...NEW DR WHO TONIGHT, 15/04/06, 7.15pm, NEW EARTH...

ARRISARRIS · 15 April, 2006, 05:17:56 PM

...Oh great joy, here we go again for another 13 weeks of Dr Who, as last year, please post your views comments and brick-bats here...

...the Sisters of Plentitude wish you long life, meeeooooww!!!...

Quirkafleeg · 15 April, 2006, 08:25:16 PM

Never mind the program... I've been waiting for Uncle Umpty telling us all he didnt watch it!

The Amstor Computer · 15 April, 2006, 08:38:27 PM

Guh... not sure that I could put up with that for another 13 weeks... ;-)

Anyway, Charlie Brooker's preview suggests this opening episode may be like last year's Rose - a bit messy and incoherent but full of promise - and that it shouldn't be taken as representative of the quality of the new series. Brooker also has a preview tape of next week's episode, Tooth & Claw, which he compares to the second ep of the first series in terms of fulfilling the promise of the opening show.

radiator · 15 April, 2006, 09:18:32 PM

Dammit! I'll be at work! Anyone know if they're repeating it? BBC3 perhaps?

The Monarch · 15 April, 2006, 09:19:50 PM

http://www.whoisdoctorwho.co.uk/

heh heh heh...

The Monarch · 15 April, 2006, 09:28:29 PM

yeah both it and the confidential are showing on sunday

The Amstor Computer · 16 April, 2006, 03:02:12 AM

Yup, Brooker was right - an unfocused mess of an episode. There were some good moments in there, but Davies seemed to be trying to force three different episodes into one & it didn't succeed. Some nice effects work in there, some good performances (though I cringed through the Doctor-Cassandra performance from Tennant) and some interesting elements that could have been worked into a more satisfying whole.

Still, next week looks promising & I'm hopeful that this is just a bit of a misfire at the beginning of a good new series.

Dark Jimbo · 16 April, 2006, 03:07:29 AM

It seemed to have been done the world of good being freed from all the exposition, just crashing straight in there with the story - but still a bit sci-fi lite, innit?

Ah well, after last series I know what to expect when I watch a Russell T Davies episode now, so I'm no longer too put out. Just hope the quality is better on the non-RTD episodes.

Buttonman · 16 April, 2006, 03:07:51 AM

Pretty good - plenty of simultanious posts so no apologies for any duplications...

New Earth (Nu surely) look great complete with Mega City style city blocks. Those robot scout bugs were a total lift from Minority report.

What's the chances of going 5 billion plus years and you meet all your old props once again!

Nice ending although I thought those winged dude would appear as past and future Cassandras were in the same time and touching! Consciousness only so we'll maybe let them off.

Overall a good start, Rose looking very busty, decent Matrix style sets and cracking Cat makeup. Resolution was a bit straightforward, but straight into the number one slot, well at least untill Bullseye starts on Challenge on Monday 10pm.

the3rdman · 16 April, 2006, 03:09:37 AM

I liked it. The Doctor - Cassandra performance from Tennant made me smile, I thought it was good. Next weeks looks darker and Tennant said on Radio 1 that it was a frightener. Kids behind the couch time then ?

petemaskreplica · 16 April, 2006, 03:38:02 AM

It was lightweight but fun. Sure, it was a bit confused, but Dr Who always has been ;)

Next week's looks f***in' excellent :)

Max Kon · 16 April, 2006, 03:42:40 AM

i didn't watch it either

Lord Running Clam · 16 April, 2006, 03:51:30 AM

I'm not sure what to make of that episode.For every good idea there was a wrong step.Still I think it worked just,though the plague clones need hug resolution was a tad daft.

The stuff I liked most was:Rose/Cassandra,the great cat make-up,some fun lines such as "the flesh is free",and the effects all looked smart.

Only things that really bugged me were the fact that for a new earth filled with humanity's varied offspring most of them looked rather,well,human,if you know what I'm getting at.
There was a bit of overacting,nothing to bad.
Also I hope we have not seen the last of Cassandra.

Next weeks episode looks like a cracker.

House of Usher · 16 April, 2006, 04:00:11 AM

I enjoyed that: a good first episode. Have to agree with Lord Running Clam, though: "For every good idea there was a wrong step".

As usual, the science/fiction didn't add up, but it was good entertainment.

And I thought the ending with the two Cassandras was very moving, and the best bit.

The Amstor Computer · 16 April, 2006, 04:12:03 AM

Hm. I'm hoping we have seen the last of Cassandra - she's not that interesting a character, and I think that she served well to bridge the first and second series, but there's no need to bring her back again.

Also didn't think much of the two Cassandra ending - the sudden compassion toward Chip-Cassandra from Past-Cassandra didn't quite convince, and I feel that ending the episode with Past-Cassandra swishing off after their conversation, then having Chip-Cassandra pass away would have been more satisfying.

I'm still feeling that there were too many subplots in there for the running time - Cassandra, the Sisters' flesh farm, the Face of Boe, the petrifying politician... 45 minutes was never going to be enough to do justice to them all.