Doctor Who: The Star Beast
November 25, 2023 12:12 PM - All Seasons - Subscribe
In the first of three 60th anniversary specials, the Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on an old friend.
I couldn't be happier that this was the episode going in front of a new and potentially larger audience.
posted by Inkslinger at 2:16 PM on November 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Inkslinger at 2:16 PM on November 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
this was great
posted by BungaDunga at 2:23 PM on November 25, 2023
posted by BungaDunga at 2:23 PM on November 25, 2023
Kinda fitting that the first big [character] in Disney Who would be a giant effin' mouse. And the personality fits, too. And the redeyes look a lot like Rick and Morty's federation bugs.
Meeping Angels
posted by zaixfeep at 2:25 PM on November 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
Meeping Angels
posted by zaixfeep at 2:25 PM on November 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
the Beep of all the Meeps
inculcate the plexidromes
a giant effin' mouse
with some substantial Furby DNA
posted by BungaDunga at 2:32 PM on November 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
inculcate the plexidromes
a giant effin' mouse
with some substantial Furby DNA
posted by BungaDunga at 2:32 PM on November 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
The theme (and certainly the logo) harken back to the '80s, and right away my very old self was delighted, and I mostly stayed that way, and I can't remember the last time I was delighted to watch Doctor Who. I feel like RTD was trying a little too hard ("binary"/"non-binary"/***cringe***), but honestly I can't imagine Steven Moffat trying at all, and somewhere I know JK Rowling was gnashing her teeth and rending her garments, and well, gosh, I guess I'm just delighted all over again!
It was nice to see Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons in the credits. Those comics are something else. The show forty years ago could only dream of the budget it would need for such effects, but here we are!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 2:42 PM on November 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
It was nice to see Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons in the credits. Those comics are something else. The show forty years ago could only dream of the budget it would need for such effects, but here we are!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 2:42 PM on November 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
I would bet one whole pounds that they were sitting in an editing bay one day and someone casually pointed out that that isn't concrete.
posted by dumbland at 2:58 PM on November 25, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by dumbland at 2:58 PM on November 25, 2023 [7 favorites]
They put out a fun "behind the scenes" video on YouTube.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 3:01 PM on November 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 3:01 PM on November 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
David Tennant is my favorite Doctor and my wife feels the same way. We met long after he left the show, so this was our first chance to watch a new Tennant episode together. It’s amazing what ends up meaning a lot.
posted by Servo5678 at 4:24 PM on November 25, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Servo5678 at 4:24 PM on November 25, 2023 [8 favorites]
I feel like RTD was trying a little too hard ("binary"/"non-binary"/***cringe***)
Doctor Who has never really been subtle about its subtext and I actually thought this was inspired - "binary, binary, binary" was from all those years ago and this was fitting: the energy was spread across Donna and Rose, and in the intervening years, The Doctor has presented as traditionally female. It's not something RTD could have ever known fifteen years ago - and yet, in the current climate, it was a great way to tie things up and fix Donna. And it's not even a "trans allegory" since Rose is trans and is played by a trans actor.
The plotting was rough but seeing Tennant and Tate back together was a delight. And now Donna is fixed, they can have a couple more adventures (or perhaps many more that we just don't see) before Tennant regenerates in a couple of weeks.
posted by crossoverman at 7:05 PM on November 25, 2023 [10 favorites]
Doctor Who has never really been subtle about its subtext and I actually thought this was inspired - "binary, binary, binary" was from all those years ago and this was fitting: the energy was spread across Donna and Rose, and in the intervening years, The Doctor has presented as traditionally female. It's not something RTD could have ever known fifteen years ago - and yet, in the current climate, it was a great way to tie things up and fix Donna. And it's not even a "trans allegory" since Rose is trans and is played by a trans actor.
The plotting was rough but seeing Tennant and Tate back together was a delight. And now Donna is fixed, they can have a couple more adventures (or perhaps many more that we just don't see) before Tennant regenerates in a couple of weeks.
posted by crossoverman at 7:05 PM on November 25, 2023 [10 favorites]
Meeping Angels
Well, there's your 2024 Christmas special right there.
potentially wider audience
Disney Who
Is it being shown on the Disney channel over there then?
I liked the gag with the psychic paper when the Doctor first approached Donna's husband in his taxi. "Time Mistress" - WHACK - "Keep up!".
posted by Paul Slade at 10:48 PM on November 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
Well, there's your 2024 Christmas special right there.
potentially wider audience
Disney Who
Is it being shown on the Disney channel over there then?
I liked the gag with the psychic paper when the Doctor first approached Donna's husband in his taxi. "Time Mistress" - WHACK - "Keep up!".
posted by Paul Slade at 10:48 PM on November 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
Disney bought the international streaming rights, and while Bad Wolf are insisting Disney aren't taking creative control, I can certainly envision a future where Disney are happy enough with the ratings that an eternally beleaguered BBC sells off the rights for a song.
posted by dumbland at 1:03 AM on November 26, 2023
posted by dumbland at 1:03 AM on November 26, 2023
he plotting was rough but seeing Tennant and Tate back together was a delight
As much as I grew to despair original-run's constantly Shouty Tennant, the dynamic he had with Donna has made her one of my favourite companions.
