@janetteb

We decided to watch “Day of the Daleks” after you mentioned it. (I hadn’t seen it for a long time.) This was quite soon after watching “Inferno”. For me, there is no comparison. “Inferno” is far stronger and far more entertaining. You said you wanted UNIT in the story you chose—well, since you have not seen it yet, I do not want to spo…[Read more]

@nerys So very sorry to hear this. I am glad you had the opportunity to have those good talks, though. They are tremendously important.

Take care.

It is cold here on our island outpost in Canada, so Mrs Blenkinsop and I just re-watched (for the umpteenth time) “The Lodger”.

What a wonderful episode. “Kiss the girl!”

A wonderful pisode.

Just read that Michael Apted, who made the 7 Up series (the most remarkable documentary series ever made (tracing a group of British children from the age of 7 (1964) at seven year intervals until the age of 63 (2019).

He also was a great film director, with a James Bond film under his belt, along with many other films.

The 7 Up series made a…[Read more]

@janetteB

If you are doing a Pertwee story this year, can I suggest “Inferno”

It was brilliant. And it had the last performance of Caroline John as Liz Shaw (probably my favourite companion).

@craig

Just following on from @devilishrobby, there is a spammer roaming on the site.

@bluesqueakpip Thanks for the detailed summary, and agree–yes it is effective–if it was, let’s say, the opening episode of a three or four part miniseries that was done as a dark story of corrupt business and corrupt government conspiring together to create a dystopian future. Sounds like just the type of thing Chibnall could do well–if it was…[Read more]

@nerys

As @arbutus reminded me, a good commercial-free option is to purchase it on iTunes for $4. It is there for repeated viewings, and it is mercifully ad-free (and I agree with you, the intrusive commercial breaks are just the worst).

It was 1964. Gerry Marsden. I am starting to realise how old I am.

@bluesqueakpip

I thought Martin Belam provided a very good assessment of the episode, particularly his reflection that “it was an extremely long slow burn of a set up before it got going”. Exactly. I am talking about pacing, and about showing, rather than explaining, what is happening.

For example, my reference to “Robocop”. The opening of…[Read more]

Well, first viewing: I felt it was more of a simulacrum of Doctor Who, than actually Doctor Who. Perhaps 15 minutes (toward the end) of real Who and an hour of something between a soap and a drama.

Compare the opening premise here of a repurposed Dalek to become the face of policing (with a satire on corporate greed thrown in) to the opening…[Read more]

@nerys That was a very uplifting story about selflessness. In its own way, very Doctor Who.

@dentarthurdent Love the story of the sea lion. Many years ago we used to live in Newcastle on the east coast of Australia. Crappy town, but we lived across from a beautiful beach. One morning we went walking and a whole bunch of dolphins went swimming…[Read more]

@winston, And a happy new year to you (and everyone on the site) in return!

All your reflections resonated (but I am not going to confess to pyjamas, of course…)

Where I am, fireworks have been set off somewhere down the street, the cats have been totally freaked out in response to the fireworks, Mrs Blenkinsop and I have been remembering past…[Read more]

Many thanks @arbutus. I had forgotten that option.

@winston, @nerys, @arbutus, and any other Canadians I have forgotten,

Which streaming service will allow me to watch the New Year special? (p.s. I do not have cable)

Boxing Day dawns, and to echo the immortal words of (hungover) Uncle Willy in The Philadelphia Story (1940):

“This is one of those days that the pages of history teach us are best spent in bed.”

The BBC reports that the Christmas special will be available in a 4K format.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55430997

I suppose if I had a mammoth High Definition TV it might make a difference, but as I will be watching it on my 15 year-old 22 inch TV with increasingly aging Blenkinsop eyes, it probably won’t make a difference. But since I…[Read more]

We have had a number of festive seasons on this site, but this the first one where the most appropriate thing I can say to everyone, and particularly those in the UK, is:

Stay Safe.

(And hopefully there is still enough time to order in Jammy Dodgers)

Waris Hussein, the director of the very first episode of Who, “An Unearthly Child” in 1963 (along with another 10 episodes during the Verity Lambert years) turned 82 yesterday.

For those who don’t know, he was born in India, and arrived in England at the age of 9 when his parents emigrated. His mother worked at the BBC reading the news in Hindi,…[Read more]

Hi @craig. Great to hear from you and sorry to hear that life has been getting in the way. Just wanted to say what I know all of us feel, and that is how much we appreciate everything you have done and continue to do in maintaining this little haven from a crazy world.