Dr. Who/Torchwood

[eumaas]

And shit, Flex, if you watch those intervening specials you'll be all caught up in time for the Christmas/New Years specials.

That's the plan.

Rockin'. What ep are you on in S4?

[Flex]

Rockin'. What ep are you on in S4?

12. Right in the middle of the season finale.

I've been working from home pretty exclusively the last couple weeks. It's made it pretty easy to cook through a ton of episodes as I'm working.

[eumaas]

Rockin'. What ep are you on in S4?

12. Right in the middle of the season finale.

I've been working from home pretty exclusively the last couple weeks. It's made it pretty easy to cook through a ton of episodes as I'm working.

Cool. I think I like the S2 finale best. I liked parts of the S4 finale, but I think RTD's getting a little stale. Hope the Xmas/New Years one is step above.

[Flex]

Cool. I think I like the S2 finale best. I liked parts of the S4 finale, but I think RTD's getting a little stale. Hope the Xmas/New Years one is step above.

I'm still in the middle of the S4 finale, but I'll let you know my impressions when I'm done.

I like that Cap'n Jack was hitting on Sarah Jane.

[ThousandStances]

Just finished watching "Waters of Mars". So excited for the Christmas specials now, especially with John Simm back! Fantastic!

[eumaas]

Cool. I think I like the S2 finale best. I liked parts of the S4 finale, but I think RTD's getting a little stale. Hope the Xmas/New Years one is step above.

I'm still in the middle of the S4 finale, but I'll let you know my impressions when I'm done.

Sure. Don't let me color your evaluation, though--I certainly gobbled up the S4 finale when it aired.

I like that Cap'n Jack was hitting on Sarah Jane.

Cap'n Jack is always great fun in a Dr. Who context.

Once I'm done going through S1-S4 I think I'll post a list of favorites from each. Maybe you should do the same? Like in the ST thread?

[eumaas]

Just finished watching "Waters of Mars". So excited for the Christmas specials now, especially with John Simm back! Fantastic!

I'm hoping that tone carries over to the finales.

Oh, and Timothy Dalton! From what depths did they drag him up? As a Time Lord no less. I wonder if this spells resurrection.

[Flex]

Okay, just wrapped up series 4. I loved that all the characters were together from all the different series and spin-offs, and they were all written really well, good interactions, etc.

My complaint is the same I have with some of the episodes of Torchwood - the characters outshone the story they were placed in. The plot itself fell a little flat. I mean, most of these Dalek episodes kind of blend together plot-wise. The specifics of Dalek machinations are getting kinda "meh." Each time we see the Daleks it kind of feels like the same basic story just being told on a progressively larger scale. Which is still fun to watch, but it loses a little of of its zip with each retelling.

I get the same idea that maybe RTD is starting to run out of steam a little story-wise.

The juicy stuff was the rise and fall of Donna Noble, the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled, the appearance of the Torchwood and Sarah Jane casts, etc. That shit was fun as hell.

Sort of a bummer about Donna too, not being able to remember her travels. But, I guess she's returning for the upcoming christmas/new year specials? So, they must get around that somehow. Or maybe her head just explodes...

[eumaas]

the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled

That's probably my biggest issue with S4--kinda dilutes the poignancy of the S2 finale.

[Flex]

the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled

That's probably my biggest issue with S4--kinda dilutes the poignancy of the S2 finale.

I dunno. My immediate reaction to the S2 finale was "there's no way they don't revisit this at some point." So, I see your point, but I guess I diluted the poignancy of the S2 finale as I was watching it myself just by sort of assuming this was going to be an issue brought up down the road.

[eumaas]

the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled

That's probably my biggest issue with S4--kinda dilutes the poignancy of the S2 finale.

I dunno. My immediate reaction to the S2 finale was "there's no way they don't revisit this at some point." So, I see your point, but I guess I diluted the poignancy of the S2 finale as I was watching it myself just by sort of assuming this was going to be an issue brought up down the road.

