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21 May 2013 at 16:39 #10220
The conversation about how time works is interesting from one point of view but a dead end in another. Most of the models hinged on (and referenced here) are reflections of our understanding of how time works and are necessarily bound by our subjective viewpoint of time going forwards.
But, in the Whoniverse time has been shown to change.
In “Day of the Daleks” that Daleks changed the human future to something the Doctor did not recognise. He changed it back.
In “Genesis of the Daleks” the Time Lords want him to change the future, to avoid the possibility of universal domination by them. Even he didn’t know if his actions would avoid the “timeline” they foresaw .
In “Pyramids of Mars”, Sarah simply says they should leave because they know Sutekh never destroyed the Earth. He takes her forward and demonstrates that if they don’t intervene, he will leave the earth a cinder.
In “Fires of Pompeii” he and Donna change the time that is destined (and seen by Precogs) to something we are familiar with.
In “Waters of Mars” the Doctor changes the future at a so-called “fixed point” and we are shown Time re-arrange to accommodate it.
In “A Christmas Carol” we have the Doctor manipulating someone’s timeline and, again, there is a slow adaptation.
In “Journey to the Centre of the Tardis” changes to Present events, with foreknowledge of an aborted timeline seem to reverberate back in Time and be accommodated.
Those are just the ones that come to mind.
The “Wibbly Wobbly” model of the Universe probably isn’t taught outside Gallifrey 😀 , but according to one source may be true…..
Something interesting that the mighty @craig posted on the Sofa a while back.
[Craig intro] Have always loved Neil deGrasse Tyson. He’s such a great speaker. Now I love him even more. For those who don’t know, he’s one of the USA’s most preeminent astrophysicists – like a Stephen Hawking who can do talk shows.
I think it’s safe to say at one point he wishes he could just copy the Doctor and say “It’s complicated”.
21 May 2013 at 16:33 #10218@bluesqueakpip – Just goes to show I must rewatch Buffy. 🙂 In my mind, they always seem a little Victorian. I’m pretty sure that in a box set extra feature they said they themselves were influenced by the film “Dark City” for the look of the Gentlemen? Or I may be misremembering.
21 May 2013 at 12:38 #10172After last weeks Borg stuff, this week we have Hush ripoff allegations. I was going to post a (hopefully) humerous response, but I seem to be in Premod.
Not sure why that is – I just posted a review on this blog. They may have thought three links in one post was a bit “spammy” though. Ah well.
As it took me a while to work out in the bath last night, here it is:
What can I say, what can I do?
To explain my reasoning to you.
That Whispermen are not the Gents,
From Wheedon’s Hush – no offence!The first reason’s obvious and, if I may,
The reason I’m mangling verse on this day.
The silent Gentlemen would run, if in time,
To escape the effect of Whispermen rhymn.Joss is brilliant, but I’m sure he’d confess,
He didn’t invent Victorian dress!
The deathly pallor for fiends is cliché,
Based on arsenous makeup used back in the day.The skeletal visage displayed by a Gent,
Is not used here, with admirable intent.
The Trickster is more of an obvious intention,
For a story which deals with time intervention.I confess I lapse into occasional hilarity,
On our rush to judge on vague similarity.
For where would Joss be without being able to draw,
On centuries of established Vampiric Lore?I really don’t want to spoil your fun
But really –
There is nothing new under the sun.20 May 2013 at 17:57 #10064Hello all, some interesting thoughts to dwell on who “Doctor Hurt” is.
I think I agree with the missing ninth incarnation. It really is that bit in JttCotT and the book on the TimeWar. It has his name in it. Written about the past so maybe he has been judged by whoever wrote it that he was unfit for the name? Clara doesn’t recognise him from the Timeline, but the events of the Time War are “timelocked” (whatever that means) so a version that exists only within that frame. Clara’s attempt to salvage that reality may have had the consequence of releasing him somehow?
the Hippocratic Oath in terms of the Doctor (and was pretty much on the money, given that the ‘Name of The Doctor’ is explicitly stated as being a promise)
Very kind. I still like those thoughts. The start of the oath:
I will keep them from harm and injustice
Does read like a promise. If you take the back end of the oath
If I fulfil this path and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honoured with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.
…and this is true. The incarnations that carried out the promise are “honoured with fame among men for all time to come”. Unless it gets convenient and he erases that information.
