[janetteB @replies]

Hi Puro @thane16 really good to hear from you again. Glad that all is well up in Brisbane. It is like a yo yo at the moment. We are relatively relaxed here in S.A. but everyone is fearful and unwilling to make any plans. So many events cancelled. It does get a bit depressing but at least we can go out. Pubs, cafes and wineries are open and we are able to attend meetings in person.  No sun in the garden today though. We are getting some very much needed rain.

@missrori it is good to hear from you and I do feel for your situation. Perhaps as @winston suggests take up a new hobby, a new challenge. Keeping busy helps fight back the “mind-clouds” I find.

@blenkinsopthebrave Your summery island sounds lovely. What  I miss most at the moment is the possibility of travel. (not that we can really afford it anyway but is nice to dream.)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Hi. Hope you are well. We are relatively fortunate in that our state is managing to keep things under control thanks to strict border patrols but we are all holding our breaths and wondering how long it will last. It is so hard for small businesses. some are afraid to re open still as they would not survive a second lock down.

I am really enjoying the discussion @oochillyo and @dentathurdent. At the moment I have a backlog of work to do hence not replying. I am following your posts with interest. Please do revisit old threads. it is always good to revive old discussions. We are all of us here because we never get tired of talking about Dr Who.

@cbsbacon welcome to the forum.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@toinfinityandbepond You beat me… I shared your delight too when I read this. Great that “Eccles” has finally returned to the fold. There was an article in the Guardian the other day about Big Finish and how they started up.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@oochillyo  There are some fine episodes in series 11 and 12 but for me, none really stand out as either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. They are all average to above average. I like “Team Tardis” though I am beginning to find Graeme a bit annoying. Yaz is my favourite of the three and I hope to see her character get more “space” to develop next series. J.W. is good but again, not my favourite Doctor. I feel that she is a bit too human. I would compare her to Peter Davison only with good companions and better scripts. Like P.D. she is following a brilliant Doctor. Had she been before P.C.  I think she would have possibly really nailed it for me. I am a little biased as I really liked P.C. as the Doctor. He was my “Tom Baker” equivalent.

I have yet to re watch series 12, in part due to computer crashes. I must remedy this situation soon.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@oochillyo Our boys were young when Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead first aired and they were terrified of those episodes too. It was some years before we could watch them. I don’t blame them either. The threat that cannot be seen is one of the most frightening in all of Who and I can see how the idea of children who are not real would be quite confronting for child viewers. As a Mum it brought tears to my eyes. I really felt for Donna in that second episode.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well and getting through these tough times. The news is grim and getting grimmer. Here in Oz we are watching the headlines every day with suspended breath, and keeping fingers crossed that the border will hold but it is a very large border to patrol and Melbourne is only eight hours away. Some of our local small businesses are not reopening in case they have to close again. they are waiting things out, but overall despite the lack of rain I am glad that I chose to live where I do. The countryside is lovely still, and the sun is flooding into our garden once again.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@oochillyo Welcome to the forum and thank you for starting up a discussion. I do like Gridlock. Certainly up there in the favourites list however like @winston I cannot pick a particular favourite. I have so many favourites including Blink and Vincent which we re-watched recently. My other favourites include Heaven Sent, The Empty Child and the Doctor Dances and Turn Left Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead. Each is brilliant in a different way but these are the episodes that for me stand out most. These are the episodes that I will watch again and again, and then again..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

My Who lore really tapers of after the Tom Baker years. I have books on the making of up to the eighties but nothing beyond as that was when I left home and stopped watching for many years.

The Master is fun and I have trouble viewing Sacha Dhawan as evil. He has always played nice characters, (that I have seen anyway). I think he would have been better cast as the Doctor some time in the future. Perhaps, (crazy theory forming here) the Master is The Doctor, a Doctor splinter or alternate Doctor or perhaps they are twins, both seem to bend the regeneration laws and neither are typical Time Lords.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig The TV Programs thread needs some attention.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I still check in most days but am currently on a borrowed laptop, mine being out of action for unknown causes. Hopefully we can get it working again in the next day or so.

