`DOCTOR WHO' AN ALIEN CONCEPT.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic `Doctor Who'' is a riot of invention, with imagination to spare for a dozen series. The latest incarnation of the program, as envisioned by writer/producer Russell T. Davies, ratchets up the stakes in each episode to ridiculous, operatic levels -- the fate of an entire planet is a good place for starters -- then has a laugh at it. For the latest season, David Tennant (``Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'') essays the Doctor, who's generally a whiz at world-saving, but the last time we saw him, he'd saved the entire universe, and so he's kind of peaked. (Tennant has a fairly easy job playing the Doctor his first time out, as he spends most of tonight's first episode, ``The Christmas Invasion,'' napping.) Flame-throwing tubas
Tubas (Arabic: طوباس Though shot with obvious budgetary limitations, ``Doctor. Who'' boasts no end of visual pyrotechnics pyrotechnics (pī'rōtĕk`nĭks, pī'rə–), technology of making and using fireworks. Gunpowder was used in fireworks by the Chinese as early as the 9th cent. . Hence, tonight we are treated to the spectacle of aliens disguised as Father Christmas with flame-throwing tubas and trombones, a wood- chipping Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. and one-third of the globe's population perched on the roofs of high-rises, awaiting a call to jump. Despite its cheekiness -- when the Doctor finally comes to, with the planet in thrall to an alien horde, his first words to sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) are a cheerful, ``Did you miss me?'' -- the episode also offers commentary on the notion of pre-emptive pre·emp·tive or pre-emp·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of preemption. 2. Having or granted by the right of preemption. 3. a. wars. N.Y. as never before Tonight's second episode is just as clever, with the Doctor and Rose traveling 5 billion years into the future to visit New Earth, and the 15th incarnation of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , where they encounter a hospital run by feline novitiates with a grim secret and the ``Last Human'' -- mere skin stretched onto a frame -- who has evil designs on Rose. Either of those story lines would more than suffice for a single episode; having them collide is fairly ingenious. Next week, while attempting to visit the punk-music scene of 1979, they land instead in 1879 and get mixed up in a plot to assassinate as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. Queen Victoria with -- what else? -- a werewolf werewolf: see lycanthropy. werewolf In European folklore, a man who changes into a wolf at night and devours animals, people, or corpses, returning to human form by day. . Despite the escalating body count, Rose will not be swayed from her efforts to coax Victoria to issue her famous utterance, ``I am not amused.'' Victoria may not be, but fans of the Doctor will be almost infinitely. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com DOCTOR WHO - Four stars What: David Tennant takes over as the Doctor, who again must save the planet -- whichever one he's on at the time. Where: Sci Fi Channel Sci Fi Channel may refer to:
When: 8 and 9:30 tonight; thereafter, 8 p.m. Fridays. In a nutshell: Endlessly inventive and witty. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: David Tennant and Billie Piper star in the endlessly amusing and out-there ``Doctor Who,'' tonight on the Sci Fi Channel. |
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