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23 January 2013 at 02:16 #1837
@juniperfish Lots of good? As discussed in other threads RTD’s Dr was Godlike. Moffat has taken that and made undoing it a central theme of his arc’s.
Or, or, your last comment inspires another idea, maybe it is all the work of the Time Lords from beyond the time lock, manipulating those on the other side to destroy the Dr before they make their triumphant return. Though personally I would be sorry to see the Time Lords portrayed as evil. Snobbish, arrogant, inflexible yes but evil no. I see them more as “lawful good”, which makes them rather hard to live with. The Doctor is unlawful good hence his exile. (I think I have just done a thread jump. sorry I am easily led astray.) Maybe I will copy past this one but must go now and build a pool fence.)
cheers
Janette
23 January 2013 at 01:54 #1835@juniperfish, The answer would have been obvious during 10’s reign. Amy might have been able to make some suggestions too, now, I fear, it will remain a mystery unless Moffat knows the answer. Maybe there are timelords lurking in Scotland who somehow managed to evade the end of the Time War. Where better to hide after all? A nice castle in the highlands with a roaring fire and a few resident ghosts to keep things interesting. (I am thinking of Carbisdale, the mock castle YHA where the Norwegian royals hid during WWII) Perhaps the mystery of the Scottish police boxes will be explained in the 50th. Or maybe we could devise our own fan fic about it.
Cheers
Janette
22 January 2013 at 03:37 #1811There was a larger size blue police box in Edinburgh when I was there with the boys in 2007. Naturally I took photos with them in front of it even though it was not the same. When I first arrived in London in 1982 I went searching with a fellow Who-fan for a Tardis style police box. I believe it was near St Pauls but it had been removed by that time.
Cheers
Janette
20 January 2013 at 13:00 #1775I been lurking on this discussion partly because I am enjoying immensely and feel that I have nothing worthy to add and partly because there are so many good comments that I would like to respond to that it makes my head ache and so I keep putting it off which of course means that there are even more fabulous comments to comment upon and it has become even more difficult, so now, that it has become impossible I will venture in.
I have seen some of the Hartnell stories. Those that did not end up on the BBC bonfire were repeated on ABC Tv a few years ago, Aussie Auntie obviously not sharing BBC Auntie’s loathing of repeats, however as I was usually in the kitchen with “he who now has a name” getting dinner while they were on I only got to watch snatches. (We recorded them all for that later which has yet to happen) We had several stories on Video which were watched and rewatched however. I loved the history stories and regret that Dr Who has lost that focus. I think it is a shame that they dropped the educational aim. It should not be the driving motif but is not harmful to have a Science/history lesson lurking in the subtext.
I many ways the earlier years of Who were more confident about the future of humanity than our current age and that is reflected in the stories. In 1963 people were still wary due to the war and development of atomic energy but by the end of the decade, Pertwee era, the moon landings were bathing science and scientists in a euphoric aura. Science, in the late sixties and seventies, was seen as the stepping stone to the future, now we are beginning to realise that our manipulation of nature comes at a price and so the role of companion as the human tempering the man of science has come again to the fore. Interesting that the relationship of the first Dr and his companions is echoed in the more recent stories. In many ways Amy and Rory were reminiscent of Barbara and Ian. Maybe in some ways we have come full circle.
We are wary of science now because we know the harm that can be done when that knowledge is used by unethical persons but at the same time we also know that our survival depends upon scientific knowledge well applied. To most people the scientist is a magician. How many computers users know how a computer actually works. (Luddite me certainly doesn’t.) As knowledge becomes increasingly specialised the pratictioners of any one field become magicians to those of others. So the Dr is a scientist, a magician, a saviour but also potentially harmful because he is lacking in fundamental human insight. Matt Smith brings all this to the role and yes, I think in many ways he does resemble William Hartnell’s Dr.
Cheers
Janette
19 January 2013 at 03:02 #1699I haven’t heard of Porterhouse Blue. It sounds interesting. Have added it to my wish list.
Cheers
Janettte
18 January 2013 at 02:19 #1643@phaseshift. Thanks for the link. We watched that episode last night but fun to watch that little segment again. I wondered if it was done by Gilliam. Rather to my relief the story does not appear to be heading in the direction I thought it would.
@craig, I have not yet seen A Very British Coup. It is in my “must watch soon” list.
