Doctor Who: Deep Breath - Controversies & Mysteries

     Doctor Who came back last weekend with series 8 and a new Doctor. Their task was to meet some very high expectations, and to smash some very low ones. To me they succeeded in both. I hope today I will do a full review of the episode because there are so many things to discuss. I think it was one of Moffat's best, as well as one of the best Doctor introductions. There always felt like there was a separation between the classic show and the new one, despite obvious exceptions like the Daleks. At first I thought I was enjoying a seamless blend of the two, but in actuality it was a whole new show that was drawing strongly from both eras, all while breaking new ground.

     Like I said, I'm going to do a review, but there are a few things that merit separate discussion. Two controversies and a mystery.First I'm going to tackle the mystery of Missy.

     We were told Missy would be coming in the finale episodes. She was described as the Gatekeeper of the Nethersphere. What we didn't know is she would pop up at the end of Deep Breath. Sound familiar? We knew Rose was coming in series four, not that she would have a cameo in Partners in Crime. We knew Clara was coming, but not in Asylum of the Daleks. We know now that Rose was bouncing, trying to find the Doctor. We know that was an echo of Clara in the asylum. Missy welcomed the clockwork man to "heaven", first describing in terms he could understand. Nethersphere, heaven? The finale is titled Death In Heaven. Who is she?

     I've seen lots of speculation. The Rani, The Master, The TARDIS, Clara somehow. It's the referring to the Doctor as her boyfriend that's interesting here. She said it was hard to see whether the Doctor pushed him or he jumped. Where was she? Heaven? I don't think it's River, and there isn't much information so my current thoughts are that she is a new character.

     Did he or didn't he....

     The first controversy is whether or not The Doctor killed the clockwork man. I struggled back and forth about this, figuring we will probably see what happened at some point. It wouldn't bother me if he did. Just in the past couple of days I kind of changed my mind, thanks to my niece, Andrea. She pointed out that while the Doctor said one of them was lying, we also know for sure he has killed. Remember Solomon in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, for one? It will be interesting to see how this whole possible shift in the perception of The Doctor's morality plays out.

Finally I want to try and be as brief as possible when I talk about the other controversy, the "kiss." So much has been made about a homosexual kiss happening between Vastra and Jenny and with full disclosure that I am a gay man, that doesn't even matter because what I have to say is that you're all a bunch of freaking idiots. One moron posted a comment on another site that she didn't see why they needed to give an explanation about the kiss, the lung reserves and sharing of air, and just have the kiss. Um,  I have an answer for you, stupid. Because it wasn't a fucking kiss! They said all of that about the air reserves because Jenny was desperate for air. That's what it was about. Why the hell would she kiss her when she's starving for air? I don't care what it looked like. Have you ever seen what it looks like when a homoreptilia transfers air to a human? I didn't think so.

I want you to turn to your hypothetical partner and hold your breath for about a minute. then have your partner take air into their mouth and pass it to you. Now kiss while you're doing that. It makes no sense, you're all stupid homophobes who are just trying to make it into something that it is sooo ridiculously obviously not just so that you can have an outlet for your hatred. How so very, very pathetic.

Dying to know one thing

With series 8 premiering tomorrow, I've done very well at avoiding spoilers. Now that I'm regenerating my blog to fit the new Doctor, I'm left with one burning question left by a screenshot from one of the trailers, or perhaps it was a promo picture, but it looks like a screencap. Here's the pic...

That looks like a regeneration happening inside Matt's Doctor's TARDIS. I don't see Clara anywhere, so are we going to see more on Trenzalore at the beginning? I hear there is a nice cameo, could it be Matt?

Remembering Christmas: 2005 & 2006

2005- The Christmas Invasion

I liked The Christmas Invasion okay. It was our first such special, but was more of a post-regeneration story. That aspect is what saved it for me. One of my favorite scenes was when Rose was struggling to sound authoritative to the Sycorax, and upon hearing them translated for her, she realizes The Doctor, absent for the most part up until then, must be better....

