Regenerated Doctor Who Geeks Thread

[RustyDaviesBear]

Sorry for the delay - internet went down just as I clicked create conversation....

Of course 10 was rubbing it in - 10.2 had got the girl, 10 had an eternity of emo ahead of him

capp, I was doing so well not accidently calling you capp, too [huffs]

Dior, cheers - the things you can do when you haven't got all four of the kidlets around, eh? Erm, you can write implausible fanfic while your house stays messy... hmm, I haven't thought this one through as a pro/con thing, have I?...

Kay I admire your discretion . We'll not mention it again ever, eh?

your secret is safe with me, guvnor.

maybe thought Doctor 10.5 could set it to work at the bottom of a mineshaft, or something, and Rose could use her cannony thing to nip out and fetch it when it was ready. While she's getting a pint of milk and a paper.

I am pleased to announce we are watching this season for the first time.

Adipose

Pompei was a bit nuts.

Last night's episode super. The Ood are quite beautiful I've realised.

I miss Martha though.

Could I ask some questions - not of the old hands but of those of you who have come to enlightenment - er, I mean, Who - since it returned in 2005, and are mostly familiar with the "new" series?

• Did you watch it in the old days? Even the ones with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy?
• Did you think it was a bit crap? (be honest)

• Did people who watched Doctor Who at your school have the piss taken out of them? Was it seen as a bit sad and geeky?

• If so, what has changed? Why is it OK to be one of 10 million people who now watch it, when it wasn't OK to be part of the 6 million who were still watching at the end of the 80s when it was axed?

• Is the new emphasis on "relationship/character" drama important to you, or do you like an old-fashioned monster episode as much as the next person?

• Are you less likely to watch an episode set on an alien planet and/or in the far future? Do you think the series is right to spend two-thirds of its time on Earth and variants thereof, given that the TARDIS can go anywhere in time and space?

• Would it be a turn-off for you to watch a Planet Zog episode in which the blue-skinned Zurgs battle the green-skinned Thaargs for control of an alien device? Or is this just a myth?

For UQD - didn't watch it in old days but was only born in '82 so maybe I did and can't remember. It was seen as geeky to like it at school.
Perhaps it's the way it written now it's for all ages, then the spin-offs are for specific age groups. We have better technology (special effects) now.
Quite like the relationships but not fussed, just as likely to watch alien planets and far future.

To Kay - great writting, keep up the good work.

Ooooo, a quiz!

Me first.

• Did you watch it in the old days? Even the ones with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy?

Very occasionally between the ages of 6-10, but for me the 'Old days' was Tom Baker and Peter Davison.

• Did you think it was a bit crap? (be honest). Not crap so much as a bit scary and some of the themes went over my head at that age

• Did people who watched Doctor Who at your school have the piss taken out of them? Was it seen as a bit sad and geeky?

Well, at primary school, I just can't remember, but I don't think so. At my all girls boarding secondary school, I think Dr Who watching just didn't happen

• If so, what has changed? Why is it OK to be one of 10 million people who now watch it, when it wasn't OK to be part of the 6 million who were still watching at the end of the 80s when it was axed?

Speculation: I wonder if sci-fi/fantasy is just more mainstream these days?

• Is the new emphasis on "relationship/character" drama important to you, or do you like an old-fashioned monster episode as much as the next person?

Very happy with a monster episode, but I do prefer character with my action. The best Doctor Whos (old and new, from what I've seen) have elements of both. Along with humour, a little philosophy and a heap of new ideas for the kids.

• Are you less likely to watch an episode set on an alien planet and/or in the far future? Do you think the series is right to spend two-thirds of its time on Earth and variants thereof, given that the TARDIS can go anywhere in time and space?

In answer to your last question, no, actually. I'd like to see more of alien civilisations and societies: I think they are underused in new Who and in the light of what's possible with CGI and prosthetics, that's a shame.

• Would it be a turn-off for you to watch a Planet Zog episode in which the blue-skinned Zurgs battle the green-skinned Thaargs for control of an alien device? Or is this just a myth?

No, although I think the Zurgs and Thaargs would need to have some recognisable cultures and characterisation. I'd like to know more about Sontarans, for example, and I'd be intrigued to see how they would conduct themselves in discussions with the Judoon or the Shadow Proclamation (OK I know the Shadow Proclamation aren't a race, strictly speaking, but still).

ooh good griefy

OK

• Did you watch it in the old days? Even the ones with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy? Tom Baker for me. In fact the lady in the library said the same thing. Tom or nothing. Tom Baker is fantastically bright, and you could tell, so it wasn't 'beneath you'

• Did you think it was a bit crap? I watched Peter Davison. It was crap.

• Did people who watched Doctor Who at your school have the piss taken out of them? Was it seen as a bit sad and geeky? I didn't really talk to people at school

• If so, what has changed? Why is it OK to be one of 10 million people who now watch it, when it wasn't OK to be part of the 6 million who were still watching at the end of the 80s when it was axed? Because it is 'family telly' now. It is aimed at adults and kids, in fact me and dh watched Chrissy Eccleston when dd1 was too young to watch it because Chrissy Eccleston is very sexy because it was good telly. It wasn't a 'children's programme'. It wasn't on at half past 4 after Blue Peter. You could feasibly drink alcohol whilst watching it, and not feel stupid

• Is the new emphasis on "relationship/character" drama important to you, or do you like an old-fashioned monster episode as much as the next person? You have to have character, otherwise it's shit

• Are you less likely to watch an episode set on an alien planet and/or in the far future? Do you think the series is right to spend two-thirds of its time on Earth and variants thereof, given that the TARDIS can go anywhere in time and space? Yes. I get bored with Earth, especially when it is populated with girls from London and their relationships with their mothers. Watching Buckingham Palace blow up is no big shakes to me, I only ever see it on the news. And I don't know why this doesn't work, because I care far more about Smallville and about Sunnydale than I ever do about London. I don't know why, but it's true.

