TV Series: Discuss, Review, Anticipate, and Wotnot

[valda]

IN the Line of Duty, a top notch Uk drama, probably one of the best things I've seen all year. The last episode last night was so full of twists and turns, right up to the last minute

[canadian_turtle]

I actually will not let myself believe that Tennants Doctor really changed into this current muppet, and I refuse to watch his last ever episode, to me hes still out there manning a new Tardis whilst this lad takes the reigns temporarily.

If only I could turn back time and do the same! His last episodes made me cry. So. Much. And Matt Smith really doesn't do anything do anything for me, nor Amy Pond. I do like Rory but Moffat's writing just lacks the depth and humanity (how controversial this may sound as The Doctor is an alien) that Russell T Davies (and with him Tennant) brought to the show. It's now all about the overall arc and the action and it's so boring as it's impossible to connect to these characters and care about what they're going through.

at last someone replied! thank you CT.

I dont hate Matt Smith, but he is the embodiment of that certain person at college/school who was annoyingly loud but didnt seem to want to care about toning it down and acting appropriately. He is at least unique in that hes perhaps not trustworthy, I'll say that, but he can only flap around like he does for so long without treading the same boards over and over again and getting increasingly frustrating, so his replacement is now overdue.

The writing flaps all over the place, and whilst its entertaining, thats only because its all glossed over with increasingly higher production values. And Amy is proof that being pretty can be utterly ruined by appalling acting skills. Whenever she goofs at the camera for the umpteenth time in the same episode, you just want to shoot her lol. I feel bad for Rory being her b/f!

I am still enjoying the show. The Pandorica climax and season 2 opener were interesting until they became confusingly dizzy way too early on in the episodes.

River Song is the one really good thing in the series.

Unpopular opinion: I actually really don't like River Song. Hated her when she was part of Ten's series and she really hasn't gotten any better in my eyes (possibly due to the fact that she's a Moffat character and I really just don't get why people think so highly of him. Though of course Sally Sparrow and Madame de Pompadour were well-written characters). The only reason I was still watching Doctor Who last year was for Rory and in the hopes to see glimpses of characters/places from previous seasons. But I went from watching it weekly live on TV to catching up several weeks later as I just couldn't find the enthusiasm for the show which I had during the other seasons, which is a real shame as I used to be really into it.

Like you I don't hate Matt Smith. I suppose he's fine and there are a few quirks I like. I mainly have a problem with the writing (and how the Doctor is written which indeed makes him annoying).

I think the storylines are trying to be far too clever and then end up being a big disappointment with a cliched solution (as it suddenly turns back around to a kids show) and as I mentioned before, I just miss the emotional connection that Russell T Davies managed with his writing, the suffering of the characters (and the Doctor in particular) I suppose. Moffat's writing is about the stories and what happens around them, not about the characters. It doesn't help that Karen Gillian, gorgeous as she is, can't act beyond her "pouty face" and Amy Pond is just annoying as hell. More than once Moffat commented on the fact that he fancies her so that's I assume why she's been around for so long already.

[raj101]

[. Moffat's writing is about the stories and what happens around them, not about the characters. It doesn't help that Karen Gillian, gorgeous as she is, can't act beyond her "pouty face" and Amy Pond is just annoying as hell. More than once Moffat commented on the fact that he fancies her so that's I assume why she's been around for so long already.

Gillian is really not gorgeous lol, shes a pretty doll but sans make-up, her skin is rough. Rory is hot though, and thats coming from a straight guy. And he's (was) a nurse, which is cool.

Up to season 6 episode 7 now. 'Do I have to repeat the question?' Awesome.

I am really looking forward to Jenna Louise Coleman this Xmas.

