Doctor Who *spoilers*

[Captain Jim]

Dammit, I can't read half of this cuz I only just got thru watching season 1!!! OOH I can't believe Christopher Eccleston only did one season! That sucks.

Be of good cheer. Eccleston was good, but Tennant is even better.

[IamtheRock3]

just know it a lot of accusation of being to PC if it was a female doctor

least here in the states. Dont know how you brits would react

[mattx110]

Except his character Gene Hunt just got his own series which is now filming. His character is now a DCI in 1981 London. Right up your alley Paul....

tennants still on for another season. maybe glenister will get tired of being the most badass man in the universe and downgrade just a little.;)

[king mob]

Except his character Gene Hunt just got his own series which is now filming. His character is now a DCI in 1981 London. Right up your alley Paul....

Except it isn't the Gene Hunt spin-off series initial reports suggested. Ashes To Ashes looks very much like Life On Mars but with a female lead and set in 1980.

[king mob]

just know it a lot of accusation of being to PC if it was a female doctor

least here in the states. Dont know how you brits would react

Apart from Outpost Gallifrey imploding, we'd be fine as long as it wasn't Jordan.

[SPAfreak]

Except it isn't the Gene Hunt spin-off series initial reports suggested. Ashes To Ashes looks very much like Life On Mars but with a female lead and set in 1980.

I like the female lead so I hope that it doesn't suck. I'm rather pessimistic about it but I still have a little hope.

[ragnarok_2012]

Be of good cheer. Eccleston was good, but Tennant is even better.

Tennant is a fine Doctor.

Eccleston is my favorite Doctor.

[ragnarok_2012]

Here's an interesting rumor (http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/14453728.html).

I must say, though, I do like Ben Kingsley.

[Sanagi]

Hmm, Davros. I have mixed feelings about that idea.

I honestly wish they'd take the intensity of the show down a notch. I feel like they've burned through a lot of potential for long-term story material in the name of making each season more dramatic and shocking, particularly in the handling of the Master.

[king mob]

Here's an interesting rumor (http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/14453728.html).

I must say, though, I do like Ben Kingsley.

A month ago it was Dennis Hopper as Davros. These rumours are just The Sun scouring OG for any half-arsed rumour and printing it.

[ChrisIII]

If Davros is coming back, why not use Terry Molloy (80s/audio Davros)? They brought back Elisabeth Sladen and John Leeson, they can bring back Terry as Davros (He's been playing Davros in the audio dramas, anyway). All they need to do really is update the Davros 'look' a bit.

[ragnarok_2012]

If Davros is coming back, why not use Terry Molloy (80s/audio Davros)? They brought back Elisabeth Sladen and John Leeson, they can bring back Terry as Davros (He's been playing Davros in the audio dramas, anyway). All they need to do really is update the Davros 'look' a bit.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/08/Human_dalek.jpg

[DC/Marvelfan]

I've never really watched the show much, old or new, but I've always been curious, why does Dr. Who change bodies?

[Sean Walsh]

Considering the fact that the Doctor has basically always been "the last of his kind," I think the regenerations are just to explain why there's a new actor playing the Doctor from time to time. ;)

[The Zapper]

It's how he regenerates. I'm sure someone better than me can give you a very detailed description though.

[Cyke]

I suppose this thread can be moved to the Doctor Who thread.

To answer your question, he doesn't really switch bodies, he 'regenerates.' This Time Lord ability happens whenever their bodies are too damaged to live any longer (old age, radiation poisoning, getting shot, etc. etc). The body is more or less new in appearance with the same mind and spirit, but the personality is usually different and unique than the other incarnations. Some incarnations have skills, specialties, and/or powers that others don't have as well.

There is a limit, though: Time Lords tend to have 12 regenerations, for a total of 13 lives. And, thanks to regeneration, the Doctor is at least 900 years old.

Real world answer: if an actor wants to quit playing the Doctor, another actor can be brought in and the same character can live on.

[king mob]

If Davros is coming back, why not use Terry Molloy (80s/audio Davros)? They brought back Elisabeth Sladen and John Leeson, they can bring back Terry as Davros (He's been playing Davros in the audio dramas, anyway). All they need to do really is update the Davros 'look' a bit.

Terry Molloy has been living the Davros dream for years now. He often yurns up at conventions doing signings looking a little lost as kids ask 'who's he?'.

[DC/Marvelfan]

I suppose this thread can be moved to the Doctor Who thread.

To answer your question, he doesn't really switch bodies, he 'regenerates.' This Time Lord ability happens whenever their bodies are too damaged to live any longer (old age, radiation poisoning, getting shot, etc. etc). The body is more or less new in appearance with the same mind and spirit, but the personality is usually different and unique than the other incarnations. Some incarnations have skills, specialties, and/or powers that others don't have as well.

There is a limit, though: Time Lords tend to have 12 regenerations, for a total of 13 lives. And, thanks to regeneration, the Doctor is at least 900 years old.

Real world answer: if an actor wants to quit playing the Doctor, another actor can be brought in and the same character can live on.
Cyke, thank you very much for the answer, I was always curious about that, it's somewhat what I suspected. And yeah I always thought it's an easy way for that character to live on if an actor, for whatever reason, isn't going to be on the show anymore. It's a good idea. the creator was smart with that one.

Hey Cyke, one more thing, I love your Avatar. Cyclops rules!

[Super J.]

I feel like they've burned through a lot of potential for long-term story material in the name of making each season more dramatic and shocking, particularly in the handling of the Master.

I was thinking the same thing. How are they meant to top the last season finale.

[darkhanamaru]

Except it isn't the Gene Hunt spin-off series initial reports suggested. Ashes To Ashes looks very much like Life On Mars but with a female lead and set in 1980.

But he is her partner isn't he? that was my understanding...

[mattx110]

now that there is officially only one dalek in existence that isn't stuck in the void (that's been closed at least twice pretty damn tightly). and the last plan of using humans to create a new dalek race failed, cahn or khan or whatever his name was, the last dalek, would probably seek out davros to try to rebuild the dalek race.

so if they decide not to bring him back ok, but it can work if they do. that way they can do another dalek story without having a "oh wait, there are more daleks but we didn't know about them" type thing to make the daleks more of a threat.

[ragnarok_2012]

I was thinking the same thing. How are they meant to top the last season finale.

Off the top of my head:


Bring back the Master-They left an obvious out with the Flash Gordon ring ending
Bring back the Time Lords/create new Time Lords
Show this mysterious Time Agency
Take the TARDIS away from the Doctor for an extended period of time
Do a team up between Doctors-possibly via Pete's World

[jadrax]

Actually Davros would make sense for series 4.

Each series they have brought back a bad guy that was associated with a particular doctor.

Daleks First
Cybermen Second
Master Third
Davros would fit as Forth.

[ragnarok_2012]

Actually Davros would make sense for series 4.

Each series they have brought back a bad guy that was associated with a particular doctor.

Daleks First
Cybermen Second
Master Third
Davros would fit as Forth.

If they really wanted to go cosmic (and do it using Tom Baker era characters), they could always bring back the Black Guardian. :)

[Sanagi]

Actually Davros would make sense for series 4.

Each series they have brought back a bad guy that was associated with a particular doctor.

Daleks First
Cybermen Second
Master Third
Davros would fit as Forth.
Interesting point. If that reasoning works, picking a villain for the fifth series might be troublesome... The Black Guardian, maybe? Although there wouldn't be much point unless they rehash Turlough as well.

[Sanagi]

If they really wanted to go cosmic (and do it using Tom Baker era characters), they could always bring back the Black Guardian. :)
Whoops, beat me to it.

I'd almost think they wouldn't do the Black Guardian just because he's fundamentally a "Ha ha ha, I'm evil" kind of bad guy without anything to make him interesting.

[ragnarok_2012]

Whoops, beat me to it.

I'd almost think they wouldn't do the Black Guardian just because he's fundamentally a "Ha ha ha, I'm evil" kind of bad guy without anything to make him interesting.

I'd assume he'd be substantially reworked as a character, like RTD & company did with the Master.

Though the Tom Baker era character I'd most like to see would be Romana.

Romana is made of awesome.

[ragnarok_2012]

Maybe the next series will be all about E-Space.....

We'll find out that Catherine Tate's character is really, really good at math.

[Sanagi]

I'd assume he'd be substantially reworked as a character, like RTD & company did with the Master.
Yeah, but the Master has the premise of "Rogue Time Lord / the Doctor's Adversary" going for him. The Black Guardian is just a standard issue Satan wannabe who is only noteworthy for being in two of the longer story arcs of the series. I'm not saying they couldn't reinvent the character, but it hardly seems worth the effort.

Though the Tom Baker era character I'd most like to see would be Romana.

Romana is made of awesome.
That would be cool, even if it does mean retconning the "last X in the universe" thing again.

[ragnarok_2012]

Yeah, but the Master has the premise of "Rogue Time Lord / the Doctor's Adversary" going for him. The Black Guardian is just a standard issue Satan wannabe who is only noteworthy for being in two of the longer story arcs of the series. I'm not saying they couldn't reinvent the character, but it hardly seems worth the effort.


I'm pretty happy with the current mix of new material and mining/reworking of old material.


That would be cool, even if it does mean retconning the "last X in the universe" thing again.

I fully expect the Time Lords to return in time.

[lonewolf23k]

Well, you could justify an entire Season/Series using the Black Guardian and another quest to assemble the Key to Time.

As for making him more then just a "standard issue Satan Wannabe", that's easy.. Just give him some extra personality, maybe give him an image makeover as well. Considering he's the anthropomorphic personification of chaos and entropy, appearance and personality traits could be just a matter of perception.

