Sontarans!

[CalliArcale]

I'm finally catching up on Who news. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> The next old monster to appear on the new series is the Sontarans! The official site has a couple of desktop images including a Sontaran, the Doctor, and both Donna (the "runaway bride" who is to be the new companion) and Martha (who will be returning to the series at the same time as the Sontarans).<br /><br />Martha's return has me wondering if Captain Jack will also be back in that episode, as she left the TARDIS to supposedly hang out with the Torchwood crew. Will it be another Torchwood crossover, another nail in the coffin of "it's not a spinoff or in the same continuity; it's just organically linked"?<br /><br />The Sontaran in the picture, BTW, is apparently named Commander Skorr. Sontarans have historically had rather brief names, usually starting with S, although the first Sontaran ever shown on screen was named Linx. It will be interesting to see the Sontarans again. They've only appeared four times (not including a brief charity appearance), but remain one of the more popular recurring monsters of Dr Who. A highly militarized clone species, they are physically powerful, intellectually blunt in anything other than battlefield tactics, and have only a few serious weaknesses, the most notable of which is a very sensitive vent on the back of the neck. They take pride in that weakness, however, saying that it forces them to face their enemies. Their primary enemies are the Rutans, a race of shapeshifters who only made a single appearance in the series (in a creepy, suspense-filled episode titled "The Horror of Fang Rock"). <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]

Another interesting piece of news: Dr Who will be going on hiatus after Series Four. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> However, this is not due to poor ratings or a comptroller determined to destroy it (this time). Series Five is planned for 2010, and odds are, will still feature David Tennant. In fact, that's why it's going to be delayed; Tennant will be unavailable in 2009 due to new commitments to the Royal Shakespeare Company: he will be playing Hamlet on the stage. Of course, things change, and it's always possible that after a year away, the BBC will be unable to hire Tennant back on. He does have his own career to think of, and being the Doctor too long can be a problem for an actor.<br /><br />The BBC is planning to do some Dr Who specials in 2009 to bridge the gap. There are also rumors that Russell T Davies will take the opportunity to depart the series.<br /><br />Veteran scriptwriter Stephen Moffat is rumored to possibly be the next producer after Davies, but as Davies' departure is still only a rumor, I'd take that with a serious helping of salt. Meanwhile, the rumor mill has also started working on the possibility that Tennant will not be back in 2010, and has apparently churned up James Nesbitt as a rumored possible replacement. I'd take that with an even bigger pile of salt; there is a grand history of wild rumors of who might play the next Doctor, and they are very rarely correct. <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>

 

[etavaunt]

I must say, I think he would be very well advised to go on to other things and not come back. I say this because , however much I love his take on the Dr, and oh, I really really do, it would be silly, for his sake, to get stuck in the role. The beatuty about the Dr, is it is the only longterm role that actualy NEEDS the occasional change of lead. Benefits from it in fact.<br /><br />Did you watch that "The infinite quest" cartoon?. I honestly thought in a way, that it was SUPERIOR to the live action stuff.<br /><br />(Martha is even CUTER than she is in the flesh)<br /><br />(Yes, I understand this is unneccesarily extra proff of my sad geekiness. I visited a construction site yesterday. People I was working closely with last year saw me walk on the site and actually shouted one another down, pouring "Dr Who" taunts on me, semi-goodnaturedly. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I had not realised that I had been such an obvious tout for our good Dr!. ) <br /><br />Jame Nesbit?. The singer?. :| <---- *Me having no idea nor opinion*

 

[CalliArcale]

I looked the guy up, but still have no clue. He's been in a lot of roles, but none I've seen.<br /><br />I'm WAY behind in my Dr Who watching, so no, I have not caught the cartoon. Sucks, eh? What's sadder than a fan like you or me? A fan who hasn't gotten around to catching up on the show! <img src="/images/icons/tongue.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>

 

[flynn]

I find James Nesbitt somewhat annoying, he's sort of meant to be the bloke next door that you could take down the pub for a pint but I find him to be a bit of a git. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

So it isn't the singer. I will google him!<br />You know who would be an excellent Dr Who?<br /><br />Rick Mayell, that is who!.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[etavaunt]

Hmmm. I know who he is now, OK, he is a good actor though, isn't he.<br />I saw him recently in something like a spy movie, I thought he played quite callous, hard, determined, very well.

 

[CalliArcale]

There's also the guy they first offered the role of 9th Doctor to: Hugh Grant. Seriously. He turned it down, but reportedly regrets doing so now that he's seen how well it worked out. (He hopes to be cast as a villain on the show someday, which would be a lot of fun to see.) So perhaps they could offer it to him again. I bet it would boost the ratings. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />It was something of an inside joke that they offered the role to him, which may be part of the reason he declined; he may not have thought they were entirely serious. He'd been previously rumored as a Dr Who candidate, and had consequently been cast as the 12th Doctor in the comedy special "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death". They specifically only cast people who had been the target of "who is the Doctor?" rumors. Also appearing as the Doctor were Rowan Atkinson (who did a marvelous job; I'd actually like to see him in it seriously), Richard E Grant, Jim Broadbent, and Joanna Lumley. The Master was played brilliantly (and hilariously) by Jonathan Pryce, who was obviously enjoying himself immensely, made up to look an awful lot like Roger Delgado. <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>

 

[flynn]

Or Rik f-ing Mayall as all readers of his autobiography will know.<br /><br />I love Rik Mayall, I adore bottom (at the risk of turning this into a gay thread) and caught his live NewStatesman show last year which was great (the actress that played Condi Rice was HOT HOT HOT). But I think he's probably a bit too old for the direction the series has taken.<br /><br />His autobiography is an "Interesting" read. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

ROGER DELGADO !<br /><br />The epitome of evil itself.<br /><br />Boy, he rocked the part, and where we looked to the Dr to save us, The Master . . . *shiver*.<br /><br />He was not nice. <br /><br />(You realise you could probably write a Doctoral Thesis about Dr Who, mate?)<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[yevaud]

<i>(You realise you could probably write a Doctoral Thesis about Dr Who, mate?)</i><br /><br />I'm certain someone someone already has. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Excellent, I loved the Sontarans! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I'm certain someone someone already has. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Most likely. There was a Dr Who related course was offered one semester at a Minnesota college. Mankato State, if memory serves. <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>