Doctor Who 4/12: The Fires of Pompeii!

[jeremy3721]

AWESOME!

I give the Fires of Pompeii a 9 out of 10. Great special effects, good story, lots of emotion and hints at upcoming events.

I also enjoyed the cameo role that Megatron had, I never knew he had such acting range! :)

Much Much better than the first week.

[Sherminator]

Subscribing so that I can find this thread once it gets moved to UK General Chit Chat.

[Kamakzie]

Yeah it was an awesome episode!

[vertigo235]

Agreed.

[Rob Helmerichs]

I'm starting to like Donna...A) she's not yet another Rose clone, so it looks like they've learned from the Martha mistake, B) she reacts to things the way people would react to things, and C) she doesn't just blindly accept what the Doctor tells her. She can still be a bit annoying and the writing is still somewhat awkward, but at least she's her own character and I think as the character and writers settle in she could turn out to be one of the better companions.

[Kamakzie]

I'm starting to like Donna...A) she's not yet another Rose clone, so it looks like they've learned from the Martha mistake, B) she reacts to things the way people would react to things, and C) she doesn't just blindly accept what the Doctor tells her. She can still be a bit annoying and the writing is still somewhat awkward, but at least she's her own character and I think as the character and writers settle in she could turn out to be one of the better companions.

Agreed so far so good. I like Donna a lot better than I did in the Christmas episode.

[hapdrastic]

Agreed so far so good. I like Donna a lot better than I did in the Christmas episode.

It would be hard to like her less....

I thought this was a pretty good episode. Started a little slow for me, I don't usually like the one-off episodes, but it ended very well. Loved the "decision" they had to make, and Donna really gained some points (with me) for helping the Doctor. Good stuff.


I also enjoyed the cameo role that Megatron had, I never knew he had such acting range! :)

Oh, wow, I'm really slow. I saw this and was looking for who Frank Welker (voice of Megatron) had played this episode, but then I looked back at the stone creatures and realized what you meant.

[spikedavis]

Great episode. I too warmed up to Donna in this episode. I see that they're going with a different dynamic for his companion and it's working great. I was expecting this episode to be boring, but it was anything but. Fantastic!

[Dignan]

I had minor flashbacks to the series Rome, with MST3K production values...

I'll use this thread to ask a question that has bothered me. I know we are all getting this series on Saturday via torrents/newsgroups. I usually end up using the 350 mb divx (exterminate or martha). BUT, I have downloaded the 1.5gb mpeg2 files. They will play on a computer but if I convert with Visualhub to MP4 I get a video stutter. (Spike, this was the same issue I had with Torchwood).

I have no problem with US series in MKV format but for some reason my Visualhub conversions of UK series in anything other than smallish divx files are jittery.

And Donna is growing on me, but I still wish she wasn't there. I feel like a naggy housewife is slowing down the Doctor.

[walkerjs]

I had minor flashbacks to the series Rome, with MST3K production values...


Shh, he's Celtic. :D

Yeah, I got that too. Except I got major flashbacks to that series. Off to see the Confidential.

[quango]

I'll use this thread to ask a question that has bothered me. I know we are all getting this series on Saturday via torrents/newsgroups. I usually end up using the 350 mb divx (exterminate or martha). BUT, I have downloaded the 1.5gb mpeg2 files. They will play on a computer but if I convert with Visualhub to MP4 I get a video stutter. (Spike, this was the same issue I had with Torchwood).

I have no problem with US series in MKV format but for some reason my Visualhub conversions of UK series in anything other than smallish divx files are jittery.

The conversion you are doing is probably translating the framerate from 25 frames per second (which is the European standard) to 29.97 or 30 fps (or maybe film's framerate, 24 fps). See if you can force VisualHub to keep the original framerate (looking at VisualHub's website, this is in the "advanced" tab).

[Dignan]

The conversion you are doing is probably translating the framerate from 25 frames per second (which is the European standard) to 29.97 or 30 fps (or maybe film's framerate, 24 fps). See if you can force VisualHub to keep the original framerate (looking at VisualHub's website, this is in the "advanced" tab).

Thanks, I'll give that a shot next week. The 1.5gb version looks really great, it will be nice to see it if it works.

