Story #157 - Rose (2005)

Harry -
I will never, never, never forget my 30th birthday.

There I was, at my desk at work, clicking around the Internet. I randomly wandered over to the BBC news website, where the most electrifying headline of all time awaited.

The rest of the day must have passed in a daze. I have no recollection of how the rest of it went. I do remember emailing every human being I knew to share the incredible news. All that mattered that day was that DOCTOR WHO WAS COMING BACK.

Where were you when you heard the news?


Sarah -
I don't remember the exact moment, but I do remember the combination of joy and dread I felt. DOCTOR WHO WAS COMING BACK! But, wait, it came back before and it was amazingly disappointing. Would I get my hopes up just to have them crushed? Could I survive another Doctor Who disappointment?


Harry -
Two years later, we watched "Rose" with millions of other giddy Whovians.


Sarah -
And the sigh of relief was heard around the world! I'm pretty sure I held my breath for the first five minutes.


Harry -
Watching it again 11 years later, I remember the thrill of it all. Seeing the TARDIS again, being scared witless by the Autons again, marveling at this brash new Doctor, revelling in the story and the London setting and all the landmarks and the sheer modernness of it all. As the closing credits rolled, I sat there -- then as again now -- with a manic grin and tears, breathing the heavy breaths of someone utterly besotted.


Sarah -
I never get tired of watching "Rose". It's undoubtedly the new Who story I've watch the most and I love it more every time. The moment when the Doctor tells Rose to run is the moment when I knew everything was going to be ok.


Harry -
Russell T. Davies remembered all the hard lessons of the ill-fated "Movie", and used "An Unearthly Child" as his first episode template instead. Rather than drowning viewers new and old with a tidal wave of explanatory continuity, he made Rose the central character. Through her, we meet this strange man who calls himself the Doctor. She asks a lot of questions and the Doctor seems to know more than he's letting on, and he turns out to be an alien-fighting spaceman who travels in an amazing blue box. That's basically all we learned about him in the first episode in 1963 as well.


Sarah -
RTD made so many right choices with this episode. Rose was the perfect entry character for new viewers -- relatable, smart, funny, and ready for adventure.


Harry -
It was a great way to introduce new viewers to the show. For lifelong Whovians, there was enough continuity to reassure us that the show was in a reliable set of hands. 

Autons! Freaking Autons from the word go! I loved it.


Sarah -
Starting with the Autons was a brilliant move. Its callback to "Spearhead from Space" was immediately reassuring for us old folks. At the same time, mannequins coming to life is a nightmare everyone can relate to, so there was no need for an info dump to explain them.


Harry -
Even when the Doctor got around to explaining the Autons, all he said was that they were plastic-based aliens looking for a new home after they lost their planet in "the war". Just enough info to move the story along, but also little enough to leave you wanting to know more.

But let's talk about the Doctor. The new Doctor! My mind was blown when they cast Christopher Eccleston in the role. A well known face from cinema, this was serious stuff. In this first story, he's not as dark as his image seems to have become over time. He's lively, witty, almost fun to be around! That is, when he's not dashing off to do something very important, leaving Rose trailing behind.


Sarah -
Eccleston's casting gave the series a credibility that I found reassuring and he lived up to my expectations. The Ninth Doctor is properly alien -- big ears and all.


Harry -
His clothes are very straightforward and nondescript. Black leather jacket, black trousers and boots, dark coloured jumper. Sometimes I have to look twice whenever someone cosplays the Ninth Doctor at Chicago TARDIS, he blends in so well.


Sarah -
The costume Colin Baker wanted! It's the least costume-y Doctor costume ever and a perfect no-nonsense outfit for a Doctor who has just come through a war.


Harry -
This Doctor is cool without being aloof, and makes an instant connection with Rose. Not so much with Mickey, who starts the story as the adorable boyfriend, but ends it as a gibbering wreck. Not TARDIS material, the Doctor decides.


Sarah -
Poor Mickey, so abused and unappreciated. He doesn't deal with the situation as well as Rose, but then, she wasn't swallowed by a trash bin and cloned as an Auton.


Harry -
Auton Mickey, however, may have been my favourite part of this story.


