Season 9 is underway with great velocity. The energy and rapid fire intensity of the season opener has set a tone of excitement for The Witch’s Familiar.
Overall I thought the episode, despite its breakneck pacing and at times convoluted plot lines, was an exciting bit of television. Although Peter Capaldi was terrific Michelle Gomez stole the show. It was also good to see Julian Bleach get an opportunity to do something with Davros.
I think the Daleks were handled in a pretty straightforward way for a change. My initial fear was that the shoddy Dalek/Davros plot development from the Tennant era would overshadow the story and bog it down.Moffat may not be able to consistently develop strong female companions but he sure knows how to develop atmosphere. I think the direction was also particularly good.
I was glad to see the scene of Missy walking onto an invisible planet look so hokey. It was an unintentional nod to the old series, but in that instance the FX were not quite so special.
I also loved the overwhelming sense of darkness that hung over the story from the start.
The return of Skaro is not a big surprise but it almost certainly signifies that the return of Gallifrey may also happen.
There were some serious gaps in parts of the story, but when viewed through the lens of what makes television enjoyable, it fired on most of its cylinders.
This week sees a preview of upcoming episodes plus more convention stuff, the return of Torchwood and more.
UNDER THE LAKE
Episodes Three and Four were written by Toby Whithouse. The former is a teensy weensy bit connected to the Matt Smith story, The God Complex. The latter is set a century after the Episode Three.
Deaf characters appear in Episode Three.
Synopsis
When an Underwater Base comes under attack, the Doctor and Clara must save the frightened crew and defeat an impossible threat. But what is behind these terrifying events? And can they really be haunted by ghosts?
BEFORE THE FLOOD
More details are emerging about Episode Four, Before the Flood. Guest stars include Peter Serafinowicz, Neil Fingleton and Paul Kaye.
Fingleton appears as The Fisher King while Kaye plays Prentis.
Synopsis
On a remote Army outpost, a fearsome alien warlord – the Fisher King – sets in motion a twisted plan to ensure his own survival. The ripples will be felt around the universe. Is this chain of events inevitable? And can the Doctor do the unthinkable?
DOCTOR WHO AT ABBEY ROAD
As part of the build up for Season 9, Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and some Daleks recreated an iconic moment in popular culture in their own special way.
Here is how it happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1bUDz4xtpc
THE WITCH’S FAMILIAR
BBC Worldwide has released plot details for Episode 2.
Synopsis
Trapped and alone in a terrifying Dalek city, the Doctor is at the heart of an evil Empire: no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?
The Radio Times has some interesting speculation about the next episode.
BBC Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiglsrgZxbs
BBC America has released promotional images from Episode 2, The Witch’s Familiar.
Photos are copyright © Simon Ridgway, www.simonridgway.com
The episode features a new twist to the Doctor/Davros relationship as well as some more invisible aliens. Could they be Exxilons?
Missy is at it again and Clara gets a bit reckless.
THE MAGICIAN’S APPRENTICE RATINGS
The first round of numbers are in for the Season 9 opener. In the United Kingdom initial figures indicate that 4.58 million people watched The Magician’s Apprentice, making Doctor Who was the highest rated program on BBC One for the day.
These overnight numbers do not include viewing via iPlayer, the BBC’s digital service or those who watched the repeat showing.
The Magician’s Apprentice tallied an Audience Appreciation score of 84. The Appreciation Index tracks how the much the viewing audience enjoyed by a select group of 5,000 who, after watching the episode, rate and comment on the content of the show.
Although the early numbers indicate a drop off in viewers. It is too early to panic.
In America however there is a different tone with the ratings. The first episode of the new season set records on BBC America!
Ratings for the network’s key demographic of adults aged 18-49 show that over 2 million viewers tuned in.
BBC America released a comment on the ratings from the network president, Sarah Barnett.
Doctor Who is unlike anything else on television, a storied franchise that is as fresh and contemporary as ever, with brilliant writing and superb performances. We couldn’t be more thrilled that new and returning Doctor Who fans tuned into the live première in record numbers and we look forward to bringing more of the Doctor to this passionate audience.
BBC One will repeat the episode this Sunday at 3:15pm GMT before Episode 2.
JENNA COLEMAN INTERVIEWED
The soon to depart Jenna Coleman was interviewed by News Australia this week. Amongst the topics discussed with Coleman are working with Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez.
Coleman was also interviewed in 1883 Magazine.
Link: http://www.1883magazine.com/film/film/jenna-coleman
MOFFAT TALKS DAVROS
Doctor Who show runner Stephen Moffat addressed the return of Davros in an interview with The Radio Times.
Link:http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-09-19/steven-moffat-why-i-brought-back-davros
Meanwhile What’s On TV gave a history of all things Davros.
ARTHUR DARVILL TALKS TIME TRAVEL
Former companion Arthur Darvill will be seen on American television this fall as Rip Hunter, a time traveler on the new CW series, Legends of Tomorrow. Although the role could initially draw comparisons to The Doctor, the actor adamantly says the parts are very different.
He commented on that subject and his relationship with his former co-stars in an interview with The Radio Times.
