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I am a weak, weak fangirl
So we watched the first two episodes of Dr. Who ...
It's fun! I love how they've captured so much of the feeling of the old show -- the theme music, the Doctor's cheerfully psychotic grins, the utter goofiness of the plots -- but with updated f/x and really snappy writing. As opposed to the sort of unintential hilarity of the old series, this one's got its tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Homicidal mannequins! Ferris Wheels of Doom! The reset button that just happens to be located at the end of a catwalk with spinny fans of death! (Was I the only one who thought of Galaxy Quest during that scene? "We shouldn't have to DO this! It makes NO LOGICAL SENSE! Why is it HERE?") And of course, there's classic Dr. Who Blind Spot Syndrome. (Dr. Who characters are phenomenally easy to sneak up on. My husband and I used to observe with the older series, that you could have a marching band and maracas and still walk up behind someone and clunk them over the head as long as you stayed out of their direct line of sight.)
But what makes it all work is an underlying sense of, well, reality, in the midst of all the goofiness. Rose's working-class life; calling her mom from the end of the world; the tears in the Doctor's eyes when the tree lady (waah! *mourns tree lady*) started talking about his homeworld. There's a feeling of wonder and hope about the series that really reminds me of the classic SF that I used to read as a teenager -- an old-school sort of melancholy beauty and hopefulness.
(Oh, and the second episode was just GORGEOUS! I just want to stare at the lovely shots of Rose bathed in golden light watching the end of the world. They must have blown the BBC special effects budget for a year. *g* I anticipate a couple of upcoming moneysaver episodes in which they travel to planets that look suspiciously like London...)
And since when can a human body withstand temperatures that can incinerate wood? Or are Time Lords that much more resilient than human beings? Okay, now I'm really over-thinking this...
It's fun! I love how they've captured so much of the feeling of the old show -- the theme music, the Doctor's cheerfully psychotic grins, the utter goofiness of the plots -- but with updated f/x and really snappy writing. As opposed to the sort of unintential hilarity of the old series, this one's got its tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Homicidal mannequins! Ferris Wheels of Doom! The reset button that just happens to be located at the end of a catwalk with spinny fans of death! (Was I the only one who thought of Galaxy Quest during that scene? "We shouldn't have to DO this! It makes NO LOGICAL SENSE! Why is it HERE?") And of course, there's classic Dr. Who Blind Spot Syndrome. (Dr. Who characters are phenomenally easy to sneak up on. My husband and I used to observe with the older series, that you could have a marching band and maracas and still walk up behind someone and clunk them over the head as long as you stayed out of their direct line of sight.)
But what makes it all work is an underlying sense of, well, reality, in the midst of all the goofiness. Rose's working-class life; calling her mom from the end of the world; the tears in the Doctor's eyes when the tree lady (waah! *mourns tree lady*) started talking about his homeworld. There's a feeling of wonder and hope about the series that really reminds me of the classic SF that I used to read as a teenager -- an old-school sort of melancholy beauty and hopefulness.
(Oh, and the second episode was just GORGEOUS! I just want to stare at the lovely shots of Rose bathed in golden light watching the end of the world. They must have blown the BBC special effects budget for a year. *g* I anticipate a couple of upcoming moneysaver episodes in which they travel to planets that look suspiciously like London...)
And since when can a human body withstand temperatures that can incinerate wood? Or are Time Lords that much more resilient than human beings? Okay, now I'm really over-thinking this...
no subject
I remember watching original Dr Who as a child (ahhh.. the Tom Baker era!) and loving it and being thrilled and scared by it. And I was pleased when they brought it back and I enjoyed the first season and thought it well made and interesting and fun and clever... but my fannish obsession really kicked into play with the second season and beyond... and with season 3 having just finished in the UK, I am SO addicted to this show right now!
I love the worlds and the mythology the new show is creating with beautiful, believable aliens like the tree lady and like Novice Hame and Chantho in more recent seasons and fascinating worlds and places and people. I love the humour and the drama and the sense of underlying melancholy and darkness.
I can't wait for you to see seasons 2 and 3 and see what you think of Tennant's Dr. He is, to me, now the epitome of the Doctor. Just a wonderful, perfectly-pitched combination of enthusiasm, eccentricity, humour, sorrow, power, danger... just.. wow! :D
And certainly in recent seasons, it does seem to be canon that the Dr can withstand a lot more damage than your average human (let's just say that as a whumper *and* a fan of David Tennant, I have *very* much enjoyed season 3!! :D).
no subject
I'm certainly looking forward to more.