The one who has “transgressed and swore falsely” has been forgotten.
Who was the promise made to? I think that could be left in the air as another mystery, although my favourite would be initially to Susan’s parents.
River said that the title of “Doctor” has been used throughout time and space as a wise man. What if he’d grown up with tales of what a Doctor is, decided to use that name for it’s oath, not realising it’s his own actions that have led to the oaths creation? Very timey wimey.
@jimthefish (@JimTheModerator) 😀 spanky new (and appropriate) avatar you have there.
19 May 2013 at 23:32 #9928Welcome Dan! Thanks for keeping us entertained over the last three years. Looking forward to your next BG (“Before Gap”) Episode blog (we’re trying to eliminate the marketing term “Classic” from our vocab :-D).
I think @craig may have sent verification details to a @danmartin as well, but I’m sure we can delete that one now we know which is the replicant.
I guess if people think we’re big enough to bother registering to promote their blogs we should take it as a compliment. 😉
I had a quick look myself. I don’t really share your concerns on the direction of the show. Generally loved Series 1-4, but I’m enjoying this one even more. Different strokes and all that.
19 May 2013 at 22:02 #9900I do think it’s a case of limited time to make the point, and the relative cost of production of the clips (and some are variable quality).
The Hartnell choice was inspired in mahy ways. It’s a great “this is where it all started” moment for the Doctor, and critically one who someone who has only seen “The Doctors Wife” can probably get the sense of what is happening.
Many thanks for the compliment on “The Paternoster” Blog. I had a lot of fun with that one. I hope if you get the time you’ll be able to use you author status to develop a couple of the ideas you mentioned on the Website Comments thread.
If you’ve not seen it there is a small behined the scenes feature that features the slap between Alex and Neve, and a couple of fun observations from Dan on plunging through a window.
19 May 2013 at 21:10 #9889I do want to register my disappointment, though, that the montages of various Claras didn’t show her saving him. In fact, they showed the opposite – Clara banging helplessly on glass walls and glass floors, or standing still whilst a Doctor ran / drove by her, etc
.My take on this was she was trying to save the events or course of his life. In RoA she showed a real understanding of the multitude of events that lead up to your present “you”.
The GI was a formless intelligence seeking to change those events in however many ways. Maybe not by directly tackling him, but still influencing decisions, encounters that would change who he was. He was the agent of change. Clara was an opposite force. Seemingly random interventions when needed to correct his influence. A half heard voice making him pause for example.
The best illustration of this is the encounter with the First – we know he and old sexy more or less selected each other. Perhaps a little voice (the GI) told him to take another box – and attempt to make his wanderings more directed. Under those circumstances he may not have gone to Earth, met Ian and Barbara and his life would have been very different. A Gallifreyan Clara corrected that one. In some encounters she is physical, and in some almost a ghost (like the lost time traveller in “Hide”).
In retrospect I think the two episodes by Neil Cross in this run are pretty informative on this element of the story. Will have to rewatch (which I don’t mind, I really like both Rings and Hide :-D).
19 May 2013 at 17:46 #9850I actually love the parallel between Rings of Akhaten and this, besides the leaf. In RoA the Doctors investigations into Clara means he’s suddenly been present at moments / events in her life. In this, she’s introduced to his ife in a similar capacity.
Glad you liked the clip. I meant to mention it last night, but it slipped my mind. As much as I’ve enjoyed River, I wouldn’t be surprised if Moff wanted to close off her story before the 50th and, in his words “start something new”.
19 May 2013 at 13:56 #9804On River, I think this may well be the last we’ll see of her. I think amongst all the references to old Doctors in the episode, the Doctors words to her to “sleep in his mind” were really well chosen.
If you watch this short clip of the second discussing his family, you’ll see why.
19 May 2013 at 01:20 #9684(Sighs in relief)
@craig – make @bluesqueakpip an author!
Only joking. I do like that thought, but haven’t given it that much thought. I think your expansion on it, and a couple of others I’ve seen have done it far more justice. I’d really like to read it.
19 May 2013 at 01:03 #9681I think @craig has the power to make you an author. Just posting as a reminder for him as he may have nipped of to bed. Look forward to reading it though.
The Eleventh Hour – The spring eternal, Source of a speculative Nile. I think the episode I’ve watched too many times. Do you really want me to watch it AGAIN?!
