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3 November 2018 at 09:38 #65378
Just a general shout-out. As I’m currently ‘funemployed’ I’d thought I’d ask your opinion on this – don’t worry if you don’t have the time. This is not an assignment – but if you’re looking for something to read that will only take you a couple of hours you might enjoy it.
The BBC are making a three-part TV show of a book called “Death and Nightingales” by Eugene McCabe, starring Jamie Dornan – he of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and ‘The Fall’.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/death-and-nightingales
Many years ago I worked for the producer, Jonathan Cavendish, who is producing this version. In my earlier life I used to read scripts for him and work on development. I also wrote some scripts.
He bought the rights to the book, and after one adaptation that wasn’t accepted, I adapted it and they bought my script, but nothing came of it at the time. It was a hot property at the time. Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, when they were married, also tried to buy the rights.
Now, 22 years later, it’s finally getting made – but not with my script. Just the way things work out. Who would be a screenwriter?
Anyway, I’m thinking I might go back to writing, so I’d be interested to hear what you think. Any good?
It obviously spoils the whole TV series. So if you don’t want spoilers… don’t read it.
Also, trigger warnings, it’s quite dark – it features spousal abuse, threats of child abuse etc. – I didn’t come up with the story, I only dramatised it. So again, if you don’t fancy that, don’t feel the need to read it.
There are some glaring typos – I’m ashamed I mix up ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ occasionally, and ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ etc. But hey, I was young and I wrote it quickly (and there was no ‘grammar check’ or ‘spell check’ in those days).
https://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Death-and-Nightingales.pdf
My old phone number is on there but it’s changed, so don’t try calling. 🙂
For those interested, I hope you like it.
31 October 2018 at 19:25 #65296@thane16 I only just saw your question. Sorry. This won’t answer your question, but it will educate. One of my favourite talks about science and the existence of God. It’s very entertaining, Neil deGrasse Tyson is a fun watch, so enjoy. And it asks, is our idea of God just a God of the gaps that gets narrower and narrower as we learn more? It’s up to you to decide and make your own mind up.
But the main point is, it seems to me anyway, that the more we learn and discover, the less a belief in God becomes important or even relevant.
30 October 2018 at 21:38 #65240@jimthefish I’ll let you off, you non-Scottish person!
30 October 2018 at 21:18 #65237@idiotsavon Scottish Labour hates the SNP – so much so that in many Scottish councils they have done deals with the Conservatives to keep the SNP out of power.
I’m not even joking. You couldn’t make it up!
30 October 2018 at 21:12 #65236@jimthefish I haven’t yet read everything but I hate you already. 🙂
My family (on my mother’s side) is from Ireland and I looked into getting an Irish passport. But it was too many generations ago. You lucky beggar.
30 October 2018 at 20:56 #65233@idiotsavon Thanks. But it’s actually a myth that Scottish votes swing it for Labour. As I said, there are so few Scottish MPs that it doesn’t matter how we vote in Scotland. All that matters is how England votes.
I can give you charts if you want. 🙂
30 October 2018 at 20:38 #65228@troygorsline I didn’t see that episode, but hopefully you’re being nice. I’ll have to look it up. I tried to be measured in my comment as I know it’s a difficult subject.
30 October 2018 at 20:30 #65225The Conservatives don’t want the European Court of Human Rights to have any rule over the UK – because they want to “take back control”. So basically, they don’t want us to have any human rights. 🙂
The EU is not insisting on a hard border – it is pointing out that you can’t have Northern Ireland and Ireland without a hard border, if one is not in the EU. You say “good solutions do exist” but I’ve yet to hear one and I listen to the news about 7 times a day. They keep going on about technology solutions but no one has a real clue.
If violence erupts in Northern Ireland (and then bombs on the UK mainland) it will be very much on the UK Government for breaking the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. No one could blame the EU with a straight face.
And no probs about you arguing – that’s what the pub’s for. We’re here to educate each other and have a bit of banter. Can I buy you a drink? 🙂
30 October 2018 at 19:56 #65223Hi @lisa
The Scottish Government funds free University out of its own budget. So it will probably continue.
There is a mixed reaction to Brexit within the Scottish fishing industry. At first they hated the fact that, for example, the Spanish could come and fish in Scottish waters. So they voted for Brexit. Now that it looks like, even after Brexit, other European countries will still have the right to fish in Scottish waters (because the UK Government can’t negotiate themselves out of a paper bag) there are many who are changing their point of view.