I loved seeing Harriet Jones again, we will always know who she was. I didn't care for the direction her character went, but I still appreciated her, especially in her next appearance. My other favorite scene was The Doctor picking out his new clothes. This is always fun, and we saw some nods to old Doctors and companions hanging in the wardrobe. But the wardrobe room itself was worth it, the first room outside the console room to be seen, and only other until The Doctor's Wife. To be technical, we didn't see any new rooms until Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS.

2006: Runaway Bride

Besides The End of Time, Runaway Bride is my favorite pre-Moffat era Christmas special. A lot of that could be my huge love of Catherine Tate. But aside from that it was fun. Seeing the viewpoint of a companion who found herself unwillingly in the TARDIS, as portrayed by Ms. Tate, was a riot. One of my favorite scenes is her first after finding herself inexplicably beamed into the TARDIS. Which is not even a proper word!

Donna struggles to get back to the church she had been getting married in. She's not impressed by The Doctor at all, something new, and she's also not carrying any money. (pockets) My favorite scene of the whole episode comes after she finds a cab driver willing to giver her a lift.

They really played around with the TARDIS in this one, and I don't just mean going back to the creation of the Earth. My other favorite scene is when The Doctor uses the same Huon particles in Donna that pulled her into the TARDIS to bring the TARDIS to them.

Gallifrey Found

This is planet "HD 106906 B" and it was found in the farthest orbit of a sun yet discovered. Probably because of a combination of it's appearance as well as the 50th anniversary and the revelation that Gallifrey is out there, not surprisingly there is a petition to have the planet named Gallifrey.  I don't normally go for petitions, but I signed this one, and I hope enough people do to have it named, as it would be a fitting tribute for the show, as well as a wonderful 50th birthday gift. They are still a number of people away from their goal of signatures, so please go here and sign the petition today. 

Here is a Youtube video from the person who started the petition.

We might not get a more perfect opportunity to immortalize Doctor Who in our reality's stars.
#GallifreyFound

The Christmas SPOILERS You're Being Warned About

"Orbiting a quiet, backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe's deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out of the stars. And amongst them - The Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe."

Want to know more? Me too. So far we saw in the trailer and photos that there are Weeping Angels, Daleks, Cybermen and Silence. We know about the regeneration. New information has come out, if The Sun is to be believed, and believe me that's not even easy for me to believe I'm typing it.

I am always scoffing at information that comes from a "BBC source." Recently everyone has blown up about Steven Moffat including the regeneration in Journey's end, making Matt the 13th Doctor. I can't actually find him saying that, only a "BBC source." It would, though, fit with the regeneration solution The Sun is proposing will happen. Unless this is all a clever ploy by the Moff to fool us. The difference is that this source provides a good bit of information, including the big solution to a series 5 problem.

But you are forewarned that this information, if it proves to be true, is EXTREMELY SPOILERY and should be avoided if you don't want to know anything. I just found what they say too delicious to pass up sharing....






SO






BE WARNED





SPOLIERS AHEAD








BIG TIME SPOILERS






POSSIBLY IF ITS TRUE







BUT IF IT IS WOW!!!








LAST CHANCE







SPOILERS  SPOILERS  SPOILERS  SPOILERS   SPOILERS  SPOILERS  SPOILERS




Okay, if you've made it this far you must be sure. Here is what The Sun says a "BBC source" says will happen in "The Time of The Doctor"

Trenzalore will be the "backwater planet" and Christmas Town is the location of a centuries long battle between The Doctor and a number of his deadliest foes, including the Sontarans. The Doctor is summoned to Trenzalore by a bell echoing across the universe, a sound that also brings his enemies. The Doctor hides in a clock tower, presumably the source of the bell. Supposedly The Doctor loses a leg after a Weeping Angel grabs it (implausible) and we will see him wage the 300 year war as Clara is tucked safely in the TARDIS.

Then they throw this in. The time crack was caused by the Timelords when The Doctor saved them in the 50th. At the climax a time crack will appear and the Timelords will be there. They will reward The Doctor with a new set of regenerations. If this is true then it really is set up for another 50 years like Moffat said he wanted to do. The time crack can even wipe out what happens at Trenzalore.

