Companions past and present

[JimTheFish @jimthefish Time Lord]

@ichabod — well said. Although I’d have said innovatory rather than gimmicky. Who survives by trying things out — regeneration, Earth exile, etc. This is just the latest.

But @scaryb is right. This really has very little to do with companions past or present. We’ve had a long and varied 13th Doctor discussion and there doesn’t seem much to add to it until September.

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

Agreed.

The place to discuss women priests, women soldiers or woman Doctors 😉 – or any aspect of women taking on previously male roles – is the Pub.

[Missy @missy]

@scaryb:

I merely asked a question I’d been considering for a while, and asked for opinions. I did not expect such a harsh response.  Not very ‘kind’ was it.

2018 isn’t that far off and you will get your wish. Aren’t you a lucky vegemite!

The last break lasted 28 years, I wouldn’t have expected that, a bit excessive.

Having a new team isn’t having a break, it’s simply changing Doctors as the series has always done. Not the same at all.

This was the wrong thread, for which I apologise – but not for asking the question.

Missy

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@missy

There was absolutely no harshness intended, and if it read that way, I apologise.

Just that for me, a 15 month break, with 9 months (a good gestation period, no?) from the Xmas special, plus a new showrunner (and associate team of writers, directors, camera crew, music director etc) plus a different kind of Doctor, and new companions, does seem like a definite break – long enough to slow down even a mammoth ship like Dr Who, and change direction. “Chibbers” has said he wants to shake it up. The new series will have longer episodes, and a more “filmic” quality (he’s aready ordered new cameras apparently).

2 years is a long time in TV-land, enough to lose a chunk of your core audience when they’re under 12s, and possibly your BBC slot; it took 16 years to get it back the last time.

Anyway, enough of this here, let’s adjourn to the pub if you want to continue the discussion, or not. Let me get you a drink of your choice, and salute the coming new year in a spirit of reconciliation. 🙂

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

@missy

Apologies if I’ve sounded too harsh, or too tetchy. Of course you can state your opinions, even if everyone else disagrees. Heck, I keep stating my opinion that the Moffat-Capaldi period was an experiment that failed, and people disagree with me all the time. 🙂

But I really do think that – while we have exactly two scenes and one line from Jodie Whittaker – any questions, comments or ‘frank and robust discussions’ about a woman playing the Doctor ought to be in The Maldovarium forum. And if you want to respond to new posters (and tell them that they’re not alone), you should direct them to The Maldovarium.

Currently, we can only have a general discussion about women playing male roles, or whether a woman playing this particular role is either a form of political correctness or a valid experiment. And the pub seems the best place for that sort of discussion.

Because we’ve seen very little of our female Doctor as yet – and most of the forums are about the programme as seen.

[Missy @missy]

@bluesqueakpip said:

Apologies if I’ve sounded too harsh, or too tetchy. Of course you can state your opinions, even if everyone else disagrees. Heck, I keep stating my opinion that the Moffat-Capaldi period was an experiment that failed, and people disagree with me all the time.

I think it as much me as you, so please accept my apologies for taking umbrage.

What with a female Doctor, and real life becoming a pain in the neck, I haven’t had the heart ot come back on the forum – but it wasn’t you or scaryB, whom I shall find shortly and apologise to – who put me off.

Pity I cannot read all the posts far too many, I’m too behind, but shall from now on.

Regards,

Missy

 

[Missy @missy]

@scaryb said:

There was absolutely no harshness intended, and if it read that way, I apologise.

Just that for me, a 15 month break, with 9 months (a good gestation period, no?) from the Xmas special, plus a new showrunner (and associate team of writers, directors, camera crew, music director etc) plus a different kind of Doctor, and new companions, does seem like a definite break – long enough to slow down even a mammoth ship like Dr Who, and change direction. “Chibbers” has said he wants to shake it up. The new series will have longer episodes, and a more “filmic” quality (he’s aready ordered new cameras apparently).

2 years is a long time in TV-land, enough to lose a chunk of your core audience when they’re under 12s, and possibly your BBC slot; it took 16 years to get it back the last time.

Anyway, enough of this here, let’s adjourn to the pub if you want to continue the discussion, or not. Let me get you a drink of your choice, and salute the coming new year in a spirit of reconciliation.

Hello there, I have just apologised to bluesqueak, and now I must offer you the same.

What with hating the new Doctor and the complete change, plus real life stuffing things up, I haven’t had the heart to visit the forum and read all posts – it wasn’t because of either of you.

You weren’t harsh, it was me being sensitive.

Good idea that drink offer, G and T methinks would go down a treat. We don’t have to agree to get on.

Regards,

Missy

 

[Brune Bonassi @brunebonassi]

I’ve a doubt that’s problably discussed somewhere but I couldn’t find it: the master dies twice in the same regeneration, whata hell is that? There’s some theory to background it? Because he sure dies in the episode of the toclafane and, while burns, regenerates to the sassy lady. And he also dies in moondance, by the sassy lady that is him.

