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18 May 2014 at 01:47 #27582
@purofilion – love Tom Lehrer. I was introduced to him by a science teacher through the Element Song, but it was his deadpan delivery of some hilarious material in his audience interaction that won me over and made me think of Ron in that Sparks video. Would I have gone on to study Chemistry at University without people like Toms Baker and Lehrer in my young life? I doubt it. I saw this on the Graham Norton show a few years ago, Harry Potter himself doing his party piece in tribute to Lehrer. The saga continues. 😀
@arbutus – Glad you enjoyed Under My wheels. Alice himself was a bit surprised by his popularity in the late 70s, but when you hear that sound it’s both timeless and contemporary. The ACDC track I love unconditionally. I find the lyrical performance by Bon Scott haunting.
@blenkinsopthebrave – The Comic strip was variable, but that was a standout episode, as was the earlier “The Bullshitters” which featured the same characters.
@whisht – Dead Can Dance are endlessly surprising to me, and are well worth seeking out. Glad you enjoyed Last Beat of my Heart as well. I think that was the track that made me and MrsPhaseShift understand each other.
As we’ve been talking about Frank Skinner on other issues (and I’ve already posted a link to his Ukulele stuff) I was thinking about fans in music.
I’ve already confessed to being an old goth, and I’ll further confess to being a member of the Sisters of Mercy fan club. Mainly because it was the easiest way to find out what the hell they were doing. Andrew Eldritch, who effectively was the Sisters used to write some blistering articles for their newsletters. It came as a big surprise to find out he was a Who fan. He wrote an article after a tour suggesting he felt a bit hollow – a bit empty. He made a comparison to Omega in the Three Doctors. Which therefore required him to explain who Omega was, the plot of the Three Doctors and, for his international audience, just what the f— Doctor Who was. The entire article seemed to be a thinly veiled excuse to promote Doctor Who to his fandom, and therefore very funny. If I ever find that copy of Under the Rock in my attic, I’ll transcribe it, because it was hilarious. Here is Andrew doing his stuff –
18 May 2014 at 00:37 #2758118 May 2014 at 00:24 #27579Welcome back to you as well. I can never tire of that GIF. A thing of simple beauty. You missed the end of the monochrome season in our rewatch, but I think Mind Robber was a great choice for Troughton.
I don’t have access to the Horror Channel, but I read something about the showings doing quite well for them (in viewer terms) so at this stage I’m sure they’ll look at more showings.
18 May 2014 at 00:12 #27578Welcome from me @abxy
Well, at least we have the internet now. When I was at school, it wasn’t an option (yes – I’m old) and being a Who fan could be a lonely thing.
Have an explore around the site, and if you are interested in the older Doctors, we run a review club where we watch an episode of the old series a week (published Saturday). Currently we are looking at Pertwee’s Day of the Daleks, but the full list is here. There are links to video to watch, and it can be a fun diversion. I’m about to indulge in some late night Pertwee action, which is a phrase that could be misinterpreted in hilarious ways.
17 May 2014 at 23:59 #27577It would be interesting to know if Frank pitched an appearance at Moffat last year at the Edinburgh Fringe. It was one of the few big interviews SM did before the 50th , basically in conversation with Frank and Fred Macaulay in front of an audience. Having heard some of the conversation it’s one of those things I would have killed to have been at.
I read some online reaction that seemed a little crazy. Basically “remember Peter Kay” which seems to gloss over a huge range of people more noted for comedy who have delivered some great performances. Catherine Tate as Donna?
The other comment trope seemed to be “you wouldn’t find the old series indulging in stunt casting like this”, to which the only adequate response seemed to be “Ken Dodd”, or even earlier “John Cleese”. That got me thinking about that aspect, and I couldn’t help remembering Alexei Sayle’s appearance as a “DJ to the dead” in the Colin Baker Dalek story. His over the top performance always makes me laugh. I tried to see if I could find it on YouTube, and had a bit of nostalgia forced upon me with this. A sketch from his show about how easily Watson was impressed in some Sherlock Holmes stories, featuring one Peter Capaldi as Sherlock. Made me laugh.
16 May 2014 at 23:06 #27552I… hope you enjoy it. I have a soft spot for those orginal movies but, ever since I saw Omid Djalili live do a routine on Godzilla, I don’t think I could look at the screen in the same way again.
The eventual routine, after this leadup involved a story about his Dad and Uncle taking him to a godzilla movie in the 70s and his “guardians” betting each other they could slap the head of a skinhead in the audience. Painfully funny if you know that period. Forever, I will see Omid deliver the “Eeeeaaaaarrgghhhhh” whenever someone mentions Godzilla. It’s killed it for me as a serious proposition.
16 May 2014 at 22:51 #27551I’m not with my DVD collection at the moment, but I think (with @wolfweed) this is the bit you’re are talking about.
I stole your childhood and now I’ve led you by the hand to your death. But the worst thing is I knew. I knew this would happen. This is what always happens. Forget your faith in me. I took you with me because I was vain. Because I wanted to be adored. Look at you, glorious Pond. The Girl Who Waited for me. I’m not a hero. I really am just a madman in a box. And it’s time we saw each other as we really are. Amy Williams. It’s time to stop waiting.
If you want quotes from episodes, try here: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/doctorwho/, but don’t let that stop you posting.
16 May 2014 at 22:39 #27550This is definitely one of the stories where he sometimes seems to have a bit of the Dame Margaret Rutherfords about him.
I love this phrase, and, with your permission, may use it in the future. 😀
On Louis Marx, he was actually a real person. He was a history academic who moved into TV part time. I’ve heard Terrance Dicks talk about him as someone who was energised by history, and perhaps that was his entry point into writing this story. From a certain perspective it’s very Let’s Kill Hitler. He has a few credits, but apart from this I think my favourite is Masque of the Mandragora (coincidently his specialism was that period of Italian history). He also script edited Nigel Neale’s Beasts amongst others.
Well, it’s here to sample before you get the DVD (which we always recommend). I hope the recovery proceeds well, and you manage to shake all that radiation down towards your trainer in a Doctor 10 stylee.
It’s quite interesting that Mike Yates always seemed to be the odd one out somehow in that group.