For an added twist, instead of the White Guardian (the personification of Order) being a protector of the Status Quo, he could be just as dead-set on insuring his side's victory as the Black Guardian, and the Status Quo is maintained by the fact neither the White nor the Black Guardian can overpower the other.

Thus, in a cosmic battle across time and space between the forces of Order and Chaos, the Doctor would have to champion Balance, to ensure neither force defeats the other, and thus cause the Universe to either disintegrate into entropy, or freeze into cold stasis...

[ragnarok_2012]

Well, you could justify an entire Season/Series using the Black Guardian and another quest to assemble the Key to Time.

As for making him more then just a "standard issue Satan Wannabe", that's easy.. Just give him some extra personality, maybe give him an image makeover as well. Considering he's the anthropomorphic personification of chaos and entropy, appearance and personality traits could be just a matter of perception.

For an added twist, instead of the White Guardian (the personification of Order) being a protector of the Status Quo, he could be just as dead-set on insuring his side's victory as the Black Guardian, and the Status Quo is maintained by the fact neither the White nor the Black Guardian can overpower the other.

Thus, in a cosmic battle across time and space between the forces of Order and Chaos, the Doctor would have to champion Balance, to ensure neither force defeats the other, and thus cause the Universe to either disintegrate into entropy, or freeze into cold stasis...

What if the Black Guardian chose his own champion....

...and it was the Master?

[mattx110]

What if the Black Guardian chose his own champion....

...and it was the Master?

hey! way to bring back john simm without it feeling cheap. dna imprint on ring=same regeneration of the master?

[ragnarok_2012]

hey! way to bring back john simm without it feeling cheap. dna imprint on ring=same regeneration of the master?

Either that, or we'll see his wife become the Mistress.

The Master has a long, proud history of taking over other people's bodies.

[Pól Rua]

What if the Black Guardian chose his own champion....

...and it was the Master?

Replace Black with White and you've got a story there.
I'm sure The Master wouldn't mind an orderly universe, as long as he's the one in charge of it.
Having it just be the Master vs the Doc with a mysterious being behind it, the Doc eventually figures it's the Black Guardian.
Close! Close, but no cigar, I'm afraid.

Then have the Black Guardian offer to help the Doctor out, and you've got a great story where the Doctor has to use the resources of his enemy to defeat a worse enemy.
The only problem being, if he defeats the Master/White Guardian, there's nothing to stop the Black Guardian. He's gotta figure out a way to neutralize one without handing the keys to the universe to the other.
That spells drama to me.

[ragnarok_2012]

Replace Black with White and you've got a story there.
I'm sure The Master wouldn't mind an orderly universe, as long as he's the one in charge of it.
Having it just be the Master vs the Doc with a mysterious being behind it, the Doc eventually figures it's the Black Guardian.
Close! Close, but no cigar, I'm afraid.

Then have the Black Guardian offer to help the Doctor out, and you've got a great story where the Doctor has to use the resources of his enemy to defeat a worse enemy.
The only problem being, if he defeats the Master/White Guardian, there's nothing to stop the Black Guardian. He's gotta figure out a way to neutralize one without handing the keys to the universe to the other.
That spells drama to me.

I am so on board for this.

The mysterious entity that turns out to be the Black Guardian would, of course, tempt the Doctor with the return of the Time Lords.....

"You won't have to be alone anymore, Doctor..."

[ChrisIII]

Actually DC/Marvelfan, regeneration was not part of the concept of the original idea, although the Doctor's alien nature sort of was. I think that the BBC originally didn't have much faith in the show until the ratings for THE DALEKS (Second story) poured in, and figured Hartnell, the first Doctor, wouldn't need a replacement.


It didn't really spring up until the mid-60s when Hartnell, was getting frail (Although he lasted another decade) and they needed a replacement-hence Patrick Troughton. The original concept was actually for Troughton to be a younger version of Hartnell's Doctor, but that pretty much went out the window with the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee. I think Gerry Davis is probably the one who could be credited with the idea, although I'm not sure.


There have also been 'alternate' Doctors in various spin-off media. Peter Cushing, David Warner, Richard E. Grant and a few others have played "non-canon" Doctors, and a comedy sketch was made in the late 90s featuring Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Richard E and others as the Doctors.

[Howard Allan]

Actually DC/Marvelfan, regeneration was not part of the concept of the original idea, although the Doctor's alien nature sort of was. I think that the BBC originally didn't have much faith in the show until the ratings for THE DALEKS (Second story) poured in, and figured Hartnell, the first Doctor, wouldn't need a replacement.


It didn't really spring up until the mid-60s when Hartnell, was getting frail (Although he lasted another decade) and they needed a replacement-hence Patrick Troughton. The original concept was actually for Troughton to be a younger version of Hartnell's Doctor, but that pretty much went out the window with the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee. I think Gerry Davis is probably the one who could be credited with the idea, although I'm not sure.


There have also been 'alternate' Doctors in various spin-off media. Peter Cushing, David Warner, Richard E. Grant and a few others have played "non-canon" Doctors, and a comedy sketch was made in the late 90s featuring Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Richard E and others as the Doctors.


Rowan Atkinson as The Doctor would be epic.

[mattx110]

Rowan Atkinson as The Doctor would be epic.

if hugh laurie can be a serious respected actor... it's only a matter of time.

[Magneto_X]

I've never really watched the show much, old or new, but I've always been curious, why does Dr. Who change bodies?

Look up Doctor Who on wikipedia and click on "regenerations". It will answer all your questions.

[Magneto_X]

There is a limit, though: Time Lords tend to have 12 regenerations, for a total of 13 lives. And, thanks to regeneration, the Doctor is at least 900 years old.


Is it 900 all up or 900 years for just that regeneration?

[mattx110]

Is it 900 all up or 900 years for just that regeneration?

925 years for all the regenerations so far. and i think he might age slower than humans, and have about a million off-screen adventures to make the 900 years make sense. otherwise we have a man who lived 880 years as william hartnell and only had to regenerate in the last 40. and that doesn't make sense.

[Magneto_X]

now that there is officially only one dalek in existence that isn't stuck in the void (that's been closed at least twice pretty damn tightly). and the last plan of using humans to create a new dalek race failed, cahn or khan or whatever his name was, the last dalek, would probably seek out davros to try to rebuild the dalek race.

so if they decide not to bring him back ok, but it can work if they do. that way they can do another dalek story without having a "oh wait, there are more daleks but we didn't know about them" type thing to make the daleks more of a threat.

I'm sick of Daleks for now.

Leave it for a season or two.

They're becoming frighteningly close to Voyager Borg after season 3.

[Magneto_X]

Show this mysterious Time Agency


More will be revealed in Torchwood's next season.

James Marsters' character is a Time Agent!

[Magneto_X]

Interesting point. If that reasoning works, picking a villain for the fifth series might be troublesome... The Black Guardian, maybe? Although there wouldn't be much point unless they rehash Turlough as well.

Surely the Black Guardian can be used in other ways besides being linked to a mortal ex-companion?

He's an uber-cosmic deity, after all.

[Magneto_X]

What if the Black Guardian chose his own champion....

...and it was the Master?

IIRC the Master has worked for him before.

[TotalWorldDomination]

What if the Black Guardian chose his own champion....

...and it was the Master?

That would be glorious... I feel like the White and Black will be/should be the next big bads, after all the Daleks need a rest, they said that the master will not be back next year so the Black Guardian would make a great return.

Was'nt there some talk that the ring thing forshadowed the return of the Rani?

[ragnarok_2012]

More will be revealed in Torchwood's next season.

James Marsters' character is a Time Agent!

I am not a fan of Torchwood, alas.

That would be glorious... I feel like the White and Black will be/should be the next big bads, after all the Daleks need a rest, they said that the master will not be back next year so the Black Guardian would make a great return.

Was'nt there some talk that the ring thing forshadowed the return of the Rani?

I guess we'll see in series 4.

I tend to assume that the Master's wife is the one that took the ring.

[Legato]

More will be revealed in Torchwood's next season.

James Marsters' character is a Time Agent!

Heres hoping he has a longer stint on Torchwood that he did on Smallville.

[Cyke]

925 years for all the regenerations so far. and i think he might age slower than humans, and have about a million off-screen adventures to make the 900 years make sense. otherwise we have a man who lived 880 years as william hartnell and only had to regenerate in the last 40. and that doesn't make sense.

My own personal theory is that the Doctor is well over 900 years old and is otherwise being vague about his age beyond that. The Seventh and Eighth Doctors both claimed to be over 1,000 years old, but the Ninth Doctor says something along the lines of '900 years of phone box travel,' which could mean that he's aged 900 years since the very first Hartnell episode (according to Wikipedia, fan-theory would put Hartnell at around 236 when he originally stole the TARDIS, which would then put him at 1,136 currently. It would be consistent with what the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Doctors have been telling the viewers).

And, also, we really don't know for sure how much time the Fourth, Seventh, and Eighth Doctors spent alive. If one wants to follow the convoluted Season 6B theory, the Second Doctor is even older as well. But then, when all that is taken into account, that means some incarnations only lived a few years, while others lived for a handful of centuries.

Of course, that's just my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it. I realize the current show keeps saying '900,' but the Doctor's so cheeky at times that it could mean anything, really.

[Cyke]

Edit: Double-postage.

[Sanagi]

I think the best way to reconcile the Doctor's age with old continuity is to assume he doesn't know and is just making that number up. After all, why would you bother to keep track of your own age when you're a time traveler? Maybe he just prefers to claim that he's under a thousand years old.

Of course, Doctor Who continuity is a topic so twisted it's almost not worth thinking about in the first place...

[Kaled]

Let's not forget the White Guardian promised the Doctor he would face the Black Guardian a third and final time at the end of Enlightment and as far as I know that story has not happened yet.

[Cyke]

Of course, Doctor Who continuity is a topic so twisted it's almost not worth thinking about in the first place...