19 May 2013 at 00:17 #9671OK – some calm has descended on Château Phassehift, so some observations.
1. Series 7 starts with a massive Dalek and ends in a massive Tardis – the icons the the brand “in your face”.
2. Yep – I went with Clara as an ordinary girl who became the female fracture in the fractal fabric of time and space. I kind of hope @bluesqueakpip‘s musings on why that’s wrong are true though.
3. Loving the thoughts on Doctor Zero, alternate eights and nines as well. The thing is – reintroducing the leaf – the unrealised realities as he tries to save Clara. Is that a clue that this “new” Doctor is a unrealised verion of the Doctor. Am I right that the Valeyard was a “potential” Doctor given form (I’ve tried to eliminate the sixth Doctor from my timestream).
I’m pretty sure in the novel “Matrix”, he was portrayed that way, corrupting other versions to his philosophy (The first killing the caveman, Four killing the Daleks, Five keeping the antidote for the toxic stuff for himself, etc).
4. I still like the thought of my hippocratic oath ideas. Almost a pledge to himself to do no harm. The reason he took the “Name of the Doctor”.
The line used last series “I’ve been running so long now…” I always thought meant running from the Timelords, but from his past or potential future is really a better idea.
5. I have no idea if anyone has watched the complete run of series 7. If not, watch from “God Complex” onwards (including Chrimbo Specials) and savour Matt at work. He really is spellbinding. When you do, you see the little things that are driving him away from contact. Ignore the companions, they are the distraction. That run is his. Brilliantly done.
18 May 2013 at 22:34 #9649Many welcomes to new members as well. Nice to see you dive in.
18 May 2013 at 22:33 #9648I think we need to be pragmatic here. A firm handshake, and split the universe across the pennines as we launch our fiendish plans!
Aaaah that explains Noel Edmonds and Paul Hollywood
Ah …. you’ve met my “whispermen”?
Me too. I really hope @htpbdet enjoyed that.
18 May 2013 at 21:37 #9627That would explain my tendency to spend breakfast plotting how to take over the galaxy.
Ah …well met, my fellow traveller on the road to conquest. You will be delighted to know I have spread the word of the doings of the Machiavellian Genius Society(Yorkshire Section) on the Guardian. Which section do you belong to? 🙂
18 May 2013 at 21:03 #9610I’m afraid everyone is missing the clue in plain sight with John Hurt.
He has a beard.
Yes people – the Dark Doctor has always been the Master. Conjoined twins in the nexus spiral of time, endlessly fighting for supremacy when one leads, inevitably towards another. An ouroboros of hate eternal.
Bow down before the goatee ye mortals, and despair.
Sorry – I’m still feeling a little bit giddy. 😀
18 May 2013 at 20:14 #9583Can I just say Vastra, Strax, Jenny? Come on people! Add in River, the eleventh and Clara and that was the tastiest piece of TV, even without finely grated Richard E Grant and a twist of John Hurt as Garnish.
I expected nothing like that at all.
Jaw meet Floor.
Floor …. say hello to jaw.
Never been so glad to see the sixth Doctors coat before (mind – it was disappearing off-screen whenever we saw it!)
18 May 2013 at 19:48 #9563I’ve lost track of what a modern man should be in these strange times. Is it really embarrassing to suggest you’ve just left tears on the floor for a Saturday night drama?
What the hell. Call me a wuss. Brilliantly played. What a bloody treat!
18 May 2013 at 14:16 #9530I love “The Crimson @chickenelly” as well (and @shazzbot‘s fez addition).
If I’d had some time with Photoshop this week I was going to add a bow tie to mine. Alas though I couldn’t decide – red or blue. 😉
Off for a while. See you all later!
18 May 2013 at 13:18 #952417 May 2013 at 23:22 #9502As we head towards the final episode, I place my unofficial “marketing whore” badge on and think about what I’ll post on Dan’s blog after I give my thoughts on the episode. So if anyone has any ideas, I would be pleased to receive them.
I thought:
[insert review]
As for Vastra, Jenny and Strax, the spinoff really should be on the cards. I’ve read the comments of people who think otherwise, and this is my considered response.
