View Full Version : Dr Who Series 3 Ep 3 - Gridlock
thomasc1982
14-04-2007, 19:29
Thought it was better than normal for Russel T scripts and the best of the series so far...
What you guys think?
I think that someone needs to up RTD's medication to "slip away peacefully in his sleep" dosage.
Anyone got one of those Forget-patches so I can forget about this episode? :D
Actually it was ok I s'pose. RTD showed more restraint again, and I was well impressed with the New New York skyline at the end. Very nice CGI.
sleep4ever
14-04-2007, 19:33
Didnt think it was the best of the three episodes so far, liked 1+2 better
Obvious what Bo is talking about
Unless RTD is teasing us, Didnt he say we wouldnt see that person on 'his watch'
Very surprised to see Daleks so soon in this series
Ardal O'Hanlan's character was Dougal in a cat suit
Not bad though, not bad at all
Agree that it was excellent, best of season three so far, but I've always felt that RTD has a better handle on the series than some of the other writers. Last week's tepid offering (Shakespeare code) was, frankly, a pile of old nob.
It was alright, bit bland, doesn't help that RTD's social commentary is about as subtle as an eight ton tuna to the face and the magical sonic screwdriver solves a problem in five minutes that a city full of technology and a billions of years old super-being couldn't in a quarter of a century. Although there were some nice moments in it.
I may just be being narky as it has one of my sci-fi pet-peeves, mainly setting it in some stupidly far off year (5 billion!) and then just giving us a few flying cars and holograms (the inverse which is just as common is setting something about five years from present and everyone is wearing silver jumpsuits and jet-packs). But that's just me wanting to see something akin to an Iain M. Banks novel on screen. :dork:
I'm already dreading the local am-dram Brooklyn accents next week ("I wanna cup of cwoffee!").
Good, but should have been a two parter. There was a lot that could have been done with this story.
I thought it was OK and was on a par with what we have seen so far, I wouldn't say it was the best so far. I am looking forward to next weeks episode going on the that trailer.
custard_chris
14-04-2007, 19:39
So, are the Macra the old-school villians that we were promised, then?
KennyVader
14-04-2007, 19:40
They should rename the series to "Doctor Sonic".
They should rename the series to "Doctor Sonic".
You just know that somewhere on the internet there exists a Dr.Who/Sonic the Hedgehog erotic fan-fiction.
cliff homewood
14-04-2007, 19:44
looks like it.
Have been on here the last two weeks saying how rubbish I thought the last 2 eps have been. This to me was a zinger, asuperbly enjoyable episode, traditional Dr Who romp with a good old scifi idea at heart. Nothing to original but for me was pulled of with aplomb and heart, loved it, captivated by the screen. I mean there were moments where I tohught wait a minute, human being mates with one of those ridioculous biped cat creatures (who was always too much ardal to ever think of him as a character, but his acting worked) and we get normal 20th century kittens, not the crossbreed monstrosity monstrosity one would expect (Invasion of the body snatchers 1970's style anyone?) But then the giant crab baddies ala the patrick troughton era reminds that Doctor Who always has been a bit silly.
MrHat001
14-04-2007, 19:46
I was quite enjoying this episode - until it turned out that the sinister menace that lives below ... is just a bunch of giant crabs.
I'm beginning to think that RTD might be a bit of a furry.
We're only 3 episodes in and we've already had rhinos, cats & crabs (with the promise of pigs next week).
I can let off most sci-fi aliens where they always happen to be human shaped, but it seems that the guys just gone to the zoo and come back with the list of all the aliens for the rest of the season.
I'm beginning to think that RTD might be a bit of a furry.
Oh God why did I have to go and look at devaintart? :cry:
http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/7356/falstaffdoctorwtfbysoapde8.jpg
This thread is now dedicated to posting disturbing Dr. Who fan-art as well as our usual bitching/defending.
sweetpants
14-04-2007, 19:54
Well I thought it was fab, the 45 mins flew by.
SP
Niceguygeoff
14-04-2007, 19:54
I haven't seen much of Tennant's Doctor Who (I got put off by the kung fu monks in the last series and didn't bother watching again till the finale) and his new sidekick's woodenness puts my local timber yard to shame, but I enjoyed this episode. It was all a bit derivative and yet still managed to be fairly entertaining.
I couldn't really get past the concept that people thought that it was next to "normal" to spend multiple years in a traffic jam for a distance you could walk in less then a day.
fivebyfive
14-04-2007, 20:01
I was quite enjoying this episode - until it turned out that the sinister menace that lives below ... is just a bunch of giant crabs.
correction........Giant Enemy Crabs, shame the tardis can't do a real time weapon change
;)
I didn't think the episode was good, a lot more could of done with the New earth story. Nice CGi at the end
Toss. Toss, toss, toss, toss toss. I'd try and explain why it was toss, only I'd probably get frustrated and hammer the keyboard with my fist, thus treating you to such gems as "jdcjdfkmcfkdsk,s dhn f dc xck sxjum sdu " or "ak dx dexik, er ,dx". Quite how they can manage to have a decent season opener for once, and then proceed to **** all over the promise shown, I don't know. I'm also getting fed up to the back teeth with the constant shoehorning in of RTD's gay agenda.
Oh, yes, and what was the point in the first pair of people looking like this (http://www.galen-frysinger.ws/chicago/chicago12.jpg)?
Must have been watching a different episode from nearly everyone as I wanted to gouge my eyes out with red hot pokers after wasting just over half an hour of my life on what must be the worst piece of an excuse for television I've ever had the misfortune in watching in my life.
Words like atrocious would be a compliment for it in every aspect.
thescrounger
14-04-2007, 20:08
The best thing about this episode was the cutting back on the traditional convoluted plot that always seems far too rushed for the 45 minute format. This felt like a short vignette that was allowed to breathe properly and was all the better for it.
Some aspects had me rolling my eyes, but generally this felt like proper Who.
Well, that was the best episode thaye've managed so far since the re-birth IMHO.
Great character development, but the Face of Bo's "Revelation" was quite possibly the most obvious thing he could have said :)
Interesting that on Doctor Who Confidential they mentioned that the "revelation" will be addressed this season (no suprise really) but also who The Face of Bo really is.
Was also nice to see the Sonic Screwdriver used for proper Screwdriver purposes this week.
James
Didnt think it was the best of the three episodes so far, liked 1+2 better
Obvious what Bo is talking about
Unless RTD is teasing us, Didnt he say we wouldnt see that person on 'his watch'
Very surprised to see Daleks so soon in this series
Ardal O'Hanlan's character was Dougal in a cat suit
Not bad though, not bad at all
My theory
its not 'the master' as we remember him. When we had the alternative universe last series with the 'cybermen' - if there was a 'Doctor' in our Universe, then there must have been an (evil?) 'Doctor' in that universe who probably slipped through into our universe when Torchwood were messing with the rift. Now he's 'Mr Saxon' in our universe. or something. that way, the Doctor is the last of the time lords and is still not alone.
Here's a thought did it not occur to Cat Nun to pop down with a length of rope in 25 years?
Here's a thought did it not occur to Cat Nun to pop down with a length of rope in 25 years?
While on the issue of thoughts not occuring to people, how about the fact that what we have is a nation of (notionally, I assume) Americans, stuck on a motorway for 25 years (give or take), and it didn't occur to a single one of them to queue jump?
If the exits were all closed, how did people manage to get *on* the motorway?
Why did no-one ever try exiting via an entrance, in that case?
Who the **** in their right mind would think that spending many years in a poxy little box was a great idea? They'd just think "**** driving" and not bother. Or walk instead!
hjksdfgj. jdfgghafdgs ghj aasj
I could go on. But it's all complete and utter toss and nonsense. RTD comes up with his 'big ideas', fair enough. But he doesn't give a fig about whether they actually work or are credible or not, which really ruins things.
thescrounger
14-04-2007, 20:32
While on the issue of thoughts not occuring to people, how about the fact that what we have is a nation of (notionally, I assume) Americans, stuck on a motorway for 25 years (give or take), and it didn't occur to a single one of them to queue jump?
I'm sure it did occur to them, but their cars are hardwired not to allow them to do things like jump into the fast lane unless they have 3 passengers, remember.
Nathan Adler
14-04-2007, 20:46
Who the **** in their right mind would think that spending many years in a poxy little box was a great idea? They'd just think "**** driving" and not bother. Or walk instead!
Walking wasn't an option as the air was poisonous.
I'm sure it did occur to them, but their cars are hardwired not to allow them to do things like jump into the fast lane unless they have 3 passengers, remember.
Who said they were hardwired. People would say "We can't do that, we don't have permission" (or words to that effect), the implication being it was fear of the police rather than mechanical function that prevented them doing things. Or, in the case of the muppets in the fast lane, they explicitly said that they couldn't change lane because it was too congested above, not because they were mechanically prevented from doing so.
Walking wasn't an option as the air was poisonous.
If I decide to walk to the next village over instead of driving, I take the pavements and footpaths rather than ambulate down the road (which would surely leave me in need of an ambulance). Same principle applies to my suggestion here, which was that why didn't people take other paths to their destinations instead of using the road. I wasn't for a second suggesting they walk on the motorway (which, given it had giant crabs living at the bottom of it, would clearly be a bad idea).
andybhoy
14-04-2007, 21:00
Somewhere between Meh and alright. RTD's poorest "effort" for a while but some interesting bits. Looking forward to him moving on, and some better writers involved.
Have to laugh when RTD, not convinced people caught his gay reference "we're married" essentially repeated it twice more :lol: Don't worry RTD, we get it. Thanks for the hot lesbians :thumbs:
andybhoy
14-04-2007, 21:01
Who said they were hardwired. People would say "We can't do that, we don't have permission" (or words to that effect), the implication being it was fear of the police rather than mechanical function that prevented them doing things.