I respectfully disagree. If you turn the topic of Doctor Who Continuity into a drinking game, then hilarity ensues!

[Magneto_X]

Just had a thought.

The woman who picked up the Master's ring could be the Sinister Woman (the blonde "agent" who Martha's mother talked to in 42).

[Spike-X]

How are they meant to top the last season finale.

By not making it utter shite?

[Spike-X]

Either that, or we'll see his wife become the Mistress.


I'd be happy for her to become my mistress!

[Doodle Bob]

After all, why would you bother to keep track of your own age when you're a time traveler?

Actually, a harder question to answer would be *how* he keeps track of his age. What counts as a year? Presumably his sense of time would not be divided up neatly into days/weeks/months/years like those of us stuck within one time system. The TARDIS might keep track of these things for him, but it seems to me that the concept of age would be much more liquid -- and meaningless -- to a Time Lord than to a human.

[Sanagi]

By not making it utter shite?
I think the issue is that in terms of drama, there's not much further they can go. With the series 3 finale they finally had a story so big that only a reset button could fix things at the end, something that the series has usually been good about avoiding.

After "Doomsday" I felt like they should reign in the intensity a bit... I think "Last of the Time Lords" demonstrates why it would have been a good idea.

[king mob]

By not making it utter shite?

Ach, it wasn't that bad. Just wait until next year when Catherine Tate hilariously says 'she's not bovvered' as the Daleks level Cardiff.

[Sanagi]

So apparently the latest tabloid rumor is that Joan Collins will play the Rani. Sounds like fake news to me. The Rani is a pretty interesting character, but she isn't that fondly remembered, having only appeared in two not-so-good episodes. It's also much too soon to pull another retcon on the "last of the time lords" idea. On the other hand, this isn't the first rumor about the Rani.

Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a72574/collins-to-star-as-doctor-who-baddie.html?rss

[Karl H]

The Valeyard appears from a relatively unpopular era in the series's history, so I'm not sure we'll see the character. If you listen closely to the dialogue, he's not really a future Doctor per se but rather an 'amalgamation' of the Doctor's dark side. We see similar 'phantom' time lords in Planet of the Spiders (For Cho Je) and Logopolis (For Tom Baker's Doctor).


Then again, they brought the Macra back, from an episode nobody's really seen since the 60's (It's one of the completely missing serials apart from a few small clips). So anything's possible.

Hmmm. It does sound like Onslaught from the X-men too much for me! Lol!

Off the top of my head:


Bring back the Master-They left an obvious out with the Flash Gordon ring ending
Bring back the Time Lords/create new Time Lords
Show this mysterious Time Agency
Take the TARDIS away from the Doctor for an extended period of time
Do a team up between Doctors-possibly via Pete's World


1 I'd prefer for series 5
2 I thought we were going there this time - I was convinced For the US folks the Utopia was Gallifrey
3 Could be good but I'm reserving judgement
4 Kind of been done a bit
5 Not a big fan of Doctor team ups

[
I'm sick of Daleks for now.

Leave it for a season or two.

They're becoming frighteningly close to Voyager Borg after season 3.

Yeah s3 was too much for me.

[ChrisIII]

There's another rumor that possible spoilers (highlight) Peter Davison will return as the fifth Doctor. Interestingly, the rumor originated with the Seventh Doctor, Sylvestor McCoy in a recent interview

[Toku King]

I think that the Daleks are perfect villains for the Doctor. I was completely ok with them appearing as much as they did.
With that said, they need to bring back other famous baddies like Davros(which has been rumored to be the 'big bad' of season 4), the Exxilions, Sontarans, and, of course, the Zygons.

[ragnarok_2012]

I was fine with how much the Daleks have been featured so far. I just think that the series 3 episodes with Daleks in them were bland.

Melonhead:

My point, though, was that there are plenty of options left for Doctor Who. I disagree with those who feel there's nowhere else to go from here on the show.

[Cyke]

Gotta love how, despite all the new monsters and aliens popping up these days, the legends are always the Big Bads. But I'm iffy on having Davros be the Big Bad for S4.

[SPAfreak]

Gotta love how, despite all the new monsters and aliens popping up these days, the legends are always the Big Bads. But I'm iffy on having Davros be the Big Bad for S4.

I'm pretty sure that the biggest bad of all in the Whoverse is the budget and occasional lazy writing. The Master be damned, it's the Accountant that the good Doctor has to worry about.

[king mob]

So apparently the latest tabloid rumor is that Joan Collins will play the Rani. Sounds like fake news to me. The Rani is a pretty interesting character, but she isn't that fondly remembered, having only appeared in two not-so-good episodes. It's also much too soon to pull another retcon on the "last of the time lords" idea. On the other hand, this isn't the first rumor about the Rani.

Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a72574/collins-to-star-as-doctor-who-baddie.html?rss

File this under bollocks. The last thing I saw Collins in was a shocking bad UKIP advert with Robert Kilroy-Silk.

Actually Kilroy could be Davros......

[ChrisIII]

The Exillions only appeared in one serial, "Death to The Daleks".


As for the others, the Judoon were fairly similar to the Sontarans in appearence, so it's possible there's a connection there; the Zygons have been featured in a Tenth Doctor novel.


The problem with Davros is similar to that of the Borg Queen in Trek....he sort of takes something away from the Daleks/overshadows them etc. with the possible exception of Rememberance Of The Daleks which focuses more on the hunt for the Hand Of Omega and the Dalek civil war.


However, with the Macra showing up in season 3, it's possible we might see more long-gone villains like the Yeti.

[Toku King]

1. Exillions are famous, no matter how many serials they were in.
2. So what if the Zygons were in the book(which I am reading)? Base it off the book, then!
3. Your opinion doesn't matter to BBC(no offense) with Davros. He's already rumored, and I don't doubt it.

[Cyke]

I'm pretty sure that the biggest bad of all in the Whoverse is the budget and occasional lazy writing. The Master be damned, it's the Accountant that the good Doctor has to worry about.

Well, that goes without saying. The Accountant is also the one who toppled the mighty Federation/Klingon/Romulan Alliance in DS9.

[Pól Rua]

Interesting point. If that reasoning works, picking a villain for the fifth series might be troublesome... The Black Guardian, maybe? Although there wouldn't be much point unless they rehash Turlough as well.

...or you could just use Adam Mitchell instead.

[Sanagi]

There's another rumor that possible spoilers (highlight) Peter Davison will return as the fifth Doctor. Interestingly, the rumor originated with the Seventh Doctor, Sylvestor McCoy in a recent interview
Sounds far-fetched but I'd love to see it happen.

The problem with Davros is similar to that of the Borg Queen in Trek....he sort of takes something away from the Daleks/overshadows them etc. with the possible exception of Rememberance Of The Daleks which focuses more on the hunt for the Hand Of Omega and the Dalek civil war.
Exactly... The Daleks tend to be more interesting on their own than with Davros.

...or you could just use Adam Mitchell instead.
Meh.

M-E-H. Meh.

[king mob]

The Exillions only appeared in one serial, "Death to The Daleks".


Death To The Daleks is bloody awful. Even the title shows you how much they really didn't care for the Daleks in that story. Really, it is crap because they simply don't have the budget (or a script) to do a decent story.

Which leads me on to the Time Flight/Arc Of Infinity DVD set which I finally finished watching last night. Arc is actually very good & much better than I remembered it, Time Flight is just an example of how bad JNT era Who could get. A story that can't work on the budget & a poor script mixed with some quite admirable ambition led to a disaster which is at least more fun than things like Timelash.

[Karl H]

I was fine with how much the Daleks have been featured so far. I just think that the series 3 episodes with Daleks in them were bland.

Melonhead:

My point, though, was that there are plenty of options left for Doctor Who. I disagree with those who feel there's nowhere else to go from here on the show.

Yeah cool. I recognise that, I was just throwing in my tuppence worth! that's all..

[Toku King]

Death To The Daleks is bloody awful. Even the title shows you how much they really didn't care for the Daleks in that story. Really, it is crap because they simply don't have the budget (or a script) to do a decent story.

It was iffy, I guess. The Daleks were too much of pussies, though. Also, the music was dreadful, a good bit of it made no sense(how does holding a laser gun open a door?), and the story was slow. On the bright side, though, we got the City Puzzle scenes, and even an Underground Exxilon that was really likable. Heck, I wanted him to be a companion!

[ChrisIII]

I still don't get the comment about the Exillons being 'famous'. While they might appear in the occassional Doctor Who commeration or fan video and the meuseum exhibits, I don't think they belong in the same league as the Daleks, Cybermen, Master, Zygons, Sontarans etc....

[Sanagi]

I still don't get the comment about the Exillons being 'famous'. While they might appear in the occassional Doctor Who commeration or fan video and the meuseum exhibits, I don't think they belong in the same league as the Daleks, Cybermen, Master, Zygons, Sontarans etc....
Google can't even come up with a decent picture of one.

Edit: Although it helps if you spell it right. It's "Exxilon." The second X is silent, you see...

[Cyke]

I still don't get the comment about the Exillons being 'famous'. While they might appear in the occassional Doctor Who commeration or fan video and the meuseum exhibits, I don't think they belong in the same league as the Daleks, Cybermen, Master, Zygons, Sontarans etc....

I'm not so sure why Zygons are classified as popular, either. I mean, we've only seen them on screen how many times? Even the Slitheen have made more appearances, and have been referenced mroe.

[ChrisIII]

The Zygons show up in Tom's regeneration, I believe, as one of the flashbacks. They also appear in the Brigidiar's memories in Mawdryn Undead. Although it's kind of cheating, a Zygon Harry appears in Ressurection of the Dalek's "Brain-drain" flashbacks :) Plus the Zygons have appeared in at least two original novels and a few comic strips.


