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9 March 2015 at 02:24 #38639
This is a very different pace to the last story. Maybe it is just the change from B&W to colour or the acting style of Pertwee. Not sure.
Like @Purofilion I loved the English setting. Half the appeal of Time Team was the stunning locations, so different to dust-dry South Australia. The village is the like of place where one expects to find magic, and with a past so deep who knows what may be lurking.
The Master revelation was one of those ,Oh yes of course moments. Pertwee Doctor almost inevitably means that somewhere the Master is lurking rubbing his hands, eyes snapping menacingly. Delgado is an excellent master if a little over used. (Most of the stories I have seen anyway)
Purofilion
One has to love the “now, now my dear lady” phrases and the general, women= emotional hysterics whilst men = practical and organised
I find the Pertwee years to be the most sexist of BG Who. He has a rather patronising attitude to his companions, Jo in particular. Her role is to be the wide eyed innocent, who between providing tea and sandwiches for the men, asks the questions. Critics who make derogatory remarks about BG Who companions are, I suspect, basing their criticisms on Jo.
Pertwee is very much the grand master, superior to all those mere mortals he deals with. He has flair but he lacks the warmth of Troughton’s Doctor. We know Pertwee’s Doctor will stand up for what is right but we are also reminded that ‘we” humans are his inferiors, to be protected and cared for but lesser beings still.
Cheers
Janette
8 March 2015 at 12:28 #38619I have noticed that there has been almost no mention of food since Capaldi took the reigns of the Tardis. We have seen him with a spoon but don’t know what was on it. I have not been able to add anything to my Dr Who Party menu. (Somehow liver, spleen and eyes just don’t have the same appeal as souffle or fish-fingers in custard.) Back in BG who the daily needs of humans were occasionally addressed. In the first series they have the classic 60s Sci fi, food dispenser and there are beds, of a kind. I think Rory refers to there being bunk beds on board and in Tennant days they ate a lot of chips. According to Rose there were two options, travel with the Doctor or eat chips though at time travel with the Doctor involved eating chips.
Re metabolism. My inexpert understanding is that it is not the metabolism that varies but the Thyroid which controls it which is the culprit. I have thyroid issues which had benefits and disadvantages. Throughout my life I have saved a lot of money but not needing food, but it does get awkward when eating out. People expect one to actually eat. Hard to explain a diet of air.
And going way back to last night’s conversation, @ichabod I wasn’t suggesting that I would either want to live in the early middle ages period. (apologies @mudlark I was being both lazy and hypocritical when using the term “dark ages” as I usually argue against it.) or that I would want to “visit” because I can’t be bothered researching into it. I have spent the past ten years researching into that period, and as a history major I do know a thing or two about historical research. It is simply, as Mudlark points out, that is a period of history about which very little is known, there being very few primary resources. Given that so much is known about the time before and after that time I find to be particularly intriguing. I would love to take a short peek from the comforts of the Tardis. (and for me the lack of a kitchen would not be an issue. Provided there is a library I am happy.)
As for what the vikings did with their gold, I am not sure but I suspect a lot of melted down and converted into “bling” of which there is a goodly display in several of Stockholm’s museums.
Cheers
Janette
7 March 2015 at 13:06 #38579@lisa I also prefer to be the viewer in the Doctor’s stories most of which are great, afterwards. I am certain that when chained to a rock in the desert without the vibro cutters Clara was wishing that she had opted to stay home. However if I had the offer of a trip back to the dark ages for some first hand historical research without the inevitable Whoish monster encounter I would almost certainly say yes. (I mention that period specifically because so little is known about that time.)
Cheers
Janette
7 March 2015 at 02:16 #38562@ichabod I thought the same thing when I was composing my last post but then I thought, no, we are talking about time travel and how it changes people so I thought it kind of does tie into the topic. Anyway I guess it is finally Craig’s decision whether to leave this discussion here or move it. i am happy either way.
Re changing your past — Well, there is that little crux of the matter, which is, how much do you like your current self? If you like her fine, then why would you go back and make major changes that would result in a different you now (and chances are, even smallish changes could bring significantly large results)?
My mother always wanted to change her past. She spent her entire life bemoaning her choices rather than just getting on and making the best of the present. I realised eventually that the crux of her problem was that she did not like herself and it would not have mattered what choice she made she would have regretted it. We do all make bad choices but, as I used to remind my mother, we also have the power to change the outcomes of those choices.
Rather than change the past I would like a few more years tacked onto the future so I can utilise all that I have learned. I often wish I had known as much as I know now when I was young but that isn’t something that time travelling would solve. The companions are negatively affected in terms of aging by their travels. (a token attempt to tie the conversation back to the topic.) They gain in wisdom, (with the brutal exception of Donna) but they age because just as the calories consumed on board the Tardis do count so does the passage of time.
