I loved the Pting too. It was adorable!
For an alternate take on this: Series 1 is messy but with some bright spots, Series 2 is much more confident, Series 3 is the best and most unsettling piece of TV modern Doctor Who has ever produced, and Series 4 is an absolute train-wreck.
Series 4 was made under really weird circumstances - it was a US/UK co-production, so is US series sized - so it's one big, brilliant RTD idea (what if people stopped dying? Like, everybody becomes immortal, even if they are braindead, or ravaged by disease?) spread out across over 20+ episodes - way too many even for an idea that strong. It was written by a lot of people who worked on Buffy and shows like that (which were of course inspiration for Torchwood) and halfway through RTD had to reduce his influence because his partner was sick, so he flew back to the UK. You really feel his departure, and after a really strong opening 5 or 6 episodes it falls to absolute ruin and isn't worth watching, imo.
Watch 1-3, understanding that it improves over time, and forget 4 exists (as everyone appears to). There's an RTD-sanctioned 'Series 4' of Torchwood through Big Finish now, so if you're really thirsty for more listen to that instead.
You know, I appreciate that you find something to like in every episode of Doctor Who — I don't think that's something that can be said of any Who fan, on Era or otherwise. :lol But I feel like you sometimes come off aggressively whenever someone doesn't like an episode that you liked (which, again, is seemingly all of them!).
I'm just missing everything really. Just all feels off to me, like another show trying to be Doctor Who.
It's nice it's getting new fans, I'm just sad when mediocrity is rewarded while brilliant episodes like Heaven Sent are some of the lowest rated episodes ever. I don't want this to be the direction Who continues in for years, although I know it will, sadly.Not wanting to get personal, but this is bloody typical of Whovian ERA. Episode 3 wowed new viewers who didn't even know Doctor Who existed until they read about it on Twitter or Facebook, and has probably created more new fans of the show than any single episode since Rose.
Can't Whovians just accept that the show is continuing to make new friends, 55 years after it first went on the air?
Hints? I have many criticisms of the episode, but that was harder sci-fi right to its core than either RTD or Moffat would have attempted.Or a show that's trying to re-invent Doctor Who as drama with hints of sci-fi.
More episode titles and descriptions
Kerblam!
"Delivery for the Doctor!" A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy's largest retailer: Kerblam!
The WitchfindersThe Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz arrive in 17th century Lancashire and become embroiled in a witch trial, run by the local landowner. As fear stalks the land, the arrival of King James I only serves to intensify the witch hunt... But is there something even more dangerous at work? Can the Doctor and friends keep the people of Bilehurst Cragg safe from all the forces that are massing in the land?
It's nice it's getting new fans, I'm just sad when mediocrity is rewarded while brilliant episodes like Heaven Sent are some of the lowest rated episodes ever. I don't want this to be the direction Who continues in for years, although I know it will, sadly.
More episode titles and descriptions
Kerblam!
"Delivery for the Doctor!" A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy's largest retailer: Kerblam!
The WitchfindersThe Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz arrive in 17th century Lancashire and become embroiled in a witch trial, run by the local landowner. As fear stalks the land, the arrival of King James I only serves to intensify the witch hunt... But is there something even more dangerous at work? Can the Doctor and friends keep the people of Bilehurst Cragg safe from all the forces that are massing in the land?
Oh, this episode is probably home to the first proper piece of referential fanwank of the Chibnall era? The species the computer UI scrolls through before finding the Pting...
bring back the Ood
how is it possible for there to be a picture of one of the Silence in a computer
how is it possible for there to be a picture of one of the Silence in a computer
Seconded. Would also be interested in seeing more of the Judoon. They could lend themselves to a timely story about corrupt police officers...
how is it possible for there to be a picture of one of the Silence in a computer
Sounds good to me!More episode titles and descriptions
Kerblam!