Benton was a natural Sergeant from the ranks – A real Jackrum for the Ruperts. In many ways one of the lads. The Brig was a leftover from the post-war period, and original casting had him older to reflect that. He was pragmatic, served in many positions and didn’t underestimate the contribution by anybody. Mike always seemed more aware of his position, and that defined him. The eventual storyline that arose at the back end of his tenure was once seen as a little escapade into social commentary on class war (Mike is middle class), but if it was, I don’t think it was handled adroitly.
12 May 2014 at 00:23 #27476Brilliant @wolfweed. I didn’t even have a chance to do something myself as I’ve been more than a bit busy recently.
No objections to the choice @craig. I think the original is the right one for the headliner. There was a lively discussion on the validity (or not) of updating old material with, amongst others @nick, so this could be an opportunity for him to have a look if he’s still recovering.
The voices (Nick Briggs doing the honours I note) were an unexpected bonus. I thought the visual effects and a bit of re-editing were the only updates.
11 May 2014 at 12:36 #27464A good choice in a field of good recommendations, I think. I’m pleased because I managed to get a second hand copy of the SE mentioned by @bluesqueakpip, and I’ll just echo the recommendation of it.
Why and SE? It’s kind of bizarre because I think it crops up regularly in “top” stories for Pertwee amongst fans, but nobody involved seemed to be quite happy with the result. Pertwee and Manning thought it was their nadir when watching it, which thankfully didn’t translate to screen, because they’re both charming at this point. Pertwee still maintaining that air of desperation to escape his exile, and every problem the Brigadier brings him is a distraction. But he really can’t help himself but get involved and delight in a new situation. I think the SE does tackle a lot of the production issues that resulted in the unhappiness.
I think @blenkinsopthebrave and @bluesqueakpip touching on Jason King reminds me that I always feel the Pertwee era was influenced by that whole ITC serials thing. The look is reminiscent of Jason King, but the central entry point of being called in to guard Sir Reginald from ghosts feels like it was lifted straight from The Avengers. You can imagine Steed doing the trick with disabling the terrorist without spilling a drop as well.
I love the bit of business with Mike Yates pulling rank on Benton with the food. Poor Benton was forever someone’s bitch. 😀
While not putting out any spoilers, I’ll just say the reason I think this works for me is the slightly tortuous story of its development. Louis Marks is on writing duty, and developed the story without the Daleks in mind at all. One of the working titles was “The Time Warriors” and an early draft/pitch included the Master (as Delgado) as the foe in the future. That didn’t work out, but if you consider that as the episodes go on, you may see echoes of Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords scenario in here. The decision to use the Daleks was Terrance Dicks as they had been absent for quite a while. I think the reason the story works well is that the central point of the story was the story, and not just an excuse to trot the Daleks out again (which was sometimes a valid criticism of Terry Nation – his stories could be repetitive).
@arbutus, just on the point of drinking, I think more of that was down to the attitudes of who was playing him. When Tom Baker took the role, although he was noted as enjoying a beverage or seven, it was his policy not to be seen drinking too much on screen. He asked for a change in Android Invasion to the Doctor demands two pints of Ginger beer in a pub.
10 May 2014 at 14:15 #27446You know, this is the first time I’ve watched this in about five years. Revisiting it, I think there are multiple reasons you wouldn’t like it, and I can only explain mine.
At its heart, this is a story about fandom. I realise some people don’t like the portrayal of fans as strange loner nerds, but I don’t object to it because this isn’t a broad stereotype of every fan, but a pretty adept look at certain fans. Like Russell, I think. And me. I was a fan pre-internet and used to partake in the various social clubs and associations before shouting at each other on forums became the easier route. Like the members of LINDA we met over our obsession with the Doctor and developed friendships that wouldn’t have existed otherwise, sharing love of music, books, comedy and so many other issues. There is a lot of genuine warmth in their story, and I particularly praise Marc Warren and Shirley Henderson for their parts. I think, in Elton, I recognise parts of my adolescent self. Social awkwardness, certainly.
I’m genuinely bewildered by the appeal of Peter Kay and he appears to be pitching his performance at a show in a parallel universe with strange and unlikely Universal constants. Victor Kennedy is too Arch, and The Abzorbaloff too crass. I found myself wanting the fast-forward over every bit he was in.
Ultimately it’s the ending I really object to. It’s not the crassness of the innuendo relating to fellatio at the end, because who doesn’t love a bit of crass innuendo?
It’s the fate of Ursula full stop. I can’t explain to you how fundamentally wrong it seemed to me that the Doctor, who has railed against and battled innumerable enemies (such as the Cybermen) who have attempted to dehumanise humanity, or who has always understood that death is actually preferable to certain states of existence would willingly participate in that ending. I think, if you remember the Five Doctors, seeing the frozen Time Lords set in slabs as a punishment for seeking immortality you realise just how wrong an idea it is. It’s a spectacular misjudgement of what the Doctor is for a cheap laugh.
What I’m left with is a feeling that this could have been a spectacular story about love, friendship and the amazing benefits that fandom can deliver. I really lament the result and the waste of those central performance by Warren and Henderson
9 May 2014 at 22:25 #27416What who!?
@purofilion – respects for your student for attempting that Sparks track – I can’t comprehend the control necessary to pull that off.
@arbutus – My favourite quote on Bach was by all-round-genius Carl Sagan. When preparing to etch a disk for the “Sounds of Earth” on one of the exporer probes, one of the Scientists asked Mr. Sagen, “What about some Bach?”
Sagen replied: “Wouldn’t that be showing off?”This week, I seem to have been mostly revelling in a 70s nostalgia fest in music.This one is apt as I’ve come back to find innumerable posts through the door regarding the European Elections. As I’ve studied the calls for me to vote UKIP I’ve remembered:
By the same writer, can I suggest this. The “Big Band“ philosophy in this song is fantastic.
I was energised by a lot of the metal during that period, and I thought this track absorbed some key aspects of disco during the 70s.
@thekrynoidman posted a track by AC/DC earlier. Good, but I think this is the best track under Bon Scott.
4 May 2014 at 23:45 #27365Thanks – I had a feeling I’d missed something, probably because RTD wrote more episodes in Series 1, and I suddenly thought “we’re leapfrogging to the end of the series?! That can’t be right!”
I have to say, again that my own personal favourites for series 2 do tend towards Girl in the Fireplace, School Reunion, and the Impossible Planet/Satan Pit two parter. I think this is probably my favourite RTD episode from series 2, but we’ll see after I’ve watched them all. Next weeks will never see the list though.
