Post a Reply
Back to the Forum
Loved this episode, very well done and ran at a great pace.
Posted: 21:25 Apr 15 2006
Doctor Who 2x01 New Earth
And so the 10th Doctor debuts proper in this first episode of the 2nd series. An interesting choice, New Earth was what they call a romp, a full on romp with no strings attached, to allow for a the uninitiated to tune in....
...except it was a sequel to a previous episode. Zoe Wanamaker returned as the devilishly vain Casandra, and surprisingly isnt the villain of the piece, cat nuns can now be added to New Who's list of memorable imagery. During the course of 45 minutes, many entires on the scifi list of cliches were ticked off, not least the old favourite the bodyswap, which while very much overdone, allowed Billie Piper to show she isnt just limited to 'cockney tarts', which may silence her few remaining critics. Tennant too satisfies in his first full appearance, although darker stories are required to see if he can equal Ecclestons gravitas.
The setup for the plot was well paced however it did rather decend into messiness by the end, and lets not dwell on the Doctors solution not making that much sense... most fans will probably consider this a low calorie adventure before the series proper kicks off, which is understandable as this had more in tone with Red Dwarf than the grim actionpacked finale of season 1.
Very little attempt is now being made to keep the main characters affection for each other ambiguous in nature which is sure to irritate the purists but the breakneck pace never allow the relationship to stray into sentimentality.
Ultimately this episode was light on substance, but highly quotable. The Face of Boe is annoyingly enigmatic, suggesting the Doctors adventures in the year 5,000,000,023 are not over, but if they are the same or better than this, that would be no bad thing.
(Edited by Wobag 15/04/2006 21:05)
...except it was a sequel to a previous episode. Zoe Wanamaker returned as the devilishly vain Casandra, and surprisingly isnt the villain of the piece, cat nuns can now be added to New Who's list of memorable imagery. During the course of 45 minutes, many entires on the scifi list of cliches were ticked off, not least the old favourite the bodyswap, which while very much overdone, allowed Billie Piper to show she isnt just limited to 'cockney tarts', which may silence her few remaining critics. Tennant too satisfies in his first full appearance, although darker stories are required to see if he can equal Ecclestons gravitas.
The setup for the plot was well paced however it did rather decend into messiness by the end, and lets not dwell on the Doctors solution not making that much sense... most fans will probably consider this a low calorie adventure before the series proper kicks off, which is understandable as this had more in tone with Red Dwarf than the grim actionpacked finale of season 1.
Very little attempt is now being made to keep the main characters affection for each other ambiguous in nature which is sure to irritate the purists but the breakneck pace never allow the relationship to stray into sentimentality.
Ultimately this episode was light on substance, but highly quotable. The Face of Boe is annoyingly enigmatic, suggesting the Doctors adventures in the year 5,000,000,023 are not over, but if they are the same or better than this, that would be no bad thing.
(Edited by Wobag 15/04/2006 21:05)
19 Replies and 7931 Views in Total.
"Oh my God, I'm a chav!"
A romp among romps.
Cheeky Matrix rip-off, body-swapping, loads of chases, inventive aliens (the Red Dwarf comparison certainly holds up there! someone give the Cat a page and tell him to head over to New Earth), even a Futurama reference.
I loved it.
After some of the, well, shakey Russel T. Davis scripts last year (not counting the finale, that was fab) was a bit hesitant going in, but left mighty impressed. Couldn't agree more about Ms Piper, equalling Zoe Wannamaker's no mean feat, and she did with style. I agree the solution was a bit dodgy, but hey, I'll take that over drowning in Treknobabble any day. Was much more than a fluff show though; Davis effortlessly weaved a theme about accepting the inevitability of death into the relentless and very sucessful action, letting him end on a surprisingly poignant note.
So I'd have to disagree about Tennant's gravitas chops not being tested: he handled the grisly revelation about the hospital with just the right dose of intensity (without slipping into Shatner-onics), and held the end together. (Especially as Cassandra was flitting between bodies faster than Glory did shoes at the time.)
And ol' Boe finally speaks! He's sure enigmatic, but I liked it, looks like an interesting arc's being set up.
Over all a solid
Next week:-
Werewolves, the Queen Vic and Kung-Fu monks. Yay!
(Edited by Byron 25/04/2006 21:48)
A romp among romps.
Cheeky Matrix rip-off, body-swapping, loads of chases, inventive aliens (the Red Dwarf comparison certainly holds up there! someone give the Cat a page and tell him to head over to New Earth), even a Futurama reference.
I loved it.
