The 2008-09 AND 2010 Doctor Who (& Spin-offs) Thread

[2099net]

I'm a bit worried about Torchwood - it appears (for various reasons) that 2009 will also be a Torchwood lite year as well as Who lite.

But in the meantime, the following three Torchwood books have been announced for October:



Pack Animals
by Peter Anghelides

Shopping for wedding gifts with your fiancé is enjoyable, unless like Gwen you witness a Weevil massacre in the shopping centre. A trip to the zoo is a great day out, until a date goes tragically wrong and Ianto is badly injured by stolen alien tech. And Halloween is a day of fun and frights, before unspeakable monsters invade the streets of Cardiff and it’s no longer a trick or a treat for the terrified population.

Torchwood can control small groups of scavengers, but now someone has given large numbers of predators a season ticket to Earth. Jack’s investigation is hampered when he finds he’s being investigated himself. Owen is convinced that it’s just one guy who’s toying with them. But will Torchwood find out before it’s too late that the game is horribly real, and the deck is stacked against them?



SkyPoint
by Phil Ford

‘If you’re going to be anyone in Cardiff, you’re going to be at SkyPoint!’

SkyPoint is the latest high-rise addition to the ever-developing Cardiff skyline. It’s the most high-tech, avant-garde apartment block in the city. And it’s where Rhys Williams is hoping to find a new home for himself and Gwen. Gwen’s more concerned by the money behind the tower block – Besnik Lucca, a name she knows from her days in uniform.

When Torchwood discover that residents have been going missing from the tower block, one of the team gets her dream assignment. Soon SkyPoint’s latest newly married tenants are moving in. And Toshiko Sato finally gets to make a home with Owen Harper.

Then something comes out of the wall...

[2099net adds: Yay! a Tosh centered book (she's on the cover - see). I don't know, overlooked until dead...]



Almost Perfect
by James Goss

Emma is 30, single and frankly desperate. She woke up this morning with nothing to look forward to but another evening of unsuccessful speed-dating. But now she has a new weapon in her quest for Mr Right. And it’s made her almost perfect.

Gwen Cooper woke up this morning expecting the unexpected. As usual. She went to work and found a skeleton at a table for two and a colleague in a surprisingly glamorous dress. Perfect.

Ianto Jones woke up this morning with no memory of last night. He went to work, where he caused amusement, suspicion and a little bit of jealousy. Because Ianto Jones woke up this morning in the body of a woman. And he’s looking just about perfect.

And Jack Harkness has always had his doubts about Perfection.

[2099net adds: Looking at the bottom of this book cover, it seems to be set post Exit Wounds - there's no Tosh or Owen!]

[2099net]

Some cool concept art for Series 3 has been posted on the official BBC Doctor Who website. This blog post picks the best. I really love the Dalek Tommy Guns (about the only decent thing about Evolution of the Daleks!)

http://io9.com/391445/sunset-on-the-los ... -gallifrey

[2099net]

The Unicorn and the Wasp

I was so looking forward to this episode for the following reasons:

1] I had greatly enjoyed The Shakespreare Code written by Garath Roberts last year

2] likewise I have enjoyed all of Garath's novels and Sarah Jane writing too

3] Fenella Woolgar (who played Agatha Christie) is an absolutely awesome actress (I've loved her since seeing her in Jekyll)

4] Giant Wasp!

But sadly I was disappointed. It wasn't a bad episode by any means, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. I have to file this with The Fires of Pompeii I guess. Promises much, but somehow just doesn't quite deliver. I can't actually put my finger on what was "wrong" with it.

On the plus side, there's another sequence of comic joy which surpasses the Doctor and Donna miming to each other in Partners in Crime, and oddly this too involves miming. And "Camptown Races".

6/10 (Fenella's performance gets 10/10)

[2099net]

Welll, what was probably the worst kept secret in Doctor Who history is now out.

Russell T Davies IS leaving after the three special and (Escapay, calm down) Steven Moffat is taking over.

Full Outpost Gallifrey News posting below:

The BBC Press Office and various media sources (originally broken by MediaGuardian) have announced that Steven Moffat is to succeed Russell T Davies as the chief writer and executive producer of Doctor Who when it returns for its fifth series.

The article states that Moffat will replace Davies in 2009, taking over as "showrunner" for the fifth series in 2010. Moffat has been responsible for several episodes of the revived Doctor Who to date, including the BAFTA Award-winning "Blink" and the fortmcoming two-parter "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead".

