[DouglasJ]

Y'know, I watched both regeneration stories from the revived series back to back the other day, and I honestly think Ecclestons is more powerful. Maybe because it's more abrupt, and he just gets on with it... but during his little speech there is just this tiny catch in his voice... and I cried like a baby.

[J.T. Jeans]

Originally Posted by FinalBeyond

I suppose Nick Briggs being there is no proof of Daleks. He voices just about every monster in the new series.

Normally, I'd agree. But Barnaby Edwards is on hand too, and I think all he does on the show is get inside the Daleks.

[Boiler Room Brawler]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Y'know, I watched both regeneration stories from the revived series back to back the other day, and I honestly think Ecclestons is more powerful. Maybe because it's more abrupt, and he just gets on with it... but during his little speech there is just this tiny catch in his voice... and I cried like a baby.

Strictly speaking as someone who's only seen so much NewWho and pretty much no OldWho, and who is a friggin' featherweight Whovian in general, I agree with this sentiment.

I like that the 9th Doctor is the only Doctor besides the 1st that has a mysterious past and I think that it gives him character depth as Eccleston (IMO) successfully conveyed recovering from emotional scars caused by a war that we never see.

Taking that into account, I think that his regeneration was more impressive than Tennant's because it had a more selfless quality and it translated into something more heroically toned.

Plus he had better last words.

[Alex DeLarge]

I'm going to write a letter right now...

Dear Steven Moffat, executive producer of Doctor Who, and/or Russell T. Davies, executive producer of Torchwood,

Felicia Day has said her dream job would be on either of your shows. Why has this not happened yet?

Sincerely,
Alex DeLarge

http://feliciaday.com/blog/dollhouse (Note: some Dollhouse spoilers in there too.)

[J.T. Jeans]

I would kill to see Felicia in Doctor Who, although I'd probably only maim to see her in Torchwood.

[FinalBeyond]

Well, looks like we're getting Bill Nighy, at least. Another bit of dream casting there. Did anyone else see Neil Gaiman's "Statuesque"? He looks perfect for Who.

Also, because I'm totally shameless, I wrote a Doctor Who based song, to the tune of one of my favourite anime songs. It's all about the Eighth Doctor, and his habit of getting amnesia. You can watch it here.

[J.T. Jeans]

Here's the Nighy scoop.

Bill Nighy is to guest star in an episode of the new series of Doctor Who, Digital Spy can reveal.

The veteran actor will play the curator of a Vincent van Gogh exhibition in the episode, which is penned by Richard Curtis.

A set insider told DS: "It was a real coup to get Bill Nighy in Doctor Who, especially in Richard Curtis's amazing episode. Bill plays a van Gogh expert with some similar fashion choices to The Doctor himself."

The story is set both in the present day and 19th Century France. This Life actor Tony Curran was previously confirmed in the role of van Gogh.

The episode - the tenth in the new series - was filmed on location in Croatia and Cardiff over Christmas.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We do not comment on storyline or character speculation."

[J.T. Jeans]

Moffat has revealed the names of the first three episodes of the 2010 series:

1x01 - The Eleventh Hour, by Steven Moffat
1x02 - The Beast Below, by Steven Moffat
1x03 - Victory of the Daleks, by Mark Gatiss

More here.

Also, filming for the series finale has moved to Stonehenge. As I understand it, it's pretty rare for that to happen.

[Bill 1981]

Semi-related, but funny...

[sam hane]

UPS dropped off Doctor Who: The Complete Specials bluray at my door this morning, can't wait to tear into it

[TheShowstoppa]

Yeah... I saw the Complete Specials on Blu-Ray but not regular DVD... and I don't have a damn Blu-Ray player yet or I would have bought them... because they were only $30. I was pissed. I had to settle for Ghostbusters: The Video Game for $20.

[J.T. Jeans]

The complete specials is out on DVD, though.

[sam hane]

He prolly meant at the store Jeans

[J.T. Jeans]

That's a point, hane. I'm so used to shopping for them online (they're much cheaper that way) that I just assume everyone else does, too.

In other news, Neil Gaiman confirms his involvement in Doctor Who, with his episode set to be produced next year:

Originally Posted by Neil Gaiman

Over the years SFX, and its readers and their votes in the polls, have always been very kind to me. I thought I’d return the favour with what used to be called, in journalistic circles when I was a boy, a scoop.

As anyone who’s read my blog knows, I’m a big fan of a certain long-running British SF TV series. One that started watching -- from behind the sofa -- when I was three. And while I know it’s cruel to make you wait for things, in about 14 months from now, which is to say, NOT in the upcoming season but early in the one after that, it’s quite possible that I might have written an episode. And if I had, it would originally have been called “The House of Nothing”. But it definitely isn’t called that any more.

