"The End Of Time" DOCTOR WHO Preview clips

Grimjack · January 07, 2010, 02:12:12 PM

Quote from: Koltar;353807Balbinus,

Oh Yes - thought I said in this thread or the other one I really LIKED the finale of Tennants version of the Doctor.

It had nothing to do with politics what I said about the Obama scenes - it just didn't feel right for them to break their own pattern. Wasn't just a breaking of the 4th wall it was very much a WTF? moment or two.

The scenes with the master involved could have been done with a fictional generic President - like they had in earlier seasons. If they wanted to show there had been a change in administration - just cast a black actor to show things went a simniliar way in the parallel universe of the Doctor/Torchwood.

All the Wilf stuff I loved.

That actor really livened up things.

Its kind of amusing that to perk things up you gotta cast an 80 year old character actor who has a good sense of humor. (also darn good dramatic chops)

David Tennant did a damn good job, whether you like the writing of Davies or not, Tennent made the Doctor his own over the past 4 years and helpe to re-popularize DOCTOR WHO.

- Ed c.

I agree with all of this and with Balbinus too. The Obama thing didn't bother me politically but the thought that the British were sitting there all excited that Obama was going to save the world seemed rather ridiculous and also seemed odd since the whole Obama thing wasn't really necessary to the plot. I thought it was rather insulting to non-Americans but since the people writing it weren't Americans it was just puzzling.

Speaking of Tennant. I had a discussion with my brother in law and mentioned that he was in a couple of the Harry Potter movies as one of the villains (the one who morphs into the guy with the wonky magic eye). He thought I was crazy. Was I wrong on the that one?

Seanchai · January 07, 2010, 03:01:23 PM

Quote from: Balbinus;353797That and all the folk in the UK waiting for Obama to make a speech that would save the world? WTF?

That was more than a little WTF for me. I guess the author was trying to make some political point, but I don't really know what the hell it was. That Britain was too dependent on an American savior? That Obama was a savior? That he'd failed to be one?

Quote from: Balbinus;353797It wasn't me, too much wedged in there, too silly and self-indulgent...

I thought the whole thing was silly and self-indulgent. I honestly wonder if he wasn't trying to torpedo the franchise. There were moments I enjoyed, but on the whole...

Seanchai

brettmb · January 07, 2010, 03:12:24 PM

I never understand why he used a President Elect in the Sound of Drums (was that it?). He has no power until sworn in and the whole thing was pointless. Obama (who clearly didn't even look like him) was another pointless thing. Doctor Who has always been about Britain when it came to UNIT and end of the world. It doesn't need to go further - just mention that the world was affected and focus on the point. I mean if he's become everyone on Earth, clearly has become the President as well. I'm glad Davies is gone. It's like keeping a TV program on after it's prime.

Ghost Whistler · January 07, 2010, 03:57:06 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;353677For the record, the Tennant-finale was spectacular, I'm very optimistic about Moffat and Smith (though The Wench, for whom Tennant was her first doctor, definitely isn't), and as to some of the other things discussed here:

- up till now, generally each Davies season had ONE historical earth episode. I wouldn't mind seeing more episodes in earth's past, and more in earth's future or other worlds too.

-The Time Lords were always asses. At their very best, they were totally neutral non-interfering watchers who refused to do good; at best. In most classic-series episodes where we saw them, they were usually breaking their own rules, manipulating the doctor, and often causing secret fuckups they were desperate to cover up or murdering each other for the presidency.

-As far as the Time Lords, Moffat has gone on record that he doesn't like them, and doesn't want them around, so don't expect them in his run.

-As for multiple-doctor stories, Davies had said he hated these, and didn't want them, though clearly he relented for the Time Crash short. Its interesting to note that it was Moffat who wrote Time Crash, so hopefully he has a different opinion on Multiple Doctor stories; and yes, it would be cool to see pretty well any past doctor again (though frankly, it should probably be at least two seasons before they even think of bringing Tennant back to visit, to give Smith time to build up his own value as a character). Eccleston is not a big Who fan, so I don't know if he'd be willing to come back; Mcgann on the other hand is apparently a big Who fan, and would be likely very willing to come back.

RPGPundit

It was spectacularly bad.

brettmb · January 07, 2010, 04:47:00 PM

I enjoyed it much more than the previous years' finales.

Ian Absentia · January 07, 2010, 05:43:41 PM

Quote from: Balbinus;353797Koltar's right about the Obama thing...

Hush. You're just encouraging him. But, yeah, that bit sucked.

QuoteThat and all the folk in the UK waiting for Obama to make a speech that would save the world?