And also, the thing about 12 regenerations that they speak a lot in the classic serie is forgoten, right? Because the autor give a sense of end in the 12º doctor, but the show goes on, so…

Thanks, kisses, and forgot my brasilian missleading with english.

[janetteB @janetteb]

@brunebonaassi Hi. I think you are knew here so welcome.

The issue with the regeneration limit was dealt with in Time of the Doctor. The time lords give him what appears to be unlimited regeneration energy, bending the laws of the universe a little. (Mostly because the BBC did not want a limit to one of their most popular and profitable shows.)

Cheers
Janette

[Missy @missy]

@janetteb:

Spotonski! They might be a bit mean with the budget, but they aren’t stupid as well.

Missy

[Anonymous @]

I wasn’t convinced about a female Doctor either, just because I see the character as male, and I’m a woman, but now after seeing the Series 11 trailer I’m expectant and excited to see how it all will go. Doctor Who is my favorite show and I don’t understand those people who want it cancelled. If you don’t like one Doctor you just can wait to the next one. I’ve only been a fan for 6 years, so Capaldi was the first time I saw a new Doctor being cast since being a fan (I binge watched the series from Rose onwards), I loved him since the first moment and couldn’t understand those people hating him for being “old”. Now it’s the turn of people hating on women in general. I understand people who don’t like the gender change or the actress, but I have read some very nasty comments out there againts women that are frankly hurtful.

[Missy @missy]

@tempusfugit

As for hateful comments about JD I agree with you, not necessary. I don’t want a female Doctor, and JD certainly isn’t

that talented – what I’ve seen of her and that’s a lot. However, making nasty comments is quite, quite wrong.

Missy

[Anonymous @]

@missy  Right? I find distateful a lot of comments I have seen, not only about Jodie but against women in general, and feminist agendas, and bringing up Ghostbusters, and Last Jedi and Ocean’s 8 as a way of “how women are ruining everything”. I haven’t seen any of those movies but the general feeling seems to be that it’s women’s fault that people don’t like them

I have watched some of Jodie’s stuff and while I don’t connect with her as an actress the same as I connect with Peter as an actor, I won’t judge until I watch series 11. DW is my favorite show and I’m willing to enjoy it no matter what, I’m very stubborn that way LOL

 

[janetteB @janetteb]

@Tempusfugit An actor is the role they play, (or should be) so hopefully Jodie W will be “the Doctor” when she steps out of the Tardis. I am more concerned about the change in showrunner but like you I am quite determined to love Dr Who no matter what. (with the exception of that horrible 90s movie which failed utterly to capture the essence of the series)

Unfortunately the last Star Wars film was fairly awful, no fault of any of the actors more to do with the way the franchise is being “milked” for profit. Some fans have chosen to pin the film’s failings to their anti feminist agenda  and voice their views on line which then taints all those to criticise the film. Sad times we live in. I don’t recall there being any complaints that casting a woman as the main character in Alien or Aliens ruined those films. Sometimes I feel as though we are going backwards not forwards especially in the entertainment industry which is still so male dominated. Having studied film it is a “beef” of mine. The male point of view was absolute in film criticism.

Cheers

Janette

[Anonymous @]

@janetteb yes, I have hope in Jodie portraying well the Doctor. There isn’t a Doctor in show’s history that I dislike, I like some more than others, and with Jodie I suppose it will be the same: I will enjoy her depending on how she portrays the Doctor. I don’t think any other actor will topple Twelve as my favorite but there are a lot who I enjoy without being my favorite</span>

About Star Wars, I find fine if people criticize those movies on their own faults, what gets me is blaming on “feminist agendas”

[Missy @missy]

@tempusfugit

Everyone knows my views of a female doctor, so I shan’t chunter on. As for loving the series anyway, I have my doubts.

A female doctor, no Steven Moffat, no Murray Gold, no Missy, Michael Pickwoed  and Chris Chibnall as head writer?

This doesn’t bode well for my attachment to the programme.

Missy

[Anonymous @]

@missy well, maybe I’m too naive, but I don’t want to give up on my favorite show. I will also miss Murray Gold

[IAmNotAFishIAmAFreeMan @pedant]

@missy

Look in the bright side Missy. At least its not a “brown person”.

@TempusFugit

I remember hardcore fans saying they could never imagine David Tennant being replaced. Then Matt Smith ate fish fingers and custard…

[Anonymous @]

@pedant Well I will miss Peter Capaldi a lot because he’s my Doctor. But I’m curious about what direction the show will take

[janetteB @janetteb]

@tempusfugit I worry about Chibnell’s ability as show runner but like you the series would have to be very bad indeed for me to give up on it and I am looking forward to seeing Jodie W’ in the role because I really don’t know what to expect. Likewise I liked Murray Gold’s music but look forward to the new composer’s approach.