4 May 2014 at 23:34 #27363Yes the “duelling storytellers” face off is pretty engaging as we get characters like D’artagnan, Cyrano, Blackbeard and Galahad being summoned as avatars for the battle. It’s not a massive canvas, but given the restrictions of the piece it does have a cheeky feel, and some thought went into the fight scene (as opposed to Time Meddler, where everyone looked a bit embarrassed).
@confusedpolarity, I also thought the sudden threat to Earth appeared more an afterthought, and not really necessary. In this situation the fate of the Doctor and Companions is really the heart of the conflict, and the addition seems a little superfluous.
And is it just me, or would that ending really cause a rumpus if it was tried in the current show?
Heh – as a long time contributor to web forums I think attempting something like Mind Robber full stop would meet with some cries of betrayal these days. “Too much fantasy”, “not hard sci-fi”, it would be Comment Bingo. I hope the writer was returned home as it’s left completely up in the air. The episode that followed, Invasion part 1 never mentioned him. That would certainly be seen as infuriating today, I think.
I’d actually love to see a return to the Land of Fiction with new production methods. I’m sure the right writer could have a field day, especially integrating animation to create something bizarre and whimsical. I’m thinking along the lines of the Farscape episode Revenging Angel, which some of us (including @fatmaninabox) have discussed. I’d pay good money to see Capaldi interacting with Toad of Toad Hall and Dangermouse.
I think that’s why I actually love Mind Robber. It is whimsical, is quite daring in its ideas and unapologetically refuses to end with a pat answer (like psychic pollen in Amy’s Choice 😉 ).
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve mentioned my admiration for Moloney before, but you’re right to mention Peter Ling. I think it’s always been a strength that Who has occasionally allowed writers to experiment with the genre, and usually the results are worth watching. I didn’t know he wrote for Crossroads @fatmaninabox. In fact, I haven’t thought about Crossroads in about 2 decades, and now I do, I’m regretting it. 😀
So farewell for now, ye olde B&W era. It has been excellent with both Time Meddler and Mind Robber leaving me very cheerful.
4 May 2014 at 14:58 #27349I really enjoyed watching this one, after New Earth left me a bit bemused.
The titles from Tennyson – “Nature red, in tooth and claw”, and there are a fair few other literary references dotted here and there. It’s a nice “Base under siege” story with some marvellous performances in the guest cast. I particularly love Pauline as Queen Victoria. You get the feeling there’s a lot going on underneath the surface with that character behind a carefully constructed poker face.
Approaching this made me remember Charlie Brooker piece on New Earth in which he was similarly confused, but pointed to this episode with:
next week’s episode (also scripted by Russell T Davies) involves a much-publicised encounter with a werewolf guaranteed to make easily-spooked kiddy viewers crap their own spines through their bumholes. It’s flipping great (as are Tennant and Piper).
..and it’s worth dwelling on how good the CGI here is. It was only a couple of years after The Prisoner of Azkaban movie had featured a werewolf, and here was a TV series looking superior to that. Quite astonishing, and well done to all involved. The trope of the hand reaching down to snatch the unbeliever to his doom really effective here and I can remember my niece jumping a few feet from the floor to that.
@thekrynoidman To a certain extent, Rose and the Doctor are behaving like a couple of giggling imbeciles on occasion, but they are quite clearly pulled up on it by Victoria. I think that the playing obviously highlights the growing relationship between Rose and the Doctor. If this is a love story between them (which few, I think, would dispute) then this is the stage of the relationship that involves being immensely pleased with yourselves, self absorbed and becoming a touch annoying to your friends. 🙂
It also highlights that certain over-confidence and pride comes before a fall strand that was developed thoughout Series 2.
Unless I’m missing an episode, I’m afraid we have Love and Monsters next. Oh dear.
Yes, I love some of the callouts in this. Macrimmon and Balamory especially. Also, the Doctor studied under Dr Bell who, as the supposed basis for Sherlocks Holmes scientific method, reinforces those old links!
I’m hoping if we return to the Paternoster Gang we can get one really good Victorian Steampunk episode. On the face of it, it’s crying out to be done after tasters in Crimson Horror and Snowmen.
4 May 2014 at 00:15 #27342Oh, we love time loops and your explanations. As long as you do a diagram! 😀
I haven’t cast a vote because I wanted to see where voting takes us, and I’m sure @craig wouldn’t mind casting a deciding vote (barks evil laugh).
I did think of suggesting any other companion than Jo as the stories we’ve had this time have been augmented by different companions (the clever Vicki and Zoe for one and two), but I suddenly realised if that became a rule it might land us in Bonnie Langford territory for Sylvester, and that way madness lies.
3 May 2014 at 23:29 #27339I’ve just been catching up on the latest Clarkson outrage in the G and I’m genuinely confused.
Before I discovered internetz comments, I was actually convinced that most people understood that Clarksons current persona was a wholly invented (and profitable) caricature.
His shtick of being a living anachronism who doesn’t really understand the society he’s living in I actually find pretty engaging. Probably because, in my mid-40s, I have a feeling I’m becoming a bit of an anachronism myself. I’ve just lost track of a lot of the conversation that deals with race/gender politics since the late 90s, etc so I’m a bit all out at sea with it. I’ve actually come to believe that most of the Gs feminist writers are actually a cabal seeking to reinforce the patriarchy by deploying arguments that Millie Tant of Viz magazine would dismiss as laughable.
Parody plays can be enormously entertaining for a while. What’s interesting about Clarkson is that he’s doing it in his own name to create Brand Clarkson. If he adopted a clearly fictitious persona like “The Pub Landlord” (Al Murrays very similar right leaning throwback) I think perhaps most people would see the joke. I’ve seen Murray in the role live on a couple of occasions. The best was in Vicar Street in Dublin, in what was a truly riotous performance when the turned the volume on his little Englander character to 11. The danger is, of course, that some people will hear the message, but not see that the ultimate joke is on the character. This happened to Murray – he had a minority of followers who clearly didn’t have the wherewithal to spot that the Great British common sense his character espoused was nonsense. Add in to that Alf Garnett, another very accurate caricature of a reactionary character who actually seemed to be seen in some small circles as some kind of hero for his narrow minded views.
