Doctor Who is coming to America!!!

[hracctsold]

Calli,<br /><br />I knew you would be the one to break this news!!<br /><br />I first saw it this morning, and wanted to post about it, but was not able to do it. It comes at the right time too. I just finished a Biology test yesterday, and helped a friend finish her family tax return today. How many of you have ever had to take a 17 page Biology test? Yesterday was my second!! But I wasn't as brain dead as the last one. Maybe I am getting used to it. We covered about 6 major items that went from genetics to photosynthesis, many things inbetween.<br /><br />But I have already programmed my VHS for both episodes tonight. Hope it is good as you-all say.

 

[Aetius]

We're going to watch it tonight. I used to enjoy "Dr. Who" on PBS back in the early 80s as a boy, but haven't seen any episodes since then. I'll probably like it.

 

[CalliArcale]

I have to admit, I thought "Rose" (the first episode) to be a bit slim on the story and character development. But never fear; subsequent episodes are a lot better. (And "Rose" really isn't bad anyway. Just not as good.) Tonight, they're running two episodes back-to-back. I bet you'll like "The End of the World" better than "Rose" -- I know I did. I liked them both, actually, but "The End of the World" is, well, it's Doctor Who. I was excited by "Rose", but it was "The End of the World" that really convinced me the series was back. It's Who. Totally Who.<br /><br />Just wait'll you see Cassandra! The last human being. She's....had some cosmetic alterations. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Something surreal I never thought I'd hear:<br /><br /><i>Doctor Who is brought to you by your Lincoln dealer.</i><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />It's awesome. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I also noticed that Yahoo! TV listed Doctor Who as one of its three top picks for tonight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

My favorite bit from this episode just happened.<br /><br />"I'm in my dressing gown."<br />"Yes."<br />"There's a strange man in my bedroom."<br />"Yes."<br />"Well, anything could happen."<br />"No."<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

"He's okay, he's got a wife and kids!"<br />"He would say that! It's exactly what a murdering Internet lunatic would say!" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Poor Mickey....as you'll see over the rest of the 13-episode season, Rose really doesn't treat him right. He's loyal, and she takes him for granted. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

"The aliens are so....alien. You look at them and...they're alien."<br />"It's a good thing I didn't take you to the Deep South." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Oooh, talk about synergy -- they just ran an ad for an episode of Naked Science devoted to the ultimate death of the Sun. And that's what this Dr Who episode is about. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

You betcha! There's some nice jokes about that in an upcoming episode: The Doctor Dances. (That's the second of a two-parter; the first part is "The Empty Child". It makes the phrase "Are you my mummy?" very scary indeed.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Yup. The Time War. You'll learn more about that in upcoming episodes as well.<br /><br />You may or may not have noticed at the end of "Rose", but it got mentioned there as well -- that's what wiped out the Nestene homeworld, forcing it to flee to Earth. And the Doctor feels responsible in some way, but just what happened in that war? Why does he feel so guilty? Is it just generic survivor guilt, or is there something more? And if it was a war, who was the enemy?<br /><br />You'll find out the answers to some of those questions as the series progresses. They aren't just dropping a bombshell to shake things up; they're actually going somewhere specific with that. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[hracctsold]

But at least he got a TARDIS that works properly and that he can control where it goes.<br /><br /> I hope everyone has seen the show that is reading these posts now.<br /><br /><br /><br /> I liked Rose, and was wondering about the Doctor's home world from the way he was acting and responding to questions from Rose in the first show.<br /><br />Did Clive actually get killed by the plastic manakins from the mall towards the end? It sure seemed like it.<br /><br />At first, I kind of thought it was sad that Mickey got digested by that garbage container by the way it burped.

 

[hracctsold]

One more question, can the Doctor still morph into any of the 12 incarnations he has left because of his being alone in the world now without the benefit of his world or the other Time Lords?

