Over the years Doctor Who has had some brilliant and some horrible stories, it has also had its fair share of overrated stories. IMO The Daleks, The Daleks Invasion of Earth, The Invasion, Inferno and Blink are all overrated. They are good stories but drag on a bit. What does everybody else think?
Most overrated stories?
1 of 4
Originally Posted by Sora2311:
“Over the years Doctor Who has had some brilliant and some horrible stories, it has also had its fair share of overrated stories. IMO The Daleks, The Daleks Invasion of Earth, The Invasion, Inferno and Blink are all overrated. They are good stories but drag on a bit. What does everybody else think?”
“Over the years Doctor Who has had some brilliant and some horrible stories, it has also had its fair share of overrated stories. IMO The Daleks, The Daleks Invasion of Earth, The Invasion, Inferno and Blink are all overrated. They are good stories but drag on a bit. What does everybody else think?”
I'm afraid I couldn't begin to agree on any of those (let alone that 'Blink' drags on a bit at 45 minutes) and for me these are among the highest peaks that Doctor Who has ever achieved with story development. With Doctor Who pretty much owing its survival to the success of "The Daleks", it's hardly over-rating it to recognise the creativity and imagination of those who brought it to the screen back then.
- All RTD finals - All are more or less the same, nothing imaginative or creative, megalomanical (invasions every couple of months makes the show just inconclusive), repeating the same enemies, almost the same plots resolved by deus ex macchina and/or pure force.
As for others:
- Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel (DW is a fantasy, not an action show!)
- Christmas Carol (Christmas story shouldn't have so depressing end)
- The Girl Who Waited (exterior was nice, enemies ok, but everything else... not really!)
As for others:
- Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel (DW is a fantasy, not an action show!)
- Christmas Carol (Christmas story shouldn't have so depressing end)
- The Girl Who Waited (exterior was nice, enemies ok, but everything else... not really!)
Exactly who is over-rating these stories, and how precisely does one 'rate' a series of stories that stretches back over 50 years?
There can be no over-rated or under-rated stories, only individual personal appreciation.
For example, I dislike The Happiness Patrol for all sorts of reasons. I don't 'rate' it at all. But I'm well aware that there are plenty of people who adore this tale and consider it as one of their absolute favourites. In my mind these people are perhaps 'over-rating' the story, but they would, quite reasonably, state that they are simply appreciating a cracking story.
Who's right, who's wrong? No-one is, it's all totally subjective.
Many people agree that The Invasion is perhaps a little too long and padded. But others will argue that what some see as padding is tension building and full of characterisation. Again, no-one is right, or wrong.
There can be no over-rated or under-rated stories, only individual personal appreciation.
For example, I dislike The Happiness Patrol for all sorts of reasons. I don't 'rate' it at all. But I'm well aware that there are plenty of people who adore this tale and consider it as one of their absolute favourites. In my mind these people are perhaps 'over-rating' the story, but they would, quite reasonably, state that they are simply appreciating a cracking story.
Who's right, who's wrong? No-one is, it's all totally subjective.
Many people agree that The Invasion is perhaps a little too long and padded. But others will argue that what some see as padding is tension building and full of characterisation. Again, no-one is right, or wrong.
Originally Posted by JohnnyForget:
“Genesis of the Daleks
The Caves of Androzani
The Christmas Invasion
Doomsday”
“Genesis of the Daleks
The Caves of Androzani
The Christmas Invasion
Doomsday”
Agree with all these. I think the first two are definitely GOOD, but I wouldn't have picked either of them as examples of first-rate classic Who.
For me, the most over-rated of modern Who has been 'The Doctor's Wife'; IMO, if NG had written it under a pseudonym, it wouldn't be half as lauded as it is.
Good points, adams66. I really like all the stories mentioned so far...Inferno is a rare ten out of ten for me. Masterpiece. And I do like The Happiness Patrol! But entering into the spirit of things and suspecting people will point and laugh....
I think Talons...is good, but not great. Somehow it never engaged me as much as many other stories from the period, however beautifully made it is. Masque...is another one where I felt similar when watching it.
(legs it out of thread sharpish)
I think Talons...is good, but not great. Somehow it never engaged me as much as many other stories from the period, however beautifully made it is. Masque...is another one where I felt similar when watching it.
(legs it out of thread sharpish)
Originally Posted by Sora2311:
“Over the years Doctor Who has had some brilliant and some horrible stories, it has also had its fair share of overrated stories. IMO The Daleks, The Daleks Invasion of Earth, The Invasion, Inferno and Blink are all overrated. They are good stories but drag on a bit. What does everybody else think?”
“Over the years Doctor Who has had some brilliant and some horrible stories, it has also had its fair share of overrated stories. IMO The Daleks, The Daleks Invasion of Earth, The Invasion, Inferno and Blink are all overrated. They are good stories but drag on a bit. What does everybody else think?”