Reading the comments on this is actually pretty depressing. Faux-rage by the “Left” and some truly repellent creatures of the “Right” delighting in being able to use the word “nigger” in a post without being moderated. It seems like an orgy of click bait self-masturbation. The level of stupidity is truly astounding. You know – I love Stewart Lee, but if I see one more link to a YouTube rip of his Top Gear routine, I’d want to scream. Because they always miss the bit I saw live at the Newcastle Tyne Journal where he finishes with “I hate Top Gear. That’s why I never miss it. As a liberal, I love to be offended.” A couple of years after he did that routine he did the same kind of thing himself in an article for the G. Read his thoughts on Scotland Independence and meeting Mr. I Like Salmon, and you’ll laugh, but presumably because it’s written in the character of a cretinous liberal lefty. It’s amazing how few people got that.
Still, every dog has his day, and maybe the time for that character to disappear is due. To be replaced by the Clarkson who fronted “Meet the Neighbours” in which he toured European countries, deconstructed some stereotypes and concluded that the problem with Europe was archetypical British insularism. The Clarkson who listens to The Clash, rather than tortures Hamster with Prog Rock?
I like idiosyncratic voices like Lee, Clarkson, Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci and others. That melting pot of people who can poke you with a stick, and give you a slight shock to the system. It saves us from the bland Michael McIntyre’s of this world.
Because if idiots on the left and right want to adopt this monumental bell-end (James May) as a Cause célèbre then they have my blessing. It’ll keep them out of trouble.
3 May 2014 at 23:17 #27337Done and done. All other nominations gratefully received.
I think I made an error in my last post, because I think I should have put @bluesqueakpip as a tentative for Day of the Daleks. I don’t think the choice was that clear in the posts, so I’ll leave it until I receive instructions.
Inferno @thekrynoidman The Daemons @jimthefish @wolfweed @blenkinsopthebrave Day of the Daleks @janetteb @bluesqueakpip @fatmaninabox 3 May 2014 at 19:37 #27326Evening all. Woo-who, final part of Mind Robber tonight. Which makes me consider where we are with our next choice, which would be for Pertwee.
After flirting with Inferno (which I suggested may take the latest retrospective into new series with Peter Capaldi territory), my count of votes is something like this:
The Daemons @jimthefish @wolfweed @blenkinsopthebrave Day of the Daleks @janetteb @bluesqueakpip So, if I’ve misattributed any vote let me know, or if you haven’t voted on an episode to do Mr. Pertwee justice give us your vote (for any story) now. We’ll make sure the decision is tomorrow night, which will give everyone an idea for next week.
2 May 2014 at 23:54 #27299@whisht @Purofilion
Glad you enjoyed “Burn Up” even though you were burning up with illness Purofilion. Whisht – Peepshow, the album with Peek-a-boo and Burn up is well worth investigating. I think it sees them at their most dramatic, adventurous and experimental. It ends with Rhapsody, which is about the Soviet suppression of the Polish and East European rebels, but I’ll always love the album because me and MrsPhaseshift bonded over this track. We’ve been together 24 years and counting.
@thekrynoidman @fatmaninabox @purofilion
Is there anyone who listens to Sparks who can’t be entranced by their peculiar worldview?
Just to echo @fatmaninabox , Ron scared the life out of me when I first saw him, but when I heard him talk, he was hilarious.
The BBC did a live one-off called “Words and Music” which featured bands talking about famous tracks of theirs, and performing acoustic versions of them. I still love their contribution, because it gave Ron an unparalleled platform to give his philosophy in life. It reminded me of Tom Lehrer (and he could still do the “glare” to camera).
Apologies for that clip. I just wanted to point out the prog, which featured a couple of the Ukulele orchestras, and a mass competition for amateurs in Blackpool. A genuinely fond look at the phenomenon based around George Formby. It was called Frank Skinner on George Formby and a casual google search of that term may yield beneficial results!
As we’re looking at movie music, I’ve always admired Lise Gerrard’s contributions to film scores (Gladiator, et al). Mad Cellist from the Banshees (in the Burn Up segment), Martin McCarrick, worked with her in Dead Can Dance. So here they are:
2 May 2014 at 23:16 #27298I was determined to catch up before we launch into the last episode. I can’t really do much but echo others here though.
The Karkus is really camp as@wolfweed suggests, but I’m also sure that wolfweed would agree that does reflect a certain campness in US comics in the 60s that was in vogue (the superheroes were “swinging” along with bits of London at the time). It’s actually quite rare for Doctor Who to make the Doctor (or companion) reference “Pop Culture” of the future in an invented way, and I always thought that was an omission in the latest series, given the writers. I always thought that a slight running gag with an invented catchphrase from some notional “holo-vid” from the 51st century which the Doctor found hilarious, and no-one else understood, would be a great little boon to show how alien or out-of-time he was. Perhaps we could launch a competition?
@scaryb, I actually wrote in my notes that Zoe must have taken fighting lessons from Mrs Gilllyfl…. , sorry – Emma Peel. In a slight aside, can I compliment Troughton on his ability to make his clothes look delightfully dishevelled? This is a sign of a great man, I tell myself, with my ability to reduce a £600 suit to tramp status in 15 minutes flat. 😉
@confusedpolarity @bluesqueakpip
Bernard Horsfall is really enjoyable. I love the way he starts answers by looking into the distance and almost reciting from his story. Then gradually tailing off, and looking almost disturbed, or confused by what he’s saying.
27 April 2014 at 11:37 #27215I’d noticed that on the interview as well. Good taste, that woman. It fits quite well into the stuff I’ve been listening to this weekend.
I’ve just been listening to Siouxsie and the Banshees Peepshow album, and been marvelling at the fact it all sounds so good. Love the track “Burn Up” which does build like a fire raging out of control. Some wag in the comments described it as the world’s first gothic squaredance, which is slightly amusing.
27 April 2014 at 11:03 #27214@bluesqueakpip posted the mini-sode done for CIN last week, and it reminded me that series 2 actually saw the first attempts by the BBC to use electronic media to promote the show with about 10 “Tardisodes”. I was a bit surprised that they didn’t include them on the DVD. But here is the one for New Earth, an advert for the Hospital.
27 April 2014 at 10:57 #27213So after the Christmas Special onto the new tenure and this is the first story we viewers get to see a different planet (everything so far in series 1 was on Earth, or in something in orbit around the Earth).
