One thing that the new series has that sets it apart from the 'classic' series is titles that have not been created by the BBC Hammer horror title machine!



We now have stories with enigmatic, mysterious, enticing or 'interesting' titles such as "Bad Wolf", "The Parting of the Ways", "New Earth", "Tooth and Claw", "The Satan Pit" and "Fear Her".



Whereas the classic series rarely had a title that didn't begin with "The" and was usually followed by nouns such as blood, death, evil, terror, invasion or fear!

Examples:

"The Seeds of Death"

"The Seeds of Doom"

"Terror of the Autons"

"Terror of the Zygons"

"Terror of the Vervoids"

"The Robots of Death"

"The Ambassadors of Death"

"The Evil of the Daleks"

"The Mind of Evil"

"Planet of Evil"

"The Android Invasion"

"Invasion of the Dinosaurs"

"The Web of Fear"

"The Hand of Fear"

"City of Death"

"The Face of Evil"

etc, etc, etc.



It's even more amusing when the 'enemies' of the classic series were usaully made of things like polystyrene, cellophane or balsawood!

(oh, what terror!!!!!!!)



The show has come a long way with groovy CGI effects and  a substantial production.



What's in a name?

(or should I say 'who's in a name'?!?)

It's even more amusing when the 'enemies' of the classic series were usaully made of things like polystyrene, cellophane or balsawood!

(oh, what terror!!!!!!!) - Jimmy



I think they did well with budget and technology of the day.

If they made them now, they would use the same CGI as they do now. the budget they have now in real terms is more than the originals had.

I am impressed as they were trail blazers for newest effects at the time, especially the Tom Baker era budget improved.

you forgot



dalek invasion of earth

the invasion

invasion of the dinosaurs

android invasion

invasion of time

time meddler

time monster

time warrior

time flight

timelash

time and the rani



reighn of terror

the macra terror

terror of the autons

terror of the zygons

"I think they did well with budget and technology of the day.

If they made them now, they would use the same CGI as they do now. the budget they have now in real terms is more than the originals had.

I am impressed as they were trail blazers for newest effects at the time, especially the Tom Baker era budget improved."



Hey, I'm a BIG fan of the classic series! In fact I like it more than the new series, anyway!



I just think that both production standards and the standards for making titles to the stories has improved!

"Star Wars" was around back in the days of classic Dr Who (and so was "Alien")......both were low budget productions, and both ran rings around Dr Who's standards.

However, I think the stories were a lot better in the classic series. They try to cram too much into 45 minutes  in the new ones. So you end up getting A LOT in a short space of time without much plot or character development.                                   

I find the resolutions to the new series stories dissapointing in the main, with more deus ex machinas than you can poke a God in a machine at.



However I love the Troughton era, there was the greatest run of The word titles. There was one exception...

I agree with Jimmy, the quality of the stories were much better in the classic series than in the new ones.



Having now seen 4 David Tennant eps as the dr. I think at times he's overplayed the role, with way too much humour in it.



The classic series might have had dodgy special effects, but that forced it to come up with imaginative stories that relied on the acting and mood, than over the top effects.



Im more of  a fan of the Pertwee/Hincliffe Baker era stories.



The Eccleston season was great, but so far the Tennant era hasn't really impressed me that much.  Although I did like the Sarah Jane ep - that at least seemed to take things a bit seriously.

Whoa guys!!!! Don't dis Tennant - he rocks!!!!!!

I think he's the best thing that has ever happended to the show (along with Stephen Moffatt) since the golden age of Pertwee/Baker/Holmes/Hincliffe ran its course.



However, I think that the stories go from scene setting to problem to action to tesolution of problem far too quickly and this leads to very little plot or character development. Too much of the new series stories are left unexplained (or just far too poorly explained!!!!!) and they are cramming too much into such a short space of time (all 4 of Tennant's first stories really suffer from this).



The new series may have great effects and stlyish production...AND a FANTASTIC NEW DOCTOR.....but they DO NOT meet the standards of plot and character development that we were provided during the  Pertwee/Baker/Holmes/Hincliffe ers.

I'm with Jimmy, David Tennant ROCKS... oh and hit helps that he's devishly handsome!

Im not saying Tennant is awful, its just that the humour is used a bit too much in what are basically fairly good stories.



I do agree that there have been a few stories that could have benefited from being 2 parters.



Perhaps Russell T Davies should consider making each season having 5  2 part stories, and 1  3 part story leading to the season finale.

Yes I agree 2 parters are more suspensful and what Doctor Who is all about. 

TheDeadlyAssassin date=01/08/2006 08:41 : Yes I agree 2 parters are more suspensful and what Doctor Who is all about.

Agreed.



Motion carried!

Excellent now we shall take our motion to BBC and Russell T Davis and tell them that that is how it will be done.

I sort of agree but as a wise man (me) once said if it aint broke do touch it or you'll go blind.

Oh you are so wise mightly lord prez

Hello there. I`m a new user but  I`d like to stick my neck out for a minute.

As a child I watched Dr Who on a Saturday tea time (if my Dad wasn`t around and insisting on the 6 O`clock news) and I seriously couldn`t  have cared less about the titles being fairly banal. It at least gave you a clue to the story at a time when there was no such thing as digital TV with programme banners giving a brief synopsis. But more importantly; let us not lose sight of the fact that Dr Who was, at that time, overwhelmingly pitched at the younger generation; as in five to ten year olds, or there abouts.

Now we have such eloquent and imaginative titles such as "The Empty Child", "Love and Monsters", etc,..

which also happen to be two of the best stories written so far.

As for the difference in budget/production values,...

Yes, the new series is wonderful in all respects but it is like comparing a Hollywood film to a theatre play. They are totally different creatures.

    Anyway, it`s off my chest now. How about serious discussions on the quality of writing and the themes involved in the stories ?

    Plus, how about a few more graphics to brighten up this site? I know there are copyright considerations etc but if this is a sci-fi site then original graphics could be added.