Except one guy DID say the steering wheel would lock up. And the original couple clerly couldn't move because as the old woman said they lied.
thescrounger
14-04-2007, 21:32
Who said they were hardwired. People would say "We can't do that, we don't have permission" (or words to that effect), the implication being it was fear of the police rather than mechanical function that prevented them doing things.
No it was actually explained. The steering wheel would lock up. You didn't pay enough attention it seems.
Edit: beaten to it.
Must have been watching a different episode from nearly everyone as I wanted to gouge my eyes out with red hot pokers after wasting just over half an hour of my life on what must be the worst piece of an excuse for television I've ever had the misfortune in watching in my life.Is that actually the case, or merely hyperbole? It's never just bad with NuWho/RTD haters, is it? It has to be the 'worst ever', every time.
No it was actually explained. The steering wheel would lock up. You didn't pay enough attention it seems.
Edit: beaten to it.
Right. Maybe I did miss that. But that's even worse and makes even less sense! Say I'm driving down the M3 and try and make an 'illegal' lane change. Locking up my steering wheel would be a brilliant move then, right? Would it balls!
Secondly, if the cars can be automated like that - told when to change level, made to lock up, etc., then why do people need to drive them at all? It makes no sense, you must acquit!
Right. Maybe I did miss that. But that's even worse and makes even less sense! Say I'm driving down the M3 and try and make an 'illegal' lane change. Locking up my steering wheel would be a brilliant move then, right? Would it balls!
Secondly, if the cars can be automated like that - told when to change level, made to lock up, etc., then why do people need to drive them at all? It makes no sense, you must acquit!Maguffins are made of Swiss cheese, the Hoover Dam is not.
Mr Majestik
14-04-2007, 22:19
It was 'O.K' weakest of this season so far from me. The story was like a Meg-City one story from Judge Dredd. Especially the people in the cars. (Max Normal anyone?)
Disapoint lack of the new assistants backside running down corridors.
Flip Martian
14-04-2007, 22:30
It was 'O.K' weakest of this season so far from me. The story was like a Meg-City one story from Judge Dredd. Especially the people in the cars. (Max Normal anyone?)
Did you watch Dr Who Confidential on BBC3 by any chance? ;)
It was an ok episode but the more you think about it, the more daft the story was (for all the reasons stated in this thread). Too many daft premises to moan about so I won't bother - it was ok, nothing that bore repeated viewing I don't think.
And ooh look, daleks again next week. After them all being banished from existence AND being thrown back into the alternative dimension. And ferocious...biped pigs. Woo scary...:) Love it.
Mr Majestik
14-04-2007, 22:38
Did you watch Dr Who Confidential on BBC3 by any chance? ;)
.
No, What did they say.
nwgarratt
14-04-2007, 22:41
Right. Maybe I did miss that. But that's even worse and makes even less sense! Say I'm driving down the M3 and try and make an 'illegal' lane change. Locking up my steering wheel would be a brilliant move then, right? Would it balls!
Secondly, if the cars can be automated like that - told when to change level, made to lock up, etc., then why do people need to drive them at all? It makes no sense, you must acquit!
They were only locked to stop them going up and down not sideways. They had to get permission to change their vertical position.
SqueakyG
14-04-2007, 23:05
Overuse of the sonic screwdriver? Check.
Random gay people thrown in? Check.
Plot inconsistencies and logic holes? Check.
It's a RTD script!
My big problem with the episode was that the premise worked as a metaphor or allegory for something, but not as an actual literal narrative. People living in their cars for years because of traffic congestion? It doesn't actually work. The ones who kidnapped Martha... how did they get onto the system if it was locked up? How could daylight be such a wonder to them at the end when they were in daylight at the start of the episode?
Why did cat lady not open up the system and free everyone as soon as she was able to? Why did she wait for The Doctor to come along? Oh yeah... he's "good with computers", despite his expertise merely involving him shouting and waving his sonic screwdriver around.
And why did some traffic passengers resemble paintings? What on earth were the American Gothic couple for at the beginning? How utterly bizarre to have those characters, with no relevance or explanation.
But I liked the developments towards the end, the civilisation wiped out. It was a bit Serenity (ahhhh so that's where Reavers come from...), but still, pretty good.
FightForTheRight
14-04-2007, 23:27
Slightly confusing that with it being America, there wasn't a single American accent.
I know it's filmed in Wales, but still.
ian turner
14-04-2007, 23:32
I seem to remember some comment about how the sonic screw driver was always being used as a magic catch all device all over the place so they dropped it. Unfortunately someone seems to have found this er mcguffin (?), Deus ex machina (?) again.
But the nerds are in nerd heaven so it keeps someone happy.
Flip Martian
14-04-2007, 23:36
No, What did they say.
RTD admitted to ripping off Mega City 1 and some of the Judge Dredd characters for the story - and named Max Normal as an example of 1 he ripped off. :)
Must have been watching a different episode from nearly everyone as I wanted to gouge my eyes out with red hot pokers after wasting just over half an hour of my life on what must be the worst piece of an excuse for television I've ever had the misfortune in watching in my life.
Words like atrocious would be a compliment for it in every aspect.
Do what I do - don't watch it.
Just read the episode threads on the off-chance a good episode pops up. This is, admittedly, now highly unlikely so you can save yourself additional time by not bothering with even reading the episode threads...
Slightly confusing that with it being America, there wasn't a single American accent.
I know it's filmed in Wales, but still.
Wasn't in America. It was in New New York on New Earth 500 million years in the future and 5 million lightyears away (or something) so not America and hence no American accents.
Aardvark
15-04-2007, 00:14
When they started singing 'The Old Rugged Cross' I'm afraid that was it. Another absurd, nonsensical pantomime of an episode. And if it wasn't the worst episode of New Who then it came bloody close.
The good episodes of this show seem to be getting rarer and rarer; if the price of seeing them is having to sit through puerile dross like this then they ain't worth it.
(Is the Beeb still managing to sell this overseas? I hope not because it's frankly embarrassing.)
When they started singing 'The Old Rugged Cross' I'm afraid that was it. Another absurd, nonsensical pantomime of an episode. And if it wasn't the worst episode of New Who then it came bloody close.
The good episodes of this show seem to be getting rarer and rarer; if the price of seeing them is having to sit through puerile dross like this then they ain't worth it.
(Is the Beeb still managing to sell this overseas? I hope not because it's frankly embarrassing.)
So don't watch it, then? Do what Damien B suggests and read the thread on here to see if its 'safe' or not. Seems reasonable to me, if its that objectionable to anyone then it seems daft to watch it.
Here's a thought did it not occur to Cat Nun to pop down with a length of rope in 25 years?
Silly. What happens when you give a cat rope? Did everyone spot the kitten saying 'mummy'? I didn't, I only noticed it on confidential, but I think its a detail people would really enjoy.
thescrounger
15-04-2007, 00:31
Right. Maybe I did miss that. But that's even worse and makes even less sense! Say I'm driving down the M3 and try and make an 'illegal' lane change. Locking up my steering wheel would be a brilliant move then, right? Would it balls!
Secondly, if the cars can be automated like that - told when to change level, made to lock up, etc., then why do people need to drive them at all? It makes no sense, you must acquit!
We're talking about Doctor Who in the year 5 billion, why are you comparing it to real life? :nuts: :lol:
jonorigin
15-04-2007, 01:29
It was as if my TV had turned into a time machine and shown one of the pathetic 80's episodes that I saw as a kid, didn't take too long to get back into old cack Dr Who did it!!
Well I liked it, and having classic series monsters the Macra popping up was rather unexpected, yet pleasant nod to the past. Quite why Boe didn't make Cat Nun get of her arse and show her how to sort things out rather than loll around with his massive face in a goldfish bowl for 24 years is beyond me. Other than that, an enjoyable episode and certainly not the worst of all three series so far (that award goes to 'Fear Her' IMO).
Tony Keats
15-04-2007, 02:11
Load of old rhubarb IMO.
I enjoyed last week’s show a lot, and the series opener was bearable (despite certain issues) but this week’s effort?! Yuk.
It was so… stupid… and irritating in lots of small ways. And the oft trotted out arguments to the effect of “Well don’t watch it then!!11” always make me roll my eyes. I mean, some episodes are very good indeed (Girl in the Fireplace for example) whilst some episodes, like this one, are excessively stupid and irritating… However, it’s still necessary to watch the show every week to keep with the continuity and to give each episode a chance etc.
Some weeks, that approach pays off with a great evening’s entertainment, yet other weeks it results in a lot of cringing and disappointment.
sleepy67
15-04-2007, 02:29
But that's just me wanting to see something akin to an Iain M. Banks novel on screenNow that would be something, say a GSV flying over an orbital, :luv:You just know that somewhere on the internet there exists a Dr.Who/Sonic the Hedgehog erotic fan-fiction.Do you know I could have quite happily gone the rest of my life without knowing that fact.
Now where's the vomit smilie
douglasb
15-04-2007, 07:18
... not America and hence no American accents.
Chester then? Somewhere where the humans can have a stilted accent and a cat person might sound Irish.
DJBIGJAY
15-04-2007, 08:02
It was guff but enjoyable guff, switch your mind off and it was good, think about and all kind of plot holes appear. I choose to not think about it and not take it too serious.
I am enjoying this series much more than series 2.
Load of old rhubarb IMO.
I enjoyed last week’s show a lot, and the series opener was bearable (despite certain issues) but this week’s effort?! Yuk.
It was so… stupid… and irritating in lots of small ways. And the oft trotted out arguments to the effect of “Well don’t watch it then!!11” always make me roll my eyes. I mean, some episodes are very good indeed (Girl in the Fireplace for example) whilst some episodes, like this one, are excessively stupid and irritating… However, it’s still necessary to watch the show every week to keep with the continuity and to give each episode a chance etc.
Some weeks, that approach pays off with a great evening’s entertainment, yet other weeks it results in a lot of cringing and disappointment.
