Comments on: Review - Doctor Who : The Waters of Mars

By: Kevin Chavez

Kevin Chavez — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:07:55 +0000

I know this is a bit late but Im a new fan. Ive just finished the entire new Doctor Who and i have to say your all right. From what ive gathered hes the epidemy of classic story telling. Adventure, mystery, sci-fi, he does it all, but like his companions we cant last forever. New generations come and although the themes remain the same they are not read the same way. Nostalgia is a bitch and sometimes you have to roll with the change to keep the things you love great. I have to agree with Phil though becuase when its good, it's very good.

By: » The Waters of Mars: Reaction

» The Waters of Mars: Reaction — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:23:24 +0000

[...] Waters of Mars or won’t get to see it for a month or so, TV Overmind have kindly offered a synopsis instead of a review, although that may not have been intentional. The Coventry Telegraph is also sadly bereft of [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Obviously Phil is older than you, duuuude. At least he remembers good Doctor Who storytelling, although I admit the classic series had its share of duds. If by "populist" TV, you mean aiming at the lowest common denominator, that is an insult to the audience, especially us older Doctor Who fans who for so long kept the flame alive to see a new show produced.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Phil,

Thanks for being honest. I haven't seen this episode yet, but your review could stand for a lot of the new Doctor Who. Tennant does stand out as a good Doctor, but at times given soap opera dreck to work with. There have been some good stories, but too many times DW has been Coronation Street dressed up as Doctor Who. I cannot wait for RTDs shows to run out and a new era begin.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Obviously Phil is older than you, duuuude. At least he remembers good Doctor Who storytelling, although I admit the classic series had its share of duds. If by “populist” TV, you mean aiming at the lowest common denominator, that is an insult to the audience, especially us older Doctor Who fans who for so long kept the flame alive to see a new show produced.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Phil,

Thanks for being honest. I haven’t seen this episode yet, but your review could stand for a lot of the new Doctor Who. Tennant does stand out as a good Doctor, but at times given soap opera dreck to work with. There have been some good stories, but too many times DW has been Coronation Street dressed up as Doctor Who. I cannot wait for RTDs shows to run out and a new era begin.

By: Greggo

Greggo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:28:00 +0000

You're obviiously old, dude. Times have changed. TV's different now. It has to move quick because we all get bored quick. Plus, this is populist TV and those boxes you mention have to be ticked if you want the widest possible audience. If you hate it so much, don't watch it and go to your local Arts cinema instead. I admit Doctor Who is an uneven show, but when it's good, it's very good.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Awful, awful, awful. (I say it three times, because it's the nature of the show to repeat banal catchphrases ad tedium). This programme was dire. Hammy acting by all except Ms Duncan. An intrusive, soupy synthesised score. Characters jogging a lot, presumably because the writer/director believed this equals exciting. Frequent use of over-contrived sentimentality to force an emotional connection between viewer and characters we've barely had time to get to know. (Story? What story? Doctor Who observes suffering and intervenes. Oh, it's another one of Davies' religious allegory, is it?) This is a programme made from a ticklist of cliches, rather than from a desire to tell a story (this same disease infects British cinema too). Like all broadcasters the BBC needs money. To make money it either unnecessarily remakes costume dramas as porn for the middle-aged middle-class female demographic, or lazily thinks of things for Doctor Who to get up to, secure in the knowledge that the loyal and undiscerning fanbase will buy anything from the Who franchise. This is awful television written by a man good at write witty banter and one-liners but with a weak understanding of story. At its best, the original Doctor Who was atmospheric and gripping and great entertainment. Thirty years on it is a corpse that cannot be prodded back to life. After a shaky first series Torchwood has started to find its way. I can only hope that with Stephen Moffat in control, worthless television such as this won't get made.

