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Doctor Who Off-Season | Hey Missy, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind

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Someone raised the spectre of the BBC budget cuts. Don't think they have anything to do with this latest issue, but it is worth noting that there *were* budget cuts before the series 6 and 7 splits - quite possibly linked.
 
Scuttlebutt going around GB and Digital Spy has it that the higher-ups want a split series between 2016-17, whereas Moffat and Capaldi are pulling for a couple of specials next year and a straight-run series in 2017, to allow them a break and to avoid the problems they had between 2011 and 2013. They're having big arguments about it, apparently, but Moffat's in a position of power, having just signed a contract up until 2020. They were pursuing Chibnall, but he doesn't want the job, so they've had to fall back on Moffat.

Might all be bollocks, of course, but seems to be reasonably plausible.
 
Given the move to Autumn, 'no full series in 2016' could mean a full series shuffled forward a few months with half before Christmas, then the Christmas special, then the second half at the beginning of 2017. I don't think that would be too bad, TBH. You could even have a Star Trek-style series cliffhanger for a change. (Although possibly also a specials year instead of a series in 2017...)
 
The only thing that makes me go "hang on" is I thought
and hope
it was Who rather than Moffat who has a contract through to 2020.
 
Exterminieren said:
Between Broadchurch and Law & Order UK, he's undoubtedly the most qualified candidate for the job in the eyes of the BBC.

Fucking Whithouse, shitting the bed. You were the chosen one!
Click to expand...

Given how the last series went, I think we dodged a bullet.

What did Whithouse do?
 
What the fuck happened to Whithouse?

I was firmly in the Whithouse camp due to my enjoyment of his contributions to Doctor Who, and he's suddenly just not doing anything.
 
Disappointing if Chibnall is out. I don't necessarily think that Whithouse has no shot, but the lack of a hit on BBC1 hurts him.

Time to pray for Graham, I guess.
 
Exterminieren said:
Scuttlebutt going around GB and Digital Spy has it that the higher-ups want a split series between 2016-17, whereas Moffat and Capaldi are pulling for a couple of specials next year and a straight-run series in 2017, to allow them a break and to avoid the problems they had between 2011 and 2013. They're having big arguments about it, apparently, but Moffat's in a position of power, having just signed a contract up until 2020. They were pursuing Chibnall, but he doesn't want the job, so they've had to fall back on Moffat.

Might all be bollocks, of course, but seems to be reasonably plausible.
Click to expand...

Well, we obviously don't know all the details here and what is true and what isn't, but honestly? If Moffat and Capaldi feel they'd rather have some extra space and some breathing room in the form of a break, that can only be good for the show. The show can certainly feel like it's shaking under it's own weight a bit now and again, most notably series 7. There have certainly been quite some episodes that didn't live up to their potential, or storylines that didn't develop as neatly as they should have, mostly due to, I feel, time pressure. Having to put out so much high-quality content (remember that they work pretty much the entire year) can lead to a breaking point. I'd rather make peace with having a little less Doctor Who for a year and let them come back with a bang and some renewed energy than having to drive Capaldi to an early retirement for his role.

I know I'll be in the minority with that, but if Moffat and Capaldi are indicating the show will benefit from them taking a break, I'm totally fine with them doing that. I can definitely see the show collapsing if they have to keep struggling for another couple of years like this. I'm not someone who wants as much of it as possible, I just want it to be as good as possible (there's a hell of a lot of it already, especially if you include the classic show - not to mention all the audio's, comics etc, although I don't bother with them myself).

Free idea for the BBC (they're obviously reading this thread for help with the situation): full series this year, christmas special, full series in 2017, christmas special (and full series in the years following that). In 2016, the gap year, do 3 Capaldi episodes, one of which is a christmas special. While Moffat and Capaldi are enjoying their break, get some other people to do a handful of other episodes, each featuring one of the classic Doctors - or, just a handful of episodes featuring Paul McGann. Boom. Moffat and Capaldi get some rest, and the fans will love you all the more.

