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[Hot Coldman]

Who else got the S6 DVD for Christmas?

Blu-Ray, son. No weird pop-up Silent head edition though, just regular. Which is fine- as much as I love my S5 'cracked' steelcase, there's no actual difference in content so it's cool.

Shall rewatch Doctor's Wife tomorrow. Fuck yeaaaaaaaaaah.

Oh, and Christmas special was alreeeeet. Pretty inoffensive. Androzani security were pretty cool, was kinda expecting a bit more hard sci-fi/fantasy whimsy mash-up though. Ending was a delight. Showing up on her doorstep won't be good in the long-term though...

 

[bengraven]

Loved the episode, mostly the beginning and ending. I wish Bill Bailey had a bigger role. Like many episodes he's written, I feel we're missing part of the story. We needed a bit more meat in the middle.

I started tearing up toward the end, but hoped it would get silly...then he visited the Ponds. I fucking love the Ponds and Doctor. The look on his face as he walked into their house...his home. The tear. I smiled. I love sappy Who, don't give a fuck.

Last season's was much much better and was tied with Doctor's Wife as my favorite New Who ever.

I especially love that Moffat is the best creator on television these days and isn't going away and the vile that gets aimed toward him is sogood.gif/letmelickyourtears.gif. /smug glee

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/Breen/IMG_0256.jpg

Wow, Gibbons did some Fourth Doctor work?! Do want that.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Agreed with bengraven. Opening and ending were fantastic. Really enjoyed the ep. I actually thought it was slightly more cogent than last year's, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily better.

 

[BatDan]

Are there more Doctor Who comic book collections out there? Hell, Dave Gibbons art is enough to make me want that one but I know there are comics with the other Doctors.

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Not horrible, but not great. The actress who played the mom was great, Matt was great as usual. The main problem was that this felt like about 30 minutes of plot stretched out to 60 minutes. Time traveling trees turning into stars/souls, flying through the time vortex sounds like something out of a RTD episode-and that's not a compliment. The ending was perfect however.

 

[ZoddGutts]

Well that special was mediocre. Only thing worthwhile in the special was the ending.

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

The logic of the world didn't come together but it didn't really either last year. The actors really sold this one though and I appreciate what Moffat wanted to do with it. Not bad by me, I'd slot it just behind last year's.

 

[EleventhDoctor]

The logic of the world didn't come together but it didn't really either last year. The actors really sold this one though and I appreciate what Moffat wanted to do with it. Not bad by me, I'd slot it just behind last year's.

I thought last years was really clever and creative-using the Christmas Carol story and applying timey wimey logic to it. This one seemed like it was a stretch to make it Narnia-ish. But yes the actors sold it. I wish they would lock Matt Smith down to do this role until he died.

 

[Discotheque]

not a good special but I loved the last minute of it.

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

I thought last years was really clever and creative-using the Christmas Carol story and applying timey wimey logic to it. This one seemed like it was a stretch to make it Narnia-ish. But yes the actors sold it. I wish they would lock Matt Smith down to do this role until he died.

Last year's just had some issues with the time travel for me, there was just a bit too "how could he not remember this" stuff to really be great great, but it was heartwarming all the same. This one is a bit back loaded - there's a whole lot of breathing room in the beginning and then the second half is slam bang with the back story and now we're moving and now they're remembering and now they're saved. I was on board with what Moffat wanted to do, which is why lines like "he followed you home" still got me, I just wish they sew the stuff back into the beginning of the ep instead of having an info dump time jump. Really felt the intro could've been more relatable to the main story instead of him just dropping in almost impossibly (I didn't know he could breath in space, somehow I missed that) from a green screen with poor effects and jumping. And then the acid rain annihilation was pretty damn overhyped for no real reason - it kind of took forever to wipe those trees out, yea?

Anyhow, I still really liked it. Gets you gassed up on Christmas joy and all, more forgiving of the issues. I can understand why it didn't work for some people though.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Oh god, the bit with 9's control room in Doctor's Wife is SO GOOD.

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Oh god, the bit with 9's control room in Doctor's Wife is SO GOOD.

Yeah, that entire episode is gold. I saw Neil Gaiman speak last summer and I asked him about that episode. He said there was so much cut from his script that he's going to actually write a short story that would have everything he intended to be in it.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

So question based on the reactions people are having to this episode. Do people here not care when the stuff is "non-continuity?" Personally I like the side stories, and can't stand the "Ponds are the Doctors best friends" deal they've been shoving down our throats for so long now. I kind of like the old formula of new companions, new locales, random adventures. I enjoyed the special. It wasn't amazing, but it was solid, and had some AMAZING one liners, "Nothing bad ever happens here..... There really are some sentences I should avoid."

