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Mike (the Paladin)
(new)
Aug 23, 2014 04:20PM
Everyone (in the US) planning on watching the 8th season opener tonight?
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Aye!T-minus 10 minutes.
I'm so excited I gotta wait till tomorrow to buy it on iTunes tho :(
Just finished watching it an hour ago. It was awesome, and I feel Peter Capaldi will make a fine Doctor.
I think he's going to be great, I was unsure until about a third of the way through. Some key moments, great quotes, and a story thread going back to 10 in an obvious-to-the-audience-but-not-to-the-Doctor way.
Skut wrote: "I think he's going to be great, I was unsure until about a third of the way through."What sealed the deal? I was reading a similar comment on a different forum and they said "I was skeptical until that scene (view spoiler)
I was underwhelmed by the episode, but Capaldi seems promising.This is the first time since Tennant took over that we've had a companion dealing with the regeneration. I liked that aspect at least.
Doctor Who saw a big spike of new fans with Smith/BBC America showing episodes the same day as the UK. So there are probably many fans dealing with their first regeneration.
Mike, the only exception to that being Toy Story, I think. Well, and now Doctor Who.I liked the episode overall as an intro-episode. It had a lot of great lines and moments. I'm going to put everything under a tag, to be on the safe side.
(view spoiler)
I think I'm going to like Capaldi as the Doctor, though I didn't love the ending when (view spoiler)
I look forward to his character solidifying more, though, and to see what it comes out as in the end.
I Like Capaldi, I think he harkens back some also...I saw a few moments the reminded me a bit of T.Baker.I also loved (view spoiler)
A lot of people think the outfit is a purposeful callback to Pertwee:
I enjoyed that, especially when the Doctor gets all strange and shouty. (view spoiler)Not so sure about the revamped theme tune, though.
I really liked the episode as a starter for the next season. And I agree as I think that Peter Capaldi is going to make a great Doctor! Can't wait for next week's ep.
It's my first regeneration. I started partway through Matt Smith and am slowly working my way through earlier seasons on Netflix. I wasn't sure what to expect but really enjoyed the episode. I think Peter Capaldi is going to be great. I was ho-hum about Clara but her interplay with the Doctor in this episode made me like her a bit more. (view spoiler)
I started with Christopher Eccelston on the Sci-Fi Channel years ago and have been following along ever since. I have a few DVDs of the old series and have even read a handful of the books.
I started watching back in the '70s and saw most of Pertwee and Tom Baker with a few of the older episodes. Still have a soft spot for TB.
Paolo wrote: "Skut wrote: "I think he's going to be great, I was unsure until about a third of the way through."What sealed the deal? I was reading a similar comment on a different forum and they said "I was s..."
Some of the scenes that harkened back to previous regenerations and especially the moments where he was able to interact more directly, after he'd started to get used to the new body and face.
I thought it was a good introduction and loved Capaldi as the new Doctor - but it was a bit slow in the beginning. Picked up story wise for me after 30 minutes.I think Matt Smith's first episode, "The Eleventh Hour" was stellar in every way - it really was funny / charming and moved along at a good pace.
I was a bit disappointed we didn't see how Capaldi's Doctor picked out his new outfit. :-)
Scott wrote: "I started with Christopher Eccelston on the Sci-Fi Channel years ago and have been following along ever since. I have a few DVDs of the old series and have even read a handful of the books."Same for me. If PBS showed old Doctor Who when I was a kid, I never knew about it. I mostly grew up during the time when it was out of production though.
Even though Eccelston was my first Doctor, I still consider Tennant to be "my doctor"
Having watched Dr Who since the early seventies, I was fascinated to see Capaldi melding portions of what seemed like the entire spectrum of previous doctors into his portrayal. There were moments of Pertwee, Baker (T), Davidson, Eccleston, Tennant and Smith clearly visible at times, and the subtleties of expression and delivery that suggested to me that he's done a whole lot of watching of previous characterisations. Add to that the dialogue referencing previous regeneration moments and faces, and I think he'll be absolutely excellent.
For watchers who've only seen Ecclestone and onwards, some of those subtleties may have been absent.
I enjoyed Clara much more than previously in this episode, something I'm very happy to see.
A couple of times he put me strongly in mind of T. Baker which is a little odd as his demeanor was more like the Pertwee Doctor. T.Baker was not as conditionally serious as Pertwee. Of course so far we've seen his "I'm just regenerated and trying to find out who I'll be" demeanor.
