Doctor Who 50th Anniversary (and general series discussion)

[afleitch]

So it's back. As is David Tennant for the 50th Anniversary special. What did you think of the latest episode?

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So is there anyone who is honestly buying the whole "I'm not part of the anniversary" that the old Doctors are claiming right now? Eccleston is the only one who would probably bail on an anniversary special, but the other 5 not being involved sounds rather ludicrous.

Actually Eccleston is less of a hold out than people think. I don't think all the old doctors will appear; it clouds the story.

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A lot of division over Rings of Akhaten; some people loved it, others hated it. I actually really liked it; it was a very tight and very focused. Some fantastic scenes with Matt Smith which made my inner humanist bubble to the surface

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There's been lots of rumours that Matt will be leaving at the anniversary special or at Christmas. I hope to God it isn't true -- if there has been consistent growth in anything, it's Matt's performance. I still feel like he's yet to performed his finest hour.

Pretty sure one of the rumors are all false. I know one I think is from the daily fail and we already know the Moff pitched Series 8 to Smith he seems to at least be signed up for that year from everything concrete that we have.

Yeah, being in Doctor Who isn’t seen as a career killer in the way that it once was; that’s why people are so keen to guest star in the show. It’s secure through Series 8 and from what we know Matt Smith is up for it. It’s not secure for Series 9; there’s no doubt that it will be re-commissioned if that is the plan as it’s one of the highest rated shows in the UK and is a money spinner for the BBC worldwide. Problem is though, it might be good for the brand if it’s ‘rested’ for a few years. What I can see happening is Smith starring as the Doctor for the first half of the next series which is likely to be late 2014, then re-generating and having another doctor for the second half in early 2015 and perhaps a few specials then a rest. This allows them to recruit someone pretty big to do it for a short space of time and then resting it for a few years. It’ll have been on the TV for ten years since it’s revival by that point.

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Filming today for the special recreated Coal Hill School and the Totter's Lane junkyard from the very first episode back in 1963.

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I'm loving the Ian sign. Hopefully we'll get at least a cameo from William Russell as well -- 50 years on, he deserves it.

Something that I am really disappointed in -- DW fandom as of late. I used to read Gallifrey Base intently, as it was always a place for intelligent discussion, but these past two weeks have really shown just how depressing the fandom can really get. We have protest threads coming up about signing petitions to boot Moffat because of the old series Doctor absence, we have people throwing tantrums all over the place for whatever reason, be it "Doctor Who is catering too much to the general audience" and vice-versa. Even in the latter-RTD days, things weren't this bad.

It's really sickening, to be frank.

I'm a member of that site (though don't post) and you're absolutely right. The idea of shoehorning in old Doctors doesn't make any sense and would detract from a story. If Doctor Who doesn't cater to the general audience, then there is no audience.

[afleitch]

Well that was a camp fest . Very Carry On

It was a bit like an RTD era episode actually but it was certainly fun. Great use of the flashback scene to move the story along. Also great use of a chair to sort things out; people have been moaning about the sonic screwdriver for ages so this is a nod to those whiners

[afleitch]

I loved that episode. Great story, Strax is always brilliant. Can't believed they put a Tom-Tom reference in there. Turning out to be the best Series so far!

It's the sort of episode only Who could get away with and in less capable hands than Gatiss, it would have been awful. Nice reference to Tegan too. Cybermen with Neil Gaiman up next week. Oh yes

[afleitch]

Not a bad episode, but it was actually the first of this series I've been a bit 'meh' on. I was a little annoyed by that.

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It's not a bad episode. I just found it a little dull. Warwick Davis is absolutely fantastic in it though. I want to see him again

Next week's episode is the finale. They are using old clips from the original series and superimposing Clara in them. Should be interesting to see why.

[afleitch]

As for the season finale a lot of people have it in the US already. Someone in shipping made a big boo boo and a lot of the Series 7 Part 2 Blu Rays shipped and were received today. It's bound to end up online at some point which makes me really want to watch it and pissed at the same time.

Yeah that's a huge issue right now. No one knows how many were shipped. I think given that it's only a week a lot of people will hold off from viewing it. But it'll end up online as these things often do. Apparently it confirms suspicions people had of the 50th, but doesn't explain it.

[afleitch]

That. Was. Amazing.

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I spoiled myself, but in the end I don't care basically because the plot was in some way or another fully known for about a month now as rumors.

From what I've read it was amazing, only 4 more hours to go before I officially watch. Then a long 6 month wait

Oh, and the BBC has officially confirmed a Season 8.

I knew the plot too, but even then there were so many surprises (the cameo of Glasgow made me oddly proud) it was still stunning. Moffat is the master of finales and this is no exception. Don't miss a second of the pre-credits sequence.

