British Comedy Guide

Doctor Who... Page 481

Quote: Godot Taxis @ May 20 2010, 8:47 AM BST

She can act, Martha couldn't. Unfortunately her acting ability was a secondary consideration.

Not yet quite convinced by Karen (or Rory). Billie Piper has been by some margin the best assistant since the revival.

As for Martha, if there was a desire to cast an actress of colour there are some splendid black actresses out there and I am sure many more waiting to be discovered. So I don't quite get it, or why she remains in work (other than perhaps the ignorance and laziness of casting directors.)

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ May 19 2010, 9:58 PM BST

Scanning through I'm torn between series 2 & 4.
(The Slitheen put series 1 out of the game for me)

What was wrong with the Slitheen?

Quote: Timbo @ May 20 2010, 9:51 AM BST

Not yet quite convinced by Karen (or Rory). Billie Piper has been by some margin the best assistant since the revival.

I can see not being convinced by their actual characters, but they both seem completely natural as performers.

And is Piper the best purely down to Tate hate?

Quote: Kenneth @ May 20 2010, 9:52 AM BST

What was wrong with the Slitheen?

They were more suited to childrens spin off Sarah Jane, where they've ended up. Very silly, farting monsters who looked awful too. I mean, who really signed off on those ungainly costumes?

If RTD wanted the show to be taken more seriously as well, they seem a very odd choie of creation for the comeback series; the decision to use them in three episodes is even weirder.

At least it isn't going to be the bloody Daleks in the finale. Hopefully.

Quote: john lucas 101 @ May 20 2010, 9:57 AM BST

At least it isn't going to be the bloody Daleks in the finale. Hopefully.

That episode this year definitely felt like a set up for their full return though. Whether that means this series or not I don't know. I haven't noticed anything that would suggest they are in this years finale. Maybe the Christmas special??

Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 20 2010, 10:00 AM BST

Maybe the Christmas special??

Yeah, that sounds about right.

I had no problem with the Slitheen, or Katherine Tate come to that. By no means the worst of RTD's crimes.

This series has been a bit disappointing so far, only so-so. The plots have been too thin and where there have been good ideas these have not been properly worked through, with loose ends left trailing and unsatisfyingly neat resolutions. 45 minutes is not long enough to tell a complex story - it is not coincidence that almost all the best episodes of the revived Who have been two-parters. This frantic plotting has not helped to develop the characters of the assistants, who have been unengaging. And the tone has been a bit too knowing and tongue in cheek.

I had been hoping for something better from Moffat. But at least there have been no flying buses, sexy jewel thiefs, magic water or Masters by the billion.

The next couple of episodes appear heavily influenced by the first Pertwee season. We have not just the Silurians, but a drilling project as in Inferno.

Those two stories are undoubted classics. I'm expecting nothing more from The Hungry Earth than a good old romp.

So it is the Silurians then.
I was wondering.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ May 20 2010, 11:07 AM BST

So it is the Silurians then.
I was wondering.

Doesn't look like they have that little light on the top of their heads though. I think I read Moffat saying they were supposed to be another strand of creature from that era, like the Sea Devils were.

Yes. It's the Silurians with a slightly different design. The eyes are more human.

I actually thought Tate was a good assistant, I'd put her no.2 after Piper (I can't believe I'm getting in this, lol). She was comic but could also be convincing in more emotional scenes too.

I think the new Doc (Mr Smith) is good, he has that mad professor thing about him, and he has good comic timing in his deadpan way but I agree he hasn't yet been given a great episode to show off in, the first was probably his best. I don't think he has the acting range of Tenant who could be clownish one moment and gravely serious the next.

Well when Tate had a couple of chances to let it rip she was excelent.

Turn Left was basically her and Wilf and it's one of the best episodes ever. As well as Silence in the Library.

RTD really seemed to sell his actors short.

I think a good episode would be if the Doctor traveled to an alternative universe (like the one Billy Piper got stuck in) but in that universe the Doc was still the 8th incarnation (Paul McGann) because that Doc hadn't needed to regenerate.

I doubt they'd ever do another one.
But I wonder if a Multi Doctor episode would be any good.
Eccleston & Tenant having a gurn off!

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