Doctor Who Discussion

[2099net]

Well filming began last week on the 2012 series of Doctor Who, due to be shown starting in the Autumn. As before the series will include 13 episodes plus a Christmas special.

As always, the programme is about change, and this series will see Amy and Rory leave, and a new companion ("unlike any seen before" according to Steven Moffat) join the Doctor. The series will also lead into the 50th Anniversary year of 2013 - for which big things are promised including a rumoured 3D filmed episode.

It is known that later this year filming will be done in Spain. It's rumoured that this will be for an episode set in the wild west (with the crew using the location and studios famous for Leone's "spaghetti westerns" as well as using the desert like environment to represent a devastated Skaro for another story. (So yes, according to that rumour the Daleks are back).

It's also been stated that this year will revive two monsters from the 60s and the 70's. The 60's obviously cover the entire first and second Doctors' eras (my money's on The Yeti) while the 70's cover the third and fourth Doctors' eras (I think I'll hazard a guess on Sea Devils being as one was included in the Atraxi's monitoring of Earth's broadcasts in The Eleventh Hour).

Strongly rumoured alternatives though are the Ice Warriors (briefly allured to in The Christmas Invasion and The Waters of Mars), The Daemons, The Krynoids and even The Rutans (along with the Sontarans).

While The Wedding of River Song seemingly tied-up most of the loose ends of the "Death of the Doctor" story-arc, there's still plenty of questions left unanswered.

Who blew-up the TARDIS and how? The voice on the scanner was most definitely not the voice of a Silent. Was the aim in destroying the TARDIS simply to destroy the Doctor so that "The Question" wouldn't be answered? Or was the intention something more sinister? Was the intention to destroy the Universe?

The Doctor dismisses The Pandorica as a fairytale in The Pandorica Opens just as the Tenth Doctor dismissed The Toclafane in The Sound of Drums, insisting that the word was the Gallifreyan equivalent to the bogeyman. Could The Pandorica be the same? An ancient Gallifreyan fairytale? If so, given the Time Lords are no more, who could have named the device the Pandorica? And why?

With the 50th Anniversary coming up, it's not hard to follow some of the clues and come to a conclusion. Of course, it doesn't mean the conclusion is right but... surely the most likely person to be able to take control of the TARDIS would be another Time Lord?

Perhaps one of the first Time Lords involved in engineering TARDISes?

And perhaps the aim wasn't to destroy the Doctor but to Destroy the Universe? Or at least create a "crack in time" while doing so.

Could the "big bad" behind the explosion and the Silence be... Omega? Trapped in his anti-matter world, did he engineer the cracks in time to escape? Could he be manipulating the Silence movement - including giving them the knowledge to make TARDIS like spaceships - to kill The Doctor?

He certainly has a vendetta with The Doctor Arc of Infinity showed us that he wasn't above revenge. But if Omega is the master puppeteer I would expect there to be a more logical reason for wanting the Doctor dead. After all, could the Doctor's secret be Omega's too?

While we're still almost two years away from the official 50th Anniversary, this YouTube video caught my eye.

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[2099net]

Well more news and (2099net's) speculations:

Firstly its been confirmed that the the filming in Spain was for a western episode (with a cyborg bounty hunter) and the opening episode set on Skaro.

The Skaro based episode is interesting for potentially two reasons. The first is that it's going to feature (more or less) every design of Dalek throughout the show's history. Don't like the "phat" Daleks? (I do ) then don't worry - lots of Daleks will be shown, including a "Dead Planet" silver and blue model (although I'm not sure if this will have mid section slats or not meaning it will be more like a generic 60's Dalek. It will be interesting to see if any have power dishes attached or at the very least static electricity is mentioned).

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if a certain crippled genius shows up too.

Another 2099net speculation is that Sophia Myles will also star in this episode. I say that based on various Twitter posts and hints from the Grand Moff himself. Given her blonde hair and the fact the story is set on Skaro, it's not unreasonable to assume she'll be playing a Thal should she appear.

