On the Sofa (part 2)

[The13th @the13th]

Hi new here, really happy.

[Anonymous @]

Hello @the13th !  Welcome to our lovely forum.  What with the recent bombshell news, as you might expect the thread ‘The Next Doctor?’ is currently busiest.  But we also are having lively discussions on the 50th anniversary thread.

Don’t forget to check out the blogs (underneath ‘Recent forum posts’ on the right) – there are some really informative and interesting things there.  Plus, a caption competition!

Please remember that anything even vaguely spoiler-ish goes in the Spoilers thread only.

Right then!  Who’s ‘your’ Doctor, and what are your favourite bonkers theories?!

[ScaryB @scaryb]

Was going to post this in news as it’s a new Graun article link… but, well, really it seems more suited to the sofa! (desperate for clicks, or what!) Make your own Matt Smith (I kid you not!)

My fave comment is –

Why would anyone embroider Matt Smith when you could knit David Tennant?

http://indiecrafts.craftgossip.com/2009/01/20/free-crochet-patterns-doctor-who-dolls-and-more/   

Sorry, it just really amused me for all sorts of reasons

🙂

PS Hi @the13th and welcome

[Anonymous @]

@scaryb – yes, I saw that ‘cross-stitch Matt Smith’ article too!  But the creepiest thing is in the link by the person advocating making a David Tennant — did you see, there’s also a Rose Tyler doll:

http://snuffykin.livejournal.com/36508.html

… and she is by-gum creepy to look at.  🙂

[Anonymous @]

@phaseshift , @jimthefish – Hello Mods – overnight someone posted on the Fan Creativity thread a link to another forum immediately after signing up.  No other interaction with this forum so far.

I know that we give shout-outs to come here on the G blog, but then, the people doing that are also well-known contributors over there.  Do we have a policy about drive-by invites?

[Anonymous @]

@Shazzbot — yep, noticed that. We seem to be getting a spate of spamming at the moment and I flagged it up with @craig last night. I think he’s planning to update the etiquette section at the moment to spell out the policy on external linkage.

My personal feeling is that there should be some history of contribution before flagging up your own sites. But fan creativity is a bit different as it’s going to be quite inevitable that there are going largely be links to other sites.

Linking to other forums is another matter though. I think it depends how reciprocal the linkage is and what level of commercial activity is being undertaken on the other site. Think we need a ruling from @craig on this one.

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@Shazzbot @jimthefish @craig

Links to other sites – for me it would be a lot to do with how commercial they are. But it is a bit rude to run into a forum, effectively shout “everyone come to my place”, without a bit of interaction first! As JtF suggests an offer of reciprocality would be only polite. OTOH Craig’s way of dealing with trolls seems to working so far ie Don’t feed, and they go away. (And maybe we’ll get the one convert eventually, LOL)

Same thing if you want people to buy your TShirts, no matter how cool they are, it’s nice if you ask permission first, or do a bit of interacting.  There again, if you don’t interact, chances are your post is going to be overlooked/ignored anyway.

I’m for suck it and see policy – keep an eye on it for now, extermination policy in future if required!

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

@Shazzbot, @jimthefish, @scaryb

I’m happy to take guidance on this in accordance with whatever @craig decides.

Personally if regular commentators want to link to commercial sites (as I do if I see merchandise which I think might interest people) or external sites which may be of interest, I think that’s one thing, but using webspace to advertise your own interests without contributing is entirely another.

I think it’s inevitable it happens as we grow, and some of our pages go higher in Google rankings. I did a google search for “The Paternoster Gang” because I had an idea to update my blog entry and wanted to check some facts, and was mightily surprised to see it on the front page somewhere inbetween the official Paternoster “book of face” page and a BBC entry. Freaked me out slightly.

[Anonymous @]

@phaseshift — et al. I also think that a blanket ban on commericalism is not a good idea either as I quite enjoy sometimes seeing links to what’s out there. (It lights up my inner 10-year-old Whovian somewhat.) It’s an incredibly fine line and I suspect it’s largely going to have to be judged on a case-by-case basis…

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@phaseshift

WooHoo! So you are 😀

There we are, thinking we’re lurking in our own cosy, dark little corner, when actually we’re in the blaze of the spotlight without realising it.

