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@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.

 

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

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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 picked up the the gold tooth? Well, that is what Mrs Blenkinsop and I will keep discussing until the Christmas special.

Which is also what Doctor Who is supposed to be about.

 

 

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@scaryb

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

Thanks for posting.

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@juniperfish

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

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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 suppose she provided a link to pre-gap Who, but the idea that the Melanie of Colin Baker days could end up as a techno wizard working for UNIT seemed a bit of a stretch, to be honest. Still,  Kate Lethbridge-Stewart seems to be handing out jobs to previous companions at a somewhat alarming rate, going by this episode.

One thing I really liked about the introduction of the Ncuti Gatwa Doctor was that when the regeneration takes place, it is the Tennant Doctor who can’t really cope, and it is the brand new Doctor who consoles him. By doing it that way, it instantly gave the Ncuti Gatwa Doctor a maturity, both in relation to the Tennant Doctor and and to his presence as the new Doctor. I felt that worked very well indeed.

 

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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 some more thought, but hoping that Ncuti manages to find a pair of pants by Christmas…

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@jimthefish

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

 

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@jimthefish

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

 

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@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 refer to him as the Celestial Toymaker, in keeping with the dictionary definition of being from the heavens or the stars.

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@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 available (and full of some gems–last night we watched the first episode of “The Crusades”, which was a great example of Verity Lambert’s belief in mixing sci fi with educational “historicals”).

 

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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 be a simulacrum of Earth (one where exploding streets can magically repair themselves). I particularly like your idea @devilishrobby that it may have been The Toymaker who engineered the regeneration to turn 14 into a version of 10. Whether it turns out that way or not, I am eagerly awaiting Saturday!

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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 burning streets, as in last week’s show).

More thoughts may occur to me later, but both Tennant and Tate were in top form. In fact the only question I was left with was about “mavity”. Surely, that joke/word is first uttered by Newton after they have flown off, so why are they playing with it on the spaceship?

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@whohar

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

Welcome back.

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@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.

 

,

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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 factory to find out who is on whose side, he pulls out a legal wig from his jacket pocket and acts out the role of Judge. Now, I have no issue with the Doctor pulling a legal wig out of his jacket pocket; it is what I would expect of a Time Lord. Yet he does not pull out a judge’s wig, but rather a barrister’s wig!

OK, perhaps an American viewer (or an executive at Disney+) would not know the difference, but I sensed the hint of those terrible words, “mid Atlantic”.

I shall be on the lookout for similar transgressions in the coming weeks…

 

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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.

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@scaryb I just discovered my error about t’other place. Good to know that close it down before the troll wake up.

 

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@jimthefish Well, I see that t’other place does still have a Who forum. I am wrong again! (I would not want to spoil my track record for inaccuracies…)

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@scaryb Yes, the new Tardis interior does look pretty cool. In recent years it tends to change with each new version of the Doctor, but apart from anything else, what we saw looked so expensive that I can’t imagine it is just there for three Tennant specials. Of course, I could be wrong–I quite often am! And yes, the callback to Hartnell is a nice touch.

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@jimthefish I was thinking about how the wonderful @craig established this site all those years ago as an alternative to t’other place, which was full of angry trolls complaining about how Moffat had ruined their childhood or some such nonsense. And we managed to build a forum of thoughtful reflection and boundless enthusiasm for everything Who.

But now that RTD has taken Who from the BBC to Disney+ they do not have an open forum on t’other place. Hopefully, with some judicious gate-keeping, we can remain a place for thoughtful reflection and boundless enthusiasm for all things Who.

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OK, it was outrageously entertaining, and it was fun watching RTD spend huge amounts of money that his deal with Disney+ has given him. And yet, when it came to the Doctor and Donna, I don’t know, it felt that the resolution  was too easy.  Compare it with “Vincent and the Doctor”, where at the end of the day Vincent died, because Vincent had to die.

What I felt worked really well was the issue of Rose. Rose is fundamentally good, yet because of society’s expectations and assumptions is constantly put in a position of having to justify herself. The Meep is fundamentally bad but plays with the assumption that they will always be seen as cute because of how society is conditioned to respond.  I need to devote my answer in more detail  to another post.

One of the other things I liked was that, bizarrely, I kept thinking of “The X Files” as I was watching. I probably need a future post to elaborate on that as well.

Anyway, lots of fun and looking forward to a repeat viewing.

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@jimthefish As a timelord, do you have the capacity to add a forum, or is it only our Emperor @craig who has that capacity?

 

 

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@scaryb Welcome back!

You were 7, I was 11, but there is part of the true Whovian that alway remains 7 or 11.

That’s what makes it all so special.

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Am putting this here, as it is best not to share too much, as spoilers can ruin it for everyone.

Tennant Talks “Doctor Who” Specials Tone

The idea of a very different tone for each special sounds intriguing.

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@devilishrobby

Just watched it myself, and trying to decide if it was charming in its silliness, or up there with the 1978 Star Wars Christmas Special. Am probably tending towards the latter.

 

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@jimthefish. that is really neat. Are we to assume it is your quick sketch? If so, bravo!

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Currently watching “The Ambassadors of Death” with the Pertwee Doctor. Just finished episode 4 (of 7). A rollicking yarn! One of the great tropes of these early 70s shows is the idea that the British government itself is potentially corrupt. Am trying to visualize the same story today. I suppose “potentially” would not be necessary…

Finding it all enormous fun. Will report in again (as the Brigadier would say) when it is all over.

 

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@oochillyo, While I cannot join join you, I would suggest (I assume you have access to BBC iPlayer) season 2 of the Hartnell stories. They are totally different to contemporary Who, but wonderful in their own right.