The other side to time travel is whether we are best to have some foreknowledge of our own futures or not. Had I known, when I was twenty, where I would be now I would have been deeply depressed, appalled even, by the prospect but I am happy. I accept that nice though it would be to be as wealthy and successful as J,K.Rowling that for 99.9999% of people is pure fantasy and that the life I have is pretty good.
Had Amy and Rory known they would end up living in 1930s New York would they have continued travelling with the Doctor? I am certain that prospect would have depressed, even appalled them. But they appear to have had a happy life there. Had Donna known that she would have had her memory wiped would she have gone on? Maybe, maybe not. Had Martha known that the Doctor was never going to return her attraction then would she have continued to be the companion but in the end she finds unexpected happiness. Clara’s story remains to be resolved and I am really looking forward to seeing where Moffat and Jenna take the character in series 9
Cheers
Janette,
6 March 2015 at 02:49 #38540we’ll just have to imagine that the Research Station is a mobile free zone (bit like Jodrell Bank), so they have special public call boxes just outside the gates.
A scientific research instillation in Australia that is mobile phone free! Ah sounds very familiar. Our technological institutions are getting increasingly paranoid about technology. (My SO will be happy to know that Jodrell Bank has the same regs)
Just finished watching the episode this morning. I was amused that Kent just walks in but it does make narrative sense that a man with his connections would be able to acquire the required fake id without too much difficulty. I think the problem is with the way that scene is written. He just appears in the research centre after being essentially “on the run” so it isn’t very convincing.
Jamie and Victoria are really relegated to the back seat in this episode, which is rather disappointing. I thought it unfair that the Doctor sends them to safety after they had contributed so much but it is clear just how much he cares for them. Troughton’s Doctor is very much a father figure. His relationship with his companions is very close and very caring. I don’t think that kind of Doctor Companion relationship is seen again until Doctor 7 and Ace. More to say on this when we discuss the next story…
Cheers
janette
6 March 2015 at 01:41 #38536@ichabod Re’ the undoing choices, I think now that I wouldn’t change any of my choices, not even the bad ones, because they are got me to where I am now. It certainly isn’t where I wanted to be when I was twenty but I am happy and there are still plenty of possibilities ahead. I guess that is really one of the central themes of all time travel based fiction and of course the core dilemma of the time traveller.
If I had a time machine I would just want to pop back to relive some of the better moments or visit my boys when they were babies and say good bye to a family member whom we lost unexpectedly. I would not change anything though. I might be tempted to pop back to Dark Ages Britain and do a little first hand historical research. Just think of the possibilities for a historian..
A few years ago I had a rather close encounter with mortality. It changed me a lot and, I believe, gave me a much better appreciation of life. One thing I leaned what that so much of what preoccupies us becomes meaningless in the face of death. I didn’t care about my unpublished novels, my failures, or the fact that there would only be four people at my funeral. Those things didn’t matter. All that mattered to me was my immediate family and how they would manage without me. My youngest son was only five at the time. It was a very humbling experience but a lesson I don’t regret. (Thanks to the wonderful Swedish public health service I recovered fully, scarred by wiser.)
Cheers
Janette
6 March 2015 at 01:24 #38535Thank-you @lisa. You made my morning! 🙂 Nothing particularly new or spoilery, (which is best) just lots of nice teasers. Just what is needed to help endure the long wait until series 9
Cheers
Janette
5 March 2015 at 01:55 #38504@ichabod Well said. I often think of the Companion’s travels with the Doctor as equating to the working holiday/gap year adventure that so many of us embark on when young. We know that it can’t go on forever. There comes a time to turn one’s back on adventure, to settle down to daily life which in comparison can appear to be very mundane. There is one more way of dealing with that and that is to enjoy the memory, to feel enriched by having those memories. Even if I had never been able to travel again after my three years abroad I would still enjoy remembering those days and appreciate how those experiences enriched my life. (And I am still in the process of scanning and “photoshopping the photos” and used my experiences as the basis of a novel.)
I have learned that there are always more adventures to be had but time Travel is a hard one to live up to and when one is young everything feels so much more final. I understand how Clara felt about giving up travel with the Doctor while at the same time knowing that she had a future on earth to attend to.
Cheers
Janette
4 March 2015 at 10:22 #38498@Purofilion don’t panic. I exaggerated. It is probably only about six months now. (I hope)
I agree that none of the companions have had “bad” lives but they have all paid a price. Rose ends up in an alternate universe with an alternate Doctor, Martha suffers least, though she does go through the unrequited love issue, Amy and Rory essentially lose one child and are unable to have another though they do adapt. They are also relocated to another time and place though again it is implied that they did have a good life. Clara has lost Danny. Had she chosen not to return for this series then I suspect the aged Clara scene would no have been part of the dream. I left Donna out because her fate was by far the cruelest. I think I would have preferred her to die (this being a story and all) than go back to the angry, unhappy, defensive person she was before travelling with the doctor and lose all that she had gained.