I have already made plans with friends for a Dr Who party (involving Jammy Dodgers, fish fingers with custard and jelly babies) when it starts. Will be on the Wednesday night however so the question is whether to wait till then or watch first and pretend on Wednesday that I have not already seen it.

Regards

Janette

 

[Missy @missy]

@tempusfugit

No you aren’t naive, I wish I were more like you.

@janetteb

Now that’s what I call real attachment to the programme. *Grins*

Missy

[IAmNotAFishIAmAFreeMan @pedant]

@magickirin

New to this site

You might want to try reading the site for a bit to get a sense of the company you are in.

That, or get used to people pointing at you and laughing.

[ScubaGeek @scubageek]

My favorite companion has always been Sarah Jane. I started watching the show in the early 80’s, when PBS in the US was running the first three years of Tom Baker’s run. I remember being heartbroken the first time I saw Sarah Jane’s last scene at the end of Hand Of Fear. I tear up when just about any of the companions leave, but that was first time really gutted me.

And I was so happy when she came back for School Reunion, though I’ll always been upset with the BBC (for announcing it ahead of time) and the Sci-Fi Channel (for being a year behind on running those first few seasons of the revived show, before it switched it over to BBC America). I always thought it would have been great to tune in, not knowing that they were bringing Sarah Jane back, and to be just blown away to see her. But everyone went out of their way to make a great big, unavoidable spoiler on that one. So bollocks to the BBC for that one!

 

 

[ScubaGeek @scubageek]

re: regenerations, those familiar with the Tom Baker era may remember the scene in Brain Of Morbius, where The Doctor and Morbius are doing the mind bending thing, where you see the faces flashing on the screen. I think in the audio commentary, Phillip Hinchcliffe, I think, says that they intended at least some of the faces to be past Doctors. In other words, William Hartnell, according to them, was not the First Doctor.

 

So, really, Matt Smith was something like the 25th Doctor, not the 13th. Of course, that’s only if you go along with Hinchcliffe’s thinking, which apparently nobody else has bothered with. But of course, there’s lots of anachronisms in classic Doctor Who, some way more obvious than who the unfamiliar faces we see during the mind bending scene are.

[The Idiot From Gallifrey Base @dalekbuster523]

So…new companion for Series 13 or just 13 and Yaz?

[TheMidnightMonster @themidnightmonster]

U.N.I.T Martha just feels right.

So god damn right

[Oochillyo @oochillyo]

hey everyone , I haven’t posted on this section before but here we go 🙂

So Doctor Who Companions of-course its great to have Companies travelling with the Doctor and sometimes its great not to have any companies because you can get some episode where the Doctor is challenged to lead people that may not trust him like in Midnight and Voyage of The Dammed (more towards the beginning of the episode) known as Companion light stories.

When I started watching Doctor Who Martha Jones was the Doctors companion and I liked her a lot , she was smart and funny and had great interactions with the Doctor , has time has passed Martha Jones has kinda downgraded in my opinion a bit , I think that natural sometimes to look at things in a fresh light and in my opinion there has been some other great companions since.

I love Captain Jack he is my fav Companion and I hope he is in my eps in the Future with the 13th Doctor not just that one scene or whatever it was , I love Nardol he is funny and sometimes bossy with the 12th Doctor and their  chemistry together is fantastic 🙂

I really dont like Clara she got soo bossy and augmentative with the Doctor most of the time it felt unreasonable  and that she started to think I am better than you sort of thing and I could be the Doctor got really out of control and annoying good think she payed the price for it (sorry Clara fans) and the way she kept flip flopping between Danny and The Doctor annoyed me , yes anyone would go with the Doctor and if they are with someone you would be flip flopping but she doesn’t tell him what she is doing and keeps lying or making up excesses and expects him to be ok with that which annoys me a lot, I used to like Clara has I have said before on the Sofa like in Rings of Akhaten she is kind and driven to help the Girl and doesn’t complain oh why are we here sort of thing like in Mummy on The Orient Express but eventually in future eps especially with the 12th Doctor she stated to get smart and bossy as I said before and her character really annoyed me which is a shame, I think Danny deserved better, some may say he is not a Companion either way I like Danny Pink sometimes I fell mixed about him or something has clicked but I generally like him 🙂

Bill didn’t click with me after a while but as I am slowly watching series 10 especially the final ep of The Monk Trilogy has really boosted my appreciate and liking of Bill so I hope that carries on and improves 🙂