It's at least an interesting theory. At most a first for The Sun.

Here's a little theory of my own, assuming part of what I wrote here is true. What if we get a regeneration early on or midway through the episode? Steven Moffat said there would be explanation as to why his face was aged. If he fights part of the way that could age him. Just an idea.

There is another way... Thoughts on Regeneration

After watching "The Brain of Mobius" again, and then the prequel, "Night of The Doctor," we can certainly see how with the help of the Sisterhood of Karn The Doctor can get past the limit of 12 regenerations. We also know from stories like "The Five Doctors" that the Timelords could grant more regenerations, so what if in the 50th, Moffat resolves the time war and Gallifrey is back? Problem solved, but there are more ways than these.

I've been watching classic episodes in order to gear up for next week's BBCAmerica takeover, with the return series airing in order. I've watched some pertinent ones like "Terror of the Zygons," since they will be in the 50th, and "Underworld," because it was the first ever I remember seeing thirty-something years ago. Right now I'm watching "Mawdryn Undead" simply because it's one of my favorites.

The thing about the last two I mentioned is that in both of them The Doctor had encountered races with whom the Timelords had shared regeneration technology as well as having it stolen from them. All The Doctor needs to do is visit the Minyans again if he needs to regenerate. Who knows how many more places there are out there, but it's an issue I think is pretty much 'problem solved' :)

As a side note, I'd like to address the people who claim the extra faces who appeared during the mind battle between the fourth Doctor and Morbius in "The Brain of Morbius" are representing other regenerations of The Doctor. In "Mawdryn Undead" the fifth Doctor spells it out point blank. Her will not help Mawdryn and his friends because there are eight of them, and he has regenerated four times so it would be the end of him as a Timelord because he only has eight regenerations left. So you can choose to believe the ambiguous appearance of unexplained faces or the facts that are spelled out and spoken by The Doctor himself.

Are You Ready? Updated With New Trailer

While I've been doing my Christmas decorating the news tidbits have been coming in. And now we have a trailer finally!! See the new trailer here and check out the HD images.  (UPDATE: They removed the first trailer but here is the 50th special trailer, the first trailer and click the previous link to the new extended 2nd trailer, indeed it appears to be the one from Comic

                                          


We also know the time of broadcast, which I suspected when I got my tickets to the 3D cinema simulcast!! "The Day Of The Doctor" will air at 7:50 pm GMT, which for me in the eastern U.S. is 2:50 pm. I'm afraid to start thinking about what time I need to get to the theater.

BBCAmerica has posted their schedule for the week leading up to the 50th. Along with marathons of each of the contemporary Doctors, we get to see The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox, An Adventure in Time and Space, and both Matt Smith and David Tennant on Graham Norton. The next day will be Matt's Doctor's revisited and my big weekend will extend to Monday when I have a ticket to the extra showing of "The Day of The Doctor" in 3D. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the little something we will get for Children In Need on the 15th. I also hear there is another trailer, possibly the Comic Con one, coming as well. I hope my DVR doesn't overflow, because I plan a 2 week Who takeover of my broadcasting, which will include giving you a review of the Big Finish audio drama "The Light at the End."

I do have to wonder, despite interviews where they mention the fun of working together, what Billie Piper's role is in the 50th. The absence of many filming pics made me suspicious, and the obvious appearance of "Bad Wolf" Rose in the trailer makes me wonder more. Hopefully we are getting both.

The Day of The Doctor Promo Image and poster released

OOOOOOH they put these out today. And if you look in the images it appears we will see a broken off TARDIS door (Matt's TARDIS), the time war, with bits of Dalek about and a Gallifreyan symbol. And what's that scrawled on that wall?