Also, McGann's companion will be an alien sentient mustache named Boem.
 
Boem said:
Well, we obviously don't know all the details here and what is true and what isn't, but honestly? If Moffat and Capaldi feel they'd rather have some extra space and some breathing room in the form of a break, that can only be good for the show. The show can certainly feel like it's shaking under it's own weight a bit now and again, most notably series 7. There have certainly been quite some episodes that didn't live up to their potential, or storylines that didn't develop as neatly as they should have, mostly due to, I feel, time pressure. Having to put out so much high-quality content (remember that they work pretty much the entire year) can lead to a breaking point. I'd rather make peace with having a little less Doctor Who for a year and let them come back with a bang and some renewed energy than having to drive Capaldi to an early retirement for his role.

I know I'll be in the minority with that, but if Moffat and Capaldi are indicating the show will benefit from them taking a break, I'm totally fine with them doing that. I can definitely see the show collapsing if they have to keep struggling for another couple of years like this. I'm not someone who wants as much of it as possible, I just want it to be as good as possible (there's a hell of a lot of it already, especially if you include the classic show - not to mention all the audio's, comics etc, although I don't bother with them myself).
Click to expand...

I don't think it's so much Moffat and Capaldi need a break as it is they don't want to kill the momentum by splitting up one series over two years. Capaldi also probably doesn't want to shortchange himself on episodes; he's already getting one less a year than his predecessors, and splitting up S10 would make for even fewer episodes than a year of specials and a full-series order year.
 
Blader said:
I don't think it's so much Moffat and Capaldi need a break as it is they don't want to kill the momentum by splitting up one series over two years. Capaldi also probably doesn't want to shortchange himself on episodes; he's already getting one less a year than his predecessors, and splitting up S10 would make for even fewer episodes than a year of specials and a full-series order year.
Click to expand...

Right, maybe I was misreading it. I mostly had Moffat's complaining at conventions about how insane the workload for Doctor Who is on my mind, but he's also someone who delights in being grumpy. He is Scottish after all.
 
Quick said:
What the fuck happened to Whithouse?

I was firmly in the Whithouse camp due to my enjoyment of his contributions to Doctor Who, and he's suddenly just not doing anything.
Click to expand...
The Game flopped, basically. That was meant to be his big move into the spotlight; prestigious, high-budget BBC One Cold War drama, proving that he wasn't just limited to small budget dramas. However, it was yanked from the schedules, shifted to BBC Two and sank without trace. It wasn't terrible, but it very clearly represented a complete loss of faith in his skills.

It's a shame, really. This time last year I'd have said that Whithouse was far and away the best choice, and that he was being prepped for it by the BBC. Not a chance now, I'm afraid.
 
Boem said:
Free idea for the BBC (they're obviously reading this thread for help with the situation): full series this year, christmas special, full series in 2017, christmas special (and full series in the years following that). In 2016, the gap year, do 3 Capaldi episodes, one of which is a christmas special. While Moffat and Capaldi are enjoying their break, get some other people to do a handful of other episodes, each featuring one of the classic Doctors - or, just a handful of episodes featuring Paul McGann. Boom. Moffat and Capaldi get some rest, and the fans will love you all the more.
Click to expand...

Yep, there's really no reason why you couldn't do a 6 episode run or something which would be an event with a separate creative crew to fill the gap.

Ideally you'd have co-showrunners and they can trade off doing the main work for each series, while the other preps for the series after that. Obviously they would work together on any overarching storylines.
 
If Moffat doesn't want to do it next year, they should replace him. I'd like a change, he's had his go.

If this is to do with some sort of change over like what happened with RTD, maybe its justified.
 
Just a bit bored at the office today

LoIUjGi.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Going through a Series 8 rewatch, a question occurred to me:

How do we work our way around the Orson Pink thing, again? I'm certain there's an explanation, but I'm not sure it makes a whole lotta sense now, taking the two-part finale into account. Or have I forgotten a detail or two?
 
