Christian Cawley's Blog, page 14

New Doctor Who Releases from BBC Books

Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Books! The best weapons in the world! So gear yourself up for the upcoming barren months with a shed load of new books from BBC Books.

Arriving first is The Legends of River Song: a collection of short stories from River Song’s diary, and the first full-length book featuring River to be published by BBC Books with contributions from Jacqueline Rayner, Guy Adams, Jenny T Colgan, Steve Lyons and Andy Lane.

It will be released in e-format in February, followed by a hardback edition in June for those who like their books less pixel-based.

Then in March, mark every day of the year with a host of Doctor Who figures, facts, dates and stats to be uncovered in Doctor Who: 365 Days of Memorable Moments and Impossible Things.

The book is described as “a beautifully finished, day-by-day assortment of drama, humour, fright and fun from over 50 years of the shows history” and is compiled by Justin Richards.

Celebrating the return of David Tennant to the role of the Tenth Doctor, the BBC are hoping fans will ‘enjoy Tennant’s comeback’ in as many formats as possible with the releases of Jenny T Colgan’s In the Blood; which arrives in just in time for his Big Finish audio adventure in May.

Indulge your sweet tooth and get baking with August’s Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook (not to be confused with 1985’s The Doctor Who Cookbook), written by Joanna Farrow.

Subtitled ’40 Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Recipes’ the “fun, family-oriented cookbook” is packed full of simple, achievable recipes that are both savoury and sweet – ranging from “Gingerbread Doctors” to a “Pandorica to a Dalek Cake”.

September sees the release of Whographica which features visualisations and infographics that explore the universe of the show “for new and long-term fans”. The book offers a unique introduction to the extraordinary worlds of the show – from the Doctor’s family tree to the strangest weapons in the universe; from a star chart showing the exact co-ordinates of Gallifrey to a flow diagram of allegiances between Daleks and Cybermen throughout history.

The book is written by Steve O’Brien, Simon Guerrier and Ben Morris.

And finally, The Whoniverse: The Untold History of the Worlds of Doctor Who – a never-before-seen history of the human race – will be published in October. Including ‘untold histories of other planets and lifeforms’ the book will be packed with full-colour illustrations, maps, charts and photography.

 

The post New Doctor Who Releases from BBC Books appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who Adventures #11

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The eleventh issue of the regenerated Doctor Who Adventures is out this Thursday… and contains all manner of monstrosities! But how well would you cope against the Doctor’s enemies…?

With the DWA Monsters on the Loose quiz, you can test yourself and find out exactly how well you’d do against the Zygons, the Mire (from The Girl Who Died), the Veil (from Heaven Sent), or the Sandmen (from Sleep No More) – yep, all foes from Series 9.

How would you survive the shape-shifting Zygons? Well, you could always try some subterfuge – and Osgood, now under the employ of DWA, shows you how to make your own Zygon head mask. Now you’ve got to start practicing the voice…

DWA #11 also boasts:

THE SPICE ROUTE: The Doctor travels the legendary Spice Route of Shalabar Scone only to run into trouble when attacked by Boabdil, scavenger Lord of Lahn! This brand new comic book adventure features monsters, bandits and flying carpets and is brought to you by Jason Quinn, Russ Leach and John Burns.
UNIT ALIEN ARCHIVES: Find out all there is to know about Ashildr the Viking girl who will live forever, as you gain access to the UNIT Alien Archive!
STRAX’S GUIDE TO STRANGE BEINGS: Strax gives you the lowdown on some of the weirdest creatures the Doctor has ever faced, including the Darapok, the Skinks and the Nameless Mist.
CUTTING EDGE: We’ve got more monsters and allies for you to cut out, keep and play with, including Clara, Time Lords and the Veil!
THE PATERNOSTER GANG INVESTIGATES: Scream Street’s Tommy Donbavand brings us a thrilling new Paternoster Gang story, and you can find out what happened when our heroes met Oscar Wilde during a night at the theatre.

And the comic also comes with a free Monster Kit!

Doctor Who Adventures #11, priced £3.99, comes out this Thursday 4th February 2016.

