Doctor Who

[Patticus]

The US would break for christmas even if we didn't. So they'd torrent the episodes every Saturday/Sunday

People do that anyway.

[Speederino]

So...where does one start with Dr. Who? I've never seen a single episode of this, in fact I had never heard of this series until a few years ago (Should I be ashamed? I get that it's always been big in the UK, but seriously, the first time I heard of it was like 2008). I'm still not even entirely sure what this really is. I get that it has a time traveling phonebooth and a Doctor, but that's about it. Everyone talks about it, so it has to be worth checking out.

So for real, where should I start in a series that's been going for 50 years?

[Velotix von Skruviktorrius]

How to get into Doctor Who as a newb: a Primer

Doctor Who is split between the original run which ended in 1989 then had an ill-fated 1996 movie that went nowhere and "NuWho" (some fans are stuck in the 80s and don't like the new stuff at all), which is a direct continuation of the continuity that starts with a new Doctor. The season numbers reset in 2005 as a result of this giant gap, but if you want to be picky just add 26 to the season numbers. This show's been going on and off since 1963 - it's older than Star Trek - and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

The key thing you should be aware of is that the Doctor is an alien that can cheat death and "regenerate" into a new form shortly before he would die (read: new actor), which also changes the facets of his personality that are most prominent - this show basically reboots every time the Doctor regenerates except unlike most reboots everything that happened in the show before still happened. That also means that getting into the show as a newbie is pretty easy.

If you're brand new, start with the 2010 season with the latest Doctor, season 5.

If you really like it, watch the 2005-2009 seasons with the last two Doctors, seasons 1-4.

And if you really really like it, watch the original 26 seasons from 1963-1989 and enjoy the ancient production values!

It's not uncommon for fans to ignore entire Doctors in the show's run so don't worry about that either - the show has a fundamentally different feel with each Doctor.

[TheGerkuman]

For those already aquainted with Doctor Who and want to get into the old series, I'd argue that you watch a good episode of each doctor. (Which does mean you have to watch the TV movie, if you want to see how good Paul McGann was.)

Here's my list:

1. The Daleks (First good first doctor story and original dalek episode) OR The Time Meddler (Good plot and has a new companion)

2. The Tomb of the Cybermen (One of the better Cyberman stories) OR The War Games (Troughton's swan song, and a brilliant one)

3. Spearhead from Space (Especially if you picked The War Games from Troughton) OR Day of the Daleks (Time travel and daleks!)

4. The Deadly Assassin (No companion, great mix of dark and funny) OR Genesis of the Daleks (THE Davros and Dalek story.)

5. Earthshock (Surprise twists!) OR The Caves of Androzani (Voted best serial of classic Doctor Who)

6. Vengence on Varos OR Revelation of the Daleks

7. Remembrance of the Daleks (Chessmaster 7 appears) OR Survival (Cheetah people!)

8. Doctor Who: The TV Movie.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Big Gerk

[Doctor Sοnic]

Some interesting news here, Paul McGann has confirmed he would return to Doctor Who if asked:

"Being Doctor Who, there's always anniversaries looming large - celebration programmes and episodes," he said. "I'm often asked, 'If they get the five Doctors together, would you do it?' and of course, I'd do it. They've just got to ring me up!"

http://www.digitalsp...who-return.html

With the 50th anniversary approaching and all the rumours of old Doctors returning (and if they're going to do a multi-Doctor story the 50th anniversary is gonna be the time) we may finally see Paul return to play the Doctor on Television.

For those not familiar with Paul's incarnation of the Doctor, he only appeared on Television once, in the 1996 TV movie, though he has played the role in quite a number of the Big Finish audio dramas.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Doctor Sοnic

[Celestia]

New Companion revealed tomorrow!

http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/new-companion-revealed-tomorrow-31775.htm

Exciting times. It looks as though the new companion joining Matt Smith in Doctor Who Series 7 will be officially announced tomorrow morning.

