant Dalek shows a general lack of care and attention, which IMO was also present in the writing.
@ thefixer - I never thought of that, mate. I apologize if I have given the game away but I hope I haven't.
@ khai - I agree with you about McCoy. There was something basically sinister about him, reminiscent of Hartnell.
I will say this about the episode... As a Dalek fan, I thought the Daleks themselves looked superb. I guess I'm going to have to make some battered ones now.
And as for Karen Gillan...drool :)
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Khai-J-Bach posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 12:14 PM
I propose for that amount of Daleks, we need a name. eg a Murder of Crows...
I suggest... a Brown Trouser of Daleks.
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 12:23 PM
Nah. How about a Trundle of Daleks, or a Glide, or a Clank...;)
My all time favourite alien creatures and I like 'em too much to find them scary.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
CaptainMARC posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 12:35 PM
I agree with Sam. The episode was a bit of a let down. Without the hype I might have found it OK, but a bit of a waste of a decent idea.
Bring back the Yeti in Tube tunnels, scariest series ever (for me). Unfortunately the BBC wiped the original tapes (Patrick Troughton era, incidentally. my favourite Doctor until Tennant).
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 1:23 PM
Was it a huge disappointment, no. But then, I wasn't aware of any hype, nor was I even aware something was coming until this thread to be honest. I've missed all of last season, and half of the season before, due to the way they schedule hap haphazardly Dr. Who here. A fine way to kill any show I imagine (firefly for example). I don't watch much tv, not saying I'm better than, more, there's little that interests me, and if what I'm looking for isn't on, I don't watch for the sake of it, I do something else.
I've watched Dr.Who since Pertwee, (seeing the Hartnell and some Troughton after the fact) up to the first McCoy episode. Then it vanished here until Eccleston. That said Peter Davidson was my favorite doctor. I think Pertwee, Tom Baker, Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith were all strong doctors.
I really liked Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), and those that think Rory is a annoying companion, I guess you don't remember Adric, who only redemption was a brilliant death. The only character to annoy as much as Adrick was Captain Jack (who has a slight redemption as the face).
I think the concepts in the new Doctor Who's are good, but the eggs eggs execution is lacking for the most part. I think they have degraded the Daleks, they used to be as scary as the Angles (best new addition). I feel they way they deal with sexuality is brash and unbecoming of the classic origins of the show, just more poor execution of story. There are stories that have the classic feel, but many stories that make me feel like grabbing the torch and and screaming hieratic!
I was hoping for a double twist near the end, I think she could have been a good companion.
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 1:29 PM
Quote - I was hoping for a double twist near the end, I think she could have been a good companion.
Ah well... :D
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 1:35 PM
Khai-J-Bach posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 1:47 PM
to those that think the Master got fucked up...
you've forgotten TimeFlight?
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 2:36 PM
er.. maybe. I have the book, my daughter a rather new fan of the Doctor is curently reading it. I wonder if I have a vhs that works..
Remind me why he's no longer a genius?
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 2:46 PM
Heresy, I know, but I actually prefer the Master now. At least there's a concrete reason for the way he is. I never bought into the "Evil for evil's sake" type of character, anyhow.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 3:24 PM
The Masters Madness came from looking into the time vortex (at least as far as a knew, I missed a big chunk of Who's so I may well have missed something). I don't have a problem with removing his "humanity" as such, I have issue with him not being the master planner. I don't have issue with characters evolving just changing the core of the character.
The evil for the sake of evil is something I don't really like in literature either, and to me that seems the route they sort of are taking with the daleks. They were supposed to be the sped up evolution of their people with genetic modifications to make them “stronger”, by weeding out “emotions that would make them weaker” to help them win the war.
Bah I'm starting to sound like some sort of Treky for Dr, Who, I'm not really, it was just something I grew up with and hold dear. Everything I'm saying could be dead wrong, I'm just going by a biased memory that's not all that good any more.
And BTW, I'm really looking forward to your grunge Daleks.
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 5:21 PM
Hehe. I'm experimenting with Snarly's Snow Machine for dust but I'll have to do Dalek skirt panels with lots of Booleans in them to account for missing hemis. Then there's the dented hemis, the broken guns, battered panels and so forth.
