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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/23/2008 4:36:54 AM
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waiting2be_called
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I really enjoyed Turn Left. Yet another great "Doctor light" episode. I like that for this series they separated Tennant's and Tate's vacations so they each had one episode to themselves.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/23/2008 12:18:55 PM
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stateofgrace
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OK...trivia question here that you folks from the UK are more likely to be able to answer than us folks in the US. In the Agatha Christie episode, Donna asks The Doctor if something is real. Since this was in the context of Dickens and ghosts, I think she was talking about some kind of folklore creature. I didn't understand the reference. What was it?
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/23/2008 3:10:07 PM
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doinkdom
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LOVED!!!!!!!!! Silence in the Library
The actress portraying the archaeologist used to be on ER (her character married the dr. who eventually had brain cancer or something and died). I've seen her in some other programs as well. Anyways...I really like her. And, I rather liked the way she and the dr. interacted.
I was a little thrown off by Donna's attitude towards her, especially if Ms. Noble has no romantic interest in the dr.
Can't wait for the second part. Interesting to watch the therapist, little girl and father interacting again.
And I would be thrilled if the archaeologist eventually replaced Donna.
Course, it's not really up to me. 
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/24/2008 9:03:20 AM
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waiting2be_called
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quote:
ORIGINAL: doinkdom
I was a little thrown off by Donna's attitude towards her, especially if Ms. Noble has no romantic interest in the dr.
I'm pretty sure it was in the Doctor Who Confidential following the two-parter that the director explained that Donna's attitude came more from a curiousity stand point than from a jealous, romantic one. She was curious as to who this woman was, how she knew the doctor so well and yet couldn't give any information about it (the whole spoiler theme). As they noted, Donna was especially annoyed by the fact that River Song knew who she was.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/27/2008 7:31:31 AM
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manda59
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OK, US guy, second part of Silence In The Library tonight - it's called Forest Of The Dead!!
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/27/2008 9:48:36 AM
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stateofgrace
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Yep. I have to check to see if we get an episode on July 4th here in the US or not. We may end up being another week behind you folks in the UK. However, SciFi might run a couple of episodes on one night to finish the season off.
------
OK, just checked the schedule.
July 4th is a Twilight Zone marathon.
July 11th is the start of the new season of Stargate Atlantis, and the Dr. Who episode is "Midnight"
July 18th has one episode of Dr. Who scheduled but the title is TBD
Same for July 24th
Schedule for August is not up yet.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/28/2008 3:06:20 PM
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Sideways
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I really enjoyed Forest of the Dead. I found Donna's "life" to be quite compelling, and the scene where her children disappeared from their beds was quite chilling. SciFi has few original ideas, but the idea of "live a whole separate life in the span of a few hours, then go back to your old life" is a really nice one.
I still didn't find Dr. Song (sp?) all that compelling. There didn't seem to be much chemistry between the two actors, and the emotional pull that should've come from a "wife" sacrificing herself to save her husband just didn't didn't seem to be there for me.
I liked that they gave the darkness a chance to speak, and a legitimate reason for why they were doing what they were doing. Overall, I thought the episode had nice depth.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/28/2008 3:46:34 PM
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manda59
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Oh my golly gosh, agapetos! That has to have been the most compelling episode of Doctor Who I have ever watched in my entire life!!
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/29/2008 8:12:10 PM
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babbred
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stateofgrace
quote:
ORIGINAL: babbred
1. Looks like the writers have fallen for the common sci-fi tendency to do a "religion is a myth" episode. I found myself thinking during parts of last night's show, "Geesh, who wrote this? Richard Dawkins?" On the other hand, I wonder if they will ever do a "religion is positive" episode. A couple of other major sci-fi shows swung the other way and incorporated religion as a strong element in their character's lives. I'm not holding my breath for this show.
I did like how The Doctor illustrated to the folks after Jenny died that one can have the RIGHT to take revenge but chose not to, and choosing not to was the better way. Especially considering that all these people knew was the fighting between the races.
And,here in the US we can balance out the show's tendancies towards religion with what comes on right afterwards - BSG, which never has an episode that doesn't deal with religion in one way or another.
I was actually thinking of BSG when I wrote that. Forget sci-fi, that is my all-time favorite show, period.  (Offhand I can think of many American sci-fi shows that had a strong religious element to them. I wonder if that's somehow a reflection of our culture? )
Let's see. The Agatha Christie episode wasn't bad, but unfortunately, as a fan of her writing, I did find one possibly major nit. Years ago, I read a book that said up until 1926 (the year of the disappearance), Christie was a mediocre novelist. She had published 6 novels, but they had not sold very spectacularly. Therefore, many literary historians believe her "disappearance" was basically a publicity stunt to boost her sales. If that's the case, then she would not have been feted as the "famous Christie" at anybody's party.