I think the appeal of the Zygons lies in the fact that they were one of the better-realized aliens from the classic show, at least visually. (Although that doesn't extend to the Skarasen). It also helps that Zygons is considered one of the classics from Tom's early years, whereas "Death" is considered one of the lowpoints of Pertwee's last.

[Cyke]

The Zygons show up in Tom's regeneration, I believe, as one of the flashbacks. They also appear in the Brigidiar's memories in Mawdryn Undead. Although it's kind of cheating, a Zygon Harry appears in Ressurection of the Dalek's "Brain-drain" flashbacks :) Plus the Zygons have appeared in at least two original novels and a few comic strips.


I think the appeal of the Zygons lies in the fact that they were one of the better-realized aliens from the classic show, at least visually. (Although that doesn't extend to the Skarasen). It also helps that Zygons is considered one of the classics from Tom's early years, whereas "Death" is considered one of the lowpoints of Pertwee's last.

That's the thing, though: most of those mainstream appearances were in the forms of memories or so. The Slitheen, at least, were encountered in three episodes (or two stories) within one season, and referenced at least twice in Series 2 and 3 as well.

I mean, I'm hardly one to rank the Slitheen up in the classic rank, but when a non-classic has shown up more times than a classic, then methinks it's time to rethink things.

[ChrisIII]

Anybody think we'll have a Brigidiar(sp?) episode next season, or is the show through with bringing back the major icons? UNIT's been referenced a few times, yet we've never really seen them in true old-school military action. Not that I really want a repeat of BATTLEFIELD, mind you. Perhaps have the Brigidiar on his deathbed, although they kind of went through the 'mortality of the companions' theme last year.


As for the Slitheen, there's a rumor we'll see them again in Sarah Jane's show.....

[Toku King]

I still don't get the comment about the Exillons being 'famous'. While they might appear in the occassional Doctor Who commeration or fan video and the meuseum exhibits, I don't think they belong in the same league as the Daleks, Cybermen, Master, Zygons, Sontarans etc....

Who ever said they were in the same league? They are famous, not big bads.

[Cyke]

Anybody think we'll have a Brigidiar(sp?) episode next season, or is the show through with bringing back the major icons? UNIT's been referenced a few times, yet we've never really seen them in true old-school military action. Not that I really want a repeat of BATTLEFIELD, mind you. Perhaps have the Brigidiar on his deathbed, although they kind of went through the 'mortality of the companions' theme last year.


As for the Slitheen, there's a rumor we'll see them again in Sarah Jane's show.....

Doubtful that we'll see the Brigadier, as much as I'd love to see him back.

UNIT hasn't performed that badly, though (at least, compared to their usual showings in Old Who). At least we got to see them fight for a little bit in Last of the Time Lords and the Runaway Bride (heck, UNIT has rarely killed of an episode's villain), and they did play a major enough role in the Christmas Invasion for that episode to be considered a UNIT story.

Plus, their Helicarrier survived, to the surprise of many (myself included), and that thing is just too fantastic to NOT use.

But, all in all, I'd like to see UNIT pop up in Torchwood, as a sort of team-up/rivalry. I never thought I'd see Jack leading UNIT troops into battle until Last of the Time Lords made it true.

[ChrisIII]

UNIT's been mentioned a few times in Torchwood as well....

[Karl H]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6976178.stm

It appears the doc's gonna take a break.

[Cyke]

UNIT's been mentioned a few times in Torchwood as well....

Some UNIT artifacts were shown as well on Torchwood. Still, it's not a full-fledged team-up as of yet. The closest we've seen so far is Jack with three troops. Off-screen, co-operation was implied in the Christmas Invasion, but nothing truly active. By contrast in the real world, the CIA and the FBI team-up for some of the more extreme cases out there (well, that's my personal equivalent).

*****

As for the hiatus, at least they're giving us three specials and then a season, so that means the show is safe. I just hope this time off gives someone like Moffett time to polish up an entire series-plan.

[ChrisIII]

Interesting news. Thankfully, this isn't like the hiatus in the 80's, where the show was getting a lot of bad press from Micheal Grade and others and so on. Also there's been a sort of Torchwood hiatus as well. I suppose we'll have TW and Sarah Jane during this break, which means that while the main show is taking a break, the TV "Whoniverse" goes on. (And of course there will be the usual novels/audio/comics stuff).

It's possible season five will be the last for Tennant and RTD, unless they leave during the specials. I'm willing to bet one of the specials will feature the Daleks or Cybermen....

[Typo Lad]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6976178.stm

It appears the doc's gonna take a break.

Of course. I just got into it, so it's going to hav eissues.

I'm a jinx.

[Captain Jim]

If "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas," then why are they going to skip a season (other than the specials)? I don't get it. :confused:

[Cyke]

If "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas," then why are they going to skip a season (other than the specials)? I don't get it. :confused:

Perhaps to give the production team time replenish their creative juices. Better to skip a season and have a full-fledged and fantastic season in two years than to have two mediocre seasons in a row. It looks lke they might be learning a thing or two from the mistakes of Voyager and Enterprise, where so much of it was so blah that it all ran together.

Besides, if the BBC is definitely renewing them for another season, that surely means that they have faith in the show.

[mattx110]

If "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas," then why are they going to skip a season (other than the specials)? I don't get it. :confused:

david tennant would make an awesome hamlet on stage and they didn't want to get in the way?
whiny arrogant narcassistic psychopath seems right up his alley.
i mean that in a good way. he's got a nice way of doing child-like emotions without coming off as a child.
if they need space to deal with a show and two spinoffs, actors who've committed for a year or more, and figuring out writers or producers or whatever they're doing, 3 specials sounds good. should still wind up taking them a good amount of time to work on anyway.

[Toku King]

I'd pay to see him play Hamlet.

Anyways, I think it's a good idea to hold off for a year. That way, you can save the budget, replenish on the good ideas, and even find even more dedicated crewmembers than before.
But I swear, if Donna becomes the new Mel.........

[Sanagi]

I'd pay to see him play Hamlet.
Judoon platoon upon the moon... Um, I mean, to sleep, perchance to dream.

Anyways, I think it's a good idea to hold off for a year. That way, you can save the budget, replenish on the good ideas, and even find even more dedicated crewmembers than before.
But I swear, if Donna becomes the new Mel.........
Her fashion sense would have to have degraded considerably from the last time we saw her...

[king mob]

If "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas," then why are they going to skip a season (other than the specials)? I don't get it. :confused:

Because the BBC don't want to lose Tennant (understandable as he's so closeley indentified with the programme) or RTD(understandable as he's responsible for Who as well as Sarah Jane Adventures & Torchwood), which is what apparently what would have happened if they'd pushed for a fifth series in 2009.

It's also a sign of how the BBC have changed in how they commission programmes from independant producers. If RTD left, a whole new production company would have to be brought in and that could prove a problem. It's not like the old days where the Head of Drama could just offer the job to another BBC producer.

[Armless Penguin]

I'm disappointed, of course, but reassured that there will in fact be a fifth season, and that hopefully this means they want Tennant to continue on.

[Toku King]

I want to see a "Doctor Who" movie. That direct to TV one was really bad, but from the epic sagas shown recently(like Last of the Timelords and Doomsday), they could make one heck of a movie.
I say make earth a battleground for all of the big bads to ever make a major impression on the show. Or heck, just the Master vs. the Daleks.

[Paul McEnery]

Because the BBC don't want to lose Tennant (understandable as he's so closeley indentified with the programme) or RTD(understandable as he's responsible for Who as well as Sarah Jane Adventures & Torchwood), which is what apparently what would have happened if they'd pushed for a fifth series in 2009.

It's also a sign of how the BBC have changed in how they commission programmes from independant producers. If RTD left, a whole new production company would have to be brought in and that could prove a problem. It's not like the old days where the Head of Drama could just offer the job to another BBC producer.

Oh good lord.

Why not get rid of RTD? Why make him hang around past his sell-by date?

The obvious answer is that RTD doesn't want to let go, even though he doesn't really want to do this any more. Sigh.

[mattx110]

Oh good lord.

Why not get rid of RTD? Why make him hang around past his sell-by date?

The obvious answer is that RTD doesn't want to let go, even though he doesn't really want to do this any more. Sigh.

cause they still have ratings, and Davies still wants the job. and dalek keychains still outsell toilet paper in some counties. maybe next season won't be all about faith and solidarity with ressurections and glowing lights and you won't hate it.

[mortari]

Any update on the next year of Torchwood?

[king mob]

Any update on the next year of Torchwood?

It'll have loads of shagging in it & someone will say 'tits' at least every other week.

[mortari]

It'll have loads of shagging in it & someone will say 'tits' at least every other week.

And I want MORE!!!






i really need a life

[king mob]

The serious answer is it's not on BBC2's autumn schedule so it looks like January. Sarah Jane Adventures is supposed to start soon though.

[ChrisIII]

Some sites have reported that "The Web Of Fear"-of which episode I exists-has been completely found. "Web of Fear" is the second appearence of the Yeti, and most importantly, the first appearence of recurring character/semi-companion Colonel(and later Brigidiar) Lethbridge-Stewart.


However, it's only a rumor at this point....

[Paul McEnery]

It'll have loads of shagging in it & someone will say 'tits' at least every other week.

I'm in, then.

And I've got money on the table that Owen says "bollocks" in the first episode.

[Paul McEnery]

I want to see a "Doctor Who" movie. That direct to TV one was really bad, but from the epic sagas shown recently(like Last of the Timelords and Doomsday), they could make one heck of a movie.
I say make earth a battleground for all of the big bads to ever make a major impression on the show. Or heck, just the Master vs. the Daleks.

Like there's any difference between a Who two-parter and a movie.

