Classic Who: The First Doctor
Aug. 14th, 2009 07:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellefliesSo I've started watching Classic Who. In order of how it first aired - of course I'm only on the first few episodes so we shall see how this goes.
I typed this as I watched, so it's probably a bit disjointed and very train of thought-ish...
I've been enjoying the LSD trip that is the First Doctor. His habit of looking at the camera and half muttering to himself and half to the people with him is somewhat disconcerting. It's like he's directing his comments at the TV audience only to turn around and rip into the people he's with. He also likes to look off into the distance and talk to himself, which is just as weird.
The world according to Ian: If something is vibrating, it must be alive! I really want to hand that man a vibrator...
I love that The Doctor still fixing the Tardis and still can't fly the Tardis. Oh Doctor.
Ian and Barbara's first trip in the Tardis... was it that bumpy or were they just so shocked that they both fainted? Because if it was fainting, Ian isn't nearly as manly as he's trying to come off.
I think my favorite comment from the first episode went something like "I do not like this century, I merely tolerate it." AND YET HE KEEPS COMING BACK! That lying liar who lies. *g*
Ian: "Time doesn't go round and round in circles. You can't just get on and off whenever you like... in the past, in the future."
Ian, don't you know Time is WIBBLY WOBBLY AND TIMEY WIMEY. GET WITH THE PROGRAM!
"I will take my Geiger Counter with me in any case" I see he has not yet upgraded to Sonic. Unless it's a Sonic Geiger Counter.
They exit the ship only to find: IT'S STILL A POLICE BOX! OH NOES!!! (Welcome to the next 40 years, Doctor)
Barbara teaches kids and can't recognize a horse skull? Oh sweetie, you have been so sheltered. And neither can Ian? "It doesn't have any horns or antlers. It could be a horse, it could be anything" THANK YOU. I really should give him the benefit of the doubt, his entire world view just got rocked, I'd probably look at a horse skull and think OMG IT'S GONNA EAT ME if I was dragged back to the past against my will and had my entire world view upended.
Ian: "Doctor Foreman. That's not his name. Who is he? Doctor Who?!" Good to see these jokes never get old. "Perhaps if we knew his name we'd have a clue to all this" Get in line Ian, we're still waiting.
I get the feeling that the Doctor and Susan really did not do much traveling in between leaving Gallifrey and coming to Earth. She gets WAY too hysterical when he disappears and yet she says he has a notebook full of information about the places they've been. Hmmmmm.
I like how it takes no time at all for the Doctor to land somewhere in time and space and immediately get into trouble, even when he's just sitting around digging in dirt. Also, this is a good example of how smoking is bad for you. If you smoke, you might get attacked by a caveman and dragged back to his cave! I'd like to see that in commercial form.
Did you know the Doctor breathes fire? Smoke comes from his mouth and everything. TRUFAX! BTW, I love the SUPER DRAMATIC CAVEMAN ACTING: I suddenly feel like grunting.
They really needed to edit down all the talk of making fire. It's dragging on way too long. But then again, I'm looking at this from a more modern, tech savvy viewpoint. My biases, let me show you them. I'm pretty sure it would be a better argument if the cavemen quit referring to their own names over and over and over again.
I've just realized this entire episode is basically a political campaign by Cavemen on a platform of "I will give you fire." Human nature never really changes does it?
It doesn't take the Doctor long to get protective of the people he drags around with him. Ian jumps into the fray and suddenly he's all threats and anger. Nice to see that trait has stuck around.
The Doctor has a really warped perspective of what a good first trip in the Tardis is: The End of the World or a cave full of skulls left to die? Someone needs to introduce this man to a spa... oh wait, they did, that didn't work out well either. NEVER MIND.
Onto.... THE FOREST OF FEAR!
The more I see the opening sequence, the more convinced I am that it's an LSD trip gone awry.
Remember that vid that came out a little while back: the Tenth Doctor apologizing over and over and over again? It turns out there's a Classic Who basis for that.
Reason Number #2,343 for why the Doctor needs a Sonic Screwdriver: It makes getting out of ropes that much easier. He'll find his tool someday.
