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Spoilers begin:

Considering that Rani's apparently just been recast for the new series, I may check that out.

End

(Reads Nuala's post)
Really?
That one passed me by.
Interesting, if slightly odd, choice on their part.

Anyways, to get back to the topic at hand, I always thought the Rani was a potentially decent villain let down by two rather disappointing scripts. Never rated Mark as high as many people...

I more meant as a villain to bring back than regarding any specific actor.

Anyways, RTD has just said in an interview:
a) There will be not one but tow old monsters brought back next year
b) Neither of them will be the Ice Warriors
c) Sarah Jane Smith is getting her own series (Which I'd also heard elsewhere)

I was going to, but I got dragged out. Did anyone here actually see it?

Still, Torchwood's finale was fun (although I could've throttled the writer for the cheap fairytale resolution in the morgue - you know the one I mean), and we actually got a Doctor Who Christmas special which focussed on the eponymous hero rather than the whiny Mary-Sue we'd been stuck with for the last two series. Catherie Tate was actually less annoying than I expected.

Welcome back smile

I didn't bother. Soon as I saw the ads focussing on the little moppets I decided it wasn't for me. Love Sarah Jane, but if I want to see kids being the heroes, I can (and do) watch cartoons.

The Xmas special was OK, but I preferred last year's. Catherine Tate wasn't as annoying as I thought, no, but that's not saying much considering how annoying I thought she would be.

Spoilers (select to read):
The TARDIS causes it to snow? How very "It's a Wonderful Life". I prefer the ashes of the alien ship.

The TARDIS used as an actual spaceship = novel concept.

Some funny moments. Some nice dark moments. No. 10 seems to be channelling no. 7 at his worst at the moment, although I'm still holding out hopes for an encore performance by the Valeyard.

Don't get me started on the losing Rose thing. Someone who's seen more of the classic series, tell me, did he ever cry over Sarah Jane? Romana? Peri? Or even ones he got killed, like Adric?

I guess previously it wasn't British and therefore wasn't done, whereas now everyone has to be one of those "new men". *shudders* I mean, I get it that he gets lonely and generally needs people around to talk to, now more than ever. But it's not like we ever see him go back to the various folk he dumped en route.

Note to self: stop expecting consistency from a 40 year old TV show smile


Torchwood: yep, I was threatening death to the writer if he did what I thought he was going to do. Puh-leeze!

Spoilers (select to read):
Didn't like the finale at all, to be honest. But I've spent the entire series wondering how Torchwood ever got good when it employs such a bunch of no-hopers, so their complete idiocy was not too much of a surprise. Jack is the only one with 2 brain cells to rub together, I swear.

First part of it was cool, I liked the WWII setting etc. Many "yeah, right" moments somewhat improved by the revelations of the villain (although is anyone else thinking Scooby Doo at this point?). Mind you, I was also thinking Valeyard at that point, which appears to be on my brain at the moment!

The second part was lame. Gwen goes to pieces cos the boyfriend she's been cheating on for the entire series dies? Everyone does what the villain wants 'cos their dead loved ones appeared to them in a vision? The demon of destruction lurches around Cardiff for about 5 minutes, is destroyed and then we are treated to 15 minutes of Gwen moping about Jack and not spending time with her miraculously reincarnated boyfriend?

However, there was one moment that had me cheering. And that was just a sound effect...

Speaking of Mary Sues, may I suggest that someone runs Captain Jack through one of the many internet tests? A friend of mine did that and got to a score of 122 on a scale that stopped at 50+ as "Kill it now". I suspect that rates at least as high as Marrissa Picard...

DW

Here be spoilers.



Thanks. smile



I've been saying to Xag elsewhere that the prospect of a bunch of Scooby Gang wannabes Rose-ing in was my major sticking point with the whole idea.



Ditto.

I've lad out most of my objections below (villain notwuithstanding), but I'm still torn over the fact that it was a DW special that actually focussed on the Doctor - I suppose that last year rather crushed my expectations.



Well, at leastr RTD was upfront beforehand about the fact that he was channeling IaWL and A Christmas Carol.



Yes, but what happened to keeping a low profile? I completelty failed to see the point in the car chase.



As far as I know, never - and everyone says that it'd have been Sarah Jane he got emotional about if anyone.

Just don't get me started on Rose in general. Grr.



They've been pushing the survivors' guilt and loneliness of the last of his kind business heavily enough.

Personally, I as just overjoyed that someone finally had the guts to admit that the previous 40 years of continuity existed and use the name of Gallifrey rather than just "my home planet".



At least he tried to blag why during the last season.



Glad to know it wasn't just me - and with her, of all people, as well... rolleyes stare gonk scream



Yes, but Morpheus from The Sandman scores 200+. It's not just being a Mary-Sue that's an issue - it's how they're written.

And Rose Tyler was just plain irritating.

As much as Gwen Cooper's supposed to be seen as having some sort of tragic fall from grace in her normal life by getting gradually sucked into the seductive chaos of Torchwood, I found her increasingly selfish, irritating and unsympathetic from around the second episode onwards.

Jack's the only character I find myself genuinely feeling for (although part of me wants tobe able to warm to Tosh, if she ever gets enough screen time) - probably because we know more of his backstory - and he's the biggest moral black hole in the place.

We need to discuss this over the 'phone at some point - I could go on for a while.

True - I'd have expected that. But since she was a relative, I'm not really counting her as in the same category as the other companions.