dbskyler

I love a lot of things about New Who (and Classic Who too, don't get me wrong), but I've recently realized that there is one specific thing about New Who that is my absolute favorite thing about it:

The creators of New Who are Doctor Who fans.

Sounds simple, right? But oh, the implications! We would never, ever have gotten that marvelous "Night of the Doctor" prequel if Steven Moffat weren't a Doctor Who fan -- someone who grew up with the show as I did, and loves the show as only a fan can love it.

Look at this quote from him that I just found:

( spoilers for Night of the Doctor )

BBCA's Fifth Doctor Revisited special is on my television right now, and for the first time, they have covered everyone -- Adric, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, and Peri have all made an appearance! Not only that, but Matthew, Sarah, Janet, Mark, and Nicola have all been interviewed! (And by the way, I would never have recognized Matthew Waterhouse, but he sounds exactly the same!)

After the sad and sometimes downright shameful companion omissions of past specials, it's nice to have everyone recognized and celebrated in this one. Peter Davison was also interviewed. I assume they'll continue with the Doctor interviews from now on -- hopefully everyone will agree to do it (can't wait to hear what Colin has to say!)

And now they're into the Fifth Doctor episode. And the chosen one? It's Earthshock! I guessed they would do Caves of Androzani, so I was wrong. I had to laugh, though, because in Steven Moffat's introduction to the episode, he made a point of talking about a surprise at the end -- but the surprise had already been given away in the special! With quotes from everyone, including Steven! So I guess the episode introductions get filmed at a different time than the retrospective interviews. I wonder if they're filmed first, or later? How far in advance does BBCA choose the episode? Do they know which one they're showing for the Sixth Doctor yet?

Anyway, on to watching Earthshock! I'm pleased, because for once it's an episode I haven't seen for ages, and I don't remember it that well. Although I do remember what happens at the end . . . ; )

ETA: And, now I remember why I haven't re-watched this episode in such a long time.

( spoilers for Earthshock )

The one good thing about commercials is they give me a chance to immediately type up my reactions, so here we go for the Third Doctor special.

Camille Coduri! Camille Coduri talking about how sexy Jon Pertwee is! Hurrah!!

And Hugh Bonneville??!! It's a little bizarre to have him talking about the Third Doctor, but I suppose that he too is of the correct age to have grown up watching those episodes.

And Richard Franklin!!!

Steven Moffat on "Spearhead from Space": "What was the plan, exactly? 'We're going to conquer the world by planting dummies in shop windows!'"

Aww, and Moffat is heaping praise on Nicholas Courtney and on Roger Delgado. Yes, I agree completely!!!

And of course everyone is also praising Jon Pertwee, which is only fair as this is his special. Now I wonder if they will actually interview Tom Baker in the Fourth Doctor special. Oooh, I hope they do!

Speaking of actors who are still alive, we don't have anything from Katy Manning yet. Perhaps they didn't include her. Bah. Well, maybe she wasn't available.

. . . and it just ended. No Katy. And nothing on Sarah Jane, although they did cover Liz Shaw and Jo Grant. That's a little disappointing, but I suspect they will do a lot on Sarah Jane for the Fourth Doctor special. Except they have a lot of companions to cover for him. But then maybe they'll do the same thing and leave Adric and Nyssa and Tegan for the Fifth Doctor?

Okay, on to watching (or rather, re-watching) "Spearhead from Space!" And here I thought they were going to choose "Terror of the Autons" as the Third Doctor episode to screen. Do I get partial credit for at least getting the invading force correct?

So apparently BBC America will be showing "Tomb of the Cybermen" for their 2nd Doctor installment of "Doctors Revisited." Which is good, and another great choice after "The Aztecs" for the 1st Doctor, except for one tiny little detail: I've already seen both of those episodes!!!!!!! Okay, they're great episodes, and that's one of the reasons why I've seen them (also they, you know, exist, unlike some of the other choices), but how amazing would it be for BBCA to broadcast a Classic Who episode that I haven't already seen?

Of course, I am currently making that less likely by what's currently in my DVD player: "The Sea Devils," a 3rd Doctor episode that I haven't seen before. But BBCA is unlikely to choose that one for the 3rd Doctor anyway, right?

Like a lot of people who are into fandom, I have all sorts of old shows on videotape and DVD, and sometimes I wonder why I keep everything because I can go for years without watching a given show. And then for some reason I get in the mood for it, and next thing I know I am marathoning an entire series. Which is what is happening right now with Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).

So there I was watching this show again for the first time in ages, and then I came to the Doctor Who crossover episode and just had to stop and post here about it. It's not really a Doctor Who crossover episode, of course, but it was filmed in 1969 and has both Nicholas Courtney and Roger Delgado in it. It's a fun episode, and what's more, Nicholas Courtney plays a villain and Roger Delgado doesn't! The only thing that would make it better is if the two of them had a scene together, which unfortunately they don't. Or if Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning were also in it, and perhaps John Levene. But it's still a ton of fun, and when I watch it carefully and in slow motion, I'm sure I can spot the TARDIS in one of the closets. Except it's the Master's TARDIS, so it's camouflaged. : )

I'm a little surprised at how much this show has re-eaten my brain. In fact, I've pulled out an old unfinished fanfic and started to edit it a little, and I might even take a whack at finishing it. Not that many people want to read Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) fanfic, but it would be nice to finish a WIP. I just never expected that if I got into the mood for writing again, it would be for this fandom.

This was just linked in a thread on doctorwho, and it's so marvelous, I have to pass it on right away. I love it when fandom points me to things like this that I would never have found on my own:

interview with Tom, Peter, Colin, Sylvester, and Paul