After some of the, well, shakey Russel T. Davis scripts last year (not counting the finale, that was fab) was a bit hesitant going in, but left mighty impressed. Couldn't agree more about Ms Piper, equalling Zoe Wannamaker's no mean feat, and she did with style. I agree the solution was a bit dodgy, but hey, I'll take that over drowning in Treknobabble any day. Was much more than a fluff show though; Davis effortlessly weaved a theme about accepting the inevitability of death into the relentless and very sucessful action, letting him end on a surprisingly poignant note.
So I'd have to disagree about Tennant's gravitas chops not being tested: he handled the grisly revelation about the hospital with just the right dose of intensity (without slipping into Shatner-onics), and held the end together. (Especially as Cassandra was flitting between bodies faster than Glory did shoes at the time.)
And ol' Boe finally speaks! He's sure enigmatic, but I liked it, looks like an interesting arc's being set up.
Over all a solid
Next week:-
Werewolves, the Queen Vic and Kung-Fu monks. Yay!
(Edited by Byron 25/04/2006 21:48)
Posted: 22:52 Apr 15 2006 
Absolutely loved it. Thumbs up from me
Just how funny was it when Casandra went into the Doctor's body and discovered that he had two hearts, i'm still chuckling now
Looking forward to next week's episode
Just how funny was it when Casandra went into the Doctor's body and discovered that he had two hearts, i'm still chuckling now
Looking forward to next week's episode
Posted: 23:20 Apr 15 2006 Think BBC4 missed a trick not casting David Tennant in Fantabulosa.
by Keenangel
Just how funny was it when Casandra went into the Doctor's body and discovered that he had two hearts, i'm still chuckling now
Posted: 03:02 Apr 16 2006 
Watched this just now and absolutely loved it! Some really cool characters, the cat-nuns looked great, and the "zombies" (for want of a better word) were wonderfully gruesome! And The Doctor and Rose were both completely awesome.
I wasn't completely convinced when Cassandra (who had a zillion operations to make herself the thinnest and "most beautiful" woman ever) was very pleased to have Rose's curvy body. But hey-ho, I guess dying can change your viewpoint somewhat.
Very much looking forward to next week's episode.
I wasn't completely convinced when Cassandra (who had a zillion operations to make herself the thinnest and "most beautiful" woman ever) was very pleased to have Rose's curvy body. But hey-ho, I guess dying can change your viewpoint somewhat.
Very much looking forward to next week's episode.
Posted: 15:00 Apr 16 2006 
just finished watching this, and ive got to say, i was almost impressed.
the face of bo is intriguing - but im just worried that hes going to turn out to be a waste of space.
had to laugh at rose/cassandra, though - hell, billie almost managed to look "interesting", which takes some doing...
and this ep also does wonders for my cat-woman thing... 
the face of bo is intriguing - but im just worried that hes going to turn out to be a waste of space.
had to laugh at rose/cassandra, though - hell, billie almost managed to look "interesting", which takes some doing...
and this ep also does wonders for my cat-woman thing...
Posted: 15:32 Apr 16 2006 Didn't think you were going to let that one lie...
by Wobag
allowed Billie Piper to show she isnt just limited to 'cockney tarts', which may silence her few remaining critics.
Good ep, and nice turn by Piper there, and Sean Gallagher. Can't help thinking I should know him from more than just 'Earth; Final Conflict', and I don't actually know him from that (well, it was seven years back)...
Posted: 11:11 Apr 17 2006 
Did anyone else see the trailer for next weeks ep where David Tennant slips into Scottish rather majorly?! I freak out a wee bit when I hear him in his proper accent...probably cos I saw him in 'Secret Smile' as a scary psychotic (sp?!) individual with his Scottish accent..
Anyway, cool ep with some cracking performances, especially when the Doctor and Rose got posessed by Cassandra...has my laughing out loud in places.
Roll on the werewolves!
Anyway, cool ep with some cracking performances, especially when the Doctor and Rose got posessed by Cassandra...has my laughing out loud in places
.Roll on the werewolves!
Posted: 13:44 Apr 17 2006
Would it earn me a slap if I protested that it's season 28?
I was not at all taken with this episode. More than most from the last series, I thought it suffered from the 45 minute format. We are left simply to be told by Cassandra that there is something up with the nurses before there is any other indication that something is wrong. The Doctor tell us that the patients are miraculously recovered and then the Doctor and Cassandra waltz into a secure part of the hospital with little difficulty. There was the potential for some actual mystery and anticipation, but instead RTD breaks the cardinal rule of 'show, don't tell' repeatedly. The ending was far too convenient: better writers understand that even sci-fi has rules and solutions should follow naturally. As it was even by the terms of the episode, it made little sense (was there really a patient with every different disease in that ward?).
