Dr Who Christmas Special.

[Anna]

I thought this year's Dr Who special was wonderful. Completely over the top, outrageously sentimental, I defy anyone not to shed a tear or two, or three. And not a scary monster in sight. As an aside, I cannot stand Amy Pond, bring back Rose Tyler!

[gurnemanz]

It got switched on with some enthusiasm in our house but it did not work for me at all. I think the last time I saw Dr Who, it was in black and white and I have quite fond memories of it. It was technically spectacular, for sure, but for me they had spent a lot of money on some very thin material. Gambon was wasted and it appeared to have become a vehicle for Katherine Jenkins to plug her albums.

[Barbirollians]

Well as much as I have been unimpressed by the Moffatt/Matt Smith Christmas specials until last year ( almost certainly because I am allergic to the characters of the Ponds and Katherine Jenkins and that one where he saved a WW2 flyer was schmaltz of the worst kind it looks like this year being a regeneration Christmas special should be a cracker with the battle of Trensalore no less .

Loved tonight's 50th anniversary special .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... that one where he saved a WW2 flyer was schmaltz of the worst kind ...

Yes - just as the Doctor's most feared enemy of the '70s & '80s was the BBC Special Effects Department, so schmalz ruined many of the (often brilliant) scripts of the Matt Smith era: I so hope that, with Capaldi, the creator of the Weeping Angels and "Are you my mummy?" returns to form.

it looks like this year being a regeneration Christmas special should be a cracker with the battle of Trensalore no less .

Interesting that you prefer the South Gallifreyan spelling to that of the Northern districts ("Trenzalore") - "lots of planets have a North!"

Loved tonight's 50th anniversary special .

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

a fan

[Barbirollians]

I have just watched it again - lots of things slotted quickly into place second time round - intricately plotted , endlessly clever and well acted- John Hurt was sensational.

Only one little cavil it was a shame David Tennant ( the best doctor ever no doubt even shading those legends of my childhood Tom B and Jon Pertwee) wasn't given any more than a brief unanswered question about Bad Wolf Girl. He is such a great actor that he has carried off the emotional scenes in DR Who better than any other . The Girl in the Fireplace for example isn't just great Dr Who but a great love story.

Trenzalore is an Americanism !

[muzzer]

Yes, agreed. And it wasn't really made clear what Rose was doing there, though I'm sure I missed at least half of the nuances. Really enjoyable, and the final 'reveal' was fantastic. Anyone with a sense of humour will also enjoy the Peter Davison short that's on the red button.

[Barbirollians]

Yes, agreed. And it wasn't really made clear what Rose was doing there, though I'm sure I missed at least half of the nuances. Really enjoyable, and the final 'reveal' was fantastic. Anyone with a sense of humour will also enjoy the Peter Davison short that's on the red button.

The moment was the Time Lord weapon that he used to end the Time War - it was sentient and took the shape of the Bad Wolf version of Rose who looked into the Tardis at the end of the first season. What was not entirely clear whether the sentient weapon deliberately took the shape of Rose as being the companion most likely to dissuade the Doctor or whether the Tardis absorbed something from Rose as much she did from the Tardis enabling the Moment to take her form and personality.

At the end of series 3 Tennant's doctor told Rose she healed him after the time war perhaps now she healed him before it .

[johncorrigan]

The moment was the Time Lord weapon that he used to end the Time War - it was sentient and took the shape of the Bad Wolf version of Rose who looked into the Tardis at the end of the first season. What was not entirely clear whether the sentient weapon deliberately took the shape of Rose as being the companion most likely to dissuade the Doctor or whether the Tardis absorbed something from Rose as much she did from the Tardis enabling the Moment to take her form and personality.

At the end of series 3 Tennant's doctor told Rose she healed him after the time war perhaps now she healed him before it .

Thanks very much for that B - really enjoyed the 50th anniversary episode - interesting the granddaughter's school from the original episode appearing at the beginning - and Hurt an excellent addition to the cast of Doctors. Thought Piper was excellent - and some terrific moments of humour.

[Ferretfancy]

I knew that the 50th anniversary programme was being shown in 3D at selected cinemas, but we discovered quite by accide that if you had a suitable set it was available on BBC Red Button, and also on iPlayer in 3D

There was no mention of this in the Radio Times or any of the regular listings, which seems extraordinary. I'm not an avid Dr Who fan, but we did don our special glasses to see it earlier this evening. I enjoyed all the nonsense and pseudo philosophising. The 3D was very good indeed, with a remarkable sense of depth and very good camerawork and editing, in fact this was some of the most convincing stereoscopy I've seen on TV

I understand that because of poor take up, the BBC have decided that they will not be making any more 3D programmes. Judging by the failure to promote it properly on the box I'm not surprised.

Watching a 3D programme takes me back to the early days when watching the box was a ritual. In this case you have to charge up the batteries in the glasses, select the right 3D mode, subdue the house lights a bit, and sit at the correct viewing distance. It's fun occasionally, but not exactly spontaneous.