Could keep me busy for a while and I still haven't finished the Special Weapons Dalek or the New Paradigm.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
monkeycloud posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 5:55 PM
Ah, I'd emailed you Paul, before I saw this thread.
Just watched the first ep on iplayer tonight and actually, overall I liked it.
Noted re. earlier points about the execution... it can be clumsy / rushed at points, it seems to me.
Too much is having to be crammed into too short a show time, I think.
There are'nt the changes of pace, to build dramatic tension, to the extent I think there needs to be.
But I would level that criticism at the last two sci fi films I've seen, Prometheus and Total Recall (remake).
I don't know to what extent the pacing, that is applied, is deliberate... to try to appeal to a broader audience. A lot of storyline also needs to be fitted into a pretty short programme slot too, of course.
Anyway... the Daleks really stole the show, I thought... and I certainly look forward to seeing more of Jenna Louise Coleman, in due course...
monkeycloud posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 6:05 PM
By the way... the count is up to 160, Paul.
I could probably add more... and I may still do. But rendering now to see how it looks
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 6:41 PM
160! Impressive. Looks like the model came in useful, then. I'm doing low poly versions of the others, too. Have a Mk1 half done, which will make most of the others easy going.
I'd like to see more of Ms Coleman, if you get me drift. :)
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
SamTherapy posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 6:43 PM
Oh, going back to the subject of annoying companions...
Bonnie Langford, anyone? Squeaky ginger bastard. Should have been run over by a flail tank. Repeatedly.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Shadowdancer posted Sun, 02 September 2012 at 6:47 PM
Agreed.
GeneralNutt posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 12:32 AM
Quote - to those that think the Master got fucked up...
you've forgotten TimeFlight?
OK, I just rewatched it. I still don't see your point.
BTW, man was the sound bad back in the day.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 2:14 AM
Quote - Oh, going back to the subject of annoying companions...
Bonnie Langford, anyone? Squeaky ginger bastard. Should have been run over by a flail tank. Repeatedly.
Bonnie Langford! Urgh! In my book she beats even Catherine Tate hands down in the most annoying category. Similar casting call to Tate, i.e. already well known in the field of light entertainment. Not a good call, I don't think.
I think Bonnie Langford was the real reason the Daleks created the Special Weapons model.
EDIT: Actually, wait... the Daleks probably saw her as a thing of great beauty :lol:
Still, I do remain thankful that Russ Abbot was never cast as The Doctor...
I was irritated at the time by Sylvester McCoy. But, in retrospect have accepted him... and do like a lot of his episodes.
I found Sophie Aldred's character Ace somewhat irksome too, initially... but again I've been won over, retrospectively, over time... and my Dorothy Cowan character, that I've invented for my series of alternative universe DW renders, owes something to her I've realised.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:10 AM
Quote - 160! Impressive. Looks like the model came in useful, then. I'm doing low poly versions of the others, too. Have a Mk1 half done, which will make most of the others easy going.
I'd like to see more of Ms Coleman, if you get me drift. :)
Cool as.... 
Lo polys of the others will be fantastic.
I get your drift... :nod:
...maybe the online-only mini-episode format will allow for more of "that kind of thing"... we've had an "Ood on the Loo"... so barriers are clearly being broken down...
...still it wasn't actually a nude Ood, I guess :blink:
Redfern posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 9:30 AM
Good or bad, I'm just tickled I can finally watch the show in high definition!
I know BBC America itself has offered a hi-def signal for some time, but until just a few weeks ago, DirecTV has not bothered to provide it. Well, alittle over a month ago, DirecTV finally started broadcasting TCN's hi-def signal and about a fortnight later, BBCA.
So Saturday night right before 9 PM DST, I anled my 47 inch screen; stretched upon the sofa; turned on the tele' and tuned the channel to 264.
If nothing else, the Daleks never looked better!
Oh, hopefully this won't spoil anything, but I enjoy the idea Daleks can engage in conversation beyond the ranting "chant" of "Exterminate!" It helps reenforce the idea that there are "creatures" within those shells, and that they are not simply robots. It makes them far more creepy. (Which is why I liked the "Cult of Skaro", Daleks waxing philosophical, disturbing stuff.)
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 10:18 AM
Yup... agree with you Bill, on the "creepy" factor. Creepy and tragic.
