The Christmas Episode (Doctor Who Spoilers!)
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John Rainbow
Crypt Horror
I used to love Dr.Who but have become very disillusioned with all the Deus Ex Machina involved. Matt Smith is also my favourite Doctor actor which sucks.
I feel like pointing out that the resolution of the episode is not deus ex machina, it's Eucatastrophe. Deus ex machina is when something completely new to the story comes and solves their issues as in it's name- a god from the machine (refering to the stage mechanics).
Eucatastrophe refers to a sudden, unexpected but previously explained turn of events saving a character from impending doom. All the pieces were in place for his regeneration- it didn't come out of nowhere.
Eucatastrophe refers to a sudden, unexpected but previously explained turn of events saving a character from impending doom. All the pieces were in place for his regeneration- it didn't come out of nowhere.
I'd argue that it's not an Eucatastrophe for at least two reasons. Firstly, his regeneration was not unexpected (even getting a full new cycle was expected by many). Secondly, and more importantly, the Cracks in the Wall had a very different nature prior to the Christmas Special, so they are not a "previous explained turn of events". At best, it is a Chekhov's Gun, and a repurposed one at that.
The show is full of miniature deus ex machinas, events that are unexpected at the time and have very frail or nonexistent links to the story which serve to push the story forward and increase the pace. We all know the Doctor Who formula. 1) Start with 100g of a problem
2) add two teaspoons of excitement and more problem to the mix
3) add a pinch of unsolvability to the problem/excitement mix
4) shove it in the oven, the "Deus ex Machina" brand is recommended however the "Eucatastrophe" and "Chekhov's Gun" brands are also widely used.
I would even go so far to say that while the show is good, the story in and of itself is weak. A lot of DW uses the "and then I woke up and discovered it was all a dream" formula. Only a small portion of the episodes make any impact on the overall storyline. While this has the benefit that you don't have to watch the whole thing to understand it, for people who watch it regularly it's more of the same. Rarely does the doctor end up worse at the end of the episode than at the beginning. It removes the sense of realism and makes the universe of the doctor less believable. It IS effective though for those seeking a burst of drama, excitement and sci-fi. Sometimes people want to see a very basic, black and white storyline with plenty of action and cheesy lines. Though overall the show is losing viewers ever since it has become full of rainbows and happiness, it is becoming more and more "suitable" for a younger audience. 10/11th doctor (round about when I started watching) it used to be darker, it used to make you think more and there was a greater variety of difference in the episodes, sometimes changing the point of view, adding more tragedy and loss as well. I prefer the darker kind, however I know some people like the lighter, happier version too so there is no definite solution, maybe this new actor will bring some change to the plot.
P.S. I do not claim to be an expert, I have only been watching these past eight years
2) add two teaspoons of excitement and more problem to the mix
3) add a pinch of unsolvability to the problem/excitement mix
4) shove it in the oven, the "Deus ex Machina" brand is recommended however the "Eucatastrophe" and "Chekhov's Gun" brands are also widely used.
I would even go so far to say that while the show is good, the story in and of itself is weak. A lot of DW uses the "and then I woke up and discovered it was all a dream" formula. Only a small portion of the episodes make any impact on the overall storyline. While this has the benefit that you don't have to watch the whole thing to understand it, for people who watch it regularly it's more of the same. Rarely does the doctor end up worse at the end of the episode than at the beginning. It removes the sense of realism and makes the universe of the doctor less believable. It IS effective though for those seeking a burst of drama, excitement and sci-fi. Sometimes people want to see a very basic, black and white storyline with plenty of action and cheesy lines. Though overall the show is losing viewers ever since it has become full of rainbows and happiness, it is becoming more and more "suitable" for a younger audience. 10/11th doctor (round about when I started watching) it used to be darker, it used to make you think more and there was a greater variety of difference in the episodes, sometimes changing the point of view, adding more tragedy and loss as well. I prefer the darker kind, however I know some people like the lighter, happier version too so there is no definite solution, maybe this new actor will bring some change to the plot.
P.S. I do not claim to be an expert, I have only been watching these past eight years
Von Calyptra
Black Knight
"Lighter and happier" has been characteristic of Dr Who for the entirety of the past 8 years. The new episodes rack up much lower body counts, tend to keep the killing off screen, as well as liking that reset button at the end of the story. Compare Rose with Spearhead from Space. Both stories introduce a new Doctor. Both stories feature an auton rampage, but the one in episode 4 of Spearhead is *considerably* more graphic. In Spearhead, the Doctor races against the clock to build a technowhatsit that might stop the Nestene, while in Rose, the Doctor blithely produces a vial of "anti-plastic" from his pocket.