@whohar

Very good point about The Watcher. And yes, there was indeed a lot of inconsistency with the regenerations in the pre-gap years. To be honest, I sometimes think that inconsistency is part of the DNA of the show. I loved Hartnell-era Who when I saw it as a kid, and Tom Baker Who when I saw it as an undergraduate, and I thought The Giggl…[Read more]

@bobbyfatv2
  We may need a flow chart!

That is brilliant! While this web site already has a wonderful sub-heading, I think your line would be an excellent header for subsequent discussion of the world of RTD2.

@scaryb

Yes, I was wondering about the Vinx as well. I was reading somewhere about the likelihood of a UNIT spinoff. If that is indeed likely then I imagine RTD2 was establishing the look and the characters of the spinoff. Am assuming RTD2 will enlighten us in regard to the origins of Vinx at some point.

Christmas trailer (and I would say we are heading in a more fantasy trajectory)

Just back from a second viewing with Mrs Blenkinsop and we both agreed that it was pretty fabulous.

Was Mel necessary? Probably not. Was that a problem? No, not really.

On second impressions, it was both frightening  (when it needed to be) and warm hearted (which is what Doctor Who is supposed to be).

And whose hand with the red fingernail…[Read more]

@scaryb

Wonderful photo of Waris Hussein, the director who started it all.

Thanks for posting.

@juniperfish

Oh, really like the suggestion that the red fingernail that picks up the gold tooth could imply the Rani!

A few more thoughts. I thought Neil Patrick Harris hit it out of the park as The Toymaker. Hypnotically evil and a physicality that worked to perfection. Still loving the way the invention of TV (manipulated by the Toymaker) holds the potential seeds of humanity’s destruction.

Not entirely sure what Melanie Bush was doing there, though. Yes, I…[Read more]

OK, a lot to process. Totally agree with @craig that RTD2 cannot let Tennant go. Am really hoping what we just saw does not lead to a Marvel-isation of Who, but we will simply have to wait and see.

Loved the idea that humanity put itself in danger of destroying itself due to the invention of television. I liked that immensely.

Off to give it all…[Read more]

@jimthefish

I think what I am anxious about is summed up in a word: Marvel

@jimthefish

Why do I feel more nervous than exhilarated about that announcement?

@jimthefish When you catch up with the final episode of the Hartnell era “Celestial Toymaker” be prepared for the fact that the first 15 minutes or so are pretty feeble, but it is the last 10 minutes that makes one think about what might potentially happen on Saturday, when the Toymaker returns.

And @Phaseshift, I suspect RTD2 may continue to…[Read more]

@jimthefish Part of the reason I am attracted to the suggestion of @devilishrobby is that there is more than a few isolated clips and photos of the Gough Toymaker. The entire last episode still exists, and is available on the DVD “Lost in Time” which contains a series of Hartnell and Troughton episodes that survived the ’60s cull. The DVD is still…[Read more]

Mrs Blenkinsop and I just rewatched the final episode of the Hartnell story “The Celestial Toymaker” (the only episode to survive), and am intrigued by the suggestion above by @devilishrobby. Yes, it could, indeed, unfold that way. All three Tennant specials could all be part of a game implemented by The Toymaker, and, indeed, “London Town” could…[Read more]

Well, I enjoyed that very much! In a funny sort of way, it reminded me of some ST: Next Generation episodes where (because they were running short of budget) they would have a contained episode with only a couple of the cast. But clearly there were no budget issues with this! The special effects were great (and logical–i.e. no self-repairing…[Read more]

@whohar

The prodigal returns! Or, given all that time in the bath, perhaps I should say: the pruney prodigal returns…

Welcome back.

@janetteb

I have heard the news that the ABC no longer screens Doctor Who. I hope you have access to a streaming service. It is worth it.

,

Who for an American audience: I was amused by a couple of things that did not seem entirely British in the new Disney+ iteration–the result of an American budget and the hope of a larger American audience?

As someone noticed upstream, the new Tardis console could now dispense coffee, but not tea. And  when the Doctor stops everyone in the…[Read more]

Second viewing and liked it even more. Still not sure about undoing the previous fate of Donna, and like @jimthefish I think I would have preferred Rose to go off for an adventure with the Doctor. Am really hoping we do get to see Bernard Cribbins again and agree with @BobbyFatv2 that it surely must be significant that Rose is a toymaker.