[Paul McEnery]

cause they still have ratings, and Davies still wants the job. and dalek keychains still outsell toilet paper in some counties. maybe next season won't be all about faith and solidarity with ressurections and glowing lights and you won't hate it.

Eh.

The show is the star, not the talent.

And the key to the show is that it cycles through the talent. The big time it went wrong is when it kept Nathan Turner around too long.

Not that I'm ungrateful to RTD's tenure, far from it. I can just tell when it's time to move on.

[ChrisIII]

However during JNT's tenure the ratings were suffering from his first season (18, Tom's last) until the 1989 cancellation, although they were stable for most of the Davison run. RTD's ratings have been strong, despite a slight drop this season.

[Cyke]

Oh good lord.

Why not get rid of RTD? Why make him hang around past his sell-by date?

The obvious answer is that RTD doesn't want to let go, even though he doesn't really want to do this any more. Sigh.

My own educated guess is that the hiatus is partly a transition between RTD and Moffet. Unless that's wishful thinking on my part...?

(PS - Paul! You're back! Yay!)

[king mob]

Some sites have reported that "The Web Of Fear"-of which episode I exists-has been completely found. "Web of Fear" is the second appearence of the Yeti, and most importantly, the first appearence of recurring character/semi-companion Colonel(and later Brigidiar) Lethbridge-Stewart.


However, it's only a rumor at this point....

Is Ian Levine wanking yet? If he is then it's real.

[king mob]

However during JNT's tenure the ratings were suffering from his first season (18, Tom's last) until the 1989 cancellation, although they were stable for most of the Davison run. RTD's ratings have been strong, despite a slight drop this season.


When Baker (Tom) left, the programme was actually in decline ratings wise due to JNT's first series being (mainly) a bit crap, not to mention that the previous year had been (with the exception of the glorious 'City of Death' which is still one of the best bits of telefantasy ever) poor to average.

Davison's era saw Who move from a Saturday teatime slot to midweek & run twice a week. This saw ratings rise & it really wasn't until Baker (Colin) started that Who started falling apart. By that time JNT had outstayed his welcome, but Who was a job nobody wanted, which is why he was stuck on the programme til the end.

RTD is in danger of outstaying his welcome, if you assume he hasn't already done so.

[tony ingram]

Any update on the next year of Torchwood?

It should be back in spring 2008, and i have it from a reliable inside source that at some point Owen will sleep with some random guest star and Ianto will do some light dusting and take out the trash.

[mortari]

It should be back in spring 2008, and i have it from a reliable inside source that at some point Owen will sleep with some random guest star and Ianto will do some light dusting and take out the trash.

yay! at least I get to finaly watch it on BBCA

[Cyke]

It should be back in spring 2008, and i have it from a reliable inside source that at some point Owen will sleep with some random guest star and Ianto will do some light dusting and take out the trash.

Oh noes~! Spoilers!



;)

[ChrisIII]

For those who collect the WHO toys, Character options has just announced their line-up of 'classic' series toys (Information comes from OG):


Fourth Doctor from "Revenge of the Cybermen" (So pretty much, a season 12 Tom Baker. Why they chose to refer to "Revenge" is kind of weird, though) Comes with two heads, one with the hat and one without (I suppose they couldn't make the hat fit in the small scale). He's gotta have the scarf too.

Fifth Doctor from "Ressurection of the Daleks" (Peter Davison's sweater is diferent in season 21 than in previous seasons, I think, so this is pretty much season 21 Davison).


Sixth Doctor from "Attack of the Cybermen" (Again with the Cybermen/Daleks! I suppose they want to get that across to make people interested. So this is Colin as he appears in his first full season, before he grew his hair longer and gained a lot of weight in Trial of A Time Lord).


A Sea Devil (Makes sense, they were name-dropped recently in the new show and the DVD is apparentally coming out next year).


Zygon (Might have something to do with the Tenth Doctor novel out)


Voc Robots two-pack (From Robots of Death, of course.Apparentally SV-7 and D-84)


Magnus Greel and Mr.Sin (From the story immeadiatly after Robots of Death, Talons of Weng-Chiang).



No word yet on Doctors 1-3 and 7-8, unfortunately. Plus you'd figure they'd have classic Daleks or Cybermen.

[Sanagi]

A church featured in a Dr. Who episode is using the pop-culture connection to reach young people, and describes Jesus as a lord of time. (http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=dr-who-fans-will-flock-to-his-church&method=full&objectid=19786862&siteid=50082-name_page.html)

I presume the episode in question is "Father's Day," but the article doesn't say.

Pretty funny idea... I have to wonder how effective it is to preach using such a science-favoring character as the Doctor as an example, though. Just today I watched "Horror of Fang Rock," in which Leela talks about how the Doctor showed her that believing in science is better than believing in shamans.

[LtMarvel]

I quit reading this thread to avoid spoilers.

"Blink" may be the best single episode of anything I've seen all year.

But then I love shows that go against the norm.

[The Zapper]

The last 3 episodes have been fantastic!

[Sanagi]

Yeah, I remember finishing the Human Nature two-parter and thinking "Nothing can top that!" And then Stephen Moffat's name came up, and I thought, "Well, on the other hand..."

[Cyke]

Yeah, I remember finishing the Human Nature two-parter and thinking "Nothing can top that!" And then Stephen Moffat's name came up, and I thought, "Well, on the other hand..."

Tell me about it. The show keeps proving me wrong in whatever the hell it is I'm thinking at the time.

[Captain Jim]

I quit reading this thread to avoid spoilers.

"Blink" may be the best single episode of anything I've seen all year.

But then I love shows that go against the norm.

I loved it too. It's amazing how often these shows in which the Doctor barely appears turn out to be so good.

[Typo Lad]

I quit reading this thread to avoid spoilers.

"Blink" may be the best single episode of anything I've seen all year.

But then I love shows that go against the norm.
"Blink" was a brilliant exercise in scaring the pants off people

[IamtheRock3]

Ok saw the last 3 episods....through QUESTIOBLE means and got a few questions


1) They said they came back after the president died right. So are they still going with that whole Earth STILL think there no Aliens. After you know the president attack by one. And then the prime minster of Great Britan shoots him with a laser gun and annouched thier aliens

2) One was with the female hand at the end. Did the master find a way to regnerated into a woman after he was dead for a bit. Or did is Campion bring back something

3) Is the master wife, the little girl from te pass episode grown up. Wasnt sure. If so ewwwwwwwwww

4) So Captain Jack that big head thingie hu? Good way around a IMMORTAL charcter played by an Actor who actully ages. Something Highlander had issues with

5) so when Time lords get above 900 they turn into MUPPETS. If so AWESOME. Want a plush toy of that thing

6) Wait TORCHWOOD is made up of 12 people? Jack started it? If Jack started it how they heck did he get power to be above every goverment. So does that mean Jack Hawkins the TOP DOG in torchwood the most powerfull agnecy in the world susposonly. Always though he answered to some people? I mean figure he was appointed, otherwise how he get the power? If I take over a defunct goverment agency and then flash my badge around they laugh me off

Anyway GREAT EPISODE

turn out martha a very helpfull comapion. Took charge and save the doctors life. Nice to see Jack being jack

Oh never saw the master before. Just started wathc the who in season 1 on sci fi. So know I missed I dont know...a few DECADES worth of the doctor

But this master was pretty fun. It made me get there whole backround pretty darn fast. Like them mentioning pass continity. Like the actor from LIFE ON MARS.

It came close to being over the top but had a nice amount of creepiness to keep it grounded


One thing I notice. The doctor seem a tad hypocrital. Getting mad at Jack for getting close to using his gun on the vampire thing and saying it be a good idea to sneak up on the master and snap his neck?

Can understand the NO killing rule. BUT. I been watch the doctor for a SHORT amount of time...and in that short amount of time the dude has commited genocide a couple of times. Who know what he been doing in the decade I miss

Heck in the one where he became Human, dude was PRETTY HARSH. Granted they may of had it coming but DANG

point is cant really fault Jack for being cold blooded when old Doctor sometimes cold as ice

[IamtheRock3]

also dont get the whole complaints martha's family annoying

Seem ok to me

kind of like em really

[mattx110]

Ok saw the last 3 episods....through QUESTIOBLE means and got a few questions


1) They said they came back after the president died right. So are they still going with that whole Earth STILL think there no Aliens. After you know the president attack by one. And then the prime minster of Great Britan shoots him with a laser gun and annouched thier aliens

2) One was with the female hand at the end. Did the master find a way to regnerated into a woman after he was dead for a bit. Or did is Campion bring back something

3) Is the master wife, the little girl from te pass episode grown up. Wasnt sure. If so ewwwwwwwwww

4) So Captain Jack that big head thingie hu? Good way around a IMMORTAL charcter played by an Actor who actully ages. Something Highlander had issues with

5) so when Time lords get above 900 they turn into MUPPETS. If so AWESOME. Want a plush toy of that thing

6) Wait TORCHWOOD is made up of 12 people? Jack started it? If Jack started it how they heck did he get power to be above every goverment. So does that mean Jack Hawkins the TOP DOG in torchwood the most powerfull agnecy in the world susposonly. Always though he answered to some people? I mean figure he was appointed, otherwise how he get the power? If I take over a defunct goverment agency and then flash my badge around they laugh me off

Anyway GREAT EPISODE

turn out martha a very helpfull comapion. Took charge and save the doctors life. Nice to see Jack being jack

Oh never saw the master before. Just started wathc the who in season 1 on sci fi. So know I missed I dont know...a few DECADES worth of the doctor

But this master was pretty fun. It made me get there whole backround pretty darn fast. Like them mentioning pass continity. Like the actor from LIFE ON MARS.

