With Peter Capaldi’s Doctor having now transitioned into Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation of the role, it’s time to ramp-up to what is certain to be…at the very least…an interesting series/season. A vast majority of folks responsible for generating DOCTOR WHO have now been replaced (including cinematographers, composers, showrunners, and actors) - if not the whole kit and caboodle. Meaning: no matter what kind of show we get when Season/Series 11 comes around, it’s going to look, feel, and sound different than any DOCTOR WHO we’ve ever seen. Is this a good thing? A bad thing? Neither here nor there? We can’t be certain until the show gets going and has had a fair chance to find its rhythm. Whatever the case, though, it will be a surreal and fascinating journey forward. This message board is reserved to discuss anything and everything related to DOCTOR WHO, but ultimately its greatest emphasis will likely be the upcoming Series/Season. Be sure to check this thread regularly for any news, videos, imagery, artwork, rumors, theories, about S11 - which will be interspersed amidst insightful discussion of DOCTOR WHO as we’ve know it across the ages.
If you’re out there lurking and have been hesitant to jump in? Know that you are most welcome here…are ALWAYS welcome here…and that we’d love to hear from you. Don’t be hesitant. There is only one simple guideline which applies to any discussion threads here at Geeklectica… We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. This thread will carry us to the first episode of Season/Series 11, at which point episode-specific threads will resume. Until then, hit the 'Comments' button below to access the conversation, and ENJOY!
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Once more DOCTOR WHO arrives at the same disorienting, strangely meta precipice on which the show has repeatedly found itself perched over the years: out goes a Doctor/performer currently leading its narrative, and in comes a new one. Accompanying this change? An entire repositioning of the heart of the show, its overall tone, its visibility in the public eye, and how it is perceived in the ‘real world.’ I am, of course, referring here to the imminent departure of Peter Capaldi, and the insertion of Jodie Whittaker into the iconic role - all presumed/stated to occur in Twice Upon a Time, transmitting Christmas Day. But we’ll be getting more than a new Doctor as Capaldi steps down: we’ll be witnessing the end of Steve Moffat’s era in a macro sense, an across-the-board reworking of principal elements we’ve settled into over the past 7 years of his stewardship. Long-standing composer Murray Gold will be exiting the production alongside Moffat, and incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall is brining on board new Directors of Photography with markedly fresh aesthetic ambitions. When DOCTOR WHO returns - love it or hate it - it will look, feel, and sound quite different. I’ve posited, many times, that DW is chiefly about change, and I believe this characterization extends to behind the scenes as well as its narrative. DOCTOR WHO is, and should always be, about reinvention - and about how characters (and, by extension, viewers and fans) react and adapt to ‘the new.’ Thus, it’s difficult to be entirely downtrodden that so much rejiggering is currently afoot, as such flux is what has allowed the show to endure for as long as it has. Change is an integral component in DOCTOR WHO. It is a natural function. It is - regeneration. On the other hand, it’s difficult…perhaps impossible…not to feel at least a tad bittersweet on this occasion. For me, at least. I have largely enjoyed Moffat’s time at the helm. No matter what quality of work Chibnall brings to the party, and hopefully he will bring to bear creativity and clarity of the highest order, there are…quite simply…Moffaty elements of I will always, inescapably miss. Beloved Moffaty elements no one will ever be able to emulate, no matter how hard they try. For me, at least. With this, the Twice Upon a Time discussion board is now alive. Between now and the new year, a separate ‘General Discussion’ board will be launched to span the time between now and the formal arrival of Whittaker, Chibnall, and Season 11. Come what may, it'll be a fascinating adventure. As always… We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. THANK YOU for being here, and for sharing your opinions, ideas, thoughts, and conversation. Wishing you and those you love th Happiest, brightest, safest of Holidays. Onward. Always onward… So here we are again, plummeting into one of the most perilous and frustrating circumstances in DOCTOR WHO fandom: that long, HAT-filled pause between a whopping and provocative set-up, and whatever resolution lies ahead. In this case the wait will be roughly 5 and 1/2 months. Far too long long a pause for a show whose schedule is already hinky and diffuse, and a piss poor way to maintain and expand a sometimes fickle fan base. But these are old topics which are probably not worth kicking around once more (for the moment, at least)... As we’ve seen over and over again across the span of 2005+ DW, the ‘resolutions’ for which we wait often do not pay off as fully…or resonate as loudly…as the splashy, mind-bending cliffhangers which spawned them. Will Team Moff stick the landing this time around? In this case, the cliffhanger was a whopper: at the end of The Doctor Falls, a beleaguered and war-weary Capaldi Doctor…fending off active regeneration with contempt and fervor…comes face to face with the 1st incarnation of the Doctor - a role originally portrayed by William Hartnell, now assumed by David Bradley. In a delightfully twisted bit of meta casting, Bradley once played William Hartnell portraying the 1st Doctor in 2013’s AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME. The 1st Doctor’s dialogue in The Doctor Falls is interesting. It’s never really clear whether he’s attempting to encourage Capaldi Doc towards regeneration, or supporting his pushing it back as much a possible. The inference seems to be the first possibility, but there is room for interpretation to be sure.
