On the sofa
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29 March 2013 at 16:52 #3663
Jane Espenson – that’s spooky as she gets a mention in the Randall & Hopkirk piece (she’s doing a US version).
Thing is, can you imagine the screaming fanboys droning on about the americanization of Doctor Who??
30 March 2013 at 07:34 #3671<waves @juniperfish, coffee, yes, fresh pot always brewing in here. Who’s got the jammy dodgers? 😀 >
Very excited! No more sleeps. iplayer teasingly says it’s got Bells of St John downloaded in HD… anyone know how to pick its lock??! (Hopefully won’t be too scared of things in the internet to come back in here after!)
Hope everyone’s got fezzes, bow ties, pipes, baths (special hi and belated welcome back @whohar – that was a long way to go to catch the antipodean special TV broadcasts!) etc at the ready.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehooooooooooo!
30 March 2013 at 07:39 #3673And a bit of democratic anarchy to pass the time before then – off to Glasgow to protest against the Bedroom Tax – a policy that makes Davros look like a philanthropist! Love a good demo 😀
30 March 2013 at 09:35 #3675Hi @phaseshift,
I currently away seeing family but back home tomorrow and will look into the blogging function/adding images then. I’ve got everything ready for the launch of the new thread tonight. Can’t wait.
Look forward to reading your piece when I’ve got a bit more time.
30 March 2013 at 10:53 #367930 March 2013 at 15:23 #3685Right – time to go forth and get supplies before the TARDIS lands! We will be able to “live blog” here on the sofa! See some of you folks here amongst the comfy cushions later 🙂
31 March 2013 at 18:41 #3889On the subject of women script writers and Who, discussed upstream by @jimthefish and others and mentioned by @pedant on the “Bells of St. John” thread, I think Stella Duffy’s original blog post, from which the Guardian article stemmed, had a point.
Jane Espenson is a great suggestion. Duffy herself expressed an interest and I’d be vey happy to see her have a go, remembering her sassy Serpent’s Tail detective novels from a while back as I do.
It does trouble me that Moff hasn’t, apparently, thought to invite a single woman guest writer to the 50th year, when guests such as Gaiman and Curtis have clearly worked well. I wonder if Miranda Hart would work for a more comedic-toned episode such as another return for Craig a la The Lodger or Closing Time?
31 March 2013 at 19:02 #3893It’s interesting if what the production team say is in fact true – that they have asked women writers, and all have pleaded ‘schedule conflicts’.
Anyway, I went and looked up what RTD said about the whole thing:
It’s those internet message boards … they destroy writers… It’s like when Helen Raynor went on Outpost Gallifrey last month and read the reviews of her two Dalek episodes. She said that she was, literally, shaking afterwards. Like she’d been physically assaulted. I’m not exaggerating. She said it was like being in a pub when a fight breaks out next to you. I had to spend two hours on the phone to her, talking her out of it, convincing her that of course she can write, that we do need her and want her… the stupidest thing you can say is ‘Ignore it’ because no one can. … it can mess up writers when they read that endlessly critical voice. It’s completely, completely destructive. I cannot see one iota of it that’s helpful, except maybe in the toughening up. Helen is in a delicate position in that she’s only just started and she’s on the verge of being really very good – and now she finds herself ruined by this wall of hostility. It makes me furious.
And I go back to the point that – unless you’re mad keen to write Doctor Who – why would you bother?
It also adds some emphasis to Moffat’s contention that Who isn’t a good place to start new writers.
31 March 2013 at 19:02 #3895[urrkggh!]
@juniperfish – love you as I do (and honestly I hate to disagree with you!), mere mention of ‘that woman’ causes me to splutter and chill!
there are many, many female actresses and comedians who I’d far rather see in Who.
Celia Imrie for one! but the list is too long to mention them all (though Julia Davies as a villain, could out-do the Master for [small scale] nastiness!).
Honestly, please not ‘dear’ Miranda {shudder}.
:¬|
erm, lets have smack-the-pony sponge with a c’mon-c’mon-c’mon cuppa tea and forget all about it!
31 March 2013 at 19:14 #3897@bluesqueakpip Interesting on the “dealing with fan critique” angle.
Sadly, I think this is an issue for women genre writers. I noticed that the rather wonderful, in my book anyway, Sera Gamble, erstwhile writer and also erstwhile showrunner on Supernatural, came in for far harsher criticism than her male colleagues on fan message boards.
