Joshua's Pick: Doctor Who

 
 

Host: Joshua

Pick: Doctor Who (Tenth Doctor)

Date For Meeting: 2/??/2021

Episode Title 1: Tooth and Claw

Season: 2

Episode #: 2

Source(s): Hulu, Amazon Prime

Episode Length: 45 mins


Show Description/Introduction: Modern Doctor Who continues the wonderful legacy of the original run of the show that first started in 1963. The modern run of the show began in 2005 after a 16 year long ‘hiatus’. The first modern season continued the long tradition of featuring only two central characters: The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). After one season the show continued another delightful tradition, the regeneration of The Doctor. Regeneration of The Doctor occurs when the The Doctor in the show is about to die or otherwise findthemselves in a tricky, inescapable situation. Regeneration is used as a plot device to explain the recasting of The Doctor. Eccleston was replaced in dramatic fashion by David Tennant and David Tennant was replaced after 3 glorious seasons by Matt Smith and so on. Companions also come and go in dramatic fashion. The Doctor and his companion travel in the TARDIS which is a time machine and space craft. The TARDIS can travel anywhere and anywhen. The show takes us takes its cast across time and space, on earth and to ends of the universe. Episodes vary wildly in subject and them and often take inspiration from other types of media/genre. I love this show, I find it delightful and entertaining. I hope you all enjoy this particularly cheesy episode.

HELPFUL FACTS:

The Psychic Paper (blank paper) that The Doctor waves around shows whatever the viewer is expecting to see. It’s very helpful for letting The Doctor worm his way into or out of any situation he comes across.

The TARDIS applies a perception filter where ever it travels which allows any unique or confusing elements of its occupants to be partially masked. This means that Rose Tyler’s strange clothes and modern speech stand out less as a extreme abnormality any locals and more of an acceptable quirkiness.

The Doctor has a Sonic Screwdriver that isn't quite utilized in this episode, but basically is a high-tech Swiss army knife.

The Doctor abhors violence unless absolutely necessary, not because he is a pacifist, bit because it reminds him of his own violent/dark past.

Discussion Topics:

1. Do you like this episode?

2. How ‘BBC’ does this show feel to you?

3. If you hated this episode, but you like Buffy…I don’t…know… (jk)

FUN ZONE:  Anna informed that the episode following this one features the actor who plays Giles. It’s a fun episode, but it's subplot also revolves around a reunion with the character of Sarah Jane Smith who was a companion of The Doctor in the 70s. If you're interested in checking out some other episodes check out some of these suggestions:

‘Blink'

‘The Lodger'

‘The Unicorn and The Wasp’

Also, Billie Piper (who plays Rose Tyler) was a teenage popular in the UK. She is the youngest female artist ever to have the a song on the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart.

Joshua Gleason