Davies is quoted as saying: "It's been a delight and an honour working with Steven, and I can't wait to see where his extraordinary imagination takes the Doctor. Best of all, I get to be a viewer again, watching on a Saturday night!"

The BBC press release includes a comment from Moffat himself: "My entire career has been a Secret Plan to get this job. I applied before but I got knocked back 'cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven. Anyway, I'm glad the BBC has finally seen the light, and it's a huge honour to be following Russell into the best - and the toughest - job in television. I say toughest 'cos Russell's at my window right now, pointing and laughing."

Moffat will continue as a director on the board of Hartswood Films, which produced Coupling and Jekyll, where he is also working on a new comedy Adam & Eve with wife Sue Vertue.

I know some people have been quick to critisise RTD, but personally I think he has done an exceptional job. I have a few problems with some of his scripts but his good stuff far outweighs any "bad" (or should I say, a little "sub-par"?) stuff. Thanks RTD, its been a blast, and I'm looking forward to the specials even more now, expecting you to go out with a bang. (May I suggest Yeti?)

I which RTD well in his new ventures, and I wish Steven Moffat just as much success.

[Escapay]

(Escapay, calm down) Steven Moffat is taking over.

YES! YES! YES!












Moffat's episodes are among my absolute favorites from Doctor Who (and they likely would have been even if I hadn't know they were by him), I can't wait to see what he has in store for the fifth series! I hope he'll bring back Romana (even though there's that whole "all of Gallifrey and the Time Lords are gone", which I never liked.)

I know some people have been quick to critisise RTD, but personally I think he has done an exceptional job.

Me too. I never understood all the RTD backlash, though some of his episodes aren't really my favorite (like how "Love & Monsters", even though I understand how it mirrors Who fandom, is still boring and dull whenever I watch it.) Also, killing off The Master in such an anti-climactic way was such a cop-out, even with the open-ended ending of the mysterious hand grabbing his ring.

I'm looking forward to the specials even more now, expecting you to go out with a bang. (May I suggest Yeti?)

So long as it isn't the overdone Daleks-taking-over-the-universe story again, I'll welcome anything. How about Ice Warriors?

Albert

[2099net]

Well, there was a surprise after the Eurovision Song Contest - a "rest of the season" trailer for Doctor Who, and what a trailer it was! Lots to talk about.

The trailer starts with a scene from "Silence in the Library" where the Doctor is explaining that the fear of the dark is not "irrational"

Then a clip of Wilf (Donna's grandfather) from a later episode watching in amazement as stars disappear in the night sky. "They're going out! Oh my God, the stars are going out!"

Then we see Rose with a big gun looking all serious, then walking away from an explosion. Donna can be heard in voice over - "Rose is coming back, and no matter what's happening, isn't that good?" We then see the Doctor smile as he nods. "Yeah".

More scenes from "Silence in the Library". It appears the main monsters are re-animated skeletons in space suits (you can see the empty skull behind their face visors).

Then Daleks, lots of Daleks... (Cann's been busy since becoming the last Dalek alive... or perhaps somebody else has... somebody like...

...Davros?)

Finally Rose says "It's coming. It's coming from across the stars and nobody can stop it." Donna asks what, and Rose replies "The Darkness".

Remember Gwyneth foresaw "the Darkness" in The Quiet Undead when she "read" Rose, and the Sycorax in The Christmas Invasion were fleeing "the Darkness." I would suggest from this trailer, "the Darkness" is the expansion of the void between our and Rose's universe, and its swallowing everything in it's path.

Update: A friend's just pointed out to me that when the fob watch in Human Nature is opened, one of the voices says, 'The Darkness is coming'. It appears this year could be the conclusion of everything that's been swimming around RTDs brain from 2005 onwards.

[Escapay]

Well, there was a surprise after the Eurovision Song Contest - a "rest of the season" trailer for Doctor Who, and what a trailer it was!

What a sneaky way to get Doctor Who fans to watch the Eurovision Song Contest!

I like the Darkness theory, netty. Though it'd be a lot funnier if it turned out Darkness was really just a red-skinned Tim Curry with huge-ass horns, glow-in-the-dark nails, and hooves for feet.

Then we see Rose with a big gun looking all serious, then walking away from an explosion. Donna can be heard in voice over - "Rose is coming back, and no matter what's happening, isn't that good?" We then see the Doctor <strike>smile as he nods. "Yeah".</strike> shake his head and say "Nah...what we really need right now is Jackie and her tea!"

