The 2008 Doctor Who DVD thread (R1 & R2) TV Movie in USA

[2099net]

Battlefield extras at the BBFC. Looks like a Special Edition.

00:06:35:22 WATERTANK
00:08:05:15 FROM KINGDOM TO QUEEN - JEAN MARSH IN DOCTOR WHO
00:11:59:16 PAST AND FUTURE KING - WRITING 'BATTLEFIELD'
00:22:29:06 STORM OVER AVALLION - MAKING 'BATTLEFIELD'
00:06:59:08 BATTLEFIELD - PHOTO GALLERY
00:18:55:09 BATTLEFIELD STUDIO RECORDING - 1ST JUNE 1989
00:05:08:23 (TRAILS AND CONTINUITY)

All in all that's about 80mins. I wonder if this will be a 2 disc set (as previously rumoured for a while) with an alternative edit on the second disc. 80mins plus 90mins for the actual story (and possibly a 5.1 remix and a 5.1 isolated score) seems like a lot to squeeze on one disc.

[Escapay]

Battlefield extras at the BBFC. Looks like a Special Edition.

00:06:35:22 WATERTANK
00:08:05:15 FROM KINGDOM TO QUEEN - JEAN MARSH IN DOCTOR WHO
00:11:59:16 PAST AND FUTURE KING - WRITING 'BATTLEFIELD'
00:22:29:06 STORM OVER AVALLION - MAKING 'BATTLEFIELD'
00:06:59:08 BATTLEFIELD - PHOTO GALLERY
00:18:55:09 BATTLEFIELD STUDIO RECORDING - 1ST JUNE 1989
00:05:08:23 (TRAILS AND CONTINUITY)

All in all that's about 80mins. I wonder if this will be a 2 disc set (as previously rumoured for a while) with an alternative edit on the second disc. 80mins plus 90mins for the actual story (and possibly a 5.1 remix and a 5.1 isolated score) seems like a lot to squeeze on one disc.

The extras sound solid (I'm wondering what "Watertank" is, is it a vintage TV piece?) and I'm looking forward to its arrival in the States. Hopefully it means that the Season 26 boxset comes out at the same time (I've avoided buying "Ghost Light" and "The Curse of Fenric" in anticipation of the boxset), so I could kill three birds with one stone.

Is it confirmed who's on the commentary yet?

80 minutes seems good for a Special Edition, and it should fit on the disc shouldn't it? Mark of the Rani has about 90 minutes of extras and fits well with the episodes and audio tracks.

I wouldn't mind seeing an alternative movie edit, and wish they'd do it on other titles to (as an alternative). I tried editing Earthshock twice, once as a movie (making it about 75 minutes) and again as a modern New Who episode (got to about 57 minutes and I couldn't cut it down any more although I wanted to get it down to 45).

albert

[MK Sharp]

I'm wondering what "Watertank" is, is it a vintage TV piece?

Wouldn't that be the BBC safety training film featuring the out-take where Sophie Aldred is in the watertank and the glass shatters?

[Escapay]

Ah, thanks MK.

BBFC passed "Battlefield" again, and it also included a Season 26 Trailer, so I assume a boxset for all four stories (Battlefield/Ghost Light/The Curse of Fenric/Survival) is not a day-and-date release as Battlefield? If it's like the Davros set and has a boxset-exclusive, I can't imagine what it would be as all four stories are pretty filled-up as far as extras go and I doubt they'll be including "Dimensions in Time". Perhaps they'll include a redux SE of the TV Movie with new documentaries. Unfortunately if they did that, that means that the US boxset wouldn't include it...

Also, it's interesting that the runtime for Battlefield is for one program, was classified as additional production material, and is actually shorter (94 minutes) than the regular runtime (96 minutes) of the four episodes. Could this be another Fenric-esque movie edit, re-instating more deleted material than the 2 minutes that was in the 1998 VHS?

DOCTOR WHO - BATTLEFIELD Video Feature
Classified 25 September, 2008 . Run Time 96m 27s


01:34:55:22 DOCTOR WHO - BATTLEFIELD
00:01:31:08 DOCTOR WHO (SEASON 26 TRAILER)

And I failed to see until today that a trailer for Full Circle/State of Decay/Warriors' Gate was passed on the 17th, making the E-Space trilogy the most likely choice for January 09 boxset.

