Ultimate Doctor Who Madness

[Joopac_Badur]

I definitely prefer "not completely silly" which is different than "serious".

I prefer this as well, but the ratio of silliness/over-the-top-heroism vs. serious moments was too often tilted to the former. This made the endings a refreshing change for me. Then again, I watched Eccelston and Tennant in one foul-swoop of three months rather than waiting a week (or in some case, months) to see a new episode. Waiting a few months to see the next special and finding it to be another depressing one could definitely dampen the veiwers' experience.

A good example, I think, of balancing the funny with not-too-heavy seriousness would be "The Girl In The Fire Place," although perhaps with a little happier of an ending.

[Agrajag]

I think my problem with the last few specials is that instead of being over the top silly, they were over the top dramatic. I actually liked the first two, but Water of Mars had some really silly moments (the robot) and some really unnecessarily over the top dramatic shit (the ending). The End of Time had this problem too. The ending of part 2 was the worst though. They were trying to be dramatic so hard it became almost funny.

[Joopac_Badur]

End of Time, yes, had some flaws, but I felt a lot of Tennant's episodes did. I blame RTD though, not Tennant.

What I disliked about EOT was the Master's diabolical plan to change everyone into clones of him. Yes, it made sense in the context of strengthening the drum signal so the Time Lords could pick it up, but it just seemed so hokey. Another doomsday device courtesy of RTD.

I did like the revelation that the Doctor destroyed Gallifrey not just to kill the Daleks, but also the Time Lords. To me, this made the Doctor being bummed about the Time War at the beginning of the reboot (with Eccelstion) all the more heavy. It also was a great close to the RTD years, cuz the Time War seemed like an underlying current for the first four series, and EOT brought closure to that.

The Doctor visiting all of the Companions was a little heavy handed, but ultimate nice, I felt. Especially because Moffat has indicated that he probably won't bring any of them back now that he's in charge.

[kleptoman]

I didn't like either of the Master things were that good. Not really sure why, but I have a few ideas. It wasn't Tennant, it was more the writing.

[Joopac_Badur]

The first story involving the Master (in new-Who) would have been good if it hadn't been for the shoddy ending. Everyone think of the Doctor and BOOM! He turned into the Jesus and saved the day. Something about satellite signals or something.

[Agrajag]

Yeah the biggest problem with Doctor Who in general is that they write themselves into a corner and so have deus ex machina solutions constantly. The Doctor doesn't really have any special powers besides being really smart and having a screwdriver, so when you have crazy overpowered monsters and villains it becomes difficult for him to beat them in a way that makes any logical sense. That covers like 95% of the shit I complain about in the series.

[Jim North]

Something about satellite signals or something.

A world-wide telepathic signal routed through satellites.

If that makes any more sense, I guess.

[Agrajag]

A world-wide telepathic signal routed through satellites that makes him Jesus gives him super Jedi powers.

Duh.

EDIT: Further thoughts as I'm rewatching old episodes: Martha is really annoying.

[Joopac_Badur]

Martha > Series 2 Rose

Seriously, that whole subplot of her and the Doctor falling in love felt so forced and intrusive. It worked with Eccelston, but I just didn't feel any chemistry between Billie Piper and David Tennant.

[Jim North]

I just didn't feel any chemistry between Billie Piper and David Tennant.

That's because you're a heartless monster!

[Joopac_Badur]

I just didn't feel any chemistry between Billie Piper and David Tennant.

That's because you're a heartless monster!

When Series 2 ended and she was watching that projection of the Doctor and was all, "I love you," I just wanted the Doctor to be all awkward and say, "Um ... Thanks ... ?"

I praised God for Martha Jones's introduction.

[Agrajag]

I liked Martha when I originally watched everything. But now I'm rewatching the Sontaren Strategem when she comes back in series 4, and she's annoying me. Maybe it's just cause I like Donna a lot better.

Rose was even more annoying when she came back at the end of series 4.

[Joopac_Badur]

That whole-leave-her-with-the-clone-thing still weirds me out when I think about it. Another reason why most of the Series Finales suck.

[Agrajag]

The only part of any of the series finales I really like is the Daleks and Cybermen having an argument during the series 2 finale because it's hilarious.

[Joopac_Badur]

Series 1 Finale was okay. It was the first time they pulled the Dalek Empire is back card, so it seemed relatively fresh, at least within the new series. The "Bad Wolf" thing seemed haphazardly tacked on and the Jesus-Rose was barely believeable, but all-in-all, it wasn't bad.

Series 2, was alright. Daleks, yeah, but hey there's Cybermen and that's cool, right? Right? The biggest thing that bugged me was the whole "I love you" thing at the end, and the Doctor saying "I'll send the Daleks to hell!" over and over and over again.

Series 3 would have ended wonderfully if it wasn't for the stupid, stupid ending. For once, Daleks aren't the big bad. The Master was fucking bad ass and fucking everyone's shit up. How do they save the day? Everyone thinks about the Doctor and he ... ughhh, I don't even want to think about it. They dropped the ball so bad with that one.

Series 4, again, Daleks but ... I mean it was cool seeing all the companions (except Rose. Fuck her. I wish she had fallen into hell the Void. They reduced her relatively decent character into nothing but a blubbering fan-girl), but ... the Doctor Donna think was dumb. The Doctor clone was dumb. Decent idea, ruined by stupidity. I mean, yes, it's technically supposed to be a kid show, but I feel that even children would realize that this is retarded.