@whisht Disagreement is allowed 🙂 Not a Miranda fan huh? I’m not a “must watch” fan, but I do have a soft spot for gawky and adorable, in any gender. Her brand of writing would only work on slapstick Who, as I said. There is also Katherine Tate, of course, in a similar vein…
31 March 2013 at 19:54 #3905Hi @juniperfish – phew, thanks for not taking offence(!). Must admit i was trying to think of another post to elaborate but couldn’t think of anything – obviously far more discerning people where I don’t have to worry so much over misunderstandings!
Actually, I’ll admit that I thought “shouty”-Tate was either a short-lived ‘special’ or long term aberration, but I was happily surprised that her acting (maybe the writing? apologies, I’m not a writer and so find it tricky to tell where one ends and the other begins) got better and better. She was one of the best companions by the end, and mainly down to her acting (and not being a doe-eyed romantic interest).
I seem now to be at an age where the idea of a companion-blue-peter-presenter-newsreader for “the dads” is apposite (though this isn’t exactly a heartening thought!!)
31 March 2013 at 20:04 #3911Enjoy Miranda Hart on Hyperdrive for the time being…
Davros was against the Bedroom tax, calling it ‘Heartless…’, unfortunately he was overruled by the Dalek Supreme who confirmed ‘It’s the right thing to do.’
31 March 2013 at 20:40 #3915Typical Gruniad post:
Dear BBC. I watched The Voice last night & I must say I was disappointed.
The plot was so threadbare you could drape it over a lit light bulb & not burn your house down. Admittedly the last series was the best TV I have ever seen but this last episode must’ve been conceived by a Headless Monk. Tom Jones has suddenly taken to boasting about his previous collaborations and the judges have become ego-maniacs overnight. Jessie J wasn’t bald and we weren’t supposed to notice?
I have loved every tv talent show ever aired up until now but this particular show was the diametric opposite of what makes a good talent programme – the ‘Anti-Voice’ if you will… I personally hope that everyone involved right down to the scene-shifters and tea-ladies all die slowly of some hideous agonising disease for unleashing this detritus upon an unsuspecting public.
Therefore I shall not be watching it again (until next week).
1 April 2013 at 01:43 #3929btw – @phaseshift – really sorry to hear about your back. Hope its not too painful or long term.
1 April 2013 at 18:45 #3977Hey Comrades, in the midst of our Who excitement can I just highly recommend BBC 3’s “In the Flesh” (zombie three parter but so much more).
All three parts have now aired and I think the first part is only available in i-player until tomorrow so I’d urge you, if you love good drama (and I know you do) to give it a go. I’ve just watched the final part and cried my eyes out. It’s beautifully written and acted.
1 April 2013 at 19:29 #3979Anonymous @
@juniperfish – A world of yes to In The Flesh, which I’m finding is gripping and compulsive in a way that The Fades wasn’t…
But a world of no to Miranda Hart. She is the one person I think that would force me to have nothing further to do with Who if she became involved with the show….
1 April 2013 at 23:51 #3999Oi! @jimthefish! Watch it – Ms Hart is a friend of mine … 😀
2 April 2013 at 01:55 #4003Hello, I saw a link to this forum from the Guardian Doctor Who blog, so thought that I’d pop in and see what was what.
2 April 2013 at 08:02 #4005@vizier Hello and welcome! Nice avatar. Do join us in our merry speculations!
2 April 2013 at 08:02 #4007Ha! My greeting double posted – a sure sign that all our speculations about doppleganger Doctor as the dark-side villain of the piece are correct!
2 April 2013 at 10:22 #4009Welcome @vizier. You’re stepping into the world of truly bonkers theorising about the show here…
@haveyoufedthefish — sorry, but there are two people on telly who the mere sight of them makes me want to gnaw off my own arms. One is Russell Brand and the other is Hart.
2 April 2013 at 10:52 #4011Welcome @vizier, to the site where we come up with theories more insane than what’s actually happening 😀
2 April 2013 at 12:25 #4015@jimthefish – to be fair, and just between us, I actually can’t bear to watch Miranda perform either – you think you’ve got it bad? I’ve had to be supportive through ten years of her Edinburgh “shows” … 😀
Please don’t tell her though, she’s considerably bigger than me.. 😐
2 April 2013 at 13:12 #4017@haveyoufedthefish — your secret is safe with me.
I must admit I’m now feeling a bit guilty about dissing her so much now.
2 April 2013 at 14:55 #4019<waves, and grabs a coffee>
Just found this and wanted to share. Seriously creepy, tho not really Who related (3rd cousin, 4 times removed maybe) – new poem by Neil Gaiman – called House
@jimthefish and @haveyoufedthefish LOL, sorry but NO-ONE’s as bad as Bonnie L (aagh! shuddering even at part of her name!)