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Did Clive actually get killed by the plastic manakins from the mall towards the end? It sure seemed like it.<br /><p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Yes, Clive is dead. So somebody else will have to maintain his website now. This isn't something that shows up on the actual series, so it's not a spoiler: Mickey actually takes over running the site. This is apparent if you visit whoisdoctorwho.co.uk, which he's been updating. He's expanded it a bit -- now it's looking for Rose as well as the Doctor. At least, that was the case until "Aliens of London", when he got to see Rose and the Doctor again. Then it changed mostly to trying to preserve the truth of what happened. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>One more question, can the Doctor still morph into any of the 12 incarnations he has left because of his being alone in the world now without the benefit of his world or the other Time Lords?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Like any Time Lord, he has a total of 13 incarnations normally available. (He can regenerate 12 times, so including his first incarnation, that makes 13 lives.) This is the 9th Doctor, so he's got four left.<br /><br />And yes, he can regenerate in the absence of Gallifrey. It's an innate ability of the species. In fact, he will do so at the end of this season. (I don't consider that too much of a spoiler, as you'd find that out just by looking at the castlist.) Chris Eccleston only wanted to do one season. They tried to persuade him to do another, but he declined. I think he enjoyed the experience; I'm not sure why he only wanted to do one season. In any case, at the end of the season, he'll regenerate into David Tennant. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[serak_the_preparer]

<i>Just wait'll you see Cassandra! The last human being. She's....had some cosmetic alterations.</i><br /><br />Did I hear right when it was mentioned Cassandra was born a 'human, a boy,' back in et cetera, et cetera? If so, then there certainly were plenty of alterations.<br /><br />A coincidence the DVD set is coming out any day now, as advertized during Sci-Fi's airing of the episodes?<br /><br />Anyway, saw the second episode and part of the first. To me, a bit reminiscent of <i>Hitchhiker's Guide</i>, but a bit more of a serious adventure. Good fun, enjoyed it!

 

[rogers_buck]

After seeing the good Doctor on the SciFi channel, I realized what I liked most about the series was that it had no commercials on PBS...<br /><br />

 

[darth_elmo]

Is there anywhere we can get caught up to date on the good Doctor's past? I admit that I've sadly neglected my education in this arena.

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Did Cassandra was born a 'human, a boy,' back in et cetera, et cetera?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Oh good, I did hear right. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I hadn't noticed that on my three previous viewings, but yes, that's what she said. (I paid a bit more attention to her self-absorbed prattle this time.)<br /><br />BTW, Zoe Wannamaker enjoyed voicing the part so much that she's coming back to do it again next season. Actually, she's already recorded it. Presumably it takes place *prior* to "The End of the World", at least in her personal timeline. (Another possibility is that we'll meet her in an alternate universe. There is strong evidence from the casting of the next season that there's an alternate universe thing going on. I can't elaborate without giving spoilers for this season.)<br /><br />I'm glad they finally announced the DVD release. It's been delayed since January (mainly to allow Sci-Fi first broadcast rights in the US). A bit unfair, since it delays it for the Canadians as well, and they've been watching it for ages. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

You want to get up ot date on the Doctor's past? Well, as hraccts said, I'm a Whovian! And proud of it! So I'll give you a quick primer. Bear in mind, this isn't a continuity-heavy show. It does have a huge amount of history, but it plays fast and loose with its own continuity at times and generally makes a conscious effort to keep the stories self-contained. So I'll stick to what you most need to know:<br /><br />The Doctor was born on the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. He is a Time Lord. The Time Lords are a very ancient race (their civilization -- not their species, their <i>civilization</i> -- is ten million years old). They have the power of time travel (invented jointly by Omega and Rassilon) and consequently exist in a special relationship to time. They are time sensitive (they can feel time) and the "present" on Gallifrey doesnt' really have a fixed date if you tried to express it on our own calendar. All times are Gallifrey's present, as far as we non-Time Lords are concerned.<br /><br />The primary Time Lord spacecraft is called a TARDIS: Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. A TARDIS can go anywhwere and anywhen, although it does have certain artificial limits placed upon it to prevent inadvertently altering Gallifrey's own history. Not many Time Lords do much travelling in them, though; they are a sedentary race, most preferring to live out their numerous days on Gallifrey, spending their time in academic pursuits. Gallifrey normally has a policy of non-intervention in the affairs of other worlds, but sometimes they nevertheless get involved. They live for an extremely long time -- a boring Time Lord can live 12,000 years, spread out over 13 lives. This did not suit the Doctor. For reasons unknown, he ultimately decided to leave Gallifrey and seek his future as a renegade. He took his granddaughter, Susan, along with him. She ended up staying on Earth in the 22nd Century to fight Daleks, and the Doctor went on, hav <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[hracctsold]

