just to add my thoughts on the sad loss of Ian Gibson.
And to echo Jim’s plea that we put Mick McMahon into some sort of protective space.

(but not an iso cube)

Gibson’s flowing lyrical lines were so powerful for me when I saw them in 2000AD.
It created an environment and characterisation that couldn’t…[Read more]

Great post and really interesting to get some of the Marvel background too. Hadn’t realised just how impactful and widely disseminated Star Beast actually was. Certainly I’d say that I’d consider those early Who strips (of which I think this is the best, closely followed by the later Tides of Time) had more of an impact on me than…[Read more]

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]

That’s a really interesting, informative, and well written piece. Thanks.

Lots of gems of info in there; the Jasper Carrott – Doctor Who link seems like it should be an obscure pub quiz question (or perhaps a Q in T’Other place’s Thursday Quiz – run, if you weren’t aware, by the G’s #1 Doctor Who fan Martin Belam.)

The point you…[Read more]

The Toymaster did go full Prince Ludwig from Blackadder @ps1l0v3y0u, @phaseshift. But showed his sinister side with that “sunnier climes” comment. With the excellent “I was born in Cheltenham” as the response.

I thought that was particularly well handled myself, and although RTD went for it in the behind the scenes stuff I think he shou…[Read more]

I know there are a good few Ballad of Halo Jones and 2000 AD fans in our little group, and I just wanted to mark the sad news today of the passing of artist Ian Gibson, after a long battle with cancer. Pat Mills tweeted it out earlier, but it’s now been…[Read more]

And I’ve not read any other comments, so apologies for any repetition. And apologies for any repetition.
First off – I really enjoyed this. From my…[Read more]

I rather hope we’re not getting a retro-rei…[Read more]

A “pet Tennant” 😀 Who wouldn’t want one of those?!

That’s interesting @Phaseshift about the bi-generation reverberating back through all the incarnations. I think Ncuti-Doc says something about he can only go on unencumbered by the PTSD if Tennant-Doc takes his retirement/rehabilitation seriously, so…[Read more]

Thanks .  Lord Voldemort’s Book of Resurrection Spells it is, then – that is, if I can find it on my double-stacked book shelves. 😉

… there’s an entire comment of yours on this thread I should link to as I want to hug it.

Awww shucks 🙂  I’ve been enjoying having you and @ScaryB back in the DJing box, and actually some of the lyrics to that Tom Waits song you posted, Who Are You, combined with @Phaseshift ‘s musing on the “Celestial” element of the Celestial T…[Read more]

And @phaseshift, I suspect RTD2 may continue to refer to him as the Celestial Toymaker, in keeping with the dictionary definition of being from the heavens or the stars.

It would be nice to think he had the choice. I don’t want you to think that I buy the criticism is any way, but it has been fashionable for the past decade…[Read more]

@phaseshift

Interesting convergences you mention there. If entities in this story were proto-Eternals and the Toymaker is definitely one…[Read more]

And @Phaseshift, I suspect RTD2 may continue to…[Read more]

I’d missed the detail that it was the TARDIS that clocked Clone-Donna’s long arm at the last – clever old thing.  And yes, definitely a play on AI and its current weirdnesses with the human body. AI is terrifying frankly, so a very modern form of body horror.

I had forgotten ARSE – I’m…[Read more]

I’m actually finding myself weirdly disconnected from the episodes to the extent that I’m wondering what they are for exactly.

This question set me pondering in the early hours. I came to the tentative conclusion that, because these three episodes are intended to mark the 60th anniversary, the return of a generally popular Doctor and c…[Read more]

The episode – WOW! I really loved it. But then I’ve loved weird Who since way back to Edge of Destruction! Not…[Read more]

the Toymaker is just the kind of guy who finds adopting foreign stereotypes hilarious.

Well, he is the “villain”. It reminded me of this from Blackadder II:

Blackadder:
Oh, yes. We are proud of our comic serving-wench voice, aren’t we? Just because we can say ‘Zur’ instead of ‘Sir,’ it seems at all social gatherings the tedious little…[Read more]

(T’other place is still running (with lovely Martin Belam having taken over the reins from the late Dan…[Read more]

I’d definitely agree that Series 11 was overly performative rather than genuinely progressive and that it had the unfortunate effect of rather stymying the Whittaker era from the get-go. But I […]

Thanks for the new sofa and jolly spiffy it is too. With regards, to the conversation on the previous sofa, yes, I must admit to a moment of squee when I saw Meep and the Wrath Warriors — a really interesting one to bring to the screen, I think as they strike me as some of the most comic book-ey characters you could name but it looks…[Read more]

Great to hear from our resident Time Lord. Yes, I confess that I was also less than rapturous about the Donna Noble/ Tennant pairing back in the day, but RTD obviously loved it, hence my bonkers theory.