I have never seen the valeyard episode and don’t really care to. Nor have I slogged through Trial of a Timelord”. I am not a completist. I have only watched some of the Davison stories, a couple of Colin Baker’s and the last series of Sylvestor McCoy. From what I have read the idea of the Valeyard sounds like a betrayal of what the Doctor stands for and I hope it will never be revisited but as I have not watched the stories perhaps I am not doing justice to the concept.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

We were recording a podcast during the week and everyone was saddened by the death of Grant Imahara. Way too young.

The descriptions of Canada were lovely and gave me “itchy feet syndrome”. We were talking to a Canadian yesterday which made it worse. One day, maybe..

For the first time since February we went out to the Barossa yesterday. I would hardly call it “country” but it is rural and beautiful, especially when the later afternoon sun falls on the jagged hills that border the valley.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Saw the news about Earl Cameron last night and recognised the name instantly. He was memorable in Tenth Planet too, giving depth to the character. A fine actor.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Happy Canada Day, @winston @blenkinsopthebrave and all our other Canadian friends. I have yet to visit Canada but I have a great, great, great grandfather buried in Canada. The story is that when his wife died he came to Australia to visit the son who immigrated here then went to Canada to visit the other sons and daughter who had gone to Canada and there he stayed.

@davros Sad news about Louis Mahoney As Blenkinsopthebrave said, he was so memorable in that short role of Billy Shipton, I did not realise he had other parts in old Who. I will look out for him when I next do a re watch.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave that is impressive. I knew Bob Baker wrote for Dr Who but did not know he also contributed to Wallace and Gromit.

We watched The Three Doctors last year. I recall enjoying it. It does establish formulas for future multi doctor stories.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Yes and shed a tear or two. It is highly fictionalised but I can forgive that because it is such a beautiful film. You might remember an old BBC series back in the 70s or very early 80s, (before I left home in 82) about J.M.Barrie called “The Lost Boys” I think. It was very good but probably too slow and “dry” for modern audiences. I Dr Who link, Maureen O’Brien, who played Vicky companion to the First Doctor is Barrie’s wife.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dalekbuster523 That was well said.

@missy  I am sorry for your loss and sorry for not responding earlier. I never know what to say, “the idiot from Galifrey Base says, our loved ones live on in us but nothing can compare to having them with us.

Regards

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Thanks for posting that link. That was a lovely interview with Mandip Gill. Really glad that there will be a festive special though her description of Sacha Dhawan just reminded me of how much I wanted him to be the Doctor one day. I had been thinking for some time that he is perfect for the role, in a way that few actors are, so I was a little disappointed when he was cast as The Master.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@missrori I agree that this current situation needs to be addressed in the next series and I think it will be. Dr Who writers have tended to blend in current situations and this one has great story potential to be mined. The only problem is on drawing one something like the current situation is there needs to be an explanation for why the Doctor does not fix everything. Our world is broken, like the world of “Turn Left” because we don’t have the Doctor to fix things and the writers have to balance that.

(I found this myself in the short piece of “fan fic” I am writing. I was half way through when the pandemic hit and had to change things a little.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Good article in the Guardian about the Dr Who watchalong thingies. Do watch the Sarah Jane Tribute but warning, have a large packet of tissues at the ready.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Even later. The only criticism I have about the episode is some of the special effects are dodgy but other than that it is near perfection, one of the best. Agree that few other Doctor’s could have pulled it off. It is hard to imagine anyone but Capaldi in this episode but it was written for him, for his Doctor.

The letter is lovely and so like him to credit all those involved reminding us of the collaborative effort required to produce a brilliant episode. All too often those behind the scenes are overlooked and their contribution not given the credit is is due.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@grahamwarren I know that locally the “opp shops,” (second hand/charity shops) take VHS videos still, around where I live anyway so that is always worth a try. I assume they are all pre-recordeds not taken from TV? I doubt you will get any money for them unless there happens to be something recorded from TV (using reel to reel I believe) in the 60s but that is unfortunately more unlikely than finding a time travelling police box that is larger on the inside on your street corner.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig Brilliant. One of the best I have seen so far. the last one made me feel teary, this has left me in tears too but for a different reason. Must say however that scarf looks to be in remarkably good condition for something that has been knocking around space for seven years, dragging through the mud of alien planets, being trod on and tripped over, not to mention caught in doors and on random pieces of furniture.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig. My eyes are a little moist after watching that. Beautifully written and of course acted.