• Would it be a turn-off for you to watch a Planet Zog episode in which the blue-skinned Zurgs battle the green-skinned Thaargs for control of an alien device? Or is this just a myth? I don't understand the question. Sorry

Cappuccino - let me rephrase my last question. It comes out of something Russell T Davies has said in interviews. There is a theory - flawed, I think - that the more "futuristic" and "alien" and "planet Zog" scenarios alienate the casual viewer, and that they are more likely to identify with present-day Earth stuff happening to characters like Rose Tyler and Donna and their families.

Do you feel this? Would you be less likely to watch if the write-up in the Radio Times said "The Doctor and Sally Sparrow find themselves caught up in a fight for survival on the frontier world of Zogros Beta in 45,567"?

gizmo - the Sontarans are actually a very good example of a race whose raison d'etre has been thought-through a bit more than that of others. Their main handicap is that they are clones, so they can't be seen to be too "individual"! You get a very good insight into them in the ones written by Robert Holmes, who was the writer who created them.

The thing is, I don't think there are any casual viewers on this thread I don't think anyone would not watch an episode because of the write-up, we're all fans enough that we'd watch it and give it a chance.

Not sure what your definition of an old hand is, so don't know whether to fill the quiz in or not

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UQD - no didn't watch it in the olden days partly because too scared (of both Daleks and Tom Baker - by god he's a scary man) and partly because one storyline seemed to go on for weeks and weeks and weeks..... (vague recollection of the trial of the Timelord lasting all series) and when I was about 8, waiting a week to find out what happened next was frustrating. Didn't think it was crap, if anything I thought it went over my head.

Don't remember anyone at school having the piss taken out of them. It was just a programme, some people watched it, some didn't.

Agree with everyone else about why so many watch it now. It's intelligent, funny and humane, with great storylines and characters - what's not to like? In fact I am quite often aghast when people write it off as sci-fi/children's stuff because they are missing out on a real treat.

Yes relationships and character are very important otherwise it is just another sci-fi programme. If you don't care about the characters, why would you be interested in watching what happens to them?

I'd watch any episode set on any planet or in any time provided the writing is up to standard. In fact I like the mix of earth/other stuff because it makes it more 'real' and believable (and presumably the earth ones allow more money to be spent on the non-earth ones?)

Zog episodes would be fine if they included more naked DT or DT snogs.

Agree with London being the only place in England as far as Doctor Who companions is concerned.
DH would like it to be more old style where a whole series would concentrate on one baddie/monster, so the Sontarans for 13wks. That way you'd get to know the back-story etc.

Not sure if I qualify to answer, given that The Ark in Space is still my favourite story overall. And because I love Sylv. The only reason I hated Colin Baker at the time was because he took over from Peter Davison who was My First Love(tm). I credit a Sylv adventure with giving me my chronic fear of clowns. And I bought a long scarf at my university college precisely because when I wore it with a trilby, I could pretend I was the Doctor (and I was 22).

I'm not entirely sure what that all qualifies me for, and I fear it's not good.

at the idea of a 13-episode sontaran special - watch the viewing figures slump!!

LOL Hells, that's what DH wants (well maybe he said Dalek's but he bashes me with this idea every time DW is on so maybe I changed it to a less interesting monster).

FWIW, I think Larry Miles is dangerously close to the truth when he worries what's going to happen after the Boy Tennant moves on. I know Tom Baker was just as popular in his day, but it was also a very different programme then.

I don't mean in a running round screaming the-sky-is-falling kind of worry, I just mean it's a good point, and a lot of people are watching it because Tennant has taken the role, bent it over his knee and given it a sound spanking.

I am honestly not sure what follows that and retains the demographic that Tennant commands. But then, Moffat did a brilliant little piece in DWM months ago, reminding us that we should be 'nostalgic at the time', so I'm not going to to stress out about the fact that it will end again one day.

'Tennant has taken the role, bent it over his knee and given it a sound spanking.'

Kay, some of us are trying to work here...

I love the way everyone that writes about The Doctor writes "Weeell" lol I can always hear him when I read that, even if it is only one word (like the blog occasionally).

Just had a random thought, I can almost see the Doctor stressing about how long he has to live like Anya did, "I'm going to die soon! I've only got 30 or 40 years left!"

UQD I was 6 to 8 when McCoy was Doctor and I did watch it at some point, have vague collections of cats mainly! I loved it. I've tried to get old episodes on UK Gold when they've been on and watched some on video with an ex. I've always regretted that I haven't seen more.

We used to have a game based on DW at my school, it was an elaborate game of tig with Darleks. I was the only girl who played, so guess who I was

Does anyone remember McCoy in "What's Your Story?"? It was a children's programme around the end of his stint as The Doctor.

But I can remember some people being a bit dubious about DT taking over from CE. I thought he would be okay after seeing him in Casanova. I think we just all hate change (my parents were traumatised when Nick Berry left Heartbeat )

Gizmo, 'tis an arresting image, no?

And, FWIW, I'm not too worried about what happens when Tennant moves on. The production team at the moment seems to have a very sound grasp on what is needed, casting-wise.

If the writing or production team changes radically then there's probably more scope for a f*ck-up, I'd say.

Oh, wait a minute...