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@gamergirlavatar What she said… I think you have expressed just what I feel about this episode and P.C. I recently re watched the series and have just watched the Christmas Specials. In the last one when he realised that it has been 24 years since he gave Grant the crystal the repressed grief was palpable. Peter’s face conveys such emotional depth, so much there, so much accumulated pain over so many lifetimes. The weight of that baggage shows but it is also a danger in narrative terms. It is time I think for the Doctor, as character, to shed some of that before the character/narrative is overwhelmed by it.
Cheers
Janette

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@whisht Hear Hear..

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We are waiting until Boxing Day to see the new Star Wars film, in keeping with tradition. In Oz big films always opened on Boxing Day until a few years ago and so that was when we did the line up to see LOTR with friends and went out for dinner after at a favourite Indian Restaurant. Since then Boxing Day is cinema day followed by curry.
The Star Wars franchise is becoming very production line. Disney will milk it. (Reminds me of a line from Martin Chuzzelwit about screwing money out of the customer) If it wasn’t for the Boxing Day tradition I would probably not bother to see it in cinema.
Have heard good things about The Big Sick. Will look out for it.
Cheers
Janette

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Finally got to catch up on this story the other night but have not had time to comment as yet. Really enjoying @bluesqueakpip‘s account of the audio commentary. I am not convinced by Anneke Wills claim re’ the coffee however. Her function seems mainly to scream, a very backwards step for the female companion after the early years when Barbara shows her contempt when asked to cook or make tea.
I really liked the cybermen voices though one overdoes the sing song at times. Nice that the cybermen in the last couple of recent episodes captured something of that quality.

cheers
Janette

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Drat. Another Radio Times article I can’t read because I have add blocker. Some are fine some are not. Well I guess I will have to be patient. Only two weeks now. (and a couple of days)
Cheers
Janette

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@gamergirlavatar Very well said on all points. I had mixed feelings initially about the choice of new Doctor, especially as the only roles I have seen Jodie W’ in are not very Doctorish but she is clearly a fine actor and so I look forward to seeing her as the Doctor because I think she will bring something fresh and new to the role and I also admire her courage in taking it on, knowing what fans can be like. Like @ichabod I am more concerned about Chibnell as showrunner however I keep reminding myself that he wrote “Pondlife” which suggested that he cares about the characters. I too like the prospect of a larger “team Tardis”. Yes it does not always work but some of my favourite companions were the early ones. Ian, Barbara and Vicky showed that three companions can work very well. (Less so with Susan). One of the recalcitrant sons also remarked that there was a large team of companions in the Dinosaurs on a Spaceship episode including Rory’s Dad and that worked well within that episode so I look forward to seeing what Chibnell does with “team Tardis”.
Yes I loved Moffat’s writing but recognised that he was “wearing thin” in the role and I am sure he needed some life back too. I doubt I will ever love the series as much as I have these past few years but that doesn’t mean I won’t still love it just as I loved it before these golden Moffat years.
Cheers
Janette

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@ichabod you have pretty much summed it up there. Within the “narrative” there is no reason for the Doctor not to be female. It has long been established that regeneration is “a bit of a lottery”. Given that concepts of gender are less fixed now than in the past and in the future will become far more fluid there is every reason for the show to reflect that. Through it’s long history Dr Who has never been shy to tackle social and political issues. Though those older series may look conservative to us now they were far less so in their time.
Cheers
Janette

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Happy Birthday @thane16 You almost caught me out with the updated username. I wondered where thane15 had gone. Glad you are back with us..

there is no avoiding teenage acne but avoiding any foods with antioxidants (e300 numbers) might help. They still play havoc with my skin and I did notice an effect on our sons when they were your age. The good news is that hot chips, plain crisps and chocolate are fine despite what people say, bad news is that almost any other processed food is not fine. I have been forced to cook far more than I would like because I can’t simply buy “off the shelf” products.