I wish I could say I remember the 70s Doctor Who weekly comic strip, but alas I do not (of course, I have reached that stage of life…[Read more]

That trailer is certainly eliciting a sense of anticipation that had been missing in the Chibs era — and I say that as someone who wasn’t the biggest fan of the 10/Donna pairing. It will be nice to have them back tho. What’s really got me stoked tho is the prospect of seeing live-action versions of what to me look very…[Read more]

I feel like Tenth D…[Read more]

It’s certainly the weakest of the three…[Read more]

Bonkers, yes, but in the best possible way 🙂  An alternative reality as the context of so much that has happened in recent Doctor Who episodes would suit me all too well, and would be a very happy solution to some of the questions raised by Chibnall’s clumsy attempt to set a permanent stamp on the show.

It’s not that I have any…[Read more]

@phaseshift I dearly hope if Sony are being bought in as production partners that the Beeb have layed  down some serious caveats one of which is that there be a predominately British casting including that of the Doctor. Too often I have felt that when American TV companies try and re…[Read more]

I have a horrible suspicion that this series is going to end with a steaming dollop of Chixposition

Yes, I thought that myself. Especially as that Temple of Atropos set did rather remind me of the Gallifrey one where that hideous infodump took place last series. I’m hoping that Chibs has learned by his mistakes though and we get a…[Read more]

like @dentarthurdent I half agree with…[Read more]

I am saddened that Jodie Whittaker was generally let down by less-than-stellar writing, and who knows what all was going on behind the scenes. @phaseshift You provide a superb…[Read more]

I’d say the odds of Olly Alexander as the next Doctor just shortened dramatically.

I’m not so sure. I doubt RTD will want to return to YoungWhiteBloke territory plus Olly has a lot of irons in his fire to be taking on the life-consuming task of the Being The Doctor. I am hopeful though that it gives T’Nia Miller (currently t…[Read more]

@phaseshift Sorry about Whittaker – what might have been,eh?

You and @jimthefish have perfectly expressed my feelings about these developments. As @janetteb noted, I’m sorry about Jodi Whittaker, but I am not sad to see Chris Chibnall leaving. While Chibnall has created some good episodes during Whittaker’s run (the historical ones are c…[Read more]

Is this the time to release a really bitter long form post entitled “F*** Chris Chibnall, and all his works”?

Sorry about Whittaker – what might have been,eh?

My sentiments exactly and I to was wondering if it’s time for an examination of the Chibs era. Possibly best to wait to until s13 in case there’s a dramatic rise in qualit…[Read more]

As the spammer’s posts are still on the site, it occurred to me that @craig might not be around at the moment. Hence this call to the collective powers of our resident Time…[Read more]

Yeah, saw that. Very sad news. Dan was genuinely enthusiastic and as the article says deeply passionate in his writing. And this forum definitely owes him a debt.

I have just read your post and Jim The Fish and agree that Mr. Moffat’s input was indeed the Golden Age.

As was Murray Gold, sadly missed.

Mr. Chibnell however, I shall never warm to, unless […]

I think RTD injected something quite unique (but utterly different from SM) into his novelisation of Rose but, yes, Cornell very much gives you a straight up-and-down, no-nonsense adaptation. Which is fair enough as it isn’t his story.

@craig, @blenkinsopthebrave et al

Yes, I believe Rose is coming up next to be followed by the…[Read more]

I think there are more watch-alongs planned. In fact I think “Rose” is happening on Thursday” (15 year anniversary – maybe) and then shortly after “The Eleventh Hour” (10 year anniversary – maybe). I’m unsure but will check and have everything in order if it does happen.

That fan video is a wonderfully clever montage, and a worthy supplement to the film.

@janetteB @phaseshift

Thanks for the recommendation of the novelisation. I confess that I have never really bothered with the novels and so far casual browsing hasn’t converted me, but that sounds well worth following up. My immune system being…[Read more]

Just went back and looked at those first comments on the board in response to “The Snowmen”. There was a tangible excitement in evidence with people discovering their ability to join the site. And lots of familiar, but now alas, distant names. There was an absurdly complicated Blenkinsop theory about Clara and water that sounded g…[Read more]

And thank…[Read more]

Glad to hear you’re hopefully in recovery mode now. We’re in self-isolation mode now and I’ve had to conduct the last of my lectures and seminars via online technologies. Which has all worked out pretty well so I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes increasingly standard in the future.

Books and TV bingeing are…[Read more]

Currently I’m catching up with Discovery Season 2, which my brother very kindly posted to me. I’m liking it much more than I did Season 1; they seem to have got their act together and everyone now knows the characters. I’ve also managed to nearly finish one of those ‘books I ought to read’. I think feeling ill helps fight…[Read more]