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  • #78136
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @dentarthurdent Thank you. Spammer has been got rid of.

    #77591
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I just read on t’other place that next week will not be dropped early but will be available everywhere only at terrestrial broadcast time on the BBC.

    So I think we are all vindicated in waiting until broadcast, like in the old days.

    And I do agree with many of Martin Belam’s comments. As soon as it started I thought “WandaVision”. I can’t judge right now. Will wait until next week. But plenty to go bonkers over.

    #77384
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Ruby really needs to stay away from country pubs. Stay in London, Ruby.

    An interesting Doctor-lite and Companion-lite episode.

    I can only guess why they both needed an episode off when there’s only 8 episodes.

    #77339
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I thought it was the best so far – but then I do love a spooky, scary one. I mean, it ripped off “Aliens”, but did it’s own thing with it. And it was almost a bottle episode again, like “Midnight”, with them all stuck in one room. RTD done good this time.

    And for those (maybe not of these shores) who don’t know Rose Ayling-Ellis and how she won “Strictly” here’s the winning dance. She’s a star.

    #77225
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Is it just me or is Ncuti Gatwa just a little bit more of his native Scottish now.

    Anyway, please go bonkers with the theories.

    I have also started a discussion about when I should now open comments on the new episodes which you can find here, and welcome your comments / suggestions.

    Website comments (2)

    #77214
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Hi all,

    As some of you probably know, the first episode is already on iPlayer for those who just can’t wait. Which is probably most of us. I dunno if it’s also available already on other streaming services around the globe.

    But I decided I would wait until it airs on terrestrial television tonight before opening it to comments.

    Is this a good idea or a bad idea? I can open comments at midnight next week if people would prefer.

    Oh, and another smaller reason is I’ve started a new job and I had an early shift today – so early to bed last night. Loving the job, and it’s near Earl’s Court in London. So guess what I get to walk past every day.

    Earls Court Tardis

    #77055
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Well, after a fun day and a few drinks, I got to watch it. And I have to say I didn’t like this one at all. Not really one bit. It seemed like an idea in need of heart and character.

    We hardly got to know Joy beyond cliched heart-plucking lines (I hate those). There was something there but it needed much more development. Moffat has written fantastic, if sentimental, Christmas episodes. I think this could be his worst ever.

    And I hate saying that because I love the programme, I love Moffat’s work. I don’t want to sound like a hater. But this just felt really poor and underdeveloped.

    #76802
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Just posted this morning, for those who may be interested. The Doctor Who panel from Comic Con 2024.

    #76764
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Hi @adrian1

    There is a reason. This isn’t Reddit. If we allowed users to start their own topics we would have a million topics with only a few comments, or none. It would be a mess.

    This was started by commenters on The Guardian’s Doctor Who reviews. The Guardian posted a review and people commented. We tried to keep that model so that the site doesn’t descend into chaos.

    We have some topics that people requested, that have hardly ever had any interaction, such as “Theatre”. The last thing I want to do is start more topics.

    I’m glad you’ve made your request in what we call “The Pub” and hopefully people can help you out.

    Hope that make sense.

    #76711
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @ps1l0v3y0u

    Ha, I did see those pics. I was 12 at that time, but I remember those days

    On a side note. I went to school with Alan Rankin’s sister, my mate went out with her for a brief period. Used to go round to her house and met Alan a few times. He had a massive record collection.

    For those who don’t know, Billy McKenzie and Alan Rankine were The Associates.

    #76709
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I thought this was fun from the satirical news reporter character Jonathan Pie.

    It’s a summation for The New York Times. It’s kinda how I feel.

    #76695
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    For all those not in the UK who are interested – and even for some who are in the UK but want to avoid traditional media, I can suggest two channels on YouTube.

    A Different Bias will be covering the exit polls at 10pm UK time. He’s very good.

    https://www.youtube.com/@ADifferentBias

    And Politics Social will be livestreaming a party all night as the results come in.

    https://www.youtube.com/@politicssocialuk

    I’m going to be tired but hopefully very happy tomorrow.