And I'm so so glad they're back together. Delightful is absolutely correct
posted by coriolisdave at 1:49 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
As much as I grew to despair original-run's constantly Shouty Tennant, the dynamic he had with Donna has made her one of my favourite companions.
And I'm so so glad they're back together. Delightful is absolutely correct
posted by coriolisdave at 1:49 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
The plotting was rough but seeing Tennant and Tate back together was a delight
Yeah, the Tennant-Tate pairing was enough for me to INSTANTLY slap down the money to fly from NYC to London when I heard they were doing Shakespere's Much Ado About Nothing in the West End.
Something about the script felt....a little "meh" for me. I think maybe it's because we didn't have the "full" Donna back until it was nearly the end, so any riffing they could have done was scaled down. But then the first thing Donna said after The Doctor turned her memory back on was "....I gave away all that money?" and I thought "Oh yeah, she's back."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Yeah, the Tennant-Tate pairing was enough for me to INSTANTLY slap down the money to fly from NYC to London when I heard they were doing Shakespere's Much Ado About Nothing in the West End.
Something about the script felt....a little "meh" for me. I think maybe it's because we didn't have the "full" Donna back until it was nearly the end, so any riffing they could have done was scaled down. But then the first thing Donna said after The Doctor turned her memory back on was "....I gave away all that money?" and I thought "Oh yeah, she's back."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Fury From the Meep
Warriors of the Meep
The Meeper of Trakken
Meep Breath
Meep No More
posted by zaixfeep at 5:27 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Warriors of the Meep
The Meeper of Trakken
Meep Breath
Meep No More
posted by zaixfeep at 5:27 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
(sigh) zaixmeep
posted by zaixfeep at 5:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by zaixfeep at 5:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Did the writers have a contest for most ludicrous technobabble to use for the launch? Because that was amazing.
I stopped watching Who mid-way through Matt Smith (due to life stuff, not complaints about the show. I haven't been following news, so was surprised to see it on Disney yesterday. The show felt like fix-it fanfiction, in a good way. Things were fixed. It wasn't subtle, but it was fun and looks likely to lead to more fun. So I guess I'm watching Dr Who again?
posted by mersen at 6:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
I stopped watching Who mid-way through Matt Smith (due to life stuff, not complaints about the show. I haven't been following news, so was surprised to see it on Disney yesterday. The show felt like fix-it fanfiction, in a good way. Things were fixed. It wasn't subtle, but it was fun and looks likely to lead to more fun. So I guess I'm watching Dr Who again?
posted by mersen at 6:32 AM on November 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
There is a sort of thematic thing going on here with the split room? Wasn't there an episode with Wilf stuck in a chamber when the Tenth regenerated? I was thinking that glass wall was just a stupid trope, but now I'm thinking (it's that and) it's RTD doing a callback.
posted by Catblack at 7:01 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Catblack at 7:01 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
They put out a fun "behind the scenes" video on YouTube.
Aw, man. If you look quick, there's a brief shot of Bernard Cribbins at the first read-through. Sadly, he passed in July, 2022. Per Wikipedia, he was seen filming before his death, but I guess he passed before anything solid had been shot. In any case, the script in this special seems to necessarily put Wilfred out-of-sight.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:47 AM on November 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
Aw, man. If you look quick, there's a brief shot of Bernard Cribbins at the first read-through. Sadly, he passed in July, 2022. Per Wikipedia, he was seen filming before his death, but I guess he passed before anything solid had been shot. In any case, the script in this special seems to necessarily put Wilfred out-of-sight.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:47 AM on November 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
"Time Mistress" - WHACK - "Keep up!".
The Doctor said he was "Grand Master of the Knowledge" -- ie, the legendarily difficult London cabby test -- and hubby said, "It says Grand Mistress."
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:40 AM on November 26, 2023 [9 favorites]
The Doctor said he was "Grand Master of the Knowledge" -- ie, the legendarily difficult London cabby test -- and hubby said, "It says Grand Mistress."
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:40 AM on November 26, 2023 [9 favorites]
I may actually be Making Shows Worse because if this was pandering? Shoot it directly into my veins. I adore DoctorDonna, canonically trans Rose is everything, and the binary retcon genuinely choked me up.
My heart goes out to Jodi Whittaker, I wish they'd have given her better material - but they did Donna dirty the first time around, and it does my heart good to see that fixed.
Perfect holiday special, and I can't wait to see what Ncuti Gatwa brings to the series.
❤️
posted by Space Kitty at 10:47 AM on November 26, 2023 [8 favorites]
My heart goes out to Jodi Whittaker, I wish they'd have given her better material - but they did Donna dirty the first time around, and it does my heart good to see that fixed.
Perfect holiday special, and I can't wait to see what Ncuti Gatwa brings to the series.
❤️
posted by Space Kitty at 10:47 AM on November 26, 2023 [8 favorites]
I may actually be Making Shows Worse because if this was pandering? Shoot it directly into my veins.
Yeah, my take is that there were some clumsy parts, but you also had things like the scene in the kitchen, where multiple different characters are freaking out with different-yet-interrelated motivations, and it's interesting.
Chibnall seemed to just love exposition, and wasn't great at weaving it into the action. (E.g. the bit in the kitchen scene where Sylvia storms down the hallway prepared to murder the Doctor, hisses at him that Donna can't see him or she'll die, he clarifies that actually she has to remember him, we're all reminded of the parameters, it only took five seconds, and the characters did something other than standing around while they were refreshing our memory.)
