Christian Cawley's Blog, page 247

Russell T Davies Reacts to “Soapy” Doctor Who Complaints

James Lomond 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.

April saw Who bigwig Russell T Davies appears for the third time in Toby Hadoke’s “Who’s Round” podcast where he attempts to amass an anecdote for every episode of Doctor Who.

During their exploration of Series Two they touch on the “snog” between the Doctor and Madame de Pompadour in 2006′s Girl in the Fireplace, leading Toby to ask whether RTD has “a sympathy” with the fans who would prefer a less soap opera tone. He doesn’t…

I absolutely think [fans with criticisms] are wrong. I can understand where it is coming from, but it doesn’t mean I like where it’s coming from. You are looking at a major character in his own show that’s on for 50 years and you’re denying him a full life. You can’t do that.

Plus, I have to say, what a load of fuss about nonsense! If you added all the kisses and the love lines I think you’d have about 40-seconds of material! Seriously, think about it. It’s not much, it’s tiny. And it very rarely changed the direction of a story. But mainly it’s so alive. You have to let it move on.

Hmm. No Russell. This is a matter of taste but I feel the kissy-stuff did change the series in quite a profound way – the Doctor and Rose loved each other. That’s huge. It’s an entirely different dynamic and agenda for the series’ central characters. RTD has previously been clear that after the tragic love story of two perfectly matched people separated by a dimensional void at the end of Series 2, he wanted to try the unrequited love story with Martha fancying the Doctor.

RTD did inject emotionally-involving stories into the show and made it about people and their experiences more than about sci-fi and space opera – and I believe that’s a large part of why the show is still around. It was first and foremost a drama about people and secondly a sci-fi romp. Good. But –and I’ve said it before– I personally feel his mistake was to overly involve the Doctor in the lusty side of things.

It’s one thing to make him a lonely god who turns down an invitation for Christmas dinner and secretly (or openly as though summing up the plot for the camera) yearns for an ‘ordinary’ life. It’s quite another to turn him into a hipster-geek James Dean in space (though, in fairness, that would also be good telly…).

But what does ‘soapy’ mean here? RTD refers to the kisses and love-stuff which I’m quite clear about. I think that’s what the companions are for and the Doctor should stay sexually out of it. Less horniness more mysteriousness. But did the constant returns to Rose’s estate, getting a slap from Jackie etc. and involving Martha’s family get a bit much for fans?

I’m not so sure – a big part of what RTD did was contrasting the whole of time and space with the banality and ordinariness of Rose and Martha’s home life. It was quite clear that Martha was fleeing her rather fraught family issues when she stepped aboard the TARDIS with a guy she’d developed a rapid crush on. But the fact that the Doctor could have reciprocated her feelings and fallen in love with her irks me a bit. I have to pretend it’s not really there so I can believe it’s Doctor Who (apart from Daleks in Manhattan which I pretend is a completely different show).

The best pairing EVER in my opinion is the Second Doctor and Jamie – the buddy movie of the Classic era. After that the Scooby and Shaggy pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah-Jane Smith. No canoodling, just best mates having adventures. Sorted.

What do you think? Did the Russell T Davies era play too much like a soap? Was there too much domestic strife or too much kissy-kissy with the lead character? Did the Doctor need “a life” or was he better off being mysterious? Set us right below…

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“Phone Home?” and “Skaro Wars” Awesome Doctor Who Tees from RIPT Apparel!

Christian Cawley 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.

Doctor Who mashup t-shirts “Phone Home?” and “Skaro Wars” from rbucchioni and Phillytoon are on sale now from RIPT Apparel!

Available in a range of sizes for men, women and children, each t-shirt (just $10 plus shipping) is only available in black. However, baby grows, hoodies, posters, prints and decals for your laptop can also be purchased.

Head to RIPT Apparel to place your order NOW!

This offer closes at midnight PST on May 1st 2014.

The post “Phone Home?” and “Skaro Wars” Awesome Doctor Who Tees from RIPT Apparel! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Uber-Whovian Craig Ferguson Leaving Late, Late Show in December

Nick Kitchen 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.

