Doctor Who "Boomtown" - Worst. Episode. Ever.

[Dom Robinson]

Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.

What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.

Absolutely nothing happened for ages, but then rather than deal with a
situation in the last 10 minutes, they seemed to both create AND deal with one
in about two, regarding the rift that was shown in the trailer last week.

I read in the Radio Times that RTD thought Annette Badland was so good in his
earlier Slitheen eps and that she had few lines, that he'd bring her back for
her own episode. Pardon? She's absolute shite. She just wobbles about and
probably has to set up a complex system of mirrors to make sure she's clean
when taking a shower.

The 'Bad Wolf' reference was brought to the fore, the tension grew... and then
it was immediately discounted. Pointless.

And next week the Daleks are back because they didn't die after all, but RTD's
written that one (the one that's actually called 'Bad Wolf') and the finale
too.

[Jeremiah Harbottle]

Post by Dom Robinson
What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.

RTD needs to read some of the many books available on how to construct
plots - he doesn't seem to understand that suddenly inventing something 10
minutes towards the end to create a resolution is considered to be - well,
crap writing! How the hell did he get this job? I'd never heard of him
before Dr Who.

[The People's Poet]

In detective writing circles, it's deemed cheating. But David Lynch
often resorted to it in TWIN PEAKS (surely one of The Mullen's
favourite shows ever). Remember the dwarf who talked backwards? Lynch
said that whenever he wrote himself into a cul-de-sac, he would bring
on the dancing dwarf.

I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

[Jeremiah Harbottle]

Post by The People's Poet
I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

I think RTD's agenda is clear from interviews - he's not interested in the
Doctor. He just wants it to be soap opera based on the assistants.

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Jeremiah Harbottle

Post by The People's Poet
I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

I think RTD's agenda is clear from interviews - he's not interested in the
Doctor. He just wants it to be soap opera based on the assistants.

He just wants it full of gay references.

[John L]

On Sun, 5 Jun 2005 01:47:33 +0100, Dom Robinson

Post by Dom Robinson

Post by Jeremiah Harbottle

Post by The People's Poet
I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

I think RTD's agenda is clear from interviews - he's not interested in the
Doctor. He just wants it to be soap opera based on the assistants.

He just wants it full of gay references.

This episode was more notable for the Welsh references, I think.

John L

[Steve Walton]

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 01:53:14 +0100, John L

Post by John L
On Sun, 5 Jun 2005 01:47:33 +0100, Dom Robinson

Post by Dom Robinson

Post by Jeremiah Harbottle

Post by The People's Poet
I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

I think RTD's agenda is clear from interviews - he's not interested in the
Doctor. He just wants it to be soap opera based on the assistants.

He just wants it full of gay references.

This episode was more notable for the Welsh references, I think.
John L

well you can't say its a set of seperate unlinked epsiodes anymore
it is a 13 episode soap - too many bubbles in this one for me
though several good one-liners etc.

Steve

[The People's Poet]

Post by John L
On Sun, 5 Jun 2005 01:47:33 +0100, Dom Robinson

Post by Dom Robinson

Post by Jeremiah Harbottle

Post by The People's Poet
I think people are being a little hard on RTD. Admittedly this week's
show was weakly plotted and weak on effects - a child could have
spotted that it wasn't a wise idea to rig that electronic thingamejig
to the Tardis - but I think he's handled the dialogue pretty well,
keeping it peppy and camp. The first episode was great, as was the
recent 'Are You My Mummy?' two-parter. But the best thusfar is the
Charles Dickens one, scripted by Mark Gatiss.

I think RTD's agenda is clear from interviews - he's not interested in the
Doctor. He just wants it to be soap opera based on the assistants.

He just wants it full of gay references.

This episode was more notable for the Welsh references, I think.
John L

Welsh location, gay references.....sounds like Little Britian.

Dafyd: Nowe listen 'ere, Captain Jack. You take your space rocket and
you go park it somewhere else, see. Because *I'm* the only gay in this
village.

C Jack: Doggone it, where in tarnation *am* I meant to park it?

Dr Who: Well, you're not parking it my Tardis. It's already spoken for
and I won't have it violated.

Myfanwy: Aw stop your blustering why don't you? It's Queer Night and
I've got to get the place ready. We're expecting a large turnout.

Dafyd: You can't have a Queer Night, Myfanwy, not in *this* village.
There just isn't the interest. No one will come.

C Jack: Nonsense. We can all come in the Doctor's Tardis.

Dr Who: Steady!


PS. If anyone here thought they had a weird day job, check out this
chappie:

http://www.toplookalikes.co.uk/Daffyd-little-britain-lookalike.htm

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Jeremiah Harbottle

Post by Dom Robinson
What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.

RTD needs to read some of the many books available on how to construct
plots - he doesn't seem to understand that suddenly inventing something 10
minutes towards the end to create a resolution is considered to be - well,
crap writing! How the hell did he get this job? I'd never heard of him
before Dr Who.

