Something Old, Something New

6/29/2010 6:07:56 AM

My only problem with this series is that I think that thirteen episodes go by too quickly.  I had my doubts about this Doctor being too young.  But, after seeing it, I think that he pulled it off well.  I also like the break from it being a romance between the Doctor and his young companion.

mitch

6/29/2010 5:39:57 PM

Well Seb I think I have to disagree with nearly everything you have written about series five. For me it has been the worst season since series 16 in 1978. Unlike the majority of your forum members who seem to be in the age 6-16 range,  I have seen Dr Who since day one in 1963.

Whilst I think that Stephen Moffat has written some of the best stories ever for Doctor Who he has also written the worst. The Beast Below being a good example of a poorly scripted story which bears no analysis as to logic or reason. It is really poor. As a head writer, who has to commission scripts, oversee continuity and consistency to the series he failed magnificently. Forgetting the finale which I shall come to and several stories before, the series was dull, unimaginative, crass, slapstick and misses the knowing wit of RTD (not that I am a fanatic fan of RTD but he knows how to entertain). Is Rory dead, no he isn't yes he is.. who cares?
Pond dies, no she doesn't. Who cares? Who can get emotionally involved in any of this series in the way that Bernard Cribbins made us cry at the end of the last or Catherine Tate's distress of Pompei deaths. Series five was unmoving to say the least.

Moffat the purveyor of 'scary' in the past, dulls most episodes down to appeal to children rather than the whole family audience that boosted RTD's ratings. I concede that this is a children's show and I was barely ten when I became addicted but throughout the years there has generally been something for everyone but here, apart from the finale there was little intellectual meat in any of the stories. The Time Of Angels had the potential to be good but was a repeat of Silence In the Library. Unoriginal.

It is clear the BBC drastically cut budgets but when one remembers the 'wobbly set' ethos of Dr Who it really doesn't matter. The story to me is the most important and Moffat fails with lacklustre episodes that induce yawns rather than interest, excitement or fear. But the main thing that has angered me is continuity and logic. Moffat surely knows that fans will tear apart any inconsistencies but most stories are riddled with them.

Direction. Apart from Toby Haynes, the direction from Moffat's new team has been quirky, badly cut and poorly edited. At least two unforgivable cuts in Blood and Stone to name one episode.

Monsters: I cannot find his most scary monsters the Weeping Angels at all credible, with their rather improbable life cycles. Even Moffat had to change the rules but how can one believe in the survival probability of a species that is stopped dead when seen. The vampire fish - sensitive to sunlight but apparently not - mummy fish sacrifices herself for no reason - boy fish are promptly forgotten.  Big Power Ranger Daleks in a story where they a slapstick element for most of the story. Prisoner Zero and the Eyeball in story one. Rather childish. The really too human Silurians that were as scary (once revealed) as the Doctor's sonic screwdriver. How to make a cheap monster - make it invisible in Vincent and The Doctor, and what the hell was going on at the top floor in The Lodger. Who really cares as our involvement was minimal.

Actors: I cannot complain about the cast. Smith was a superb choice for the role but again Moffat changes his personality from story to story until you don't know if he is a total buffoon or the most intelligent man in the universe. How irresponsible is it to take a man suffering already from chronic depression into the future to show him how great he is. Crazy, oh yes. The Pandorica Opens shows Van Gogh on the verge of suicide - well done Doctor. Are we to believe that the Doctor, familiar with practically every species does not know about football? And then plays it like pro?  We have the same problem with Rory who I believe is now a good solid character but halfway through was a total prat.

I liked Amy's Choice, a little different and refreshing after the dross before, The Hungry Earth where I thought things were improving with a tense, classic episode.  But it was followed by Cold Blood, with one ridiculous premise after another. As if the Silurians would just go back to sleep. The scientist, one minute dissecting people alive (RTD NEVER showed blood) then sympathetic to humans.

Then the two finale episodes. Moffat is good at 'timey wimpy' stories and these were some of the best in New Who; clever, exciting, scary and really well directed. But that was it. Moffat did not as he promised explain the majority of his conundrums and the inconsistencies enabled DW fanatics to come up with so many weird and wonderful theories which proved to be nonsense.

I have ranted and raved but I wanted to justify why series five was really unmemorable and quite mediocre. When I saw the praise that you lavished on it I wondered if we were watching the same programme. Moffat will have to try a lot harder to keep me watching next year.

steve kyte

6/30/2010 6:56:18 PM

I completely agree with Sebs comments, for me the series was a breath of fresh air following the mostly dull specials (Waters of Mars being the exception). I think that the latest TARDIS team are an inspired choice, gone thankfully are the boring love plots / hero worship subtexts that I thought bogged the RTD era of the show down a bit too much. A brilliant series and my hat goes off to Moffatt for embracing the show in the way that he has, that keeps the programme so vibrant! Well done to all involved. I'm also a long term fan btw!

pce

7/6/2010 11:05:46 PM

I'm with Steve. No way was this the best of the new seasons! (easily the worst actually) Cheap and tatty Doctor Who like the past when we had no budget, and emotionally uninvolving. Vincent and the Doctor was the only story to really engage in the way that the previous team knew how to. Matt and Karen are great but the writing has been uninvolving and disjointed this year. All the more dissapointing when we have had such great scripts from Moffat previous to this - what a pity his four best stories are still in the first four series...

Mark Lenton