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1 February 2013 at 02:19 #2241
It’s Patrick Troughton Month – huzzah the second Doctor!
I’ll post my thoughts on him at the weekend, but I thought it would be interesting to see what the archive reaction from those Audience review surveys thought:
3. Viewers in the sample who were enthusiastic about this episode in the new six part adventure featuring the Daleks, were confined to a minority, less than a quarter of the sample finding it appealing to an appreciable degree. There was, however, a warm welcome from these viewers for the ‘ever popular’ Daleks whose doings ensured plenty of entertainment and excitement. ‘This is supposed to be for the “kids”, but I must confess that I found the programme quite gripping’, a Senior Clerk wrote. ‘As an ardent sci-fiction fan I think the Daleks are the most sinister “aliens” I’ve come across’.
4. More often viewers in the sample reported a very moderate degree of enjoyment, and a number were scarcely interested at all. Quite a few said they did not care for the new-style ‘doctor’; he ‘didn’t seem right somehow’, and they now liked the series less than before. ‘Once a brilliant but eccentric scientist, he now comes over as a half-witted clown’, a Teacher maintained, another viewer writing: ‘The family have really “gone off” Dr. Who since the change. They do not understand the new one at all, and his character is peculiar in an unappealing way’. Then some of the sample said they were tired of the Daleks who were no longer a novelty (‘they have made their impact, served their usefulness, now they just seem hackneyed and more unreal than usual’). The series in general was not as good as it used to be, in quite a few opinions – ‘At one time we used to hate to miss it; now we are quite indifferent’. However, some of those who got little entertainment out of the episode themselves were willing to admit that the children liked it, although criticisms were also made by several to the effect that it was rather complicated for them, and a bit frightening as well.
5. Whilst there was nothing calling for special praise about the acting, according to a substantial number of the sample, and some viewers evidently thought it pretty poor, the majority were satisfied. Most of the comment centred round Patrick Troughton as Dr. Who. Much of this took a critical form, some viewers saying that, although an excellent actor whom they much admired as a rule, he seemed miscast, not to say ‘wasted’, hero [sic], although according to a Teacher he ‘seemed to be struggling manfully with the idiotic new character that Dr. Who has taken on since his change’. Others criticised him for overdoing the part, ‘playing for laughs’, making the Doctor into ‘something of a Pantomime character’ – ‘I’m not sure that I really like his portrayal. I feel the part is over-exaggerated – whimsical even – I keep expecting him to take a great watch out of his pocket and mutter about being late like Alice’s White Rabbit’. Frankly, some said, they preferred William Hartnell in the part. However, there was also comment to the effect that Patrick Troughton had not yet settled down as Dr. Who, there was still time for him to become fully accepted, and there was praise in some quarters for his portrayal as excellent; he had made ‘a refreshing change’, and ‘brought a new dimension to the character’. A Student who found this episode ‘immensely exciting and interesting’ thought ‘Patrick Troughton, a brilliant actor, had improved the programme greatly’. Others in the cast were rarely mentioned individually. Not much was said about the production which was judged satisfactory by the majority of the sample. There were occasional criticisms of Dr. Who’s get-up as ‘ludicrous’. There was also praise from several for the settings as interesting and ‘very much of the space-age’
1 February 2013 at 02:04 #2239This is why I think the answer to “who is Clara?” (or “who is the Doctor?” for that matter) will lie in the narrative universe that Moffat has created since “The 11th Hour”
I don’t think that is bobbins, in fact I’d say “Nail on Head”.
I’d suggest that Moffat loves the history of the show, but doesn’t feel absolutely bound by it. I think if you managed to tie him down and question him on the Skaro question, he’d simply respond – “well, Sylvester McCoy blew it up, and the eighth Doctor movie bought it back – it’s in play!”
I think your instinct that he trying to lock things into his own timeframe are correct. I think we will see this pattern repeating. RTD did his melding of kitchen sink drama to his “Lonely God” and it was largely self contained. I think Moffat’s dark fairytale with his “madman in a box” will be the same. I am still drawn to the idea of her being an artificial construct created by the Doctor in some way. Another fairytale, the artificial girl who wanted to be real.
Wishing my life away, but Easter cannot come quick enough!
31 January 2013 at 00:07 #2209FRINGE SPOILERS
I really enjoyed the finale of Fringe. I think everyone had expected the rollback of time in some way, but the crucial thing was how it was played, and it was done well.
I think Walters’s sense of responsibility for everything he’d done in his previous life, and his almost pathological need to repent played so well into this. His conversation with Peter about their stolen moments got me going early I’m afraid. Poor September. When he said he was going instead of Walter, you knew how that would end.
Overall though, I agree with my esteemed collegues Jim and Janette above, Fringe is now a complete thing, and overall it really hangs together. Like B5 and Battlestar Galactica I think it presents a narrative that is complete with a couple of hanging threads to debate in the pub over.
There are some interesting ideas in all this that do play into current “Who” – the people with remarkable memories who remember different timelines, the themes of parenthood and responsibility. Just the oldest stories told in a new setting I guess.
All hail John Noble, who shall come unto Who guest stardom. Hopefully.
