Glasgow Who | Doctor Who Forum

Well did Waters of Mars live up to the hype? personally i thought it was brilliant what do you think?

I really enjoyed that one. It was so much better than the stingrays-and-where's-Una-Stubbs? bus extravaganza of "Planet of the Dead". Hard to believe it's been seven months since the last new episode, though ...

The monsters were truly terrifying, on a simplistic level like the face-masks of the Empty Child with added zombiefication (after this, though, NO MORE ZOMBIES in anything for twenty years, ffs). The epsiode managed to avoid the "meh (shrug)" factor of some of the Who Specials (and even single-set episodes from the main series runs) and you genuinely felt as if watching it was an hour very well spent. The Bowie Base crew were interesting characters - although some seemed to be directly interchangable with River Song's crew in the Library.

Oh, and "Gadget Gadget" was Wall-E, wasn't he?

All in all - 9/10. Plus, a whole evening of Mars documentaries on BBC4 too! Mutton chop sideburns x space exploration = crashed lander.

I was disappointed at having to sit through something that was, to be honest, not the most exciting story. Maybe after a couple of watches I'll change my mind, though.

Off to read all these Spoiler threads about "Waters of Mars" to see what was said before transmission!

I liked it in that from start to finish it really didn't feel like an hour. I just got so involved with the whole thing.

Not so sure about how they have developed the Doctor though. First wanting to leave because he couldn't get involved, then getting involved and going power crazy and finally alternating between crumbling and raging over a fate he has brought on himself.

I know this makes for a whole load of drama, it's just knocked the Doctor off the pedestal I've put him on.

Overall a great piece of Doctor Who drama that has me looking forward to the last two.

R

Hi, folks.

Yes it's me - the most technophobic Member of the Group!

So, that was "The Waters of Mars". Hmm....

It was okay, not much more than that. Certainly it was one of the most gory epsiodes yet
produced - I know this from the fact that my 8 and 5-year old nephews couldn't sit through it, which was a shame.

In terms of the story, again it was not spectacular for a "Special". Obviously it's simply leading into Tennant's last stand, and so could only deliver so much. I didn't care for the Time Lord Triumphant, or whatever. The Doctor has never set himself up as the Almighty before (he could've done when he had the Key to Time, but decided to throw it away). It seemed just a bit too forced and "tacked on".

I'm assuming that his changing history slightly - Adelaide dying on Earth and not Mars - has changed the course of Universal history, allowing the return of the Time Lords. Or some such nonsense.

My main problem with it (well 2 including that ridiculous Gadget - order yours for Christmas at FP now, guys!) was the fact that I couldnt hear a bloomin' word Tennant and others were saying towards the end because of that bloody awful, LOUD music. Ridiculous!

Overall, I prefered the one at Easter. That had Michelle Ryan in it.

Oh well, roll on Christmas Day and Bernard Cribbins!

John

Isn't that the point of Doctor Who, though John - to scare? Although it is a shame if an 8 year old finds it too frightening to sit through the whole story.


As a side note, I don't ever remember being scard by Doctor Who as a youngster myself.

I liked the storyline. Thought it was quite original and Lyndsey Duncan was brilliant as usual. I'm looking forward to the last two episodes as well Rintu but probably for a different reason than you are!

Pauline x

Oh yes?

Personally it did have a bit of the "Meh" factor but thats maybe cos I was watching it at 12.30am at night. (I was working, thank god for BBC iplayer). I think it was a good story and compared to the rest of the concensus I actually liked the twist at the end as the whole way the Doctor was involved on the base till 15 minutes before the end really made it more poinent when he does have his "moment".

At least the overall view is that it's a good story and most people think its BETTER than Planet of the Dead and I have to agree.

NB:- Oh a poll has been added to the topic and I've split the topic to pre-broadcast and your views

H i All
I enjoyed The Water of Mars. The storyline was good. The only bad thing about it was the attitude of the Doctor at the end. Time Lord Triumphant. That was arrogant, even for the Doctor. It just didn't feel right.
I didn't think it was all that gory, was expecting worse.
I didn't like Planet of the Dead, it was boring. Looking foeword to the Christmas episode.

ttfn

Christine.

I couldn't decide whether it was "Poor" or "Awful" but went for "Poor" in the end.

Doctor Who is about story telling, and there wasn't much story to this episode. Let's hope the next two are a lot, lot better.

I feel I may be in the minority here with my opinion!

No Barry not that reason either!

Px

Wow. Seriously wow. I love this episode. It gets a ten out of ten and I don't care that the first chunk of the episode wasn't a 9 out of ten or even an 8, the last ten minutes make it a ten and in my opinion an episode deserves praise for the moments rather than the culmination of the whole thing. It's the little things in life, that's what everyone always says!
And I think this is no different! There is ALOT of the Stolen Earth that I don't like, but the feeling of shock I got as I watched Ten's hand begin to glow and to hear him utter the words "I'm regenerating" makes up for alot of bad stuff, but that was one of my single best moments of television viewing EVER, never mind Doctor Who, EVER, and I've only had a few moments like that were I get that 'hairs on the back of the neck' feeling!
The Waters of Mars, for me, delivers, it is a story that really means something, I was quite emotional in some parts and I'll never forget watching it. But I got that feeling again in those final moments as I watch the Doctor fall from grace, as I saw him mad with power, as I saw him claim himself VICTORIOUS and the look on his face as the realisation dawned...I've gone too far...
Ten is my Doctor, I lvoe him and no other Doctor makes me love Doctor Who like he does and I love every scene he is in. Lindsey Duncan shone in this episode, her acting was outstanding and I agree with comments that this was the best guest star since Derek Jacobi, I loved all those little moments she had with the Doctor.
I love this story. An absolute Ten out of TEN.
It is the little moments.

ROLL ON CHRISTMAS!

I couldn't agree more.
T.L.T just didn't feel right. It seemed to go against the character of the Doctor.
From knowing about someones death to being responsible for them taking their own life.
It seems more in keeping with the character of the Master.
I know Tennants Doctor is getting near his regeneration but does it have to be so depressing?

To much RTD all over again with the stupid riding the bike robot with fire. still not as bad as the easter one with the bus that nearly made me stop watching.