The Waters of Mars (2009)

[Teddybrown]

It's the fiftieth anniversary isn't it? I'm expecting something amazing already. Especially if Moffat is still show runner.

Yeah, its something like that. I am also anticiapting something thats going to be awesome because if it is its 50th anniversary, then what better way to celebrate than an epid episode of Doctor Who

Moffats done some good episodes so it will probabl be good if its him, but if its someone else, hopefully they produce something epic

Maybe a movie?

[Blue Shadowdancer]

And I think "The Waters of Mars" works (hopefully leading into much more in "The End of Time") because it shows what he's capable of becoming without a companion. The speeches about "the laws of time will obey me" and the "Time Lord Victorious" aren't supposed to make you cheer for the super-powered hero saving the day -- they're supposed to scare the crap out of you.

They did. I was sitting there watching, and absolutely terrified of the Doctor, and what he might do. Amazingly dark. A bit like the climax of 'Children of Earth', and for some of the same reasons.

[Reefgirl]

It's been a common theme of Classic Doctor Who that a timelord who gains immortality or ultimate power becomes a vengeful God. Absolute power corrupting absolutely. The Doctor has finally been corrupted, even if that means doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

He has more in common with the Master than one would think.

I can't green you because I've used too many (How? I've been gone for over 6 months) so have an unofficial one

[Reefgirl]

Maybe a movie?

Oh God I hope not, Dr Who movies have a horrible habit of falling on their collective arse's

[Teddybrown]

Oh God I hope not, Dr Who movies have a horrible habit of falling on their collective arse's

I havent seen a Doctor Who movie before so dunno what they like
Maybe in this day and era, what with CGI and technology as they are, they could produce a really good one

[Tardis]

I think we are definitely seeing the Doctor becoming unhinged. It also shows that the Companions he has had over the years have been more than mere appendages or hangers on. They are and have been vital for keeping the Doctor grounded. With the descent of the Doctor into megalomania it raises the question of whether we might be seeing a role reversal in the End of Time.

It is quite possible that we may see the Master trying to preserve the timeline against the Doctor gone mad.

[Teddybrown]

I think we are definitely seeing the Doctor becoming unhinged. It also shows that the Companions he has had over the years have been more than mere appendages or hangers on. They are and have been vital for keeping the Doctor grounded. With the descent of the Doctor into megalomania it raises the question of whether we might be seeing a role reversal in the End of Time.

It is quite possible that we may see the Master trying to preserve the timeline against the Doctor gone mad.

You could be right about the Master and I think that would be interesting to see.

I agree with you about the companions being important in keeping the Doctor Timelord sane, because without a companion, you can definately see a different side to him. He nearly lost it without a companion in Runaway Bride but Donna bought him back. We may have only seen the beginning of what he is now capable off in his new frame of mind and I think End of Time will be a very good, interesting episode and a brilliant finale for David Tennant...

[Replicator Todd]

I think we are definitely seeing the Doctor becoming unhinged. It also shows that the Companions he has had over the years have been more than mere appendages or hangers on. They are and have been vital for keeping the Doctor grounded. With the descent of the Doctor into megalomania it raises the question of whether we might be seeing a role reversal in the End of Time.

It is quite possible that we may see the Master trying to preserve the timeline against the Doctor gone mad.

I'd love that! A "good" Master.

[kiwigater]

I completely agree with Darren's assessment!
I know "Egomaniacal" Doctor is supposed to be scary - what annoys me is two things (er, maybe I missed the answers).
1. Did they ever really address what the water monsters were? What were they calling out of the ice? Was the Doctor serious about the whole "Old Martian" thing??

and

2. Why the heck would he take them HOME, to their own time as well as their own place? Is that part of his newfound arrogance? The mysterious and instant reappearance of the 3 of them only causes lots and LOTS of questions. Same for Brooke - if she honestly thinks that her survival will alter her grandaughters timeline and she's willing to kill herself to resurrect it surely she's intelligent enough to realise that killing herself in HER OWN LIVING ROOM is more likely to have the opposite effect?

I dunno!
Overall I enjoyed it, although the Doctor spent far too much time standing around being still and mournful for the first 40 mins. I liked that he walked the line towards the dark side, obviously he would lose his central appeal if he stayed there tho

Oh, and the trailer on the end for the next one - too much spoilage! I didn't need to know those people would be back Everyone know it's DT's last ep, they could afford not to show anything and would STILL have everyone flocking to it!

[Teddybrown]

I completely agree with Darren's assessment!
I know "Egomaniacal" Doctor is supposed to be scary - what annoys me is two things (er, maybe I missed the answers).
1. Did they ever really address what the water monsters were? What were they calling out of the ice? Was the Doctor serious about the whole "Old Martian" thing??
and

2. Why the heck would he take them HOME, to their own time as well as their own place? Is that part of his newfound arrogance? The mysterious and instant reappearance of the 3 of them only causes lots and LOTS of questions. Same for Brooke - if she honestly thinks that her survival will alter her grandaughters timeline and she's willing to kill herself to resurrect it surely she's intelligent enough to realise that killing herself in HER OWN LIVING ROOM is more likely to have the opposite effect?

I dunno!
Overall I enjoyed it, although the Doctor spent far too much time standing around being still and mournful for the first 40 mins. I liked that he walked the line towards the dark side, obviously he would lose his central appeal if he stayed there tho

Oh, and the trailer on the end for the next one - too much spoilage! I didn't need to know those people would be back Everyone know it's DT's last ep, they could afford not to show anything and would STILL have everyone flocking to it!

Thats the only bit that kind of annoyed me lol, that they didnt really tell us who the aliens were and what was under the ice

Other than that as i have said, good episode

[Flyboy]

Thats the only bit that kind of annoyed me lol, that they didnt really tell us who the aliens were and what was under the ice

Other than that as i have said, good episode

That's because realistically, the water aliens were unimportant.

[Teddybrown]

That's because realistically, the water aliens were unimportant.

Yeah suppose
Would have been nice to know though

[Reefgirl]

I havent seen a Doctor Who movie before so dunno what they like
Maybe in this day and era, what with CGI and technology as they are, they could produce a really good one

It's not the CGI that's the problem, it's the duff scripts and the suspect acting that was the problems

[uknesvuinng]

That's because realistically, the water aliens were unimportant.

That was really the biggest problem with this episode. The entire story served no purpose but to give the Doctor the opportunity to become a megalomaniac. And while that character development was great, the rest of the story shouldn't have been given such a weak treatment in the process. The water was just some generic monster that served as the reason the team had to blow themselves up.

[huntress]

It's not the CGI that's the problem, it's the duff scripts and the suspect acting that was the problems

Word! Though Lindsay Duncan was wonderful. She is a great actress and it was too bad that her talent was wasted on such a bad script.