Monday, July 07, 2008

Thank you RTD

Some people really are very obsessed with Doctor Who. One is dear Lawrence Miles who writes very long and sometimes interesting things about the programme on his Doctor Who Blog.

My take on the new Who is that that Russell T Davies (RTD) has done an absolutely fantastic job. My test for this is that my youngsters are just as excited about watching the show each Saturday as I was when i was their age.

We went out for a curry for my birthday yesterday and Emma, my six year old, was telling me how she wanted her bedroom door to be painted like a TARDIS door, Doctor Who curtains, Doctor Who carpet, Doctor Who lightshade ..... you get the picture.

Both my youngsters spend each episode on the edge of their seats (with Emma occasionally hiding behind daddy in the scary bits).

The last few episodes have pulled together many strands that were left floating during the past four series and, in my view, did it well.

Trying to bring back so many previous companions could have been disastrous (The Five Doctors springs to mind) but generally worked well, and helped rather than hindered the plot.

Davros was brilliant and the Daleks back on frightening form.

And the ending(s) were great. Another goodbye to Sarah Jane Smith, still touching but a little more relaxed, Captain Jack leading Martha off to another series of Torchwood presumably, and Mickey coming along for the ride. Rose finally getting her man, and a very poignant end to the Doctor's relationship with Donna (and a critic defying performance from Catherine Tate.)

Bringing back Doctor Who could have gone very badly wrong. But RTD - primarily through his own skill, imagination and determination - has made the hit TV Series of my childhood into the biggest TV series of my children's childhood too.

RTD - I salute you!

P.S. My 3 point response to Lawrence Miles' '25 Ways to make Doctor Who more interesting' is:

1 Get writers who know the difference between 'less' and 'fewer'.

2 Trust Stephen Moffat to know what he's doing and let him lead the show his way as RTD did his.

3 Er ... that's it ...

1 comment:

Jock Coats said...

I dunno - I've still not seen anything quite as scary as the Green Death episode was for me when I was ten!