Dr Who

Ohmigod, does it start this Saturday then??

7pm this Saturday I believe. I'm surprised how much I'm looking forward to it as I thought it used to be quite poor on occasion. Silver painted hair driers and rubber monster suits with obvious zips up the back never really floated my boat I'm afraid. I thought the Pertwee/Baker years were the best, my all time favourite being "Pyramids of Mars" which I thought was a superb piece of SF.

My childhood beckons...

quote:

Originally posted by TomK:
7pm this Saturday I believe. I'm surprised how much I'm looking forward to it as I thought it used to be quite poor on occasion. Silver painted hair driers and rubber monster suits with obvious zips up the back never really floated my boat I'm afraid. I thought the Pertwee/Baker years were the best, my all time favourite being "Pyramids of Mars" which I thought was a superb piece of SF.

Agree entirely. I loved the show when I was a kid. The show started to go down hill for me when they introduced Colin Baker. I don't think it was CBs fault though. A combination of crappy stories and Bonnie 'f***ing' Langford finished it off for me. I remember catching an episode of the Sylvester McCoy era and switching off immediately as he seemed to be battling Bertie Basset!

However, after all that I am really excited about this new incarnation.

I believe that one channel, don't know if it is BBC2 or one of the UKTV channels is showing some of the best stories from each of the Doctors on Saturday, leading up to the new show.

Here's hoping that it has the magic it had when I was 8!

Regards

MF

When it was good, it was good because it was written by Douglas Adams. Went downhill after his creativity went towel-wards.

But I am quite looking forward to this new one, although, not to the probably subsequent cries from middle-aged blokes that it's aimed too much at children.

Oh, and is it possible for anyone on the telly to mention this without making reference to "hiding behind the sofa"?

Did or has anyone of any age ever hidden behind a sofa because of scary entertainment?

quote:

Originally posted by rodwsmith:
When it was good, it was good because it was written by Douglas Adams. Went downhill after his creativity went towel-wards.

Terry Nation was the first great Dr Who writer and invented the Daleks amongst other creations.

Does anyone remember that the first ever episode was so popular and well received that the next Saturday they showed it again, along with the second episode?

In those days they always alternated a series based in the future with a series based in the past.

And now, for all you old 'Dockies'...

How many dimensions are there and what are they - as described by Susan (or was it Barbara?) in the first ever series?

I guess one remembers 'The Doctor' from when one was young enough to get the most from it?

I am old enough to remember William Hartnell in grotty 405 line black and white, as being rather wonderful.

A grumpy, clever and frightening authority figure to me, at that time I suppose?

I'm very pleased to see that Christopher Eccleston has the new role - superb actor.

John.

I quite enjoyed the new show, although I must say I prefer the 24 minute multiple episode format to the new 48 minute what is going to be mainly single episode style.

quote:

Originally posted by J.N.:
I guess one remembers 'The Doctor' from when one was young enough to get the most from it?

I am old enough to remember William Hartnell in grotty 405 line black and white, as being rather wonderful.

A grumpy, clever and frightening authority figure to me, at that time I suppose?

John.

I agree. He was wierd enough to carry it off. The rest seemed to be playing for laughs. The recent programme about the series was an eye-opener to a cynical middle-aged eye spoilt by too many modern special effects.

"Quatermass" was far more frightening than Dr Who because they didn't show you the immediate danger. Merely hinted at it. I can still remember some of the details. "A for Andromeda" was another landmark in my chldhood. Both are probably awfully dated now.
For some reason the reconstruction of the Neanderthal had me terrified at bedtime. A race memory?

Nime

Having been inside many a real Tardis I must say, it's nuffink like on the telly, they're miles bigger inside, innit.

Fritz Von Scarfs

All the Quatermass series and Day of the Triffids are out on DVD soon.

Howard

"Spearhead From Space" did it for me -- the first outing of the Autons. The scene when they break out of the shop windows and start knacking everyone scared me shitless as a kid.

Nime
no one can tell you if the superb 'A For Andromeda' would look dated now cos the BBC wiped it! Anyone who has a tape of it secreted from the BBC will be sitting on a fortune cos it was pre-vhs era.
Patrick Troughton was the best doctor, his stories were darkly surreal on occasion.

Bob

And another thing ...

Who knows why it's a police box?

quote:

Originally posted by 7V:
And another thing ...

Who knows why it's a police box?

Oh c'mon Steve is that the best you can do?

It's because the chameleon circuit broke whilst in police-box guise and it was never ever fixed.

Do I get a prize?

quote:

Who knows why it's a police box?

The Tardis could change to any shape but it got "stuck" as a Policebox after it landed on earth.The Doctor could save the universe but not fix that part of the re-materialisation cicuits.
A Policebox so that it could land on any London street(or anywhere else if they had those boxes) and not be "noticed".

Howard

Ok, ok, I admit it. I'm surprised and impressed. I thought I'd be the only person here with that particular combination of oldness and sadness.

Still no one's answered my first question:

In the first ever episode - Barbara or Susan said that there were how many dimensions and what were they?

Regards
Steve M

PS: Impressively coordinated responses, guys.

quote:

In the first ever episode - Barbara or Susan said that there were how many dimensions and what were they?

five I believe, if you include time and space with the normal 3.

The silly answer is.
The Dimensions, there were 4:- Barre Probst, Steve Purnell, Jack Brunsfield and Jim Sebastian.

Howard

quote:

Originally posted by John Sheridan:

quote:

In the first ever episode - Barbara or Susan said that there were how many dimensions and what were they?

five I believe, if you include time and space with the normal 3.

...Is the right answer (although I didn't understand why 'space' wasn't already included in the normal three).

Well done John. How many times have you seen that first (pre-videos) episode?

quote:

Originally posted by 7V:
Well done John. How many times have you seen that first (pre-videos) episode?

errr, too many probably, not forgetting that there's two versions of the first episode (takes 1 and 3) floating around.

Well apart from a sound fuck up at the beginning, a most enjoyable beginning.

Do you know, I think that I would as well.

Well, just seen episode 1 and I thought it was quite good!

Cheers,

Jon

Have to disagree . . . . huge disappointment!

Another victory of style (effects and explosions) over plot script and story!

How sad that the first episode had to be a reworking of an original Dr. Who story i.e the Autons.

D

Dougunn,

I'm sure there'll be lots of stories that resemble original plot-lines in some way, shape or form, I mean for heavens sake they've made no secret of the fact that the daleks are going to make an appearance at some point!

I think it's easy to judge the new series against what's gone before - personally I'd prefer to deal with it on its own terms. It has when you think about it a very difficult brief, and I think it's going to take a good few episodes more to see how effectively it tackles that brief.

Cheers,

Jon