The Doctor keeps bringing up the point that he's old. He's an old man, he needs to stop, he needs to catch his breath. I imagine he's enjoying playing the "old" card since it probably doesn't go that far on Gallifrey where he's still young, not even having regenerated yet. Odd how the older he gets, the younger he looks. Now I'm having all these mental images of his 10th and 11th regenerations complaining about how old they are and how their creaky old bones need a break.
I'm a bit tired of the main female character being the hysterical ones in the bunch. Susan, in three episodes so far, has done a good job screaming and/or getting hysterical over things. And now Barbara is having a freak out. Granted, I'd probably freak out too.
I love all the creepy props. The props department clearly had a blast with this episode - bones and taxidermied heads oh my!
The Doctor really is an ass towards humans. He likes them as long as they follow along and don't question orders and as soon as they do something beyond what he wants he gets all prissy and offended.
The Doctor is pouting and Susan's all "he's always like this if he doesn't get his own way" imagine that? A Doctor who broods and pouts if he's not in charge.
Every time they cut to the Doctor, Ian, Barbra and Susan in the forest there's a weird squeaking sound in the background. I think they intended for it to seem like forest creatures but mainly it just reminds me of the squeaky ball my dog runs around with. And it's about the same level of annoying.
Caveman: Here is the knife that killed the old woman!
Doctor: This knife has no blood on it.
Caveman: *drops knife* it is a bad knife!
*CRACKS UP*
And here he goes... toppling the corrupt Caveman regime!
And really, there's nothing quite like a good old fashioned stoning. Caveman style. And of course, because this is the Doctor, they end up captured again and right back where they started. He really does get no love for taking down politicians.
As an aside, every time I make an important point I want trumpets to blare DUNH DUNH in the background. I'd also like the Darth Vader music to sound every time I enter a room. THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE!
OMG THEY MADE FIRE EVERYONE WORSHIP IT RIGHT NOW.
I may be getting somewhat melodramatic by this point...
The Tardis disappearing in front of the eyes of an incredulous crowd will never get old.
The Doctor really is shitty at flying the Tardis. His whole 12 hours to 12 months things makes SO much more sense in light of all this. :)
Oh phew, that's over. I was warned it was kind of slow, and for as interesting as it was it did drag in places.
I typed this as I watched, so it's probably a bit disjointed and very train of thought-ish...
I've been enjoying the LSD trip that is the First Doctor. His habit of looking at the camera and half muttering to himself and half to the people with him is somewhat disconcerting. It's like he's directing his comments at the TV audience only to turn around and rip into the people he's with. He also likes to look off into the distance and talk to himself, which is just as weird.
The world according to Ian: If something is vibrating, it must be alive! I really want to hand that man a vibrator...
I love that The Doctor still fixing the Tardis and still can't fly the Tardis. Oh Doctor.
Ian and Barbara's first trip in the Tardis... was it that bumpy or were they just so shocked that they both fainted? Because if it was fainting, Ian isn't nearly as manly as he's trying to come off.
I think my favorite comment from the first episode went something like "I do not like this century, I merely tolerate it." AND YET HE KEEPS COMING BACK! That lying liar who lies. *g*
Ian: "Time doesn't go round and round in circles. You can't just get on and off whenever you like... in the past, in the future."
Ian, don't you know Time is WIBBLY WOBBLY AND TIMEY WIMEY. GET WITH THE PROGRAM!
"I will take my Geiger Counter with me in any case" I see he has not yet upgraded to Sonic. Unless it's a Sonic Geiger Counter.
They exit the ship only to find: IT'S STILL A POLICE BOX! OH NOES!!! (Welcome to the next 40 years, Doctor)
Barbara teaches kids and can't recognize a horse skull? Oh sweetie, you have been so sheltered. And neither can Ian? "It doesn't have any horns or antlers. It could be a horse, it could be anything" THANK YOU. I really should give him the benefit of the doubt, his entire world view just got rocked, I'd probably look at a horse skull and think OMG IT'S GONNA EAT ME if I was dragged back to the past against my will and had my entire world view upended.
Ian: "Doctor Foreman. That's not his name. Who is he? Doctor Who?!" Good to see these jokes never get old. "Perhaps if we knew his name we'd have a clue to all this" Get in line Ian, we're still waiting.
