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@Shazzbot

Aww, hey there my birdie friend, why didn’t you like Planet of the Dead?

Admittedly I only saw it once, so perhaps with a rewatch my opinion might be different.  However I hated it so much the first time around I’m not going anywhere near it.  I think the problem was that there seemed to be run of rather ropey episodes towards the end of RTDs run and this one was emblematic of them.  Instead of a nice, strong, simple storyline, it had a series of flashy events sewn together which for me didn’t meld.  I’d rant on for a bit, but as I mentioned upstream, I’ve wiped the horror from my brain and can’t remember any details.  Apart from Michelle Ryan who I do recall wasn’t very convincing.

Mind you, I’m the first to admit it might be down purely to taste.  Some of the listed favourite AG episodes of others I didn’t rate at all.

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@Shazzbot

I see your Love and Monsters and raise you Planet of the Dead. 

Just the worst, in fact I had to look it up as I’d completely wiped it from my brain as it was so terrible.

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@phaseshift

Oops, sorry.  Forgot all about that thread (distracted by Talons, etc).  However in mitigation technically it was a ‘news’ story although admittedly the source (The Sun) can only loosely described a newspaper.

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What’s quite interesting about these lists of potential Doctors is that depending on which source you read, a different bunch of names are definitely in the running.

Julian Rhind-Tutt fits the current mould as he has the floppy hair but his erstwhile co-colleague, Stephen Mangan, was another name doing the rounds for a bit.  I probably prefer Mangan as I really liked the Dirk Gently series which was on last year.  Of course the BBC cancelled that but never mind.

I still think it’s likely to be Kinnear though.  Now that the show is big abroad, in no part thanks to Matt, I do wonder if they’d risk sticking a virtual unknown in there.  As Kinnear has been in the Bond films he’s looking like the frontrunner to me.

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The Grauniad has another story about a ‘potential’ Doctor Who cribbed from The Sun:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2013/jun/19/doctor-who-julian-rhind-tutt

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Oh, please God no. Haven’t we suffered enough:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22937739

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@tennantmarsters2013

How did jack turn into the face of boe?

This is addressed at the end of series 1 & 3 (AG).  Caused by super tardis-y Rose.  Here’s the wikipedia entry (saves me writing it!) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_of_Boe

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@phaseshift

That’s a great clip.  Not for Arabella Weir, but for Tennant lurking at the side.

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Aaa @bluesqueakpip that does make sense.  Alas I don’t have the box set, only bought the Matt Smith ones.  However my Ecclestone recordings were done off the telly so are kosher, unlike *cough* maybe some of the later episodes.  In mitigation, I’m waiting for the box set of series seven to come out.

I’m looking forward to the next episode of Talons @craig, I’m following the rules of one episode a week to build up the excitement.  It does take the biscuit that our tiny little site is doing more to mark the 50th anniversary than the BBC but there you go.

 

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Aa, this catch-up is fun.  Although as Talons is only c.25mins and this double parter was about 85 mins it’s much more difficult to fit it all in.  Can we have a single episode next week?

However, to business.  ‘The Empty Child’ was on my top 15 list of best AG episodes but the second part wasn’t.  Having watched them again, what makes me not include ‘The Doctor Dances’ is also why I have problems with Ecclestone’s Doctor.  Ecclestone is a great, serious actor.  I’m afraid he’s no good at light hearted banter, and actually looks really uncomfortable delivering some of the lines.  When he’s dad dancing at the end to Glen Miller my intestines were cringing in sympathy.

That’s not to say I didn’t like the first series, but as @jimthefish mentioned above, Ecclestone wasn’t quite right.  For me what really showed this up was Tennant’s effortless light touch in his first Xmas episode.  He had the dramatic weight but also a real comic gift.  Something which Matt Smith also has.  I do hope the new person will have this balance too.