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 11:01 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
Yeah, my take is that there were some clumsy parts, but you also had things like the scene in the kitchen, where multiple different characters are freaking out with different-yet-interrelated motivations, and it's interesting.
Chibnall seemed to just love exposition, and wasn't great at weaving it into the action. (E.g. the bit in the kitchen scene where Sylvia storms down the hallway prepared to murder the Doctor, hisses at him that Donna can't see him or she'll die, he clarifies that actually she has to remember him, we're all reminded of the parameters, it only took five seconds, and the characters did something other than standing around while they were refreshing our memory.)
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 11:01 AM on November 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
The Doctor said he was "Grand Master of the Knowledge" -- ie, the legendarily difficult London cabby test -- and hubby said, "It says Grand Mistress."
My mistake. Still a good gag though.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:51 PM on November 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
My mistake. Still a good gag though.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:51 PM on November 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
The behind-the-scenes show for this episode is a delight, particularly the section where Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons visited the location filming. David Tennant goes into absolute fanboy mode on meeting two titans of the Modern Age of comics and recalls reading The Star Beast on its original publication in Doctor Who Weekly, whilst Mills and Gibbons are almost overcome at seeing The Meep brought to life.
(The Star Beast was actually originally credited as being written by Pat Mills and John Wagner, but there was a run of strips in DWW based on ideas the two of them had dicussed but alternately scripted by one or the other. Mills wrote The Star Beast whilst Wagner wrote the equally fondly-remembered The Iron Legion, but their names appeared on both.)
posted by Major Clanger at 2:31 PM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
(The Star Beast was actually originally credited as being written by Pat Mills and John Wagner, but there was a run of strips in DWW based on ideas the two of them had dicussed but alternately scripted by one or the other. Mills wrote The Star Beast whilst Wagner wrote the equally fondly-remembered The Iron Legion, but their names appeared on both.)
posted by Major Clanger at 2:31 PM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
I am not sure who "the boss" is, but if you assume that it's something that will come up within the specials it could be this returning character (with a new actor) who has been previously revealed to be in the 3rd and final holiday special episode:
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:07 PM on November 26, 2023
(click to reveal potential spoiler)
Neil Patrick Harris will star in "The Giggle" as the Toymaker, a character last seen in The Celestial Toymaker (1966) portrayed by Michael Gough.[8][9]posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:07 PM on November 26, 2023
I allllllllmost didn't watch this, knowing that there were three holiday specials, I assumed it would be a big overwrought grandiose three parter "and here is how the Doctor saves the Earth because we are truly the most specialist planet in the universe", and instead it was actually pretty good?
I'm having a hard time deciding how much of how much I liked it was just David Tennant and Catherine Tate and how much was the writing.
posted by Kyol at 7:04 PM on November 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm having a hard time deciding how much of how much I liked it was just David Tennant and Catherine Tate and how much was the writing.
posted by Kyol at 7:04 PM on November 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
The other endearing part about the "Grand Mistress" gag is that Rose's dad notices the discrepancy, and rolls with it.
posted by schmod at 7:37 PM on November 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 7:37 PM on November 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Donna poked the Meep in the eye! Delightful.
I loved this. I wanted to see the two of them together again so, so much.
I also found the Meep fascinating to look at once it cuts loose, it seems much cuter in its evil mode than its pathetic one. And wonderfully voice acted of course!
posted by tomboko at 9:02 PM on November 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
I loved this. I wanted to see the two of them together again so, so much.
I also found the Meep fascinating to look at once it cuts loose, it seems much cuter in its evil mode than its pathetic one. And wonderfully voice acted of course!
posted by tomboko at 9:02 PM on November 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
MetaFilter: It seems much cuter in its evil mode than its pathetic one.
posted by zaixfeep at 10:30 PM on November 26, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by zaixfeep at 10:30 PM on November 26, 2023 [8 favorites]
Oh, Donna Noble, I missed you so.
I was so unimpressed by the last season or two of Doctor Who that I was leery of this episode, but I loved it. I really loved Donna and The Doctor together, and I hated what they did with Donna's character before (erasing her memories over her pleading protests, ugh) so I liked that they fixed it and restored her to who she was.
posted by maryellenreads at 6:15 AM on November 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
I was so unimpressed by the last season or two of Doctor Who that I was leery of this episode, but I loved it. I really loved Donna and The Doctor together, and I hated what they did with Donna's character before (erasing her memories over her pleading protests, ugh) so I liked that they fixed it and restored her to who she was.
posted by maryellenreads at 6:15 AM on November 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
I'm having a hard time deciding how much of how much I liked it was just David Tennant and Catherine Tate and how much was the writing.
The writing certainly didn't hurt, especially after years of Chris "Ehh, Just Shoot the First Draft" Chibnall. It was really nice to have an episode that didn't try to cram eight plot threads into a script that had room for maybe three (and consequently left room for things to get resolved and breathe).
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:16 AM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
The writing certainly didn't hurt, especially after years of Chris "Ehh, Just Shoot the First Draft" Chibnall. It was really nice to have an episode that didn't try to cram eight plot threads into a script that had room for maybe three (and consequently left room for things to get resolved and breathe).
