Doctor Who

[K]

Very good, although odd choices height-wise:

Tom Baker - 1.91m

Sylvester McCoy - 1.68m

I was going to say the same thing. How could you draw Tom Baker as being small? There isn't a small thing about him, from his scarf to his acting.

[SeanR]

McGann says production has begun on a sequel to Five(ish) Doctors.

I just hope they aren't running it into the ground.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/SLIDESHOW-Paul-McGann-tells-Cambridge-Union-Society-Doctor-Who-producers-missed-a-trick-by-not-casting-a-woman-as-the-twelfth-Time-Lord-20140619192138.htm

[Nick R]

https://www.facebook.com/ArtworkOfStephenByrne

I was going to say the same thing. How could you draw Tom Baker as being small? There isn't a small thing about him, from his scarf to his acting.

I think it's because that character design is a combination of Baker and Disney's version of the Mad Hatter, who is a short character.

(As for the others: Troughton looks like Gaston's sidekick from Beauty and the Beast, McGann and Smith look like the lead character from Treasure Planet...)

[Sprite Machine]

The Waters of Mars

(Blog has pictures)

It's 2059, on the day that the first ever human colony on Mars will mysteriously explode, taking all hands and explanations with it. This "autumn special" gets back to basics, providing a solid, scary, self-contained story of survival. One small group of humans, isolated and helpless; one alien virus spreading through the water supply and turning the crew into hideous monsters; and one rogue Time Lord, unbound by the rules of his people and determined to change a fixed point in history, whatever the cost.

[Picture: Pretty.]

In its quest to make everyday things scary, Doctor Who now turns to water, as precious a resource as any on the surface of Mars. One drop will turn you into one of the freakiest creatures I've seen on this show, brought to life by a combination of excellent make-up, zombie-like performances and great camera direction, with the transformations often happening out of focus in the background. As a horror story, The Waters of Mars is fairly typical, as its cast of international astronauts are offed one by one. They are a likable bunch this time, and the Doctor has an infectious enthusiasm for their mission - before realising that he needs to leave, quickly.

[Picture: Terrifying!]

[Picture:Water wins eventually.]

This is another example of seemingly arbitrary rules governing what the Doctor can and can't change. In 'The Fires of Pompeii', he simply says that some points are fixed and some are in flux, but doesn't say why. Here, it's strongly implied that the rules are laid down by the Time Lords, presumably because they can scan the effects of every action in spacetime and determine which ones are favourable. Earth's future of space exploration would fall under "very important". It's not that the Doctor physically cannot help, it's that he isn't allowed to. When he finally decides he's going to save some of the colonists anyway, he oversteps his authority. For a moment, the power he has over time corrupts him and he nearly becomes a monster. It's a good bit of development for the character, and it reinforces his need for a travelling companion, someone to keep him grounded. There will be consequences.

[Picture: Captain Brooke and her team of implausibly attractive astronauts aboard Bowie Base One.]

All of that makes some lovely drama but there's a problem. The captain, Brooke, is too willing to go along with the rules, too quick to judge the Doctor on something that she shouldn't even understand. It's not believable that she would choose to take her own life because someone has told her what her fate is. It's not a human response to accept the inevitability of fate - we prefer the future to be unwritten. It almost seemed like her decision to take her own life was being controlled by time itself, as a (admittedly nonsensical) course correction process, but I don't like that idea.

[Picture: The Doctor returns for a dramatic rescue.]

Still, otherwise, 'The Waters of Mars' is pretty good. Had this been the year's Christmas special, as originally conceived (see the snow at the end), it would be comfortably the best Christmas special so far. Mars is a good setting, significantly nicer looking than the last time it was shown in Doctor Who, and the habitat interiors have a pleasing aesthetic, futuristic but believable. The short time the characters appear is long enough to like them. The rocket-propelled robot racer was silly and there's still too much sonic screwdrivering, but on the whole this was enjoyable, creepy and dramatic. The Doctor even name-drops the Ice Warriors at one point - now there’s a blast from the past!

[Space Gibbon]

I don't know if I was just in a weird mood when I watched this episode but I found it seriously freaky and dramatic, and I think my response was more about the Doctor going a bit loopy than about the (admittedly well-done) alien threat. I kindof don't want to see it again as a second viewing can't possibly live up to my memory of it.

[CarloOos]

Yeah, if I'm not mistaken this one got a slating on here when it originally aired, but I thought it was quite effective. Certainly far better than the various specials either side of it.

