# ...the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2013, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485 "2013-02-16T08:55:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/61 "2013-03-30T19:04:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Looking forward to seeing tonights episode. I’m curious how the Doctor finds Clara again. As are we. The first Doctor Who in six months! Aside from the Xmas special, of course. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/62 "2013-03-30T22:10:48Z")
First review: > **[Doctor Who – review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/mar/30/doctor-who-review)** > > The first episode of the new series, in its 50th anniversary year, was complex, cutting edge and rather silly. But most of all it was splendid, writes Euan Ferguson Available on the iPlayer (VPN, etc): > **[Doctor Who - Series 7: 7. The Bells of Saint John](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rryzz/doctor-who-series-7-7-the-bells-of-saint-john)** > > The search for Clara brings the Doctor to London, where something deadly is in the Wi-Fi. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/63 "2013-03-31T00:46:16Z")
Wow. That was a home run. No, a grand slam home run. Perfectly satisfying story. [spoiler]Summer Falls by Amelia Williams. (A nice call back.) “[Chapter] Ten. Eleven’s the best. You’ll cry your eyes out.” (I’m guessing Matt collaborated on the script. :D) RYCBAR123 (Run you clever…) “I’m ever so fond of Alexei. My conscience says we should probably kill him.” “I’ll inform HR.” (Sounds like my office.) “It’s like immortality. Only fatal.” (Yeah, that’s a bit of a downside. Remind me to send Ray Kurzweil a tweet.) “There’s something in the Wi-Fi. OK. This whole world is swimming in Wi-Fi. We’re living in a Wi-Fi soup! Suppose something got inside it. Suppose there was something living in the Wi-Fi, harvesting human minds, extracting them. Imagine that. Human souls trapped like flies in the World Wide Web, stuck for ever, crying out for help.” “Isn’t that basically Twitter?” (Bazinga!) “I do love London. So many cameras.” (Hell, I noticed that twelve years ago.) “Clara Oswald for the win! Oswin!” (Another piece of the puzzle fitted.) and… “Snog Box!”:D[/spoiler] Instant classic. Worth the wait and the glacial dribble of episodes this last year. Only five episodes between the last two Xmas eps? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/64 "2013-03-31T01:04:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > There are a couple of cool things about Spearhead. It’s the first time we see The Doctor pick out his new outfit. We also learn that he has a tattoo. What I find interesting is that in the show with the message cubes, one of the Timelords is apparently known for the tattoo of a snake … :dubious: could that be a subtle call out to Jon Pertwee? I know that people will hate me, but I prefer nu-Who. Having been watching the old ones that are now available on netflix and judicious youtubing, I find the old Who less compelling. I think I enjoyed them so much because they were the odd man out shows, Science Fiction on television. Having been a fan of SF and fantasy, I had to generally watch the midnight movies to get my fix as I really did not like Star Trek all that much [I always thought Shatner was an asshat and scene hogged way too much.] The Doctor pretty much annoyed the piss out of me. If there is a big red button, he will push it. If there is a door that says entry forbidden, he is through it like a shot. If there is someway to piss off the big bad dude, he will figure it out. So frequently there is something that could finish the problem off without pissing off or getting trapped by the bad guy, but obviously if you fix the problem in the first 5 minutes there isn’t 30 minutes + commercials :dubious::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/65 "2013-04-01T03:52:30Z")
This was the first time I’ve seen _Spearhead From Space_. I already knew about the Autons because Rory was one in Nu Who. They were a lot scarier in Spearhead. The story started off really slow. It took a long time before the Doctor was out of the hospital and actually doing anything. I can see why the Brigadier became such a well loved Who character. Even in this first episode his relationship with the Doctor was very interesting. The Documentary on the third doctor was well done. He seemed to be a personal favorite of Steven Moffat. I always learn a lot about classic Who from Steven’s comments. He really knows this show well. It’s pretty obvious _Bells of Saint John_ was Steven’s way of acknowledging the Third Doctor. Especially the action scenes with the motorcycle were exactly what you’d expect from the Third Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/66 "2013-04-02T17:53:06Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I really hope we get the chance to see Ten and Eleven together. They attended the same read-through, so I guess that they have some scenes together. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/67 "2013-04-02T17:56:27Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > They attended the same read-through, so I guess that they have some scenes together. Yep, saw that and it made me very happy! Made me even happier when I saw the shot of Ten’s TARDIS, which means that likely we’re going to have the “real” Doctor, not his clone. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/68 "2013-04-03T00:27:39Z")