BobbyRoberts said:
Going through a Series 8 rewatch, a question occurred to me:

How do we work our way around the Orson Pink thing, again? I'm certain there's an explanation, but I'm not sure it makes a whole lotta sense now, taking the two-part finale into account. Or have I forgotten a detail or two?
Click to expand...

This is a good question. I haven't watched the show after episodes initially aired, so I don't remember any tiny details.

As far as I remember, while Listen strongly hinted that he is a direct descendant of Clara and Danny, it was never confirmed outright. Maybe a descendant within Danny's family instead, with predecessors who were actually involved in time travel (explaining why he said that time travel ran in his family).

This is all clearly walking around the possible outcome that Danny comes back somehow.
 
BobbyRoberts said:
Going through a Series 8 rewatch, a question occurred to me:

How do we work our way around the Orson Pink thing, again? I'm certain there's an explanation, but I'm not sure it makes a whole lotta sense now, taking the two-part finale into account. Or have I forgotten a detail or two?
Click to expand...

Their timeline is a linear path through their travels in time/history, things may be changed in time that they may or might not cause, but their linear path is unchanged.
 
StopMakingSense said:
Their timeline is a linear path through their travels in time/history, things may be changed in time that they may or might not cause, but their linear path is unchanged.
Click to expand...

So Orson Pink, and the death of the entire universe in 100 years are simply artifacts of a stray timeline that no longer exists due to... something.

I mean, I guess that works, but it seems kinda cheap, heh.
 
StopMakingSense said:
Their timeline is a linear path through their travels in time/history, things may be changed through time but their linear path is unchanged.
Click to expand...

I'll also add that Moffat has been loose with how time travel is interpreted in his run (RTD always had rules). Literally anything can happen to make Orson be a direct descendant of Clara and Danny.
 
BobbyRoberts said:
So Orson Pink, and the death of the entire universe in 100 years are simply artifacts of a stray timeline that no longer exists due to... something.

I mean, I guess that works, but it seems kinda cheap, heh.
Click to expand...

The universe didn't die in 100 years, though. Orson Pink is from 100 years in the future and his attempt at time travel took him to the end of the universe.

Anyway, IIRC Moffat said something about him possibly being a cousin or some shit. Which really doesn't explain why the toy soldier would end up with him, or why Orson would say that one of his grandparents was a time-traveler since Danny never time-traveled.

So, either Orson Pink no longer exists, or that Danny is coming back. I prefer the former, would really hate Danny coming back.
 
Think of it this way. The TARDIS is a capsule that can be fired threw time and space, ignore The Doctors 'flying malark'. You step in and are sealed. To the outside world you are in another universe, your atoms are no longer present, they are somewhere else.

When you step out of the TARDIS your atoms are now once again material. Orson exists because Jenna/Twelve have not set off the events that lead to Danny's death (this suggests (as does Missy herself) he died by The Master's hand). Another Time Lord (/Lady) stepping in and out of a TARDIS has the same effect. Until she orders her TARDIS to move, Missy has not killed Danny yet. Basically - Gallifrey and all TARDIS's have a single time line. Everything else is relative. When The Doctor and Clara leave Danny they step into another universe, are fired through time and step out in another universe and time, prior to Orson's birth. Orson literally does not exist.

That's how I think of it. Plus we are very narcissic about time travel, human interaction in time travel stories trumps everything but the truth is the act of standing on a rock and eroding it slightly has a huge affect down its time line - ultimately, Yet we never ask or care.
 
I've been watching the series through in chronological order (series) and upon my reflections on the troughton era, I have really come to appreciate enemy of the world and web of fear.
Mainly because 'everything was the cyber men' syndrome. Due to lost recordings, we'd have
-tenth planet (cybermen)
-the moonbase (cybermen)
-the ice warriors
-tomb of the cybermen
-Dominators
-mind robber
-the invasion (cybermen)

All in very quick succession.