30 January 2013 at 23:59 #2207I think if you had to rebel against a culture, the Timelords would be a prime candidate, wouldn’t it?
Ostensibly non-interventionist and peaceful (because of that time they pretended to be gods to the Minyans) ever since their introduction, there has been an aura of unpleasantness about them.
They practice the death penalty (the War Games) not only to one of their own, but to a lesser species who had access to their technology. They were equally willing to extend this courtesy to the fifth Doctor in the “Arc of Infinity” when he had committed no crime.
The reference to the “plebeian” classes (Deadly Assassin) said it all – not all Gallifrayans were Timelords. Dissent against the status quo seemed to be dealt with by forcing you to become an outcast (Invasion of Time).
As I remember, the fourth Doctor was outraged about the casual way the Timelords had covered up their timelock of the destruction of the fifth planet (Image of the Fendahl) and their instruction to him to commit genocide, and generally clean up the mess they’d left in other affairs, such as their execution of Morbius.
I think the tendency of those in power to go a bit mad, rode on a bigger wave of general “we’re the Timelords. We’re all powerful. Challenge us, and we’ll timelock you, or try to ensure you never existed in the first place.”
Nice people! No wonder he ran away. I honestly do not think Moffat would bring them back like that, with the Doctor in virtual chains to someone else – He may set up the return, but I don’t think he’d want to script it.
30 January 2013 at 23:31 #2201Substitute Basil for me, the branch for a large icicle, and you have reached enlightenment/ 🙂
30 January 2013 at 23:23 #2199They are really good – I’d echo @jimthefish and @juniperfish in saying double post to the fan thread. They do caputure the personality of the Doctor in a way. (It reminds me of those links I posted to female cosplay in that thread).
Great stuff.
30 January 2013 at 23:09 #2187Sorry they took so long. Had frightful trouble with my Silurian — indeed, it still looks embarrassingly amateur.
You know that bit in “Vincent and the Doctor” when Vicent hands them his self portrait and when they giggle, he says “well, it’s not my best work…”.
I’m giggling. Thanks – they are brilliant! Hope you do more.
30 January 2013 at 23:04 #2183Of course, I mean sworn undying fealty to the Whoniverse a lot, not actually “spent time seeding the blog with on-purpose-obscenities”
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo – I like obscenities. I shouted a lot at my lovely TARDIS blue car (OK – Midnight Blue, near enough) when it decided to disintegrate last week!
I have had a WEIRD week.
30 January 2013 at 22:57 #2179A week ago, some may have noticed some links on the Guardian about a toy fair for 2013 held a week or so ago (just after Christmas the toy business likes to pitch what it will be selling to us saps next year).
Some interesting stuff here (I love the Union Flag Dalek), but for this anniversary year the “hype board” seemed a little sparse.
Announced were:
– Series 7 Pt 2 (8 episodes / spring 2013)
– 50th Anniversary Special (1 x 60 min)
– An Adventure in Space and Time (1x90min)
– Doctor Who Revisited (11 x 25 mins)The duration of the 50th special (at 60mins) would be a disappointment as some confusion seems to have surrounded it and the docu-drama (I agree – great casting).
Post the anniversary -zilch announcement (which would fit into any amount of speculation). I can’t help thinking looking at filming schedules that this year will see the anniversary and Christmas special, with the next series filming for next year. Sad, but I guess the budget cuts are biting at the BBC.
30 January 2013 at 22:27 #2171Apologies for my absence people. I have had a week ‘n’ a bit of horror, including PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Due to this affliction, I may have more time to post over the next few days. I need to catch up on a week of posts. I’ll just dive in.
21 January 2013 at 22:55 #1809@craig – I had an experience with the Buchanan Street too, I was there for work with a female associate and went a bit gaga when I unexpectedly came upon it, much to her amusement.
@bluesqueakpip – Yes, I think the copyright was signed over to the BBC with absolutely no money changing hands. What a deal!
There are supposed to be over 100 left around the country of various sizes and colours. I saw one of the Who shape Boxes near Hull a few years ago which was painted beige (a bit like their pay telephone boxes). It looked wrong.
Will be back tomorrow evening after another ‘fun’ day in the snow.
Cheers.
21 January 2013 at 22:23 #1801Was it one of these? http://gbarr.info/2011/05/30/glasgow-police-boxes/
It’s funny there were quite a few types in the old days. This Green “Double” Box still stands next to Sheffield City Hall: http://sheffielddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/police-box.html
I think they went with the right design! 🙂
21 January 2013 at 19:06 #1793The comment by @blenkinsopthebrave that he felt that Who had changed as that initial ’63 audience grew was interesting, but something it’s hard for those of us who joined later to evaluate.