Sarah -
Right? And how clueless is Rose to not realized that something's a bit off with her boyfriend? Self-absorbed much?


Harry -
The Doctor confronts Auton Mickey, ripping his head off in front of horrified restaurant goers, and makes a run for the TARDIS. For the first time, we hear the TARDIS door squeak. I love that that sound effect has been there since day one. This sequence also gives Rose the opportunity to deliver her version of the classic "it's bigger on the inside" moment.


Sarah -
Rose running outside to make sure the exterior of the TARDIS is the size she thinks it is cracks me up every time. 

When she reenters the TARDIS, Rose demands to know what happened to Mickey and the Doctor's reaction is so callous. I can imagine the First Doctor not sparing a thought for Mickey, but not any of his successors. In retrospect, it makes sense for a Doctor who has been through a war and it really emphasizes his alienness.


Harry -
Thanks to Steven Moffat, John Hurt and Big Finish, we have the luxury of a lot more Time War backstory to colour our interpretations of the Ninth Doctor's post-war adventures. Apart from that quick reference to the war earlier, he doesn't delve into it in this story. But it's clear that even without any backstory, he'd have no time for Mickey after that meltdown.

The Doctor traces the Nestene Consciousness to somewhere beneath the Thames. The London Eye (squee!) has been harnessed as a gigantic transmitter, allowing the Consciousness to trigger an Auton rampage across the city. This scene always stands out for me because of the London Eye, the Auton rampage, and the fact that most of this story takes place at night -- so many of my favourite things all at once.

When Autons seize the Doctor, Rose takes action and swings to his rescue. Her training with the Jericho Street Junior School under-7s gymnastic team paid off!


Sarah -
Rose's pep talk to herself before swinging on a rope is so endearing, as is her care of the rescued Mickey.


Harry -
I guess Mickey was destined from the start to be a character who wouldn't fit into the TARDIS mindset, and we'll see that played out for the next couple of seasons. Mickey will prove his mettle in the end, but let's not get too ahead of things.

Thanks to Rose's gymnastic skills, the Consciousness is wiped out by a vial of anti-plastic, and the Auton rampage is halted. Among the survivors is Rose's mum, Jackie Tyler. Hello Jacks!


Sarah -
But poor Doctor-hunter Clive has not survived the rampage. I couldn't help think of Whizz Kid, the last fan surrogate to be killed off. A moment of silence for Clive, please.

Harry -
I confess you did far better than me to remember his name. One thing I found odd in this story was that the Doctor had a moment when he spotted himself in a mirror and commented on his new face and ears, but Clive already had evidence of his appearances throughout time: the Kennedy assassination, the Titanic, and Krakatoa. This would imply that this Doctor has already spent a lot of time visiting different moments in the Earth's history. Maybe that's the first instance of timey-wimeyness we encounter in the new series. I don't know.


Sarah -
So, let's talk about Jackie. I know this is just the beginning of her arc, but I've always been bothered by the way she's portrayed. The script feels very contemptuous towards her and I can't help but think that it could have been handled better. Knowing she's just the first of many horrible mothers in RTD's era, I can't help but point in his direction on this one. 

Harry -
I guess since RTD included Rose's family and friends in her story, he decided that Rose should come from a decidedly imperfect family. This would include the absent dad and the gossipy mum, but isn't every mum a bit gossipy?


Sarah -
Seriously, you’re going with “moms are gossipy?” Speak for yourself.


Harry -
Every family has its flaws and that's where RTD goes, instead of painting an idyll. I did laugh during the scene when the Doctor arrived chez Tyler and Rose presented him as someone from the inquiry to the events at the shoppe. He spots Jackie through an open doorway...

JACKIE: I'm in my dressing gown. 
DOCTOR: Yes, you are. 
JACKIE: There's a strange man in my bedroom. 
DOCTOR: Yes, there is. 
JACKIE: Well, anything could happen. 
DOCTOR: No.

Sarah -
This is exactly the scene I hate. We know Jackie is being setup for future character growth, but the contempt she’s treated with by the script has always gotten under my skin. RTD has some seriously misogynistic mommy issues, which we’ll see over and over for the rest of his era.  