Re Gaurdain blogs – do you think they know more than us? Is this splitting into 3 significant?? (Power of 3, multiple Drs etc etc)
2 April 2013 at 16:11 #4025One of our old friends @htpbdet has just surfaced on The Guardian (Dan’s blog). Some of you might want to give him a friendly wave! He has good theories, as ever.
2 April 2013 at 18:07 #4027I also recommend In the Flesh. I wasn’t disappointed. Clever stuff.
2 April 2013 at 18:19 #4031Hello…dipping my toes in rather carefully, happy to be here!
2 April 2013 at 18:27 #4035Oh, hello @lula, you are most welcome! We don’t bite, honest…
Join the “Bells of St. John” thread to add your review/ thoughts on the new episode!
@jimthefish and @wolfweed – huzzah, other people I can enjoy In the Flesh musings with. Head to the Non-Doctor TV thread… Apparently the Beeb received good enough ratings/ buzz for there to be talk of further episodes (before it is cancelled and wins a BAFTA, as some wag on The Guardian dryly pointed out).
2 April 2013 at 18:47 #4043Greetings @lula. Jump right in. @juniperfish is right. We don’t bite, just nibble your fingertips slightly…
2 April 2013 at 21:55 #4089Hi all – I am sooooo tired I was only gonna read and lurk, but had to say hello to @vizier and @lula!
It looks like more activity tonight than there has been in quite a while!
Mainly the speculation over on the Bells (the bells the bells!) – perhaps with the various ideas coalescing with @haveyoufedthefish‘s post (very ‘umble you are, but this is a collective effort, you’re right), its beginning to spark thoughts off each other.though could be too much red bull as well judging by the actual speculation….
but, we have all learned a new term – thankyou Cap’n @juniperfish and more power to your Shipping Forecasts…
3 April 2013 at 22:42 #4129hi again (tired again) – should say something over on the book thread about the sad news on Ian Banks but too tired and don’t want to say something dumb.
but here is fine for dumb stuff…..
So, I saw my first fashionista in a bow tie today.
You may think ‘so what?’ but I walk through the achingly hippermost-of-the-hoppermost Shoreditch/ Hoxton, (as well as Covent Garden) twice a day (its a long walk).
And I cannot remember anyone in a bow tie before.
And god knows there’s a lot of other fancy dress going on – lots of ankles from the too-short-trousers, fifties headscarves/ pleated dresses, 80’s shoulderpads and acidic colours… you name it. and yes they try too hard.
But no bow ties.
until now (and this a guy near the art and fashion college in Holborn).
He looked ridiculous.
[I’d use a ruder word but maybe it was for a bet]
So its true – the Doctor lies.
4 April 2013 at 22:22 #4179I’m using one of those 3G wireless dongles to connect at the moment, being away. Logged in, saw unfamiliar faces, and thought about typing “I DON’T KNOW WHERE I AM?”:-)
Welcome to everybody. I mean – some spiffy avatars. @vizier and I could form some sort of double act!
5 April 2013 at 15:22 #4209Hi all! I was a voracious reader of the Dr. Who forum at the Guardian, and I’d get SO SAD when it would be closed. I’m glad this forum exists! And a big hello to the Fishes! 🙂
5 April 2013 at 17:01 #4211Welcome @judyariel. Jump right in, the water’s lovely (if slightly full of fishes…)
5 April 2013 at 20:22 #4217Welcome @judyariel. Jump right in, the water’s lovely (if slightly full of fishes…)
Thank you, JimTheFish. Fishes are cool! 🙂
6 April 2013 at 13:42 #4241Hi all,
Jammy Dodgers on standby? SFX has a short interview with Neil Cross on tonights episode. It’s not really spoilery but does contain a few images, etc and a reference to a piece of equipment the Doctor gets his hands on. If you’re interested, it’s at:
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/04/05/doctor-who-the-rings-of-akhaten-writer-neil-cross-interview/
It looks like Neil was the one they went to when Chibnall decided he couldn’t deliver three scripts due to Broadchurch commitements.
Please don’t tell me the fishes have a fanclub. I knew I should’ve changed the name to Phasefish. 🙂
6 April 2013 at 14:35 #4255Didn’t Clara claim to have created all fish? I smell something ….. no. I’ll get my coat now.
cheers
Janette
7 April 2013 at 01:02 #4371Hello all, thanks to phase shift for the link from the Guardian blog otherwise I would never have found this site.