The two best cybermen stories are tenth planet and tomb of the cybermen. Genuinely creepy ideas. Of particular note is how we can still detect human parts or essence in those cybermen.

Nu cybermen are not scary at all.
 
There's a massive rumor going around regarding the series 9 finale. Trust me, be really, really sure you want to know before you read it. If it's true it's going to be a big thing that will probably be a lot more fun to experience as a surprise. I sure as hell didn't want to know but my girlfriend has been getting into the show to show an interest in my hobbies (which is sweet) and told me (which isn't so sweet - she doesn't really understand the concept of spoilers).

Anyway, here it is. Just to be sure, it doesn't get much bigger than this with spoilers. You've been warned.

The idea is that, towards the end of the season, something will happen that will make the doctor deregenerate for a bit - going backwards through all his previous regenerations, and making extended stops at several of them, including david tennant and paul mcgann. more here: http://www.kasterborous.com/2015/08/big-doctor-series-9-spoiler-rumour/#
 
Boem said:
There's a massive rumor going around regarding the series 9 finale. Trust me, be really, really sure you want to know before you read it. If it's true it's going to be a big thing that will probably be a lot more fun to experience as a surprise. I sure as hell didn't want to know but my girlfriend has been getting into the show to show an interest in my hobbies (which is sweet) and told me (which isn't so sweet - she doesn't really understand the concept of spoilers).

Anyway, here it is. Just to be sure, it doesn't get much bigger than this with spoilers. You've been warned.

The idea is that, towards the end of the season, something will happen that will make the doctor deregenerate for a bit - going backwards through all his previous regenerations, and making extended stops at several of them, including david tennant and paul mcgann. more here: http://www.kasterborous.com/2015/08/big-doctor-series-9-spoiler-rumour/#
Click to expand...

Eh, I don't buy it.
 
Boem said:
There's a massive rumor going around regarding the series 9 finale. Trust me, be really, really sure you want to know before you read it. If it's true it's going to be a big thing that will probably be a lot more fun to experience as a surprise. I sure as hell didn't want to know but my girlfriend has been getting into the show to show an interest in my hobbies (which is sweet) and told me (which isn't so sweet - she doesn't really understand the concept of spoilers).

Anyway, here it is. Just to be sure, it doesn't get much bigger than this with spoilers. You've been warned.

The idea is that, towards the end of the season, something will happen that will make the doctor deregenerate for a bit - going backwards through all his previous regenerations, and making extended stops at several of them, including david tennant and paul mcgann. more here: http://www.kasterborous.com/2015/08/big-doctor-series-9-spoiler-rumour/#
Click to expand...

I think this is a rumor that started from speculation on GB and grew into a real thing, no substance to it IMO.
 
If we get screwed out of a proper season I hope to see Moffat gone.

Are you telling me there is no one capable of taking over and doing the show justice, I find it hard to believe.
 
If you ever look up the competing bids to get Doctor Who back you'll be glad Gatiss didn't get the job. He wanted the Doctor to be the audiences eyes and the companions to take a larger role. Despite all his comments, he desperately did want to run Doctor who.
 
Savitar said:
If we get screwed out of a proper season I hope to see Moffat gone.

Are you telling me there is no one capable of taking over and doing the show justice, I find it hard to believe.
Click to expand...

e need to know the reasons if this does, indeed, appen. Given the climate at the BBC right now the blame may not rest on Moffat's shoulders.
 