Much better...

Still, I'm liking the buildup to Rose's return...

Then Daleks, lots of Daleks... (Cann's been busy since becoming the last Dalek alive... or perhaps somebody else has... somebody like...

...Davros?)

If not Davros, maybe it's a Dalek-ified Harriet Jones...(I forget where I read that really out-there rumor...)

Finally Rose says "It's coming. It's coming from across the stars and nobody can stop it." Donna asks what, and Rose replies "The Darkness".

Remember Gwyneth foresaw "the Darkness" in The Quiet Undead when she "read" Rose, and the Sycorax in The Christmas Invasion were fleeing "the Darkness." I would suggest from this trailer, "the Darkness" is the expansion of the void between our and Rose's universe, and its swallowing everything in it's path.

Update: A friend's just pointed out to me that when the fob watch in Human Nature is opened, one of the voices says, 'The Darkness is coming'. It appears this year could be the conclusion of everything that's been swimming around RTDs brain from 2005 onwards.

Calling the last episode "Journey's End" makes a lot more sense now if that is true!

Albert

[Nandor]

I hope you're right about the Darkness, Netty! It would really tie the Davies-series together and I'm a big fan of that
Also, did I see sonic blasters in the trailer?
I can't wait for the rest of the series... Though I'm still a bit worried about there being too much story/too many characters cramped into the finale, this series has been very good so far and my confidence is growing ^^

[2099net]

Blah Blah Blah, Silence in the Library, Blah Blah Blah, Steven Moffat, Blah Blah Blah, superb.

Nothing else really needs to be said. Nothing else can be said, without sounding totally insane with praise.

10/10

Now more important things. It appears 2009 will be a WHO light year for more than one reason...

As most people know, Doctor Who is only to return for 3 or 4 specials (their appears to be some confusion still over the number) in 2009. Indications are each special may be 90mins (without adverts!) so that's basically 6 or 8 Doctor Who episodes if true. Not as bad as many people feared, and big enough for BBC Video to churn out another boxset in November 2009 no doubt

But the biggest disappointment is Torchwood. Just as the show found its feet (really, can anyone fault the last two episodes at all?) we're hit with a double whammy. The two of most interesting characters (IMO) were killed off! And now we find out when Torchwood returns in 2009 it will be for 5 episodes only. A bit of a shame. However Captain Jack will be in all 5 episodes.

However, it appears Torchwood is being "promoted" again to BBC1 and will be screened over 5 week nights in one week, making it "event televison". Hopefully the story will be epic in scope to justify such an action.

So it appears we're going to be missing quite a big chunk of the annual Whoniverse in 2009.

Thankfully, we still get a full season of the Sarah Jane Adventures, but even this isn't immune to change. Maria will be missing in action from most episodes, replaced with a new child female lead called Rani - no, not THE Rani... or perhaps.... well we never saw who took the Master's ring!

I'm still hoping Luke, Maria and Clyde get a cameo in this years Doctor Who finale when Sarah Jane is either picked up or dropped off!

[Escapay]

As most people know, Doctor Who is only to return for 3 or 4 specials (their appears to be some confusion still over the number) in 2009.

I always thought the plan was the 2008 Christmas Special, then three specials for 2009 (one of which will be another Christmas Special)? Then again, if there is a boxset for November 2009, then that would rule out a Christmas special, unless they attach the 2009 Christmas Special is part of the 2010 season box set.

And now we find out when Torchwood returns in 2009 it will be for 5 episodes only. A bit of a shame. However Captain Jack will be in all 5 episodes.

Only 5 episodes?

But all with Captain Jack?

However, it appears Torchwood is being "promoted" again to BBC1 and will be screened over 5 week nights in one week, making it "event televison". Hopefully the story will be epic in scope to justify such an action.

I wonder if they'll also be "extended" episodes beyond the 45-minute mark.

Maria will be missing in action from most episodes, replaced with a new child female lead called Rani - no, not THE Rani... or perhaps.... well we never saw who took the Master's ring!

That'd be interesting, if the Rani took on a child's form to escape. It would rule out a Kate O'Mara appearance, though.

I'm still hoping Luke, Maria and Clyde get a cameo in this years Doctor Who finale when Sarah Jane is either picked up or dropped off!

Ditto.

Albert

[Kram Nebuer]

And now we find out when Torchwood returns in 2009 it will be for 5 episodes only. A bit of a shame. However Captain Jack will be in all 5 episodes.

