Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 11 2010, 11:04 AM BSTOh I didn't see it like that, the man who turned into a Smiler wasn't actually a Smiler, at least according to what the Doctor said, he was half human, half Smiler.
Maybe it still felt a bit naff.
Thing about smilers is they were unexpressive and unspeaking. So when you say that they can talk and stuff it diminishes them.
Like the clockwork robots it's where Dr Who has a genius for simplicity it really works.
Quote: Nogget @ April 11 2010, 7:45 AM BSTAnd the terrible monster down way below,
You could say that this episode was playing with, then subverting the expected, as the beast itself was benevolant, it was there to help, not to harm or to use anyone for its own evil purposes. Clever Moffat.
Quote: sootyj @ April 11 2010, 11:11 AM BSTMaybe it still felt a bit naff.
Oh, but it was so cool when that bloke's head twisted round to reveal the Smiler face! 
This functions as a nice little introduction to the show for those of us who like getting laid...
Watch Doctor Who Confidential on the iPlayer and tell me: are Matt and Karen doing it?
That certainly seems to be what the producers want us to think.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 11 2010, 11:16 AM BSTYou could say that this episode was playing with, then subverting the expected, as the beast itself was benevolant, it was there to help, not to harm or to use anyone for its own evil purposes. Clever Moffat.
I don't think it's that subversive. That sort of thing happened counless times in Star Trek. It would have been far more subversive if Amy had saved the whale and the whale had decided to f**k off and leave everyone to die because it had had enough.
I thought this series wasn't going to focus on whales quite so much.
Quote: Nil Putters @ April 10 2010, 9:46 PM BSTHas everyone seen this Demon Headmaster but me? Am I too old to have seen it?
Far too old.
As for this episode, unless I passed out at some point we never did find out where the booth things had come from, or why everyone was so scared of them. The menace with which they appeared to control the population was at odds with what seemed to be well-intentioned but misguided actions of the Queen and Government. Just didn't make sense.
Good attention to detail in some of the set.
And these stories don't seem to be any better or worse than any other. Not sure why there's such a Moffat hang-up around here.
Quote: chipolata @ April 11 2010, 12:44 PM BSTI don't think it's that subversive. That sort of thing happened counless times in Star Trek.
Perhaps, but this is Doctor Who, not Star Trek.
Quote: Aaron @ April 11 2010, 1:14 PM BSTAnd these stories don't seem to be any better or worse than any other. Not sure why there's such a Moffat hang-up around here.
Because, during the RTD era, the four stories he wrote were all brilliant; his were always one of the highlights of the series, one to look forward to. That's why.
Quote: Aaron @ April 11 2010, 1:14 PM BSTAnd these stories don't seem to be any better or worse than any other. Not sure why there's such a Moffat hang-up around here.
IMHO the stories so far are a big step up on series 4 and the specials. I'm not saying they are significantly better than stories from the first three series, though there is a different feel to the series so far and it's one that suits my taste.
Yes, there were things in these first two episodes that I suspect some would have slagged off if RTD had written them - e.g. the cockney queen, being puked out by a "monster" - but I didn't mind RTD's pop culture or kid-friendly whims too much. It was when he didn't bother with stories any more and thought you could just throw together a melting pot of elements and get away with it that I didn't like it. But when he wrote a great story with a great idea - like Midnight - it was great.
Quote: Badge @ April 11 2010, 1:28 PM BSTMidnight
One of the show's very best.
I think you'll find that Midnight was a big steaming pile of horse shit.
Quote: Aaron @ April 11 2010, 2:57 PM BSTI think you'll find that Midnight was a big steaming pile of horse shit.
My mistake.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 11 2010, 2:59 PM BSTMy mistake.
That's alright. You're forgiven.
Quote: Aaron @ April 11 2010, 3:01 PM BSTThat's alright. You're forgiven.
The image of you sat on a throne, reaching out a bejeweled hand for me to kiss, sprang immediately into my head when reading that.
Theme spotters alert: Zero. The number has cropped up a lot so far.