Doctor Who Series One - US Broadcast on SciFi

[Robert Saint John]

After nearly a year of fretting, Americans are finally going to see the best sci-fi series in Britain on their TVs at home! DOCTOR WHO has come to the Sci-Fi Channel, and it premieres TONIGHT, Friday March 17th at 9pm EST, 8pm Central.

Tonight will feature the premiere of the first two episodes, "Rose" at 9, and "The End of the World" at 10. Both will be repeated later in the evening, and the series will continue in this timeslot with heavy replays throughout the week (Sunday, Monday and Thursday)>

If you've never seen any version of the show before, don't worry. Although this is not a remake or a re-boot (ala BSG), and does continue from the original show that ran from 1963 - 1989 (plus a TV movie in 1996), it is not bogged down by its own continuity. In other words, if you've never seen it before, you can still come into this fresh and enjoy it as a brand new series.

Of course, if you've seen the old series, then toss off your preconceptions! This isn't a cheap production, it's truly a DW for the 21st century. IMO, it's more sophisticated, beteer written, faster and more fun than ever before. It respects its history, but definitely takes a new approach to the concepts. It has very broad appeal to audiences of all ages, and seems to have captured those who generally don't even like sci-fi. In the UK's, 2005 National Television Awards, Doctor Who got three of the top awards: Most Popular Drama, Most Popular Actor (Christopher Eccleston) and Most Popular Actress (Billie Piper).

Although there is the Series One thread from last year, it's long and full of spoilers. So we'll use this as the thread for discussion of the show and its US broadcast. If you've already seen the show, please go easy on the spoilers.

[lhb412]

Ha! I can't wait! Only three hours away! I've been a Doctor Who fan for a bit more than two years, but it feels like I've been waiting a decade to see the new episodes!

As for the differences between the new series and the old; the variety is what makes DW work! If the Doctor is still as eccentric and intelligent and fights his battles with his brains instead of more militaristic American heroes... I'll be happy.

I've always equated the Doc to those crazy secondary characters you love in movies/ books/ TV shows, except he's the main character!

[godzillamaster66]

I want to see this. Is this series serious or comedic? I don't actually know much about it.

[dalekg]

I've seen the first five episodes and, being a fan since 1992, its great. The first episode does suffer from some "regeneration crisis" as far as the new Doctor's character goes (a tad unsettled,) but its pretty good. Episode 3, "Unquiet Dead" is my favourite ep so far, but again I've only gone in five eps deep.
I *just* got the region 2 dvd of the Fox TV movie from 1996 (which I remember seeing, and being disappointed by, in 96) and watching it again reminds me how much that stumbled while these eps get it (95%) right on.
"Rose" is a bit weak, but "End of the World" has some great moments.

[lhb412]

"Champagne?"


My God, that was great! The first episode was good, nice in the way it introduced the Doctor and Tardis, but it is totally blown away by "End of the World" in all it's Hitchiker's-esqueness! (great idea to show them as a two hour premeir) I see now that the Doctor doesn't have to be so Edwardian to be the Doctor, as Eccleston is.. okay, I'll say it, FANTASTIC!

Some technical notes

-Yes new folks, the sonic screwdriver does indeed rock!

-Doctor you've rigged and patched up the Tardis beyond practicality. You need to do some major repairs if you rely on a pump to power your time machine... Actually, I love the new Tardis (except for the inside doors matching the Police Box doors).

-I'm glad that the show is still clever and silly. I was so worried when I started hearing that the Doctor would be modern and wear leather. I started fearing is being a serious/dull crowdpleaser. All possible doubts vanished quite soon.

Okay now, why aren't their more posts on this thread?

Hey you people reading this, if you watched it reply and if not go to the Sci Fi schedule. They're re-running the two hour premeir several times this week! Watch It!

[Robert Saint John]

Even though I've seen them all 3 or 4 times each, I watched both episodes twice last night, and today I was playing the DVDs with the front channels turned off so I could just soak up the music. I never really noticed how wonderful the score was for TEOTW before.

I think SFC did a decent job. The commercial breaks were a little frequent, but logically placed. They didn't cut much. The only thing I really didn't like was how they handled the end, and the transition between episodes. The way that the "Next Time" preview was incorporated into the end theme and credits in the original version is *much* better, and sort of makes up for the fact that stories don't really have cliffhangers unless they're two parters. But, that's what DVDs are for.

I just hope that it got great ratings last night, and more important, doesn't see a big dropoff next week. A strong rumor is going around that SciFi is willing to air Series Two almost immediately afterwards if the ratings are good!

[lhb412]

[DannyBeane]

[gamemanual]

[lhb412]

[DannyBeane]

[Kaijufan]

[lhb412]

[lhb412]

-Episode 3
-Cardiff 1869
-Charles Dickens,
-Aliens that look like ghosts
-Zombies that are really corpses animated by aliens that look like ghosts
-The Doctor is Charles Dickens' number one fan
-"You'll start a riot Barbarella!"
-"THE BIG BAD WOLF!" (what could that mean? )


This episode really felt like an old Tom Baker gothic horror Doctor Who episode done, comfortably, in 45 minutes! Dickens reminded me of Litefoot from "Talons of Weng Chiang", and I can see how this Simon Callow guy has cornored the market on playing Charles Dickens (and written books on the man as well!). I like how the Doctor really caused all the trouble by trying to do the right thing only to be double crossed by the uber-spooky Gelth!

Double-crossin' finks!


Next up is the two parter that is considered by many to be the weakest story of the season. I'm still looking forward to it though. The preview is great; "Take me to your leader!".


In three weeks "EX-TER-MIN-ATE!"

[nebka]

[lhb412]

[Enshohma]

[lhb412]

[Bladefist]

[The Shadow]

I thought the Dalek episode was the first one to hit all the right notes, the first true new Doctor Who story.

The previous episodes, while they have their moments [some more than others], smacked a bit to much of fan fiction. Not that they were terrible awful, but they left me with a "Enterprise" feeling, close but no cigar.

I still don't really like the whole "blown up Gallifrey, last of the Timelords" schpiel. I consider it a "cut your nose of despite your face" situation. If they wanted to avoid Gallifrey for a time that's fine, but as new fans become interested in the series they'll start looking to what has come before and will likely be dissappointed.

Hopefully, the folks behind the show will come to their senses and work in a plot that reveals the Doctor really isn't alone, that Gallifrey was spared. For instance, the Doctor could be showing his current companion where Gallifrey once stood, and somehow he discovers that the rest of the Timelords moved/hid Gallifrey mere moments before it could be destroyed.

[lhb412]

[lhb412]

[Kailem]

[lhb412]

^Thanks.


On the 16th of June they'll be showing a Doctor Who marathon! I'm pretty sure Sci Fi will pick up season 2, but the question is how soon. No one wants to wait a whole year again. Since Sci Fi Friday will be taken over by new epps of the regular shows during the fall, perhaps Doctor Who 2 could premeir on Sci Fi's new "Sci Fi Mondays" block. Although I suppose Sci Fi could air both series 2 & 3 as the "US Season 2" during summer 2007.

[lhb412]