Only 5 episodes?

...

I'm still hoping Luke, Maria and Clyde get a cameo in this years Doctor Who finale when Sarah Jane is either picked up or dropped off!

Ditto.

Albert

Ditto Ditto.

But how come only 5? Are they having a writer's strike in England, too?? What's going to get done in 5 episodes? They may as well call it the special edition Torchwood Mini-Series rather than a season. I think I'd feel better with that kind of heading.


For fun (but you've all probably already seen this):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB1gB6K-2A

[Escapay]

Only 5 episodes?

But how come only 5? Are they having a writer's strike in England, too?? What's going to get done in 5 episodes? They may as well call it the special edition Torchwood Mini-Series rather than a season. I think I'd feel better with that kind of heading.

UK television is different from US television, Kram.

Plus, wouldn't you rather have 5 really well-done episodes instead of a 13-episode mix of really good stuff, some okay stuff, and some outright dull stuff?

For fun (but you've all probably already seen this):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB1gB6K-2A

That never gets old. I hope they include it in the 2008 series DVD (even though it was from 2007), if only so I don't have to keep watching it on YouTube...

Albert

[2099net]

Well somebody apparently "in the know" on The Doctor Who forums posted the following about 2009:

Perhaps I can clarify something. The reason for the 5 episode Series 3 of Torchwood is basically budgetary. In January 2007 the BBC failed miserably to get the licence fee* settlement it requested and planned for. Budget cuts have been made all over the place, and inevitably one of these is Upper Boat.

During the financial year 2007-8 there were 2 production teams working full time. This roughly equated to 9 months filming Doctor Who, 9 months filming Torchwood and 6 months filming SJA. For the financial year 2008-9 there will be just one team which will produce SJA (April - August), Torchwood (September - December) and Doctor Who (January - March). AFAIK, the plan for 2009-10 is to go back to 2 teams, with a full Series 5 of Who and a full Series 4 of Torchwood, hopefully as well as SJA Series 3.

Owing to the enormous amount of spin-off merchandise etc, what the BBC have had to do is ensure that the programmes get made, whilst at the same time making more out of less. Therefore both Torchwood Series 3 and the Doctor Who 2009 Specials will be marketed as *event television*.

Won't say any more than that on the scheduling, but I hope it all makes
sense.

The guy seems to be in the loop, he has been spot on with other "insider" information in the past.

He also says

Gwen, Ianto and Luke (from Sarah Jane Adventures) will be seen in the finale being rounded up by Daleks and marched to "the crusible". He will not comment though on if any of them have parts beyond a brief cameo, and won't even say if they have any lines or not.

As well as saying

Martha and Mickey definitely join Torchwood for the 5 episode mini-series. However, they may only be part of Torchwood for the smaller 3rd season, and the 4th will introduce a new medical doctor and computer expert.
This sort of makes sense, as being shown on BBC1 for a week, familiar names will help sell the show to those not familiar with it, and also explains why the BBC are waiting until after Journey's End before releasing any information - knowledge would obviously spoils the Dr Who season finale if true.

Other Torchwood rumours (all unconfirmed):

The rift will be closed in Dr Who - this means Torchwood will have a new mission and motive.

The Captain Jack's voice over at the start has changed again. It used end with "Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Tracking down alien life on Earth, arming the human race against the future. The twenty-first century is when everything changes. And you've got to be ready." in season 1, next season was changed to "...And Torchwood is ready" and this coming season will be "...And Torchwood was ready".

Captain John (from S2) will be involved.

The creepy Bilis Manger (from S1) will be involved. This is possible as Bilis starred in a Torchwood Novel released a few months ago, indicating the production team want to do more with the character.

"The Darkness" (Used in Torchwood to describe the limbo after death) will be involved.(I'm not sure if this is the same "darkness" as mentioned in Doctor Who repeatedly, but being as the shows have the same showrunner, you would expect some form of tieing-together?)

* As you may or may not know, the BBC is not funded by adverts, but by a payment every household who own a television set have to pay. The value of this payment is decided by the UK government. 2009 is a tight year for the BBC as the increase in the licence fee was way below inflation (they were expecting more) and the BBC has to fund most of the analogue switch off as we start to move to digital only television.

[2099net]

BBC Books have announced their Boxing Day Doctor Who novels, being Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell, The Eyeless by Lance Parkin and The Story Of Martha by Dan Abnett, with David Roden, Steve Lockley and Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett!