[FinalBeyond]

This is, of course, the best news ever. Gaiman's skirted on the edge of Who before, and always said how he'd love to do it, and he's had an idea for a story since he was a kid... And now we get to see it. One of the most brilliant writers of our time writing for the best show ever. What a time to be a fan.

Of course, it is rather cruel of him to get us waiting for Series 6/32/Fnarg+1 when we still haven't even got Series 5/31/Fnarg yet.

[Alex DeLarge]

What Final said.

Sandman's probably the closest thing I can think of when it comes to DW's ability to jump in tone and setting. One issue is a tight and contained horror story of a group of people getting to know each other, slowly being driven to insanity in a 24-hour diner; another is a lush and extravagant tale of the Muslim Middle East of hundreds of years ago, a tale of immortality in the most opulent city in history. Sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comedy, historical; we've seen he can do them all. The only question is which he's actually going to choose for The-Project-Formerly-Known-As-The-House-Of-Nothing!

[J.T. Jeans]

I like the title The House of Nothing. Very evocative. I wonder if the story will remain the same in spite of a title change?

[FinalBeyond]

Whether or not it'll be the same, we'll have to wait for him to someday reveal. But when I was at a Q&A session the night before Stardust premiered over here, he did say that he had one particular Doctor Who story that had been knocking around and developing in his head for years, so it may well be that.

Of course, he might have come up with something new and even more brilliant.

[Cody]

Back when the Eccleston Whos started airing on SciFi, I attempted to get into the series. I watched and enjoyed a few episodes, but soon started missing them, fell behind and gave up. That kind of thing happened a lot back in those days, now my trusty DVR takes care of me.

Years have passed. Now I'm finally making another attempt to Who up my life, and this time I'm starting my intended leisurely stroll through the franchise at the beginning. The Beginning beginning, with William Hartnell as The Doctor.

I liked An Unearthly Child, an interesting introduction to the things by way of an odd granddaughter who apparently went on to have shaky standing in the continuity. Watched the first serial, but I have to say that starting off a series with a story of cavemen fighting over fire is not a grand way to capture my imagination. Now I'm in the midst of The Daleks and this is more like it. Robots with toilet plunger arms, I can dig it.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Cody

Years have passed. Now I'm finally making another attempt to Who up my life, and this time I'm starting my intended leisurely stroll through the franchise at the beginning. The Beginning beginning, with William Hartnell as The Doctor.
.

What happens when the leisurly strolls hits the small bump of storie snot on DVD and the rather bigger bump of stories that no longer exist in visual form (audio only)?


- Scarecrow

[Cody]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

What happens when the leisurly strolls hits the small bump of storie snot on DVD and the rather bigger bump of stories that no longer exist in visual form (audio only)?

Eww, storie snot!

Those issues do mess with my usual OCD need to see everything, in proper order, from the start, but I guess I just have to take that hit. I'll circle back to watch new releases as they come out. If I have to watch some more Hartnell when I'm in the middle of Pertwee or something, so be it. I don't know if I'll be tracking down audio stories.

I've got Wikipedia guiding me through the DVDs.

[J.T. Jeans]

If you really have to see it all, Cody, you can pick up the story soundtracks of missing episodes. I believe they all still exist.

The Patrick Troughton era is really going to mess with your head. He's only got six remaining stories.

Incidentally, I gotta agree about An Unearthly Child. I love episode 1, it's a brilliant introduction, but once they get to the past... it's all down hill from there. I sort of wish they'd gone from An Unearthly Child Episode 1 right into The Daleks.

I'll be interested to know what you think of Edge of Destruction. It's a two episode arc, and one of my favorite of the entire series.

[Alex DeLarge]

Interesting casting... Someone's returning...

Stare at here long enough... http://www.gardnerherrity.co.uk/ ...and you'll see names going past and names going past, one guy from DW, just some guy playing some character, then more names and more names and then another DW name...

Christopher Ryan as Commander Strak. In other words, SONTAR-HA!

[Cody]

Originally Posted by J.T. Jeans

If you really have to see it all, Cody, you can pick up the story soundtracks of missing episodes. I believe they all still exist.

The Patrick Troughton era is really going to mess with your head. He's only got six remaining stories.

Hmm... This is starting to make me twitchy. I might check out the audio, or at least read transcripts of the missing serials.

I think I'll end up spending a lot of time at the TARDIS Index File.

[DouglasJ]

Originally Posted by J.T. Jeans

If you really have to see it all, Cody, you can pick up the story soundtracks of missing episodes. I believe they all still exist.

Some of them are becoming quite difficult to find. I managed to finish of my collection of the audio's lately, but that relied on sites like Audible that offer official downloads. Only needed to get a couple this way, but as I understand it some of my older CD's are now OOP.