Classic Who

Yes I love Adric he is smart (obviously cause he is a genius but I didn’t know that till recently) , funny , kind and his bond between the Fourth and Fifth Doctor is lovely , I like the Nissan, Tegan and Adric Tardis crew with the Fifth Doctor and Turlo I haven’t seen much of him but he seems cool but Adric and the Fifth Doctor really capture my interest in the eps and the few YouTube Clips I have seen of them , I have seen Kinda and Snake Dance and everyone seemed really good in those two eps maybe Nissan didn’t have much screen time from what I remember in Kinda but as I say everyone seemed really good in those two eps , and Romania I didnt even know she was a Time Lady when I first saw City of Death but she seemed really cool , smart and charming and the chemistry between her and the Fourth Doctor in that ep was great so I liked her then not sure how I fell about her being soo powerful or talked about everyone seems to think she is the be all end all and I am not particularly sure why yet but I enjoyed her character in that ep when I saw it years ago so I like her although this popular opinion of her being the be all end all has kinda hurt my opinion of her character and finally I like Leela from the YouTube clips I have seen, she seems down to Earth, caring, inquisitive and the chemistry between her and The Fourth Doctor is great and recently when trying to watch Classic Doctor Who I found a website with a bunch of eps and I saw an ep of The Invisible Enemy with Professor Marius and the Micro Bug Alien that became giant for its size and went to the Moon and everyone seemed great in that ep it was funny how they kept relying on K9 but his power kept running out and Leela had to drag him along  many times haha and her chemistry between The Fourth Doctor, her smarts, her humor the fact she is like oh why am I stuck with K9 if he keeps running out of power and he fondness for K9 at the end of the Ep is heartwarming and overall makes her a really lovely companion from what I have seen 🙂

Regards – Declan Sargent

[janetteB @janetteb]

@oochillyo Hi Agree with some and disagree with others. Martha is greatly underappreciated, in part because she only did one series and her strengths were overshadowed by her unrequited love for the Doctor. It took time for me to really warm to her but now, after rewatching some of her stories many times, (Shakespeare Code, Human Nature and Family of Blood being some of my favourite episodes) she has become one of my favourite companions while Rose, whom I initially liked became more irritating on re watches.

I see you point re’ Clara but I still like her as a companion and really like the rapport between her and CapDoc. (plenty of my friends dislike Clara so I am used to it..)  Bill is also excellent and it is a great pity that she only did one series.

Regarding old Who or BGWho, (Before Gap) I did not like any of the later Baker early Davison companions. Teagan was irritating with that dreadful Aussie accent. (not her real accent. that was taught.) Nessa was “weak sauce” and Adric really annoying. My favourite BGWho companions are the original team, Barbara and Ian. (less so Susan), Jamie and Zoe, from 2nd Doctor era, Sara Jane Smith who was “my companion”, Leela of course and not surprising given my avatar, the 2nd Romana, and Ace. (I have a lot of favourites.) Oh and of course, K.9. I always had a soft spot for k.9.

cheers

Janette

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

Companions – yes, I agree with @janetteb, I like Martha a lot. Very intelligent, able to stand up for herself, and – when she realised she was falling for the Doctor (which is not something we can control) but he was never going to get over Rose – she had the sense and strength of character to leave him. That is not easy to do. Without recriminations, an amicable separation. In fact I think she was the only NuWho principal Companion (up to Capaldi’s era, not counting since then) who had a non-traumatic ending to the relationship.

I did like Rose though, can one blame her for being swept off her feet by the Doctor? And I think Billie Piper was an excellent casting choice to reboot the series, she’s one of those fortunate people who the camera is drawn to, did anyone notice how she could photobomb the scene (as The Interface) in The Day of the Doctor just by leaning against a wall in the background? And it made her little cameos in episodes late in Season 4 stand out. Though Rose did treat poor Mickey very badly, far worse than Clara treated Danny. But her journey really grabbed me. (I recall grumbles from OldWho fans about the Doctor getting emotionally involved with the Companion – but wasn’t oldWho heading that way with Seven and Ace? Of which more later).

My favourite companion has to be Clara. When she was ‘up’ she shone, dazzlingly. I’ve always found the companion as important, story-wise, as the Doctor so the gripes of fans who think she (or any other companion) was eclipsing the Doctor fall on deaf ears for me. Yes she eventually got too confident, for which she paid a dreadful price. Pride comes before a fall, and all that – the plot of many tragedies since Shakespear’s time. I found her clashes with the Doctor around the time of Kill The Moon (the only good thing in that regrettable ep) were riveting.

Bill was okay, I quite liked her, but she suffered from following Clara (in my own ranking, I quite accept others may rank them differently). Her fate in World Enough and Time was tragic.

I never really warmed up to Donna, because of first impressions – at the end of Doomsday, Ten (and we) were in shock and grieving for the sudden shocking loss of Rose, when Donna comes bursting in aggressively and accusatively to destroy the mood. That takes a lot of getting over, and I never quite did.

Amy was great. Okay, she too treated her boyfriend badly at first (there seems to be some sort of theme there), but overall I’d rate her up with Rose and Clara as my favourite Companions. And possibly she had the most striking and tragic episode – The Girl Who Waited – with a stunning performance by Karen Gillan.

