mrv3000: made by elismor (DW - end of the world)
mrv3000 ([personal profile] mrv3000) wrote2006-03-17 07:16 am
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Doctor Who or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cheese

Should I watch? If you're a fan of science fiction, I'd say try a few episodes. To me this is classic scifi storytelling – cheesy at times but wildly imaginative. And FUN. That being said, if you're looking for Son of BSG you should turn away now. This is not a deep, angsty allegory that will get into a philosophical debate over religion, politics or sausages. If that's what you crave, this show will probably only annoy you. ETA: LA Times Article

You said 'cheesy?' o_O Even with the relatively high production value, yes, this show can be quite cheesy. Plus on top of the cheese there are plot holes big enough to drive a cliché!vehicle through. My take on it is, and some people may *hate* this idea, that Doctor Who is the Disneyland of science fiction. No, really. Take the Matterhorn ride. You could get off the ride feeling disappointed that the mountain wasn't real -- the rocks were fake, the snow was painted on, and you had your doubts about the Abominable Snowman as well. Or you could ignore all that and realize you've just been on one hell of a ride. That right there is Doctor Who.

But I've never watched Doctor Who before this and I know this show has been around forever. Won't I be lost? The show really makes no demands from the viewers on having prior knowledge of the "old school" Who. I had absolutely no problems when I picked up the 2005 series cold. Since the character of Rose is also a newbie, she and the viewer are given the basics in the first couple of episodes.

How's the fandom? It's...old. And pretty subdivided. A lot of old school vs. newbies going on. That's not to say everyone is like that. There are also a lot of people who are just into the rainbowy world of Wholove in all its incarnations. If you find yourself needing a safe place to ask questions about what has come before the 2005 series, I'd really recommend [livejournal.com profile] dwcanon_fodder. Very cool people who have much knowledge they happily share with the new fan.

The overall quirkiness of Doctor Who may not be for everyone, but if you check it out at least you'll know what your flist has been going on about. Besides, what else are you going to do while waiting for SG-1/A to start up again? ;)

Airs tonight (March 17) at 9/8C on SciFi. Two hours.

[identity profile] sjshipper.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Besides, what else are you going to do while waiting for SG-1/A to start up again? ;)

And therrreees the clincher!

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I figured it was a good selling point. :D

[identity profile] soniag.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so excited about tonight!

Thanks for the primer! Any suggestions for links to icons? :)

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, [livejournal.com profile] dwicons has lots and lots, but you'll probably get massively spoiled for this season and the next by going there. :-\

[identity profile] soniag.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
but you'll probably get massively spoiled for this season

Excellent point. I will use great caution when scanning the icons there!

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
*frets about you being spoiled*

[identity profile] soniag.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, well then I won't look. I just predict that after tonight I'll want an icon for my squee-ish reaction post. But I guess it's not worth totally spoiling myself and ruining everything!

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, found some safe places to look at for you. :) Yeah, some of them are from future episodes, but they're really not *that* spoilery.

http://brennamount.livejournal.com/16993.html

http://community.livejournal.com/iconsinstereo/11674.html

http://saintmaverick.livejournal.com/453257.html

http://community.livejournal.com/moscerino/591.html

http://community.livejournal.com/newslang_icons/4061.html

http://funkybaby.livejournal.com/284078.html

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
No problem! Anything to pass along the Wholove. :D

[identity profile] ch1pper.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
ooh, I'm hooked already!

Of course, I am one of the dreaded n00bs. But it was never on the telly for me.

Don't forget, TWoP (http://televisionwithoutpity.com/) is gonna be recapping Doctor Who (http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show.cgi?show=167). The recapper is Jacob of the Serenity (http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/story.cgi?show=95&story=8865&limit=&sort=) recap and the A Human Reaction () recap.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh cool! Should be interesting to see what they think about it. :)

[identity profile] poohmusings.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I only have 2 eps left before ... no more! Eeeep. When's it start up again in the UK? I'm not hooked, but I do find it interesting and will probably to the keep up with new eps.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think they've set an official date yet, which is MADDNING. Last I heard it was sometime in April.
icepixie: (Possession)

[personal profile] icepixie 2006-03-17 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Everything I've read (mostly on OG) seems to say April 15th, but yeah, they haven't finalized it yet. Gah.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
*twiddles thumbs*

[identity profile] ch1pper.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Outpost Gallifrey says Spring 2006 so it should be soon.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
*shakes the BBC*

I need dates! :D

[identity profile] cheekygal.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
You forgot to mention a very important point. Take one slightly funny-looking guy, pile on a wee bit of angst, then add in the battered leather jacket and suddenly he's kind of hot. ;)

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I know! How is that possible? He's so very goofy! An angsty goofy, but goofy! :D

[identity profile] cheekygal.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Darned if I know. The actor is so absolutely not my type. Too skinny, the ears, the nose. And then he becomes the Doctor and I want his babies.

It's highly disturbing, I tell you.

[identity profile] debs7.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
oh thank god I'm not the only one who thinks that!!!!!

[identity profile] cheekygal.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. I think there are more than a few fangirls out there who've had a similar reaction!

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been dealing with this cheese since the late seventies when pur public TV station ran it. It's definitely not on the high-brow side of science fiction. But many of us love out cheese. That's where the US movie failed so badly. They tried to make it into a serious show...

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
There was a US movie of it? Yikes! Oh, was this it?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116118/

I'm glad Hollywood isn't involved with the new series. Come to think of it, some of my favorite shows stay the hell away from Hollywood. Hmm.

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
No, no, no. This is the reincarnation of the Doctor from Britain. America attempted to remake the series in the 90s. Unfortunately - they forgot the cheese!!!!

It was a one shot deal and it died a horrible death. Go here for the imdb description.

It starred Paul McGann as the Doctor. I think he might be making a short cameo in order to die. The old Doctor's always did that. One last shot before the new Doctor took over.

[identity profile] pixiesio.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
It starred Paul McGann as the Doctor. I think he might be making a short cameo in order to die. The old Doctor's always did that. One last shot before the new Doctor took over.

Have you actually seen the new series yet, or are you only getting your first viewing tonight? Just asking as I wanted to comment on this but didn't want to spoil you!

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
It's my first time with this doctor

Well it ain't like spoilers for Battlestar Galactica. But I'd probably like to go into this one without too much preknowledge. I just figured that McGann would show up to send this one off...

[identity profile] pixiesio.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I guess you know the answer to that now. :)

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
But not ALL the answers. Only the Doctor knows ALL the answers...

[identity profile] pixiesio.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL!
eve11: (Default)

[personal profile] eve11 2006-03-17 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
drive-by: There's a nice lj community newsletter in [livejournal.com profile] who_daily. Contains spoilers though, beware, because it's keeping up with the Brits.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-17 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice! *joins*

[identity profile] debs7.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
I believe the second series will air in the UK on Easter Sunday - I think

great blurb about it though - ,makes me want to watch it again :D (oh please just breathing makes me want to watch it again)

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2006-03-18 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
I believe the second series will air in the UK on Easter Sunday - I think

Nuts. I was hoping they'd stay on Saturdays so I could, um, read all about it on Sunday. Yes. Read.

great blurb about it though - ,makes me want to watch it again :D (oh please just breathing makes me want to watch it again)

Mwah! Well, I'm afraid I'll be watching it all again tonight. :D