There are also class issues playing out here. I've always felt that the script is dismissive of Rose's working class background, which is best illustrated by the way Mickey and Jackie are treated. Mickey and Jackie both have better days ahead, but I'll never be happy with their treatment in this first story.


Harry -
In just one episode of New Who, RTD has given a new companion more backstory than any previous. It was a deliberate move and represents a different approach to storytelling compared to the classic series. From now on, companions will do more than just ask pertinent questions and be there to be rescued, their lives will be part of the story.


Sarah -
The central role of companions is the most revolutionary aspect of Doctor Who's return. Making Rose the protagonist was brilliant and Billie Piper's performance made her immediately relatable.


Harry -
Back in 2005, I had no idea that Billie Piper was a young pop singer and that her casting in the new series was cause for consternation for some. I seem to recall Toby Hadoke's initial reaction was something like: "NOOOOO! THIS IS BONNIE LANGFORD ALL OVER AGAIN!" 

But there was no reason to be concerned. Rose was great from the get-go. For new viewers and old, she created a character with whom we could explore the Doctor's universe together. And that slow-motion moment when she throws all caution to the wind and joins the Doctor in the TARDIS, it's magical. (It's also mind-blowing that we are writing about Billie Piper in the year 2016 and she's only 34 years old right now!)

Like I said above, watching "Rose" always leaves me with a manic grin and tears as the final credits roll.

And here we are, in the New Who era. A huge sigh of relief after the first episode, and eager to see the next one. Shall we see what surprises RTD has in store for us?

Best Line: 
ROSE: So what you're saying is, the entire world revolves around you. 
DOCTOR: Sort of, yeah. 
ROSE: You're full of it. 
DOCTOR: Sort of, yeah. 

Favourite Moment: the Doctor is attacked by the Auton arm.

Lasting Image: the Doctor and the London Eye. It captured both the newness and the amazingness of the new series for me.

8/10 (although I probably gave it 10/10 on first viewing)


Sarah -
Best Line: Nice to meet you, Rose. Run for your life!

Favorite Moment: The Doctor telling Rose to run.

Lasting Image: The Doctor and Rose running down the corridor.

8/10

Our marathon continues with Story #158: The End of the World...

Sofa of Rassilon EXTRA: The Curse of Fatal Death (1999)

Sarah -
Welcome to the Sofa of Reasonable Comfort, Old Boy! Have you been looking forward to this as long as I have?


Harry -
I have watched the opening minute of "The Curse of Fatal Death" countless times in the lead up to this. It's great that we could watch the whole thing again.

After the attempt at re-launching Doctor Who with Paul McGann fizzled, we were back to the wilderness years. BBC Books and Big Finish audios were cranking out content for diehard Whovians, but the show would remain absent from the small screen for the remainder of the 90s and into the 00s. We had to settle for this quirky adventure to fill the void. And how quirky was it?


Sarah -
I was given a VHS copy as a birthday gift and watched it over and over. It felt like this was the only Doctor Who we were ever going to get -- the end of televised Doctor Who.


Harry -
It would have been a great way to go out. An all star cast of Doctors goes on a merry romp against the Daleks and the Master. Jonathan Pryce's Master managed to be campier than Anthony Ainley's -- no easy task!


Sarah -
I adore Pryce's Master! He's clearly having the time of his life. As is Rowan Atkinson as the Doctor.


Harry -
Atkinson played the Doctor as a low-key, BlackAddery type and it was perfect.


Sarah -
And there's that up-and-coming writer bloke, S. Moffat. In the bonus material, he's clearly delighted by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write Doctor Who.


Harry -
It's amazing that he took his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and produced a female Doctor. Joanna Lumley is a brilliant Doctor. I don't care how many barking fanboys moan about it, I'd love to see a female Doctor next.


Sarah -
It almost feels inevitable. The barkers will be angry no matter what, so we can just trundle on without consulting them.


Harry -
Aye.  Lumley's sassy appearance followed the two handsome Doctors named Grant, and the shy Doctor. Jim Broadbent always manages to create so much out of so little. I love it whenever he shows up in a supporting role.


