Watching NuWho

Jock Ewing Fan

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I think there is a requirement that the Daleks must appear at least once a year, or the rights to use them expires.
No Daleks in the last season, is my understanding
Of course, I have not seen it, since I do not have Disney.
No word on a third season yet
 

pete lashmar

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A dalek did appear last year in a short sketch for November's BBC Children In Need appeal in the UK. 14 appeared with Davros with a Dalek prototype, but it was only a few minutes long, We may still get a Dalek in this year's Christmas special, but if not I'm pretty sure they will appear in next year's series.

They may get around the rights issue by having 1 appear in this year's Children In Need appeal.
 

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Paul McGann reprising the 8th Doctor in a live recorded audio drama
before a live audience.

One of the most unfortunate (non) occurrences in Doctor Who history is that we didn't see much
Of Paul McGann. Based on the TV movie, I think he could have been one of the best Doctors ever
Among the major opportunities that were missed was a possible miniseries about the time war,
and PM should have been in 50, instead of John Hurt

I guess that is part of being a Doctor Who fan.
There is good and not-so-good
 

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I have been reading commentaries on the last season.
I have not seen full episodes, only some clips.
Based on reviews, commentaries, story synopsis and clips,
I have some observations/questions.

With two Doctor-light episodes - why when there are only 8 episodes?
Doctor Who works best when it combines Science Fiction/Science Fantasy, Horror/Action-Adventure genres
The best examples, perhaps were the Pertwee/Letts/Dicks era
and the Baker/Hinchcliffe years, and to some extent season 18-22

It appears that the show has become too dependent on Science Fantasy elements and has lost
that balance. The music episode was a good idea, although the villain was too over-the-top for my taste.
Sutek's return started out well, but the conclusion was ridiculous
-defeated by a dog collar and leash? Ridiculous and it undermines any assertion that the show be respected as good sci-fi,
not to mention how well respected "The Pyramids of Mars" is, as an outstanding thriller that has stood the test of time (Pun LOL!)
If the Disney Star Wars trilogy is a blueprint, it is not a wise direction, given how SW fandom has been
increasingly critical and unhappy with it.
Why would Sutek, who is so all-powerful, care about Ruby's Mother when she had no special powers/importance?
How could he go undetected in the TARDIS, which has defense systems, had been destroyed and reassembled,
and even taken human form?
It is bad story telling

Gatwa has a great deal of charisma and could be an even better Doctor.
The scripts need to be better for that to happen
 
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pete lashmar

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According to the Dan Diego Comic Con panel, the next season will continue with the Pantheon of Gods rather than the classic monsters - Ncuti says he is desperate to actually see his first Dalek - so it sounds like they won't be back next year. I know many people feel they have been over used, but they are THE Doctor Who villain and for a whole new audience through Disney Plus not to have experienced them seems very strange to me.

I feel the show is going in the wrong direction as these Pantheon of Gods have so far been a big let down.
 

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This is really fun thread on Twitter written by someone who’s obsessed with Matt Smith in House of Dragons and starts watching him in Dr Who with no clue what it is:


It reminds me of what was so good about this thread when it started - it was an opportunity to see Who through the eyes of someone with a totally fresh perspective who isn’t bogged down by … all that other stuff.
 
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Jock Ewing Fan

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This is really fun thread on Twitter written by someone who’s obsessed with Matt Smith in House of Dragons and starts watching him in Dr Who with no clue what it is:


It reminds me of what was so good about this thread when it started - it was an opportunity to see Who through the eyes of someone with a totally fresh perspective who isn’t bogged down by … all that other stuff.
Advantages and Disadvantages to a new viewer's opinions.
The first Doctor that I saw was Tom Baker.
When I later saw William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee,
I saw other possibilities that the role and the show did better in some cases.
Doctor Who's history should not be ignored or minimalized
 

Oh!Carol Christmasson

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someone who’s obsessed with Matt Smith in House of Dragons and starts watching him in Dr Who with no clue what it is
I haven't seen anything of House of Dragons therefore I don't know what's so great about the story and Matt Smith's role in particular.
It reminds me of the somewhat unexpected fanbase of Brett Climo, located in the Netherlands (I think it was a Dutch website).
Of course I'm not saying that these actors aren't deserving of praise and fanship, it's just that they don't seem like the most obvious choices.