The post Doctor Who Adventures #11 appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Adric Returns for Two Big Finish Short Trips

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Matthew Waterhouse is returning to his role as Adric for two upcoming Short Trips for Big Finish.

The Short Trips range, now in its sixth series, is a download-only set of adventures narrated by the Doctor’s companions. Waterhouse, who has occasionally revisited his role as the Alzarian (or, if you will, Terradon) for the audio company, has read two stories to be released later this year and into 2017.

Producer, Ian Atkins says:

“One of my aims with being able to commission nearly a whole two years of stories was to mix up who we used for which eras. Matthew is one of those who have shared the TARDIS with more than one Doctor, and I wanted us to being able to make use of that. The writers when I approached them leapt at the chance!”

Joseph Lidster, who’s also written for Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, has scripted the first release of the pair, A Full Life, which sees the Fourth Doctor, Romana, and Adric arriving on a planet in E-Space where the dead don’t stay dead…

Meanwhile, Julian Richards gives us The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius, which examines the relationships between Adric and the TARDIS team, headed by a newly-regenerated Fifth Doctor.

Ian goes on to explain:

“Joe was writing recently for Matthew with our Dark Shadows – Bloodlust mini-series. I couldn’t wait for each episode to arrive! So it seemed obvious to get the pair of them working together again. Joe’s come up with a short story of big ideas, and Matthew rose to the challenge wonderfully. He’d clearly done a lot of prep and we were blown away by his performance… [The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius] is a Romantic fantasy in the literary sense. While also giving us a real chance to get into Adric’s head and see what he made of his TARDIS colleagues and regenerated best friend. It’s hilarious but has the habit of sneaking up on you now and again with perfectly pitched sentiment. Matthew would be working away in the booth, and we’d be welling up outside! I really like the idea Julian came up with, and like all really good short stories it works on a number of levels.”

You can subscribe to the 2016 and 2017 runs of the Doctor Who – Monthly Short Trips at a considerable saving through the Big Finish site, or individually get each release for £2.99.

Release dates for both of those audio adventures are to be announced later this month. The latest Short Trips, Gardens of the Dead staring Mark Strickson as Turlough, is out now.

The post Adric Returns for Two Big Finish Short Trips appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Out Now: Sherlock Wallpaper Folding Umbrella

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

To accompany their latest officially-licensed scarf, Lovarzi has released a new Sherlock umbrella – because what’s the point of keeping warm if you’re going to get rained on too?

The Sherlock Wallpaper Folding Umbrella features iconography from the hit BBC show against a deep blue background. Its 21″/53.3cm canopy includes the violin Holmes uses in various episodes like A Scandal in Belgravia (2012), and The Sign of Three (2014); John Watson’s bust, and gun; the skull print from their living room at Baker Street; and Big Ben. Its design is also based on the wallpaper from the rooms at 221B.

That unfolds with ease by pressing a button on the plastic and rubber-coated handle. And when it’s not in use, it folds up using the Automatic Close function into a specially-made carry-case – naturally emblazoned with a gold Sherlock logo.

It’s got a fibre glass frame and steel shaft, so it’s built to last… perhaps even at the Reichenbach Falls.

Lovarzi’s been making Doctor Who items for some years now, showcasing the Fourth Doctor Scarf, Seventh Doctor Jumper, and The Pandorica Opens Scarf at events like November’s Doctor Who Festival; while their Sherlock license is a slightly newer addition, they’ve nonetheless released a range of great products related to the show including a Moriarty Scarf, Skyline Stick Umbrella, and the new I AM SHERLOCKED Knitted Scarf.

The Sherlock Wallpaper Folding Umbrella is available for just £21.59 from the Lovarzi site, a saving off its £26.99 RRP.

The post Out Now: Sherlock Wallpaper Folding Umbrella appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

What Does the Current State of British Genre TV Mean for Doctor Who?

Jonathan Appleton is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

With an extended break before Series 10, it’s a good time to consider what else might be worth watching in the long interval before Peter Capaldi takes the controls of the TARDIS again for Steven Moffat’s swansong season. But if you’re a fan of British genre television the bad news is that there aren’t a whole lot of options when it comes to series designed to fill the Doctor Who-shaped gap in the schedules created by the decision not to screen the next series until 2017.

