Steven Moffat talks fan service: ‘You don’t give them what you think they want’

As executive producer and lead writer of Doctor Who, Steven Moffat is used to fans expressing strong opinions on his work, for better or worse. But he’s determined not to pander to them.
“You don’t give them what you think they want. That would be mad! The only useful index you’ve got is what you would like,” said Moffat, speaking during a panel session at the MIPCOM conference in Cannes.
“It’s really a strange way to write a story, and an arrogant way to write a story: to give them what they want. You don’t even know what birthday present to give the person close to you! How would you know what everybody wants?” he said.
“I honestly don’t think anybody makes a film or television programme for any reason other than ‘wouldn’t it be brilliant to get someone to pay me to do this?’”

Moffat made it clear that the latter statement was not about greed, but rather positioning himself as a super-fan, trusting his instincts based on his passion for the show.
Moffat sees one of Doctor Who’s current strengths as its emotional grounding: it may go “hell for leather on the sci-fi fantasy aspect” but never forgets to explore the characters immersed in that.
“It is frequently the intimate moments in Doctor Who that make it connect with its audience,” said Moffat.
“It is sci-fi that people who don’t like sci-fi watch. Although we never make any apology about Doctor Who being as science fiction as it gets. We don’t like to have a scene without a robot or a talking slug coming along!”
Moffat also talked about Sherlock, and why he believed modernising it was the right move to take. “Updating Sherlock Holmes, as we automatically update James Bond, was the right thing to do,” he said. “Sherlock Holmes is meant to be pulpy and vital and new.”
He admitted to nervousness in the run-up to the launch of the first series of Sherlock, however. “There was a moment when my new version of Doctor Who was about to come out in the same few months as Sherlock was about to come out,” he said.
“And I thought if I screw these up, all I’ll have to do is shoot Daniel Craig in the face and I’ll have screwed British culture!”

Source

Steven Moffat Q&A for DWM #479

ANTHONY FINCH asks: Why is it that the TARDIS doesn't rattle and crash about when in ordinary flight anymore? The Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors' TARDISes were always a bit unstable.

Oh, what do you want here? The "in-universe" explanation, or in Cardiff?
In universe: following the terrible events of the Time War, the TARDIS is a bit ropey for a long while. Instead of its (mostly) placid locomotion before the War, it bumps about all over the place. Gradually he fixes the old thing up, and it's back to plain sailing, except for solar storms and dramatic effect.
In Cardiff: I think we gradually forgot. Oh, don't grump, it happens. And speaking of dramatic effect, it was always a bit flexible, wasn't it? I mean, reading Madame de Pompadour's letter while clinging to the console wouldn't have been brilliant, would it? Actually, thinking about it, maybe it's not so much forgetting as gaining confidence that the audience know that this is a flying spaceship, not just a big room with a high-tech mushroom in the middle. It's so clever in Star Trek that they basically fit the bridge with a windscreen so it feels like they're moving. All the TARDIS thrashing in the early days was mainly to remind you we're on the high seas. And to be honest, maybe we should be doing more of it...

CATHERINE GRAHAM asks: In Deep Breath, Madame Vastra says to Clara that the Doctor trusted her when he regenerated and became an older man, showing his great age and "lifting the veil". But in The Parting of the Ways, the Ninth Doctor regenerates to become even younger than before. Does this mean that the Doctor didn't trust Rose like he trusted Clara, or became younger in order to flirt with Rose?

Well, that's only Vastra's theory - and she's arrogant, so she talks like she's right. To be fair, she generally is. But let's also remember the Doctor is at a very different place in his life. Chris was the war-survivor Doctor, the high-plains drifter, pushing everyone away. But then he's brought back to life by a girl he falls in love with, and when he regenerate perhaps he reaches out to her a bit. He becomes a more suitable 'boyfriend'. Often, when talking to women, I've wished that I could turn into David Tennant - and I'm pretty sure they've all wished that too.
But a thousand years on Trenzalore is a very different learning curve. He watches generation after generation die in front of him, and remembers that he is nobody's boyfriend - he cannot afford to love or be loved. When he regenerates, instinctively, he lets Clara see who really he is.

CHLOE HASTINGS asks: Will the Silence ever find out that the Doctor didn't really die on the shores of Lake Silencio?

The Kovarian were a splinter group, who travelled back in time to stop the Doctor ever reaching Trenzalore. The Silence who tackle him there clearly know the plan has failed. However, in researching the matter, I uncovered this rare transcript of a meeting between two high priests of the Silence Movement.

SILENT 1: So, brother - did the Doctor truly perish at Lake Silencio, or did that
          double-hearted schemer live to fight another day?

SILENT 2: ...Who are you?

SILENT 1: You did it again. You broke eye contact. We mustn't break eye contact, or
          this will take all day.

SILENT 2: Sorry. Bit distracted at the moment.

SILENT 1: We have to maintain eye contact at all times. It is the eternal law of the 
          Silence Praesidium.

SILENT 2: Who are you?

SILENT 1: You see, now you've looked out of the window. Don't look out of the window.

SILENT 2: Sorry, I was just wondering where Jeff was with that coffee.

SILENT 1: We can't really send people for coffee - we should remember that.

SILENT 2: Remember what?

SILENT 1: Who are you?

SILENT 2: Who are you?
SILENT 2: Is that a Weeping Angel?

SILENT 1: Keep looking at it!

SILENT 2: Keep looking at what?

SILENT 1: I don't know, who are you?

SILENT 2: What's that rising under that blanket?

SILENT 1: Don't look at it!!

SILENT 2: Don't look at what?

SILENT 1: Hang on, didn't we send Jeff for coffee?

SILENT 2: I'll go and look for him.

