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6 April 2013 at 15:35 #4263
Thanks, @craig. I’ve just replied to your PM. Many thanks for your help.
Thanks. I think I will have a look at it. It would be interesting to see how the GI story goes, because it’s never really acheived it’s aims, we don’t know how powerful it could become. And if there are monsters called
**Potential Spoiler but based on a BBC release name**
“Whispermen”, then it may indicate it’s due to become physical and much more powerful.
**End Spoiler**
6 April 2013 at 13:54 #4245I just had a quick trawl over the Dan Martin blog and I saw HTPBDET’s post. Not sure I’d agree with him over the GI’s methods/motivations over collecting minds in “The Web of Fear”. One of my thoughts was how well that story (all but lost in visual form) is served by BoStJ. The audio and books are consistent in what was actually said.
In fact, for those that care, does the good book* not say:
“I want you Doctor – or rather your mind. Its contents will be invaluable to me in my conquest of the Earth”
“And how do you propose to get it?”
“I have prepared a machine. It will drain all knowledge and past experience from your mind. Your brain will become as empty as a newborn child.”
“I can resist you, you know,” the Doctor challenged. “You can’t just take me over like poor Travers. My will is as strong as yours.”
“You must submit to me willingly. Or the machine will not function.”
“And suppose I refuse?”
“Then I shall settle for quantity, rather than quality,” the cold voice mocked. “I shall drain the minds of all the humans here, and those of many others, until I have the knowledge I need – to complete my conquest. Weaker minds will not survive the shock as yours will. The humans will die.”Parable of “The Web of Fear”, The Gospel according to St. Terrance
So to me, this is more of a promise fulfilled by the GI. Quantity, rather than quality, with the humans dying in the process. You don’t really need to know the story to appreciate TBoStJ, but if you do, it certainly compliments it. You can even imagine Miss Kizlet being a young girl at the time of the “Web of Fear” and a weakened GI going back to the drawing board and “whispering” to her.
*”Doctor Who and the Web of Fear”, Terrance Dicks, Target Books, ISBN 0 426 11084 6
6 April 2013 at 13:47 #4243Actually, from a few points in that the “Lord of Winter” sounds like the GI to a certain extent, promising winter. Digital cameras in this episode, etc. I don’t really like e-books (I’m with Buffy’s Giles on this one – “Books should smell”), but I’ve considered having a look at this with a laptop reader.
If it was the GI there would be a question of how Amelia would know about it, but “Timey Wimey” and all that.
6 April 2013 at 13:42 #4241Hi all,
Jammy Dodgers on standby? SFX has a short interview with Neil Cross on tonights episode. It’s not really spoilery but does contain a few images, etc and a reference to a piece of equipment the Doctor gets his hands on. If you’re interested, it’s at:
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/04/05/doctor-who-the-rings-of-akhaten-writer-neil-cross-interview/
It looks like Neil was the one they went to when Chibnall decided he couldn’t deliver three scripts due to Broadchurch commitements.
Please don’t tell me the fishes have a fanclub. I knew I should’ve changed the name to Phasefish. 🙂
4 April 2013 at 22:58 #4193Ah – Thanks @whisht for reminding me. Just before I log off.
When I made my pitiful joke about DELSA above, I should have made it clear it is an actual research association. My counterparts in the US have an association with them to obtain bits of Environmental Data like plant uptake of contaminants etc.
4 April 2013 at 22:52 #4189I got distracted by the Shiny Thing of new episodes, but as it’s April, it’s Tom Baker month for any appraisals or thoughts.
I have many that will have to wait for the weekend, but just to post this link to an extract of the latest mini-book release for the Fourth Doctor.
Written by Philip Reeve, “The Roots of Evil” is previewed here:
4 April 2013 at 22:34 #4185I got to thinking about fractals, the way you do. More the idea of fractals as metaphors rather than the true mathematical reality.
You know, Webs, leaves and snowflakes as natural metaphors for fractals, and given series 6 exhausted watery metaphors for time, perhaps it’s time to fall back on that phrase beloved by old who “the fractal nature of time”. If only because I’d love to see Matt explain that Clara was somehow “the female fracture in the fractal nature of time”. 🙂
Central to the idea of fractals is self similarity. Where the object is exactly or approximately similar to a part of itself (i.e. the whole has the same shape as one or more of the parts). So maybe all three oswalds are mere fractions of an gestalt uber Oswald.