You can entertain yourself in the time between now and the Fiftieth at The Doctor Who Forum. It contains more delights than Webley’s World of Wonders, with tasty morsels such as ……
So, if you have suggestions for posts or topics that have grabbed YOUR attention, nominate them and I’ll post with links.
17 May 2013 at 23:10 #9501That’s brilliant. Cartoon Amy actually gets away with the Sixth Doctors coat! I can’t believe it.
17 May 2013 at 23:02 #9500Not directed at anyone this, but @craig posting a tune by Mitch Benn in praise of the BBC had me laughing in the NiS thread. For anyone unfamiliar with Mitch, here are a couple of Who related tracks.
Be My Doctor Who girl:
And one I think most of us will relate to when the finale is shown,
Enjoy 😀
17 May 2013 at 22:25 #9492Backseat Doctor. I couldn’t help but think of him selecting his threads in Bells after deciding “Monks are uncool”.
“What do you mean I need a scarf…. it’s lovely outside!”
“…..Yes it’s nice but a cricket jumper? Seriously?”
“Yep, bow ties are still really cool!”
“Don’t even go there six – You looked like coco the clown”
“No I don’t need a question mark shaped brolly – it’s not forcast to rain for three weeks. It’s a drought!”
“Oh go on then – purple it is, but I draw the line at a frilly shirt”.
“Nine – just mentally head-but six will you. Patchwork is a no-no”
“And you can shove your trainers up your….”17 May 2013 at 22:15 #9490Yes, dear ‘Xander is the type of personality who is probably a frequent lurker on this site, drawn, like a dog, to the smell of its own vomit. Frankly, I couldn’t give a wet slap.
With enemies like him, you are always sure to make more friends…. 🙂
This really has been good for me. Its been great to see people engage with the site, have their say in the conversations, volunteer to post the odd blog. It really does feel fresh, new and old in so many ways. Very Doctorish.
17 May 2013 at 21:02 #9481I was discussing this with one of my colleagues today and I think that the tone of this forum has been set, and it may be very difficult for it to be changed, even if a few trolls try.
I think I agree with this. I’ve always believed that good conversation leads to good conversation. We don’t always agree, but I think the spirit and tone of discussion has remained upbeat and convivial, perhaps because we have attracted people who want that kind of discussion?
Long may it continue. 😀
17 May 2013 at 20:05 #9471@craig, @bluesqueakpip and @scaryb
On the 50th thread I wondered if we should play it by ear? I agree with closing it, but perhaps it should not open again to be replaced with a a blank slate that has links to the old thread (and perhaps the series 7b speculation thread because they overlaped?
We may get a few more posters after tomorrows episode. A blank slate in which previous opinions could be drawn on (informed by eight more episodes) may seem a little less cluttered and easier to engage with?
17 May 2013 at 16:39 #9449Don’t know if this will help as a workaround, but it’s how I format comments for blog posts to easily use the html format functions.
Basically I open the blog page and one of the comment pages like this one in another “tab”, format the comment here, click the “text” icon on the comment box, select all the text, press Ctrl + X (Cut) and use Ctrl + V (Paste) in the blog comment box. Doing it in the Text pane carries all the html tags and makes sure the various expressions are closed.
You just have to remember not to hit the submit button on the wrong page! 🙂
16 May 2013 at 19:36 #9385Yes, best wishes from me as well. We’ll let @craig have a ponder on the Faces issue. I’d suggest you’ve become a draw on there with your posts, and I don’t really mind people catching up with their thoughts later for us to ponder on. Hope you are out for the episode, or get to watch it with an attractive nurse peeling you grapes. 🙂
16 May 2013 at 19:30 #9384The BFI are spoiling us this month!
Here we have Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse as well as director Graeme Harper on the era of the Fifth Doctor, and the making of The Caves of Androzani which was shown as a tribute to The Fifth Doctor.
16 May 2013 at 00:07 #9293Many thanks for the response on my post – I’ve quickly skimmed it and your own “stories” one, but I’m going to have to respond tomorrow evening. I have to get up at absurd-o-clock unfortunately 🙁
Only three more sleeps though!
15 May 2013 at 23:53 #9286Suicide can be altruistic. I think all of the Doctors who died that way were altruistic….the exception for me is Tom Baker, because he seemed to me to justo give up – he had had enough
A bit mischievous of you that one.