SILENT 1: Good idea.

SILENT 2: Who are you?

I think that clears everything up. It goes on for another 8000 pages, but it gets a bit repetitive.

JACK SYNNOTT asks: In Listen, how did Orson get his hands on a Sanctuary Base 6 spacesuit? He is seen wearing it on the news footage dated circa 2110, but SB6 didn't come into existence until the forty-second century.

Oh, blimey. Okay. Mentally rolls up sleeve (which would be a fantastic trick if I could do it).
That's not a Sanctuary Base spacesuit in the news footage, it just looks very much like one.
Those red spacesuits became standard issue for many centuries, so your mistake (you can't see it, but I'm looking shifty) is understandable. The Doctor, of course, has a Sanctuary Base suit, and has used the TARDIS clothing replicator (come on, he must have one, it's the only explanation!) to make several more. When he first meets Orson, he notices that his red spacesuit is in a terrible state, and so gives him one of his. From that point on, Orson is wearing a Sanctuary Base suit. Frankly, I'm surprised this wasn't perfectly obvious and deplore your inattention. (Dear the Internet - that was a JOKE, that last sentence. Ask your Mum and Dad, they were popular back in the day.)

MICHAEL ALLAN asks: In Listen, it is established that there are no monsters. So what was hiding under Rupert's bed sheet?

Oi! It is in no way established that there are no hiders, not at all. The Doctor's theory is never disproved, and by its nature, couldn't be. At every point, there are TWO explanations for the phenomena they encounter. So, under the bedspread it was either (a) a hiding creature (b) a kid, possibly wearing a mask. The whole point of the story is that we don't know, and can't, and that's all right. All that we know is that the monster under the Doctor's bed happened to be Clara.

NIALL DUFFY asks: The Doctor has visited England, Scotland and Wales, but why has he not come to Ireland?

He's been many times, but it never coincided with an alien intervention (because the Irish are just TOO HARD), so he had a lovely time, and we were unable to make an episode, because he was basically just having lunch and a bit of a jig.

JAMES LAWRENCE asks: I enjoyed Into the Dalek very much... However, seeing that they were noticeable by their absence, I do have to ask, are the Paradigm Daleks ever going to reappear?

You know when you ask someone if your bum looks big in this...?

---

If you have a question you'd like Steven to answer, email dwm@panini.co.uk with 'Ask Steven' in the subject line.

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Michael Hayes Doctor Who Director 1929-2014

The director Michael Hayes has died, aged 85. He directed three stories during the 70s, Season 16's The Androids Of Tara, The Armageddon Factor, and the following year's City of Death.

Initially reluctant to take on the show, seeing it as "a children's show with dodgy effects", he was persuaded to do so by his friend Graeme MacDonald (Head of Serials) and producer Graham Williams, during which he also became friends with the lead actor Tom Baker. With his final contribution to Doctor Who, Hayes took the show to its first overseas location, filming in the streets of Paris - he also contributed to the story both with a cameo as a passenger on the Metro seen to follow the Doctor and Romana of the train at Boissière station, and to provide the voice of one of the gendarmes who inform the Doctor that the Mona Lisa has been stolen from the Louvre.

As well as Doctor Who, he directed a number of episodes of popular series such as Thirty-Minute Theatre, Z Cars, The Onedin Line, When The Boat Comes In, and All Creatures Great And Small, leading up to his last credited production, Skorpion, in 1983. He also produced and directed (and cameoed in) the 1961 sci-fi series A For Andromeda.

Paul McGann in Fables of forgotten things

This seems to be a short pilot for a planned series that never got off the ground. A mysterious drifter and his young friend must save a frightened, forgetful old lady from a memory eating ghost who has taken over her home. With nothing but a box full of whispering spiders and a bottle of vintage dust, Clarence and Danny have to help the old lady stumble upon a forgotten dance shoe in the hope that one happy memory can bring back a million others. Broadcast on BBC HD as part of their Film Shorts season. Starring Paul McGann and James Bird. This highly atmospheric drama was shot and mastered on Hi-Def with music composed by Josh Hill. 

  Fables Of Forgotten Things from Toby Meakins on Vimeo.

Crew

• Director
  Toby Meakins
• Writer
  Simon Allen
• Director Of Photography
  Steve Albins
• Editor
  Chris Barwell
• Music
  Josh Hill

Cast

• Clarence
  Paul McGann
• Danny
  James Bird
• Magenta
  Muriel Barker
• Eldritch
  Anthony Wise
• Eldritch (before)
  Louise Dumayne

 Another short titled A fairytale of forgotten things came before this with different actors. Broadcast on BBC2 as part of their Homegrown Hollywood season, this award-winning 5 minute drama is narrated by a young boy who spins an epic fairytale out of the chance discovery of an old button under a leaf. It was the inspiration for the television project Fables of Forgotten Things.


Fairytale Of Forgotten Things from Toby Meakins on Vimeo.

Paul McGann's Doctor Who audition tape teaser

In the mid 1990s, rights to make new Doctor Who were acquired by American producer Philip Segal. Commissioning a new series "Bible" - one that saw the Doctor and his half-brother the Master, searching for their long-lost father Ulysses - Segal began auditioning potential Doctors. Although much of this Bible was dispensed with in the eventual 1996 movie, Paul McGann auditioned using scripts based on these ideas.

 Interesting to see where they would have taken the series. It seems a bit to soap opera-ish to me though. I really wish they would have let McGann keep that curly mop of hair though instead of that wig he had to endure.

Click the pic for Flatline Promotional Images

Clara becomes the Doctor? - 'Flatline' Preview

I want a teeny tiny tardis!!!!