The New Doctor Is Announced

Today at 2pm Eastern time on BBC and here in America on BBC America they have announced in a live event who the next Doctor is going to be. There were old characters on hand or on video, including former Doctors, to speculate and ponder the past and future of the show. Even Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox weighed in. Hawking actually is in favor of a female Doctor with a male companion, lol. Also on hand was the actor himself. After so much speculation, guesswork, red herrings, and absolute rubbish guesses, we know now that the role will be taken over by Peter Capaldi!! We last saw him brilliantly portraying a troubled civil servant in Torchwood series three, but he also played Caecilius in "The Fires of Pompeii" so they have gone with an older actor and based on his work I've seen already I am pleased with this!! He has also done great work on The Hour and many  other dramas and I think a mature Doctor is a welcome return. And we have the 2nd time an actor plays The Doctor having been in the show previously. Colin Baker played Gallifreyan guard Maxil in "Arc of Infinity" before going on to play the 6th Doctor.

Here is the first promo pic released and a shot of him in Torchwood and Pompeii.

A Time Lord Life

We almost had news today, if you believe author Stephen Hunt, who was supposed to have said that during the rehearsals for the BBC Proms, the staff was told that the new Doctor would be revealed either by name or appearance. This did not happen. I am still trying to get a hold of copies of the proms, I enjoy the Doctor Who concerts they put on.

In Entertainment Weekly, Steven Moffat said that they have known for most of the time how long Matt would be The Doctor. He also said that the regeneration will happen at the END of the Christmas special, so there goes the theory of him leaving at the end of the 50th or beginning of Christmas. While still being hesitant about the length of the 50th, he did call it movie length.

Other than that I haven't heard much, so I thought I'd share a different way to experience the Doctor Who world. Second Life is like other social networks, except you pretend to be someone else. Oh wait, it is just like other social networks. It's quite addictive and a bit maddening at times. You have everything you have from social network like chatting and meeting up, but in a virtual world with an avatar you create. Of course there is also the mix of horny young boys, horny middle eastern men, horny european men, well from everywhere really. Not everyone admits to roleplaying on there, but I got news for you, by being on there you are role playing. They have a huge amount of people roleplaying as vampires, but there are Doctor Who ones as well. It's mostly a popping up here and there in your TARDIS, maybe with a companion, but there are some places to play with others, I just haven't gotten that far yet. I've only been on for less than 2 weeks and I just got my TARDIS constructed, but still working out some flight bugs.

These are pictures from my TARDIS and garden, where I have some Who artifacts. I am playing as a Time Lady. I am locked from changing my name until later tonight for some reason, but am choosing the Timelord name, The Muse. I chose a different capsule than a police box, since this is my TARDIS, but I think I chose well. I am using a console room that was a concept design from when Matt Smith first started. I have a combination of styles and everything will probably change at some point. These first pics are my TARDIS materializing when I summon it. I love the Gallifreyan design and you can see when it is open into the console room. Click on all the pics to see them larger, per usual.

Next is the console room. The large scanner isn't working right now, one of my issues. They do have good support. I don't think I can change the inside of the door from the police box, but it doesn't bother me if I can't. Stairs go down around either side and there is a room underneath I an using as a sitting room. opposite that room is the door to the corridors. The last couple of pics are from earlier when I had the large scanner working momentarily.

This is the sitting view. It can be changed to match the black and white console room above, but I liked the wooden look. I have placed the harp of Rassilon and subsequent painting at the fireplace. These were seen in "The Five Doctors."

I used the corridors from "The Doctor's Wife." In the junction I have Gadget, the robot from "The Waters of Mars." One direction goes to my black and blue classic style bedroom, the other I have set up with a crack in time that is being used to access my garden.

My bedroom is next. It was empty and I could've used it for anything. You can change the wall color and roundel color. I hung a cool animated wall aquarium in there.

I've got a lot of work to do in the garden, but these are some things I have there. From the classic series I have the zero room complex. It works well outside with it's open courtyard feel before entering the actual zero room. You can change the colors here too. In the zero room there is a pose ball, they are things you find in pools and dance clubs that animate you to fit the surroundings, like dancing, sitting or swimming. There is one in the zero room that you can use to levitate/meditate like The Doctor. I'm using it in the last pic.