It is good to keep changing one’s mind. Every series has moments which are brilliant, moments that are not so.
Cheers
Janette
4 March 2015 at 04:52 #38495@ichabod It will be interesting to see where Moffat takes Clara’s character this season. She has been plot device then the human cost. I don’t think there is much room left for new character directions now. I would opt for a wiser and sadder Clara after the events of last year but that may not be dramatic enough.
In AG Who companions have all suffered some degree of damage from travelling with the Doctor. I hope too that Clara does end up with a happier resolution than we have seen thus far. I suspect that might involve Orson. Only about eight months to wait now.
@Purofilion I suspect that Donna will long be many fan’s favourite AG companion. She really set the benchmark for the perfect Doctor/Companion relationship. That was overall a good series too which helped.
@nick1235 Your English is remarkably good. Accents can be a problem though. When I first went to the U.K I could not understand the locals especially when working behind a bar. “yer want what!!” Not being familiar with the drinks didn’t help either. Colloquialisms always make things difficult as well.
Cheers
Janette
4 March 2015 at 02:36 #38494@Purofilion It is a mistake common to right wing thinking that Darwinian survival of the fittest means survival of the toughest and most selfish. In fact it refers to fitness to survive which often favours the most social. After all humans didn’t get to be the dominant species on the planet by backstabbing each other. We developed as social animals, who gained strength through altruistic behaviour. And now it seems we are going down the “gurgler” because the selfish have taken over. Still you Queenslanders gave us all hope last month. 🙂 Things can get better, they can.. (O so I keep telling myself)
Also sorry for not responding to your question re’ the 80s TV series I mentioned earlier. Been struggling to keep up with posts in the last couple of days. The series was ‘A Timeless Land.” Very hard to get hold of now. I once passed up the opportunity to buy the DVDs at the ABC shop and regret it deeply. It was an adaptation of the Timeless Land trilogy by Australian writer Eleanor Dark. If you have an interest in Oz history then I thoroughly recommend them. Eleanor Dark wrote before Manning Clark put Australian History on the curriculum and so had to do all her own research, a ten year task.
Cheers
Janette
2 March 2015 at 11:26 #38452@jimthefish and @scaryb. I am really looking forward to Banished and I expect it to be very political indeed. It is not surprising however that McGovern would choose to dip into history in order to be able to express political ideas. History like Sci fi and fantasy can present controversial ideas by default. As for gritty the first fleet and early days of settlement is probably about as “gritty” as it can get. (One of my favourite TV series is an 1980s ABC adaptation of a series of books which I basically used as reference books in Yr 12 Aus’ history covering much of the same turf. I hope this series goes into the politics of the early settlement too. It all got very corrupt.)
I agree about the crime and relationship dramas. Not being a crime drama or kitchen sink relationship drama fan I find very little that appeals in the current crop of TV dramas. Luckily I am not one of those people that can only watch something once. I am currently re’watching “Our Friends in the North”. (With some Doctor Who for light relief)
Cheers
Janette
1 March 2015 at 00:55 #38404Congratulations indeed and well deserved. I thought Samuel Anderson was great in both roles. Thanks for the link @scaryb
Cheers
Janette
1 March 2015 at 00:49 #3840327 February 2015 at 12:13 #38336I first watched Local Hero as part of a Film festival, (small “indie” films were only ever shown in Adelaide back then once a year under the film festival banner), when I was a student. I loved it then and does not surprise me that it is one of Kermode’s favourite films. As a critic that raises him a few notches in my estimation. (Not that he needed it.) It is the kind of film I love, small in budget, high in creative vision and integrity.
Perhaps because I saw it when first living in London but I had a better recollection of Gregory’s Girl but I had forgotten about Local Hero until it was mentioned here when the name of Peter Capaldi was first mentioned as a possible Doctor Twelve. I quickly acquired it and enjoyed it as much as when I first watched it. (Now to find Gregory’s Girl.)
Though not filmed on the West Coast of Scotland it references what to me is one of the last great magical landscapes, the rugged Scottish west coast. (the east coast is pretty cool too as is everything in between.) Speaking as someone several generations removed, (and lowland Scots at that) I felt rather like the American character, drawn in and going native through the course of the film.
Having watched the docos I now need to visit the East Coast when I next return to Scotland. (sadly not in the foreseeable future) for my dream trip which is to travel up the west coast, ferry out to the islands, then boat off to Iceland.
Lastly it is interesting hear the comments about Peter in this, virtually his first role. How much of his character is acted and how much is real I wonder. There is a little of that uncertainty in his immediate post regeneration Doctor. In Local Hero he is discovering that he can act, in Doctor Who he is discovering that he can be the iconic hero he has loved since childhood.
Cheers
Janette
20 February 2015 at 02:00 #38135@bluesqueakpip. Oh that cast list is very interesting. I have my suspicions about one name on there but maybe I should save that for the Spoilers thread just in case. Looking forward to more bonkers theorising.