Flatline Teaser - Doctor Who

Flatline: Next Time Trailer - Doctor Who

Doctor Who: A TARDIS Tea Party CIN 2010

The Day of the Doctor - Hilarious Pre-Movie Theater Introduction

Doctor Who - "Time Lines" (Blurred Lines Parody)

Timelords (Doctor Who/Lorde Parody) by Waffle Box

WHOVIANS UNITE! In this parody of Lorde's music video Royals, the inner Whovian comes out through expressive lyrics and a catchy tune!

Foxes Cameo on the Orient Express - Doctor Who Extra

Poster for Mummy on the Orient Express

66 Seconds - Mummy on the Orient Express: Preview

Peter Capaldi is hilarious on Graham Norton show

Mummy On The Orient Express Teaser

Peter Harness faces backlash from fans

 

 Peter Harness has deleted his Twitter account after backlash from rabid fans who didn't enjoy his scriptwriting for tonight's Doctor Who episode  "Kill the Moon". Harness is still on Facebook and has yet to respond to any media outlet on the backlash from fans. I enjoyed the episode and I am sorry to see so called fans act in such a disgraceful manner.
  Kill the Moon was a great story for a first time Who writer. I saw some problems for the script, but to act in such a vocal and disrespectful way is just low in any fandom. I have never been ashamed of being called a rabid whovian until today. Shameful people just shameful. I apologize on behalf of my fandom Peter Harness. Your efforts were very good and very well written and I hope this doesn't deter you from writing more for Doctor Who in the future.

Thoughts on Kill the Moon

Okay let's take from the top here, Courtney is a juvenile delinquent, it seems, stealing psychic paper to buy alcohol and such, and Clara wonders why the Doctor doesn't see her as special? He took her traveling because he was bored and she was being annoying, not because he thought she would make a great companion. I would imagine there was a bit of his ego involved also considering he has no one to show to at the moment either. I wish they would write Courtney a bit more like the actress who is playing her. Ellis George seen in the Doctor Who Extras seems to be very likable and a joy to be around, while Courtney is an abrasive, self centered, and rude teen.  Her line on the moon was fantastic "one small thing for a thing..one enormous thing for a thingy thing." She echoes Twelves love of using the word thing here. I think perhaps the Doctor doesn't like her because they are similar in many ways. Even her nickname of Destructive Influence can apply to him. 
  Interesting point the Doctor makes in the first five minutes that he isn't sure how many regenerations he has now. Perhaps another 12 or perhaps infinite. I am hoping they will use this to establish that there is no limit any longer, fingers crossed for the future.
  "Second hand space shuttle, third hand astronauts." describes the situation pretty well. The space program appears to be quite dead in the water in 2049. Tony Osoba previously appeared in the classic serials Destiny of the Daleks and Dragonfire by the way. Watch the Extra and you can see from back in the day with funky braids. I find it hard to believe they would bring no weapons at all though. If I were being sent somewhere where the astronauts were slaughtered I would bring something to defend my self with, and really who walks down to investigate a noise in a cave with no protection. I loved the way the Doctor jumped in to investigate  armed with cleaning spray and I am really loving his theme. It is much more cinematic.
  "The moon is an egg." Bit of a stretch, but I like it. The episode turns into an abortion debate for a moment, debating the life of an infant over the possible life of billions. I really dislike Vundlik. Her immediate response of "can we kill it" just made me angry. I suspect that is why the Doctor does leave. I think he predicted how it should play out and that it was a choice humans had to make for themselves. Left alone Vundlik would have set off the nukes killing the creature outright and possibly denying humans a future in space. I was really hoping it was the space whale from previously. it would have tied in so well. The Doctor leaves Clara knowing, trusting that she will make the right choice. He has faith in her. Clara on the other hand seems to have lost all faith and confidence in the Doctor for the first time since his change. Her anger to me is unjustified and petty. I think the rumors of Jenna leaving are true and as of now I would be glad to see her go. No more fence sitting, I think she wants her life and a life of travel in the Tardis and you cannot have both.
  Clara gets mad that the Doctor won't tell her what to do. How many times has he done that before and she would just go on and do what she wanted. Yet now she gets mad. Now she is angry and untrusting. I always gave Clara props for arguing her case, but here she just throws up her hands and begs to be told what to do. She then gets angry when the Doctor leaves her to make the choice herself. Whether he already knew the outcome or not, he is trying to teach Clara an important lesson in making her own choices and trusting it is the right choice. Her anger at being forced to choose is petty and juvenile to say the least. The Doctor explains quite clearly that it is her choice to make and really has been made already, Clara just shows an amazing lack of faith here for her friend and his judgement.
  More hints are made to Danny's past when he holds Clara and remarks that he got smart because he had a really bad day. I would love to see more of Pink and his past. Five more episodes to go, hopefully one will be on his past and why he left the army like he did. All in all I would say this episode rates about a 8/10 in my book. Hope the series continues along this path and keeps knocking them out of the park.

Mummy On The Orient Express: Next Time Trailer

Kill the Moon - Doctor Who Extra

Kill the Moon Promo Pics

Posted HERE. I love the cinematic look of these. I wonder how blown away we are going to be by the end of this season?

Evelyn Smythe, Maggie Stables, Rests in Peace

From Big Finish today: "It is with the greatest sorrow that we regret to report the death of actress Maggie Stables, who many Big Finish Doctor Who listeners knew as the Sixth Doctor's companion, Evelyn Smythe.