VideoTrailer 17/09/2008 2 entertain Video Ltd. 1m 11s DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - STATE OF DECAY & WARRIORS' GATE

albert

[2099net]

I was probably a little over-excited about Battlefield being a special edition after the disappointment of some of the recent releases (Four to Doomsday, War Machines and K9 and Company) all being somewhat extras light and all having great potential in my mind for some informative supplements. Also the fact Special Editions and Standard Editions now share the same price point over here is still a bit of a downer (its basically a 40% price increase on Standard Editions) even though realistically they're cheap on-line and still a bargain considering all the care and effort that goes into them.

BBFC passed "Battlefield" again, and it also included a Season 26 Trailer, so I assume a boxset for all four stories (Battlefield/Ghost Light/The Curse of Fenric/Survival) is not a day-and-date release as Battlefield? If it's like the Davros set and has a boxset-exclusive, I can't imagine what it would be as all four stories are pretty filled-up as far as extras go and I doubt they'll be including "Dimensions in Time". Perhaps they'll include a redux SE of the TV Movie with new documentaries. Unfortunately if they did that, that means that the US boxset wouldn't include it...

I'm sure if the boxset was coming out we'd have heard about it - or at least rumours from insiders would have surfaced by now. I know the plan is to do boxsets, but I don't actually see one coming out before the new year.

Dimensions in Time cannot be released, because on contracts signed with the talent and production staff at the time who gave their work for free being as it was for charity. It also can't be repeated. So its "pickled in time, like gerkins in a jar" for all eternity. Some would say that was a good thing.

Also, it's interesting that the runtime for Battlefield is for one program, was classified as additional production material, and is actually shorter (94 minutes) than the regular runtime (96 minutes) of the four episodes. Could this be another Fenric-esque movie edit, re-instating more deleted material than the 2 minutes that was in the 1998 VHS?

DOCTOR WHO - BATTLEFIELD Video Feature
Classified 25 September, 2008 . Run Time 96m 27s


01:34:55:22 DOCTOR WHO - BATTLEFIELD
00:01:31:08 DOCTOR WHO (SEASON 26 TRAILER)

The restoration team have consistantly taken stuff off the DVDs which were added to VHS releases as "bonuses" - see the DVD releases of Carnival of Monsters (extended final episode only included as alternative scenes), The Stones of Blood [UK Reissue] (something about ravens and post office I really can't recall - but its on as a deleted scene)and Inferno (Jon Pertwee as the radio announcer) so it could simply be the RT sticking to the transmitted episodes if something was added to the VHS.

However, as I'm sure you will have noticed, the BBFC have become a lot more descriptive in their descriptions recently, and I cannot see them listing 4 episodes as one entry if they were given them with episodic breaks (which I'm sure they are). So I'm hoping it will be a movie style re-edit - Battlefield would benefit from it. It's a shame you're holding out on Fenric Escapay, as being as you like Remembrance I know you'll love Fenric, the extended edition especially.

I think a re-release of the TV Movie is all but confirmed - out of all the early DVD releases, the TV Movie is the one that potentially has the most content that can be added (I'd love to see a 8th Doctor Stripped for Action, not one of his DWM strips was below excellent). I predict we may see this before the end of 2009 on 2 discs. I also think the RT are itching to re-do Spearhead from Space too - I'm sure just from an audio/visual point of view, a new release would be a huge improvement.

I was excited about the trailer because I love the "8891 Royal" track on the Doctor Who 25th Anniversary Soundtrack Album, but then I realised this is the music from the 25th season trailer, not 26th. I can't recall a season 26 trailer, so its probably like the 8891 Royal trailer, in that it was created purely for in-house showing and promotion.

And I failed to see until today that a trailer for Full Circle/State of Decay/Warriors' Gate was passed on the 17th, making the E-Space trilogy the most likely choice for January 09 boxset.

