I just watched the pre-season four Christmas episode, “Voyage of the Damned,” and I’m reminded of a line from my favorite Christmas movie, The Ref: “Sex and drugs and women being set on fire. I’ve never heard of such a Christmas.” The angels using their halos to kill people was a nice touch.
I suppose a Christmas episode called “Voyage of the Damned” should have tipped me off. Still, it was nice to see the Doctor having a little adventure on his own without a companion tagging along in constant peril. It was a fun send-up of disaster movies, too, having more in common with The Poseidon Adventure than Titanic.
I’m really looking forward to season four and Catherine Tate joining the cast. I love, love, love her, so I’ll be tuning in next Friday here in the US to catch the first official episode of the new season.
So I’ve started taking steps to get myself back in the loop with Doctor Who.
My whole experience with Series 3 was somewhat spotty, ‘cause I was watching the few episodes that were available on YouTube before the set was released on DVD. (wanted to go in order, but there were gaps). Was a bit uncomfortable too watching on a computer screen.
Anyhow, I got Series 3 as a gift some time back and it’s just been sitting around for quite awhile on our entertainment center shelf, so last night I thought it’d be best to start over with ‘The Runaway Bride.’ Also got ‘Smith and Jones’ under my belt. I’m on my way… hehe
Oh, and even though I already watched Series 1 of Torchwood, I’m gonna go through those once more before I mingle with Series 2.
The premiere of season four of Doctor Who airs tonight on SciFi! Here’s the official site for times and info. I will be here on the board to blog the new episode starting at 6:00PM (US-PST). If you’re watching, too, feel free to join in!
Catherine Tate! I can’t wait!
CHANCE
—Edited—
Blogging Doctor Who: “Partners in Crime”
SPOILERS AHEAD
It’s great to see Catherine Tate’s name in the opening credits! Now, this is Catherine’s return to the show and this character. She was previously introduced as Donna Noble in Season 3, Episode 0, “The Runaway Bride.” Unfortunately, I haven’t seen that. So this is the first time I’m actually seeing Donna and the Doctor together.
Bloody brilliant episode! More than just the plot, which was fine, it was a great showcase introducing Catherine. There’s a sweetness and a naive quality to her. I wouldn’t have thought to pair her with the Doctor, but she definitely represents the fan who wouldn’t think twice about jumping on board the Tardis and never looking back.
A very sweet episode, with some great comedy elements and one-liners.
The thing about Catherine, is she often really channels some of her characters.
Sometimes Im thinking ‘Oh thats so Lauren!’ or when she said ‘I dunno!!’ in episode 2.. hmm where have I heard that before
But the best bit of channeling was ‘You just want to mate?’ I was expecting ‘How very dare you!’ to follow. Even the facial expressions were there.
Now this isn’t faulting Catherine, I love her. But, I can see how people who didn’t like her sketch show may not like Donna. But so far, I think she’s going to be a hit overall with most fans.
Last nights show was great! Martha’s back, and so are the Sontarans!!! Though they are a little shorter than I remembered them. I think Im going to have to watch some classic Sontaran adventures.
I can remember the Doctor, Lela, and another time lord hiding in the Tardis, while a group of Sontarans and another Time Lord chased them. It was halarious, the doctor was just wandering the hell around his ship and showing off crazy stuff that was in there.
An Art Gallery
An Underground Car Park of some sort
An indoor pool/spa Resort
So you had all these aliens chasing the doctor through his tardis and the Doc stops and wonders where the time lord they were keeping safe is, so they make a few more loops and find him stretched out on a deck chair at the pool/spa sipping a huge drink with crazy straws and umbrellas in it.
Havoc - 27 April 2008 03:52 PM
Last nights show was great! Martha’s back, and so are the Sontarans!!! Though they are a little shorter than I remembered them. I think Im going to have to watch some classic Sontaran adventures.
Okay so would that be ‘The Invasion of Time’? I’m pretty sure Leela only met the Sontarans once (could be wrong, admittedly!) I’ll have to watch that one while Im in a Sontaran mindset
I watched interview where when tom baker left they wanted leela to come back to ease fans who were upset at firing of tom.louise said no but now says she regrets not coming back. i havent heard but in audios romana is president of timelords and leela her bodyguard.?anyone heard?id love to find out how the audios are before i buy.
I don’t know the answer to that question.. but, I did recently buy a few of the audio plays and they are fantastic!