You can read it that way if you wish, but it was still altruistic and heroic. To prevent the Master controlling the fate of the Universe he clambers along the outside of a radar dish to disconnect a power cable. The Master starts to rotate the dish to dislodge him. He successfully disconnects the cable and dangles from it, with little hope of recovery, before plunging to his fate.
The regeneration is unusual in that he has clearly been told his current existence is going to end by The Watcher earlier in the story….who merges with him to become the fifth. A predestined event, and so “prepared for”.
I think your letting your bias (your self-expressed desire for another regeneration) get the better of you on this one. 😀
15 May 2013 at 22:16 #9274@wolfweed. Laughed at the picture. Matt looks hilarious. Poor Catherine though. She’s rumoured to have stuggled with her body image in the past. Being cast as the Hulk?
@ardaraith, don’t worry, I got a bit choked up by the pic as well when I went through it. Glad others enjoyed it.
Don’t worry @shazzbot, I’m sure no-one is ignoring you, but there is a hell of a big window in the downtime. We’ll still be here with news, speculation, comparing Doctor faces. I struggle to know where I am next week let alone making plans for a months time. I’m hoping there are going to be some regional events closer to the anniversary that some may be interested in.
15 May 2013 at 14:29 #9199Just nipping in for a break.
I saw this and considered linking to it in the Fan creativity thread, but given some of our recent discussion on certain elements of fandom, and what this site is really all about, it may be better here.
SFX has a blog based on one particular image with a good point to make, and links to similar. This is the main image entitled “You’ll be safe here”.
Included in the article is a link to the artistes website to download a wallpaper sized copy that lets you dwell on all the background references and attempt to identify them. The article also features another great image mashup that will delight fans of UK genre TV – “The New League”. It’s worth a read.
14 May 2013 at 23:25 #9139A damn fine idea. The home-from-home actually IN your home.
You see it’s valuable advice like this, to get the most out of an episode, that is sadly lacking on other forums. I believe that younger members of the community will be able to take these ideas on board, and truly dare to dream.
14 May 2013 at 23:04 #9128After all the comments we had on the G which were still on about the Borg, I think in the future I might just say:
“Look, you realise that this is actually official Canon now don’t you? Suck it up fan boys!”
14 May 2013 at 22:33 #9115“Liz….. who the hell is that weird guy with the funny costume..?”, asked The Cyberman.
14 May 2013 at 22:31 #9114Hasn’t Fortescue managed to swim over with all those bricks yet? He may need help. Or you may need bigger whips. 🙂
I take your suggestion of Jammie Dodgers. I feel they should be added to my “Holy Regalia of Who“.
Jammie Dodgers of Fear, or Jammie Dodgers of Doom? Decisions….decisions.
13 May 2013 at 22:48 #8964I think the drugs comparison is a good one, especially for the Ponds. I really enjoyed the end of “The God Complex” because it seemed like a natural end for their story. I knew they’d be back in “Wedding of River Song” but that could have been it. I don’t regret they came back and loved those stories (hey we wouldn’t have had Brian otherwise) but it really did emphasise how he couldn’t seem to “save them” by leaving, as he promised in GC.
When I rewatched Power of Three recently I really got the giggles over it for some reason. It’s the look of earnest enthusiasm on his face. Comedy Gold.
13 May 2013 at 21:23 #8941That’s brilliant. It’s probably best if you post directly yourself. I think @craig needs to make you an author (hopefully he’ll receive an e-mail with this on) and then follow his advice which I’ve copied from the Website comments thread.
Basically I think you just need to hover over the +New tab in the top bar and choose “Post” you will then be given a screen where you add a title for your post, and then in the main box just paste your post. After that, just click publish on the right and your done. I’ll sort out any formatting issues, if there are any, afterwards.
I had heard that something new was going on, but hadn’t heard it was a prequel. I’ll look forward to reading it and your piece. Many thanks – the blog roll increases.
13 May 2013 at 20:58 #8939Here’s an extract only from the BFI Robots of Death Q&A featuring Tom Baker and Louise Jamieson. I guess they had a reduced panel in anticipation of Tom being “on form”.
It’s unusual to be an extract. Most YouTube uploads to date have been the full thing. After the Youtube preview is a link the page on the BFI site that has the whole thing (shame their Video processing is a bit more of a pain in the backside).
