It appears to have been the second most watched show of the day, after EastEnders. I guess if it had had a bit more misery, it would have got the top spot!
loved it apart from the dodgy shark...oh and when said dodgy shark was pulling the sleigh....apart from that 9 out of ten...lost a point due to the, can anyone guess lol...:D
loved it apart from the dodgy shark...oh and when said dodgy shark was pulling the sleigh....apart from that 9 out of ten...lost a point due to the, can anyone guess lol...:D
I thought the shark worked quite well, actually-that blue tint to everything made the CGI somehow less jarring than usual.
It appears to have been the second most watched show of the day, after EastEnders. I guess if it had had a bit more misery, it would have got the top spot!
Ratings have nothing whatsover to do with quality.
And how would people know that they didn't rate it highly if they had not watched it?
Yes, but now you can see that he was just an irritating little gimp.
The actor who played Adric was one of my father's patients for a while around the time he got the part. I think he was more than a bit self-important off-screen as well as on. Still, at least he made Tegan slightly less annoying by comparison. I'm just sorry for Sarah Sutton for having to share her companion-ing with those two. (Wasn't there also an annoying red-headed "schoolboy" in the Tardis around then as well?)
I thought this year's Xmas special was pretty good. It looked great, was smart and funny, and we had a familiar christmassy storyline with a nice Dr Who slant on it - what more could anyone ask for at Christmas? I thought KJ was fine in her role (even though I'm not a particular fan of her singing or of some of her recent song choices, I do at least acknowledge that she certainly can sing!) and there was just enough of a "scientific" reason in the story why singing could calm the weather and the fogfish for Steven Moffat to get away with it.
Steven Moffat's writing is definitely aimed at a slightly older audience than RTD's (even more so since RTD took the helm of the Sarah Jane Adventures) and you do have to pay more attention than you did with some of RTD's eps (which is probably why so many of the maroons who comment on eps while they're being shown don't like them!) but the rewards are usually worth the little extra "effort".
Oh, and the person who posted that they didn't like the direction the next series is taking, based on the trailer at the end of last night's ep, THANK YOU! I haven't had such a good laugh in ages! (He was joking, wasn't he? :eek: )
The actor who played Adric was one of my father's patients for a while around the time he got the part. I think he was more than a bit self-important off-screen as well as on. Still, at least he made Tegan slightly less annoying by comparison. I'm just sorry for Sarah Sutton for having to share her companion-ing with those two. (Wasn't there also an annoying red-headed "schoolboy" in the Tardis around then as well?)
Turlough, 15 going on 40.
Poor Peter Davison. He was well and truly lumbered with Tegan, Nyssa, Adric and Turlough.
Poor Peter Davison. He was well and truly lumbered with Tegan, Nyssa, Adric and Turlough.
True. Nyssa and Adric alone might have been good, as opposites if nothing else. Tegan was way too much and I was never quite sure about Turlough. Such a shame as I love the Fifth Doctor, just felt sorry for him!
Poor Peter Davison. He was well and truly lumbered with Tegan, Nyssa, Adric and Turlough.
Thank you. Turlough. Wasn't he an agent of the black guardian (or someone) recruited from the school that the Brigadier was teaching at after retiring from U.N.I.T.? I guess the black guardian would probably get put on at least one register if he tried that sort of thing now!
Thank you. Turlough. Wasn't he an agent of the black guardian (or someone) recruited from the school that the Brigadier was teaching at after retiring from U.N.I.T.? I guess the black guardian would probably get put on at least one register if he tried that sort of thing now!
He was an agent of the Black Guadian indeed. But only for about three stories.
really loved the episode. Thought in the first five minutes that it might be a flop but I was delighted how it kept drawing me in. It never had that sort of lull when you realise what the story is and how it needs to end - and thus leaves you just waiting for the end. This seemed to grow and grow as it progressed.
I think Moffat is definitely writing for the adults - not much in the monster department but stacks and stacks of human storty.
I agree with you here. When I read the synopsis I was doubtful- it sounded a bit dull, and I found myself wondering whether Moffat, who's writing I've always preferred for the reasons you stated (more depth, less predictability, more layers, more maturity, more human story, and the psychological aspect to the fear) would let me down.
I was proved very wrong. It was far better than I'd expected on all sorts of levels.
I do have one minor complaint in that Abigail's perspective felt a big ignored- once Kazran had agreed to release Abigail the general consensus was that it would all be OK. This was her last day alive, remember, and it all felt a bit contrived that she played her part as calmly, efficiently and happily as she did, not once feeling anything not entirely joyful or doing anything inconvenient.
Its very odd, I have read so many posts from people on here who say that they found the first quarter of the special a complete turn off, but for me it was what drew me in completely, very funny intro "come along Pond!"
