Doctor Who

[halplm]

Has everyone seen it? Can we talk about specifics?

Hidden text.

Ok, a few things: 1. The resolution (so far) of the story surrounding The Silence was fair enough. They wanted to prevent the end of the universe, which at least makes sense for motivation. What isn't clear is whether or not the silence by the Doctor is what they wanted... or did River screw it up by saying his name elsewhere? Doesn't really matter, but just one of those things I think about.

2. The resolution of the Clara mystery was highly disappointing. Clara is a fine companion, but her introduction was so very cool and interesting that it was hard to top. The whole season having no progress on the mystery was frustrating, and actually made me like the season less as a whole. Then to just have the resolution happen with almost no thought... oh, it's her sent back in time split into a lot of pieces, that's about the least interesting thing it could have been... and it doesn't really make sense. In any case, hopefully Clara will be more interesting in the future. I wonder if they will run into any more of her copies, or if they'll let that aspect of her story fade away. I mean, it was just like Rose's "Bad wolf" message, and they tried to make her intro just like the Amy intro they had for so long... it was all very odd.

3. Was this the last of River Song? I thought it was brilliant that they finally had her post-library self show up again. It had bothered me a bit that The Doctor never went back to see her. There was that bit about how was she still around linked to Clara that was mysterious... but that whole scene really felt like a true "goodbye" scene. But then we've had those before. cough... Rose cough...

4. John Hurt as The Doctor... Well, my first thought was that it would be The Valeyard, which would make sense of the idea that he wasn't taking the name The Doctor and theoretically the future versions of himself should have been there as well. But the way they were talking, it seemed to me to be clear that this was the Doctor that ended the Time War... and resulted in the Time Lords being wiped out (that's always confused me, though). I kind of liked the idea of the Ninth not actually being the one that did that. But he was clearly still dealing with the guilt of it. In fact, when we just saw the back of Hurt's Doctor, I thought it might actually be Eccleston.

Frankly, the story of the end of the Time War would make a great plot for the 50th anniversary, as that's such a huge deal in the character, and we don't have the full story.

The most confusing part of the scene, though, was the fact that the Eleventh said he wasn't the Doctor, but then the text introduced him as The Doctor... What does it mean!!!!???

[WampusCat]

OK, hal. I'll talk specifics. Behind the Cone of Spoilers, of course.

Hidden text.

Responding in reverse order (which seems a Whovian thing to do):

What I gathered, perhaps wrongly, about the John Hurt figure was that he was the Doctor -- part of the Doctor -- but the Doctor refused to acknowledge him because of the terrible thing he did (time war-related, perhaps?). He said something about how what that person did was not done in the name of the Doctor. Confusing, yes. But I suspect he was one of the regenerations that the current Doctor can't accept.

I agree that the Time War would be a great topic for the 50th.

I suspect this was the last we will see of River Song, and that leaving it just a bit open-ended is the perfect ending to their time-crossed relationship. Nothing was normal, not even goodbye.

Now about Clara: I absolutely disagree with you! I was dreading whatever convoluted explanation they would give us for the Impossible Girl. Instead, I was delighted. It makes sense that she was scattered along his timeline, and that was how she popped up again and again, working behind the scenes or face-to-face. The clever merging of old footage was just right.

I don't remember enough about the Silence angle to comment. I wonder if they'll bring it up, because if it was mentioned during the finale I missed it.

[Pearly Di]

Well, Hal, I've been watching Doctor Who - on and off - since 1973

Hidden text.

and I loved Saturday's finale.

I loved the explanation of who Clara is. I thought it was clever in its stark simplicity, and emotionally satisfying.

As was the RiverSong/Eleven interaction.

I like emotional payoff.

I've been genning up on the Valeyard - a part of the mythos I missed out on, since I never watched any of the Colin Baker eps and never saw Trial of a Time Lord, a storyline from 1986 which introduces the Valeyard, which relates to the twelfth regeneration of the Doctor.