I couldn't find any sales figures for that period, but I did find some other interesting information. Christie checked into the hotel under an assumed name, which is not the behavior of an amesiac. At the time of her "finding," there was a huge controversy, with many people believing it was a publicity stunt and decrying the waste of taxpayer money that had gone into locating her. Whether it was meant to be a stunt or not, it worked: sales of her books skyrocketed, thus putting her on the road to immortality.
Other observations:
"I was alone, I really was." Suffice it to say if this show were marketed as a "family" one over here, it never would have lasted this long. Pushing the gay agenda is the only really annoying thing I don't like about the show.
"We're British, Dr." I laughed at that one. I wonder if it was meant to be a piece of irony by the writers? While that attitude was certainly true in Christie's time, it isn't now. Wales and Scotland don't like England, and vice versa. Just today I was talking to my husband about putting a British flag outside our home. He was a quite emphatic that he didn't want a Union Jack, he wanted the English flag of St. George's. And when we were on honeymoon in Wales several years ago, we found some not-so-nice anti-English graffiti there. If this statement was meant to be ironic, then it was very clever, considering that the show is made in Wales.
Donna's advice to Christie about leaving her husband. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. Divorce was a huge deal back then and very scandalous. Indeed, although Christie did find out about her husband's adultery around about the time of the episode, she didn't actually leave him for two more years. Of course, this was after she had become financially independent through her book sales.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/29/2008 8:29:11 PM
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agapetos
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quote:
Let's see. The Agatha Christie episode wasn't bad, but unfortunately, as a fan of her writing, I did find one possibly major nit. Dr Who is fiction. There are many fiction books that are based on fact ~ and then insert a huge dose of fiction. Accept it.
quote:
"We're British, Dr." I laughed at that one. I wonder if it was meant to be a piece of irony by the writers? While that attitude was certainly true in Christie's time, it isn't now. Wales and Scotland don't like England, and vice versa. Just today I was talking to my husband about putting a British flag outside our home. He was a quite emphatic that he didn't want a Union Jack, he wanted the English flag of St. George's. And when we were on honeymoon in Wales several years ago, we found some not-so-nice anti-English graffiti there. If this statement was meant to be ironic, then it was very clever, considering that the show is made in Wales. I think your opinion is biased and you're not thinking of the wider picture. Yes, there are people who want to the UK to be separate countries, but there are also people who love the fact that Britain is united and GREAT.
quote:
If this statement was meant to be ironic, then it was very clever, considering that the show is made in Wales. Just because it was made there, doesn't mean it was set there.
quote:
Donna's advice to Christie about leaving her husband. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. No, it wasn't ~ but it's not necessarily something Donna may have been aware of. In today's secular world, it's the obvious answer.
I'll be interested to see how many of you pick up a certain comment made in the latest episode.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/29/2008 8:45:12 PM
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babbred
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Observations about Silence/Forest:
Very good irony using Alex Kingston from ER as the heroine. She had an affair with one doctor and married another on that show, so it was rather appropriate casting her as the love interest here.
Overall, the episodes were very good. For me, they were almost as good the second-season finale where Rose got killed off. The only reason I couldn't rank these as being great was that I found they were too derivative. I counted themes or allusions borrowed from at least 5 sci-fi movies, various episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and one episode of The Twilight Zone (fantasy series from the 50's.) I just wish the writers could have been a tad more original.
Speaking of original, I'm trying to think of how to put this without sounding too harsh. Seeing somebody else nobly rush in to die while the Dr. goes tootling off to some other adventure is, dare I say this, old? I realize that's the limitation of the show, but IMO, that's why it can't rise to the level of other shows that are great. When you know that nothing can happen to the hero, it takes most of the drama out and makes a show merely entertaining.
And speaking of dying. You could classify it as a nit, but it's actually pretty common to sci-fi, since time travel is messy. It actually has a name among buffs: the "grandmother paradox." If I travel back and kill my grandmother, does that mean I'll disappear? Of course, if Kingston kills herself now, then she can hardly be present in the future to meet the Dr. Can she? Wouldn't that erase all the experiences they have together? Think about this long enough and it will make your head swim.  
As for the companion, I agree that it was a waste to bring Freedman back. I've still got mixed feelings about Donna so I don't how I'd feel if they took her off. I also can't imagine how Rose could come back, since Billie Piper is rather busy right now , unless they have her played by a different actress.
So Tennant is tackling the Bard, eh? I wonder if he's trying to establish a reputation as a "serious" actor, since he's tackling what's generally considered Shakespeare's most difficult play. I think it's cute that a Scotsman is playing a Dane in an English play. Sort of like that description of the opera Carmen in the novel The Age of Innocence: "It had an Italian soprano singing a Spanish role in an opera written by a Frenchman, and performing in America with a German tenor." 