On “The Unearthly Child”, I remembered that the BBC Archive had released a lot of documents to do with how the show was conceived and received over the years which can be accessed here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/doctorwho/
The audience survey report for Unearthly child (a precursor to todays AI index) had these in the comments section:
3. ‘Tonight’s new serial seemed to be a cross between Wells’ Time Machine and a space-age Old Curiosity Shop, with a touch of Mack Sennett comedy. It was in the grand style of the old pre-talkie films to see a dear old Police Box being hurtled through space and landing on Mars or somewhere. I almost expected to see a batch of Keystone Cops emerge on to the Martian landscape. Anyway, it was all good, clean fun and I look forward to meeting the nice Doctor’s planetary friends next Saturday, whether it be in the ninth or ninety-ninth century A.D.’ wrote a retired Naval Officer speaking, it would seem, for a good many viewers in the sample who regarded this as an enjoyable piece of escapism, not to be taken too seriously, of course, but none the less entertaining and, at times, quite thrilling – ‘taken as fantasy it was most enjoyable. I presume it is meant for the kiddies but nevertheless I found it entertaining at Saturday teatime and look forward to seeing the Cave of Skulls in the next episode’.
Some viewers disliked the play, either because they had a blind spot for science fiction of any kind or because they considered this a rather poor example, being altogether too far-fetched and ludicrous, particularly at the end – ‘a police box with flashing beacon travelling through interstellar space – what claptrap!’ Too childish for adults, it was at the same time occasionally felt to be unsuitable for children of a more timid disposition and, for one reason or another, proved something of a disappointment to a sizeable number of those reporting. Generally speaking, however, viewers in the sample thought this a good start to a series which gave promise of being very entertaining – the children, they were sure, would love it (indeed, there is every evidence that children viewing with adults in the sample found it very much to their taste) but it was, at the same time, written imaginatively enough to appeal to adult minds and would, no doubt, prove to be quite intriguing as it progressed.
4. The acting throughout was considered satisfactory, several viewers adding that it was pleasant to see William Hartnell again in the somewhat unusual role (for him) of Dr. Who, while the radiophonic effects were apparently highly successful in creating the appropriate ‘out of this world’ atmosphere, the journey through space being particularly well done.
20 January 2013 at 16:35 #1783Well, I’ve caught up with the final five episodes of this series. While wanting to write about them, I really can’t without a lot of spoilers, so if you intend to listen to these and want to remain in blissful ignorance, do not read below the Spoiler heading!
************SPOILER**************
As we begin the 50th anniversary year, these 10 audios have seen particularly well timed as some of the themes have really had echoes of the First Doctor.
Having the running strand of the Meddling Monk was interesting. With Peter Butterworth no longer with us, an interesting guessing game ensued in “The Book of Kells” as to who would be playing a regenerated Monk. Former “Goodie” Graeme Garden threw me, but on reflection he turned in a nice playful turn, with his Monk so immersed in his lies and half-truths he appeared to be deluding himself that he was acting in the best interest of anyone other than himself.
I never warmed to Tamsin, but on reflection, I guess I wasn’t supposed to. Anyone following Sheridan Smith would have a job, and her change to travelling with the Monk made for an interesting end with her death at the hands of the Daleks. The Monk finally confessing his sins to someone he really seemed to have become attached to.
Sheridan Smith as Lucie. I was surpised by her abrupt departure, but the reveal that she had initially been recruited as the Monks assistant made for a good reunion, with Lucie being a bit more acute in her assessment of the Monks methods and goals. All too brief however. I thought her narration of the attack by the Daleks on Earth in “Lucie Miller” was haunting. If you’re going to die in Who mythology – flying a Dalek ship a detonating a massive bomb to save the Universe is as good as any. I’ll still miss her though.
It was lovely to hear Carol Ann Ford as Susan. I wasn’t prepared for how weird it would be to hear her address McGann as “Grandfather”, and I suddenly thought how it would look on screen if she ever addressed Matt Smith in the same way. Madness! Alas poor Alex – the Doctors great Grandson goes out to protect his mum and Lucie.
As for McGann – another good series. I loved the echoes in “To the Death”. It’s long being speculated that the Time War was caused by the Daleks discovering the events of “Genesis”. Was McGann’s threat to go back a make sure this time to the Dalek Time Controller the source of that information? His conversation with Susan about the caveman he thought, briefly, of killing. “Chesterton stopped me – but maybe I’ve grown too soft”. Susan’s horror at his speculation that he should ignore the Laws of Time and go back for Lucie.
Above all – The Doctor in the Tardis at the end, endlessly playing back her last message to him. “One Day I will go back”. Had a bit of a shiver at that.
Really well done to Big Finish and everyone involved in this run. I can’t say the ending cheered me, but I don’t think I have anything to complain about.
19 January 2013 at 21:32 #1767I wasn’t disappointed with “The Big Bang” in the slightest, @juniperfish, because I love to be wrong footed. Who could have anticipated a finale like this?
Amidst all the craziness, the scene which sticks out for me is the Doctor tucking young Amelia into bed, collapsing in the chair next to her, and looking tired and every inch his 900 year old self, telling her the story about the mad old man who ran away with his magic box.
A stunning turn by Matt Smith. Dare I say it, pure magic.
Today I’ve watched Peter Cushing in the Doctor Who and the Daleks movie, The Pandorica Opens, listened to three eighth Doctor audio adventures, and watched The Big Bang.
I can’t think of a better way to spend a snowy weekend. 🙂
19 January 2013 at 18:56 #1759Believe me, I’m really not a fan of the movie idea myself, largely for the reasons you state that it would likely see the end of the TV show for a prolonged period.