"Delivery for the Doctor!" A mysterious message arrives in a package addressed to the Doctor, leading her, Graham, Yaz and Ryan to investigate the warehouse moon orbiting Kandoka, and the home of the galaxy's largest retailer: Kerblam!
The WitchfindersThe Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz arrive in 17th century Lancashire and become embroiled in a witch trial, run by the local landowner. As fear stalks the land, the arrival of King James I only serves to intensify the witch hunt... But is there something even more dangerous at work? Can the Doctor and friends keep the people of Bilehurst Cragg safe from all the forces that are massing in the land?
Also, doesn't showing the picture of a Weeping Angel make an Angel?
Speaking of fanwank, Big Finish is doing a Torchwood Slitheen story of all things.
Maybe we'll get to hear a Slitheen say 'fuck'!!!1
It is. She had a recurring part in series 1 of Torchwood, that she's presumably reprising here.Wait, is that Indira Varma? Ellaria Sand from Game of Thrones, Vivienne from Dragon Age and tons of British dramas? She's awesome.
Chibnall was dipping into some of that old, Hartnell-era educational content. Part of the original pitch in the 60s was that Doctor Who would teach the kids about scientific and historical concepts as part of the adventures.What was the deal with the dialogue about the antimatter reactor? Felt like a school lesson.
Yeah, it just finished, I enjoyed this one after last week's.The pace of this episode is really good. I really enjoy it when Doctor Who episodes are limited to a single ship.
She was suzy in torchwoodmWait, is that Indira Varma? Ellaria Sand from Game of Thrones, Vivienne from Dragon Age and tons of British dramas? She's awesome.
Got the same feeling. Still marching on but not getting the vibes I'm looking for.I'm just missing everything really. Just all feels off to me, like another show trying to be Doctor Who.
Oh, this episode is probably home to the first proper piece of referential fanwank of the Chibnall era? The species the computer UI scrolls through before finding the Pting...
bring back the Ood
how is it possible for there to be a picture of one of the Silence in a computer
WHAAAAAT!?It's Capaldis third distinct role within 10 years in the same universe and ties into the "why this face" angle as that character is a decendent of his Pompeii character.
I must admit that I'm not a huge Big Finish fan. For that matter, I'm not a huge fan of Starz.I mostly agree with this:
Except for season 4 being a train-wreck and should be forgotten. It has an amazing premise and does basically the darkest of darkest things with it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it does have a ton of problems. The biggest was Starz co-producing it making the series very US centric, and I don't remember ever seeing so many explosions in the entire series added together. And like mentioned , the first half is absolutely terrific and the second half really takes a dive, but I don't consider it unwatchable, especially since it's only ten episodes long. And the final few minutes really makes me with that the BBC didn't mess up with the series, since the ending did show a interesting new setup for a new season.
I haven't given Aliens Amongst Us (season 5 from Big Finish) a shot yet, but I still have a ton of different audio adventures that I need to listen first. But regardless, yes you should watch Torchwood and I say go also for Miracle Day. It's not as good Children of Earth, but it's nowhere near as terrible as people make it out.
Agreed on this. We haven't had this kind of full-blown space opera in New Who before- even though some of the dialogue was a bit rough, I still enjoyed the sheer number of ideas being thrown around.I have many criticisms of the episode, but that was harder sci-fi right to its core than either RTD or Moffat would have attempted.
I think that ties into what someone said on the previous page about the P'Ting not feeling very threatening. They're on a ship that is being piloted through an asteroid field by someone who could drop dead at any moment, while a space gremlin is slowly eating all of the critical systems. That situation should be dripping with tension but it's just... not.The pilot was entirely inconsequential- it's kike we're supposed to think there is this big secret she is hiding but there is no time to develop that so it felt completely hollow. Which then rolled into her final part also lacking weight (literally - supposed to be flying the ship putting a lot of pressure on her but she just stood there looking blank)
That creature reminded me of the little Nibbler from Futurama except evil. Not the best episode has to be said!
i.e. there was one.Plus the resolution of the plot was significantly better than last week.