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

>The rythm that Saxon was tapping out is (I have been reliably told) VERY significant.....but I wasn't told why/how and I can't figure it out!<

I don't have knowledge of any major spoilers, but episode 12 is called "The Sound of the Drums"

<<< It was pointed out on another forum that the ring on Saxon's finger (which you can barely see in the YouTube version, you'd need to see a broadcast) has a design that might be a "clue". >>>

Don't know about the design on Saxon's ring, but I did note that the banners hung around the Lazarus experiment looked startlingly familiar - the overlapping circles and patterns found in the TARDIS displays and used on the Dr Who website...

The Apprentice

And 'The Sound of Drums' is a line from a recent dance track called 'Voodoo Child' by Rogue Traders.

'So here it comes, the sound of drums... here come the drums, here come the drums...'

- which, if it isn't in the episode itself will be ALL OVER that night's Confidential.

Having seen the synopsis for 42, do you think it's going to be a 24 type episode. The Doctor and Martha have 42 minutes to evacuate, mend and generally save a space ship, the average DW episode is 42 minutes long and 42 is, guess what, yes 24 backwards. Does that me we'll see Jack Bauer make a guest appearence

Enough with the spoilers. What about people who avoid reading synopses? Try to keep to what's been seen on screen.

Well thanks to the lack of Doctor Who I´m now forced to make do with Torchwood with that idiot Harkness. I hope you´re happy now BBC.

*drags the thread down*

Is it me, or does Simm's tapping on the desk look like he's trying *really* *hard* not to make it look like a 'wxnkxr' hand action?

"Enough with the spoilers. What about people who avoid reading synopses? Try to keep to what's been seen on screen."

one thousand apologies oh great one I shall be away to Gateworld where they have proper technology to deal with spoilers

Traveller in Time pointing to the spoiler thread
"< F79498?thread=4022878 > Series 3 spoilers and previews .

Is not that hard to find just two threads down the list. "

There is a fine line between spoiler and random gossipy musing! It must be quite fine, I'm forever crossing it.

>>I´m now forced to make do with Torchwood

I remember Torchwood was purported to be 'adult', but thinking back, I think it was no more adult that 'young teenager'. By comparison, the more child-like Dr Who seems more mature, to me.

"I remember Torchwood was purported to be 'adult', but thinking back, I think it was no more adult that 'young teenager'. By comparison, the more child-like Dr Who seems more mature, to me."

"Torchwood" did have the "feel" of a family/childrens' drama and the adult content was crudely slapped-on in an unsubtle way (most notoriously in "Day One"). I felt later episodes showed a genuine shift in tone to a more adult feel, a good example being "Out Of Time" (one of the very few good episodes of the series). Some later episodes had a pure 4.30pm CBBC feel, though, notably the awful "Random Shoes".

I think Torchwood suffered from several problems. The first was the attempt to create a dark, adult sci-fi drama based in the same universe as the rather knockabout "Doctor Who". Who has always been able to mix the dark and the comic comfortably but "Torchwood" pretty-much ditched the comic aspects. The other problem was that the show seemed to be trying far too hard to "do" adult, hence the much-criticised and much-lamented overemphasis on sex and sexuality which left the show ripe for parody more than anything else. Another problem was British television's lamentable inferiority-complex towards US drama which meant that rather than create its own unique feel and atmosphere, Torchwood tried to bolt-together various aspects of successful US shows like "CSI" and "Angel" to laughable and rightly-derided effect. And then there was the weak characterisation - after 13 episodes, I felt like I only had the measure of around three of the main characters. That's really not good enough.

There were good things, though. John Barrowman remains a likeable actor and Captain Jack remains a compelling character. "Out Of Time" showed that, when the emphasis on special effects was taken away, good episodes focusing on the human condition could arise whilst "Captain Jack Harkness" was a clever, enjoyable episode and it was a shame that Torchwood's "gay/bisexual" subplots had become such a running-joke by then since its handling of a heroic WWII pilot trying to deal with his sexuality was well-handled. And Billis Manger remains one of the best villains in the Who canon.

Hear hear

I was kind of dissapointed with Torchwood, and I have to admit, I haven't been very impressed with the firt few episodes of the new Dr. Who series. Since Torchwood and the success of the previous Who episodes, it looks a little like the beeb has given Russell T Davies carte blanche to write what he likes. There's too much monster stuff at the moment for me, and not enough long running plot or character development. The magic formula seems to have mutated into something stange instead .

Maybe this is all a little harsh, bit I'd like to know what other fans think.
Kaz

I think:

* I'm really excited about this Season;
* I have liked all the episodes, apart from the Dalek two-parter;
* watching Who has made me pine enough to get hold of the earlier new Who on DVD;
* 'Torchwood' could be really good if they got Russell T off it...
* that we should "give booze a chance" (Bonzo Dog Band)!

The Apprentice

Russel T aint on Torchwood! Thats chris chibnail (Spelling?)

Both of 'em then. Russell T did write a bit... and while I don't want to tar and feather him with all the blame, I'm certain the sexuality aspect of Torchwood had a lot to do with him.



The Apprentice

The show was his idea so he does have to take most of the blame but chris was head writer! (My last post may have sounded angrey, it wasn't meant to. Sorry!)

Didn't take the post as angry.

Chris's episodes were almost uniformly rubbish... Quite why he got the top job utterly escapes me based on his performance in this series.



The Apprentice

Ditto