It's good to see Lance Parkin writing a novel again, so I may pick this up, but I'm most excited about The Story of Martha

For a year, while the Master ruled over Earth, Martha Jones travelled the world telling people stories about the Doctor. She told people of how the Doctor has saved them before, and how he will save them again.

This is that story. It tells of Martha's travels from her arrival on Earth as the Toclafane attacked and decimated the population through to her return to Britain to face the Master. It tells how she spread the word and told people about the Doctor. The story of how she survived that terrible year.

But it's more than that. This is also a collection of the stories she tells - the stories of adventures she had with the Doctor that we haven't heard about before. The stories that inspired and saved the world . . .

Featuring the Doctor and Donna.

The last bit is a bit confusing though. Donna? Perhaps this is Martha telling Donna about the "lost year" and what happened to her family, perhaps before Martha was dropped off back home again at the end of The Doctor's Daughter?

Here's a link to the cover, complete with Toclafane!
http://www.gallifreyone.com/picview.php ... artha2.jpg

oooh. I'll have to get me one of these babys!
http://doctorwhotoys.net/martha.htm

[Escapay]

Watched "The Doctor's Daughter" last night with the family (amazingly).

What a crock. It was a really good episode, but was far too rushed. I definitely agree that it should have been a two-parter and also agree that all Who stories should be two-parters. Too bad they only do 13 episodes a series, though. The selfish fan in me wants them to do 26 episodes a series (13 two-parters, yay!), but that would really take its toll on the cast and crew.

Also, I hate that I already knew that Georgia Moffett would only be in one episode, because it really would have been cool to have Jenny be a companion. Hmm...maybe Steven Moffat will bring her back in the 2010 series, or she could probably have a part in the 2009 specials.

I think if I were to rank the episodes I've seen so far, it'd look like this:

The Fires of Pompeii - probably my favorite of the season so far. It's just...well, I can't list reasons for why I love it, probably because trying to pinpoint it would take too much time.

The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky - another story I loved because of both the Sontarans (yay! or more appropriately, Sontar-Ha!) and the companion potential. I was really upset to see Private Ross Jenkins die, it'd be interesting to see how further adventures could play out if he joined the Doctor and Donna (especially since the Doctor is so anti-gun, and Ross is a happy little gun-toting UNIT soldier)

Partners in Crime - probably the best season-opener for new Who I've ever seen. Beats "New Earth" by a mile, "Rose" by...half a mile I guess, and only-slightly edges out "Smith and Jones".

The Doctor's Daughter - great, but rushed, and again, the companion potential is another reason I liked the episode.

Planet of the Ood - it was good, but it's only last because there's only 6 episodes so far. I really loved the Ood song, as well as that crazy claw-machine attack.

Albert

[2099net]

Escapay, rumour is it was Moffet who asked for Jenny to be ressurected at the end of the Doctor's Daughter. I'm sure that she'll make one or two other appearances, even if she's not going to be a companion.

Personally, I can't see her as a companion as she's too 'physical', but I can see her as an character we see once or twice per season - in the same routine Captain Jack seems to have settled into.

Last night over in the UK we had the second part of "Silence in the Library" called "Forest of the Dead". Well, what can I say? I think these two episodes, more than any others will have the fans discussing them, and issues that they raise, for years. I'm loathe to say too much as anything I say will give points away - but its far from a traditional Doctor Who story and far from a typical 'new' Who story too. It's another example of the format bending itself until its almost unrecognisable. Doctor Who rarely "does" science fiction, it tends to do "science fantasy" and while this has elements of fantasy, it also has one of the strongest element of science fiction in either series.

It's skillfully written, hits all the right notes when it comes to emotional and comic scenes and is reasonably scary (although is new catchphrase, "Hey, who turned out the lights?" is never going to beat "Are you my mummy?" or "Don't blink!") but somehow, now that we have seen the "whole" it does feel a little clinical. It has "big ideas", but they are revealed to not be as big or original as part one implied.

That's not to say its bad - far from it. But if Doctor Who is going to bend the format until it almost breaks, I prefer bitchy homicidal robots built from candy killing people by drowning them melted chocolate in a dictatorship where its illegal to be unhappy!

Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead as a whole: 8/10.