    #76688
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @blenkinsopthebrave @whohar @ps1l0v3y0u

    The description for this small virtual pub, this little corner of the site is:

    “Somewhere for chat about news, politics, sport etc. Avoid if it’s not for you.”

    No need to apologise for any talk about your political leanings.

    All comments are welcome. If you are a Dalek, cool. Hopefully most of us are not. But no one is going to judge. If someone said they were a big fan of Boris Johnson I would treat it as if they said they were a big fan of the Abzorbaloff.

    I mean, fine, but justify it. Just as I like the occasional troll to justify their “Doctor Who is rubbish now” comments.

    Don’t worry about making a few political points here – that’s the point of this singular topic.

    Regarding PR in the UK – better than Anarchy in the UK. We really need it. The south east controls the whole country. That is just wrong.

    And PR can deliver coalitions that are weak, but the Scottish parliament was set up with a form of PR to try and stop the SNP from ever gaining overall power, and guess what happened, even under PR. People will out.

    I hope for PR too. It’s really the only way we can keep the Tories out forever. Sorry if you are a rich, selfish scumbag.

    https://stopthetories.vote/

    Vote tomorrow.

    #76681
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Just for all the Brits. I stuck this up in my window at the weekend. It’s quite a busy road. Hundreds of people and cars pass by every day.

    Might make a difference. Don’t be apathetic. Every vote counts.

    And the best tactical voting site I have found is https://stopthetories.vote/

    Just put your postcode in.

    Don’t you think they look tired?

    Vote

    #76671
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @whohar @juniperfish

    I just binged watched season 3 of “The Bear” this weekend. And it was amazing.

    And this might sound weird, but hear me out. My cousin watched Season 1, episode 1 and then gave up. Too much shouting and anger by dysfunctional people was kinda her take.

    But season 3 episode 6 is a flashback episode for one of the characters, and it is beautiful. I have recommended to my family that if they think they may struggle to get into “The Bear”, watch S3 Ep6, then go to S1 Ep1. It really sets everything up.

    But I guess that’s not much worse than getting hooked on a Doctor then going back and watching previous Doctors.

    Also, huge fan of “The Boys”. Read all the comics. I mean, they are going full-on this season with a divided America now. It’s crazy and amazing. Latest episode was a bit hard for me, as my Dad has dementia, but I thought it was well done in universe.

    I shall definitely check out “Douglas is Cancelled”. Moffat rarely disappoints, although I thought his David Tennant as a murderous priest was really bad. I can’t say anything good about that.

    #76505
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Following on from my last post, I just imagined a scene where the Doctor tricks Sutekh into bringing Kate back to life. So we all learn Sutekh can bring death to death.

    Kate then sees all her colleagues as dust.

    And then, knowing what he is about to do for the whole universe, the Doctor has to apologise to Kate and say to Sutekh “Kill her again”.

    Because Kate has to be dead to be revived along with everyone else.

    Now that would have been great drama (if I do say so myself).

    #76504
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I was thinking about stories this morning. As some of you know I used to work in the film industry and did script analysis. Before that, film (especially scriptwriting) was my MA.

    The simplest explanation I ever read for plotting a film, and the one that stuck with me the most, was this:

    Get your character(s) stuck up a tree. Throw rocks at them. Get them down again.

    And in these final two episodes RTD did a great job of getting our characters stuck up a tree. And he threw a lot of rocks at them, including the death of everyone in the universe. I just don’t think getting them down again was satisfying.

    And I say that as someone who actually bought into the silliness of a planet being towed back into orbit by a TARDIS. But that involved groundwork, and it involved all the characters working together, each having something to do something to contribute.

    I think if I had read this I would have argued that, if you want to resolve the situation in this way, we need to establish reasonably early that Sutekh is not just death, but can reincarnate by bringing death to death.