VideoTrailer 17/09/2008 2 entertain Video Ltd. 1m 11s DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - STATE OF DECAY & WARRIORS' GATE

albert

Sorry, this was brought up on the DoctorWhoNews page on Monday or Tuesday of this week - it is indeed coming in the "next few months". Personally, I can't wait to see Warrior's Gate after the RT finish with it!

So I guess The War Games has been pushed back again.

[Escapay]

Dimensions in Time cannot be released, because on contracts signed with the talent and production staff at the time who gave their work for free being as it was for charity. It also can't be repeated. So its "pickled in time, like gerkins in a jar" for all eternity. Some would say that was a good thing.

I know, I just like being cheeky and suggesting it. It's got one great moment (IMO) and that's when Victoria screeches to the Doctor "Who was that terrible woman?!?" Something about that line...

However, as I'm sure you will have noticed, the BBFC have become a lot more descriptive in their descriptions recently, and I cannot see them listing 4 episodes as one entry if they were given them with episodic breaks (which I'm sure they are).

The commentary was passed as 4 episodes, and I'm sure that they commentators were watching the original transmitted version rather than the VHS one (which only adds 2 minutes apparently?) and the 4 episodes collectively was still 2 minutes more than the single feature that was passed. Hopefully this does mean that a movie version is available.

It's a shame you're holding out on Fenric Escapay, as being as you like Remembrance I know you'll love Fenric, the extended edition especially.

I know, I've been wanting Fenric ever since I read about it. I had the opportunity to get it (and Ghost Light) when I was in Florida back in July, but I remember reading that Battlefield was planned for an end-of-year release, so I held off since it'd be cheaper for me to get the eventual boxset than it would to have gotten all four stories separately. (Of course, I already have Survival, so that would be a re-buy, but it'd be worth it).

I predict we may see this before the end of 2009 on 2 discs.

I'm smiling because the DVD will get its due and have loads of new features, but I'm crying because R1 will likely never get it unless Universal decides to be nice and distribute it for the BBC, or sell the distribution rights back to them. Or perhaps Universal's rights run out in 2009 and then we can get it...

I also think the RT are itching to re-do Spearhead from Space too - I'm sure just from an audio/visual point of view, a new release would be a huge improvement.

I'd love for it to get a re-do in the special features as well. Mainly so they can give it a documentary about the changes they made to the show (casting Pertwee, filming in colour, keeping him on Earth, re-introducing UNIT, etc.). Or they could even just have a new interview with Caroline John discussing her single season.

Sorry, this was brought up on the DoctorWhoNews page on Monday or Tuesday of this week - it is indeed coming in the "next few months". Personally, I can't wait to see Warrior's Gate after the RT finish with it!

Woohoo!

netty

[2099net]

just posted on the Doctor Who News page

Infomation from the BBFC website indicates the titles of four more stories due to be released on DVD in 2009. From the First Doctor's era The Rescue and The Romans will be released as a double set. The Rescue is a two parter featuring the arrival of Maureen O'Brien as Vicki, while The Romans is a four part romp set around the court of the Emperor Nero. Both stories were first shown in 1965. From the Sixth Doctor's era we have The Twin Dilemma which was Colin Baker's debut story, shown in 1984 and Attack of the Cybermen, first shown in 1985.

Presumably the 2 sequential 6th Doctor releases will be a double release too, presumably with one as a "standard". It will be a shame if Attack is the standard, as it has a controversial production history, but it will also be a shame if Twin Dilemma is a standard, being Colin's first.

Curse you increased Doctor Who DVD production schedule! Curse you!

Oh and browsing the Doctor Who Forum, it appears that a movie edit for Battlefield is confirmed (although dropping more than enough hints, Steve Roberts doesn't go as far as to confirm anything). It sounds like the new edit may include some (or all) of the following:

* A tighter edit; many repeated or redundant shots are removed or shortened (Sadly, it appears the "Boom." "Boom?" "Boom!" exchange when discussing pottery pigs and nitro-9 will be shortened).
* Colour grading on the location scenes – to darken the sky and ambient lighting making it look like storm is coming/taking place
* New effects
* New/Extended soundtrack cues
* More deleted scenes than on the VHS instated – the VHS was limited by the existing soundtrack

So it appears that although shorter, the new edit will include more deleted scenes than the VHS release because the story will have a total re-edit and re-scoring to give it a faster, more modern pace.