Old Who companions? – I don’t really know. The only oldWho eps I’ve watched this century are Ghost Light, Curse of Fenric, and Survival. And I have to say I’m now a fan of Seven and Ace. The limited special effects of last century’s BBC productions do detract a bit from the story, but you can see the chemistry between McCoy and Sophie Aldred (it comes through in the video clips of cons on Youtube too). I would have liked to see them continue with 2005-quality production values, though I guess Sophie might have been a bit too old to play a teenager by then (Seven of course is ageless). And as I mentioned, maybe that chemistry was a pointer to the developments with Ten and Rose two decades later.

 

[Missy @missy]

Beginning in 2005. Not in any order except Rose.

Rose is my top favourite companion – she did at least ask him some questions about himself.

Donna, she brought great humour and compassion to the series.

Bill, very sharp and argumentative, but in a reasonable way.

Clara, I liked her, but she became too bossy.

Nadole, wonderful! He and Peter Capaldi fitted it other beautifully.

I have left out Jack Harkness, because he wasn’t really a companion. But he was fun when around.

Non favourites

Martha,  she made too many sheep’s eyes at the Doctor and embarrassed him. But, she did ask more questions about his origin than any of the others.

Amelia, she gave me the pip! Rory did too at times, but not as much as Amy.

1963 is too far away for me to remember all of the companions, but Sarah Smith was good, as was K.9. *grins*

So, there you are for what it’s worth. Short and sweet!

Missy

[Missy @missy]

How could I forget to include River Song? My over all favourite character after Rose.

She was more like Jack though, popping in and out, so not really a companion.

Missy

[winston @winston]

@oochillyo   My favourite companion changes all the time depending on what series I am watching and maybe even how I am feeling when I watch them. Like when I am sad and need cheering up I will usually watch some Donna episodes because I find the cheeky relationship she has with the Doctor pretty funny. So each companion offers me something different and I like them all. But I will always love Rose as the companion that I first saw and I feel we met the Doctor for the first time together. My other faves are visiting companions Jack, River and Nardole cause I like the funny , over the top companions I guess.  So like the Doctors I can’t choose just one.

Stay safe.

[guy @sparkycherr]

I’m doing a cancer research run in honour of 10 weeks since Elisabeth Sladen passed away in 2 weeks. please donate or share if you can 🙂 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sparkycherry?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=sparkycherry&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=04e52d62fae14c59997e470d88129c37.

[toinfinityandbepond @toinfinityandbepond]

looks like Mickey is in a spot of bother…https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/apr/30/noel-clarke-dropped-by-broadcasters-over-sexual-harassment-claims

[janetteB @janetteb]

@toinfinityandbepond Yes so disappointing. I was pleased to see him doing well and so now this makes me sad. Why do men think they can get away with it?

cheers

Janette

[mrajam90 @mrajam90]

Ok, I’m just figuring this out. I would post the blog to the blog area but idk how to exactly navigate the site to really interact much yet. Anyway… Brian!

The Best Scene a British Actor Was Ever Robbed Of

[BadKitty 6 @badkitty6]

I wonder how the previous and subsequent Doctors would have handled Adam Mitchell if they had encountered him instead of the Ninth Doctor.

I imagine the First incarnation would drop him off to live in medieval times and possibly come back when he ‘learnt his lesson.’ Would the Second Doctor give Adam a choice, and tell him that he would likely not be happy on earth, but he’s very welcome to live with Two and his travelling companions (after the answering machine is dealt with of course)? Then there’s also the question of what his fate would be when Two gets forced to regenerate. Ow.

Would Three haul Adam to Unit and basically tell him it’s either that or human guinea pig? And would he forgive Adam eventually, even letting him travel with Three and Jo Grant, and Sarah Jane?

And would Four do something that would possibly make Nine shudder? Because I could imagine Four doing something extremely harsh and psycho. And would Five show a rare burst of anger and maroon Adam on a primitive planet? Five can’t be all sweetness even though he is quite boyish and soft.

Would Six be convinced to go easy (thanks to Peri), but watch Adam like a hawk? And what would Seven do? The thought is kind of scary since Seven is quite cold. Then there’s a good chance Ace would give Adam a good sound kick where it hurts. Maybe Seven would also spam him with finger-snaps far more than Nine had.

And Eight? Would he be more gentle, or extremely harsh? His voice as well as the stories of his I’ve listened to suggest he’s much softer and very agreeable, but I imagine he has a dark side of his own.

As for subsequent Doctors… I could imagine Ten plunking Adam somewhere in public, in front of cameras and everything, and snapping his fingers before giving him a cheery ‘toodles’ and leaving. Maybe Eleven would be somewhat nicer and kind of waffle about doing anything that would scare Adam, and Twelve… hard to say what he would do. Same for Thirteen.

Am I right? Or what are your theories on how they would treat him? Mind you I have read the comic he was in where he tried taking revenge on all the incarnations of The Doctor. Very bittersweet ending. Also quite a powerful shot of Eleven hanging his head when Adam calls him out for how he treats his companions.

