And now for something completely different

[elisi]

Partly just to prove that I am actually watching Classic Who and have Opinions...

As I have explained previusly, I am watching backwards, by Doctor. I find this a very good way of acclimatising myself to the slower pace (Seven's stories are paced quite similar to modern TV, and then it gets slower as you get further back), and it really helps to follow a TARDIS team and see how they grow & develop. Watching random 'good episodes' never managed to make me invested enough to watch more, but this has worked a treat! (Even the dull/annoying episodes are worth it when you care about the characters.)

I have now done Seven, Six and Five, and have just finished S12 (Four's first). And I luff them all very much. (I watched the movie years ago, and should probably watch it again, although I know that Eight is basically to be found in Big Finish...)

Anyway. Opinion time. :) With thanks to Promethia. (As always.)

Poll #21655 The Ark in Space...

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 13

View Respondents

The Arc in Space was hella boring:

View Answers

1) Finally! Sombody admits it!
3 (23.1%)

2) It was just ok.
4 (30.8%)

3) It's overhyped but still good.
1 (7.7%)

4) You are wrong and I will tell you why in the comments.
1 (7.7%)

5) You are wrong and we are now mortal enemies.
2 (15.4%)

6) You have no idea how scary bubblewrap was for a six-year-old in 1975!
0 (0.0%)

7) I've never seen The Arc in Space.
1 (7.7%)

8) I don't know what's going on. I'm just here for the drama.
0 (0.0%)

9) Harry Sullivan is an imbecile.*
1 (7.7%)

*I know that line was from Revenge of the Cybermen, but it's too perfect not to use

Comments

[nostalgia]

It's acceptable. I can't imagine ever rating it as a Top 10 or anything near that, but it's not *bad* as such it's just... there. Tom's big speech is massively overrated though and people miss that he may be doing it ironically.

[elisi]

It's acceptable. I can't imagine ever rating it as a Top 10 or anything near that, but it's not *bad* as such it's just... there.
If people hadn't talked so much about how great it was, I'd not be so meh, probably. (Although I'm the person who disliked Midnight, so my tastes are clearly odd.)

Tom's big speech is massively overrated though and people miss that he may be doing it ironically.
Fans taking stuff too literally? I don't believe it!

[auroracloud]

I've never been able to watch Midnight the second time because I found it so creepy and uncomfortable. Mind you, I did find it good at what it was doing - it was just one of these that's too much for me and I don't want to ever see it again. I prefer when Doctor Who does the kind of scary that I enjoy being scared by!

[elisi]

I just didn't like it. It was good at what it did, clearly, but it was bad Doctor Who, and I will stand by that.

I remember watching it and thinking 'Well, there's bound to be a dud one every season' and then the next morning everyone was GUSHING and I was just scratching my head... ETA: THEY NEVER BROUGHT OUT A PEN AND PAPER. Or established that no one had these items. I could have punched the Doctor for going on about how clever he was when he missed LITERALLY the simplest thing. /still cross

[auroracloud]

I haven't gone back to it, so I'm not really able to talk about how good or not it was - but oh, good point. I never thought of that, probably because I just got super creeped out by the "compulsively repeating what is said to you" thing so I wasn't able to think logically. I suspect that's what the story was banking on. It's probably one of these stories where the mood/tension is stronger than the script, and if the mood doesn't grab you enough, then it doesn't.

[elisi]

I suspect that's what the story was banking on. It's probably one of these stories where the mood/tension is stronger than the script, and if the mood doesn't grab you enough, then it doesn't.
Yup. And since lots of people thought it excellent, I am clearly the odd one out. (I still think it's bad Doctor Who, but that's a whole different argument. *g*)

[nostalgia]

Wot is wrong with Midnight? (It's kind of overrated, it's not even the best episode in S4, but I can see why people like it since it... isn't complicated at all. Or funny.)

[elisi]

WELL.

I wrote about it at the time, and also bookmarked this post that I was nodding along to.

I'm no longer as harsh on it as I was - partly due to just not remembering it, and partly due to other issues being more important.

[nostalgia]

I should admit that I always thought the non-Doctor characters were thinly-drawn cliches. RTD could do nice dialogue, but that's one story where all his characters sound the same :(

[elisi]

I remember nothing about them.

No, that's not true. There's the Terribly Normal Couple with their teenage son (HI MERLIN!!!) and the professor who keeps putting his assistant down and then Skye (who is Leslie Sharpe) and then... that's it?

[nostalgia]

That bit where he talks about an ex who left the univese = ROMANA, rite?

[elisi]

... I have no recollection of that line, but obviously it's Romana.

[nostalgia]

Yes.

[elisi]

I was literally struggling to think who else it could be...

[nostalgia]

Wose, cos she's in another universe. Even though she didn't leave on purpose to get away from the Doctor, so it doesn't fit her.

[elisi]

Yeah, I was like, in another universe, who... oh. Yes. The blonde one.

(She gets her own clone, the Doctor gets River, 's all fine. With a bow on top.)

[nostalgia]

HOW DARE RIVER STEAL THE REAL DOCTOR HE WOULD NEVER CHEAT ON ROSE

[elisi]

Ah, I remember those days...

(I got a friend to make me this icon waaaaaaay back when. I mean, way before we knew who River was. But she was SO his wife. ♥)

[promethia_tenk]

Tom's big speech is massively overrated though and people miss that he may be doing it ironically.
Ooo. I like this. Though possibly only because Ten's given me a massive twitch any time the Doctor gets too enthusiastic about how great humans are.