As is well known both Amy and Rory are leaving mid-season, in an episode partly filmed in New York and featuring the Weeping Angels (yawn!). Rumour has it that a certain green lady found in New York is going to be the biggest and baddest Weeping Angel yet*

Which means of course we're in for a new companion. Cast, but shrouded in secrecy (even the character's name has not been revealed) Jenna-Louise Coleman will be taking on the role, under mysterious circumstances "unlike any other companion before". It's hinted strongly the mystery will tie-in to the programme's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Coleman's character will appear in the Christmas Special (due to be filmed at the end of April/start of May) and in the remaining 8 episodes of this season. BBC News Story

It's still rumoured that this season will see the return of an iconic 60's foe and an iconic 70's foe as well as more from The Silence.

* Surely, given what we know about the Weeping Angels, it would be impossible for the Statue of Liberty to be one. Look at all the images of it captured in print and film for one thing. So I hope that rumour is wrong because that's why I'm bored of the Weeping Angels - they just don't seem to have any consistency in abilities/powers.

[Dr Frankenollie]

Because it oddly hasn't been posted yet:

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Firstly its been confirmed that the the filming in Spain was for a western episode (with a cyborg bounty hunter) and the opening episode set on Skaro.

Is the western episode the one with Mark Williams? I can't wait to see what kind of character he's playing.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if a certain crippled genius shows up too.

Hopefully Davros will do something this time, unlike in the rather lacklustre Journey's End episode. He's a wonderful villain, but if he's just used to appease fans, instead of the possibility that Moffat and co have thought of a way to reinvent him as an antagonist, then I will be disappointed. Hopefully the Skaro episode will finally be the episode to make the Daleks threatening enemies again.

As is well known both Amy and Rory are leaving mid-season, in an episode partly filmed in New York and featuring the Weeping Angels (yawn!). Rumour has it that a certain green lady found in New York is going to be the biggest and baddest Weeping Angel yet*

Agreed about the Weeping Angels being boring. They were doubtlessly terrifying in Blink, but they shouldn't have been used more than once; their second story was nowhere near as scary as their first appearance. Although it's potentially illogical and probably just a gimmick, I can't help but be excited by the idea that the Statue of Liberty is a weeping angel.

Things I want in the next series:

. Genuinely threatening Daleks
. The return of Dorium, still just as a talking head in a box
. Jim the Fish, even if he's just in a humorous cameo
. More characters from previous series returning
. A scary alien race to top the Weeping Angels

I wish the Doctor would get a male companion; Rose, Martha, Donna and Amy have covered both new ground and all the common companion cliches of Doctor Who history. I don't want another Rory or Mickey. I'm sure Moffat will do something entertaining with Jenna-Louise Coleman's character, but I still have a fear that it will be repetetive.

[2099net]

Mark Williams is strongly said to be playing Rory's dad. In fact it may have been officially confirmed, I forget. Regardless he's not in the Skaro episode.

As for scary Daleks I love the 'phat' Daleks. See them in a crowd and they really do work incredibly well. The colours help. Check out the PC adventure game or the graphic novel 'One Good Dalek' and you'll see how better they are visually being both bigger and more colourful, as well as story wise. Having different colours for different castes really helps to make the Daleks more interesting. Much like Sec did before he became the hybrid.

Of course, the hump is an issue, but I can easily live with it because (a) if directed and shot well, its exposure should be limited and (b) hopefully this year we will see it being used as a storage device.

Davros in Journey's End was a little underused, true. But the idea of him creating a new race of Daleks from himself- literally- and then them turning on him does exactly what you want - it makes the Daleks scarier by showing has callous and single-minded they are. Sadly, this wasn't made clear and his imprisonment was more like jolly-japes. I think Russell was trying to convey that despite turning on him, the Daleks were still afraid of him because they needed him.

I also think there was an element of the child outgrowing the parent. We all outgrow our parents at some point and go out and live an independent life. But deep down, we still need our parents. For advice, help and support. I think there was some of this in how the Daleks treated Davros in Journey's End.