In terms of story, this episode was the first AG one which I thought would have given me nightmares as a child – just as some of the original series did.  What is apparent though, is that Moffat’s storytelling seems to have got far more sophisticated over the years, ie if you compare the hokey typewriter typing on its own to the later, really disturbing graffiti in the orphanage in ‘Day of the Moon’.

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I must admit, I did laugh out loud when the giant rat appeared.  Not quite the effect they were going for then I’m sure.  The little puppet  Mr Sin was deeply creepy however.

Speaking of Tom dressed as Sherlock Holmes, here he is as Sherlock Holmes in that version of Hound of the Baskervilles he did yonks ago…

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I found myself getting all excited when the theme tune came on.  Whilst the opening credits are, like @phaseshift says, a bit doom laden, going from my hazy memory and the couple of episodes I’ve seen since they were first on, I wouldn’t have described Tom Baker as cranky and serious @curvedspace.  Actually quite the reverse.

Anyway to the episode.  I did enjoy it and it zipped along nicely.  What is interesting, looking back with a modern TV viewer’s eye, is how little of the story is being telegraphed.  We only know that eight women are missing, there is a giant rat in the sewer and the little puppet is alive.  Oh yes, and there are only three Chinese TV actors in the 1970s, the rest of the goons being some rather awkward white blokes in mandarin costumes.  Agreeing with @phaseshift‘s comments on the casting, what I thought was interesting is that Tom Baker does seem to be speaking something approaching Mandarin to the Chinese bloke who had been arrested.

What the episode put me in mind of was the various Fu Manchu films, crossed with one of the volumes of ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  White slavery is usually the answer – it even crops up in Thoroughly Modern Millie if I recall.

Next week!  How many episodes dare I ask were in Talons?

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I forgot that the BG series was on so early – just before ‘He who shall not be named‘ll Fix It’ or ‘Basil Brush’.

Not sure I’ll be able watch it strictly at that time, but as there is bugger on on telly tonight, I shall certainly squeeze it in to my Saturday schedule.

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@htpbdet (sans S)

Glad to have you back!  Ooh and with the inside gossip too.

I think Andrew Scott would be good, but perhaps it’s a cross pollination step too far.  As long as it’s someone who can project a bit of personality.  Sacrilege I know (considering the ‘E’ in your name), but I thought that Ecclestone lacked a certain something in this area.

 

 

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Neil Gaiman is in charge of the Grauniad Book site for the day: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2013/jun/14/neil-gaiman-taking-over-guardian-books-site

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Re: remedial school idea

Is there any scope in hooking our remedial watching to the episodes which the BFI were/are showing?  I realise they’ve probably done most of them, but as the Q&A’s with the cast/production crew are available online it might add another dimension.

Of course those of you who remember BG will have watched them, but some of us (ie me) may not have.

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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…

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@whisht

Arsenal have left it a bit late in the manager recruitment front to boot out Arsene now.  There’s no one left – apart from Bertie Vogts that is.  Or Stuart Pearce (very soon).

Expect to find a double bluff of a certain Rory Kinnear signing very soon…

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…but I could be wrong…

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@bluesqueakpip

what, you mean that they’re bluffing that he isn’t the Doctor by not confirming it when in fact he is?

Eh?  Hang on isn’t that a triple bluff? I’m saying he is the new Doctor but the BBC are a bit cheesed off and aren’t commenting, but by not commenting you think they mean that he is the Doctor and indeed he is.  *thinks, that last sentence did make sense in my head but not now that it’s written down*

To cut a long story short, I think that Rory Kinnear is the new Doctor.

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All a bit quiet on the Doctor Who front.

I’m still wondering if the Rory Kinnear thing is a double bluff.  It has put the kibosh on speculation, certainly from the media’s point of view although there was an interview with Dominic Cooper today in the Evening Standard where Doctor Who was mentioned – likely to have been conducted before the RK story on Sunday though.

When David Morrissey was in the Crimbo episode ‘The Next Doctor’ he was going on telly and the radio teasing us and being all coy.  RK is notable by his absence.