I think Asylum's storyline was a great one indeed, from this point of view.
...and I think it explores the hypocrisy that always seeps around the edges of their xenophobia too... hopefully that's a reasonable way of wording what I'm trying to say.
I like the "Revelation of the Daleks" storyline for similar reasons.
Khai-J-Bach posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 12:31 PM
Quote - > Quote - to those that think the Master got fucked up...
you've forgotten TimeFlight?
OK, I just rewatched it. I still don't see your point.
BTW, man was the sound bad back in the day.
they're 140 million years in the past on prehistoric earth.... why did he dress up in that disguise? it wasn't needed.. it was like he was disguised because that's what the Master does, so we do it to him.. it had no reason in the plot at all..
GeneralNutt posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 1:26 PM
Quote - > Quote - > Quote - to those that think the Master got fucked up...
you've forgotten TimeFlight?
OK, I just rewatched it. I still don't see your point.
BTW, man was the sound bad back in the day.
they're 140 million years in the past on prehistoric earth.... why did he dress up in that disguise? it wasn't needed.. it was like he was disguised because that's what the Master does, so we do it to him.. it had no reason in the plot at all..
There are many levels to this answer.
Why disguise himself, his tools, and his objectives?
Like a counterintelligence agency, that leaves a thinly veiled guise that they are leaving point A heading west for point B, when digging deeper you find they left point A for point C in the east. When in reality they were never at point A, and had no intention of moving anywhere.
So after watching Time Flight and a few other older Doctor Who's, I would be left to believe that they were in fact really bad, and that thinking, that maybe my imagination at the time had filled in the gaps, and that the new ones are really much better.
That of course that is somewhat plausible, but like good doctor said, as long as you remember they won't cease to exist.
Could my memory be correct and it's the past that's been messed with? But by who? Rather not Who, but the Master of deception, eh Khai-J-Bach? If that is indeed your real name.
I think I have confused myself again, I need a good cup of tea, and directions to Monkey Cloud's Dalek invasion.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 2:00 PM
I think, overall, I rather like it when the script and / or production leaves room for my imagination to fill in some gaps... patch up continuity errors, etc
SamTherapy posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:11 PM
I'd rather they made an honest try of getting things right. Keep in mind this is supposed to be the Beeb's flagship show, a "Superbrand", as described by BBC Worldwide. When it features the most iconic baddies ever, they should try a lot harder.
They could have even CGd the missing dome lamp in easily enough.
I'll go along with Bill, though; the Daleks looked superb and were definitely a whole lot creepier than of late.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:25 PM
I'm just about to give it a second watch... I'll have to see if I can spot the missing lamp this time round.
I obviously wasn't "paying attention" at that bit. Nor were the production team by the sounds of it, eh?
I'll see how the pacing seems to me on a rewatch too... sometimes I think its me that's not watching at the right speed, when I feel like something isn't paced right. LOL :lol:
SamTherapy posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:44 PM
OT but why the name monkeycloud? It always reminds me of the "Death by Monkeys" mushroom cloud in Toy Story 3. :)
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:59 PM
He he. Like that analogy.
I think the name is inspired by a mixture of the infinite monkeys theorem and the late 70s, early 80s TV series Monkey.
But I'm not always entirely sure where my mind is going with these things... tbh.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 4:59 PM
That missing bulb is a bit of a clanger eh?
monkeycloud posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 5:03 PM
I do like the almost David Lynchian moment, when Amy is hallucinating, more on second watch though...
SamTherapy posted Mon, 03 September 2012 at 6:38 PM
The lamp continuity error repeats itself later, with Rory and the Daleks trying to say "Exterminate" The two Daleks swap sides.
Yep, the Amy bit is good. I never thought of Lynch but it's a fair comparison. Of course, Lynch would have a midget and a flickering light in there, too.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Gareee posted Tue, 04 September 2012 at 9:33 AM
We just watched Asylum last night... and I really enjoyed it. The writing for matt gave him a darker, more serious older less goofy feeling then the last season, and made me like him more. Same with the Ponds.
Promotion wise, I think the promotion was mainly referring to the entire season's story arc, not one specific episode, so we weren't disapointed.
Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.
monkeycloud posted Tue, 04 September 2012 at 1:40 PM
I really enjoyed the whole thing and especially the ending, second watch, much more actually. I didn't get why the Daleks were so afraid first watch...
...looking forward to the story arc progressing.
SamTherapy posted Tue, 04 September 2012 at 3:43 PM
monkeycloud posted Wed, 05 September 2012 at 8:30 AM
Yeah... watched it right through a few times now.
Despite its redeeming features, I do still wish they'd done so much more with it.
Especially, I think, with the Asylum Daleks.
Although I realised it likely wasn't going to be the case, I had been hoping for a two parter for the first story indeed... I don't think a good cliffhanger right at the start would have done any harm to the ratings.
I hope what's to come in the rest of the series will further redeem it, relative to this point though...
...I had similar issues with the start of the last series to be honest... and then it never did actually fill in those blanks for me. Although, what it did instead was pretty damn good, I suppose... and to be fair, did entirely distract me from my misgivings, at the time.
On the topic of cliffhangers, have the Beeb had really negative focus group feedback on cliffhangers in DW or something? Does the cliffhanger format not work so well for modern audiences?
I came to Doctor Who towards the end of the Tom Baker era, initially, wherein single storys would regularly run over multiple episodes. Having anything wrapped up in one 45 minute episode just didn't happen. Cliffhangers were integral to the format... but the seasons were much longer running. For example six stories in season fourteen, each four episodes, apart from Talons of Weng Chiang, which was six episodes. Episodes were maybe nearer the 35 minute mark at that point iirc?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_fourth.shtml
tlc posted Thu, 06 September 2012 at 6:31 AM
I've watched DW since the begining and I have to say that Matt Smith is the lamest I have seen. Tennant is the best, he showed a very broad range of emotions from anger to love to sorrow etc but I could always see the core "lonely man" persona. By comparison MS has the acting ability of a mushroom, he seems to constantly confused or bewildered then in the last 10mins he "becomes" intelligent and fixes everything.
Since MS's incarnation there is only one episode I would watch again and that was the one where Amy was trapped in a terminal and grew old. Matt was in it at the begining and end. Amy, I like a lot but her character does suffer from the occassional bad scripting
The latest episode, I have to admit, was slightly better than past episodes but the daleks got screwed - they now have no memory, therefore no fear, of DW - what is that about?! I kinda liked the plot twist but not the continueity errors
Amy's husband's only claim to fame is that he waited 2000yrs outside the pandorica for Amy (and he's still plastic? in acting and substance). I was really hopeful at the start of the episode with the talk of divorce, but even that was a bit soap operary for Dr Who.
And while I'm here, what ever happened to Jenny (DW's daughter), she looked like a great character for future interactions. I remembered her because in this episode when it was established there was a girl in a ship on the asylum I thought, Great Jennys back - then I saw it wasn't her and was disappointed .
Such is life, let's see what the next episode brings.
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monkeycloud posted Thu, 06 September 2012 at 8:20 AM
Yup - I had the exact same thoughts regards Jenny... and the Oswin character maybe being Jenny.
Well, assuming she isn't... I remain hopeful Jenny might still return.
Are we past the point of concern about spoilers now by the way? Surely everyone who wants to see the episode, who might read this, will have seen it?
Teyon posted Thu, 06 September 2012 at 10:27 AM
I haven't but I don't mind spoilers. :D I hadn't realized the season started up. Was expecting it later this month.
Khai-J-Bach posted Thu, 06 September 2012 at 12:49 PM
well. Tennant was good... but he was no Tom Baker....
GeneralNutt posted Thu, 06 September 2012 at 4:51 PM
Wasn't the confusion at least a bit common in the old Doctors? Tom Baker going one way then the next as an example.
I'd like to see the Jenny story expanded too.
I think the wipe out of Dalek's Doctor Memory is a fix for something that got out of control.
And I'm all for the end of no spoilers. Like what about.. oh better wait.
tlc posted Fri, 07 September 2012 at 7:24 AM
The kind of confusion I'm talking about is that with all the other Doctors they landed in the middle of a problem, they sussed the problem and worked towards fixing it, around half way thru the "adventure" there would be a plot twist of some kind and the doctor would solve it.