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:16 AM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
Ah this felt like such a welcome home for me. The Chibnall era made me feel completely disconnected from Who, a show that I have loved from before the reboot happened. And yeah there was stuff in this episode which felt a little clunky, but as others have commented the writing is just massively superior. The ability to inform character while still moving the plot forwards is something I had missed so much. Companions who get to be human beings, rather than props who ask questions!
The plot of this one was nice and simple, but the fun twist of the Meep being evil carried me along with the story perfectly well.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 6:40 AM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
The plot of this one was nice and simple, but the fun twist of the Meep being evil carried me along with the story perfectly well.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 6:40 AM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
I missed Ten. Tennant. Oh dear, I just realized that. Destined since birth to play the Tenth Doctor.
I enjoyed the episode and the return of the Doctor and Donna dynamic.
There is a sort of thematic thing going on here with the split room? Wasn't there an episode with Wilf stuck in a chamber when the Tenth regenerated? I was thinking that glass wall was just a stupid trope, but now I'm thinking (it's that and) it's RTD doing a callback.
It was a callback to Tennant's last episode, "The End of Time." If I remember correctly, Wilf watches the Doctor take on the radiation that ultimately forces the regeneration process from behind a glass/clear plastic partition. So in a way, in the latest episode, the Doctor is now forced to watch someone ultimately die in the same situation, doing something that forces a regeneration-like effect. Then there's just the symbolism that up until the moment when the Doctor resignedly begins the process to restore Donna's memory, they are together, physically, but also separate because Donna cannot remember who the Doctor is. There's that space between them he can't bridge without hurting her, by allowing her to be the person she was right up until the memory wipe. So they're kept apart, and the clear wall, reflects that situation.
BTW, I'm in with the new Tardis. (watches new Tardis go up in flames) oh.
posted by Atreides at 7:53 AM on November 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
I enjoyed the episode and the return of the Doctor and Donna dynamic.
There is a sort of thematic thing going on here with the split room? Wasn't there an episode with Wilf stuck in a chamber when the Tenth regenerated? I was thinking that glass wall was just a stupid trope, but now I'm thinking (it's that and) it's RTD doing a callback.
It was a callback to Tennant's last episode, "The End of Time." If I remember correctly, Wilf watches the Doctor take on the radiation that ultimately forces the regeneration process from behind a glass/clear plastic partition. So in a way, in the latest episode, the Doctor is now forced to watch someone ultimately die in the same situation, doing something that forces a regeneration-like effect. Then there's just the symbolism that up until the moment when the Doctor resignedly begins the process to restore Donna's memory, they are together, physically, but also separate because Donna cannot remember who the Doctor is. There's that space between them he can't bridge without hurting her, by allowing her to be the person she was right up until the memory wipe. So they're kept apart, and the clear wall, reflects that situation.
BTW, I'm in with the new Tardis. (watches new Tardis go up in flames) oh.
posted by Atreides at 7:53 AM on November 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
Bleeding Cool has some pages from the original comics story here.
BTW, I'm in with the new Tardis.
I hated it - far too antiseptic and lacking in character. Who wants to explore time and space in an Apple Store?
posted by Paul Slade at 8:24 AM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
BTW, I'm in with the new Tardis.
I hated it - far too antiseptic and lacking in character. Who wants to explore time and space in an Apple Store?
posted by Paul Slade at 8:24 AM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I hated it - far too antiseptic and lacking in character. Who wants to explore time and space in an Apple Store?
They should take a page from Tom Baker's era and have the plain "circles" control room and an alternate wood-paneled control room for when they wanted a change of mood.
posted by mikepop at 8:49 AM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
They should take a page from Tom Baker's era and have the plain "circles" control room and an alternate wood-paneled control room for when they wanted a change of mood.
posted by mikepop at 8:49 AM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I hated it - far too antiseptic and lacking in character. Who wants to explore time and space in an Apple Store?
Reminds me of the original Tardis, which I assume was the point. I love the sweeping walkways and a sense of '60s era space flight aesthetic.
posted by Atreides at 8:57 AM on November 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
Reminds me of the original Tardis, which I assume was the point. I love the sweeping walkways and a sense of '60s era space flight aesthetic.
posted by Atreides at 8:57 AM on November 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
Tennant. Oh dear, I just realized that. Destined since birth to play the Tenth Doctor.
Sadly, not since birth - "Tennant" is a stage name. His birth name is David McDonald. But the actors' union will not allow two people to have the exact same name, so when he joined Actors' Equity at age 16 he was told there already was a David McDonald on their member list and so he had to pick a new name - and he'd been reading an article about The Pet Shop Boys in a music magazine and went with Tennant. (His parents had encouraged him to go with a relative's name, like "McLeod" or "Blair", but he brushed that off.)
Although, he is legally "David Tennant" now, as opposed to it being just his stage name; there was some strange complication about differences between UK and US Actors' Equity and SAG and he was going to have to pick a THIRD name somehow for some arcane reason, but he found out that if you had your name of choice as your official legal name that trumped the union rules. So a few years ago he LEGALLY had his name changed to "David Tennant".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:23 AM on November 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
Sadly, not since birth - "Tennant" is a stage name. His birth name is David McDonald. But the actors' union will not allow two people to have the exact same name, so when he joined Actors' Equity at age 16 he was told there already was a David McDonald on their member list and so he had to pick a new name - and he'd been reading an article about The Pet Shop Boys in a music magazine and went with Tennant. (His parents had encouraged him to go with a relative's name, like "McLeod" or "Blair", but he brushed that off.)