I think it would really be a risky option for the BBC. They don’t do Who any favours, and it’s budget is about the same for any high quality drama, at about £1m per episode. So those 14 magical episodes per year is about £14m. Commercial exploitation is difficult to follow, but over the last couple of years it has overtaken Top Gear as the biggest earner for BBC Worldwide, valued at over £180m per year in sales and merchandising.
A 2 hour film with a decent budget may do well, but I think the risk/reward equation would probably put off the BBC. I think the Yates story was someone at Worldwide looking at the option, and Yates getting a bit carried away.
19 January 2013 at 16:41 #1745Hmmm – snow outside, getting dark and I’m catching up on the Eighth Doctor audio I’ve recorded. “Relative Dimensions”. Paul McGann, Sheridan Smith, Carol Ann Ford as Susan, and her son trying to have Christmas in the Tardis.
Just smashing. 🙂
19 January 2013 at 16:05 #1735I think it’s why alarm bells sounded when David Yates announced he was interested in developing a film, but it would need to be “reimagined” and ignore the TV history.
Of all the characters in TV and movie history, you’d think that Who is the one that it would be easy to make a movie of, and just make it the next incarnation of the Doctor.
19 January 2013 at 15:20 #1731I’ve just rewatched this. What the old blogs thought can be found here.
I actually made the first comment on that thread.
I think I just had a fan-gasm. May post later when I’ve re-attached my retinas. Eye Popping.
I still feel the same. The previous series, you kind of knew what to expect in a the end two parter, but at the end of Pandorica, everything seemed up for grabs. I loved the reveal of the Romans being Nestene replicants. That surpise made up the abomination of Plastic Mickey in “Rose”.
The scene with the lone Cyberman in the Underhenge is brilliantly done. I originally watched it with a kid and she was horrified when the head unsealed to reveal the skull. The final scene with all the stars exploding is jaw dropping.
19 January 2013 at 14:49 #1729Isn’t it a real curio? I must admit I have a soft spot for the second movie “Dalek Invasion of Earth” largely because Bernard Cribbins was wonderful in it. There is a sequence with him pretending to be one of the Daleks Robomen that usually raises a chuckle.
I haven’t experienced any problems, but that is good advice. I usually Cntl “C” a post before I hit submit.
19 January 2013 at 13:59 #1723I’m sat on my real sofa at the moment watching the Peter Cushing “Doctor Who and the Daleks” on Five USA.
It’s a real oddity looking back at it. Obviously it has a film sheen about it, and was filmed in colour, but for some reason the film screams its influences in a way the serial didn’t. It’s easy to see that “The Daleks” was influenced by HG Wells “Time machine” with the Daleks as Morlocks, and the Thals as Eloi.
Roy Castle as action hero is really odd.
19 January 2013 at 03:31 #1701Oh – Tom Sharpe, who wrote the book, was an observational genius on the peculiarities of Brit Culture (He was a South African who left because of Apartheid). Porterhouse was about the best adaption of his work I have seen, with a dark and twisted view that it is impossible to describe.
If you do have the opportunity, watch it. It really is very funny with a steller cast going for broke for laughs.
John Sessions blowing up a tower of the college with gas filled condoms is just part of the hilarity. 🙂
Rewatching it did make me feel very warm, and in this climate that’s probably worth it’s weight in gold.
19 January 2013 at 00:52 #1693Glad you enjoyed. I have placed myself emotionally in a special space to view the finale of Fringe, which I guess will occur on Sunday. Tissues on standby!
It’s well worth the investment in time. I will really miss John Noble, and would love to see him guest star in Who.
I also have fond memories of “A very British Coup” @craig – Ray McAnally turns in a barnstorming performance in that.
Over Christmas I re-watched Porterhouse Blue – another of those oft-forgotten gems we could produce. I marvelled at the fact that David Jason, who portrayed G-g-g-g-Granville in “Open all hours” at the time could portray Skullion in this adaptation. He looks younger these days in his Frost episodes!
And that theme music by the Flying Pickets sounds marvellous looking back.
18 January 2013 at 22:00 #1687What amazed me is just how many young women companions he had – all in lovely black-and-white and that far away ’60s style. Where are they all now I wonder?
You know – that made me look them up on Wiki, and although I understood that we have lost a couple of companions, I didn’t realise that February 18th 2013 will be 20 years since Jacqueline Hill (Barbara) died of breast cancer.
She did return to appear opposite Tom Baker in Meglos as a mad high priestess, and it reminded me that William Russel, who played Ian, was originally scheduled to appear in Davisons “Mawdryn Undead” to reprise his character. Due to illness, he couldn’t appear, so we had The Brig as a public school teacher instead.
Michael Craze who played Ben died from a heart attack, and looking at his Wiki entry, I noticed he had named his only son “Ben”. I take it he had some fond memories of his time on the show.
18 January 2013 at 21:49 #1685@juniperfish, @jimthefish and @craig
Thanks for those links! I think I was lucky in a way. I went to Bradford University, and Bradford had the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television. One of only two facilities in the UK that had IMAX and the ability to show 70mm film at the time.