Cheers
Janette
12 February 2015 at 02:22 #37956I was excited when I saw @wolfweed‘s name in recent posts. I jumped in the return of our favourite tumbleweed but my excitement was somewhat dashed to hear that it not a full return. We miss you Wolfweed. Do keep in touch.
Cheers
Janette
12 February 2015 at 02:17 #37955thanks for the link @craig Tis indeed an impressive performance but no less than I would expect from our David. As he said in “Christmas Invasion”, “i certainly have a gob”, or words to that effect.
Cheers
Janette
9 February 2015 at 03:45 #37908Finally caught up with ep 2 and 3 today, albeit in a rather distracted frame of mind. Troughton really shows his quality as an actor in this series. He was completely convincing in both roles, our lovable Doctor bemoaning the smashing of the pretty china and the devious psychopathic Salamander, happily ordering the disposal of those inconvenient bodies that keep cluttering up the place. His ruthlessness is quite chilling.
I agree with @bluesqueakpip and others re’ Victoria. She is the archetypal “plucky” heroine of Victorian fiction. Indeed she could have stepped straight out of the pages of an early Dickens. In BG Who they often took assistants “out of their depth” which made for tension and character development, or at least the potential for character development.
The action in this episode is driven by Jamie, Victoria and Astrid. Indeed the Doctor does almost nothing at all other than to employ that remarkable Dr Who hide skill at the end. “They might as well call it the Jamie and Victoria story.” (Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)
I thought for a moment that Benik was going to be on the rebel side but apparently not. (Milton Johns is usually the villain in Who episodes so I should have known better.) I am wondering if Donald Bruce will turn against Salamander as he seems to question him a lot but maybe that is only because he later played Ruben. Lots of familiar faces in this story. Fariah is clearly going to be a character to watch. I hope she doesn’t become a red shirt because I like her and would like to see her win her freedom back.
I was so caught up in the story that when it ended I wanted to watch the rest but I was good. No more until next Monday. 🙂
Cheers
Janette
7 February 2015 at 02:05 #37855Sorry I haven’t been about for a while. Well I have been about, reading everything not posting. Had lots of things happening here on top of getting back into the work/school routine and resulting sleep deprivation. Have had an “issue” to deal with that is taking its toll and unfortunately probably going to force us to take action which we really don’t want to do. (I have never in over twenty years seen my SO so angry or disinclined to be forgiving. I am sure I could find a Dr Who quote that would apply) Anyways the boys have persuaded him to spend the afternoon playing D&D which will hopefully allow him to vent a little by beating up lots of monsters. 🙂 At the very least there will be much healthy laughter for us all.
Plans are going well for the Writers’ Festival. We have four workshops locked in now and community support. It is going to be a busy six months as SO and I are also co-organising a seminar or something (not quite decided just what yet) with an international speaker. We are still in the process of trying to get someone to actually some to SA.
So much I have intended to comment on, so many enjoyable discussions that I have followed with interest but been either too tired or preoccupied to engage with actively. @nick1235 was sorry to hear that you have been having “issues” too. Hope things are looking up.
so, hurray to another 2 weeks of turtling in the house like hibernating Silurian.
I loved that line. Please may I use that one on my own three “hibernating Silurians” whose “turtling” days are now slightly reduced due to school, TAFE and a puppet show. One film suggestion that immediately springs to mind, partly due to a recent article in the Guardian, is Princess Bride a film that cannot fail to bring a smile to the face. (Right now I think I am in dire need of a re-watch.)
@purofilion the QLD election result helped restore my faith in democracy. Well done up there. Interesting to see what will happen in NSW now. I can never forget Chewbacca’s name as at at time it was my SO’ work nickname. (When he was hairier.)
I have some re-watching to catch up on too.
Cheers
Janette
30 January 2015 at 02:03 #37684@Nice little “jelly baby crumb”. Thank you @lisa. There were a few there I didn’t know about either. It is such a looooong wait isn’t it and we still have months to go.
Cheers
Janette
27 January 2015 at 02:53 #37626Have been reading through all the wonderful posts making mental notes, which I have now completely forgotten, so forgive me for not doing justice to all the interesting posts in this conversation on one of my favourite subjects. I especially enjoyed the discussion about what is and isn’t fan fic. As always there are not hard lines delineating what is from what isn’t. As I said in a talk last year we as a species have a tendency to want to catagorise things in nice, clearly labelled boxes.
@pedant, thank you for putting up that reading list. Like Puro my sci fi repertoire is embarrassing. In the last few years however I have read far too little fiction of any kind. There are several works on my “to read” list, The Diamond Age, Wyndham’s the Midwich Cuckoos which a teacher read to us in primary school. One of my favourite fantasy works, which I have mentioned before, and recommend is Jonathan Strange and Mr NOrrell. The BBC are currently in post production on a adaptation which I await with baited breath. Also thanks for the link to the Aussie film posters. Cheered me up after reading the news.