Sadly this complex relationship was never really shown or addressed on screen. It's a shame because a story examining such a relationship is worth telling. It certainly is more interesting that the Daleks killing Davros or Davros reprogramming the Daleks which we've had in the past. Personally I think it's all the programme can do with Davros if he is to remain connected to the Daleks, have the two of them squabble but have each party aware each needs the other. The only other thing the they can do with Davros is remove him from the Daleks completely as some Big Finish dramas have almost (but not quite - unless you count his origin series 'I Davros') done. But would the wider public accept Davros without the Daleks?

But enough about this... any ideas for the returning 60's and 70's monsters? I'm still thinking Omega will somehow be involved with the anniversary. Would Omega count as the 70"s monster? Or would that have to be an alien race? CGI Wirrn would be good don't you think?

[Dr Frankenollie]

I've watched a load of NuWho episodes recently, and even if parts of the older stuff are dated (like 2005's Bad Wolf, which is stuffed with slightly cringe-worthy pop culture references despite a fantastic cliffhanger), they are still hugely entertaining. I also think that Matt Smith is the best of the three NuWho Doctors; he more believably captures the otherworldly, alien feel to the Doctor, and comes across as a funny old man in a young body. He also channels Patrick Troughton, from what I can tell and what I've seen of Troughton.

Christopher Eccleston is pretty underappreciated as the Doctor, considering he only had one series and was overshadowed by David Tennant. Yet in only one series he became a fantastic Doctor, with a great character arc: aggressive, ruthless and lonelier than ever following the Time War with the Daleks, he is softened by his human companions and learns to love life again. He's also hilarious in The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, but that can be attributed to Steven Moffat's sublime writing.

I have a theory about the 50th Anniversary, Omega and the Silence: the Silence isnt following Omega. They're opposing him. We know that they don't want the Doctor's name to be said, so maybe it's a password or the key to unlock a deadly being's prison...Omega's anti-matter prison? I wouldn't be surprised if crazy old Omega wanted to destroy all of reality like Davros; maybe the Silence heard the same prophecy Dorium Maldovar foretold, and now they want to stop the Doctor's name from being revealed.

But why was River able to speak the Doctor's name in Silence in the Library? Maybe it only works when the Doctor says it, or on his birthplace...aka Fields of Trenzalore, which I think could be on Gallifrey.

So if the Silence is opposing Omega and they want to kill the Doctor for the greater good, then who's possibly leading them? Either the original Silent monsters themselves/Madam Kovarian, or the Master. Maybe after being pulled back into the Time War with Rassilon, Gallifrey and the Skaro Degredations in The End of Time, the Master - who always went to desperate measures to survive - escaped the time-lock through a crack, or during the Big Bang II, or when the fixed point of the Doctor's apparent death in Series 6 was broken.

[2099net]

What's good about Eccleston's Doctor is that he doesn't do much himself. His Doctor is more about staying in the background and inspiring others to act. In retrospect the Time War affected him more than was initially suspected.

If you watch his stories, most of the time the danger is averted because his presence has affected and changed other people - Rose in.. er.. Rose. Gwyneth in The Unquiet Dead. Pete Tyler in Father's Day. Captain Jack in The Doctor Dances. Even episodes like The End of the World or World War III other people's sacrifices or actions are important: Jabe in The End of the World and Mickey's hacking in World War III.

The only two times he is going to directly act, it's against Daleks. First in Dalek and secondly in The Parting of the Ways. Both times he backs down - the first because of Rose and the second because of the cost his actions would have.

I find this interesting. The "first" Nu-Who is similar to the First Doctor who also spent time observing and influencing rather than directly acting. Of course for most of his era, Hartnell had more companions to act; a necessity when the actor was so old. But the parallels are there. I must say recently I've grown to like Harnell's Doctor a lot more - Billy-fluffs included!