 
Maggie died peacefully in her sleep on the night of Friday the 26th of September after a long illness.
Big Finish Executive Producer Nick Briggs: 'I met Maggie many years ago when we worked together on a national theatre tour of Jane Eyre, in which Maggie superbly played the sinister role of Grace Poole. After that, Maggie was instrumental in getting me a job in the Theatre Royal Nottingham Thriller season, recommending me to the late producer, Colin McIntyre.
'I was keen to get her involved in the Big Finish audios, casting her as the gruff Ruthley in our very first Doctor Who release, The Sirens of Time. It wasn't long before my friend and producer Gary Russell spotted her and saw her as potential 'companion' material. Evelyn Smythe made Doctor Who history. The first, dare I say it, 'elderly' companion of the Doctor's. Maggie was superb in the role and she and her Doctor, Colin Baker, immediately hit it off. And even though Maggie appeared in two 'final' adventures for Evelyn, it was always our intention to continue working with her -- such is the advantage of time travel. I was very pleased to welcome her back for another trilogy in 2011.
'As a friend of Maggie's, I knew she had suffered and largely recovered from serious illness before that recording, but it was clear to me that she was still too poorly to continue with the rigours of studio work -- even though you would never have known from her great performance. Always the professional.
'Maggie was such a lovely, warm person who did a fantastic job of playing Evelyn. She was extremely popular with our listeners and always a delight to work with. I have many fond and sometimes raucous memories of working with her in Doctor Who and on stage. Unfortunately, my favourite Maggie anecdotes are far too naughty to repeat here. Suffice it to say, she had a very saucy laugh and a twinkle in her eye. Some of my warmest memories of her involve her sometimes shockingly blunt use of a put-down aimed at me... but it was always followed by that infectious laugh of hers.
'I shall always be grateful for the support and affection she gave to me and for all the laughs we shared along the way.'
Our thoughts are with Maggie's dear friends and family at this very sad time.

The Caretaker Doctor Who Extras!!!!!

Kill the Moon Next Time Trailer

Doctor Who Series 8 ‘Kill the Moon’ Preview

Katy Manning visited the set of Doctor Who

Caretaker Retro Poster

Mummy on the Orient Express Synopsis Revealed

The Doctor and Clara are on the most beautiful train in history, speeding among the stars of the future – but they are unaware that a deadly creature is stalking the passengers.
Once you see the horrifying Mummy you only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. As the Doctor races against the clock Clara sees him at his deadliest and most ruthless. Will he work out how to defeat the Mummy? Start the clock!
 Airing Saturday 11 October at 8.30pm on BBC One.

Craig Ferguson Used to Be in a Band with Doctor Who

Listen extras!!

Punk Rock Doctor?

BTS of The Caretaker with Steven Moffat

Teaser from The Caretaker

Time Heist Extras!!

The Caretaker: Next Time Trailer

Time Heist Preview clip

Time Heist Trailer

Retro poster for Listen

"Listen" Preview clip Doctor Who

I cannot wait to see this episode on Saturday! I have watched the unedited cut and I want to see the finished product so very badly. I think this may turn out to be my favorite episode of the whole series.

2011 NTA Doctor who opening

An actor, David Burton was almost the 8th Doctor???

I stumbled across this on YT and would love to see more. Paul Bernard went and filmed a pilot and everything, changing the familiar blue box to a red one. In 1991, Doctor Who Magazine reported on claims that an independent production company had made pilots for a new series, starring an actor called David Burton as the eighth incarnation of the Doctor.

DOCTOR WHO 50TH - 9 recalls the Time war ( RE-CUT )

Nice concept, blends well in some places not so much in others. I can't imagine the fan glee if 9 had returned for the 50th.

Doctor Who Ultimate Tribute by Lenonymous

Very well done tribute. Bit long, but will make you quite misty eyed throughout. As always subscribe and like please.

Easter egg from Danny Pinks classroom

Robots of Sherwood clip

Retro Robots of Sherwood poster

      I can just imagine this hanging at a drive in.

BBC Cuts Robot of Sherwood Scene

A beheading sequence from the climax of this Saturday’s episode of Doctor Who, Robot of Sherwood, has been edited out by the BBC as a mark of respect in the light of recent news events in Iraq and Syria.

The edit has been made to remove a decapitation in the climatic fight scene between Robin Hood and the Sheriff; something that could be deemed insensitive after two US journalists were killed by IS (Islamic State) militants in the past month.

Robot of Sherwood is written by Mark Gatiss and was filmed in February, long before the IS hit the headlines. It centres around Peter Capaldi’s twelfth Doctor and Jenna Coleman’s Clara meeting the flamboyant Robin Hood, played by Tom Riley.
A spokesman for the BBC said: “In light of recent news events, we have made an edit to episode three out of respect.”

Neil Gaiman Wants to Bring Back the Yeti

If Neil Gaiman returns for Series 8, he has his sights set on bringing back the Yeti.
The monsters first appeared in second Doctor story, The Abominable Snowmen, originally broadcast in 1967. They came back the following year in The Web of Fear and were controlled by the Great Intelligence.
“In my head, I love that the Great Intelligence has come back, but I miss the Yeti.  I would love to have huge shambling robotic Yeti, just because I loved them when I was a kid.  So, I would love to do that.  That would be wonderful."
But he also wants to create his own iconic monster:  “I’d love to create a monster, and have it be one that’s interesting enough or fun enough to come back, written by somebody else, or turn up completely reinvented.  I’d love to do that and have the feeling that you’d actually left something behind.  I think that’s hard.  I love that Terry Nation left us the Daleks, and I love that Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis left us the Cybermen.
As before, Gaiman’s admits the biggest problem with coming back is finding time in his schedule: “The trouble with everything, these days, for me, is time.  There is only one me.  There are a ridiculous number of demands on my time.  There are so many things I’m trying to do.  It’s so much more about when I’m going to get time to do it, if I get time.  I think they’ll have me back.  They seem to like me at Doctor Who, and I know that I definitely like them. “

Robot of Sherwood: Next time on Doctor who

Doctor Who "Deep Breath" extra

I am assuming the poster of the vid altered it to avoid being deleted. If you can look past the sped up voices and the horrible place card it is an interesting look behind the scenes. The look of joy on Capaldi's face as he says " I am Peter Capaldi and I am the Doctor." is priceless.

