[watching] Doctor Who

I think the main issue I have with Warriors of the Deep was the way it was lit and directed. The story itself isn't terrible. But you do get to laugh at Myrka, literally a pantomime horse rather than a monster (and played by the guys who were the pantomime horse in Rentaghost).
 
Nathan said:
I think the main issue I have with Warriors of the Deep was the way it was lit and directed. The story itself isn't terrible. But you do get to laugh at Myrka, literally a pantomime horse rather than a monster (and played by the guys who were the pantomime horse in Rentaghost).
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I also have issues with Ingrid Pitt's terrible martial arts and the fact the military put - as my friend Rachael so aptly described him - a "work experience guy" in charge of the continent's nuclear arsenal.
It had nice world building touches, like both men and women in the random background cast wore eye make-up.
 
Ingrid Pitt's terrible martial arts is down to the directing more than the story itself, which I did raise earlier. However, Maddox was no mere work experience guy. Yes he was in training to be the sync operator and had a take over whilst they waited for a replacement; after the fully qualified operator had been killed. But when you're on the sea bed in the middle of the ocean, getting a replacement might prove a little easier said than done, hence why they were using Maddox as the sync operator during training simulations.
 
All these crossovers have diluted Magic The Gathering for me.

But if you just want to collect cool cards, here are some for Doctor Who's 60th.
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The Star Beast had a 7-day consolidated audience figure of 7.60 million viewers, an audience share of 36.5%. The episode had an AI score of 84, which was slightly higher than the The Power of the Doctor (AI score of 82). Currently it was the third most watched programme of the day and the 10th most watched programme that week. However, it would have charted higher if there wasn't multiple episodes of I'm a Celebrity on that week. I'll try and bring you the final 28-day consolidated figure when I receive them.
 
Nathan said:
Ingrid Pitt's terrible martial arts is down to the directing more than the story itself, which I did raise earlier. However, Maddox was no mere work experience guy. Yes he was in training to be the sync operator and had a take over whilst they waited for a replacement; after the fully qualified operator had been killed. But when you're on the sea bed in the middle of the ocean, getting a replacement might prove a little easier said than done, hence why they were using Maddox as the sync operator during training simulations.
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Yup I know he wasn't really a work experience guy - the story just felt VERY like they'd promoted the work experience guy.

The 'trainee scan tech' is (yet another) example of a drama where the plot only works because the characters exist in some weird alternative reality where television budget constraints triumph over realistic plotting and realistic portrayal of how the military works. Or how a laboratory works. Or how a factory works. Or a police station works. Or how a 24 hour supermarket works. Or, or, or...

Basically, to use the scan tech as an example... in the real world, people need to sleep, eat and to have downtime where they aren't working. Therefore if the scan has to be operated 24/7 there will be at the bare minimum a 12 hour day shift and a 12 hour night shift. If they are being sensible there will be three 8 hours shifts. But that requires you to cast 3 actors to play the 3 fully trained scan techs - oh dear, too expensive! And then the writer has to think of a ways to kill off all three of them - oh dear, takes a lot of screen time!
So let's just have ONE trained scan tech... and hope the enemy never attacks when he's in the loo, or on a lunch break, or is asleep. :)

Doctor Who in no way the only production guilty of this.
  • I recall a science drama where no matter what time of day or night the scientists turned up at the lab, the same security guard was always on duty.
  • the BBC's Invasion Earth had a hero who was an RAF fighter pilot... and ran about on the moors with the Royal Marines... and guarded a military base... and did the baby sitting for the child character... and even made the tea... :)
  • There was a time in early runs of Taggart where you could figure out who the murderer was on the basis that they had the smallest speaking part in Episode 1. The production couldn't afford to pay extras and walk-ons to actually have dialogue. Only characters integral to the plot got lines to say, even if it was only a train conductor saying "Tickets please!" and passing the time of day with the cops.
 
If you want my opinion, I find Heaven Sent to be highly overrated and not one I would recommend to a new viewer. It's got some good monologuing from Capaldi, but the overall premise is very pretentious, doesn't make any sense, and is not very Doctor Who like.

But that requires you to cast 3 actors to play the 3 fully trained scan techs - oh dear, too expensive! And then the writer has to think of a ways to kill off all three of them - oh dear, takes a lot of screen time!
So let's just have ONE trained scan tech... and hope the enemy never attacks when he's in the loo, or on a lunch break, or is asleep
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Then again, you can blame the writer here as none of them a technically trained in those fields of expertise. Then again, back in the 1960s, Doctor Who did have a paid scientific adviser on standby to help the script editor write in all the science related material.
 
Some may like a Christmas surprise so do not click spoiler that shows Doctor Who new fashion. Suits out, leather in.

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I have to say that The Giggle was best of the three specials. There's so much to unpack and where do I start?

The puppets were incredibly creepy, the return of Mel was a nice surprise, and Neil Patrick Harris stole the show as The Toymaker. It was also nice to learn the fate Sabalom Glitz (who we last saw at the end of Season 24 in 1987). The the bi-regeneration was an interesting concept and allows David Tennant to return in the future if required, even if it will divide fans. It's a certainly a different way forward and fun way of introducing a new Doctor. Ncuti Gatawa was bloody marvelous and I'm glad we got some multi-Doctor shenanigans for last 20 minutes.

PS. Did anyone else notice the gold tooth containing The Master being picked up a feminine hand with red nail varnish, just like the ring at the end of Last of the Time Lords? I suspect we'll be seeing The Master again very soon.

I scored the special 9 out of 10.
 
The Giggle had an overnight UK audience figure of 4.62 million viewers. This was a slight dip compared to last week's overnight ratings of 4.83 million viewers and comparable to the overnight figures for Spyfall, Part 2 (4.60m) in 2020.
 
Are on-the-hour viewer numbers still important to the BBC in completion with do many streaming services now?

These days only my beloved TV shows take my time for a live viewing. The rest like Doctor Who are on catch-up, and usually after I read reviews if those are even worth my time to watch. Yet, I still watch some, so there are many of us like that, viewers but not dedicated religious ones.
 
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