BBC entertainment news’ Lizo Mzimba wrote: “Looks like there’ll be some big news announced at a press conference tomorrow morning!”

Daily Mirror TV Editor, Mark Jefferies added: “BBC source has confirmed to me they will unveil new Doctor Who assistant tomorrow. She is “pretty” but “not household name”

So not Sophia Myles, after all? This is the last chance to get your guesses in for who it might be.

[Gatestormer]

Wasn't it already confirmed that Amy and Rory would be returning as well? I wonder if this series they will depart for this new person...3 companions seems a bit much.

[Speederino]

If you're brand new, start with the 2010 season with the latest Doctor, season 5.

If you really like it, watch the 2005-2009 seasons with the last two Doctors, seasons 1-4.

Alright, I took your advice and just finished watching the first episode of Season 5. And yeah, I am definitely intrigued. It was suspenseful, intriguing, funny, and I especially enjoyed how eccentric the Doctor was. I can tell this episode was made with the intent of bringing new viewers on board. It seems like I've been introduced to everything important. I mean I still don't really understand what the sonic screwdriver is, where the Doctor came from, or what the Tardis really *is* aside from being a time machine, but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. (In other words, these are RHETORICAL QUESTIONS! Do not tell me! ) I'll definitely be watching more of this.

One thing kind of bugged me though, nothing major. For a (presumably) cash cow series with modern production values, the CGI effects look a bit...umm...mid 90's-ish? As if a sock puppet with fangs would have made a more convincing Prisoner 0. Like I said it's not a big issue, the effects just left a lot to be desired.

[Velotix von Skruviktorrius]

For a (presumably) cash cow series with modern production values, the CGI effects look a bit...umm...mid 90's-ish?

You clearly haven't seen a show from the mid-90s recently.

At any rate, the UK doesn't throw as much cash at TV shows as the US does even for major shows, especially not the BBC, as they are funded directly by TV licences and have to split that budget between their entire lineup, of which Doctor Who is only a small portion.

[Badnik Mechanic]

And the new companion is...

Jenna-Louise Coleman

She's been in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, at first I didn't recognise her, then I found this pic.

She played the part of the girl who slept around with almost every boy in the school including Sharky and ended up leaving the series pregnent along with her mum who kept having breakdowns and her sister who did porn.

[Patticus]

More on the new companion, and some spoilers about the next series, including the final episode for companions Amy & Rory::

http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/emmerdale-actress-jenna-louise-coleman-confirmed-as-new-doctor-who-companion.html

- Amy and Rory's final episode will be ep5

- They'll be meeting the Weeping Angels

- Moffat: "Not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time."

- Six episodes this year, then a Christmas special (where new companion will debut) followed by eight more in the new year

The new companion has also lent her voice to the English version of the game Xenoblade Chronicles.

[Doctor Sοnic]

Funnily enough that actress randomly popped into my head yesterday, though it wasn't anything to do with Doctor Who: I was just remembering something she'd appeared in.

I think she could be quite good, though we shall have to wait and see.

[PSI Wind]

More on the new companion, and some spoilers about the next series, including the final episode for companions Amy & Rory::

http://uk.tv.yahoo.c...-companion.html

- Amy and Rory's final episode will be ep5

- They'll be meeting the Weeping Angels

- Moffat: "Not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time."

- Six episodes this year, then a Christmas special (where new companion will debut) followed by eight more in the new year

The new companion has also lent her voice to the English version of the game Xenoblade Chronicles.

[Patticus]

I don't know how long this will be up for, but the first trailer for season seven of Doctor Who has leaked:

Fuck.yes.

[Badnik Mechanic]

Trailer now on BBC website in all it's HD glory.

[Patticus]

Trailer now on BBC website in all it's HD glory.

Let's watch that again, on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLKGePNr61k&feature=player_embedded

[Doctor Sοnic]

Theres been some interesting developments in regards to the Daleks:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...letin_120330_02

Recently theres been much speculation about the return of the RTD era Daleks, something which the ‘Doctor Who Experience’ has added to (I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t been). These pics seem to confirm not only that but also the return of classic series Daleks!