Sarah -
Jim Broadbent is one of my favorite actors. He's wonderful in everything -- including this! And let's not forget the love Julia Sawalha as Emma, the only companion the Doctor's ever "had." I'll point out that Moffat, who will go on to give us River Song, is the first Doctor Who TV writer to suggest a proper romance in the TARDIS. He also gives Emma the line, "Never cruel, never cowardly," to eulogize the Doctor -- a line we'll hear again in "The Day of the Doctor". Nothing like stealing from yourself!


Harry -
It was "an homage", surely!


Sarah -
But of course!


Harry -
As for the story, you can see the first signs of Moffat's intricate plotting, in the way the Doctor and the Master lay multiple traps for one another by going further and further back in time. And then, knowing that this might be his only opportunity to write Doctor Who for TV, Moffat fills the rest of the story with toilet humour. It's bonkers and fun.


Sarah -
It was a delightful gift to wilderness-era Whovians everywhere!


Harry -
I wonder how much this production influenced the BBC's decision to finally end the wilderness era, just a few years later.


Sarah -
I have to say I've enjoyed our little two-month wilderness era significantly more than the original sixteen-year version.


Harry -
The condensed version was so much better, and with way less youthful angst to work through. Once was enough for that. But I'm glad we made these side trips to appreciate how much the show still meant to so many people after it went off the air. RTD must have been chomping at the bit to revive the show after seeing this.


Sarah -
We could never have imagined where we'd be today. It's a whole new world for Doctor Who and I can't wait to revisit the start. Are you ready, Old Boy?


Harry -
I can't believe what we're about to watch next!

Our marathon continues with Story #157: Rose...

The Paul McGann Era - Final Thoughts

Harry -
How to sum up the Paul McGann era of Doctor Who? It's really two eras: the single appearance in the televised Movie, and then the years of BBC novels and Big Finish audios that followed. We've left out these aspects of other Doctors' eras for the most part, but they are almost the entirety of McGann's portrayal of the Doctor.


Sarah -
Once again, we bow our heads in thanks for the wonder that is Big Finish. They've extended the eras of all of the Doctors, but Paul McGann and Colin Baker are the Doctors who have most benefitted from Big Finish. Baker finally got some decent stories, without being encumbered by a clown costume, and Paul McGann got to be a real Doctor. Before listening to his Big Finish stories, I have to admit I considered the Eighth Doctor to be little more than a footnote. Big Finish (and Steven Moffat, but that's a story for another day) finally made McGann's Doctor canon for me.


Harry -
Having just watched the entirety of the televised McGann era, it begs the old question: was it short because it was unsuccessful, or was it unsuccessful because it was short?


Sarah -
It's kind of a chicken-and-egg conundrum, isn't it? In retrospect, the TV Movie is the hinge between the classic and contemporary eras of Doctor Who. I love all the callbacks -- the Fourth Doctor's scarf, finding his clothes in the hospital staff locker room just like the Third Doctor, the return of the sonic screwdriver, etc. -- but it's also mapping out a future for when Doctor Who returns, nine years hence.


Harry -
I remember there was so much uproar over things like The Kiss, and the Master's portrayal, and the half-human thing, and other supposed outrages. But the Movie introduced these things that the new series grabbed and ran with. Watching the Movie again, none of these things boiled my blood as they might have before.


Sarah -
The half-human thing has fortunately been dropped.


Harry -
One thing that still boils my blood is that silly wig they made McGann wear. Luckily, we can imagine that he got a haircut immediately after the events of the Movie.


Sarah -
That wig is the worst. Why would you put a stupid wig on an amazingly handsome actor? I like to think his first stop after leaving Grace was the closest barbershop.


Harry -
Agreed. The next time we see this Doctor, he's still got a shock of curls up top, but the flowing locks have been trimmed around the back and sides. A much better look.


Sarah -
A very good look, indeed!


Harry -
I've read a bunch of the earlier Eighth Doctor novels and what I like best about them is the freedom each author is given to explore the character. The template is so minimal that the Doctor could be whatever that writer wanted him to be. I don't have to be fussed with things like "hmm, that doesn't sound like him," or "that captures him perfectly,". In some books we end up with a generic, stock Doctor, but in others he's bursting with character.