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/29/2008 8:47:59 PM
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agapetos
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quote:
For me, they were almost as good the second-season finale where Rose got killed off. Rose wasn't killed off.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/29/2008 8:56:43 PM
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manda59
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quote:
ORIGINAL: babbred
I counted themes or allusions borrowed from at least 5 sci-fi movies, various episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and one episode of The Twilight Zone (fantasy series from the 50's.) I just wish the writers could have been a tad more original.
I don't know how you have the time - I'm too busy watching! I think it would detract from any enjoyment if I analysed every little thing in detail.
quote:
Speaking of original, I'm trying to think of how to put this without sounding too harsh. Seeing somebody else nobly rush in to die while the Dr. goes tootling off to some other adventure is, dare I say this, old? I realize that's the limitation of the show, but IMO, that's why it can't rise to the level of other shows that are great. When you know that nothing can happen to the hero, it takes most of the drama out and makes a show merely entertaining.
Hmmm, I think that what I said above may already have happened for you.
quote:
Think about this long enough and it will make your head swim.
Again, I just prefer to watch it for what it is, rather than analyse it ad nauseam.
quote:
So Tennant is tackling the Bard, eh? I wonder if he's trying to establish a reputation as a "serious" actor
Actually David already has that reputation.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 6/30/2008 4:45:53 AM
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manda59
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Who.I.Am
This season(4) of the Doc, just keeps getting better and better. I watched Stolen Earth last night and was happy to see the cobwebs dusted of another classic villian and brought back into this new Series.
I'm not sure where you are all upto with the Doctor so i won't say, but what a brilliant finale this season is becoming..
Absolutely! And welcome to the thread!!
UK and Canadian posters are up to date (ie up to episode 12), and US posters have *just* watched Forest of the Dead. They get Midnight on 11th July, Turn Left on 18th July, and then Stolen Earth on 25th July. They started off just a couple of weeks behind us, but will end up a month behind.
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 7/1/2008 1:47:59 PM
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doinkdom
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I watch doctor who because it is genuinely entertaining and I love it!
The Forest of the Dead was another good one. And, since the doctor saved Dr. Song inside the Library...then the possibility of her getting out of the library remains possible. At least among sci-fi fans  who believe that anything really is possible.
Can't wait to see more!
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 7/2/2008 2:51:21 PM
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peacebringer
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I enjoy Dr. Who, but it has always been a guilty enjoyment. The new age, occultic references are always ripe throughout the series. With Russell T. Davies writing a lot of the stories and at the helm, you have an ongoing thread of redefining relationships and bascially concluding that all that matters is "love."
I also have noted that in Series 4 there is an ongoing thread of "extending life" and a couple of different incidents of this including last episode. I imagine that Donna will have her life "extended eternally" in some way. It seems to be what writers are foreshadowing.
For those of you who enjoy the film how to do you reconcile your enjoyment with the new age/occultic themes?
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 7/2/2008 3:49:14 PM
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doinkdom
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quote:
ORIGINAL: peacebringer
For those of you who enjoy the film how to do you reconcile your enjoyment with the new age/occultic themes?
it's just a TV show and I know that it's really not real
my enjoyment of a make-believe program doesn't really need to be reconciled
does it? 
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 7/2/2008 4:12:02 PM
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stateofgrace
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quote:
ORIGINAL: peacebringer
I enjoy Dr. Who, but it has always been a guilty enjoyment. The new age, occultic references are always ripe throughout the series.
Hmmm....certainly not nearly to the extent of many other scifi series, and not meant at all to be taken seriously. Perhaps you are someone who is extremely sensitive to such things and should avoid any remote/fictional connection at all costs?
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RE: Dr Who is coming back - 7/2/2008 4:16:35 PM
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agapetos
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quote:
ORIGINAL: peacebringer
I enjoy Dr. Who, but it has always been a guilty enjoyment. The new age, occultic references are always ripe throughout the series. With Russell T. Davies writing a lot of the stories and at the helm, you have an ongoing thread of redefining relationships and bascially concluding that all that matters is "love."
I also have noted that in Series 4 there is an ongoing thread of "extending life" and a couple of different incidents of this including last episode. I imagine that Donna will have her life "extended eternally" in some way. It seems to be what writers are foreshadowing.
For those of you who enjoy the film how to do you reconcile your enjoyment with the new age/occultic themes?
It's escapism. Like stateofgrace said, it's not meant to be taken seriously. If you feel guilty about it, perhaps you shouldn't be watching it?
As for love being all that matters, perhaps you should read 1 Corinthians 13:13
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LOL, we'll see. Otherwise, I'll have to watch when I'm back home. I am SO excited for these next episodes. EEEEE!
