Doctor Who

Eugene · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: Doctor Who

As Doctor Who has been getting bigger in the United States as of last season I thought I would go ahead and write my review of this show from the 13 years of this show I have seen.

Doctor Who is one of the longest running shows on television, ever. It started in 1963 with William Hartnell portraying the eccentric figure named as the Doctor. That was almost 50 years ago, and no the same guy isn't playing the role.

The Doctor is an enigma wrapped in an enigma that travels through time and space in a 1960s British Police telephone box that is bigger on the inside than outside.
(See his explanation as to why it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWz6G-9NMTw)

You see the Doctor is an alien from the planet Gallifrey called a Time Lord. He stole a TARDIS in his first incarnation and hasn't looked back for over 2000 years as he travels with Humans, mechanical-dogs, other Time Lords, and sometimes even people from another dimension across Time and Space.

Now a being that is 2000 year old, even a Time Lord is bound to meet some enemies here and there; that is especially true for the Doctor. Here is where the beauty of the show comes in, the Doctor, a Time Lord from Gallifrey, who has encountered being from other Dimensions, beings from before the Universe, Daleks (basically these guys make the Nazis look like a gang of 5 year olds), and even rival Time Lords; and not once has the Doctor resorted to Violence to stop them, not once.

The show is about the triumph over evil using intellect, love, and pure dumb luck. That is not to say that there is no violence in the show. In 2000 years of travel the Doctor has had some close calls and he comes out a new man each time.

I really do mean he comes out a new man, you see as a Time Lord the Doctor can cheat death and regenerate. He has done so 10 times already, that is how the show gets around actors wanting to quit and the beautiful thing is that each actor makes the role their own. While it is uncommon to see David Tennant (who played the 10th incarnation) to channel a bit of Peter Davison (who played the 5th incarnation), overall the Doctor that Tennant played was his own.
(Check out this clip for a role call of the 11 Actors to play the Doctor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arAjbSkKF-Q&feature=related)

However what truly makes this show great is the fact that the Doctor an alien from Gallifrey risks his life over and over again for even his greatest foes, but even then he isn't a saint. He is no Superman, the Doctor despite being the most amazing man in the world still has his flaws.

Overall I urge any fans of science fiction and fantasy to check the show out, I recommend the following episodes:

William Hartnell:
-An Unearthly Child

Patrick Troughton:
-The War Games part 1-10

Jon Pertwee:
-The Three Doctors

Tom Baker:
-City of Death

Peter Davison:
-The Five Doctors
-The Caves of Androzani

Colin Baker:
Honestly, Colin Baker got the shaft in terms of writing. All of his episodes are terrible, by no fault of his own. The man is a Brilliant Actor who got the a role that the president of the BBC was trying to kill. However if you have the time and like the show check out the 23rd season, all of it.

Sylvester McCoy:
Anything from Season 25 and 26, by far this man shows the darkest portrayal of the Doctor ever. My personal favorite is:
-The Curse of Fenric

Paul McGann:
Paul McGann also got the shaft he has a terrible TV movie (Eric Roberts plays the villian, that should be enough). However his audio-stories are amazing, I listened to them every day during the summer while working in lab and he really makes the role his own. He is without a doubt one of the best actors to take up the role.

Christopher Eccleston:
-Empty Child/Doctor Dances (2-parter)

David Tennant:
-The Girl in the Fireplace
-Blink
-The End of Time parts 1 and 2

Matt Smith:
-The Eleventh Hour
-The Doctor's Wife

Many of these can be found via torrent or Netflix. I truly urge everyone to check it out.

Draco · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject:

Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead were great episodes. Also the introduction of River Song.

AlMightyBob · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:44 pm Post subject:

The first season with Matt Smith was pretty awesome all around but the newest one wasn't as great. Still well worth watching though. Can't say I've ever seen much of the old stuff, it's way down on my list of things to watch.
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Eugene · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

The fanboy in me has such a serious nerd-on right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucDQlnvU5FM

Berry Punch · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject:

I've never actually watched Doctor Who! Well I mean I have.. but only a few episodes! It confused me and made me think all silly for a bit.. Though there was a- Err.. Nevermind i'll just get flamed.

Eugene · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:49 pm Post subject:

Kirov wrote:

I've never actually watched Doctor Who! Well I mean I have.. but only a few episodes! It confused me and made me think all silly for a bit.. Though there was a- Err.. Nevermind i'll just get flamed.

Know this Kirov, there are very few things that can make me actually hate a person for insulting something. You are walking on thin ice, my friend.

junkyard · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:39 am Post subject:

The name of the show is pretty lame

massive · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:50 pm Post subject:

Who?

ah sry
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Vlad Piranha wrote:

I'm offended that a zombie holocaust isn't on the list. It would be terrifying, sure, but it would be pretty sweet if you think about it.