Although, he is legally "David Tennant" now, as opposed to it being just his stage name; there was some strange complication about differences between UK and US Actors' Equity and SAG and he was going to have to pick a THIRD name somehow for some arcane reason, but he found out that if you had your name of choice as your official legal name that trumped the union rules. So a few years ago he LEGALLY had his name changed to "David Tennant".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:23 AM on November 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
Atreides: BTW, I'm in with the new Tardis. (watches new Tardis go up in flames) oh.
I’ll just put it over here with the rest of the fire.
posted by dr_dank at 4:42 PM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’ll just put it over here with the rest of the fire.
posted by dr_dank at 4:42 PM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
When I saw Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons in the opening credits I was all “Huh. Comics guys getting television work. Good for them.”
When we see the aliens, I thought “These look awfully familiar.”
It took me an absurdly long time to realize that the plot of this story was the same as the comic of the first American printing of Doctor Who from the eighties that I actually owned as a teenager. My first introduction to DW, full circle.
posted by Eikonaut at 5:03 PM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
When we see the aliens, I thought “These look awfully familiar.”
It took me an absurdly long time to realize that the plot of this story was the same as the comic of the first American printing of Doctor Who from the eighties that I actually owned as a teenager. My first introduction to DW, full circle.
posted by Eikonaut at 5:03 PM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yeah, looking at those comics pages above it's striking how closely they stuck to Gibbons' original designs for the alien soldiers.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:25 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 12:25 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also that behind the scenes video reminded me how much I missed the old DW: Confidential episodes. Yeah yeah cost cutting sure I get it, but I love getting behind the scenes looks, and having techies talk about their obscure little areas of television production is good fun for me.
posted by Kyol at 9:08 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Kyol at 9:08 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was delighted when The Meep turned out to be evil, since I found it tooth-achingly irritating up until that point.
posted by maryellenreads at 10:11 AM on November 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by maryellenreads at 10:11 AM on November 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
I am not a big RTD fan and approached his return to the series with caution, but I'm willing to forgive a great deal for undoing what he did to Donna, even if it was clunky. Donna was my favorite companion of the Ten era and her end was just Wrong.
He hasn't entirely wiped the slate clean with me. I'm still cautious, but yeah, OK, that was good and I'll keep going.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:24 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
He hasn't entirely wiped the slate clean with me. I'm still cautious, but yeah, OK, that was good and I'll keep going.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:24 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Saw this just now and thought people here would like it: A Tour of Rose's Shed with Yasmine Finney and set decorator Verity Scott.
posted by plastic_animals at 5:39 PM on November 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by plastic_animals at 5:39 PM on November 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
he'd been reading an article about The Pet Shop Boys in a music magazine and went with Tennant
coming full circle: David Tennant Singing West End Girls
posted by BungaDunga at 9:24 PM on November 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
coming full circle: David Tennant Singing West End Girls
posted by BungaDunga at 9:24 PM on November 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
Oh, hang on, I just thought of another film clip that backs up the "destined since birth to play The Doctor" -
The UK's National Television Awards has a "Special Recognition" award that they present each year to someone who has just generally been awesome for an extended period of time. I get the sense that it's a bit of a surprise announcement each year, and David won it in 2015. There's usually come kind of pre-taped collection of clips of interviews with past co-workers and colleagues talking about how awesome the award-winner is before they call them up onstage to collect it.
During that pre-taped segment for David, a director he'd worked with once said something like "whatever part he plays, it feels like it's something he was born to play" - and they cut right to a clip from Voyage Of The Damned where Tenth Doctor is looking right down the barrel at the camera and saying "I'm The Doctor!"
(Catherine Tate is another person they interview, and she yanks his chain a bit - here's the whole thing.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:44 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
The UK's National Television Awards has a "Special Recognition" award that they present each year to someone who has just generally been awesome for an extended period of time. I get the sense that it's a bit of a surprise announcement each year, and David won it in 2015. There's usually come kind of pre-taped collection of clips of interviews with past co-workers and colleagues talking about how awesome the award-winner is before they call them up onstage to collect it.
During that pre-taped segment for David, a director he'd worked with once said something like "whatever part he plays, it feels like it's something he was born to play" - and they cut right to a clip from Voyage Of The Damned where Tenth Doctor is looking right down the barrel at the camera and saying "I'm The Doctor!"
(Catherine Tate is another person they interview, and she yanks his chain a bit - here's the whole thing.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:44 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Aw, man. If you look quick, there's a brief shot of Bernard Cribbins at the first read-through. Sadly, he passed in July, 2022. Per Wikipedia, he was seen filming before his death, but I guess he passed before anything solid had been shot. In any case, the script in this special seems to necessarily put Wilfred out-of-sight.
I thought I'd read that they did shoot with him. The way this episode ended, it seemed to be pretty clearly setting him up to appear in one or perhaps both of the next two.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:00 AM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I thought I'd read that they did shoot with him. The way this episode ended, it seemed to be pretty clearly setting him up to appear in one or perhaps both of the next two.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:00 AM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I hated it - far too antiseptic and lacking in character. Who wants to explore time and space in an Apple Store?