Perhaps some of the familiar ideas on show in this episode are in fact a clue in that SM has deliberately produced a “self similar” script. If this is not true, he has my full endorsement to claim this in the future to make us both look very clever!
4 April 2013 at 22:30 #4183Welcome aboard. Just dive in with all the other fishes. 🙂
On the subject of the leaf, I thought it would have been a UK native Maple, but doesn’t really look like the three I know. If it was a Sycamore (which is one of our native maples) I would go on at length about the Egyptians who thought a Sycamore tree existed at the boundary of life and death.
Damn – we need someone who studied herbology at Hogwarts!
4 April 2013 at 22:26 #4181Yes, @pedant that was a good tribute. I have to admit I love a lot of his books, but there are a couple I don’t get along with. I think my favourites have to be “Player of Games” and “The Crow Road”, which I think is one of the best books on family, death and grief I’ve read. I was delighted to see him interviewed as a special feature on the DVD release and see him enthusing over the adaptation in a way you don’t often see authors doing. It was bloody marvellous though.
If anyone fancies trying small slices of his wicked humour, try “State of Play” a collection of short SF stories. It includes one Culture story, but don’t get put off if you haven’t read the others. It stands up on its own (and worked remarkably well as a Radio 4 play).
Also – a shout out for his guide book “Raw Spirit – In search of the perfect dram”. I will eventually get to do what I’ve promised myself I’ll do for a few years, and take my well thumbed copy, make a selection and do a lap of honour in his footsteps.
He’s kept MrsPhaseShift and I amused for years, and we can only wish him the best of times for whatever time he has left.
4 April 2013 at 22:22 #4179I’m using one of those 3G wireless dongles to connect at the moment, being away. Logged in, saw unfamiliar faces, and thought about typing “I DON’T KNOW WHERE I AM?”:-)
Welcome to everybody. I mean – some spiffy avatars. @vizier and I could form some sort of double act!
1 April 2013 at 12:41 #3949Many thanks for the charitable good wishes people! Your thoughts have kept me intruiged and I’ve now watched it about four times to pick up the bits I missed.
I’d completely missed the DELSA letter. I know of one organisation called the Data Enabled Life Sciences Alliance. Maybe she thought she was subscribing to a special society for Data Enabled Lifeforms? 🙂
Well done to @scaryb for the entire Doctor Who and the inter-Webz of Fear. Made me laugh.
I like the speculation on the leaf. Coupled with the “Summer Falls” references here, and The Snowman’s repeated “Winter is Coming” it does see oddly suggestive. For some reason, the end of “The Christmas Carol” keeps coming back to me. The line from the Doctor about “How can something start if nothing ends”. The cyclical look reminds me of SMs comments about the anniversary – not looking only back, but also forward. Hmmm.
31 March 2013 at 12:20 #3797Ohhh apologies for ducking out early yesterday. I did something really stupid last night (rather my forte), slipped down the stairs and pulled my back out. I’m being eased by powerful medication and reading your posts. So, many thanks.
Some lovely detail from @bluesqueakpip and @haveyoufedthefish. Cheers.
I missed out raising the question of the shop girl who is supposed to have given Clara the Doctor’s number. It seemed very throwaway, and given the casting announcement for the anniversary one answer seemed a bit too obvious. Anybody have any thoughts?
30 March 2013 at 20:27 #3723The Guardian confusingly has two comment pages open, Dan’s weekly blog and a review page.
Good god – they breed faster than Rabbits!
30 March 2013 at 20:02 #3709I agree, Jenna Louise is remarkable. I find it astonishing she looks a lot younger in this than she appeared in “The Snowmen”.
I’m tempted to think the GI may be a mask for something/someone else. It just seems at little too direct for SM?
If you like the edit function, apply for Modship! I can modify for an infinite time. I don’t, because i hope my frequent mi$takes add some amusement for others.
30 March 2013 at 19:15 #3701…..annnnnnd we’re back. Almost as if we never had to endure 3 months of non-Who Saturdays (this will be a crime when I am appointed benevolent world Dictator).