[Hexx]

I think the first 1/2 got a slating, the magic wand screwdriving and the rocket robot - but I think the emotive heavy stuff towards the end was well liked (arbitrary nature of the rules noted)

[kensei]

I don't think it implies it's Time Lord enforced rules, it seemed to me a "fixed point" was more a force of nature - The Doctor could push, but history or the weight of time would push back and there'd be consequences, probably terrible. I dont mind it as an idea, I think it's got some dramatic potential most of which is still to be mined. I wish they'd explored the Timelord Triumphant for a few more episodes. Given everything the Doctor's been through, there must be a big temptation to try and fix some of it, or something massively holding him back.

I think they just about got away with the acceptance of fate thing, as the Doctor had personalised it - it was her niece or daughter or something that would be the great pioneer.

[Death's Head]

In Moffat's Who the implication of fixed-points seems to be that people have seen them to happen, thus they become part of history - such as Amy, Rory and most importantly the Silence witnessing the Doctor's death on the beach. Therefore as long as everything seems to happen as it should, the canny time-traveller can do what he likes (such as hide inside a robot version of himself and let that take the shot - history still records it as the Doctor dying, the Silence witness it and 'time' is happy).

So really, in the Waters of Mars the Doctor could have saved all their lives, provided he popped them on some alien planet somewhere and no one on Earth ever finds out.

(Mind you, the idea of sentient, angry time does recall Sapphire and Steel...)

[kensei]

God, I hate myself for even being able to construct this argument, but...

It was stated Lake Silencio was a "still point" which the Silence used to manufacture a fixed point from. So given this was made rather than natural - all bets are off. Perhaps like the Doctor the Silence where not quite as clever at manipulating time as they thought.

The main problem is as admirable as making the Doctor retreat from view for a vit was, it lasted all of thirty seconds, and Smith's era ended with him once again surrounded by every fucker in the universe. If you are going to do it, make it stick.

[Sprite Machine]

I fundamentally dislike the idea of time being somehow 'aware' of what's happening and course-correcting. No single moment in time should be any more "important" than any other moment in time. Whether it's Vesuvius exploding or somebody stepping on an ant, they're all just events in the timeline of cause and effect.

In this episode, it shows a flashback to Brooke as a girl during the Dalek attack on Earth and one of the Daleks sees her and spares her life. The Doctor surmises this is because it knew that her life would become a fixed point, but then surely every event that led up to her being born would also be a fixed point, wouldn't it? Her parents being born, their parents being born, and so on. The Daleks have tried to conquer the Earth plenty of times in the past, all instances of which would result in redirecting the timeline of this little girl. By any extrapolation, all of these events would have to be "fixed points" in time as well. In other words, if you can't change some things, you can't change any things, ever. Whatever happened, happened. Doctor Who tries to have it both ways.

That's why I much prefer the idea that the rules of time are not naturally ocurring, but mandated by the Time Lords. That way, that fact that it's completely arbitrary what's fixed and what isn't makes perfect sense!

[mdn2]

I think the problem you're having is trying to apply logic to Doctor Who. The show throws out its own rulebook on a week to week basis.

[kensei]

I dont think you need "awareness" for the concept of fixed points. They could just naturally fall out, like planets in space.

All time travel stories need a little leeway though, Doctor Who 10x.

[Flub]

There is slight prescedent for aspects of the universe to take physical form. Not canon as it was in the Virgin New Adventures but they did a very interesting run where the 7th Doctor was "Time's Champion", the Master was the same for Death and eventually adult ace was nicknamed "Time's Vigilante" and had a time travelling motorbike.

They were portrayed as being levels above the eternals and on par with the white and black guardians.

[Flub]

Also Sprite. Now you've seen Children of Earth you have to finish up the run with Miracle day. Try not to slit your wrists at how unbelievably bad it is. Fucking Davies. He'd finally figured out Torchwood and had to ruin it because he wanted to break into Holywood. The arse.

We're not exagerating about how bad Miracle Day is. It's a howler. Wait until you see Earth's vagina. There's something to look forward to.

[Sprite Machine]

Yep, I'll get around to that in due course.