But then again, what are the most obvious choices these days? Universally popular characters like JR Ewing and Alexis Carrington don't really exist anymore.
That looks pretty wild, but I can't read the rest of it unless I register.
 

James from London

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I haven't seen anything of House of Dragons therefore I don't know what's so great about the story and Matt Smith's role in particular.

I think he might be an evil demon.


Of course I'm not saying that these actors aren't deserving of praise and fanship, it's just that they don't seem like the most obvious choices.

Oh I think Matt Smith is hugely charismatic.

Universally popular characters like JR Ewing and Alexis Carrington don't really exist anymore.

And I'm not sure if even those two were ever all that popular with, say, your average teenager.

That looks pretty wild, but I can't read the rest of it unless I register.

Oh that's a shame. Probably Elon Musk trying to spoil everyone's fun. Hmm, I wonder if he's a Dr Who fan?

But yeah, she gets very excitable, bless her;

 

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I think, if you're too worried about retcons and surprises then Doctor Who is not the safest show to watch.
And it's important to remember that the doctor always lies, according to River Song (not that she's the most reliable source).
 

James from London

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I think, if you're too worried about retcons and surprises then Doctor Who is not the safest show to watch.
And it's important to remember that the doctor always lies, according to River Song (not that she's the most reliable source).

... which is in keeping with what Terrance Dicks, one of the original series' most beloved writers, said: "Continuity is only whatever I can remember." To presume or demand otherwise -- that Who is all one coherent saga where everything ultimately makes sense -- is kind of a retcon in itself.
 
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... which is in keeping with what Terrance Dicks, one of the original series' most beloved writers, said: "Continuity is only whatever I can remember." To presume or demand otherwise -- that Who is all one coherent saga where everything ultimately makes sense -- is kind of a retcon in itself.
Terrance Dicks did extensive work on the series for Troughton, Pertwee and TBaker.
He was a major influence on the narrative and continuity.
But he never would have been so arrogant, as to overtly ignore the established
history/narrative, which would disrespect the work of so many producers, directors, writers, actors and other crew.

What needs to be realized is that there is plenty of space to fill in the blanks, so to speak.
There can be new perspectives and more detail.
But there can not be blatant contradictions to the narrative, a la Chibnall's false origin story.
Otherwise, anything goes, and it is all meaningless.
It should also be noted that the fans (pre- Chibnall, not that many new ones arrived while millions walked away)
are the ones who kept the series visible during the wilderness years (1990-2004)
by supporting the merchandising (books, videos, etc) and operating fan sites and creating fan made projects
There would be no Doctor Who today without that support
 

James from London

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Otherwise, anything goes, and it is all meaningless.

I guess meaning is in the eye of the beholder.

It should also be noted that the fans (pre- Chibnall, not that many new ones arrived while millions walked away)
are the ones who kept the series visible during the wilderness years (1990-2004)
by supporting the merchandising (books, videos, etc) and operating fan sites and creating fan made projects
There would be no Doctor Who today without that support

Maybe yes, maybe no (I mean, I guess even I qualify as a pre-Chibnall "fan", but I did absolutely nothing to keep the show visible during the wilderness years, unless you count buying a second-hand copy of the 25th Anniversary Soundtrack LP), but even if you're right, that doesn't mean Who is under any ongoing obligation to those fans, who presumably aren't all one collective hive mind anyway, but are made up of hundreds/thousands/millions (delete where necessary) of individuals, who all have their own idea of what Who should be. For example, I subscribe to a Who podcast called "Too Hot for TV", which is dedicated to "the extended universe of Doctor Who" (i.e., everything but the series itself) and is hosted by the kind of wilderness-era fans you describe and they're quite dismissive, maybe even contemptuous of other wilderness-era fans who don't view Who the way they do. And it's not as if all those wilderness-era books, videos and fan-made whatnots don't contradict each other and the series itself six ways from Sunday. In a way, that's the beauty of them.
 