Sharing links to sites we think are of interest (commercial or otherwise) is very different to linking to things you have a commercial interest in. And again, I wouldn’t have a problem if any of the regular posters were to do that.  But people who link without communicating first are a bit like doorstep sellers – you might open the door, but usually you’ll just say no thanks. Occasionally you’ll set the dalek* on them.

 

*every home should have one – very useful round the house

 

[Anonymous @]

@phaseshift – “I did a google search for “The Paternoster Gang” … and was mightily surprised to see it on the front page somewhere inbetween the official Paternoster “book of face” page and a BBC entry.”

I use DuckDuckGo, and it’s the 6th item on the 1st page.  Your very own blogpost too!  Well done.

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

The actress who plays Clara is now called Jenna Coleman. Last month I berated the BAFTAs for announcing her this way – and I’ve only just realised that it’s an official change. So presumably the alteration occurred the day after TNOTD was broadcast.

I must admit that I preferred the inclusion of ‘-Louise’. And JC doesn’t have the same ring to it as JLC either. Perhaps it was to avoid being confused with convicted domestic abuser, Justin Lee Collins?

”I can’t stand the confusion in my mind!”

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

Happy 70th birthday to Colin Baker today.

[hallucigeniclipstick @hallucigeniclipstick]

Bill Hicks and Dr Who I am prompted to move in after lurking with my nose pressed up against the window for a while.

 

[Miapatrick @miapatrick]

@hallucigeniclipstick– welcome! and yes. Bill Hicks and Dr Who are two of my favourite things.

[StratCat01 @stratcat01]

I just ran across this and it seemed appropriate as to a lot of criticism of the new show as the “old show was much better”. And there’s a nod to @bluesqueakpip for his Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (he and Colin, along with Nicola and Sophia probably deserved better then they’ve been given. I certainly have much more affection for them now)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22719522

(if it doesn’t come though it’s entitled: The challenges Doctor Who faced in the 80s”, BBC News Entertainment & Arts published 2013 May 30.

[Timeloop @timeloop]

“We’ll have a special video from Matt – coming soon!” Still no video from Matt at the BBC about his leave. Wonder when that will be here. (just a quick peek in – will be commenting more again next week)

[The13th @the13th]

Hello everybody, I’m new to this site and I just wanted to say hi.  I’m glad to meet fellow Whovians and hope to have interesting discussions.

 

[IAmNotAFishIAmAFreeMan @pedant]

Apropos of absolutely nothing, and prompted solely a conversation about pirates elsewhere, if the only thing Moff’s tenure had brought was this:

His entire tenure would have been worth it.

Just sayin’

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

Welcome to the Forum of bonkers theorising, @the13th.

As I’m sure you already know, your number is far from unlucky and is in fact a magical no.

Does it in fact relate to the forthcoming Doctor or is that a happy coincidence?

[JWalker @jwalker]

Suppose this is as good a place as any to introduce myself.

Howdy.

U.S. citizen, Whovian since the 10th’s tenure, but I’ve been catching up on the Classic stuff and quite enjoying it.  Had an idea going in that I’d connect the most with Baker’s run, and I do enjoy it, but weirdly enough, I feel more of an attachment to McCoy as the 7th.

Out of the modern incarnations, it’s really Tennant for me, but I’m not obsessive or evangelistic about it.

Any questions?

[ScaryB @scaryb]

<waves @jwalker>

Hi back, and welcome.

McCoy’s run is probably closer to after 2005 than the earlier Doctors, esp in terms of the way the companion was more central to the story. I liked McCoy, but he inherited a poisoned chalice in that Michael Grade (BBC DG at the time) was determined to get rid of Dr Who at that time. Not to meniton having to make up the ground that was lost by the Colin Baker years

[JWalker @jwalker]

I couldn’t get through “Trial Of A Time Lord” to save my life.

[the-master @the-master]

greetings fellas… i’m the-master and YOU WILL OBEY ME!…

YOU WILL OBEY ME!…

YOU WILL OBEY ME!…

damn that used to work… anyway hello everyone…

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

@the-master

I WILL OBEY YOU.

I WILL OBEY YOU.

I WILL OBEY YOU.

Hang on – You want me to WHAT?!?