And I’m really not over-thinking my loss of freedom of movement or European Rights. In fact, I under-played it. If we lose the European Court of Human Rights that’s like tearing up the American Constitution (I’m not joking). I had a friend at University – many years ago – who was gay and he and his boyfriend took a case all the way there after every British court found against them and they won (I can’t remember what it was about but I could look it up if you want).
Plus, if I get killed by an IRA bomb in London, that’s gonna be pretty dire. When I first moved to London the IRA were still setting off bombs. It was a fact of life. It hasn’t been a fact of life for many years. But maybe it’s worth it for a blue passport?
I hope you go vote next week. Is it next week? Go do some good, and, as you say, get the orange idiot impeached.
30 October 2018 at 19:42 #65222@juniperfish @swordwhale Now I’m going to get myself in even more trouble than my recent post about Brexit.
I don’t doubt that there are real trans men and women and I feel they need everyone’s support. It must be very difficult. Unfortunately, in the UK at least, there are people hijacking the trans narrative and no one challenges it because they might be seen as politically uncorrect.
For example, there are male sex offenders claiming to be trans so they can get sent to women’s prisons. There are trans women standing on all women shortlists for election (when they may have only a few years of knowledge of what it is like to be a woman) therefore taking a place of someone who has been a woman all their life. And the Labour Party made a trans woman their women’s spokesman (or something). There are also trans women competing in women’s sports – and beating everybody, sometimes breaking bones and ending careers, because they have a man’s body.
Now, that may all be progressive. But part of me thinks we should pull on the brakes and maybe take a moment to consider how it effects women’s rights – especially as it seems men are invading women’s spaces much more than women are being allowed to invade men’s spaces.
As you say – the conversation needs to happen.
30 October 2018 at 17:59 #65213@lionheart564 I forgot to mention, if you look at the main navigation, there is a “Help” section which might, well, help!
30 October 2018 at 17:30 #65211@lionheart564 Welcome. It’s always nice to have new members. And don’t worry, I put this site together and I still don’t know how it all really works.
But it works most of the time.
It’s a bit like The Doctor and the TARDIS in that way!
30 October 2018 at 17:19 #65207@lionheart564 Thanks for letting me know. For some reason it ended up in the “spam” folder – I’ve released it – is this the one you mean:
I didn’t write the code for this site, just bodged it together overnight one Christmas using WordPress and Buddypress. For some reason, if you make an edit too quickly or too many times it thinks you’re spamming the site. It’s always a good idea to copy your post before hitting “Submit” just in case.
Please let me know if you have any more problems.
30 October 2018 at 16:14 #65202@lisa @idiotsavon @bluesqueakpip @pedant @thane16 and others
I might get myself in trouble now. As I’m having a quiet day I thought I would join in with my thoughts on Brexit – I will try to keep it brief (so possibly I might seem facile, but hopefully not).
I am in an interesting position as I think the people of Scotland would be better off leaving the union that is the United Kingdom, but would be better off staying in the union that is the European Union. How do I reconcile the two?
Scotland, despite having some devolved powers, still has most of the big decisions made in London and has basically no control over them whatsoever, and never will have because of the low number of Scottish MPs in London.
The EU is made up of many countries and has, despite what some may think, a more democratic way of making decisions as countries cannot run roughshod over the will of other countries.
In addition, most of the money that goes to Europe is returned in the form of grants for things like farming, fishing, urban renewal, help for deprived areas (I worked on an EU-funded building project while a student). If that ends, guess what, that money will be ear-marked for tax cuts for the rich. I don’t care what the politicians say.
And as for taking back our freedoms – we’re actually GIVING THEM UP by leaving the EU. I’ll have to apply for a visa to go to Spain, I won’t be able to use the health service for free in Italy, won’t be able to pop over to France and bring back as much wine and cigarettes as I can fit in my car. UK citizens living in Europe may have to leave. My French doctor may have to leave the UK.
Oh, and it’s maybe a minor thing but violence could break out in Northern Ireland again – so we could get bombs going off in London, Liverpool, Birmingham etc.
The whole thing is a mess being overseen by incompetents.
But, y’know, we get blue passports (made in France) and now a new 50p piece. So rejoice!