[afleitch]

It was a great story. Only thing to be disappointed about was that a certain someone didn't sound menacing enough at the end.

He's not supposed to be menacing or bloodthirsty or anything like that, just look at this lines. "What I did, I did without choice. In the name of peace, and sanity".

What's curious of course is where he fits in. It's been suggested he is wearing 9's coat for example. He could be a regeneration after 8 during the Time War and then for whatever reason regenerates into 9 as the 'Doctor' again. I agree he's not supposed to be menacing but a little corrupted, tired and jaded. Why 10 and 11 end up teaming up with each other in the 50th given that this other 'x' doctor is also there is curious.

[afleitch]

It was a great story. Only thing to be disappointed about was that a certain someone didn't sound menacing enough at the end.

He's not supposed to be menacing or bloodthirsty or anything like that, just look at this lines. "What I did, I did without choice. In the name of peace, and sanity".

What's curious of course is where he fits in. It's been suggested he is wearing 9's coat for example. He could be a regeneration after 8 during the Time War and then for whatever reason regenerates into 9 as the 'Doctor' again. I agree he's not supposed to be menacing but a little corrupted, tired and jaded. Why 10 and 11 end up teaming up with each other in the 50th given that this other 'x' doctor is also there is curious.

From what we know so far I'm thinking he's the 9th incarnation (between McGann and Eccleston) but he did something (I'm thinking ending the time war and basically committing genocide on the Daleks and Time Lords). It had to be done but it's not in the The Doctor's nature so basically the other Doctors shun him. So for now basically Smith is the 11th Doctor but the 12th incarnation of the man. I do have a feeling he'll be a true doctor at the end of the 50th but it'll be a fun ride either way.

I have that feeling too. What's interesting is that as of the end of the episode the Doctor and Clara are still in the Doctors time stream. It's entirely possible they remain there for whatever reason and that allows the 10th Doctor to make a plausible appearance. Either way the interview snippet suggests the two doctors get on well.

[afleitch]

If you want to see something sad:

http://i.imgur.com/b6kkCYI.png

Ugh. It's John Hurt. I always wanted a man of that stature to play the Doctor and it's finally happening even just as a one off. Stupid Mary Sue's can't see the bigger picture because 'OMFG DOCTOR NOT HAWT!!!'

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Yes!

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I hope he keeps his accent.

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Great choice for the next doctor. Was ready for an older doctor again. The fangirls are dying though. Great video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45d8kn5hApg

The edited clip of Peter Capaldi at the end is perfect for the reaction.

I'm glad their ship is sinking.

You've obviously seen the NSFW spoof video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Blf073f2Lc

The final line (the err non sweary line) actually is quite a good show of his range.

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In all seriousness, this is a very good indication of his work;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiW4R2uNTs

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Capaldi is a fine actor and exactly the sort of change of direction that the show needs right now. Hopefully the writing - especially at a narrative level - sharpens up in response.

I agree. Capaldi is the sort of class of actor (Hugh Laurie, Richard E Grant etc) who was touted back when the show was revived but it wouldn't have worked. It needed someone like Eccleston to ground it and Tennant and Smith to play with it. The problem is it is starting to feel a little tired. Don't get me wrong the last series in comparison to some of the fluff that Tennant had to do and in comparison to other TV shows was excellent but formulaic and TV is on the ascendancy in terms of quality and expectation.

Doctor Who is a show to be watched when you want to watch it. Capaldi is the sort of actor that should excite people who want to write for him and he won't fail to deliver. It may shed some of it's more vacuous...um...lonely fat girl audience (perhaps not) but should hopefully win back say the 'mums' (who are quite an important audience to hold) who perhaps were not as enthusiastic about a show manned by twenty-somethings even though the story quality was exceptional (particularly in Smith's first year)

[afleitch]

So. Yeah, really not long now

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Watch minisode. Now.

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Anyway, did anyone see An Adventure in Space and Time as well? David Bradley remains fantastic, and the rest of the cast were good - and looked freakishly similar to the people they played - as well.

That was very special. Quite the love note to the old BBC way of doing thinga. Bradley was perfect and I've always found Sascha Dhawan quite fanciable...

As for the fiftieth itself which I happened to see in the cinema, I thought it really worked. It nodded as to why after 9 who was riddled with survivors guilt,  we got two childish doctors. Two seconds of Capaldi's eyes made me jump in a very good way.

[afleitch]

That was a sad goodbye episodes, Matt was my Doctor so I am sad to see him go but I'm also happy to see the Capaldi era start. He should be a great Doctor too. The part I'm not looking forward to is the 8-9 month wait for new episodes.

12 is Scottish. Hooray. I felt the episode was a little rushed but after the 50th was so strong I'm not too fussed. As filming starts in January if the first episode is finished in time for Easter (April 20) then it's been rumoured that they will broadcast it as a special.