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As it’s now been well over 7 months since Day of the Doctor, I thought I’d do an extension of views on alternate faces of the Doctor we’d seen/heard over the years. The Almost Doctors, if you will. Just because I thought they deserve a mention. I’ve graded them by how much I enjoyed them, and what I thought they did/would have bought to the role.
Not nearly comprehensive, but a bit of fun, nonetheless. No arguments about non-existent Canon please.
1. The War Doctor – John Hurt (Day of the Doctor)
There was a sudden rush of blood to my head at the end of Name of the Doctor. What a coup to get someone like Hurt into the role. Put aside arguments about who should have been in it (Paul McGann/Eccleston, etc), if you wanted to cast someone new, shorn of any expectations about what they’d do, he was both surprising and familiar enough in a wide range of parts that balance good, evil, and somewhere in between, to raise expectations.
Looking back at the publicity, it was masterful in misdirection from SM, who emphasised darkness, dwelling on what kind of Doctor could have taken the actions he did in the war. I think its history repeating to a certain extent with Peter Capaldi. The pre-publicity by SM seems to show a darker tone, and he’s pronounced the beast must roar, but the beast has roared on quite a few occasions since the Doctor returned.
In truth, Hurt fit that role like a glove, assuming the manner of a Doctor quite easily. Disarmingly gracious and charming in one moment, biting sarcasm the next. His exchanges with his older selves on language (“timey-wimey?”) and wand/screwdriver action probably delighted those who criticise that aspect of the modern interpretation.
His main strength though is the sheer sense of universe-weariness he brings to that part. Dejected, and without hope, it’s up-to the Ghost of Christmas Future, the moment (and hats off to Billie Piper – her scenes with her third Doctor are some of her best) to show him what is to come, and explore the means to change it.
He may only have been a Doctor for a short time, but he’s a worthy addition to the roster.
2. The Dream Lord – Toby Jones (Amy’s Choice)
OK – Our first real vision of a Dark splinter of the Doctor in my little list. I think Toby Jones is excellent in this, and Simon Nye’s script is pitch perfect as the Doctors dark alter-ego psycho-analyses him. It’s fun packed and darkly malevolent.
“If you had any more tawdry quirks you could open up a Tawdry Quirk Shop.”
3. The Valeyard – Michael Jayston (Trial of a Time Lord, He Jests at Scars Audio)
Another Dark potential Doctor, and it’s Michael Jayston as the Doctor. As I’ve said before, when it was revealed he was, in some twisted way, the Doctor, I said I would have preferred him to the Doctor he was up against. It’s an assured performance and the one standout from the Trial of a Time Lord series I’ll praise. If he’d added the charm that Jayston had demonstrated in other performances, he would have been a marvellous interpretation of the Doctor.
4. Alt. Third Doctor – David Warner (Sympathy for the Devil/Masters of War – Audio)
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David Warner is great in these two audio adventures that arose because of the Big Finish Unbound series of alternate takes on the Doctor. It arises in a “What if?” kind of way, with the Doctor never having worked for UNIT and the changes that brings. It’s a great vocal performance as he portrays the Doctor as a charismatic interpretation of the forces of moral certainty – elements of Pertwee and Hartnell, but with a caustic and deadpan delivery of comedy that at various points echoes Troughton, Baker and Davison. Well worth a listen if you get the chance.
David Warner obviously played the professor in Cold War, and demonstrated his considerable charm in that.
5. Doctor Who – Peter Cushing (Doctor Who and the Daleks/Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150)
At this point, the Doctor being a human inventor of his machine was actually a potential route for the TV series to go. The move to the big screen actually troubled Hartnell a lot, as he saw the potential end of the TV series. He needn’t have worried and Cushing’s absent minded professor lacks the cutting edge that Hartnell summoned for the role, and demonstrates what a good call Verity Lambert made in casting him. There is an argument that early rushes of this may have led to the introduction of more comedy and whimsy into the first Doctor, or that was a move already on the cards.
Whatever, Cushing is still an interesting choice, and the films were responsible for introducing the Doctor and the Daleks to territories that hadn’t seen the show before.