[Sprite Machine]

The End of Time

So, this is it. After three and a bit seasons and five Christmas specials, David Tennant's turn as the tenth Time Lord reaches its dramatic conclusion. It's Russell T Davies' second chance to write the ultimate conclusion to end all conclusions, to wrap up the most popular incarnation of the character and to end his time on this show, and I'm pleased to say that he does a better job of it than the season 4 finale. Although a chimpanzee with a typewriter would have done a better job of that, so it's not saying much.

The Ood elder tells the Doctor of his prophecy.

And it's my second chance to watch this two-and-a-quarter hour double bill, of which I have only the vaguest memories, mostly of the Master dressed like a scruffy hoodie with a glowing transparent skull and Timothy motherflipping Dalton turning up with his posse of Time Lords and spitting a lot. I had somehow erased the memories of the Master turning the entire human race into clones of himself (including a bad lookalike of President Obama) and the whole thing again with the drum rhythm, knocking four times, and the sound of a Time Lord heartbeat (ooh, nice touch, I'd almost think this was planned all along). There is a wonderful moment when, finally, after all the bluffs, the prophecy of the Doctor's death (he will knock four times) turns out to be Wilf knocking on the glass door of the radiation chamber, asking to be let out, and a calm realisation spreads over the Doctor's face. If I take away anything good from this episode, it will be that moment. It's lovely.

Tap-tap-tap-tap, and it all makes sense.

Bernard Cribbins does a fantastic job as Wilfred, even if he does look like he's on the verge of tears in every scene (or maybe because of that!). Wilf is essential in keeping this story grounded in human drama while insane things are happening around them. His scenes with the Doctor where they do nothing but talk to each other in a café are some of the best. The rest of the story concerns itself with big but flimsy ideas like destiny, prophecies and, yet again, the death of the entire human race and the end of the existence of time as we know it. Because, obviously, you can't have a finale without something ridiculous happening. I don't know why Russell T Davies has to write so many stories involving "everybody in the world", because it immediately loses its believability if you stop to think about it for two seconds. Every single person on the planet turning into a copy of the Master would wreak absolute havoc. Planes would fall out of the sky, cars would crash in the street, people of different sizes, like children, could be crushed to death in seats and harnesses, and what about pregnant women? Are there mini-Masters inside Masters, or did all the foetuses die? I feel like I've said this a hundred times now, but you cannot do such big events like this without thinking about the consequences.

"Look, ma, I'm the president!"

Timothy Dalton is fantastic. Having previously appeared in Hot Fuzz, he was obviously deemed a good fit for the role of the villain again. He exudes charisma and presence both as the narrator to the events of part 1 and as the president of the Time Lords. This is the first time we see Gallifrey and the high council since the 1980s and the scale of these scenes is a vast improvement, beautifully captured by the VFX team without appearing overly "greenscreen-y". The Time Lords have always been corrupt, but the time war has sent them over the edge of evilness. I was surprised to hear the council talking about the Doctor's search for "the Moment" that will end their existence. I hadn't realised the events of 'The Day of the Doctor' had been so explicitly foreshadowed. Side note: The Doctor travels a lot before coming to see the Ood at the start of the episode, during which time he marries Queen Liz!

The Time Lords, and Gallifrey, return. Briefly.

It's a shame the Master is a little wasted here, turned into a rampaging monster that wants to eat people. This would have been a good opportunity to cast a different actor and do a whole new take on the character, rather than bringing back John Simm. There's a good chance this will happen in the upcoming series, given his fate at the end. As for the Doctor's fate, the radiation chamber is as contrived a setup as you can imagine, leading to the most drawn-out death scene ever. There's literally fifteen minutes of screen time after the accident in which every major character the tenth Doctor has ever met is bid farewell. To say it's indulgent is putting it mildly. I suppose I can't really blame Russell T Davies for wanting to add these scenes; this is just as much a finale for him as a writer as it is for the tenth Doctor as a character, but I must say, the way the Doctor clings onto his life is like a petulant child. He's been through at least nine regenerations by this point, he knows the drill. He should have had more dignified last words than "I dont want to go".

I don't understand why Martha and Mickey are suddenly married. Wasn't she already engaged to somebody else?

While I enjoyed parts of this finale and felt it was quite cleverly wrapped up, there's a lot that doesn't work so well or doesnt make sense if you think about it too much. The high stakes are implausible - why would a device capable of transforming the population of an entire planet (it's basically a weapon of mass destruction) be so casually discarded, with only a pair of bumbling alien scientists to come and salvage it? The Doctor falling from their ship and crashing through a glass ceiling, and surviving with just a few scratches, is possibly the most ridiculous thing he's ever done. He's not superman!