I found that weirdly structured for an episode, but for what promises to be a weird storyline full stop, perhaps that’s to be expected.
Loved some of the detail, the book by Amelia Williams, for example. Really didn’t expect the early re-appearance of Richrd E Grant.
I think there are probably acres of detail to savour on rewatching, and so I’m going to do that now!
Who continues to hotwire my imagination to an excitable 9 year old. For a 43 year old bloke, that’s a blessing.
30 March 2013 at 16:53 #3687Everyone gearing up for the new ep? Excited?!
Well here’s some news.
Casting announcement for the 50th anniversary. I thought about the spoilers section, but I think you’ll be hard pressed to avoid this one.I mean…. John Hurt. What a star. 😉
30 March 2013 at 11:08 #3681Yep – be staggered. They are from ’75 and we were that young! I must have eaten my own body weight in Weetabix collecting those. I still have a couple – An Ogron and a Draconian. Very dog-eared though.
I also have one of the Denys Fisher versions of the Giant Robot as well from the period. When I sold a lot of my childhood toys for beer tokens before setting off to Uni I couldn’t let that one go. It’s on a bookshelf as I type glaring down at me. 🙂
30 March 2013 at 10:53 #367929 March 2013 at 18:59 #3667I think one of my earliest posts on this site was about a book called “Behind the Sofa”. It’s great to see it’s got a professional disctibution deal in an expanded format for the 50th anniversary through Gollancz.
Article about it here. All for a worthwhile cause, etc.
29 March 2013 at 16:52 #3663Jane Espenson – that’s spooky as she gets a mention in the Randall & Hopkirk piece (she’s doing a US version).
Thing is, can you imagine the screaming fanboys droning on about the americanization of Doctor Who??
29 March 2013 at 16:49 #3661Hi all.
On the suggestions blog a while back we talked about generating some additional content on the site, and @craig mentioned the blog function. I’ve posted a thread about another TV show which may be of tangential interest to the Who brigade more to see what it looks like and play about with formats.
It looks really bland at the moment and my limitations as a writer are all too apparent! Hopefully I may get the IMG function to work with some direction from @craig, but if you have any thoughts on the format or show in particular it’s here:
http://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/forums/topic/blast-from-the-past-randall-hopkirk-deceased/
29 March 2013 at 14:56 #3647I didn’t realise ALK was a Who fan, and she’s not as weird as some of the names mentioned in the article as she’s written plays for audio. The article just seemed to mention prose authors a lot, ignoring the fact that it’s a different medium and a lot of prose writers stick to prose.
I thought Jane Goldman because I loved her screenplay for Stardust. I thought she really bought out the magic of the story, and would fit well into this current vision of the show I think.
While I don’t know if they have any interest in Who at all, a couple of other names that occured were Sarah Phelps and Sarah Dollard. Both had Being Human episodes, Phelps has lead scripwriter duties on the last adaption of Great Expectations (with a suitable ethereal look) and Dollard was Script editor on the final (rather good I think) series of Primeval.
29 March 2013 at 14:00 #3643I saw @jimthefish had noticed this, but quite a nice graphic on 50years of Who on the Guardian’s website.
I’ve pointed out one omission, Any more?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2013/mar/29/doctor-who-50-year-history-visualised?
29 March 2013 at 13:56 #3641Hope you’ve been successful in reducing your workload for the new run?
Yes, it seemed a little thin as an argument. Interesting though that the Cultbox list featured Jane Goldman. She was asked, but had to decline as she’s got a fair few movie projects on the go for the next few years.
28 March 2013 at 16:56 #3633Huzzah! It’s the Bank Holiday bonanza. I feel like running around like a crazed six year old.
I’m going to enjoy sleeping in, Doctor Who, eating rubbish chocolate, Doctor Who, reading comments, not getting stuck in traffic jams, Doctor Who, booze, and did I mention Doctor Who?
Congrats to those (@jimthefish and @bluesqueakpip) who had a go at the trollfest “Why Doctor Who needs more Women writers article on the Guardian”. You have strong constitutions.