McGann was able to put his own stamp on the Doctor via the Big Finish audios, and he's been great in those. Confident but calm, he seldom raises his voice, but he never hesitates to jump into action either. He's unencumbered by stock phrases or physical gimmicks. Would that be a postive or a negative?


Sarah -
I think of it as a change of pace. And, oh, that voice!


Harry -
As far as his televised era, there's not much else we haven't already covered in our review of the Movie. It's time to wade back into the wilderness years.


Sarah -
And this time, their end is just around the corner.


Harry -
Kudos to Steven Moffat for going back in time to wrap up the Eighth Doctor's era as part of the 50th anniversary festivities. We'll see Paul McGann again, in the future, back in the Doctor's past.


Sarah -
That was one of my favorite bits of the 50th. It just felt so right. I look forward to revisiting the Eighth Doctor in a few years. Until then, it's time for a little comic relief. 

Our marathon continues with the 1999 special, The Curse of Fatal Death...

Story #156: The Movie (1996)

Sarah -
Do you remember how you felt when you heard Doctor Who was coming back? I got the news from a friend and was cautiously optimistic.


Harry -
I was thrilled by the news. Even though it had only been a handful of years, it felt like a lifetime had passed between eras. I was stoked for more!


Sarah -
I wasn't able to watch the movie the night it aired, so I set my VCR (It was 1996, kiddos!) to record it and watched it the next night.


Harry -
"The Movie" had a curious broadcast schedule. Being a joint US-UK production, FOX aired it in America two weeks before viewers across the pond got to see it. Canadians actually got to see it first, a couple of days before the FOX broadcast.


Sarah -
I recall sitting down with Mr. Smith, simply hoping that it would be good. It didn't have to be great, I just didn't want to be disappointed. 

Spoiler Alert: I was disappointed.


Harry -
The one thing that leapt out immediately was the difference in production values. These were the peak years for The X-Files, and "The Movie" was steeped in the same look and feel. Both shows were filmed in Vancouver.


Sarah -
It definitely has an X-Files vibe. Rewatching, I found myself thinking that Daphne Ashbrook could have been cast as Dana Scully's sister, their looks were so alike.


Harry -
After a quick prelude filled with references to Skaro and the Master, the story opens in the TARDIS console room. And it's gorgeous! This console room is what I've patterned my home after. Comfy chairs, bookcases, music and snacky treats. It's all there and I love it. Best console room ever? I'd argue yes.


Sarah -
The console room is amazing! I remember my shock and delight when I saw it the first time and it still stands out as one of the highlights of the movie. It's a perfect fit for the Seventh Doctor. Your home is a delightful homage to this comfy console room.


Harry -
Having been executed by the Daleks after who-knows-what-kind-of-attempted-coalition, the Master's remains are being transported back to Gallifrey by the Doctor. It was a request that should never have been granted!


Sarah -
In retrospect, I have to question the continuity dump that opens the film. I know it's there for geeks like us, but I can't imagine it making any sense to a new viewer. If the plan was to use this movie to relaunch the series, I don't think this was the way to start.


Harry -
A lot of present-day shows go to the other extreme, by telling us nothing at the start. It's not all that frustrating though, because we now get to binge watch entire seasons in one go and the pieces fall in place in short order. Here, they just crammed in too much in the opening minutes. Fans knew they were watching Doctor Who, and they didn't need to be soaked with continuity. Lesson learned by RTD!


Sarah -
There are so many lessons RTD clearly learned from "The Movie", but that's a discussion for later.


Harry -
Sylvester McCoy's Doctor returns at the start of the story. He's relaxing with a good book as, out of view, the Master breaks out of his funereal urn having been transformed into slimy ooze. Soon enough, he wreaks havoc on the TARDIS controls, forcing an emergency landing on Earth, San Francisco, 1999.


Sarah -
Syl! I know we just watched Survival a couple weeks ago, but I was already feeling nostalgic, which is exactly how I felt in 1996.


Harry -
His longer hair looked odd, but clearly a sign that he was mellowing in his later years. Speaking of length, one of the things that always struck me about this story -- watching it for the first time in 1996, watching it again on VHS in the 00s, and again now -- was how long Sylvester's Doctor was in the story.


