@WhoHar <waves> I like Martin Bellam as a successor to our sadly missed Dan Martin, but the comments section closes so early on T’Other Place now it’s ridiculous, and it’s always been a bit of a hornets’ nest – hence @Craig our Emperor’s creation of this excellent and well-moderated space.

The thing is, the Guardian’s Doctor Who fandom is just…[Read more]

SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER...

@ps1l0v3y0u  I wonder if SLC stands for the material the 45s and LPs are available on? Perhaps it is short for “shellac” which was of course the material records were made of before vinyl.

As vinyl replaced shellac from the 1940s, perhaps this is another sign that we are in alternative time-line/ universe, one in which vinyl has not been…[Read more]

@Bunface @Craig @ScaryB – loving the Chris Waites and the Carollers spot and Easter egg pointing to Susan again.

@Blenkinsopthebrave

I seem to recall the Doctor telling Ruby that they are in London at the same time as The Hartnell Doctor and Susan. (Or words to that effect.) And at some point a bit later he stares wistfully across at where his…

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@ScaryB

I’m also a huge fan of the fishes in this Forum!

Awww, right back at ya, Scary.

@Miapatrick

Yes to your point about the episode’s commentary on reproductive rights, parenting and refugee rights. And all perfectly in keeping with Doctor Who’s long tradition of being political science fiction, from the Daleks-as-Nazis-metaphor to the c…[Read more]

@ScaryB – Ah thanks for clueing me in to the Susan Twist mystery – love it.

I agree, @JanetteB , given the Doctor’s line in this episode, “There’s always a twist at the end” and the fact that his granddaughter Susan is also given a mention in-episode, it seems perfectly logical to wonder whether the “twist” is Susan. Perhaps Susan is Ruby’s birth…[Read more]

So we begin with a literal butterfly effect… Ruby steps on a Red Admiral in the Jurassic and the timey wimey ripple effect transforms her into an alien, one who somewhat resembles a Star Trek Andorian crossed with Bjork.

We already know, from the “mavity” incident, that the butterfly effect is going to be an RTD2 Series 14 theme. And RTD2 has…[Read more]

Like you, @ScaryB <waves> I’m optimistic overall, despite hoping the bombast dial gets turned down just a smidge going forward. Gatwa and Gibson are both excellent, and charmingly believable in the Doctor and Ruby’s newfound excitment at hanging out together.

I love ’60s style and thought the Doctor and Ruby were also smoking in their era…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent Oh dear – well spotted! Good old Grauniad 🙂

For anyone feeling stressed by the New Year (and aren’t we all) here is an oldie but a goodie (particularly if you are not a fan of the “mindfulness” trend):

Hello All,

Lovely interview with Capaldi in The Observer today:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/14/i-like-more-trouble-peter-capaldi-interview-criminal-record

@ps1l0v3y0u

So, are we looking at an exploration of the Doctor’s origin prior to Tecteun and The Division, do you think?

I think there’s a lot which could be done with this theme, even without the plan being that the Doctor actively goes looking for his origins pre-adoption by Gallifrey, or finds them.

Gatwa’s Doctor has already been drawn to a…[Read more]

Well I loved it – Gremlins meets It’s a Wonderful Life.

It’s fresh, it’s a little bit timey wimey, and the Doctor is a huge dandy who enjoys eating up the dancefloor in a kilt!

Just how many times did he change fabulous outfits in that episode?

Intrigued by all his jewellery and what meanings it might hold.

And who is the mystery lady…[Read more]

Merry Mid-Winter Solstice to all!

Thought you might enjoy this naughty clip with Tom Baker and Mary Tamm (Romana 1)

It’s from the “for cast and crew” outtakes/ blooper 1978 White Powder Christmas

You can find out more about it here:

https://archive.org/details/WhitePowderChristmas

@oochillyo Sorry to hear you and your family are not well. Sounds like a nasty flu or Covid to me, with cough and a fever.

Get some rest. Once you feel better, I think you might enjoy Kurt Vonnegut’s writing (if you haven’t already read him).

Sneaking out of work briefly to wonder whether a 6oth Anniversary “What’s Your Favourite Who Series/ Story/ Episode from 60 years of Who” topic might be nice @craig for Yuletide? Seeing as the BBC has kindly made so much of the back catalogue available on iplayer at present…

@WhoHar

“Eight” sounding like “Ate” and a Club looking a bit like a Brassica, my suspicions were confirmed right at the end, when Cauliflower Cheese was served up at the meal. Expect this dish to turn out to be the Big Bad of 15’s first season.

The Cheese Wheel of Time?

Planet of the Cheesey Wotsits?

@Phaseshift – Oh that’s lovely background on the comic story of the Star Beast (I’ve never read it).

The new version of Doctor Who Confidential is called Doctor Who Unleashed, available on IPlayer, one episode of “behind the scenes” for each of the specials. In The Star Beast associated one, David Tennant meets Dave Gibbons and Pat Mills on set…[Read more]

BBC APPROVED SPOILERS...

@JimtheFish

Really enjoyed reading your Cathode Rave article.

And yet, it would be wrong to say that the Baker era, for all its metatextual playfulness is wholly apolitical. The lack of seriousness in the Fourth Doctor is a political play in itself and, like his predecessor, there is always an edge of mocking disdain in any of the Doctor’s d…

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@Whohar

Definitely need a full and thorough analysis of the potential meaning behind the cards chosen. And I’m sure we’re in the right place for that…

Oh you know that is just catnip…

The Doctor picks the Eight of Clubs. Cartomancy (fortune telling with a deck of cards) equates clubs with the Tarot suit Wands. Eight of Wands in the classic…[Read more]