Read more: Review – Doctor Who : The Waters of Mars

By: Greggo

Greggo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:28:00 +0000

You’re obviiously old, dude. Times have changed. TV’s different now. It has to move quick because we all get bored quick. Plus, this is populist TV and those boxes you mention have to be ticked if you want the widest possible audience. If you hate it so much, don’t watch it and go to your local Arts cinema instead. I admit Doctor Who is an uneven show, but when it’s good, it’s very good.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Awful, awful, awful. (I say it three times, because it’s the nature of the show to repeat banal catchphrases ad tedium). This programme was dire. Hammy acting by all except Ms Duncan. An intrusive, soupy synthesised score. Characters jogging a lot, presumably because the writer/director believed this equals exciting. Frequent use of over-contrived sentimentality to force an emotional connection between viewer and characters we’ve barely had time to get to know. (Story? What story? Doctor Who observes suffering and intervenes. Oh, it’s another one of Davies’ religious allegory, is it?) This is a programme made from a ticklist of cliches, rather than from a desire to tell a story (this same disease infects British cinema too). Like all broadcasters the BBC needs money. To make money it either unnecessarily remakes costume dramas as porn for the middle-aged middle-class female demographic, or lazily thinks of things for Doctor Who to get up to, secure in the knowledge that the loyal and undiscerning fanbase will buy anything from the Who franchise. This is awful television written by a man good at write witty banter and one-liners but with a weak understanding of story. At its best, the original Doctor Who was atmospheric and gripping and great entertainment. Thirty years on it is a corpse that cannot be prodded back to life. After a shaky first series Torchwood has started to find its way. I can only hope that with Stephen Moffat in control, worthless television such as this won’t get made.

Read more: Review – Doctor Who : The Waters of Mars

By: Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars verdict | Dork Adore

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars verdict | Dork Adore — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:08:35 +0000

[...] TV Overmind “The Waters of Mars” is one of the best episodes in Who for a long time, certainly not since the June 2008 episode “Midnight” have I enjoyed Doctor Who as much as this. [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:22:00 +0000

This was by far the best episode i have ever seen, it had action, it had horror, it was missing the hot girl, it had a new doctor which shows and tells us that the doctor we are used to is now dead, this new dark doctor is someone that is supposed to be there, tennant done a great line in this that said epic, well 2.

1. "But they died, they all died, and who's left, ME, it has taken me all these years to figure it out, but now i understand that the rules of time are mine, and they will obey me."

2. "we're not just fighting the flood, we're fighting time itself, AND I'M GONNA WIN".

there was a 3rd bunch, weren't as brilliant as those.

3. "i've gone too far……..is this it……my death…..is it time ?."

and then it fades out after the four knocks are heard at the door, which indicate that the master was outside, the doctor yells no and runs.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:22:00 +0000

1. “But they died, they all died, and who’s left, ME, it has taken me all these years to figure it out, but now i understand that the rules of time are mine, and they will obey me.”
2. “we’re not just fighting the flood, we’re fighting time itself, AND I’M GONNA WIN”.

there was a 3rd bunch, weren’t as brilliant as those.

3. “i’ve gone too far……..is this it……my death…..is it time ?.”

and then it fades out after the four knocks are heard at the door, which indicate that the master was outside, the doctor yells no and runs.

By: Nadine

Nadine — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:19:00 +0000

Thoroughly enjoyed the ominous and clever Waters of Mars. I found it interesting to see the Doctor struggle with a situation which was fixed in time. Smart review, though I enjoyed the episodes the author references a good deal more, including the Master dancing to Scissor Sisters' Can't Decide.

By: Nadine

Nadine — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:19:00 +0000

By: Jayde

Jayde — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:36:00 +0000

I was expecting a lot from Waters of Mars and it did not deliver. The Dr was helpless and all he could do was runaway. Sure he rescued people but where was thr ingenuity, th battle, the victory? I know Tennant is leaving but please don't wind his character down. Let him go out on a high!

I will miss David Tennant and if this is the way the episodes are going to be then he will be the last doctor as far as I am concerned. I was not drawn to Matt Smith and think the Doctor will die with David Tennant for me.

A sad Xmas indeed! :-(

By: nmerouze

nmerouze — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:50:00 +0000

That was a huge episode. I find it better than "Midnight" (maybe because it relies more on the whoniverse).

By: Jayde

Jayde — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:36:00 +0000

I was expecting a lot from Waters of Mars and it did not deliver. The Dr was helpless and all he could do was runaway. Sure he rescued people but where was thr ingenuity, th battle, the victory? I know Tennant is leaving but please don’t wind his character down. Let him go out on a high!

A sad Xmas indeed! :-(

By: nmerouze

nmerouze — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:50:00 +0000

That was a huge episode. I find it better than “Midnight” (maybe because it relies more on the whoniverse).