The companion's companion interview: Sam Anderson

I’m the companion’s companion! Those are the kind of things I’ve been hiding until I read an interview with Jenna and it’s like, “Oh right, she said it. Okay.” Click the pic to read the full interview.

"You haven't met Danny Pink have you..." You will this Saturday

The shy soldier turned schoolteacher will be introduced this Saturday in the episode titled "Into the Dalek."
In this episode you will meet the shy young man that will have a huge impact on Clara Oswald and a Dalek like none other we have ever met. Danny Pink is played by Samuel Anderson.

Doctor Who Actor Bill Kerr dies, aged 92.

Australian actor Bill Kerr has died in Perth aged 92.
His role as Giles Kent in Doctor Who adventure The Enemy of the World saw him sharing the screen with Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor.
Believed missing for many years, a complete version of the six-part story, originally broadcast in 1967-68, was found last year at a TV station in Nigeria.

Tom Baker: In Confidence

Into the Dalek clip

I love how he doesn't cater or care if anyone particularly likes him or not. He just shows up and starts at it.

The new Doctor was thinking of cosplayers when he chose his new outfit...

On top of being a fantastic choice for the 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi is a huge Doctor Who fan. He was asked about his costume choice and answered, “I wanted to wear something that people could emulate without going to any great expense.” Capaldi mentioned an early version of the costume from his  50th anniversary cameo that never made it on screen. “From the start at the back of my head I had a dark thing going. When I appeared in the 50^th, which was only this [gesturing at his eyes], we had thrown together a costume just in case, and we had got the dark coat and dark trousers and I thought ‘oh this all looks quite good’.”

He admits to later going through the whole wardrobe room, “We went round with lots of scarves and velvet jackets and floppy hats (everybody wants you in a floppy hat) and I wanted to be starker than that, sharper. But really it’s just a matter of trying stuff on until you feel like the Doctor, and when I tried that stuff on, I felt like the Doctor. I always thought of Doctor Who as being in dark colors, I guess because I grew up seeing the show in black and white.”

Somehow I just couldn't see him in a big floppy hat.....

A beautiful tribute to 11 by KatrinDepp

As always subscribe and give her a thumbs up if you enjoy it. I admit I did get a bit misty eyed. Fantastic work as always.

The 8th Doctors theme from Big Finish

I like it. You can hear similarities to 11's

Clips from Doctor Who Live

Matt says goodbye. You can tell he loved the role and is sad to go. God I will miss him. He did the name proud.

This one was before the announcement was made. Interesting to see Stephen Hawking wanted a female Doctor.

BFI interview with Steven Moffat, Jenna Louise Coleman, and Peter Capaldi

Jenna basically says Clara was not just sad at the factThe Doctor changed his face, but that Clara dislikes that she doesn't know how to control him anymore. Interesting, so they are really playing up the control freak aspect. Moffat jokingly tells of his first meeting with Capaldi, and just why he picked an older Doctor. And goes on to talk about flirting in classic Who. The interview is lovely, wish it was longer. It is nice to see the respect Capaldi has for his role.

SFW Doctor Who Porn parody review

This is not my safe for work review. I found it on Reddit and had to post a link. Looks pretty funny all in all.
Some of the actors seem to favor their TV counterparts. Rated R for the use of the F word there is no nudity, Sorry. Click the pic and Enjoy.

Doctor Who comes to Minecraft on Xbox

Doctor Who is set to become “Blocktor Who” when characters from the series arrive on the Xbox 360 edition of Minecraft in September.
Available on over 84 million Xbox devices worldwide, a deal between BBC Worldwide and developers Microsoft Studios and Mojang will give Minecraft players access to a range of Doctor Who assets, allowing them to change their avatar to resemble their favourite characters from the show.
The first pack – priced at just $2.99/£1.99/€2.85/$2.95AUS – will include a character inspired by the Twelfth Doctor, plus five other Doctors, each of their on-screen companions and some of the Doctor’s most well known adversaries including his arch-nemeses, the Daleks.

The deal will bring more packs as time goes on, introducing many of the most recognisable characters from the past 50 years of Doctor Who. Each skin pack will feature at least six Doctors and will be released regularly following the broadcast episodes in Series 8.
Rikesh Desai, Digital Entertainment and Games Director at BBC Worldwide UK says “We’re constantly looking for new and innovative ways to bring Doctor Who content to our loyal fans. Working collaboratively with Microsoft, we’ve created an exciting new product which will allow Doctor Who fans to create their own brand new adventures in the heart of the iconic world of Minecraft.”

Minecraft is one of the fastest selling Xbox game of all time with over 13 million sales to date. The deal to bring Doctor Who to Minecraft builds on BBC Worldwide’s successful partnership with Microsoft, which has seen Microsoft publish Forza racing games complete with Top Gear themed challenges and features.
Minecraft is a game about breaking and placing blocks. At first, people built structures to protect against nocturnal monsters, but as the game grew, players worked together to create wonderful, imaginative things. It can also be about adventuring with friends or watching the sun rise over a blocky ocean. It’s pretty. Brave players battle terrible things in The Nether, which is more scary than pretty. You can also visit a land of mushrooms if it sounds more like your cup of tea.

Check out Ace it's Youtube videos on his Minecraft Tardis. He has put a lot of work into it. Please like and subscribe if you want to see more from him.