[weymo]

Okay, so I was excited to see the SciFi is going to run the next series of Doctor Who shortly after they air in Britain. Also glad to see they picked up Sarah Jane...my kids will be happy with even MORE Who-stuff. But here's the thing, the season premiere advertised on SciFi says it guest stars Kylie Minogue. Are they running something out of order or am I missing something?

And yes, I'm warming to Donna.

I want to see more of the Tardis...the other rooms that we haven't yet been shown since the new incarnation. Bell tower, bedrooms, etc.

[cheesesteak]

Smeeking. Can we please wait until the show airs in the US?

[Rob Helmerichs]

Okay, so I was excited to see the SciFi is going to run the next series of Doctor Who shortly after they air in Britain. Also glad to see they picked up Sarah Jane...my kids will be happy with even MORE Who-stuff. But here's the thing, the season premiere advertised on SciFi says it guest stars Kylie Minogue. Are they running something out of order or am I missing something?
That's the Christmas Special that they always air between seasons.

[weymo]

That's the Christmas Special that they always air between seasons.

Hey thanks Rob! I forget about those...and the Children in Need and the Red Nose Day stuff. :p

[SnakeEyes]

Smeeking. Can we please wait until the show airs in the US?

Just avoid the thread?

[nirisahn]

Smeeking. Can we please wait until the show airs in the US?

Just avoid the thread?

I'm with cheesesteak. It's hard to just avoid the thread. I wasn't sure until I got in it if this was an episode that hadn't aired yet, or if my TiVo just missed picking it up because the listing wasn't right and it didn't know to record it. We already had another thread moved to UK chit chat because the episodes hadn't aired in the US yet. I can't remember if it was Dr. Who or Torchwood.

Maybe a compromise - at least put in the thread title that it's a UK showing and not a US showing. That will make it easier for us to avoid the thread.

[dswallow]

Smeeking. Can we please wait until the show airs in the US?

Why? Do you not know if you watched the show and thus are worried you'll think you watched it and come into the thread? And if you know you didn't watch it, and come into the thread anyway, does it matter where it aired?

[dswallow]

I wasn't sure until I got in it if this was an episode that hadn't aired yet, or if my TiVo just missed picking it up because the listing wasn't right and it didn't know to record it.

Why would you think coming into a thread marked for an episode is a good idea if you didn't watch it yet? If it's a matter of wondering if your TiVo just missed it, wouldn't you go to a site like www.epguides.com and check rather than go into a thread that exists expressly for the purpose of discussion of it with open spoilers?

[weymo]

+1

[vertigo235]

Smeeking. Can we please wait until the show airs in the US?

What? You want us all to sign an NDA or something and not talk about the show, just for YOU and others who havn't watched it yet?

[orome]

Maybe a compromise - at least put in the thread title that it's a UK showing and not a US showing. That will make it easier for us to avoid the thread.Seconded. Wouldn't be so much of an issue if a show's airing on only one side of the pond. Talk about Countdown all you want; its origin is clear. ;)

[Kamakzie]

Why would you think coming into a thread marked for an episode is a good idea if you didn't watch it yet? If it's a matter of wondering if your TiVo just missed it, wouldn't you go to a site like www.epguides.com and check rather than go into a thread that exists expressly for the purpose of discussion of it with open spoilers?

Agreed, a little self-control can do wonders. However I guess putting "UK Airing" would simplify matters.

[LoadStar]

Agreed, a little self-control can do wonders. However I guess putting "UK Airing" would simplify matters.

Which of course would be a red flag for this thread to be summarily bounced over to "UK General Chit-Chat," where it will die of neglect. Hence the reason it wasn't included in the subject, my guess. :)

[dtle]

No one mentioned the seer said to the Doctor, "She will be back"?

She might be talking about Rose, or maybe this season's nemesis,

The Rani??

[pkscout]

No one mentioned the seer said to the Doctor, "She will be back"?

It's clearly this season's little theme.

Season 1: Bad Wolf
Season 2: Torchwood
Season 3: the anogram for the Master
Season 4: Rose is back

I'm sure it won't get resolved until the last episode or so. Should be interesting.