In what will likely be seen as a reaction to Stephen Colbert being tapped as David Letterman’s replacement, Late, Late Show host Craig Ferguson has announced that he will be leaving the programme in December.

The actor/comedian had this to say during his announcement on Monday:

About two years ago, I had decided after eight years…that it was probably time for me to move on and do something else. And CBS came to me at that time and said, ‘Well, you could hang around and we’ll give you a fancy new studio and a podium for your gay robot skeleton and a stable for your horse and an invisible band behind a curtain. We’ll give you all the trappings of late night television.’

However, after extending for a couple more years, Ferguson announced his leavetaking:

I’ll be stepping down at the end of this year, in December. Then I’ll go and do something else, probably. I’m thinking carpentry, but I haven’t made my mind up yet. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I feel doing this show for 10 years, that’s enough.

It is safe to say that there really hasn’t been a better friend to Doctor Who in US late night television than Ferguson. From consistently having the likes of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan on the show to hosting the wildly popular Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con, Craig Ferguson has frequently flown his fan flag proudly. He will be missed, as there really isn’t anything else like his Late, Late Show on American TV…save maybe Conan, but he’s cable based now and as of writing, I’m unsure about his feelings on Doctor Who.

To celebrate Craig’s time on the show, let’s recall the famous opening that was never aired for Matt Smith’s first appearance on the Late, Late Show…

Perhaps Craig’s next move might bring him to finally being on Doctor Who? Ferguson might make an offbeat and interesting choice as the Master…

(Via Yahoo TV.)

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More New Doctor Who Scriptwriters Announced!

Danny_Weasel 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.

Hoping for some new blood in the Doctor Who scriptwriting team? How does Jamie Mathieson and Peter Harness sound? Both writers recently took to Twitter to break the good news to their followers.

Jamie is most well known at the writer of a several episodes of cult BBC show Being Human as well as penning an episode of Dirk Gently (Douglas Adams created detective) and the film Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel. To say he’s a fan is a bit of an understatement as he states on his blog page:

“As I sit writing this, on my desk I have two Tardises, a Tom Baker, a Tennant, four daleks, a Davros and a Matt Smith.”

The second name, Peter Harness was just as exstatic about breaking the news of his hiring.

Well. I've been desperate to say this since 1979… I'm writing an episode of Doctor Who!!!

— Peter Harness (@mrpeterharness) April 30, 2014

Peter is probably best known for his work on detective show Wallander, that and the fantastic biopic Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me he is also the man who will be giving us the first episode of the BBC adaptation of Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

Two very different writers who will, no doubt bring us two very different stories. As Jamie says writing for Doctor Who is a big thing, especially if you’re a fan:

“[it] is an honour. And a joy. And a huge pressure. And very, very cool. And a chance to shine in front of the biggest audience I have ever had. (Or fall flat on my face, but let’s not dwell on that.)”

So what are your feelings about these two coming aboard the good ship whovian? Excited, intrigued or mearly ambivilent? Leave us a message and either share your joy or vent your fury.

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Doctor Who Magazine 473 Remembers The Seventh Doctor

Christian Cawley 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.

Former Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel examines how the series was reinvented for a new generation…

In an exclusive feature for DWM, Andrew catches up with the writers he employed back in the late 1980s, when he was the script editor of Doctor Who. Stephen Wyatt, Malcolm Kohll and Ian Briggs reveal what it was like writing the show then – and discuss how their stories paved the way for the modern reinvention of the show.

What does Ian Briggs think of Doctor Who today? “I think it’s fantastic. Russell T Davies’ approach was a vivid re-imagining, taking the basic principles and doing them in a way TV is now made instead of just continuing from the 1980s… That’s the great achievement of Russell T Davies – and Steven Moffat, since he took over. Stylistically in both senses, technical style and storytelling style, the show is bang up to date….”

Click image for hires version.

Also in this issue:

· Producer Marcus Wilson looks back at his work on Doctor Who, including The Time of the Doctor and the 50th Anniversary Special.