    That could have been done subtly. Maybe Rose or Kate has some dried flowers on her desk, and there’s a joke made about them early on. Then the Doctor notices that the flowers were revived as Sutekh was turning people to dust.

    Or it could have been done bigger, with the Doctor testing a theory by luring Sutekh to a pile of ash and seeing the person come back to life.

    I dunno. But it would have helped with my suspension of disbelief issues. Because I don’t know how it all works.

    I mean, Sutekh hung around in London after everyone was dust, and no one was revived. So how does a quick fly-by change that? Is it from power from the vortex? Can Sutekh choose not to revive but somehow being in the vortex discombobulated them or something?

    It’s just disappointing that no one said at some point “This still needs a bit of work because I have questions”.

    #76480
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    After a long day, and then a long evening feeding people, I’m now commenting after 1am.

    My initial thoughts are just that, that was okay, I suppose. It had some nice emotional beats to pluck at the heartstrings. But it didn’t make much sense to me.

    Loved the first 10 minutes. I wondered where they were gonna go from there. But the resolution was, dare I say it, a deus ex machina. Or maybe more literally a deus ex spatium cuniculum (or something like that – my Latin is rusty).

    But RTD does know how to do emotion with his endings, and that seemed to be the overall point. And I liked that. I did shed a little tear.

    Now, I’m off to bed.

    #76405
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    As this is a bit of fun. I was watching Tom Baker and I realised I’ve kinda copied his style. I just need a scarf.

    I volunteer feeding the homeless and those in food poverty every Friday and Sunday night. The organisation is called Streets Kitchen. We do about 100 hot meals a night. Plus sandwiches, pastries, bread and hot drinks.

    I did their website too.

    Home

    These are the lovely people I work with.

    Streets Kitchen

    #76384
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Cheers @blenkinsopthebrave Enjoy.

    #76140
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Just a note on the music played at the dances, be that versions of Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, or of the Doctor Who theme itself.

    I did watch the first season of Bridgerton. It wasn’t really my thing but I watched it while up in Scotland with my Mum and quite enjoyed it. One of the selling points was that all the music played at the dances were modern tunes, just made to sound Regency, Classical or whatever you call it. I remember picking out quite a few.

    There’s a nice playlist of them here (including Bad Guy) if you want to chill out for an hour.

    #76101
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Well, that’s gonna annoy a large proportion of the interwebs. I can’t wait to see the fallout.

    #76028
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I thought you might like this. I follow Prof Tim Wilson on YouTube. He mostly talks about politics. But here he breaks down the latest episode. (with a little bit of politics)

    #75976
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @krathoon

    We have a whole Spoilers topic.

    Spoilers (4)

    Post any spoilers there.

    #75975
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @whohar

    I managed to save it. No idea why it went to spam. Maybe cos it wasn’t the best post ever. πŸ™‚

    As we say in the Help section. Always copy your post (Ctrl+C) before sending, just in case.

    #75895
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @whohar

    I feel guilty I didn’t mention Nicola by name. Now I have.

    She was amazing. So much so they made a documentary about her.

    The BBC did a write up – it’s amazing how bad old websites look.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1595422.stm

    And the British Medical Journal did a review. We both liked this bit.

    “In the first episode Nikki, who has metastatic breast cancer, does more to dispel the stigma of malignant disease than any publicity officer could hope to do even in their wildest dreams. How could anyone still be called a cancer β€œsufferer” after they have been seen kissing in a rave club and getting married by Elvis in Las Vegas?”

    That’s why we did it. She was amazing.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1121486/

    #75894
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @whohar

    No, you’re not misunderstanding. She died of breast cancer over 20 years ago, aged 31, 2 days before her 32nd birthday – which was just last weekend. I had been with her since I was 16, so it was half my life, and all my adult life at the time.

    She asked me to continue to wear the ring she put on my finger. But it didn’t feel right to look like I was married. So I swapped hands.

    I’ve posted her picture before, but why not again?

