Quote: Griff @ August 20 2008, 10:19 AM BSTOh you probably ought to watch The Satan Pit / The Impossible Planet too, that's quite good. But that's your lot. Eight watchable episodes out of 52.
C'mon - what about 'Gridlock'? Great standalone episode and example of RTD wringing every bit of emotion out each scene/word/gurning by DT and BP.
Quote: Simon Stratton @ August 20 2008, 1:58 PM BSTC'mon - what about 'Gridlock'? Great standalone episode and example of RTD wringing every bit of emotion out each scene/word/gurning by DT and BP.
I was surprised on watching it again to see it's been written by RTD. I liked it, too. (Especially all the different drivers.)
Edit: The message is pretty obvious again. (Is that the RTD problem? He seems to start off with a message idea, not with a plot idea.)
Was that the one with the never-ending traffic jam thing?
Quote: Aaron @ August 20 2008, 2:04 PM BSTWas that the one with the never-ending traffic jam thing?
Yes. And with the kittens.
Quote: Griff @ August 20 2008, 2:01 PM BSTGridlock was mostly rubbish. I liked the hymn singing and the final scene when Dr.Who is getting nostalgic about Gallifrey, but the rest was typically plotless and dull RTD nonsense.
It had a plot - but RTD is mainly about emotion - Face of Boe/Jack dying, Gallifrey backstory, drug addiction, the hymn singing. To be honest the 'people stuck in a pointless tradition without really questioning why until the doctor comes along to free them' story did remind me a lot of many of the classic Dr Who eps.
I do agree about RTD.
He does write some good eps though.
Quote: Griff @ August 20 2008, 2:13 PM BSTYes RTD is mainly about emotion. Cheap, false, unaffecting emotion. He tells you everyone is sad, he has them cry, he piles on the string section, and still you don't give a damn about any of it because it's all completely superficial.
There's nothing wrong with that if it's done well. You might as well say a fart gag is childish - yes it is, but in the right time and place it can still raise a laugh.
Whatever you do, stay away from the season 2 episode 'New Earth'. That really is toss in a box. RTD at his most indulgent.
Yeah, that was one episode where it didn't work so well...
I had a little theory here:
[quote name="Finck" post="241281" date="August 20 2008, 2:03 PM BST"]
Is that the RTD problem? He seems to start off with a message idea, not with a plot idea.
Quote: Griff @ August 20 2008, 2:35 PM BSTThere's everything wrong with it when RTD does it.
But you said you were touched by the hymn singing. You can't have it both ways.
Quote: Finck @ August 20 2008, 2:05 PM BSTYes. And with the kittens.
Don't really recall the kittens. But that was the episode which made me stop watching Doctor Who. Even aside from Freema f**khead.
I caught a couple later on in the run, but by chance rather than choice.
One of my favourite episodes from the new version is 'Boomtown' from series 1. Most people seem to despise that.
Quote: Aaron @ August 20 2008, 2:42 PM BSTDon't really recall the kittens. But that was the episode which made me stop watching Doctor Who. Even aside from Freema f**khead.
I caught a couple later on in the run, but by chance rather than choice.
I don't like Martha at all and thought her storylines were rubbish, but I liked that episode (for a RTD episode with Martha in it).
Martha needs a swift does of death.