The body swap is a sci-fi staple that was used neither innovatively nor for illumination in the episode, although it was amusing.
I did enjoy the episode in an enthusiatic 'New Who!' way, but I'm still unconvinced by RTD's writing.
I was not at all taken with this episode. More than most from the last series, I thought it suffered from the 45 minute format. We are left simply to be told by Cassandra that there is something up with the nurses before there is any other indication that something is wrong. The Doctor tell us that the patients are miraculously recovered and then the Doctor and Cassandra waltz into a secure part of the hospital with little difficulty. There was the potential for some actual mystery and anticipation, but instead RTD breaks the cardinal rule of 'show, don't tell' repeatedly. The ending was far too convenient: better writers understand that even sci-fi has rules and solutions should follow naturally. As it was even by the terms of the episode, it made little sense (was there really a patient with every different disease in that ward?).
The body swap is a sci-fi staple that was used neither innovatively nor for illumination in the episode, although it was amusing.
I did enjoy the episode in an enthusiatic 'New Who!' way, but I'm still unconvinced by RTD's writing.
Posted: 11:43 Apr 18 2006
by Demona
The body swap is a sci-fi staple that was used neither innovatively nor for illumination in the episode, although it was amusing.
You hit on the reason I enjoyed it so much right there. Yep, lots of very dodgy pseudo-science, and I can see how that'd get on some people's wick; but now Mr Davis has toned down the fart jokes, I'm just a sucker for the snappy dialogue and outrageous ideas.
Maybe it comes down to whether saving the earth with a satsuma makes you applaud or throw things at the TV.
"Tooth and Claw" next week will probably decide it for a lot of people one way or't other.
I did enjoy the episode in an enthusiatic 'New Who!' way, but I'm still unconvinced by RTD's writing.
Posted: 20:59 Apr 18 2006 Well I got away with it in one of the other threads, so I think you're safe!
by Demona
Would it earn me a slap if I protested that it's season 28?
Everything else you've said earns you a slap though...
Posted: 00:47 Apr 19 2006 
Oh its not a slip
by head2head
Did anyone else see the trailer for next weeks ep where David Tennant slips into Scottish rather majorly?!
Posted: 18:58 Apr 19 2006
Sure we were promised a Scottish accent for the full 13 epps a while back. As a half-Jock, I demand they're held to it!
Posted: 19:15 Apr 19 2006
Actually theres an interesting story about the voice. After Ecclestons northern doctor, RTD was afraid a scottish doctor would instigate a 'tour of the accents' which would go on to a scouse doctor, a brummie doctor and so forth.
Also he wanted to justify just how an alien would end up with a regional accent. RTD decided it was because the doctor gets 'imprinted' with the accent of whoever he was with when he regenerated into his new body, and of course as the 9th Doc had been with Rose, he inherits her cockney accent.
This was apparently explained in the Christmas Special scipt, but the line got cut for time.
(Edited by Wobag 19/04/2006 20:43)
Also he wanted to justify just how an alien would end up with a regional accent. RTD decided it was because the doctor gets 'imprinted' with the accent of whoever he was with when he regenerated into his new body, and of course as the 9th Doc had been with Rose, he inherits her cockney accent.
This was apparently explained in the Christmas Special scipt, but the line got cut for time.
(Edited by Wobag 19/04/2006 20:43)
Posted: 20:40 Apr 19 2006
Well that's all very clever, but we already know a far better reason: lots of planets have a North.
Unfair to Maff, now he's got two mock-ney accents to irritate him.
Unfair to Maff, now he's got two mock-ney accents to irritate him.
Posted: 23:14 Apr 19 2006 
finally got time to watch it and overall I liked it. Though the "solution" was a bit didgy writing, and I do agree with Demona that just telling us there's something up with the nurses was too easy a revelation.
Posted: 09:53 Apr 20 2006 I did the same thing in another thread and didn't get slapped so I think you're safe
by Demona
Would it earn me a slap if I protested that it's season 28?
Posted: 19:54 Apr 20 2006
Egads! Billie Piper has range! Chav-tastic!
I'm sorry. It just made a change to see her altering her expression, voice and whatnot from something other than "Billie Piper" or "chav plus" - and actually pulling it off, too!
