I was, frankly, COMPLETELY bored by today's episode. I left in the middle to go make dinner because chopping vegetables was more interesting. But I understand the general case.
I unfortunately agree... though I'm hoping the second part will make the first more clear, in that trademark timey wimey way. Unless (and I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case) most of the yawnfest of this ep is part of a massive Pandorica style buildup for the series six finale.
Upon seeing the preview clips for next ep, I'm pretty confident on both points now: episode two will vindicate episode one, and they're pulling that set-up-for-extravagant-finish stuff.
Eh. I didn't like the deliberate vagueness about Nixon (River Song lavishing him with praise? ..Really?), and I thought the Doctor was too.. Bouncy and childish, but then I'm an Eccleston fan, so still getting used to Smith's portrayal. I still think they overdid it in parts ("I'm being brilliant and there's no-one here to watch me!", etc).
I think the main plot points were well done, and the villains' power is at least interesting/amusing.
I saw an inexplicably coherent and mature thread on 4chan (no really!) which saw several hundred people get into a back and forth over who was the worst. president. evr.
Nixon quite rightly got defended on the grounds that the actual effect of his presidency was incredibly progressive – the US pretty much got rid of its miscegenation laws during the Nixon admin for instance and instituted a bunch of progressive social policies that the current teabaggers are trying to dismantle because they're useful & good & therefore socialist & EVIL.
Song pointing out that he had some good points is entirely believable and in character – understanding nixon's good points is vital to understanding the historical period.
You know who 4chan couldn't come up with a defense for? Reagan. Every single defense of reagan went "how about..." "NOPE.jpg, that led to him funding terrorists/genocidalists/fascists/failing@AIDS.com"
I disagree, and also disagree with the implication/principle that people who don't look conventionally attractive shouldn't go into acting.
See: Steve Buscemi. Amazing actor who doesn't look like every other guy in Hollywood. Same applies for Matt Smith, though with a less powerful adjective and outside of Hollywood.
I don't think he's ugly, per se. Well, not Pesci or Buscemi ugly. (Neither of them is a pretty man, but then they're not there to be romantic leads.)
But he's so fucking young to be playing the Doctor. I keep thinking "When is his mom going to show up and say 'Stop fighting with the Daleks, it's time for dinner!'"
The last time I saw Doctor Who was when I was a kid in the '80s, and even then it was an old episode. If I were to start watching it, should I start with the last guy's stuff, or is starting with this guy OK?
My personal suggestion is to start at the first season of the new series. It's available on Netflix streaming. Personally, I preferred the ninth doctor over the two most recent ones, but that's not to say they're bad.
"The new series" started with Christopher Eccleston, actually. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/) It's marketed as "Series One" because it was a restart after most of a decade off TV.
That being said: Yeah, pretty much start anywhere that isn't a season finale. Partly because the season finales (before #5) all sucked, and partly because they won't make sense - continuity for a season *does* matter, for them. Individual episodes have continuity, but it's not as critical, like watching most case-of-the-week crime shows.
In fact, if you can pick and choose your episodes, I'd actually jump right in with Season 3 Ep 8, "Blink", and watch THAT first, then go back and start with some of the first season.
Looks like seasons 1-4 of the new one are on Netflix, so I can definitely pick and choose at will, along with a one-shot called the Waters of Mars. Since we're here, what about Torchwood?
The Waters Of Mars was a special episode, because one of the seasons of Doctor Who was delayed. It's decent enough, but you should watch it roughly in order - it's one of the more continuity-heavy episodes.
Torchwood is widely acknowledged as awful due to it's generally childish and immature approach to sex, violence and John Barrowman's teeth (which it made the focus of the show btw). series 2 is better than series 1 but THAT IS NOT SAYING MUCH. The Children of Earth was alright but didn't make up for the two previous series being so bad.
The Sarah Jane Adventures were, and still are, pure awesome though – Easily the best doctor who spin-off show ever, and while that's not HARD, the show is extremely well written, has a great cast and is made of 90% nightmare fuel. Worth a gander if you can get one to see if it's your cup of tea.