You do feel like you’re missing something.. like the picture :D
But since we can’t have that, its absolutely fantastic that the old Doctors can come back and fill some gaps in their storys. Especially Paul McGann, who never really got a chance to shine. I am really loving his stories with Lucy Miller. Im already liking her as much as any of the other companions, though I suppose it helps that Im a fan of Sheridan Smith anyway. She’d have been so much fun as an on screen companion..
Back to the audio’s.. they are real radio plays. there’s no narration. Its like you’re listening to an episode without watching it. Its a great oppertunity to revisit some old favorites. So many of the old companions are back with their old Doctors. It’s great!
Last night I was doing a Series 2 refresh (Been done with Series 3 for a few days now! yay!), and during the episode ‘Tooth and Claw’, I heard Queen Victoria use the ‘polymath word’ (must’ve missed hearing it the first time around):
“Sir Robert’s father was an example to us all, a polymath, steeped in astronomy and the sciences, yet equally well-versed in folklore and fairy tales.”
Needless to say, I instantly thought: “podcast! Atragon!” during that scene.
i noticed at end of episode they showed what i think was the severed hand in the jar in the tardis?was i right? Very interesting about a daughter,from the blonde hair maybe rose is the mom?That would be pretty soap opera sick if she used his dna to make baby!Most likely the previous torchwood or unit created her. I dont think that they would bring back characters from the 60s?I will go mad guessing and waiting! rose must be warning the doctor,probably building to the end episode finale!
There could be infinate possibilities. He had kids while he was in his ‘John Smith’ persona..
We already know he had a grandaughter. She’s got to be a Time Lady surely..
I have no objection to them bringing in characters associated with the classic series, they’ve done it before.
Mostly, I love that she’s Peter Davisons daughter, so she really, really is.. the Doctors daughter She looks a LOT like her mum Sandra Dickinson too.
OOooh, she’s the Daughter of the Fifth Doctor, and Trillion from HHG
I can not wait for the next episode, What villians will be in the episode,any one know????????
The ‘villains’ were called ‘The Hath’
BY the way i just watched the first 5 primeval episodes on youtube,I’m lovin it!
I heard bbc america will show it,but I’m not sure will show older seasons???Some cuties on there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Primeval’s not been shown yet?
Season 2 was better than 1. Nice cliff hanger at the end. Well, not exactly a cliff hanger.. more a revelation, even though we all know a certain character is not really to be trusted
I knew Sky was remaking Blakes 7, but I didn’t hear about it being a six parter. I wonder if they’ll have the ‘Blakes 7 ending’ (which has become a known term here now for when everybody dies )
Didn’t know about Audios..
Apparently Primeval was made for the BBC, but they sold it to ITV here in the UK. I guess they felt they were biting off more sci fi than they could chew.
It’s a shame really because it could have led to a more inclusive universe and maybe even a crossover..
Anyway, after seeing ‘The Doctors Daughter’ I smell another potential spin off
I dunno… I can imagine a Rose series being dropped, because she’s just too close to the Doctor. The Doctors Daughter could spin off into an entirely different thing much like Torchwood..
Imagine a Doctor Who/Buffy style show? It could work, if they gave it a shot.
I’m almost caught up with Season Four. I just have one more to watch. I think Catherine is doing a really splendid job as Donna. I was a little worried at first, but she’s really growing into the character. I like that she’s always questioning the Doctor. She doesn’t just blindly follow him around and do what he says. I just watched the Pompeii episode and the Ood episode. Ugh. The Ood are creepy.
SPOILERS
I’m a little worried about the Ood’s prediction that the Doctor’s song is almost over. I would be sad to lose David Tennant.
Holy crap! I just checked IMDB. I didn’t realize David Tennant was Barty Crouch, Jr. in Goblet of Fire. I’m going to have to watch that again.
More possible speculative spoilers -
DONT read this if you want to avoid what COULD be a huge spoiler, or might be a load of old tosh.
There’s been some speculation that his song is about his guilt over losing Rose into a parallel universe, and this could all be resolved by the end of the series, meaning his sad song would be over and he could now sing.
However… someone who seems in the know has said there is definately a regeneration at the end of the series, but wouldn’t say if it’s our Doctor.. Could another Doctor be turning up??
David Tennant is supposed to be signed up for the 3 specials in 2009, but theres a really bizarre rumour that he may be playing The Master. In the old series, TimeLords have been known to ‘choose’ faces before and The Master has cheated death repeatedly. Since ‘The Rani’ picked up his ring, theres no way we’ve seen the last of him.
She looks a LOT like her mum Sandra Dickinson too. 
)