It came close to being over the top but had a nice amount of creepiness to keep it grounded


One thing I notice. The doctor seem a tad hypocrital. Getting mad at Jack for getting close to using his gun on the vampire thing and saying it be a good idea to sneak up on the master and snap his neck?

Can understand the NO killing rule. BUT. I been watch the doctor for a SHORT amount of time...and in that short amount of time the dude has commited genocide a couple of times. Who know what he been doing in the decade I miss

Heck in the one where he became Human, dude was PRETTY HARSH. Granted they may of had it coming but DANG

point is cant really fault Jack for being cold blooded when old Doctor sometimes cold as ice

1. yep, nobody in england cares the president got shot. the only thing people remember outside of the carrier is the president being hit by orbs. they were then told by the british government it was a terrorist plot or something. apparently he was a jerk and nobody minds...
2. it could of been the master's wife programmed to get the ring in the case of his death, or really any woman on earth either under her free will or being mind controlled by master essence. we won't know until someone decides to use the master again.
3. i don't think she was a little girl... episode 12 has a little on her past.
6. torchwood was started by queen victoria and has continued to current day. in episodes 12 and 13 of season 1 there was a massive battle and jack took over one of the remaining torchwood bases. we don't know how other than torchwood is a loooot smaller than it used to be and doesn't have a standing order to arrest the doctor if he appears.

and the doctor sorta feels he's the only one with the right to make universe changing decisions about death and life. pretty much how the master felt about being a timelord post-gallifrey too. makes ya think;)

[IamtheRock3]

so guess the assume the prime minster was killed to. Oh and parilament being dead. Still dont beleave in Aliens Hu. Man you british are a skeptical people


Oh also saw the cartoon. Pretty good

Wonder if it will be showed in America. show it in America Scifi...dont reduce us to theft

[IamtheRock3]

Oh one more thing


now that I seen all those episodes got to disagree with some stuff about martha

1) He reasons for leaving was pretty darn good. Listen her family been through a living hell for a year and cant really tell anyone cause no one else remember. Also add in the factor the Doctor and her, KIND OFF brought the dange to thier door by fixing the rocket. Granted no way they could of known, but the result is what it is. That a good reason to stay, granted wasnt her only reason. But pining after the doctor is useless to. She got to move on

2) Her family wasnt annoying. One that had very little screen time compare to Rose's family. And it had a good ending near the end how everything connects to each other

3) Martha added to the mythos. I mean come on she traveled the earth like the HIGHLANDER for crying out loud to give the Doctors story to people. Granted the idea was a little DUEX machina, but still. And was a big help when he was Human. So adding that time she spent a good amount of time traveling with the doctor with all the time skipping

Her family hung out with the master for a year. Probally will end up sleeping with Jack Hawkins. Come on ONLY 25% of the population had that honor (including male and female)

Help bring the master back, by letting her words slip. OPPS. Learn parts of the doctor's history that know other human has. Knows Jacks secret and how he dies




Oh yea the Doctor pretty close to master in arrogance. But he cool because the doctor is right

Kind of like Giles on Buffy. KILLING HUMANS IS WRONG.......


unless your Giles




Also on Jack, yea contradcting the not dieing. But even the energy of the Taradisris much have limits. DUDE lives millions of years, and probally leaked millions of years worh of energy, with the season final of torchwood, powering up a city in Gridlock and other things

Thats a pretty good run. Could be some energy of him left

[ChrisIII]

Any thoughts from the USA about Utopia?

[IamtheRock3]

LOVED IT


but watch it a week ago here in the state

sweet sweet theft

[Deathstroke]

Any thoughts from the USA about Utopia?

Really good episode...all the main stuff was fine.

I was mostly interested in how Rose would be addressed between Jack and the Doctor.

Martha's reaction was priceless...."Oh she's a blonde...of course!"

[mattx110]

sort of leads to martha finding out quicker than rose that she wasn't the first and won't be the last. it took meeting sarah jane for rose to understand that, and they still wound up pretty much falling in love and being ripped apart.
martha nicely learns to avoid that potential outcome after having jack pop in after being stranded for a century.

the small amount of jokey "conglomeration" dialogue was a bit much because we've had that joke from russell before. everything else about utopia i love as a tv show.

[Deathstroke]

I like that Rose made such am impression on both Jack and the Doctor that the Doctor is still shattered and Jack checked in on Rose in the past.

The shadow of Rose will hang over all other companions for however long the show runs.

I keep working on story ideas that would allow for the Doctor to go back to the parallel world.

[Zero Hunter]

I really liked the Utopia episode and loved the reintro of one of the best Who baddies ever. Between that episode last night and the Sara Jane episode from last season on BBC America tonight it was a pretty good weekend for Who watching.

One thing about all this Doctor Who on TV again is it has made me start wanting to see the older stuff again. Been using my Netflix to fill my Doctor Who craving nicely. Think I have seen most of the Jon Pertwee episodes that are out on DVD now and finally saw my first full Patrick Troughton episode the other week (Tomb of the Cybermen). I had only ever seen Troughton in the team up episodes before that (Two Doctors, Three Doctors, Five Doctors). I had seen most of the Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, and Colin Baker run on Tv when I was young, but not the guys before them or much of Sylvester McCoys run after theirs.

[Sanagi]

Utopia is just an okay episode with a lot of suspension of disbelief involved, up until Yana takes out the pocketwatch and then the thrill ride begins.

It always makes me sad that Derek Jacobi didn't get more time to play the Master... They could have used him for the whole season finale and then introduced John Simm for season 4, as far as I'm concerned. I wish they had at least left more of a loophole to have him return for a guest appearance. I guess they could retcon in some period of time before he used the chameleon arch if they really wanted to, though.

I really liked the Utopia episode and loved the reintro of one of the best Who baddies ever. Between that episode last night and the Sara Jane episode from last season on BBC America tonight it was a pretty good weekend for Who watching.

One thing about all this Doctor Who on TV again is it has made me start wanting to see the older stuff again. Been using my Netflix to fill my Doctor Who craving nicely. Think I have seen most of the Jon Pertwee episodes that are out on DVD now and finally saw my first full Patrick Troughton episode the other week (Tomb of the Cybermen). I had only ever seen Troughton in the team up episodes before that (Two Doctors, Three Doctors, Five Doctors). I had seen most of the Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, and Colin Baker run on Tv when I was young, but not the guys before them or much of Sylvester McCoys run after theirs.
This is what I use Netflix for, too. I've been meaning to post some reviews of the episodes I've watched, but I never get around to it.

The Mind Robber is a good Troughton episode that you can get from Netflix.

[Toku King]

Who was Utopia's villain?

[king mob]

The shadow of Rose will hang over all other companions for however long the show runs.



Or until RTD leaves and we can watch episodes that don't mention Rose at least once.

[king mob]

The Mind Robber is a good Troughton episode that you can get from Netflix.
It's a wonderful old bit of Who. Check out The Celestial Toymaker from the Hartnell era for another story which showed the best of old Who.

[rick]

Who was Utopia's villain?

It's far enough along not to be a big spoiler at this point.

It's the Master.

[ChrisIII]

Regarding McCoy, fans seem to have a mixed opinion of him. His first season (Of which non of the serials are available on DVD) was played mainly for laughs, whereas his last two seasons sort of retooled his Doctor as a darker version of the character who tended to manipulate his companion and enemies. Currently four McCoy stories are on DVD-


"Rememberance of the Daleks" is the debut of the "Dark Doctor", more or less, and features a lot of Dalek action (Although the Daleks don't move well on streets, unfortunately). It also very much a tribute to the first Doctor Who story (Well, at least the pilot episode).


"Ghost Light" is one of the more confusing stories, dealing with evolution run amok in a victorian house. It's got some nice sets for WHO, though. It was actually the last classic WHO filmed, although not aired in that order.


"Curse of Fenric" shows the Doctor at his most manipulative in a World War II setting as he battles sea-vampires (Haemavores) and an ancient evil. The Plot's very complex, but makes more sense than Ghost light.


"Survival" is the final aired story of the classic series, and sees the Doctor battle the master on a planet which turns those who show agression on it into cheetah people. It's a pretty dark story, but the interesting thing about it is that with it's setting-mostly Perivale-it wouldn't be out of place in the new series.



Regarding Hartnell and Pertwee, who you haven't seen-both are less humorous than the other Doctors-Hartnell is sort of a stern grandpa figure, although he sort of has a mischevious sense of humor. The "Aztecs" is a good example of his run. Keep in mind though that partially because of the way the show was filmed and partially due to Hartnell's health he tends to trip over lines a lot.

Pertwee's more of a man of action and uses a lot of gadgets. He's still lots of fun despite being a little less eccentric than other Doctors. "The Green Death" is perhaps the best example from his era in my mind.

[Cyke]

Regarding McCoy, fans seem to have a mixed opinion of him. His first season (Of which non of the serials are available on DVD) was played mainly for laughs, whereas his last two seasons sort of retooled his Doctor as a darker version of the character who tended to manipulate his companion and enemies.

I really wouldn't say opinions of McCoy are all that mixed, at least that's not the general impression I get from various message boards, feedback from conventions, or BBC opinion polls. Yeah, he seemed to have floundered a bit in the first season and a half like you said, but that's probably the fault of transition, which is always to be expected (ie, Tennant's 1st series comapred to his second), and once the writers had a better idea of how to handle the character and then started a progression, such as making him the most tactical of all Doctors, that's when fans started to warm up.

But, of course, circus-themed episodes rarely work in any TV show as well.

[Sanagi]

I actually think fans tend to overrate the D7/Ace era - and I say this as someone who really likes them - because they were the last incarnation of the classic series and came after a long drought of poor scripts and annoying companions.

[Arune Singh]

Finally saw "Blink." Phenomenal piece of television.

