[Pryftan Wing]

Has anybody noticed how similar the episode '42' of Doctor Who is to 7 Days a Skeptic? '42' revolves around a virus that takes control of crew members on a spaceship; infected people don a welder's mask and walk around killing everyone else. Much like 7 Days, it effectively captures the claustrophobic horror film theme, rather odd for Doctor Who, considering it's one of the lightest science fiction shows around. I'm just curious if anybody's pointed this out before.

[El Presedente]

Never really noticed before, but now you point it out, they are strikingly similar, especially based around the similarity between the Tenth Doctor and Trilbys attire.

[Dannysaysnoo]

Which one was this? Was it the new Who?

[Pryftan Wing]

Yeah, new Doctor Who, third season, seventh episode. And I hadn't even linked the Doctor's outfit to Trilby's - nice.

[Game Over]

Couldn't find it. But if what you're saying is true...then I guess we can tie stuff with Dr Who like 14 year old fans.

Exciting...I think.
But, still, thanks for sharng that. Some reason for me to start watching Dr Who again.

[Pryftan Wing]

I'm just sort of wondering if there's an inspirational connection, is all. I'm not sure of the airdate of the episode or the release date of 7DaS, but the similarities are strong enough that I suspect the creator of one was influenced by the other.

[El Presedente]

The air date was long after 7DAS, over two years I think.

[DreamerM]

"42" isn't the only New Who story built around a Horror theme, nor is it close to the best; "Blink" is the best.

I do see a simularity though: a sci-fi setting and horror theme, except obviously Who couldn't indulge in the kind of spectacular butchery that a game can and needed to get it's terror in some other way. They did it by making The Doctor, who is the strongest and most effective miracle-working God on TV today, torn down and filled with fear, and when one of the powerful characters ever created then SO ARE YOU. Tennant was great in that episode too, though he had to be to upstage those sets. Those were some beautiful sets.

The purpose for this was less about the sentient sun and more about foreshadowing the Doctor's own upcoming fall from power, imprisonment, and fear, and making plainer Martha's role as God's Healer, who can restore him when no one else can.

I can't imagine Trilby letting himself get as rumpled and grubby as the Doctor constantly is, or wearing those old trainers.

[El Presedente]

The purpose for this was less about the sentient sun and more about foreshadowing the Doctor's own upcoming fall from power, imprisonment, and fear, and making plainer Martha's role as God's Healer, who can restore him when no one else can.

Time Lord Vs Angry Sun would have sufficed.

[DreamerM]

Time Lord Vs Angry Sun would have sufficed.

Yeah, except it's weak. And I like to think of it in the context of what it was supposed to set-up as part of the ongoing plot of the series, though if you just want to watch it for the aliens and the fake science you can do that too. It works on either level, which is what makes it great.

[El Presedente]

Its not that, Its just that I'm a life long Doctor Who fan, and an English Literature student, and sometimes after a long day some old fashoned action-with-political-undertones (Jon Pertwee era anyone?), Is all I need.

I wasn't being an arse honest

[DreamerM]

Its not that, Its just that I'm a life long Doctor Who fan, and an English Literature student, and sometimes after a long day some old fashoned action-with-political-undertones (Jon Pertwee era anyone?), Is all I need.

I wasn't being an arse honest

Hey, I didn't think you were being an arse; I like latching on to the mythological symbolism that the show employs, you like to kick back with a fun sci-fi romp, and it's high points given to the strength of the show that it makes us BOTH happy. Two people can like the same thing for different reasons.

Though out of curiosity, political undertones in the pertwee era?

[Pryftan Wing]

"42" isn't the only New Who story built around a Horror theme, nor is it close to the best; "Blink" is the best.

Agreed. "Blink" is fantastic.

The purpose for this was less about the sentient sun and more about foreshadowing the Doctor's own upcoming fall from power, imprisonment, and fear, and making plainer Martha's role as God's Healer, who can restore him when no one else can.

Also agree, but that its purpose in the whole arc - like many Doctor Who standalones, it wasn't written by the main producer and aspects that set up later themes were either coincidental or added. As a standalone peice, it's very similarly themed to 7DaS and that's basically what I was getting at.

It's the general theme, and then on top of that, the fact that the villian takes over crew members and then puts on a welding mask that links them distinctly in my mind. There's also the whole sucking it into space scene (BEAUTIFUL cinematography in that one) and the part where the Doctor walks outside the ship to remagnetize Martha's pod. All very reminescent of the game.

This post has been edited by Pryftan Wing: 06 April 2008 - 07:22 PM

[DreamerM]

Also agree, but that its purpose in the whole arc - like many Doctor Who standalones, it wasn't written by the main producer and aspects that set up later themes were either coincidental or added.

I donno, Russel T. Davis strikes me as a guy who'd be able to streamline a writing staff enough to keep the arcs consistent over the course of the series. Besides, it's easier to analyze the hell out of something when you assume nothing is accidental.

As a standalone peice, it's very similarly themed to 7DaS and that's basically what I was getting at. It's the general theme, and then on top of that, the fact that the villian takes over crew members and then puts on a welding mask that links them distinctly in my mind. There's also the whole sucking it into space scene (BEAUTIFUL cinematography in that one) and the part where the Doctor walks outside the ship to remagnetize Martha's pod. All very reminescent of the game.

Ah, I see. I agree, that sequence was just beautiful to behold. That whole episode was just beautiful to behold: the design of the medical bay alone was just mythic and with the lights and the smoke, it was just beautiful.

Can you imagine what that game would have been like if it'd looked like that?

[joshofalltrades]

This has been mentioned on these forums before, but never in this much detail. So, continue to discuss and I'll just be over here.