Of course, unlike a certain director who's name rhymes with "Leorge Gucas", the restoration-team will not only ensure the original as transmitted episodes are available on the same release, but will also ensure that both versions have the optimum restoration and clean-up. Yay!

[Escapay]

Some extras for E-Space showed up in BBFC...

DOCTOR WHO - STATE OF DECAY Video Feature
Classified 30 September, 2008 . Run Time 94m 52s

00:22:24:12 DOCTOR WHO - STATE OF DECAY - PART ONE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:23:17:00 DOCTOR WHO - STATE OF DECAY - PART TWO (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:24:15:14 DOCTOR WHO - STATE OF DECAY - PART THREE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:24:54:14 DOCTOR WHO - STATE OF DECAY - PART FOUR (AUDIO COMMENTARY)

DOCTOR WHO - DVD EXTRAS - WARRIOR'S GATE Video Feature
Classified 30 September, 2008 . Run Time 77m 44s

00:27:09:02 THE DREAMING (MAKING OF)
00:19:39:09 THE BOY WITH THE GOLDEN STAR (FEATURETTE)
00:01:02:15 (EASTER EGG)
00:18:57:15 LALLA'S WARDROBE - A FROCKUMENTARY (FEATURETTE)
00:01:59:12 (CONTINUITY)
00:04:44:14 WARRIORS' GATE - PHOTO GALLERY
00:04:11:07 (DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES)

DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE Video Feature
Classified 30 September, 2008 . Run Time 93m 53s

00:22:54:12 DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE - PART ONE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:23:48:06 DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE - PART TWO (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:22:15:16 DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE - PART THREE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:24:54:09 DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE - PART FOUR (AUDIO COMMENTARY)

The extras for "Warriors' Gate" sounds interesting, especially that "frockumentary"! I do hope that "The Boy With The Golden Star" is an interview with Matthew Waterhouse about his time on the show (similar to Frazer Hines' "Highlander", Janet Fielding's "Mouth on Legs", and Peter Davison's "Being Doctor Who"), and not a 19-minute bashing of Adric by everyone else. Or perhaps it could be like "Little Girl Lost" in which they discuss the why-for of the character's creation, as well as a general interview with its portrayer.

albert

[2099net]

Odd that an Adric retrospective would be on Warrior's Gate rather than Full Circle. Makes me wonder what is on the Full Circle disc that squeezed it out.

The Trial of a Time Lord

Wahoo! I finally got it!

Unlike most people, I actually like Trial. I suspect this is because this was the first season of Doctor Who that I recorded onto video so managed to see it again (and again… and again) and the structure of the trial holds up better on compressed, sequential viewings rather than the one episode per week instalments as originally shown. Also the two part finale is one of the most imaginative stories of WHO in the 1980s, and while it's often criticised (rather unfairly in my opinion), "Terror of the Vervoids" is an absolute gem. Yes, people don't talk like people do in a Pip and Jane script, but somehow it doesn't really matter. For all its faults, "Vervoids" is a solid story, realised in a slightly theatrical manner… and I don't think the theatre damages the production… in some respects I think it improves it by making it more distinctive. Colin seems to like the style… "Vervoids" is without a doubt the ultimate 6th Doctor story and performance.

I've not watched any of the episodes – I'm quite familiar with most of them (I don't like "Mindwarp" at all so I've not viewed those as many times as the other Trial episodes) so here's a brief rundown on the supplements I've viewed so far:

Trials and Tribulations
Well this is the flagship documentary of the release, and probably of the entire range (although I don't feel that if beats the excellent Origins on the Beginning boxset). Now, I totally expected this to be a "bitch fest" from start to finish, but its not. There's undoubtedly some suspect comments from certain individuals, but on the whole it’s a clear retelling of that period of the show's history. (Although I never really understood the phrase Passive-Aggressive, but after seeing Saward's interviews, I think I do now). What struck me the most was the "story" ultimately wasn't about shadow conspiracies between BBC upper management, or hard pressed creative WHO staff battling against all odds. It was about people. Powell quite clearly does nothing to hide his dislike and indifference for the programme and rather revealingly Saward pauses for a second? half-a second? when discussing Robert Holmes death and looks like he may start to cry… just for an instant. Showing that even Saward's sensational walk-out and its effect on the show was most likely not pre-planned, or designed to stick a knife in JNTs back, but was the actions of overworked and highly-stressed man at a emotional dark-spot in his life.

