30 Days of Who meme, day 27: an episode you wish hadn't been made

[nonelvis]

Rusty wrote some terrific episodes, as well as some real stinkers. And while "The End of Time" is very near the top of my list of worst episodes of the show, there's one clear winner: "Voyage of the Damned."

How much did I hate this episode? Enough that I have a hard time coming up with anything I liked about it: it was way too long, it bored the hell out of me, I didn't care about any of the characters, and I don't even want to discuss Jesus Ten snapping his fingers and being carried up to Heaven the top decks by two robot angels. In fact, I'd say there's only one thing that makes this episode worth watching at all:



LOOK AT HOW PRETTY HE IS IN A TUX.

Ahem.

Okay, I will grant that the scene in which Astrid suggests she wouldn't mind seeing what Ten looks like in the morning, and he nearly chokes on his food as a result, still makes me laugh; and also, Astrid's boots are awesome. But when the best things you can say about the episode revolve around the costume choices, you're really reaching.

Finally, in case you're wondering why I don't think that crapfest EoT beats out VotD for Worst Episode Ever? Five reasons:

1. Bondage chair scenes.
   
2. Ten and Wilf in the café.
   
3. Wilf and the Silver Cloak. Wilf period, really.
   
4. Ten/Elizabeth I CANON, BABY.
   
5. Did I mention the BONDAGE CHAIR?
   

Day 01 - Your Favorite Quote
Day 02 – Your Favorite Classic Series Episode
Day 03 – Your Favorite New Series Episode
Day 04 – Your Favorite Doctor
Day 05 – Your Favorite Companion
Day 06 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 07 – Your Favorite Piece of Music
Day 08 – A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Happy
Day 09 – A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Angry/Sad
Day 10 – A Who-Related Photo That You Took
Day 11 – Your Favorite Season (Classic or New)
Day 12 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 13 – Your Favorite Villain
Day 14 – The Villain Who Scared You the Most
Day 15 – Favorite Who-Related Tumblr
Day 16 – Your Favorite Who-Related FanFic
Day 17 – A Piece of Who-Related FanArt
Day 18 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 20 – The Character Who Is Most Like You
Day 21 – Your Doctor Who OTP
Day 22 – A Who-Related Fan-Site
Day 23 – A Who-Related YouTube Video
Day 24 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 25 – Favorite Who Actor
Day 26 – Favorite Who Actress
Day 27 – An Episode You Wish Hadn’t Been Made
Day 28 – An Episode Idea You Created Yourself
Day 29 – Who You Think Should Be the Next Doctor
Day 30 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy

Comments

[spikewriter]

(I figure this icon is appropriate at othis juncture.)

I still say there is absolutely nothing wring with VotD that a nice glass -- or two or three or a whole bottle -- of a good Shiraz can't cure. Frankly, after the first glass, I sit back and look at the pretty and don't focus on anything else,

[nonelvis]

I'd definitely need the whole bottle to watch it again.

[gritsinmisery.livejournal.com]

It's defs a multi-mojito episode. Wouldn't want to waste good vino on it.

[nonelvis]

You may have a point there :D

[spikewriter]

Hmmm. There's an idea for new blog and/or podcast: "Who and Wine." What beverage gets you through the bad stuff. (For me, we start the Cosmopolitans a half hour prior to "Victory of the Daleks" and keep them coming until at least a half hour after.)

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

Watch it muted. It improves.

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

Haaaaa, I forgot about that episode. Might need to rethink my answer.

[nonelvis]

I did contemplate some other episodes for this category, but VotD was still the winner. Or loser, I suppose.

[iainpj.livejournal.com]

But without VotD, we don't get the Doctor acting as an intertemporal/interstellar matchmaker/procurer between Alonzo and Jack in "End of Time"! Plus it's Wilf's actual introduction to the series -- he's the guy in the newsstand thingie that's almost hit by the Titanic as it heads to Buckingham Palace. (Hey, it's all I got for something good from that episode. I think I liked End of Time more than you did, though. But that aside, Rusty's end of season episodes are usually a great setup in part one, followed by a part two of such surpassing ordure that you can't quite believe something that stinky made it to television. You really can't quite go wrong with any of the season ender part two episodes as the worst.)