There were some great oneliners, and the Doctor's rant at the poor hobo guy was fun, but overall I found the episode rather dull. The tardis arriving in the mouth of a time-travelling T-rex was cool, but there was a lot of nothing-much-happening after that till nearly the end. It seemed a pretty quiet episode to kick off a new Doctor's reign. Capaldi looks promising, but it's hard to say what his Doctor will be like until we can see him all recovered from the regeneration and settled into his true personality. Looking forward to the next episode!
Tannera wrote: " I'm curious to learn how the Daleks fit in. Clara made them forget the Doctor in a previous Matt Smith episode." But by "The Time of the Doctor" they seemed to have remembered him nd were gunning for him on Trensaloar (or how ever it's spelt) along with of many of his other enemies.
Leonie wrote: "Having watched Dr Who since the early seventies, I was fascinated to see Capaldi melding portions of what seemed like the entire spectrum of previous doctors into his portrayal. There were moments ..."As a lifetime Doctor Who watcher, I'd agree with you here. I started with Pertwee on PBS repeats in the late 70s before I could read, so I got over my first regeneration as a small child, and didn't appreciate Tom Baker until much later as a result.
Having since watched every episode from Doctors 1-4 from before I was born (yes, including the reconstructions), and having seen every post-regeneration episode, I'd say Capaldi's first episode portrayal was one of the very best. Tennant only got a handful of quirky scenes in his, while sleeping most of the time. Yes, Matt Smith's first episode was also very good.
I'm very confident Capaldi will be fantastic. He's a life-long Whovian who became an acclaimed actor and THEN got the chance at his dream role. I thought he was fantastic throughout, and Moffat said that he purposefully had a simple plot/villain to let the focus be on Capaldi's post-regeneration character, and Clara's reaction. That worked for me.
There were so many nods to both the classic and new series already in one episode, visually, through dialogue, basically in every way.
Very positive for the direction.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the episode as an introduction to a new Doctor, especially in comparison to The Eleventh Hour, but there were some pretty good lines and I think Capaldi will do great things with the role. Matt Smith will always be my Doctor (with Tennant a close second, especially during the Donna Noble period) but I am confident with the direction things are headed.I'm still lukewarm about Clara though.
Everyone is mentioning "their Doctor". I'm a bit tor4n. I'd have to say Tom Baker but Tennant is close. T.Baker was in the period when the special effects were about the level of a high school play but still carried it off fantastically. The story lines are amazing with the Key to Time and the Genesis of the Daleks only a couple of them....Would you like a Jelly Baby?
LOL, so true. But what is that about Clara leaving at the end of the season? Didn't she just get here? She had the Oswin episode and then the Christmas/snowmen one, then the last half of last season. Not that I'm complaining, really, because I'd welcome a new companion since I'm not at all attached to Clara.
I think they've confirmed that she's leaving after season 8... But you're right, even that is a rumor.
I feel that Capaldi has the potential to be a truly great Who. I've been watching since the Tom Baker era and have seen almost every episode ever made. I loved Tennant and learned to love Smith, but it is high time we got a Doctor who doesn't get all flirty with his companions and actually acts ALIEN for a while. I understand the comparisons to Tom Baker and Pertwee, but I think there will be a strong element of Sylvester McCoy in there as well, in the sense that he will be actively seeking out trouble instead of just falling into it.
And yes, they have officially confirmed that Clara will be leaving.
OK I take back my previous statement. Apparently they are now being coy about whether Clara will leave.
I like that this Doctor has more of a serious and action minded vibe. I liked Matt Smith, but it seemed that his Doctor did a lot more talking than doing, and I was really tiring of the self righteous monologues.
Gotta say, Capaldi nails it. Episode 1 you can see the rough edges, episode 2 he was just standing in the Doctor's house looking Doctorly. I've been watching since Tom Bsker and the 1/2 shows which were on PBS. Pledge week, how I despise thee. Drifting from cannon is problematic for a gut who Rassilon as a sleeping guarding of imortality's secret. Chancellor Flavoa, Cardinal Barusa.
I digress. A story by Moffet can't likely be poor (but enough with the Angels already), and the initiating episode after a regeneration has got to be a put the companion(s) and a brain fuzzy Doctor. I could have done without Matt Smith and Eccleston while you're at it.
It's a star vehicle, the lead grows into and helps shape the part. Fez. That's all I can say. Fez.
Capaldi is SO amazing. I already feel like Series 8 is going to be my favorite one. Also, the s08e02 was by far the best Dalek episode in new who imo. what do you guys think?
I'm usually bored by dalek episodes (though my little boy thinks they're the best!). They're very one-note villains with their endless repetitions of "exterminate!". So I was groaning when I heard the second episode was going to be a dalek one.But I thought it was great! Something different at last from the daleks. Very fun to see one from the inside, and some great characterisation of the Doctor in the philosophical arguments with Clara. Quite a meaty episode. I enjoyed it much more than the first one.