I am rather behind with the rewatches but we watched “Girl in the Fireplace very recently so I can say, it is still as brilliant as it was back when first screened. An episode that really plays with time travel, it is fun, very very scary, well costumed and heartbreaking. An aside, one of the costumes worn by Madame Pompadour was made for the Fifth Doctor story, Black Orchid.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi all.

Have been in and out over the past few weeks, busy  as always, though the lockdown has at least meant no meetings. It has almost felt like a holiday but have been trying to catch up on other work which I had been neglecting.

Good to hear all are well and keeping safe. Right now I am very glad to be living where I do. Despite our idiot government so aptly described by the chinese as a “kangaroo serving as the dog of the U.S.” we seem to be doing well, mostly because of the State Governments taking responsibility and an good health service. Low population density is a big factor too. @nerys I hope your region stays Covid clear.

We still have an expanded household which has actually been good though was difficult when there were shortages. We are now able to be in groups of up to ten so were able to have a meeting the other night. It was so nice to talk to people that everyone stood about for an hour in the cold afterwards chatting. All going well, in a month’s time pubs and cafes will open and this Saturday we are finally going to meet the “boy over the road’s” baby who was born just before lockdown. His mother has not seen her for almost two months which has been tough. (her first and only grandchild). @winston, I hope you are able to see your grandchildren soon too.

@whisht enjoy Denmark. It is a very interesting country. We only got to Copenhagen for one weekend. It rained, and rained and rained. We got soaked and spent half of one day sitting in a department store cafeteria drying out. The museum was mostly closed for renovations which was really disappointing for me, probably not for the boys who were getting “museum fatigue” by that stage.

@thane16 A wave from down south. Hopefully things are well on the way to recovery in your state too.

@blenkinsopthebrave I hope the Blenkinsop cellar is holding out. We are eagerly looking forward to being able to take a trip out to the Barossa which was in total lockdown for a while, thanks to some inconsiderate tourists.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@davros These are some of my favourite Dr Who episodes. Recently I went through and did a rating for every season of AG Who. This series got the top score as there is barely a dud episode. It was nice to have Martha return and not be pining for the Doctor and was nice to see the friendship between Martha and Donna. Always good to see Wilf and Jenny was a fun character. The stories are all good. The Doctor’s Daughter episode reminds me a little of the BG , Tom Baker story, The Face of Evil.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig thank you for the links. I did see that this was going to be available. I would also like to see Anthony and Cleopatra,  not one that I have studied or seen any productions of. I started watching Twelfth Night with Fran, (Tamsin Greig) but I think it has now been taken down.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@davros

I too am enjoying these reviews. Always nice to have an impetus to talk about “Who” and is nice to recall past episodes. Your work on these is appreciated.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I did not realise we had not done a forum watch of this two parter which has become one of my favourite of favourites. I have watched it many, many times but am delighted to have an excuse to watch it again. tonight is now sorted.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig that was lovely. brought a tear to the eye. (both eyes)  Hopefully this crisis will convince even right wing governments of the vital importance of national health care.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@davros I have to disagree re’ Gridlock which, despite the flaws you mention, and there are underlying logical flaws in much of Who, and most other stories for that matter, is a great story. It is one of the episodes that I re watch frequently. The other point you made that I cannot agree with is D.T. not being charismatic. He is and I can believe that Martha would be attracted to him instantly, that cheeky grin is infection, but it does annoy me because it limits her character, a great shame. I had forgotten that Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays her sister. Nice to see actors starting out on Who go on to bigger (though not necessarily better) stuff. Likewise Andrew Garfield.

I also really enjoy The Shakespeare Code. Have not watched Daleks in Manhatten for many years. Was not overly taken with it at the time from memory.

(enjoying your reviews)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@nerys Have been following the news. Nova Scotia has a degree of familiarity to me having been reared on the writing of L.M.Montgomery. Just the name alone is so evocative, it is the kind of place where such horrors should not happen.

Regards

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I think there you have nailed my issue with old Star Trek and why I much prefer Picard. Like you I prefer the more rebellious (neutral good) old Jean-Luc to the lawful good younger version.