Our GENERAL DISCUSSION BOARD, spanning the long void until DOCTOR WHO’s Christmas return, is now open.
Be sure to check the ongoing discussion thread for images, videos, and newslets pertaining to the Christmas special, happenings in the general WHOverse, and more. As previously indicated, huge news - the casting of the next Doctor, Chib-era newsbits and info, etc. - may well receive their own discussion threads here as well. For the sake of organization, I’d suggest making this thread the primary home base for DW discussion here. Whatever the case, HAVE FUN! As always… We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. So… …yeah. Wow. This week brings us to the second to the last episode of Steven Moffat’s stewardship of DOCTOR WHO, and thismuch closer to (what appears to be) the end of Peter Capaldi’s tenure as the Doctor. Will we get a hint of whom Capaldi will regenerate into in The Doctor Falls - a possibility hinted at in the opening moments of World Enough and Time? Or, will the reveal of ‘the next Doctor’ be held until this year’s Christmas Special? A far more likely scenario, as that episode is notably scripted by Moffat instead of incoming show runner Chris Chibnall. But, anything feels and is possible at this juncture - which is when DOCTOR WHO, on the whole, is most exciting and fun. Come what may, we once again find ourselves on the same precarious precipice on which we’ve so often teetered during Moffat’s management of this show: World Enough and Time was an amazing set-up which suggests any number of riveting storytelling potentials, but will The Moff stick the landing?
The atypically scant assemblage of promo images from this week's episode (seen below) tells us little, to nothing at all, regarding what to expect this Saturday. Which also suggests The Doctor Falls may well be meatier, and thrive on more spoilerish material, than the average WHO installment. Which would make sense, and be not at all surprising.
By the way, I updated last week's World Enough and Time thread with a gallery of higher resolution images. There are some very nice shots of Cybermen - both nu original flavors. If you missed those, you can find them HERE. Our discussion boards for The Doctor Falls are now online and ready to go! Next week I will open a new discussion forum dedicated to all things WHO, which will carry us towards the Christmas Special this December. Substantial news., like casting announcements pertaining to the Chibnall era, news about what Chib's reboot may look and feel like, etc. will receive their own dedicated posts. There's also a better-than-not chance other content will be posted here along the way as well, so be sure to check back. As always, stay tuned to our message boards for newslets which may not always warrant their own individual piece - but are relevant and cool nonetheless. On all boards, at all times, there is only one simple, Golden rule: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Thank you for being a part of our journey through this amazing, confounding, glorious, weird, touching, goofy, provocative, compelling show. Here's to the future! This Saturday brings us World Enough and Time, the third to last episode of the DOCTOR WHO era overlorded by Steven Moffat. While I am profoundly interested in what incoming show runner Chris Chibnall has in store for us - and early indications suggest it's 'bold' and compelling - I am not necessarily 'happy' to see Moffat go. While I admit his time on DOCTOR WHO has had its ups and downs, its frustrations and inconsistencies, I suspect...in hindsight...many current naysayers will eventually come to perceive and appreciate 'the method to his madness.' And there has been madness, without a doubt. But there has also been method... I strongly assert, for example, that the Moffat 'style' - in terms of overall bravado, scoring, aesthetic, and photography - may have done DW a tremendous, incalculable service in terms of how the public on the whole perceives this show. Moffat's 'vision' modernized and contemporized WHO in a number of ways. I'd argue that he helped a funky show feel less kitschy in the eyes of many, and helped a show that was not known for budget or scale feel grander, more graceful, and less 'silly.' All without fundamentally betraying the heart and soul which has driven the concept since its inception. I believe Moffat's guidance has very much 'fixed' the broader perception of DOCTOR WHO - entrenched it much more firmly into the mainstream, if you will. How this pays off in terms of the show's overall robustness, or eventual longevity, may never be able to be fully measured. This was no easy task to be sure, and no insignificant accomplishment. His contributions, in many regards, may be more etherial than many may realize. In my years of coverage of Moffat Era DOCTOR WHO, I have...quantifiably...seen a perceptual shift regarding the show within numerous sectors (publicly, entertainment industries, etc.). All other arguments about narrative stumbles and annoying proclivities aside... and many of them are well-founded...Moffat mattered. And it is with a sincerest tip of the hat, and