[Zygons](http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/The-Zygons-Return-for-the-50th-Anniversary-Special)! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/69 "2013-04-03T00:45:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > [Zygons](http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/The-Zygons-Return-for-the-50th-Anniversary-Special)! Awesome! I loved their one story from the Baker years, was always hoping they would return in the new series. But they can leave their pet Loch Ness Monster at home. not that impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/70 "2013-04-03T19:23:53Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Awesome! I loved their one story from the Baker years, was always hoping they would return in the new series. > > But they can leave their pet Loch Ness Monster at home. not that impressive. When was a dinosaur ever impressive looking on Who? The caption for the picture of the monster [on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_of_the_Zygons) is hilarious beside the goofy looking image. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/71 "2013-04-03T20:27:33Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > When was a dinosaur ever impressive looking on Who? Except for the velociraptors, I thought all the _Dinosaurs on a Spaceship_ looked pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/72 "2013-04-03T23:39:30Z")
Can I just mention that I’d like to strangle whoever it is at BBCA that is futzing with the aspect ratio on the classic episodes? They show them right in the retrospective part of the specials, then the story starts and HEY EVERYONE WE’ER ALL STRETCHED OUT AND FUNNY LOOKING Oddly, it only started with the 2nd doctor special, the one for the 1st doctor looked right. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/73 "2013-04-29T05:40:20Z")
The 4th Doctor is on tonight. It’s been pretty good so far. I’ve heard about _Pyramids of Mars_ for years. Glad that I got to see it. Sutekh is a good villain for the Doctor to fight. Sarah Jane looks so young. I’m used to seeing her on the Sarah Jane Adventures. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/74 "2013-04-29T06:36:07Z")
The 4th Doctor dealt ruthlessly with Sutekh at the very end. There wasn’t much else that good be done to protect the earth. Usually I think of the 4th Doctor as comedic but he was pretty serious throughout _Pyramids of Mars_. Goes to show that the New Who Doctors aren’t any more ruthless than the classic ones. It all depends on the situation and what options are available. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/75 "2013-04-29T14:51:30Z")
I enjoyed this one–I’d seen it before because it’s one of those on Netflix (we’re slowly working our way through the Old Who there–I’m really bummed that most of the episodes aren’t available) but I liked it enough that I watched it again. The spouse and I were still trying to figure out why the mummies had those big prows under their chest wrappings, though. We figure they’re either lady mummies or they’re hiding duck bills under there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/76 "2013-04-29T15:12:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The 4th Doctor dealt ruthlessly with Sutekh at the very end. There wasn’t much else that good be done to protect the earth. Usually I think of the 4th Doctor as comedic but he was pretty serious throughout _Pyramids of Mars_. > > Goes to show that the New Who Doctors aren’t any more ruthless than the classic ones. It all depends on the situation and what options are available. Doctor Four straight up murdered Solon in The Brain of Morbius. ---
**Author:** ![Nuveena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@Nuveena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuveena)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/77 "2013-04-29T17:34:59Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I enjoyed this one–I’d seen it before because it’s one of those on Netflix (we’re slowly working our way through the Old Who there–I’m really bummed that most of the episodes aren’t available) but I liked it enough that I watched it again. I hate that three of the four episodes they’ve shown on these specials are some of the very few that are available on Netflix instant. Show me something I haven’t seen. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/78 "2013-04-29T17:38:06Z")
> [@Nuveena](#): > > I hate that three of the four episodes they’ve shown on these specials are some of the very few that are available on Netflix instant. Show me something I haven’t seen. Yeah, exactly! I’ve taken to watching episodes on DailyMotion.com–they’re chopped into 10 minute chunks, but at least they’re out there. I’d really rather watch them on TV, though. Get with the program, Netflix! It’s the 50th anniversary. Doctor Who is huge right now. Get some more episodes! ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/79 "2013-04-29T19:42:02Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I’d really rather watch them on TV, though. Get with the program, Netflix! It’s the 50th anniversary. Doctor Who is huge right now. Get some more episodes! Tell that to the BBC in the UK itself, who haven’t shown a classic Who episode for a long long time. I’m also peeved that some of their DVD releases (Claws of Axos, The Ark in Space) are getting special edition re-releases, with further refined video. Perhaps when I get Netflix or Lovefilm myself I’ll not have to worry so much about that, but I do hope that the streaming services include the excellent extras that Who DVDs include. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485/80 "2013-04-29T20:04:55Z")
I think the issue may be broadcast rights, not Netflix. That said. I was hoping it would be Genesis of the Daleks. Here’s hoping the show for Doctor Five is anything but the god-awful Caves of WHosi-whatsit. I need my Tegan Javanka fix. Mawdrin Undead would be good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-who-50th-anniversary-thread/650485.md?page=5)