Cheers
Janette
17 January 2013 at 03:44 #1575Snow! I want snow. Wish you could teleport some down here. It’s 42c outside. The husky is sleeping right in front of the air con and I’m trying not to think about electricity bills.
Poor Sarah Jane. She seemed particulary prone to either being replaced by a shape shifter or hypnotism and other forms of mind control.
I think one of the factors that makes nu who monsters scarier is that the deaths of victims are given more impact. In old Who the body count was mostly shrugged off. “Just another red shirt”.
Cheers
Janette
16 January 2013 at 08:14 #1493Cybermats were defintely scarier than cyberman. I hope there are none hiding under the sofa.
Cheers
Janette.
16 January 2013 at 08:12 #1491Well observed. My remark was reminiscent of that which I made on the other Lodger thread. Relieved to see that mycomments are consistent, even if mostly wrong… I don’t think I want to know about some of my sillier past theories.
Cheers
Janette
16 January 2013 at 02:51 #1487The only Who monster to ever make me feel remotely scared, (apart from the “white man” who stalked my childhood imagination who may or may not have been a Who monster) was the Vashta Nerada from the library.
It is good to have a safe place to sit or hide behind. Thanks again our wonderful webmaster, Craig.
Cheers
Janette
15 January 2013 at 05:15 #1437I have not seen any of the stories featuring the Valeyard so just did some research. It would certainly be an interesting development however I still veer in favour of the Time Lords returning.
I think having Benedict Cumberbatch in the 50th would fit with your 4th wall theory as we all know that he inhabits another imaginative realm of Moffat’s.
Cheers
Janette
14 January 2013 at 12:41 #1421I think some of the negative comments were related more to the casting of James Cordon rather than the episode itself. A lot of U.K viewers had a negative predisposition toward the episode because of his former T.V. appearances. As an Aussie, who had never seen or heard of the actor before, I was not influenced by that knowledge; a rare instance where ignorance is a blessing. Ialso remember enjoying reading all the discussion about it on line. I don’t think I posted much then if at all because anything I wanted to say would inevitably have already been said.
I doubt the glaring questions raised in the episode will ever be answered my suspicion is that each series must be narratively self supporting.
cheers
Janette
14 January 2013 at 12:23 #1419@scaryb thanks for the link. I havn’t read any Eoin Colfer books yet. I think I will try the boys on his new time travel series. It sounds like their kind of book. (and mine.) And I am looking forward to the e-book.
I am pleased that his story features the Dr and Susan and their relationship. A hint for the 50th maybe??
Cheers
Janette
14 January 2013 at 03:56 #1411The Lodger was an excellent episode which nicely plays upon the Doctor as alien. He is so often the all knowing genius. It was nice to see him both being inept and brilliant. It was also a reminder that he is a normally a tourist on earth. In this episode he become “an expat” which is a whole different ball game. (Tourist language guides don’t tell you how to read bills in a foreign language for instance). Craig was a brilliant foil for the Dr and I think deserves to be elevated to assistant status.
Cheers
Janette
13 January 2013 at 13:51 #1359I always wanted a long scarf but hate knitting. A few years ago my youngest son’s best friend’s mother made him an excellent Dalek costume for book week. I don’t think it survived the day at school however.
I like your idea @juniperfish of fans dressing up for the anniversary. Maybe I should start buying up on wool.
Cheers
Janette
13 January 2013 at 11:47 #1357@phaseshift and@juniperfish, my fifteen year old self would have loved to have met Tom Baker too.
About five years ago now I was in Cardiff with my sons. We were spending a week visiting Welsh Castles but when we saw the Dr Who Exhibition posters on the YHA wall ruined medieval castles suddenly lost all their appeal. The exhibition was fun but we were not as fortunate as @phaseshift.
Cheers
Janette
12 January 2013 at 15:39 #1313It sounds interesting.
Cheers
Janette
12 January 2013 at 12:42 #1305This forum is about two weeks old, (that old already!!!), and I want to say a massive, massive THANKS to Craig.
You are doing a wonderful job with this. I am sooo impressed by the continuing effort you are putting in to making this a very special place for us bonkers fans. Thank-you.
cheers
Janette.
