What was that about leading apes into hell?

[icepixie]

The 2005 version of Doctor Who has its American premiere on Sci-Fi tonight at 9/8 Central. Two episodes, two hours. (And if you miss them, they rerun at 11:30 PM on Sunday and 10 AM on Monday.)

Why should you watch? Because it can have you laughing, crying, and covering your eyes in terror all in the space of one episode. Because it tackles knotty emotional and moral issues with surprising deftness. Because the actors are phenomenal. Because the premise allows for absolutely anything to happen. Because it is damn funny, often in a campy sort of way that never takes itself too seriously. Because the main character is a 900-year-old alien from a destroyed planet who travels through time in a ship disguised as a 1950s police call box.

It's rather similar to Farscape in many ways: in the heights of imagination it reaches; in the way the characters are intricately drawn and infinitely appealing, while remaining flawed; in the way the aliens, when we see them, are very, very alien; even in the flatulence (just wait until episodes 4 and 5 *eg*).

Like the Stargate series, it has a minimalist sort of arc; references are made to past episodes, but you don't have to see all of them in order not to be lost, like BSG. Guest characters show up again as well.

It has one of the most adorable 'ships known to man in the Doctor and Rose. ADORABLE, I TELL YOU. There is hand-holding, and hugging, and lots of really sweet moments all through the season. It's not highlighted to the point where it takes over the show, but it is definitely in evidence throughout, and it's so cute.

And besides. What else are you gonna watch on Fridays now that SG-1, SGA, and BSG are all off the air until July or October? *g*

I'm really hoping that if enough people watch the first season, Sci-Fi will buy up and show the second in the space left by BSG not coming back until October. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...

Also see this post by mrv3000 and this one by elflore.

ETA: The first episode, "Rose," is quite a bit cheesier than the rest of the season. If you watch it and wonder how a show like that could possibly inspire all the hype it has, give it another one. The second episode, "The End of the World," was what hooked me good and proper on the show.

Comments

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad they're airing the first two episodes at once. I remember when I first watched Rose I thought it was entertaining, but wasn't overly impressed. I also thought I had the show pegged.

But then came End of the World which was completely different from Rose. And then The Unquiet Dead which was again different from the first two. I then realized just how much imagination and creativity was being poured into this series and was hooked. You're right about the Farscape comparison. You never know what you're going to get from episode to episode.

[icepixie]

I totally just made an ETA to this post covering similar territory before reading your comment. Great minds and all that. ;)

Yeah, I remember thinking after Rose, "Uh...pastic monster? Why does this have such a huge following? It must be a British thing." And then EOTW, and yeah. Hooked.

You're right about the Farscape comparison. You never know what you're going to get from episode to episode.

Definitely. Tonally, it seems very much like S1, possibly early S2 Farscape as well. It's particularly similar in how it goes from laugh-until-you-can't-breathe funny to dead serious in thirty seconds.

Well, that and the Doctor and Rose were so frickin' adorable. OMG. :D

*squees*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Great minds and all that. ;)

Naturally. :D

Yeah, I remember thinking after Rose, "Uh...pastic monster? Why does this have such a huge following? It must be a British thing."

Yeah. I had a "huh, this is kinda corny" reaction to the plastic monster too. :D

And then EOTW, and yeah. Hooked.

Yup. And then the addiction set in and the need to see it all NOW. :D

It's particularly similar in how it goes from laugh-until-you-can't-breathe funny to dead serious in thirty seconds.

Yup. And *scary* at times. I won't give away anything for anyone that happens to read your post, but even my *brother* called me after watching The Empty Child and thanked me for traumatizing him. :D

[icepixie]

Yeah. I had a "huh, this is kinda corny" reaction to the plastic monster too. :D

It was very The Avengers-y. I remember ultra-camp villains from that one.

Yup. And *scary* at times. I won't give away anything for anyone that happens to read your post, but even my *brother* called me after watching The Empty Child and thanked me for traumatizing him. :D

Ha! TEC was a bit disturbing, yeah. I don't think I was really out and out terrified until Bad Wolf, though, where I was pretty much screaming into my hand at the end, even when I'd been spoiled silly for it.

[kurayaminokoe.livejournal.com]

heeey don't forget my post! XD

Honestly, it took me a while to sit down and watch doc who while we get the BBC on telly x.x I was too busy with working to watch it (I came home and dropped dead on the couch) and the first ep I saw was the empty child. Honestly, hooked. I remember watching some episodes of doctor who when I was little, but a. english isn't my native language, and b. I could never figure out what exactly was going on etc, also due to the language (while I could understand english just fine/okay, it's kinda hard if you also need to figure out what's happening) so i was a bit worried this would be the same. Plus, billy piper XD.

So, for all potential doc who viewers: You don't need to have seen the older doc who, or have followed it XD. I managed just fine, and Billy Piper plays Rose super! (Much better than her singing XD) This show is so hmm... amazing to watch. Sit down with a bag of chips, drinks etc, and watch dammit! Cause i say so! XD.

Hope you guys get the christmas invasion straight after, season 2 will start here in... april? I forgot, it seemed so damn long when they mentioned it at christmas. So yeah, maaaaybe scifi airs it before the new bsg eps start?

[icepixie]

Yeah, I've never seen any of the old episodes, and only had the vaguest idea of what DW was all about before I watched "Rose." I knew it involved time travel and a large blue box, and that it was British, but beyond that, I had no clue.

I think S2 starts on the BBC on April 15th. The date hasn't been confirmed, but people at Outpost Gallifrey seem pretty confident. I'm really hoping Sci-Fi will air S2 after they finish with S1. It would be perfect timing; the Beeb ought to just be finishing up with its episodes right about the time Skiffy would have to start to get them all aired before BSG comes back.

*knocks on all kinds of wood* Don't want to jinx that, but I'm really hopeful...

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping Sci-Fi will air S2 after they finish with S1.

I read that they were talking about airing S2 with BSG in October. That way they can spread out their lineup. After S1 is done, it'll be about time to start up SG-1/A.

[icepixie]

Oooh. Not as cool as getting it right after S1, but within the same year is pretty good...

[slm76.livejournal.com]

Already decided to watch. I'm just wondering what's going to be edited out to make room for commercials though :(

[icepixie]

The episodes all average around 43 minutes. I don't think Skiffy will need to cut anything. *crosses fingers*

[slm76.livejournal.com]

Oh that's good. Since it's a BBC production I thought it was going to be a full 60 minutes.

[icepixie]

Yeah, I thought that as well. Apparently they had an international distribution in mind from the very beginning. *g*

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Great post...and thanks for the linkage! *g*