Be kind in any responses.
30 October 2018 at 15:46 #65200As I said, we’re keeping an eye on it. Most of the trolls seem to be ‘one comment and they’re out’ kinds, but if it does get out of hand we will step in. You don’t have to read it. I’ve seen plenty of reviews and comments online of, for example, “Rosa” that have been extremely critical.
What I don’t want is any dissension stamped on just because some people don’t agree with it. People are entitled to their opinions and we should be open to that. I’m not the automatic deleting kind.
When this site first started there were a few at the Guardian that said “Oh, that’s the site where everyone just agrees with everyone else”. That’s obviously been false from the start – what it is, what it should be, is the site where everyone is civil to everyone else, no matter their difference of opinion, beliefs, race, country of origin etc.
If I’m honest, there have been times when I thought you, @pedant, had stepped over the line or at least been very close to it, but I let it go. So I give the same courtesy to others. If it’s one post and we never see them again, fine. If a pattern of behaviour develops then action might have to be taken. That’s how I try to moderate things.
I may be wrong – but so far it’s worked and we’ve attracted some wonderful members who enjoy this place.
30 October 2018 at 11:59 #65192@pedant @jimthefish @thane16 @janetteb
I was well aware that there would be a bunch of idiots signing up for this season just to post stupid or hateful comments about a female Doctor or too many people of colour etc. However, I am also aware that we have a great community here, and the trolls (which is what they are) are shot down quickly. And I love you all for that.
I’m okay with leaving up the troll comments if they are shot down, or just ignored. If they do start to derail the conversation then I or Jim will step in. But the old (ha “old”) adage always applies – don’t feed the trolls.
Just ignore them. I’m in two minds about deleting posts. If something is objectively offensive, to someone or about the programme, then yes, but if someone is just proving themselves a racist or an idiot I kinda feel it should be left up so they can look a fool online forever.
When this site first started I, and others, used to have hours of arguments with trolls and idiots and they eventually went away – they’re still up for anyone who wants to search them out. I’m glad we did that though – because we now have the site we have.
But, I’m not the boss here – you all are. Let me know what you think.
30 October 2018 at 02:25 #65166@jimthefish @blenkinsopthebrave @pedant
Also see the term ‘broflakes’ – who are annoyed there isn’t an “International Man’s Day”, or a “Straight Pride”.
Idiots.
29 October 2018 at 10:38 #65122@geoffers What I liked about the ‘Strictly…’ dance was that after 3 episodes, Whittaker’s look is already iconic enough to be part of a Halloween special.
29 October 2018 at 10:22 #65121@juniperfish At the end of the episode The Doctor had changed to the red-ish T-shirt. And looks to be wearing it next week, which looks like it is set in the future, or at least in space. I think your colour-coding is working so far.
28 October 2018 at 23:18 #65096@jimthefish As long as he doesn’t ask her about her period 😉
For anyone offended – it’s in the film!
28 October 2018 at 22:23 #65090@jimthefish I don’t know if you noticed, but next week one of the main characters is played by Brett Goldstein, who was Whittaker’s quirky love interest in “Adult Life Skills”. Now, that could be incestuous casting, or it could mean an episode with some great chemistry. Maybe that will be her chance to really let go.
28 October 2018 at 19:56 #65071Well, the special effects have come a long way.
28 October 2018 at 08:54 #65051@blenkinsopthebrave Can I just say “Yay!”
28 October 2018 at 08:04 #65049@bluesqueakpip Ha ha. I woke up to that in my Twitter feed this morning and was going to post it. Very funny, and actually quite good (although I know nothing about dancing). The theme was well done.
27 October 2018 at 17:11 #65040@juniperfish I know it probably isn’t so, but in my head-canon I like to think they’re giving a little nod to you.
25 October 2018 at 19:41 #64972@msrbahar You say “I don’t have to be a musician or music PhD to know what I like or think is a good score that works with a drama” which is fine. You also say “I have heard nothing original always a constant synthesizer background that gets annoying with an occasional drum beat, horrible!! No talent!” (I have edited for errors).
You are entitled to your opinion. I couldn’t do that score. I quite enjoy it. I love Talking Heads. I couldn’t write ‘Psycho Killer’ or ‘Burning Down The House’.
I think it’s been explained that there are many people involved in the score for Doctor Who.
