Review of the new "Doctor Who" equated to Britney Spears

[Deja Q]

http://www.shockeye.org.uk/OnlineSpecials/Runbride_simon/index.html

It’s this celebratory attitude that has so endeared the show’s modern incarnation to the public… but of course, it’s what has also upset the more militant wing of Doctor Who’s geek fanbase. So it’s worth repeating that this is what Doctor Who was always been about, a TV show as POP as the Beatles, glam rock or Britney. It’s just now we have a writer who knows how to get that message across to people who would rather cut out their tongue than speak Klingon. This is sci-fi, Jim, but not as we know it, where the fate of the Earth lies in the hands of a secretary and even bit-part players get sparkling, relatable dialogue (what young actor wouldn’t kill for a cameo as good as the video guy to put on their showreel?)

That's the offending paragraph, but the whole article tries to justify this stuff! (and on another forum, www.outpostgallifrey.com, a lot of people are saying this is a good review.)

And, having seen all of the new series ('The Runaway Bride' excepted), the Brit comparison is warranted. Unfortunately, I don't think of her highly like that reviewer must do.

(nor did WHO start out as 'pop culture'... pop culture was never educational, which was the original thought behind WHO's creation in 1962 (the premiere aired in late 1963)

[trotsky]

1. Yeah, I'm just not envisioning the original Doctor Who and "pop" together.

'Cause it was a children's show with, as Jon Pertwee so succinctly put it, "something for the dads." (I.e., Young, attractive female companions. :)

Having seen Runaway Bride though, I can say that despite that, it IS a pretty good review. It was a fun episode once you get past a few nitpicks.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

2. The Runaway Bride left me hopeful

I was pretty disappointed with series 2, excluding the marvellous Madame Pompidou episode. If Doctor Who can continue the quality of the Runaway Bride into series 3 then I will be most pleased.

[trotsky]

3. "Girl in the Fireplace" was definitely the gem of the series.

There's really no comparison. "School Reunion" was quite well acted though, and seeing Sarah Jane and K-9 again was so much fun.

I was also impressed with the ending of "Doomsday," it seemed to me Billie Piper had saved up all her acting skills for the end of that episode.

But apart from those, eh.

[AllegroRondo]

7. That was one of those rare episodes

that had me thinking about it for days afterwards. Amazing story. "Fathers Day" from season one did that to me too.

[Deja Q]

4. 'The Girl in the Fireplace' is a just due classic...

Even with the modern day fettering of making the Doctor more human and having him kiss and grope at Madame Pompidou... (sheesh, Fred Freiberger had the same attitude towards sci-fi: Adding romance. Yet he's dissed all the time. OTOH, he was only a producer and not a writer... Steven Moffat, creator and writer of UK's sitcom "Coupling", actually knows how to write coherent and intelligent sci-fi. I just wish the romance fluff would remain separated, but that's what the producer Russell T Davies wants. :( )

Series 2, upon rewatching, was more or less a disappointment, though on initial viewing I loved it. But the Mickey trilogy (School Reunion, Girl in Fireplace, Rise of the Cybermen) was great and Mickey is still one of the best things to come out of RTD's vision of the show. Especially his development as time went by.

[xmas74]

6. Agree about Mickey.

Underrated and deserved more focus.

[Deja Q]

5. LOL.

Though, in reality, it is pop culture to an extent and is to the Brits what Trek is to the US.

But Classic Who, even in its most pop-oriented days (and even then it's not easy to use the designation), just didn't seem to be so 'in your face pop' like it is today.

I ought to see it, but I will wait for more reviews plus series 3 to come out. (rewatchability aside, the 10th Doctor's personality is far better than the 9th's...) Though another fave that still is a fave is "Army of Ghosts". Pity its conclusion in "Doomsday" wasn't as thrilling... :(