It certainly seems like theres a very interesting storyline ahead!

Edited March 30, 2012 by Doctor Sοnic

[Speederino]

Alright, I now officially love this show and everything about it. I'm nearing the end of Season 5, just finished watching The Lodger. I'll definitely by looking at some of the older stuff after I catch up through Netflix- at least the 9th and 10th Doctors.

What I love most about this show is that even the one-shot characters tend to be colorful and memorable. The character development is so rich that it's hard not to love these characters. Of course, the Doctor himself steals the show. I have to say, I never expected this character to be so crazy and eccentric. I really wasn't sure what to expect really, but it wasn't that.

So yeah, thanks to all of you who helped me get acquainted with this show a page back!

Edited May 5, 2012 by Speederino

[Speederino]

Hi there, it's me again! Sorry for the double post, but since I'm clearly the only person who cares about this thread at the moment (Not much going on in the Whoineverse right now and all), I'm not left with much choice. Well...I could edit my last post, but it could take a while before someone reads it since this thread is a bit buried. Not much point in adding to a post if no one is going to read it, now is there? Ooops, listen to me rambling off, down to business. Well...not "business" per se, as that would imply I'm trying to sell something, which I'm not. Well...unless I'm selling people on the fact that I have completely converted into a Doctor Who fan. Gah, there I go again. Allons-y!

So my last post was May 5th, which means in the span of 25 days I have watched 56 episodes of this fantastic series. I'm a bit sad since I've now watched the entirety of the new series on Netflix. Well...not counting the David Tennant specials that are listed separately from the main series, like The Waters of Mars. I suppose I should watch those before going back to 1963 and watching the series from the beginning, just to give me some closure on Tennant, who I loved, loved, loved, loved! Yeah, sorry Smith. You may have been my first Doctor and I love ya to death too, but Tennant is hands down the best thing about the new series. But enough with the gushing. In the span of two months I have gone from knowing virtually nothing about Who to a walking encyclopedia on the subj- Well...on the new stuff anyways. Funny enough, I had actually seen bits and pieces of The Girl in the Fireplace a few years ago while flipping through channels, but I was really sick and half-delusional, so for some reason I wasn't intrigued enough to really look into it more. AGAIN WITH THE RAMBLING! Focus man, focus! Why do I love this series so much? I'll tell you why I love it so much:

1. The Doctor is a wonderful character. Yeah, I'll get the most obvious thing out of the way. No matter what episode it is, no matter who is playing the character, the Doctor is a character I can't help but feel a large sense of attachment to. He's a humorous enough character due to his witty one-liners, constant technobabble, and his treatment of large world-destroying events as nothing more then an average day on the job, but he's so much more then that. He's like a superhero whose only power is that he's really, really smart. The Doctor can literally demolish a well constructed plan just by pushing a few buttons on a console. He is the only thing the nearly-invincible Dalek armada fears despite having probably never having killed any of them in a direct confrontation (I could obviously be wrong on that though). Yet despite his charm and abhorrence to violence, you do NOT want to piss him off. Ever. He'll imprison you inside a star or some shit. Before I close this entry off, I want to give special props to Christopher Eccelston. When I first saw a picture of him in the role, I seriously groaned. They were taking a character who usually looked and acted like a suave gentlemen and giving him short-cropped hair and a leather jacket. I've been a life long geek, I know what that usually means. But to my surprise, Eccelston handled the role brilliantly. Never once did I question his authenticity as the Doctor.

2. The premise allows the series to do whatever it wants. Literally. Want to make an episode about an alien-robot war 3 billion years in the future on the other side of the universe? Go for it! Want to make an episode about Christopher Colombus? Sure thing! Dinosaurs? Yep! Parallel dimensions? Accounted and present. A modern day romantic comedy centering around strange events? Hells yeah! The TARDIS is such a versatile storytelling device that the potential is limitless. There’s always somewhere new to explore, new species to encounter, new characters to meet. Speaking of which:

3. The companions/supporting cast. Alright, there’s no real blanket statement I can use to cover the entire supporting cast. Different characters work greatly for different reasons. The good writing ensures that most of them are memorable and fun, including the one-shot characters. That’s really all I can say about that, so I’ll list some of my favorites so far.

