Fob Watch - Time Lord not included
Written: Oct 17 '08 (Updated Oct 17 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gorgeous design - faithful to the Doctor's (and Master's) fob watch in the television series.
Cons: Watch is made of plastic. Sound recording plays a bit too fast.
The Bottom Line: Nice watch toy that looks a just like the one on Doctor Who. That being said, it could have been done better...
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| mizgnomer's Full Review: Doctor Who Fob Watch |
One of the high points of Doctor Who's Third season was a two part episode based on Paul Cornell's book, "Human Nature". A wonderful episode in many ways, it contained two "props" that have become highly sought after by Doctor Who fans. One is the gorgeously hand written & illustrated "Journal of Impossible Things", and the other is the beautiful fob watch that temporarily contained the Doctor's Time Lord essence. Luckily for fans both old and young, an affordable fob watch toy has been released by Character Options.
Product Description:
It is a bit hard to explain this story quickly without making it sound silly, but the Doctor must hide his Time Lord-ness from a family of hunters who are tracking/hunting him (to steal his super-long life span), so to hide he temporarily becomes human. Using advanced alien technology he creates a new human persona and hides his Time Lord essence in a fob watch. If he opens the watch, his Time Lord self is released and his body changes back into its normal, Time Lord state. Another similar watch was also used by the Doctor's Time Lord nemesis, The Master, to hide from the destruction of the Time War.
The toy fob watch looks just like the ones seen on the television show, complete with the beautifully swirly Gallifreyan design engraved on the cover as well as on the watch face. It is made from gray plastic rather than metal, so it does feel a bit flimsier than what I had envisioned (but they don't make many metal toys these days, and I'm sure that would have driven the price up). The watch measures just over 3 inches tall, over 2 inches wide, and is roughly 1 inch thick. There is a metal chain as well, with a simple hook on one end so you can attach the watch to your clothing.
There is a large, decorative button at the top of the watch that opens the watch's cover (to expose the timepiece) without triggering the lights and sounds. The watch really does work and keeps time well. The design of the watch face is white with gray and black swirly designs (Gallifreyan text), some yellow highlights, and roman numerals for telling time. There is a second hand, which is something I always look for on a timepiece (so many watches these days leave the second hand off). You can set the time by turning a small, indented button on the back of the watch.
There is a small button on the side of the watch that triggers the lights and sounds. The lights are colored red and yellow and go around the outermost edge of the watch face. They flash in a sequence for the duration of the sound recording. The sounds are a series of clips from the show. The first sound byte played is part of a sound effect that signified the opening of the watch. The next one is spoken by the Doctor in the Human Nature episode:
"This watch is me."
One is spoken by John Smith (the Doctor's human alter ego) in the Human Nature episode:
"I dream, quite often, that I have two hearts."
Lastly there's a line spoken by the Doctor in the Gridlock episode:
"I'm not just a Time Lord. I'm the last of the Time Lords."
The manufacturer recommends this toy for children ages 5 and up. The toy requires 4 x LR44 batteries (included).
Our Thoughts & Experiences:
On one hand I'm impressed with the fob watch toy. It has the same absolutely gorgeous design as the one seen on television, complete with the beautiful Gallifreyan design on the cover and the face of the watch. On the other hand I'm a bit let down because the bulk of the watch is made of plastic, which makes it feel cheap. The fact that the watch's chain is real metal makes the watch itself feel that much more flimsy by comparison. I suppose what I would really prefer is a replica made of metal -- which I realize would be much more expensive than this toy, but that's what I would prefer (perhaps as a separate product geared toward adults instead of a toy for children).
I'm also of two minds concerning the lights and sound effects from the watch. In the episodes a school boy is sensitive to the watch - he takes it and opens it and occasionally hears it talking to him. Clearly this is what they are trying to re-create with the toy watch when it lights up and talks. On the other hand, it can be a bit annoying (as my kids enjoy playing with it and triggering the sounds over and over and over). It plays the same series of sound clips every time it is triggered. I would have preferred it if there was a bit more variety to the recordings. Additionally, some of the lines (particularly the one that starts "I dream...") are just way too fast. The Doctor ends up sounding like a chipmunk!
Quickie Summary:
Pros:
+) Looks like the one from the show, down to the complicated Gallifreyan symbols adorning the front of the case and the watch's face
+) Lights
+) Sound effects
+) Is a real watch that keeps time accurately
+) You can open the watch without triggering the lights & sound effects.
+) Metal chain for attaching the watch to clothing
Cons:
-) The watch itself is made of plastic rather than metal, which does make it seem rather cheap
-) Some of the recordings from the show play too fast, making the Doctor sound a bit like a chipmunk
-) The lights & sound effects are the same every time (no variety)
Final Thoughts:
Overall I am glad that we have a fob watch, as it is quite cool-looking. That being said, I do wish that it was made out of metal rather than plastic. Granted, I am no doubt older than the target audience for this item. I think that I would rather have a more expensive prop replica than a "toy". But it does look quite accurate and well made despite being plastic, so I don't think I should complain too much. My kids enjoy it and steal it from me frequently, so I'll still give it a positive review.
Related Doctor Who Reviews:
Flight Control Tardis
Clockwork Man 12inch Figure
Season Two DVD Set
Season Three DVD Set
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 15.99 EU
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Epinions.com ID:
mizgnomer
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Location: Tennessee
Reviews written: 306
Trusted by: 202 members
About Me:
Don't meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you're crunchy and taste good with ketchup
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