Dan Martin has a retrospective article on “The Mind Robber” up. So I’m going to have a look at that before getting to look at @wolfweeds additions to the News Blog!
26 March 2013 at 17:39 #3577@janetteb @bluesqueakpip @jimthefish
They are a wonderful bunch aren’t they? I think it’s confirmed they appear in at least one episode in the next batch, but I was thinking more about the future following this piece:
It doesn’t really add much to the sum of whodom knowledge (I think most people have speculated as much), but I think it’s the first time I’ve read Moff officially saying he is nearer the end than the beginning.
I think if the popularity of the Paternoster Gang continues, the BBC (or Worldwide) would have to be mad not to do something with them. With the pressure of Who off, perhaps a punt at a limited spinoff – 6 episodes or 3 Sherlock type 1½ hrs? You could have incredible fun with a steampunk Victorian era playing on the literature of the time. Battles on Cavorite powered airships (yes – I’ve read “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) or a play on “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. Jago and Lightfoot are still going great guns with their audio spinoff from “Talons of Weng Chiang”. A crossover on screen? I’d buy that.
I think I’d just be tempted to play them as they are in Who, rather than a supposed adult version as Torchwood was pitched. Make it a big adventure. Having two cross-species lesbians, and a unisex alien who gets confused at two individual sexes just makes it funnier!
26 March 2013 at 12:07 #3569Just dahing in to post this little gem before going out this afternoon.
Another little short showing what happened to Strax at Demon’s run (two days later). These guys could really carry a spin off.
24 March 2013 at 14:40 #3547I think looking at the trailer, and the “there’s something living in the WIFI” stuff, it’s fair to say this run will probably see multiple options as to what Clara is (in the same way we had different potential options for how the Doctor would beat the events at Lake Silencio).
That line reminds me of the options that somehow her consciousness had invaded the Dalek Pathweb and escaped somehow. But obviously, if she is “Clara Prime”, the question is how her copies became to exist. Although all those computer POV shots, and the uncredited computer voices in Dinosaurs and Town called Mercy make you think..
The Snowmen actually could give you an origin for Clara in that at the time of her death she imprinted on the snow. We were told the ice that killed the Governess unfroze but apparently remembered her when it refroze. So clever ice could become clever water, could become clever water vapour?
So we probably all have a bit of Oswin in us. A bit similar to the argument about Shakespearean atoms (and just about anyone else, alive or dead). Perhaps these water molecules, soaked in Oswinicity can, when reaching a critical mass of Oswinness in certain people produce a spontaneous copy at conception?
I need a drink. Waiter – fetch me a low-clara beer please! 🙂
24 March 2013 at 13:33 #3543Even more good news (for me anyway). New Who on Easter Saturday and I’ve just seen a trailer for a new Jonathan Creek on Easter Monday. Looks like Rik Mayall is reprising his Police Detective character from the “Black Canary” Christmas special.
24 March 2013 at 13:30 #3541Many thanks for the link. As soon as I saw it I got my memory back!
Unfortuantely Spine Chillers has never been released on vid and I’ve never come across any footage of it. I’m really sure that a couple of episodes were broadcast in audio form one Christmas on BBC7 (so a few years ago before it became BBC4xtra). You’re right though. It was like a supernatural Jackanory.
24 March 2013 at 13:05 #3539I really enjoyed the prequel. Lovely bit of acting by Smith, and the ending made me smile. Like others I picked up a bit of ambiguity about what was going on. At face value it’s a chance meeting that both may forget that indicates that something is making them bump into each other.
The echo of his meeting with Amelia though made me think of his regeneration line “I’m not fully baked yet” and so maybe this wasn’t a chance encounter and the Doctor is interested to see an incarnation of her in the “Baking process”.
The third observation was the sequence is really non-period specific. I could be 10 or so years ago, or it could be “now”. So there is an option that you have two copies of Clara in operation in the same period, but with one of them at an earlier stage of development perhaps.
24 March 2013 at 12:30 #3533Apologies for missing your return @scaryb. I posted that link yesterday to the prequel, and then we had some local power problems as a sub-station went into meltdown!
@jimthefish – That’s a lovely maniacal laugh your developing there so I think we can forego the goatee. 🙂
Of to read what everyone’s been thinking about, and it looks like @craig has unearthed a new trailer. Yipee!