The Various Making Ofs
Each segment of the trial has its own making of, running between 15 and 25 minutes (from memory) and they're up to their usual high-standard. Of course, "The Ultimate Foe" has the most interesting making of, what with the Saward situation, but all four are top notch documentaries.

Sadly, there's a few notable omissions – no Nabil Shaban in the "Mindwarp" making of being the most lamentable omission. But of course, not everyone is available when these documentaries are shot.

The Missing Season
I was a little disappointed with this. Somehow I expected more detailed synopsis of the commissioned but dropped stories, and also a little more research. Surely more was known about Holmes' Yellow Fever commission? Still, it’s a fair approximation of what could have been I suppose.

Cliff-hangers
Absolutely loved this. It's fun, light hearted, nostalgic but also somewhat informative in that is has a good critical appraisal of the various type of cliff-hangers and how and why each works (or doesn't). It even includes cliff-hangers from New Who. My only complaint is why the constant captions beneath each contributor – there was only three, so its not likely we'll forget who's who.

Now and Then
I generally have a problem with the Now and Then concept – often the locations haven't changed that much – hardly surprising when most WHO locations are chosen to represent the past so tend to be buildings or locations already historically preserved. However, this Now and Then opens with a wonderfully informative mini-history of location filming.

I've not watched any of the archive footage from other BBC shows yet. I can still vaguely remember some of them – for instance monsters on Wogan and the now infamous "Open Air" attack on JNT and Pip and Jane. That was car crash TV and I'm not sure how I'll feel about it viewing with retrospect. I will say that after you hear how Pip and Jane stepped into the breech and effectively "saved" the whole 14 episodes by writing the final episode, they didn't deserve to exposed to such a negative crowd.

[2099net]

Bad News Escapay. Recall those Elephants!

Somebody on TheDoctorWhoForum has a copy of the Series 4 boxset and says...

Re: Xmas '08, 2009 Specials, Series 5 (and beyond?) Spoilers [Part 6]

Did I read that right? There's not much DT Video diary this year compared to the last two boxsets? If so that is a shame, I love his video diary's. So informative. I will be looking out for a thread on more box-set details...

you read right. one segment was filmed on the day when he turned on the blackpool lights and the other during filming the finale.

Yes, that's right. Two segments. And that's it.

So the DWM comment about "... the most stunning package of extras to date" seems to have a lot to live up to now...

[Escapay]

Bad News Escapay. Recall those Elephants!

Elephants, recall!

Somebody on TheDoctorWhoForum has a copy of the Series 4 boxset and says...

Re: Xmas '08, 2009 Specials, Series 5 (and beyond?) Spoilers [Part 6] you read right. one segment was filmed on the day when he turned on the blackpool lights and the other during filming the finale.

Yes, that's right. Two segments. And that's it.

I guess that explains the half-hour runtime.

The video diaries are probably the best extras on the sets (some audio commentaries need only be listened to once, and the Confidential Cutdowns just aren't enough), so hearing that Tennant only filmed for two segments is rather disappointing.

Perhaps to make up for it, they offer video diaries from other cast, since it was mentioned before that they did film them.

So the DWM comment about "... the most stunning package of extras to date" seems to have a lot to live up to now...

True. Especially when compared to Classic Who.

BTW, BBFC passed for State of Decay...

DOCTOR WHO - DVD EXTRAS - STATE OF DECAY Video Feature
Classified 06 October, 2008 . Run Time 65m 33s

00:20:23:04 THE VAMPIRE LOVERS - THE MAKING OF 'STATE OF DECAY'
00:03:31:23 (CONTINUITY) (PRE AND POST CREDITS TELEVISION FOOTAGE)
00:05:32:00 (FILM TRIMS) (SPECIAL EFFECTS OUTTAKES SHOT ON FILM)
00:04:00:13 STATE OF DECAY - PHOTO GALLERY
00:17:02:01 LEAVES OF BLOOD - LITERARY VAMPIRES (FEATURETTE)
00:10:28:02 THE BLOOD SHOW (FEATURETTE)
00:04:34:21 THE FRAYLING READING

Seems solid enough, though the Adric feature on Warriors' Gate would probably fit better here as you said.