So, where are we off to Doctor?! Oh, New Earth…bugger. 😉
Rewatching this, I’d possibly say that this is least favourite of the series openers. There is a lot to enjoy though, so let’s dwell on those.
- The production design and CGI for the establishing shots is lovely.
- The prosthetics and makeup on the Cat Nuns is really marvellous. Fantastic job, even though I think the “animal head on a humanoid” thing got a bit out of hand later.
- Billie is excellent in the switching body roles. Very funny channelling Cassandras snobbishness. Her “I’m a Chav!” line gets me every time.
- Largely, Tennant is excellent in this, investing a lot of energy from the off.
I say “Largely” because the scenes where he is possessed by Cassandra, I find pretty toe-curling. It’s simultaneously self consciously wacky, and pitched in mannerisms more towards a caricature of a “screaming queen”.
I basically want to do that thing that Tennant did so well. I think it starts in the next episode actually, when Rose tries a Scottish accent. He looks at her in a bemused way and says “no…no, don’t do that”. I want to repeat those lines to him every time I watch this.
Because I’m testing a hypothesis, this week’s “oh Doctor, aren’t you so marvellously brilliant” moment was bought to you by the Duke of Manhattan.
I found Cassandra an entertaining enough character in End of the World, but to be honest she wouldn’t have been my choice to bring back. Thing is though, Zoe Wanamaker’s voice work is really well done, and I like that they did something different here in exploring her weaknesses and revealing a different side. The blind devotion of Chip is entertaining and the end is quite emotional as Cassandra gets to make the day of her younger self.
Overall though, somehow this just feels a little off to me.
26 April 2014 at 10:30 #27171@toinfinityandbeyond @whisht
Yes – great to see it back. I’ve seen the first episode, and it looks interesting for the second series. I’ll mention @scaryb (in case RL is still hectic) as she was following it as well.
The G has an article with Maslany talking about playing the various clones here.
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/apr/26/tatiana-maslany-orphan-black25 April 2014 at 23:20 #27164Bugger – missed about two weeks of the most active thread on here at the moment.
Lots of good music posted, and thanks for the recommendations. I have a lot of listening to do.
I think my own disinclination towards other versions of Hallelujah is precisely because of Cale, so thanks for mentioning his version. For me, no other version is necessary.
And good call on the Spaghetti Western orchestra – I posted a link on the last thread. Everyone should watch yours or mine. A superb performance at the Proms.
@faefrl
Glad you enjoyed that bit of Confidential. If you are selecting episodes of Confidential for pay, can I recommend the ones that went with Blink (“Do you remember the first time” as it’s directed by your favourite David Tennant, interviewing writers and creatives behind the scenes). It ends up with a montage that I thought was brilliant “Thanks for the memories”).
Other ones to look out for are the Doctors Wife (which contain readings from the script by Neil Gaiman in the Tardis) and, I think, the one for The Wedding of River Song which contained the time-line for River against Ennio Morricone.
As @Purofilion mentioned, the first couple of albums by the Artic Moneys are immense and well worth checking out. So many good tracks, I’ll pick up “ Do me a favour” which any (ancient) teenager will recognise as a lament to lost love.
Anything by Howard Goodall is good news, and I remember that series particularly. Don’t you owe us a track from your new website from Easter Monday, or have I skipped over it?
On the phenomenon of Ukele Orchestras does anyone remember the Frank Skinner documentary on them extract on it here?
Here he is, through the medium of the Ukele, discussing Osama Bin Laden.
Rod Stewart – He really hated this version of his song.Shame, because every time he complained – the sales increased. Who knew that was the secret of success? It was a real party favourite in Goth circles.
Sweet! That was almost a nursery rhyme in the 70s until (for me) the Damned came along.
I loved their version, full of vim, vigour and about twenty pints of Best.
Features Saint Lemmy of Motörhead on bass. Also drunk. I think I’m in the mood for a punk retrospective. Beware.
21 April 2014 at 11:54 #27079The contents of this are really well covered above, and I’ll agree with lots of what is said. The Medusa is very effective (and presenting it as a stone being itself really imaginative).
Troughton is one top form again. I love the scene between him and Zoe as he confesses that yes, he got Jamie’s face wrong the first time. That competitive streak with Zoe was a joy when they explored it on occasion (the best thing about the Krotons is the Doctor trying to beat her score in the Gonds test). It was the first time it was really done, but that childish petulance in his character has always paid dividends when the partner is of good calibre (I’d suggest great partnerships were Two – Zoe, Three – The Master, Four – Romana and Eleven – River).
Also a big shout-out to some excellent cliffhangers in this story. Definite jeopardy every time.
So we have myths, legends, fairy tales and fictions – a world of stories. I’ve always wondered how much (if at all) unconscious effect this had on Neil Gaiman when he developed the Sandman series (for which you can read this blog @galactus wrote on the subject). “The Dreaming” in that series was similar in many ways to the Land of Fiction.
We’ll let you off with the bingeing as this is a Bank Holiday, and it’s traditional for a sugar rush of some description 😉 Some nice parallels with other stories there. I’d probably mention God Complex as well. Not only for the nightmarish visions, but the really off-kilter direction which added to the disturbing atmosphere.
20 April 2014 at 11:25 #27033Sorry I’ve not been about – unexpected family visit. I shall turf them out later today and be back to listen to some music and comment on Mind Robber.
Just to hope everyone’s having a splendid Bank Holiday.
That’s an egg-cellent picture. Come on people, it’s Easter! No lame egg related humour? Are we all feeling ill? 🙂
20 April 2014 at 11:19 #27032I think looking at this with fresh eyes, I can’t help but admire it, even though for “introducing the Doctor” stories it’s been well and truly supplanted by The Eleventh Hour for me.
When he brought the Doctor back in Rose, Russell obviously referenced Spearhead from Space, with the Autons and their attack on London shoppers. Here he does so again, because Pertwee spent the first couple of episodes in bed in that with someone (in that case the Brig) trying to work out whether this was the same Doctor he knew.
Here Rose and her family are the route to ask just Who is this Doctor, and will he be any good? I think for the first regeneration of the new series it was exactly the right thing to do. Keeping it lighthearted in threat initially (Robot Santas and Christmas Trees) while Rose works through her fears and doubts. Having another person in the mix who approaches the question from a different standpoint (Harriet Jones) just adds to the mix.
