Striving for Humor in Doctor Who
There’s some nice changes in the Doctor Who fourth season opener.
The most noticeable, and important, change is the shift in Catherine Tate’s encore performance as Donna Noble. Her striking confidence goes a long way since her runaway bride routine from the previous year. She’s already ditched the Doctor once before. She’s not making that same mistake again.
Most of the story does focus on her character and following a persistent life of danger in hopes of finding the Doctor again. Because of his inspiration, she takes on the initiative when investigating Adipose Corporation which may or may not be involved with illegal actions. She weasels her way into the corporation as she learns more about their agenda.
The Doctor finds a different way into the building. Via the sonic screwdriver.
What’s nice is seeing these characters, passing each other like ships in the sea, and finding their own way into a high-level security is extremely funny. Their stories unfold as they run along side by side. It’s interesting how they work.
Their stories come to a comedic peak when they see each other despite a glass room separating the both of them. The scene is very funny without going overboard.
What’s great is Russell T. Davies is pulling no punches when it comes to having some old fashioned fun. It’s something not often seen on television when a TV show plays up for laughs with a little bit of fun. Can’t be too serious these days.
Both of the heroes attempt to stop a corrupted businesswoman Miss Foster who is using Adipose company to manufacture diet pills. It’s more than one way to lose fat. The scheme basically allows for unsuspecting people taking the diet pills to give birth to the Adipose in which she would offer to her employers the Adiposian First Family to assure her insurance. And it turns out Miss Foster acts as a mid-wife. Things doesn’t work well for Miss Foster.
However it seems to stir another set of episodes in a story arc regarding what will happen to the Adipose and what intentions will be used with millions of them having been levitated to a large spaceship. Earth has turned into a nursary almost. People have died through the strange births. What’s left is a bigger mystery.
The story so far is a lot of fun. Did I mentioned it was fun?
After the mundane storyline from last year regarding the renegade Master, having taken its seriousness, as well as the annoying turn of events Torchwood has taken in killing off a couple of their major characters, it’s nice to see the Doctor Who series take a lighter note. It has to.
The episode called “Partners in Crime” depended on the performance of Tate reprising her role. Certainly, like many people, I had my reservations about her. However, unlike most, I gave her a chance. It was good to see her taking the role a little more seriously and proves to the Doctor that she is capable. And resourceful.
What paints her character with a colorful background is her family. Her grandfather and mother both have great quirks and makes for better stories. Much of the emotional impact can be focused on just these two supporting characters without having to split the overly large family that Martha Jones had. It’s very difficult to focus on a family of four and embellish the characters.
Here there’s just Donna with conflicts with her mother and her ongoing cherished relationship with her wonderful grandfather played by the always initimable Bernard Cribbins.
One more thing. She’s not in love with the Doctor. She’s just along for the ride. But she’s not someone who’s going to be pining for the Doctor and his good looks. This will turn things back to the way things used to be with the old BBC series. Just the companion and the Doctor. And the adventure they’ll be stumbling into. No more soap opera romance.
There’s a number of mentions of the Shadow Proclamation that had been an underlying theme throughout the series ever since the very first episode of the Doctor Who series. Some of the details surrounding this interesting idea will remain the hook of the fourth season.
The Massive program used for the Lord of the Rings films is utilized to a great advantage here as the little Adipose, cute and cuddly, may be a foreshadowing of things to come. Don’t trust those little buggers.
Most unexpected, however, is the supposed return of one familiar character from the series: Rose. Her single appearance towards the end of the episode will make jaws dropped. It’s a surprising thing to see. I already knew about her coming back to the series for a few episodes. But this early in the series? That was a good return for her like some vanishing ghosts or an echo from the stars. A wealth of memories floods my thoughts after seeing her.
This episode does set the tone for the lighthearted feeling that lingers in the air. That might not last so long as we kick up our feet to enjoy the shows before we get sucker-punched by the remaining stories if they decide to change direction of the mood. There’s still an entire season to come around the corner. But for now let’s make the most of it with a little adrenaline rush.
The Doctor Who series returns as it crack a few smiles for us.