@Purofilion best wishes to Boyilion on his new school. My youngest goes through in the one school so did not have to go through all that. Is you son entering yr 7 or 8? It sounds as though he is doing the same topics in history as Owain. I was rather excited when I read through the history book for this year, especially as it had a chapter on vikings and a pic of the viking longhouse on the Lofoton islands.
@bluesqueakpip I know where I shall start. 🙂
Cheers
Janette
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23 January 2015 at 14:50 #37510@ichobod sadly my exposure to Sci Fi as a teenager was limited to the books my brother read which were sheer dross. I loved Dr Who, Blakes 7 and the kind of Science fiction that the BBC served up. We lived in a provincial city and only received two tv stations, the local commercial which only had the worst of Australian and US offerings and the ABC which showed mostly British content with the occasional big budget Aussie production. I discovered Marion Zimmer Bradley while in the UK but it wasn’t until about two years ago that I read A Handmaid’s Tale. I am certain that there are a lot of other wonderful genre books out there that I don’t know about. I probably need at least another hundred years to read at least a tenth of what deserves to be read and another hundred on top of that to get all the stories in my head written down.
@purofilion I have been wondering why my sons have so few texts to study in English. When I was in Year 11 and 12 we did several novels, plays, poetry and film studies. They don’t even seem to do Shakespeare any more. While I understand that English studies need to be about so much more than text analysis surely an appreciation of literature should be the core of the subject. Also on looking through their text books I wonder if the curriculum is designed to make interesting subjects as dull as possible. I really feel sorry for teachers trying to make the leaden matter they are required to teach interesting. Australian history for instance, though brief, has many interesting quirky and colourful moments, all of which are excluded from the texts.
On the writing topic, the little writing group I am a member of just received a council grant to put on a writing festival later this year so we are all very excited. We have several guest speakers lined up, our favourite pub “on board” as venue and will be talking to the local paper next week.
Cheers
Janette
23 January 2015 at 02:26 #37503@Ichobod I have just”googled” the book. Sounds fascinating. I will buy a copy. Of course only males read Sci Fi when it was written exclusively for males. I was put off most sci fi as a teenager by the lack of female characters. It is thanks to writers such as you persisting that that is finally changing.
@barbaralefty. I have the same concerns as you re’ my strident views which seep inevitably into all my writing putting off potential readers. I recently sold, (my first real sale!!) a copy of one of my books to a lady in my writing group rather reluctantly as I was concerned that the comments on religion would be offensive to her. I know she will sympathise with the politics though.
Cheers
Janette
23 January 2015 at 02:09 #37502I am a writer too though you probably wouldn’t have though so from my usually incoherent, and invariably misspelled comments on here. In fact @arbutus self description so well applies to me that I am quoting,
, as the balance between being the primary homemaker and chauffeur/cheerleader for a teenage son, and my own artistic endeavours is a constant challenge for me. As my son would say, the struggle is real! I also have several unfinished novels of different genres which I hope to finish one of these days (no sci-fi, though). Many weeks, coming on here and composing a few paragraphs about the nature of the Doctor, or whatever, is the most writing I get to!
(change “a teenage son” to three teenage sons and I that is me.) I don’t have a blog but am planning doing one about food oddly enough given that I neither cook nor eat.
I have only attempted one piece of fan fiction which has not g0t beyond the paper it was originally scribbled on. As I have difficulty reading my own writing it is never likely to come to life in digital form. That was an ending to North and South, (the novel), because I felt the more recent BBC TV adaptation was badly let down by the incongruous ending. I have often though of writing a “what became of Susan” story but have not yet found the time or sorted out my own ideas on that. @jimthefish has written some excellent Who stories which he put up as blogs last year and I will link I promise.
I wonder if there is a link between writing and forum posting. On other forums I have been active on many of those more active members were also writers. I guess forums are very much about the written word hence the appeal to writers. (I hate FB and Twitter because I find them shallow. Only forums allow for depth of expression and real discussion IMHO.)
Cheers
Janette
21 January 2015 at 10:31 #37455Thank-you @lisa We are currently celebrating the occasion by watching Image of the Fendhal. (Also not accompanied by Jelly babies.)
Cheers
Janette
19 January 2015 at 05:52 #37419I ended up with Five. Now that is a first. (Just as long as I am not stuck with his companions, or choice of attire.)
Cheers
Janette
18 January 2015 at 03:24 #37366Enemy of the World is also the only Dr Who story set in part in Australia, (though very evidently not filmed here.)
If we do watch it I will raise a glass to @htpbdet when I watch. A lovely idea @bluesqueakpip to honour our old friend.
