It's been some years since I dared expect anything more than (at best) light-hearted, fast-moving, melodramatic tosh from any Russell T Davis-scripted episode of Doctor Who
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Not seen this yet (but I am immune to the power of spoilers, they bounce off me like something vaguely simile related) and I agree that from previous RTD episodes the level of power of the old sonic screwdriver had bordered on the old deus ex machinae 'Oh no, there's a thing that no one can do anything about!' 'It's ok, I got a sonic screwdriver'. They can't be that good, after all everyone seems to be able to get sonic devices (Jack, Sarah Jane) and Jack didn't even get his from the doctor - he acquired it independently from the same planet, before the Doctor destroyed it...
Yes, I have always been enamoured of the Doctor's 'jury rig' skill which is why I made the first level of 'Repair' in Waypoint the 'Jury Rig' skill. I like the idea of being able to bodge something together from bits of string and stuff you find in your pocket and maybe using the sonic screwdriver to help you do it quicker.
Here's a thought... in all versions of Who there have been many uses of the Sonic Screwdriver. Have any of them actually been to tighten or loosen a screw? I think if I were writing Who I'd put that in somewhere... in fact, Moffat refers to it in the excellent 'never had a lot of shelves to put up?' line.
Speaking of Moffat... it is in him that I currently place my trust. RTD has occasional moments of genius and is an acknowledged Who fanboy but his excesses often take things too far which is why we have the things you complain about. What he has achieved is a more human aspect to the companions (the aforementioned soap opera thing) and a major feat in reigniting what was a dying (if not actually dead) franchise. However, I feel that Moffat will be able to bring it back to what the fans want - toning down the excesses and inserting his own unique spin.
Basically, there is no point now in complaining about RTDs interpretation (any more than there is any point in complaining about John Nathan Turner's episodes, which had their share of really dodgy plot holes, or any other past executive producer) because he is no longer in the big chair and therefore no longer capable of making any changes (all his specials have now been filmed, all that remains is to watch them...). Now is the time to tell Steve Moffat what you want to see in his version (though I suspect that most of the episodes of the new series are more or less in the can now...)
(though I suspect that most of the episodes of the new series are more or less in the can now...)
Only about half. There are spoilers out there. They're filming block two now.
Jack didn't even get his from the doctor - he acquired it independently from the same planet, before the Doctor destroyed it...
Earth, no? Which Moffat gave him. I agree, the sonic lipstick is silly, and I agree that they did the right thing by destroying the screwdriver in The Visitation. IIRC, when the Sonic Screwdriver was first introduced in Fury From The Deep... yup, it opened doors and turned screws.
Yes, I have always been enamoured of the Doctor's 'jury rig' skill which is why I made the first level of 'Repair' in Waypoint the 'Jury Rig' skill. I like the idea of being able to bodge something together from bits of string and stuff you find in your pocket and maybe using the sonic screwdriver to help you do it quicker.
Here's a thought... in all versions of Who there have been many uses of the Sonic Screwdriver. Have any of them actually been to tighten or loosen a screw? I think if I were writing Who I'd put that in somewhere... in fact, Moffat refers to it in the excellent 'never had a lot of shelves to put up?' line.
Speaking of Moffat... it is in him that I currently place my trust. RTD has occasional moments of genius and is an acknowledged Who fanboy but his excesses often take things too far which is why we have the things you complain about. What he has achieved is a more human aspect to the companions (the aforementioned soap opera thing) and a major feat in reigniting what was a dying (if not actually dead) franchise. However, I feel that Moffat will be able to bring it back to what the fans want - toning down the excesses and inserting his own unique spin.
Basically, there is no point now in complaining about RTDs interpretation (any more than there is any point in complaining about John Nathan Turner's episodes, which had their share of really dodgy plot holes, or any other past executive producer) because he is no longer in the big chair and therefore no longer capable of making any changes (all his specials have now been filmed, all that remains is to watch them...). Now is the time to tell Steve Moffat what you want to see in his version (though I suspect that most of the episodes of the new series are more or less in the can now...)
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Only about half.
There are spoilers out there. They're filming block two now.
Jack didn't even get his from the doctor - he acquired it independently from the same planet, before the Doctor destroyed it...
Earth, no? Which Moffat gave him.
I agree, the sonic lipstick is silly, and I agree that they did the right thing by destroying the screwdriver in The Visitation.
IIRC, when the Sonic Screwdriver was first introduced in Fury From The Deep... yup, it opened doors and turned screws.
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