And commentary for Full Circle...

DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE (EP 1-4 COMMENTARY) Video Feature
Classified 06 October, 2008 . Run Time 92m 48s

00:24:23:16 DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - PART ONE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:22:11:12 DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - PART TWO (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:21:56:18 DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - PART THREE (AUDIO COMMENTARY)
00:24:16:01 DOCTOR WHO - FULL CIRCLE - PART FOUR (AUDIO COMMENTARY)

Trial (and Morbius, but I can wait for Morbius) comes out today and I'm still debating whether to get that or Sleeping Beauty now, and the other one later. On the one hand, one is a four-disc set of quite an engaging story in Who history for one of the more underrated Doctors. On the other hand, the other is a two-disc set with the wrong aspect ratio and a smattering of extras that may or may not be worth it after all if it's just the same old glory and praise for Disney with a few production details and stories thrown in.

albert

[2099net]

The making of for State of Decay should have been "Vampire Circus" being as that film stars Lalla (its still on my PVR unviewed from a BBC1 showing earlier this year).

As for the video dairies one theory is that a full video diary was planned, but of course David's mother died during the filming of Voyage of the Damned and (understandably) David's priorities changed. I see Kylie is reported to have a video diary though from Voyage of the Damned. It will be interesting to see if David is shown filming stuff in the background.

Reportedly this year all the commentaries are new (not podcasts) and 6 of the new commentaries feature David Tennant.

[Escapay]

As for the video dairies one theory is that a full video diary was planned, but of course David's mother died during the filming of Voyage of the Damned and (understandably) David's priorities changed. I see Kylie is reported to have a video diary though from Voyage of the Damned. It will be interesting to see if David is shown filming stuff in the background.

That's understandable. I don't think I'd want to keep filming a diary in that condition.

Reportedly this year all the commentaries are new (not podcasts) and 6 of the new commentaries feature David Tennant.

Isn't that always the case, though? I don't remember any of the podcast commentaries being on the DVD (with the exception of R1's "Last of the Time Lords").

albert

[2099net]

Reportedly this year all the commentaries are new (not podcasts) and 6 of the new commentaries feature David Tennant.

Isn't that always the case, though? I don't remember any of the podcast commentaries being on the DVD (with the exception of R1's "Last of the Time Lords").

albert[/quote]

I think on S2 and S3 both Xmas Specials reused podcast commentaries. S2 definitely did.

[2099net]

Disappointing: Boxset contents revealed

"Stunning package" my ass.

[Escapay]

Disappointing: Boxset contents revealed

Damn you, BBC and 2|e.

The reduced content for Tennant's video diaries is understandable. But come one...that's all you can offer? The usual content and a 30-minute recap of the past four seasons?

albert

[pap64]

I honestly don't know why I don't follow this series often...

I never knew anything about "Dr. Who" till my friends showed me an episode of the first season of new Dr. Who. I thought it was simply brilliant...

Its a series that is epic, well written, suspenseful and fantastic, yet still has a sense of humor about it.

Cassandra, the evil woman who was so obsessed over being young that she turned into a living piece of skin? Fantastic.

The episode in which the Doctor takes her to see the end of Earth? Incredible.

The first Christmas special? OMG NEW DOCTOR!!!!!!!

The episode with Rose's father? Uh, I nearly died.

I saw ALL of Season 1 and thought the whole thing was incredible. I only saw a few episodes of season 2, though I did watch nearly all of season three with Martha.

The Master story arc fantabulous and all kinds of epic win...I just got chills thinking about the amazing plot twists.

I REALLY gotta watch season 2, and catch up on season 4....

[Escapay]

I honestly don't know why I don't follow this series often...

Watch more Who, pap! And look into the classic series as well! You'll be surprised at the gems you'll find there.

I saw ALL of Season 1 and thought the whole thing was incredible.