Apropos of nothing, Strax is an amusing character, but the Sontarans were actually scary back in the Tom Baker era ... Styre scared my 13 year old self in this episode from 1975, when poor Sarah Jane ended up being tortured by him (not shown here):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn3FoeR6 ... detailpage

It's one of my few quibbles about New Who - the Sontarans are kind of funny and endearing in New Who. Whereas they should be pretty nasty.

[JewelSong]

How can I see this in the US? I haven't been able to see any episodes since the 2012 Xmas special.

[Primula Baggins]

It's on BBC America. Not a premium channel, but probably not part of a basic cable lineup either.

[JewelSong]

I don't have any kind of cable or a working TV...I stream everything. I watched the other episodes on Netflix. I wonder if it BBC American website has the new episodes up yet...

[WampusCat]

So Matt Smith is leaving after the 50th anniversary special and the Christmas special. Who will be our next Doctor?

I've seen all sorts of names suggested, although it's likely to be a relative unknown. Some people think it's time for a female Doctor.

Two who haven't been mentioned whom I would like to see take a turn in the Tardis: Patrick Stewart or Dominic Monaghan.

Job requirements:
* Must be able to alternate between manic excitement and heartbreaking sadness.
* Must be able to run -- Run! -- down corridors, alleys, strange planets, etc.
* Must be handy with a (sonic) screwdriver.
* Must be able to talk quickly without understanding what you are saying.
* Must be able to keep a straight face when a large salt shaker says "Exterminate!"
* Must be charming enough to lure new companions onto your ship and to sell lots of merchandise at sci-fi conventions.
* Must be willing to share the screen with weird CGI monsters.
* Must be able to be the Doctor who has always been ... while making him totally your own.

Anyone care to speculate?

[halplm]

I would guess they'll stick with a younger Doctor. I would also be very surprised if they picked a woman to do it. I think it could work really well, but I think they would risk alienating a large portion of their audience. But perhaps not... It would be very risky.

I did wonder about the large number of actors from the Harry Potter films... and apparently Rupert Grint is one of the odds-makers favorites... but I don't see it happening... although the hair works...

I didn't really like much of their list, although I'm sure Martin Freeman could do a perfect job if he wanted the part.

[JewelSong]

I'd like to see a non-white Doctor.

[ToshoftheWuffingas]

Today I read an idle speculation that a female Who might be Olivia Coleman. I suppose there are scores of speculations that are worth nothing but were they to pick her, I would die of joy.

[halplm]

New Doctor! Peter Capaldi!

[Primula Baggins]

The liveblogger at the Guardian site seemed very happy about the choice. I think he looks promising. He is 55, looks a little serious, and people do not seem to expect much cheerful whimsy from him; but I think Matt Smith stocked us up with that pretty well. Capaldi looks like the Doctor to me already.

Fun fact: the last major film he was in was World War Z, in which his name in the credits is "WHO Doctor."

[Jude]

Hey, a Doctor Who thread!

I'm only up to the middle of Season 5. Is this thread full of post-season-5 spoilers?

[halplm]

quite possibly, Jude

[Primula Baggins]

Jude, there weren't any spoilers that would have spoiled anything for me, except behind spoiler tags. But YMMV.

[WampusCat]

It's been sobering to hear a slew of complaints about how OLD he is and that there will be less running, fewer fan girls, etc. ... since he's younger than me. He looks good to me. Very Doctorish.

[Primula Baggins]

Considering that my first Doctor was Tom Baker back in the early 1980s, I am perfectly ready for an older, non-athletic Doctor with an interesting face and a dark streak. Scarf optional.

[Alatar]

Peter Capaldi is one of my favourite "non-famous" actors. He was wonderful in Local Hero and The Crow Road, although he's better known now for his foul mouthed character in "The Thick of it". He really delivers some fantastic put-downs as Malcolm Tucker. Can't wait to see what he does with the Doctor.

[halplm]

I just want to know what was up with the Pompeii episode... it had Amy before she was Amy, and now The Doctor before he was The Doctor. Who else was in that episode?

Now I just want to know if he's the twelfth or the thirteenth, and if he's the thirteenth, is he the last?

[Primula Baggins]

Don't say that!