In my first term they had a retrospective on Who, with some cleaned up recovered episodes. The following two terms they had seasons on ITC (Prisoner, The Avengers, etc) and Bond. They also had Terry Gilliam presenting his early films and doing a Q&A session. I was in hogs heaven, to be frank.
18 January 2013 at 19:21 #1673Thanks @jimthefish for the link.
Nice of Martin “Bedlam” Bellam to ask for a namecheck BTL. I complained to him that he hadn’t attributed that quote to me when he used it on his blog. I guess he listened.
I was absolutely outraged that day because I had just typed a megapost to submit on the Andrew Sparrow political blog, and posted when they decided to change the format mid-day. I lost my words, and went to town on the complaint blogs.
Glad it raised a smile though!
18 January 2013 at 19:13 #1671Although I was quite young at the time, I remember Doomwatch very well. I bought a couple of episodes on DVD (they didn’t sell well unfortunately, and the line was discontinued). I still marvel that they killed Robert Powell’s character, who was one of the most popular members of the cast.
When Channel 5 started, the first week saw a feature length attempt to bring it back, and it was a shame it wasn’t picked up as it had some nice touches (the plot was about an attempt to create an artificial black hole as an energy source).
If you are into that kind of thing, I really enjoyed a Canadian series called ReGenesis (link to wiki entry). It focused on a group of scientists investigating disease outbreaks, and the environmental impacts of genetic research. It ran to four series, and I noticed Morrisons were stocking the first series of 13 episodes for a meagre £5.99 Earth Pounds (alas you’d have to order abroad for the others, or take up this thing the kids refer to as “downloading”).
I’ve credited the Doctor with igniting an interest in science, and I studied chemistry at University. I later did an MSc in Environmental Science, and work as a consultant in the sector. Maybe both the Doctor, and Doomwatch had something to do with those choices?
18 January 2013 at 00:44 #1637Sorry – but this did make me smile.
How to recognise you are a Whovian.18 January 2013 at 00:09 #1635I’d agree with all of your post about how Who has reflected its time and concerns, but have to add that the environmental stuff in the late sixties and seventies was extraordinary in retrospect.
The Doctors arguments about mankind’s addiction to Petroleum just seemed so far ahead of its time, when you consider that North Sea Oil was considered the panacea to all our economic woes during the period.
18 January 2013 at 00:02 #1633I like to think that Eleven, after the devastation of the Time War and the slow trauma recovery of Nine and Ten, has come to believe, just a little bit, in miracles again.
I think a lot of these series has been about that. Although it’s not a fan-favourite, I loved the protestation by the Doctor that he couldn’t “feel” the way that Madge did in “The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe”, which finished with a tear as he was welcomed by the Ponds. As I mentioned in my post about 1, I think sparing tears can add value to Who, and under Moffat the emotional content has been drawn back a bit, to good effect.
17 January 2013 at 23:46 #1631I did it. And therefore post a link to a clip everyone must watch.
In a discusion on Who I mentioned Terry Gilliam as a potential influence on the look of the show.
@janetteb and @jimthefish will know the direction this is going.
This clip will not spoil your experience of Fringe, but it does demonstrate what a confident show, that knows it is ending, can deliver. Walter Bishop, (the great John Noble) has consumed a quantity of LSD in an attempt to access some hidden memories. His flashback scene is glorious and confirmes he spent some of the seventies enjoying funny walks, facefulls of fish, and “amateur photography” (nudge – nudge, wink – wink).
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the glory of Black Umberella:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS2z8Aeck-M&noredirect=1
(I love it when TV shows go barking mad).
17 January 2013 at 22:44 #1629Looking back on the First Doctor for me is a lesson in envy. I have an older brother who could have watched all of the first, second and third Doctors run, but – didn’t bother. That was the point (at nine or ten) that I determined my brother was an actual idiot.
With the advent of video and the audio reconstructions I caught up to the extent I have seen/heard everything that is available. So a couple of random observations.
Hartnell could be fearsome onscreen, and apparently terrified some people behind the scenes. He was his own Doctor it seems, with all the faults we have come to know and love.
Something that isn’t said often enough is that the First Doctor could be immensely playful. Some of the scenes I have seen in “The Romans” left me weeping with laughter. He really did have a gift for comedy, and when a good script was given to him, he really did deliver.
@scaryb posted a link to the Eoin Colfer interview. He suggested that the First seemed jaded with the Universe in some way. I really didn’t get that as I thought The First Doctor just had that spirit of adventure, but was slightly disgruntled to be landed with a couple of apes in his exploits. But what apes! Ian and Barbara, I think, defined what a companion should be to a large extent. Some of the dialogue between them, with Hartnell patting “Ian” on the back for recognising something patently obvious are a joy to watch. I can remember watching the end of “The Chase”, with a collage of images of Ian and Barbara returned to Earth, and Hartnell garumphing and turning away from Vicky as a tear rolls down his cheek. With Ian and Barbara, no wonder the Doctor selected us as his favourite species.
I have always felt that Hartnell worked as a Doctor in the ongoing story. Some of his qualities are very “TimeLord” as we came to see them. I always thought that, for all his rebellion, he was still tied to that isolated culture and some of its attitudes. Prolonged experience to those pesky humans freed him in a way in his subsequent regenerations, seeing the Universe through those young and brief lives.