 

Critics hail Capadi's debut

 Critics are praising Peter Capaldi for his debut in "Deep Breath" saying he has all the hallmarks of a great Doctor. Richard Beech of The Mirror said "If you watched Deep Breath and you don't want to watch the rest of series 8, then there truly is something wrong with you."

 The show received a mixed reception on Twitter, with some viewers deeming 56-year-old Capaldi "brilliant" and "amazing", while others describing the episode as "middle of the road" and "gimmicky".
While on Facebook many praised the new portrayal, but panned the story. I read many casual viewers that commented on the change of face as a blow to their children and they would no longer watch. If you have young children and they cannot grasp how the dynamics  of the show works, I would think letting them watch and not fully explaining was your fault not the writers.

Reddit, of course, was a hot bed of Moffat hate. Many panned the plot and the pacing while most said "There was absolutely no need for the dinosour. It's not like if the dinosaur wasn't there or mentioned we'd all be saying "that episode needed a dinosaur". I saw the dinosaur as fun for the smaller children and there to show how long the bad guys had been on our planet, perhaps they could have just mentioned it in passing with dialogue, but it led to a great visual display also used it in the translation scene to describe how the dinosaur was feeling also similar to how the doctor was feeling, all alone last of its kind. It also showed hoe the Doctor was hurt that Clara just did not see him.

 A small majority of "fan girls" cried about the new age of the Doctor saying "The audience wants young and vibrant doctors and they wont be guilted into accepting the old man. What does regeneration mean literally?"
These NuWho fans always give themselves away by not understanding that The Doctor can literally be anyone and look any way.  And of course the River Song, Rani, Master, Omega theories are running rampant with the appearance of the foe at the end.

All in all the hype was justified in my eyes. It was a solid story with great comedic elements. We finally have a Doctor who won't be a tumbler girls wet dream. And perhaps we can get back to great science fiction rather than who is shipping who.

Why I don't think the Doctor killed the Robot Controller

 There has been much debate over whether the 12th Doctor pushed the Robot Controller, from the series 8 episode Deep Breath, to his death or not and why. Social media was on fire with people complaining how dark and demented The Doctor now seemed. I don't think he was murdered at all. I think the Doctor talked to him and saw he was in pain and helped him do what needed to be done. The Doctor isn't beyond using deadly force, I am in no way saying that. I'm saying that in this instance he didn't have to. I'll explain why.

 The Doctor has killed before. Throughout classic Who he shot Cybermen, destroyed Daleks etc etc. But more often than not it was his companions, such as Leela, that did the dirty work, or he would set his foes up to destroy themselves. When he returned in his 9th incarnation he was weary of killing because of his time spent fighting in the time war as The War Doctor.
 He refused to sacrifice the earth and kill the Daleks, but again along came a companion, Rose, to do the dirty work. Throughout the series the writers have tried to stay in the premise that The Doctor is a pacifist. He mostly is until he literally has no option left but to kill.

 His history is not the question here in this case. The question is did he push the Robot Controller to his death? I don't think so. First we see The Doctor leave Clara with the Robot Controller willingly. Here his is darker than his previous incarnations in NuWho. Why would he put her in danger like this? What is he becoming? But she was never really in danger. He trusted she would talk her way into finding out the plans that the Robot Controller had. He leaves her, disguises himself as a robot using a flesh mask, and brings her back after she attempts to hold her breathe and get away. He is right there with her and deep down she knew it. He reveals himself and says "Hello, hello - rubbish robots from the dawn of time, thank-you for all the gratuitous information. Five foot one and crying - you never stood a chance."
  He nods to Clara as if saying sorry to scare you and then goes on to threaten to blow up the whole room. Clara then refers to him suddenly abandoning her to which The Doctor replies, "Sorry. Well, no, I'm not, you're brilliant on adrenalin." This Doctor shows he is more openly manipulative than 9 through 11.

 The Doctor then goes back on his threat to blow the room and leaves the companions to fight the other robots. He gambles that the gang will stay alive long enough for him to find a solution and follows the RC up into the cafe. There he pours a drink saying "I've got a horrible feeling I'm going to have to kill you. I thought you might appreciate a drink first. I know I would." Again with the threats, but also no follow through. He lets the craft launch then sits and tests the RC asking "What do you think of the view?" He replies "I do not think of it." Correcting his speech patterns The Doctor points out that the RC is barely a droid anymore.
 "There's more human in you than machine. So tell me what you think of the view." He isn't so much stating the fact of it as much as he is testing the RC's reaction here. When the RC goes to the window and replies that it is beautiful the Doctor literally jumps at the chance to argue knowing now that he has a chance to save his friends and stop the RC's plans.

The RC asks "How could you kill me?" And then The Doctor knows, he is certain that this more than machine man wants to die. He clings to the idea of a promise land and is tired of this world. He is almost asking outright for The Doctor to do it for him.The Doctor further presses forward talking as much to himself as to the RC and says "You are a broom. Question: if you take a broom and replace the handle, and then later replace the brush - and you do it over and over again - is it still the same broom. Answer: no, of course it isn't. You have replaced every piece of yourself, mechanical and organic, time and time again - there's not a trace of the original you left." The RC goes on to say "It cannot end." The Doctor replies "It has to. You know it does."

 He is now actively trying to talk the RC into suicide. He opens the doors saying "And there’s only one way out." The RC says "Self-destruction is against my basic programming." The Doctor replies " Murder is against mine." They struggle and are at a stalemate. RC says "You are stronger than you look." The Doctor replies, "I'm hoping you are too...this is over, are you capable of admitting that?" The RC relents and asks "But do you have it in you to murder me?" The RC wants to die. The Doctor replies "Those people down there. They are never small to me. Don't make assumptions about how far I will go to protect them, because I've already come a very long way. And unlike you I don't expect to reach the promised land."