Cheers
Janette

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Well done @bluesqueakpip both on getting the draft done and on being a winner. I takes me considerably longer than one month to write that many words. I am currently editing a bio, (the one that has inspired the research into Ayrshire history) and have covered about two pages in the last month but this time I year I am usually busy doing other things and writing goes on the back burner until January. I try to stick to my “write something if it is only one line a day” rule but some days have even failed at that which is shameful.

cheers
Janette

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@bluesqueakpip I believe that even within cities, (such as Manchester) accents vary from suburb to suburb, which isn’t really surprising. Even within Adelaide the eastern suburbs residents have affectations that would be laughed at in other areas and there are pockets in the north where strong English accents still predominate.
It was interesting to see how many Dr Who alumni come from Paisley, most notably Steven Moffat and Neve McIntosh.
(I have been recently doing research into Ayrshire history recently and really regretting that when we visited Scotland a few years ago we drove straight through the South West. Next time.)
Cheers
Janette

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@blenkinsopthebrave I hope life is not being too unkind to you.

Thank you for sharing the clip. Really enjoyed it. Will inflict that one on the rest of the family later tonight. Interesting how the opening credits reflect the trajectory of the show, classic, dire, exciting, the “dire” being the JNT years. The most recent is definitely my favourite in terms of visuals.

Cheers
Janette

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@bluesqueakpip though Paisley is not exactly far from Glascow. I know accents change over very short distances in the U.K. but looking at the map it still brought a smile to my face so I assume an Ayrshire accent is not the same as a Glascow or Paisley accent. (My knowledge of the geography of South West Scotland is advancing in leaps and bounds at the moment.)
Cheers
Janette

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I am glad that Jodie W’ is keeping her accent. I think it adds so much to the character. It was a shame that D.T. did not keep his.

Cheers
Janette

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@craig I have been thinking of you and concerned about what was going on as you have not been posting for a while. So sorry to hear. I hope things turn out well and new opportunities arise.

Cheers
Janette

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@missy our local supermarket no longer stocks the genuine article and I did not have time to make them so we had to make do with the poor substitute.

Cheers
Janette

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Yes indeed. Yesterday was Dr Who Day. Unfortunately we were deeply immersed in exam revision and so only acknowledged the anniversary with a token packet of off the shelf Aussie style Jam biscuits which have a slight resemblance to Jammy Dodgers. Sigh. Hopefully we will manage better next year. (I only realised it was the anniversary when someone at writers group asked about the assignation of J.f.K and I explained that the only reason I knew the date was because it was the anniversary of Dr Who and then I looked down at my laptop and realised that it was the 23rd.)

so Happy belated Who Day everyone..

cheers
Janette

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yes indeed, well said @bluesqueakpip I think you nailed it.
Cheers
Janette

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@jimthefish I encountered the same problem.

@missrori An “everybody lives” ending would be a nice wrap up for both Capaldi and for Moffat so it would not surprise me at all if that is how it ends. There will never be enough but one can always replay,, and replay and replay in order to savour the moment. (I have done that before.)

Cheers
Janette

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@thane15 We have resorted to the saucepan too now.

I really like Murray Gold’s music too but would not be surprised if he is ready to “move on” too. At the same time I think Chibnell does need to tread carefully. He is making big changes but some things must remain, or it ceases to feel like the same show. Music is more integral to the feel of the series than many people realise. It sets the mood, the tone and helps tell the story. (You Mum could say this so much better. Music is not my area.) Music has always been integral to the feel of Dr Who and was in part responsible for its success in the early (BG) days because it conveyed an “otherworldy” sense. M.Gs music is more “grounded” but it has a strong emotive note and has been equally essential to the success of AG Who.

Cheers
Janette

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Like @thane15 I agree with you @missy re white goods and many other things but creative people do “run dry” especially when working on the same stuff. This is why Moffat moved on, before he ran out of ideas and began to recycle. He was already beginning to do so and though I am sure that he had a lot more to give he recognised that he was exhausting his creative potential. If he stayed on then his work would loose it’s brilliance and become increasingly repetitive. Brilliant though Moffat has been, no one can maintain that critical edge forever when doing essentially the same thing. Replacing things that work like White goods is not really a good analogy for artists/writers/creatives and I am sure that the next series will work far better than a new washing machine/fridge/kettle. (I included the later because our last, fancy expensive kettle barely lasted 18 months. Grrrrr)

Cheers
Janette

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@missrori thanks for the link and also the sad news re’ Dudley Simpson. I was very disappointed about the lack of Minisodes and such additional material during the more recent years, BBC cost cutting evidently but at a cost.