Doctor Who was such a huge hit on its 2005 return that it swiftly spawned a wave of other shows which, although not exactly imitators, were clearly designed to tap in to the newly rediscovered appetite among the viewing public for family-friendly dramas featuring adventure, fantasy and sci-fi. The BBC1 Saturday evening Doctor Who slot has been filled at times when the programme was off-air with shows which have met with success levels which could be termed healthy (Merlin, 5 series, 2008-12), disappointing (Atlantis, 2 series, 2013-15) and somewhere in between (Robin Hood, 3 series, 2006-09).

ITV, enviously eyeing their great rival’s ratings appeal to the early-evening drama audience, have sought to grab themselves a slice of whatever it was they were eating in the Cardiff production office by having a go making some similarly fantastical fare. Demons (2009), now best-remembered for Philip Glenister’s extraordinary American accent, was an attempt that misfired, but the channel unearthed a hit when they made Primeval (5 series, 2007-11). The dinosaurs-bursting-through-anomalies format may have been limiting but it proved popular and was durable enough to survive a number changes of personnel.

But these are not happy times for Britain’s mainstream broadcasters when it comes to finding that elusive drama format which will appeal to family audiences at the weekend. Atlantis, created by the same team as Merlin, couldn’t match the success of its predecessor and won’t be returning. ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde, overseen by Charlie Higson, attracted considerable publicity when some viewers complained that the mix of violence, unsettling transformations and scary monsters made it unsuitable for children. Any controversy didn’t translate into higher viewing figures though, and ITV has announced the show’s cancellation, even though a clearly disappointed Higson said he had plenty of ideas for a second series.

Beowulf – Return to the Shieldlands, a fantasy series loosely based on the Anglo-Saxon poem, had been heralded in some quarters as a British Game of Thrones but has failed to garner either positive reviews of substantial numbers of viewers. Its week-on-week fall in the ratings since it debuted in early January looks likely to ensure it goes the same way as Jekyll and Hyde.

It’s notable that most of the series mentioned above are based on existing stories even if, in the case of Atlantis for example, the programme content bore very little resemblance to the legend it was based on. Whilst it’s understandable that executives like to have a recognisable premise at the heart of a new show to help give audiences a guide as to what they can expect when they tune in, the fact that these recent efforts have failed does point to the limitations of this approach. Maybe viewers are crying out for something new? It’s difficult to make that an entirely convincing argument when so many of the most popular films in recent years have been blockbuster sequels and superhero adaptations, but it would surely be worth a try to give a gifted creative team the freedom to come up with something genuinely fresh.

The one undoubted success in new British genre television in the past year has been Channel 4’s Humans, the series set in an unsettling near-future where flawless android replicas can be bought as domestic slaves. Although aimed at a post-watershed rather than a family audience, the show proved that a strong central idea realised by a talented creative team can translate into critical and popular acclaim.

The BBC don’t seem to have any imminent plans for early evening weekend drama to fill the gap left by Doctor Who. An adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is in the works, to be produced by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner’s Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema, though there’s no word yet as to the likely scheduling. It may be that more book adaptations would bring broadcasters that elusive success they clearly strive for. Best-seller charts are packed with hit novels aimed at young adults and older children. Charlie Higson is a successful author who has written many of these himself and there will surely be executives at ITV regretting that they didn’t ask him to bring one of his own books to the screen rather than Jekyll and Hyde.

So what does the current state of genre TV mean for Doctor Who? There certainly doesn’t seem to be any lack of faith in the programme at the BBC. The recent announcement about the change of showrunner made it clear that the corporation feels it has a long future in spite of the recent series’ fall in ratings. While the main focus of said news was on the departure of Steven Moffat and the appointment of Chris Chibnall, we did, at least, have two further series confirmed, something which, a few years ago, would’ve seemed like a good cause for celebration.

The news that there’s to be another spin-off series, Class, set in Coal Hill School didn’t exactly meet the warmest of receptions but it did at least demonstrate that commissioners still have confidence in the parent show’s ability to sprinkle its magic onto other stories set in the same universe. And, perhaps most importantly, Doctor Who can bear any numbers of changes in cast and production team, constantly reinventing itself thanks to the ingenious format which has served it so well. It’s a mix that, as recent events have demonstrated, is hugely difficult to recreate – even with some of the brightest minds involved.

