Doctor Who Se 4 x 01 Partners in Crime(could be spoilers!)

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 7:27pm #1

So what did everyone think?

It wasn't great but wasn't tragic. I thought the big reveal was done well.

Adipose aliens where NOT good.

I like that it was noted the Doctor has changed because of Martha.

Tate only screeched when appropriate, which was good!

The Master · 05-04-2008 7:38pm

The aliens did look terrible , but a good episode overall.

The "Pen" that was dumped in the bin is bound to
play a part in a later episode

nothing · 05-04-2008 7:38pm

Loved the light heartedness of this ep.

Thought the monsters were very cute.

Can't wait for the next ep already!

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 7:42pm

Robster The Lobster wrote: »

The aliens did look terrible , but a good episode overall.

The "Pen" that was dumped in the bin is bound to
play a part in a later episode

Was thinking that myself, I originally thought the nanny thingy was going to be the Rani because of it, then I thought Donna might end up in posession of it.

Their hitting the arc early in this series!

nothing · 05-04-2008 7:44pm

I had the Rani thought as well, would love to see her reappear.

Absolutely loved how Rose showed up, though I also hope she's not gonna be in every episode.

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 7:47pm

nothing wrote: »

I had the Rani thought as well, would love to see her reappear.
Absolutely loved how Rose showed up, though I also hope she's not gonna be in every episode.

Ditto on the spoiler, I hope they manage to keep it subtle!

ixoy · 05-04-2008 7:56pm

Big "meh" from myself - the plot was very poor. The episode was too farcical, bordering on slapstick. The show can do humour, but it can be a bit more smart about it.

Typical of RTD, there was running and lots of it - the show could have been ten minutes shorter without the obligatory RTD race. Also overuse of the sonic screw-driver and magic paper. It's a very weak tool to get around poor writing and it should not have come back after its demise in the original show (for that very reason!).

Oh and Rose at the end? ARGH! It sticks in my craw - they already cheapened her departure by saying how she died (but didn't really). Now they're going one step further and I really don't like it.

Hopefully the bees disappearing will lead to an interesting arc. Whether we see the Rani this year or not, I'm not sure. Not a huge fan of her but it'd be better than forcing more Daleks on us through Davros.

On a small plus, Donna wasn't as irritating as I feared. They over-stated that there wouldn't be any romance (RTD can't do anything but explain everything in ten mile high neon expositions) but she at least reigned it in a smidgen.

Weak opener for me and after last night's Torchwood finale, it was really shown up. Hopefully next week will improve.

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 8:01pm

ixoy wrote: »

Big "meh" from myself - the plot was very poor. The episode was too farcical, bordering on slapstick. The show can do humour, but it can be a bit more smart about it.

Typical of RTD, there was running and lots of it - the show could have been ten minutes shorter without the obligatory RTD race. Also overuse of the sonic screw-driver and magic paper. It's a very weak tool to get around poor writing and it should not have come back after its demise in the original show (for that very reason!).

Oh and Rose at the end? ARGH! It sticks in my craw - they already cheapened her departure by saying how she died (but didn't really). Now they're going one step further and I really don't like it.

Hopefully the bees disappearing will lead to an interesting arc. Whether we see the Rani this year or not, I'm not sure. Not a huge fan of her but it'd be better than forcing more Daleks on us through Davros.

On a small plus, Donna wasn't as irritating as I feared. They over-stated that there wouldn't be any romance (RTD can't do anything but explain everything in ten mile high neon expositions) but she at least reigned it in a smidgen.

Weak opener for me and after last night's Torchwood finale, it was really shown up. Hopefully next week will improve.

I agree with alot of what you say, but in most sci fi, dead never really means dead. I always take it with a pinch of salt. I thought some of the humour hit and that saved the episode for me.

RTD episodes are never great. I want Stephen Moffat and Cornell back, please.

I dislike the overuse of the sonic screw driver myself. Its way to formulaic.

Speaking of formulaic, first episode new companion, second episode historical... It's looking the same again as the last 3 years!

Haven't seen the end of torchwood yet, I shall be acquiring it shortly.

ixoy · 05-04-2008 8:11pm

SDooM wrote: »

I agree with alot of what you say, but in most sci fi, dead never really means dead.

I should know better! Buffy should have stayed dead after S5 for example but they brought her back and 'Star Trek' and 'Stargate' were notorious for killing everyone off to bring them back in 40 minutes. But I still don't have to like it, especially when it's Rose (who I think the show spends far too much time on).

I thought some of the humour hit and that saved the episode for me.

Some of it worked - the bit where they were shouting at each other through the windows for example. Where they kept missing one another prior to that grew very tired very quickly though.