Cheers
Janette
17 January 2015 at 12:16 #37349Noo00. Clara’s “Ian” showed on occasion that he was more than “up to it”, but had PTSD to deal with first before stepping on board the Tardis and now to too dead to do so. (We presume because as has been pointed out, being dead in Dr Who does not necessarily preclude the deceased from participating in non deceased type activities.)
English and Maths teachers are definitely mirroring History and Science. After all History and English are common majors, (mine in fact) and Maths/Science usually go hand in hand. (My SO for instance) and somehow the English/History and the Maths/Science seem to be a common pairing. Clara’s position at Coal Hill was a nod to the past. I just hope that Moffat intends to extract a little more honey from that pot. Maybe time for a “we want Ian” petition.
Cheers
Janette.
17 January 2015 at 12:06 #37348I would be happy to do that.
Cheers
Janette
17 January 2015 at 10:15 #37345I would be happy with any of the above but will cast my vote for The Invasion simply for the first appearance of UNIT and because I do need some added incentive to watch reconstructions. Web of Fear would be second choice and it has both Jamie and Victoria which is an excellent companion combination. (Don’t know who the second companion in The Invasion is but all the Troughton companions were good from what little I have seen anyway.)
While on the topic are we also going to do the Peter Capaldi retrospective?
Cheers
Janette
14 January 2015 at 01:50 #37301@pedant I agree with you about both the Christmas episodes being a separate list and Day of the Doctor being in a category all its own. It certainly was unfair to put it into series 7 which had a lot of strong contenders but nothing could possibly better DotD.
@Purofilion, You describe Turn Left beautifully. (as always. 😉 )
Cheers
Janette
13 January 2015 at 12:51 #37282Thank you for the link @juniperfish That was an interesting exercise. I voted as follows,
1 The Doctor Dances two parter
2 Girl in the Fireplace
3 Blink
4 Turn Left. (Though Silence in the Library was a very strong contender there.)
Specials, Waters of Mars
5 Time of Angels. (A very tough choice. There were so many contenders, ie Eleventh Hour and Vincent
6 A Good Man goes to war. (Also tough but because for me there were no stand out episodes in this lot.)
7 Day of the Doctor. (Again so many good episodes it would have been tough had Day of the Doctor not been so outstanding.)
8 I put “last Christmas” mainly because of the bagging it got on line. I would also have liked to vote for Listen as those two would be equal favourites. Selecting either over the other seemed unfair.
What I found interesting was by voting I realised just how strong some series are. I have found the overall quality of episodes in Moffat’s years better though there were some outstanding ones during the RTD era too. The notable exception would be series 6 which though not terrible had no brilliant stories. (IMHO)Apologies to fans of ‘The Doctor’s Wife but much though I have tried it still does not work for me.
Cheers
Janette
13 January 2015 at 12:28 #37280Sorry for not posting earlier. My SO chose yesterday to upgrade my senescent laptop. I passed the time watching Edge of Destruction on another Laptop which currently has no internet access. (It is awaiting an upgrade.)
Like @bluesqueakpip I was rather more interested in learning to crawl when this was originally shown. (also my parents had no TV and my mobility skills were not up to the task of crawling over to my grandmother’s next door.) Also thank you for explaining the intro. I had forgotten just how the Daleks ends so was a little confused.
I agree with @craig and @scaryb re’ the lovely intro music. It is if not the best then certainly one of.
I loved you comment Scary re’ Clara as a pussycat in comparison to Barbara. I was going to post a long diatribe about modern fans and critics who talk about the current run of “feisty” companions while dismissing all BG companions as sexist portrayals but you beat me to it. Barbara was strong, smart and more than able to hold her own. She often objects to being relegated to traditional female roles by other characters. It is no less too than I would expect from a TV show produced by a strong, intelligent woman who was pushing the boundaries. I wonder if Barbara is to a degree a reflection of Verity Lambert.
Susan on the other hand, “slight overacting”??? You were being polite there. She does little but scream hysterically. I suspect she is meant to be young and easily scared but the limited acting ability does not convey much at all. (I am a little stuck on the “what happened to Susan refrain, not because I particularly liked the character as portrayed by Carol Ann Ford, but because the concept of the character interests me and I think has potential for further exploring just who the Doctor is. I really want to see a young, regenerated Susan.)
I think this story is important in the development of the show and the character of the Doctor. If the depiction of the development of the series in An Adventure in Space and Time is accurate then they were slowly finding their way at this stage. The success of the Daleks had saved the show but the show, like BlueSqueakPip and I at the time, was still learning to crawl. This is a bold story to attempt. IT is Moffat like in many ways, relying on tension generated by the actors. They really carry the story, (with the unfortunate exception of Carol Ann Ford), and give it its power. I loved that the resolution was so simple and mundane, a faulty spring. Imagine how the ARSE fans would scream now about a story that revolved around a faulty spring. It seems on watching this after seeing “An Adventure in Space and Time” that Hartnell finally manages to inject a little of that “twinkle” into his characterisation. We get some hint of warmth at the end and something of his mercurial nature. “One minute you are abusing us and the next you are the perfect butler”.