[Oochillyo @oochillyo]

hey everyone 🙂 how are you all 🙂

Its nice to be back and read soo many great things 🙂

I had a busy week visiting Hospital , events with family and friends ect so just trying to relax now and been watching lots of Snooker and Doctor Who 🙂

Over this past 2 days I have watched about 8 Classic Who stories ( a record for me ha 🙂 ) though some parts are missing , I saw 2 with The Third Doctor and Joe and the rest with The Fourth Doctor , I really liked the 2 eps with 3rd and Joe they seem to have a humors relationship and Joe is very smart , my likeness and now fondness for both and the Unit family has grown 🙂 even had the Second Doctor in one story which was nice 🙂

I really enjoyed many of the eps especially the Fourth Doctor ones , its great to remind one’self of why and how Tom Baker is such an amazing Person , Actor and Doctor 🙂 my fav Doctor as always 🙂 and Leela is amazing very funny smart and a unique companion, it was a cool treat to read back my thoughts on her as a companion like 4 Months ago in this area of the Fourm 🙂 before finding my comments on her today I would tell you she is smart, very interesting character and I love her rebellious and capable side, tough cookie if that’s ok to say, its funny how The Doctor keeps stopping her from attacking anyone, she isnt afraid of much sort of inspirational and she has a good heart , really great companion 🙂 now in addition to what I thought of her character 4 months back I have a more rounded picture on the Character 🙂 and I love her character 🙂

The acting from everyone in all these eps I have seen recently is excellent , funny, some exuberant but all great which really boosts , allows for great atmosphere and enjoyment in eps 🙂

Happy to be back and finding a new enthusiasm to watch Classic Who the characters + acting is a major strength to that enthusiasm 🙂

Regards – Declan Sargent

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

Just a heads-up,  The Algorithm has just offered me two con interviews with Billie Piper and Chris Eccleston

at Awesome Con 2023

Billie now has dark hair but still looks exactly like Rose (to me anyway)

[janetteB @janetteb]

@dentarthurdent I have just spent the last two hours not doing all the jobs I was supposed to be doing this afternoon and it is your fault. 🙂 Thank you for sharing those links. Really enjoyed both interviews so much. Billie Piper’s hair threw me. I started watching on the small screen and felt as though there was someone else talking with her voice so I had to go full screen.

Some notes. I applaud her choice of best episodes, Tooth and Claw and Father’s Day both of which we re-watched recently and hold up well. I also “hear heared” her favourite Rose saying, “no more” and anything relating to chips. Nice to hear her talking about working with Camille, her second Mum.

Christopher’s Ecclestone’s interview was full of interesting insights and proves wrong anyone who claims that he doesn’t do humour. I laughed out loud several times. His favourite, The Empty Child is one of my all time favourite episodes and the Doctor interacting with the children is a highlight of that. He sums up the quality of Doctor Who perfectly with the words, “humanity, inclusion, equality” and I think that RTD really brought those aspects to the fore in his writing. Applause from me for his mention of Glenda Jackson. I was thinking of her when he talked about his background and of course for mentioning the film Jude.

So now I am keen to find out more about that Big Finish production that is coming out soon.

Cheers

Janette

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

@janetteb Apologies for disrupting your day. My life seems to be a succession of Youtube rabbit holes. Or, as a tagline (remember them?) I once saw said, ‘A life? Where can I download that?’

Back to Rose, er Billie. I notice she was quite enthusiastic about a possible reappearance of Rose (RTD permitting). And she could certainly still play the part. Her dark hair hid that a bit but as soon as she started speaking – that was Rose. Her looks, voice and mannerisms are quite distinctive, all it needs is the blonde hair. And I thought she was great as The Moment (‘no more.’) Even though she was not from the War Doctor’s past – confusing events in the timeline seems to be a trait The Moment shared with the Tardis.

Ecclestone has dry humour that I find great, can’t help wondering if some of it was lost on some of the audience. It’s good to see that he’s got over whatever-it-was that led him into the wilderness. I think it is a pity that he didn’t play the Doctor for longer, whatever problems he was having, they certainly didn’t show in his performance.

Incidentally, neither of them knew much about Who before they got the job. Though that’s understandable, it had been off the air for 16 years.

I’ve never followed Big Finish, I tend to regard TV, audio and books as very different mediums, and things don’t necessarily translate very well. And also I regard only the TV episodes as ‘canon’, not books, not fanfic. For example I have the book of The Day of the Doctor but I find, my mind expects it to be ‘just like the episode’ which is obviously daft, what’s the point? So the memory of the episode actually distracts from my enjoyment of the book. Best to forget the TV episode when I read the book. But since the Big Finish episodes are apparently separate stories, hopefully that problem wouldn’t arise and maybe I should give it a go.

[winston @winston]

@dentarthurdent  I have been without the internet for a week and when I come back there are these great interviews! Thank you. I have always said that is was Chris and Billie that got me hooked on Who and so the 9th Doctor is my Doctor and he rarely talks about the show, but now he does.Yay! I love Rose so much I named a beautiful  tea rose  Rose Tyler. It had another ,official name but now even the mister calls her Rose Tyler. She is just starting to bloom big peach coloured petals edged with a dark pink that slowly turn all pink. It smells so good, like raspberries and summer all mixed together.