Leaving this aside, does the multiple regenerations theory favoured by @blenkinsopthebrave via the Qantas Club Lounge include a Kennedy incarnation?

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@lula

The Telegraph is one of the broadsheets here in the UK – that is not a tabloid like The Sun. A bit like The Times, although ironically that paper is owned by Rupert Murdoch who also owns The Sun.  It has a right wing viewpoint, as opposed to the Grauniad which is left leaning.

Generally the stories are legit in the Telegraph, I can’t recall the paper ever getting sued over stories they’ve run in the past,  but in this case I have no idea.  The report is beginning to appear in the other UK papers (ie The Independent & the Daily Express) but these are clearly taken from the Telegraph too.

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Hmmm, I’m coming round to the idea.  In a reverse of my position earlier on, perhaps not being ‘lead man’ material might be a good thing.  It’s a bit tiring having the companions/assistants swooning all over the place.

It’s odd because last time I was convinced that the Moff would go young and cast someone like Ben Whishaw.  Indeed he did go young, but cast another floppy-haired young actor.  Although I’ve not posted this name before,  the last couple of days I got it into my head they were going to cast someone like Rafe Spall, ie an acting son of a more famous actor.  Instead it’s looking like Rory Kinnear.

If only I could get my predictions a little bit closer, I’d be down that betting shop…

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@jimthefish

I like Rory Kinnear too, but I’m not sure if he’s got the ‘leading man’ quality that the last two Doctors had.

After the floppy-fringedness of Matt, a slap-headed Doctor would be a change.  I’d still go for Toby Jones though, but he’s probably too busy.

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There’s a story on the Telegraph about a possible new Doctor Who: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10108234/BBC-asks-James-Bond-star-to-be-its-new-Doctor-Who.html

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Hey I suggested Domnhall Gleeson a while back.  What with our new high profile site, you don’t think people have been getting their info from us?

Dominic Cooper does, I agree, come across as smug, plus he’s another who was in the History Boys.  Surely they can look a bit outside of that cast?

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Short news story on JLC’s reaction to Matt’s departure: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22813229

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Yes that’s right folks, I’ve trademarked my trademark.

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@pedant

I think the phrase you were after was:

I’ll see you in court over the bonkers theorising trademark™!

he he

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Hello @Shazzbot

Glad to see you using my trademarked phrases.  I should be on the Apprentice with my money making schemes!  The fact that I’ve not made any money is practically a shoo-in.

I had a brain wave yesterday of my ideal Doctor.  He’s already been in the series but he could easily be worked in with very little explanation.

Toby Jones!  Yes my friends, the Dream Lord.

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Exhibit one….

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@ardaraith, et al

Putting my bonkers theorising™ pipe aside, I doubt it will be a kiddie due to the UK child labour laws.  Now that may be wishful thinking on my part, but I couldn’t stand another RoA singing moppet again.  People might slag of Bonnie Langford as a companion, but *ahem* my granny remembered her as a child actress.  She still has palpitations thinking about it.

My suggestions now that I’m faced with a choice between Glenn Hoddle and Bertie Vogts?

Domhnall Gleeson?  Red hair [check]; not too famous but has work experience on telly [check]; been in Harry Potter and therefore slightly familiar to core audience [check].

Now I’d rather have his pop Brendan Gleeson but he’s too famous.

 

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Pah! Another off my list Roberto Martinez

The Moff better hurry up, or we’ll be left with Bertie Vogts.

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Pah!  Jose Mourhino’s signed for Chelsea *crosses him off the list of potential doctors, but keeps him as a possible Master*.

On my Fantasy Doctor Who football team I’m left with:

1) Roberto Martinez

2) Roberto Mancini

3) Glenn Hoddle

4) Wayne Rooney

5) Bertie Vogts

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Someone upstream mentioned Damien Lewis – well he’s sort of busy in Homeland.  However I’ve always thought his wife was a better actor.  Unfortunately we’ve already seen her as the baddie in Vampires of Venice, but with a bit of judicious hairdressing she could sneak back in.