There are a lot of small details of continuation (which @wolfweed has mentioned) to keep you occupied. The plot about a probe to Mars being intercepted at Christmas obviously referenced the loss of “Beagle 2” which had been scheduled to land on Mars two years before on a Christmas Day. Damned aliens. 😉
I think Billie Piper and support do an awful lot here, but you are aware that we’re treading water. Hats of to her though for her attempt to sound commanding as she confronts the Sycorax and rapidly loses the plot. Basically we need the Doctor.
And here he is. It’s a bravura performance and a whirlwind of words. When I first saw it I though – “bloody hell, the Doctors turned into Lord Flashheart!”. Here is your Doctor: funny, with an easy charm, able to talk the back legs of a Betelgeusian mega-donkey before convincing it to crawl down to the shops to pick up a packet of fags.
Is that the sort of man I am now? Am I rude? Rude and not ginger?
Yep – for the perfect combinations of Rude and Ginger we had to wait for Donna and Amy. 😀
I literally do not know who I am. It’s all untested. Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? Sexy? Right old misery? Life and soul? Right-handed, left-handed? A gambler, a fighter, a coward, a traitor, a liar, a nervous wreck? I mean judging by the evidence I’ve certainly got a gob.
It’s the steel as he dispatches the leader after the sword fight, and his confrontation with Harriet that tend to linger through the fun though.
Isn’t the 6 word destruction a satire on Tony Blair (or was it somebody else?)?
After the Belgrano-a-like actions, we’re back to dear Margaret. I think it was Alan Clarks diaries which revealed “Don’t you think she looks tired” was the method backbench MPs sounded each other out about whether she could survive at the end of her tenure. I have a feeling it may have cropped up since then though.
Must mention Murray Gold who we hear at the end doing “Song for Ten”. Apparently that was a last minute thing, but I love the slightly Phil Spector-ish feel of that as 10 selects his new threads.
17 April 2014 at 15:47 #26935Have fun, and keep asking questions.
Just on the subject of those cover versions that vie for your affections, and the originators giving them wholesale support (like Hurt from @faegrl), I can’t help remembering a band that gets mentioned often (looks at @craig) Jesus and Mary Chain.
Their song “Head On” (and I’ll post a link to the original) was a brilliant song, and then it was covered a few years later by The Pixies. I can remember the Reid brothers being immensely complementary over this version.
The video is notable as well – the record company was desperate for a single release and video for MTV when the band traditionally told them they wouldn’t co-operate. They only agreed to it if they could:
– Perform the song actually “live” to camera, with a namecheck to J&MC.
– Do it once.So – 12 cameras setup, recording one take with sound and vocals, it was one of the cheapest videos filmed that year. It was voted the MTV “Breakthrough” award at what was really the end of their career. There are so many ironies in this you don’t know where to start!
17 April 2014 at 15:39 #26934Congratulations on your book, and great choice with Mr. Cash and “Hurt”. I don’t know whether you saw the use of it in DW Confidential (who had some great choices in music BTW) but it was in the episode for “The Almost People” in Series 6.
17 April 2014 at 15:29 #26933@thekrynoidman @blenkinsopthebrave @purofilion
Many thanks for the Burgon links. I think you may have provided the soundtrack to my Bank Holiday. 😀
17 April 2014 at 15:12 #26932@confusedpolarity (and anyone else who has a view on this)
It’s the first time I’ve seen The Mind Robber this way – the way it was supposed to be viewed, one short blast per week – and I have to say, I love it.
I find this interesting, because when we did these last year I found I really enjoyed the episodes we covered, but above all I seemed to notice a lot more than when I “binge” on a complete story. At first I was convinced that it was the simple fact we were watching these episodes to write a comment/review, and it forced me, perhaps, into paying more attention.
After the anniversary, I watched a fair few other stories (but more along the lines of an episode a night) and I noticed a similar effect without writing anything. The stories, stand out lines, etc. Seemed to take root far more readily than when binging. As I’ve never watched anything before T Baker in that way, I’ve found the difference startling.
Has anyone else?
16 April 2014 at 14:00 #26912Apologies if I misattributed a request – I could of sworn it was you that posed that question. Could be that I’m going senile, of course.
The elusive definition of “Indie”! When I was a University Student 88-91 the accepted definition seemed to be.
Have the band recorded a Peel Session?
Has John Peel played a record by them – ever?If the answer was “Yes” to either question – they were an official “Indie” Band. 😉
Just going back to the Brit-pop thing did anyone else laugh like an idiot at the “Indie Club” sketch on The Fast Show? It really did highlight the astonishing hyperbole that music commentators were attributing to some really bland music.
16 April 2014 at 13:53 #26911Oh – late to the party, although lots of good recommendations from others (yes! to a mention of Therapy? by @craig). If you’re interested in the Britpop thing specifically, there was a weird BBC “showcase” called Britpop Now which featured Albarn introduce most of the common faces associated with it. This google search will take you to individual performances.
I share a lot of reservations about it with others. It was presented as quite an insular Nationalistic thing, almost defining itself against that foreign interloper, Grunge. A lot of it also came across like a compilation of tributes to previous bands in a really obvious way. The best thing about it (in my opinion) was seeing Pulp getting some success after a decade, and Jarvis Cocker specifically becoming the most unlikely sex symbol in history.
As no-one has mentioned them, I’ll give a nod to a more recent band (half a decade is yesterday to me) from Sheffield, the Artic Monkeys. A less obvious and frenetic updating of styles like punk and Ska with some astute and playful lyrics. I genuinely love “A Certain Romance”.
Cause over there there’s broken bones
There’s only music, so that there’s new ringtones
And it doesn’t take no Sherlock Holmes
To see it’s a little different around here13 April 2014 at 13:49 #26861Is the RTD2 reference a Star Wars one? Because he was the brave, realiable droid, and amazingly popular if you go by merchandising useage.
I’d got the impression you didn’t like Russell that much. 😉
13 April 2014 at 13:45 #26860I’ve just realised that it’ll be Christmas Invasion next week, as we tuck into our Easter Eggs. At least it’s A Bank Holiday though.
13 April 2014 at 13:37 #26858I actually think this cracks along. As others have said, it’s probably one of the most consistent series final episodes under RTD.
The breakneck race to save Rose is well done, and the TARDIS materialising around Rose and the Dalek was a really nice touch. It’s interesting that they definitely made the Dalek mutant seen after Jack terminates it look distinctly different to that seen in Dalek. It looks like it has two eyes to me.
