Last night was the U.S. premiere of “Doctor Who” starring Christopher Eccelston and Billie Piper on The SciFi Channel.
Last year’s British return of Doctor Who finally has made it to American television sets thanks to an agreement between the BBC and The SciFi Channel. For months before its trip to the colonies Doctor Who has been highly anticipated and hyped throughout the media and we here at Slice of SciFi were no exception. But, the big question is, now that the two-hour premiere has come and gone, did the show live up to all the hype it has been given?
Don’t worry kids, there will be no spoilers here in this review. If you have Doctor Who DVR’d or TiVo’d you are safe to read on.
My job is to be honest in my assessment of programming of any kind that I review, so keeping that in mind, let me quote a famous Brit by the name of Simon Cowell when I say, “I am not being rude, and to be perfectly honest with you,” I was a bit disappointed in the Doctor Who grand entrance. Keep in mind that this was the first video version of Doctor Who in a long time. Most lovers of the series have had to settle for old rehashed audios of the program. Since my Rabbi is from England and a scifi uber-geek like myself, he has kept me, to my sheer delight, endlessly supplied with cassette taped and CD Doctor Who shows starring the likes of Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Peter Davidson. Also keep in mind that I haven’t seen a video Doctor Who since the days of the best Doctor, Tom Baker. But, with all that said, I have had to rely on my own imagination to fill in all the gaps and blanks as I have listened to those much loved audio Doctor Who sessions.
As I was watching the premiere of Doctor Who last night on the “tele” I struggled to get through many of the scenes. I sat waiting for the pace to pick up a bit and sadly, at least in the first episode “Rose,” it did not. The second episode, “The End of the World” was far better than the first, but even that fell short of my expectations. I suppose relying on my own imagination while listening to the audio Doctor Who has dampened my excitement. The scripts by Russell T. Davies were good, not excellent, but good.
I felt Eccleston’s performance was underplayed. I still have the exciting flamboyant performances of Baker in my mind as a comparison. Although, Billie Piper saved the show in my opinion. Her character “Rose” was engaging, naive, sexy, witty and charming all at the same time, just what you’d expect a sidekick of the Doctor to be. Watching and listening to Rose’s mother was like having someone’s fingers grate over a chalkboard everytime she opened her mouth. I found her quite irritating and hard to watch. I only hope we don’t have to suffer through too much of her in future episodes. And Rose’s boyfriend? One word – Wanker!
What redeemed the program for me was the second episode, after seeing a side of the Doctor we have rarely ever seen in the past, his softer side concerning his own origins and how he came to be Doctor Who. Also Piper’s line about Michael Jackson leaves me laughing even now when I think about it.
I will continue watching the show because I have faith that it will only get better, but for a premiere, Davis could have been a bit more , how can I put this?….”Irreverant and Over the Top.” Afterall, that is one of the Doctor’s qualities that fans have always loved and appreciated. The Doctor is never one for PC and I hope in the times we currently live, he will remain forever the Doctor we have all grown to love and want to see week after week.
On the Uncle Sam scale of 0 to 5 I will give the Doctor Who U.S. premiere a 3 with a hold-out of anticipation of better things to come.
I’ve seen all of the episodes of the new series, and let me assure you that the first episode is the worst, and the second episode still left me skeptical as well.
By the end of this series run, I have no doubt that you will agree with me that Eccleston rivals Tom Baker, and his rapid exit after one season is highly unfortunate.
So keep watching! The Daleks in this series are truly frightful for the first time ever, although I think they’ll likely be gone for good. And there’s one story near the end of the series that will just blow you away.
One thing you’ll see, and you might not like the idea of at least at first, is that the new series really seems to be a vehicle of Billie Piper. Her family and friends and love interests play major parts in the series.
Opps!
First off I loved the show. I too have been lucky enough to be getting some of it through a friend – and couldnt wait till it came out. But – I want to see if anyone else caught the opps.
Slight spoiler…
“the last human”
First it was a little boy on planet earth and then it was a flat girl with lipstick etc.?? Maybe I heard it wrong – what did everyone else get out of it??
OMG! I got such a rush from hearing the theme music and seeing the Tardis hurtling through the time tunnel in the opening credits, it was amazing! And, to have the first new episode harken back to the first episode of Dr. Who I ever watched (Spearhead from Space) with the Autons and Nestine Consciousness.. well, it couldn’t been better. Perhaps it was the nostalgia, but I think it lived up to all the hype and more.
I was disappointed. This was the first time that I’ve seen Dr. Who. I’ve heard for years how great it is. The effects were cheesy, and the whole show looked dated. I may give it another try, but I had a hard time sitting through the first show, and couldn’t for the second one.
