This is not only my first reconstruction, but the first story where I have only the vaguest idea of where the story is going.
It also marks the beginning of DW's awkward history of yellowface (although Zienia Merton, Ping Cho, is at least of Asian, if not Chinese, descent).
Have to say, I totally enjoyed the first episode -- I'm not hugely in love with the reconstruction format (yes, let's colourise everything. Ted Turner called, he wants his schtick back) but the story is engrossing. Even if Ping Cho's wavering accent is really, really embarrassing.
Too bad the BBC didn't seem to feel that looking for Asian actors was a good idea --- not for this one or ones years and years into the future. Sign of the times, I suppose. Still, I've always found it ironic that the director of this one was himself as of Asian descent (don't know from where, exactly). I wonder if that frustrated him?
But about the show: Even reconstructed, this one is a wonderful look back into history, and quite sumptuous looking. It's a shame they sort of stopped focusing on the historical ones after a little while. Plus, the Doctor gambling! How can this not be great?
Can't say I'm a fan of the way they reconstructed this. It was great to have all those pictures from the original airing, but I'm pretty sure doing an animated version (a good animated version, not the cheapie kind), going off the original pictures, would have been great too.
Some of the best out there would almost have you believing it was the real thing, so close they would have been to the real look. Look at Avatar... granted, the budget would be not that much but it's doable. And then use the original actors for the voices as recorded. Just substitute the animations for the missing visuals.
But, on another note, it's sad that the original was lost. Going off the pictures the sets and costumes were incredible for that era and budget. It's a shame the original is gone. At least the pictures survived...
It feels flippant to say this is a good story except for the racism, but, well, it's more or less true. Complex plot, lots of twists and turns, nice character moments (especially for Susan), and at least a little bit educational. It even feels like they were trying to be accurate and respectful of the place and time of the story. They just missed the mark sometimes on that last one. Rather badly in places, unfortunately.
Also, Ian is a terrible planner, Barbara wanders off, and I ship Susan/Ping Cho. And who wants to bet that the Doctor keeps just thousands of TARDIS keys in his dimensionally transcendent pockets to prevent this from happening again? Come on, you know he totally does.
I've seen one second Doctor serial with the missing eps reconstructed with animation, and now this one with pictures. There's something to be said for both methods. I'm just thankful we're not left with just an audio track, or (horrors!) nothing at all.
It astonishes me to see all the detail that went into the set design and costumes, and to realize how much of that would be wasted in black&white.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-11-30 12:30 am (UTC)It also marks the beginning of DW's awkward history of yellowface (although Zienia Merton, Ping Cho, is at least of Asian, if not Chinese, descent).
Have to say, I totally enjoyed the first episode -- I'm not hugely in love with the reconstruction format (yes, let's colourise everything. Ted Turner called, he wants his schtick back) but the story is engrossing. Even if Ping Cho's wavering accent is really, really embarrassing.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-30 01:09 am (UTC)But about the show: Even reconstructed, this one is a wonderful look back into history, and quite sumptuous looking. It's a shame they sort of stopped focusing on the historical ones after a little while. Plus, the Doctor gambling! How can this not be great?
no subject
Date: 2011-12-07 10:30 pm (UTC)Some of the best out there would almost have you believing it was the real thing, so close they would have been to the real look. Look at Avatar... granted, the budget would be not that much but it's doable. And then use the original actors for the voices as recorded. Just substitute the animations for the missing visuals.
But, on another note, it's sad that the original was lost. Going off the pictures the sets and costumes were incredible for that era and budget. It's a shame the original is gone. At least the pictures survived...
It was a good ep, though.
I'm so late on this
Date: 2011-12-09 03:51 am (UTC)Also, Ian is a terrible planner, Barbara wanders off, and I ship Susan/Ping Cho. And who wants to bet that the Doctor keeps just thousands of TARDIS keys in his dimensionally transcendent pockets to prevent this from happening again? Come on, you know he totally does.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-09 07:40 am (UTC)It astonishes me to see all the detail that went into the set design and costumes, and to realize how much of that would be wasted in black&white.