12 January 2013 at 11:29 #1301I was fifteen when I first watched Dr Who. My brother was watching it while on a uni break. He claims to have watched it for years on my Grandmothers TV and it is possible that the TV show which terrified me for years after was Dr Who. It would have been one of the missing Troughton stories. I watched a couple of episodes of The Andriod Invasion and was hooked. My best friend at school was also a Dr Who fan. At that time Who was shown four nights a week in Oz and when they ran out of new episodes they would repeat old ones, going back to early Pertwee. I didn’t miss an episode, no matter how many time I had already seen it, until I left home fortunately at about the time of Colin Baker, whom I disliked due to a previous role he had played. Not really fair on the actor I know.
My partner, “he who shall not be named”, is also a Dr Who fan. One of the first birthday cakes I ever made for him had a marzipan Tardis on top. While we were at Uni, and unable to indulge in expensive ornaments, we bought pricey pewter Dalek salt and pepper shakers as a joint birthday pressie. (We just couldn’t resist.) Every christmas they are decorated with santa hats. Needless to say this year’s joint 50th birthday cake will be Who themed too. (1963 is a good vintage.)
Cheers
Janette
12 January 2013 at 11:03 #1299Back to the T.V. discussion. I think I have worked out what is going to happen in Fringe. It occurred to me last night after watching episode 8. I had a peek on the forum this morning and it appears that others have thought of it too. If I’m right I will never forgive the script writers. I’m so sure I’m correct that I won’t post my theory because I don’t want to spoil the fun for other Fringe fans. If it ends in the worst narrative cop out imaginable you will know I was right.
12 January 2013 at 09:28 #1285As long as they don’t overdo the specky effects at the cost of story. Being a natural optimist however I am certain that a lot of thought and planning has gone into script and effects and the result will be unforgettable.
12 January 2013 at 03:54 #1271I haven’t re watched this episode for some time but it was one of my favourites. One of the strengths of nu Who is that it occasionally throws something different into the mix and isn’t afraid of emotional depth.
Really enjoyed reading through comments, especially @jimthefish ‘s detailed review.
Cheers
Janette
12 January 2013 at 03:26 #1269@blenkinsopthebrave, well said. A big budget is not always a good thing. Writers can get lazy and rely too much on special effects. Some of the best episodes are the lower budget ones.
cheers
Janette
12 January 2013 at 03:22 #1267It seems as though the rest of Australia is copping it at the moment, for a change. We had about 45 last Friday. Fried the garden but since then has been mid thirties and no fires.
(it actually gets hot in Siberia in summer which is why huskies shed sooo much. Ours started just before Christmas and it looked like it had been snowing inside the house.)
11 January 2013 at 12:38 #1229Actually come to think of it an Australian, Errol Flynn, was the definitive other iconic English super hero, Robin Hood. (won’t mention other Aussie “actors” attempting to portray British cultural heroes.)
Cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 12:32 #1227Kylie is also much more popular in the U.K. The only Christmas Special I haven’t liked is the Kylie one mostly because it had Kylie in it. I thought she was awful.
11 January 2013 at 12:30 #1225He wasn’t too popular in Australia oddly enough.
cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 12:18 #1221Absolutely. Count me in. John Noble actually is a “local lad”. He is a South Australian and there arn’t too many of those getting known out there in the big bad world. And he is wonderful as Walter. I watched a few episodes before I realised that he was Denethor. I think he would make a fantastic Doctor too but I doubt the BBC would cast an Aussie as the icoic English super hero. (especially in the light of comments made about the casting of Adelaide Clemmens in Parades End)
Cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 05:01 #1215Tom Baker was “my Doctor Who”, with Sarah Jane in tow. The first episode I watched was The Android Invasion. I was 15 at the time. I then watched every episode and repeat until I left home three years later.
In the 90s my partner and I borrowed and bought videos of the early episodes and I really enjoyed the combination of Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan. Hence I keep hoping that Susan’s character will reappear. It would not be too difficult to explain the back story to a new audience.
Our children were brought up on a solid diet of Dr Who. When the eldest was in day care he used to play at being a Dalek. None of the other children understood. They were delighted when Nu Who started and their school friends finally cottoned on.
11 January 2013 at 02:44 #1209I really enjoyed all the old Sinbad movies. At once stage we had quite a collection all on video unfortunately. We tried transitioning them to DVD but that didn’t really work probably because the kids would jump about near the computer and shake up the DVD player.
cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 02:40 #1207Also, though not Dr Who but as SJA has been referred to Clive Langer deserves an honourable mention. Oh and I should definitely have included K.9 in my list of Who favourites.