 

[EleventhDoctor]

So question based on the reactions people are having to this episode. Do people here not care when the stuff is "non-continuity?" Personally I like the side stories, and can't stand the "Ponds are the Doctors best friends" deal they've been shoving down our throats for so long now. I kind of like the old formula of new companions, new locales, random adventures. I enjoyed the special. It wasn't amazing, but it was solid, and had some AMAZING one liners, "Nothing bad ever happens here..... There really are some sentences I should avoid."

I'm the opposite. I love how The Ponds are his family and give him something to gravitate to.

 

[zoku88]

Oh god, the bit with 9's control room in Doctor's Wife is SO GOOD.

I'm not sure what scene you're referring to, but I think the episode almost made me cry.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I'm not sure what scene you're referring to, but I think the episode almost made me cry.

Mainly when Amy and Rory first enter and she says 'What is this place?'. Such a cool moment, just for the throwback- even if it is referencing something still fairly recent.

 

[Spotless Mind]

I liked it, but i definitely had issues with it - mostly with execution. The acting from the mother bugged me and some moments were't given proper breathing room.

The ending was lovely. The water gun line was perfect Amy Pond.

Murray Gold's score was a mess. Way too loud and bombastic and took me out of every scene. He's such a mixed bag of a composer. Sometimes he hits it out of the park and other times his score becomes far too intrusive and cloying. Most scenes in this episode would have been better with no music at all.

Visually, it was stunner, with the exception of the lol-worthy effects in the opening. No offense Nickiepoo, if you were involved with that!

 

[Nickiepoo]

Visually, it was stunner, with the exception of the lol-worthy effects in the opening. No offense Nickiepoo, if you were involved with that!

I did the particle effects for the exploding spaceship and the snowflakes coming out of the box. They were fun to work on so I was hoping they'd come out a bit better but the spaceship was sped up too much and not given enough time for lighting/rendering/comping, and the snowflake scene had about 2/3s of its passes removed.

Bah.

 

[bengraven]

I think the reason last season's Xmas special was better is that it felt more like a fairy tale, a more cohesive story. This episode felt rushed: I think we could have had another hour of story there.

Bill Bailey's tiny part was sad.

I'm the opposite. I love how The Ponds are his family and give him something to gravitate to.

This. I can understand 40 years of tradition saying that people should move on, but I don't want them to move on yet.

Rory is so awkward he reminds me of me and Karen is a great actress for the tom boy part.

There is going to be a moment when they're sick of waiting for the Doctor. Then I want a spinoff. The Ponds. Occasional River cameo.

 

[Ventilaator]

"Do what I do, just hold on tight and pretend it's a plan"

I hate a lot of things about Moffat's writing, but his one liners are never not great.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Personally I like the side stories, and can't stand the "Ponds are the Doctors best friends" deal they've been shoving down our throats for so long now.

I agree. I'm sick to death of Amy. We've had enough of her being shoved down our throats by this point, it's time for some new blood. I really feel like the cast is starting to feel stale. The only other time the cast ever stayed largely the same across three seasons was in Seasons 8-10.

 

[Suairyu]

So question based on the reactions people are having to this episode. Do people here not care when the stuff is "non-continuity?" Personally I like the side stories, and can't stand the "Ponds are the Doctors best friends" deal they've been shoving down our throats for so long now.

You honestly think the problems people have with it is that it is a side story?

Last year's just had some issues with the time travel for me, there was just a bit too "how could he not remember this" stuff to really be great great, but it was heartwarming all the same.

How do you mean? If you're referring to the Scrooge character, he couldn't remember this stuff because it actually hadn't happened. The Doctor was re-writing time. As the Scrooge character had met the Doctor and was aware of his meddling, the changes in time were happening on the fly to him. He was aware all his past and memories were changing. It wasn't "how could I not remember this?" and more "that's how I'm going to remember it now?"

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

You honestly think the problems people have with it is that it is a side story?
How do you mean? If you're referring to the Scrooge character, he couldn't remember this stuff because it actually hadn't happened. The Doctor was re-writing time. As the Scrooge character had met the Doctor and was aware of his meddling, the changes in time were happening on the fly to him. He was aware all his past and memories were changing. It wasn't "how could I not remember this?" and more "that's how I'm going to remember it now?"

I dunno, I didn't have a huge problem with it and it's hard to remember what specifically was the turn off, but something about it was just a bit too timey-wimey, like it was literally changing who the Scrooge was in the first place or something, not just changing his perspective as a character.

 

[gabbo]

I liked this episode overall, even if it didn't always quite work - One liners were great, the cast was also great. Honesty, I could see Lily or Madge as companions for the Doctor. Hell I'd like to see more of those Space-Loggers in the future.