I was astonished to learn that Hartnell initially felt his work on Who was fairly worthless. A cultural thing of the times. In the sixties, theatre and film had the credo. I understand that by the time he came back for the Three Doctors he had embraced it, and loved the attention it brought to him.
I wish he could see the legacy of the show. What it has become. To know that his image is still shown to children as the First.
What an achievement.
17 January 2013 at 18:32 #1589It is clear that when watching a Matt Smith episode alongside Pertwee or Baker old YouTube clips, the fairytale sprinkled cosmic-dust (“magical”) qualities of the present flavour of the show are very apparent. No doubt the influence of Harry Potter is in the mix there somewhere!
Just out of interest, when I did my last great who-a-thon, I actually thought about this, because we’d had a lot of comments basically attacking Moffat on his general approach.
For me, I don’t think there is a massive shift in direction, but I think the “fairytale” elements are certainly accentuated by how the show is now filmed. You think of the scenes in young Amelia’s garden, or how the block of flats is shot in “Night Terrors” and they have a visual beauty that I think owes something to Potter, but also people like Tim Burton and even further back, Terry Gilliams early films like “Time Bandits”. Personally I love the look of Moffats Who – watching some of the RTD run, I found myself missing some of the visual flourish that has been stamped over the last few series. It can be small things – the TARDIS materialising being shown in reflection in a puddle. The transition shot of Mels throwing a model Tardis and the shot transitioning into the real thing. Small things in the scheme of things but they really do add texture.
I’d also say that with Matt Smith they found someone who could sell the most whimsical lines in the most dazzling way, and the writers are now taking advantage of that. A pretty magical moment from “Night Terrors”:
The Doctor: It means I’ve come a long way to get here, Alex. A very long way. George sent a message—a distress call, if you like. Whatever’s inside that cupboard is so terrible—so powerful—that it amplified the fears of an ordinary little boy across all the barriers of time and space.
Alex: Eh?
The Doctor: Through crimson stars and silent stars and tumbling nebulas like oceans set on fire. Through empires of glass and civilizations of pure thought. And a whole terrible wonderful universe of impossibilities. You see these eyes, they’re old eyes. And one thing I can tell you, Alex: monsters are real.
Alex: You’re not from Social Services are you?17 January 2013 at 17:33 #1585Apologies – I moved the posts last night into the new thread but forgot to post a link here:
http://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/forums/topic/the-faces-of-the-doctor/Yorkshire is colder than Ruta 3.
17 January 2013 at 00:16 #1527In all seriousness thanks for the support on the thread idea.
I think that could work, looking at interpretations of The Doctor (even for us retrospectives) over the years. I thought your argument was worth pursuing, but not in that thread.
I do have more to say, but that thread is more about personal memories, than an analysis of the show or character itself. I’d be intrigued to see how a thread like that would play out over months of debating over various Doctors.
17 January 2013 at 00:00 #1523Yes – slight dulpication of effort in this one. How mad is your other post going to look when I blitzkreig this post though?
Your going to be talking to thin air! You mad woman, you!?
16 January 2013 at 23:51 #1519It’s just so convenient! 😆
16 January 2013 at 22:59 #1509But no more!
Please sir … can I have some …
I could do this myself, but I have been wondering about the fragmentation issue myself. There is possibly a thread that could add something though. As we are in January, we have Eleven months to ask… “Who” is the Doctor. We have threads on companions and other items, but not on the man himself.
I thought a thread just called “The faces of the Doctor” could be an intersting idea. In each month in the runup we could examine each of the Doctors. Later interpretations could be referenced and compared, but for January the approach could be the First. @scaryb gave me the idea with the link to the e-book that has been produced. Is that vision of the First Doctor correct? It could also take in those tangential arguments about the perceived “magic” and “spirituality” of the Doctor over time.
We benefit in having people like @scaryb and @blenkinsopthebrave who saw those shows, and people like me who can look back on a missed opportunity in being born too late.
I’ve looked at my available mod functions of taking out the interesting argument that was developed in the memory stand into something more appropriate, but the main function seems to be split (which I oould make work) but if you have additional powers I require you to adopt the mantle of “Demi-God”, if other people agree this is a good idea, of course.
16 January 2013 at 22:36 #1507I posted a link from elsewhere to those on the G blog, but thanks for reminding me. I really like them. It’s the first time I’ve asked my local PO to reserve me some stamps since they did the last Terry Pratchett run. My local PO manager loves “Going Postal” and recognises a fellow geek when he sees one. He’s my stamp providing bitch.
16 January 2013 at 21:49 #1499Glad it’s not just me – I don’t know if it’s because I’ve lost a lot of weight, but the cold has really hit me like a fist this week.
I listened to all the audio last week, but due to some late evening returns this week, will have to catch up myself. Thankfully my digi-box helpfully records audio. I’m intrigued because yesterdays episode apparently saw the return of a character many appear to be speculating about….
Snow forcast for Friday, and although I have to brave the cold again tomorrow, I have a feeling I shall be listening and catching up on Friday. I won’t post spoilers, but hope to see your thoughts on the blog to see what you thought of the later episodes last week.
