K9

Alright, so this makes for... what?... FOUR spin-off series from 'Doctor Who' now? (Counting the '81 "K9 and Company" pilot, "Torchwood", and the late lamented "Sarah-Jane Adventures"). Wheras the others mentioned above retained the spirit and feel of the parent series, this Australian co-production is sadly lacking that certain Gallifreyan je ne sais quois (to say nothing of any allons-y or molto bene).

Screened in the UK on the less than prestigious Channel 5 in their early morning kiddie slot, this show sadly fitted in with the pre-teen brightly coloured attention deficit disorder chaos that surrounded it. Lacking the strong (or even coherent) plot lines and - with one or two caveats - the acting of its parent and sister shows, and with special effects on a par with a scrag end Graham Williams story from 1979, this result of K9's co-creator Bob Baker's years of work to get it off the ground is sadly not worth the effort.

There are a few decent ideas at play here, and the cast isn't irredeemable: Robyn Moore as Jorjie's mother June can actually act (Moore also featured in Aussie 'zom-com' "Undead", another project which leaves me unsure whether to smile indulgently or grit my teeth whilst watching). Robert Moloney as Professor Gryffen is OK too, beneath a 'zany inventor' act that can become as wearisome as season 28 David Tennant. The alien creatures however, are worse than a bad mandrel, or even a mad bandril - the muppets populating Jabba's palace in ROTJ were better.

I hear rumblings that a belated second season may be in the works. Hopefully a total reboot with no return for the original scriptwriters, please. Kid's TV can be so much better than this.

What could have been another excellent spin-off fails in so very many respects.

The interesting story ideas are thoroughly demolished by poor scripts. The writers were doing something that was never done in Dr. Who or any of its other spin-offs; They talk down to the audience. The writers also indulge in the use of "Hack-Writers Gambit". HWG can be best described as the practice of putting the protagonists in deadly danger, then shifting the scene to show them as having escaped with little or no explanation of how they did so.

The characters are flat. There is no depth to them at all. Worse, they are, for the most part, completely unsympathetic. There is no reason for the audience to care what happens to them at all.

Additionally, the program is hampered by poor acting. While the actors are mostly experienced, all too often they are either just running lines or chewing the scenery. It certainly doesn't look like they are having much fun on the set. It really does show, you know.

The sets and lighting are from the 60's. They are very much reminiscent of the early Dr. Who shows in their amateurishness.

I had such high hopes for this show. And I am so disappointed.

My boyfriend and I are trying to do a complete watch through of the Doctor Who universe. I know this show isn't canon, but I have always wanted to give it a shot. We had to skip from episode 3 to episode 20, just because this experience has been so awful.

No hate to anyone involved in this show and i hope them the best, but this is genuinely painful to get through. Every time we finish an episode, I feel like my body is having to process trauma. It's very few and far between to find something enjoyable about this.

If you're a completionist or are just curious, give it a watch - but I wouldn't recommend it.

I watched this TV show with my aunt, a woman who REALLY loves "Dr. Who". After we watched a bit, she said "I really don't want to watch any more"...and that probably explains why many Whovians had little to no interest in this show and it soon disappeared from TV.

The biggest problem with this show is that unlike "Dr. Who" which could appeal to all ages, "K9" clearly is something only kids about 12-15 might like...MIGHT. Having annoying kids in the lead sure alienated us and the show was very talking and annoying. The only thing good I could see in all these shows are some decent aliens...the costumes were very nice quality. Apart from that...it actually grates on you as you watch it.

Yrs, this is a kid's show, and my inner kid loves it! The fact that I love and have always loved K9 is the main selling point for me. The stories are simple but fun! IIf you are a major Dr Who fan, I think you will enjoy this series!