· Showrunner Steven Moffat answers readers’ questions.

· DWM pays tribute to the life and times of the late Christopher Barry, one of Doctor Who‘s most prolific directors.

· Clive Doig talks to Toby Hadoke about working on the very earliest episodes of Doctor Who.

· The Fact of Fiction takes a detailed look at the 1969 Ice Warrior adventure, The Seeds of Death.

· The Blood of Azrael ­– the Doctor and Clara’s latest comic strip adventure continues.

· The Time Team watch the Tenth Doctor meet an old friend – and some even older enemies – in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky.

· Jacqueline Rayner sees Doctor Who’s special effects in a whole new light in Relative Dimensions.

· The Watcher exposes the remarkable relationship between Doctor Who and the Eurovision Song Contest in Wotcha!

· Reviews of the latest DVDs, CDs, and books.

· Competitions, puzzles, and much more!

Doctor Who Magazine 473 is on sale from Thursday 1 May, priced ￡4.99.

The post Doctor Who Magazine 473 Remembers The Seventh Doctor appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Voord Return to Doctor Who!

Danny_Weasel 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.

Big Finish have released the cover and title for what will be the first release in their new Early Adventures range and it looks like its going to be good, as the Voord return to Doctor Who!

I’m going to say this now and get it out of the way, I’m genuinely excited by this news, I’m one of those people who think The Keys of Marinus, the story that featured the titular creatures, is a darn good serial (mind you I also say the same for The Web Planet and Timelash) and the Voord themselves are simply begging to be developed further.

The Voord are back! New #DoctorWho range launches in September and here's the cover! http://t.co/kES5AFCOqe pic.twitter.com/qiwwXy56Se

— Big Finish (@bigfinish) April 25, 2014

For those of you who have not seen Keys of Marinus it was the fifth serial in the first series of the show and was written by non other than Terry Nation. It is notable for being a six part story and for having the cast travel to a new place each episode, much like The Chase. The story has the Doctor and his companions traveling around the planet Marius in search of four keys to control a sort of master computer that seems to control the population, albeit in a benevolent manner. The Voord come into the story as the villains of the piece, determined to seize control of the computer for their own ends.

So what can we learn from the rather nifty artwork? Well we see Susan in peril and what looks to be some kind of Voord chief with a crystal headpiece and what seems to be a return to the island setting of the original tale, could this be a straight sequel, or possibly given the title a prequel? A quick look on the  releases page over at Big Finish shows that the tale is a two disc release so we may well be in for a four episode story for the First Doctor.

What is not known yet is what format these tales will take, can we expect Companion Chronicles style narrated pieces or are we in for full production releases using either soundalikes or archive audio to capture William Hartnell’s Doctor?

Which format would you like to see the range adopt? Are you as excited as me for the return of the Voord or would you rather they were left in the pile of other creatures that weren’t quite as good as the Daleks such as the Mechanoids? Let us know in the usual way below.

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Billie Piper “Game” For MetaCrisis Doctor Who Spinoff!

Nick Kitchen 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.

Oi, Kasterborites! If you find yourself missing some Rose Tyler in your life, you might be interested in some recent comments by the only and only Billie Piper.

Answering some fan questions at a panel during this year’s Awesome Con, Piper was asked if she would be interested in a spinoff following what happened to Rose and the MetaCrisis Doctor. She replied as such:

“That would be interesting… I’d be game!”

While the notion has my Rose-loving heart a flutter, there are some things to consider about this. First and foremost, fan and actor interest alone cannot commission a new Doctor Who series (or there would already be a Paul McGann spinoff)…certainly doesn’t hurt, however. The Beebs and Steven Moffat would have to be on board with the idea and then there are still hurdles to jump. Would Tennant be interested in a new series commitment? With recent success with a lead role in Broadchurch and plans to star in its American remake, Gracepoint, he may not have the availability such a series would demand.

