Human Nature

[fringey]

I just realized that this week's episode, Human Nature, is based on a Doctor Who novel that I read on the BBC website about a year ago. This should be pretty cool. It was a seventh Doctor novel, and I bel;ieve it was also a Big Finish audio adventure, which I may have in a bunch of recently acquired BF stuff. It will be interesting to see how they adapted it to a 10th Doctor adventure. The novel was a good read. Of course, because of the two parter of the series, the novel has been removed from the BBC site right now.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[fringey]

Human Nature was a wonderful episode, and the second part, The Family Of Blood was even more brilliant. The performances, writing, and everything was just so amazing. Especially David Tennant. He almost brought me to tears.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[offworldgirl]

I've been fairly disappointed with the quality of the episodes this season. I only found this two-parter "ok" (but after the Dalek two-parter anything would look better). The actor who played Baines was kind of a one-trick pony - yes, yes, we get it. You're possessed by an evil alien entity, you don't have to tilt your head sideways and give us the "stare" every frickin' time the camera is on you! Though, that could be bad direction - "give me that look! Yes, that's the one! Cut. Print!" They did a good job with it as a period piece, the sets and costumes were done well. It was a bit interesting to see the Doctor as the character who didn't know what the heck was going on, but I could have done without Martha's pining away for him. Other than the fact that they had no problem vaporizing anyone that got in their way, I wasn't ever sold on why "The Family" were even enough of a threat to the Doctor that he'd try to avoid them (other than the explanation that he was being merciful by trying to let them die on their own first). He seemed to have quite easily dispatched them at the end, and well, really he didn't get rid of them at all. The whole "I'm becoming human and hiding out on Earth" scenario seemed overly complicated for the ultimate results.

Another minor thing that bugged me through the story was every time we saw the little girl with the red latex helium balloon. I kept questioning whether that was anachronistic or not as I didn't think they had those in 1913. So I looked it up, and lo-and-behold they did! Apparently the first latex balloons were manufactured in London in 1847 (though not mass produced until the 1930s). The balloon would likely have been filled with hydrogen, though, as it was the more widely available lighter-than-air gas. Helium wasn't commonly used for filling balloons until after WWI, and the United States had a virtual monopoly on the production of it.

[fringey]

offworldgirl wrote: I've been fairly disappointed with the quality of the episodes this season. I only found this two-parter "ok" (but after the Dalek two-parter anything would look better). The actor who played Baines was kind of a one-trick pony - yes, yes, we get it. You're possessed by an evil alien entity, you don't have to tilt your head sideways and give us the "stare" every frickin' time the camera is on you! Though, that could be bad direction - "give me that look! Yes, that's the one! Cut. Print!" They did a good job with it as a period piece, the sets and costumes were done well. It was a bit interesting to see the Doctor as the character who didn't know what the heck was going on, but I could have done without Martha's pining away for him. Other than the fact that they had no problem vaporizing anyone that got in their way, I wasn't ever sold on why "The Family" were even enough of a threat to the Doctor that he'd try to avoid them (other than the explanation that he was being merciful by trying to let them die on their own first). He seemed to have quite easily dispatched them at the end, and well, really he didn't get rid of them at all. The whole "I'm becoming human and hiding out on Earth" scenario seemed overly complicated for the ultimate results.

Another minor thing that bugged me through the story was every time we saw the little girl with the red latex helium balloon. I kept questioning whether that was anachronistic or not as I didn't think they had those in 1913. So I looked it up, and lo-and-behold they did! Apparently the first latex balloons were manufactured in London in 1847 (though not mass produced until the 1930s). The balloon would likely have been filled with hydrogen, though, as it was the more widely available lighter-than-air gas. Helium wasn't commonly used for filling balloons until after WWI, and the United States had a virtual monopoly on the production of it.

I am surpsied. The only eps I weren't truly thrilled with were the Dalek two-parter and The Lazarus Syndrome. Otherwise, I have been truly satisfied.

You really should go to the BBC website and read the original story this was based on. That dang balloon had a lot more to do in the story!!!

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[offworldgirl]

The only episodes I've liked this season were "The Shakespeare Code" and "Blink." Now LAST season had some good two-parters! "Rise of the Cybermege of Steel", "Impossible Planet/Satan Pit," and "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday" (plus I enjoyed the single episodes "Tooth and Claw" and especially "The Girl in the Fireplace"). So I can say I liked 8 or the 13 from last season, and only 2 of the 10 (so far) this season. (The only episodes from Series 1 that I don't care for are the ones with "Slitheen" in them, and in "Rose" I only dislike the campy scene when the garbage can "eats" Micky).

I skimmed the novel on the Beeb site, and yes the balloon does play an actual role in the story. I suppose they just kept it in the TV version as a nod to everyone who'd read the story, even if it was apparently JUST a balloon.

[cooky37]

Scifi has finaly aired this ep but becuase of the Labor Day holiday we will have to wait 2 weeks to see the finaly. I liked the note book though the drawing Rose, and Doctor's 7 &8. I agree with OWG Martha was a bit Whiney. The best part, with a story concerning a boarding school with no Potter Actors. I like Potter but I like my Potter and Doctor seperate

Will someone shut that man up
NEVER!