humblest appreciation for his stewardship, that I approach these bittersweet final tales in his rein. Back to World. It will be followed by The Doctor Falls on July 1, and this year’s ‘Christmas Special’ (title not yet announced) - presumably airing in its traditional Christmas Day timeframe. One would assume that it is during said Christmas Special that the 'handoff' between Moffatt and Chibnall actually occurs - a passing the baton moment recently outlined by Moffat in Radio Times. Unless Team Moff, Mister Chibs, and BBC have a trick up their sleeves (which is certainly possible, although not likely in this scenario)…this trio of tales also appears to be the home stretch for Peter Capaldi’s tenure as the Doctor. World, The Doctor Falls, and the Christmas Special are all scripted by Moffatt, and all are helmed by Rachel Talalay - whose previous DW directing work includes high-profile season enders Dark Water, Death in Heaven, Heaven Sent, and Hell Bent. While they are regarded unevenly amongst regular viewers of the show, those episodes were all rather well made at the very least. So, it's a safe bet The Moffat Era will exit with quality filmmaking, if nothing else. World is described thusly by BBC: Friendship drives the Doctor into the rashest decision of his life. Trapped on a giant spaceship, caught in the event horizon of a black hole, he witnesses the death of someone he is pledged to protect. Is there any way he can redeem his mistake? Are events already out of control? For once, time is the Time Lord’s enemy… Much has been made about this synopsis' implication that someone 'dies' in this episode. Could it be Missy? Might 'Missy" regenerate into the John Simm version of The Master as a result of this 'death'? If backwards regeneration is possible, what does this mean for the casting of future Doctors? Or, perhaps a reverse regeneration occurs due to the setting of this tale around a black hole? Or, maybe time funkiness is afoot due to the black hole setting - and Simm's presence has nothing to do with Missy? These are all desperate and not terribly well considered HATs, by the way... If I had to guess, the 'death' that is witnessed will be Bill's - and, no matter who 'dies' - said event will somehow be mitigated (or impacted by) the notion that these events are occurring inside the event horizon of a black hole. That setting would, after all, seem to open up a number of freaky possibilities within the context of this show. Geeklectica’s second to last discussion of DOCTOR WHO Season/Series 10 (if you’re not folding the Christmas Special into S10 proper) is ready to roll! After the transmission of The Doctor Falls, we’ll open up a general DOCTOR WHO discussion here, which will bridge the gap between Summer and Christmas. Over the Holidays, we’ll launch a separate discussion for the Christmas Special - centering heavily, I suspect, on the departure of The Moff and Capaldi. After the Christmas Special, we will then launch a second general discussion thread to carry us into the Chib Zone... and beyond! As always, be sure to check the ongoing discussion threads here for any newsbits and general mulling of the WHOverse. Particularly huge reveals (Chib Zone casting, for example) may receive their own individual posts here as well. I am considering revisiting the classic series - starting at the beginning and traveling all the way up through the end of the Moffat era - on the way to ChibWHO. In fact, I would very much like to do so. This is a journey I began a while back elsewhere, but was never concluded. A big part of me would like to chronicle this journey here, but I am...hesitant...to commit to providing expanded content here on such regular a basis. Still, it is a notion which is very on my mind and in the wind... Come what may... PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Last week saw the Doctor, Bill, Nardole, and a buncha pseudo-dysfunctional Victorian soldiers facing off against the feared and revered Ice Warriors on Mars. The episode landed firmly upon the middle tier of Moffat era DOCTOR WHO episodes for me - never falling flat on its face, but nor did it fully ignite. Its greatest stumble, by my measure at least, was that The Empress of Mars somehow managed to turn an exciting and compelling premise into something of a stayed talk piece. A budgetary consideration? Or, simply a creative choice made by long-time DOCTOR WHO scripter/associate Mark Gatiss? We may never know for certain, but the decision was definitely one which lead to a surprisingly sedate, conversation-heavy episode given the story’s innate premise. All of this said: the Ice Warriors reducing their targets into little bouncy laundry balls? That's pretty great by any measure - and begs the question: what, exactly, happens to the little spherical blobs of people after they’ve been compacted? Are they tossed into a garbage bin? Used for some kind of sport? These are important considerations! (ahem) This week’s adventure returns two doctor who alum to the series: Oxygen director Charles Palmer is back to helm The Eaters of Light, which is scripted by Rona Munro (who wrote the Survival