And the Hits Keep On Comin’
More things I thought I’d never see: Doctor Who not only continues to trounce Ant and Dec in their timeslot, but with 8.3 million people watching The Unquiet Dead, Doctor Who also managed to score higher ratings than a Royal Wedding (6.2 million), a Grand National (7.3 million) and even Casualty (8.0 million) too.
We’re still waiting for the fan prophesy of doom of viewers switching off en masse after the news of Eccleston’s departure to happen, but it doesn’t seem to be occuring. All we can say is, hooray for the British viewing public for having more faith in Doctor Who!
Posted by Graeme on Sunday, April 10 at 1:27 pm
12 Comments...
I notice that fans tend to report about things like the ‘fan prophecy of doom’ and of course ignore the ‘fan prophecy of it won’t really mean a thing to the ratings.’ Odd that. Is this some sort of “I’m a cool Doctor Who fan and you’re a geeky Doctor Who fan” type of thing? Is there really such a distinction that can be made? Let’s face it. It’s all incredibly geeky no matter how you look at it.
Posted by Ryan on 04/11 at 03:54 PM
It’s not a question of “geeky” vs. “cool” fan… I think it’s more a question of Old School vs. New School fan. Those who have followed the show from long before even I was born have seen it at it’s best and worst popularity and ratings wise. Of course it’s geeky, that’s the whole charm of Dr.Who: Low budget and over acting! What Old school fans are reacting to at this stage is the amount of CG assistance to the plot. I say bring on the strings and duct tape! On a different note, I love the fact that they connected “Rose” to “Terror of the Auton’s” from the Pertwee era! I can hardly wait for episode #2!!!!
Posted by Cat on 04/12 at 04:45 AM
...totally loving the new ‘Who. I just finished watching ep.2, but I have a question: when the 60’s Wurlitzer jukebox was indentified—“according to the archives”—as an “iPod”, what was the 45 it started to play?
Even tho’ I just watched it an hour ago, I can’t remember & it’s driving me mad… it’s right on the tip of my tongue. Also, what was the song the Wurlitzer/iPod played for the end of the Earth? I didn’t recognize it.
Posted by ripdash on 04/13 at 12:41 AM
As a fan of the original series, I’m liking this new take on it immensely. The Doctor is being portrayed as cynical and willing to make sacrifices to get the job done, which is a refreshing departure from the flamboyance of earlier incarnations.
I read somewhere that Paul McGann is being considered as The Doctor now that Eccleston is no longer willing to continue. I say, why not? This show is all about time travel, so it would not be so strange to have the ninth Doctor’s adventures before the Eighth Doctor’s! I enjoyed McGann’s performance in the 1996 movie, which he did brilliantly despite the poor scripting, and he deserves another crack at the role.
Posted by Audrey on 04/13 at 01:50 AM
Please watch the spoilers! Western Canada hasn’t even seen the new episode yet tonight.
Posted by Derek Johnson on 04/13 at 01:56 AM
There’s more chance that I’ll be named the next Pope than of Paul McGann being the next Doctor. It’ll neeeeever happen.
Posted by Richard on 04/13 at 02:16 AM
Hey, Cat, I’m about as old school a fan as I can get (I’ve been watching since 1976, and spent most of my spare time in the 1990s making fanzines), and I’m loving the new stuff as much as I’m loving the old stuff. It’s good stuff.
Posted by James Bow on 04/13 at 04:18 AM
I’m also an old fan who’s happy to see the new version of the show! I’m enjoying the new effects combined with the occasional rubber suit.
Oh, and the first song on the jukebox was “Tainted Love.” I’ve no idea what the second was; I assume it was some Billie Piper song. (Since I saw the Western Canada feed—I’m in Seattle—I assume it’s not as big a spoiler, right?)
Posted by Jonathan Miller on 04/13 at 05:09 AM
The second song was Britney Spears “Toxic”. Sheesh. Don’t you people ever turn on the radio.
I liked the second episode more than the first. The ...damn, gotta watch spoilers…Uh, I wonder what the deal is with Gallifrey. Who do you think was involved? The daleks? I like that they’re giving long time fans some mystery without confusing new viewers. Cheers to Russell Davies!
Posted by Mister Sinn on 04/13 at 06:13 AM
Regarding Gallifrey, I wonder how careful Russell Davies will be to respect the continuity of the eighth Doctor books, if he does so at all. Perhaps Lance Parkin’s Gallifrey Chronicles will shed some light on this.
Posted by James Bow on 04/13 at 01:36 PM
I’m a bit behind the times - I just watched the first episode (Rose), and I enjoyed it, I really did. But I want to put this out there: does anybody besides me miss the length and complexity of the old episodes? For me, that was one of the main attractions of Dr.Who - you had to really work follow the sometimes convuluted plot. I’d like to see all the twists and turns of the long episodes brought back. What say you?
Posted by Bruce on 04/17 at 06:49 AM
I Have never really watched the original Dr. Who series as much as my friends did . Then being and living in North America there are alot of other stations with similiar programs. But when I was in England I did see the original series from the 1970’s with then Tom Baker. I would compare it with today’s version more detailed and at a slower more understandable pace.
I do find Dr. Who in the present a bit to fast for me and a little to modern. I guess it is my age but I would like to see some of the older series and really compare them to the new series.
But all in all I do and have been watching the new series. I do like Rose she is cute and cocky.
I will be watching.. Norman Bloom….
Posted by Norman Bloom on 05/04 at 01:33 AM
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