16 January 2013 at 19:24 #1495Can I just say – “Bugger me!” (exclamation, not request) “..it’s cold out there in Yorkshire.”
I may have to slip my hands down the cushions on the sofa for a while to defrost them, which will hopefully allow me to type more of my insightful comments/meaningless drivel later.
As a kid, I had a thing about the shapechangers. The Zygons and the Rutans. They could be anyone, sneak up on you and deliver their sting or electric charge. Sneaky.
I was convinced my headmistress was one of them.
15 January 2013 at 17:20 #1443I am very interested to observe the shift in Dr. Who from Old Who to Nu Who in this respect. Nu Who values emotional understanding and the “soul” and even “magic” in a way that Old Who did not…
DiscussIt’s an interesting argument, but to put a different spin on things, I don’t think you can directly categorise old Who to that extent. Some of the writers of old Who reflected the burgeoning interest in Eastern religions and philosophy that occurred in the sixties, and channelled it into the show. Others had a more whimsical approach, which could lead to a particularly strange mix.
The first story (of the top of my head) where the Doctor mentioned “Soul” was Hartnells “The Savages”. A protagonist consumes some of his life force (which is said to be very powerful) and starts to become more like the Doctor. The Doctor explains to Steven that aspect of his “consciousness” and “soul” were transmitted with his life force. It’s interesting that in old-who, conciousness and soul were often presented as interchangeable terms.
The personification of the Tardis was one thing, but don’t forget the much bigger deal in the old series of having representations of universal Order and Chaos as the White and Black Guardians.
Other realms visited included the abstract realm the Celestial Toymaker, The dream-like “Land of Fiction” in The Mind-Robber wasn’t explained as a group hallucination caused by mind pollen – it was a realm outside our reality. In addition, there were also the astral planes where the Great Intelligence was said to lurk, and “the dark places of the inside”, where the Mara was imprisoned.
Davisons Mara stories (Kinda and Snakedance) are stuffed with references to Buddhist philosophy and a fair amount of the “nu-spiritual” approach of windchimes and crystals. Meditation techniques (usually of Tibetan origin) proliferate from Troughton onwards. In Snakedance the Mara is said to be created by collected amplified belief and fear, and in The curse of Fenric strong belief is shown to be an actual force that could be used to repel the haemovores. So The God Complex’s play on this really wasn’t unprecedented.
Like a lot of Who (of whichever flavour) you can cherry pick storylines and plot elements to pretty much demonstrate any argument because it has such a rich history. I’m not really sure if nu-Who is more “magical” than old really, but I don’t think the old series ever felt the need to run away from a more metaphysical approach to the universe.
I also take @Robs point that this is a bit of an odd conversation for this memory thread. By all means continue here for now, but I think if we want to expand it, I’ll see if I can pull the posts into a more relevant thread, if no-one objects?
15 January 2013 at 17:08 #1441Thanks for the link to the article, as it was a lot of fun. I was interested to read how he viewed the First Doctor. I’m not sure if I share his view that:
I always imagined him to be a crank who was jaded by the Universe’s cruelty rather than amazed by its wonders.
I don’t really see that in his performance. To me, Hartnells portrayal, in retrospect, plays out rather well as the back-story developed. As you saw the Timelords later as the series went on, you could imagine the First Doctor amongst them somehow. As the “youngest” and the one who had decided to run away, I always imagined him being the one closest to his Timelord inheritance and training, and having some difficulty shaking off some of their attributes of arrogance, impatience with less evolved species, etc. I never saw the “Jaded” aspect.
Still look forward to reading his interpretation though.
15 January 2013 at 17:02 #1439I still think this is a genuinely good comedic tale with an interesting sting at the end. At this point, I think I’d guess Moffat had the shape of the River Song storyline and knew it would play out over multiple time periods. To accomplish that, he needed the adversary to have access to their own time travel technology, and hence a glimpse of a time machine.
The problem was, of course, that the Silence hadn’t been fully built at that time (their development was in the series 6 budget), so no reference or visual aid to the mystery could be provided. In retrospect it would be great to engineer a scene where the hologram changes form at the end for a brief glimpse of a Silent, which could have led to more speculation, especially if a script indicated that image was soon forgotten.
Still love the “International rescue” and Star Trek Voyager in-jokes. Robert “Please state the nature of the medical emergency” Picardo was seen sporting a Who T-shirt at the SDCC, so I hope he enjoyed it.
13 January 2013 at 17:12 #1383As @jimthefish has raised the books, just another memory:
It was that glorious summer of 1976, and I was in Rhyl for a camping holiday with my family. For the first two days I ran around like an idiot, as six year olds are expected to do. That unfamiliar sun turned me an astonishing shade of red, melting my skin and leaving me with sunstroke, despite my mothers best efforts to prevent it.
Ordered to remain in the tent I was allowed a trip to the site shop to stock up on things to keep me occupied. I stared miserably at the available comics. The penny dreadfuls I cherished with a DC logo – The Unexpected, House of Mystery, and Weird War Tales were absent. Sighing I turned to the books, and had a revelation.