Full discussion:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/video/video-doctor-who-robots-death-discussion
13 May 2013 at 17:42 #8936I think there is a season long arc in play, and The Dark Doctor is what we are seeing to a certain extent. I think we are so used to seeing the arc as being a companion issue there is a tendency to put your attention on them. I started to reappraise after Journey and put my thoughts into the G blog. On speculation I’ve tended to focus on my Doctor ideas and the “hippocratic oath”.
http://discussion.guardian.co.uk/comment-permalink/23108499I think the Doctors obsession with Clara is being played beautifully. At one point I thought my theory that she was an artificial construct of the TARDIS was going to be realised (the description of a machine that built other machines) but the likelihood seems to be she is an ordinary girl, who will later become the impossible girl in some future event.
He starts of Series 7 disconnected from Amy and Rory, never continually travelling with them it seems. Makes questionable decisions, loses them and goes into retreat a massive sulk. Clara gets him interested and, although he loses her, there is a bigger mystery.
In the prequel to BoStJ we saw a young Clara tell the Doctor how she got her Mojo back. We, I suppose, can see a parallel. The mystery of Clara has energised the Doctor out of retirement. Determined to unravel “what she is”. In Bells a lucky phone call forces a meeting and he saves her life after he looks like he been obsessing for a while over her picture. In Rings we see him basically stalking her parents and her early life. He wanders off and leaves her to her own devices. No real concern. He puts her in the face of danger in “CW” and forces her to explore the house she’s not really keen on in Hide. In JttCoTT, he’s basically demented and paranoid towards the end, demanding to know her secret, and in Nightmare in Silver he casually puts her and kids in danger again. Perhaps you feel disconnected from her because there is no sense at all he really cares for her other than solving her mystery.
Pretty dark Doctor? This isn’t a Doctor with his mojo back. This is obsessed Doctor, not believing what he’s seen of her past and what he is told – that she is a normal girl, and this obsession and travels with him have caused these other Clara’s in a way. I loved @haveyoufedthefish’s (I think) theory that the future Clara could have been caused by the events of JttCotT. We don’t know the time period for Asylum except for a human future.
So I think that Clara really isn’t the focus. The story here is The Doctors. About how secrets, wars against him, prophecies and the desire to be unknown is changing him.
In a meta way, we had a jokey nod of the head to speculators in TPoT.
Brian: What if they’re bombs? Billions of tiny bombs? Or transport capsules maybe, with a mini-robot inside. Or deadly hard drives! Or alien eggs? Or messages needing decoding. Or. They’re all parts of a bigger whole. Jigsaw puzzles that need fitting together.
The Doctor: Very thorough, Brian.So with all this talk of “mirroring” perhaps the ultimate meta reference is mirroring the Doctor paranoid obsession onto us? We, as the audience after the events of S5 and S6, are really having difficulty believing she’s normal as well?
13 May 2013 at 16:50 #8934Rather sadly, I think I have given up hope on her being Susan.
To be honest, reading your excellent blogpost on companions made me give up on that.
It appealed to the romantic in me for the 50th. The Doctor sailing away with his offspring again to see the Universe. A “Why not? That’s how it all started” moment for the 50th, echoing The Fifth Doctors line to Tegan in “The Five Doctors”. Yes – that gives us a great moment for an anniversary, but does it really drive the Doctor story onwards? I don’t think it does.
13 May 2013 at 16:24 #8930It’s been interesting to read all the feedback on the series as well. I can understand some frustration in some of our number. As I wrote last week, we’re a fairly broad church. As @jimthefish hasn’t engaged as much, @htpbdet appears more so. I had my doubts about the “movie poster of the week” format, but with a few reservations I’ve really enjoyed it. The main reservation has already been expressed a few times – some episodes have far too many good ideas crammed into a short period. While not full two parters perhaps, a running time of 60 mins like the Christmas specials would maybe have been a better fit.
The first half of the series seems to be labelled as “The End of the Ponds”, and the second “The mystery of Clara”. Rewatching them it’s easy to see why, especially with the break in the series, and the TARDIS redesign. For me though, watching them all in a row, if series 5 and 6 were about Amy, Rory and River, this season is all about the ramifications of that period. It’s not really about the companions. It’s more about the Doctor himself. Hence, I think, the reason why no companion seems to truly travel with the Doctor “full time” in the episodes themselves. They are more like little trips.