That's fair enough, but there's enough people about who, by now, must know that they don't like RTD's Dr Who, but still watch and whinge about it week in and week out and then simply say something like 'it was the worst thing thats ever been on television ever!!!!11'.
Chester then? Somewhere where the humans can have a stilted accent and a cat person might sound Irish.
Surely its weirder that something set '..a long time ago and in a galaxy far far away' is populated mainly by american and british accents, but I never seem to read anything about that as criticism. What sort of accent should a talking cat have?
andybhoy
15-04-2007, 08:42
It was an ok episode but the more you think about it, the more daft the story was (for all the reasons stated in this thread). Too many daft premises to moan about so I won't bother - it was ok, nothing that bore repeated viewing I don't think.
I agree - I'm going to ignore all the glaring faults and just enjoy it as best I can. I've come to believe if you lower your expectations of RTD's work, it becomes easier to watch. Not that I intend watching any of his non who work, as I can only lower my expectations so much!
andybhoy
15-04-2007, 08:49
That's fair enough, but there's enough people about who, by now, must know that they don't like RTD's Dr Who, but still watch and whinge about it week in and week out and then simply say something like 'it was the worst thing thats ever been on television ever!!!!11'.
A handful of RTD's episodes have bee great though, so it's worth watching for those.
Of course people (including you I'm sure) are going to complain if a show they love has a crap episode - this happens with every show from BSG to Lost to Coronation Street. Can't say I've seen anyone say it's the worst thing on telly ever though - so lets not paint all those who enjoy the non-rtd episodes more, in that light.
andybhoy
15-04-2007, 08:52
Surely its weirder that something set '..a long time ago and in a galaxy far far away' is populated mainly by american and british accents, but I never seem to read anything about that as criticism. What sort of accent should a talking cat have?
I don't think either are weird - they have to have some accent and as far as I know humans are so far unable to invent accents that don't exist on earth already in one form or another. The only time I even notice is when an accent is really bad (e.g. most English accents on US tv and most AMerican Accents on UK tv).
If it helps people and suits them, thjey could pretend the tardis not only makes aliens sound like they're speaking english but that it also gives them comedy accents :)
Can't say I've seen anyone say it's the worst thing on telly ever though - so lets not paint all those who enjoy the non-rtd episodes more, in that light.
Its things like this that I'm referring to -
......I wanted to gouge my eyes out with red hot pokers after wasting just over half an hour of my life on what must be the worst piece of an excuse for television I've ever had the misfortune in watching in my life.
Words like atrocious would be a compliment for it in every aspect.
I don't think either are weird
I dont think its weird either? But there was someone earlier expressing surprise that something 'set in America' had no American accents...
andybhoy
15-04-2007, 09:06
This is Xenole, who if I remember correctly doesn't watch any tv show that is hyped because all hyped shows are crap (it's either him or xraystan). If I'm right about who it is, then he doesn't watch much good telly anyway!
However, xenole should never under any circumstances be taken seriously or taken as a typical fan but I see your point.
I didn't think you thought the accents were weird either - was just adding to the conversation :)
Grandmaster
15-04-2007, 09:12
The storyline was absolutely preposterous, the plot holes bigger than New New York and some of the characters extremely bizarre. The suspension of disbelief collapsed because Davies was so keen on making his social point (people spending years of their lives in cars due to congestion) that he exaggerated it to the point where it became ridiculous.
But... I can't help but admit that I still enjoyed the episode. As other posters have mentioned, it's only when you start thinking about it that it transforms into a turkey.
Panavision
15-04-2007, 09:22
The New New York skyline was right out of the Star Wars Prequels.
I really fancy Martha Jones, what a bum :D
Flip Martian
15-04-2007, 09:24
RTD's reputation is such now that when "written by Russell T Davies" came on screen last night in the opening credits, my fiancee (no particular axe to grind as she's not a devoted fan of any tv much) said "oh god, won't expect much from this one then"... If a neutral can say, that he really has got a problem...
Panavision
15-04-2007, 09:29
RTD's writing is flippant and he knows it, but doesn't care, or is not interested in in constructive criticism to make it better.
This is Xenole, who if I remember correctly doesn't watch any tv show that is hyped because all hyped shows are crap (it's either him or xraystan). If I'm right about who it is, then he doesn't watch much good telly anyway!
However, xenole should never under any circumstances be taken seriously or taken as a typical fan but I see your point.
I didn't think you thought the accents were weird either - was just adding to the conversation :)
All true.
I just get amazed that there was a mainstream (nay, flagship) sci-fi show on Saturday night on BBC1that was watched and enjoyed by millions and you come on 'ere and read things like 'pfft, they nicked that off of 2000AD' and so on.
Accents go right over my head, usually. We dont know what they sounded like in the middle ages, a paltry 500 years ago, so its anyone guess what aliens from the future sound like.
Anyway...
I couldnt work out the American Gothic people but thought that it was either a visual joke (each car seemed to have a theme) or a deeper visual joke - on the 'friends list' thing there was a picture of the cars occupants - I thought at some point, we were going to see the picture of the opening couple in the same pose as the painting.
RTD's writing is flippant and he knows it, but doesn't care, or is not interested in in constructive criticism to make it better.
I can't really say that I blame him for that? He got to be king of Dr Who on his own, and its on season 3, so I wouldnt listen to anyone else either.
andybhoy
15-04-2007, 09:35
Accents go right over my head, usually. We dont know what they sounded like in the middle ages, a paltry 500 years ago, so its anyone guess what aliens from the future sound like.
Off topic but I remember a friend telling me about when his grandmother moved from Aberdeen to London in the 1950's, she hardly understand anyone and hardly anyone understood her.
Go back 500 years and I reckon you'd stand no chance of understanding what they were saying, let alone their accents!
You know I've got a sinking feeling that next week's is going to be 40 minutes of 'who is the evil mastermind?' with two minutes of actual Daleks just as per their last two two-parters. Which would be ok if they didn't show them IN THE BLOODY PREVIEW!
Also, as I said last week Tennant is improving, but did anyone else think he was channeling Calculon near the start of the episode?
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2064/20611168318310b9cb6jc3.jpg
"Maaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrttttthhhaaaaaaaa!"
Also, as I said last week Tennant is improving, but did anyone else think he was channeling Calculon near the start of the episode?
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2064/20611168318310b9cb6jc3.jpg
"Maaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrttttthhhaaaaaaaa!"
:lol:
Nathan Adler
15-04-2007, 11:20
You know I've got a sinking feeling that next week's is going to be 40 minutes of 'who is the evil mastermind?' with two minutes of actual Daleks just as per their last two two-parters. Which would be ok if they didn't show them IN THE BLOODY PREVIEW!
The episode title is a bit of a giveaway aswell.
SqueakyG
15-04-2007, 11:32
Slightly confusing that with it being America, there wasn't a single American accent.
I thought so too at first. But then I thought, "Would I rather have them all doing bad American accents?" :gag:
Then the preview for next week's... oh dear.
So far, this series is impressing me greatly. RTD even managed to write an episode with no fart gags or unsuitable sexual references.
But next week? giant pigs? oh dear :(
Also, perhaps the Daleks are a little bit overdone? Shouldn't they be used more sparingly?
KennyVader
15-04-2007, 11:58
Also, perhaps the Daleks are a little bit overdone? Shouldn't they be used more sparingly?
Daleks and sonic screwdrivers clearly sell more tat to kids
RTD even managed to write an episode with no fart gags or unsuitable sexual references.
You must have missed the "They're not sisters, they're lesbians" gag. So unfunny he repeated it twice.
ChrisBravoTown
15-04-2007, 12:23
Yes it was peposterous and full of logic holes...but I LOVED IT!
Every week I look forward to sitting down and watching this with the missus and my six year old daugher, and it entertains us all every time.
Don't analyse it too much, just enjoy it. If you don't there's always Grease is the Word on the other side.
Yes it was peposterous and full of logic holes...but I LOVED IT!
Every week I look forward to sitting down and watching this with the missus and my six year old daugher, and it entertains us all every time.
Don't analyse it too much, just enjoy it. If you don't there's always Grease is the Word on the other side.
Damn if somone had made the bingo game for these threads like I said that would have been an easy line.
ChrisBravoTown
15-04-2007, 12:30
Damn if somone had made the bingo game for these threads like I said that would have been an easy line.
Doesn't stop it from being a valid viewpoint though.
That you liked it, no of course that is a valid viewpoint. Any criticism met with "turn the channel over then" is vapid though and needs to stop forthwith.
Best RTD episode ever! :thumbs:
Did anyone notice that his description of Gallifrey to Martha, looked remarkably like the emerging skyline of New New York during the sunrise at the end :suspect:
That you liked it, no of course that is a valid viewpoint. Any criticism met with "turn the channel over then" is vapid though and needs to stop forthwith.
Thats fine when its actual criticism, though, which tends to be few and far between. SqueakyG put his finger on it with this episode when he said it worked perfectly on the allegorical level (the motorway being a metaphor for life with people forming communities, hoping for something better at the end etc) but falling apart on a narrative level.
That said, all the plot holes aren't really plot holes - the people who kidnapped martha got into the undercity the same way the doctor got into the motorway and the sun reveal at the end worked because there was no sun on the 'undercity'.
I'm thinking that the reason the cat-thing didnt open the undercity before was that it required too much energy from the Face of Boe and he had to stay alive to reveal his secret to the doctor.
pompeyfan
15-04-2007, 13:11
Was an ok ep but nothing special and I think last weeks was far far better, in fact so was ep1 as I quite enjoyed that too.
mullethead
15-04-2007, 13:54
Personally I thought this was the weakest episode of the season so far, okay we're only two episodes in but those two were far superior to this. Did I miss how they explained how these giant crabs managed to be there - were they there all the time or did they arrive after the 'lockdown'?
