A review by amisner
The Doctors Are in: The Essential and Unofficial Guide to Doctor Who's Greatest Time Lord by Graeme Burk, Robert Smith?
3.0
I think that this book did a good job of giving individual profiles and providing info on the Classic series that I honestly didn't know. The two authors are clearly long time fans and it shows most clearly when discussing the older incarnations of the Doctors. Their outright adoration persuaded me to give viewing some Classic Who another chance. I do have to say though that I still can't do it. The old episodes are something I just can't force myself to watch, having tried repeatedly.
So... In the New Series, the two contributors start to waffle more. The profiles are still on point, but this starts to be where I hold issue with the sections where the authors each offer their individual opinions of each Doctor. While it was quirky and fun to see their various styles of adoration for all 8 prior versions, here it seems forced.
In addition, one author just plain doesn't like Tennant. So there's that.
Final point: they also include what they consider as iconic episodes for each Doctor. And I found myself disagreeing with nearly every choice for all four of the New Series leads. Not that the authors didn't argue their choices well, but their personal preference colors it too much. Arguably, mine would as well, but that's why I rated the book the way I did. That and the particular repetitious style of one of the episode profiles really bothered me.
So... In the New Series, the two contributors start to waffle more. The profiles are still on point, but this starts to be where I hold issue with the sections where the authors each offer their individual opinions of each Doctor. While it was quirky and fun to see their various styles of adoration for all 8 prior versions, here it seems forced.
In addition, one author just plain doesn't like Tennant. So there's that.
Final point: they also include what they consider as iconic episodes for each Doctor. And I found myself disagreeing with nearly every choice for all four of the New Series leads. Not that the authors didn't argue their choices well, but their personal preference colors it too much. Arguably, mine would as well, but that's why I rated the book the way I did. That and the particular repetitious style of one of the episode profiles really bothered me.