Now with MS, he seems to be carried along by circumstances then suddenly in the last 5-10mins realises what's happening and pulls the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. It's almost like he's gone senile.
This last episode was the first I have seen him have an idea of what's really going on when he started early on asking where the eggs came from for the souffles. Maybe the script writers are rebooting his character in this series - time will tell.
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Gareee posted Fri, 07 September 2012 at 10:32 AM
Yeah, I hope they are retooling him into something darker, older, and wiser.
Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 10:36 AM
What does everyone think of "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" then?
Redfern posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 10:43 AM
A whimsical lark to say the least. And I have a weakness for lovely ladies in Egyptian garb. Woof!
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
monkeycloud posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 11:03 AM
I'm with you there Bill, on the Egyptian lady factor 
By the way, do you think you'll get your wish of a Dalek (not Caan, sure) as the Doctor's next companion? Who knows??
I suspect we'll not see that, of course... as there will undoubtedly be some twists and turns and revelations of things being not as they seemed, before we get to Christmas...
...but I did like the suggestion of a Dalek companion.
I've read a couple people now I think talking about the "souffles for mother" being a dreamt metaphor for her trying to reconstruct her human DNA...
By the way, Paul... the more I've rewatched Asylum, the more I'm convinced that bulb blooper is somehow deliberate... :blink:
Probably just my constructive / overactive imagination though
RHaseltine posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 4:13 PM
Is there known to be continuity of characters played by the actor? People (including two recent companions) have appeared in guest star roles before appearing as major characters later.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 4:36 PM
I wonder if the premature appearance of Jenna Louise Coleman isn't playing on that prior fact a little... and possibly teasing the audience to speculate about links between the Asylum character and the upcoming assistant role... based on the show's prior form. Wouldn't be unlike Steven Moffat to do that, I don't think? guess we'll see...
SamTherapy posted Mon, 10 September 2012 at 5:55 PM
Dinosaurs was a million times better than Asylum, IMO.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
tlc posted Tue, 11 September 2012 at 4:11 AM
I wonder what the script writers are up to with DOASS. It seems like we are nearing the end of the line for Amy (the gaps between visits are getting longer). Also the subliminal message that Amy and hubby are no longer sufficient to help the Doc because he brings along THREE other people (though one was by 'mistake').
The episode was farcical on the surface but actually made sense and I have to admit it was one of the more enjoyable adventures for Matt. The dino acting like a dog - funny but ripped from the film 'A night at the museum'. I like the scene at the end where Neffi went back with the hunter but was disappointed at the same time in that she didn't stay with the Doc - that would be a fiery coupling, and it would have been a realistic handing over of 'companionship'.
And finally, at last we see the ruthless/dark side of the Doc coming back when he use the mercenary as bait the the missiles. It looks like the 'oncoming strom' is slowly coming back :)
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monkeycloud posted Tue, 11 September 2012 at 4:15 AM
Hmmm... yeah that additional person taken along for the ride in DOASS was no mistake... and it was probably part of the process of "grounding" the Ponds, I suspect...
...assuming they're not getting buried / exterminated altogether :scared:
prixat posted Thu, 13 September 2012 at 6:49 PM
The ship could easily have been unmanned when the Doctor launched it. Deliberately, needlessly causing the death of an antagonist didn't use to be the Doctor's way.
He would always offer an alternative, even if the offer was not taken up. It had to be clear that the bad guy had chosen his own fate, after all it was a children's show.
Or is that just my rosy childhood coloured memories of Tom Baker's Doctor?
My adult political mind tells me its a creeping americanisation of the character, next thing you know he'll be a cowboy!
regards
prixat
GeneralNutt posted Fri, 14 September 2012 at 3:24 PM
Quote - The ship could easily have been unmanned when the Doctor launched it. Deliberately, needlessly causing the death of an antagonist didn't use to be the Doctor's way.
He would always offer an alternative, even if the offer was not taken up. It had to be clear that the bad guy had chosen his own fate,
This is exactly what I was thinking, when I saw the show.
monkeycloud posted Fri, 14 September 2012 at 4:42 PM
I know what you mean... but at the same time, I thought Solomon made a pretty clear choice earlier on...?
...and not just when he'd massacred the Silurians, in "cold blood", so to speak... I mean there was definitely at least one or two points The Doctor offered him a way out, I thought?