He wrote Queer as Folk, which while entertaining was still a soap opera, but
in the gay scene in Manchester. Alas, the final two-parter was shite, and the
ending was wrapped up stupidly quickly like many of his Doctor Who episodes.

I've seen the first season of the US version and it's one of the few shows
that's crossed over well, partly because they only used a few of the episodes
content and then extended it to a full series (which for them is around 3
times the number of ours), although they brought one character back to life
whereas RTD killed them off, as the alternative would only to have been to
draft in another actor.

The BBC have the rights to season 2 of the US version but have never shown it,
and in the meantime E4's shown season 3 in a late-night slot.

Bob and Rose was good, but disappeared after one series, despite maintaining
its timeslot which is usually a good indication of survival.

[Mr Scummy]

And next week the Daleks are back...

And why oh why oh why do the BBC aways feel the need to reveal so much
about next week's episode? I know I ought to switch off as soon as the
end credits roll to avoid the spoilers, but why...

[The People's Poet]

They did that with 'Titanic' too. I was planning to watch it but then
they gave the ending away.

[Dom Robinson]

In article <42a204b9$0$11944$***@news.zen.co.uk>, ***@nospam.com
says...

Post by Mr Scummy

And next week the Daleks are back...

And why oh why oh why do the BBC aways feel the need to reveal so much
about next week's episode? I know I ought to switch off as soon as the
end credits roll to avoid the spoilers, but why...

It's no different from a trailer, but just do what I do and change channel,
which I do when end credits of a programme come up and I need to change
channel BECAUSE they talk over it.

On the subject of cuntinuity announcers, both last night and tonight BBC1 had
that bloke who sounds both depressed and cheery at the same time and needs to
shut the fuck up.

[Owen]

Post by Mr Scummy

And next week the Daleks are back...

And why oh why oh why do the BBC aways feel the need to reveal so much
about next week's episode? I know I ought to switch off as soon as the
end credits roll to avoid the spoilers, but why...

They behaved themselves a couple of weeks ago, the announcer said "If you
dnot want to know what happens next week, look away now..." (or similar),
but that was apparently a one-off. They are back to being stupid fuckwits
again.


Owen

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Owen

Post by Mr Scummy

And next week the Daleks are back...

And why oh why oh why do the BBC aways feel the need to reveal so much
about next week's episode? I know I ought to switch off as soon as the
end credits roll to avoid the spoilers, but why...

They behaved themselves a couple of weeks ago, the announcer said "If you
dnot want to know what happens next week, look away now..." (or similar),
but that was apparently a one-off. They are back to being stupid fuckwits
again.

They've learned with two-parters to do that, so the suspense can be kept for
those who don't want to know. However, if it's an entirely unconnected episode
and you're going to see it anyway, what's the problem?

[Owen]

Post by Dom Robinson

Post by Owen

Post by Mr Scummy

And next week the Daleks are back...

And why oh why oh why do the BBC aways feel the need to reveal so much
about next week's episode? I know I ought to switch off as soon as the
end credits roll to avoid the spoilers, but why...

They behaved themselves a couple of weeks ago, the announcer said "If you
dnot want to know what happens next week, look away now..." (or similar),
but that was apparently a one-off. They are back to being stupid fuckwits
again.

They've learned with two-parters to do that, so the suspense can be kept for
those who don't want to know. However, if it's an entirely unconnected episode
and you're going to see it anyway, what's the problem?

I don't think any of the episodes are "entirely unconnected" are they?

There are continuing story arcs throughout the series.

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Owen

Post by Dom Robinson
They've learned with two-parters to do that, so the suspense can be kept for
those who don't want to know. However, if it's an entirely unconnected episode
and you're going to see it anyway, what's the problem?

I don't think any of the episodes are "entirely unconnected" are they?
There are continuing story arcs throughout the series.

Barely any that require the viewer to watch every single episode like, say,
'24'.

[Steve Walton]

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 20:49:31 +0100, Dom Robinson

Post by Dom Robinson

Post by Owen

Post by Dom Robinson
They've learned with two-parters to do that, so the suspense can be kept for
those who don't want to know. However, if it's an entirely unconnected episode
and you're going to see it anyway, what's the problem?

I don't think any of the episodes are "entirely unconnected" are they?
There are continuing story arcs throughout the series.

Barely any that require the viewer to watch every single episode like, say,
'24'.

True

Steve

[neil h]

Post by Dom Robinson
Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.
What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.
Absolutely nothing happened for ages, but then rather than deal with a
situation in the last 10 minutes, they seemed to both create AND deal with one
in about two, regarding the rift that was shown in the trailer last week.
I read in the Radio Times that RTD thought Annette Badland was so good in his
earlier Slitheen eps and that she had few lines, that he'd bring her back for
her own episode. Pardon? She's absolute shite. She just wobbles about and
probably has to set up a complex system of mirrors to make sure she's clean
when taking a shower.

I liked it - a decent bit of acting in the restaurant scene, with a nice
moral dilemma for the doctor to ponder. The ending was a bit of a cop
out though.