Dare I whisper quietly from the corner that although I am a huge Doctor Who fan episode 2 left me unmoved....
I liked episode 2, not loved, but definitely liked it. The funny thing is, I never warmed to Clara at all, but she's the one in whom I'm beginning to see more character depth. I definitely like Capaldi, not sure about the story line just yet though. The most poignant portion of last week's episode was "You are a good dalek."
Phrynne wrote: "Dare I whisper quietly from the corner that although I am a huge Doctor Who fan episode 2 left me unmoved...."Dare away, Phrynne! I promise to leave my pitchfork in the cupboard.
@ Marina :)Can anyone tell me how they got out of the Dalek? There was no one there to use the machine (they were all fighting) yet they suddenly popped up all back to normal size. What did I miss?
Phrynne wrote: "@ Marina :)Can anyone tell me how they got out of the Dalek? There was no one there to use the machine (they were all fighting) yet they suddenly popped up all back to normal size. What did I..."
That bit did bother me...
Responding to some comments above.Nobody can tell you how they got out of the dalek. It's probably on the cutting room floor. A short scene to keep the plot moving that got cit for time. Or we just missed it. I was focused on how Capaldi was faring as the Doctor and it seems there may be another new companion. Old or young Doctor he doesn't stumble upon ugly women.
Has anyone felt Coleman seems to more depth, more gravitas as Clara than she did with Smith? She arrived just in time to say good eye to faggoty Fez Docotor (although, fezzes are cool).
I think it is time for Moffet to finish departing the show and allow some other Whovians to write the Doctor. His intricate and surprising story arcs are nice, River Song- Melody Pond a lone showed an astonishing depth, but enough already. Welcome to heaven...blah blah blah Bring back Gallifrey, let's see the daughter again, ban weeping angles for a few years, give us a truly sinister Master, a little more time with UNIT (Martha!). Or shall we encounter Mr. Osterhagen. How about really delving the depths of the TARDIS as was done once in Tom Baker's run.
We hardly ever the Cloister Bell, see beyond the main control room, what do they eat? Where do they sleep? It's like those TV shows where nobody seems to have jobs, just dialogue.
Veronica wrote: "I was a bit underwhelmed by the episode as an introduction to a new Doctor, especially in comparison to The Eleventh Hour, but there were some pretty good lines and I think Capaldi will do great th..."Tom Baker was THE Doctor. They can't even have a new doctor without quick mention of a long scarf, Tenant a fine runner up. All those fellows who came between were mostly placeholders to me because the writing went off the rails, it seemed like people making the show were just making a TV show not the legendary Doctor Who.
I can't wait to see what they give Capaldi to digest. I'm betting we have only seen a glimpse of this new Doctor and were going to find him to be fantastic. More alien than other Dr's, more lovable in a way we haven't seen than the First Docotor.
Also, this is not Lost In Space, Cannon is important. Such rich history a mix of story device and fleshing out the whoniverse. The Time War is a device barely of cannon, we went back and saved the soul of War Doctor. The shadow of the war should be lifted from him now. Good, it's very in Doctorly. He should above the fray, touching only for random or compassionate interests.
I an Who Nut. Welcome to Heaven? Crimes, thought the welcomed would by better looking
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I think they've confirmed that she's leaving after season 8... But you're right, even that is a rumor."Precisely. Capaldi could one day be the quintessential Doctor. I've made a lot of mistakes, time I did something about that. Very defined. And yes, more alien, especially since they have precluded sexual tension between the Doctor and companions. I'm not your boyfriend. Lol
I do miss a properly whimsical doctor with intent beneath the whimsy like Baker. I don't expect to see a lot of whimsy (have a jelly baby ) for this doctor..I expect a lot of things like 'Get it right. Get it right)
Didn't they have a wrist band that controlled their reversal, I thought I remembered that being mentioned on the way in. Don't have a copy of the episode yet, so working on a vague memory from watching the broadcast.
Matthew wrote: "Didn't they have a wrist band that controlled their reversal, I thought I remembered that being mentioned on the way in. Don't have a copy of the episode yet, so working on a vague memory from watc..."Yes. When Clara was being fit with the wrist band, it was explained that there was a button on it which would reverse the miniaturization. We don't see the part where they climb back out of the Dalek, but I don't think it's necessary, really.
I was kinda meh about this episode. Maybe it's because I'm sort of sick of the Daleks being a threat, but also I'm sort of sick of the Doctor being scolded by his companions. Not to say he doesn't deserve it sometimes, but it was something that bugged me in Smith's tenure, too.
