Comments on: Troubled Dutch

By: Peter A

Peter A — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:54:06 +0000

Thanks Dave! Who ever said Who fandom wasn’t educational?

Kicked out because we didn’t win a game? I prefer to see it as set aside because we didn’t win enough! It’s been a heck of a tournament for upsets though, which is a good thing.

Cheers to you both for the thoughtful responses elsewhere. I felt this was a story I could have gone on and on with, there’s certainly more to remark upon including the Beeb’s decision to run a help-line voiceover at the end (who’d have thought we’d see that sometime?) which perhaps is a clear sign of how they see the show now, as a product with a broad audience and no small influence?

Good show to them, if so.

By: the_other_dave

the_other_dave — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:25:12 +0000

One thing I missed first time round was the reference to Wellington in the last line and had to have the significance of it very carefully explained to me. So… if Richard Curtis was born here does this mean that Vincent and the Doctor is the long awaited Doctor Who episode by an NZ writer?!

Go on, you know you want to… From the people who brought you “undefeated” in an international sporting event the we got kicked out of the first round of for not actually winning anything…

Only other comment is, and I’m loathe to make such a tiny tiny point, but the term “black dog” definitely predates Churchill. It has been arround Irish circles for some time (my Grandfather used to use it, although more for foul moods rather than specifically for depression), however can be taken back in literary circles as far back as Dr Johnston .

I’ll get my coat….

By: Al

Al — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:14:34 +0000

Nice work, Peter.
Episodes like this make me proud to be a fan. Possibly my favourite scene of this series so far was the ‘starry night’ sequence. Maybe a predictable use of effects in retrospect, but a beautiful example of art imitating art – if I’d seen this at school I would have opted for Art History like a shot.
Interesting too was the voice-over at the end offering advice to anyone wanting to follow up the ‘issues raised in the programme’. What an intelligent and sensitive way of reaching 7 or 8 million people with an important message.

By: the_other_dave

the_other_dave — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:33:01 +0000

Annother effortless (in a good way) review. For me one of the first higher pitched episodes of the season, and as you say good emotional core. I was slightly concerned that (viewed with dyslexia last time) it might become “issue of the week”, but given that this may be some of the younger viewers first brush (no pun intended) with a story about mental illness, it was rather well done.