RTD episodes are never great. I want Stephen Moffat and Cornell back, please.

No Cornell this year, alas

We've to a wait a little bit before we get some Moffat too. Not sure who's penning next week's.

I dislike the overuse of the sonic screw driver myself. Its way to formulaic.

Yup, which is why they destroyed it in the Great Fire of London in the original show. It was a weak way of getting around plots without having to put in much effort.

BuffyBot · 05-04-2008 8:16pm

It wasn't so bad - typical season-opener-new-companion fare. Light on plot, heavy on the exposition. The miming through windows was really well done.

I didn't expect much (RTD script, season opener etc) and wasn't disappointed because of that.

Had a feeling that Donna's character would mature over the time of her absense and I was right. I think it'll be a nice change to not have the assistant go googly eyed over the Doctor for once.

I'm pretty annoyed by

Rose's return

, as I've said before. It was dropped in well however here.

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 8:23pm

ixoy wrote: »

I should know better! Buffy should have stayed dead after S5 for example but they brought her back and 'Star Trek' and 'Stargate' were notorious for killing everyone off to bring them back in 40 minutes. But I still don't have to like it, especially when it's Rose (who I think the show spends far too much time on).

To paraphrase a comic I read once, "I died, but then I got better."

you're not alone on the Rose thing, but she only shot a couple of days for this series, so it cant be all about her, thankfully.

ixoy wrote: »

Some of it worked - the bit where they were shouting at each other through the windows for example. Where they kept missing one another prior to that grew very tired very quickly though.

Agreed. I loved the window bit, and I like the mate joke too, but the start was really childish.

ixoy wrote: »

No Cornell this year, alas We've to a wait a little bit before we get some Moffat too. Not sure who's penning next week's.

Noooooooooo!

If the rumours are true Moffat is getting RTD's job soon. That will be something to see. A huge pity about Cornell, Family of Blood was brilliant.

ixoy wrote: »

Yup, which is why they destroyed it in the Great Fire of London in the original show. It was a weak way of getting around plots without having to put in much effort.

And last year they kept teasing destroying it. Just to annoy you

I love sci fi plots but I am not a big fan of technobabble solving them. Blinks a great example of a good sci fi idea with a logical solution within the rules the series sets itself.

Jack B. Badd · 05-04-2008 8:30pm

SDooM wrote: »

RTD episodes are never great. I want Stephen Moffat and Cornell back, please.

A definite +1 from me on this. I've always found RTD to be an unimaginative, mediocre writer tbh (and preoccupied with making sure all those special effects they've paid for get used wherever is (un)feasibly possible).
I also get the distinct impression from Confidential that kissing his ass on a regular basis is a requirement for keeping one's job on the show :rolleyes:

I'm dying for a decent Stephen Moffat episode. Can't wait!

Doctor DooM · 05-04-2008 8:41pm

Jack B. Badd wrote: »

A definite +1 from me on this. I've always found RTD to be an unimaginative, mediocre writer tbh (and preoccupied with making sure all those special effects they've paid for get used wherever is (un)feasibly possible).
I also get the distinct impression from Confidential that kissing his ass on a regular basis is a requirement for keeping one's job on the show :rolleyes:

I'm dying for a decent Stephen Moffat episode. Can't wait!

In RTD's defense, he is running the entire show. Can't be easy to bang out the scripts when he has this and Torchwood to keep going.

All the more reason for him to let people who have nothing else to disturb them to write the scripts!

thusspakeblixa · 05-04-2008 8:55pm

ixoy wrote: »

Big "meh" from myself - the plot was very poor. The episode was too farcical, bordering on slapstick. The show can do humour, but it can be a bit more smart about it.

Typical of RTD, there was running and lots of it - the show could have been ten minutes shorter without the obligatory RTD race. Also overuse of the sonic screw-driver and magic paper. It's a very weak tool to get around poor writing and it should not have come back after its demise in the original show (for that very reason!).

Oh and Rose at the end? ARGH! It sticks in my craw - they already cheapened her departure by saying how she died (but didn't really). Now they're going one step further and I really don't like it.

Hopefully the bees disappearing will lead to an interesting arc. Whether we see the Rani this year or not, I'm not sure. Not a huge fan of her but it'd be better than forcing more Daleks on us through Davros.

On a small plus, Donna wasn't as irritating as I feared. They over-stated that there wouldn't be any romance (RTD can't do anything but explain everything in ten mile high neon expositions) but she at least reigned it in a smidgen.

Weak opener for me and after last night's Torchwood finale, it was really shown up. Hopefully next week will improve.

+1.. I was left quite dissapointed. Hopefully next week shall be better.