Also, would it be considered canon? Whovians have long been quick to dismiss anything that doesn’t happen on screen as non-canon. So what about a TARDIS? Can you really have a show about the Doctor without a TARDIS? There was that deleted scene where Ten gives “tentwo” a piece of the TARDIS coral to grow his own TARDIS; but if it didn’t air on TV, did it really happen?

Combine all of that with some fan sentiment that indicates that maybe we’ve had and seen enough of Rose, and the viability of the spinoff already has some fairly significant things potentially holding it back. That being said, it is hard to deny the chemistry between Tennant and Piper and it would be incredible seeing them back as “Tentwo” and Rose.

What say you, dear reader? Would you want to see this develop as a spinoff? Or has Rose’s time come and gone? Let us know below!

(Via Science Fiction)

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Doctor Who and the Curse of the Porn Parodies

Alex Skerratt 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.

Brace yourselves – Doctor Who is getting its own porn parody. Called Doctor Whore.

Produced by woodrocket.com., the new project was announced on Twitter by site owner Lee Roy Myers, who promised the spin-off would be hitting the small screen in May. He also released a promotional image for the production, which showed the traditional Doctor Who logo with the TARDIS insignia having been replaced by a penis.

Of course this isn’t the first time the Doctor has ventured into unfamiliar territory. The more worldly of Whovians may remember 2005′s Doctor Screw, or Abducted by the Daleks (not to mention Doctor Who and the Filthy Phaleks), while the older fans may recall Katy Manning’s extra curricular activities with a Dalek (pictured) in the late 1970s.

Personally I’d rather have The Keys of Marinus Special Edition in 3D and full-colour, but if this kind of thing tickles your fancy, head on over to woodrocket.com to find out more.

(Via Bustle)

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Don’t Miss The Classic Doctor Who DVD Compendium!

Christian Cawley 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.

Coming soon from Wonderful Books is The Classic Doctor Who DVD Compendium, collecting details of every disc, episode and extra for your ultimate reference!

The original series of Doctor Who ran on television for 26 years, telling thrilling stories of monsters and marvels that enthralled children and adults alike. It has taken half that time to issue all those adventures on DVD, but finally you can now watch every archived episode in pristine quality. If the prospect of setting out on such a venture daunts you, however, then fear not because The Classic Doctor Who DVD Compendium will guide you every step of the way.

Every disc, every episode, every extra is collated, chronicled and cross-referenced in this complete guide to Classic Doctor Who on DVD. With spoiler-free story outlines so no surprises are ruined for those still discovering the original series; suggestions for similar tales to those you already know you like; information on the extensive restoration work that has made the episodes look better than they ever have; and details of the wealth of special features on every disc that expand your knowledge of the worlds of Doctor Who — all fully indexed for easy reference.

If you’re only just learning about the long story of Doctor Who then The Classic Doctor Who DVD Compendium will guide you through the adventure ahead; if you’re still building your collection it will help you discover further stories you’re sure to enjoy; and if you already have every release, this book will be your ultimate companion to the complete range.

Written by Paul Smith, The Classic Doctor Who DVD Compendium is published Summer 2014 by Wonderful Books – find out more at their website, www.wonderfulbook.co.uk.

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The Day of the Doctor Snags a BAFTA Craft Award!

Nick Kitchen 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.

Doctor Who‘s 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor was a spectacle to behold, whether you caught the simulcast at home or the 3D screenings at your local cinema. The hard work by the special effects teams that brought the Time War to life in all of its (brief) glory has now been recognized in a big way.

During the 2014 BAFTA Craft Awards held this past Sunday, Milk VFX (brilliant company name, by the way), Real FX, and The Model Unit were awarded the Special, Visual, & Graphic Effects BAFTA for their stellar work on The Day of the Doctor. Their contributions helped to mark one of the most important days in Doctor Who‘s history, including the use of 3D conversion that added to the story instead of taking away from it, an issue plagued by a great number of modern movies that include a 3D version.

Meanwhile Mark Gatiss’ acclaimed docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time won an award for costume and hair (with the recreation of the original TARDIS interior cruelly overlooked)

We at Kasterborous wish a happy congratulations to all the people who worked on these projects – ou earned it!

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