    Nicola

    #75890
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @juniperfish

    This is a screengrab from the end. No wedding ring, as it is on the right hand. But, as someone who wears his wedding ring on his right hand ever since his wife died, it could still be one.

    ruby wedding ring

    #75887
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @juniperfish

    I’m teasing now. πŸ™‚

    As it says in the help…

    To insert a picture, it must already be available on the web. If you have a personal picture, there are many free hosting sites you can start an account with and upload any pictures you wish.

    Then you can link to it.

    Unless you’re a mod then you can post your own pics.

    Hope that helps.

    #75832
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @dwnerdfrommars

    Contact me. I can build anything on the web. But for a blog you don’t need my help – just a few pointers in the right direction.

    My website: https://www.craigmurray.scot/

    #75828
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I thought this was quite fun. An old interview from the 19th year of Doctor Who with Peter Davison and John Nathan-Turner on the BBC Archive YouTube Channel. It’s a great channel, you get all sorts of weird stuff from the past.

    #75757
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @scaryb Nothing to be sorry about πŸ™‚

    The ending works for me too. I just think, if I was giving notes, The Doctor should have somehow reprogrammed the AI John to attack your recurring friend Susan Twist. It would have given The Doctor more agency.

    By the way, is Susan Twist real? I haven’t Googled her. I’m not sure I want to.

    #75752
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I’ll give my thoughts as it’s a Moffat script. I think that’s probably the episode that has appealed to me the most so far, as I prefer sci-fi over fantasy. And I liked the high-concept. And it was, for all the budget, a bottle episode, and Doctor Who in a quarry (which is fun for us older viewers).

    It had a lot of good ideas. And Moffat really has a thing for religious soldiers, doesn’t he? I just think the resolution let it down. I will watch again when it is not 1am. But I think it was rushed and was an almost literal deus ex machina. Nothing wrong with that, just not to my taste.

    #75679
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @ps1l0v3y0u

    Yeah, the obvious interpretation is “Christmas Waits”. Given Ruby’s origin it seems to be going that way. Is “The one who waits” Father Christmas (or Kris Kringle)?

    #75674
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @gotthejam

    Can you please read the Etiquette page. We have tried to cultivate a site where everyone shows respect for everyone else.

    Phrases like “woke crap” are actually denigrating to people who share those values. You are basically saying “your beliefs and values are crap”.

    Take a deep breath, and consider a different way to make your points. Maybe something like “I’m not sure I like the current episodes. The series seems to be moving in a political direction that I’m not comfortable with”. And then expound why you think that is bad. That would add to the debate. “Woke crap” does not add to the debate.

    #75673
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @bunface

    Here you go πŸ™‚

    Chris Waites billboard

    #75587
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @blenkinsopthebrave Now this is weird. I knew it was dropping on Disney+ slightly earlier. What I didn’t realise was that it was also dropping on the BBC iPlayer at the same time.

    They have dropped the first two episodes – which are showing back-to-back tonight on terrestrial TV.

    I guess I should just open threads for them now and we can gauge from the comments what will be best going forward.

    #75311
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    HI all, just to let you know I have marked MonicaWillims as a spammer (and the jackets people) so we shouldn’t hear from “her” or them again.

    #75071
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @oochillyo

    Hi Declan, I’m just putting this out there for you and for other people who find this a hard time of year. I don’t particularly enjoy it myself, if I’m honest.

    If you are in the UK you can always call The Samaritans on 116 123

    There are other ways to contact them too.

    Samaritans – Contact Us

    I hope you feel better.

    #75014
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    I’m just gonna put this here. I have been watching The Crown on Netflix and it has finally ended.

    I didn’t watch the first three series but when it got up to my era, with Charles and Diana – and Thatcher (grrrr), I started watching. And it was really good.

    There is one incredibly good episode in Series 4 called “Fagan” which is about the guy who broke into the Queen’s bedroom. It’s amazing. It’s like a Ken Loach movie. I always wonder what all the old ladies who love The Crown for all its splendour thought of that episode.