(Granted, I never saw her in the BBC’s modern rewritings of The Canterbury Tales - but I confess that I saw that it was a girl who'd been a has-been pop star by the age of eighteen playing... ummm... a common as muck pop star, and I had a strange feeling that she'd just be playing "Billie Piper" again.)
Although at least it gave a rational explanation for that kiss that was getting splashed around. Given my aversion to Rose hogging any more screentime or plot than she already had, I was rather relieved about that.
Tennant's new Doctor actually getting to do something for more than ten minutes (I’m still sulking over The Christmas Invasion) was rather impressive. I think that you can pick up on the fact that he's a lifelong fanboy living out a childhood fantasy - he just seems so natural in the role, and to be having so much fun with it.
It seems strange to say this about a character who's actually permitted to change with every new actor who takes the role on, but Tennant really seems to understand that sense of enigma and intensity bubbling away underneath that makes the character tick.
It was interesting to see the return of yet another old villain, though. Between this and Blon of the Slitheen last series, I'm wondering if the redemption angle is going to be a recurring theme, on top of the general moral ambiguity.
I liked the Sisters, too. it made a change to see an alien race whose make-up really was different for each individual, rather than the homogenous look on something like the Slitheen or the Daleks - it gave them a bit more personality, which worked when the writer seemed to be playing with whether they were a force for good and to be cared about or not.
Was it just me, or did there seem to be a lot of concentration on the concept of newness, almost to a metafictional level? New series, new Doctor, New Earth, the irony of Cassandra - the ultimate racial snob - getting to create a completely new sub-species of human before turning over a new leaf, the Face of Boe getting a new lease of life after saying that the Doctor's taught him to look at life "anew"...
And all in an episode that was basically a sequel to the first real intergalactic adventure that the Doctor and Rose had - the new start for Rose - and an episode that'd concentrated on the idea of aging and death. A nice juxtaposition, I think.
Maybe I'm just thinking too hard, but it strikes me as the sort of thing that Russell T. Davies would do - even when he was working on Dark Season and Century Falls (or even Why Don't You?, he was playing with big ideas and metaplot on the sly.
If that's an indication of things to come (although my parents insisted on talking over one scene, so I missed some of the dialogue), more of that'll do nicely.
I'm sorry. It just made a change to see her altering her expression, voice and whatnot from something other than "Billie Piper" or "chav plus" - and actually pulling it off, too!
(Granted, I never saw her in the BBC’s modern rewritings of The Canterbury Tales - but I confess that I saw that it was a girl who'd been a has-been pop star by the age of eighteen playing... ummm... a common as muck pop star, and I had a strange feeling that she'd just be playing "Billie Piper" again.)
Although at least it gave a rational explanation for that kiss that was getting splashed around. Given my aversion to Rose hogging any more screentime or plot than she already had, I was rather relieved about that.
Tennant's new Doctor actually getting to do something for more than ten minutes (I’m still sulking over The Christmas Invasion) was rather impressive. I think that you can pick up on the fact that he's a lifelong fanboy living out a childhood fantasy - he just seems so natural in the role, and to be having so much fun with it.
It seems strange to say this about a character who's actually permitted to change with every new actor who takes the role on, but Tennant really seems to understand that sense of enigma and intensity bubbling away underneath that makes the character tick.
It was interesting to see the return of yet another old villain, though. Between this and Blon of the Slitheen last series, I'm wondering if the redemption angle is going to be a recurring theme, on top of the general moral ambiguity.
I liked the Sisters, too. it made a change to see an alien race whose make-up really was different for each individual, rather than the homogenous look on something like the Slitheen or the Daleks - it gave them a bit more personality, which worked when the writer seemed to be playing with whether they were a force for good and to be cared about or not.
Was it just me, or did there seem to be a lot of concentration on the concept of newness, almost to a metafictional level? New series, new Doctor, New Earth, the irony of Cassandra - the ultimate racial snob - getting to create a completely new sub-species of human before turning over a new leaf, the Face of Boe getting a new lease of life after saying that the Doctor's taught him to look at life "anew"...
And all in an episode that was basically a sequel to the first real intergalactic adventure that the Doctor and Rose had - the new start for Rose - and an episode that'd concentrated on the idea of aging and death. A nice juxtaposition, I think.
Maybe I'm just thinking too hard, but it strikes me as the sort of thing that Russell T. Davies would do - even when he was working on Dark Season and Century Falls (or even Why Don't You?, he was playing with big ideas and metaplot on the sly.
If that's an indication of things to come (although my parents insisted on talking over one scene, so I missed some of the dialogue), more of that'll do nicely.
Posted: 16:51 May 04 2006