And, did we have to bring religion into it? I know…[Read more]

Davros and ablism. It’s not a simple ‘No! Not on my watch’ surely? Yes, the world has moved on, and we got Shirley and (see below) Jinkx Monsoon on the show, but there are ways of playing it, ain’t there? 12 turfed Davros out of his unit and rode it like a bumper car. I’ve said it before bu…[Read more]

the most concerning was Dacron’ ableist issue; the sonic better as a telly remote than a gun & TenDoc regenerating back into his 2006+ clothing as keeping 13’s outfit would be an insult to drag performers

Agreed. Also the hypocrisy. The sonic is too gun-like but then the Doc shoots Omega in the fa…[Read more]

RTD1: weird narcissistic racism, venal politicians, polyamory, shaggy dog stories about royal malaises, tech monocultures, nerds and their love interests,  racism in the past, environmental collapse, imperial heritage, more venal politicians, assisted weight loss, slavery, xenosexuality, super-wealthy…[Read more]

On the face of it, the ‘let it go’ moment is definitely a bit clumsy. Or you could read it as a generic ‘hey, these are just people’ statement.’ Or it’s RTD getting his revenge in first. I wasn’t studying the forums or meta at that stage, but I imagine Russ knew what was coming.

Otherwise you wonder if…[Read more]

As the Doctor was male, he couldn’t let go of the Dr/Donna crisis, but Donna could pass the meta crisis energy to her non-binary daughter so this burden was split & Donna avoided inevitable le…[Read more]

@ps1l0v3y0u

It’s an interesting discussion.

On the etymology of woke: IIRC it came out of the Civil rights movement in the US (pre-Covid) with the phrase “Stay woke” meaning stay awake i.e. be alert to what’s going on around you. It was taken on by liberals and it started to appear in the le…[Read more]

Was RTD rubbing the viewers’ nose in it? Being ‘arsy’? Not arf!

I’m not sure ‘woke’ would be anymore than a novel and obscure adjective if not for The Culture Warriors. Why persecute religious or racial targets when you can choose to denounce absolutely anyone who disagrees with you?

Of co…[Read more]

don’t forget your sunscreen.

stay safe

Yes. What the hell, hero? Also sketchy science. Though it looked great. Also, in the words of Sylvia Noble in The Star Beast, ‘none of this real!’

Also, Eurovision looms large in Who History.

So, in my view, as you know, RTD was cooking a monster arc in which The Doctor is being tested: it was all Mind Robbers, War Gam…[Read more]

Until about 8 years ago I was ignorant of the Bechdel Test myself. I actually thought Moff’s female characters were well rounded (not just …ahem….well rounded…) progressing from confused & helpless to “being the Doctor.”

Over the years one notices how companions evolve. In the 2000s the Doctor saved his beloved com…[Read more]

oh boy, yes, the latest info on all things Who made me feel a tad off? I found out that the so called Special wasn’t really much of a special at all: whilst in a hotel room, doom scrolling on YouTube on a site run by a young British lad…[Read more]

For All Mankind has been recommended to me. Not sure its on my package though. Anna Maxwell Martin ought to make an appearance in Line of Duty too.

Slow Horses entertains and annoys. It would seem to occupy a very ‘LeCarresque’ universe and I’m not sure that takes kindly to send up. The ex CIA mastermind was ludicrous.

Chris Packh…[Read more]

TP… have I the patience to read the whole canon? I read Colour of Magic and Small Gods many years ago. Very enjoyable and intelligent. But that would be a big commitment.

There was a discussion online about whether anyone could make a satisfactory series from Aldiss’ Heliconia books. Having been quite unimpressed by wha…[Read more]

I’ve got the Hogfather movie on DVD, on my ‘rewatch soon’ pile. I’m a little surprised a lot more Discworld movies weren’t made. I guess with the wide cast of…[Read more]

@janetteb

@ps1l0v3y0u

Also too much YouTube for me; it burns through my writing time so I really should stop…

Some interesting suggestions here. Big thumbs up for the 5th Element. I’ve watched it several times and always enjoy it. Incidentally there’s a Discworld book called The Fifth Elephant but that may be coincidence.

Re…[Read more]

That’s Entertainment! Well, Moff has no problems on that score. Could it even be a barb at another showmaker? Or an executive in drama?

But I would hope a new regime would also aspire to some kind intelligence. Like Moff. Cbeebies doesn’t fill me with confidence.

I’ve also seen all those, although did not finish How to get to Heaven… and I need to see the latest Derry Girls.

Small Prophets was excellent.

Re: Widows Bay: it’s a horror (not gory) with comedic elements. Would recommend.

@winston Yup, Mark Carney’s dance card is full … more than…[Read more]

Peter Capaldi  would make a great Bond and he already has attack eyebrows.

@janetteb   The Who movie was an American production that was filmed in Canada so you can’t blame us, especially on…[Read more]

You’ve twisted my words

I’ve just re-read my post and your earlier one and I don’t agree with this but no matter.