Hi. After to talking to Sam this morning (I’m the uber sci-fi geek rabbi he mentioned in the review) I thought I should add my thoughts. Yes the first episode was deeply flawed. Great intro to the characters and with some wonderfully eccentric doctor who moments worthy of the classic series, but no actual plot. Maybe that’s why Sci-Fi Channel decided to show the far superior “End of the World” along with it. That way people got to see a good episode along with the patchy “Rose.”
In any event the first two episodes were not about plot, but about introducing the characters and the scope of the show. By starting in our time and in the banality of real life – and you don’t get more banal than Rose’s mum and boyfriend – the first episode showed up the alienness of the Doctor and gave us a really good grip on Rose’s character. Then the second episode throws Rose totally out of her element, shows off the time travel element of the show’s premise and complete’s the initial character story arc with more Rose getting to grips with her new life and the Doctor revealing his loneliness as the last Time Lord.
Anyway, while this season’s stories are somewhat up and down in terms of quality, the series really takes off after this with some excellent stories. The whole season is great as a whole, and as the the season unfolds Eccleston’s Doctor really started to grow on me, although I will admit that his eccentricity and manic grin are a bit forced at times.
Although I haven’t seen it yet, everything I’ve heard about the Christmas special suggests that David Tennant, who takes over as the Doctor in the next season (Eccleston decided not to stay and the Doctor’s people can regenerate), is just perfect as the Doctor. Hopefully, the dodgy elements of the series will be evened out over the course of the next season.
Also, by the way, while Rose’s mum and Mickey do have recurring roles they become much less annoying as the season progresses as they also come to grips with Rose’s new reality.
Oh and finally, the best episodes in my opinion are next week’s (“The Unquite Dead”) and the double episode “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances.” Both incidently (or perhaps not) are set in the past (Victorian Britain and London During the Blitz in WWII) and there is no question that if the BBC knows how to do anything really well, its period dramas.
So enjoy and keep watching. The series just keeps on getting better after an admittedly patchy start.
Ilan Emanuel
Oh, I forgot to mention the audio CD’s that Sam referred to in the review. These are from Big Finish Productions (www.doctorwho.co.uk) who got the rights to make original Doctor Who audio plays some years back, before the new show was on the horizon. The audios star the original Doctors (Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann)and companions. Sadly Tom Baker still appears unwilling to having anything significant to do with Doctor Who these days.
The audios are of excellent quality (technically) and provide a unique oportunity to enjoy the earlier Doctors without the distraction of wobbly sets and seriously dodgy special effects (although many claim that this was part of the charm).
The quality of the stories is variable, with some being as good or better than anything produced in the classic series and some being just embarassing. Of course some of this depends on taste and personal preference. I would recommend checking out the reviews on the Outpost Gallifrey website (www.gallifreyone.com) to find out which ones are really worth it.
Of particular interest in terms of Doctors are Colin Baker and Paul McGann. Paul McGann’s brief time as the Doctor in the Anglo-American TV movie was a mixed bag. He showed much promise but the plot was pants. Here he gets the opportunity to really get into the part, and while some of the audio plots are also pants, he is a great Doctor. The real surprise though is Colin Baker, whose tenure as Doctor was marred by overacting, unsympathetic characterization, some truly awful scripts, and a costume that should have been scrapped at the drawing board (for those who haven’t seen it, it must be seen to be believed). But here, without having to see the terrible outfit, with the benefit of some of the series best scripts, and with a new companion Colin Baker shines as the Doctor. Such a pity he was allowed to do that when he was on the telly.
So for anyone pining away for classic Doctor Who, or whose interest has been piqued by the new series, these audios are a great way to experience some fresh new stories with some of the surviving classic Doctors.
Ilan
I liked both episodes of the Doctor and, like Rose, kinda tossed into the middle of an adventure rather than at the begining. The only thing I have reservations about was the conspiracy/fan who ran the website. I did rather like the ipod/jukebox joke.
“Rose” is the weakest of the new doctor who eps. Don’t let that diswade you from watching. There are some truly fantastic eps comming up. Also try to remember this is a British show designed for British audiences rather than American audiences.
The search engine used in “Rose”
http://www.search-wise.net/
where do i start? i am and forever a whovian.
those who do not know that means like american
trekie.i have already seen and have the new doctor
who taped from the cbc tv windsor canada ch. 9
in the detroit area. iam a michigan fan for at
age11 to now i am 37 thats a fann with 2 n’s.
i have seen all the doctors all 10 and the 2
fake doctors peter cushing not a timelord and
mr. bean in comic spoof children in need.
postive and negative reviews of the comments
posted here. 1. i agree about rose the first episode. 2the end of the world is fantasic! your
going to here that alot. the people watch doctor
in the past the old classic show.but who dont
know whats going on nowadays. heres the scoop on
that the actor your watching now christopher
eccleston had some what a say in the direction
of the doctor 1. he did not want to wear a cool
spacy costume like peter davison and colin baker
and some of the other doctors that ok. black is
cool to wear. he has said he wants fans to focus
on the performance.2.his doctor will not speak
tech na babble why maybe he cant remember the lines???? ha,ha,ha also russell t. davies does not
want a super verbal witty talking doctor.