Sarah -
It's amazing that the entire broadcast history of Paul McGann's Doctor is just over an hour long.


Harry -
True. After the emergency landing, the Seventh Doctor emerges from the TARDIS and gets shot by gangsters. He gets rushed to emergency, where he succumbs on the operating table. It's 16 minutes into the story but it feels so long every time.

It's also extremely horrible watching the Doctor die. He fights so hard, I almost teared up.


Sarah -
It's just awful. He's trying to tell the medical workers -- who think his two hearts are a double exposure on the x-ray -- that he's not human, but Dr Grace Holloway manages to kill him while trying to save his life. Oops. 

So, Grace. I tried really hard to like her more this time, but I don't find the character interesting or engaging. Her introduction irritated me -- another doctor referring to her as "Amazing Grace," Grace crying at the opera and running slow-mo through the hospital in her opera gown. It just didn't work for me.


Harry -
The opera scene, the frustrated boyfriend, the running in the gown, all forgettable moments. Once she got into surgery, the thing that sticks out most about Dr. Holloway's character is that she's not very "doctory". I don't mean that in a Gallifreyan sense, but that she's not all that convincing as a surgeon. A little more ice in the veins should have been projected.


Sarah -
I was never sold on Grace as a brilliant heart surgeon. I am always predisposed to like strong female characters, but Grace was like a cardboard cutout of the token "strong female character. It's a real lost opportunity.


Harry -
Anyway, it all goes horribly wrong and John Smith's body is wheeled away to the morgue. Sylvester gets to make some funny faces one more time as the regeneration kicks in, and then... hello Paul McGann!


Sarah -
After the most gruesome Doctor "death," this has to be the smoothest regeneration ever.


Harry -
It's an impressive regeneration thanks to the CGI work.


Sarah -
Doctor Who with a budget -- anything is possible!


Harry -
It was bizarre how the Doctor stumbled into a room full of mirrors right after that. Does every hospital have a room of mirrors? Can't recall ever seeing one.


Sarah -
OMG, that scene killed me -- a room of not only mirrors, but dripping water and discarded furniture! Where the hell is this hospital? Dickensian England?


Harry -
Synchronizing the regeneration with Frankenstein playing on a TV was a bit clunky.


Sarah -
I agree on the Frankenstein clips, but the morgue scenes were otherwise memorable. I really enjoyed Will Sasso's performance as Pete the morgue attendant. I wouldn't want Pete to be my co-worker, but Sasso makes the most of his brief appearance. 

The morgue also turns out to be the source of the Doctor's new wardrobe. Turns out he died on December 30 and the hospital workers are planning a costume New Year's Eve party the following night. After wandering around a bit in the sheet, the Doctor stumbles into the locker room and finds Pete's co-worker's Wild Bill Hickock costume. My favorite thing about this scene is the fact that someone at the hospital seems to be planning to attend the party dressed as Tom Baker's Doctor!


Harry -
I liked the cameos by both Sasso and the scarf.

It made more sense to synchronize the Frankenstein clips with the rebirth of the Master. They really upped the creepiness of the Master's efforts. The oozing slime becomes snakelike and invades the ambulance driver's body as he sleeps. The Master is good at this sort of thing, having previously stolen the body of Tremas on Traken. Not sure about the glowing green eyes, other than "glowing green eyes look creepier".


Sarah -
The glowing eyes are an odd choice, but it's the Master, so we'll just wave our hands and bit and move along. My memory of Eric Roberts' performance as the Master wasn't good, but I found myself really enjoying his over-the-top stylings this time.


Harry -
I recall Roberts getting rapped for his over-the-top performance ("I always DREZZ for the occasion."), but it's now just one of many such performances thanks to John Simm and Michelle Gomez. In fact, this Master seemed almost subdued compared to subsequent incarnations ("Bananas!").


Sarah -
The Master's bonkers level has definitely been recalibrated in recent years.


Harry -
Now that we've got our new Doctor, Master and companions for both, the adventure proper can begin. Boy was it wobbly. The Master feels that his newly stolen body won't last long, so he wants to steal the Doctor's remaining lives. He somehow sneaks into the TARDIS and recruits Chang Lee to help him open the Eye of Harmony, which is now inside the TARDIS. Er... okay.