 

BTW they’re celebrating you on the official website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Celebrating-the-Master

[the-master @the-master]

@wolfweed

i want total control of the universe… or at least 70%

and i want a pot of coffe twelve jammy dodgers and a fez…

oh a celebration in my “honour” … nice

and if anybody helps me get out of that darrrrn timelock… i’d appreciate it… and i would spare his (or her) life including the family when i destroy the universe and reshape it as i like MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[Craig @craig Emperor]

@htpbdet has provided me, via his nephew, with a typically lengthy new blog post on Tom Baker’s Doctor. You can read it here:

http://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/the-doctors/tom-baker-the-eccentric-alien-infant/

From his nephew: “He said to tell you he cut out two whole pages. He said you would probably laugh.”

😀

[CharityDalekSquad @charitydaleksquad]

Hi There.

Just to let you know that the Charity Dalek Squad will be invading the Aston Manor Road Transport Museum (www.amrtm.org), Shenstone Road, Aldridge, Walsall on Sunday 23th June 2013.

As well as Daleks, there will be Doctors, Assistants, Monsters, shows, music and traders!

Check out the event on Facebook for even more info.

Hope to see you there!

[janetteB @janetteb]

Glad to hear that @HTBDET is recovering. Please let him know that we are all thinking of him, and enjoying his contributions.

Cheers

Janette

[ScaryB @scaryb]

A completely off topic link for light relief for moggy lovers, Cat cams!  Meeeeow  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22567526

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

BTW folks (and yes, I got the spam message as well) – I vaguely mentioned the possibility of doing a rewatch from the start of the Smith/Moffat era. Would anyone be interested? The Eleventh Hour is already done as a blog post.

For those who don’t have the DVD’s, you can pick up the plain vanilla installments of S5 for around £3 a time in the UK and in the US legal streamed downloads are available at $3. It’s slightly cheaper (and you get more extras) if you buy the whole series.

This suggestion is coming to you because there is only so much ‘who is the next Doctor’ discussion that I can take. 😀

 

 

[ScaryB @scaryb]

@bluesqueakpip Scheduled rewatches – good idea. I don’t have the DVDs of S5 though, will need to stock up. Just treated myself to seasons 2-4 (£30 for all 3, inc postage, on ebay) – planning a Tennant fest shortly 🙂  (I realise that’s not very helpful 🙂 ) Unless anyone knows online sources…?

Ditto re “Next Dr” discussions. Esp since I don’t think any leaked rumours are going to be helpful

 

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

Well, we don’t have to start with Moffat. We’ve got twenty-two weeks until November 23rd – a grand re-watch of ALL of post gap Who would need us to be watching five episodes a week. 🙂

Starting from Moffat gives us two episodes a week.

Gosh, it’s a lot of episodes, isn’t it? Over 100 Post Gap episodes.

[janetteB @janetteb]

@bluesqueakpip I like the idea but don’t think I could fit in five episodes a week, what with meetings some nights and other things to watch, such as Horizon secret life of cats. (we need to know just what our moggie gets up to when we aren’t looking) and the rest of series 4 B.5. so I would prefer to just pick some of the best of each series. I know that will lead to some debate as to which stories are “best”. Maybe someone here who is cleverer than me could start a poll. Or we could decide on a weekly basis. Then again, upon reflection, I guess one doesn’t have to watch and comment upon every episode and even the worst epidodes have something worth discussing. (as usual my opinion is changing as I type.)

It would be nice to keep the conversation going, now there are no new stories to stimulate discussion. (I must admit though I prefer the somewhat less hectic pace. I can now keep up with posts and even occasionally make a comment.)

Cheers

Janette

[ScaryB @scaryb]

Yikes!

It’s amazing how it all adds up! I think the Crimson Horror was the 100th post gap epi.

Suggestion – since Moff’s the evil genius behind all this, and the reason our brains are tormented, if we’re looking for clues (or at least an insight into the dark recesses of his mind), how about a rewatch of just the Moffat stories (22 (excluding 2 Xmas specials))? 23 weeks between now and 23 Nov, that’s  1/wk (with a week spare) which would lead nicely into the 50th (after notD). Just a thought (or is that an overdose of Moff? 😉 3 different Drs tho)

“The Empty Child” / “The Doctor Dances” (2005)

“The Girl in the Fireplace” (2006)

“Blink” (2007)

“Silence in the Library” / “Forest of the Dead” (2008)

“The Eleventh Hour” (2010)

“The Beast Below” (2010)

“The Time of Angels” / “Flesh and Stone” (2010)

“The Pandorica Opens” / “The Big Bang” (2010)

“A Christmas Carol” (2010)

“The Impossible Astronaut” / “Day of the Moon” (2011)

“A Good Man Goes to War” / “Let’s Kill Hitler” (2011)

“The Wedding of River Song” (2011)

“The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe” (2011)

“Asylum of the Daleks” (2012)

“The Angels Take Manhattan” (2012)

“The Snowmen” (2012)

“The Bells of Saint John” (2013)

“The Name of the Doctor” (2013)

[Whisht @whisht]

or… similar to @janetteb ‘s idea, we could look at “the classics” BG and AG that have been listed by various people.