Ah, I'd seen a clip of SJA with a cameo by the newest doctor and thought it was interesting, then completely forgot that SJA itself existed and assumed what I'd seen was from Torchwood.
You're fine with starting with the Stephen Moffat / Matt Smith episodes: the immediately previous series (season 5, in new money, which starts with "The Eleventh Hour"). If you're keen, you could watch season 1 (the first post-reboot season, with Christopher Ecclestone), and then skip through the following David Tennant seasons. In general, watch anything by Stephen Moffat or Paul Cornell, and avoid the final episodes of any season as they're just Russel T Davies pulling plot out of his arse. ("Utopia" and "The Sound of the Drums" are excellent; "Last of the Time Lords" is rubbish.)
You do not need to watch any of the Christmas specials before the Moffat era, or any of the 2008-2009 specials. They're dreadful.
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-23 11:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 12:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 12:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 02:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 02:13 am (UTC)That, and it would have taken me longer than half an hour to download it.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 03:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 12:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 11:14 am (UTC)Eh. I didn't like the deliberate vagueness about Nixon (River Song lavishing him with praise? ..Really?), and I thought the Doctor was too.. Bouncy and childish, but then I'm an Eccleston fan, so still getting used to Smith's portrayal. I still think they overdid it in parts ("I'm being brilliant and there's no-one here to watch me!", etc).
I think the main plot points were well done, and the villains' power is at least interesting/amusing.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 02:19 pm (UTC)Nixon quite rightly got defended on the grounds that the actual effect of his presidency was incredibly progressive – the US pretty much got rid of its miscegenation laws during the Nixon admin for instance and instituted a bunch of progressive social policies that the current teabaggers are trying to dismantle because they're useful & good & therefore socialist & EVIL.
Song pointing out that he had some good points is entirely believable and in character – understanding nixon's good points is vital to understanding the historical period.
You know who 4chan couldn't come up with a defense for? Reagan. Every single defense of reagan went "how about..." "NOPE.jpg, that led to him funding terrorists/genocidalists/fascists/failing@AIDS.com"
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 07:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 11:10 am (UTC)I disagree, and also disagree with the implication/principle that people who don't look conventionally attractive shouldn't go into acting.
See: Steve Buscemi. Amazing actor who doesn't look like every other guy in Hollywood. Same applies for Matt Smith, though with a less powerful adjective and outside of Hollywood.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 12:55 pm (UTC)But he's so fucking young to be playing the Doctor. I keep thinking "When is his mom going to show up and say 'Stop fighting with the Daleks, it's time for dinner!'"
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 02:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 04:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 08:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-24 08:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-25 12:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-25 01:07 pm (UTC)That being said: Yeah, pretty much start anywhere that isn't a season finale. Partly because the season finales (before #5) all sucked, and partly because they won't make sense - continuity for a season *does* matter, for them. Individual episodes have continuity, but it's not as critical, like watching most case-of-the-week crime shows.
In fact, if you can pick and choose your episodes, I'd actually jump right in with Season 3 Ep 8, "Blink", and watch THAT first, then go back and start with some of the first season.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 11:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 11:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 12:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 12:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 12:33 pm (UTC)The Waters Of Mars was a special episode, because one of the seasons of Doctor Who was delayed. It's decent enough, but you should watch it roughly in order - it's one of the more continuity-heavy episodes.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-26 04:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-27 03:32 am (UTC)The Sarah Jane Adventures were, and still are, pure awesome though – Easily the best doctor who spin-off show ever, and while that's not HARD, the show is extremely well written, has a great cast and is made of 90% nightmare fuel. Worth a gander if you can get one to see if it's your cup of tea.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-28 11:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-25 11:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-25 01:01 pm (UTC)You do not need to watch any of the Christmas specials before the Moffat era, or any of the 2008-2009 specials. They're dreadful.