h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought this special was okay, if a bit brainless. I'm really beginning to tire of RTD's penchantfor spectacle over story. He's starting to go a bit Michael Bay.
Michelle Ryan was very Lara Croft, and the whole lack of originality bothered me slightly. T be fair, they didn't have much time to flesh her out; if she gets another episode appearance or two, there's plenty of scope to throw something interesting into her character mix.
The main influence of the plot for me seemed to be Pitch Black, though. Ordinary folks marooned on a desert planet with something interesting under the surface, attacked by a swarm of invertebrate monsters and saved by the leadership of an enigmatic, charismatic main character with criminal undertones (mixture of Tennant and Ryan). My flatmates and I did have some fun in advance of the episode watching the trailer and going: "Ah, it's Tomb Raider. No, it's Stargate. Could it be Flight of the Phoenix? No, I've got it, it's Pitch Black!"
My mate Stu is convinced the prophetic stuff at the end is just refering to the end of Tennant and the start of Matt Smith, but I can't help wondering. We didn't really speculate about "knock four times", but we were both intrigued. I think the Master is a distinct possibility.

Did you see Dr. Who Confidential? It was as good as the special. I can't wait for the next one in November.

The did over do the Lawrence of Arabia theme in Confidential

"Probably to avoid the use of masses of CGI to make the rest of the desert."

Then why didn't they go to Iceland to make Planet of the Ood?!?

Ooops winkeye meant to go at end

I enjoyed it but, like so many of the seasonal episodes before it, I think it won't bear-up to repeat viewings.

I thought Michelle Ryan was a bit pointless: average performance, surprisingly un-engaging character. I didn't care in the slightest when the Doctor freed her at the end.

I'm not sure the impact the desert scenes had justified the cost of flying the cast and crew out to Arabia; the fact they shot it in the dunes didn't really make all that much difference to me. I can't help but think the old, neurotic rubbish about "LOL a quarry!!1" had a lot to do with that - the production team proving a point.

As for the psychic's message - I think it's definitely the Master (knock four times - du du du dum) although I sincerely hope they don't bring back John Simm in the role. He was fine for the climax of one series as a sort-of "anti-Doctor" but a) I don't see him working in the role long-term and b) the Master is supposed to be different each new form he takes (and he'll need to do that given that the old one is very much gone).

I'll throw my vote in for a female master (or rather the male master in a female body) once again.

It's a one off though and one of RTD's last ones so he's going to want to go all out with the location, and it's a funny story about how the bus nearly got totaled on the ship. I'll agree though that when I saw just how far they had to ship the thing I thought this is a little bit OTT.

Reefgirl: <> Not consciously, but when I went into the kitchen afterwards I found myself humming the Raiders theme.

Galigan: <> Yep. When they got eaten I thought "well that solves what to do with them".

I thought it was just ok. It was an ok story, Michelle Ryan was ok (when she kissed the Doctor I thought "here we go again" so I was very glad when he refused to take her with him, and I hope she doesn't show up again.), Lee Evans was ok (as opposed to really irritating). I didn't see the trailer to the next one, but I prefer to avoid them if I can so it's all new "on the day".

On another subject, I'm glad no-one posted any actual spoilers on the subject of the new Red Dwarf episodes as I haven't had time to watch them yet! I read a couple of posts cautiously, ready to avert my eyes at a moments notice, but it was ok . I'm going to watch them now!

Deb

"Not consciously, but when I went into the kitchen afterwards I found myself humming the Raiders theme."

That's not surprising, the soundtrack sounded just like the Raiders theme

Zagreb, it must be old age! Michelle Ryan was great! I've seen it twice already.

I wasn't that enthralled by it to be honest. Mainly under-developed characters, neatly tied up, under-explained. Tennant was great, obviously, but the whole thing didn't actually add anything to any sort of story arc or character progression. Not even sure if that makes sense, need more coffee.
I watched Primeval straight after, somebody reversed the polarity!!!
Excuse me, I'm off to try to set 'Here Come the Drums' as my ringtone!

I get the impression they did it stand-alone and light deliberately, because it's going to be more serious and plot-heavy from here on in. In the Radio Times article, Tennant said this was his Doctor's "last hurrah"...

<>

My initial thought was ... The Pink Panther ... I believe I'm right in thinking that the thief was aristocracy (Sir Charles Litton?) ... Truth is, it wasn't very Raidersy apart from the bag-swap for the cup. (Seems a pretty crappy electronic defence system that can't detect a momentary change in weight but let's not quibble).


"the whole thing didn't actually add anything to any sort of story arc or character progression"

I thought that was the point of calling them Specials rather than a Series which happens to have only four episodes ...

Mrs Gif is insisting she heard an interview that said Michelle Ryan will be starring in four more specials.

I told her she misheard, but she's very insistent. Anyone know anything about this?

Gif

Fairly sure she's just in the one, but what do I know?

Photo of Catherine Tate on the Doctor Who set in the paper today ...

Mol

You mean this one?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/2009/04/14/catherine-tate-spotted-filming-doctor-who-in-swansea-sun-91466-23378630/

Michelle Ryan has apparently said she won't be joining Doctor Who full-time.

I was wondering when the Catherine Tate thing would go public. I know someone who knows some people who were helping with the filming, or something, and through that long and complicated chain I heard that she was seen going over lines there. Wonder what the story is behind that. I'm sure we can speculate nicely in the next 6 months.

She was with Bernard Cribbins, who was wearing a pair of antlers on his head. I think we can safely assume they were filming for the Christmas special then.