# Dr WHO - 5/21 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968 "2005-05-22T18:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/1 "2005-05-22T18:02:49Z")
Wonderfully creepy, wasn’t it? The new Doctor is really growing on me. Apart from the farting space babies on stereoids it’s been a solid run so far. I didn’t know this was gonna be a two parter, but when there was just a couple of minutes left, I started hoping for a 2nd part, as wrapping it up would have meant serious cheating. Eccleston might grow into my number two spot after Tom Baker. It’s too bad he won’t do another season. I understand the concern about type casting, but I don’t think two seasons would do that. I liked the morphing, which, while not great, was much better than I’d expect from a fairly low budget tv show, And the cg shots with blimps over London was pretty good too. All in all a very solid episode. ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/2 "2005-05-22T18:22:13Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > Wonderfully creepy, wasn’t it? > > The new Doctor is really growing on me. Apart from the farting space babies on stereoids it’s been a solid run so far. I didn’t know this was gonna be a two parter, but when there was just a couple of minutes left, I started hoping for a 2nd part, as wrapping it up would have meant serious cheating. > > Eccleston might grow into my number two spot after Tom Baker. It’s too bad he won’t do another season. I understand the concern about type casting, but I don’t think two seasons would do that. > > I liked the morphing, which, while not great, was much better than I’d expect from a fairly low budget tv show, And the cg shots with blimps over London was pretty good too. > All in all a very solid episode. The morphing was supposed to have a sound effect of a crunching skull but it didn’t get past the censors. The 2 part episodes seem to be better than than the single episode ones, they seem less rushed. I guess they made the episodes 45mins long instead of 1 hour to sell it abroard, which is a shame as the single episodes may feel more complete if they were a little bit longer. This is the only Dr Who series I really remember (I’m 23 and I only have sketchy memories of the older ones) and I like the mix of drama, suspense, humour (especially the contempory jokes such as the mobile/cell phone gag last night). Billie Piper is good as Rose, it’s nice to hear a non-Queen’s English, non-regional accent for a change. Dr Who is now one of the 2 TV shows I aim to watch each week, which surprised me as I assumed it would be crap. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/3 "2005-05-22T19:01:16Z")
> [@Tuco](#): > > The morphing was supposed to have a sound effect of a crunching skull but it didn’t get past the censors. To be accurate, it didn’t get past the producers. No censors were involved – the production team simply felt that the sound effect was out of place. ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/4 "2005-05-22T20:01:13Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > To be accurate, it didn’t get past the producers. No censors were involved – the production team simply felt that the sound effect was out of place. You’re right, my mistake. [Link](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4557853.stm) to BBC story where the producer says: > [@BBC](#): > > We watched it for the first time and said that was crossing over the line because it was a bit too horrible. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/5 "2005-05-22T22:02:29Z")
Some clot of a scheduler at the BBC decided to put it on half an hour earlier than usual (with the FA Cup Final on, wouldn’t it have been better t put it on _later_, because of the possibility of extra time/penalties etc?) so I missed it! Thank buggery for the repeat BBC3, which I will watch later… ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/6 "2005-05-23T07:39:07Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > The new Doctor is really growing on me. … > > Eccleston might grow into my number two spot after Tom Baker. It’s too bad he won’t do another season. I understand the concern about type casting, but I don’t think two seasons would do that. Eccleston certainly rates as one of the better Doctors, I particularly like the fact that he uses more slang than previous Doctors and continually refers to people as “mate”, which here in the UK we do a lot. I enjoyed the whole episode, like you said, very creepy, lots of good build up and by making it a two parter they didn’t have to resort to the star trek ending (wrapping it all up in the last 30 seconds with a load of stupid technobabble). Once again my daughter (4) was scared, but she insists upon watching. I’m beginning to see the logic of making the DVD releases a 12 certificate. Another interesting plot strand seems to be that without the timelords there is a growing number of time travelling privateers with criminal or causality threatening agendas. Which leads me on to the Captain, he seems like a good character, who given his time travel capabilities he could make a recurring foil for the Doctor and Rose, particularly as he seems to have romantic inclinations towards Rose. The Doctor could be very threatened by this. Having been brought up on the original series, I am always impressed by the standard of the effects in comparisson. No more wobbly sets and even the rubber aliens look more realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/7 "2005-05-23T09:28:26Z")
> [@seosamh](#): > > Some clot of a scheduler at the BBC decided to put it on half an hour earlier than usual They gave plenty of warning; they announced the time change at the end of last week’s episode. I altered my recording times there and then. Just not sure when it’s on next week now… 🙂 Good episode this week. Though the lead up to the barrage balloon was a bit rubbish… Oh no! There’s a child up there on what could easily be a perfectly safe rooftop balcony. I have to run up there immediately! And the Doctor was acting a bit slow on the uptake in working out that it was the middle of WWII. He’s a time lord, he’s supposed to be sensitive to that sort of thing. Excellent effects though. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/8 "2005-05-23T10:50:21Z")