We are about to do a re watch of Galaxy Quest, inspired by our recent discussions about Star Trek but in general are finding no more time than usual during lockdown, probably because it has made little difference to us.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@whisht Like you I have never really warmed to Star Trek but loved Picard. We discussed the first episode (here) in a podcast. A couple of members of the group are fans of Star Trek which made for a lively discussion. We also reviewed an episode of Next Gen’ and have just done an episode of Babylon Five which is not yet posted. (I should be working on it now…)

Picard is very different to traditional Star Trek which to my thinking, is a good thing. I much prefer a series that has an arc rather than individual stories and the “perfect earth” and faultless humans irritated me. The darker, more corrupt Star Fleet feels more real and I always prefer a main character who is a rebel rather than a representative of authority no matter how supposedly benign that authority is.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Excellent. An episode that I will never tire of re watching and timely as today is Peter Capaldi’s birthday.  (and yesterday was Peter Davison’s birthday.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

The very first Cult TV Club podcast we did was Radio Goodies. That was how it began. I am on committee for a Community Broadcasting group that was established originally to set up a local radio station but that being nonviable switched to podcasting instead. About three years ago we were discussing possibly live streaming music and I remarked that we had to avoid the danger of having only one tune which we played over and over and rather to my surprise one of the younger people on the board, said, “A Walk in the Black Forest”.

Goodies is linked forever to BG Who in my mind as it was shown before Dr Who on weeknights through winter, every year. When they ran out of Goodies to repeat they would show old episodes of Monkey. It was like entertainment wallpaper. Always there.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig thanks for posting. Loved Rory’s Story. Laughed a lot and somehow having trouble with watery eyes now. Not sure why…

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Sad news. Tim Brooke Taylor has just passed away. (Covid 19)

Will have to watch an episode of Goodies after dinner, in honour of a fine comedian.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I went outside to check on something and saw the moon low in the West. It was stunning but by the time I got back inside I forgot to tell the rest of the household and so now I am rather cross with myself as they all missed it.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Finally caught up with Vincent. For some reason I have not re watched this episode often perhaps because it is a bit sad but it is really more uplifiting. The Doctor cannot “mend” Vincent, he cannot change what will happen but he does give Vincent the knowledge that his life has not been wasted, that he woks are going to be appreciated one day and that he will bring joy to so many people. If only, if only, that were real. The ending of the recent episode about Tesla reminded me of this story, when Yaz realises that they cannot save Tesla but here the Doctor does not simply walk away. He is able to still make a difference.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsoptthebrave Just got my S/O to watch both of those they are so good. Thank you for the links.

@winston Stay safe and well. Thinking of you all and virtual hugs. Dr Who is always one of my comfort viewing preferences so yes, watch plenty of Dr Who.

We are better off than most in some ways because we have a house full of people. Dinner times are like parties at the moment. Fortunately everyone is getting along well. (touching  wood as i type that) I am trying to work out ways of connecting with neighbours etc. This week should be our “end of term” drinks night so we are discussing doing it virtually, using video. I suggested we all sit in front of our houses and shout across the road but it is probably going to be too cold for that. In general we are terrible communicators but I am making more of an effort to contact family. In a way this crisis has been a much needed reminder for us of the importance of keeping in touch.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@badwolfalice thank you for that link. It was lovely. Just lovely. Watched Eleventh Hour last night and made lots of notes. Was rather like being back at Uni in a Cinema Studies screening only I did not keep falling asleep.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

We still have “Vincent” to watch. The trouble is that Rose sent us on a spin watching first and second series episodes and I don’t feel ready for Matt Smith Doc yet.  We have just watched School Reunion and Girl in the Fireplace and I feel that a Human Nature/Family of Blood re watch is required before heading off into the joys of M.S.’s era. And don’t know if I can bring myself to skip over Silence in the Library, or Blink. Ah. Once one starts re watching Who it is hard to stop.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Funny to hear them talking about the mild winter as a good thing. Now we know otherwise.  this always reminds me of my mother, a typical fifties Australian cook who probably did think Spaghetti was grown on trees.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig aaarghh. Noooooo. (thanks for the link. We all need some good April Fools Day humour at the moment.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@shepherd Watched Good Omens twice last year and loved it. I think it was discussed on the TV thread at the time. Probably a few pages back now. Brought the book as a general pressie at Christmas but it is still on my too read pile.  It might have a wait though as I am currently trying to read some of the books from the Significant Books list that the BBC put out last year for a writing podcast.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@shepherd I had the next Discworld book on order before the craziness hit at our local bookshop which i’m guessing is closed indefinitely. I think our bookshop owner owns the premises so hopefully she can sit things out but I am going to waiting some time before I can continue my Discworld reading sadly.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@jimthefish. I have saved the link. I am interested to see how the festival is managed as we are planning on doing our own, very modest. local writers’ festival on line this year.