If it's the former why did 'Bo' lock everyone he was trying to save in there with killer crabs and then leave the fast-lane open, if it's the latter how the hell did massive crabs get in with no-one noticing???
It just seemed that the only purpose they served was filling the epsiode out by putting Martha in a bit more danger.
thescrounger
15-04-2007, 13:59
Well I liked it, and having classic series monsters the Macra popping up was rather unexpected, yet pleasant nod to the past. Quite why Boe didn't make Cat Nun get of her arse and show her how to sort things out rather than loll around with his massive face in a goldfish bowl for 24 years is beyond me.
That was because neither of them knew what to do until the Doctor showed up. He's a genius remember?
The storyline was absolutely preposterous, the plot holes bigger than New New York and some of the characters extremely bizarre. The suspension of disbelief collapsed because Davies was so keen on making his social point (people spending years of their lives in cars due to congestion) that he exaggerated it to the point where it became ridiculous.
But... I can't help but admit that I still enjoyed the episode. As other posters have mentioned, it's only when you start thinking about it that it transforms into a turkey.
The concept was very comic book, in fact he admitted it was largely a Mega City One rip off. It made sense within it's own perverse reality. I think showing extremes often are unrealistic but there's no other way to show them.
Best RTD episode ever! :thumbs:
In some ways I think it was. The first of his I've really enjoyed since Parting of the Ways.
DarkAvenger
15-04-2007, 14:47
Originally posted by FightForTheRight
Slightly confusing that with it being America, there wasn't a single American accent.
But it wasn't America was it. It was the city of New New York on the planet New Earth.
But was RTD's social point really about traffic congestion.
Because I read it like this - people spend their whole lives devoted to a 'hope' that there is something better to move on to, a better place to go. They don't break the rules, because then they can't get to that place.
The choral singing underlined this, they had their songs, their contacts and their 'faith', but ultimately, it was pointless because there was no promised land - the Heavens had collapsed died, and there was no hope. Decadance had cost the society, and it had perished.
And then one person - the Face of Boe - gave his life to save the humans and give them a second chance.
I wouldn't be surprised if in three episodes he rose again ;).
I enjoyed the whole epsiode, even the 'stuck on' emotion at the end - it is nice to see the season creeping towards a climax already.
And I can't help thinking just how much better Tennant is this season than he was last year with the gurning, giggling, annoying Rose. He's toned down the excess and he's much much better for it.
Still not sure about Martha. Like the character, but spend most of the time trying to work out if her wooden delivery is interpretation, or just plain bad acting.
Roll on the Daleks!
Arthur Fowler
15-04-2007, 15:21
VERY dull episode IMO. :(
wong fei hong
15-04-2007, 15:38
I liked it, and the heavy allegory is classic Who, perfect for a family audience. The rug-pull - that the ruling class had saved the underclass rather than relegating them to keep them out of the way - was neatly done and unexpected.
These threads always entertain me, even more than the Lost ones.
But was RTD's social point really about traffic congestion.
Because I read it like this - people spend their whole lives devoted to a 'hope' that there is something better to move on to, a better place to go. They don't break the rules, because then they can't get to that place.
The choral singing underlined this, they had their songs, their contacts and their 'faith', but ultimately, it was pointless because there was no promised land - the Heavens had collapsed died, and there was no hope. Decadance had cost the society, and it had perished.
And then one person - the Face of Boe - gave his life to save the humans and give them a second chance.
I wouldn't be surprised if in three episodes he rose again ;).
Yeah, thats how I saw it, put far more eloquently than I could.
thescrounger
15-04-2007, 17:17
I liked it, and the heavy allegory is classic Who, perfect for a family audience. The rug-pull - that the ruling class had saved the underclass rather than relegating them to keep them out of the way - was neatly done and unexpected.
Good point.
Spooksta
15-04-2007, 17:44
Very poor episode. I think your all mad to like it :thinking: or am i ;)
marc_angelus
15-04-2007, 17:54
well i can't believe the face of Bo waited all this time, and then his so called whispered secret was "you are not alone", personally if i had waited a billion years to tell someone something, i'd probably try to be a bit more specific. And if it relates to there being more than one timelord, then his comment "i am the last of my kind as you are the last of yours" a few seconds previous was a bit of a blunder...
Prufrock
15-04-2007, 19:44
OK, as far as I am aware, the Face of Bo was referring to you know who. He does appear, but obviously in a different form. In fact, he appears to have a whole episode to himself and isn't the flinching disabled, stuttering Roman Emperor he once was.... Yep, the Master is Derek Jacobi.
Utopia, my friends...utopia.
thescrounger
15-04-2007, 21:30
Ian Levine has posted his definitive review:
For me this is the best episode of the thirty one episodes so far since new Who returned.
It had everything. Gloom followed by hope. Optimism. Joy. Magic.
It tied up so many loose ends that, as a fan for forty four years, I felt my loyalty was being repaid.
Susan's speech in The Sensorites about the sky being a burnt orange and the leaves on the trees being bright silver - wow - so wonderful and moving to pay homage to it.
This script, for the first time, was actually worthy of Robert Holmes. In fact, in the same way as Holmes' anger at the tax system turned into The Sun Makers, with its P45 Corridoors, so Russell's obvious hatred of sitting gridlocked in a traffic jam, and not moving an inch, (also my own pet hate), was extrapolated into this amazing wondrous piece of classic television, that is as good as it gets.
The Cassini Sisters were also so Robert Holmes. Incidental characters with no real relevance to the plot but whose addition makes a Doctor Who classic even more magical, much like Amelia Ducat, or Binro The Heretic. I adored them, and wanted to see more of them.
WHAT A CLASSIC !!!!!!
This is one to watch over and over and over.
The end shot as the camera panned up to that amazing orange twilight of the city spires.
I adore it so much, and I cry with joy that my favourite show can still instill in me the same sense of wonder as when I was twelve years old.
Bravo Russell
You are a true unmitigated genius, and I love you for it.
Ian Levine has posted his definitive review:
For me this is the best episode of the thirty one episodes so far since new Who returned.
It had everything. Gloom followed by hope. Optimism. Joy. Magic.
It tied up so many loose ends that, as a fan for forty four years, I felt my loyalty was being repaid.
Susan's speech in The Sensorites about the sky being a burnt orange and the leaves on the trees being bright silver - wow - so wonderful and moving to pay homage to it.
This script, for the first time, was actually worthy of Robert Holmes. In fact, in the same way as Holmes' anger at the tax system turned into The Sun Makers, with its P45 Corridoors, so Russell's obvious hatred of sitting gridlocked in a traffic jam, and not moving an inch, (also my own pet hate), was extrapolated into this amazing wondrous piece of classic television, that is as good as it gets.
The Cassini Sisters were also so Robert Holmes. Incidental characters with no real relevance to the plot but whose addition makes a Doctor Who classic even more magical, much like Amelia Ducat, or Binro The Heretic. I adored them, and wanted to see more of them.
WHAT A CLASSIC !!!!!!
This is one to watch over and over and over.
The end shot as the camera panned up to that amazing orange twilight of the city spires.
I adore it so much, and I cry with joy that my favourite show can still instill in me the same sense of wonder as when I was twelve years old.
Bravo Russell
You are a true unmitigated genius, and I love you for it.
I think he liked it :nuts:
personally i found it a bit meh!!
Couple of questions
1) why were the maccra there??
2) Are they still there???
Did anyone notice that his description of Gallifrey to Martha, looked remarkably like the emerging skyline of New New York during the sunrise at the end :suspect:
I did, but to be honest I kind of thought that was why he went back to New Earth.
Before he chose to take Martha there, she was asking about his planet.
This clearly made him homesick so I think he went to the nearest thing like home.
This one seams to have split quite a few people, but I thought it was really good.
Was a nice set up, but we have to wait to ep6 (The Lazerus Experiment) for the story arch to depene.
The Who :dork: in me really liked the description of Galiffrey matching what Susan said all those years ago & left me thinking if only they didn't just stick to board rooms, dark corridors, etc when they went to Gallifrey in the old Who days.
Anyone with a bit of Who interest knew what The Boe's words to the Doctor would be, especially as he was supposed to have said them in "New Earth" last year.
Incidently "New Earth" was meant to be a very darker episode than turned out with everyone dieing apart from the Doctor & Rose.
In fact the whole season was meant to have a darker feel to it (epically the Rise of the Cyberman/Age of Steel), but once Billy decided to leave they decided to lighten the mood to show the "fun" the Doctor & Rose have, so it was a bigger blow when they were thrown apart at the end.
Oh what could have been!
Still at lease this Series is shaping up good, so far....
For me Tennant (& RTD) seams to have taken on board what did not work about his Doctor last series, & he's shaping up to be the diffinative Doctor for this generation & will be a very tough act to follow.
All in all looks like it could be a very special season for Who.
Thats face it, if you see "thescrounger" defending RTD Who especially - a RTD written one; then I tend to think they must be doing something right this series (I dont mean this as a dig m8).
I really fancy Martha Jones, what a bum :D :thumbs:
Still seams to be holding onto its audance as well:
Doctor Who was once more top of the charts with unofficial overnight figures showing that Episode Three, Gridlock, was watched by 8.0 million viewers, a 39.5% share of the total audience.
The programme was the most watched of the day by nearly two million viewers, beating Any Dream Will Do, which gained 6.2 million.
The programme had almost double the viewers of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ITV1.
In terms of share it was fourth, just being beaten by the sporting events of the afternoon.
With one day to go, this makes the programme the seventh most watched of the week, beating three episodes of EastEnders, and gives Gridlock a high probability of bringing Doctor Who once more into the week's top ten.
Doctor Who was again top of the children's top ten, with 1.4 million under 16s watching, double the second placed Any Dream Will Do
Doctor Who Confidential was top of the multichannel charts, with a rating of 0.56 million viewers, over 50% more than the second placed Inspector Morse.
I think the Daleks will turn up around half way (or even before) into next weeks episode.