Cheers
Janette

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@ichabod Interesting comment re’ people being “excavated electronically”. I have done just that in the last year. We knew nothing about my s/o ancestors, not even their names. I discovered that they lived two blocks from us, delved into historical records on line, (not ancestry which I found was mostly rubbish) and discovered so much information about them that I have written a biography which I hope to get published. they emerged from mostly old papers as fleshed out human beings though we still have no images of them.

And back to topic, l was just trying to explain to my S/O that for me it was the depth, the meaning in Moffat’s stories that made them so good. The stories themselves often didn’t entirely hold up but that didn’t matter because the exploration of character, the ideas, the message carried the episode. Only you said it so much better. and yes I fear that Chibnell’s work will be more conventional and probably better constructed but entirely lacking the Moffat magic.

cheers
Janette

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Well done @wolfweed. I hope the book makes an appearance on “local” bookshelves. I will look out for it when I next get to the city.

Thanks for the link about Paddy Russell. Interesting.

Cheers
Janette

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@gamergirlavatar Always nice to hear from you, and thanks for the Torchwood news. I go through phases where I don’t post much, but I check in regularly – usually when I should be working, like right now for instance.
Cheers
Janette

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@missrori I think you are worrying too much. I am sure that the Christmas special will deliver. Firstly it is Moffat’s last story and I suspect he is going to throw everything he can into it. Secondly it is a Christmas Story and they are always uplifting. Moffat is not going to make a Christmas Special sad. He struggled with writing out Matt for that reason. Yes there will be sadness but also joy because that is the way he rolls. Also as we have seen he usually ends the series on a down note then redresses that in the Christmas Special. The final episode deliberately ends with the Doctor alone, without friends or support which will be turned around in the next story because that is how narratives work. You leave your hero in a bad place so that he/she can be pulled out of that and all made good in the conclusion. So trust Moffat. I am certain he will not let the Doctor, (and us) down.

Cheers
Janette

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hi @pocket-timelady7 Master was not involved in the Time War, on screen as yet anyway. The first, and many viewers favourite Doctor, was played by Roger Delgado. You will need to go all the way back to the Pertwee days to see him. Sadly he was killed in a road accident in Turkey.

I think at the moment there is the usual sense of loosing a friend as one actor bows out of the role, and the normal apprehension about how well the next actor will suit, with additional tension because the show runner is also departing which for some fans is exacerbated by difficulty in accepting the change in gender. There is certainly an element of fans (or not) who object to seeing a strong woman lead but there have been plenty of shows which have strong female leads so I think/hope that only a small minority object on those grounds and that most of those who currently have misgivings will be willing to “give Jodie a chance” and fingers crossed all will be well.

Cheers
Janette

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@missy I said the same when Ecclestone was leaving, and when Tennant was going, and when Matt Smith moved on. It is always hard to let go and I would like every one of the AG Doctors to have done at least one more series.
Cheers
Janette

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I am currently one episode away from completing a re watch of all the CapDoc stories so almost ready to do my own review. My scores will be different again, which is what makes it fun. (I avoided the Christmas specials as I like to do a watch of all of them as part of my pre Christmas viewing so not ready to “mark’ them yet.) At this stage, it being almost midnight here I will only give an overall. Series 8 was probably about a 7/10. series 9 an 8/10 and series 10 a 9/10. If only Capaldi was staying around for one more season preferably with Bill and Nardole too.
Cheers
Janette

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@bluesqueakpip Agreed however bad companions can really overshadow the Doctor as in the Davison years and Peri certainly didn’t compliment Colin Baker. However a good companion/s is essential to balance the character of the Doctor. Much though I adored Tom Baker I was very glad that they did not let him have his way and go solo. Though Nardole did not play a large role I really liked the relationship between he, Bill and the Doctor. In the end though the success or failure of any Tardis team depends upon the vision and ability of the show runner,so we can only hope that Chibnell gets the character dynamic right, and all else will follow on from there.
Cheers
Janette

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@winston thanks for sharing. Brought a smile to my face too.
Cheers
Janette

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@craig best wishes from me too. All digits crossed on your behalf.
Cheers
Janette

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As @bluesqueakpip says soaps are where the work is these days, especially for young actors. Jenna Coleman worked in soaps as did Samuel Anderson. I’m guessing these days it is getting difficult to find a younger actor who has not appeared in a soap or two. Also soaps, (I imagine) are more ethnically diverse given that they are contemporary rather than historical.