Have you tried watching the first four of these with a week between each episode, as originally broadcast? This gives a very different sense of pace than watching them all in one lump (though arguably both The Daleks and Inferno could profitably have been an episode shorter).
I don't love Blink as much as others tend to, but I do *like* it.
I'm not really a fan of Earthshock at all, tbh - the story just doesn't hold up to any scrutiny at all IMO. It's a great ride the first time around (which is what counts, to be fair), but to me it just doesn't hold up to repeat viewings.
I also think that The Five Doctors is a bit of a mess, I'm afraid, although that may be a bit of a churlish thing for me to say. It was meant as a celebration, and as that it certainly succeeds, but as a story... less so, for me at least. I always find it telling that for all the cameos, returning monsters etc., the first thing that people always think of in the stoy is the Raston Warrior Robot, the sole element not from the show's past.
But horses for courses and all that - I always say that the greatest thing about Who is how varied it is, and how there's something that everyone will enjoy - hell, there's probably a (sick, twisted and downright wrong) person out there who has Fear Her as their favourite episode, haha.
I'm not really a fan of Earthshock at all, tbh - the story just doesn't hold up to any scrutiny at all IMO. It's a great ride the first time around (which is what counts, to be fair), but to me it just doesn't hold up to repeat viewings.
I also think that The Five Doctors is a bit of a mess, I'm afraid, although that may be a bit of a churlish thing for me to say. It was meant as a celebration, and as that it certainly succeeds, but as a story... less so, for me at least. I always find it telling that for all the cameos, returning monsters etc., the first thing that people always think of in the stoy is the Raston Warrior Robot, the sole element not from the show's past.
But horses for courses and all that - I always say that the greatest thing about Who is how varied it is, and how there's something that everyone will enjoy - hell, there's probably a (sick, twisted and downright wrong) person out there who has Fear Her as their favourite episode, haha.
The name of the doctor (I think people liked it)
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time
All the episodes with the Paternoster gang except perhaps A Good Man goes to War in which they were quite a good novelty. It might have been nice to have Strax in a couple of other episodes but I honestly don't see the appeal of the snobbish lizard and the other one.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like these episodes, apart from the bits they're in (except the one which Mark Gatiss wrote which was awful!) but i think they show just how badly the show can be when you compare them to episodes like Human Nature and Blink
Don't get me wrong, I quite like these episodes, apart from the bits they're in (except the one which Mark Gatiss wrote which was awful!) but i think they show just how badly the show can be when you compare them to episodes like Human Nature and Blink
Originally Posted by Antimon_Bush:
“- All RTD finals - All are more or less the same, nothing imaginative or creative, megalomanical (invasions every couple of months makes the show just inconclusive), repeating the same enemies, almost the same plots resolved by deus ex macchina and/or pure force.
As for others:
- Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel (DW is a fantasy, not an action show!)
- Christmas Carol (Christmas story shouldn't have so depressing end)
- The Girl Who Waited (exterior was nice, enemies ok, but everything else... not really!)”
“- All RTD finals - All are more or less the same, nothing imaginative or creative, megalomanical (invasions every couple of months makes the show just inconclusive), repeating the same enemies, almost the same plots resolved by deus ex macchina and/or pure force.
As for others:
- Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel (DW is a fantasy, not an action show!)
- Christmas Carol (Christmas story shouldn't have so depressing end)
- The Girl Who Waited (exterior was nice, enemies ok, but everything else... not really!)”
in my opinion, all four RTD finale's were lovingly crafted, lightly hinted throughout the series and fully wrapped up within the episode and series itself, which is more than can be said for more recent finale's. how are dalek's manipulation of future (s1) the same as two of the most feared races in the universe in all out war on present day earth(s2) the same as the doctor going up against his arch enemy as said arch enemy enslaves mankind whilst making plans too control the universe(s3) the same as the daleks stealing planets in an effort to purge the universe of all non dalek lifeforms(s4), and the answer is their not. they are all uniquely different idea's and the only way they can be seen to be similiar at all is in the fact that they are big, bold stories which feel like true event tv, which is no bad thing as all finale's should feel this way
Originally Posted by Puca:
“The name of the doctor (I think people liked it)
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time”
“The name of the doctor (I think people liked it)
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time”
have to agree about it being a bad finale. don't know if i'd call it the worst (between this and wedding of river song) but certainly isn't very satisfying when you actually stop and think about it. going in his timeline is a death sentence for clara, but oh wait, no it suddenly isn't, the doctor can just go get her. once you get in no going back, but oh wait, were supposedly meat to think now they just merrily strolled straight back out. it's like it was written in a hurry, and not edited.
Originally Posted by adams66:
“Exactly who is over-rating these stories, and how precisely does one 'rate' a series of stories that stretches back over 50 years?