I'm somewhere in the middle on the companion discussion. I'm not tired of Amy and Rory as companions necessarily (River needs to go though.), just that stories focus on the dynamic between the three of them too often, and less on the adventure. I don't think I need to see another season of 'Rory has to rescue Amy from some problem the Doctor gets them into to show his love is absolute/Amy is conflicted between Rory and Doctor adventures'. Don't make the story arc about them so much as involve them. I think they were a nice book end to this episode though because it worked with the last 20 minutes or so of the story

 

[acheron_xl]

It was a Christmas special. I wasn't expecting much, and it lived up to those expectations. Very broad and all-ages friendly. I'm hoping S7 darkens the Doctor up a bit. I'm really starting to fear that 11 is becoming too light of a character, which I think might be a byproduct of how young Smith is in relation to the other 10 actors. I imagine it's easier to sell an 8 year old kid on a wacky version of the Doctor played by a 30 year old dude than a scheming Doctor played by someone in his 40s.

 

[gabbo]

It was a Christmas special. I wasn't expecting much, and it lived up to those expectations. Very broad and all-ages friendly. I'm hoping S7 darkens the Doctor up a bit. I'm really starting to fear that 11 is becoming too light of a character, which I think might be a byproduct of how young Smith is in relation to the other 10 actors. I imagine it's easier to sell an 8 year old kid on a wacky version of the Doctor played by a 30 year old dude than a scheming Doctor played by someone in his 40s.

I suppose in storylines, yeah. But Smith will have to up the wacky factor to come close to the ridiculousness that Tennant occasionally dropped into the character.

 

[GameplayWhore]

It wasn't "how could I not remember this?" and more "that's how I'm going to remember it now?"

That doesn't make sense. If he remembers having different memories, then his past wasn't really changed.

 

[acheron_xl]

I suppose in storylines, yeah. But Smith will have to up the wacky factor to come close to the ridiculousness that Tennant occasionally dropped into the character.

The scene where the Doctor gives the family a tour of the house is super wacky. I can't imagine that scene done by anyone but Smith. Specifically post-fez Smith.

 

[Dead Man Typing]

That doesn't make sense. If he remembers having different memories, then his past wasn't really changed.

This is sort of explained in one of the DVD/Blu Ray set extra episodes. Amy and the Doctor have a conversation about how Amy can remember her two lives, one where she had no parents and one where she's always had parents. Gambon's character was the same, except his memories were being re-written by the Doctor in real time. The two time lines were running in parallel, one with young Gambon and the Doctor had synchronised with the one hour the present day Gambon had to change his mind and save the ship. Two relative points in time running parallel and having a direct effect on the other in a very wibbly way.

Or something like that...

 

[Violater]

Just saw the end of season 2 and apparently the end of Billie Piper which just makes me not want to watch anymore

 

[radioheadrule83]

Honestly, the most offensive bit of the Christmas special was the trees / souls thing, and I think they sort of acknowleged that was shite when they had Smith almost mention it in terms of energy transformed into light wavelengths rather than souls and then did a delibrate backtrack... but still, all that WW2 hubby lost in a dogfight but saved shit was sacharrine sweet lameness. I was moved at the beginning of the episode and unmoved at the end by its undoing. Maybe I'm a bitter old dog, but I liked the idea of kids being taught the harshness of war... the episode would have stood a better chance of having me in tears if Alexander Armstrong had remained dead. And don't get me wrong, I love him on Pointless! I also kind of wanna improperly sexually proposition his wife on Outnumbered,,, but that's not the point. It was TOO sweet. I know its Christmas, and I know its for kids, but man... I was a bit bummed out by how OTT it was.

 

[Quick]

Just saw the end of season 2 and apparently the end of Billie Piper which just makes me not want to watch anymore

I'M NOT GOING TO CRY, DAMN IT.

...

 

[maharg]

That doesn't make sense. If he remembers having different memories, then his past wasn't really changed.

There has never been a time travel story that doesn't unravel if you think too hard about it. Some stories do their best to mask that fact, but Doctor Who routinely takes the approach of who the fuck cares. I don't see how if this bothers you you can watch the show at all.

 

[radioheadrule83]

There has never been a time travel story that doesn't unravel if you think too hard about it. Some stories do their best to mask that fact, but Doctor Who routinely takes the approach of who the fuck cares. I don't see how if this bothers you you can watch the show at all.

I might nitpick but if there was a like button on GAF I'd like this... so true - and probably why I've watched the show since I was a kid.

 

[Violater]

I'M NOT GOING TO CRY, DAMN IT.

...

Don't make me murder you....
Edit: I seriously preferred her in in Dr Who than I did in Secret Diary
Sigh... guess I must get used to Martha Jones and those teeth ughh...

