WHY should I watch Dr. Who? (I never have)

[Michael Bergeron]

still hoping it turns out to be Rani instead of where everyone thinks it's going... LOL

THAT would be great.

 

[Risu]

Well, maybe I exaggerated on the modifications. It was a lot for me because I had to completely remake the suit because the fabric, zippers, and hardware I got on the off the rack suit were all wrong/terribly low quality and unrealistic. I'm a HUGE fan of the snowboard boots used in Satan Pit, though. My favorite part of the costume, even moreso than the helmet. Anyways, this has gone off-track. You've got a PM headed your way about the helmet.

 

[Larry Young]

You've got a PM headed your way about the helmet.

I love you so much.

 

[Treadwell]

Well said Solo. In a word, it's a bit...pantomime.

It's interesting that you say that, because time after time in the DVD extras, producers and directors say they always told the actors to play it "real". A producer will say that about their own approach, while accusing a previous regime of being pantomime, but if you go back, you find that's exactly what that preceding producer said. And on and on. :lol

I'd say in the end it did always come across as somewhere between pantomime and, oh, Upstairs and Downstairs or something. The only story I've seen so far that was truly full bore pantomime (despite what the producers thought it was at the time), was Web Planet, and I understand I have a lot of company in my hatred of that series. :lol

 

[Idaho Jones]

Just wanted to pop in and ask you Dr Who fans a question, I've recently finished the first season and loved it. I'm a couple of episodes into the second season, when would you recommend staring the Torchwood episodes?

 

[Larry Young]

Never.

 

[Solo4114]

Just wanted to pop in and ask you Dr Who fans a question, I've recently finished the first season and loved it. I'm a couple of episodes into the second season, when would you recommend staring the Torchwood episodes?

Well, Chronologically, they began with the Third Season (Tennant's second -- the one with Martha), so I'd say watch them alongside the Who stuff then. Just don't expect it to be Who. It's a VERY different show. Still fun, but very very different. I will confess that I have only seen the first season of it, though.

 

[letmebestormy]

I concur with a lot of what's been said. I grew up on the Tom Baker years and I can say without a doubt that show at that age (about 6yrs old) really contributed a lot to who I ended up being. For one, I grew up with a fantastic vocabulary.

I went into the new series in '05 with a certain (and deserved) amount of trepidation and low expectations and all in all it's been a fantastic ride. I have no complaints.

My wife loves the new series, can't get into the old series. It's too slow for her. I love that the old ones take 2-3hrs to tell a story.

I have the entire Baker years on a hard drive if anyone is looking for a blast from the past. It's not HD or anything but it sure brings ya back.

 

[Solo4114]

I think they've actually just about released all of the T.Baker stuff at this point on DVD. There may be a few left, but I believe they're in the pipeline.

I've heard that you're actually better off with R2 discs if you decide to collect them, largely because the R2 stuff has better extras. That, of course, assumes you have a region-free player.

 

[kursosawa]

For me, it all comes down to the writing. Its witty and just a teeny bit dry which is how i like my sci-fi. Funny you should mention the Extras episode as i just watched it last saturday! The series has a "monster of the week" formula which might put some folk off, but there is such a variety in the episodes that it keeps it from getting boring. While sure it can get a little hokey (sound of drums) its a lot of fun to watch. The companions are a big bonus as well...

 

[Idaho Jones]

Ill have to check out some more of the Tennant DW before getting into the TW stuff. It has made me start looking around the hardware store for parts to cobble together a sonic

 

[artemis22]

It Is Full Of Win.

British Win

 

[Angelus Lupus]

It Is Full Of Win.

British Win

Ooh, now there's a great answer that stirs my patriotism!

 

[IndyFanChuck]

I haven't had a chance to start watching the series yet.

Anyone want to lend me ALL their DVD's?

 

[TikiGuy]

I just started watching this year, the show scared the hell out of me when I was little. Really little I think it was on right after Mr. Rogers, and that theme song with the Theremin music was so scary when I was 4 or 5. I just felt that I didn't like it at all, even decades after I would have been scared by anything on the show.

My friends in High School were fans, my wife is a fan, but I never gave it a shot, partly thinking I was 50 years behind and would NEVER catch up. We watched a couple together on Netflix, and liked it. After watching the (horrible) G4 coverage of Comic-Con this year, I noticed for the first time that Torchwood was a Dr. Who spin-off. We really got into Torchwood and watched the first 3 seasons within a couple weeks. Now we are watching Dr. Who for references to Torchwood.

I really like the Matt Smith and Amy Pond.

I can say I really like the show now, I found this thread by looking for Dr. Who or Torchwood props.

 

[Hfuy]

Answer to the original poster: you shouldn't. It's crap.

What "British win" means in this case is the fact that it's incredibly cheap and kitschy, and they've somehow managed to make that into a plus. It's a major international embarrassment to British filmmaking.

Garh!

What I don't get is how it does so well in the US.

HF

 

[Solo4114]

Answer to the original poster: you shouldn't. It's crap.

What "British win" means in this case is the fact that it's incredibly cheap and kitschy, and they've somehow managed to make that into a plus. It's a major international embarrassment to British filmmaking.

Garh!

What I don't get is how it does so well in the US.

HF

You are entitled to your opinion, wrong though it may be.

 

[kursosawa]

To Hfuy, just out of curiosity how much have you watched? and more importantly which
Doc have you watched?

When ever I am asked by a friend (or anyone for that matter) if they should watch Doctor Who, I respond thus:

Like Sci Fi?
Like odd/kitschy television?
Like anything British?
Can you deal with people talking in accents other than your own?

If they answer "no" to to or more of those questions, then I honestly tell them that it might not care for it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this show, but at the same time I know that its not for everyone.

As for why its doing well in the US? It's probably the fact that it IS so Kitschy/odd/off the wall. Sci fi TV where main draw is not some gorgeous woman in a leotard or bikini and the ultimate weapon is not a big arse laser cannon or super powers but the sheer brilliance of a "mad man with a box" who just happens to be 900+ years old.

 

[Hfuy]

Like Sci Fi?

Very much so.

Like odd/kitschy television?

Not so much, especially when it's an excuse for cheapness.

Like anything British?

I am British.

Can you deal with people talking in accents other than your own?

Comfortably over 95% of all film (yes literally) shown here is from the US, so I'd hope so.

 

[kursosawa]

@Hfuy, admittedly i have only ever asked those questions of folk who were either born/raised in the US or in Asia LOL looks like my questionnaire needs some tweaking for a more international audience ^_^. In your opinion what makes the show cheap?

*FYI, this is an honest question on my part without any hostile/confrontational intentions as i have yet to encounter anyone with a reason for not liking Dr Who other than It did not have enough explosions,cleavage, super powers.