Cheers
Janette
10 January 2015 at 03:02 #37171On thinking about it I was rather too begrudging about nine and Rose. I think it would be interesting to look at how the Companion changed in the reboot to someone with a family, boyfriend and background so would need to be an early episode with Jackie and Mickey, maybe the one where she returns and a year has passed. (I have forgotten just which story that is but the scene of her and the doctor sitting on the roof when she realises his age I can ‘see”. Funny what sticks and what goes.)
Cheers
Janette
10 January 2015 at 02:59 #37170Sorry to do this as it is getting rather crowded in that metaphorical ring right now but I have another metaphorical hat to toss in.
On reading the discussion over on the Last Christmas thread it occurred to me that we might do a Doctor/Companion themed re watch. This could include “Edge of Destruction” as that really focusses upon the Doctor’s developing relationship with his “team” and is really setting the foundations for all future regenerations and companions. For second Doctor it would be any Doctor/Jamie story so that is easy. I am happy to watch a recon. Third Doctor would be with Jo, Baker needs two, one with SArah Jane and one with Romana, (but hey is it possible to have too much Baker?) and we could watch the Baker recon’ Shada. Not sure there were any remarkable pairings during the time of 5 and 6 so we could jump straight to 7 and ACe then 8, the minisode which depicts a pairing that doesn’t happen but there is still a lovely, albiet brief dynamic there, or we could discuss one of the radio productions. Then TEnnant/Donna, Eleven?Amy&Rory and of course Twelve/Clara. I suppose we would have to have a Nine/Rose too.
I think we should do the Capaldi retrospective as a secondary watch thing. (We had two on the go last year.) I think we are up to sustaining two conversations at once. 🙂
So many good ideas that I suggest whatever we don’t run with this year get’s put on hold till next.
Cheers
Janette
9 January 2015 at 10:36 #37131@ichabod He and Moffat are clearly good friends and I believe that they have discussed it in the past so I would not be surprised just as long as SM doesn’t ask him to write the series finales. RTD penned some brilliant episodes and some real dross too. I think as an occasional writer he would really be able to shine.
Cheers
Janette
9 January 2015 at 05:29 #37120Thanks for the link @juniperfish. Nice to know that RTD still watches the show “religiously”. Now he is back in the UK maybe he will pen an episode or two.
Cheers
Janette
8 January 2015 at 02:56 #37092I love the suggestion as made by @drben and @nerys that Santa orchestrated the entire thing to get Clara back where she needs to be, in the Tardis. However I think it is important to remember that the interpretation of the significance of the Tangerine at the end is open. I am happy to choose the “Santa saves the day” option but those who prefer a more “rational” or “grown up” (not in my view) explanation can choose the, “Clara just left the tangerine there for a midnight snack”, theory. Moffat leaves the ending deliberately open letting the viewer made up their minds, come to their own conclusion. I just stomped on someone’s toes over on the Guardian for stating that the episode was rubbish because “Santa saves the day.” Moffat’s writing is far more ambigious than that, which is why those trolls of limited imagination can’t cope with it. There is no definitive answer to that one. Those who really can’t cope wtih the concept of Santa being real in a family show about an alien who travels through time in a box that is bigger on the inside, … oh wait. I have said that before haven’t I and it doesn’t need to be said here. (been spending too much time BTL on the Guardian lately.) The tangerine, (confusing citrissey type fruit) was left on the window sill for true fans like us. 🙂 I love the little clues that Moffat gives us, things that might be meaningful or might not. He certainly knows how to keep us bonkerising..
We see the dream crabs fall off people’s faces so we know they are real but we don’t know if they are as dangerous as stated because that was in the dream. I am not sure how much of what was said within the dream states we can trust. Also if Santa did orchestate the entire episode and the crabs were lethal he might have done so trusting that he and the Doctor, two time lords combined, would be able to counter any actual danger.
Of course this isn’t the only possible theory. Dreams within dreams, it’s limitless.
That is so Moffat. He is at his best when writing these kind of open ended/multiple interpretation stories. (as with Listen)
Cheers
Janette
7 January 2015 at 04:29 #37056@lisa I thought of jelly babies but didn’t think they were crumbly enough and “bits of jelly baby” just didn’t sound right somehow.
Cheers
Janette
7 January 2015 at 02:28 #37051Urgh. Another “Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell” reference. They are tormenting me. (I was hoping it would appear in the Christmas Schedule. Have been keenly awaiting this adaptation for ages.)
Thanks for the link @lisa. Nice to have a few breadcrumbs to nibble as we wait. (or should that be, “jammy dodger crumbs?)