    If you only watch one episode of The Crown watch “Fagan” to see what Britain was like under Thatcher (and is becoming again under an ever-changing bunch of a**wipes).

    My mother tells me the early series were great too but, then, they were her era. Matt Smith was Prince Philip in those so that ties in to our little site.

    But what I wanted to just say is that the final episode is like a Doctor Who special. Honestly. I’m not joking. I won’t spoil anything except to say that The Queen exits the TARDIS. That’s what it felt like to me.

    I really didn’t expect that. And I thought it was a great ending. Any other people who’ve watched feel the same way?

    #74983
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @scaryb and @jimthefish

    That is indeed very sad news. I was a little bit in love with Halo Jones when I was young. He also did fine work on other characters – making Judge Dredd a skinny boy is bold but he pulled it off (and something I appreciate, being a skinny boy).

    I just grabbed this off my shelf – think I’ll read it again tonight.

    Halo Jones

    #74896
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @phaseshift I almost spat out my gin and tonic at “pet Tennant” πŸ™‚

    #74885
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Short comment. That was weird but I liked it. It’s almost like RTD can never let David Tennant go. “I’ll create a double to be with Rose”. Then “I’ll create a bi-Doctor to be with Donna”. Is bi-Doctor the right term? I have no idea. I’m sure people more informed than me will come up with the right term.

    But of course, it means we can get the old gang back together anytime we want. And why not? And why wouldn’t you want to?

    #74829
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Many thanks @dentarthurdent Very kind of you.

    Just as a reminder, if anyone else wants to donate to Streets Kitchen, which feeds the homeless and those in food poverty 7 days a week, and also provides tents and sleeping bags and clothes and sanitary products etc. you can do so here:

    https://peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/streets-kitchen-winter-appeal

    #74811
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @juniperfish and @jimthefish Many thanks for your contributions. Very kind. They will be put to good use.

    Cheers.

    #74771
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Hi all, I’m not a huge fan of doing this, but times are tough for a lot of people. Especially those most vulnerable.

    I volunteer for an organisation called Streets Kitchen. I feed the homeless, and those in food poverty, every Friday and Sunday night (was doing it last night). Streets Kitchen does it 7 days a week. I’ve been doing it for about 4 months now.

    Here’s me. I’m trying to be like The Doctor. πŸ™‚

    Streets Kitchen

    I also, because I can, now do their website – although it still needs a lot of work.

    https://www.streetskitchen.org/

    We have a Winter Appeal which will go to food and tents and socks and underwear and jeans and jackets etc. to keep people alive over winter.

    We’re halfway there. If you would like to contribute, that’d be cool.

    https://peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/streets-kitchen-winter-appeal

    Many thanks.

    #74690
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    Hi all, now I’m back for a bit I was thinking about a bit of an upgrade. I’m Scottish and I may be a bit like Tennant and I would kinda like a new TARDIS (I like the new one).

    This site is over 10 years old and needs a new coat of paint (and a code upgrade for the 2020s).

    I’m not gonna do it before Christmas, because I don’t want to break anything now.

    But all comments and ideas are welcome, if you like that kind of thing. My problem is that I do. πŸ™‚

    #74666
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @missy your comment did make me laugh.

    The tagline for the site is “Theories even more insane than what’s actually happening” which is a Rory quote.

    This site is all about over-analysing. That’s why it exists.

    And sometimes, just sometimes, the analysis is correct and revealed to be in the final episode. Or even three series later.

    It’s part of the fun.

    #74632
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    And I have my treats in. Although I shop at Aldi, so they are bargain-basement treats. There’s a cost-of-living crisis on, don’t you know. Still, not the end of the world.

    Treats

    #74593
    Craig @replies
    Emperor

    @blenkinsopthebrave and @jimthefish. Don’t worry, I’m still alive, just very busy, but I will be updating the site tomorrow for the big new grand opening of what I think they are now calling Season 1 (again).

    Love to you all.

Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 1,884 total)