And now for a new feature on our blog:
GUEST REVIEW!!
We have selected one story from each Doctor that we would like a guest-reviewer to watch (either with us or at their own leisure), and we will include their take on our blog. Whether they are an experienced Whovian or a complete stranger to the show, we have no qualifications other than the interest by the guest reviewer(s).
So without much more delay, as this post will probably be longer than average, I present, the world premiere of…
Guest Rev-who:
Name: Tony’s parents (Far left and far right – my aunt and uncle are in the middle – picture taken in the mid-90s, in a very Gunfighters-y theme)
Blog-link: None
Can we follow them on twitter? Nope, but every once in a while I mention them or show them on my stream (@TonyV433).
- How do you know kroWeW?
- “We are the creators of one half of kroWeW.”
- When did you first experience the glory of Doctor Who?
- “Today, February the 8th, 2013.”
- How many stories or Doctors have you watched?
- “None. Next question.”
- What is your favorite memory of Doctor Who?
- Mom: “We’re making memories right now.”
- Dad: “I have no memories.”
- If you were a companion, where and when would be the one place you’d go?
- Mom: “St. Kilian (MN) church in 1965 with my grandma.”
- Dad: “I’d want to see King Tut being put in his tomb. Nope! I’d want to see the Pyramids being built.”
- Have you already viewed the story you will be guest-reviewing?
- “Nope!”
Now this is the point in the review that I tell you that we were staying with my parents and celebrating my dad’s birthday. As they have teased us about Doctor Who and thought that we were weird for liking such a strange and old show, they were not exactly totally psyched to watch the story. I asked my dad on the phone, before we went over, if he would like to participate on this blog, and told him they’d just have to give us their opinion about a “movie-length feature”. I did not tell them that it was going to be Doctor Who until about 2 hours before we started the show.
In the meantime, we celebrated my dad’s birthday by going out to eat:
This is the photo from the brewhouse/grill that we went in New Richmond, WI. The place was called Brady’s Brewhouse. (This is part of my instagram feed, shameless plug.) After we ate, we went back and made homemade ice cream and got our review on. So let’s hear their actual opinions…
- Last, but most importantly, what is your review for this story?
- “The music was unforgettable,” they said with heavy sarcasm. “The casting was spot on!” my mom said, again with very heavy sarcasm. “The accents were over the top and varied between comical and cringe-worthy.”
- “Steven’s outfit was a bit YMCA,” says my dad, referencing the song by the Village People.
- “The colors are very reminiscent of the times.” This is a rip at the age of the story, which I quickly point out is actually younger than my dad who was celebrating his 50th (my mom is a year older than my dad, on top of it all).
- My dad noted that he “really like the ending.” He fell asleep for most of episode two… but don’t take this as an insult, he falls asleep at even his favorite movies.
- My mom made some good, yet contradictory points, “There was a bit too much death and violence, though understandable for the story’s setting. this is a kid’s show? Wait, there was no blood, though. the bartender should have bled out!” Good points mom, it’s funny how they get away with violence when the graphic nature is the one piece that is censored (blood, guts, and swearing).
- “The Doctor drank milk! That was pretty cool,” says my dad. Not sure if this was just an honest answer or because he is a Wisconsonite. Either way, my mom also chimed in and agreed, probably because it teaches kids to not only drink milk, but also not to drink alcohol at a bar. Again, she is full of contradictions, as she does not drink milk.
- Story Grade:
- Dad: D+ – “It was no Gilligan’s Island!” (thought it would have been a “sleep plus” if you asked me)
- Mom: C – “Could have been worse.” (she sang the recycled song for the rest of the weekend, and may still be humming it now)
Jael’s Judgment:
Western meets sci-fi, and with a catchy serenade! “…in the Last Chance Saloon.”
This story mixes all of the classic elements from my childhood. So although this viewing was not with my family, (I have watched it with my father on a previous occasion) it was fitting that we watched this serial with family. In fact I do not have too much more to say. I will let Tony take the rest of this one since our guest viewers were his parents.
(I like listening to the varying American accents. One of the men is completely unsuccessful.)
- Story Grade: B+
Tony’s Take:
Television shows are known to have catchy theme songs to play during their credits. But what happens if they used a song as a them throughout the story? Well, The Gunfighters answers this. As I learned for an episode of Radio Free Skaro way back when, Tristram Cary penned the tune, which is very odd considering the legacy he built for himself. Tristram was better known for his pioneering is the 1960s synthesizer movement, so for him to write this Western-inspired song and not some experimental oddity, makes this normal (albeit redundant) song the true oddity on his resume.
And now for the meat of my review, and I’ll keep it short. I INTRODUCED MY PARENTS TO DOCTOR WHO! What a strange feeling it was. I was showing them a legendary show, made in the 1960s. They were born in the 60s! In England this would be completely backwards, but here in America, the new Who-surge makes this more of a reality than an oddity. It was strange to see them watch this and hear them laugh and talk about it. I think that they either took it as serious or missed the absurdity altogether. My mom really did sing that song for the rest of the weekend, though.
It’s also strange because it seemed as if my mom took to the show more than my dad; my dad is the one who likes more of the sci-fi/nerd stuff. My dad likes Lord of the Rings (one of the few books he actually read), he enjoys all of the Marvel movies, and like Monty Python. My mom on the other hand dislikes British accents (odd), and would rather watch a “chick flick” than any type of “nerd movie”.
I was very excited to have my parents be the first guest-reviewers, but I just wish that we gave them a more accessible story. Oh well, if we show them another, odds tell me that it will be a better story.
- Story Grade: B-
- Sure, there is no reason or tricky plot to this story, but it’s just an enjoyable romp. The song is hilarious for it’s repetitive nature. Think Classic Who meets Community (NBC show) – It’s like a writer/director just wanted to make a Western and built Doctor Who around it.
Thank you, Tristram Cary! I need not say more.
P.S. Jael just said, as I nearly hit “Publish” that “this is where the idea for Firefly came from!”
Doctor Who Reviews Done Couple-Style 