The Doctor, meanwhile, has amnesia but latched onto Dr. Holloway and she decided to bring him home. Er... okay.


Sarah -
I did laugh when they enter the house to discover Grace's boyfriend has moved out -- and taken the sofa with him! And yet, somehow, he managed to leave his perfectly sized shoes behind for the Doctor.


Harry -
The Master uses Chang to open the Eye and locate the Doctor. At that moment, the Doctor's memory returns and he celebrates by smooching Grace. Two weeks later, somewhere in England, Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts will die many silent deaths watching all of this.


Sarah -
You've heard the story of them walking out of the screening? If we were disappointed, imagine how they must have felt. 

How did you feel about "THE KISS"? At the time, I was all bent out of shape. This time, it felt celebratory and not smoochy-woochy. Maybe my tolerance, like the Master's crazy, has been reset by the current series, but it didn't bother me too much.


Harry -
The new series has made most of the things that were controversial in The Movie into no big deal anymore. The Master, the kiss, the Doctor's bullshitting ("I'm half human on my mother's side."), watching it now barely got a response out of me.

And yes, I've assigned the "half human" remark to the folder "This Was the Doctor Bullshitting Someone".


Sarah -
Oh yeah, complete bullshit. I thought that Grace misinterpreted the kiss and would eventually be disappointed to find out the Doctor had no romantic interest in her.


Harry -
Grace didn't seem all that interested in sticking with the Doctor at the end anyway.


Sarah -
Probably for the best, really. What did you think of Chang Lee?


Harry -
He stumbled into the Doctor's world, became a patsy for the Master, and was ultimately a non-entity. A stock "helper" character with no development. Yee Jee Tso has forged a career playing bit parts in TV and film, and he has been in a handful of Big Finish audios, including Excelis Decays. I don't recall being wowed by his performance.


Sarah -
I would have been more interested to see him join the Doctor in the TARDIS than Grace. His character was sort of an Adric-Turlough hybrid.


Harry -
In the worlds of Doctor Who novels and audios, the Eighth Doctor will pick up many different companions. I'm not sure if Grace was intended to be a continuing companion of the Doctor's or not.

In The Movie, she ably assists the Doctor as he races to get to an atomic clock, which contains a piece that will help close the Eye of Harmony, which for reasons unexplained is warping the fabric of time and will destroy the Earth at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. Er... okay.


Sarah -
The Eye of Harmony scene is definitely my favorite part of the movie. It's all so wonderfully camp -- the Master parading around in his robes, Grace trying to sort out what to do, Chang Lee in the Master's thrall, and the Doctor trussed up in some serious bondage gear. I don't know what the hell was going on here, but I loved the insanity of it all.


Harry -
For the Master, it ends predictably. How many times have we seen him totally obliviated?


Sarah -
I've lost count.


Harry -
And there's the Doctor, going back in time to save the lives of Grace and Chang -- WHEN HE REFUSED TO DO THE SAME THING FOR ADRIC.


Sarah -
WTF, Doctor?


Harry -
I will say one thing I liked about this story: the whole thing takes place at night, and I love Doctor Who stories that take place at night.


Sarah -
As weak at the script may be, Geoffrey Sax's direction is solid.


Harry -
After all that, the Doctor returns to the TARDIS and takes off alone. The show has been relaunched and a universe of new adventures awaits. 

Or so we thought! We can save our discussion of what happened next for our entry on the Paul McGann era. For now, I'm ready to wrap this one up.

Best Line: 
Grace: "I'm not a child. Don't treat me like I'm a child, only children believe that crap. I am a doctor." 
The Doctor: "But it was a childish dream that made you a doctor."

Favourite Moment: the Master camping it up during the Eye of Harmony scene.

Lasting Image: the new TARDIS interior.

6/10


Sarah -
Best Line: "I always dress for the occasion."

Favorite Moment: Camp Master 4 Life!

Lasting Image: The Doctor in the Master's wacky bondage gear. It looked even less comfortable than Adric in "Castrovalva". 

5/10

 



Next, we continue wandering the wilderness years with "The Curse of Fatal Death"...