If you have a problem with it, fine. I’d like you, in a positive way, to point to scores you love. We have a music topic where you can post YouTube clips, or SoundCloud:
By the way, I love the Hitchcock / Herrmann scores. North by Northwest being one of my favourites.
23 October 2018 at 20:24 #64860@jimthefish Many thanks anyway. And I meant Sunday, not Saturday – still getting used to it!
23 October 2018 at 20:12 #64858@bluesqueakpip That’s the heart of it. The Doctor didn’t convince Rosa to keep her seat. She did it anyway. They just kept history the same as it was. Which was a very clever writers’ decision and didn’t take any agency from the real Rosa Parks.
23 October 2018 at 20:04 #64855@jimthefish @cathannabel I’m back from a little break – thanks Jim for handling the odd guy on Saturday. I’ll be keeping a close watch now.
I thought it might be a difficult week this week, what with a new, female Doctor and Civil Rights. It’s not been as bad as I thought. Still the odd idiot though.
But I’m back, and my sonic is set to anti-troll mode.
23 October 2018 at 19:12 #64852@texasferrets Oh, I love people who join up to complain. Rather than jump to the bait I’ve tried to let people make fools of themselves regarding a woman Doctor and now the Civil Rights movement.
And you’ve done that. Good job. You’ve proved yourself to be quite unaware of the world around you. I could point out all the issues with your post but, really, you’re not worth my time.
16 October 2018 at 10:53 #64558@nearlysane I loved the second series – they start taking it in a whole new direction, and the final episode was actually quite touching.
But I do struggle to see how they can take it beyond three series – but they might surprise me – so far the third series has been great as well.
16 October 2018 at 00:26 #64537I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this before. Sorry if I missed a comment. But ‘The Good Place’ came on to my radar recently and I’ve been binge-watching it on Netflix.
Its got a great pedigree and combines comedy with moral philosophy. Ted Danson was recently nominated for an Emmy for Season Two.
It’s about a woman who dies and ends up in ‘The Good Place’, only to realise that there’s been a mistake and she should really be in ‘The Bad Place’. So she tries to be a better person so that she can stay, by learning morals and ethics.
It’s very funny, clever and a lot of it is very inventive. There are crazy twists and turns, and it’s just really enjoyable.
And for those who’ve been on this forum for a while, guess what? There’s a whole episode on the trolly problem. Loved it.
14 October 2018 at 21:23 #64474Just watched the opening credits again – still do love the new (but kinda old) theme tune. It’s a nice nod.
As there weren’t any opening credits last week, and this week we got opening credits without a TARDIS, I wonder if they’ll have TARDIS in them next week?
Just a thought.
14 October 2018 at 21:17 #64473@jimthefish Yeah, I kinda thought I’d let the sunglasses thing ride, but seeing as there was such a big point made about empty pockets in the first story it seemed weird.
Unless they’re just charity shop sunglasses and she was joking? Maybe?
14 October 2018 at 20:41 #64467I don’t think this counts as spoilers – just a nice insight into the new TARDIS.
14 October 2018 at 20:23 #64463@pedant @miapatrick I had a thought last week that there might be an arc based on the SkyHigh company that the targeted bloke’s Dad owned – that there was a reason he was targeted by an alien *predator*. I mean, why pick him?
Might still be right.
Personally, I don’t think we’ve seen much of the new TARDIS, but what I’ve seen so far I love.
14 October 2018 at 13:33 #64452Here’s Kevin Smith on his diet – which he got from Penn Jilette (of magicians Penn & Teller) who also had a health scare.
I don’t know if this is of any use, hopefully not condescending – but it shows you’re not alone.
Good luck.
13 October 2018 at 20:06 #64438@pedant As everyone has said, sorry to hear about the diagnosis. I had a few problems recently and had to go for blood tests but thankfully turns out I just need to “stop smoking, drink less and eat more fruit and vegetables” – which is what I think all doctors say to everyone. Have subscribed.
Seriously though, my boss was diagnosed with Type 2, he would be the first to admit he was overweight, and as you are doing, he changed his diet and it has done him the world of good.
I don’t know if you heard, but Kevin Smith (director of Clerks, Mallrats etc) had a heart attack recently. He survived but he was told to go vegan – he jokes about it but I don’t think he really enjoys it. His daughter does though, as she was already vegan. He’s lost about 25kg in the last few months and looks a different person. He jokes that he would lose in a Silent Bob lookalike competition because he’s too skinny now to play himself.