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Sigh... guess I must get used to Martha Jones and those teeth ughh...

You won't like her until she's gone. Then she'll be cool whenever she shows up and you'll never understand how the hell that happened.

I have predicted the future.

 

[Nose Master]

LTTP, but I just watched Season 6 Episode 10:

Spoiler

It was interesting that they had the character acknowledge what changing the past would do to her. It was not interesting to watch a ten minute tearful good bye for a character that shouldn't, and won't exist.

 

[WanderingWind]

Just saw the end of season 2 and apparently the end of Billie Piper which just makes me not want to watch anymore

I was right there with you, man, You got some great stuff coming up though. And some stuff with pavement.

After watching that Christmas episode, I had a moment of clarity. I'm sort of done with Matt Smith as the Doctor. Or maybe I'm just sick of the Doctor-as-Jesus plots. Or both.

In any event, I'm ready for some new stuff, some lighthearted stuff. I dunno. Maybe not that clear, after all.

Also, it is now my sole mission in life to visit England. Unrelated, I know. But still.

 

[Violater]

I was right there with you, man, You got some great stuff coming up though. And some stuff with pavement.

After watching that Christmas episode, I had a moment of clarity. I'm sort of done with Matt Smith as the Doctor. Or maybe I'm just sick of the Doctor-as-Jesus plots. Or both.

In any event, I'm ready for some new stuff, some lighthearted stuff. I dunno. Maybe not that clear, after all.

Also, it is now my sole mission in life to bang a hot English chick. Unrelated, I know. But still.

I only hope there is a greater story being told weaving everything together eventually.
Honestly I am getting bored with it all.

I agree with the bolded though

 

[WanderingWind]

I only hope there is a greater story being told weaving everything together eventually.
Honestly I am getting bored with it all.

I agree with the bolded though

My wife might get upset at that. Beside, did that already. I'm mostly in it for the tea, tbh. Oh, and the food. I hear great things about British food.

 

[Violater]

My wife might get upset at that. Beside, did that already. I'm mostly in it for the tea, tbh. Oh, and the food. I hear great things about British food.

I think it's the accent that gets me...

 

[WanderingWind]

...so. Doctor Who. Pretty rad show, eh?!

I'm not too caught up with the news, but new episodes aren't airing for like, a year, right?

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Don't make me murder you....
Edit: I seriously preferred her in in Dr Who than I did in Secret Diary
Sigh... guess I must get used to Martha Jones and those teeth ughh...

those are bad teeth? mindblown.

I love Martha. She's strong-willed, confident, and brave while still able to show her affection for the Doctor. Rose was whiny, weak, and far too in love with him.

 

[acheron_xl]

those are bad teeth? mindblown.

I love Martha. She's strong-willed, confident, and brave while still able to show her affection for the Doctor. Rose was whiny, weak, and far too in love with him.

I mostly agree with this. If Martha didn't have a dumb crush on the Doctor, she would've been the best companion of the new series by far.

 

[Violater]

...so. Doctor Who. Pretty rad show, eh?!

I'm not too caught up with the news, but new episodes aren't airing for like, a year, right?

It has its moments where some good laughs and emotions are delivered.

those are bad teeth? mindblown.

I love Martha. She's strong-willed, confident, and brave while still able to show her affection for the Doctor. Rose was whiny, weak, and far too in love with him.

Sigh... I didn't use the word "bad" she is definitely smoking hot, the transition when marathon watching the show was just a bit jarring.

 

[shadyspace]

Stephen Moffat is so horrible. What a waste of Matt Smith's talents.

 

[maharg]

[
I love Martha. She's strong-willed, confident, and brave while still able to show her affection for the Doctor. Rose was whiny, weak, and far too in love with him.

I... don't understand how anyone could see this comparison as anything but the exact opposite.

 

[ultron87]

My DVR didn't record the Christmas special when I was away for the holidays. Damn it.

 

[Violater]

I... don't understand how anyone could see this comparison as anything but the exact opposite.

Indeed as what it seems so far Rose was a strong willed 19 yr old that grew into an even stronger character that kept her emotions for the doctor in check for the most part. While Martha seems to have fallen head over heels in love like a schoolgirl from the first kiss.
I googled the current characters in the show and at face value none of them seem interesting, ohh well...

 

[Quick]

I... don't understand how anyone could see this comparison as anything but the exact opposite.

Yes, exactly what I thought. I wouldn't call Martha weak, though. She went through a year on the run from the Master. I liked her for the most part in her run as a companion, though.

My favourite companions right now are the Ponds. Rose is next, then Donna and Martha tied afterwards. Wilf was awesome, and I'd say he's the best out of the ones during the specials.