What do you think? What kind of series would you like to see while Doctor Who is off the screen? Let us know!

The post What Does the Current State of British Genre TV Mean for Doctor Who? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Out Now: Lovarzi’s I AM SHERLOCKED Scarf

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Lovarzi’s had the license for Doctor Who since 2012, giving us great products like the Fourth Doctor Scarf, TARDIS Stick Umbrella, and Fifth Doctor Sweater. The company’s latest offering, though, is from another massive franchise, officially licensed by the BBC and Hartswood Films: the I AM SHERLOCKED Knitted Scarf!

The core idea of the Acrylic scarf is a design based on one of the most wonderful and memorable episodes of Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia, in which we were introduced to The Woman, aka Irene Adler. I can see this being a popular item, considering how many love the show as a whole and that storyline in particular!

Lovarzi’s scarf combines the lock-screen message from Adler’s phone with other notable elements, like Holmes’ violin, the key to Sherlock and John’s home at 221B Baker Street, and Watson’s gun.

Anyone whose bought the company’s previous scarves knows the fine quality of their items and how warm and soft the Acrylic used is.

Lovarzi’s other Sherlock products, all exclusive and official, include the Blue Striped Scarf with 221B Woven, the Icons Folding Umbrella, and new Moriarty Scarf.

The I AM SHERLOCKED Knitted Scarf is at a discount price of just £19.99 from their site, a £5 saving on the £24.99 RRP.

The post Out Now: Lovarzi’s I AM SHERLOCKED Scarf appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Patrick Ness: “The Doctor Who Universe is So Rich and Deep.”

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

2016 might seem like a black hole, lacking anything for us Doctor Who fans, but we have at least got Class to look forward to, the only official spin-off since The Sarah Jane Adventures concluded in October 2011. And writer Patrick Ness is stirring up some excitement on Twitter.

Ness, best-known as the author of YA novels like The Rest of Us Just Live Here, More Than This, and A Monster Calls (the latter of which is being turned into a movie), teases:

“Been a fun couple days. Some very cool things brewing for Class. So excited! Class is being so rewarding: Aliens & pain & jokes & respect & subversion & characters I love, love, love. Hope you like it, too. The Doctor Who universe is so rich and deep. What a pleasure and privilege to be able to engage with it and find a little corner to play.”

He also seems to embrace the pressure of being the only Who-related series this year, simply stating:

Bring it. https://t.co/tpnf0nWlQn

— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) January 22, 2016

The show’s announcement was met with a bit of disappointment generally from the fandom, but that’s unfair to the team working on it. I, for one, have faith in Patrick, and I implore you to pick up one of his award-winning books to experience how great a writer he really is.

Class will premiere on the online-only BBCThree and BBC America before going onto iPlayer and BBCOne later this year. We still don’t know exactly who will be in it, but let’s stay hopeful that the Doctor will crop up for a cameo!

The post Patrick Ness: “The Doctor Who Universe is So Rich and Deep.” appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Catherine Tate IS The Doctor!

Simon Mills is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Tee hee! That was naughty of me, but now I’ve got your attention, the Mirror has published a story where they pose the idea that Catherine Tate could potentially be cast as the next Doctor when/if Peter Capaldi leaves at the end of Series 10 (which they also wrote about).

My first reaction whenever I hear the “female Doctor” idea touted is “NO! The Doctor should remain male.” Then, when I’ve calmed down a bit and got off my high horse I start to think about the relatively small pool of actresses that could take on the challenge… That is where it gets tricky. The Doctor has to be charismatic and the actor needs to have a flair for combining gravitas with comedy. Having watched Tate as Donna Noble alongside David Tennant I believe that she would have all the required skills to carry it off. After all, she did a marvelous job as the Doctor-Donna.