The bottom line... Solomon was probably every bit as ruthless and twisted as a Dalek. The Doctor has despatched those much quicker...
...and don't forget he blew the two robots up as well... they came across as fairly sentient entities... and not too in control of their own fates, being slaves to Solomon. Or is that going too far into Asimov territory for the DW universe?
SamTherapy posted Fri, 14 September 2012 at 6:16 PM
Quote - ...next thing you know he'll be a cowboy!
:lol: Good one!
Anyhow, the Doctor has, in the past, killed many times. Back before Tom Baker took over, he could be a very ruthless character.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Khai-J-Bach posted Fri, 14 September 2012 at 11:02 PM
The First Doctor was going to brain a caveman with a rock for instance, then he wanted to throw Ian and Susan out the TARDIS doors while in flight! ... Seven destroyed Skaro by tricking the Daleks into doing it... I don't know where ppl get this idea that the Doctor is nice all the time...
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 16 September 2012 at 10:49 AM
monkeycloud posted Sun, 16 September 2012 at 12:40 PM
Yup, me too...
...and, how pertinent was that last point of discussion, relative to the latest episode's central theme, eh?
SamTherapy posted Sun, 16 September 2012 at 4:07 PM
Yep. Maybe that was the whole point. They have to find a way to resolve the two (at least) sides to his character.
And yes, it was a great episode, although I kept expecting Rango to pop up. :)
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
monkeycloud posted Sun, 16 September 2012 at 4:16 PM
He he... that reminds me, someone gave me a copy of Rango on DVD to watch... must do so, and return it.
I kept expecting Doc Brown... from BTTF3
SamTherapy posted Sun, 16 September 2012 at 6:35 PM
If you haven't watched Rango yet, you're in for a treat. It's superb on every level.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
monkeycloud posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 3:46 AM
Quote - If you haven't watched Rango yet, you're in for a treat. It's superb on every level.
Nope, not managed to watch it yet... will have to try and fit it in this week. Not been managing to fit a heck of a lot in lately. My boy seems to be going through a "sleep is for losers" stage currently... he he... yawn
Render running at the moment for the September forum comp features one Red STLB4C Dalek... of course... I had to have at least one in there
...plus Mystic's chess clock, amongst some other things.
But been kinda stuck in a rut with the Dalek "auditorium" model... i.e. Dalek spaceship interior (scale-wise it's not the "Parliament", maybe it's just a regular ship)... just tweaking polygons last couple of weeks. Texturing with a mild BBGlossy based shader was giving me mesh outline artifacts with IDL, so solving that currently.
Might start a separate technical thread around that issue if I get a minute...
I made a test scene with the earlier version, with 160 odd of those lo polys sat in it. Apart from the texture / mesh topology troubleshooting, just trying to figure out how to finish it off... and exactly how I'm going to use it in a scene.
Came up with a method of fitting even more lo pols in the Poser scene though... e.g. pose a batch, export as single obj, import back in as single prop. Seemed to work in a quick test. Reckon I can get up to nearer 1000 of the "suckers" in that way if it definitely does work :biggrin:
Still to look at the Vue ecosystem idea some more too with them... and then there's the issue of that TARDIS interior... hmmm...
...oh yeah, has anyone made a new series Dalek ship exterior model yet???
monkeycloud posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 4:04 AM
Oh oh... and DarthJ has just uploaded his shopfront model too...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2817948&page=8#message_3987752
I'd better crack out the pro-plus and redbull...
Khai-J-Bach posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 12:58 PM
a compelling theory on the Doctor's current behaviour has emerged.. thing is, it relies on some out of show information that maybe spoilers to some, but I can give a vague idea.
he's moving the wrong way through the timeline.
SamTherapy posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 1:04 PM
Ah. Interesting. That gives me something to think about when I watch it next. Ta, mate.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
GeneralNutt posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 3:32 PM
monkeycloud posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 3:52 PM
Oh oh... I'm always sceptical about how linear The Doctor's appearances in the chronology of a series are...
...sounds like I really should be sceptical this time round eh?
SamTherapy posted Mon, 17 September 2012 at 8:54 PM
Glad you're finding the Low Poly Dalek useful; the export a bunch as a prop sounds nifty. I'll release the thing when I have time to pack it properly and I'll probably throw in my Ludicrously High Poly NSD, too. Over at Project Dalek first, then here.
