Thursday, March 17, 2005
New "Dr Who" leaked onto internet
Call me cynical, but you have to admit this sort of "viral marketing" looks pretty deliberate.
The advantages to the BBC are obvious. Not only do they create a "story" about the leak but the episode itself creates a buzz amongst the fans, particularly when, with the exception of the clueless AICN, most reaction has been favourable.
Spoilers follow
Personally I enjoyed the episode. Admittedly the plot was rather slight and it might have benefited from a longer timeslot or even a two-part story, but then again it does what it needs to do: introduce the characters and setting, give us a bit of a story and hook the viewers into coming back for episode 2.
Christopher Eccleston is great and really nails the part from the outset (his "fantastic!" when he twigs Rose's nods towards the transmitter is great). It's a testament to how much the story and character pulled me in that I didn't even think about his costume, which is surprising since I feared I'd dislike it (although not as much as some of the previous Doctors' outfits, which were quite frankly appalling). Billie Piper also impresses as Rose, and seems likely to work well with Eccleston's Doctor.
Other positive aspects: some good lines, an interesting TARDIS design, Autons looking better than before and no time wasted on continuity references just for the sake of it.
Bad points - the burping bin (okay, I can accept that it's there for a gag for the kids but it came across as silly and the whole scene might have been better done had it been played scarily rather than with a jokey pay-off), poor Photoshopping of Eccleston into the various photos and the slow-mo end. That was a shame as the Doctor had been great immediately beforehand.
Other observations: the TARDIS doors and "Doctor Who" in the end credits.
For the first time in ages the BBC seem to be really behind "Doctor Who". With all the publicity a lot of viewers might tune in on the 26th, so I'm just hoping that the ratings don't collapse after the casually viewers have decided they're better off with Ant & Dec after all.
Call me cynical, but you have to admit this sort of "viral marketing" looks pretty deliberate.
The advantages to the BBC are obvious. Not only do they create a "story" about the leak but the episode itself creates a buzz amongst the fans, particularly when, with the exception of the clueless AICN, most reaction has been favourable.
Spoilers follow
Personally I enjoyed the episode. Admittedly the plot was rather slight and it might have benefited from a longer timeslot or even a two-part story, but then again it does what it needs to do: introduce the characters and setting, give us a bit of a story and hook the viewers into coming back for episode 2.
Christopher Eccleston is great and really nails the part from the outset (his "fantastic!" when he twigs Rose's nods towards the transmitter is great). It's a testament to how much the story and character pulled me in that I didn't even think about his costume, which is surprising since I feared I'd dislike it (although not as much as some of the previous Doctors' outfits, which were quite frankly appalling). Billie Piper also impresses as Rose, and seems likely to work well with Eccleston's Doctor.
Other positive aspects: some good lines, an interesting TARDIS design, Autons looking better than before and no time wasted on continuity references just for the sake of it.
Bad points - the burping bin (okay, I can accept that it's there for a gag for the kids but it came across as silly and the whole scene might have been better done had it been played scarily rather than with a jokey pay-off), poor Photoshopping of Eccleston into the various photos and the slow-mo end. That was a shame as the Doctor had been great immediately beforehand.
Other observations: the TARDIS doors and "Doctor Who" in the end credits.
For the first time in ages the BBC seem to be really behind "Doctor Who". With all the publicity a lot of viewers might tune in on the 26th, so I'm just hoping that the ratings don't collapse after the casually viewers have decided they're better off with Ant & Dec after all.
