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

Anyone seen this?

http://mimi-na.deviantart.com/art/Doctor-s-Girls-Wallpaper-58513223

"Does anyone not think that RTD did get better towards the later series? One of the things he was criticised most for was the excessively soapy storylines, but that certainly became less of an issue with S4 than previous series.

He still has his blockbuster obsession, but at least in Journey's End he managed to pull it off quite well.I'd love to see a powerful, climactic, but not blockbuster-y season finale - something like the Satan Pit in S2 or Exit Wounds in Torchwood.

Midnight and Turn Left were two excellent episodes, probably the best non-Moffat eps, and both were written by RTD."

To an extent I'd probably disagree with you ... I think series 2 was the best, then s3. S4 I felt totally let down by the Stolen Earth/Journeys End episodes so I'm tainted; but the midseason Wasp/Library/Midnight/TurnLeft block was as good as its been. When you rewatch S1 now it seems a poor relation of the new era but it brought the series back in excellent; perhaps if Ecclestone had stayed longer it would be easier to appreciate.

In the end, RTD has done a good job. There are elements of his style I don't like but all in all the show is almost always entertaining and enjoyable. And ultimately that's what we really want.

Hi Chris,

That is pretty cool - not sure I recognise all the B&W ones though...

Gif

Cool link chris

Series 1 of the new show - it never feels the same because when you rewatch it (ok, when *I* rewatch it ) I'm looking at it through different eyes. I can still feel the excitment and tingle I had hearing the theme tune playing on the TV for the first brand new Doctor Who episode and that inevitably coloured my reception of the show. I do actually still quite like the first series but it does somehow feel 'thinner' in places. But then it was trying to get a new audience (and succeeding!).

I didn't like Midnight overly - thought it was a bit boring. But then it was all character interplay - thesp wofftopicing I guess - which ain't so much my thing.

I love that deviantart link! The only other one I recognise is Sarah-Jane but that doesn't stop it being brilliant.

I think series 4 is my favourit as I found it to be the most consistantly good, then series 2, then 3 (even though Human Nature/Family of Blood and Blink are probably my 3 favourite episodes), then 1, but I agree that back when 1 was on TV I really enjoyed it. It just suffers a bit against the newer episodes where you can tell that the show's getting more to grips with the new style and the episodes are a bit more varied.

Shall we just take it as read that we all agree with the "RTD did some great stuff _but_..." sentiment?

It's the blockbuster thing that's RTD's fatal flaw for me. The soapy stuff got better, but they still keep doing over-the-top, artificial scenarios even now, and it often harms the series when they realise they haven't got the story material to follow it up.

Here's one for you, if you had a choice between RTD and JNT, Who would you prefer?

I've been trying to work out who JNT is, but nothing's coming.




Give us a clue?

John Nathan Turner, the final producer in classic Doctor Who

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/1965981.stm

It is definitely the blockbuster stuff that will make things difficult for Moffat and others. Everyone knows aliens exist, people in Cardiff know all about Touchwood. And yet stuff still gets ignored like how do they keep being vanquished etc. The good thing used to be that it always seemed that only a few people were affected by aliens in episodes.

RTD did the blockbuster stuff but tended to solve it with Deus Ex Machina type devices. The stories had potential but the endings let them down a wee bit.

And not interested in a 'oo is worse out of' RTD or JNT discussion.

its not who is worst its who is best

Wrong generation for me, I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure I watched Who back then, but I was too young to remember much of it now. I'm sure that if Ken Dodd appeared while I was watching, I didn't notice and, if he had been pointed out to me, I wouldn't have cared as I had no idea who he was.

I've heard a rumour that in the climax to Season 5, RTD and Moffatt will have a big fight in Canary Wharf.

Gif

Presumably RTD will win by pulling a huge Deus Ex Machina, but Moffat will get the moral high ground with a touching, innovative death scene.

Or Moffat will go the Coupling route and make everyone squirm with some spot-on humourous comments about relationships. Or he might throw RTD into...the sock gap.

Anyone who hasn't watched Coupling won't know what the hell I am on about...anyone who does now takes their socks off first when getting ready for a night of nooky with someone.

heh, coupling was good wasn't it? Although never too sure about Jeff/Patrick replacements.

and I strongly suspect that DTs end will be at the hands of an enraged and demented Tom Baker screaming "*MY* role, *MY* fans - you upstart!"

I didn't catch much Coupling, but I enjoyed what I saw. Must remember to hunt down more at some point.

Ictoan< coupling was good wasn't it? Although never too sure about Jeff/Patrick replacements>

Patrick wasn;t replaced. Jeff's replacement was Oliver. I went to the recording of The Naked Living Room and we wondered whether the new character could replace Jeff. We thought he did really well and overall meshed in nicely.

A shame Jack Davenport got a role in a lowkey US underground movie trilogy that no-one watched otherwise we might have got another series.