6. Alternative Doctor – Geoffrey Blayldon (Auld Mortality/A Storm of Angels Audio)
Geoffrey Blaydon famously turned down the role of the first and second Doctor, but agreed to do this alternative vision of the First Doctor in audio. It’s more an interpretation of the Hartnell Doctor than what he would have done, perhaps, summoning a vocal style and mannerisms very familiar. It’s skewed though from the premise of this story. This First Doctor didn’t leave Gallifrey and in Auld Mortality he is a frustrated writer drawing on inspiration from a “Possibility Generator”, vicariously living out adventures that tie into the Who realm and skew them.
The performance does communicate that unfulfilled yearning in the Doctor, though and Marc Platt’s script drips with reference to the old series and the New Adventures model of Gallifrey. The follow up isn’t as good.
7. Alternative Doctor – David Collings – Full Fathom Five Audio
David Collings is something else entirely in Full Fathom Five. He was a long standing favourite (in certain fan circles) to play the Doctor one day. Largely, I’ve always felt, because of his mercurial performance in Sapphire and Steel as the oddly endearing Silver – a technology specialist who helps the two heroes in their third and sixth adventures.
When he got the opportunity in this radio play he went for something completely different. From a starting out as something very familiar, caring for an orphaned girl he adopted after a previous adventure underwater, he slowly unleashes a dark side of the Doctor as he returns to the underwater base to conclude unfinished work (and recover his TARDIS). A distillation of the Doctor at his most extreme – one who definitely believes that the end justifies the means. Everyone who wishes for a dark Doctor should sate their thirst on this. The Doctor regenerated as Jack Bauer may be a fun idea to explore, but you wouldn’t wish for a full series of it.
8. Alternate 13th Doctor Joanna Lumley – Curse of Fatal Death
I’ve separated Joanna Lumley out from the pack of Curse of Fatal Death because I think she’s the only one who came up with a new personality. She’s hilarious and cheeky with the jokes with a nod, wink and energetic performance that in some ways reminds me of Tennant and Smith.
As Sapphire (in Sapphire and Steel) she was great as the distant/alien time agent and it would be fascinating to know how she would do as a female alternative pitched more seriously.
9. Alternate 9th /10th Doctor Richard E Grant (Scream of the Shalka Audio Animation / Curse of Fatal Death)
Richard E Grant also appeared briefly in Curse of Fatal Death, but was allowed more room to manoeuvre in Scream of the Shalka (audio animation). Personally, although I enjoyed it at the time, I can’t see his interpretation having the same success in the new show. I think he’s better at the icy Doctor Simeon/GI.
10. Alternate 9th 11th 12th Doctor (Curse of Fatal Death)
OK, Rowan Atkinson gets the main credit here for his sarcastic universe weary Time Lord, but, to be fair this isn’t a real stretch for him as the character is largely BlackAdder. Jim Broadbent’s bashful interpretation and Hugh Grant (who also turned down the ninth Doctor gig) are entertaining cameos at best.
11. Alternate Doctor – Arabella Weir (Exile Audio)
Second female Doctor of the list. Arabella Weir also played a female Doctor, and brings much of her charm to this tale of an alternative Doctor who hides from the Time Lords on earth. The main problem for me is that, entertaining enough, there isn’t enough of the Doctor in her performance to be recognisible. It doesn’t help that the story is pitched as pure farce, and the script probably isn’t as funny as it was meant to be.
I feel obliged to put in an honourable mention to Richard Hurndall, who at least rates a mention for his attempt to recreate the First Doctor in the Five Doctors. I actually thought he captured certain aspects quite well but, because it’s a direct impersonation, I didn’t think it worthwhile rating him.
Ah … parting is such sweet sorrow. Still, we have a lot of fun getting to the end. Trapped on board the doomed stunt ship, it’s great to see the team learning to cope with inevitable death, while Zaphod continues to demonstrate that tact is a concept entirely alien to him.
“You were there when your Planet did the big firework.”
Marvin continues to be an annoying bugger in the most entertaining way possible.
“You said you wanted excitement adventure and really wild things.”
“But this is awful.”