Might be fun for those who’ve commented about ‘wanting to watch the older stuff as I started out with Eccles’ and hearing their fresh thoughts as well as others (re)watching and saying “hm, that rubber monster in the Androzani cave really is rather rubbery. and rubberish”.

[chickenelly @chickenelly]

I’m up for doing a scheduled rewatch but agree with @janetteb I don’t have time to fit in the entire Moff run.  @scaryb‘s suggestions look fine, plus it will fill in some of the gaps in our forum.  I’ve got most AG episodes in some format or another, apart from those gawdawful specials with Tennant (Waters of Mars aside).  Oh yes, and I don’t have the Widow & Wardrobe one either, but I’m sure *cough* I might be able to acquire it.

We might want to file it under a special topic though – ie ‘Summer School’ or ‘Resits’ or something like that…

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

@whisht – the problem I can forsee with the BeforeGap episodes is simply that people might not have them to hand. With the Post Gap episodes there’s a much higher chance that people will already have recordings/DVD’s.

Besides, I’m kind of hoping that the BBC, drat it, will start showing some of the BeforeGap stories. For BeforeGap, I’d rather wait and see if they are – and then we can discuss the ones broadcast (and demand to know why they didn’t repeat others).

[wolfweed @wolfweed]

Ich bin der Doctor…

Can you tell I’m bored?

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

@bluesqueakpip @scaryb @janetteb @whisht (and anyone else)

I’d be up for the rewatch idea if you went ahead with it (but may be missing for a period of weeks over the coming months).

One idea I had though regarding the BG series was to take one story, and if enough new watchers were interested, do an experiment at watching it at the pace it was intended (one episode per week) and see what the reaction is. I realise many people don’t have access to DVDs and other stuff, but there are YouTube sites with a few great stories on in segments. Robots of Death, Talons, Curse of Fenric, etc. I normally don’t advocate breaking copyright, but I;m beginning to suspect the BBC isn’t going to be showing much classic stuff.

Anyone interested in this idea? We could take a few weeks to decide on story, and if anyone wants to purchase the DVD in advance, they could do so.

[Craig @craig Emperor]

@phaseshift @bluesqueakpip @scaryb @janetteb @whisht

This is coming back to the idea I floated when we just started, before the new series began, that we could be like my Mum’s book group. I’d still be up for that. Discuss an episode a week.

And while, like PhaseShift, I’m not a huge fan of breaching copyright, I could easily embed the whole of, say, Talons of Weng-Chiang or Caves of Androzani on this site via another site that hosts old episodes. At the moment the BBC seems to allow it, or they just don’t know about it, but somehow I doubt that as they show up in a quick search.

I’ll use the excuse that we are actually promoting BG Who and will actually increase interest and DVD sales of BG Who in the long run. Just like the fact that people who illegally download music also buy more music than those who don’t. Well, that’s what I’ll be shouting when they drag me away in chains.

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

@craig

I remember it well. I think it was Talons you mentioned at the time.

[Anonymous @]

I think a summer retrospective is a great idea. I’ve definitely had my fill of 12th Doctor casting speculation now. Nu-Who Moffatt episodes make sense in the run-up to speculation about the anniversary episode but I also like the idea of doing some old-Who as it seems somewhat appropriate in the anniversary year…

[Craig @craig Emperor]

I was being a bit flippant, but I do actually think if we can interest AG Who viewers in BG Who the BBC will sell a lot more DVDs and it will benefit everyone.

So I’m happy to start whenever. I can post the first episode of Talons tonight if you want, although someone, I nominate @jimthefish, will have to explain the giant rat (as I know you don’t like it) to those used to the questionable wonders of CGI.

On that note, I just read that Michael Shannon (playing General Zod in the new Superman film) wore a green, skin-tight motion-capture suit during filming and his whole costume is CGI!!! I found that slightly depressing, unless his costume does some amazing acting.

