Question about the new Doctor Who show.

[trotsky]

I've been able to watch episodes 1 and 2 so far. (Thank you, BitTorrent!!!) In Episode 2 (I think it was called "The End of the Earth"), we find out from the Doctor that Gallifrey has been destroyed and he's the last Time Lord.

Whoa! What did I miss? Granted, I haven't done very well at keeping up with the Whoniverse, I don't know if the FOX movie is considered canon, but I had not heard anything about Gallifrey being destroyed. Is this something that was already known, or are we going to learn more about it as the new series progresses?

And what sense does it make for Gallifrey to be "destroyed," anyway? They're all Time Lords - shouldn't they have visited the future, seen the destruction, then come back to prevent it or something?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. I'm guessing that's something that's likely to be revealed later

So far it's episode 7 out of 14 and they haven't touched upon it yet.

"And what sense does it make for Gallifrey to be "destroyed," anyway? They're all Time Lords - shouldn't they have visited the future, seen the destruction, then come back to prevent it or something?"

You're supposed to forget anything like that when 'time travel' enters science fiction. :)

By the way, episode 3 is very good, as is episode 6. But I think they've all been good except episode 1.

[trotsky]

2. Ah, you don't know how glad I am to hear that.

I think they've all been good except episode 1.

Overall I was disappointed with episode 1 too. I mean, it was great seeing the Doctor and the TARDIS again but the storyline sucked. (What was the point of introducing the guy who had picked the Doctor out from historical photographs, only to have him killed 5 minutes later by a plastic mannequin?)

I have my own theory on the Gallifrey-Time Lord timeline thing - I don't know if Who canon contradicts or supports it, though.

My thoughts are that the planet of Gallifrey and all the Time Lords are based on their own "universal" time. Maybe it ties into the Matrix. Anyway, it keeps Time Lords from interfering with their own history. That helps explain why the Doctor, the Master, Rani, all interact with each other on the same timeframe w.r.t. the characters. As in, each interaction takes place "after" the last one - guaranteed. Otherwise you'd have things like the Master "knowing" he would be defeated in one battle because in *his* past he encounters a future Doctor.

So as time passes for Time Lords, no matter what time or place they're in, the similar time amount is passing for Gallifrey. Like they all share one (or would it be two? ;-) heartbeat. Is that clear as mud?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. Episode 8 (that I've just watched) is about the implications

of the time travel. So it might be up your street. It was a very good episode, especially the character acting.

[trotsky]

7. I'm caught up through 7 now.

Saw the preview for 8, I see what you mean.

I was blown away by episode 6: Dalek. Best episode so far, IMHO. Really curious now as to what precipitated that Last Time War and what role the Doctor had in destroying the Daleks and the Time Lords. Hat's off to the BBC, they've really brought this series back strong.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. I agree. Dalek is my favourite episode so far

I'm also curious about the Last Time War, I hope they expand on it in the future - which I'm suspecting they will.

[trotsky]

9. Didn't the BBC have a dispute with Terry Nation's estate?

I thought I heard about some issue they had where TN's estate wasn't going to let them use Daleks in the new series. Apparently they resolved that in a way that will allow for continuity (no more Daleks in the Whoniverse) - but wouldn't you think his family have preferred further royalties instead of one little episode?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

10. Yes, it does seem odd not me.

I do hold out hope that they will find a way for the Daleks to return, it would be a huge shame not to. I'm sure the estate of Terry Nation and the BBC will come to some sort of agreement. I wonder if they're just playing hardball because the money offered isn't enough?

[trotsky]

11. That's what confuses me.

If the estate was holding out, or wouldn't come to an agreement, why agree to a single episode by which the series could then easily explain the future absence of Daleks? Oh well, the episode still rocked. Never thought I could have felt pity for a Dalek.

[trotsky]

12. Wow, 8 really was good.

I'm more and more impressed with this incarnation of the show. Like you say, some really great acting.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

13. Episode 9 was on tonight

Another good one. This one is a two-part story.

[salvorhardin]

3. I liked episode 1

You've got to admit it's gotta be hard to jumpstart a television series with a 40+ year canon and I saw the ridiculous autons and the cheezy effects (like the Doctor being strangled by the detached auton arm) as being a sort of tongue-in-cheek homage to the origins of the series. Yeah, the acting was kind of flat but it was the first episode. Since then though, each week I've been absolutely captivated by every show. Given the subtle social commentaries that are often underlying the shows (although this past week's was rather blatant) I see it as the best sci-fi/fantasy on TV right now.

[trotsky]

4. Watched 3 last night.

Cool. It's nice to see that they can still write a good story without over-relying on modern special effects. (Though the effects were sweet.)

Still, one thing I don't like about the new series is how quickly a show all plays out. This should be an hour show at least, with 2-parters for deeper storylines. More like the original series, with short multi-part episodes.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. There are some 2-part shows coming up

Episodes 4 & 5 is a 2-part story.