“That’s what I said.”I wonder if Jeremy Clarkson has ever considered hiring Disaster Areas public relations manager to meet with, and shoot, environmental activists?
Ford’s theories on small talk are quite entertaining tangenting into the tale of the Belcerebons. I love the stamps appearing in the animations – Official verdict: Arrogant Bastards!
Still we can’t hang about to get incinerated, and luckily there is a teleport to help out. Unfortunately, we need someone to lay down their lives. Good old Marvin. Goodbye Marvin (and thanks for all the fish).
Shortly to be followed by an abrupt (to the point of non-existent) goodbye to Trillian and Zaphod as we enter the end game and final sketch of the series.
The idea of a race deciding to rid themselves of the useless middle men is entertaining enough, but when they’re fronted by Aubrey Morris as their rather bemused Captain, it’s hilarious. This series does throw up some fantastic guest roles, and this is another one. It’s astonishing that in his long career (with a lot of genre associations) he’s never appeared in Who.
Which can’t be said of the slightly camp Number 3, he of the “report thingy”. It’s astonishing to me that he is actually Geoffrey Beevers. As well as being once married to former Who assistant Caroline John (Liz Shaw) he played the decayed Master in Keeper of Traken (which I think @thekrynoidman suggested was his favourite interpretation of the role).
Back to the Golgafrinchens and their fiendish Arc Fleet scam. Inflicting their management consultants on the Galaxy must count as an act of warfare and the revelation that they died out from a disease contracted from dirty telephone seems fitting justice somehow.The exploration of the new Planet, and the frankly useless state of its new colonists all drives us to the revelation that this is the Earth, and the useless third of the Golgafrinchan race are our ancestors. In moments of cynicism this makes complete sense to me. Can I just say as an aside, I love the magnificent fake beards. The one sported by Ford is poor, but Arthur’s is entirely ludicrous.
The reveal of the question (or is it) confirms a widely held belief – there really is something fundamentally wrong with the Universe.
And so we leave Arthur and Ford wandering off into the new world. It’s funny that I think the series is pretty relentlessly cynical in world/universe view. Perhaps this is why I was so attracted to it as a teenager (an age where you can’t get enough cynicism). I think the ending veers away from this in presenting something quite heartwarming in its own way. Talking bollocks with a pal, in an unspoiled landscape with “What a wonderful world” playing in the background.
I love the transition of the song into the guide and the final stains of the theme. Works so well.
I’ve really enjoyed watching this again, and will probably never tire of its charms even as it dates.
Yes – good point re the MC in Cabaret. Though the “I mean that most sincerely folks” was pure Monkhouse in full cheese mode. 🙂
As an ex-Goth I think I side with Ford on this one. Looks great stylistically, but trying to do anything in that ship with all the black would make your brain bleed (I think that’s why Zaphod is impervious to his criticism).
Good to see you back and well await more impossible links later. I debated whether to link to your name or not, but in the end I thought “what the hell”.
Four and the Smith Doctor have a nice table for two. Not with each other – they’ve brought Romana and River on a date. They’re just about to realise that they booked the table next to each other.
Imagine – Double dating with another incarnation of yourself with another partner. The ultimate toe curling experience.
Yep – small article in that Galaxy spanning news organ “The Black Country Bugle” here on his origins. I think he’s been brilliant in virtually everything he’s been in. I’ll add Tory MP Stamper, in House of Cards/To Play the King. He’s been in loads though. Check out The Avengers A Touch of Brimstone and his later stuff and he hardly seems to age in most regards.
It’s a shame about modern who. He does have one BG credit though, and must have winced when a previously missing episode of The Underwater Menace came to light a few years ago. It’s not a great story anyway, but the returned episode features him and Patrick Troughton both fluffing a scene (which had some atrocious dialogue to contend with). Pic showing his great eyebrows in the ep.
I still have The Meaning of Liff and the follow up. Great books.
After discussing the possibility of a Sci-Fi western mini-season, I thought I’d have a quick look at imaging, because I was trying to remember how to get that sepia look manually (I use GIMP which is both great, free and has a funny name, but its inbuilt tools for that kind of thing are limiting).