[PhaseShift @phaseshift Time Lord]

@craig

I’d go for the weekend, and try to make it a regular fixture. At 25 mins an episode it’s not a massive investment in time. It may give the oppotunity for people who are just looking at the site infrequently to express an interest.

[Craig @craig Emperor]

Sounds good. Doctor Who deserves to stay a Saturday ritual, after the football and before Basil Brush!

Unfortunately I’m not at home this weekend, my Dad’s 70th, but may be able to sort something out before and just make it live from my parents’ house.

Talking of which, football is probably how I got into Doctor Who as a kid as my parents weren’t that interested, but my Dad was interested in the day’s results as he used to be a player. Then I just watched what was on afterwards. As it’s his 70th I’m feeling a bit sentimental.

He scored a ton of goals but this is what he’s most famous for, sitting on the ball against Rangers, and creating a winning goal in the dying minutes. They banned sitting on the ball after that 😀

Our very own Guardian also has a soft spot for the moment, even as recently as last year (and Scott Murray is no relation).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/dec/14/joy-of-six-showboating

Anyway, that’s enough to probably make his day!

[curvedspace @curvedspace]

Darnit, I’m still on Pertwee (halfway through The Time Monster) so whatever you pick to watch will likely be ahead of me. Though this board has already given me some Classic Who spoilers, so. This is me getting over my obsessively nerdish desire to go exactly in order. 🙂

I’d love to watch a Classic episode and talk about it with y’all. I like the idea of doing a shorter one over a weekend, or a longer one over a week. Maybe two weeks if people really are that short on time. If I can watch the eps with my toddler then I can certainly keep up, but if she can’t participate then I’d need more time. I liked @chickenelly‘s “Summer School” moniker, too.

(As a side note, I would love to show my kid some Classic Who, but she’s pretty sensitive to violence and people looking scared/screaming, so it’s probably not possible yet. Anyone have suggestions of early eps that are super mild?)

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

Okay, it sounds like a number of people are up for a Grand Moffat Rewatch, and there may be a way to also do a Pre Gap Who rewatch. @craig, could we have a forum for the Moff rewatch? One forum only, I think – we can go on to part two if by any chance we hit over 1000 posts.

Then maybe another forum for the Classic eps? What do people think?

So what’s being suggested is one Moffat ep per week (generally 42-45 minutes) and one Pre Gap episode per week (generally 22-25 minutes). I’m actually away this weekend (in a place with a duck pond AND ducks, but very dodgy wi-fi), but if people want me to start things off, I have time to watch ‘The Empty Child’ tonight and make a short post.

Looking over the list @scaryb made, the two-parters are “The Empty Child”/  “The Doctor Dances” (2005),  “Silence in the Library”/   “Forest of the Dead” (2008), “Time of Angels” / “Flesh and Stone” (2010),  “The Pandorica Opens” /     “The Big Bang” (2010).

If we pick two of those to watch as double episodes, we can then fit the Christmas Specials in. Any suggestions? For example, I think Pandorica/Big Bang works better with a gap. I agree with @phaseshift that normally we should go for the weekends as ‘broadcast’ nights.

[Craig @craig Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip The way I structured the site to start with was by Doctor and by episode, and I think I’d like to keep it that way. Is just tidier and leaves room for scalability. If someone 10 years from now wants to know what we think of The Empty Child, or Talons, it will all be in one place.

But on the home page I can take off the latest episodes and post links to our current conversations on the older episodes.

I’d rather try that first. If it gets confusing then we can maybe stick to one thread. But I think it will work, especially if there’s a week between each, and I signpost it correctly on the home page.

I’m much more in favour of focusing on BG Who myself as I think a lot of you have analysed the AG Who episodes in extreme detail already, and most members have probably seen them, but BG Who may be a foreign country to most. But if you want to do it again, feel free. I’m happy to join in.

[Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip]

@craig – ah, but when we analysed the episodes in extreme detail, we didn’t know anything about the later episodes, owing to the way that they hadn’t been written yet. You see? There is more analysis to come! 😈

Anyway, yes, by episode. The first Moffat episode is The Empty Child, AG 1.9. It’s a two-parter with The Doctor Dances, AG 1.10.

What might happen is that one set of discussions (Moffat or Before Gap) naturally gathers all the conversation – in which case we can proceed happily in that direction. 🙂

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