11 January 2013 at 02:37 #1205If I had to identify a favourite it would have to be Romana II. I was very disapointed that she did not accompany her husband to Australia last year. While everyone else was lining up to get books signed by him I would have been lining up with an armfull of Dr Who books for her to sign. I liked Romana because she could hold her own against the Dr. Other favourites, (I have quite a lot of them) include Barbara and Ian. There was a good dynamic between them. When critics remark upon the earlier “feeble woman” type assistant I get rather annoyed. Barbara was no feeble woman. Leela was good because she was tough and even developed a little as a character. A pity she and Tom Baker did not get along. Sarah Jane was special of course. When she died it felt like loosing a friend. I did not like any of the post Romana II assistants until Ace.
Nu Who assisants have been far more developed as individuals and brought more to the story. I like this however at times it has been over done. Love-lorn Rose became tiresome. I don’t think RTD knew how to make Martha inteseting. Donna was excellent and Wilf was an added bonus. Turn Left is one of my favourite Nu Who episodes. I found Amy annoying at first but the Amy/Rory combination worked very well. So not so keen on Amy as assistant but loved Amy/Rory as assistant. Clara has potential to be good but I really really don’t want more shoehorned in romance on the Tardis. The Doctor is a 900 year old alien, not a love object.
Cheers
Janette.
11 January 2013 at 02:09 #1199I mostly read non-fiction now. I received a pile of books on Anglo-Saxon history for Christmas which will keep me going to the next ritual book exchange. My partner and I put the books we buy through the year away to give to each other at Christmas.
Favourite “genre” books include Lord of the Rings, Hobbit and Silmarillian. I have yet to wade through all the more recently published stuff. Thought I might start reading aloud at dinner to the family. Will probably have all the uneaten vegies thrown at me.
Another favourite is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and the classic Hitchhikers series. Forgot to metion the TV series in that thread. Other Sci Fi/Fantasy titles I’ve enjoyed include the Northern Lights Trilogy by Phillip Pullman, the Howl stories by Dianna Wynne Jones, A Handmaid’s Tale, Harry Potter, and the children’s Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver.
Cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 01:49 #1197The Hobbit naturally. Have seen it twice in 48 frame and in 2d. Loved it in both formats.
I’m not a fan of action films but The Dark Knight Rises looks good. I think I might go with the boys to see that one when it comes out.
Cheers
Janette
11 January 2013 at 01:46 #1195Just read that article and noticed lots of friends there. I agree with the premise of the article but not all the arguments. It is not necessary for every companion to snog the Dr. Love sick Rose became cringe worthy and the Sherlock/Adler thing just didn’t work and weakened an otherwise excellent episode. However the relationship between Peter and Olivia is central to the overall arc of Fringe and not something just slapped in. (Watched episode 8 last night and there were tears.)
Cheers
Janette
10 January 2013 at 13:48 #1117I just had a cute idea, and I use the word “cute” very deliberately. It would be rather nice if they cast the Moffat/Tennant child as either the Dr in his youth/infancy or any infant relative of the Doctor’s. (Not sure what gender said child is or what age.)
I have been rattling on so much about Dr Who that my partner dreamt about helping the Doctor release the Time Lords from the Time Lock.
Cheers
Janette
10 January 2013 at 07:41 #1095@phaseshift ‘s comment ”
Before I embark on answering posts does anyone else laugh when the click box “remember me” appears below their login details?
It just seems so massively appropriate.”
got me thinking. Maybe it is more than just appropriate. Maybe she is a kind of log in. This ties nicely with my favourite theory that she is the key to the time lock.
Cheers
Janette
10 January 2013 at 04:50 #1091My old T.V. favourites include Blake’s Seven, The Omega Factor, 1990, Red Dwarf and B.5. The only other Sci Fi I’m watching at the moment is Fringe. I have always been rather lukewarm about series like Star Trek which have no narrative thread running through the series. Our eldest is currently watching Being Human and tells me I should watch it. I’ll give it a try once school starts back.
@juniperfish I read the first of the Susan Cooper books. Really must read more. Can we also discuss books and film or does that require another thread?
