Doctor Who

[SithLordWiccan]

Well, I (once again) missed the first ten minutes of "Boom Town", and blipped out a few times while viewing it. But I don't really consider that a loss, since it wasn't exactly that great of an episode, anyway.

Sure, it had some good lines, but by the end, I had the overwhelming sense of "I stayed awake for this?"

And damn, Mickey was annoying in this ep. Hard to believe that later on he became anything close to likeable.

[BBOvenGuy]

"Boom Town" deals with a question that you never really see on Doctor Who - what happens after the Doctor leaves? What happens to the loose ends and associated mess he leaves behind? Sure, he saves the day, but what kind of responsibility does he have because of that?

Yes, it's a different kind of episode, but it covers some ground that needed to be covered.

Meanwhile, Paul Cornell posted a link to my video clip on his blog!

http://paulcornell.blogspot.com/2006/08 ... video.html

[Feena]

Very cool!!

Now he's linked to it, who knows who might have watched it

[BBOvenGuy]

Now he's linked to it, who knows who might have watched it

Oh, I can just imagine...

It's up over 400 viewings now, so your OG link really did wonders. Would you believe I never subscribed to the OG board? I tried to register yesterday, but now I have to wait until they get around to adding me manually.

[Feena]

There's been a few 'thanks for the link' , the vid is definately much appreciated

It had surprised me that you hadn't joined OG, I spend most of my online time there!! With over 17,500 members there's always lots going on!

Hopefully it won't take long to go through. I'm Feena there too, have you signed up as BBOvenGuy?

[SithLordWiccan]

Yes, it's a different kind of episode, but it covers some ground that needed to be covered.

I'm not doubting that, but I'm just saying that there wasn't a great deal of anything that managed to capture my interest, especially when it came to the interactions between Rose and Mickey.

[BBOvenGuy]

I'm Feena there too, have you signed up as BBOvenGuy?

Oh yes, of course. That's been my online identity since 1994.

[Feena]

It's a massive site to wander about in, but I think you might like Author Roundtables in The Doctor Who Legacy forum.

Various writers for the show and DW books/audios post in there.

[billy]

Love & Monsters (for a more unusual one)

I watched Love and Monsters again a few days ago and fell in love with it all over again. This time I didn't have a problem with the dark ending, in fact it's not quite as downbeat as I first thought. Elton is still glad he met the Doctor and Ursula is happy she's with Elton, despite what happened to her, and Elton dancing to ELO is one of the best moments from the second season. I loved it so much, and I'd even go as far as saying that I prefer it to The Girl in the Fireplace.

[Feena]

Martha's family has been cast. I'm glad she's got one, but I hope that, because there's four of them, we don't see too much of them together at one time. It'll be a lot of characters when The Doc and Martha are there too!!

DJ and former Top of the Pops presenter Reggie Yates will feature as Martha Jones's brother Leo in Series Three of Doctor Who.

Joining him to complete the Jones clan are Trevor Laird, who will play dad Clive, Adjoa Andoh as mum Francine, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as sister Tish.

Former Casualty actress Andoh previously appeared as cat nun Sister Jatt in the episode New Earth. Laird is a Who veteran too, having played Frax in The Trial Of A Time Lord twenty years ago.

BBC site

[billy]

Amazon are saying that two of the three Doctor Who audiobooks released in November are going to be read by Tony Head and Don Warrington. The last three books, which were read by David Tennant, were very kid friendly and fun.

Art of Destruction

Nightmare of Black Island

[SithLordWiccan]

Glad to see that Martha's going to get a family, though I really hope this doesn't make it too much like Rose. I get the feeling that is the writers and co. start making Martha too much like Rose, a lot of fans are going to be pissed off.

Glad to hear about the new audio books, too, though I wish they'd come out here.

I picked up some Doctor Who guidebooks from the library a week ago (I think I may have mentioned this before), and it's interesting to read about the show's beginnings and how it progressed to what I see today. There are some episodes I really want to see (especially both "The Three Doctors" and "The Five Doctors").

In the meantime, I can settle for the new series. Speaking of which, "Bad Wolf" is on tomorrow. From what I've read about it, it sounds good.

[BBOvenGuy]

Nicholas Briggs has taken over at Big Finish for their Doctor Who audio dramas starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann. Word is that some changes are in the works - most significantly a "relaunch" of the Eighth Doctor in a new set of adventures with a new companion (although supposedly there will also be more stories with India Fisher as Charlotte Pollard, too).

This should be a good thing. Nicholas Briggs was one of the people most responsible for Doctor Who's survival during the 15 years between TV series. He also does the Dalek and Cyberman voices for the current show. And Big Finish needed something in the way of a shakeup, especially the Eighth Doctor. They took his story way off track with that whole "divergent universe" business.