[kevinknapman]

Went to the screening of the Doctor Who series 7 opening episode Asylum of the Daleks at the BFI last night followed by a Q&A with Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and producer Caroline Skinner. Richard Bacon hosted it.
Moffat, Smith, Gillan and Darvill were sitting right behind me for the whole episode, which led to some amusing reactions to seeing themselves on the big screen and Darvill cheekily telling Gillan that she looked bloated in one particularly unflatteringly shot scene.
Won't go into too much detail as Steven Moffat urged everyone to keep quiet on the details. Including one pretty big surprise that I'm impressed has been kept under wraps for so long. Hopefully no-one will ruin it before it airs. Moffat promised big movie sized episodes packed into 45 minutes in the new series (no two parters) and Asylum of the Daleks delivers in this respect. Some aspects don't work as well as others but it's a solid opener overall and bodes well for the rest of the series. There was also a trailer for the remaining episodes in the run up to the Christmas episode. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship looks particulary fun. The Angels Take Manhattan and The Power of Three also look promising.
The Q&A was highly enjoyable and very funny (I expect the BFI will put it online after the show airs). Hopefully they'll do another event for the Christmas episode.

[raj101]

Spetember is when Doctor Who rolls out.

I'll be too old to watch it by then lol.

[valda]

Spetember is when Doctor Who rolls out.

I'll be too old to watch it by then lol.

Raj, I started watching in 1963 or whenever it started, and I'm still watching

[jcolombi]

Bad Education on BBC Three was awesome!

[raj101]

Spetember is when Doctor Who rolls out.

I'll be too old to watch it by then lol.

Raj, I started watching in 1963 or whenever it started, and I'm still watching

back then it was ok. you watched to have a laugh at the rubber munsters and masks and the Brigadier's tash and accent.

You cant really poke fun at a half a million pound rendered starship.


I finally got round to finishing Series 6, the plot of which appears to be set in an unnecessary loop, in the manner of the ridiculous Pandorica finale of the last series. Its just all way too bizarre. Plus everyone looks fat on the computer screen I am watching it on (and Amelia Pond's cheeks come up bright red lol).

I dont get how people can say this is the best series ever. In places this last episode is blinking awful. Whilst the series definitely has some excellent moments (Good Man goes to War, Lets Kill Hitler and the Doctor's Bride), the last episode that feels as if its been put together by a 12 year old on a speed and LSD cocktail.


One more thing I will add about this - surely they can cast a decent female lead for the future, preferably an older actress (ie with some acting skills) rather than a young bimbo who most likely slept with the film crew to get her part (yes I do mean the Pond girl). By far the best companion we had was Catherine Tate, she wasnt perfect but she had actual timing and some depth of emotion in her acting carried over from her work on her tv show and fringe movie roles. Please please please give us someone like that.

[steve9872]

Went to the screening of the Doctor Who series 7 opening episode Asylum of the Daleks at the BFI last night followed by a Q&A with Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and producer Caroline Skinner. Richard Bacon hosted it.
Moffat, Smith, Gillan and Darvill were sitting right behind me for the whole episode, which led to some amusing reactions to seeing themselves on the big screen and Darvill cheekily telling Gillan that she looked bloated in one particularly unflatteringly shot scene.
Won't go into too much detail as Steven Moffat urged everyone to keep quiet on the details. Including one pretty big surprise that I'm impressed has been kept under wraps for so long. Hopefully no-one will ruin it before it airs. Moffat promised big movie sized episodes packed into 45 minutes in the new series (no two parters) and Asylum of the Daleks delivers in this respect. Some aspects don't work as well as others but it's a solid opener overall and bodes well for the rest of the series. There was also a trailer for the remaining episodes in the run up to the Christmas episode. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship looks particulary fun. The Angels Take Manhattan and The Power of Three also look promising.
The Q&A was highly enjoyable and very funny (I expect the BFI will put it online after the show airs). Hopefully they'll do another event for the Christmas episode.

Was the big surprise seeing Jenna-Louise Colman? [spoiler]the next assistant[/spoiler] or [spoiler]the Daleks forgetting about the Doctor completely.[/spoiler]

[canadian_turtle]

Or [spoiler]the Ponds being divorced.[/spoiler]
Or [spoiler]the next assistant being a Dalek! (or well, becoming one at some stage...)[/spoiler]