Things I liked first:
1) I like that John Hurt is now between Paul McGann and Christopher Eccleston. But, with the paradox created by the removal of Gallifrey (instead of its destruction in the Time War), I do feel that the John Hurt version of Doctor did not break the promise and should be counted within the numbering of the Doctors.
2) I like that the Bad Wolf version of Rose Tyler was present, rather than the actual Rose Tyler, or the story line would have needed all the companions to be present and that would have been too much of a stretch (as if the paradox itself is not enough of a stretch by itself).
3) I like that Tom Baker was able to appear as the custodian (because my introduction to the show was during the Peter Davison years (so Peter Davison and Tom Baker are both instrumental to my devotion to the show).
4) I like the coninuation of the Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart Character through his daughter and UNIT.
5) I like the machine that goes “Ding”, a fantastic Monty Python “Meaning of Life” reference.
Things I would nit-pick about:
1) The door being unlocked.
2) The sonic screwdriver as allagory to explain the ripples in The Paradox.
3) The reversing the polarity gag. The effect should have been cumulative, not canceling each other out.
4) Being a fan of Black Adder Series as well, I was disappointed with the actress playing Queen Elisabeth I.
5) If any others occur to me, I will add them below as comments.
Also, if anyone reading this attended the 3D Theatrical Showing, I would be curious to hear about the “Extras”.
it’s also the 10th anniversary of Love Actually, which is being re-evaluated by the Internets.
digby is must-read today, as she often is.
No open thread. Doctor thread. JimC, you will be upgraded.
Mike_Cote, first let me commend your awesome taste in TV shows.
That said:
1) John Hurt did great, and it is nice to see the showrunners finally stitch together the classic and new series. Yes, he should be counted in the numbering of the Doctors, but it’s plain that they’re going to blow through the 13-regenerations limit anyway.
2) and 3) I thought Rose’s presence (and Tom Baker’s also) struck a false note. It felt like they were being included for the sake of including them, and that neither was necessary to what was already necessarily a convoluted story line.
4) Lethbridge-Stewart’s daughter has already made an appearance before, in an episode that revealed the death of the father. It is good to see it continuing.
5) I missed that one!
Nitpick 4) Miranda Richardson 4 evah!
I’d also like to see what was apparently a comic companion piece, featuring Doctors #5, #6 and #7 valiantly picketing to be included in the special.
Last, my favorite Doctor (Eccleston) was apparently the only one to refuse to appear. What, he couldn’t have hopped in and out for a few hours to do a regeneration scene? Sourpuss. Kind of like Alec Guinness not being able to tolerate the fact that he was most famous for being Obi-Wan Kenobi…
you will need to wait a long time for him to appear again. My understanding is that he is going to be the Ginger Grant of the series. The show in many ways is about the companions, and he could not accept the fact that Rose Tyler had more to do with the show’s revival than he did.
Eccleston had a huge job to do to revive the Doctor for a new audience, and to mark out that this would not be simply a comic kids’ show with Sylvester McCoy’s clownish Doctor. Eccleston’s modern, angry, leather-jacketed Northerner made a terrific difference. He should be proud of it.