Then here are a few fun things I have in my garden. I have the hot air balloon TARDIS Jackson had when he thought he was The Doctor in "The Next Doctor." I think it can fly but haven't tried, there's a pose ball inside. Inside a space simulator room I placed the untempered schizm, seen in "The Last of The Timelords" and "The End of Time" when The Master and all Timelord children were brought before the tear in the fabric of time. On another side I have the Pandorica, which actually opens with a seat inside. I think you can trap someone in there, but haven't tried yet. Next to it are some stone Daleks like in "The Big Bang." You can also see in that picture the crack and the gate I secured to return to the TARDIS corridor.

If you're looking for a new way to have fun with Doctor Who come and join me on Second Life. It isn't like an MMO game, but the term second life is a pretty good expression of the experience. Once I get into any roleplaying areas I will let you know how things go in that area. Until then I am enjoying having a TARDIS and meeting people as a Time Lady. There is lots to explore, so hopefully I won't get bored anytime soon.

A Roundup Of Sorts

It's been a busy time. I finished my monthly article on time and then I got an iPhone, which I've been glued to for over a week. But there is simply no excuse for not having congratulated David Tennant earlier on his Emmy award win. The win came for vocal work on the cartoon "Star Wars The Clone Wars" as Huyang. This doesn't surprise me for David has a very idiosyncratic voice. Congrats, David, on this prestigious honor.




Okay, you already know how I feel about talking about nothing when it comes to the next Doctor. I avoid the speculation because it's an infernal waste of time. So every once in a while, like today. I might bring up the names of the moment, but I'm not going to keep track of it daily. I will probably also avoid posting about what other various people (related AND unrelated to Who) think about the topic, unless it's individually interesting. One other blog even posted a post, longer than some of my reviews, about why they are not talking about it. but I can hardly post after a couple of weeks without at least mentioning it.

The main male name I still see is Dominic Cooper. I recognize his face, but have seen nothing he is in, but I will probably see the Captain America movie. I have no feelings one way or the other because I have nothing to form an opinion about. It makes me laugh because the reports change from day to day. He's interested, he's not interested, he's interested. Ugh, it all really is silly to keep on about until it is announced.

Interestingly, the female name I am now seeing at the top of the list is Sheridan Smith. I will not let our common first name sway me. I know her from Gavin & Stacey, but not from watching it. I think shes quite charming, though, but I'm still one of those that doesn't truly want a female Doctor. An interesting connection here is that Sheridan plays The Doctor's companion Lucie Miller in the Big Finish audio dramas, which are awesome. I haven't listened to any of hers, but if any of you are interested, go to the Doctor Who Big Finish Webpage because these are great productions featuring actors from the show, including the Doctors. If you've never listened to an audio drama, think listening to the tv with your eyes closed, but with dialog to express what is happening and surroundings. Next year they are going to release "The Abandoned" which is the first to be written by a former star of the show. This was penned by former fourth Doctor companion Leela, Louise Jameson.

They announced who will direct the Christmas episode, Matt Smith's last. It will be Jamie Payne, who directed "Hide." Not that I think it will be the same, but I hope you liked "Hide," I sure did, and I know a huge portion of that was the direction. He has also done work on other shows I watched and liked. The Hour, Call the Midwife, Outcasts, and Survivors. With him directing Moffat's words and Matt & Jenna's actions, I am starting to get more excited about that episode.




Another thing happening sounded silly at first but once I looked into it I liked it more. A kickstarter campaign was started, and succeeded, in raising the $33,000 to send a 1 foot scale replica of the TARDIS in the payload of rocket and getting it into low earth orbit. The thing is, it has solar power cells in the windows so the light on top works. Hypothetically, the people in the space station could look out at the right time and see a TARDIS orbiting. It also contains a camera to take shots, like we don't have enough pictures of Earth. The thing that was interesting to me is that if this is successful, they would then like to raise some $300,000 to send up a life sized replica. Just imagine, with the right telescope, on a clear night....