Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: You Never Forget Your First

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  • Lyndon Hood,

    Slightly more insderish family Dr Who watching from Neil Gamain http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2010/04/how-to-mortify-your-daughter.html

    Also, your link needs fixing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Robbie Siataga,

    It's all about the flamboyantly frilled and immaculately coiffured Worzel Gummidge !

    Since Feb 2010 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Also, your link needs fixing.

    I was just doing that. Thanks.

    I'd seen Neil Gaiman Tweet that, but it was kind of interesting to see how people who'd never seen any Dr Who before reacted. Everyone else is SO focused on what went before.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    And that's pretty much been my impression: that Matt Smith's been blown off the small screen by Karen Gillan. Feel free to disagree.

    Impossible. To disagree, I mean. She's ablaze!

    Matt Smith's growing on me. I did like the kindness he managed to convey in the kitchen scene with young Amy, though. Nice touch. Tennant's Doctor, while childlike in many respects, pretty much regarded children as amusing aliens -- but this guy spots a kindred soul and reaches out. I liked it.

    (All this on only half of the first episode! Mumble youtube mumble download missing mumble grumble).

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    I have to admit that I didn't really get into Dr Who as a kid. I could see it was something I would love if given a chance but it must have been on at an awkward time or something because I always seemed to come in on part four of a seven parter so never was able to actually make sense of it. This means that, in a very real way, Christopher Eccleston was my first. After all that Tennant he had faded a little in my memory but, rewatching that season with my kids, I am still enormously fond of him.

    My kids are going to be getting Eccleston and Tennant simultaneously with the new dude - I wonder how that will affect who becomes the Doctor of their hearts?

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    After Davison, I stopped watching. Like everyone else.

    Not helped by TVNZ changing timeslots (or something) around that time.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Bless you, Steven Moffat, you really know how to scare the crap out of children.

    Apparently children all over the UK are now afraid of cracks in their wall.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    I came in just as Tom Baker was replacing Jon Pertwee. I might have seen a few episodes with Pertwee but Baker was the Doctor in our house. Got a bit bored with him and his blond dress-alike companion by the end of his era. Peter Davison was a good replacement, and he still makes great TV.

    Using wikipedia to refresh my memory - I think the waning of my interest has more to do with my age and me moving out of home and getting involved with the harsh reality of university and mind altering substances than the decline of the series. I do recall thinking that McCoy was a BIG mistake, but that Ace was a cool companion.

    I really liked Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. He was dark and edgy, and there was none of that irritating kissy stuff with the awful Rose. 'The Empty Child' is one of my all time favourite episodes. (Not entirely to do with Capt. Jack!)

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    My first was Tom Baker as well. In fact, I can remember the first Dr Who story I saw was Terror of the Zygons -- in which alien beings who resembled giant scrotums (the Zygons) had something to do with the Loch Ness Monster. Quite scary if you were about seven.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    People around my age or even a bit younger are telling me that Pertwee was their first. If my memory is in any way reliable, I saw Baker, then at some point Dr Who went back to being in black and white, and there was Pertwee. So either they saw him the first time around and I only came in later, or I came in earlier.

    I am still enormously fond of him.

    Every time Rhiana goes back and watches some of the first series, I remember how good Ecclestone was. And in between, I always forget again. He did the (IMO essential) menacing aspect very well, while still managing the Manic Smartarse.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    People around my age or even a bit younger are telling me that Pertwee was their first. If my memory is in any way reliable, I saw Baker, then at some point Dr Who went back to being in black and white, and there was Pertwee. So either they saw him the first time around and I only came in later, or I came in earlier.

    You can figure out what screened when here.

    Eg, I think I can recall this exact moment:

    The movie Dr Who and the Daleks (1965) made its New Zealand television debut on Wednesday 25 April 1979, screened at 4 PM on SPTV. The film was part of the special Anzac Day public holiday programme line-up.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    where does one buy this david tennant door poster?
    obviously this is not for my self but for um

    my cat
    yes my cat

    and Emma i am too with tom baker first then pertwee
    so i can only assume that they discovered people were watching baker so brought the old series

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • horse,

    Yep, Pertwee was the first I really remember. But Tom Baker was the definitional Doctor to me. Complete hero-worship. :)

    I've been loving the new series. Ecclestone was great, and was the most "alien" of the new Doctors IMO. I was immediately distressed when it leaked that he'd agreed to the part on the condition he only did one season. And then David Tennant came along and blew my preconceptions away.