Amy/Rory: I might be a bit biased since these two were my first set of companions, but I don’t think anyone else so far tops them. Amy (usually) isn’t just some helpless damsel whose sole purpose is to fall into traps. She’s incredibly strong-willed, always ignoring the Doctor and doing her own thing. But if she starts taking things too far, Rory is always there to serve as the voice of reason. Either of them make for great characters on their own, but together they make for an awesome team.

Captain Jack Harness: Jack is what I think the Doctor would be if he were more of an action hero. He’s one of the few characters who can understand and keep up with the Doctor’s technobabble, and he’s just as capable of saving the world. I mean obviously, he has an entire freakin’ spin-off series so he better be good for something. Of course, I have to mention his tendency to hit on every living thing in sight, which is always good for a chuckle.

Craig Owens: Shy, oafish, clumsy, seemingly looked down on among his peers…and 100% awesome. He will protect his son at any cost, which represents how strongly determined he can get when the chips are down. And it helps that he and Matt Smith work brilliantly together onscreen.

4. The show never outstays its welcome. Thanks to the ever-rotating cast, the show never ever ever feels like it’s getting old. It completely reinvents itself every few years, which ensures that the continuity never gets overly convoluted, there’s always something new, and it’s always easy for newcomers to latch on. Long running series tend to assume the audience already knows a particular villain and know about major story arcs from 20 years ago. Doctor Who relies on continuity just enough to appease the older fanbase, but it never beats newbies over the head with it.

So there we have it. I will be watching Doctor Who for years and years to come. My conversion into the Whoineverse is complete.

Edited May 30, 2012 by Speederino

[Badnik Mechanic]

So remember that Doctor Who Star Trek cross over... a few more covers have been released.. they're well...

Issue 2:

I really really hate that cover, it's so un-original and so 'it's been done' how many times has that idea been put accross now? Would it hurt them so much do give us an assimilated Cyberman? Or a Borg drone with some kind of Cyberman devices attached to it? Just anything other than that.

This issue 1 varient however...

Now thats fucking awesome! Neither the Doctor Who or Star Trek Universe stand out, it looks like an old sci fi TV show more than anything, Even though it uses the old cast memebers, it just works on so many levels.

Few more covers can be found here, some are bad, some are okayish.

Also... has this comic actually been released yet? It was due out at the end of May wasn't it?

[Emperor Robrainiac]

I just recorded a couple of the Tennant era eps from BBC America. I'm planning on watching it later tonight.

Though from what I've looked at I'm really liking what I'm seeing. I know my dad is a fan of Doctor Who, but will only watch anything from the Tom baker era. He's heard that the newer ones are good, but he's a bit skeptical about it.

I'm giving it a shot though. It's a pain to find episodes available online ever since Megaupload was taken down, so I'm looking forward to watching it.

Edited July 11, 2012 by Lyra Heartstrings

[Patticus]

During the Olympics. the BBC has been parading their new season of drama each night with "specially-made feature length trailers," and Doctor Who has received a 90 second trailer.

Here it is.

I believe it begins on the 25th of August, running for 5 episodes before the next series of Merlin begins (why can't they push one to a Sunday evening slot?), then it'll be back at Christmas for the rest of its run.

Also, massive promo pic:

[TheGerkuman]

I dunno; if they're committed to splitting the filming in half Merlin is a good choice.

[Speederino]

Also, massive promo pic:

Why hello new desktop background. For anyone else who wants to use it, you can get 16x9 and 4x3 versions here. Trailer looks fantastic, by the way.

[Brad]

Trailer made me fanboy a little. Just a little.