Jack B. Badd · 05-04-2008 11:28pm

SDooM wrote: »

In RTD's defense, he is running the entire show. Can't be easy to bang out the scripts when he has this and Torchwood to keep going.

All the more reason for him to let people who have nothing else to disturb them to write the scripts!

Well, in that case he should step back from the writing side of things for the good of the show. It's not like he's contributed anything of substance after the second season.

ixoy · 06-04-2008 12:59am

Jack B. Badd wrote: »

Well, in that case he should step back from the writing side of things for the good of the show. It's not like he's contributed anything of substance after the second season.

+ 1/0! The man's ego though is huge given the show's success and he can't help but contribute to what he sees as his success. I wish if he must right he'd just do the X-Mas specials which are more suited to the frivolous, run-around-the-place-yelling stories that he specialises in.

Doctor DooM · 06-04-2008 1:01am

ixoy wrote: »

+ 1/0! The man's ego though is huge given the show's success and he can't help but contribute to what he sees as his success. I wish if he must right he'd just do the X-Mas specials which are more suited to the frivolous, run-around-the-place-yelling stories that he specialises in.

Not going to hear an argument from me on that one. Would make for a better series overall.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 06-04-2008 2:36am

well, it was doctor who.. which was nice

marginally better than just staring at text on an irc window for 40m, but not by much.

monkeyfudge · 06-04-2008 4:24am

Just back from the pub and watched it now....

I'm surprised it's been so well recieved here...

I thought it was horrible... Tate was more obscene on every level than my I could have thought of in my wildest imaginations...

The fat story could have been potentially interesting, if it wasn't for the horrible acting and scripting and direcing..

Will you kids let me know if I miss a good episode somehow? As I really won't be tuning in next week for more of this bullsh*t.

Oh and I read the russell t davies interview in SFX this month... he doesn't seem to think people on the internet know how to write... and as such don't have a clue about good television.

Jack B. Badd · 06-04-2008 10:57am

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Will you kids let me know if I miss a good episode somehow? As I really won't be tuning in next week for more of this bullsh*t.

Moffat is writing episodes 8 & 9 so they're probably guaranteed to be the best of the bunch. You'll have another few weeks to wait methinks...

deRanged · 06-04-2008 11:06am

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I thought it was horrible...

as did I. I really hope it picks up, but I can't see how given the cast (i.e. Tate).

Doctor DooM · 06-04-2008 12:22pm

deRanged wrote: »

as did I. I really hope it picks up, but I can't see how given the cast (i.e. Tate).

If Moffats writing 8 and 9, thats when the series will pick up.

popebenny16 · 06-04-2008 3:06pm

I thought it was ok and it handled the fact that the doctor was not happy on his own, that Donna wasn't at all interested in him, and yer wan's return well enough for a first show. Usually these things have to be a bit smash bang, but I'd have thought that by the fourth RTD Season they could be confident enough that they dont have to open with a silly one.

That said, Donna is shaping up as a good character, she stopped shouting half way through the Runaway Bride, and she has a nice and nasty turn of phrase (as when she reminded The Doctor about the last load of Children he encountered with her) not to mention her describing him as a long slice of nothing.

Problem i have is that, forget Daleks, Cybermen, Raini, and all that, there's no doubt that this season is all about the return of Rose (RTD's first character for Who remember), and given that the first show always has a pointer about the season arc I guess this might have been it, although i liked the bees idea better....

So will it all end in tears, given that RTD is probably hanging up his hat and the show is going on a TY next year.... will we have that oft anticipated Martha/Rose/Doctor soap opera two parter at the end whilst Donna rolls her eyes and wishes she was back with Lance.....?

Sadly, there is nothing in the grapevine as there was last year, to give rise to anticipation.

Edit to add:

I really don't like the publicity shots of Martha looking like she's been in a Japanese porn flick, but I'm sure someone in the BBC has a reason for it.......... and as for Rose, Mrs Popebenny pointed out to me that she is in charge of Torchwood in the parallel Earth, guess that's how she makes it back...

pixelburp · 06-04-2008 5:05pm

I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would, what with the monster being... well, cute (Despite being made of fat). It was funny light fluff & there's suggestions the overall tone with darken from here on in.