Except for "The Long Game". It had such potential but became a semi-useless filler episode that simply set up for the finale.

I only saw a few episodes of season 2

I've got a love/hate relationship with season 2, and in retrospect, I'd probably consider it the weakest of the four seasons. First, it changes Rose from a spunky-but-still-cautious girl into a mere lovesick puppy for the Doctor. Her exit was great, though, and I nearly cried, but I became really annoyed with her by the end of the season. Second, they never address what happened to Captain Jack, so in the Whoniverse, we have to wait for Torchwood and the end of Season 3 to get the answer. And even then the Doctor's reasons for leaving him are still quite obscure and don't make much sense. Third, did they really have to make "Love & Monsters"? I know it's a metaphor for Who fandom and all, but the entire episode is quite dreadful to watch, even if the characters were rather interesting. As the Doctor-Lite episode, it succeeds in making it about the Doctor without featuring him a lot. But as a story on its own, it's probably the season's weakest episode.

The best thing that season two has going for it can be summed up in four consecutive episodes: "School Reunion", "The Girl in the Fireplace" (my favorite of all the Doctor Who stories), "Rise of the Cybermen", and "The Age of Steel".

, though I did watch nearly all of season three with Martha.

What did you think of "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood"? That was probably my favorite in the entirety of the third season, with the highly-quotable "The Shakespeare Code" a close second.

albert

[pap64]

OK, Scaps, I am bad with remembering episode titles, so bear with me...

"The Long Game" is the one in which the characters are stuck in parodies of TV shows and if they lose they die? If so yeah, it wasn't anything special.

"The girl in the fireplace": That's the one with the girl the doctor meets when she's a girl, and comes to protect her at adulthood from those mannequins, right? If so, yeah it was a lovely episode and gave fans a pairing to never forget .

"School Reunion": Is that the one where the Doctor meets one of his old companions along with the robot dog?

Like I said, I missed season 2 completely, save for the Christmas episode and a couple of episodes.

"Human Nature": Hmm...Is this the one that first introduces The Master? The one where he's building a rocket in order to save humanity, but then reveals what happens to them?

I missed like the first 5 episodes or so, but saw the entire Master story arc.

Let me try to recall the whole series of event. See if I am off, Scaps:

In one of the earlier episodes we learn that when he uses a watch he can forget who he really was, for years even. We learn this in an episode in which the Doctor forgets who he really is and starts a new life as a teacher in a boarding school. Martha then tries to convince him who he really is. Later on when the Doctor recovers his memories they find both Jack and a human camp lead by a friendly doctor. His plan is to save humanity by sending them on a rocket to another planet.

Near the end of the episode he realizes who he is, and we are told that he is really the Master, and that the whole plan was evil. He then changes forms and turns into a cheeky politician in hopes of winning and enslaving humanity.

Then, when the Doctor confronts him, he is defeated and the Master turns him into an old person. Later on, he becomes even older. So old that he shrinks and is kept in a cage, watching as the Master's plans unfold.

We then learn that the orbs that invade Earth are really the people that were in the Master's rocket, and have turned evil, with no life of empathy and mercy left.

This sends Martha on a worldwide quest to find a way to restore the Doctor, defeat the Master and save Earth. She manages to be successful and the third season ends with things coming back to normal.

I also remember the episode which dealt with completely new characters, and the Doctor is sending them warnings about evil statues through video. Which episode was that again. I thought it was very, very cool.

[Escapay]

OK, Scaps, I am bad with remembering episode titles, so bear with me...

Hehe, I'm not always good with titles either (even some episodes of "Friends" I get wrong even though they're all "The One With...". I used to refer to "The One With Frank Jr." as "The One With The List" because that's where the laminated five-celebrities-you-can-sleep-with-and-your-partner-can't-complain list came from, when in actuality "The One With The List" is where Ross makes a list of reasons why he should/shouldn't be with Rachel or Julie. But I call that one "The One With Mockolate" because of Monica's struggles at making something good with mockolate). But for "Doctor Who" it's fairly easy to remember/memorize, at least for me.

"The Long Game" is the one in which the characters are stuck in parodies of TV shows and if they lose they die? If so yeah, it wasn't anything special.