[2099net]

Well the episode title (and details) for episode 12 have been released by the BBC

Spoilers:
The Stolen Earth Ep 12/13

Saturday 28 June

Earth's greatest heroes assemble in a time of dire need, in tonight's penultimate episode in this series of Russell T Davies's Bafta Award-winning time-travelling drama. But can the Doctor's secret army defeat the might of the new Dalek Empire?

With battles on the streets and in the skies, the Doctor and Donna must brave the Shadow Proclamation to find out the truth. However, a fearsome old enemy waits in the shadows.

David Tennant plays the Doctor and Catherine Tate plays his companion, Donna Noble.


I feel I can reveal that the Daleks are back - the opening season trailer did that! (Back with a new Dalek Empire. Yes! About time too! Make them powerful and all conquering again! One of my key complaints about Evolution of the Daleks was the non-sensical ending of leaving only one Dalek alive in the whole of time and space - although hopefully that will turn out to be a plot point driving this story). I know some will be disappointed by this, especially as its another "season finale/dalek invasion" story, but I don't mind. After all, to most of the public its "Doctor Who and the Daleks" so why not? Just from the description in the spoiler space above, it appears this will be more than a normal invasion story, and it definitely has themes and concepts going back all the way to Rose in 2005!

[2099net]

Midnight

Wow. It's well known that this story was written in a hurry to replace a comissioned script that was thematically too close to another story this season (RTD mentioned as much in one of his Doctor Who Magazine Columns), but what a good one! You can tell it was written as a money saver - there's basically only one set and few characters. But that doesn't really matter - some of Who's best stories in the past have been those written to time and budget constraints... perhaps its focusses the mind or something.

It must be said the acting here, from almost everybody, is top notch. Tennant and Lesley Sharp carry this episode entirely, and do so with style. Lesley especially at the climax is chilling.

It probably is, when all is said and done, the creepiest episode of New Who to date. And like Blink, it has a "monster" that children will immediately identify with and be able to copy. It appears RTD took his inspiration for this from Moffet.

The only downside of the episode is that, its a bit like an X-Files episode. At the end, we don't find out what the "monster" was or what it really wanted. It just "was". But it makes up for that with the very ending of the episode where a long running joke has a sinister undercurrent.

And as for next week, Digital Spy has an interesting teaser preview up of the long awaited "Turn Left". In that they have a number of "facts" about the episode listed, but two are incorrect.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a10011 ... -left.html

Anyhow, these two points stand out:

The true mastermind of the ill fate that happens to Donna in this episode will be familiar to fans of one of the Doctor Who spinoff shows.

The Trickster? As speculated for a long time by myself, Nandor and other fans.

Mr Chaudhary's wandering hands cause Donna some consternation.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is the name of the new family in The Sarah Jane Adventures (of which "new girl" Rani is the daughter).

I hope these two "facts" aren't the red herrings!

[2099net]

Spoiler:
The Trickster was involved to a limited extent and got a name check. But it appears Donna wasn't specifically targeted. Shame, I really think they should have made more of this to tie the narrative in with the Sarah Jane Adventures.

Wow. What an episode, what an ending to "alternative" Donna and what an ending full stop. Why did it have to end. Why did it have to end there?

Clearly this episode was written to some extent to prove the Catherine Tate/Donna Nobel naysayers wrong. Donna is important and Donna is just as special as Rose or Martha or any other Doctor Who Companion past or present. And what a performance form Mrs Tate. Yes, there's still similariries to some of her comic creations in her acting, but that's just who she is. A defy anyone to remain unmoved by this episode.

And just as this mystery ends, the episode raises another about Donna and co-incidence.

And ZOMG! The next time trailer:
* Donna!
* Rose!
* Martha!
* Captain Jack!
* Sarah Jane!
* Luke!
* Ianto!
* Gwen!
* The Torchwood Hub
* Jadoon (but not on the moon!)
* Daleks!
* Dalek Saucers!
* A Red Dalek!
* A Menacing Electronic Laugh! [Davros]

Update: I've uploaded a page with a screengrab from each scene from the Next Time trailer.
http://www.jamesreader.plus.com/nexttime/nexttime.html

[Nandor]

We were right!
That's pretty much all I'm going to say... Though there's so much more tó say. The two words Rose said really show they're tying all new series together...

Also, next week will be the first time we see Torchwood since Exit Wounds. Curious as to how they'll work together... And very happy at least Luke is included.

But couldn't Tosh and Owen get a mention this episode? I know we won't see them nex ep and only-Who-viewers could get confused, but I wanted to hear their names...