Sad that reasoned discussion on line is being killed off by the nutters. thankfully we have our little corner of sanity here.

Cheers
Janette

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Wow. I just looked up Sharon D Clarke and her first role was as the Night Nurse in the Singing Detective. Now I will have to do that long overdue rewatch.

@bluesqueakpip Now I like that idea. I really really do want to know what became of Susan but hopefully she returns as a regenerated Susan. Being now ostensibly older than her “Grandfather” and male would make for an interesting dynamic.

cheers
Janette

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I am now at the point where I cannot comment until I see the actors in character, and have given them a couple of episodes to really fill out their roles. Still not at all convinced by Bradley Walsh but he clearly loves the show and I hope will bring something good to it.

Whether the crowded Tardis set up works or not depends entirely upon character, actor and story. I think the problem in the Davison years was that the characters of “Team Tardis” were poorly written and not especially well acted. I found Teagan, Nyssa and Adric all equally annoying. Turlough was hamstrung by the character concept. I thought the robot was the best of the bunch. Davison definitely deserved better. However I really liked the combination of Ian, Barbara and Vicky with the first Doctor. (Not so much Susan though I think that the character is important and should be revisted in some way,) They were well written characters with the ability to act independently and make their own decisions, which didn’t always end well. At times they outsmarted the Doctor other times he was the wise elder.

Cheers
Janette

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Never seen him in anything but he looks more like it..
Cheers
Janette

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I cheated this week. I watched half of this episode on Friday and finished it today so I am finally up to date. I really enjoyed the series. I was surprised to realise that I had not seen it before. I agree that the ending does seem rather rushed. The story arc proved less interesting than the components but that is so often the case. Returning with the keys to find that all was not as expected, (by Team Tardis that is) felt like a bit of a anti climax after the more engaging dramas they had experienced in seeking the keys.
Some random thoughts, Arbitan’s daughter did not seem at all grieved by the death of her father. the Doctor refers to Susan as “the child”. I don’t think they had really decided just what age she is supposed to be which must have made it difficult for Carole Ann Ford. Interesting that William Russell says there was never intended to be any hint of a relationship between Ian and Barbara because it appears to me that it is heavily implied.

@craig as to next series to watch. I would probably choose Aztecs though I have rather a soft spot for Romans too.

Cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@rorysmith Free health care is available in many countries. I spent about eight weeks in hospital in Sweden two of which were in ICU and it did not cost me a krona. Australia has free health care though our moron government is doing their best to starve it out of existence. The problem here, as in many other Western countries is that the burden of tax is carried by the middle income wage earners while those who actually make the money, ie the companies pay next to no tax. Then our taxes are handed to those same tax dodging companies in subsidies etc etc. Right now our moron government is cutting company tax and raising personal tax to cover it. Urg. Another rant. It is becoming rather a habit of late..
Cheers
Janette
ps yay for libraries. I just joined the local library “friends”group. Like every other vital public service Libraries need all the support they can get these days. (and who knows, I might even be able to persuade them to buy my book.)

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@missy sorry for my rant. It is a sore subject with me at the mo’ having just spent a few days with friends one of whom gave the “what your boys should be doing” lecture with no awareness of the reality of life in the twenty first century and was totally unwilling to listen. Also having been screwed by the government this year, our sons can’t get student allowance because of their father’s income last year, before they started studying, though according to the website calculator they are entitled to it I am rather grumpy about certain issues.

