The Return of Doctor Who

Diana Hignutt · Mar 17, 2006

I will confess to a fairly serious Dr. Who addiction in my teens and early twenties. I was delighted to see that the Sci-Fi channel has the new episodes of the resurrected BBC series, beginning tonight at 9 EST. I can't say enough what an influence that show had on me creatively, morally, and philosophically. If you are unfamiliar with the show, it is about this outlandish, human-looking, space alien (a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey) who speaks with a British accent and travels around time and space in his TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space--a time/space ship) that looks like a police call box from the outside. The Doctor, accompanied by a variety of different companions, would run into evil space aliens, monsters, historical figures, oppressive regemes, sinsiter corporations in his weekly adventures. He was always helping overthrow tryanny throughout the galaxy. It was the longest running show in the history of the BBC (1963-199?). Anyway, I was excited to see it back on, and thought I'd see if there were any other Whovians on this forum.

veinglory · Mar 17, 2006

I saw this series in the UK. I think it may be the best yet--the last few incarnations were a tad naff.

sacredmime · Mar 17, 2006

For some reason, I never got into Who when I was younger. I think the strange accents frightened me.

But I am looking forward to catching the new series on the Sci-Fi channel.

TheIT · Mar 17, 2006

The Doctor is great! Anyone else ever been tempted to name their car the TARDIS?

I've seen the first few episodes of the new series, and so far I've been impressed. They've managed to capture a lot of the original feel of the series though this version is definitely not aimed at children like the original.

waylander · Mar 17, 2006

Diana Hignutt said:
If you are unfamiliar with the show, it is about this outlandish, human-looking, space alien (a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey) who speaks with a British accent and travels around time and space in his TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space--a time/space ship) that looks like a police call box from the outside.

Excuse me, but that's an English accent.

A British accent does not exist.

Pthom · Mar 17, 2006

Diana Hignut said:
Anyway, I was excited to see it back on, and thought I'd see if there were any other Whovians on this forum.

Oh, indeed. This wouldn't be a very worthy SF/F board if there weren't, eh?

veinglory said:
I saw this series in the UK. I think it may be the best yet--the last few incarnations were a tad naff.

Well, it's pretty darned tough for anyone to come close to the talents of Tom Baker...

TheIT said:
Anyone else ever been tempted to name their car the TARDIS?

I once had a Yugo that WAS a TARDIS...Problem was that it only went forward in time...and then only far enough to cause me to be perpetually late.

Sheryl Nantus · Mar 17, 2006

just finished watching the two-hour premiere - I give it an AAA+++!!!

and there was an ad for the FIRST SEASON DVD *already* on pre-order on Amazon, coming out in July!

w00t!

Lord, I loved/love this show... a bit darker than the original, but well worth watching, imo.

*makes whooshing noise*

glee!

Anya Smith · Mar 17, 2006

Darn, I missed it tonight. I used to watch Doctor Who, gosh, how long ago? I loved the ones with Tom Baker. I'll catch up next week.

Diana Hignutt · Mar 18, 2006

yeah, I was very pleased with the new show... it maintained much of the charm and style of the original.

I wonder how the Time Lords were all destroyed? ...I hope the Master did it!

waylander · Mar 18, 2006

They're filming another series now.

Captain_Campion · Mar 20, 2006

John Pertwee rules. lol.

As a kid, the Sea Devils, the Daleks and the spaghetti-looking axons scared the crap out of me, despite the clearly visible zippers on their rubber suits.

Someday I hope to find those old episodes on DVD and let my son watch them.

Ashleen · Mar 20, 2006

Yet another Whovian checking in!

We were out of town for the premier, but taped it, and watched it last night. Wasn't quite sure about Eccleston at first, but by the end of the second hour, was satisfied. It was a little over the top -- no more so than the originals, of course, but one notices it more these days. I thought the balance of modern production values and old-fashioned story was good, though. I've already pre-ordered my first season DVDs ....

Is anyone writing fanzine stuff? I'm so lame on the internet I'm not sure I can find any 'zines on my own. I almost had a story in the now-defunct local 'zine, but they accepted it right before the movie came out, devoted that issue to the movie, and then didn't print any more. I have some old stories that might do as they are, if old Doctors are still written about, and at least one that I could, after seeing a couple more episodes, rewrite for the current Doctor and companion.

"Of course we should interfere. Always do what you're best at."

Ashleen

Diana Hignutt · Mar 21, 2006

Ashleen,

Well, I assume Doctor Who Magazine still comes out. I remember it from my old comic book shop loitering days. They would have new stories about the old doctors and such. Perhaps, you could visit your local comic book shop, grab a copy and presto, you've got your editorial contact info on what is almost certainly the best market for a Dr. Who story. A visit to the bookstore will reveal that somebody is probably still publishing new novels based on the old doctors as well. Among the first books I really got hooked on as a kid (after my Edgar Rice Burroughs' books) were the novelizations of Doctor Who episodes. I loved those books.