I have hears rumours that Dalek.
The BBC press office release, relating to Evolution of the Daleks (the episode after next weeks) has a fairly BIG spoiler & could give the game away on how Daleks in Manhatten ends - dont read if you dont want to know!):
Dalek Sec is reborn in human form and plans to build a Dalek empire in Thirties New York, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. While Martha fights for her life at the top of the Empire State Building, the Doctor must enter into an unholy alliance in order to change Dalek history for ever.
Linketty Link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk18/sat.shtml#sat_drwho)
Some one from Outpost Gallifrey has seen next weeks Radio Times cover (these are there words & not mine):
It's not a pic of a traditional Dalek but a huge spoiler! It shows the half-human, half-Dalek hybrid. It is gross!!
Front cover quote "Half-Dalek, half-human. Total Monster? The Daleks are back!
Sorry I am at work and can't scan - so will have to describe. The head is a giant brain with six tentacles radiating out around a single eye - basically a reimagining of the Dalek mutant seen in series one - above a mouth. And it's obviously got a human body cos it's wearing a suit!
mnementh
16-04-2007, 07:12
... The head is a giant brain with six tentacles radiating out around a single eye - basically a reimagining of the Dalek mutant seen in series one - above a mouth. And it's obviously got a human body cos it's wearing a suit!
Isn't that a Jaggaroth ?
I thought this episode was 'okay'.
It had a good atmosphere running through it and, for all you 2000AD fans, I found myself thinking more of the first series of Halo Jones, particularly the Swifty Frisko woman who announced everything, than Judge Dredd...
But the plot seemed too simple and lacked logic for me. That said, pretty much every US sci-fi show that works on an episode-by-episode basis (The Outer Limits, X-Files, Sliders, Smallville) makes the same mistakes. My problem is that I'd rather Doctor Who were reaching the heights of Buffy rather then depths of Sliders...of course that's never going to happen.
Remembering it is still a programme aimed at kids it was a decent episode. I preferred the two previous, though. Nothing's yet touched the two-parter from the last series on the space station by the black hole, though.
I agree with the comments about Tennant being a lot better with Martha than he ever was with Rose, though he cannot do angry: what was that crap about when he gets back this street would be finished too, or something? :suspect:
Also, why does RTD think a person's sexuality is an important issue when I don't? The marital status or otherwise of the two old ladies irrelevant. I think it's good that he produces television that shows children there's nothing wrong with homosexuality, but that was just going to over their heads because (a) children are never going to think about 'sex' when it comes to pensioners (b) old ladies would hold hands like that regardless of orientation and (c) they're far too busy concentrating on the important plot element of the Doctor trying to locate Martha. Dunno, it just seemed like in the two previous series he was very naturally running things like this into a story, which I'm all for.
(I thought the Shakespearean one in the last episode was a little shoehorned too but at least it was a funny gag and more subtly delivered.)
cliff homewood
16-04-2007, 08:45
A pet peeve, not aimed at kids, should be aimed for kids, because its not aimed just for them but should be good enough for the whole family, as family entertainment it should be intelligent and logical enough that Mum and Dad can enjoy it as well. Oh wait a minute, RTD is writing it.
All too often when watching Dr Who I have to grit my teeth and remind myself "it's just a kids show, it's just a kids show..."
24 years trapped in gridlock without anyone questioning the situation or going insane? And did every car at the time the motorway was sealed off handily have 'self-replicating fuel' and decades' worth of food supplies? All the cars are clearly able to communicate with each other, yet nobody notices that every car that gets onto the fast lane vanishes? In two decades, nobody thinks "stuff this for a game of soldiers' and overrides the automated controls, or just gets out at one of those laybys the Doctor got in by? And nobody in the undercity notices that the entire world above died off?
There was more hole than plot in this episode. Oh well, it still manages to entertain so long as I remember to make allowances for the fact that I am not its intended audience.
Oh, and I did spot a funny thing in the Sun - in their preview of the episode, they said that it revolved around the Doctor's 'final confrontation' with his 'evil nemesis' the face of Boe :lol: Do they actually watch the show?!?
All too often when watching Dr Who I have to grit my teeth and remind myself "it's just a kids show, it's just a kids show..."
24 years trapped in gridlock without anyone questioning the situation or going insane? And did every car at the time the motorway was sealed off handily have 'self-replicating fuel' and decades' worth of food supplies? All the cars are clearly able to communicate with each other, yet nobody notices that every car that gets onto the fast lane vanishes? In two decades, nobody thinks "stuff this for a game of soldiers' and overrides the automated controls, or just gets out at one of those laybys the Doctor got in by? And nobody in the undercity notices that the entire world above died off?
we only saw about 8 people so perhaps some did go insane and lots questioned the situation, but there was a sense that some knew there was something very wrong somewhere - this was alluded to at many, many points during the episode but there was a sense that people were too scared to consider the reality of the situation.
The food supplies were not endless but recycled.
People did notice that if you went into the fast lane you vanished. This was also alluded to at many times during the episode.
Perhaps some people did think 'sod it for a game of soliders' but we never saw what happened to them. The undercity was sealed off from the above city so no-one knew what was going on up there (which also explains why they were excited to see the sun) and, crucially, the undercity was controlled by drugs - the very first thing we saw was a resident taking a drug to 'forget' but before she did, she said 'eventually, everyone goes to the motorway' which suggests that apart from a dead city, the motorway was the only place to actually go and once you went there, you never came back. Why would you, if there was nothing in the undercity and you were 'safe' in the cars - the human race had become almost a 'cargo cult' - stuck in little pods, hoping for a better world that they remembered or half remembered.
Ok, its a little clunky in places, but has an internal logic that makes sense on its own terms.
regarding the face of boe and what was said about it on dr who confidential.
it was interesting the thing about who the face of boe is. given that the episode we just saw had a strong christian theme, with Boe waiting for The Doctor to 'deliver' the human race into 'heaven', would it be possible that, somehow, Boe is the doctors 'father'?
thescrounger
16-04-2007, 09:36
24 years trapped in gridlock without anyone questioning the situation or going insane?
People may have gone insane, but we weren't shown any. They have mood patches, remember.
And did every car at the time the motorway was sealed off handily have 'self-replicating fuel' and decades' worth of food supplies?
Well they knew how long it would take so they would stock up before. Makes sense yes?
All the cars are clearly able to communicate with each other, yet nobody notices that every car that gets onto the fast lane vanishes?
They do notice but it was thought to be a myth. Did you watch the episode?
In two decades, nobody thinks "stuff this for a game of soldiers' and overrides the automated controls, or just gets out at one of those laybys the Doctor got in by?
Well some might have, but if you want to get to your destination you have to take the motorway, as it were.
Your questions are all perfectly answerable.
I don't think the questions are easily answered at all. It's really a plot hung off an interesting concept (that of people trapped for years in their cars on a motorway).
As I said, I think most/all sci-fi series tend to come up with stuff with holes this big so I don't really see this episode as a problem with RTD and Doctor Who in particular. So many people don't really question a lot of this stuff when they watch it because there's a vast section of the audience to whom something like 2001: A Space Oddyssey is every bit as ludicrous as this is.
I don't think the questions are easily answered at all. It's really a plot hung off an interesting concept (that of people trapped for years in their cars on a motorway).
As I said, I think most/all sci-fi series tend to come up with stuff with holes this big so I don't really see this episode as a problem with RTD and Doctor Who in particular. So many people don't really question a lot of this stuff when they watch it because there's a vast section of the audience to whom something like 2001: A Space Oddyssey is every bit as ludicrous as this is.
It does depend how willing you are to suspend belief and give the plot some room to breath on its own logic - I thought it worked, just. There are some clunky bits, but I dont think there were <i>vast</i> holes in the plot - simply, a quickly dying civilisation imprisoned its own population underground until they could be rescued by the doctor. Boe used his power to free them, but the effort killed him and he couldnt die until he'd met the doctor once more - according to its own mythology which is slowly being built.
I do think that perhaps the style of storytelling is different to what people are used to. It simply flies along, and its clear that lots of people missed the bit about food being recycled waste. Perhaps its just dr who for the MTV generetion (fast fast fast), rather than the 2001 genereation (slow and every plot point spelt out slowly) and thats where the real problem lies?
I generally find Dr Who a bit nerdy, but i enjoyed this. The cat makeup was good, the woman in the car with the new assistant was as fit as a butchers dog, the effects were good and it was sad when then big face thing died. Well played.
Gingerdawn
16-04-2007, 11:30
I enjoyed the episode, I had assumed the people travelling in the cars didn't question the hologrammed (sp?) woman on the screens and really believed they were getting out - that was why no-one cut in or tried to break the automated systems on the cars. I could be wrong though - this was just my interpretation.
Spectre07
16-04-2007, 11:43
Don't know if anyone's mentioned this already but I vaguely remember a Judge Dredd story from 2000AD where truckers endlessly travelled on the motorway living their entire lives without stopping. Came to mind straight away.
It does depend how willing you are to suspend belief and give the plot some room to breath on its own logic - I thought it worked, just. There are some clunky bits, but I dont think there were <i>vast</i> holes in the plot - simply, a quickly dying civilisation imprisoned its own population underground until they could be rescued by the doctor. Boe used his power to free them, but the effort killed him and he couldnt die until he'd met the doctor once more - according to its own mythology which is slowly being built.
I do think that perhaps the style of storytelling is different to what people are used to. It simply flies along, and its clear that lots of people missed the bit about food being recycled waste. Perhaps its just dr who for the MTV generetion (fast fast fast), rather than the 2001 genereation (slow and every plot point spelt out slowly) and thats where the real problem lies?
Well as I said, I think it had terriffic atmosphere and that counted for a lot, like the Satan Pit episode. When I talk about holes I mean more that I really the whole plot is hung on a very specific set up: the motorway that can be shut in; that accomodates tonnes of vehicles; that is an M25 style ring; where despite the future the cars produce vast amounts of pollutants; that in over 20 years people really had decided this was the best way to live; that even if you recycle food you can make do without the essential nutrients it would be missing...
