A four disc, lenticular sleeve printed on high quality vinyl. My resolve is cracking and I'm getting increasingly tempted

There is a series of programmes being shown on BBC America called Doctor Who Revisited (it's basically a short programme showing a summary of each of the classic Doctors and a little bit about them). It's intended very much as an introduction to the show but I've seen a couple of them and they are great.

Sadly not sure if there any plans to show on UK TV but if I find out, I'll post here!

I re-watched The Daemons again last night and I am certain in my choice. Such a wonderful story where everyone gets a chance to shine. UNIT was certainly limiting from a writers perspective (essentially you only have 3 stories to play with: Alien Invasion, Mad Scientist or Plague) but I loved pretty much all of the stories on that list. I struggle to find one I don't like! Even though it was on after the original list, Power of Three was enhanced by UNIT

I should say, I have never cried at anything but this was a lovely moment - and something that ensured Rose would always have a place in our affections.

I've got a real soft spot for this one - it reminded me of an 'old-fashioned' Classic Who story (I could see Peter Davison, Nyssa and Adric doing a great job in this one). A solid story, great guest appearances - this is one that time (and fandom) has not been kind to - yet its not bad at all

Amelia

Ok, deep breath and time to review the season finale.

**Contains lots of spoilers but I'm assuming you've already seen it anyway**

I'm going to start with the positives. This is one of the best concepts for a Doctor Who story ever. I defy anyone not to have shivers down their spine thinking about the Tomb of the Doctor. I love the idea of the Tardis as his burial chamber. I loved the Psychic conference and the idea of the Doctor not having corporeal remains.

I also think this has got to be one of Matt Smith's best performances as the Doctor (apart from the crying, more of which later) and Jenna is a wonderful companion who performed really well. And what more needs saying about the wonderful Paternoster Gang? So far so good. A killer concept, a perfect cast and to top it all an opening sequence that had my (not so) inner fanboy squealing with delight.

But...

How did that Criminal get picked by the Whispermen? Why him? (I know there was a special mini episode but you shouldn't have to watch a special mini episode to get this question answered. And actually, all the mini episode does is to show that he was picked by the Whispermen and not why. So that started things off on a slightly confusing footing.

It was established later on that the Whispermen were manifestations of GI and that they were kidnapping Jenny, Vastra and Strax. Why just them? If the GI was able to travel in time and space (how else would he find Trenzalore) why didn't they get loads of companions? Why not just capture the Doctor himself in his first incarnation and kill him, thereby totally wiping out his timeline and inflicting the ultimate defeat of non-existence. Also, with the Whispermen at his disposal, why did GI leave all of the Doctor's companions in the control room after he had jumped into the timeline? Surely they would try and fix it. But he did. It's not that these little rickets can't be explained away - they can, but I shouldn't find myself thinking about this while the show is on. But I did.

Which leads me on to River Song. She was downloaded into CAL and saved by the Doctor. I can also accept that maybe she battled with the Doctor at Trenzelore. My problem was she was just an easy fix for difficult problems. Arrive on Trenzelore, faced by Whispermen? Up pops River with a secret tunnel! Whispermen killing the gang? Up pops River to give the password! Need a quick plot explanation? Up pops the Ghost of River which the Doctor can see after all. I didn't like that - there was no 'problem solving'. River instead worked like a 'human sonic screwdriver' opening doors and providing passwords.

My biggest gripe though concerns the dramatic ending. "John Hurt is the Doctor" it shrieked on the screen as Mr Olivander turned round. Hang on though, hadn't we just seen at least 10 other Doctors as well? "John Hurt is a Doctor" makes sense. But Matt Smith is the Doctor. I appreciate such pedantry might seem facetious but it feeds into a wider concern. This story was supposed to be a season finale. Yet despite resolving who Clara was, there was a big question left hanging. Therefore in order to understand what the heck is going on in the 50th Anniversary you *have* to watch this. I don't like that and think it weakens both stories (this is only my opinion I should stress, if you can get over this then I respect that completely.)