I haven't had time to work on any other Low Poly stuff yet, although I did get halfway through the Mk1. That one will be significantly lower when it's finished, so you should be able to go completely mental with it. :)
I think someone over at PD made a Dalek ship. Look through the Downloads section.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
tlc posted Tue, 18 September 2012 at 4:03 AM
So first we have RiverSong meeting the Doc in the wrong time order, then we have Amy's crack in the wall exploding in the future but growing from the past. And now we have "he's moving the wrong way through the timeline." But he's a time LORD, FGS isn't he supposed to be in control or is that the twist that it is controlling him?
Anyway, the "cowboy" episode bored me, like it's been done so many times already, bad guy is really a good guy out for vengence. so becoming the town sheriff was really the most obvious conclusion to his story.
More interesting, to me anyway, is the Doc's character. He seems to be getting colder - more ruthless, or at least showing that side of him self more almost like it's taking him over. Amy has to come to the rescue and pull him back again. There again the Doc does have a tendency to go cold/ruthless when he doesn't have a companion - and we really can't count on the Ponds as regular companions because the gaps between them working together are getting longer (as per Amy's comment last episode).
The one redeeming thing for this episode was the appearance of Ben Browder (Farscape, Stargate) pity he died half way thru! Didn't recognise him but when he spoke - who else could it be? To me it always makes a DW episode sparkle when a popular/famous actor/actress guest-stars.
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monkeycloud posted Tue, 18 September 2012 at 5:26 AM
Ben Browder was good I thought too...
Cheers Paul, I'll have to check out PD for the ship... would folk there be interested in the interior model d'ya think... if I ever manage to finish it?
I'll certainly look forward to that lo poly MK1 too... and likewise the uber poly NSD
Khai-J-Bach posted Wed, 19 September 2012 at 11:18 AM
ok now I'm excited for this weeks story...
Greyhound 34 to Trap 1....
monkeycloud posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 6:22 AM
It's my birthday today... I'd asked the wife, who's a bit of a cakemaking pro, for a Dalek cake.
However due to pressure of time and the need to transport the cake to where we're spending the weekend away, she has told me I'll get the Dalek next year, for my 40th.
Instead, this year, I got an Ood...
Redfern posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 11:26 AM
Your wife is a very talented sculptor!
Is the Ood the cake itself, or is the face a bas-relief of icing upon a larger cake?
Either way, the Misses has the skills to provide the thrills! :thumbupboth:
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
monkeycloud posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 1:01 PM
The basic structure is sculpted cake... with finer details like wrinkles etched in the icing... then painted with food colors.
The Dalek, for next year, if she keeps her promise, will probably have to be based on a three tier cake base, we reckon!
SamTherapy posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 1:07 PM
Bloody hell! That's spectacular. Yer missis is a talented lass.
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.
Redfern posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 1:13 PM
I'll be lucky to get a generic "sheet" cake from the local Wal-Mart come November when I turn 50. You have a very special person in your life.
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
GeneralNutt posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 3:26 PM
flibbits posted Fri, 21 September 2012 at 6:17 PM
The main problem was all the CGI. It was a few actors running around on CGI backgrounds filled with cloned CGI Daleks. All the CGI "big" looking sets looked like CGI rather than big locations.
The next episode in the old west town was much better. It was full of real people and took place in real locations.
Khai-J-Bach posted Sat, 22 September 2012 at 2:41 PM
and the legend of the Brig carries on...
Redfern posted Sat, 22 September 2012 at 9:15 PM
Ah, now I understand. Nice touch (but still doesn't make up for not having Nick Courtney himself appear on the series when there was still a chance).
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
monkeycloud posted Sun, 23 September 2012 at 5:49 PM
Just managed to catch yesterday's episode tonight, having been away camping (well, "glamping" I think it's called) for the weekend. We were shacked up in a strange hexagonal, wigwam-shaped and not altogether un-TARDIS-like wooden hut with a fantastic view of the stars...
...it was also bloody cold at points.
An amusing romp of an episode I thought, last night's one... where lots of not much happened... he he... well, a garden fence got painted
I'm no wiser from it, on the question of whether The Doctor's timeline is reversed... or whatever... though.