I get the feeling that the Doctor and Susan really did not do much traveling in between leaving Gallifrey and coming to Earth. She gets WAY too hysterical when he disappears and yet she says he has a notebook full of information about the places they've been. Hmmmmm.
I like how it takes no time at all for the Doctor to land somewhere in time and space and immediately get into trouble, even when he's just sitting around digging in dirt. Also, this is a good example of how smoking is bad for you. If you smoke, you might get attacked by a caveman and dragged back to his cave! I'd like to see that in commercial form.
Did you know the Doctor breathes fire? Smoke comes from his mouth and everything. TRUFAX! BTW, I love the SUPER DRAMATIC CAVEMAN ACTING: I suddenly feel like grunting.
They really needed to edit down all the talk of making fire. It's dragging on way too long. But then again, I'm looking at this from a more modern, tech savvy viewpoint. My biases, let me show you them. I'm pretty sure it would be a better argument if the cavemen quit referring to their own names over and over and over again.
I've just realized this entire episode is basically a political campaign by Cavemen on a platform of "I will give you fire." Human nature never really changes does it?
It doesn't take the Doctor long to get protective of the people he drags around with him. Ian jumps into the fray and suddenly he's all threats and anger. Nice to see that trait has stuck around.
The Doctor has a really warped perspective of what a good first trip in the Tardis is: The End of the World or a cave full of skulls left to die? Someone needs to introduce this man to a spa... oh wait, they did, that didn't work out well either. NEVER MIND.
Onto.... THE FOREST OF FEAR!
The more I see the opening sequence, the more convinced I am that it's an LSD trip gone awry.
Remember that vid that came out a little while back: the Tenth Doctor apologizing over and over and over again? It turns out there's a Classic Who basis for that.
Reason Number #2,343 for why the Doctor needs a Sonic Screwdriver: It makes getting out of ropes that much easier. He'll find his tool someday.
The Doctor keeps bringing up the point that he's old. He's an old man, he needs to stop, he needs to catch his breath. I imagine he's enjoying playing the "old" card since it probably doesn't go that far on Gallifrey where he's still young, not even having regenerated yet. Odd how the older he gets, the younger he looks. Now I'm having all these mental images of his 10th and 11th regenerations complaining about how old they are and how their creaky old bones need a break.
I'm a bit tired of the main female character being the hysterical ones in the bunch. Susan, in three episodes so far, has done a good job screaming and/or getting hysterical over things. And now Barbara is having a freak out. Granted, I'd probably freak out too.
I love all the creepy props. The props department clearly had a blast with this episode - bones and taxidermied heads oh my!
The Doctor really is an ass towards humans. He likes them as long as they follow along and don't question orders and as soon as they do something beyond what he wants he gets all prissy and offended.
The Doctor is pouting and Susan's all "he's always like this if he doesn't get his own way" imagine that? A Doctor who broods and pouts if he's not in charge.
Every time they cut to the Doctor, Ian, Barbra and Susan in the forest there's a weird squeaking sound in the background. I think they intended for it to seem like forest creatures but mainly it just reminds me of the squeaky ball my dog runs around with. And it's about the same level of annoying.
Caveman: Here is the knife that killed the old woman!
Doctor: This knife has no blood on it.
Caveman: *drops knife* it is a bad knife!
*CRACKS UP*
And here he goes... toppling the corrupt Caveman regime!
And really, there's nothing quite like a good old fashioned stoning. Caveman style. And of course, because this is the Doctor, they end up captured again and right back where they started. He really does get no love for taking down politicians.
As an aside, every time I make an important point I want trumpets to blare DUNH DUNH in the background. I'd also like the Darth Vader music to sound every time I enter a room. THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE!
OMG THEY MADE FIRE EVERYONE WORSHIP IT RIGHT NOW.
I may be getting somewhat melodramatic by this point...
The Tardis disappearing in front of the eyes of an incredulous crowd will never get old.
The Doctor really is shitty at flying the Tardis. His whole 12 hours to 12 months things makes SO much more sense in light of all this. :)
Oh phew, that's over. I was warned it was kind of slow, and for as interesting as it was it did drag in places.