There can be no over-rated or under-rated stories, only individual personal appreciation.
For example, I dislike The Happiness Patrol for all sorts of reasons. I don't 'rate' it at all. But I'm well aware that there are plenty of people who adore this tale and consider it as one of their absolute favourites. In my mind these people are perhaps 'over-rating' the story, but they would, quite reasonably, state that they are simply appreciating a cracking story.
Who's right, who's wrong? No-one is, it's all totally subjective.
Many people agree that The Invasion is perhaps a little too long and padded. But others will argue that what some see as padding is tension building and full of characterisation. Again, no-one is right, or wrong.”
“Exactly who is over-rating these stories, and how precisely does one 'rate' a series of stories that stretches back over 50 years?
There can be no over-rated or under-rated stories, only individual personal appreciation.
For example, I dislike The Happiness Patrol for all sorts of reasons. I don't 'rate' it at all. But I'm well aware that there are plenty of people who adore this tale and consider it as one of their absolute favourites. In my mind these people are perhaps 'over-rating' the story, but they would, quite reasonably, state that they are simply appreciating a cracking story.
Who's right, who's wrong? No-one is, it's all totally subjective.
Many people agree that The Invasion is perhaps a little too long and padded. But others will argue that what some see as padding is tension building and full of characterisation. Again, no-one is right, or wrong.”
This.
I've said it before, there is no such thing as 'overrated'. At least not in any measurable or tangible terms. By definition, what anyone who uses the term is basically saying is "X is very popular but I don't like it, therefore everyone else is wrong and I am right."
I'm not saying people shouldn't disagree with popular opinion, not at all. We all have individual tastes and opinions, nothing wrong with that. But for me, saying that I'm not a fan of Turn Left (for example) is simply my own personal opinion. But I'd never say it's overrated cos I'm not arrogant enough to suggest that everyone who does like it is wrong!
Originally Posted by Puca:
“The name of the doctor (I think people liked it)
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time”
“The name of the doctor (I think people liked it)
Worst series finale ever and the worst episode in a Long,long,long time”
I'm not sure I believe in "overrated" - if I don't like something, and loads of other people do, that's my problem, not theirs! - but The Name of the Doctor is the ep that came to mind.
There's not that much substance. It's all people standing around talking. And then explaining the images. Lovely moments, the sequences of Clara in the Doctor's timestream still make me shiver, but they're just flashy explanation. It's like a manual. "Here's who Clara is, here's a bit of Trenzalore," There's not a great deal of character stuff, Vastra's psychic boardroom is a bit too magic, I don't buy the threat when the Great Intelligence goes into the timeline, Clara saving the Doctor feels inevitable so there's no suspense, and River's post-mortem appearance undermines the Library arc, for me. I don't know what it accomplished, emotionally. It's opening a closed wound and rummaging around.
There are wonderful moments. Gallifrey, Jenny's murder, Glasgow, Billy Hartnell meets the TARDIS. But it's insubstantial. The Wedding of River Song had its problems, too, but it had the upside of being totally thrilling. Questions only kick in when the episode's finished - when I'm watching it, I'm six years old. The Name of the Doctor didn't take me along for the ride in the same way. My inner critic grumbles away, and that's very rare for an episode of Doctor Who.
Originally Posted by Batmannequin:
“
I also think that The Five Doctors is a bit of a mess, I'm afraid, although that may be a bit of a churlish thing for me to say. It was meant as a celebration, and as that it certainly succeeds, but as a story... less so, for me at least. I always find it telling that for all the cameos, returning monsters etc., the first thing that people always think of in the stoy is the Raston Warrior Robot, the sole element not from the show's past.
”
“
I also think that The Five Doctors is a bit of a mess, I'm afraid, although that may be a bit of a churlish thing for me to say. It was meant as a celebration, and as that it certainly succeeds, but as a story... less so, for me at least. I always find it telling that for all the cameos, returning monsters etc., the first thing that people always think of in the stoy is the Raston Warrior Robot, the sole element not from the show's past.
”
I agree. But to commit a blasphemy within a blasphemy, I'll add that I think the RWR itself is rather ridiculous.
Remembrance of the Daleks, Ghostlight and The Curse of Fenric are continually lauded as stories of depth and complexity, examples of how Doctor Who was really starting to hit its stride again and lots of nice stuff like that.
I find them amateurish and pretentious.
I find them amateurish and pretentious.
Caves of Androzani.
It's okay but pretty miserable with little spark about it.
The regeneration scene is obviously the best bit, but then the Doctor doing it all to save a companion he barely knows takes some of the epicness away.
It's okay but pretty miserable with little spark about it.
The regeneration scene is obviously the best bit, but then the Doctor doing it all to save a companion he barely knows takes some of the epicness away.
1 of 4