It's worth noting that ALL the season openers have been frothy, lightweight, "comedy" episodes, so I wouldn't worry too much.

daithi_student · 06-04-2008 7:28pm

deRanged wrote: »

as did I. I really hope it picks up, but I can't see how given the cast (i.e. Tate).

jeepers, alot of people seem quite willing to write off the whole series on the basis of Catherine Tate being cast! i thought the 1st ep was very enjoyable! the chemistry between tennant and tate was evident from the moment they saw eachother across the hostage situation (which was in my opinion an hilarious scene!).
i also think that having an assistant who doesn't follow the doctor around like a puppy will give the series a nice twist.
I think everyone should stop and think that russell t davies and co. do know what there doing, we have 3 brilliant series of doctor who that kinda prove it...!:D
i'll admit it if im wrong but id say in 12 episodes time alot of ye be agreeing with me!
That turned into a bit of a rant, Sorry!
Bring on episode 2!!!:)

Jack B. Badd · 06-04-2008 7:47pm

daithi_student wrote: »

I think everyone should stop and think that russell t davies and co. do know what there doing

Be alert, you're country needs lerts! Better yet, be a sheep and put up with substandard writing/scripting/direction/production by RTD and co.

On a more serious note though, I think Dr Who deserves the criticism it receives given how much the standard fluctuates between episodes.

daithi_student · 06-04-2008 8:00pm

yes,yes there are writing fluctuations and the like but on the whole it is a well written series which i'm sure you can agree with seeing you obviously watch the show and why would you watch a badly written series?! as for substandard direction and production i really cant see where your coming from! am i wrong? have series 1-3 not been highly entertaining?

Jack B. Badd · 06-04-2008 8:56pm

daithi_student, by fluctuations I mean that there are highs and lows - it's not badly written in its entirety but a lot of the episodes don't live up to my standards regarding good writing (especially those written by RTD). I continue to watch it because the good episodes make it worth my while although after season 3 I think I'll do a bit more research into who writes and directs the upcoming episode before I decide to watch it when it airs.
As for 3 highly entertaining seasons, seasons 1 & 2 had more highs than lows imo but most of season 3 (barring in particular the episode written by Moffat) wasted my time. The repeated unnecessary use of characters (e.g. Daleks, pigs, Ood) in past seasons, substandard CGI (those little adipose things were ridiculously basic even for what were meant to be blobs of fat), awkward scripting especially between The Doctor and Donna this week; all of this is substandard as far as I'm concerned because with a little more creativity they could have created much more engaging episodes.
Tbh, I think the greatest issue that Doctor Who has at this time (apart from RTD's ego) is that there's too much money in it in comparison to older seasons - I know I've just slated some of the CGI in this week's episode but I find that CGI is often the lazy, expensive option and is overused in shows like this. Creativity has been replaced by a big budget. I honestly think a lower budget might contribute to the high creativity of the likes that we've seen in older seasons.

pixelburp · 06-04-2008 8:56pm

Jack B. Badd wrote: »

Be alert, you're country needs lerts! Better yet, be a sheep and put up with substandard writing/scripting/direction/production by RTD and co.

On a more serious note though, I think Dr Who deserves the criticism it receives given how much the standard fluctuates between episodes.

It's the nature of the beast though - the show lacks an overall plot arc from episode to episode, which means you are always going to have a potentially extreme difference in tone between adventures. doubly so when you have Dr. Who fans writing for the show ( I mean, put 2 fans in a room and it'll soon turn into an argument of who was the best Doctor). It's not like the precedent isn't already there with previous years' "goofy" first episodes.

Two things I was not looking forward to with Saturdays episodes:
a ) Catherine Tate
b ) The "cute" monsters

The monsters ended up working within the context of an ostensibly comedic episode (that was indeed funny), and Tate's acerbic character was a breath of fresh air after Rose and Martha's doe-eyed lusting after the Doctor. Hell, I enjoyed her character and liked her immensely. Which coming from someone who HATES Catherine Tate's comedy show (and I mean HATE with a capital 'H'), is saying something.

Stark · 06-04-2008 9:30pm

Gah.

Awful awful awful awful. Running. Awful awful awful awful. Soniccing. Awful awful awful awful. Running. Awful awful awful awful. Sonic screwoff. Running. Soniccing. Running soniccing.

You get the jist.

I want those 48 minutes of my life back.

I must remember to check who wrote the episode in future and not bother watching any RTD episodes.

Stark · 06-04-2008 9:33pm

daithi_student wrote: »

yes,yes there are writing fluctuations and the like but on the whole it is a well written series which i'm sure you can agree with seeing you obviously watch the show and why would you watch a badly written series?! as for substandard direction and production i really cant see where your coming from! am i wrong? have series 1-3 not been highly entertaining?

Season 1: Top notch entertainment.
Season 2: Lacked some of the finesse of Season 1 but still highly entertaining.
Season 3: Rubbish barring the 3 excellent episodes by Cornell and Moffat.

Doctor Who Se 4 x 01 Partners in Crime(could be spoilers!)

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