 The RC extinguishes his fire-arm, effectively and visibly giving up. Then The Doctor closes in "You realize of course, one of us is lying about his basic programming." And here is where you can see that The Doctor has won. He has convinced the RC to let go and die. There is a visible pause from the RC. He answers with a voice which breaks with actual emotion and answers simply "Yes."

 If you watch the video below closely you can see it. The writers want you to think he coldly killed the RC, they want you to see how dark and dower the new Doctor is, but it is a lie. I think the Doctor realized the RC was in pain and wanted release. I don't think he murdered him, I would consider it more of a mercy if he did in fact push him. This Doctor weighs his odds, rolls the dice, and acts accordingly to manipulate the odds into his favor. I don't think he is a cold blooded murder at all. What he did can be considered an act of kindness and mercy, because the RC wanted to die and could not do it himself. What do you think?

The Promise by KatrinDepp

I absolutely love this video. This was one of my favorite parts of the 50th anniversary. Please give KatrinDepp a thumbs up and subscribe if you too like her work. Lovely video and very well done!

Song - Jónsi - Kolniður

Deep Breath Review

I have finally found some free time to put down thoughts on the series 8 premiere. I watched Deep Breath once then promptly re-watched again to look over any details I may have missed and I have to say I loved it.
The new titles were wonderful. I particularly loved the gears, very steampunk. I read that a Youtuber was hired after Moffat had seen his re-imagining of the titles. I think the new theme sounds a bit retro harkening back to the 80's and was okay. I have faith Murray Gold will perform admirably throughout the series as always.

I loved that Capaldi has some of the best comedic lines all throughout the whole episode..
  THE DOCTOR
Oh, I wouldn't bother with that, I never bother with sleep, I just do standy-up-catnaps.
VASTRA
Oh really, how interesting - and when do you do those?
THE DOCTOR
Well, generally when anyone else starts talking. I like to skip ahead to my bits, it saves time.

Capaldi has excellent comedic timing with his lines. His Doctor seems to be more dark and manipulative reminding me very much of the Seventh Doctor. The reason he chose this face still seems a bit unclear and may well be answered much later into the series.

I love how The Doctor is getting a bit darker and more manipulative. He allowed Clara to be caught and interrogated by the Robot Controller standing nearby hidden behind the fleshy mask of one of the RC's previous victims. Granted he was there the whole time, but this is a much darker Doctor willingly putting a companion in harms way just to get some answers. I'll say more about that flesh mask in another post.
I liked seeing Vastra, Jenny, and Straxx again and would personally love to see more. I think they hammered the point home that the two were married a bit too much, but Vastra was flirting with Clara quite a bit. The onscreen kiss between Vastra and Jenny was new ground for Who and I applaud the effort even as I have seen others marginalize and deride it.

The fate of the RC at the end and the question of whether he was pushed or jumped is tough, but again more on that later. The cameo at the end seemed like a bit of fan service aimed especially at the fangirls and tumbler addicts, but I also saw it as a way to explain to the children who watch what just happened. It helped to explain that his face may change, but underneath he is still the same Doctor. I loved seeing Matt again and was surprised that the cameo wasn't spoiled due to all the leaks. I have to commend the fans for respecting Who enough not to spoil it for everyone.

 Now we come to Missy. Just who is she, why is she collecting those The Doctor fails to save? I have read theories ranging from her being the Master to her being another incarnation of River. I have my theories and will post them soon also.
All in all I saw the opening episode as very strong, very bold and dark, and very entertaining. Moffat has taken the series in newer and better directions than RTD in my opinion. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season has to offer.

CBS Morning interview with cast

Rule One

Some times we forget, being a companion is dangerous...

Music: The Prophecy by Audiomachine

Into the Dalek trailer

Welcome to the most dangerous place in the universe… The Daleks are back and the Doctor embarks on his deadliest mission ever.
Into The Dalek will be broadcast on the 30th of August on BBC One.

Beautiful painting of 12 and Clara

New Alicexz original painting of 12 and Clara

Moffat Column for DWM #477

JIM TAYLOR asks: I was just wondering what is the question you thought we should all be asking about Sylvester McCoy in DWM 475? Meanwhile, LEE ZACHARIAH thinks he knows what the question is, and asks: Why is Sylvester McCoy so damn great?

Jim, Lee's question may not be entirely the one I was looking for, but I like it so much, I'm going to answer it anyway. The night of the 50th - of which I've written much angst elsewhere - my handsome clever son, Louis, was sitting next to me in the audience. We were surrounded, as you might imagine, by the great and the good, and he was as cool as ever about that. But then I realised that even he had his limits, because he grabbed my arm and said in awe-struck tones: "Is that Sylvester McCoy???" He spent the rest of the evening demanding a meeting with his favourite Doctor, and eventually I fought free of the press, and got a message to the man himself. I took Louis upstairs, and when Sylvester saw us approaching (and this is why he's great), he leapt up on the sofa, spun his walking stick like a question-marl umbrella, and windmilled his arms as if he was about to fall over. The Seventh Doctor reborn in an instant, and about to fall off a sofa, as my son raced to his rescue.
Sylvester was a truly great Doctor. If you belong to the dwindling number who think anything different, go and watch Remembrance of the Dales, or Survival, or Ghost Light, and pop back here when you've got time to make your apologies. Actually, go and watch Battlefield. Ignore Angry Andrew and Boring Ben last month - what do they know, just because they made it? It's got a cool monster, great gags, and the best-written Brigadier ever. And Knights from another dimension, which is all I need for a decent evening. I think, when I was young and pompous, I didn't quite get how good this era was but I'm glad I do now. And I'm even gladder that Sylvester McCoy didn't stop being the Doctor, just because he left the show.

