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When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?

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Slatz_Grobnik
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
Doctor Who is an unusual show. It is almost the exception to the rule that TV programs eventually jump the shark. This is a show that has turned reinvention into the plot of the show itself.
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Annalee Newitz
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
This post is full of win.
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ShrabanaNizbit
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
A little late to jump on the Doctor Who wagon, but I'd like to start off now - which new season is the best to start of with?
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@ShrabanaNizbit: If you've never seen any of it, I would start with the first season (series) of the new show, starring Christopher Eccleston.
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David Rose
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
You know, for a site that is dedicated to Science Fiction, io9 makes more claims of series being in trouble, or being poorly written than any other site on the internet.

What's especially interesting is that what io9 writes about a particular series isn't necessarily reflected by the viewing public.
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@David Rose: Wow, you really don't have any sense of humor at all, do you?
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Nicolars
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
I guess people who like and enjoy the show aren't welcome on this site.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@Nicolars: Nope, just people with no sense of humor.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
01/05/09

@92BuickLeSabre: And the irony-impaired.
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KhaiJB
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
when did start to go downhill?

when ppl lost perspective and started being obnoxious assholes ranting about what they think is wrong with the show. looking at outpost gallifrey and it's descendants here, not I09.

it's a TV show. one I've loved since birth (literally. Mama Khai used to put me in my bouncy chair infront of the TV cos it was the only thing that would calm me down... my very first memory's are of the Spider jumping onto Sarah-Jane's back and vanishing. wonder why I'm terrified of spiders now..not. ) but I do realise .. it's a TV show. it's not real. and certainly it does not have to inspire the levels of hatred I've seen over the years in forums and newsgroups.

jeeze... if you thought trek fans could be bitchy....
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whatamidoinghere
01/05/09

@KhaiJB: ...

Dude, you just dissed a bunch of fanboys.

You might want to run now.
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KhaiJB
01/05/09

@whatamidoinghere: and they'll do what? be nasty to me on the internet, saying bad things about me?

skin's thicker than that...
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capntim
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
there was a no-monsters rule? i thought the daleks showed up in one of the first few serials?
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@capntim: There was indeed a no-monsters rule. It lasted a month.
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Little Time Bomb
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
The show will remain as it always has been...lots of fun.
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Pope John Peeps II
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
It all ended when they got a reasonable budget for special effects, which then precluded ever watching a fishy alien mask deflate while leaking green toy sludge.
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@Pope John Peeps II: At first, I read this as "defecate." Which I think did happen a few times in the Colin Baker era.
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Pope John Peeps II
01/05/09

@Charlie Jane Anders: Seriously though, bad effects are charming. Good effects just sort of try too hard sometimes.

Like when that dalek in the new season flew and fired lightning? Come on! The dalek is a trash can with a plunger arm who just happens to want to destroy all life. That's what a dalek should be!

BRING BACK PLUNGER ARM.
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kipsteele
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
I'd love it if I could catch old Dr Who somewhere as I'm fascinated by all of the old plot points mentioned. I remember seeing old episodes on PBS back in the days before Tivo. Looks like I will haev to ask the interweb for some help.

IMHO it does not suck and has not jumped the shark. There is no Jar Jar moment as I have seen it.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@kipsteele: If you're not up for all of them, Charlie Jane posted this a while back.

[io9.com]

I've been watching anything available on either Netflix (and a couple of others that are surprisingly on iTunes), which also cuts the viewing down since a lot of old episodes (even ones that aren't "missing") aren't yet on DVD.

Although I'm sure you can "find" them plenty of other places as well.
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Plague
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
Was Graeme busy doing something negative on something else?
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JennaW
01/05/09

@Plague: *high-fives*

But I have to say -- this is a very ironic comment, considering the source ;)
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Plague
01/05/09

@JennaW:

(doffs cap)
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salviati
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
I guess I'm a relative new-comer to Doctor Who. I only first came across the show last year, and I have only watched the four 'new' seasons beginning in 2005. I have to say that I have enjoyed the series very much, and I was very disappointed when I finally caught up to the end of the series a few weeks ago.