> [@Futile Gesture](#): > > They gave plenty of warning; they announced the time change at the end of last week’s episode. Maybe. But wasn’t about last week so I taped it and didn’t keep watching. Of course, the different time was in all the listings and I should not simply have assumed that it would be on at 7, the same time as all the previous episodes had been shown. But there was absolutely no reason to shift it! (A mate of mine used to be a scheduler on BBC2 - I’ll seek his professional opinion…) ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/9 "2005-05-23T13:44:01Z")
Another good episode. I’m looking forward to the second part. In other good news, the DVDs are starting to be released before the end of this month. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/10 "2005-05-23T14:29:55Z")
I’ve had a response from the scheduler which stated the bleedin’ obvious (which I missed :smack: ) - the early start of Dr Who was necessary to ensure that the start of the Eurovision Shite Contest was not missed. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/11 "2005-05-23T15:14:33Z")
I’ve just read that [Billie Piper](http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1182855,00.html) is quitting. It’s not looking good for the next series. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/12 "2005-05-23T16:39:13Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#): > > I’ve just read that [Billie Piper](http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1182855,00.html) is quitting. It’s not looking good for the next series. ☹ On the contrary, things are looking fucking A, to me. The writters are staying on, the fans are staying on. and the ratings couldn’t be better. \*\*\*\*\* I mean, do you really think that all the fans will decide to watch wrestling, instead of Who when the find that the next season will not have rose? Besides, anyone who has read the episode titles knows that the last episode would see the departure of young Ms. Tyler. \*\*\*\*\* From [rec.arts.drwho.moderated](http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.arts.drwho.moderated?hl=en) > [@Nigel](#): > > Ratings for ‘The Empty Child’; > > BBC1 : Dr Who - 6.6m (Audience Share 34.9%) > ITV1 : Star Wars - 3.5m (for the first half - Audience Share 19%), 4.2m (for > the second - Audience Share 22.1%) > [@J.B.](#): > > For the first time ever in its history, under any sort of circumstances, > Doctor Who is bigger than Star Wars. > > Cheers, > Jon Blum ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/13 "2005-05-23T16:39:31Z")
I’ll admit I’m growing more and more disappointed that Eccleston will be leaving after this season, but new Doctors and companions leaving are hardly unprecedented for Doctor Who. As long as the writing is good, I’m not worried. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/14 "2005-05-24T21:30:52Z")
> [@Stryfe](#): > > I enjoyed the whole episode, like you said, very creepy, lots of good build up and by making it a two parter they didn’t have to resort to the star trek ending (wrapping it all up in the last 30 seconds with a load of stupid technobabble). Once again my daughter (4) was scared, but she insists upon watching. Your 4-year-old daughter was scared? Hell, the “Empty Child” had _me_ feeling pretty damn nervous … ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/15 "2005-05-25T14:09:56Z")
I agree about Rose leaving next season…it’s not that big of a deal. Not that many companions have had a long run with one Doctor and a long run with a 2nd Doctor. After being the companion all thru the 9th Doctor’s reign, it would only make sense for her to leave part-way thru the next run. I just hope they can get a new companion who works as well with the new Doctor as Rose has with Doctor #9… ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/16 "2005-05-25T15:59:04Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Besides, anyone who has read the episode titles knows that the last episode would see the departure of young Ms. Tyler. I hate to tell you but it’s not Rose who’s “parting” in episode 13… ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/17 "2005-05-26T09:03:42Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I hate to tell you but it’s not Rose who’s “parting” in episode 13… She doesn’t leave until after a few episodes in the next series. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/18 "2005-05-26T09:13:52Z")
> [@MacSpon](#): > > Your 4-year-old daughter was scared? Hell, the “Empty Child” had _me_ feeling pretty damn nervous … I know what you mean. As a lifelong fan of the series I have to say that there is much more suspense and action in the new series than the original. As for Billie Piper Leaving, it’s as shame, but as people have said, the series will continue, as long as the quality of the writing remains high. I’m sure that David Tennant will make an excellent Doctor and as long as the chemistry is there with the new assistant all will be well. Nothing to get worried about. I was initially quite angry that Eccleston was leaving, largely because he is such a good Doctor, but change is the name of the game and I am now quite happy that a new generation will be introduced to the concept of regeneration. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/19 "2005-05-27T10:17:31Z")
I read some names for the new assistant on [Ananova](http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_1408882.html) yesterday. Jennifer Ellison (ex Brookside and Hell’s Kitchen, failed wannbe popstar) is apparently front runner, followed by Zoe from East Enders, and somebody from Footballers’ Wives, which I’ve never watched so can’t hold an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968/20 "2005-05-27T10:45:20Z")
Ohh, Michelle Ryan is hot hot hot and can act. I hope she gets it. Jennifer Ellison’s accent would just drive me up the wall. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-5-21/304968.md?page=2)