[Arune Singh]

So I just finished Part One of the Master's return and I have to ask: wasn't he an old villain? I ask because the Doctor says repeatedly that all time lords died during the Time Wars, but were those wars after the events in previous series?

I'd assume the Doctor would remember that the Master was his antagonist in the past and that it's possible he could've been in hiding.

Of course, now that I ask all this, it's probably explained in part two. ;)

[tricksterpup]

So I just finished Part One of the Master's return and I have to ask: wasn't he an old villain? I ask because the Doctor says repeatedly that all time lords died during the Time Wars, but were those wars after the events in previous series?

I'd assume the Doctor would remember that the Master was his antagonist in the past and that it's possible he could've been in hiding.

Of course, now that I ask all this, it's probably explained in part two. ;)

Just hold back and wait til episodes 2 and 3 come out. All will be explained.


Yeah, Blink was amazing wasn't it??? Probably one of the most amazing Scifi stories in a very long time.

[Arune Singh]

Just hold back and wait til episodes 2 and 3 come out. All will be explained.


Yeah, Blink was amazing wasn't it??? Probably one of the most amazing Scifi stories in a very long time.

It was an amazing story bar none. I can't believe how much they drew me into these characters I was sure I'd not care about.

Simm as the Master was inspired casting.

[Captain Jim]

It's been my impression that the time war occurred sometime in between the McGann movie and the beginning of Eccleston's run. I can't remember anything about that movie's storyline, but I remember that the Master was in it.

Am I understanding correctly that Captain Jack's adventures in Torchwood fit in the period between the end of the new Doctor Who series' first season and Utopia? Or did I get that wrong?

[mattx110]

It's been my impression that the time war occurred sometime in between the McGann movie and the beginning of Eccleston's run. I can't remember anything about that movie's storyline, but I remember that the Master was in it.

Am I understanding correctly that Captain Jack's adventures in Torchwood fit in the period between the end of the new Doctor Who series' first season and Utopia? Or did I get that wrong?

in the movie, the master was executed by daleks (apparently ones that the timelords didn't mind delivering the master to for a tribunal?) and the doctor was bringing him back to gallifrey, but instead lands on earth, and the gooey master essence takes over EMS eric roberts. then crazy stuff happens. the time war is after that in the doctor's timeline.

and yea, about 100 years of captain jack being on earth plus the torchwood stuff all happens for him between the last episode of season 1 and utopia.

[ChrisIII]

Arune, if you're interested in the Master, I would suggest checking out the "New Beginnings" box set. Like the current saga, it's set up to return the villain to the series after a long abscence (Utopia and Keeper Of Traaken have a somewhat similar "Masterplan"-the Master in disguise, and regenerating at the end into the new incarnation).


The best Master however is probably Roger Delgado, but he's sort of underrepresented on DVD (Although this might have something to do with the restoration process his stories have to go through)-only "The Claws of Axos" is available so far, although " The Sea Devils" will be available next year. There's plenty of Anthony Ainley on DVD-the aforementioned box set, The Five Doctors, Mark Of The Rani and Survival are all available.

[Matt]

I actually think fans tend to overrate the D7/Ace era - and I say this as someone who really likes them - because they were the last incarnation of the classic series and came after a long drought of poor scripts and annoying companions.

Nah. I like them simply because the later McCoy stories were sort of like a grown-up Doctor Who. They were actually pretty complex stories with a lot of depth - which was also their undoing since it meant they lost the 'family' appeal to some degree.

[ChrisIII]

^Especially true of the Seventh Doctor novels (The New Adventures).

[The Zapper]

Finally saw "Blink." Phenomenal piece of television.

I'm glad you saw it. I'm still people how awesome it was.

[king mob]

I actually think fans tend to overrate the D7/Ace era - and I say this as someone who really likes them - because they were the last incarnation of the classic series and came after a long drought of poor scripts and annoying companions.

There were wildly overrated for exactly the reason as you give, plus it's the era that a big chunk of Who fandom {especially on Outpost Gallifrey) seem to have grown up with.

There are some good stories, but ones like Ghost Light & Survival (watching this on DVD only highlights how poor some of the story was) needed a few more rewrites before they should have hit the screen. Someone like Bob Holmes would have sent the scripts back with reams of changes to be done.

McCoy's Who was going in the right direction though & it could probably went on for another year or two, but the programme still needed a rethink as to what it was & where it wanted to go. In retrospect cancellation did the programme a huge favour.

[king mob]

Simm as the Master was inspired casting.


You can thank his kids. They nagged him to do the role as they're fans of the programme.

[xsyphon]

Can't the doctor actually go back in time and visit Gallifrey or while traveling throughout time isn't it possible for him to travel to a time period where he may run into another time lord? Am I missing something here? Why isn't this feasible?

[TCJohnson]

Basically he is not allowed to interfere with his personal history. He can't go back and meet his ancestors, or interfere with Gallifrey's history.

As for other Time Lords...they are exceedingly rare in the galaxy. There are only a hand full out there and most of them are criminals.

[Doodle Bob]

Basically he is not allowed to interfere with his personal history. He can't go back and meet his ancestors, or interfere with Gallifrey's history.

As for other Time Lords...they are exceedingly rare in the galaxy. There are only a hand full out there and most of them are criminals.

I was under the impression that the Time Wars actually wrote both the Daleks and the Time Lords out of history. It's not that the Doctor can't go back and meet his ancestors; it's that there are no ancestors to go back to. The "wibbely-wobbely" nature of time just "filled in" the holes that were created when the two races were erased.

It's also my impression (and I really have no idea where I got it from) that the Doctor is the one who ended the Time Wars, i.e. erased both races.

[Matt]

Can't the doctor actually go back in time and visit Gallifrey or while traveling throughout time isn't it possible for him to travel to a time period where he may run into another time lord? Am I missing something here? Why isn't this feasible?

Rassilon installed systems into each and every TARDIS to do this. Gallifrey was also removed from time ... sort of minutely out of synch with the rest of the Universe ... so that it was very hard to see it's past or future let alone travel to them.

Which is why whenever the Doctor went back to Gallifrey, he more or less followed linear chronology.

In the novels, based off Remembrance of the Daleks, when the Doctor first left Gallifrey the Hand of Omega jump started the broken down Type 40 he stole and disabled the temporal buffers. He went back into Gallifrey's past and found a girl called Susan...

[mattx110]

I was under the impression that the Time Wars actually wrote both the Daleks and the Time Lords out of history. It's not that the Doctor can't go back and meet his ancestors; it's that there are no ancestors to go back to. The "wibbely-wobbely" nature of time just "filled in" the holes that were created when the two races were erased.

It's also my impression (and I really have no idea where I got it from) that the Doctor is the one who ended the Time Wars, i.e. erased both races.

the way it was talked about. people knew the daleks were eliminated in the future. it's like, they don't exist after a certain time in the doctor's personal timeline, which follows this weird zigzag that's the real nonlinear timeline of the galaxy...

i dunno, things like the gelf and nestene escaping randomly in time never showed up before the timewar even though they occur in the "past". and i think one character other than the doctor somewhere mentioned watching the daleks burn, might of been jack... but it's like... all of time is happening simultaneously, but there is a proper order to it that prevents paradoxes.
so, people/aliens might have seen gallifrey or daleks or timelords or sea devils be burned out of time wherever they were in that simultenous temporal equilibrium point.

i'm wasting your time if you're reading this. sorry. but even i don't know quite what i think so it helps to write it down somewhere.

[ChrisIII]

Lot of Tom Baker stuff lately-


Curiously the Fourth Doctor has appeared on CBR's front page, with a link to Lying in the Gutters. The page in question is a cover to IDW's upcoming WHO comics, although the image used is from City of Death. However, given that the swiped image is from WHO itself, I don't see how it's a major problem as say, Rob Liefeld or Greg Land's stuff.



Also, the Fourth Doctor's opening sequence made an appearence as the hyperspace effect on Family Guy's Star Wars parody :)

[Doodle Bob]

Curiously the Fourth Doctor has appeared on CBR's front page, with a link to Lying in the Gutters. The page in question is a cover to IDW's upcoming WHO comics, although the image used is from City of Death. However, given that the swiped image is from WHO itself, I don't see how it's a major problem as say, Rob Liefeld or Greg Land's stuff.


Where can one find info on these new comics? The IDW website does not seem to mention it at all.

[ChrisIII]

I actually know very little about them myself, but I figure OG might have some info.

Apparentally Dave Gibbons is doing some of the art, and we'll see both classic and new Who stuff.

There have of course been WHO comics ever since the series started, although several are hard to place in any WHO chronology, since many show the Doctor either traveling with different companions than in the show or no companions whatsoever. Although I think since the Sixth Doctor era that's changed somewhat. And that's just the DWM comics. The Annuals & TV comics are even more hard to place into things.

Here is probably the best resource for WHO comics, since unfortunately, the "Stripping down" WHO website is long gone :(

http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/doctorwh.htm

[king mob]

Apparentally Dave Gibbons is doing some of the art, and we'll see both classic and new Who stuff.

They're reprinting some of the old Marvel UK stuff drawn by Gibbons and written by Pat Mills & John Wagner apparently.

There have of course been WHO comics ever since the series started, although several are hard to place in any WHO chronology, since many show the Doctor either traveling with different companions than in the show or no companions whatsoever. Although I think since the Sixth Doctor era that's changed somewhat. And that's just the DWM comics. The Annuals & TV comics are even more hard to place into things.

Forget about placing any old Who comics into continuity. Some of the strips have found their way into the programme, the Dalek strips from TV21 have been heavily referenced by RTD for example, but they've operated in their own little world.

However the new IDW stuff featuring the Tennant Doctor is supposed to be firmly in continuity, which might be interesting to see.

[Cyke]

They're reprinting some of the old Marvel UK stuff drawn by Gibbons and written by Pat Mills & John Wagner apparently.