You obviously have strong views on the BBC and, again, I don’t agree. But, as Elwood P Dowd once stated:

Well, an element of conflict in any discussion’s a very good thing. It means everybody is taking part and n…

[Read more]

Night of the Doctor, now, was an excellent little cameo.  (Is ‘cameo’ the right word?)   Moff’s dialogue was on its best form.   As it was with the onl…[Read more]

Yes, he would have been a terrific on-screen Doc I think. His Big Finish audios are apparently very good (caveat – I’ve not listened to any) and give the 8th a new lease of life. Same with the 6th’s audio stories as I understand it.

With the upcoming, urm, hiatus, maybe BF stories are the salve for my DW itch.

Most unfortunately, he fell into the Gap.   I’ve seen the movie.   Taken as a random sci-fi movie, there was nothing wrong with it.   Jus…[Read more]

I shall consider my response to all these parallels. Couldn’t give a two peeps on Bessie’s horn about Jimmie Bend-Sinster.

The rest is too raw.

Moffat’s recent response to the ongoing Whovian Torture sounded quite alarmed. The corporation is in charge, why are they asking a very ex show-runner?

Who has The Ming Vase??

the cbeebies thing is frankly an insult. Kid’s show

In understand the sentiment but I’m not so sure. I wonder if the BBC is playing a longer game here than we give it credit for. Consider:

They run a kid-friendly version of the show. This will accomplish three things.

1. It gets ’em hooked on…[Read more]

And I do agree also about UNIT and the series.

the cbeebies thing is frankly an insult. Kid’s show.

I might say the bbc’s behaviour was inexplicable but you may well get your wish @translatorcircuit, the days of The Corporation as we know it could be numbered. They know it. They literally cannot afford a challenging exciting show.

This may exp…[Read more]

The Big Spoof? As you say, surely not. The only explanation must be the slow motion car crash. This was coming since RTD finished series 4 with The Parting of The Ways.

At some point the special was planned and The BBC then decided they couldn’t back it. It’s not the same institution that brought the show bac…[Read more]

I did have a thought that this is all a bluff by the BBC / Bad Wolf / RTD, and that the Christmas special is already in the bag – with Tennant and Piper reverse bi-generating into the new Doc. Surely not though.

Assuming we take it at face value – and remember that RTD has basically admitted that he / BBC / B…[Read more]

The cliff-hanger, as Belam says, does seem to be the key, almost a taunt. ‘You want a show based on continuity but without continuity? Try THIS.’ This suggests both sides knew what was coming.

I am actually very annoyed, mainly with the BBC. I’m afraid for The Corporation too; it’s been in right wing’s…[Read more]

I think it would be good fun. I’ve been part of / run writers groups / rooms before and found it really rewarding.

Not sure about the logistics of doing that on here though.

(I might work on it while I am on holidays in two months time.)

If you do and if you want another pair of eyes on it, I’m happy to take a look.

Bravado. Yes. Creative Differences. Also yes.

The BBC are going to go out to competitive temder for the new series, so my read is that there was definitely some tension about the show. Maybe the external discussion also affected the decision.

The BBC went out to tender for the CBeebies version of DW last year. It’s…[Read more]

the food. I can’t speak from experience, just observe that somethings were available in the 60’s are not available now. Funny you mention ‘boiling’… until the early 70’s you might still observe people with boils, plaster or no. Urrhhh!!!

But, in the late 70’s I was taken to Italy and my tastebuds were reeducated. Thank you.

Thereaf…[Read more]

Then someone spectaculated that the special had already been filmed in secret.

I’ve heard the same rumour. It would be hilarious if true.

But yeah, too much noise, not enough actual information because:

Cash needs clicks, and clicks need content. And the content doesn’t even have to be that good.

hmm lots of desperate sounds from the sheep pen.

i and The Independent basically reprinted the ‘no actor will do it’ story and blamed it on The Sun.

There was a ‘fans’ questionnaire: who was Rose at end of Reality War? Who should the next Doctor be? Will The Abzorbaloff return?

Then someone spectaculated that the special…[Read more]

so same old, same old?

I guess. Alot of the Who fan channels are protesting a bit too much, so there are a few logic fails on their parts about why it is not true. We’ll find out when we find out.

But…I did discover that previous Christmas specials weren’t filmed until the September, so there’s a bit of a bigger open…[Read more]

so same old, same old?

If this ‘new doc’ rumour is anything more than disgraceful anti-Piper/anti-Badwolf briefing, I am going to get quite annoyed.

I think the gap in actual Who news (Whows?) and the accompanying content vacuum mean the DW sites (and there are many) are scrabbling around for something, anything, to say. They often have quite significant followers and need to stay relevant so any minor rumour is jumped on as if it were something significant.

And talking…[Read more]

… or have ‘the rooms’ only just woken up to all the Virtual Reality/Alternate Universe clues? Mavity, V’linx, REG, song and dance, unDoctor-like reactions… we were even shown another ‘fake’ VR/AU within the one that’s been there since… NOT WBY but The Star Beast… ‘The Boss’ remember?

Why can’t The Doctor sort out the world…[Read more]

Yeah, it’s a pretty unpleasant planet right now. And if Who is set in the here and now, it can make it less escapist, for the reasons you mentioned.

An alt-universe would have several advantages for storytelling. You could have one that’s similar to ours but where the Doctor doesn’t know everything about it, even down to Is there a…[Read more]