Doctor Who is Here to Stay in the U.S.
The mysterious traveler. He can only be identified with his longest-standing companion… a time machine shaped like a 1950s British Police box. His adventures stretch across time and space. He is also the last of his own people. Literally. He's a wandering soul lost in the universe.
Doctor Who is hitting the U.S. airwaves again on the Sci-Fi channel on Sept. 29.
The first season was like an adrenaline rush. The second time around sees the new series settling in its stride. The stories more focused, the characters painted with broad strokes of background stories.
The second season starring David Tennant as the Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose gives strong indication that the series is picking up audiences in the U.S. That’s a good sign. The popularity isn’t fading out. It’s growing.
During the last few seconds of the previous season, before the series came to a rushing halt, we watched through the eyes of Rose, helpless, as the Doctor changed into an entirely different person. Now played by Tennant. A physcial transformation. The series has always been written through the point of view of the small-time shop girl from London. Rose.
There are some great episodes including the moody piece “Tooth and Claw” by the head writer Russell T. Davies who brings does well to bring in some supernatural elements into the series, running through a number of horror genres. Interestingly, the Doctor Who series never did a werewolf story before. It’s one of the best stories of the season.
Davies is really swinging this stuff. He’s bringing a lot of good writing into the series and never allows for the series to be overtaken by the special effects. The stories always take center stage. It’s a priority.
The horror elements continue in a standout two-part “Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit” by Matt Jones. Again, the supernatural elements are used cleverly, tied down by mythic, religious ideals. The supernatural is pushed into the background, giving the audiences a chance to make up their minds about the true nature of evil.
The mammoth episode is extremely tense, nerve-wracking stuff picking up bits from “Aliens” and “Event Horizon,” creating a very memorable show. Loaded with gothic trappings. Everyone gets a chance to shine in the episode and the Doctor works through the people around him, inspiring those to help themselves. Belief, not science, was what saved the Doctor’s life.
One of the more genuine moments is the episode “School Reunion” where the Doctor meets up with a companion from the past. In the form of Sarah Jane Smith played still with much gusto by Elizabeth Sladen. There’s a sadness in the episode because the Doctor’s loneliness is played up a bit. And the effects he has on other people. The Doctor takes a job as a schoolteacher to investigate the going-ons in a children’s school.
There’s plenty of fun moments such Sarah’s seeing the time-machine for the first time in 28 years, K-9’s first appearance or Rose first meeting Sarah. There’s plenty of clawing and pawing, like cats fighting, between the girls. But eventually they become good friends. Mickey isn’t an idiot as usual in this episode.
But Rose’s story isn’t done. Not yet.
It's been known that Piper left the series still on a high note.
In the final two-parter, set against the ferocious battle between the Daleks and Cyberman, there’s a smaller story about Rose’s departure from the string of adventures she’s been so used to. She would never leave the Doctor. She loved the thrill of the ride, the rush of danger. She is cut off from everything she had taken for granted.
The parallel universe story has broken the traveling soul mates apart—it’s virtually impossible for them to get back together. But look what the Doctor did for her. Rose has gained back her family through second chances, her boyfriend Mickey is with her, her father alive now. It’s a small price to pay for traveling with the world-weary person like the Doctor.
Now I envy you for seeing these episodes for the first time. Sit back, you’ll enjoy them. There’s a lot of catching up to do. But you can watch the growth of these main characters. And in the end, you might shed a tear by the cosmic break-up between loved ones.
Doctor Who is hitting the U.S. airwaves again on the Sci-Fi channel on Sept. 29.
The first season was like an adrenaline rush. The second time around sees the new series settling in its stride. The stories more focused, the characters painted with broad strokes of background stories.
The second season starring David Tennant as the Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose gives strong indication that the series is picking up audiences in the U.S. That’s a good sign. The popularity isn’t fading out. It’s growing.
During the last few seconds of the previous season, before the series came to a rushing halt, we watched through the eyes of Rose, helpless, as the Doctor changed into an entirely different person. Now played by Tennant. A physcial transformation. The series has always been written through the point of view of the small-time shop girl from London. Rose.
There are some great episodes including the moody piece “Tooth and Claw” by the head writer Russell T. Davies who brings does well to bring in some supernatural elements into the series, running through a number of horror genres. Interestingly, the Doctor Who series never did a werewolf story before. It’s one of the best stories of the season.
Davies is really swinging this stuff. He’s bringing a lot of good writing into the series and never allows for the series to be overtaken by the special effects. The stories always take center stage. It’s a priority.
The horror elements continue in a standout two-part “Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit” by Matt Jones. Again, the supernatural elements are used cleverly, tied down by mythic, religious ideals. The supernatural is pushed into the background, giving the audiences a chance to make up their minds about the true nature of evil.
The mammoth episode is extremely tense, nerve-wracking stuff picking up bits from “Aliens” and “Event Horizon,” creating a very memorable show. Loaded with gothic trappings. Everyone gets a chance to shine in the episode and the Doctor works through the people around him, inspiring those to help themselves. Belief, not science, was what saved the Doctor’s life.
One of the more genuine moments is the episode “School Reunion” where the Doctor meets up with a companion from the past. In the form of Sarah Jane Smith played still with much gusto by Elizabeth Sladen. There’s a sadness in the episode because the Doctor’s loneliness is played up a bit. And the effects he has on other people. The Doctor takes a job as a schoolteacher to investigate the going-ons in a children’s school.
There’s plenty of fun moments such Sarah’s seeing the time-machine for the first time in 28 years, K-9’s first appearance or Rose first meeting Sarah. There’s plenty of clawing and pawing, like cats fighting, between the girls. But eventually they become good friends. Mickey isn’t an idiot as usual in this episode.
But Rose’s story isn’t done. Not yet.
It's been known that Piper left the series still on a high note.
In the final two-parter, set against the ferocious battle between the Daleks and Cyberman, there’s a smaller story about Rose’s departure from the string of adventures she’s been so used to. She would never leave the Doctor. She loved the thrill of the ride, the rush of danger. She is cut off from everything she had taken for granted.
The parallel universe story has broken the traveling soul mates apart—it’s virtually impossible for them to get back together. But look what the Doctor did for her. Rose has gained back her family through second chances, her boyfriend Mickey is with her, her father alive now. It’s a small price to pay for traveling with the world-weary person like the Doctor.
Now I envy you for seeing these episodes for the first time. Sit back, you’ll enjoy them. There’s a lot of catching up to do. But you can watch the growth of these main characters. And in the end, you might shed a tear by the cosmic break-up between loved ones.
posted by K.M. Paters at 12:05 PM
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