Finally, I didn't really buy the underlying "Clara as the impossible girl." It was only Xmas, after all, that the Doctor was sulking in his Tardis because he'd lost Amy Pond. And before that we had Donna Noble as the most important woman in the universe. And before that we had Martha Jones who saved the world. And before that we had Rose Tyler... Asking us to swallow another companion as being mega-special in the space of only 8 episodes was, for me, a bridge to far.

So, it was imperfect. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it. I did, it was a good romp. But I thought, while it aimed big, it just missed out on greatness because of the questions that I've raised above. And these questions resonate throughout the whole of series 7b. And the reason for this can be traced back to the decision to split the series up. It fractured the narrative and meant that we either had a new series (which everyone at the BBC was at pains to suggest wasn't the case) or we were supposed to pick up where we left off (which was impossible given the amount of time that had lapsed). So many times through the series we were promised big ideas, and so many times throughout the series I felt the final product hadn't delivered. The Name of the Doctor was series 7b in microcosm. Some fabulous ideas but poor realised due to gaping plot holes and sloppy narrative.

The Name of the Doctor could and should have been the best episode of all time. The fact is, it simply wasn't.

3/5

 

There is a clear precedent for recasting the First Doctor (c.f. The Five Doctors and Richard Hurndall). It has gone a little out of favour due to Big Finish refusing to recast any of the classic Doctors but I wouldn't mind, especially an actor the calibre of David Bradley  (I also can't wait to see how Reece Shearsmith does with Patrick Troughton).

The Arc of Infinity

Both stories have the Doctor sentenced to Death by a court

I'm really excited for this - I've ordered the Special Edition CD. But Big Finish are asking £100 for this and it might be a bit rich for me

Marc Platt is a writer made for Doctor Who. He understands about plot and characters and always has a deep core to his stories. Ghostlight is a fantastic story that works on so many levels. It delves deep into what it is to belong somewhere and the need to confront and avoid ones ghosts. It gives the Doctor a look at the wrong end of other people's secrets. Most of all, it is a story that one can go back to time and again to find something different.

A wonderful 5/5 for one of the most daring and experimental stories of the 80s.

I should add that this is typical of the style of Marc Platt. I have no doubt that Platt is one of the most gifted writers to work on Who. If you have a chance to catch his Big Finish stories, they really are sublime. As was stated in another thread, this was originally Lungbarrow, the story about the origin of the Doctor which Cartmell and JNT had been working on as the climax to (what everyone believed) would be the last season of Doctor Who. Then, JNT had a meeting and was given the impression that there might be another series.. so they redrafted it to make it a story about Ace instead. I think, therefore, that by going through so many re-writes, the essence of the story become changed. It became more of a fable, viewing the Doctor through the prism of Ace and (as Nyki says) reflecting on  the nature of life, death and belonging. It's not an episode that is easy to watch and, I think even the most die hard of Platt fans (of which I count myself one) accept that its difficult to follow..

But actually, thats part of what makes it such a great story

I know this is not the topic of the thread but Lungbarrow is a sensational (and highly sought after) Virgin New Adventures Novel. I read and re-read this loads!

Just thought i'd give this thread a little bump. These are really well worth a watch and will put you right in the mood for the Gatiss docudrama

THIS!!! I feel incredibly disenfranchised at the moment. I don't think it would have killed the BBC to use 25 mins on BBC3 or BBC4 4 times every month to promote a classic DW story. When it was the 25th Anniversary, BBC2 ran a short season called "The Five Faces of Doctor Who" where they showed a story from each Doctor. BBC America are getting a short series of documentaries explaining each Doctor and giving them a little profile.

However.... I wonder if Moffat is going for a calculated sprint of activity starting late October so that momentum is built up leading to 'Adventures in Space and Time' and then the 50th Episode. I think come November, we'll be well served...At least I hope so, because right at the moment we're getting nothing.

Shada

I still have my DVD recording off the TV and always giggle at that bit. All that was missing was David Tennant saying "And a Merry Christmas to you at home"

I'd love to visit the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida because I am a space exploration nut and would love to see it

Do you wear hats and (if so) what is your favourite hat?

91 days

(best i dust off my bells and get applying for the position of head elf)

I listened to this on the Radio and cannot wait to see it. I really love the idea of the Doctor Who prom and hope it becomes reinstated as an annual event