But – and this is a big “but” – this could be a really big mistake to have another old face from the past crop up as the Doctor’s new mug. We’ve already done that with Capaldi with a half-assed reference to it in the show which wasn’t really that satisfying an explanation. There’s also the Colin Baker instance from the dim and distant past that was never explained. And no-one asked for it to be explained; it was just accepted. To do it again might be a disservice to fandom and other actors out there that could do the role equal justice – but who? Any ideas, dear Kasterborous readers?

On the other hand, referring back to the Doctor-Donna, why not have her come back to the show to reprise that performance? Her rapid delivery of complex lines was excellent and would suit her as the “real” Doctor. Also, this could tie-in to the “explanation” of the Doctor’s ‘Caecilius face’ and be used to explore regeneration theory further as Donna was with the Doctor at the time they met Caecilius . This could be the Doctor telling him/herself something more about that period in his/her life and lead into a sequel to The Fires of Pompeii and the invasion of the Pyroviles. Maybe a trip to Pyrovilia would be in order to sort out some universal threat? Maybe tie it in with the Medusa Cascade events of The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End? The possibilities are endless! I may have just created an arc plot for a whole season! Awesome.

Back to the original article from the Mirror, this is more of a “yeah, why not” from Tate when asked if she’d go back to the show and the Mirror taking the response way beyond its real meaning. When questioned about if there’s a chance the Doctor will ever be female, Tate says:

“I hope there is … I’m sure there will be a female Doctor one day.”

The article also mentions the Big Finish stories she’s working on with David Tennant – so why not pop over here and read what we had to say on the subject?

So… What are your thoughts on Catherine Tate playing the Doctor? Don’t be shy, we just want a mate…

The post Catherine Tate IS The Doctor! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Out Now: Short Trips – Gardens of the Dead

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

A new series of Big Finish’s Doctor Who: Short Trips has kick-started – and Turlough is back!

Yep, Mark Strickson’s wonderfully scheming companion who accompanied Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor in 1983 and 1984 makes his Short Trips debut to start off the sixth series of the range. Here’s what Gardens of the Dead is all about:

Turlough has joined the TARDIS – the snake in the orchard – and is trying, with limited success, to gain the others’ trust. 

But when they land in the Gardens of the Dead, the whole team – Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough – will have to join forces and fight together to keep the Doctor safe. And discover what is behind the very last door in the TARDIS.

Not only is this release exciting for Vislor Turlough’s return, but also because it’s written by novelist, Jenny Colgan, who as you might recall, won a caption competition as a child to meet Davison, and wrote for The Guardian:

“Best of all, I was standing next to the Doctor – the real, live Doctor, with celery in his lapel and everything – who was standing next to the actual TARDIS. It was hard being a young female Doctor Who fan. For a long time, I thought I was the only girl in the world who dreamed about the extraordinary thrill of vanishing into space. Now, any girl who won that competition would get kudos; in 1983, I got a nasty teasing. I loved the Doctor’s bolshy companion Tegan (Janet Fielding), and demure Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), too – even if she did get out of the more frightening adventures by fainting.”

And so Colgan’s now written a story featuring the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Nyssa!

Directed by Lisa Bowerman, Gardens of the Dead is out now, as a download-only story for just £2.99. Next month: the Sixth Doctor and Peri in Prime Winner!

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ReaKtion Round-Up: What You Thought of Hell Bent

David Power is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

“Featuring Donald Sumpter, as Rassil-gone.”

Is Series 9 over already? Huh, feels like just yesterday we were discussing who the Hybrid could be, why Ashildr was such a hyped up character, and how Gallifrey got out of it’s universe. Glad we got all that sorted, eh? Anyway, given how Hell Bent is the Series 9 finale, I though I’d give you all a special longer Reaktion Round-Up to celebrate.

And definitely not because I got caught up in complaining about Hell Bent.

Anyway, let’s check out the poll:

A fitting finale – utterly brilliant 37.19%  (209 votes)

Rounds off Series 9 excellently 25.27%  (142 votes)

Expected more, but it was alright 16.9%  (95 votes)

Anticlimactic after Heaven Sent 12.81%  (72 votes)

Hellish 7.83%  (44 votes)

You all seem a bit mixed on this one, with most of you leaning to the good spectrum of the poll. But for me, while it had it’s moments, it was the most disappointed I’ve ever felt after a Doctor Who finale.

