Doctor Who Marathon

[nialla42]

BBCA is showing a marathon of Turn Left, The Stolen Earth and Journey's End.

I really like Turn Left, despite the critter f/x being so awful looking, and the other two are mostly silly fun (except for the fate of one character!), but I can't help but roll my eyes over every scene with Badass!Rose, Marbles!in!Mouth!Rose, or Pining!Rose. So,

Comments

[or_mabinogi]

I've been watching this today, too. And pretty much the same reaction from Rose. I've been debating whether I should reach for the ibuprofen or the wine bottle. Maybe both.

They did a marathon yesterday with The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead and something else. Also, before Turn Left today was Voyage of the Damned (Russel Tovey!). But I suppose you've noticed how every one of these specials has been edited even shorter? In fact none of them have shown the final scenes. It's kind of weird.

The ads on BBCA are saying three new specials in the month of December starting with Waters of Mars. Doesn't that mean that the last two will also be shown this month? I know the second to last is definitely Christmas Day for UK viewers. Will it be shown that quickly thereafter here in the states? And last I heard the UK airing of the last one was to be January 1st.

Also, FYI, on Graham Norton last night Catherine Tate mentioned her Christmas special which will be her version of A Christmas Carol. She mentioned Ben Miller, Lester from Primeval,

[nialla42]

They'll only show the "full" versions one-time, during the first run, then it's crammed down into a one-hour slot with commercials. I swear, they're shaving off bits with each airing, especially in marathons.

Looks like the US schedule is:

December 19: Waters of Mars
December 26: End of Time, Part 1
January 2: End of Time, Part 2

The last two are airing one day after the UK airing. I think we lucked out with Saturday being the day after the holiday, because there's no way they'd air in the US on the actual holiday.

I'm not sure if we'll get things than quickly when regular episodes with Eleven begin airing though. This may be a one-shot due to the convergence of the end of Tennant's run and the holiday season.

I'm also curious to see if they edit for time with the specials and Eleven. I'm assuming BBCA has the total contract now, instead of Skiffy.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I loved Rose. I think about her in these episodes as little as possible. I don't want to say they ruined her character, but only because when I think about these episodes, I'm thinking about other characters. Martha rocks, Donna is awesome, Jack is fun, I love Ianto and Gwen, and Sarah Jane rules. (We got Small Child SJA s2 for Christmas; none of us have seen it yet.)

I did write a long-after-the-episode epilogue for "Journey's End" involving that character I don't want to name in case I might spoil anyone. I'm rather proud of it. Hardly anyone reads it. I will therefore promote it here: "Goodbye". I think it gives a good resolution for the character, and it jibes with canon so far. I fully expect to be Jossed at any moment, but for now we're good. I think.

But who cares about canon anyway? Denial? We have nothing to be in denial about! All our favorites are alive and well! I have gone beyond denial; it's a very nice place to live!

[nialla42]

I loved Rose in the beginning too, but with so many shows before it, they couldn't just leave things as they were, and they had give it a romantic angle.

TPTB kept pushing it so hard that Rose was THE companion, not just one companion, and it got really annoying. Even managed to tarnish Martha bit with the Doctor still pining for Rose.

Like you, there's so much else to focus on with all the other characters, it still remains a show I watch. Even if I do get an eye twitch over the Rose adoration by TPTB. I've just learned to make good use of my remote control.

I'm all for promotion. Doctor Who Josses itself quite often though, so no worries there. ;)

[hsapiens]

I disliked Rose for about the first half of her first season; she was unbearably stupid and awful to Mickey, who deserved far better. She got less annoying, happily, and I was surprised to discover when she left that I was sorry for it. So far the only companion I've truly loved is Martha; she's the only one who had a successful life and accomplishments of her own. I like Catherine Tate quite a bit but I was annoyed by Donna's constant claims that she was nothing and nobody.

I'd agree about the annoying side of constantly pushing the relationship aspect. Whether it's Rose's perfection, Martha's unrequited crush, or Donna's insistence that they are NOT a couple, it wore thin. When one's telling the story of traveling through time and space, romance feels ordinary. Perhaps a little to add a bit of spice but being bludgeoned with the emo just distracts. I like some tension and some derring-do such as Captain Jack but I'd rather it be kept light and fleeting.

[nialla42]

I really hated how Mickey was treated sometimes. I got a glimmer of hope when he got a bit badass in the alternate dimension, but then he ends up still having his life defined by Rose. She doesn't want him, so he goes... somewhere back on our earth