Forget about placing any old Who comics into continuity. Some of the strips have found their way into the programme, the Dalek strips from TV21 have been heavily referenced by RTD for example, but they've operated in their own little world.

However the new IDW stuff featuring the Tennant Doctor is supposed to be firmly in continuity, which might be interesting to see.

In my own personal continuity, I'd like to think that the Seventh Doctor's adventures in Marvel UK are canon, if only because his battles with Death's Head and DH's subsequent crossovers are just too damn cool not to use.

[Gibbering Fool]

Wow, great to see so many Doctor Who fans on here. I love the new Doctor Who series. I got into it about a quarter of the way into the second series (*sigh* I loved Rose, she was hot) and surprisingly so did my fiance (she thought David Tenant was hot.)

Anyway, after watching the second series and loving it I went back and got the first series, which was great too. I think both Eckleston and tenant both make great Doctor's though I prefer Tenant. I was sad to see Rose go; Martha's good too but for some reason Rose is special.

Wasn't season 3 great?! Especially the Family of Blood two parter and Blink. I wanted Sally Sparrow to become a companion after Blink!

The three part finale was pretty enjoyable. My dad used to love Doctor Who so I knew who the Master was thankfully. The ending leaves me intrigued (the womans hand picking up the Master's ring while his laughter echoes in the background). Hehe my mum thought it meant the Master had regenerated as a woman, but I suspect he and his "wife" planned this, perhaps putting his essense into that ring or something so he can return. The ring did appear to have the same pattern as the fob watches used when he and the Doctor became humans.

[hovercarracer]

Omg - whovians!!! Never realised there was a dr who thread here! :D

Wasn't season 3 great?! Especially the Family of Blood two parter and Blink. I wanted Sally Sparrow to become a companion after Blink!

Maybe you can help me out - I didn't get to watch Blink due to a misunderstanding with me and my recorder... Anyone out there willing to post a short review of what happened? (apologies if this has already been done... too lazy to search through the posts)

[king mob]

Maybe you can help me out - I didn't get to watch Blink due to a misunderstanding with me and my recorder... Anyone out there willing to post a short review of what happened? (apologies if this has already been done... too lazy to search through the posts)

You really need to see it rather than read a review.

[SPAfreak]

You really need to see it rather than read a review.

...and be sure not to look away.

[king mob]

My Key To Time boxset turned up finally today & it looks great in it's shiny packaging. As suspected it makes the R1 version redundant as it looks to be full of extras I never thought I'd see turn up, including a clip from one of the BBC's Christmas tapes.

I still have The Time Warrior DVD to get through as well. So little time..........

[Zero Hunter]

I started thinking about it I would love to see them bring back Paul McGann as the Doctor for and episode or two. Those old team up shows usally were pretty fun to watch, and it would be nice to see McGann get to appear on the televison show proper and not just the TV movie they did. He is still young enough to pull off a teamup show (at least compared to the others who have played the Doctor over the years) I belive anyway. It could be alot of fun to see.

[Deathstroke]

You really need to see it rather than read a review.

Totally agree here. A review will never do justice to the greatness of the "Blink" episode.

[Captain Jim]

...and be sure not to look away.

Not even for a second!

[Captain Jim]

I started thinking about it I would love to see them bring back Paul McGann as the Doctor for and episode or two. Those old team up shows usally were pretty fun to watch, and it would be nice to see McGann get to appear on the televison show proper and not just the TV movie they did. He is still young enough to pull off a teamup show (at least compared to the others who have played the Doctor over the years) I belive anyway. It could be alot of fun to see.

I think it would be cool to have a new multi-doctor episode. We've never had one called "The Four Doctors", have we? Try to get McCoy, McGann, Eccleston and Tennant together.

[Sanagi]

There was a rumor not too long ago that Peter Davison would return for the next children in need special. I haven't heard anything about it since then, so maybe it was just a rumor.

I've said this before, but as long as we're making wishes, I want Tennant, Eccleston, and McGann vs. Simm, Jacobi, and Roberts.

[Enigmanaut]

...and be sure not to look away.

http://www.enigmanaut.com/dontblink4.gif

[fireSTRIKE!]

Wow, great to see so many Doctor Who fans on here. I love the new Doctor Who series. I got into it about a quarter of the way into the second series (*sigh* I loved Rose, she was hot) and surprisingly so did my fiance (she thought David Tenant was hot.)

Anyway, after watching the second series and loving it I went back and got the first series, which was great too. I think both Eckleston and tenant both make great Doctor's though I prefer Tenant. I was sad to see Rose go; Martha's good too but for some reason Rose is special.

Wasn't season 3 great?! Especially the Family of Blood two parter and Blink. I wanted Sally Sparrow to become a companion after Blink!

The three part finale was pretty enjoyable. My dad used to love Doctor Who so I knew who the Master was thankfully. The ending leaves me intrigued (the womans hand picking up the Master's ring while his laughter echoes in the background). Hehe my mum thought it meant the Master had regenerated as a woman, but I suspect he and his "wife" planned this, perhaps putting his essense into that ring or something so he can return. The ring did appear to have the same pattern as the fob watches used when he and the Doctor became humans.

Didn't I read or hear somewhere that the woman's hand picking up the Master's ring will eventually be revealed as belonging to the Rani, the evil Time Lady?... if so, it looks like the Time Lord race isn't so extinct, as the Doctor believes...

'STRIKE!

[ultramandingo]

..........haw ! the british pm gets to xpode the us prez , how many times did blair whish that ?

[Magneto_X]

"Sound of the Drums" is my favourite episode in season 3. :D

[Magneto_X]

I think it would be cool to have a new multi-doctor episode. We've never had one called "The Four Doctors", have we? Try to get McCoy, McGann, Eccleston and Tennant together.

I agree.

Always liked the multiple Doctor episodes.

Not sure if Eccleston would want to come back even for a guest appearance. He left on bad terms, IIRC.

McGann would be great.

[Magneto_X]

Didn't I read or hear somewhere that the woman's hand picking up the Master's ring will eventually be revealed as belonging to the Rani, the evil Time Lady?... if so, it looks like the Time Lord race isn't so extinct, as the Doctor believes...

'STRIKE!

It's just a theory.

We won't know until they use The Master again.

[mattx110]

I agree.

Always liked the multiple Doctor episodes.

Not sure if Eccleston would want to come back even for a guest appearance. He left on bad terms, IIRC.

McGann would be great.

i think one of the doctor-less or low on doctor episodes should be pete's world torchwood with rose and mickey actually doing a decent job of defending planet earth. Mcgann would be nice too. it might be too much to do a flashback episode type thing, and it's always fun to watch two doctors argue over who gets to be condescending to the other.

[king mob]

Didn't I read or hear somewhere that the woman's hand picking up the Master's ring will eventually be revealed as belonging to the Rani, the evil Time Lady?... if so, it looks like the Time Lord race isn't so extinct, as the Doctor believes...

'STRIKE!

No, it's just rumour. RTD put that in there in case any future production team wants to use the Master.

[king mob]

Not sure if Eccleston would want to come back even for a guest appearance. He left on bad terms, IIRC.

Eccleston was unhappy (as far as is known) with how the BBC and some within the Who production team dealt with his leaving; not to mention he had problems with directors and scripts in that first series.

He seems to have moved into doing populist dramas on ITV & Heroes, which although fun, isn't really anymore than cashing in on his Who success which is fair enough.

McGann would be great.

McGann has always said he'd gladly come back to do a flashback or anything, and he's also still playing the Doctor in the Big Finish/BBC7 serials.

[Toku King]

I just saw some small portions of 'Blink', and those alone were incredible.
The way the Doctor stops them is nothing short of genius.

[Arune Singh]

Wow...the Master so rocks. I like him even more than I did in his old appearances simply because it feels like the first time we're seeing him after a long time. And because Simm steals the show.

[Captain Jim]

it feels like the first time we're seeing him after a long time.

Which is completely true. :)

[Arune Singh]

Which is completely true. :)

Yeah, I realize how dumb it sounded, but it was like seeing Tennant as the Doctor-- as much as I loved Eccleston (and previous Doctors I grew up with), this Doctor feels like *my* Doctor. And Simm is everything I've wanted from the Master.

[Magneto_X]

Mcgann would be nice too. it might be too much to do a flashback episode type thing, and it's always fun to watch two doctors argue over who gets to be condescending to the other.

You don't need to have flashbacks when other Doctors are around. All the audience need is a brief introduction (i.e. was a previous Doctor from the past brought to the present via plot device) and away you go.

They did this multiple times in the old series and it was never difficult to know who was who or what was going on.

[Sanagi]

In the old series, I usually find the Master hard to take seriously. There's episodes like Castrovalva where he has the Doctor at his mercy but goes to ridiculous lengths to construct an elaborate trap that backfires. Other times his schemes are entertaining but just plain wacky, like his shrink-gun and his deadly Auton folding chair.

[Arune Singh]

It's interesting watching Torchwood and reconciling those events with everything else in Who.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on this, but did people expect this new WHO to be so successful worldwide? I mean, I grew up with WHO on the CBC & PBS, so I know it's alway been an international brand, but was it expected to do this well after so long without a new series?

[Cyke]

It's interesting watching Torchwood and reconciling those events with everything else in Who.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on this, but did people expect this new WHO to be so successful worldwide? I mean, I grew up with WHO on the CBC & PBS, so I know it's alway been an international brand, but was it expected to do this well after so long without a new series?

I think it was a surprise to everyone. I know planning for the Torchwood spinoff came pretty late in the Eccleston era.

I was at a grocery store last week and in the checkout aisle, along with all these other magazines, was Out Magazine. On the cover was John Barrowman promoting Torchwood. I was pleasantly surprised because 1. I'm in