29.04: Daleks in Manhattan

[Leisha]

Originally Posted by SpaceShip

Isn't it on again tonight or maybe tomorrow on BBC3?

You're right. I've checked on the tv listings and it's:

20:00 : Doctor Who
20:45 : Doctor Who Confidential

Sunday 22nd April

[Leisha]

Originally Posted by SpaceShip

Reminded me of a certain green friend of ours who's name begins with P and who is very good at the abbreviation game! Do you think they've been peeking in at us and stealing our identities. Who's next you might ask!

They'll have dog heads next week! Arghhh!

[Val Tyler]

I find the Daleks dull, dull, dull. Such a pity after two excellent Dr Who episodes. I think its time to retire them. Sink plungers no longer work for me!

Val Tyler

[PTeppic]

They've been losing it a bit since they could fly, for me. Somehow the CGI flying, the CGI massed armies, even the CGI opening up have all weakened the Daleks. Hmmm, was there a pattern there?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by PTeppic

I know this is the remnants from the Cult of Skaro, specifically developed/bred/modified to be different from normal Daleks. They seem to have the ability of imagination, though this also seems to have led to options, alternatives and decision-making. They're almost on the verge of democracy!

Originally Posted by Dr.Jackson

It seems that the Cult of Skaro have let things slip a bit. Fair enough, there's only four of them, but surely that should make them more vigilant instead of in-fighting, losing people and possibly going a bit soft (in the head as well, apparently).

I watched this again and what I missed the first time was that the Emperor Dalek had assigned the Cult of Skaro the mission to find new ways to reproduce themselves. So these are not your average, normal Daleks. These are geeky, nerdy Daleks. They probably aren't the best Daleks to reproduce a new Dalek race from, but they are all that are left. That might explain why they are acting strangely anyway.

On the subject of plot-holey things, the only thing that I found odd was the huge sewer manhole backstage of the theatre. I just couldn't understand why it would be there other than to serve the storyline.

[PTeppic]

You mean you don't have an ominously large man-hole in your basement...?

[Kostmayer]

Wish I did, I love places like that.

No really.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by Dave

These are geeky, nerdy Daleks.

Fantastic!

"You-Believe-Next-Generation-Inferior-To-Deep-Space-Nine? Exterminate! Exterminate!"

I've been enjoying series three up till now, but this episode felt hugely streched out, like butter over too much bread (JRR Tolkien TM) and you could tell where it was going within the first 10 minuits. The Dalek hybrid is a bit daft. It's like trading the protection and firepower of a Panzer tank for running around in a Fiat Punto. I'm amazed that the Dalek's didn't simply exterminate Martha when she "demanded" to know what thier plan was. Also, the Doctor isn't exactly hard to spot in the huddle of prisoners, so the Daleks are clearly going blind. And although the Doctor is has millions of species to keep track of, I'm certain that anything Dalek-y would be burned deep into his instincts.
Oh well.
It had dancing showgirls and that made me happy.

I do hope that the second episode has a bit more content, a less obvious plot and less filler.

[PTeppic]

What is particularly odd is what it was that the Doctor found that needed analysing. It was a piece of green gloop - it's hardly a part of a living Dalek so must be some part of an experiment: so how come it's halfway down a tunnel. A little too convenient. They must have been running short on finding him a way of working out it was his favourite nemeses.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by PTeppic

It was a piece of green gloop -

What's more, it looked like an important piece of green gloop!

[SpaceShip]

Oh no - Py's a Dalek in disguise!

[PTeppic]

Painting yourself green after de-evolving isn't much of a disguise... though I agree calling Pyan "Sec" might be going too far...

Having just re-watched the ep, there's no plausible reason why the gloop, important or otherwise to the Daleks and their experiments (and even of only questionable value to the Doctor except to fill time and mention the name of planet Skaro, since he'd see it was the Daleks for himself about three minutes later and would have gone searching for Martha even if he didn't know the one-eyed escapologists were down in the sewers) was lying around in the sewer, a long way from the lab.

As per Coolhand, I suspect they've a cracking overall plot, with much to fill the second half (at least, here's hoping: all they have to do is find a way to stop the Daleks, when three are still shielded and their weaponry is basic at best, and we don't yet know Sec's abilities: telepathy was hinted at by Diagoras). I suspect the writers just found they'd written the episode slightly skewed and the big Sec-human-hybrid revelation ended up slightly after half-way in the plot. So they've therefore padded the first half to bring the reveal back to the leading edge of the intermission.

[SpaceShip]

Is it me - or was tonight's episode (part 2) awful? I was bored stiff but watched through to the bitter end because I just don't miss any of the doctor. Next week's episode looks brilliant but not wanting to give anything away for those taping tonight's episode or watching it tomorrow - it was dire!

[Dave]

I'm just about to go and watch it

But we should start a new thread for the second part.