I enjoyed it, though not as much as the other two, but I just found the concept was too rushed. Moreover, I'm sure with a bit more script doctoring it could have been better.
Also I didn't really get the Mancra thing: the Doctor made it sound like they'd been there for 1000s of years controlling humans but had now devolved but that was just thrown away. I assumed they'd have something to do with why all the humans were trapped there. That seemed a lost opportunity.
marc_angelus
16-04-2007, 11:50
OK, as far as I am aware, the Face of Bo was referring to you know who. He does appear, but obviously in a different form. In fact, he appears to have a whole episode to himself and isn't the flinching disabled, stuttering Roman Emperor he once was.... Yep, the Master is Derek Jacobi.
Utopia, my friends...utopia.
i'm a dr who newbie i'm afraid, only seen the ecclestone/tennant series, who/what are you referring to?
Well as I said, I think it had terriffic atmosphere and that counted for a lot, like the Satan Pit episode. When I talk about holes I mean more that I really the whole plot is hung on a very specific set up: the motorway that can be shut in; that accomodates tonnes of vehicles; that is an M25 style ring; where despite the future the cars produce vast amounts of pollutants; that in over 20 years people really had decided this was the best way to live; that even if you recycle food you can make do without the essential nutrients it would be missing...
Also I didn't really get the Mancra thing: the Doctor made it sound like they'd been there for 1000s of years controlling humans but had now devolved but that was just thrown away. I assumed they'd have something to do with why all the humans were trapped there. That seemed a lost opportunity.
Yeah, I can see the points there, but I was looking at it a different way. It looked, on the surface, like a motorway, but was more akin to a nuclear shelter or something and people were pretending it was a motorway because the truth was too horrific to face.* it took the doctor to make them face up to their situation and then free them.
Not sure about the pollutants or the recycled food but I wouldnt call them huge issues. It can't explain everything - we dont know that their recycled food wouldnt have the essential nutrients. :dork: pollutants, after 20 years, their engines might not have been all they were.
a more glaring error, I thought, was the cat things surprise at the old women being married - 'oh, i'm just an old fashioned sort of cat'. I presumed the idea of them being married was to show how gay marriage was normal in the future, but the cat's line destroyed that idea.
I didnt really get the macra thing either. I thought they were just parasites got fat on the gasses. He didnt say they were controlling humans, just that they used to be empire builders and were reduced to predators, but i dont know anything about the old episodes....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Macra_Terror#Plot
there's an element of mind control associated with the macra? Maybe that helps explain why people were happy to live in their cars. It certainly doesnt explain why the macra were attacking the cars? There's a plot hole?
*There's a theme with this series of people trapped inside things - the hospital on the moon - bedlam in the shakespeare episode - and now the big motorway thing.
Yeah, I can see the points there, but I was looking at it a different way. It looked, on the surface, like a motorway, but was more akin to a nuclear shelter or something and people were pretending it was a motorway because the truth was too horrific to face.* it took the doctor to make them face up to their situation and then free them.
Not sure about the pollutants or the recycled food but I wouldnt call them huge issues. It can't explain everything - we dont know that their recycled food wouldnt have the essential nutrients. :dork: pollutants, after 20 years, their engines might not have been all they were.
a more glaring error, I thought, was the cat things surprise at the old women being married - 'oh, i'm just an old fashioned sort of cat'. I presumed the idea of them being married was to show how gay marriage was normal in the future, but the cat's line destroyed that idea.
I didnt really get the macra thing either. I thought they were just parasites got fat on the gasses. He didnt say they were controlling humans, just that they used to be empire builders and were reduced to predators, but i dont know anything about the old episodes....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Macra_Terror#Plot
there's an element of mind control associated with the macra? Maybe that helps explain why people were happy to live in their cars.
*There's a theme with this series of people trapped inside things - the hospital on the moon - bedlam in the shakespeare episode - and now the big motorway thing.
Well the Macra might be giving the link to why people would just stay in their cars for so long. As to the pollutants, they said there were vents (which the Doctor somehow activated) that were meant to remove the pollution so I guess the pollution must always have been there.
I can see your point about people just accepting it, but I didn't think it really 'felt' like that, if you take my point. Similarly is the idea that having three people in a car was 'too expensive'. This effectively seemed like a bunch of humans who were morons. The last time this happened, RTD at least wrote in his reason being the Daleks controlling all the broadcasts, but here there wasn't really a good explanation given. Like I say, the idea was key and all the characters were fitted to the idea.
As to the gay marriage thing and the cat's response...well that's kind of what I meant about it seeming really out of place. It just felt like he was ramming something down our throats that I doubt even gay people in the audience thought needed to be said. It was just bad scripting and should have been edited out as clunky when the final version was made, I think.
IndianaJones00
16-04-2007, 13:49
i'm a dr who newbie i'm afraid, only seen the ecclestone/tennant series, who/what are you referring to?
He would be referring to the doctors nemesis, The Master, a rival timelord
Not the best introduction but give the US TV Movie a try as he appears in that, sort of.
cliff homewood
16-04-2007, 13:56
I would say that is the worst version of the character, as he has abilities in that he has never exerted before, I would try renting The New Beginnings boxset that came out recently.
I just stuck on the commentary and while it's short of explanations about this stuff, RTD does mention Swifty Frisko from Halo Jones as an inspiration for Sally Calypso or whatever her name is. :D
thescrounger
16-04-2007, 14:45
I just stuck on the commentary and while it's short of explanations about this stuff
I don't think there need be any.
it's a definite probability that initially the face of boe 'tricked' people into remaining on the motorway, to save them from the virus above, due to it being a sealed system. After the initial effort, people just got into expecting it as a 'norm'
I wasn't so keen on this episode when I first watched it, but watched the repeat last night, and liked it a lot more on the 2nd viewing. It's definitely one of the better RTD episodes, and s3 in general has been pretty consistent.
Did anyone notice that his description of Gallifrey to Martha, looked remarkably like the emerging skyline of New New York during the sunrise at the end :suspect:
I did, but to be honest I kind of thought that was why he went back to New Earth.
Before he chose to take Martha there, she was asking about his planet.
This clearly made him homesick so I think he went to the nearest thing like home.
This one seams to have split quite a few people, but I thought it was really good.
Was a nice set up, but we have to wait to ep6 (The Lazerus Experiment) for the story arch to depene.
The Who :dork: in me really liked the description of Galiffrey matching what Susan said all those years ago & left me thinking if only they didn't just stick to board rooms, dark corridors, etc when they went to Gallifrey in the old Who days.
Anyone with a bit of Who interest knew what The Boe's words to the Doctor would be, especially as he was supposed to have said them in "New Earth" last year.
Incidently "New Earth" was meant to be a very darker episode than turned out with everyone dieing apart from the Doctor & Rose.
In fact the whole season was meant to have a darker feel to it (epically the Rise of the Cyberman/Age of Steel), but once Billy decided to leave they decided to lighten the mood to show the "fun" the Doctor & Rose have, so it was a bigger blow when they were thrown apart at the end.
Oh what could have been!
Still at lease this Series is shaping up good, so far....
For me Tennant (& RTD) seams to have taken on board what did not work about his Doctor last series, & he's shaping up to be the diffinative Doctor for this generation & will be a very tough act to follow.
All in all looks like it could be a very special season for Who.
Thats face it, if you see "thescrounger" defending RTD Who especially - a RTD written one; then I tend to think they must be doing something right this series (I dont mean this as a dig m8).
I really fancy Martha Jones, what a bum :D :thumbs:
Still seams to be holding onto its audance as well:
Doctor Who was once more top of the charts with unofficial overnight figures showing that Episode Three, Gridlock, was watched by 8.0 million viewers, a 39.5% share of the total audience.
The programme was the most watched of the day by nearly two million viewers, beating Any Dream Will Do, which gained 6.2 million.
The programme had almost double the viewers of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ITV1.
In terms of share it was fourth, just being beaten by the sporting events of the afternoon.
With one day to go, this makes the programme the seventh most watched of the week, beating three episodes of EastEnders, and gives Gridlock a high probability of bringing Doctor Who once more into the week's top ten.
Doctor Who was again top of the children's top ten, with 1.4 million under 16s watching, double the second placed Any Dream Will Do
Doctor Who Confidential was top of the multichannel charts, with a rating of 0.56 million viewers, over 50% more than the second placed Inspector Morse.
Doctor Who got an audience of 780,000 viewers for the Sunday night repeat of Gridlock. This made it the third highest programme on Multichannel TV for the day, and the highest rated programme on BBC3. Confidential got 480,000 viewers.
With overnight figures now available for the whole week, Gridlock is currently the eighth most watched programme. Final consolidated figures will be released by BARB in about nine days time.
Doctor Who was once again one of the most appreciated programmes of the week with an Appreciation Index or AI figure of 85, once more pushing the programme into the excellent category.
I think the Daleks will turn up around half way (or even before) into next weeks episode.
I have hears rumours that Dalek.
The BBC press office release, relating to Evolution of the Daleks (the episode after next weeks) has a fairly BIG spoiler & could give the game away on how Daleks in Manhatten ends - dont read if you dont want to know!):
Dalek Sec is reborn in human form and plans to build a Dalek empire in Thirties New York, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. While Martha fights for her life at the top of the Empire State Building, the Doctor must enter into an unholy alliance in order to change Dalek history for ever.
Linketty Link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk18/sat.shtml#sat_drwho)
Some one from Outpost Gallifrey has seen next weeks Radio Times cover (these are there words & not mine):
It's not a pic of a traditional Dalek but a huge spoiler! It shows the half-human, half-Dalek hybrid. It is gross!!
Front cover quote "Half-Dalek, half-human. Total Monster? The Daleks are back!