My favourite Doctor was always Jon Pertwee, but watching the new series with my 12 year old has left me quite envious, as he gets the best of both worlds, new and old.7 April 2013 at 07:35 #4377Welcome @sheena444 and all the other escapees who have recently teleported in from “the other place”. Stay vigilant on the portals oh mighty mods @craig and @phaseshift – the trolls are massing, and have been joined by orcs and all manner of grumpy, unpleasant creatures (armed with The Cribbers Guide of Film Critic Terms (the one with no explanations of how to use them!))
7 April 2013 at 08:06 #4379A warm welcome from me too @sheena444
Don’t worry @scaryb
I do try to read every post, and thankfully everyone here so far is lovely. Which I hope is our saving grace. If we do start getting infested with trolls I don’t think they’ll last long, we’re too nice for them, and especially if everyone remembers “Do not feed the trolls”.
@phaseshift also has a fine way with withering putdowns that would scare me off. This from the Guardian blog made me laugh
@dmr95-
The Imperfection is yours. I see a team that’s worked on these on their own time, to finish prototypes and make them new. With a desire to see an episode like this.
You post cynicism. I hope I post something else. Whatever your answer I win.
Plus I can also directly email them, and if it really comes to it, delete them and block their IP address so they can’t sign up again. I hope it doesn’t come to that though. Let’s hope we’re like Nu Who and, in the face of adversity, love can always save the day 😀
7 April 2013 at 15:54 #4441Welcome @sheena444, I’m glad you found the link helpful, if this is the kind of place you’d like to contribute to, welcome – please dive in.
@craig – you’re too kind.
armed with The Cribbers Guide of Film Critic Terms (the one with no explanations of how to use them!)
That made me snort with laughter. I once observed that the default stance for many posters appeared to be
“A third rate caricature of Tom Paulin on Newsnight review, tiredly explaining how worthless something was because it only worked on eleven levels.”
Unfortunately, I was modded.
7 April 2013 at 16:05 #4449Can I just put a shout-out to @wolfweed‘s excellent post on the Grauniad:
It is with a heavy heart that I must admit that I did not enjoy this week’s trolls. Last week’s trolls were passable (but nowhere near as good as last year’s)
It had me snorting into me Nesquick…..
7 April 2013 at 16:11 #4451@jimthefish Thank you for posting that. I missed that.
@wolfweed You win the internets! Without a doubt.
7 April 2013 at 16:20 #4453I think @wolfweed‘s contributions to those blogs deserve a special award for “going above and beyond the call of duty”. 🙂
7 April 2013 at 17:17 #4469<Deep bow while doffing hat to @wolfweed (difficult for a chained-up stone angel, but no-one was looking)>
That “troll” post is absolute genius! (and agree with @phaseshift – a virtual award for post of the week is definitely in order)
Meanwhile I’ve been “modded” – my first ever! 🙂 (If anyone’s interested it was in the middle of @jimthefish‘s altercations with Jayarava. I wrote “@Jayarava – “No. It’s an opinion. People have opinions, get over yourself.“” Which was a cut and paste (except for the name) of his post to our fishy friend a couple of posts earlier. Which hasn’t been deleted. So he can give it, but can’t take it)
7 April 2013 at 17:54 #4477@scaryb — cheers for the backup. Sorry it got you modded — even if it was in the midst of bizarre double-standardsville…
7 April 2013 at 20:55 #4519Hi @craig – thanks for creating such a lovely place and enticing so many knowledgeable people to contribute. I came into this at Nu-Who so don’t have the background of the many years of original series, and your contributers are fantastic and fact-filled and awesome to read.
On a technical note: I registered with a username I used on the Guardian’s website, and magically have the same avatar that was uploaded over there. How was that done? Do you have linkys or something?
7 April 2013 at 21:11 #4521Hi @Shazzbot – glad you like it. It wasn’t really down to me, I’m just the facilitator for all The Guardian Who fans such as JimTheFish, Juniperfish and PhaseShift etc. I’m kinda the same as you. I grew up with Who and rememeber the end of Pertwee, but my memories are just that, memories that have faded. I’m constantly impressed by how much the rest of our little clan have retained.
Regarding the avatar, it’s one you have uploaded to gravatar.com (which is a wannabe universal avatar site). I’m not sure if The Guardian uses Gravatar or not, but somehow you’ve ended up there. You can change the pic though by uploading a new one on your profile page.
Any probs, drop me a line.
7 April 2013 at 21:17 #4523Your first deletion?! I could have sworn you’d conversed with Alexander in the past. How did you avoid him getting you deleted? 🙂
Did you create your Avatar with Gravitar? If you did the site uses your e-mail address to automatically import the image that is held there. It’s how I manage mine (It may have happened if you have used other WordPress accounts at some point, like CiFUnderground, etc.)
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