Personally I loved this episode, probably my favourite xmas special so far. I thought Moffat had written a wonderful christmassy yarn and I was swept along in the story. It was beautifully acted by Matt Smith, Michael Gambon and also Katherine Jenkins who I was very impressed by. I found it genuinely moving but laugh out loud funny a few seconds later. Yes, Jenkins singing was a predictable outcome but I was enjoying the story so much I didn't care.
I liked that this year it was a slightly more old fashioned, christmas story - the world wasn't about to end this time. However although all the adults in my family really enjoyed it, my two young cousins who generally love Doctor Who were a bit bored and didn't really understand what was going on. Moffat's writing is definitely a lot more adult which is great for us but I do hope he remembers to throw in enough action and adventure in the series for the kids....I have no doubt he will though and I can't wait to see Series 6!
Its very odd, I have read so many posts from people on here who say that they found the first quarter of the special a complete turn off, but for me it was what drew me in completely, very funny intro "come along Pond!"
Even that didn't make sense. Come along where? "Hold on Pond I'm going to rescue you but only after I've been back and forth in time enough times to fill up an hour's worth of TV in the hope of getting some old geezer to mellow and let your ship land, rather than do the obvious thing and go back in time just once to prevent you getting on the Space Liner in the first place" would have been a more apt thing for him to say.
It is a childrens programme. You are an adult and you watch it so did I but I didn't forget that it was made for children.:)
Bit late coming in here, but if it was made solely for children it would be on CBBC, like the Sarah Jane Adventures is. 'Family Programme' means 'suitable for all ages' or 'suitable for both adults and children', which basically means that the show is designed to appeal to a wide age range.
This can be hard to pull off, as it means the boundaries you have to write within are narrower, you can't put in anything explicit or overly complicated because of the kids, but neither can you be too simplistic and fluffy because of the adults. I'd say both Davies and Moffat do quite well, although Davies skewed more towards the kids and Moffat skews more towards the adults.
Even that didn't make sense. Come along where? "Hold on Pond I'm going to rescue you but only after I've been back and forth in time enough times to fill up an hour's worth of TV in the hope of getting some old geezer to mellow and let your ship land, rather than do the obvious thing and go back in time just once to prevent you getting on the Space Liner in the first place" would have been a more apt thing for him to say.
Even that didn't make sense. Come along where? "Hold on Pond I'm going to rescue you but only after I've been back and forth in time enough times to fill up an hour's worth of TV in the hope of getting some old geezer to mellow and let your ship land, rather than do the obvious thing and go back in time just once to prevent you getting on the Space Liner in the first place" would have been a more apt thing for him to say.
I enterpret that as code, eg Its the doctor, I'm working on it, you know a friendly jokey comment to instil confidence!
Since when has Doctor Who, like all sci fi, actually made sense, its make believe and uses mostly made up physics. At the end of the day, time travel makes no sense does it!
Even that didn't make sense. Come along where? "Hold on Pond I'm going to rescue you but only after I've been back and forth in time enough times to fill up an hour's worth of TV in the hope of getting some old geezer to mellow and let your ship land, rather than do the obvious thing and go back in time just once to prevent you getting on the Space Liner in the first place" would have been a more apt thing for him to say.
Can't cross his own timeline remember? Also that wouldn't save the other 4,001 passengers. And come along pond was, basically, a visual guide as the ship couldn't tell up from down at that point.
Since when has Doctor Who, like all sci fi, actually made sense, its make believe and uses mostly made up physics. At the end of the day, time travel makes no sense does it!
Of course it doesn't - but saying 'It doesn't make sense and never has to' is also a great excuse to cover lazy writing. However 'sci-fi' DW may be, it still needs to have a coherent narrative logic the average viewer can understand. And that wasn't present in abundance in A Christmas Carol.
Of course, it looked great. Hardly surprising when you consider the amount of money that is being poured into the bottomless pit that is SM's DW. :rolleyes: And it had some moments that could and should have been moving.
But, when the story-telling is full of holes, it rather undermines the episode's potential.
Not my cup of tea I'm afraid, I like my Scrooge's unrepentent and cold. Had to run for cover when the singing started! Anyway best bit was the trailer for series 6, there seems to be a bit of a hat fetish going on, can't get anything past me.
Comments
I thought the shark worked quite well, actually-that blue tint to everything made the CGI somehow less jarring than usual.
I suggest you see the film "Croupier" or ITV's version of "Moll Flanders".
Happy Christmas.
Ratings have nothing whatsover to do with quality.
And how would people know that they didn't rate it highly if they had not watched it?
The actor who played Adric was one of my father's patients for a while around the time he got the part. I think he was more than a bit self-important off-screen as well as on. Still, at least he made Tegan slightly less annoying by comparison. I'm just sorry for Sarah Sutton for having to share her companion-ing with those two. (Wasn't there also an annoying red-headed "schoolboy" in the Tardis around then as well?)
