"Doctor Who" (2005)TV series 2005-????

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

26 March 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

"When Two Worlds Collide, Anything Can Happen..." (Series 3)

Plot:

The further adventures of the time traveling alien adventurer and his companions.

Plot Keywords:

Telephone Box | Man With No Name | Dark Past | Reincarnation | Unlikely Hero

Awards:

28 wins & 33 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Aug. 22	5:00 AM	SCIFI	42	#3.7
Fri. Aug. 29	5:00 AM	SCIFI	Human Nature	#3.8

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor / ... (43 episodes, 2005-2008)
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler (33 episodes, 2005-2008)
Paul Kasey	...	Cyber Leader / ... (21 episodes, 2005-2008)
Freema Agyeman	...	Martha Jones / ... (19 episodes, 2006-2008)

Also Known As:

Dr. Who (UK) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

45 min (38 episodes) | 50 min (1 episodes) | 60 min (2 episodes) | 71 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:15 | UK:12 (some epiosodes) | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-PG | UK:PG (most episodes) | Finland:K-11 (DVD) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Because of the varying technical and logistical demands of the 13 episodes of the first season, filming was broken into five production blocks. Episodes 1, 4 and 5 formed block one, and was filmed between July and September 2004. Block 2 comprised episodes 2 and 3, and was filmed between September and October 2004. Block 3 contained episodes 6 and 8 filmed between October and December. Block 4 was split into two sub blocks, 4A and 4B due to the large visual effects demands of episode 7 which on its own became block 4A, filmed between December 2004 and January 2005. Episodes 9 and 10 made up Block 4B, filmed from December through February 2005. Episodes 11-13 formed Block 5 filmed from February until March 2005.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
The Doctor: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Doctor Who': A New Dimension (2005) (TV)

Rather excellent

I never saw Doctor Who before (at least not in any focused way), so I was new to the concept. I have to say that the new show works very well. It's funny (it really also ought to say "Comedy" in the genre description; many plot turns are only acceptable because of their comedic value), it's well-written and it's making a meager budget go a long way. The human dimension is very strong and engaging, which is very rare in current TV shows.

I've seen the first eight episodes, and #6-8 were my favorites so far. Even types of stories that are all too easy to screw up (with time-travel, saving one's dead parents and that sort of stuff) works out amazingly well here.

Christopher Eccleston is a joy to watch as the witty and light-hearted though occasionally morose Doctor - if they can find a good replacement for him, I'll be quite surprised. But I'm willing to give the new guy a chance. There's little doubt, however, that the Eccleston episodes are going to go down in history as classics.

The relationship between the Doctor and Rose is particularly refreshing. The Doc is much more of a father figure to her than a romantic interest, and yet there are hints of romantic innuendo between them, which however is much more emotional and human than sexual.

A good show. The biggest drawback is the low budget - a show like this ought to have better special effects. And why they don't simply use some cheaper effects, I don't know. In this day and age, SFX don't have to cost a bundle - just look at the Star Wars: Revelations fan film.

8 out of 10.