Doctor Who/Torchwood

[nolawitch58]

Watch on YouTube

OK. That particle accelerator is definitely a place I want to visit if possible next year when I go to CHF. I mean, they've got a HUGE fucking module they've named Alice. How could I not be attracted?

I never get tired of being able to type a little text and find anything I want online. After Friday's episode of Doctor Who, I surmised that there would be some older shows on YouTube. Ha! There is a metric fuckload of shows, clips, promos, compilation videos and such like. Wow.

My first encounter with the Doctor was during Tom Baker's sojourn. I can't remember what New York station carried the show, but I loved the science fiction/adventure aspect of the plot. Other Doctors were before my time and subsequent Doctors were unavailable after I moved to places without a large TV market or cable. I'm glad I caught up with Doctors number 9 and 10 the past few years.

From a couple of day's perusal of available clips, one thing that impresses is that the character of the Doctor has been consistent since the beginning. Each actor may give the role a specific garnish, but the underlying character remains. On a logistic level, it was brilliance on the part of the writers to make the character something of a shape-shifter. Any actor taking the job knows he can be replaced. He's not likely to get all cocky. Instead, he can channel his talent into doing the best damned Doctor he can. Considering the number of writers the show has been through since its inception, the consistency of character and plotting is phenomenal. I had forgotten that the late, great Douglas Adams was a writer on the show for a while.

The spin-off, Torchwood, broadcasts next weekend on the SciFi channel. I liked the character of Captain Jack Harkness when he dropped in last season. I'm glad they gave him a show of his own. The whole Torchwood concept is reminiscent of the secret researches of the Talamasca in Anne Rice's books, the organization SHADO in UFO, another science fiction series from the UK, and the secret alien corralling crew in the Men in Black movies. The promos on TV and the clips I've seen online make me think it's going to be an excellent show. Fortunately, it's in production by the BBC so there isn't likely to be another stupid move like Fox did with Firefly.

We live in a time of great dichotomy. On one hand, there are the sublime offerings of the best entertainment available such as the above and on the other hand, there is the incessant coverage of those skank twats Paris/Britney/Lindsay/Nicole. As long as I can get my fix of quality, I don't know why I begrudge the brainless hordes their low brow entertainment.

Comments

Can (hopefully) be done ;-).

[saminz.livejournal.com]

Have you found that yet?

I hardly dare mentioning it, but: I have in the meantime managed to take a quick peek at your beloved doctor on the BBC, and I must say that I didn't really find myself all that fascinated - sorries :-). Struck me as a bit childish. It's entirely possible that I caught a substandard episode, of course...

Re: Can (hopefully) be done ;-).

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

No, I hadn't found that before you posted it. We're gonna have so MUCH FUN! I hope to hell you don't mind me dragging you all over the map to see stuff.

The Doctor is an acquired taste. It helps if you get hooked when you're younger I guess. That's when I learned to love a lot of the great BBC science fiction productions. I don't think UFO was from the BBC though.

Re: Can (hopefully) be done ;-).

[saminz.livejournal.com]

I won't mind, promise - as long as you won't mind if we get sort of unlucky weatherwise :-). I have thought of you often these last weeks. It's so unpredictable that chances are you'll see some of everything...

Re: Can (hopefully) be done ;-).

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Weather holds no terror for me. I've lived through a major hurricane. Unless it's snowing when I visit, I won't be the least bothered by the weather. When was the last time there was any snow later than May Day?

Re: Can (hopefully) be done ;-).

[saminz.livejournal.com]

It's fairly common in May/June - won't stay put, usually, though :-).

What is not happening is anything stable for more than 2 days - unless it's rain :-P. Hurricanes we don't have on offer. Not flat enough, I guess. There have been small ones on the Bodensee only - we call them "Windhose" :-D.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm glad they're bringing Torchwood to the US finally. This clip made me somewhat depressed though, thinking about the partially constructed Supercollider in Texas that was dropped by our fabulous government. I used to hang out with particle and high-energy physicists. They are the most insane group of people I've ever met. Lots of fun to drink with, though. And stories... (I mean, stuff like blowing through 100,000 dollars worth or liquid nitrogen in a weekend because you were pissed at your boss...)

Physics was one of my childhood loves (I was interested in doing fusion research when I was in high school). But, then I discovered that physics as a career was more cutthroat than pre-med, and that turned me off (competing for grant money, apparently).

WNET (the PBS station in NY) carried Dr Who. I found it once I moved to Philly, and I think it was the Tom Baker years as well. He and the blonde fellow with the celery on his lapel were my favorite doctors, and I quite liked Teegan or Lela (the 'barbarian' looking companion who was forever threatening people with knives).

It's always been a bit camp and not taking itself too serious.

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

that was me. My cookies are constantly being reset this week for some reason.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

As long as you're not tossing your cookies, you're not in bad shape.

I quite enjoyed Eccleston and find Tennant to be charming as well. Though I haven't seen them all, I would suspect that there hasn't been a bad Doctor in the lot. I don't think the British would stand for it since the show has become such an institution. The only other long-running show over there is Coronation Street.

[lab-rattus.livejournal.com]

I loved the Tom Baker character. My grandmother even knitted a longgggggg scarf for me. (I don't think she liked the show though.) Even told a few people my name was Nissa. I drank allot back then