This was one of my favorite parts! This TARDIS interior is much more faithful to the feel of the original series' TARDIS interiors than any seen yet in New Who (well, save for the actual original-style control rooms that have appeared briefly a couple times).
I like its Kubrickian whiteness. I was getting tired of the dingy steampunk look. This version especially evokes the vast and futuristic interior of the First Doctor's TARDIS. But it also reminds me strongly of the remodeled interior that debuted in the middle of the Fifth Doctor's era -- in particular, the control console.
The size was a bit OTT, as were the disco lights. *shrug* I guess we know where a bunch of Disney's money went.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:08 AM on November 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
This was one of my favorite parts! This TARDIS interior is much more faithful to the feel of the original series' TARDIS interiors than any seen yet in New Who (well, save for the actual original-style control rooms that have appeared briefly a couple times).
I like its Kubrickian whiteness. I was getting tired of the dingy steampunk look. This version especially evokes the vast and futuristic interior of the First Doctor's TARDIS. But it also reminds me strongly of the remodeled interior that debuted in the middle of the Fifth Doctor's era -- in particular, the control console.
The size was a bit OTT, as were the disco lights. *shrug* I guess we know where a bunch of Disney's money went.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:08 AM on November 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
Is it being shown on the Disney channel over there then?
Where do you think the budget for those special effects came from? The BBC? That's Disney money.
I loved it, clunky bits and all. At a time when Transphobe Island's hate is at an all-time high and rising, I hope it was a kick in the neck to all the shitstains out there who will now go on to complain that Doctor Who is "woke," ignoring... you know. Everything about Doctor Who.
Loved loved loved the new interior of the TARDIS. As someone said on Tumblr, Thirteen regenerated in to Fourteen, and the TARDIS went, "Oh, *this* guy. The one who gets the zoomies. Okay, time to expand."
I thought I'd read that they did shoot with him.
They did.
New preview for next week. If you needed more evidence that Fourteen is not Ten....
posted by tzikeh at 11:11 AM on November 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
Where do you think the budget for those special effects came from? The BBC? That's Disney money.
I loved it, clunky bits and all. At a time when Transphobe Island's hate is at an all-time high and rising, I hope it was a kick in the neck to all the shitstains out there who will now go on to complain that Doctor Who is "woke," ignoring... you know. Everything about Doctor Who.
Loved loved loved the new interior of the TARDIS. As someone said on Tumblr, Thirteen regenerated in to Fourteen, and the TARDIS went, "Oh, *this* guy. The one who gets the zoomies. Okay, time to expand."
I thought I'd read that they did shoot with him.
They did.
New preview for next week. If you needed more evidence that Fourteen is not Ten....
posted by tzikeh at 11:11 AM on November 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
Generally, I rate this is as a workmanlike, somewhat cornball RTD effort. 6/10?
It doesn't hold up to a ton of scrutiny, but at least it has a basic level of competence that was lacking during most of Chibnall's run. All the main actors did a good job.
Heavy borrowing from E.T., and a bit from C.S. Lewis (sneaking across connected attics was a big plot point in "The Magician's Nephew").
They couldn't seem to decide whether Rose was transfeminine or nonbinary. It felt like RTD just wanting to shoehorn the "binary/nonbinary" wordplay in there. All the social commentary was delivered with his usual sledgehammer subtlety. The moment where the lead women lined up to smugly wisecrack about a "male-presenting Time Lord" had the "girlboss" energy of... well, many a modern Disney production. Sigh.
As a friend pointed out, the streets healing up after the dagger drive was turned off was daft. It's OK to have a little bit of a mess left over after a giant alien incursion.
Why did they never check back in with Rose's young friend at the end, who kept peering out of his window at all the fracas?
I wish they'd get rid of Murray Gold once and for all. His music is utterly generic pablum that tells you how to feel about every plot beat.
I realize I am in the minority. Many people like utterly generic pablum that tells you how to feel about every plot beat! But Segun Akinola's more experimental, electronic stylings were, for me, one of the few highlights of the Chibnall era, and a welcome throwback to 1970s/1980s Who.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:23 AM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
It doesn't hold up to a ton of scrutiny, but at least it has a basic level of competence that was lacking during most of Chibnall's run. All the main actors did a good job.
Heavy borrowing from E.T., and a bit from C.S. Lewis (sneaking across connected attics was a big plot point in "The Magician's Nephew").
They couldn't seem to decide whether Rose was transfeminine or nonbinary. It felt like RTD just wanting to shoehorn the "binary/nonbinary" wordplay in there. All the social commentary was delivered with his usual sledgehammer subtlety. The moment where the lead women lined up to smugly wisecrack about a "male-presenting Time Lord" had the "girlboss" energy of... well, many a modern Disney production. Sigh.
As a friend pointed out, the streets healing up after the dagger drive was turned off was daft. It's OK to have a little bit of a mess left over after a giant alien incursion.
Why did they never check back in with Rose's young friend at the end, who kept peering out of his window at all the fracas?
I wish they'd get rid of Murray Gold once and for all. His music is utterly generic pablum that tells you how to feel about every plot beat.