this doctor will be stuck on the earth for a while
because 1.russell says the buget would be huge
he will wait until the show gets bigger with
david tennat before we see planets war battles in
space. you do get a few space stuff but not
much. this new doctor who is based on buffy and
angel the style and story and joss wheaton clever
writing format. russel is good but he has borrowed
a little bit. rose is a buffy ripp off but
is not a great character. the people who have not
seen eccleston before i suggest you watch gone
in sixty seconds with nick cage. he is fantasic
the demand on this actor to carry this show was
so great that there was xtra pressure on him
chistopher eccleston quit doctor who because he
was overworked and exhausted actor pal alan davies
said the bbc worked eccleston into the ground.
before he quit as the famous timelord.
he left and the bbc said he did not want to be
typecasted. the truth is he was exhaused.
christopher eccleston has said in a interview
he would come back as the doctor on a big finnish
audio if they let do one. bottom line give this
show a chance and in 4 years it will be better than fantastic if you have not seen the 10 th doctor he is in the new harry potter movie barty
crotch is his character. go to david tennant.com
if you cant wait for the season to end go to
amazon.ca to order the dvd box set. it will be
here in the usa july 4 th.make sure when you do
order that the dvd set is region 1 discs.
im tired of typing this.
so enjoy the show now on dvd or watch or both.
1 more thing…… PS.
when you do get a chance
to watch david tennant ( the christmas invasion)
im trying to get fans to E-MAIL OR LETTER WRITE
the bbc or russell t. davies to let them know
to put the regeneration intro clip children in need special witch is a huge clip it deals with
roses shock of dealing with the new doctor.
was not in the cbc airing of the show and may
not be seen on the sci-fi channel. it would be
big dispointment to old and new fans, american
who watch the christmas special and can not see it
and to edited in the american dvd box set verison
if you spend big american dollars $$$$$$on the
dvd box set for david tennant do not be cheated.
so ask E-MAIL OR LETTER WRITE THE SCI-FI CHANNEL
about this and the BBC –AND RUSSELL T. DAVIES.
make sure when the SCI-FI CHANNEL GETS DAVID TENNANT YOU GET THE CHILDREN IN NEED SPECIAL.
INCLUDED IN THE X-MAS INVASION ON TV AND DVD BOX
SET. thanks for hering me out
LES PERKINS MICHIGAN FANN 2N’s
march 20,2006 2am!!!!!
Having watched all the episodes here in the UK, I was sad to see Eccleston go, but after the Christmas episode, I thought Tennant was excellent! Cant wait for the new series.
The only problem I had with the first two episodes of Doctor Who…was the f***ing COMMERCIALS.
Damn!! Every time The Flow started,–BAM!–cut to a commercial. Fortunately I taped both episodes and on Saturday morning I watched again, this time zipping through the ads.
This series is going into my Netflix queue so I can watch the episodes in peace.
I too was underwhelmed by the first new Dr. Who episode shown on Sci-Fi.
I felt that “Rose” was often silly and while I have nothing at all against such attempts at “humour” and fully understanding that Dr. Who is television primarily for children, families and the young at heart; a little bit of slapstick goes a long way in science fiction.
Spoiler- rot13
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-End spoilers
As for “The End of the World” I did enjoy the idea that Rose would be able to keep in contact with her 21st century life (mother, boyfriend, etc). Afterall the passage of time that Rose expereiences away from London is not experienced by her family. When she returns to London she will do so only moments after she “left”.
And as for the Cassandra guest character. I love, love Zoe Wannamaker. I found it odd that I could recognize a 2-dimensional version of her face just by the inotation of her voice.
Spoiler
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-end
As to the “last human’ question above. Yes, she did indeed say “back when I was a little boy”. The quirky highlight of the episode.
For me the highlight of the first episode is you are about as confused as his new Companion is as what is going on. I think that’s what they were trying to do. Some weird guy pops in, saves your butt, runs away and blows up your building. You bump into him again, he’s babbling about things and this plastic hand attacks you, and so on.
In the end, enough cool/interesting/scary things have happened to you that it’s turned your view upside down and you’re off to go and see what you can find.
The second episode expands on that where the euphoria wears off and you suddenly realize you’re seperated by not only space but time from everything you knew with a guy you have no clue what he is other than he’s a Doctor of something or other and not really human maybe.
But then again I love the series so I could just be rationalizing. This was my first time seeing it, as I didnt’ download it in the hopes that being a ‘good boy’ would get them to release it in the States.