Amph Doctor Who Discussion (Russell T. Davies returns)

It's the owl version, Doctor Hoo.

 

That's the parody that only stars Martha, Donna, Rose, Amy, and Clara stand-ins...

 

Okay, I'm better now.

As for rating the Doctors, I don't usually do that. The only exception is that, like many fans, I tend to consider the one I saw first as the Doctor, while the others are runners-up. In that case, it's Tom Baker. Hey, for quite a while in those pre-Internet days, I didn't know there were any other Doctors. Then, PBS (especially the late, lamented New Jersey Network) got the rights to the series and started airing all of the existing episodes, and Peter Haining's books on the show were published, and I was better-informed.

As for all of the others, I like them, more or less, depending on the scripts they got. And I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Time-Life intros by Howard DaSilva. Who else but Ben Franklin could've introduced the Doctor?

 

I've just been reading about how Doctor Who was conceived and created by Sydney Newman, a Canadian (!) who oversaw BBC drama in the 60s and who conceived The Avengers (the spy series) as well. Color me astonished.

Of science fiction novels, he said: "I love them because they're a marvellous way--and a safe way, I might add--of saying nasty things about our own society."

Brilliant.

 

If true, I can begin to take the Master's gender change seriously:

Spoiler

http://www.outpostskaro.com/2015/08/22/series-nine-preview-by-eddie-mcguigan/


I'm hoping this eliminates the argument of some fans that a Timelord doesn't have a gender and can change appearance from a masculine to a more feminine appearance. Though it's still strange that there wasn't at least some hint of this in the S8 finale.

 

You should watch An Adventure in Space and Time. It's a docu-drama that recreates the origins of Doctor Who. It's really good too.

 

darskpine10 : I haven't seen it come up on Netflix. I wonder if it's available on Amazon? I will definitely check it out, thanks for the suggestion!

 

It was first shown in 2013, during the 50th anniversary, on the day before Doctor Who became 50. So, it showed how the series all began, then the next day we had the 50th anniversary special, which showed where it was going next.

Brilliant.

 

FFS.

 

So I guess the BBC has given up completely on actually holding any character-related surprises to themselves.

 

Not surprised honestly. It could be done but would it kill them to do something original.

 

This is probably the first UNoriginal thing to happen in a Christmas Special.

 

I would've preferred the surprise. But I knew it was going to happen at some point.

Spoiler

We ARE talking about River, right?

 

Spoiler

Yes we are talking about River.
Anyways how many times did Rose come back? Amy? Etc. River came back in TNOTD as well.
I could see the River in the Christmas episode as still alive traveling through the events of Seasons 5-7 before her end in Season 4. Time travel is crazy enough so why not?

 

Yes, River has been officially announced as returning for the Christmas Special.

Incredibly lazy. Depressing news.

 

If Jack was announced as coming back as well, my complaints would be almost zero.

 

I am looking forward to River. Don't bring me down, dammit!

It actually all depends on what happens for me. Just having her as a character is awesome (she's one of my favourites), but they could also royally screw it up. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.

 

I'm dismayed to find that Doctor Who fans can be as crabby and holier-than-thou as other sci-fi/fantasy fans. River is a great character and the very premise of time travel allows for characters to return in unexpected ways. "Lazy" and "depressing" don't describe writing or production decisions made with entertainment and surprises in mind. So you don't like her or whatever, that doesn't make the writing "lazy". And if you find a character's return on a single episode of a show you profess to love "depressing", I might suggest you get out of the house more, or come up with a different hobby.

 

Doesn't really matter how engaging the circumstances of her return are, the character had run her course and should've been shelved long-term. Demonstrates a shocking dearth of ideas, does this. Moffat out.

EDIT: To clarify... I love River. She's fantastic. But already overused.

I am also amused by the notion of anyone on here suggesting anyone else on here should get out of the house more.

 

We'll just disagree, then. Including her in one out of ~26 episodes (S8 + S9) hardly indicates a "dearth of ideas". I was expecting her to return last season and was sorry not to see her. Maybe I need to get out of the house more. Apologies for any offense.

 

Maybe we'll see her meet the Doctor for the first time.

 

We should build a house and all live together.

 

Well, technically that was in A Good Man Goes to War, though she was a baby.

Then perhaps The Impossible Astronaut, where he's present to see River's mother shoot her in the face.

The first real meeting they have is in Let's Kill Hitler, from River's point of view.

I love Timey Wimey stuff.