Dr Who and the kid-scary factor

[donniedarko]

I can remember as a young Darko being absolutely terrified of the big invisible spiders that jumped on the backs of people in Dr Who (I think this is going back to the Jon Pertwee/4th Dr times).

Now, my own young Darkos don't mind the new Dr Who but were totally shit scared of the latest episodes, with President Nixon and the Silence aliens that wiped your mind when you looked away from them.

So, question is: do you think Dr Who today is written as a more or less scary show than it was 25 years ago? Is it in fact more scary because we are more used to darker concepts (ie would the Darko of 25 years ago spent the next 25 years in therapy if he saw last week's Dr Who?)?.

[Aussie]

I can remember as a young Darko being absolutely terrified of the big invisible spiders that jumped on the backs of people in Dr Who (I think this is going back to the Jon Pertwee/4th Dr times).

Now, my own young Darkos don't mind the new Dr Who but were totally shit scared of the latest episodes, with President Nixon and the Silence aliens that wiped your mind when you looked away from them.

So, question is: do you think Dr Who today is written as a more or less scary show than it was 25 years ago? Is it in fact more scary because we are more used to darker concepts (ie would the Darko of 25 years ago spent the next 25 years in therapy if he saw last week's Dr Who?)?.

I reckon you are Spencer Howson. He is the ABC's guru on matters Dr. Who. Are you leading a double life?

(Yeah....the Bronco Management owe all three of us another Game.)

[Monkey Magic]

Definitely Dr Who today is a more sophisticated series than previous realisations. Possibly the reason for that was to reignite the interest in former Dr Who fans. I think the time slot is testament to this also... where as once it was pre-dinner kids programming, now it has a prime time position. The plot is more complex and stories not complete within the episode as was previously the case... rather the story extends for the series. Even the rating given is 'M' as opposed to 'G' for kids.

Not that I'm complaining. I love Dr Who. Can't wait to find out who River Song is... I have predicted that she is a time lord.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Planet of the Spiders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vahgN_rX ... re=related
The spider incantation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VvZ-Vae ... re=related
The origins of the Eight-Legs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McqhZnAO ... ure=relmfu

Didn't know about this ...

Doctor Who Daleks vs Cybermen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBSOhODo ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnj-PXWo ... re=related


I liked these Sontaran characters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDW3yznT ... re=related

[Outlaw Yogi]

I loved the Silence, watched it twice.
No I don't think current boogy men or the plots are scarier ... but the props are heaps better.

The Seeds of Doom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fZx2lt ... re=related