You mean you're not?

!i!

VectorSigma · January 07, 2010, 06:33:37 PM

Quote from: brettmb;353839I never understand why he used a President Elect in the Sound of Drums (was that it?).

At the time I presumed that the writer didn't know what a President-Elect was, and probably meant something like 'duly-elected President' for the line. I have no idea.

It's pretty stupid.

Then again, they also had the faux-American newscaster mispronounce 'Barack'.

Ghost Whistler · January 08, 2010, 04:19:55 AM

Quote from: VectorSigma;353901Then again, they also had the faux-American newscaster mispronounce 'Barack'.

Am i right? Is an american complaining about the mispronunciation of words?

Balbinus · January 08, 2010, 01:24:20 PM

Quote from: Koltar;353807Balbinus,

Oh Yes - thought I said in this thread or the other one I really LIKED the finale of Tennants version of the Doctor.

It had nothing to do with politics what I said about the Obama scenes - it just didn't feel right for them to break their own pattern. Wasn't just a breaking of the 4th wall it was very much a WTF? moment or two.

The scenes with the master involved could have been done with a fictional generic President - like they had in earlier seasons. If they wanted to show there had been a change in administration - just cast a black actor to show things went a similiar way in the parallel universe of the Doctor/Torchwood.

All the Wilf stuff I loved.

That actor really livened up things.

Its kind of amusing that to perk things up you gotta cast an 80 year old character actor who has a good sense of humor. (also darn good dramatic chops)

David Tennant did a damn good job, whether you like the writing of Davies or not, Tennent made the Doctor his own over the past 4 years and helpe to re-popularize DOCTOR WHO.

- Ed c.

I know I've accused you of being political in the past (and probably will again), I didn't think this was one of those occasions. I agree with all your comments on the Obama thing in fact (for the record, I'm not actually an Obama supporter as such, I wanted Hilary to win).

Wilf was played by Bernad Cribbin, he's a well known actor in the UK, very solid.

David Tennant was indeed excellent, though I have high hopes for the new kid.

Anyway, glad you enjoyed it.

Balbinus · January 08, 2010, 01:25:59 PM

Quote from: Ian Absentia;353885Hush. You're just encouraging him. But, yeah, that bit sucked.

But he's right on this occasion! I never agree with K about anything even tangentially linked to politics, it's important to seize the moment.

Koltar · January 08, 2010, 02:21:51 PM

I would've had the same issue if the STARGATE SG-1 series had done something similiar. STARGATE had a record of fictional Vice Presidents and Presidents played by actors Ronny Cox and William Devane.

If a show has a history of fictional national leaders , then suddenly breaks that by using the actual current office holder - then yeah that becomes a huge speed bump while trying to enjoy the show.

Be great to see Cribbens show up with the newer Doctor at some point.

- Ed C.

Ian Absentia · January 08, 2010, 02:50:24 PM

Quote from: Koltar;354092If a show has a history of fictional national leaders , then suddenly breaks that by using the actual current office holder - then yeah that becomes a huge speed bump while trying to enjoy the show.

I won't disagree with this. The whole "Obama's going to make a speech to fix THE economy" thing was just weird and incongruous with previous depictions of or references to "The President".

QuoteBe great to see Cribbens show up with the newer Doctor at some point.

As I suggested earlier in the thread, I think they spent a lot of time and effort buttoning up the 10th Doctor's companions. I think they're going to let sleeping dogs lie, and so it should be. It'd be a drag to keep pulling Davies' legacy back into the new cycle.

!i!

Werekoala · January 08, 2010, 04:47:14 PM

Has the Doctor had male companions before? I think I vaugely remember something like that, but again, I never really watched the old series - I just know that for the most part they're there to provide a bit 'o skirt as it were (nudge, nudge). I think Wilf would have made one HELL of a good one, though, even though he's a bit slow. He clearly had all the right ingredients - brains, common sense, courage, life experience (a huge bonus over some 20-something dolly) and even a bit of wit.

Ian Absentia · January 08, 2010, 05:00:41 PM

Quote from: Werekoala;354112Has the Doctor had male companions before? I think I vaugely remember something like that, but again, I never really watched the old series...

A handful, including one from right at the start: Ian Chesterton, Jamie McCrimmon, Turlough, Adric, one or two others who aren't leaping to mind. Male companions tend to take a bit of a verbal and emotional beating at the hands of The Doctor.

!i!

brettmb · January 08, 2010, 05:23:03 PM

The lesser known: Harry Sullivan, Ben Jackson, and Steven Taylor.