[GTuck]

I didn't think it was as great as the OP. It was good, not great. :) Donna is all right as an actress, just the ugliest actress I have ever seen.

[JimSpence]

The Confidential for this episode was interesting. It really was filmed in Rome.

Oh yeah, I enjoyed this episode and am looking forward to seeing more Rose. I liked Donna better in this episode more than in her original appearance. Of course, the writers had to change the character a bit to fit into the companion mold. I'd like to see an episode with Sarah Jane. Or an episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures with the Doctor.

Oh hell, let's throw Capt Jack into the mix as well.:D

[cheesesteak]

Agreed, a little self-control can do wonders. However I guess putting "UK Airing" would simplify matters.
I did execute self control. I waited until it aired in the US. Maybe you folks should try some.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I'm not sure I want to know what's growing on Donna's back, though.

"I am Spartacus!" I think the father said that San Francisco was a restaurant in Naples. A lot of one-liners in this episode.

[TSpoonEars]

I really enjoyed this episode. As soon as they said they were going to see a family in Pompeii, I said to Mrs Ears: "If he's called Caecilius and his wife is Metella, I will laugh my ass off". Sure enough, they are and to top it off, his son is called Quintus.

Anyway, the point being, finally getting there, when I was taught Latin at school in the UK, there was a series of books called 'Ecce Romani', which described the life of a family in Pompeii with the above names. I thought it was a rather cool inside joke.

[IndyJones1023]

Another great episode! This season has been tons of fun so far! I loved all the one liners.

[spikedavis]

I did execute self control. I waited until it aired in the US. Maybe you folks should try some.

Why should I be forced to wait AND talk about the episode with others simply because SciFi hasn't shown it yet? Should topics about IRON MAN be blocked until I personally go view it at the theater? Should other people have to wait until it airs on HBO before everyone can see it? It's a silly argument.

[IndyJones1023]

Why should I be forced to wait AND talk about the episode with others simply because SciFi hasn't shown it yet? Should topics about IRON MAN be blocked until I personally go view it at the theater? Should other people have to wait until it airs on HBO before everyone can see it? It's a silly argument.

I see we're still rehashing this. Your arguments hold no water.

[Idearat]

I'm not in either the "Love Donna" or "Hate Donna" groups, still getting used to her. So far the only reason to dislike her is she's not Billy or Freema.

Curious about Catherine Tate I sniffed around and found 2 seasons of her shows, plus a couple Christmas specials. She's not bad a comedic actress. The heavy duty makeup and accents reminds me of the Tracey Ullman Show. The acts are new, but the concept is pretty similar. She's got some recurring characters that are enjoyable.

I'm still watching those older shows, but I'd say she'd got the experience and talent to pull this off. A big part will be how the producers/writers use her. So far she's at least been her own character, not just a new actress stuck in an existing role.

[BitbyBlit]

Why should I be forced to wait AND talk about the episode with others simply because SciFi hasn't shown it yet? Should topics about IRON MAN be blocked until I personally go view it at the theater? Should other people have to wait until it airs on HBO before everyone can see it? It's a silly argument.

The difference is that Iron Man aired in the US. Once the US airs something, it has been validated, and officially exists. Until that point in time, however, discussions about shows in other countries is unpatriotic because you are essentially saying it is okay that the US doesn't get something first. :D

Oh, and I agree with those that said that Donna is not so bad. I was afraid of her joining based on the Christmas episode, but after these two, I don't mind her joining at all. Even the few times she went into "screamy-whiney" mode, it wasn't that bad. Although maybe I've gotten used to that from watching Torchwood.

[rich]

I got a big laugh out of the water pistol. I'm really enjoying Doctor Who this season.

[danterner]

The Confidential for this episode was interesting. It really was filmed in Rome.

Not in Epcot? ;) (I loved that line from Donna).

I think I really like Donna. She seems very real, she provides a good counterpoint to the Doctor, and (at least for the moment) her enthusiasm overshadows her nagging. I like it when episodes explore the darker side of the Doctor. With Donna there to bring him back in line, I think the writers will be better able to explore that side of him.

[Mike Lang]

From now on, these will be deleted, not moved and the OP will be banned.