Many viewer wrote and asked: In The Day of the Doctor, when all the Doctors save Gallifrey, how come the Seventh Doctor appeared both in his question-mark jumper and - looking a little bit older - in his brown jacket and waistcoat? Did he turn up twice?

Oh, it's a Sylvester fest today, isn't it? A Sylv Fest! There you go, a convention title - have it for free, but make sure you invite me. Okay, I've been prepping this one since I noticed the mistake just that bit too late to fix it. But what am I saying?? Mistake?! As if! No, no, it was the time differential shorting out, just like in Time Crash. He was being shunted through his life span by the presence of all the other Doctors. What, he changed his clothes you say? But that's happened before - it's part of the TARDIS, part of him. Haven't you seen the first regeneration? Or Tom Baker's boots turn into Peter Davison's shoes? Ha, I'm on fire today, no question can fox me!

DAN asks: In The Day of the Doctor, the Doctor says he has been preparing for this "all his lives" before his other incarnations arrive to help him save Gallifrey. How did the previous Doctors know what was going to happen, and how were they told? Surely the only one who could have known was the Twelfth?

The Doctors sent a special message back along their time spans, to summon their other selves. I'm quite surprised you haven't noticed that happening throughout the older episodes. See if you can spot all those moments. Write in!

FINLAY WORRALLO asks: Obviously you haven't cast the actors who will play Doctors Thirteen to Twenty-Four yet. But do you have an in-universe reason why they didn't turn up to help the others save Gallifrey?

It was about how long they needed to keep the calculation going. They only needed 13 life-spans, so only the first, erm, 12, erm, 13, erm, whatever-it-is-now-sorry, showed up.

ADAM ORFORD asks: The Twelfth Doctor doesn't like the colour of his kidneys. So what colour are they, for him not to like the,?

They are froon. This is an entirely new colour, which only the Doctor can see.

MARIA SCHMIDT asks: Could you please share with us some more details of the minor characters' backstory? I mean characters like Jenny (how did the Doctor save her when they first met?), Strax (what exactly was he punished for, how exactly did he meet the Doctor?) and Tasha Lem (how, when and where did she meet the Doctor?).

I quite like there being things we don't know - but some of those, if they make good stories, might come up later...

LOUISE POND asks: Does the Doctor use a toilet, and if so is there one in the TARDIS?

We don't want to think about that, do we? Shame on you! But I like your name, so you can stay. Get your mind out of the toilet, though.

PAUL JOHNSON asks: Does the Doctor have a setting on his sonic screwdriver which he uses to make the clothes he and his companions wear, remain clean and undamaged? That could explain why Rose, Amy and Clara never get ladders in their tights.

You've been spending a lot of time looking at legs, haven't you? Behave!!

SIERRA SEIDLER asks: In The Angels Take Manhattan, when the Doctor, Amy and River go into the hotel, why didn't they smash the angels? Can the Angels reconstruct themselves?

Yes, they can. Oh, they can. Next time you're on a beach, remember that sand is basically ground up stone. And be careful where you put your towel. Oh, hang on, that's not bad...

JAMES WHITBY asks: In The Bells of Saint John, Clara told the Doctor she was given his phone number by 'the woman in the shop'. This has never been explained. Who was the woman in the shop?

Keep watching! There will be an answer!

MIKE BOND asks: Over Amy and Rory's final episodes it's established that the gaps between the Doctor's visits are getting longer. By the time they meet Kate Stewart, it's July 2016. How then can Kate meet Clara and the Doctor in 2013 in The Day of the Doctor?

Ah, yes, well, good point. Some may think that question has no good answer. But as I believe I mentioned earlier, I'm on fire this month and can answer ANYTHING, oh yes. Sadly, however, I've run out of space...

Brian Miller, widower of Elisabeth Sladen, plays a bit part in Deep Breath

 Brian Miller is no stranger to Doctor Who by any means. He has performed in various  Doctor Who productions, appearing in the serial  Snakedance(1983), provided Dalek voices in  Resurrection of the Daleks (1984) and  Remembrance of the Daleks(1985), and played the role of 'Wiston' in the 2005 stage production of The Trial of Davros. Miller married actress Elisabeth Sladen in 1968 before she had been
cast as our Sarah Jane Smith in 1973.
  Miller will play a wandering hobo that encounters The Doctor after he has wandered away into the heart
of London and is still suffering from the after effects of his current regeneration. I do love how Who uses
and recycles actors from past roles into new roles again and again.

Moffat Teases “Major Foe” For Series 8

“We’re going to see what haunts the Doctor…”

As ominous as that sounds I cannot wait to see how this series will progress. I have watched the "leaked"
episode of series 8 "Deep Breath" already and can see where this years series is headed already. Last series
and part of the one before, we were faced with the question that can never be answered "Doctor Who?".
This time around it looks as if Moffat is looking more into what kind of man the Doctor is exactly. Watch closely mid way through the first episode and you can see the seeds being planted for a journey of self
discovery of sorts.

Steven Moffat has teased that a “major foe” will be back in Series 8.

I am actually stumped on this one so far. I am not sure if he is referring to a one episode foe, such as the
Daleks or Cybermen, or if he is referring to the foe that will stretch across the series this year and be working
somewhat behind the scenes. Thoughts? Guesses? Rani anyone? [I hope, I hope]

You can read the full article here and watch the video of Capaldi and Coleman along with the man who lies
Moffat.

Watch this blog!

Just a quick note, life got in the way of my fandom. Never will this happen again. Gearing up to go again, be on the lookout for new post, a contest or two, giveaways, and lots of whovian fun.