Urban's 'Doctor Who' Thing

[Astronomer]

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I was hoping you'd pop in when you saw this

I have a confession to make.
I quite like the Unicorn & The Wasp, It's one of my guilty pleasures.
I know it's not great but I've always liked stories set in early 20th century and they've not done that many, I can think of 4 off the top of my head.

I loved Martha too, she's easily my favourite female companion since the series came back. She always seemed to me to be the most normal and most true to life person they've had playing a companion.

I'm not sure why they got rid of her so quickly. I've heard a ton of rumours about it from they weren't happy with her standard of acting, to her and Tennant not gelling as much as they hoped, that she was moved to Torchwood because she was contracted for a second series of Doctor Who and they didn't want to pay her for doing nothing.

I know it had nothing to do with Catherine Tate coming in because even before they knew she was available for series 3 they'd already decided to recast the companion and were planning to have him travel with a journalist called Penny. Officially the BBC say Martha was only ever supposed to be in it for that one series and she was only contracted for that.

I guess it'll come out in a few years what really happened, it always does.

I always wondered why Martha disappeared so quickly as well. I mean, she did continue to get a few post-appearances now and then but I thought she was great as a main companion. Interesting rumours nonetheless. Donna is still my favourite companion of the new series (after initially disliking her she grew on me), but Martha is a very close second! I love that she was already living her dream before the Doctor came into her life (rather than being "rescued" from the mundane as most of his companions are), she's intelligent and educated, she leaves the doctor on her own terms, and she uses her experiences with the doctor to lead a kick-ass life afterwards. When she comes back in contact with the doctor she treats him as an equal, rather than an idol. So yeah, pretty much, that is why I too think that Martha is awesome.

Don't get me wrong, I love episodes like The Unicorn and the Wasp as well Not only for the time period but I think the ridiculous monsters, calculable endings and less-than-impressive special effects are part of what I love about certain sci-fi enterprises! Plus, anything that takes place in the past around known historic events I find really cool.

Urban, you have no idea how excited I am to see the rest of this journal pan out and to hear your opinions are on some of the (even) newer storylines as well! Do you have an all-time favourite episode or storyline from the classic or modern series?

[Unknown Soldier]

I watched Love & Monsters again the other day, largely because you'd given it such a bad rating, but I always remembered it as being modern Doctor Who at its most interesting. Anyway I still think it's a great episode, especially with the concept of a small self-help group and Marc Warren was great, kind of reminded me of the tv series Dear John with the group of individuals on show. I'm guessing that the ELO influence probably killed it for you anyway

I also watched Fear Her and what a ****ing crap episode that was! and easily belongs that low down on your list.

[Astronomer]

Love and Monsters is probably easily one of my most disliked episodes... I get that they were filming it at the same time as doing the Christmas special so it was Doctor/companion lite, but definitely not my cup of tea.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by Astronomer

I always wondered why Martha disappeared so quickly as well. I mean, she did continue to get a few post-appearances now and then but I thought she was great as a main companion. Interesting rumours nonetheless. Donna is still my favourite companion of the new series (after initially disliking her she grew on me), but Martha is a very close second! I love that she was already living her dream before the Doctor came into her life (rather than being "rescued" from the mundane as most of his companions are), she's intelligent and educated, she leaves the doctor on her own terms, and she uses her experiences with the doctor to lead a kick-ass life afterwards. When she comes back in contact with the doctor she treats him as an equal, rather than an idol. So yeah, pretty much, that is why I too think that Martha is awesome.

Those reasons you give for liking Martha pretty much nailed exactly why I love her so much.
I do love Donna as well, I was dreading it when I heard Catherine Tate was doing a full series but I think they handled it well in having her change after she met the Doctor the first time, and calming her down a bit. In fact by the time you got to the window scene in 'Partners in Crime' I was totally won over by her.
I love the way she was written out too, that was totally heartbreaking. Her departure was the most upset I've ever been about a companion leaving since Jo Grant left the 3rd Doctor. Having Bernard Cribbins as her Grandad was inspired casting, that guy could make a stone cry.

Originally Posted by Astronomer

Do you have an all-time favourite episode or storyline from the classic or modern series?

Yes

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Anyway I still think it's a great episode, especially with the concept of a small self-help group and Marc Warren was great, kind of reminded me of the tv series Dear John with the group of individuals on show. I'm guessing that the ELO influence probably killed it for you anyway

Well Marc Warren is great in everything, If I ever do watch that episode ever again it's because he's in it, and that's all.
If I'm honest Peter Kay being in it annoys me more then the ELO thing.
I used to quite like Phoenix Night, now I can't stand the guy.

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I also watched Fear Her and what a ****ing crap episode that was! and easily belongs that low down on your list.

I'll swap you, I just watched Episode 2 of The Sensorites.
F*cking hell this has got the be the slowest episode of Doctor Who I have ever seen. I feel like I've aged 10 years just watching it.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I'll swap you, I just watched Episode 2 of The Sensorites.
F*cking hell this has got the be the slowest episode of Doctor Who I have ever seen. I feel like I've aged 10 years just watching it.

There are a number of those early Hartnell adventures especially the historical ones that lacked pace and with a lot of them as you know being at least 6 parts, you really need to be in the mood for watching them. I can't comment on the Sensorites as I haven't seen or read that story in years, but then again I don't remember it that well and that probably says it all.

I guess it will soon be up here because if you're watching it, it probably means that it will be reviewed soon.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

This one is slow paced even allowing for it being an early William Hartnell.
Apparently the director was replaced after episode 4, hopefully it'll speed up after that.

I was going to watch the rest last night but gave up, maybe I'll finish watching it and writing the review of it tonight. Both are half done.

I watched Seeds Of Doom over the weekend, you won't be seeing that for a while though, I need to watch the good ones to get me through the bad ones.

[Trollheart]

Did you catch Marc Warren in "Mad dogs" recently? Great actor. Loved him in "Hustle" too, was pissed when they wrote him out.

Oh, and +2 on the Peter Kay appearance. I just wanted to punch his face and never stop. Hate that guy. Why does everyone think he's god's gift to comedy???

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I never got around to watching Mad Dogs something about it didn't really interest me.
I think my favourite performance by him was in State Of Play where he plays that witness that keeps being beaten up by people.

[James]

Peter Kay

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I love Masterchef spoofs