Ah--you saw it as a loose end, I saw it as a closed book.

I have the same feeling about Donna turning up in these finales--nice to bring her back, I guess, but I kinda like a major loss to stay that way.

[Flex]

the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled

That's probably my biggest issue with S4--kinda dilutes the poignancy of the S2 finale.

I dunno. My immediate reaction to the S2 finale was "there's no way they don't revisit this at some point." So, I see your point, but I guess I diluted the poignancy of the S2 finale as I was watching it myself just by sort of assuming this was going to be an issue brought up down the road.

Ah--you saw it as a loose end, I saw it as a closed book.

I have the same feeling about Donna turning up in these finales--nice to bring her back, I guess, but I kinda like a major loss to stay that way.

I think my expectations are too warped from all the other sci-fi and comics I've read where major losses are rarely permanent. It's just an assumption I have with the genre now, for better or worse (depends on how it's handled, usually).

[eumaas]

the loose threads of Rose et al. being handled

That's probably my biggest issue with S4--kinda dilutes the poignancy of the S2 finale.

I dunno. My immediate reaction to the S2 finale was "there's no way they don't revisit this at some point." So, I see your point, but I guess I diluted the poignancy of the S2 finale as I was watching it myself just by sort of assuming this was going to be an issue brought up down the road.

Ah--you saw it as a loose end, I saw it as a closed book.

I have the same feeling about Donna turning up in these finales--nice to bring her back, I guess, but I kinda like a major loss to stay that way.

I think my expectations are too warped from all the other sci-fi and comics I've read where major losses are rarely permanent. It's just an assumption I have with the genre now, for better or worse (depends on how it's handled, usually).

Well, it's not a major issue for me because Dr. Who in its roots is a kids' show. Now, if Ianto, Tosh, and Owen came back, I would be quite pissed.

[Flex]

Well, it's not a major issue for me because Dr. Who in its roots is a kids' show. Now, if Ianto, Tosh, and Owen came back, I would be quite pissed.

Yeah, that's a good point. It never really occurred to me to seriously consider the dead Torchwood folks to come back. I guess a lot of it has to do with the tone of the series, as you say. With Dr. Who I'd expect more often than not - since, as you say, it's a family show - that the main cast (for the most part) isn't going to end up in a seriously bad way when all is said and done. Maybe sometimes just to keep the viewers honest about their expectations. Doctor Who seems to have a slight case of red shirt syndrome, which might in part be an outgrowth of the family show angle.

Donna's end so far doesn't really jibe with my sense of the show's sensibilities. All that character development and becoming a better person and all that wiped away? Nah, doesn't seem to be in the show's style, at least as I've taken it so far. That's probably why if Rose had never again be revisited (although I expected her to be), I'd have been okay with it. How Donna was left doesn't sit as well with me.

[eumaas]

Well, it's not a major issue for me because Dr. Who in its roots is a kids' show. Now, if Ianto, Tosh, and Owen came back, I would be quite pissed.

Yeah, that's a good point. It never really occurred to me to seriously consider the dead Torchwood folks to come back. I guess a lot of it has to do with the tone of the series, as you say. With Dr. Who I'd expect more often than not - since, as you say, it's a family show - that the main cast (for the most part) isn't going to end up in a seriously bad way when all is said and done. Maybe sometimes just to keep the viewers honest about their expectations. Doctor Who seems to have a slight case of red shirt syndrome, which might in part be an outgrowth of the family show angle.

I should note that the Doctor has had permanent death among his companions before.

Donna's end so far doesn't really jibe with my sense of the show's sensibilities. All that character development and becoming a better person and all that wiped away? Nah, doesn't seem to be in the show's style, at least as I've taken it so far. That's probably why if Rose had never again be revisited (although I expected her to be), I'd have been okay with it. How Donna was left doesn't sit as well with me.

Good point.