Anyway , thanks for these links and like @janetteb I was lost in time for awhile. Also like janetteb The Empty Child is one of my favourites so its nice that Chris likes it too.  The “Everybody lives” monologue is also a favourite. In the Doctors life of loss and destruction, post time-war, he shouts, arms wide “Just this once, everybody lives”. Almost as powerful as he rant at the “Dalek”.

It is so nice to see you are both good.

Stay calm and carry on

 

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

@winston   Great to hear from you, and delighted you liked the interviews.   The credit for those clips must lie with the mysterious Youtube algorithm that served them up to me.   (And of course the organisers and the Youtube channel that posted them and Billie Piper and Chris Eccleston and I’m starting to sound like one of those award winners who thank the whole laundry list aren’t I?)  It was certainly Billie and Chris who got me hooked on Who.   By coincidence I also have exactly one rose bush – also produces lovely pink roses – it must be 50 years old by now, it was in the garden when we bought the house and I’ve sort of de facto adopted it – Mrs D has her dahlias, I just keep the rose bush pruned.   I have no idea what it’s called, maybe I’ll just name it ‘Rose.’

[winston @winston]

@dentarthurdent    My son gave me the rose a few years ago and it has struggled but this year it looks really nice with loads of buds. I have at least a hundred different perennial flowers in my garden and some I know the real name , some the common name and some I name my self because its my garden and I can. Some are named after the  people who gave them to me like Aunt Emma and Aunt Clare day lilies and Georgina the white hibiscus and some for the way they look like Big Red the hibiscus and Fuzzy Pink a mystery plant. Rose Tyler was too pretty to name her after my son and well I love the character who is also beautiful.When you spend as much time with plants as I do you get to be good friends although Rose does bite.

I also feed the carp in the creek and I name them all after vacuum cleaners like Hoover, Bissell and Dyson. Maybe I spend too much time alone?

stay safe

 

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

@winston   Your garden sounds glorious.

Ours tends to be dominated by Mrs D’s dahlias, which run rampant.   A glorious display they make, too.   The Auckland climate tends to be all over the shop on any given day, but it averages out at warm and wet, so stuff grows extremely well whether we want it to or not (e.g. weeds).    I must confess to doing slightly more than I admitted before, I also stake Mrs D’s dahlias when they grow to enough height.  And grow enthusiastically they do.

There are trees all round the edges of our garden which help to give us the illusion of privacy even though we’re surrounded by houses.   And for example, a fruit salad plant aka  swiss cheese plant aka monstera deliciosa  which was growing by the front door steps when we moved in, Mrs D disapproved and uprooted it and tossed it on the heap in the corner of the garden by the driveway, where it took root and is now eight feet high and twelve feet long.   I’m especially fond of plants that just go ahead and grow by themselves with no work required from me.

[winston @winston]

@dentarthurdent  Oh the wonderful things I could grow with your climate but I am challenged by mine and I like a challenge. I like plants that do their own thing without my help and I love plants that just show up in my garden or along my hedgerow. Some seeds must be blown in on the wind and I suspect some are pooped out by birds like the big red current bush I have that I never planted.For free!  Right now there must be 10 different veggies growing out of my compost heap.

I have had dahlias but the roots have to be lifted in the fall and replanted in spring and bugs love to eat them so way too much work.  Veggies take a lot of work and we can eat them so flowers are a hobby but I do love to be surrounded by colour and movement. Flowers bees, butterflies and birds keep me calm and happy.

Back to Who , I have decided to watch series 3 with the 10th Doctor and the feisty and brave Martha Jones starting with Smith and Jones. She becomes very important to earths survival and she turns into quite a warrior.On the more trivial side, she is beautiful and her smile is dazzling.

Stay safe

Stay calm

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

@winston    Yes, we’re lucky with the climate (once we get used to the vagaries of Auckland weather).   We hardly ever have frosts, I’ve only once seen ice on the puddles,  so the dahlias just stay in the ground, though Mrs D occasionally digs a few up and plants a few more just, I think, for the sake of doing something.

We have a mint bush (growing vigorously) and the bumblebees just love it.   Our daughter in Christchurch has a row of – mint or heather, I can’t remember which, but I counted forty big fat bumblebees hovering around it.    Gardens are very soothing places.

Companions – yes I liked Martha.  Exactly what you said.   Also one of the few companions to leave the Doctor of her own accord.  For some reason Martha tends to be overlooked in the list of companions – maybe because she only did one year, maybe because Rose was a hard act to follow, both story-wise and dramatically.

Smith and Jones had a couple of quite clever plot twists in it.    Also introduced the Judoon as rather clumsy Galactic cops (or should the be mercenaries?)   Bureaucratic, ruthless (in that they didn’t care about collateral damage), unimaginative, altogether not much better than Vogons.