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As there many on the board these days who automatically look at Forums on the left hand side of the main page for new posts, I thought I would point out a new post (by me, sorry!) under Recent Blog Comments on the right hand side of the main page. It is a reflection on Pertwee’s Doctor, and so will not be of interest to many, but I thought I would point out the different ways of navigating the site as there are many new faces the days, as we excitedly (nervously?) wait for the upcoming specials.

 

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Was just reading about RTD saying he is more than happy to leave Chibnall’s “timeless child” re-working of the Who universe intact. Not sure if this meant he would not actively rewrite it, or simply not engage with it. I always felt the wholesale re-writing of the Who universe with the “timeless child” was wrong-headed. But if RTD simply fails to mention it, that seems like a sensible approach (although, leaving Chibnall’s vision as is means, presumably, accepting that there are no more Time Lords around, which would be a real pity. Still, if the Toymaker can come back, who knows?

What I thought was more amusing was RTD’s refusal to accept the admittedly silly notion that the Doctor in the 1996 TV movie had a human mother.

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@jimthefish We are honoured to have a resident time lord back!

I have been trying to fill in for @wolfweed, but one could never replace him. And I have probably only bothered to mention stuff available in the outposts of empire.

But at least the Celestial Toymaker is about to return (which I think I am more excited about the return of Tennant, to be honest).

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Hello @winston. Great to hear from you. It’s been a while. The DVDs come out before Christmas! You should request multiple copies from the children for the Christmas tree!

They will certainly be under the Blenkinsop Christmas tree!

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Christmas shopping.

https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/doctor-who-60th-anniversary-specials-available-to-pre-order-on-steelbook-dvd-and

 

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3 official dates for your calendar

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/doctor-who-60th-anniversary-tardis-saturday-nights-bbc-one

 

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@janetteb I read your reply to my comment on Akinola and the referendum. Alas, my identity has apparently disappeared and been transfigured ( is it in a timey wimey sort of way…?)

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Yes, @janetteb, his scoring was probably one of the best parts of the Chibnall years, but watching the new trailers, it becomes clear that the tone of Akinola’s music just would not fit RTD’s frentic vision.  So, to that extent, the return to Murray Gold makes perfect sense.

P.S. The referendum outcome seemed sadly predictable.

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Murray Gold returns to Who with new musical themes

 

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New trailer. And it looks good.

 

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Another glimpse of what’s to come

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-jinkx-monsoon-new-photo-newsupdate/

Albeit, coming at an agonizingly slow pace.

 

 

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Should we prepare for colourful language on Who?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/miriam-margolyes-doctor-who

 

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Following the David Tennant specials, it looks like the Ncuti Gatwa season starts in Spring

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230822-new-episodes-of-the-bbcs-doctor-who-will-be-streaming-globally-from-november

 

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@dentarthurdent Yes, the island has been spared the worst, but even it has not escaped entirely on the west coast of the island. But mainland British Columbia has been hit very hard as this story from today illustrates.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/what-you-need-to-know-about-bc-wildfires-aug-18-2023-1.6940311

But as you point out, it is across the planet, from Hawaii to Greece. And are governments taking climate change seriously? Of course not. Where is the Doctor when you need him?

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Thanks @janetteb

We live on the southern part of the island, which fortunately has been spared the fires. The island is large, with a population of more than three quarters of a million people. Some areas, like the west coast, have been hard hit by the fires, but nothing like the apocalyptic images you might have seen on the news elsewhere in Canada. Grim times for a lot of people, unfortunately.

 

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@winston What excellent news! (I have been missing action for a while; hence my belated reply.)

I trust you have appropriate plans in place to spoil the newest arrival rotten, with endless treats!

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I seem to have been gone a while. But I am back with news.

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-series-1-4-blu-ray-newsupdate/

 

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Glenda Jackson. When I look back, my entire adult life has been interspersed with watching truly fabulous performances by Glenda Jackson on film and TV. She gave so much, whether it was in acting or in her career in politics. I only wish I had the opportunity to see her on stage.

Vale Glenda Jackson.

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@nerys Very glad indeed that the fires appear to have finally been contained. We have been following the news from the other side of the county. And very glad that you have both escaped the prospect of having to flee the house. The reality of having to have the bags packed in the car just in case is not one anybody should have to face.

Take care.

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@dentarthurdent Ah, Danger Man, now that was a great show. I have all of it on dvd and we watch it regularly. Returning to the importance of show runners, it was devised and largely written by Ralph Smart, an Australian film maker, who was part of the intellectual and artistic emigration of Australians to Britain such as Clive James, Robert Hughes and others in the post-war years. Smart made a surprisingly nuanced movie about the dispossession of the Aborigines on the Australian frontier, with Chips Rafferty, called Bitter Springs. Danger Man was also surprisingly nuanced as you allude to.

All of which is a long comment to return to my belief that John Nathan Turner was a hopeless show runner who did his best to ruin Who.

 

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@dentarthurdent I actually quite enjoyed the wobbly sets in old Who, and The Avengers with Diana Rigg and The Prisoner with Patrick McGoohan, both when I watched them as a teenager and now. Why? Because the writing and the “vision” of them was miles ahead of American TV at the time. The problem with Who during the JNT years, was that the writing and vision informing the show had lost all that was special about early Who and The Avengers and The Prisoner. So when I criticized “Warriors of the Deep” it was not the budget per se, it was that they were not making “Doctor Who”, they were trying to emulate a Roger Moore James Bond movie. But fortunately, at least, without the double entendres.

Re: the kidney stone, I hope your recovery is speedy.

 

 

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