arc back in the McCoy era). Regarding Munro's presence here: it should be noted that Eaters represents one of the last episodes in Steven Moffat's stewardship of this show, and Survival was not only the final, full-on appearance of Sylvester McCoy's iteration of the Doctor, but the closing tale of DOCTOR WHO's original, multi-decade run. A symmetry and symbolism that is difficult to ignore. Here are some promo images from the The Eaters of Light. I'm assuming there's far more to this episode than these images suggest - this is one of the least revelatory, and scantest (is that even a word?) collections of promo shots I've encountered during my experience with the Moffat era on the whole. What does this mean? We'll find out soon enough! The Eaters of Light discussion boards are now online and ready to enjoy. Please see the first post in this thread regarding the disposition of next week's World Enough and Time discussion board. PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Last weekend brought us The Lie of the Land, the conclusion (?) of a three episode arc also encompassing Extremis and The Pyramid at the End of the World. On the whole, I managed to enjoy TLotL...enough...but my support of it is tenuous and conditional. I found its ‘love will find a way’ conclusion a bit jarring - perhaps even disingenuous - given the tone and nature of the story which it was wrapping up. Additionally, as I previously mentioned on our discussion boards, the Doctor’s false regeneration…and the plot’s subsequent imperilment of Bill when she jacked into the Monk’s signal…rang as hollow, even gimmicky. Each played as an unnecessary bait and switch, and each was an affront to both the audience’s affections for these characters, and viewer’s investment in the dramatic tension this trio of episodes had legitimately earned until these points. Will The Empress of Mars smooth out this unfortunate, almost petulant, rough patch? Synopsized thusly by BBC... The Doctor, Bill and Nardole arrive on Mars, and find themselves in an impossible conflict between Ice Warriors… and Victorian soldiers. As the Martian hive awakens around them, the Doctor faces a unique dilemma – this time the humans, not the Ice Warriors are the invaders. When Earth is invading Mars, whose side is he on? ...Empress is scripted by Mark Gatiss, and helmed by Wayne Yip (who directed The Lie of the Land). Publicity images from the episode… …suggest that this installment will offer a hybridization of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Steampunk. A promising and interesting fusion on any show, especially this one. On the other hand, Gatiss’ last DW script was Sleep No More, which was one of the more poopy DW installments of the 2005+ DW era, if not the poopiest So…we’ll see. Personally, I kinda like the looks of this one - I get the same vibe from this material that I got from Gatiss’ Cold War back in S7, which I rather enjoyed. So, hope shines brightly. Unrelated to DW: Gatiss' prosthetic-heavy performance as 'Prince Regent' in TABOO is a blast... If you haven't had a chance to check its out, consider doing so. It's gorgeously shot and put together... ...and is, all in all, a helluva thing. Ready to talk about The Empress of Mars? GO FOR IT! Welcome, and...as always...enjoy! PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Last week’s The Pyramid at the End of the World steered DOCTOR WHO S10 into supremely Moffaty territory, with a discussion worthy, introspection provoking installment which more or less appears to act as a parable to how humanity interacts with its various religions. What prices are extracted from us by ‘higher powers’ as a levy for our receiving the nurturing or absolution we may desperately need? And what happens when the price we pay is not justified by what we actually receive back in this transaction? These are lofty explorations for any show, and atypically sweeping thematics for even DOCTOR WHO, which has never shied away from social commentary, or expirations of the human condition in the past. The ‘Monk’ arc of S10 represents an admirable, ambitious effort to be sure, but it is in the landing/payoff of bigger conceits like these that (some feel) the Moffat era has been most challenged. Will S10 break this trend? We’ll come one step closer to finding out this weekend with The Lie of the Land. The Lie of the Land marks the first DOCTOR WHO directorial assignment for Wayne Yip, although he previously brought us two episodes of the WHOverse DW spinoff CLASS. Thus, he’s not entirely unfamiliar with what he's stepping into here. TLotL marks the seventh DW script from Toby Whithouse. His last writing for the show was S9’s Under the Lake and Before the Flood, neither of which did much for me (in an <I>‘I remember that they existed, but could tell you nothing about them…’</I> sorta way. Wasn’t there something about Russians in one of them?) Welcome our The Lie of the Land discussion boards. All are welcome, all are encouraged to participate, always. PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. SPOILERS FOR EXTREMIS (DW S10E06) BELOW! DO NOT READ THIS PIECE IF YOU HAVE NOT