Looking back, its pretty obvious Tennant's Doctor was a reaction to Eccleston's. Like Davison was cast as the direct opposite to Tom Baker, the character of the Tenth Doctor is the opposite of The Ninth. Tennant's Doctor became God-like in status, a far cry from the Ninth's era. You only have to see Simm's hyper-active Master to see, in retrospect, how active the Tenth Doctor was. A good Master should always be a dark mirror of the current Doctor, but exaggerated. While Simm's Master has plenty of detractors, I'm not one of them. (But I prefer him in The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords to Tennant's specials).

The fact that the hero can have two approaches that in some ways are somewhat opposed shows how strong the series is. Of course, there's plenty about The Doctor that remains the same no matter who plays the role, or how the character is written. But there's also so much which is different.

Both Eccleston and Tennant were more or less confident. Smith is more bumbling and awkward. While I agree Smith is the best of the Nu-Who's (with Troughton being my favourite of the "classic" Who's that probably won't be a surprise) I don't think the Eleventh Doctor would work as most people's introduction to the character.

The Ninth Doctor's era was more about other people around the Doctor (Rose, Mickey, Jackie... story specific "companions" like Jabe and Lynda). The Tenth was more of an "action" Doctor. As viewers we were slowly (re)introduced to The Doctor, saw him perhaps at his height of his power. Having seen them both, we can now see and accept the somewhat eccentric and muddled (but still mentally brilliant) Eleventh.

As for Omega. I like the theory. Of course, Omega is just a theory, but it sort of makes sense. I've been told the different sounding "Silence Will Fall" said in the TARDIS was the Silents, but at the time they didn't have a voice worked out, so we got what we got. But I like the Doctor's name being a password - and again going back to "classic" Who (and ignoring the New Adventures which I don't class as "prime" canon*) it's been strongly hinted The Doctor was a contemporary of Omega and Rassilon.

I really don't know what is going to happen with the Silence plot-line. But I'm certain its not over. For one thing, I don't think all of the Silents are loyal to the religion. Why would the one in the Whitehouse bathroom tell Amy to ""tell the Doctor what he must know, and what he must never know", when he/they could still remain hidden? He must have been rebelling against the Order's plans?

I'm pretty sure it will all come to a head for the 50th anniversary.

* Basically anything on screen beats anything in print only. So while the Looms etc are still part of "my" Doctor Who, I won't be upset if they are ignored or contradicted on TV.

[Dr Frankenollie]

If you watch his stories, most of the time the danger is averted because his presence has affected and changed other people - Rose in.. er.. Rose. Gwyneth in The Unquiet Dead. Pete Tyler in Father's Day. Captain Jack in The Doctor Dances. Even episodes like The End of the World or World War III other people's sacrifices or actions are important: Jabe in The End of the World and Mickey's hacking in World War III.

Good observations. I like how the Ninth Doctor is able to inspire and influence ordinary people to save the day rather than doing so himself; even though he doesn't take direct action as much, it shows how powerful and brilliant he is, moreso than if he'd saved the day all the time rather than people like Gwyneth, Mickey and Pete.

I watched "New Earth" today, when Rose began to lose her charm and she and Tennant became a bit too smug and cocky for my liking. Regardless, the Doctor possessed by Cassandra is hilarious, and I like the idea of the Flesh being used as lab rats by the Cat Nurses.

[Dr Frankenollie]

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[DisneyDude2010]

Finally, it's been forever since it was last on!

Wish Amy Pond wasn't being killed off though

[Dr Frankenollie]

Finally, it's been forever since it was last on!

Wish Amy Pond wasn't being killed off though

Why? It's about time to get rid of her, before she becomes more overdone than Rose. Although I love Rory, I've never been very fond of Amy...she's okay in some episodes, but often seems to serve as mere eye candy.

[Avaitor]

Karen Gillian is adorable, but Amy borderlines on tolerable to being one of the biggest bitches in the galaxy. I often feel like Rory can do much better than her.

