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.

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....






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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.

Where does John Hurt's Doctor fit ?

I currently have two working theories on where John Hurt's Doctor fits in the timeline. All this is outside the possibility that this is really Doctor #9.

The first idea is newest so not very formed, but fed some by some of the new pictures as well as an interview with Steven Moffat in SFX magazine. First here is what he said about the matter...

"There's a whole lot of stuff you missed! It's a nice thing to be able to say in the show, and for no one to be able to contradict you, that there were years that you didn't know about... we lied and lied, there's a whole big old chapter you didn't know."

So I got the idea that this was 10.5, or The Meta-crisis Doctor who stayed with Rose in the other universe. He could be aged, his Rose could be dead. They could be taking into account the deleted scene where The Doctor gave him and Rose a chunk of the TARDIS to grow their own. Like I said, I don't have much of it worked out. But now look at these pictures:

In every picture John is BETWEEN the other two. Now I used to have theories as to why the TARDIS had so much detruction when David Tennant regenerated, like him holding in the energy to say goodbye and just put it off created the explosion. But what if something else happened. That could still be The Doctor who ended the time war.

In both cases it would be a Doctor born out of anger. The most likely in my mind is still the most obvious one I mentioned at first, but some type of shocker would really be welcome.

Doctor Who 2014

Look at how young Matt looks in this picture, one of the first taken after announcing he would take over from David Tennant. He doesn't even look like The Doctor yet. Soon we will have another such picture, and we may not have long to wait to find out who will replace Matt Smith as The Doctor. In This Radio Times Interview, they give us hope that we could hear as early as next month. This would fall in line with them beginning the filming of the Christmas special. Keeping Clara's appearance in "The Asylum of the Daleks"  a secret was one thing, but who the next Who is? That would be more difficult. At most we would have to wait until the Fall, when they will start filming season 8. I agree that it's more likely we will find out by the time they start filming for Christmas.


Speaking of season 8, another bit of good news seems to be the word that there will be one entire season, not split, but I am seeing a 12 episode run with the Christmas special following as the finale. That would be something different, which is what Moff said he wanted to do. It would also insinuate that the season would not begin until the Fall, around September if there was no break before the Christmas special. Still, better than those damn split seasons. One full season gives me hope that Clara will be in the entire thing. I like her, and I also love when a companion goes through his regeneration and continues traveling with him. In the Radio Times article, they were also told by a BBC source that Steven Moffat will still be showrunner for season 8. Personally I am happy with this. I love Moff's writing and am generally pleased with the direction the show has taken. I also believe he has assembled a very talented team, who all work to create the show. I know he will leave soon, but thankfully it won't be both he and Matt at the same time, if the source is to be believed. Radio Times are pretty reliable, right?




One last thing here. WOW is everyone talking female Doctor. I don't know how much of it is wanting it to happen or just the fun of speculating on who it could be. I have seen some interesting names, but right now the only one I truly love is Olivia Coleman. She really does have it all. The drama, the humor, the almost alieny look. (adorably so) I've said I would be okay with a female Doctor. Actually, depending on who it was, I would still watch but reserve being okay with it until watching. But for sake of argument, let's say Olivia got it, I would be okay with that, but what I don't want is for them to do it just for the sake of doing it. Just like making him a different race. The racist issue is silly. I believe if they find the right person no matter what race they would choose him/her, as long as (s)he's BRITISH.

Has anyone put out the name of Mark Shepherd? I know he does work on Supernatural, but I would love to see him as The Doctor. I also like the idea of Simon Pegg. I thought when Tennant left that he would be good in the role. Call me crazy but I like Daniel Radcliffe for the role. I don't know how it would work with Sherlock, but Andrew Scott would be great, IMHO. Oh, and speaking of Harry Potter people, what about Matthew Lewis? Really, I could go on and on like so many are doing, but what I really hope deep down is that once again it is a relative unknown.

UPDATE: I am seeing news supporting the 12 episode Fall run with the 13th episode being the Christmas special finale. There are also rumors that Ben Daniels may have already been signed as The Doctor. I reported him yesterday as having the highest odds on SkyBet. I loved him in Law & Order U.K. most recently. I love the idea but am a bit surprised if it is true since it would age The Doctor's appearance.

New "Nightmare" Image, Preview and Possible 50th Spoiler **UPDATED W/Added Clip**

Wow, sorry, I'm probably going to be the last person to review "The Crimson Horror" but unless something unexpected happens it will be up this afternoon. Until then, I found this great new promo pic for "Nightmare in Silver"

And this is the new preview clip. Check out the Cyberman's moves at the end.

and read something I found interesting and not all that surprising. BUT this is something that definitely requires...



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Blogtor Who is reporting that in an interview with the Eastern Daily Press, John hurt said some interestingly descriptive words for his character in the 50th anniversary special. He was cited as saying he was playing a "part of The Doctor" in a "kind of trinity" that includes David Tennant. If this is true, it could fall in line with either him being the true 9th Doctor or him being The Valeyard, last seen in "The Ultimate Foe". I am not familiar with more than the name of the paper this appeared in, so I take it as rumor as you should too at this point. But great food for thought!

Sad news and 50th Filming Pics

It made me sad to read today that David Tenannt is the only previous Doctor returning for the 50th. This was , or is in Doctor Who Magazine. I've read interviews with Steven Moffat where he talks about the 50th being about going forward, as opposed to looking back. But no recognition to any of them? Of course now that I really think about it it would be hard to explain Tom Bakers age, but he's so brilliant. Just to see him play the part again. And then I bet it's hard to insert completely different ideas into an ongoing story line, but it's a special. Oh well, what are we going to do?

As sad as I was to hear that, I was equally as much excited to see these pics from today's filming of the 50th special.

They are going back to where it all began in 1963. Totters Lane was where the TARDIS was parked. Coal Hill school is where The Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, went to school. Her teachers, Ian and Barbara, followed her home and were taken away for the shows first adventures. They literally were taken. The Doctor pretty much hijacked them. But that's not important. What's important is that this may fall right in with my theory of Clara being connected with Susan. Is it her? That would change the course of Who, as Moffat said, having his granddaughter back. Will The Doctor find a fob watch among her things? Or is it just a way of paying homage to where it all started? The Doctor has been back there. O the top of my head in "Attack of the Cybermen", and "Remembrance of the Daleks", the first being the one where The Doctor fixes the chameleon circuit and we see the TARDIS change her disguise.

Some other people spotted something that could also be interesting, if it isn't just a case of recycling a prop, which is not an alien concept to them. The seat that Oswin sat in as she talked to  The Doctor in "Asylum of the Daleks" is the same seat that Jenny sat in as she flew away in "The Doctor's Daughter", and I've already mentioned that Russel was going to kill her and Steven asked him to save her. 

Hopefully we will learn more, but surely filming must end soon. At any rate, by the finale we will know who Clara is. And now to bed, because...

10hours 17minutes 45seconds until "The Crimson Horror"

Review to follow