VIEWED EXTREMIS! Last week’s Extremis brought forth a number of big reveals, including the identity of who, exactly, is being kept in that vault - and the introduction of a new species which appears to be S10’s predominant dramatic foil. If its not a ‘foil’ - it’s safe to assume this species is an ‘instigator’ - or ‘facilitator of a far larger narrative’ - at the very least. The reveal that Missy/the Master was the individual locked away in the vault…and that the Doctor was fulfilling an oath to watch over him/her for a thousand years…fell flat and felt predictable to many. But Extremis’ overall story arc of invading aliens creating a (MATRIX-like) simulated Earth to rehearse an invasion of our actual reality was potent, unexpected, and opens up a number of possibilities for S10 and beyond. How, or whether, the Missy reveal and the alien agenda intersect has now become a chief mystery of S10. Given how DOCTOR WHO tends to work, it seems likely that these two plot strands will ultimately inform each other in some way, although it’s difficult to see just how… yet. Is the Doctor playing a long-game, utilizing Missy/the Master as a pawn in a grander equation than we’re able to discern at face value? Or is Missy/the Master secretly orchestrating these events towards nefarious ends? Ends which may well result in the Doctor’s regeneration? Trailers for The Pyramid at the End of the World, this week’s episode… ...and official promo images... …indicate we’ll see more of Extremis’ ‘invaders’ this weekend. I strongly suspect said invaders may not be as clear-cut/one-dimensionally ‘bad’ as first impression would suggest. Daniel Nettheim (who brought us Extremis) also helms Pyramid, which is co-scripted by The Mighty Moff and Peter Harness. Harness has previously written S8's Kill the Moon for DOCTOR WHO, as well The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion. The two Zygon tales were, incidentally, also directed by Nettheim. I found the Harness/Nettheim Zygon collaborations a bit uneven, and many folks didn't enjoy Kill the Moon (which I, personally, didn't mind), so it'll be interesting to see how Pyramid shakes out this week. Come what may, setting aside some story quibbles, Nettheim directed Extremis very nicely, crisply, and smartly. Hopefully such sensibilities will convey into Pyramid on Saturday. The Pyramid at the End of the World discussion board is now built and ready to occupy. The only here rule is the same rule as always... PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Thanks for joing us! Welcome, and enjoy... This week finds DOCTOR WHO S10 reaching its halfway point in Extremis. BBC’s official description reads thusly: In the Haereticum – the Vatican’s secret library of blasphemy – there is an ancient book known only as The Veritas. Throughout history, anyone who has ever read it has immediately taken their own life. Now a new translation is online, and the danger is spreading. The Vatican appeals to the Doctor. Will he read The Veritas? But can even the Doctor survive the ultimate truth?
The episode is one of four S10 adventures scripted by current WHOmaster Steven Moffat, and will see the return of Michelle Gomez’s ‘Missy'/'Master.’ This appearance, according to a recent interview with Radio Times, will be among her last performances on DOCTOR WHO. In fact, given that we know John Simm’s Tennant era ‘Master’ will also be appearing this Season/Series, it would seem conceivable that Extremis might well mark Gomez’s final bow in the role.
Daniel Nettheim will helm Extremis, marking his first directorial effort on DW since S9’s The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion. If the team-up of Nettheim and Sir Moffsalot is to best last week’s atmospherically unnerving, allegorically rich Oxygen - an installment giddily evocative of vintage and ‘classic’ DOCTOR WHO - both talents will need to bring their ‘A Game’ to Extremis. The stakes are high but the possibilities are immense. I can’t wait to see what we get here.
Will the Doctor’s eyesight, lost in his exposure to the vacuum of space last week, return this week? Or, will my theory that the impending Capaldi regeneration will be a slow burn, torturous affair be borne out? With his failure to regenerate eyesight being the first stage in a regeneration that will be presented as something of a critical illness...
Will we learn more about who, or what, is in that vault? Or about whatever oath the Doctor took which is (supposedly) keeping shackled to Earth? If so, how will any of this impact Capaldi's remaining tenure as the Doctor? So many questions - so much to mull and imagine! Our Extremis discussion boards are now active! If you're lurking and feeling shy about jumping in and contributing, don't be! Both regular contributors and newcomers are always warmly welcomed here, and there's just one simple rule: PLEASE NOTE: We warmly invite and encourage an open discourse and free exchange of ideas, but will enforce a strict zero tolerance policy regarding trolling, disrespect, or hate speak of any kind. Enjoy! |
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October 2022
AuthorGlen |