Eccleston is on great form throughout this. Even his delighted “Null points”, as the Daleks try to blast the shield makes me laugh.
Lots of callouts to confused Dalek History here. “You might have removed all your emotions” as a reference to Destiny of the Daleks (never really worked that line, the Daleks always seemed on the precipice of emotional hysteria). The idea of Dalek human mutations/conversion from Revelation of the Daleks, and the idea that the conflict of that stink of humanity may drive them insane (the human factor in Evil of the Daleks).
Thing is – the Emperor is clearly the most insane. Good job he’s floating in that massive jar. Team TARDIS would have been in danger of drowning in mad Emperor spittle otherwise. Always wise to withdraw carefully (and quickly) when you face that much phlegm.
The plan hastily compiled in true Doctor who fashion – “I can do a clever thing, but you’re going to have to give me time. We’ll call your contribution Operation No Chance”. Jack is obviously familiar with this Dance, and goes away after a very tender kiss with the Doctor. This ones for you, slash fiction writers!
Excellent hologram acting as the Doctor sends Rose out of the danger zone. The bit where his hologram suddenly turns directly to her is magnificent. He sends her back to mundane reality. Love that exchange between Mickey and her mum.
Mickey: Have you tried that new pizza place on Midnight Road?
Mum: What’s it selling?
Mickey: Pizza.You know, when I wrote that blog about changing time, I forgot to mention Fathers Day, which Rose references here to her mum. She saw her dad, and changed the outcome (in turn changing the stories her mum told her). Rose remembering two different (and apparently contradictory) histories actually mirrors Amy having two childhood timelines.
Operation No Chance isn’t going well. Goodbye Patterson. Yes – the Daleks are real. Goodbye Lynda with a y. Hats of to Jo Joyner, I think she made Lynda quite likeable in a very short time. Her death is one of the most striking, because she’s all alone. As is Jack to a certain extent, but reviewing this I can’t remember what I thought when I first watched it, the fact that he survived to get to Miracle Day is a big cloud. Even dying with a swagger though.
Ah – is the Doctor a man or a munchkin? This plays beautifully into the notion of the future War Doctor. He may be the closest incarnation to those devastating events, but he’s changed sufficiently to not be able to commit atrocity to stop one. Huzzah for the Goddess Rose, who is revealed as the Bad Wolf. Bugger – that’s £5 I wagered on Fenric I’ll never see again.
And then .. a moment a self sacrifice as the Doctor diagnoses her problem, and comes up with a cure. Again, hats off to Eccleston for his slightly manic approach to his final scenes. It’s a great regeneration scene.
Wham – the first time we see the new regeneration effect, and it still looks great. And suddenly….
Hello. It’s Doctor Dishy.
And, although it could have a Parting of the Ways, it wasn’t. Yes – I didn’t enjoy all of Series 1, but I don’t think there was any danger of anyone being universal in praise for it. It did what it had to, to make the programme relevant to a new generation, experiment with formats and ideas, casting its net wide and not always getting a consistent tone. But for me, the good stuff definitely outweighed the bad stuff, and I was quite sad to see Eccleston going so soon.
In retrospect though, the regeneration capped a series which introduced every important element of the Doctor to a new audience – including Regeneration. That’s not bad at all.
12 April 2014 at 22:28 #26852Look forward to hearing about the holiday, should you wish to talk about it.
“Tenuous” is my middle name. Actually, forget it typed that. @Phasetenuousshift doesn’t link to anything.
I think you asked a while ago for songs that inadvertently reminded you of Doctor Who. I had such an experience while you were away when I was half listening to a compilation of the beat combo “Placebo”. Just odd verses were filtering in, and the what I got lodged were two verses that are apart.
Sucker love, a box I choose.
No other box I choose to use.Followed by
All alone in space and time.
There’s nothing here but what here’s mine
Something borrowed,
Something Blue.And I thought – “They’re singing about the TARDIS! That’s Amy’s line!”. Checking I found they’d released this in ’99 – which means it’s all a bit timey wimey (naturally).
Here’s the Lyric version of the vid for evidential purposes.
12 April 2014 at 22:06 #26851I have no idea why I hadn’t made the connection to “Clart” (as in “I’ve fallen in the clart”), as we used it a lot as kids, as a less offensive version of “Shit”.
I am indebted to you sir, for solving a twenty-odd year old conundrum. Doffs Hat.
12 April 2014 at 21:56 #26850very TV show should start with a revolving bottom.
It would certainly make “The News” more interesting. A bit like the revolving globe they used to have on the BBC.
It is a very dreamlike episode – sort of ‘what, exactly, were they smoking in BBC Drama?’
Exactly 😀 It’s worth trying to put yourself in the Directors (David Moloney) shoes at this point. Just qualified, first credit as Director, completely re-written script at last minute, no money. Oh – and one of your leads suddenly comes down with Chicken-Pox. I don’t know about smoking, but at this point you’d be willing to bet there were industrial strength pharmaceuticals available to calm him down!
What’s amazing it this really works. I like the air of mystery and slightly off-kilter approach as they explore their new environment. The air of someone playing games with the team, as we meet the unseen “Master”. I put his eerie chuckle at a solid 8 on the Phaseshift loon-o-meter. It’s reminiscent of Anthony Ainley as the Master in Logopolois. Can they be related?
There’s something larger than life and exaggerated even with the sound effects. Terry Pratchett fans will recognise the reference as I say that this “Master” must employ one hell of an Igor to carefully treat the hinges to get that creaking effect on the door that Zoe opens.
Of course – THE Master wasn’t a thing at that point, and I can’t help but think that viewers who remembered the Hartnell years at this point must have looked at the sets, the games and riddles and thought the Master might be the Celestial Toymaker. The idea of turning the loss of an actor into a game the Doctor gets wrong (and ends up avoiding direct questions on how it happened) is a touch of genius.
Also great to see Bernard Horsfall as our mysterious sailor. An educated man, setting sail on 4th March 1699? Sounds familiar… although it’s a great point that the information is there to guess who he is, but they have the confidence not to come out and say it. Horsfall seemed to turn up a lot in Who in stories that Moloney went onto direct (War Games and Deadly Assassin come to mind).
A world of words, and a horse with a bloody great horn on its head! This is great!