I realize I am in the minority. Many people like utterly generic pablum that tells you how to feel about every plot beat! But Segun Akinola's more experimental, electronic stylings were, for me, one of the few highlights of the Chibnall era, and a welcome throwback to 1970s/1980s Who.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:23 AM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
Heavy borrowing from E.T
"Doctor Who and The Star Beast" was published in 1980; E.T. premiered in 1982.
posted by tzikeh at 12:11 PM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Doctor Who and The Star Beast" was published in 1980; E.T. premiered in 1982.
posted by tzikeh at 12:11 PM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Doctor Who and The Star Beast" was published in 1980; E.T. premiered in 1982.
I'm talking about visuals more than plot. Rose going out in her back yard at night, and finding something alien out there, was a direct visual quotation of E.T. ... as was the Meep hiding among stuffed animals.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:25 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm talking about visuals more than plot. Rose going out in her back yard at night, and finding something alien out there, was a direct visual quotation of E.T. ... as was the Meep hiding among stuffed animals.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:25 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh, also: We're apparently in a maximalist sonic screwdriver era now. It can make holographic touchscreens and bulletproof forcefields now? Um, OK.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:28 PM on November 29, 2023
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:28 PM on November 29, 2023
a direct visual quotation of E.T. ... as was the Meep hiding among stuffed animals.
You can't get more ET than that.
posted by Atreides at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
You can't get more ET than that.
posted by Atreides at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well, you can, but it involves glowing finger tips and commenting about going places.
posted by Atreides at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2023
posted by Atreides at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2023
They couldn't seem to decide whether Rose was transfeminine or nonbinary. It felt like RTD just wanting to shoehorn the "binary/nonbinary" wordplay in there. All the social commentary was delivered with his usual sledgehammer subtlety.
They didn't establish her as not non-binary at any point, the non-binary identity reveal at the end works fine. I think we can just say she's probably nonbinary transfeminine- that describes plenty of real people, works fine for the character. The only thing that seemed a little bit weird to me was the reveal that she unconsciously chose the name Rose because that name was important to the Doctor. That didn't seem totally fair to her, having the Doctor's timey-wimey energy influence a choice like that.
Yes, it's deeply unsubtle commentary, but I find I prefer RTD's style of this over Chibnall's any day. I'm not sure a subtle approach would have been better- seeing this British institution going so loud and unsubtle on it is heartwarming. It certainly could have been more deft, but RTD doesn't really do deft.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:35 PM on November 29, 2023 [6 favorites]
They didn't establish her as not non-binary at any point, the non-binary identity reveal at the end works fine. I think we can just say she's probably nonbinary transfeminine- that describes plenty of real people, works fine for the character. The only thing that seemed a little bit weird to me was the reveal that she unconsciously chose the name Rose because that name was important to the Doctor. That didn't seem totally fair to her, having the Doctor's timey-wimey energy influence a choice like that.
Yes, it's deeply unsubtle commentary, but I find I prefer RTD's style of this over Chibnall's any day. I'm not sure a subtle approach would have been better- seeing this British institution going so loud and unsubtle on it is heartwarming. It certainly could have been more deft, but RTD doesn't really do deft.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:35 PM on November 29, 2023 [6 favorites]
At a time when Transphobe Island's hate is at an all-time high and rising, I hope it was a kick in the neck to all the shitstains out there who will now go on to complain that Doctor Who is "woke," ignoring... you know. Everything about Doctor Who.
During his recent media and talk show appearances, David Tennant has been wearing a special TARDIS lapel pin...customized with windows in the trans pride colors.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:09 PM on November 29, 2023 [8 favorites]
During his recent media and talk show appearances, David Tennant has been wearing a special TARDIS lapel pin...customized with windows in the trans pride colors.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:09 PM on November 29, 2023 [8 favorites]
Is "the Boss" the Master?
Donna mentioned mailing things to Abu Dhabi... Anyone else worried that "the boss" is Nermal?!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:37 PM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
Donna mentioned mailing things to Abu Dhabi... Anyone else worried that "the boss" is Nermal?!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:37 PM on November 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
EmpressCallipygos: During his recent media and talk show appearances, David Tennant has been wearing a special TARDIS lapel pin...customized with windows in the trans pride colors.
He has a nonbinary child. He's been wearing queer-supportive pins and t-shirts for a while now. Some TERF came for him on Twitter, implying that he's a paedophile because he wears this pin (it has a rainbow and nonbinary colors, and says "you are safe with me"). She tweeted "His pin says 'hey little girl, would you like to meet some puppies?'".
She got the most Found Out to Fuck Around ratio I'd seen in a hot second. You come for the king, you best not miss.
She replied to the backlash with, "My comment is about the inappropriate message on the badge. No adult should be telling children that they’re safe, it is creepy as hell.”
What the actual fuck.
ETA:My favorite look was this t-shirt and pin combo when he was doing press for Good Omens (pre-strike).
posted by tzikeh at 8:41 PM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
He has a nonbinary child. He's been wearing queer-supportive pins and t-shirts for a while now. Some TERF came for him on Twitter, implying that he's a paedophile because he wears this pin (it has a rainbow and nonbinary colors, and says "you are safe with me"). She tweeted "His pin says 'hey little girl, would you like to meet some puppies?'".
