Oh the joy /sarcasm

[Marky Lazer]

OK, I think someone is going to bash me head in for this, but what's the deal with Dr. Who? When I lived in Wolverhampton last year, one of my flatmates was a big fan, and she made me watch a few episodes... Well, what's the fuzz? I thought it was all really boring. So... well... what is fuzz!?

[Paige Turner]

Darn. I thought this was going to be a thread about the joys OF sarcasm. I was already composing a haiku and everything.

[Foxbat]

I think, for some of us at least, it's got a bit to do with nostalgia. I grew up with Doctor Who and have many fond memories of not actually watching it(like many children of the time, I was too scared and hid behind the sofa much of the time). I didn't really mind bad plotlines and rubber monsters way back then because I was too young to know any better.

Now, when I see a bad storyline in the new Doctor Who series, it kind of all fits into place with my rose-coloured nostalgia

[nixie]

I'm with Foxbat, I grow up with Doctor Who,and I love it

[Jives]

Daleks. Just plain scary, they are similar to the "berserkers" of Saberhagen fame. Merciless killing machines and way cool.

I guess I liked the series just for the interesting sci-fi concepts and plotlines. I was impressed by the phone booth and it's flagrant disregard for geometry, the out side being smaller than the inside, (something that was stolen for the latest Harry Potter movie) and I liked the "McGyverish" plots where the doctor solved the crisis with some creative combination of wits and small kitchen appliances.

I really only got to watch the Tom ???? (what was his last name?) episodes, but from what I've heard, he was the coolest one any way.

The whole thing had a kind of "Space: 1999" feeling to it to me.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Tom Baker and yes, he was the coolest

I think it's similar to the way people view Blakes Seven, original Battlestar Galactica or Buck Rogers really. You remember enjoying it as a kid and it transports you back to that when you watch old episodes.

Personally I'm young enough to have only ever seen Sylvester McCoy's Dr. Who so I've never really loved it (although I enjoyed the numerous Dr Who books I read) but thought it was ok.

I think the script quality of the current Dr Who incarnation is abysmal though. I honesly believe I could do better and my writing 'talent' is next to zero.

[polymath]

When I was 11 (1981) I'd read every Doctor Who book published to that date. Yup, grew up with it, love it, think the new stuff's great. My wife, OTOH, doesn't even know what Cybermen are. But she does like the new episodes.

Oh, BTW, Marky, I owe you a review still...that had slipped my mind the last few days, I confess.

[Nokia]

I don't think it's boring so much as lame. I have to admit to not really liking any of the characters, and the dialogue always seems too scripted. I've only watched about 3 eps though.

[hermi-nomi]

What is the fuss regarding Doctor Who? I really couldn't say.
I have only been watching it since the new revitalised ninth Doctor, which was fun and charming and different. But more to the point, I think it fills a void in my life that was created when the X-files started going downhill. I have not followed Doctor Who my whole life. I never watched it as a kid ~ it was worthy of piss-taking in the '80's. But I think that since then, sci-fi things have become more cool. I couldn't say why, maybe due to the sucess of films such as X-men? I'm not just jumping on a 'segregated' band wagon either ~ I just happened to give the ninth doctor a chance 'cos I just happened to be watching tv when 'Rose' was first broadcast.

Nokia, it's your choice, but give the programme a chance. Doctor Who, it seems, has never been about being cool. And the scripting etc is not actually aimed at adults (bear the Slitheen episodes in mind hey.)

Oh ~ and that's given me another thought ~ anyone think that the new series (72&73) is very Whedon-ness? Maybe that's the fuss? And maybe that is why the new Doctor Who is proving so popular?

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by hermi-nomi

Oh ~ and that's given me another thought ~ anyone think that the new series (72&73) is very Whedon-ness? Maybe that's the fuss? And maybe that is why the new Doctor Who is proving so popular?

Depends if you mention 'Angel' Whedon or 'Firefly' Whedon.

Different beasts in my eyes

oh, and 'Buffy' Whedon is knocking about somewhere round here too

[Foxbat]

I agree with others here who rate Tom Baker...but let's not forget Patrick Troughton (he of the tartan trews...and it don't come much cooler than that...or perhaps the word I seek is Groovy!!). It was in the Troughton era that my favourite villains (The Cybermen) first made their appearance - and is worth buying on DVD just for the historical value of that fact as far as I'm concerned.

[Marky Lazer]

I don't know about the whole nostalgica thing. The things I liked when I was kid, I don't want to see them anymore, because I'm afraid they appear to be crap and then my picture perfect will be ruined forever.

Originally Posted by polymath

Oh, BTW, Marky, I owe you a review still...that had slipped my mind the last few days, I confess.

Take your time, I'll only threaten you and your family with painful deaths.

[steve12553]

A good friend turned me on the American release of the episode on PBS in late 70s or early 80s. I thought it was kinda hokey but kept watching anyway. It kind of grows on you like an extraterristrial-temporal anomolized fungus or other such growth. Hand me the sonic screwdriver.