Trailer at the end for next week's story looks really good though, I thought...
GeneralNutt posted Sun, 23 September 2012 at 6:06 PM
Here, they are calling the next episode with the angles the season finally. What gives with that?
And one other question, the season premier had the ponds ready to divorce, was there anything leading up to that last season?
Redfern posted Sun, 23 September 2012 at 6:18 PM
The "Fall season finale"? Yeah, only 5 episodes were produced before the Christmas special. Supposedly, this season was purposely short so more funds could be diverted to next year's budget, 2013, which is the show's 50th anniversary (November 23, 1963). Whether that means we'll get more than the usual 13 episodes we've come to expect or more money invested into a fewer number of grand scale episodes, I don't know.
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
silverblade33 posted Sat, 29 September 2012 at 4:05 AM
Quote - I propose for that amount of Daleks, we need a name. eg a Murder of Crows...
I suggest... a Brown Trouser of Daleks.
buhaha, classic! ;)
I really did hide behidn my Granny's sofa watching Dr Who :P
Oh, SamTherpay
karen Gillan, oh yeaaaaaaaah! drool
Redheads should come with a health warning for us older folks, lol :P
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paganeagle2001 posted Sat, 29 September 2012 at 2:08 PM
Great last episode for the current series!
All the best.
LROG
Who honors those we love for the very life we live?, Who sends monsters to kill us?, and at the same time sings that we will never die., Who teaches us whats real?, and how to laugh at lies?, Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend?, Who chains us?, and Who holds the key that can set us free... It's You!, You have all the weapons you need., Now Fight!
monkeycloud posted Sat, 29 September 2012 at 2:11 PM
That was a cracking final episode... in my humble opinion
GeneralNutt posted Sat, 29 September 2012 at 10:28 PM
tlc posted Sun, 30 September 2012 at 5:53 AM
So where is/was this backwards-time thingy?
This episode has got to be the best of the current Doc's, though once again I don't think Matt really contributed to it's greatness. He was darting about with the occasional idea that progressed the story but it was once again Amy that gave the emotional depth. It was also good to see a "family romp".
Amy and Hubby's leaving was the only logical conclusion to this short series, the subject had come up in at least two of the previous four episodes. It was their time, no pun intended, but it was still sad... On the other hand it will be good to see Doc and RiverSong in action as I think they work very well together.
Question: What is this "fixed point in time" that stops the Doc from going back in time to get Amy? In Blink the Tardis was sent back to the Doc and Blondie after the Angels had sent them back in time. So why can't the Doc or RiverSong go back?
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Redfern posted Tue, 16 October 2012 at 10:32 AM
Being at the office right now, I don't have access to the sites where the announcements were made, but with the stories that start airing in 2013, Character Options will switch from 5.5 inch tall figures it has released since 2006 to the smaller 3.75 inch type figures (Star Wars scale). Alistar Dewar (in charge of the DW line at Character Options) has stated this will NOT affect the "classic era" collectors' line which is commissioned by UnderGround Toys and Forbidden Planet. So, should we get a Sarah Jane (a strong possibility) as she appeared in "The Android Invasion" (with swappable faceless robot head), she and future figures based upon the 1963-1989 series will continue to be made at a 1/13th scale.
However, when Character Options releases a facimale of the Doctor's newest companion, Oswin, sometime next year, she will stand less than 4 inches.
"Classic era" fans wonder what will happen whenever Matt Smith "retires" and his successor takes center stage. Will Character Options provide a legal loophole to allow the release of a "special" 12th Doctor to match those from the "Eleven Doctors Collectors' Set"? I certainly hope so, but, obviously, I don't know.
Just a "heads up" for anyone collecting this line.
Sincerely,
Bill
Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!
monkeycloud posted Wed, 17 October 2012 at 5:33 AM
Thanks for the info Bill.
To be honest, I haven't gotten over the DW toy franchise, relative to the
"building bricks" side, not going to the Danish market leader in this area... even if there is compatibility.
I'm torn, because I do think it is a good thing that the license went to a UK based company... and their action figure lines do look very good.
I guess I was just indoctrinated into the "Cult of Lego" at an early age... and I should probably get past that