[nonelvis]

Okay, I'll buy that the introductions of Alonzo and Wilf are on balance excellent things, but they still don't make up for that laughable slo-mo scene of Ten walking in front of the explosion, or the FUCKING ANGELS CARRYING HIM TO HEAVEN. ARGH.

Rusty's end of season episodes are usually a great setup in part one, followed by a part two of such surpassing ordure that you can't quite believe something that stinky made it to television

Y HALO THAR, "LAST OF THE TIME LORDS."

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

But LotTL has the maaaaaahvelous "I Can't Decide" dance montage. John Simm is made of win.

[nonelvis]

It does have that bit, and my ringtone is the outro for "I Can't Decide" because of that episode! (Why yes, I am a hopeless geek, but you knew that already.)

But as for the rest of it, I have three words for you: SPARKLY. TINKERBELL. JESUS.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and not only Tinkerbell, but also Dobby!Doctor. Honestly, if we'd at least been able to look at actual Tennant in a cage with a chain around his neck, it would have redeemed a lot about the episode.

And too true about the tux. It's the Doctor's true superpower.

[nonelvis]

if we'd at least been able to look at actual Tennant in a cage with a chain around his neck, it would have redeemed a lot about the episode

HELL YES.

[syzygy-lj.livejournal.com]

Rusty's end of season episodes are usually a great setup in part one, followed by a part two of such surpassing ordure that you can't quite believe something that stinky made it to television.

Rusty is the George Lucas of TV. Great ideas, lousy follow-through.

[livii.livejournal.com]

Aw, I kinda loved Voyage of the Damned. Some bad bits, but overall it was a lot of fun. I loved Kylie as Astrid and remain sad there's no fic for her because everyone hated it so much. :(

[nonelvis]

I have another friend who loved VotD because it reminded her so much of The Poseidon Adventure, so you aren't alone! It just didn't do anything for me.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

voyage of the damned is too boring and pointless to hate. it's the only RTD epsideo that did, in fact, completely bore me. there's nothing to say about it. he's done worse things, but as far as new who goes, this is the most mediocre episode there is.

[nonelvis]

I've got other episodes (like AoL/WW3) filed under "mediocre"); I think VotD went past that into the "annoying" category because it felt to me like such a spectacular waste of money and talent all the way around.

I'm curious to know what you think he's done that's worse, though!

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

I'm curious to know what you think he's done that's worse, though!

oh, journey's end, most definitely. no plot, no logic, and slapped together at the last minute to meet a deadline, which is blindingly obvious while watching. but more importantly, he destroyed rose, wiped away every bit of character development that donna ever had, and comepletely objectified the doctor. the only doctor who episode that actually upset me for what it did to the whoniverse.

but it wasn't boring, i'll give it that.

[nonelvis]

Yeah, that one's never going to make my favorites list. I don't dislike it as much as you do, but it's definitely not good.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

it was like some bizarre textbook lesson that went, "you know that thing you spent years of hard work making into something really good? here is how to destroy it all in fifteen minutes."

[jeffurrynpl.livejournal.com]

For me it was all about the Kult of Kylie, of which I am not a member. She's like soccer and the Scissor Sisters, more popular everywhere else but the U.S.

[nonelvis]

The Aussies on my flist may kill me for saying this, but I'm not a huge Kylie fan, either. (I don't care for poppy dance music in general, so it's nothing personal about her.) The Scissor Sisters, on the other hand, I totally love.

[jeffurrynpl.livejournal.com]

I do love poppy dance music and "Can't Get You Out of My Head" is one of my favo(u)rites, but I think I knew about the cult right around when I first heard about her, which turned me off.

I heard the one Scissor Sisters song I know on the bus here in Bulgaria last night and I still like it.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

I will grant that the scene in which Astrid suggests she wouldn't mind seeing what Ten looks like in the morning, and he nearly chokes on his food as a result, still makes me laugh

That is funny, and good grief, is Tennant gorgeous in that episode. YUM, please.

I adore not only the bondage chair but the "Worst ... Escape ... Ever" scene, which always has me laughing so hard it hurts.

[nonelvis]

It's the tux. He's irresistible in the tux.