My favorite doctor was Tom Baker, followed closely by Jon Pertwee (Roger Delgato was soooo cool as the Master in those old Pertwee episodes.)

dpaterso · Mar 21, 2006

BBC Doctor Who weblinks

If you're not already aware:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index.shtml

Quick edit: some of these pages have sound and music, so don't do this at work!

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
There are very few problems that can't be solved with a 2-pound ball hammer. ~Andy McNab

Uncletrunx · Mar 23, 2006

I'm waiting for the new series here in the UK. There's a promise of the Cybermen coming back...

Maprilynne · Mar 23, 2006

Wow, you guys are actually way late onto the boat. In the new Dr. Who we are already on our second actor playing Dr. Who. My hubby got me into it about three episodes into last season and I love it!!!
Maprilynne

Diana Hignutt · Mar 24, 2006

Maprilynne said:
Wow, you guys are actually way late onto the boat. In the new Dr. Who we are already on our second actor playing Dr. Who. My hubby got me into it about three episodes into last season and I love it!!!
Maprilynne

It's just come on in the States last Friday. We're not that late onto the boat, relatively speaking.

Uncletrunx, Cybermen? Cool! Dang, I love Cybermen. For those of you who don't know the Cybermen; they were a once human race (from the planet Mondas) that eventually replaced all of their organic parts with mechanical ones...clearly Star Trek's Borg were a Cybermen rip-off (though with much better costumes).

Zonk · Mar 24, 2006

Ah, the Doctor...

One of the truly well-done send-ups of science fiction, along with Hitchiker's Guide (a trilogy in five parts, for those not in the know

)

I've seen the first two episodes now on Sci-Fi channel. I agree with Diane, they have kept much of the 'feel' of the old series - including the theme music

Brought back lots of memories...

P.S. I've always wanted a sonic screwdriver...*sighs*

badducky · Mar 24, 2006

Doctor Who?

Isn't he dating that girl named Ida Gnu?
Mm... the tasty flavor of bad puns... So greasy...

waylander · Mar 29, 2006

A third series has been commissioned

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4858010.stm

Diana Hignutt · Mar 30, 2006

waylander said:
A third series has been commissioned

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4858010.stm

Excellent news! Thanks for sharing it!

loquax · Mar 30, 2006

waylander said:
Excuse me, but that's an English accent.

A British accent does not exist.

Excuse me, but that's a central London/ Kentish accent. An English accent does not exist.

waylander · Mar 30, 2006

loquax said:
Excuse me, but that's a central London/ Kentish accent. An English accent does not exist.

BBC English? Somewhat frowned upon these days, but cannot be ascribed to any particular region

Bradster · Mar 30, 2006

I've been a Dr. Who fan since Jon Pertwee was "The Doctor". It was shown on Sundays where I lived, and I always remember itching to get home from church so I wouldn't miss it.

I didn't really start to watch it again until just after I graduated from college, and at that time the local PBS affiliate was showing the Tom Baker episodes. I kept watching through Peter Davidson and saw some of the later episodes as well.

I always loved the basic premise of the show--that the main character could be replaced with a different actor and the show could still go on; that always struck me as very inventive. What most shows would consider a disaster--losing the actor who played the main guy--Dr. Who turned into a virtue (unless you really loved the current Doctor.) And the campy nature of the series was always a lot of fun; whereas other shows like Star Trek probably wanted their special effects to be as good as their budgets would allow, Dr. Who always seemed to revel in the cheesiness of their effects.

I've watched the first three episodes that've just aired here in the U.S. on the SciFi channel, and I enjoyed them; I especially liked the last one with Charles Dickens. And it's been fun to hear the classic Dr. Who theme music again.

Diana Hignutt · Mar 31, 2006

On accents

loquax said:
Excuse me, but that's a central London/ Kentish accent. An English accent does not exist.

You know, in the U.S. (the States to you Brits) we do honestly refer to your delightful accents as British. Meaning that most Americans can not tell the difference between a London accent, a Yorkshire accent, a Welsh accent, a Scottish accent, or for that matter, an Irish accent. Go ahead, ask most Americans what sort of accent Ewan MacGregor has, or Sean Connery, they'll probably say, a British accent.

Now, since fair is fair, and we in the colonies have corrupted your language into numerous accents...do you fine folks ever refer to an American accent? We've got Southern accents, New York accents, New England accents, Midwest accents (which sound like Canadian accents to me), Texas accents, West Coast accents, Pennsylvania Dutch accents, and the dreadful accent I have worked so hard to minimize in my own voice, the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia accent.

Does anyone anywhere speak English without an accent?

And Bradster, the Dickens episode was my fav so far (of the new season). My all time favorite Dr. Who episode is probably Tom Baker in The Deadly Assassin (I'm a big Master fan too).

The Return of Doctor Who

Very Tired

volitare nequeo

Esteemed New Member

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Who's going for a beer?

Word butcher

Holding out for a Superhero...

House Dragon

Very Tired

Who's going for a beer?

Very Tired

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Limited by talent

Author Waiting in the Wings

Very Tired

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Who's going for a beer?

Very Tired

I verb nouns adverbly

Who's going for a beer?

Very Tired