What I liked about Tate's character was that she wasn't shy about speaking her mind to The Doctor. Rose and Martha, while excellent characters that I'd love to see return (I know Rose's return would be cheap), were pretty submissive/non-confrontational when it came to him; they rarely argued. Tate seems like she'd provide some aggressiveness, and even disagree with The Doctor on occasion and let him know it. Character chemistry can also come from clashing attitudes.

I imagine she'll be more like she was in the last 1/3 of "The Runaway Bride", rather than her shrill self we saw at first.

If she falls in love with the Doctor, though, I'm out.

Confrontational I'm all for, I think the Doctor needs to be questioned from time to time. Just leave out the shrill part.

I just read this whole thread, as I totally avoid spoilers while the series is running, so I'll offer up a few of my thoughts.

I think Catherine Tate will offer a welcome, more adult change (for lack of a better term) from the last 3 series' young girl in love "romantic" undertone. If the unrequited romance were limited to one series or one companion, I could handle it a bit better but I really didn't think Martha needed to pine away for him too, so I was glad she left with her head held high, distancing herself from that whole thing. I mean, not to upset anyone who may think otherwise, but it's not like they could settle down in a nice house and have alien babies because not only would that be a ridiculous end to the show's adventures but The Doctor just isn't that kind of guy at all... it's totally opposite his character which basically makes it futile in my opinion. It's a storyline that goes nowhere and after a while is just too maddening because it's always unresolved and always present. The X-Files is the only sci-fi show exception I can think of where I enjoyed the tension, but even after a while that got ridiculous around the time Scully had the baby. I really doubt Catherine Tate's character will be concerned with all of that, and I think she'll return mostly as the slightly calmer, slightly wiser woman we saw at the very end of the episode. Not that she won't have her shouty moments, but I think she'll be a catalyst and bumping heads will be a source of amusement.

At first I thought Sally Sparrow would be great to have as a companion because I loved her so much in Blink, but I soon realized that she'd likely be reduced to Rose II, which would greatly diminish her character. If anything, if they ever brought her on board, it'd have to be with that Nightingale guy so he could add that extra male dynamic like in Classic Who. I wouldn't mind seeing another adventure with her aboard the TARDIS but as a full-time companion? No way.

What I loved about series three is that everything was so tightly wrapped together, in that every single episode had something of value to the final three-parter. Even seemingly throwaway ideas expressed in episodes like Gridlock, The Shakespeare Code and The Lazarus Experiment were of use... not a single episode wasted.

I think the powers that be would be mad not to hire Steven Moffat for more episodes, if not the whole thing, when and if RTD leaves. I don't know how feasible it is, but I'd sure like it.

Even though the Sci-Fi channel will cut them, I'll be watching all over again on Fridays like a sucker.

2007 Christmas Special article and first image!

A pop star as companion? It'll never work!

At least it's not Britney!

Let's hope they don't have Robot Santas and spinning Christmas Trees.... again....

Is this a subtle joke about Billy Piper's casting for Series 1?

Groucho'ed!

I got the joke.

New Doctor Who tonight on Sci-Fi - The Shakespeare Code. Excellent ep, extremely witty. I've enjoyed this season so far, and am now up to Human Nature. Watched Gridlock last night, and had to go back to New Earth (2nd season) because I missed the set up.

Human Nature is great! Loved that episode.
Family of Blood, the second part is a good conclusion to it as well.

I recently watched Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD (loved it) and noticed that there was a Doctor Who ep on Sci-Fi last night. I haven't read this thread because I don't want to read what happened in any missed episodes.

My question -

The Shakespeare episode is the only one I've seen from Season 3. How many episodes have I missed?

You've missed two: "The Runaway Bride", which was the 2006 Christmas Special, and "Smith and Jones", the official beginning of series 3.

Thanks

I was hoping for more people's comments about the season. What are they about 5 or 6 in by now?

Some rumors and spoilers for season 4.

That's a tabloid source, so I take it will a grain of salt. Also it really pertains more to Season 5. However,

I think the tabloids were right about other changes that have transpired on the show recently.

I believe that's the same tabloid that said Tennant was out at the end of S3.

http://www.gallifreyone.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=143956

For those who aren't members, it's a post from Steven Moffat, and here's what it says:

Maybe Graham Norton is available.

Lazarus: I really enjoyed the story with this episode. I like the contrast to what the scientist was trying to achieve and his reasoning compared with the Doctor's experience. Very nice indeed.

What almost ruined it: what kinda of CG was that? Similarly, why did they have to go "big". Couldn't he just have whipped out a tail?

Ah - and her mother is a B*TCH!

It's almost like they bought the scorpion king model from The Mummy Returns and slapped that guy's face on it... or stole it from Resident Evil 2 (the game).

I just finished up the season since SciFi decided to take a 2 week break. Unfortunately, I crammed all 6 into two days and now I'm officially Who exhausted. Those last 3 particularly take a lot out of you. Whew!

I LOVED the second two parter and Blink!!! Sally Sparrow.

I think that has left me unsettled the most about the finale (other than the CGI Doctor and his underuse) was the supposed revelation about Jack. Perhaps because it seems so sad and lonely - likely moreso than the Doctor's story. Also, it was nice to have the old Captain Jack back, not the TW Jack. Besides, given how unenjoyable TW1 was, I'm honestly not even interested in TW2 given how I "know" how the story ends. I should want to see his adventures and how he gets there, but frankly I don't.