I thought this year's Xmas special was pretty good. It looked great, was smart and funny, and we had a familiar christmassy storyline with a nice Dr Who slant on it - what more could anyone ask for at Christmas? I thought KJ was fine in her role (even though I'm not a particular fan of her singing or of some of her recent song choices, I do at least acknowledge that she certainly can sing!) and there was just enough of a "scientific" reason in the story why singing could calm the weather and the fogfish for Steven Moffat to get away with it.
Steven Moffat's writing is definitely aimed at a slightly older audience than RTD's (even more so since RTD took the helm of the Sarah Jane Adventures) and you do have to pay more attention than you did with some of RTD's eps (which is probably why so many of the maroons who comment on eps while they're being shown don't like them!) but the rewards are usually worth the little extra "effort".
Oh, and the person who posted that they didn't like the direction the next series is taking, based on the trailer at the end of last night's ep, THANK YOU! I haven't had such a good laugh in ages! (He was joking, wasn't he? :eek: )
Turlough, 15 going on 40.
Poor Peter Davison. He was well and truly lumbered with Tegan, Nyssa, Adric and Turlough.
True. Nyssa and Adric alone might have been good, as opposites if nothing else. Tegan was way too much and I was never quite sure about Turlough. Such a shame as I love the Fifth Doctor, just felt sorry for him!
Thank you. Turlough. Wasn't he an agent of the black guardian (or someone) recruited from the school that the Brigadier was teaching at after retiring from U.N.I.T.? I guess the black guardian would probably get put on at least one register if he tried that sort of thing now!
He was an agent of the Black Guadian indeed. But only for about three stories.
Had a crush on her since Moll Flanders tbh.
Thanks for the "Croupier" heads up though.
Time to vist play.com methinks!
Happy Christmas indeed!
I know, I mean, flying ok, but living for a few decades, completely out there, man!!!!:D
I agree with you here. When I read the synopsis I was doubtful- it sounded a bit dull, and I found myself wondering whether Moffat, who's writing I've always preferred for the reasons you stated (more depth, less predictability, more layers, more maturity, more human story, and the psychological aspect to the fear) would let me down.
I was proved very wrong. It was far better than I'd expected on all sorts of levels.
I do have one minor complaint in that Abigail's perspective felt a big ignored- once Kazran had agreed to release Abigail the general consensus was that it would all be OK. This was her last day alive, remember, and it all felt a bit contrived that she played her part as calmly, efficiently and happily as she did, not once feeling anything not entirely joyful or doing anything inconvenient.
I liked that this year it was a slightly more old fashioned, christmas story - the world wasn't about to end this time. However although all the adults in my family really enjoyed it, my two young cousins who generally love Doctor Who were a bit bored and didn't really understand what was going on. Moffat's writing is definitely a lot more adult which is great for us but I do hope he remembers to throw in enough action and adventure in the series for the kids....I have no doubt he will though and I can't wait to see Series 6!
Even that didn't make sense. Come along where? "Hold on Pond I'm going to rescue you but only after I've been back and forth in time enough times to fill up an hour's worth of TV in the hope of getting some old geezer to mellow and let your ship land, rather than do the obvious thing and go back in time just once to prevent you getting on the Space Liner in the first place" would have been a more apt thing for him to say.
Bit late coming in here, but if it was made solely for children it would be on CBBC, like the Sarah Jane Adventures is. 'Family Programme' means 'suitable for all ages' or 'suitable for both adults and children', which basically means that the show is designed to appeal to a wide age range.
This can be hard to pull off, as it means the boundaries you have to write within are narrower, you can't put in anything explicit or overly complicated because of the kids, but neither can you be too simplistic and fluffy because of the adults. I'd say both Davies and Moffat do quite well, although Davies skewed more towards the kids and Moffat skews more towards the adults.
The Doctor makes sense?
I enterpret that as code, eg Its the doctor, I'm working on it, you know a friendly jokey comment to instil confidence!
Since when has Doctor Who, like all sci fi, actually made sense, its make believe and uses mostly made up physics. At the end of the day, time travel makes no sense does it!
Can't cross his own timeline remember? Also that wouldn't save the other 4,001 passengers. And come along pond was, basically, a visual guide as the ship couldn't tell up from down at that point.
Of course it doesn't - but saying 'It doesn't make sense and never has to' is also a great excuse to cover lazy writing. However 'sci-fi' DW may be, it still needs to have a coherent narrative logic the average viewer can understand. And that wasn't present in abundance in A Christmas Carol.
Of course, it looked great. Hardly surprising when you consider the amount of money that is being poured into the bottomless pit that is SM's DW. :rolleyes: And it had some moments that could and should have been moving.
But, when the story-telling is full of holes, it rather undermines the episode's potential.
Such a shame as Matt Smith is so good.
But each to their own ...