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The Russell T. Davies era of Doctor Who just ended, but his influence on the show will remain forever. And judging from "The End Of Time Part 2," that's not a bad thing at all. Allons-y for spoilers! More »
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The 1950s Doctor Who animated story "Dreamland" pulled out all the 50s-cliche stops: head-shop aliens, Cold War hysteria, Area 51, and rockabilly Native Americans. Especially this great sequence, showing a stoner-inspired space war. Spoilers below. More »
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When Russell T. Davies' revamp of Doctor Who launched in 2005, we were promised that the Doctor's two hearts meant his heart could be broken twice as often. With last night's "Waters Of Mars," we finally see what that meant. More »
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Doctor Who's "Easter special" was surprisingly un-Easter-y, compared to all the Christmas specials. But it did serve as a showcase of Russell T. Davies' writing at its best... and at its weakest. Spoilers ahoy! More »
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Wow. This year's Doctor Who Christmas special explored some familiar territory for writer Russell T. Davies — and yet it was utterly mesmerizing, largely thanks to guest star David Morrissey. Spoilers below. More »
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Wow. I haven't been so eager for a Doctor Who episode as I was for last night's finale since the time-traveling soap-comedy relaunched. And... well, it was a mixture of pure silly fun and overwrought fan-service. Not quite as fun as Jesus-Doctor last year, and much, much too long. I found myself wishing the Sci Fi Channel would cut 20 minutes out of it after all. Only one question remains unanswered: what part of this episode was supposed to have us bawling like babies? Spoilers and snark ahead. More »
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After watching last night's Doctor Who episode, I wished for the first time ever that Russell T. Davies would stay on to produce a fifth season of the BBC's time-traveling adventure show. Not because I think a fifth RTD season would be good, but because I'm dying to see how he could come up with a zanier and more wanktastic final two-parter. Since each finale has to top the last, I'm guessing next year would involve a magic virus that turns everyone in the universe into a Sontaran, including Rose, and then the Cybermen from 29 different universes fight with the Gelth, with exploding ribbons! Spoilers for what actually did happen ahead. More »
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I'm a total sucker for the alternate universe, everything goes Sprang! kind of story. I was addicted to Marvel's What If comics, even the ones with the nonsense titles like What If Civil War?. (What indeed?) So I was pretty much the target audience for the latest Doctor Who episode, and it still exceeded my expectations. What was the secret ingredient that made "Turn Left" work so well for me? Two words: Donna's mom. More »
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It's hard not to draw some kind of conclusion from the fact that last Saturday's episode of time-traveling action-comedy Doctor Who was obviously made for 50 pence and a Frobisher and Gleason raspberry flavored ice lolly. And it's the best episode of the year, far better than some episodes that were full of money being thrown at the screen. Could it be that Doctor Who's at its best when it makes do with less, budget-wise? Or could it just be that having to write a story about people in a small enclosed space, Russell T. Davies decided to go the claustrophobic-drama route, and we're all better off as a result? Spoilers ahead! More »
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Well, that was a little bit disappointing. I still think Steven Moffat is the best writer for the new version of Doctor Who, the BBC's action-comedy about an eccentric time traveler. But after watching the second part of Moffat's haunted-library two-parter, I have a fuller understanding of exactly what people are talking about when they say Moffat's work shows some weird issues with women. (Even though he created the awesome Sally Sparrow.) At least, "The Forest Of The Dead" was chock full of woman-related weirdness, as this clip illustrates. Spoilers ahead. More »
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The mark of a great episode of time-traveling dramedy Doctor Who: I couldn't think of which "Aha!" moment to include as a little clip with this recap. I settled on the episode's weird little homage to The Matrix (sans blue pill) because it was just such a great little moment, and it opened up the whole episode. But there were a lot of great moments — each pertaining to their own strands of the story — in this episode. Details, and spoilers, below. More »
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Everybody obviously had a blast making the latest episode of Doctor Who, with its endless swirly flashbacks and parade of 1920s stereotypes. It reminded me of Clue more than Agatha Christie, with its almost epileptic non-stop winking. It works pretty well, despite a more-nonsense-than-usual storyline, because of an amazing cast of Brit-TV stalwarts. Spoilers and maybe a little snark, below the fold. More »
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This is actually quite a nice moment, from the latest episode of the BBC's time-traveling soap opera Doctor Who. David Tennant gives a surprisingly understated performance as the alien traveler who's lost his entire race, including his family. And Catherine Tate makes the transition from zany "dadshock" jokes to actual substance surprisingly well. There was a lot that I liked about this episode... except for the new guest-star that we're suddenly supposed to care about. Spoilers ahead. More »
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Here's the moment where I decided I was actually getting to like brassy comedian Catherine Tate as the new traveling companion for Doctor Who's quirky time-traveler. Yes, she's not nearly as clever as Martha Jones, my number one hero, but that makes her heroics, when they happen, more exciting and suspenseful. I actually felt a bit of tension in this sequence, which almost never happens on the new Who. In general, part two of our Sontaran storyline was just as muddled as part one, but at least it was fun this time around. More »
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When Russell T. Davies (Queer As Folk) first brought the BBC's time-traveling family adventure series Doctor Who back from oblivion, it was just as fresh and exciting as everyone had hoped. New mysteries about the "time war" replaced stale old mythology, and the Doctor was traveling with someone who still had friends and family back on Earth. The scripts had manic energy, topical references, and a willingness to go way, way over the top. It was mostly good stuff. Now, after a few years, the formula is congealing a wee bit, as evidenced by last Saturday's new (sort of) episode. More »
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There was a lot to like about the BBC's latest episode of time-traveling soap opera Doctor Who. For one thing, there was the return of the Doctor's moral outrage. And then there were the hints that the alien Doctor is trying to expand his new human companion Donna's mind a bit, as seen in this clip — although, sadly, the Doctor backs off the moment she growls at him. Plus, I love dystopian storylines that comment on the legacy of colonialism, and the formerly Imperial Brits do those exceedingly well. But even with all that going for it, "Planet Of The Ood" was a bit, well, underwhelming. Spoilers below! More »
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One of the many things I love about Russell T. Davies' reinvention of Doctor Who is the fact that it's taken the time to question some of the show's most basic (and quasi-magical) tenets. What's more, it's done so in a way that's actually boosted our suspension of disbelief, rather than undermining it, which is no easy trick. In season one, we saw Rose freaking out over the fact that the Doctor's time machine had invaded her head to translate foreign/alien languages without her permission. And in season three, Martha gets into the question of how she can visit the past without stepping on the wrong butterfly or accidentally killing her grandfather. And now, in last Saturday's episode, we get to the biggest question of them all: why can the Doctor change history only sometimes? Spoilers ahead! More »
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Russell T. Davies has dragged Doctor Who, the BBC's veteran time-travel show, into the 1990s. His confessed influences include early Buffy, but the revamped Who has always reminded me of some other 90s shows, including X-Files and, more and more, of Lois and Clark, with its focus on a male-female couple and their romantic/sexual tension or lack thereof. It's too bad Doctor Who remains about a decade behind the times, even as it keeps mining its own past. Spoilers for the season opener below the fold. More »
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