This was probably posted here already as Sean Pertwee posted this on his instagram a couple of weeks ago, but here he is as his father's version of the Doctor. Looks as close as you can get to the original! I'd be totally down with him playing the role in the modern series.

https://instagram.com/p/4C-CrYOOAr/

-- About the rumor I posted earlier - I was on my phone in a bus so I didn't feel like writing too much, but otherwise I would have added that I don't think it's super likely it'll be real. It definitely sounds like the regular kind of fandreaming. Although
Tennant was in Cardiff - we have no indication if he really was there for Who. Even so, he might just have visited the set (like a lot of other actors of the series have done), and we know for sure that RTD isn't writing for this season, so his presence doesn't mean much. They say that Shearsmith being in the show again might be a hint that it's true because he played the Second Doctor once (badly), but he's already confirmed to play a different character by the picture they released of him. I think there's a slight chance they'll do something with Tennant because Capaldi said they'd address the Pompeii adventure (and maybe RTD was there for an interview for the youtube making of series, because apparently it was his idea to start with), but I really don't think they would do more than that. Would be really, really cool though.
 
Boem said:
There's a massive rumor going around regarding the series 9 finale. Trust me, be really, really sure you want to know before you read it. If it's true it's going to be a big thing that will probably be a lot more fun to experience as a surprise. I sure as hell didn't want to know but my girlfriend has been getting into the show to show an interest in my hobbies (which is sweet) and told me (which isn't so sweet - she doesn't really understand the concept of spoilers).

Anyway, here it is. Just to be sure, it doesn't get much bigger than this with spoilers. You've been warned.

The idea is that, towards the end of the season, something will happen that will make the doctor deregenerate for a bit - going backwards through all his previous regenerations, and making extended stops at several of them, including david tennant and paul mcgann. more here: http://www.kasterborous.com/2015/08/big-doctor-series-9-spoiler-rumour/#
Click to expand...

The idea sounds cool, but I definitely don't buy it. Sounds like expensive effects work, too.

It would be a nice way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the revival without going all-out like the 50th anniversary.
 
Boem said:
This was probably posted here already as Sean Pertwee posted this on his instagram a couple of weeks ago, but here he is as his father's version of the Doctor. Looks as close as you can get to the original! I'd be totally down with him playing the role in the modern series.

https://instagram.com/p/4C-CrYOOAr/
Click to expand...
Oh wow, that's uncanny. I'd be down for that. Way more respectful a cameo than the Brigadier's skeleton inside a robot shell... *shudder*
 
Galvanise_ said:
I've been watching the series through in chronological order (series) and upon my reflections on the troughton era, I have really come to appreciate enemy of the world and web of fear.
Mainly because 'everything was the cyber men' syndrome. Due to lost recordings, we'd have
-tenth planet (cybermen)
-the moonbase (cybermen)
-the ice warriors
-tomb of the cybermen
-Dominators
-mind robber
-the invasion (cybermen)

All in very quick succession.

The two best cybermen stories are tenth planet and tomb of the cybermen. Genuinely creepy ideas. Of particular note is how we can still detect human parts or essence in those cybermen.

Nu cybermen are not scary at all.
Click to expand...

Yep. Seeing Danny Pink's face in the Cyberman suit was neat, but Moffat and the future showrunner need to bring back the half organic Cybermen. Nothing wrong with bringing the scares, kids can handle it, don't treat them like babies.

Ideally they would have wires and metal parts mixed with the human body.
 
BobbyRoberts said:
Holy shit.

That's pretty goddamned uncanny.

But can he do the voice, though?
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever seen anything he acts in, but he's Alfred on Gotham. Maybe someone here who watches that show can comment on how close he is to the Third Doctor there? I don't think he has the same slight lisp his father had though.

ScreenSplitter said:
Oh wow, that's uncanny. I'd be down for that. Way more respectful a cameo than the Brigadier's skeleton inside a robot shell... *shudder*
Click to expand...

Yeah, I didn't like that scene at all. It might have worked as a joke, and it would have been just the kind of ending Nicholas Courtney might have liked as an end for his character if he was still alive, but writing that for one of the longest serving and most loved actors of the show just after he passed away just felt wrong. That was a bit of a weird judgement call by Moffat. I don't mind at all how they mentioned his death earlier in the show (when Matt Smith received that phone call) - that was a nice little nod to how much the character and the actor meant to the show. Or Capaldi pausing in front of his painting. But the Cyberman scene was just unnecessary.
 
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