Given, what seems to me to be, the unwarranted hysteria over the new Dalek designs by many in the pages and the lamenting for the passing of the "old" Daleks...are memories just, in fact, terribly short?

DALEK: choruses of disapproval about the way the Dalek looked, it's mid-section opening, it's self-destruct mechanism, it's inner creature talking to Rose.

subsequently: choruses of disapproval about millions of Daleks being despatched by a simple reset button as opposed to the "good old days" where a small group of Daleks hatched a scheme and managed to escape to fight another day.

And this is just one topic: lest we forget forum reaction to Billie Piper, Catherine Tate casting news...

...so, coming over all Carrie Bradshaw:

Do DW fans have short memories or are they just impossible to please?

You have to admit, the latest redesign is the most radical departure from the original Dalek design yet. The bronze versions were made to look a little chunkier and more resilient, but they were still recognisably the same basic design, the same overall shape, that they'd always been. The new ones aren't-they've lost the sleek lines of the old Daleks, they look bulky and cumbersome and just...wrong.

But you're missing the point - every time something changes, a highly vocal section of fandom complains about it and cites what has gone previously as "better" when not a short time ago what had gone previously was being complained about.

Well, as my earliest memories are of Troughton's second season, I'd say not. But when you watch a programme for years, you grow to love it and so can feel disappointment all the more keenly (perhaps irrationally) when it occurs -- and, of course, the internet offers instant gratification for getting it off your chest. Ultimately, none of our opinions count for anything in terms of how the programme is made; it's really a way to pass the time for "fans".

And if you want to talk about fan concern ("hysteria" is going a little too far), hands up everyone who remembers what we were all saying when Bonnie Langford got the gig?

For my part I have been consistently critical of New Who because (I know this sounds ridiculous) I don't believe it's a remake of Dr Who at all. If anything, its vision (again, I know people disagree) owes more to the Buffy paradigm. Which doesn't stop me sticking with it in the hope that things change more to my personal liking.

Did anyone complain about the bronze versions?

So, we shall prepare to start complaining at the loss of these daleks in five years time then

--Mike Judge, Beavis and Butt-head

Have you read my OP? Oh yes they did...right here on this very forum in 2005.

Neither. Like the 'real' Carrie Bradshaw, you've incorrectly generalised distinct reactions by distinct groups to a much larger set.

This comment I read on another forum pretty much sums it up...

DALEK POWER RANGERS!

Referring to the five new Daleks each being different bright colours. I think the last time they had that sort of design was the Cushing movies.

I think once the daleks come back to power (maybe at christmas or for the series six or seven finale, i hope) there can be a more mainstream colour (maybe a grey, bronze or black version). These five coloured ones would be a form of dalek authority. I have to say that I have mixed feelings about the multi-colours. On one hand it seems a little tacky and screams out 'MERCHANDISING'. But on the other hand I have to love the various colours too- maybe if the colours served a more obvious purpose, by giving their rank a more significant meaning in a future story, it would be more appropriate.

I have to say that I loved the white dalek. Really stood out for me!!!! Maybe there should be a special weapons dalek for this generation that eleven encounters at christmas (a smaller scale dalek story with just the one special weapons dalek) , which would mean that the daleks would have appeared in series 6 (as the xmas special falls under the production codes for the sixth series) and then Moffat can rest them until the seventh series finale.

I thought I was simply posing a couple of questions based on observation of fan behaviour down the years...didn't anyone recognise the irony of Colin Baker's "Change my dear..." speech? It wasn't aimed at Peri - it was aimed at the fickleness of fandom.

Impossible to please, yes. Short memories, yes.

There is a section of the fans that post on this website that are clearly determined to hate everything about the new who. It is getting very dull.

Everything old is viewed through rose tinted specs. It's very silly. Russell T Davis appears to have become flawless in the time since he stopped writing, he seems to have done no wrong, where as when he was making who he could apparently do no right.

Key point to make here... I would say that at least half of the posters on here, if not more, do not remember the classic series (including me), and have only started watching the show since 2005. Can't miss what you never had. I have seen almost all the classic series Dalek stories but coming from a new series background, I don't prefer them. As opposed to older fans, who'll think the opposite. There'll never be a consensus.

I'm sorry ting, but daleks have always been cumbersome. "Sleek" is not an adjective i'd associate with any version of the daleks.

Answering the OP's closing question, I would have to say it's the latter, though I can't quite remember what the former was.

I thought that the bronze Dalek design was very popular.
I thought it was great.
Even more so when we first saw it in action causing serious damage. That episode was probably the one with the highest body count we actually saw on screen on the revamped 2005 show.

After nearly crippling myself on various Daleks (Bronze, black and classic deisgns) left on the floor by my kids. I just can't wait for another set of coloured Daleks to buy for Xmas on which they'll fight about which colour is theirs. noticed no pink daleks for girls (Thank God).

Got tons of sonic screwdrivers and yet another one bought for a birthday. Joy.

In response to the point about us having short memories I've had a bit of a think & my considered opinion is that....OOOOH look!...kittens!...

Now what was I about to say again? Ah well, never mind...

I think they look amazing. I think they now look like a futuristic alien threat!

sorry what was the question again

Hmm, yes hmm.

Um, what was this thread about? I forgot.

Pretty much summed up my opinions too.
Fan of classic Who finding it hard to adjust to new Who, and I can certainly see the Buffy influence. I also got a bit of an X Files feel from certain episodes too.
I like Buffy and X Files, but I still mourn certain aspects of classic Who that are seemingly no more.

And Classic Who had "The Avengers", "The Prisoner" and "Star Trek" influences...what you are talking about is the fact that Television tastes and fashions have moved on and DW is currently, as it always did, keeping up with them in order to satisfy the viewing public...after 50 years it would be impossible to incorporate every aspect of the series into every story nor, in my opinion, would it be a good idea to do so.

I'm not saying the new changes are bad or that the old way is better, but I guess it's just the nostalgia that makes me miss classic Who.