She got the most Found Out to Fuck Around ratio I'd seen in a hot second. You come for the king, you best not miss.
She replied to the backlash with, "My comment is about the inappropriate message on the badge. No adult should be telling children that they’re safe, it is creepy as hell.”
What the actual fuck.
ETA:My favorite look was this t-shirt and pin combo when he was doing press for Good Omens (pre-strike).
posted by tzikeh at 8:41 PM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
The thing I noticed about the giant swoopy TARDIS interior is we now have a wheelchair-using scientific advisor for UNIT and a TARDIS that might be able to accommodate her needs.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 9:04 PM on November 29, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 9:04 PM on November 29, 2023 [9 favorites]
My favorite look was this t-shirt and pin combo when he was doing press for Good Omens (pre-strike).
You know, he's just....a really, really, really good guy. Like, Fred Rogers level good.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:51 PM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
You know, he's just....a really, really, really good guy. Like, Fred Rogers level good.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:51 PM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
We're apparently in a maximalist sonic screwdriver era now.
At some point in Who's history, the sonic screwdriver effectively became a magic wand. What can it do? Anything that week's plot requires.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:23 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
At some point in Who's history, the sonic screwdriver effectively became a magic wand. What can it do? Anything that week's plot requires.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:23 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
At some point in Who's history, the sonic screwdriver effectively became a magic wand. What can it do? Anything that week's plot requires.
Except kill. I would put money I don't have on the sonic continuing to *not* be lethal forever until the end of time literally.
posted by tzikeh at 5:25 AM on November 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Except kill. I would put money I don't have on the sonic continuing to *not* be lethal forever until the end of time literally.
posted by tzikeh at 5:25 AM on November 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
That'd be a laser screwdriver.
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 6:26 AM on November 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 6:26 AM on November 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
At some point in Who's history, the sonic screwdriver effectively became a magic wand. What can it do? Anything that week's plot requires.
Its powers have fluctuated. There have been showrunners who recognized that it was becoming too heavily leaned on as a cheap plot device, and cut back on its use and/or powers. During the Fifth Doctor's era, it was even destroyed at one point.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 1:00 PM on November 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Its powers have fluctuated. There have been showrunners who recognized that it was becoming too heavily leaned on as a cheap plot device, and cut back on its use and/or powers. During the Fifth Doctor's era, it was even destroyed at one point.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 1:00 PM on November 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Speaking of the sonic, it appears that Tennant is using a new design previously teased as the 14th doctor's sonic screwdriver.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 2:12 PM on November 30, 2023
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 2:12 PM on November 30, 2023
During the Fifth Doctor's era, it was even destroyed at one point.
Who needs a sonic screwdriver when you have celery?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 6:38 PM on November 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Who needs a sonic screwdriver when you have celery?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 6:38 PM on November 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh dear, I just realized that. Destined since birth to play the Tenth Doctor.
The modern era of Who goes Christopher Eccleston —> David Tennant —> Matt Smith. Two names of three syllables, two of two, two of one.
Capaldi was fine, but really it should have been a nameless actor, like ___ _______.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:08 PM on December 2, 2023
The modern era of Who goes Christopher Eccleston —> David Tennant —> Matt Smith. Two names of three syllables, two of two, two of one.
Capaldi was fine, but really it should have been a nameless actor, like ___ _______.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:08 PM on December 2, 2023
I *think* I saw another classic Who callback - when they are captured and herded onto the elevator, instead of the elevator moving upwards, the camera pans *downwards*, which was a classic cheat for when they couldn't afford an actual elevator. I laughed in delight at the reference.
posted by Mogur at 7:23 AM on December 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Mogur at 7:23 AM on December 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
tilts, not pans. Arg. Lingo.
posted by Mogur at 7:24 AM on December 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Mogur at 7:24 AM on December 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
(content warning: hairless The Meep)
fx reel: How Untold Studios Made The Meep
posted by BungaDunga at 12:50 PM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
fx reel: How Untold Studios Made The Meep
posted by BungaDunga at 12:50 PM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
> It was nice to see Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons in the credits. Those comics are something else.
If you know their comics work, it's ... a bit of a nudge toward a spoiler. Mills co-created Marshal Law, and was a major part of developing Judge Dredd. Gibbons collaborated on Watchmen. Those aren't the lightest and fluffiest comics.
> ... he'd been reading an article about The Pet Shop Boys in a music magazine and went with Tennant.
It might be even geekier than that - uh, differently geeky? it's hard to gauge - Neil Tennant was an editor for the UK branch of Marvel Comics before forming The Pet Shop Boys, so David Tennant may have seen his name there, before his work for Smash Hits.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:35 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
If you know their comics work, it's ... a bit of a nudge toward a spoiler. Mills co-created Marshal Law, and was a major part of developing Judge Dredd. Gibbons collaborated on Watchmen. Those aren't the lightest and fluffiest comics.
> ... he'd been reading an article about The Pet Shop Boys in a music magazine and went with Tennant.
It might be even geekier than that - uh, differently geeky? it's hard to gauge - Neil Tennant was an editor for the UK branch of Marvel Comics before forming The Pet Shop Boys, so David Tennant may have seen his name there, before his work for Smash Hits.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:35 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by ewan at 1:52 PM on November 25, 2023 [13 favorites]