The most noticeable, and important, change is the shift in Catherine Tate’s encore performance as Donna Noble. Her striking confidence goes a long way since her runaway bride routine from the previous year. She’s already ditched the Doctor once before. She’s not making that same mistake again.
Most of the story does focus on her character and following a persistent life of danger in hopes of finding the Doctor again. Because of his inspiration, she takes on the initiative when investigating Adipose Corporation which may or may not be involved with illegal actions. She weasels her way into the corporation as she learns more about their agenda.
The Doctor finds a different way into the building. Via the sonic screwdriver.
What’s nice is seeing these characters, passing each other like ships in the sea, and finding their own way into a high-level security is extremely funny. Their stories unfold as they run along side by side. It’s interesting how they work.
Their stories come to a comedic peak when they see each other despite a glass room separating the both of them. The scene is very funny without going overboard.
What’s great is Russell T. Davies is pulling no punches when it comes to having some old fashioned fun. It’s something not often seen on television when a TV show plays up for laughs with a little bit of fun. Can’t be too serious these days.
Both of the heroes attempt to stop a corrupted businesswoman Miss Foster who is using Adipose company to manufacture diet pills. It’s more than one way to lose fat. The scheme basically allows for unsuspecting people taking the diet pills to give birth to the Adipose in which she would offer to her employers the Adiposian First Family to assure her insurance. And it turns out Miss Foster acts as a mid-wife. Things doesn’t work well for Miss Foster.
However it seems to stir another set of episodes in a story arc regarding what will happen to the Adipose and what intentions will be used with millions of them having been levitated to a large spaceship. Earth has turned into a nursary almost. People have died through the strange births. What’s left is a bigger mystery.
The story so far is a lot of fun. Did I mentioned it was fun?
After the mundane storyline from last year regarding the renegade Master, having taken its seriousness, as well as the annoying turn of events Torchwood has taken in killing off a couple of their major characters, it’s nice to see the Doctor Who series take a lighter note. It has to.
The episode called “Partners in Crime” depended on the performance of Tate reprising her role. Certainly, like many people, I had my reservations about her. However, unlike most, I gave her a chance. It was good to see her taking the role a little more seriously and proves to the Doctor that she is capable. And resourceful.
What paints her character with a colorful background is her family. Her grandfather and mother both have great quirks and makes for better stories. Much of the emotional impact can be focused on just these two supporting characters without having to split the overly large family that Martha Jones had. It’s very difficult to focus on a family of four and embellish the characters.
Here there’s just Donna with conflicts with her mother and her ongoing cherished relationship with her wonderful grandfather played by the always initimable Bernard Cribbins.
One more thing. She’s not in love with the Doctor. She’s just along for the ride. But she’s not someone who’s going to be pining for the Doctor and his good looks. This will turn things back to the way things used to be with the old BBC series. Just the companion and the Doctor. And the adventure they’ll be stumbling into. No more soap opera romance.
There’s a number of mentions of the Shadow Proclamation that had been an underlying theme throughout the series ever since the very first episode of the Doctor Who series. Some of the details surrounding this interesting idea will remain the hook of the fourth season.
The Massive program used for the Lord of the Rings films is utilized to a great advantage here as the little Adipose, cute and cuddly, may be a foreshadowing of things to come. Don’t trust those little buggers.
Most unexpected, however, is the supposed return of one familiar character from the series: Rose. Her single appearance towards the end of the episode will make jaws dropped. It’s a surprising thing to see. I already knew about her coming back to the series for a few episodes. But this early in the series? That was a good return for her like some vanishing ghosts or an echo from the stars. A wealth of memories floods my thoughts after seeing her.
This episode does set the tone for the lighthearted feeling that lingers in the air. That might not last so long as we kick up our feet to enjoy the shows before we get sucker-punched by the remaining stories if they decide to change direction of the mood. There’s still an entire season to come around the corner. But for now let’s make the most of it with a little adrenaline rush.
The Doctor Who series returns as it crack a few smiles for us.
posted by K.M. Paters at 11:42 AM
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