Cheers
Janette
9 January 2013 at 08:38 #1015It would require a time machine to do a reunion of all regenerations of the Doctor. I don’t think either option, having the original actors or using substitute actors would work. Using only the more recent regenerations could easily be explained. (Well anything can be explained at a stretch in Dr Who) McCoy, (who was brilliant as Radagast) and McGann would work. I doubt many people would miss C.B. Peter Davison and Tom Baker have sadly aged too much now. Their voices could be used however. Perhaps the older the regeneration the harder it is for that regeneration to be pulled forward/back in time.
Cheers Janette
8 January 2013 at 13:26 #761Yep. That one’s scarier than your avatar ScaryB.
Re spoilers it is always best to err on the side of caution. Sometimes though information is deliberately shared, ie if we hadn’t known that Clara was to be the next assistant AOTD would not have had the impact it did. It is often difficult to decide what is and isn’t a spoiler.
8 January 2013 at 11:31 #743I’m hoping for a return of the Time Lords for the 50th and Clara as the key, scattered through time is probably my current favourite theory. I would also like to see some slight reference to old stories or characters/assistants ie Susan. As she, it would appear, is of Time Lord origin and is related to the Doctor her character has potential untapped narrative interest.
I accept the 8th Doctor as canon though I don’t really view the film he was in as part of the Dr Who story. I always felt it was a shame that Paul McGann was wasted in that travesty. He was a fine Doctor but the production was not Dr Who. The Comic Relief Curse of Fatal Death was far closer in feel and spirit, no surprise given that it was penned by Who fan, Steven Moffat when nu who was just a dream.
Regarding spoilers I agree it is best to err on side of caution. On a Dr Who thread on another forums there are often two discussions, with and without spoilers. The spoilers aren’t usually too “spiolerish” and admittedly the non-spoiler discussion is rather dull but there are few Who related posts anyway. The problem is that the definition of spoiler is idiosyncratic. Some people object to even hearing the name of an episode, though that is published in TV listings. I like “teasers” that add to the discussion/speculation but wouldn’t want infomation that ruined the fun.
Cheers Janette
4 January 2013 at 11:56 #335You are doing a great job. Setting stuff up takes time and we all have a deficit of that precious commodity. I like your suggestion about watching old episodes each week. “He who humours my madness” and I would be happy to schedule that into our weekly viewing program, which is usually a little thin.
I noticed the threads but have not got around to commenting yet however will do so over time. It is all about time after all. 🙂
cheersJanette
3 January 2013 at 13:50 #279I agree with ScaryB. I think the revamped Tardis is just a production choice not a story arc signifier. It is a new interior for a post-pond Doctor. It is also more traditional, maybe echoing the reflective nature of the anniversary year episodes.
3 January 2013 at 13:15 #275Maybe the standard welcome and intro section would be nice, perhaps some threads devoted to old Who and maybe a section for discussion of other fav’ programs. (I know for instance that a lot of the Who crowd were posting on the Red Dwarf thread. I guess it really depends upon how much of a fixture you want this site to be. (My feeling is that quite a community has been developing on the Who Guardian threads and is in need of a home.)
Cheers Janette
3 January 2013 at 03:36 #263Another theory. I assume that AoD is set in the future. Therefor Clara could be either Susan, re-generated or Susan’s half human daughter. I think the later more probable. She uses the Dalek web or the explosion to splinter herself through time.
2 January 2013 at 04:05 #165Hi. Wave to all. Happy New Year.
Joined yesterday but was too tired to post after a very night NYE and early NYD event.
You have all been busy generating wonderful theories while I have been recovering. I like the suggestion that Clara is Susan’s mother though I don’t think she is River. I have been hoping to revist the Susan character who was essentially forgotten. She would have outlived the lover and what would become of her then, a lone time lady on earth?I had an idea for a story based upon him rediscovering a regenerated Susan.
We don’t really know why the Doctor ran from Gallifrey and the constant reference to running could allude to that. It would be interesting to explore that in the anniversary episode. Maybe he was in danger and Susan’s grandmother (Clara) told him to run with the child, intending to follow or expecting he would return when it was safe to do so. Perhaps she was unable to accompany him but somehow managed to escape by splintering herself through the universe, to lie in wait for over fifty years, for him. There was an element of familiarity in the way she kissed him. River may not be the Doctor’s first “Wife”, though if no 1 is living he would be a bigamist. Umm. Can’t see the BBC venturing there in a children’s show so maybe that scratches out that bonkers idea. Then again this is 2013 not 1963.
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