Doctor Who, Season 2
Summary: Episode 1 sucked, badly, but 2 and 3 were great. More details follow, and this post contains spoilers.
Episode 1 was really bad. I was deeply unimpressed by it; it felt like one of those D&D sessions where you go in expecting good RP, action, drama... and get everyone levelling their characters, and a little bit of uninteresting combat. Sure, it tied in to plot arcs, addressed a few things left hanging in Season 1, but generally, it was a pick and mix of elements, and just didn't work. The Next Generation Star Trek-ish feel to the setting put me off further, and the dystopian/Matrix bits were too little too late.
On the other hand, Episode 2 was brilliant. Queen Victoria (eventually unamused), werewolves, moontech, shao-lin monks... fantastic! The plot held up well, too, and the restrospective creation of the Torchwood Institute was absolutely excellent. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Torchwood series when this season of Doctor Who is done. I'm also wondering if the exile of Sir Doctor and Dame Rose from the Empire will be followed through on at any point. And of course the British Royal Family are werewolves - it all makes sense now! Although I'd love to know where the motif of ruler-as-werewolf comes from; I've used it myself, and I know it appeared in the Ravenloft setting as well (although, being fair, Ravenloft had one of everything nasty as a ruler).
And Episode 3 was pretty damn classy. Anthony Stewart Head does evil so very, very well that from now on, he'll be playing a pit fiend in the movie version of my fantasy campaign. And of course, in a British school setting, you get all the touchbacks to Buffy, but inverted. The appearance of an old companion - and K-9 - was also really well-handled, and I really like the way they're emphasising the roles of the different companions. I'm also starting, despite myself, to like Mickey, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he fits in. Does the Tardis have bedrooms? Does it even have seats?
Finally, the preview of Episode 4 had masks, baroque costumes, and lots of running around. Looks like a good start.
Posted by Drew Shiel at May 2, 2006 1:12 PM
The TARDIS is absolutely huge - it's just that we normally only see the control room. It's also got a laboratory, multiple staterooms, swimming pools, wardrobes, medicial facilities, libraries, a monastery...
Posted by: Gar at May 2, 2006 6:21 PM