[Dom Robinson]

Post by neil h

Post by Dom Robinson
Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.
What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.
Absolutely nothing happened for ages, but then rather than deal with a
situation in the last 10 minutes, they seemed to both create AND deal with one
in about two, regarding the rift that was shown in the trailer last week.
I read in the Radio Times that RTD thought Annette Badland was so good in his
earlier Slitheen eps and that she had few lines, that he'd bring her back for
her own episode. Pardon? She's absolute shite. She just wobbles about and
probably has to set up a complex system of mirrors to make sure she's clean
when taking a shower.

I liked it - a decent bit of acting in the restaurant scene, with a nice
moral dilemma for the doctor to ponder. The ending was a bit of a cop
out though.

The Confidential follow-on showed RTD saying it was "a character piece" and
referred to the scene you mentioned.

No, Russell, it just plodded along. If you had a four-parter in which to tell
this story, then a bit of slow padding could sit in well, but you've got one
part so get on with it... oh, you've got nothing to fill the time anyway.

[John L]

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 19:52:31 +0100, Dom Robinson

Post by Dom Robinson
Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.
What an absolute stinker. Why does RTD keep writing such shit? At least they
got most of the gay references out early on, but he may as well have had
Eccleston and Captain Jack shouting "Bender!" at each other.
Absolutely nothing happened for ages, but then rather than deal with a
situation in the last 10 minutes, they seemed to both create AND deal with one
in about two, regarding the rift that was shown in the trailer last week.
I read in the Radio Times that RTD thought Annette Badland was so good in his
earlier Slitheen eps and that she had few lines, that he'd bring her back for
her own episode. Pardon? She's absolute shite. She just wobbles about and
probably has to set up a complex system of mirrors to make sure she's clean
when taking a shower.

It was indeed a feeble episode but AB is pretty good, I think, at
turning from cuddly to sinister at the drop of a sixpence. Even Johnny
Gielgud couldn't wobble so well as what she can.

John L

[Owen]

Post by Dom Robinson
Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.

It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.

Stuck on Earth again! Made even worse by Rose's description of exotic
planets that we never got to see.

And guess where next weeks episode is set..... On Earth again.

Bah.


Owen

[Roland Perry]

Post by Owen
It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.
Stuck on Earth again!

What happened to the Patricia Hewitt lookalike who became PM, I'm sure
we were told, for several successful terms. A bit of a blow to have this
lot "blow up" six months after the election! And why couldn't the crew
call her up and get some help (let alone no-one having recognised the
fat lady until the Doctor). Very very poor plot.

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Owen
It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.
Stuck on Earth again!

What happened to the Patricia Hewitt lookalike who became PM, I'm sure
we were told, for several successful terms. A bit of a blow to have this
lot "blow up" six months after the election! And why couldn't the crew
call her up and get some help (let alone no-one having recognised the
fat lady until the Doctor). Very very poor plot.

On the latter bit, that's the trouble of letting RTD write most of the
scripts. He's written 8 out of the 13.

[Jerry Brown]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Owen
It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.
Stuck on Earth again!

What happened to the Patricia Hewitt lookalike who became PM, I'm sure
we were told, for several successful terms. A bit of a blow to have this
lot "blow up" six months after the election! And why couldn't the crew
call her up and get some help (let alone no-one having recognised the
fat lady until the Doctor). Very very poor plot.

It was clever of the Slitheen personal teleporter to bring along
Margaret's (AKA the fat lady) skin, which it wasn't wearing at the
time the missile hit.


Jerry Brown

[m***@angelfire.com]

Post by Jerry Brown

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Owen
It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.
Stuck on Earth again!

What happened to the Patricia Hewitt lookalike who became PM, I'm sure
we were told, for several successful terms. A bit of a blow to have this
lot "blow up" six months after the election! And why couldn't the crew
call her up and get some help (let alone no-one having recognised the
fat lady until the Doctor). Very very poor plot.

It was clever of the Slitheen personal teleporter to bring along
Margaret's (AKA the fat lady) skin, which it wasn't wearing at the
time the missile hit.

Good point. It's obviously a teleporter with an 'essential plot device
recognition' expansion pack that teleports anything that may be needed
in a future story.

It's still not as clever as the Doctor's magic wan...sonic screwdriver
that can take over someone else's teleporter and make it do whatever
the Doctor wants for maximum comedy value. Nor as clever as Captain
Jack, who can interface a TARDIS with some technobabble surfboard in a
few minutes, yet apparently not disconnect it.

MattLB

[Black Bard]

There was an Election??/, I missed that, or did here government
nominate her as PM, we dont know yet,

[Dom Robinson]

Post by Owen

Post by Dom Robinson
Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust.

It was the weakest of the lot, I agree. Pretty pointless episode overall.
Stuck on Earth again! Made even worse by Rose's description of exotic
planets that we never got to see.

Yes, it's like relatives showing pictures of holidays abroad, or people you
used to work with telling you anecdotes about things that have happened there
some time later. You just can't connect on the level you'd like to because you
weren't party to any of it.

Post by Owen
And guess where next weeks episode is set..... On Earth again.

There must be some space out there with the Time War.