Sorry I am at work and can't scan - so will have to describe. The head is a giant brain with six tentacles radiating out around a single eye - basically a reimagining of the Dalek mutant seen in series one - above a mouth. And it's obviously got a human body cos it's wearing a suit!
UPDATE SPOILER PICTURE OF Radio Times cover is now up on there website:
http://www.radiotimes.com/content/magazine/
Don't know if anyone's mentioned this already but I vaguely remember a Judge Dredd story from 2000AD where truckers endlessly travelled on the motorway living their entire lives without stopping. Came to mind straight away.
RTD mentioned that in the Confidential episode.
thought it was a good episode
i too think
that the Face of boe was referring to the Master. One thing though that im confused about, The doctor said the Daleks kills his people and all timelords, so why didn't they kill the doctor and the master?
gjkendall
16-04-2007, 20:10
thought it was a good episode
i too think
that the Face of boe was referring to the Master. One thing though that im confused about, The doctor said the Daleks kills his people and all timelords, so why didn't they kill the doctor and the master?
They are they same person (from what I could tell from listening to old school who fans)...different times/dimensions...typical good/evil split...plus the two actors look similar(ish)
Thought this episode was rather good... really enjoying this series so far!
jeffstarr
16-04-2007, 22:48
Just a thought but:
Wouldn't it have been interesting if David Tennant had played an evil 'Mirror Universe' version of the Doctor?
- We never saw Captain Jack go into the Tardis, just the sound of a Tardis-vehicle. What if Jack went off with the evil doctor, thinking it was the good Doctor?
- Do we know if Jack is 'over' the whole "You left me on that sodding space station" reaction?
- Could the Doctor still be the last of the timelords, if the only other timelord is a mirror image of himself?
Sorry, Doctor Who seems to bring out the inner-whatif-geek in me! :help:
*snip*
'new', do you realise you posted that identical post 10 hours earlier? http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7255567&postcount=95
Did your browser have a hiccup? I got somewhat confused! :D
I don't think there need be any.
Eh? Why not? It's quite common for writers to talk about their thoughts behind stuff. I was wondering if he'd say about how he came to think humans would just keep running around the motorway for 24 years, maybe touch on some of the theories KRW was talking about.
They did mention the old couple at the start being dressed to look like that painting (American Gothic?) was just a thing they did for a laugh.
'new', do you realise you posted that identical post 10 hours earlier? http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7255567&postcount=95
Did your browser have a hiccup? I got somewhat confused! :D
I went to update the 1st post with a link to a picture, but somehow I managed to post the whole thing again with the new link.:doh:
Put it down to my age:help:
neilalford
17-04-2007, 08:23
Enjoyed that one after finally getting round to watching it, obviously the expected RTD plotholes (though quite a few of ones people have mentioned were actually explained in the episode) but definitely a few parts that you shouldn't think about too carefully, turning off all the power in a hover car (though guess the motorway itself could be supporting the cars) and the whole thing about it being so hard to get three people to go in the fast lane, if it's (in theory) going to cut your journey time from years to minutes, you would have thought people might have been happy to team up and share a car.
But ignoring that, thought it worked well as a metaphor and I really liked the way that the motorway journey had taken on an almost religious significance to the people travelling on it, plus some nice twists and a few moments with a decent bit of emotion.
Oh, though like someone else mentioned, does bug me that these New Earth episodes are set such a stupidly long way in the future but that people look, act and dress almost the same as regular 21st Century people, especially as according to the continuity of the new series there are no pure humans left by that point, they're all crossbreeds with aliens etc. with Cassandra being the only "pure" human left by the time that New Earth is established
and the whole thing about it being so hard to get three people to go in the fast lane, if it's (in theory) going to cut your journey time from years to minutes, you would have thought people might have been happy to team up and share a car.
I thought about that, but decided the fact that people went on there and were never heard from again meant it was only the really desperate who went that route or had had enough of waiting. Or the really stupid?
I dont think for a moment that the people really thought they were going anywhere in the episode, they were resigned to hiding from something in their cars, which is what I thought the hymn singing was all about, the hope for a better world, and why I probably don't have a hard time accepting the premise.
Just had a thought about the spoiler about the Dalek episodes that I put in my post here:
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7256855&postcount=116
Dalek Sec becomes a humanoid, & wants to breed to make his new race strong & progress. So he has a son, which could be known as 'son of Sec", or Sec's son, which sounds like "Saxon":thinking: :dork: :help: :wave:
mnementh
17-04-2007, 09:02
Just had a thought about the spoiler about the Dalek episodes that I put in my post here:
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7256855&postcount=116
Dalek Sec becomes a humanoid, & wants to breed to make his new race strong & progress. So he has a son, which could be known as 'son of Sec", or Sec's son, which sounds like "Saxon":thinking: :dork: :help: :wave:
The nutters on OG have been bouncing that one around for a while now :lol:
The nutters on OG have been bouncing that one around for a while now :lol:
:clap: :lol: :clap:
Im not alone then:nuts:
Lik Mearse
17-04-2007, 10:15
Fellow Jammers,
On the subject of Tennant's "channeling"...
For once Tennant cracked the big Hamish McShouty scene with the kidnappers, managing to avoid his "New Earth" McCoy mode and his "Age of Steel" Girly-Man overtight-underpant screeching. Impressive!
But then he blew it with his "pack your bags" speech and the cloud suddenly lifted. Yes! YES! YES! THAT is who Tennant has based his Doctor on - Steve Coogan's "Hennety", the jumped-up boss in "The Day Today" soap opera, "The Bureau".
Hennety: Maria! Mariaaaaaa!
Doctor: Maaaaarrrttttthhhhaaaaa!
Hennety: Oi! What's goin' on 'ere? This is supposed to be a high class bureau de change, not some two-bit Punch and Judy show on the seafront at Margate!
Doctor: Oi! What's goin' on 'ere? This is supposed to be New New New... Earth, not some two-bit Punch and Judy show on the seafront at Margate!
Hennety: You're on borrowed time, sunshine. And as for you [points at Maria], you can pack your bags. You're aaaaht!
Doctor: You're on borrowed time, sunshine. And as for you [points at Pharmacist], you can pack your bags. You're aaaaht!
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p165/Lik_Mearse/pack_your_bags.jpg
Yours Bureautastically,
Lik
UPDATE SPOILER PICTURE OF Radio Times cover is now up on there website:
http://www.radiotimes.com/content/magazine/
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/jonnof/Indy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Don't look at it...!
thescrounger
17-04-2007, 10:50
I was wondering if he'd say about how he came to think humans would just keep running around the motorway for 24 years, maybe touch on some of the theories KRW was talking about.
He took the traffic jam idea from a 2000 AD comic. He mentioned that already.
Why would they do it, well it's a very sad acceptant society. It must have been.
Grandmaster
17-04-2007, 11:55
But then he blew it with his "pack your bags" speech and the cloud suddenly lifted. Yes! YES! YES! THAT is who Tennant has based his Doctor on - Steve Coogan's "Hennety", the jumped-up boss in "The Day Today" soap opera, "The Bureau".
:lol:
It's funny because it's true.
Andrew70
17-04-2007, 13:04
....and the whole thing about it being so hard to get three people to go in the fast lane, if it's (in theory) going to cut your journey time from years to minutes, you would have thought people might have been happy to team up and share a car.
The couple who kidnapped Martha said she could make her own way back after they'd arrived at their destination. When she asked when that would be, they replied "6 years".
I got the impression the traffic jams were artificially created to distract and occupy the population and the fast lane existed as a buffer between the traffic and the Macra.
Any impatient people - who would be more likely to uspet the calmness and herd mentality of the highway - neatly removed themselves by becoming lunch for those below.
Why would they do it, well it's a very sad acceptant society. It must have been.
That's your view to which you're welcome. What I was interested in was some thoughts from the crew and actors on the background to their script, do you see? I would have been interested to learn more than that RTD had also loved the first series of Halo Jones in 2000AD. There was some stuff to learn certainly, but not a particularly insightful commentary, all things considered.
KennyVader
17-04-2007, 16:20
Just rewatched it. The cat woman has had 24 years to clean up some of the dead bodies in the senate. You'd think she'd have made a start ;)
Just rewatched it. The cat woman has had 24 years to clean up some of the dead bodies in the senate. You'd think she'd have made a start ;)
Cats never clean anything (apart from themselves) EVAH! :nuts:
I think they had 20 years of hideous kinky moggy/disembodied head sex. Luckily it was Dr. Who not Torchwood or we would have seen it as well.
Just rewatched it. The cat woman has had 24 years to clean up some of the dead bodies in the senate. You'd think she'd have made a start ;)
I know! and the bones were picked clean.
mnementh
17-04-2007, 17:18
New pics and trailer up on Freemas site - http://freemaagyeman.com/news/
Could be considered spoilers as the suit on the front cover on the Radio Times does make an appearence in some of the shots.
And remember kids, its a 6:35pm kick off this week
DarkAvenger
17-04-2007, 18:02
[I]Originally posted by mnementh
The nutters on OG have been bouncing that one around for a while now
Oy, I'm one of those nutters from OG:nuts:
mnementh
17-04-2007, 18:14
Oy, I'm one of those nutters from OG:nuts:
Nutter Nutter Nutter
:wave:
:D
Shhh, may go there occasionally myself
Flip Martian
17-04-2007, 18:54
I think they had 20 years of hideous kinky moggy/disembodied head sex. Luckily it was Dr. Who not Torchwood or we would have seen it as well.
:lol: Very funny and so true...:notworthy
I think they had 20 years of hideous kinky moggy/disembodied head sex. Luckily it was Dr. Who not Torchwood or we would have seen it as well.
Rape Monkey in on the kinky moggy action? Nooooooooooo! That's way beyond the acceptable limits of gurning...