Calli,<br /><br />I even enjoyed that recap of the Doctor's past, it brought back some memories. And it also caused a question or two.<br /><br />I remembered the story about one of the first Doctor's and Susan, at least I think it was her. At the end of the show, he helped her to realize she needed to stay there and marry her love. Now that was some years ago that I saw that, and it WAS without commercials like Rogers said. But I think that was her.<br /><br />Since you seem to be the "granddame"(?) of Whovian lore, why did the Doctor's TARDIS from that time not seem to work right? Was it because he had escaped from his planet? And if that is so, it seems he always had that problem as long as I remember it. At least, with the new show, it seems to be working right.<br /><br />Romana, (now that full name is a mouthful), was a good sidekick for him. Wasn't that where K-9 came in? But I was surprised that she was able to regenerate. Was it like him?<br /><br />Lastly, what ever happened to the Master? Last I saw of him was the show in 2000. I thought he got away again at the end of that latest show.<br /><br />Thanks for all your inside info. Henry

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Since you seem to be the "granddame"(?) of Whovian lore, why did the Doctor's TARDIS from that time not seem to work right?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I do love Who. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />The main reason the Doctor had so much trouble with the TARDIS was because it made a useful plot device, to be honest. It meant they could end up anywhere, ready for any kind of adventure, without having to come up with a good reason for being there. Nowhere was this more evident than in "The City of Death", one of my all-time favorite serials. The TARDIS had been fitted with a device to make it deliberately hard to pilot, a Randomizer. This was to foil pursuit by the Black Guardian. Yet it doesn't prevent the Doctor from very precisely and accurately moving the ship four times during the story. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />There have been two reasons touted for why the Doctor has a hard time piloting the ship at times. In the very first season, it was established that he doesn't really know how to fly it. He has to constantly consult a notebook that he's filled with tips on how to fly the thing. Later on, it was also established that the TARDIS isn't in the best of shape; in "The Deadly Assassin", it's established that it's a Type 40, a model which has long since been discontinued. In "The Pirate Planet", Romana rather dismissively calls it an antique. It's also established elsewhere that the Doctor hasn't exactly kept up on the maintenance.<br /><br />However, the Doctor started to do more serious maintenance on the TARDIS in the Peter Davison years. Presumably, a combination of the centuries he's spent flying it and the major renovations have allowed him to be able to fly it far more accurately now.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Romana, (now that full name is a mouthful), was a good sidekick for him. Wasn't that where K-9 came in? But I</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[hracctsold]

Thanks, every time you reply, you remind me of some one else I had forgot. What about the good Doctor so interests you? Your knowledge seems endless.

 

[JonClarke]

My question too! And how did someone from the US come across the good doctor?<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[darth_elmo]

The never-popular-but-commercial-free Public Broadcast System! PBS, for reasons that will never be adequately explained, has got a "thing" for all things British. Brit-coms, British sci-fi, British documentaries... Not that I'm complaining! Not at all. PBS gave America Monty Python, Doctor Who, and an endless supply of funny-sounding words and phrases that have absolutely no meaning in American!