As for Ben Whishaw, curiously enough I was convinced that he was going to be the Eleven.  Then they announced Matt Smith.

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@phaseshift

Thanks for posting that link, it looked spectacular.  I especially liked when the Cybermen upgraded the building and the squeals when the Angels kept getting closer.

It is getting a bit depressing in Britain re: the lack of any build up for the 50th.  Australians get a fancy pants 3D projection and three of the Doctors a-visiting.  we get an email leaked on twitter by a nobody.  Doesn’t really cut the mustard does it?

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@scaryb

That radio times article is hysterical – Interesting that Jose Mourinho seems to be emerging as something of a front runner. What was that you said earlier @chickenelly?

Well, thinking about it now that I’ve woken up, it does all fit in spookily.  Old Abramovic will be foiled again when Jose chooses to go off to the Tardis instead.  However bear in mind that he’ll sell off JLC and buy a more expensive companion.  Ronaldo perhaps?

Hang on, Alex Ferguson is free!  And he’s Scottish!  He’d be a shoo-in for those Scottish stereotypes/characteristics the Moff likes to slip into Who.

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@juniperfish

To mark the solemn occasion, I’m in mourning hence my black Victorian bonnet.

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Turns out Jose Mourinho isn’t going to be the new Doctor.  I suspect he’s holding out for the Master.

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I’m still waiting for my caffeine to kick in, but in my bleary eyed condition I could have sworn I heard on BBC Breakfast that Jose Mourhino was the new Doctor Who.  Maybe Matt Smith is the new manager of Chelsea?

 

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@tiddler

Well it is all over the BBC website and the Grauniad so it would be hard to miss.

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I’ve switched my avatar to full mourning (with a black victorian bonnet) to mark the occasion.

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Noooooooo….

Well to be honest it was coming.  Hope the new person will be good, we’ve lucked out with the last three.

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@bluesqueakpip

Why have you posted two dolls of Michael Ball?

Oh, it’s Colin Baker

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@craig

 I’m still sticking wth my idea that it’s Tennant’s time stream, with Tennant now the Eleventh, now that Hurt has appeared.

Oooh I like that theory, but does that mean he was actually Eleven before jumping into the timestream, but the act changed history so Hurt appeared?

Alternatively, ‘Clara prime’ who we presume has been knocking about in series 7.2 may be Clara clone, and the person she saw in the History of the Time War was either Hurt Doctor or one of the previous incarnations whom she recognised in some kind of timey wimey way.

*thinks, when is the Doctor Who piece coming on Newsnight?*

 

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Aaah the Bank Holiday is over, back to work and posting about Doctor Who.  Quick foray into Bonkers Theory™ territory.

Following on from @pufferfish‘s comments.  Clara deleted the Doctor from every database, but if the GI was chucked into the Doctor’s timestream would the Doctor have been in those databases anyway?  He might be, but as history is written by the winners, and the Doctor kept losing, then probably not.  It would be the GI who would be getting the reputation for all that stuff.

It’s unclear whether Clara did in fact manage to sort it all out, she does say she’s been trying to contact the Doctor for years but is only noticed a few times – by Eleven.

 

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If you like Horror Express, Christopher Fowler’s ‘Hell Train’ is a good read.  The framing device is someone attempting to write a horror film for Hammer and even Cushing and Lee make an appearance.

A bit portmanteau, but all the stories take place aboard the 19th century train in the story written by the scriptwriter.

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I’d stick with the Rose & Crown too, because:

a) It’s canon

b) You’ve already got a picture of the sign

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Re: the date 10/04/2013

If you add up the numbers as single digits it gives you 11.

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Oops @blenkinsopthebrave

I didn’t mean the above post, I was thinking about you and Mrs Blenkinsop crying buckets watching Vincent & the Doctor.

 

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