Anyway – not perfect, but in compiling this, I ended up wishing we could afford a time machine to actually organise this to be filmed. We could call it “The Magnificent-ish Seven”.
Hey, don’t let anyone put you off your intro to Colin.
I always think it’s much fairer to let Colin put you off himself. 😉
Only joking – some people really do like him, so what the hell. I have kept a note of those people who did ask for him to be featured though, and will be mentioning them in a post later, nearer to the date to make sure they are all aware they can leap in with comments about him. Otherwise it may be a depressing experience.
I also intend to do the man himself full justice and hopefully do a one-off blog on Blake’s 7 which I promised @tardisblue. Just imagine – two 45 minute episodes of Colin as The Doctor AND his appearance as Bayban the Butcher.
You’ll be spoiled, I tell you!
Welcome back @miapatrick ! Hope your study is going well.
I’m glad someone else has enjoyed it. Eva Green has been a standout for me in the series, which I didn’t automatically expect. I think the way they played the cards on her story (particularly revealing her childhood association with the Murray’s) was really well done.
I thought I’d mention the comic book source for the League because the film is no advertisement for it. The first collection is very good, but the second (and last of the Victorian era) is excellent, set against the Martian invasion of War of the Worlds. I think you (and many others) would enjoy it because they are stuffed with obscure literary references from the period.
It’s also the only work you’ll get to see Nemo’s nautilus in a stand-off against Martian tripods, while the team tries to secure a biological weapon from Dr Moreau. Worth it alone,for Mr Hyde becoming a hero in a number of ways, finally “hulking out” to halt the advance of the tripods. It’s brilliantly barmy.
Has anyone been watching Penny Dreadful? I don’t have Sky, but my brother recorded it for me, and I’ve just got the finale to get (probably in a couple of weeks).
It’s an odd one, because it shows the progressive move of TV to ape Movie and move into the world of Comic Books for ongoing franchising. I’ve followed a few conversations elsewhere that are a bit too strident about denying any influence of Alan Moore on this (“he wasn’t the first guy to mix ‘n’ match historical genre, you know”). No – he wasn’t the first – but he’s certainly the most influential, and I think Penny Dreadful is the closest thing to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen you’re likely to get.
The League saw a number of famous genre characters “team up” in an Avengers Assemble kind-off way. You had African explorer Allan Quatermain, Mina Harker from Dracula, Captain Nemo, Doctor Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, An Invisible Man. Jolly good fun as they battle threats to the British Empire under the direction of the mysterious “M”. It revelled in presenting the darker side of Victoriana. The bits that the politicians don’t probably mean when they call for a return to good old Victorian values. It’s all seedy, with Quatermain in particular being a burnt out opium junkie.
The film they made really could never do that side of things justice, particularly when you casted someone like Sean Connery in the lead (who wasn’t about to play someone like that). It became a more camp action flick with very little bite, and therefore died the death.
Penny Dreadful returns to the idea, but keeps the filth and depravity. Characters change, and the toybox of literary references expands to include Victor Frankenstein and his creature. One of the additions to the movie, Dorian Gray is seen here. Instead of Mina being in the group she’s missing, in the grip of a fearsome undead creature her father (Timothy Dalton as Sir Michael Murray, an African explorer that in no way resembles Quatermain, no indeedy) has recruited other talents to locate her.
It lurches between very good drama and the eye-wincing (and in the case of Billie Piper’s Irish accent, ear bleeding) corn with gay abandon. It’s one of those projects that I think people should have taken a deep breath and thought a little bit more about. It looks fantastic though.
Some of the strands and performances are very good. The Victor one, with Harry Treadaway as Victor and Rory Kinnear as his monster, Caliban, has a few interesting flourishes. Eva Green impresses me as Venessa Ives, who is a bit like Mina from the comics, but with a serious case of Demonic possession. People who remember The Exorcist with fondness will have a field day with her story.
It’s also got some lovely turns from familiar faces like Simon Russell Beale, Helen McCrory and David Warner. All very peculiar. Not worth getting Sky for, but try to catch it if you can.