@mudlark if nothing else this crisis is showing up just how critical public heath care is. We are all as vulnerable now as the most vulnerable person in our community. We simply cannot afford to have people who are unable to access health care so even when looked at from a totally selfish viewpoint, public health care is vitally important. I think right wing governments are going to have a hard time now starving public heath of funding. In fact, I think right now right wing governments are having a hard time being right wing. Fingers crossed some good will come out of this crisis.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig Happy Birthday. I would sing but I can’t, however I will charge my glass and drink a toast to you.

We have a good friend turning fifty in two weeks time and were supposed to be heading to Melbourne for his birthday but that too is deferred for six months. Hopefully normal transmission will have resumed by then.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Ok so my paragraph breaks got lost in translation but at least I did not have to start again from scratch.

A few more thoughts on Rose. When it first aired I had read that Dr Who was returning with a sinking feeling. After the Canadian film fiasco I had negative expectations. I was not even intending to watch it until I read the review. (It was days before it aired in Australia.) We would have watched it when it aired on ABC on the television in the living room, over dinner. (We did not have a dining table then or the room for one even.) It was an exciting time for us, we were about to take the boys overseas for a big adventure and the S/O had just been offered a one year attachment to Sweden the following year and then my favourite TV Series was reborn. Watching this again reminds me of that magical time.

I did not grow up watching Dr Who. I was about fifteen or sixteen when I first discovered it and then only watched for a few years until leaving home age 19 but it has a place in my heart no other tv series does. I am deeply grateful to RTD for re inventing Dr Who and to all those who have carried the torch over the past fifteen years.\

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Currently watching and posting as I go, (was making notes on paper thought I might as well just type them in.
Some some notes,
Mannequin is a lovely nod back to the junk yard in An Unearthly Child. RTD obviously thought that a missed opportunity too.
Rose blames what is happening on some random person, “derek is that you”. Donna blames her abduction on Nerris.
Ecclesston is good at doing the “I am the smart one.”
Why does Rose take the arm home? Walking through London carrying a plastic arm is not a normal thing to do.
you lot all you do is eat chips… One of the central motifs of the Rose series.
The Police Box the thrill of seeing that again after years of Who deprivation. Watching this again I remember the thrill that gave me fifteen years ago. The speech that follows, playing to Ecclesstone’s strength as an actor. Fifteen years ago this was the moment that I realised that Dr Who was back, new and better than ever.
Clive, so nice to see a Fan on the show. Photoshop is a bit dodgy however.
The bin, and Rubbish bin Mickey. R.2 comments, “it’s good to see that the effects haven’t changed in fifteen Years.” Rose doesn’t notice that Mickey is plastic and no longer knows how to drive. She clearly never paid much attention to Mickey. Surely she twigs when he calls her “sweetheart”. That is pure plastic
Eating at a restaurant. I remember those days.
The doctor does not even think about Mickey being dead. Very Doctor.
“Lots of planets have a North.” Love that line.
Anti Plastic. I think that has just been invented.
Lots of running. Love the night shots of London. Might be many years, if ever, before I return. When I first watched this London was about a week away. We were just about to head overseas, taking the boys to see the world.
Under the Eye reminds me of the Christmas Invasion. Shopping Centres, I remember them. Well if the Nestene come to life now they will have a lot less victims. They can rampage through the locked up shopping arcades to their hearts content.
I had completely forgotten most of this episode. It musts be years since I last re-watched it.
Poor Mickey. I do wish he had gone with Rose there.

Hope this works as I managed to delete what I was typing but luckily had copied onto a Word document.

All three sons walked through as we were watching and all three remarked, “I need to watch Dr Who again.” I think that really says it all for this episode.

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