The Doctor's explosive regeneration wrecks the Tardis.

--------------

As this is the end of the tenth Doctor's run, I will briefly comment on the character and David Tennant's portrayal. I think David Tennant defined the character almost as much as Tom Baker did. Not just because he was really popular and stayed on for so long; he's a fantastic actor, whether he's doing his comedy thing, his angry shouty thing or his quiet solemn thing. You only have to watch episodes like The Family of Blood to see the sort of range he's capable of. His style and characteristics became synonymous with Doctor Who. He's a tough act to follow.

The tenth Doctor is more human-like than many of the others, excepting Paul McGann as the eighth. Like him, he's got a romantic side but actually (more or less) falls in love, which is a first. It's not a trait I particularly care for as I feel the Doctor should be more alien and weird (something Matt Smith nails). The Doctor has always been a caring character (that's basically what he does) but, with Ten, this empathy is more explicit, leading to more instances of him being visibly rattled, distraught or affected by events. Like Nine, his cheerful comedy routine is just to cover up his true feelings.

Any version of the Doctor (yes, even Tom Baker) wears thin over time. As I was rewatching his first season, I found him extremely likeable, but as time goes on, the character picks up annoying little habits ("weeeelllll..."), catchphrases ("allons-y!") or traits that begin to grate ("I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."). A lot of this is down to the writing, of course. I would have liked to see more of the tenth Doctor under the new writing team (when he reappears in the 50th anniversary special, he's actually excellent). The Tenth Doctor is merciful, even to his greatest enemies, always looking for a solution other than killing, and he is fascinated by human culture to the point of coming across like an excitable space tourist.

Anyway, I'm not going to put David Tennant in ranking order with all the others, because I haven't bothered doing those for the new series - the style of the programme is too different to compare them fairly with the old serials - but I will say that I like him more than I liked Christopher Eccleston.

Here's my pick of favourite episodes from the past three seasons. Thanks for reading, and here's to the next Doctor!

The Girl in the Fireplace.

A scary, sweet and clever adventure that crosses time and space.

The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit

Excellent visual design and another scary story in an impossible situation.

Human Nature / The Family of Blood

A tragic love story and David Tennant's best performance.

Blink

The best Doctor Who episode doesn't star the Doctor. Ingenious and frightening.

Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead

Moffat crams more out-of-this-world ideas and scares into this two-parter.

Turn Left

A wonderful what-if tale where the Doctor never saved the world.

[EDIT: Punctuation added back in after the forum ate it.]

Edited June 27, 2014 by Sprite Machine

[Space Gibbon]

I agree with most of your 10th Doctor episode choices, though am not a fan of The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit. I don't like the setting or the hopelessness of it. And to me it screams Davies' love of the OTT - "Let's have the Doctor fight the Devil!"

I'm hard-pressed to think of another stand-out episode I prefer. I suppose I can respect Midnight as a simple but well-executed concept, even if it's a bit dark and intense for what I like to get out of Doctor Who. I really like Utopia.

[Hexx]

I feel like I've said this a hundred times now, but you cannot do such big events like this without thinking about the consequences.

Oh god. PLEASE watch Miracle Day. And cover it episode by episode (or at least not all at once)

Really looking forward to seeing what you think of 11. Lovely little present when these recap/review thingies appear.

[mdn2]

You going to do the Matt Smith episodes now as well Sprite? Or have you had enough yet?

[Sprite Machine]

More to come.

[cassidy]

Wilf made the end of time. Considering I cry at the final salute every time.

Lovely write up sprite.

[Mogster]

I'm a sucker for melodrama so I loved the last half hour or so of TEOT, and indeed all of the scenes between the Doctor and Wilf. Most of the rest is really dumb though.

[Iain]

New series starts 23rd August

[NEG]

Please let this be the last season with that companion, etc.

Well I mean, I suppose character development wouldn't hurt on the other hand...

Moffat?

MOFFAATTTT

[Space Gibbon]

"Clara, be my pal...get out of the Tardis so I can get a real companion."

[HarMGM]

Interesting, the press release says that the first episode is going to be 'feature length'. Title is 'Deep Breath'.

[SeanR]

oh shit it's

them!

[NEG]

Aw, cute widdle Cyberman. Give it a hug.

[Mr Cochese]

The Pet Shop Boys unveil their new look.