@thane15 aka Puro. Nice to hear from you. I hope all is well with you. Thinking of you,

Regards
Janette

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@missy times, unfortunately have changed. There were possibilities open to us when we were young that are not there now. I saved up enough money on the dole to get to London, got a job there immediately. I was never out of work for more than a day in London. When I arrived in Adelaide it took me about a month to get work. I have five dollars left in my bank account, (this was before the days when banks actually penalised you for having no money) when I got my first pay. To get that kind of job now I would need paperwork which costs. In my circumstances I would not be able to get dole and in rural areas jobs are not readily available. I know. I grew up in a rural area. Moving to the city when you know nobody is not easy either. London was easy. Adelaide was not. I struggled to find accommodation and the house I eventually moved into was far from desirable especially as I was studying full time and working. Accommodation remained an issue for me until I moved in with my S/O when I was doing final year of honours. So what I am trying to say is that not everybody has the same options open to them. Right now jobs are getting increasingly scarce, wages have not kept pace with the cost of living making it very difficult for young people to leave home. Here at least government assistance is so restricted because the “allowances” have also not kept pace with rising living costs.
Anyway rant over.. for now. 🙂
Cheers
Janette

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Oops sorry. @missrori I seem to be making a habit of getting names wrong tonight. Thank goodness for the edit button. I can’t do anything right tonight.
Cheers
Janette

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@misssrori You are in a difficult position and I wish there was more I could do to help, other than send imaginary hugs from the other side of the planet. I have friends dealing with parents with extreme right wing views but they don’t have to live with them. A friend we were staying with recently takes her mother to see films so they can spend time together without talking. Another friend’s husband is moving to the right but she spends a lot of time with friends mostly in writing groups who are “like minded” and I think that is how she copes. If you don’t have those options there is online and truely I think I speak for all of us here when I say it is fine to talk about those issues here because this forum is about more than a shared passion for a British Sci-fi series and that is why we have a pub.
Cheers and best wishes
Janette

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I have now caught up after watching the remainder of ep 4 and 5 today, topped off which half of “Face the Raven”. It is interesting transitioning from first Doctor to Cap’ Doc’ like that. I much prefer the later. The first Doctor lacks the depth of compassion and some of the wisdom. One could not imagine him making a speech like that at the end of the Zygon two parter. He would just make a sharp comment and wander off.

I laughed when I saw the judges in their turkey dressing hats, having read the posts up above.
The episode felt very rushed. I think a lot more time was required to really unfold properly. Still agreeing with @whisht Barbara if the best..

Cheers
Janette

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@bleninsopthebrave AZtecs is also another strong “Barbara” story. I enjoy The Romans too despite the lapse into Benny Hill type farce. I only wish that Marco Polo had not been trashed or the Crusades.
Cheers
Janette

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@whisht I was thinking yesterday about just how strong a character Barbara is. She is not really a companion to the Doctor as much as a fellow traveller and often a reluctant one at that. The Doctor isn’t always the wisest or noblest either at this early stage and that is shown by Barbara’s “gritting teeth” expression.
Like you I am not always keeping up with the viewing schedule and so simply enjoying others comments feeling that I have nothing much to add.
Cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I hope those reports are correct. I loved the historical stories too.
Cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

As usual I am a week behind, (which is why I have not commented yet). I only started watching episode four today and won’t be able to finish it until Wednesday. I really must try and do better. I have been enjoying following the discussion however, not being a spoiler-phobe.
Cheers
Janette

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@mccottonthedoctorfan I have not listened to any of the sixth doctor Big Finish stories but you have really sparked my interest. I really like the sound of an older, history professor as companion.
cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed. Thanks for that link. Really love seeing the effects and concept art. R.2. (second son) is currently studying digital arts so must flick it over to him.
cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed She does a rather good job of cosplaying me 🙂 I think I need to work on the posh accent though. (Or it is Lalla who needs to work on the south Australian accent?)
Cheers
Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Little bit confused. The article @wolfweed links to states that Dr Who Experience has only been running in Cardiff for five years but over ten years ago now I took the boys to a Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff which I assumed was the Dr Who Experience. building was not the same as I recall though. I have photos of K.9 and the obligatory fridge magnet to prove it..

cheers
Janette

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