SIX MORE SLEEPS!!
23 March 2013 at 12:39 #3443If anyone wants to wet their appetite, there is a small prequel for the next episode here.
22 March 2013 at 22:57 #3403Another good list, although I don’t immediately recall Connections.
A Very Peculiar Practice though is a fantastic call. I’m pretty sure @jimthefish will be along later to endorse this as we nominated Jock McCannon (Graham Crowden) in the best Doctors “Six of the Best List” on the Guardian a while ago. The show ran immediately before I traipsed of to University I remember, and I was really nervous about the freaks I would undoubtedly meet when I actually went. Phew – they were just like me.
Actually, that’s not as much of a positive endorsement as I’d hoped!
22 March 2013 at 21:06 #3395….and @jimthefish is thirded (apologies, in transit).
I think I’m in the same position as Jim in that I’ll dip into the blogs, but this feels a bit more homely.
The Christmas threads always have less commentators and there were a few people who do tend to hang about to chat and theorise who didn’t appear, or left early (I owe an apology to Branfish – completely missed his festive greeting to us because his comment was oscillating between pages).I’m don’t think there will be a massive influx, but I think the end of the series may see a few more people drift over.
And the site looks really attractive if you compare it to others (Praise be to Craig). And lots of content (Praise be to everyone).
22 March 2013 at 15:15 #3357Some nice calls in your list. I hadn’t thought about “Into the Labyrinth” in years. Pamela Salem and Ron Moody – “I deny you the Nidas!”. It all comes flooding back.
Central TV used to endlessly loop the middle episodes of the first two series, without showing the beginning and ends. It seemed like there were about 400 episodes made, when it was more like 14 for the first two (I never got to see the third).
The other one was the “Randall & Hopkirk” remake. I made a couple of positive comments about it on the Guardian and got nothing but hate, so it’s a pleasure to meet someone else who enjoyed it. It was also the series I’ve got something written about which I was going to put on this site.
22 March 2013 at 15:10 #3355In other news, US listings Mag “Entertainment Weekly” is going a bit mad on Who to celebrate its return. It has two covers and a load of articles. Most of the content is subscription only but their web-site is profiling teasers of some of it.
One is an article by Peter Jackson, who reveals his price to direct an episode of Who.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/03/21/doctor-who-peter-jackson-dalek-matt-smith/
And these paper cut-outs made me laugh.
http://www.ew.com/ew/special/0,,20647938_20683881_2,00.html22 March 2013 at 15:06 #3353I really don’t know what to make of the Caroline Skinner thing. I subscribe to PE (it does really good investigative work in certain areas), but the tittle-tattle of its media pages is the kind of reporting it takes the piss out of in “Street of Shame”.
Maybe Ian Hislop is more of an RTD fan?
22 March 2013 at 15:04 #3351You know – when I suggested a while ago that I’d prefer to see Doctor Who in the Winter months I had no idea that the weather would be so amenable at to give us snow so close to Easter. It’s not really what I meant, but it’s the thought that counts. 🙂
I used to love those threads, but looking at it – I couldn’t summon the energy to post something enthusiastic on it. That nesting format really places emphasis on the idiots.
I don’t think ol’ Xander will trouble us. He craves attention, and I don’t think we’d fall for it on here.
Oh – @janetteb (and our other Wizards of Oz), I understand ABC are showing the new ep a couple of hours (relative time) to us in the UK. Is that how you watch it?
19 March 2013 at 21:15 #3311Many thanks – nice to receive confirmation!
it had, I might add, about three followers
THAT MANY?!
19 March 2013 at 18:21 #3303I’m convinced. He has a mastery of disguise equalled only by “Inspector Clouseau”.
..Dalek ‘erotica’ he started posting….
Oh gods….starts to remember……………….
19 March 2013 at 18:16 #3301St John’s is also the oldest church in London and based at the Tower of London.
Ahhh. Thanks – Wasn’t UNIT’s HQ also based under the Tower in Power of Three?
I am feeling a bit sluggish at the moment to be honest. My intention was to start rewatching series 7 (and making any further comments/observations on the new blogs) as a lead up to the series starting on Sunday to try to kick myself into gear.