But really, you have to give the Ponds credit. This is the first time in decades that the same Doctor and companion(s) have stuck around for more than a season. It's about time Eleven broadens his horizons a little.

[bradhig]

Nooooo I only wanted the new Daleks not anymore of those gold ones. I wrote a story about the new Daleks and Mechanoids in 1918 and now it's wrecked cause those gold ones were brought back due to stupid fans who wouldn't keep their mouths shut. Why do I always get hurt by other people's hate.

[2099net]

I have to agree. I'm disappointed by this step backwards. The new Daleks look superb when seen en-masse - check out the PC games, the PS3 game or the graphic novel "The Only Good Dalek". I hate to say it, but giving the Daleks colours does give them more of a personality. Just as Sec was easily identifiable and a personality.

I don't mind the colours. They're similar to the old Dalek TV21 strips. Red as the common solider caste colour is an odd choice (surely blue would have been better and more traditional with existing classic Dalek colours) but why shouldn't Daleks be colourful? It's not as if Bronze/Gold is the height of camouflage is it?

There's something bold about an enemy having the guts to be highly visible. Red Daleks remind me of the English redcoats who had the arrogance to think themselves superior and unbeatable, especially when conquering "primitive" societies when building an Empire. Sound familiar?

Yes, the "humps" do look ugly. But I can live with them if we get to see them in use (they're supposed to be used for storage) and I can see the vents on the back being used to direct the Dalek when hovering. The humps do somewhat spoil the design, but if the promise of the design is shown on screen, I think that they could have (ultimately) become a good point.

Now, out of all the Daleks we'll see in Asylum of the Daleks, do you think we will see one without power slats? I'll be as giddy as a school girl if we see one without slats AND with a power dish attached to the back (like the Dalek Invasion of Earth Daleks)!

[Dr Frankenollie]

Nooooo I only wanted the new Daleks not anymore of those gold ones. I wrote a story about the new Daleks and Mechanoids in 1918 and now it's wrecked cause those gold ones were brought back due to stupid fans who wouldn't keep their mouths shut. Why do I always get hurt by other people's hate.

They're not bringing the gold and bronze Daleks back because of hate from the fandom for the more colourful 2010 Daleks; they're bringing them back because the main attraction of Asylum of the Daleks is that every single Dalek in the history of the show will appear.

[2099net]

Actually, I don't think that's the case. Many statements in DWM from both Gatiss, Moffat and even Smith seem to indicate that the new Daleks, while still being around, will be a sort of superior "officer class". Also the trailer shows a few new Daleks, and about 600 trillion bronze Daleks.

If they're all CGI, I'm sure some CGI new Daleks could easily have been knocked up.

The new graphic novel which will be published later this year (which I have forgotten the name of, sorry) shows the bronze Daleks and only the bronze Daleks.

I think that there is certain back-peddling going on at the production office because of the complaints and outcry. Remember, just as there was the outcry when Billie Piper was cast, or even more with Catherine Tate's casting.

Just goes to show, fans are obviously batting 1 to 1 when it comes to justified whinges and complaints and they all obviously know what's best for the show.

It's a shame. I personally feel the new Daleks should have been allowed to grow. I'm against retcons most of the time, and I'm especially against retcons for no artistic reason and just to placate a vocal minority of tossers basically.

[DarthPrime]

I personally like the bronze ones better, but the new Daleks are not bad. They should have been given a chance to grow, but making them a superior class might work out ok.

New series looks good based on the trailer. Can't wait until it starts.

[Dr Frankenollie]

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[2099net]

Well, at first I was all, "It totally is! WTF!"

Then I convinced myself I was wrong.

Then I saw I was right.

And as well as _that_ total mindf**k, there's two other twists!

Please, of you're not in the UK or have not seen Asylum of the Daleks, please, please avoid all spoilers. Fore knowledge will impact on your enjoyment.

[Avaitor]

I'm waiting for BBC America's premiere at 9 tonight. This feels like the longest 3 and a half hours of my life.

[bradhig]

It the squids. There tons of them.