Talking of Companions, just caught a recent interview with Sophie Aldred (Ace) about her appearance along with Sylvester McCoy in the latest episode (Power of the Doctor).   Sophie seemed thrilled to be in a TV episode of Who again (though apparently she’s been doing Big Finish for years).   I’m just going to have to buy the DVD now (even though one-off specials are, to my mind, a bit of a rip-off, they cost almost as much as a full season and sometimes get included in the next season set anyway).   But anyway, Sophie was very complimentary about Jodie Whittaker, I think it was genuine rather than just PR, maybe I’ll have to reassess my opinion of Jodie, though I really can’t get over the Doctor’s Yorkshire accent and dithery delivery.   At one point in the interview Sophie did a very convincing ‘Jodie’ accent, apparently she has voiced 13 in the audio books but she didn’t tell Jodie that.

 

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

… Speaking of which, I just managed to find The Power of the Doctor on special so I ordered it.   Along with Doctor Who (the movie) with Paul McGann.

Also in my mailbox I found a DVD which turned out to be ‘Neverwhere’, a 6-part TV series from (googles) 1996, written by Neil Gaiman (which is why I ordered it).   I’d forgotten I’d done it.    It’s about spooky people with mysterious powers in the London underworld (underworld being quite literal in this case, down in the sewers and the Underground).   Just watched the first two episodes and totally failed to recognise the angel Islington who looked us straight in the eyes at the end of Episode 2 as Peter Capaldi until the credits came up.   Remarkable how a few extra lines on his face and bushier eyebrows changed his appearance.

[janetteB @janetteb]

@winston and @dentarthurdent I have started a post several times in the past few days and then not had time or brain energy to finish. so I have made notes, Back a few posts to the mention of Big Finish. I have listened to a couple. We got one free with a Dr Who magazine once. They are pricey though and i don’t listen to stuff so I have not invested in any. I do hear they are very good and listening to the interviews certainly sparked my interest.

Re gardens, I am envious of both your gardens. Mine is now so overgrown by Morning Glory creeper and bougainvillea that my poor rose bushes are being strangled. We had a sunny day on Wednesday and I went on the attack. We have a peppercorn tree to cut down, which we are sad about because I love all trees but this one is a menace in a suburban garden and so has to go.  The s/o is putting off making the fateful phone call.

We are also re watching series three with Martha Jones. Watched Smith and Jones the other night. I think Martha was overshadowed by Rose and some poor writing. Having her in love with the Doctor was a mistake. Maybe it would have worked if it were not so heavy handed. Still she is so good in Human Nature/Family of Blood which are two of my favourite episodes. The acting and writing is near to perfect and I really feel for Martha, being bullied and dis respected, and watching the Doctor falling in love with another woman. Martha is now one of my favourite companions and I do wish she had stayed for another series.

Dentarthurdent there is a discussion thread I think about Neverwhere down in the TV threads from when we were looking at other shows featuring Peter Capaldi. I have not seen it and did not realise that it was based on a Gaiman story.

(And talking of Gaiman i believe that the next series of Good Omens is dropping soon. More Tennant/Sheen goodness to look forward to.)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[Dentarthurdent @dentarthurdent]

@janetteb    Well, we know all about creepers.   Our trees are always under threat from Madeira vine (which is apparently edible) and Moth Plant which is decidedly not, irritant white sap.   Both spread like rockets.   The Moth Plant shoots up into the trees and makes big grey-green pods which, if allowed to mature, produce thousands of wind-spread seeds.   Madeira Vine is even more difficult, it produces corms or tubers every few inches along it which, if knocked off (and they fall off easily) will sprout.   It rapidly matures into thick ropes which cover the trees.   I’ve had to have trees cut down – some years ago, a row of casuarina trees along the boundary which reached about 50 feet so had to go, most recently a wattle (acacia) which reached about 60 feet, lovely tree but I was always nervous if strong winds were forecast because it could have seriously damaged our house or the neigbours if it ever fell over.

I agree about Martha.   She did fall very heavily for the Doctor – but that happens sometimes.   “You had to go and fall in love with a human – one that wasn’t me.”   As for the Doctor being so blind, a snippet from Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Long Long Time’ (that I was listening to last night) seems to fit –   “I never drew one response from you,  All the while you fell all over girls you never knew.”   If she had stayed for another series, a major reorientation of their relationship would have been needed.

I just finished Neverwhere (it was a six-half-hour series).   Um, wildly bizarre, it could have been the pilot for a continuing series, there was enough wild and weird ideas in it.   Shades of Doug Adams’   Somebody Else’s Problem field,  or even the Silents,  ‘normal’ people failed to notice underworlders unless they were talking directly to them.   It was actually written by Neil Gaiman.    Intriguing, inventive, a bit more chaotic than Good Omens or Stardust for example.   I must hunt down the discussion thread, be interesting to see what others made of it.

I read Good Omens long before it was made for TV – a jolly good book.

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