Just rewatched it. The cat woman has had 24 years to clean up some of the dead bodies in the senate. You'd think she'd have made a start ;)
I doubt bodies decay to a skeleton in 24 years, unless the virus that killed them speeded up the process I'd say the cat woman ate all the flesh off the bodies.
Mmm, scrappy scraps! http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9581/harrypi5.jpg
andybhoy
17-04-2007, 21:10
I doubt bodies decay to a skeleton in 24 years, unless the virus that killed them speeded up the process I'd say the cat woman ate all the flesh off the bodies.
Depnds on conditions, bacteria and insects. With the right conditions, the body could be stripped bare in a couple of weeks.
No idea what the conditions are on "new earth" but 24 years is a long time.
Hm, I still say it was the cat.
My theory
its not 'the master' as we remember him. When we had the alternative universe last series with the 'cybermen' - if there was a 'Doctor' in our Universe, then there must have been an (evil?) 'Doctor' in that universe who probably slipped through into our universe when Torchwood were messing with the rift. Now he's 'Mr Saxon' in our universe. or something. that way, the Doctor is the last of the time lords and is still not alone.
Could also be the Valeyard (an evil incarnation of the Doctor after his 12th regeneration) as featured in Trial of a Timelord (awful piece of Colin Baker crap)
That way could be an evil Timelord but also still the Doctor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeyard
nicknack
18-04-2007, 15:04
For those of you who can't wait for next weeks episode there's always this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QxNJEBr_l0
John Hodson
18-04-2007, 15:10
For those of you who can't wait for next weeks episode there's always this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QxNJEBr_l0
:lol:
Spike :notworthy
wong fei hong
18-04-2007, 15:26
I followed links from that video to Japanese tv dubs of Dalek and Age of Steel... pretty cool - they make Ecclescake sound like a **** off yakuza facing the lone Dalek. And the new Cybermen have the old Cybermen voices!
thescrounger
18-04-2007, 16:56
For those of you who can't wait for next weeks episode there's always this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QxNJEBr_l0
I'm suprised the Nation Estate ever allowed that to go ahead.
I'm suprised the Nation Estate ever allowed that to go ahead.
He would have been alive when that was made, and I don't believe he was as controlling as they are now with regard to the Daleks.
James
He would have been alive when that was made, and I don't believe he was as controlling as they are now with regard to the Daleks.
James
Even Better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHxas4vJs0
and my favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtkRbxHxM0M&watch_response
sparkyrob
20-04-2007, 21:34
Well, I loved it. With the exception of the Christmas Invasion, possibly the most enjoyable Tennant episode thus far. Minimal gurning, acceptable (and touching) amount of schmaltz, brisk plot which delivered the goods (ignoring the holes you can find in pretty much any episode about a man with a flying time machine), and a decent hook at the end.
Might have been mentioned already, but since I can't be arsed to trawl through 8 pages of argument along the lines of "THIS SUCKS!!!!111" and "TURN OVER THE CHANNEL THEN!!!111":
What's the deal with the big secret from the Face of Bo? I thought that at the end of the episode "New Earth", Bo imparted some immense secret to the Doctor? Has that been dealt with already? Or swept under the carpet?
Perhaps a rabid fanboy can explain please :dork:
thescrounger
20-04-2007, 21:59
He didn't impart the information in New Earth.
sparkyrob
21-04-2007, 10:57
So what DID the Face of Bo tell him in "New Earth"? Or did we never find out?
So what DID the Face of Bo tell him in "New Earth"? Or did we never find out?
I'm pretty sure Bo just said they would meet one more time and when that happened he would impart something to the Doctor.
Reverend Scapegoat
21-04-2007, 11:32
"You are not alone". - Boe was supposed to impart his secret in New Earth, but they changed the plan ansd kept the line for last week's episode.
:|
fivebyfive
21-04-2007, 11:51
or "stop gurning or you will end as full time member of torchwood"
;)
Reverend Scapegoat
21-04-2007, 12:31
"Gurning"?
Is that what the cool kids call it these days?
;)
"Gurning"?
Is that what the cool kids call it these days?
;)
I'll make you gurn harder than you've ever gurned before.
Or "Does my face look big in this?"
corkbouy
21-04-2007, 17:16
"Gurning"?
Is that what the cool kids call it these days?
;)
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/corkbouy/_40087392_gurn203.jpg
DeadKenny
21-04-2007, 18:42
Blimey, I didn't comment on last weeks! :D
Okay... another "Meh!" episode.
Unlike the New York episode just aired, this one struggled with the CGI. Whilst I'm sure they put a lot of effort and money into it, the budget is showing through and it just looks like a cheap TV attempt of doing Blade Runner. They really shouldn't have tried to do it as it's obvious it would never have paid off. And frankly other than the novelty of the flying car congestion (which has been done in Blade Runner, Fifth Element, and even Star Wars: Episode 2), there's really not much to this episode until the big "revelation" at the end. The Macra was just a complete waste also. They were also cheesy. Sure they were even when originally aired, but they should have been left in the 60s, or otherwise updated and actually provide some decent purpose to them.
Not rubbish, just a very average episode.
thescrounger
21-04-2007, 19:40
Blimey, I didn't comment on last weeks! :D
Okay... another "Meh!" episode.
Unlike the New York episode just aired, this one struggled with the CGI. Whilst I'm sure they put a lot of effort and money into it, the budget is showing through and it just looks like a cheap TV attempt of doing Blade Runner. They really shouldn't have tried to do it as it's obvious it would never have paid off. And frankly other than the novelty of the flying car congestion (which has been done in Blade Runner, Fifth Element, and even Star Wars: Episode 2), there's really not much to this episode until the big "revelation" at the end. The Macra was just a complete waste also. They were also cheesy. Sure they were even when originally aired, but they should have been left in the 60s, or otherwise updated and actually provide some decent purpose to them.
Not rubbish, just a very average episode.
Didn't you think the script and undertones were wonderful though?
DeadKenny
21-04-2007, 19:54
Erm...:thinking: :D
There just wasn't really much to the story. Okay a 'concept' sci-fi idea of the Asimov kind with people stuck in a perpetual traffic jam, but it's quite a daft idea that people would develop a community in that way, and other than the basic concept there's not much to the story. The threat below of the Macra was really underdeveloped, and the base story seemed unrelated to the Face of Boe story which just seemed to be tacked on (and quite obviously the more important part).
cliff homewood
21-04-2007, 23:24
No the important part was mankind 'what an indomitalbe species' facing such adversity with faith and a communal spirit ala WW2, how people bond together and overcome adverse conditions, RTD said it was all about trust. IE as well as the hymn showing them all bonding the martha has to dong with the doctor. Personally I thought it was too early for Martha to develop absolute faith in him, 'The Doctor will save us', she's only had two adventures with himn and he died in one of those.
:wave: For Harsin :
Figures released by BARB show that Episode Three, Gridlock achieved a final official rating of 8.41 Million viewers, making it the 7th most watched programme, & 3rd most watched series on British television for the week.
The programme was the BBC's second highest rated programme, beating all but Mondays edition of EastEnders. The only other programme to beat it was ITV1's soap Coronation Street.
On Multichannel TV, the Sunday BBC3 repeat got 0.83 million viewers and was the 4th most watched programme.
Saturdays Confidential was 19th with 0.58 Million and Sundays Confidential repeat got 0.47 million making it 34th in the list.
Final figures are accepted as the industry standard, being much more accurate than the initial overnights. They include viewers who record the programme and watch it within seven days.
Top Twenty Programmes (w/e 15th April 2007)
1 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 10.96 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (MON 2030) - 10.83 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1935) - 9.91 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1930) - 9.63 - ITV
5 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 9.33 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 9.11 - BBC1
7 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1940) - 8.41 - BBC1
8 EMMERDALE (MON 1903) - 8.33 - ITV1
9 EASTENDERS (FRI 2001) - 8.30 - BBC1
10 THE ROYAL (SUN 2001) - 8.05 - ITV1
11 FOYLE'S WAR (SUN 2105) - 7.89 - ITV1
12 EMMERDALE (TUE 1900) - 7.77 - ITV1
13 EASTENDERS (THU 1930) - 7.64 - BBC1
14 NEW TRICKS (MON 2100) - 7.58 - BBC1
15 EASTENDERS (TUE 1930) - 7.56 - BBC1
16 LIFE ON MARS (TUE 2059) - 7.44 - BBC1
17 EMMERDALE (FRI 1903) - 7.39 - ITV1
18 EMMERDALE (THU 1900) - 7.39 - ITV1
19 EMMERDALE (SUN 1903) - 7.24 - ITV1
20 EMMERDALE (WED 1858) - 7.05 - ITV1
Top Twenty MultiChannel TV
1 LIVE FA CUP FOOTBALL (Sun 1530) 1,503,000 - Sky Sports
2 LOST (Sun 2200) 1,094,000 - Sky 1
3 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (Tue 1929) 1,088,000 - ITV4
4 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2001) 826,000 - BBC3
5 EASTENDERS (Tue 2159) 772,000 - BBC3
6 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (Wed 1900) 755,000 - Sky Sports
7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Wed 2300) 707,000 - E4 In
8 FILM: INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) (Fri 2100) 693,000 - Film4
9 LIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Mon 1710) 687,000 - Sky Sports
10 EASTENDERS (Thu 2200) 685,000 - BBC3
11 BONES (Thu 2100) 677,000 - Sky 1
12 34 STONE TEENAGER: SIX MONTHS ON (Sun 2101) 627,000 - BBC3
13 SUPERNATURAL (Sun 2105) 617,000 - ITV2
14 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (Mon 2100) 608,000 - Living TV
15 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2134) 600,000 - ITV2
16 UGLY BETTY (Wed 2101) 596,000 - E4 In
17 FILM: JAWS (Fri 2154) 593,000 - ITV3
18 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2031) 585,000 - ITV2
19 DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL (Sat 2026) 581,000 - BBC3
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