I thought the start was great, at least. The unexpected opening in Nevada with a sudden appearance by Jenna Coleman catches you completely off guard, and does what Doctor Who is best at, playing with your expectations. (As the Doctor plucked Clara’s theme, he also plucked my heartstrings.) Those initial minutes on Gallifrey where the silent Doctor, “The Man Who Won The Time War”, returning to the barn he grew up in, manages to bring Rassilon himself, the man blamed for the Time War, to the his front door by shear presence alone was brilliant. I thought it fit perfectly that the Doctor would blame Rassilon for the Time War. As we saw in The End of Time, Rassilon’s High Council was hugely corrupt, so much so that anyone who even questioned his decisions would immediately be disintegrated. Also we all know that deposing Rassilon is gonna come back and bite the Doctor in the backside, right? I for one welcome the idea of a vengeful Rassilon starting a war to reclaim Gallifrey for himself.

So the General (played once again by Ken Bones) uses an extraction chamber to pull Clara out of her timeline right before her death so the Doctor can talk to her (no hard feelings, Adric.) Then the Doctor shoots the General, forcing him to regenerate. It’s been weeks since this episode aired and I’m still unsure how I feel about that part. The Doctor brushes off the shooting, comparing regeneration to “man flu” at this stage for the Time Lords, which again fits with what was described in The End of Time as “billions are dying, being resurrected and dying repeatedly.” So it makes sense that it wouldn’t be a huge deal, but there’s just something that feels wrong about the Doctor casually murdering someone. Also Ken Bones regenerates into T’Nia Miller and that’s fine by me. It explains neatly that gender-swapping regenerations is not impossible, just uncommon.

Time to wrap this episode up. The return of Gallifrey, hyped up and shrouded in mystery is suddenly forgotten so we can say goodbye to Clara… again. What was the point of bringing Gallifrey back now if it was inconsequential to the rest of the episode? How did Gallifrey return? Again, the Doctor brushes it off, telling the audience that they’ll explain some other time. Why couldn’t we have this whole story some other time?

Ashildr’s alone at the end of the universe (Sam Swift promptly forgotten after The Woman Who Lived), and we learn that in a very Moffat fashion, no one actually knows for certain who the Hybrid is; there’s just theories, and again the show moves on as if this story-arc for the entire season simply isn’t important anymore. Finally though, things start to get better. The whole episode I was waiting for the Doctor to realise the error of his ways, and attempt to fix his mistake. But what we got instead was pretty interesting. The end of Hell Bent features the Doctor being punished for a mistake he couldn’t bring himself to apologise for, no matter how bad a mistake he knows it was. In a beautiful moment from Clara, she takes her future into her own hands, which results in the Doctor forgetting Clara Oswald, or rather Jenna Coleman. The Doctor still remembers having adventures with a companion called Clara, but he knows now that his refusal to let her go resulted in them being forever separated. Seeing Clara’s face on the TARDIS, realising that that was Clara in the diner, possibly allows the Doctor to realise that this was for the best, and with a new sonic in hand, the rejuvenated Twelfth Doctor heads off for an adventure in space and time. It’s kinda beautiful really.

And then because Moffat just couldn’t let Clara go, Clara procrastinates going back to Gallifrey to die, and instead flies off to have adventures with Ashildr in a diner, because it’s not like her dying somewhere else will change a fixed point in time and shatter reality or whatever, also in the process happily ignoring the big lesson she just forced the Doctor to learn, about moving on. So in summary, I wouldn’t call myself Hell Bent‘s biggest fan.

Ratings continued to rise this week. The overnights rose from 4.51m to 4.8m (being the second highest this season after The Girl Who Died). Although the overalls dropped from 6.19m for Heaven Sent to 6.17m for Hell Bent. The Appreciation Index score rose by two from 80 to 82.

What did our lovely K-readers think about this finale? And beware some strong language!

So you lot, one last Who of 2015 Reaktion Round-Up to go, and I don’t know about you, but I think we, as well as the Doctor, need a good old Christmas romp right about now. Till the next one!

The post ReaKtion Round-Up: What You Thought of Hell Bent appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.