19 March 2013 at 17:25 #3295I really can’t remember who asked “whatever happened to Alexander” but it appears he’s back, with a different name to trap the unwary. I spotted him on the link @chickenelly gave yesterday to the preview of the new series. Excactly the same playbook as dear Xander (last comment 10 Dec 2012), but now called TruculentSheep (started to comment 11 Dec 2012).
On the plus side – having his “C” (whatever it stood for) removed seems to have lost him the ability to have generally well thought out responses to him deleted. Which is nice.
19 March 2013 at 17:14 #3293Just a bit of speculation to try to warm up my brain for the forthcoming series run. When I heard the title was “The Bells of St. John” I immediately thought of the older “Oranges and Lemons” verses, but couldn’t remember what the Bells of St. john were supposed to “say”. The Miracle of “the internetz” reveals:
“Pokers and Tongs” say the Bells of St. John’s (Apparently a lovely reference to historic torture there)
Which didn’t reveal much. I think Clara picked up a poker in the Snowmen, but that was about it.
The other thing that occurred to me when I was on a bus was the St. John Ambulance badge on the Tardis (which Moff asked to be put back on at the start of Series 5, and wondered if it was a pun on “The Belles of St. Trinian’s”. The Girls of the Tardis, which plays into mine and other thoughts that she is some kind of construct of the Tardis.
Or I could be talking absolute pish. As usual.
Anyone else had any thoughts?
18 March 2013 at 15:58 #3271That was weird. I saw your comment and went to look at the blog page for that one and a new one has gone up. I’ve just made a comment on “Tomb”.
The article is here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/mar/18/tomb-of-cybermen-doctor-who?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487&commentpage=117 March 2013 at 15:59 #3261Oh, well caught @craig!
I must admit the ones that immediately grab my attention are the fantasy “Rings of Akhaten” and Gothic Horror “Hide”. (both by Cross). Be intriguing to see what the results are like.
Although, is it just me, or does Matt look like he’s about to launch into an impersonation of Elvis in the “Rings…” poster?
Interesting thoughts by @jimthefish and @bluesqueakpip, and I’ve got a few thoughts on this next series that I may try to put on the speculation thread later, but putting my chips down at the roulette table, I agree with @janetteb that Matt will continue into 2014.
I think the last episode of this run will end on a dramatic note and lead into the special, and think that episode and the special will form the basis for the limited theatrical run they are doing (so a 1hr 40 minute “film”). In the interview with SM Craig posted a while back on this thread he seemed to be very familiar (even a little weary) with the challenges of 3D filming and post production before any footage had been shot. 🙂
Keep cracking on to diminish that workload – we’ll expect you back in full bonkers mode in a couple of weeks!
16 March 2013 at 19:18 #3215Awwoogah! Awwoogah! New trailer (s) alert!
Alternatively – if you like an American voiceover (and some slightly different scenes) the BBC America version is at:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/03/16/doctor-who-trailer-matt-smith/
16 March 2013 at 14:03 #3209Just for our overseas members, or anyone who has an allergic reaction to Jonathan Ross, there is a summary of the Who related discussion for tonights episode with Matt Smith here:
@jimthefish, @juniperfish & @whisht
I hope those materials can eventually be viewed on the archive site, although I can’t help but think some of the wilder claims originated in the imagination of the discoverer of the documents!
For instance, The Masters of Luxor sounded familiar, and I don’t think it was that “lost”.
16 March 2013 at 10:13 #3207It is an astonishing cast. I’ll be listening to it this afternoon. There is a nice blog by Natalie Dormer who plays Door on the BBC’s site:
I have a lot of time for the original TV series as well. I loved Peter Capaldi as Islington, and Hywel Bennett & Clive Russell’s double act as the assassins. Most of all though I can remember whenPaterson Joseph’s name came up as a potential for a new Doctor Who. Remembering his turn as the Marquis De Carabas in this I could see it somehow.
15 March 2013 at 15:58 #3199Apparently there is something Doctor Who related on Comic Relief tonight, and Matt Smith is interviewed by Jonathan Ross on his ITV show tomorrow night.
The publicity machine creaks into action. We must be near to the new run. 🙂
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