Here’s one of the interviews he did. He makes it funny, but it’s pretty amazing he’s still alive.
10 October 2018 at 20:09 #64384@juniperfish I think my favourite bit was in the AG one – “Spacial Justice Warrior”. Just genius.
@jimthefish That sounds horrifying! 🙂 I have a friend who lives very near Blackpool. She’s not a Doctor Who fan but she knows I am and is a fan of free drinks and a free night out (like most of us probably). If no one else can go I’ll see if she can make it and report back (via me).
10 October 2018 at 15:46 #64381Hey everyone. I don’t live anywhere near Blackpool but Madame Tussauds Blackpool are launching a brand new Doctor Who area, which includes a Tardis, themed areas and even a Jodie Whittaker wax figure.
I’ve been invited to a hard-hat tour on Monday 15 October, and the launch night on 18 October.
If someone wants to go and report back, let me know and I’ll see if you can go in my stead.
9 October 2018 at 21:04 #64371Hopefully they won’t change these links. Here are the people behind it – who had never watched Doctor Who before, talking about making the Honest Trailers – if you’re interested. I kinda like ‘Classic’ and ‘Modern’ but I still prefer BG and AG. 🙂
EDIT – if you want to see the parody trailers without the commentary see my post above.
9 October 2018 at 20:40 #64370@kharis Thank you for letting me know they updated the link – have updated it above so it now works.
9 October 2018 at 18:10 #64356I don’t know if you know about Screen Junkies on YouTube, or their Honest Trailers. If not you should check them out as many are screamingly hilarious.
They recently did a charity auction and someone paid them $10,000 to do a Doctor Who Honest Trailer, so they had to watch all of Who for the last few months.
But here are the results – they did two, one for BG Who and one for AG Who:
9 October 2018 at 16:52 #64351@nearlysane Welcome. And thank you. It took a good while, and a lot of troll hunting, to set the tone of this site but I think we got there.
It’s only a small community but we kinda all know each other now. Look forward to your contributions – or just your continued reading.
8 October 2018 at 16:18 #64273@blenkinsopthebrave and @rorysmith
The BBC has no advert breaks and is available to anyone with a UK IP address (I think).
So, you didn’t hear this from me but *cough* VPN. 🙂
I don’t know about these things, honestly – I have Netflix and Amazon Prime for movies and TV shows and I have iPlayer as I’m in the UK.
But find a computer nerd who knows about these things. I’d recommend it.
There are some dodgy streaming sites out there as well, but they try to infect your computer every chance they get – so I’d avoid unless you have robust and multiple virus protection software.
8 October 2018 at 15:22 #642718 October 2018 at 00:03 #64243@pedant I kinda like the Doctor Barbie. I like to nudge my niece in the direction of strong female characters. I’ve bought her a Black Widow Funko Pop! toy in the past, told my brother to show her the CW’s Supergirl, and the Wonder Woman movie.
Even yesterday I told him he should take her to Aquaman as he saw the trailer and responded that my nephew would love it. But it’s supposedly rating highly with female test audiences as well because Nicole Kidman and Amber Heard play strong characters.
After tonight’s episode I’m gonna tell my brother he has to sit her down to watch Doctor Who. I loved it, for many reasons, but the inspiration it could give to young girls to study science or other STEM subjects, even just stand up for themselves, is incalculable.
7 October 2018 at 19:56 #642157 October 2018 at 18:43 #64211@scaryb Me too – AWOL and excited. I’ve been keeping an eye on things but just needed a bit of a break – hey, Davies and Moffat had them too!
To post a pic it must be on the internet already.
Then copy the link to the image (not the full web page – you can right-click on the image and ‘Open image in new tab/window’ to get the URL)
Then use the image button (on visual mode it looks like a pic of a mountain – on text mode it just says ‘img’)
Just post the URL in the box that pops up and it should work.
7 October 2018 at 17:52 #64208@blenkinsopthebrave Many thanks.
The text is only light because it’s closed to comments – it will be fine when I open it.
I wanted to get it up and ready, but didn’t want comments until people have actually seen the episode – especially given the polarising nature of the first female Doctor.
Although I’m sure we’ll still get a few moaning about it who didn’t even watch it.
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