If this is a series about the Doctor, Matt Smith has played it to near perfection. From giddy humour to loss, pain, loneliness and obsession. Bewildering and compulsive viewing.
I’ve really enjoyed it, but I think I favour the S5/S6 approach. A mix-up does keep things fresh in the overall scheme of things though. One of the responses by Dan Martin in his blog seemed to indicate this split series may have been a compromise – something different to the “year of specials”. If that is so, I really favour this approach. Who knows? Difficult times at the Beeb, and you can’t help but wonder if certain decisions labelled “creative” (for example holding back a filmed Christmas special for Top Gear, extending it and using it as the last two episodes of a series) are really more about money?
Whatever. I’m eagerly awaiting the finale.
13 May 2013 at 16:11 #8927With more members of our little home, I can’t help remembering when we entered this period on the “Closing Time” blog for series 6, as we related our methods, preparations and rituals for watching a finale. Do you have any you’d like to share? My contribution was:
I think I’ll just stick largely to my usual routine.
After bathing in the Blood of Innocents*, I will don my finest rotting vestments and descend into THE LAIR. Seated in my throne, my slaves shall adorn me with the Holy Regalia of Who. The Fez of Rassilon, the Bow-Tie of Omega, and the Replica Sonic Screwdriver of Harmony.
My slaves will activate the televisual reception equipment. For a moment, my mind will enter the endless void-space between reality and imagination. My soul will feel weakened and ghastly apparitions will appear before my eyes. I will hear myself croak “What is this?”
“The last few minutes of Strictly Come Dancing”, will be the inevitable reply.
After a seeming age, the welcoming tones of the continuity announcer will bid me to enter the realm of imagination and I will lose myself fully to the experience.
Wine will be consumed in plenty. Cheesy snacks will be passed around, and the tongue torn from anyone else who dares munch loudly.
I shall then connect myself to the internet, read Dan’s review, and no doubt read many entries extolling the virtues of the finale, and how suddenly, like a Road to Damascus conversion, even trolls now see the value of the last two series. This last paragraph, for the uninitiated, is a joke. The previous ones are pretty much spot on.
* “Blood of Innocents” bathbombs are available from Lush.
12 May 2013 at 22:38 #8810I’ll be with you deleting when I can @craig. Personally, I think we are a relatively small target for trolls. They can have much more fun on the newspaper sites and larger fan forums.
I’m not going to hide away as I have final runup bonkers speculation to make! (I was doing it earlier but this issue and a few others have delayed that).
I think it’s more than likely that papers like The Sun and Mail will run spoilers on this. The Sun had a load of stuff a while ago with its typical “The series is losing millions/Moff should go” line. I get the feeling he may have spoiled an exclusive with a general announcement about the 50th and it was payback.
I’ll also have some stuff for the Faces thread and promised @htpbdet I’d help with a couple of formatting issues and images on his blog pages.
On Ray Cusick I think he was named at the BAFTA Craft Awards held on the 28thApril which are more for the behind the scenes work in Television.
12 May 2013 at 20:42 #8784Hmmm,
I just noticed on my profile that @gareth69 has confirmed it’s already on bit torrent sites. Thanks to him if he is lurking at all. Not going back into the thread.
@danmartin usually has a thread in the lead up to the finale on “what are your theories”. One to avoid I think.
As funny as that idea is, it would cost a fortune. I imagine that they would have to provide a “proper” disk as replacement.
12 May 2013 at 18:13 #8757Thanks @ardaraith
I’ve just posted it on the Guardian as well (attributed to you) as a last comment before shutting down that blog. I’m astonished that has happened.
My everlasting thanks for the prompt warning though. I’m looking nowhere but here now for the rest of the week.
12 May 2013 at 17:53 #8753That’s shocking. What a cock up. As I’ve warned people to keep out of here do you want to post a general warning on the Sofa about that?
12 May 2013 at 15:51 #8738Thanks for the thoughts. I have put it in the News section, which makes sense as we’ve done it before. I’m going to tidy up my speculative thoughts and post them under it later, as the recap has been useful. I’ve put up a warning as well, and it’s only a week that that thread will have to be avoided, and a thread for itself is just going to be a bit redundant.
It’ll be interesting to read other peoples final thoughts this week. All cards are on the table for the finale. What’s everyone’s individual theory?
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