    Got to admire Russell Davies for (a) resurrecting the series and (b) having the sense to walk away when he was running out of steam. My fanboy-love for Steven Moffat is bridled, but only just, and "Eleventh Hour" lived up to my expectations. Matt Smith did a great job, Karen Gillan really did steal the show, and the Doctor's final conversation with the Atraxi makes me wonder if we're going to see more of his determination that "Everybody Lives" if he can help it. Because I'm sure that'll always end swimmingly....

    And I did immediately think the short skirt and stockings were a bit saucy even for a fictional TV representation of Britain's police force. :)

    Palmerston North • Since Feb 2007 • 32 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    You can figure out what screened when here.

    Wow, thanks Philip. Once again, the obsessives of the internet come in well handy. I can now work out pretty much exactly when I started watching. That's kind of scary.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    You can figure out what screened when here.

    Which explains my sporadic childhood viewing - 5.30 was the time my parents were usually but not quite always home and insisting on my not being in front of the TV.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Ackroyd,

    Jon Pertwee. And Jo Grant. But I remember fancying Zoe. When I was SEVEN.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    The only thing that seemed to make a major impression on the kids was the sight of Weeping Angels in the series trailer at the end, which made even my fifteen year old boy spontaneously gasp.

    I was sitting there, watching the upcoming highlights with glee, and suddenly, OMG, the angels! Right, there's another episode I'll be watching through my fingers.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    BTW, my first Doctor - Tom Baker.

    Therefore I am tickled by the Pop Bitch story that he is known to shout "Tom's coming!" at the point of orgasm.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Looking through that great link above, I realise Jon Pertwee was my primary Doctor. Tom Baker was more prevalent overall, but Pertwee was first, and I found him kind of reassuring, in a weird sort of way. The world might end, but don't worry, we'll have a nice cup of tea and everything will be fine. Well, at least when you're 7 and hiding behind the couch.

    Weeping Angels? The fear factor doesn't seem to have diminished. Have to move the couch out from the wall.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Karen White,

    Jon Pertwee was probably the first doctor, but as soon as that amazing opening music came on, i would hide behind the sofa in fright. So my first was Tom Baker. I so wanted a long long scarf, but Mum wouldn't let me

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Aidan,

    Careful what you wish for .. I had the long scarf and got it caught in the front wheel of my tredlie (sp?). A-over-t, nasty graze on the noggin (shoulda been wearing a helmet .. yes yes .. I do now) and badly bent front forks.

    Baker was awesome, but I think Pertwee was my first. Glowing killer maggots! WOO HOO!

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome,

    Whilst I consider Pertwee to be my first, I keep changing who my favourite classic Doctor is. For a long time it was Pertwee, then McCoy (who really captured the menace of being the Doctor better than anyone else) and then Hartnell (because, frankly, the show only exists because of him) and finally Troughton (who, I suspect, is the model for Doctors five and eleven).

    Of the new Doctors... Matt Smith. Eccleston I loved whilst Tennant I simply... liked? With the right script he was very strong in the role but, tellingly I feel, when he was given an average script he was only ever an average actor.

    And Tennant never had to deal with a script like 'The Horns of Nimon' or 'The Creature from the Pit,' which were terrible and yet still had strong performances from Tom Baker and Lalla Ward.

    Perhaps it is too early to sign myself way to Matt Smith, but he captured the essence of the Doctor in that first episode. Tennant didn't have a decent dig at the part until story three.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    Davison was my first. Like horse I'd have to rate Tom Baker as the definitive, but I think my favorite series would be Jon Pertwee's mainly in that he had a friend with a gun, in BrigadierLethbridge-Stewart. Sure it's cool being a pacificist, carrying nothing but a magic screwdriver, but being in Who's position, having a friend with a nifty little gun always seemed wise. Maybe the Brigadier also featured in early Tom Baker episodes too, I can't recall.

    Seems from WIkipedia, that he appeared at some stage with all doctors except the 6th.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Pertwee first. Surely I'm not that old?

    The credit music was amazing. It's like an electronic version of water sucking down a plughole, which seems to be a universally terrifying sound to children. I still haven't heard a satisfying explanation as to why that is.

    Re: long scarves, I think Isadora Duncan put parents off letting their children wear them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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