[Feena]

More awards!!

Doctor Who nets hat-trick of awards

Doctor Who stole the show at a TV awards ceremony - while EastEnders won Best Soap for the first time in three years.

Doctor Who won Best-Loved Drama at the 2006 TV Quick and TV Choice Awards.

Its star, David Tennant, 35, won Best Actor and Billie Piper, 23, who has bowed out of the third series, took the Best Actress title for her role as the Doctor's assistant Rose.

"Bad Wolf" is brilliant, I'm sure you'll enjoy it

[BBOvenGuy]

At Worldcon, Paul Cornell made a point of repeatedly referring to Doctor Who as the number one drama series in Britain - and then explaining that he was saying it over and over again because he'd never believed a day would come when he could.

[SithLordWiccan]

Word is that some changes are in the works - most significantly a "relaunch" of the Eighth Doctor in a new set of adventures with a new companion (although supposedly there will also be more stories with India Fisher as Charlotte Pollard, too).

I don't think I like the idea of this. The Eight Doctor continuity is as muddled as it is. Rebooting it doesn't sound like a good move.

Glad to find out it won s'more awards. It certainly deserves it.

"Bad Wolf" is brilliant, I'm sure you'll enjoy it

I'm sure I will. I just hope I can stay awake to see it all this week.

[billy]

I don't think I like the idea of this. The Eight Doctor continuity is as muddled as it is. Rebooting it doesn't sound like a good move.

It's not really a reboot. Big Finish are going to be releasing some stories with the 8th Doctor and his next companion. I really like Charley so I'm pleased she's still going to be around but I hope C'rizz leaves soon. I find him incredibly annoying.

[NewRuthRising]

Do we know when the spin off is coming on?...i think it's called Torchwood.

[BBOvenGuy]

Do we know when the spin off is coming on?...i think it's called Torchwood.

Late next month was the last thing I heard.

Meanwhile, the BBC has a new article in which Russell T. Davies says they've started planning Season 4.

[billy]

The new Eighth Doctor Big Finish audios are actually going to be a new Doctor Who radio series but presumably still produced by Big Finish. This was posted on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum (information from Doctor Who Magazine):

It's due to be broadcast on BBC 7 at Christmas. McGann's new companion is Lucie Miller played by Sheridan Smith. Guest stars include Kenneth Cranham, Anita Dobson, Una Stubbs, Bernard Cribbins, Stephen Gately, Clare Buckfield, Ian McNeice, Elspet Gray, Timothy West, Nerys Hughes, Nigel Havers, Julia McKenzie, Tom Chadbon, Roy Marsden and Nickolas Grace. There seems to be a further recurring character called Headhunter played by Katarina Olssen (who occasionally doubles with another role, suggesting something a bit Sirens of Time.

There are six stories - two 2-parters, four 1 part, all 50 minutes. The first is a Steve Lyons Dalek tale - Blood of the Daleks, great title. 2 parts. The end is a 2 part Cyber story by Eddie Robson. Other plays by Paul Magrs (with the wonderful title Horror of Glam Rock) Jonathan Clements and Paul Sutton.

[BBOvenGuy]

The new Eighth Doctor Big Finish audios are actually going to be a new Doctor Who radio series but presumably still produced by Big Finish.

Wow, that's absolutely fantastic. The Eighth Doctor certainly deserves to get a "broadcast" series after all this time.

Meanwhile, David McIntee, writer of many Doctor Who novels and audio adventures, cites an article in his blog reporting that David Tennant wants to stay through Season 4 and then leave the show. That would give him three years as the Doctor, which is pretty much the standard tenure, so if it's true I would be okay with that.

[Knock yourself out]

Hooray, Elisabeth Sladengets her own show.

PS Just watched The Empty Child again last night and we agreed it was superb - my son was watching Doctor Who the classic way - from between his fingers.

[BBOvenGuy]

Hooray, Elisabeth Sladengets her own show.

Woo-hoo!

And it's a children's show, too. If only I were British - I could try writing for it.

Meanwhile, here's the rundown for BBC7's Eighth Doctor audio dramas, starring Paul McGann with Sheridan Smith as new companion Lucie Miller. All episodes are 50 minutes long. The entire set will run on Christmas Day, presumably with reruns later. BBC7 also has a "Listen Again" web page where you'll be able to hear them.

"Blood of the Daleks" (Parts 1 & 2, Written by Steve Lyons, Directed by Nicholas Briggs)

A Dalek two-parter, featuring Katarina Olssen (Headhunter), Anita Dobson(Eileen Klint), Hayley Atwell (Asha/Martez), Gerry O'Toole (Lowell), Kenneth Cranham (Tom Cadwell) and Nicholas Briggs (Daleks).