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I guess meaning is in the eye of the beholder.



Maybe yes, maybe no (I mean, I guess even I qualify as a pre-Chibnall "fan", but I did absolutely nothing to keep the show visible during the wilderness years, unless you count buying a second-hand copy of the 25th Anniversary Soundtrack LP), but even if you're right, that doesn't mean Who is under any ongoing obligation to those fans, who presumably aren't all one collective hive mind anyway, but are made up of hundreds/thousands/millions (delete where necessary) of individuals, who all have their own idea of what Who should be. For example, I subscribe to a Who podcast called "Too Hot for TV", which is dedicated to "the extended universe of Doctor Who" (i.e., everything but the series itself) and is hosted by the kind of wilderness-era fans you describe and they're quite dismissive, maybe even contemptuous of other wilderness-era fans who don't view Who the way they do. And it's not as if all those wilderness-era books, videos and fan-made whatnots don't contradict each other and the series itself six ways from Sunday. In a way, that's the beauty of them.
Not familiar with that podcast, but it is good to keep discussions of Doctor Who visible.
With respect, I think you are comparing apples and oranges.
The wilderness book series (first an independent company for the 7th Doctor, and then the BBC for the 8th Doctor)
have differences in scope, focus and tone. They are not regarded as canon in the same way that the TV series is. and therefore are more ambitious with more
room to explore other possible stories.
IE "Human Nature" with David Tennant was adapted from a book from a different Doctor - they take place in different mediums, where there are different parameters

The books expanded to include missing adventures for the previous Doctors as well, and were specifically placed between televised adventures in some cases.
Unmade scripts have been made into books.

There is more than a reasonable degree of continuity in these books, and they take place in different mediums with different parameters.
These books still, however, adhere to the basic fundamental of the series - Doctor Who?
The mystery remains intact.

Audio plays from Big Finish are not Tv continuity and are not expected to be.
If the books and audio plays are not TV continuity, IE The Celestial Toymaker encountered the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Doctor
in the Books/audios, while I don't believe these encounters were acknowledged in the Tennant episode on TV

Fan made projects are certainly not meant to be TV series continuity themed, but they also respect the basic foundation of the series


We all can agree that we want Doctor Who to be entertaining, well produced, well directed, wellacted etc
The problem is that since Chibnall. the basics of the narrative has been redone in complete defiance of the established
history of the show in a way that makes it unrecognizable as Doctor Who.
It has resulted in lower ratings, lower Appreciation Indexes, Sharp declines in the sale of merchandise,
and millions of fans leaving.
Hopefully, the new era with RTD and Gatwa can revitalize the show.
 

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Part off being a Doctor Who fan is to wonder about missed opportunities.

A miniseries on the Time War would have seemed to be a good idea.
Unfortunately, the age of the classic Doctors and the passing of John Hurt would seem to make that unworkable,
unless the series featured the Valeyard?
Season 23 was cancelled, and it would have featured the Celestial Toymaker, the Rani, the Autons,The Master, The Ice Warriors,
among others.
Not sure of the details. but supposedly, a production company tried to gain permission to do a new series with Tom Baker, during
the wilderness years
The 30th Anniversary special was cancelled.
Season 27 would have featured the Cybermen, Cybermats, Ice Warriors and a new companion.

What could have been!
 
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Archie Panjabi has been cast, reportedly. The Rani?
I think she would be good in that role, and it is way past time to bring back the Rani.
I always thought that Michelle Gomez should have been the Rani, and not the Master.
 
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