I was already a fan of Doctor Who, but the existence of the Target books was completely unknown to me. I raked my brain as to why my teachers hadn’t informed me of this monumental development in home entertainment. But there, in front of me was “Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion”. With a picture of John Pertwee, who I could just about remember. Next to it was “The Abominable Snowmen” with a picture of a Doctor I didn’t recognise at all. I invested my pocket money wisely my friends, and returned to the coolness of the tent and curled up on my canvass bed.
In the course of my reading session I discovered many valuable things. For instance, if you happened to be alone in a tent, an Auton could cut through the back and blast you into nothingness. If you were camping in the Himalayas you would likely be attacked and murdered by a robot Yeti. Suddenly camping seemed to have become a high risk holiday option.
I came back from the holiday with about twelve of the books. I have never been camping again.
13 January 2013 at 16:56 #1381Thanks for the collected envy everyone 🙂
I feel immensely privileged to have that memory, more so because it was just so unexpected at the time.
Quirkiness and cerebral brilliance is celebrated over physical brute strength
Ha! Have you ever seen this? Craig Ferguson (another Scot) hosts a talk show in the States and has become something of a champion for Who. When Matt Smith appeared on the show, he filmed this opening song (in the end he couldn’t broadcast it due to licensing issues, and it “escaped” to YouTube).
13 January 2013 at 01:12 #1339Thanks!
Sometimes people are chary about their images being reposted
I agree. I usually only post links that have been featured in other articles (like the G’s effort on Cosplay). I’d never post a link to sneer at it, but really do like to show people the mad creativity of the community when it is available.
I’ve dressed up many times, in Who guises, comic books, the Blues Brothers and many more. I am the man who with a group of others walked down to the Bradford Alhambra dressed as Frank-N-Furter in 1988. If you’ve seen my legs, you’ll realise I have no shame or fear.
I always find that alcohol and inappropriate flirting helps.
13 January 2013 at 00:32 #1335And of course, my favourite – gender bending cosplay
I think I know how to play to certain sections of this audience, through experience. 😆
I do admire those who do it though, and the creativity. The fifth costume is an astonishing thing. Sometimes transgender attempts at cosplay just don’t work, but I thought that one did.
If you have or come across any links yourself, please add, because it’s something I have become quite interested in.
12 January 2013 at 23:49 #1333Just to add to the above, another strong memory : The day I met the Doctor.
Back in the 70s, communities seemed a lot closer than now. Each year our street pooled their resources and hired a coach for a day trip to Blackpool, usually in the first week of October. This was an annual thing we did for about 12 years.
We left early in the morning to get there about 9:30 for a day of adventure. The day was spent on rides, in arcades, admiring the filth in joke shops, watching shows on the Pier or just doing whatever you wanted. As the sun set at about six, we’d congregate back at the Coach to drive along the Golden Mile and admire the Illuminations, which always featured a tribute to Doctor Who. On the way back we had a pit stop at a pub for adults to top up their alcohol levels, and a Chippy in Stoke-on-Trent used to see an annual upsurge in trade as 50 odd people descended to demand “Shark n’ Chips”. A splendid day out.
There was one highlight for me, and the reason I carefully saved my pocket money, I ignored the obvious delights of fun-fairs and arcades. This trip meant one thing – The Doctor Who Exhibition. Located on a corner on the sea frontage stood a building. And Attached to that building was a Police Box. From hidden speakers boomed the Doctor Who theme, and for a small investment you were allowed to enter the world of the Doctor. You entered the Tardis to find a gloomy stairway to a basement. Walking down you became aware of the lights, and the sights. You walked past the K-1 robot, the Voc Robot and the mechanised Dalek whose head turned while it bellowed “Exterminate”. You saw costumes and props from the latest series, and finally entered the console room, with a replica console with the time rotor rising and falling.
It was a world of wonder. My parents would go off for an hour and do something else, for they knew from experience – this was not something I was going to rush.
Then – at the end, the delights of the little shop (“I love a little shop”) which always had the latest books, badges and other odds and sods that I coveted.
Imagine my delight then that, when I was eight, our visit coincided with some publicity thing by the BBC. Tom Baker was actually there as the Doctor, in full regalia. As barking mad as you could dare to dream. Leading groups of kids through the exhibits, signing autographs and basically just being the Doctor. He agreed to follow me to the shop, and amidst my purchases, signed my annual.
I don’t think I stopped smiling for about two weeks. They always say “Don’t meet your heroes”. I met mine when I was eight. And he was fantastic.
12 January 2013 at 23:32 #1327S31 (5) 11 – The Lodger (repeat, BBC3 7.45pm Sat 19 January 2013)
What the Dan Martin Guardian Blogs thought at the time can be accessed here. (and congratulations @janetteb – you made your first comment on this blog).
In figures: Overnight figures were 4.6m, timeshift figures were 6.44m. Audience Appreciation Index (AI) was 87 (Excellent).
Of interest: This episode was placed aganst a world cup match between England and the USA, and featured Matt Smith’s football skills.
With guest appearances by James Corden and Daisy Haggard, this saw writer Gareth Roberts update a comic strip story he wrote that featured the Doctor sharing Mickey Smith’s flat for a while. As well as the general hilarity, the story saw the introduction of another time machine, and posed the question – who has that power?
Thoughts on this welcome.
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