12 April 2014 at 15:30 #26824Welcome back from the world tour! Thanks for the postcard supplied on the Rose ‘n’ Crown thread.
I suppose we could recall K-9, and ask “Are Friends Electric”?
11 April 2014 at 17:49 #26816That song’s put me in the mood for some NewRo.
I saw Hunting Venus again last month and it did the same to me. I ended up listening to a load of the old stuff. I didn’t realise, until my last viewing, that Starburst was written by Jools Holland.
Spot on with Danny Webb – that was the one I thought would be the tricky one, for no other reason in that he’s never had the same kind of face recognition as the other two I think.
Mark Williams was actually in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship first, so I’d call that his instruction before PoT.
Jim’s right about the story for Martin Clunes, Snakedance, and the costume he wore. I don’t think it’s possible for him to be interviewed or appear on a panel show like HIGNFY without them using a picture to remind him of it. I think it’s a toss of a coin as to which look, the one in the sampler, or this, is the most ludicrous. 😀
11 April 2014 at 13:32 #26812Just on Ben Miller, it’s reminded me of an idea I had a while ago to compile the odd quiz if people were interested (or if anyone else fancies being quizmaster let us know). Emphasis just on entertainment really. This kind of thing:
Quiz Question
Ben Miller is scheduled for an appearance in Series 8. He’s previously appeared as the drummer of a fictional New Romantic group with three other actors who have Doctor Who credits.
Can you name the Stories which introduced the three we’ve already seen? If you want to have a closer inspection, here are the Venus Hunters performing “Starburst” (link to YouTube).
11 April 2014 at 13:25 #26811Thanks for the links on casting. One name I’d missed before, but who was announced in the same batch as Tom Riley was Trevor Cooper. I guess he’ll be another one to add to the genetic multiplicity thread as he was in the Sixth Doctor Dalek serial.
11 April 2014 at 01:59 #26801As I was coming back tonight I read that Sue Townsend had died of a stroke (I think). She wrote “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole” and its sequels among many others. But it’s the first couple of Adrian Mole’s that really annoyed me.
Because they were so bloody accurate, the bugger.
I think it’s a rare person who can point out to you how absurd you are while reassuring you that this is completely normal. I was actually 13 when I first discovered her books (Adrian was a couple of years older than me) and she was a fiend. Adrian was a caricature, to be sure, but I think Sue got into the head and the insecurities of every honest teenager with those books. They were hilarious. And informative. They prepared me for a difficult period of life.
Thanks Sue – She diagnosed an adolescent mindset with such accuracy I didn’t have the nerve to follow her reasoning into later. I was a student, and was willing to make my own mistakes by then. I therefore have not followed her work since “Growing Pains of …..”. Perhaps in adult fear?
Also loved the TV adaption – Who wouldn’t with a theme by Ian Dury?
Anyway – that’s my small contribution made. Many thanks Sue. You did a lot.
11 April 2014 at 01:52 #26800Hey – I hope you’re not describing someone from Yorkshire as Southern!? 😉
Good to see you. I spent the first part of week anticipating travel with numerous “this is not your time” moments (with hilarious visits to airport), and then did a mad dash in aid of “jet-lagging fury” towards the end.
I feel like I’m in that in-between moment – “awake and asleep”. Ah, that’s it – hallucinating! The Mind Robber is there, if you want to comment. We had Hartnell the week before, twinkling in Time Meddler.
5 April 2014 at 23:28 #26770No problem, as it was my mistake – I don’t know, the sites quite quiet, and we insist on posting at the same time. 🙂
I agree with your post in that I think they deserve a lot of credit considering the how little time they had, and creation of the void in particular makes a virtue out of not-very-much. Some of the imagery is dream like and there is a disturbing atmosphere utilised. The first time I got to see it, I did wonder what the recreational drug of choice was in the BBC offices in the 1960s.
I read an interview with Gerry Davis about the Celestial Toymaker which had similar problems, and I think it’s easy for me to forget what a massive rolling effort the 60s TV series were. A small disruption could soon steamrole into something much bigger, and spread its effect. A lot of sweat and creative thinking had to be done with next to nothing.
5 April 2014 at 23:00 #26767BTW – Does anyone get the reference to Zoe looking like a “Wee McLarty(sp?)”.
I’m indebted to you for posting just after me – I’ve removed my comment that rather spoilt the cliffhanger for the casual reader.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
5 April 2014 at 22:46 #26765So far, so confused? I think the cast may have been a bit at this point as well, as due to production issues and writing on The Dominators @craig mentioned (as well as obligatory warning about bagpipe content 😉 ) The Mind Robber was extended to five episodes, and rehearsal times were pretty minimal by all accounts.
Although I like it, I’ve got an established overview of the entire story, so it’ll be interested to hear from anyone watching it fresh. I think it does betray more than a hint of lastminute.com, particularly from Wendy Padbury as future computer specialist and maths whiz Zoe. She’s still a little inexperienced at this point and you can visibly see her look off for cues at times. Frazer Hines and Troughton are a bit more relaxed with a production botch-up at this point, and if Hines is in doubt, he hugs Troughton or just looks bewildered, which is Jamie’s ground state. 😀
So to escape the boiling lava of soapy suds they have materialised nowhere. There’s a reference to the void, which could be associated with where 10 dumped all the Daleks and Cybermen in the future, and shares something in look with the interface of N and E-Space in Warrior’s Gate. All are said to be outside of the normal Universe, so all aspects of the same thing?
The Doctor does have problems with Mercury switches, doesn’t he? Maybe inhaling the fumes from broken and hot switches is responsible for sending him a bit peculiar over the years.
The luring out of companions, and their navigating the void is pretty obviously stretched out. If it had been four episodes, we’d be cracking along. The white robots are here, armed with what are obviously hypnorays of some description. What is it about swirling circles like these that scream “HYPNORAY”? I’ve never been able to find out if you can actually be hypnotised by visual cliché.
Although it’s been done since, this sense that the secure bolt-hole of the TARDIS is being invaded would actually work better in the period I think. Seeing the Doctor come under mental attack in his castle is just the start. As they fly away, and Jamie wakes up from unrealistically portrayed (Sorry Frazer) disturbed sleep, the unthinkable happens – but that would be telling.
That is a very tight catsuit.
All in all, I think the episode is OK, but it’s that great cliffhanger that grabs your attention. What are our heroes to do now?!
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