Cheers
Janette
7 January 2015 at 02:26 #37050@craig my suggestion further up was a story, either first story or early in each regen” which best reflects the Doctor in question lookign at how each actor approaches the role, how the character changes/develops and how it remains consistant. I would be happy to include a reconstruction for Troughton. I also thought that for Doctor 8 we could discuss one of the Big Finish productions and the minosode. (The film just doesn’t do Paul McGann justice IMHO) This of course would span both BG and AG who.
I also really like the idea of doing a villains retrospective and others suggested doing a Peter Capaldi retrospective which could be a done as well and include some really fun stuff from the wonderful “Local Hero” onwards.
Sorry to hear that you have been having a not so wonderful time. Hope things are looking up. Was wondering where you were but you were just off and about on hols. (guess it isn’t “off and about” season over there. In Oz anytime of year is a good time for holidays)
Cheers
Janette
5 January 2015 at 14:10 #36979@pedant. Lol. I had to read that last line twice before I “got it”. I must chase that one up. Sounds like it would be good for long car drives. (When we next have a working car that is.)
To add to my suggestion I would recommend that the first C.B episode is sufficient to get the feel for his incarnation and for Doctor 8 we would have to do a rewatch of the minisode or listen to one of the radio broadcasts as the film was covered (by the brave) last year.
Cheers
Janette
5 January 2015 at 13:46 #36978@nsgirl13 Dave is not an uncommon name and I don’t think there is supposed to be any connection between Shona’s Dave and Clara’s Dad. I suspect that Shona’s Dave is a throw away Red Dwarf reference as a nod to the despair squid, another dream within a dream story.
I think that Clara has now put the problems of juggling two lives to rest. In this next series I hope that we will see her moving forward, managing to balance the “normal” with the fantasy threads in her life and finally to be happy. When she wakes from the dream she is choosing life signifying her moment of healing. I think in a way the Christmas special cleared away the baggage from the previous episodes laying the slate clean for the next series. there are still mysteries to be cleared up, most especially Orson and the toy soldier, but I think the Doctor and Clara’s relationship is now firmly grounded.
I am also hoping she won’t loose her job as I would like to see more action around Coal Hill mostly as a pretext for a cameo from Ian. Now we have had that name teaser in Day of the Doctor it would be very disappointing if we don’t actually get to meet up with Ian again.
Cheers
Janette
5 January 2015 at 04:36 #36958I have been thinking about our viewing schedule for the year and an excellent post by @barbaralefty on “An Unearthly Child” helped me formalise those random ponderings. Given that PC is now established as the Doctor might we pick one story from each Doctor that somehow reflects upon the character of that Doctor, either their first story or from early in each regen’. For instance for the first Doctor I would suggest “The Edge of Destruction” as we have done “An Unearthly Child” and I think his character is really cemented in the third story. I am not suggesting this as an alternative to the PC retrospective which I am totally sold on, (though I am not sure I will watch all the Torchwood series) but as the “Who” based option.
It recently dawned upon me that I am not nearly familiar enough with Terry Pratchett’s work. I read one book a few years ago while travelling to see if it would be appropriate for the boys, decided it was a bit too old still and, due to circumstances of the time forgot all about it. Recently the eldest and youngest and I watched “Hogfather”, then rewatched it with the entire family. Needless to say a copy of “The Colour of Magic” found its way under the Christmas tree as a result. (I think the boys are now of Discworld reading age. I may be too. 🙂 )
Cheers
Janette
4 January 2015 at 06:47 #36917Fires are now under control but south of us the sky is all smoke and the fire bombers are still buzzing urgently overhead. Looking at the most recent map it looks as though the fires encircled Patrick’s friend’s house so fingers crossed for them but others are not so fortunate. The natival animal shelter and a pet boarding kennels were lost which is heartbreaking news.
cheers
Janette
3 January 2015 at 12:46 #36881@serahni I agree re’ Clara. Still so many loose threads to tie off and I really want to find out who Orson is, how he fits in and what became of the toy soldier. (I had dreams about that toy soldier and woke up at least once knowing I’d cracked the mystery but unable to remember how. damn those dream crabs.)
Cheers
Janette
3 January 2015 at 10:12 #36876Urgh. Hate it when people can’t read the “no junk mail” stickers.
Cheers
Janette
3 January 2015 at 09:29 #36872@lisa when my SO was in California he was very impressed by the eucalypts. Apparantly they are much healthier over there than they are here which is no doubt a factor in this fire as most of the native trees in the hills are diseased. Fire bombers have been urgently buzzing overhead all day, not a good sound. We live near a gliding club so are used to the gentle drone of light planes. Today has been like living by a military airfield during a major war. We have had some rain, (not that you Brits would call the sprinklings we get “rain”) and things seem to have quietened down at last.
@scaryb You have springs and autums which are wonderful seasons and though brief I think there is nothing lovelier than a British summer.
Cheers
Janette
3 January 2015 at 09:19 #36871 -
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