Now, I think I'll have to find some vintage '60s Doctor to keep me occupied. I really have enjoyed the new series with a few hideous exceptions. I really hope it was as good as you insist, and not just the nostalgia talking.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@salviati: Charlie Jane posted this helpful guide for folks in your position a while back.

[io9.com]

But if you're like me and can't help wanting to start from the beginning, I recently coped with the "new shows" lag by starting with the 2nd Doctor and just went from there. I watched the 4th Doctor as a kid, but it still took a bit to get into the old-school effects, but Troughton was so good it made it easier. Plus, so few of the early episodes are on DVD that you can watch all of them and still not have seen so many that it wears out your welcome.

I'm in the final season of the 3rd Doctor now and loving it.
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RAHfanboy
01/06/09

@salviati: Anything from the Baker/Sladen era is highly recommended, as well, although you will need to deal with the "tin dog."
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Andrew Liptak
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
Torchwood.
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JohnDeere
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
i only got into it for Rose. she was hot. couldnt watch after she was gone. but man her new call girl show rocks.
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Plague
01/05/09

@JohnDeere:

oh, thanks for my first big laugh of the new year!
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jccalhoun
01/05/09

@JohnDeere: Was there another Rose besides Rose Tyler because "hot" is never a word I ever thought to use in connection with her?
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
01/05/09

@jccalhoun: Same here. They missed a chance here by not putting "When the Doctor got a mumbly rodent-toothed peroxided chav companion who KEPT COMING BACK".

Capt. Jack is allowed to do anything (or anyone) or nothing.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@Evil Tortie's Mom: I must admit that it is hard to explain to someone who doesn't see it, the impact that the phrase "rodent-toothed peroxided chav companion who KEPT COMING BACK" has on those of us that do.

But let's just say that it certainly doesn't sound like an insult.

"rodent-toothed peroxided chav companion who KEPT COMING BACK"

(Sorry, just had to say it again....)
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
01/05/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Dammit, I need to work on my insults, then. Should I have added "repulsive" or "nausea-provoking"?

And you left out "mumbly". But thanks for noticing. :)
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Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.
01/05/09

In reply to When Did Doctor Who Start To Go Downhill?
Honestly, when I was in single digits I couldn't handle it. I know that is sacrilege and I don't mean it as a comment on it's quality, but as a child reared on Star Wars, BSG, Buck Rogers I would hear about Dr. Who, and knew it had spaceships, aliens and robots and then would watch it and see grips shaking around dryer vent tubes added with a lot of talking and couldn't get into it.

So call me shallow but it wasn't until Eccleston and bigger budgets and production values that I got into it.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@Grrsn Dn: Shallow.

Seriously, I just watched "The Three Doctors" for the first time yesterday, and it was, quite possibly, the best thing ever.
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Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.
01/05/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Again, not a statement on quality and I do want to go back and watch the old ones but just don't know where to start or what is the best to do. I'm older and wiser now and can look past shoddy production values to the story beneath.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@Grrsn Dn: Did you see this post (that I've been putting in essentially every comment)?

[io9.com]

Although I do think it's worth just watching everything available on DVD. It's still not a lot for the earliest doctors, and Netflix has done me right. (Plus a bunch are available with streaming now.)

Actually I skipped the first doctor, but watching whatever you can with Troughton is worth it.
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Thanks for pointing people to that post! Thanks, also, for the "sense of humor" thing. I appreciate it! :)
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Charlie Jane Anders
01/05/09

@92BuickLeSabre: PS: there are a few First Doctor episodes worth watching. Whenever they get the War Machines out on DVD, it's worth taking a look at, I think.
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92BuickLeSabre
01/05/09

@Charlie Jane Anders: I have to admit, watching "The Three Doctors" made me a little sorry that I'd completely skipped Hartnell. I may go back and watch those before I move on to the modern era (for me) with the Fourth.

It was a great post, even though I ultimately ignored it entirely apparently.

(Which leads to my second admission - I kind of love the 6-parters.)
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