Actually, that's "Bad Wolf" and "Parting of the Ways", the first season finale. "The Long Game" is the unofficial second part of "Dalek", as it has the Doctor, Rose, and new companion Adam arriving on Satellite Five, the mighty Jagrafess, Simon Pegg as the Editor, etc. It did nothing more than set up the backstory for "Bad Wolf"/"Parting of the Ways" and to expel Adam's character from the TARDIS.

"The girl in the fireplace": That's the one with the girl the doctor meets when she's a girl, and comes to protect her at adulthood from those mannequins, right? If so, yeah it was a lovely episode and gave fans a pairing to never forget .

Yep, it's that one! I swear, I've seen that episode more times than any other and always tear up at the end. Both this one and season four's "Silence in the Library"/"Forest of the Dead" deal with women who meet the Doctor at various stages of their life, very much like Audrey Niffeneger's The Time Traveler's Wife (a girl meets her future husband when she's 6 and he's 32, meets him intermittantly for the next several years, then meets him "for real" when she's 20 and he's 28 ). And along with "Blink", they're Moffat scripts too!

"School Reunion": Is that the one where the Doctor meets one of his old companions along with the robot dog?

Yep! Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 (Mark III). Funnily enough, in the classic series, the Doctor never was seen with K-9 Mark III (only Mark I and Mark II), as he was sent to Sarah Jane for Christmas (in "K-9 and Company"). It was this story that eventually brought about "The Sarah Jane Adventures", the delightful spin-off where Sarah Jane (sans K-9, unfortunately) has various alien encounters on Earth with a few kids (one of them being her adopted son Luke, a "human archetype" created by the Bane). The first season was recently released on DVD (and has the great "Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?").

Like I said, I missed season 2 completely, save for the Christmas episode and a couple of episodes.

When you get the chance, you must watch it all. Especially the 4-episode run I mentioned. Easily the best 4-episode run in the entire four seasons (with the best 5-episode run being all of Captain Jack's episodes in the first season, even "Boom Town", though I don't think netty thinks that highly of it anymore?)

"Human Nature": Hmm...Is this the one that first introduces The Master? The one where he's building a rocket in order to save humanity, but then reveals what happens to them?

That's "Utopia".

"Human Nature" is...

The one you described in white like this, where the Doctor is a human named John Smith and all his memories are stored in the fob watch. The second part is "The Family of Blood", which has one of the most poignant final scenes you'll ever watch in the series.

I missed like the first 5 episodes or so, but saw the entire Master story arc.

Aw, so you missed out on "The Shakespeare Code" and "Gridlock"! And you missed the obligatory Dalek story ("Daleks in Manhattan"/"Evolution of the Daleks"), but you're not missing much.

In one of the earlier episodes we learn that when he uses a watch he can forget who he really was, for years even. We learn this in an episode in which the Doctor forgets who he really is and starts a new life as a teacher in a boarding school. Martha then tries to convince him who he really is. Later on when the Doctor recovers his memories

"Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood".

they find both Jack and a human camp lead by a friendly doctor. His plan is to save humanity by sending them on a rocket to another planet.

Near the end of the episode he realizes who he is, and we are told that he is really the Master,

"Utopia"

and that the whole plan was evil.

It wasn't. When he was Yana he was a good man.

He then changes forms and turns into a cheeky politician in hopes of winning and enslaving humanity.

Then, when the Doctor confronts him, he is defeated and the Master turns him into an old person. Later on, he becomes even older. So old that he shrinks and is kept in a cage, watching as the Master's plans unfold.

We then learn that the orbs that invade Earth are really the people that were in the Master's rocket, and have turned evil, with no life of empathy and mercy left.

This sends Martha on a worldwide quest to find a way to restore the Doctor, defeat the Master and save Earth. She manages to be successful and the third season ends with things coming back to normal.

"The Sound of Drums" and "Last of the Time Lords".

I also remember the episode which dealt with completely new characters, and the Doctor is sending them warnings about evil statues through video. Which episode was that again. I thought it was very, very cool.

That's Steve Moffat's excellent "Blink", which is best watched in the dark (if you're not a child, as it can give you nightmares).

albert