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"Horror of Glam Rock" (Written by Paul Magrs, Directed by Barnaby Edwards)

Guest starring Katarina Olssen (Headhunter/The Only Ones), Stephen Gately (Tommy Tomorrow) who according to Briggs will be singing, Una Stubbs (Flo), Clare Buckfield (Trisha Tomorrow), Lindsay Hardwick (Pat) and Bernard Cribbins (Arnold Korns).

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"Immortal Beloved" (Written by Jonathan Clementis, Directed by Jason Haugh-Ellery)

Featuring Elspeth Grey (Hera), Anthony Spargo (Kalkin), Jennifer Higham (Sarati), Jake McGann (Ganymede), Ian McNeice (Zeus) and David Dobson (Tayden/Aris).

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"Phobos" (written by Eddie Robson, Directed by Barnaby Edwards)

With Katarina Olssen (Headhunter/Amy), Nerys Hughes (Eris), Timothy West (Kai Tobias), Ben Silverstone (Drew), John Schaw (Hayd) and Tim Sutton (Farl).

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"No more Lies" (Written by Paul Sutton, Directed by Barnaby Edwards)

Cast: Katarina Olssen (Headhunter), Nigel Havers (Nick Zimmerman), Julia McKenzie (Rachel Zimmerman), Tom Chadbon (Gordon) and Tim Hudson (Tar-Modowk Leader).

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"Human Resources" (Parts 1 & 2, Written by Eddie Robson, Directed by Nicholas Briggs)

A Cyberman two-parter to round off the series, featuring Katarina Olssen (Headhunter), Roy Marsdwen (Hulbert), Nickolas Grace (Straxus), Louise Fullerton (Karen), Andy Wisher (Malcolm) and Nicholas Briggs (Cybermen).

The Doctor Who universe just keeps getting bigger and better!

[SithLordWiccan]

Hooray, Elisabeth Sladengets her own show.

No mention of K9, though. Hope that's just a ploy. (After seeing School Reunion, I'm a fully converted K9 fan.)

Also, watched "Parting of the Ways" on Wendsday. Makes me glad that the next season is coming up soon. (Though I have class that night for the next three months...and it conflicts with HIMYM... )

[BBOvenGuy]

No mention of K9, though. Hope that's just a ploy.

Word is that he'll be in the pilot episode, but not the rest of the series. He's getting his own show too, though.

[SithLordWiccan]

Word is that he'll be in the pilot episode, but not the rest of the series. He's getting his own show too, though.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. I guess this is how they're going to set that up.

[umgaynow]

I saw a commercial for the new season last night and The Doctor was a different guy...what happened to Chris Eccleston...I really liked him in the role

On a related note...I still get the heebie jeebies when I think about that ep when the nanobots were turning everyone into gasmask-faced zombies looking for their mommies

[BBOvenGuy]

I saw a commercial for the new season last night and The Doctor was a different guy...what happened to Chris Eccleston...I really liked him in the role

The official line is that he left because he didn't want to be typecast - although at Worldcon, Paul Cornell said he wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that Russell T. Davies planned things that way all along, to introduce a new audience to the idea of the Doctor regenerating.

Don't worry, David Tennant is a great Doctor. Regeneration is a normal part of the series - that's how it's managed to keep going for 43 years and counting.

[Feena]

I saw a commercial for the new season last night and The Doctor was a different guy...what happened to Chris Eccleston...I really liked him in the role

The official line is that he left because he didn't want to be typecast - although at Worldcon, Paul Cornell said he wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that Russell T. Davies planned things that way all along, to introduce a new audience to the idea of the Doctor regenerating.

Don't worry, David Tennant is a great Doctor. Regeneration is a normal part of the series - that's how it's managed to keep going for 43 years and counting.

I love DT as the Doctor, he seems right somehow.

The full tale of Eccleston leaving is a bit of a mystery. Just a few days after the first episode aired the BBC released a statement that he left because he didn't want to be typecast, then had to retract when he denied this. There are rumours of 'creative differences' on set with one of the directors, and it was a strain living for 9 months of the year in Wales (not because it was Wales, just because of the amount of work they had to do).

I doubt we'll know the full story unless someone spills all the beans, but I think it probably is a combination of lots of things.

Actually I'm glad he only stayed a year. I think Nine's story was told perfectly, and there wasn't much more to say.

[SithLordWiccan]

Season 2 to be released on January 17th.

OK, now here's the problem. Season 2 starts on Sci-Fi next week, and on CBC the week after. Now, using my very bad math skills, and taking into account the fact that (unlike the first set), it will be released in both Canada and the US on that date,I don't think there are thirteen weeks between the date of premiere and the date of the DVD release.