He’s a lot darker, and he’s not an alien! He’s a human man. And he’s got a very specific mission. Yes, they’re very different characters.
He added , I don’t think you can do a time-travelling thing without referencing Doctor Who or Back to the Future. This definitely puts a new spin on it.
JAMES GOSS TALKS TORCHWOOD AUDIOS
The Conspiracy, the first audio in the new Big Finish Torchwood series, is out now. In it John Barrowman returns as Captain Jack to battle another threat to Earth.
Doctor Who News interviewed the audio series producer James Goss about the new audio adventures.
DWN: Like any long-running franchise, the ‘Torchwood’ brand carries the weight of expectation on its back – how much pressure did you feel to satisfy its devotees in producing the new series for Big Finish?
JG: Massively. The Torchwood fans care enormously about that show – there was no point in just doing half-a-dozen stories that would fit nicely in the 2015 Torchwood Annual. We wanted to make something really special and make the fans as massively excited as we are.
DWN: Based on the production experience to date, how smooth a transition do you feel the show has made from TV to audio? Has having John Barrowman, Eve Myles and many of the other ‘Torchwood’ regulars aboard helped in this respect?
JG: The cast have been enormously, enormously supportive. They’re all tremendously busy but have made time for us, somehow. John records in a studio in Palm Springs, Gareth came in straight after finishing a gruelling theatre tour, Kai travelled halfway across the UK for the recording… the list goes on. And they’re an utter delight in the studio. At every single recording the engineer spends most of their time laughing. It’s that much fun.
It’s really great to decide we’re going to just tell stories concentrating on brilliant Torchwood characters. There are so many of them, and it makes each release feel special.
DWN: We’ll of course learn more about how the Committee factors into Torchwood’s ongoing history as more of Season One hits shelves. Was the lack of references to team members, events etc. aside from Gwen in ‘The Conspiracy’ an intentional move to allow newcomers to experience it without feeling bogged down by past continuity?
JG: Yes. David Llewellyn did a very clever job of making it easy to get into. People are always worried that it’s going to be difficult, or require complicated knowledge. We’ve worked hard to make sure that it’s not.
The Conspiracy is just a thing that’s around, ticking away in the background, nudging events here and there. It’s building towards a grim conclusion… eventually.
DWN: What for you has been the most fulfilling element of working to bring Big Finish’s latest endeavour to life so far?
JG: That’s totally unfair. Getting the first one recorded and announced while I was in Spain was very strange, and not the most relaxing holiday (leaping around a swimming pool in the dark trying to get enough signal to find out what Twitter was doing). Recording with Gareth was staggering – it was a truly remarkable performance, the most fun you can have with Ianto Jones. The joy of getting Eve and Kai back together and watching them recreate the magic of the Welsh Steed and Mrs Peel. And then, last week, spending a day in studio with Tracy-Ann Oberman. She turned up with a spare pair of high heels in her handbag, and the whole day was like that.
It’s such a delight heading to the studios – the writers have done such great, great work. They really love the show and that makes it feel so worthwhile. Emma Reeves has written Gwen and Rhys perfectly, and Joe Lidster throws all of Cardiff at Yvonne – you almost feel sorry for her.
DWN: Looking ahead, can you tease what fans and newbies alike have to look forward to as Season One progresses and as a whole new season of adventures beckons from March 2016?
JG: We learn of Captain Jack’s unique way of interrogating robots, we meet Mr Pugh, the one man who can say No to Torchwood, and two very interesting people go monster-hunting across London and stop for ice cream.
Link: http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09/james-goss-torchwood-q-and-a-170915214015.html
COLEMAN & DAVISON IN MIAMI
The Fifth Doctor and Clara are coming to Miami for Magic City Comic Con from January 15-17, 2016.
Both guests will in attendance for Saturday and Sunday only
Link:http://www.magiccitycomiccon.com
PAUL MCGANN AT CHICAGO TARDIS
Chicago TARDIS announced this week that the 8th Doctor, Paul McGann would be attending this year’s convention.
Chicago TARDIS, the largest Doctor Who convention in the Midwest, is being held from November 25-27 in West Lombard, Illinois.
Sam Anderson and Jenna Coleman are also scheduled to appear. Coleman is attending for Saturday only.
A reception with her is being held that evening. Tickets are available through the Chicago TARDIS website.
The con is also hosting a call for panels via their website.
Link: http://chicagotardis.com
NEW COMPANION SPECULATION
Every time a companion leaves the odds makers begin a frantic game of guessing who will be the next assistant.
It’s a silly process but one that sometimes does make telling predictions about the future. After all at one point Peter Capaldi was the bookies favorite to land the role of The Doctor.
Still all of this rumor and innuendo should be taken with a large grain of salt.
Currently early gamblers seem infatuated with the odds of former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan who is emerging as a front-runner. Bare in mind that the final say on casting is not with the tabloids but with the production team itself, so in that regard, all bets are off on who will be next.
I for one am hoping the show gets a male companion to mix things up again. Behold the absurdity.
Mirror Link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/michelle-keegan-doctor-who-bookies-6485697?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
The Mirror has even go so far as to cast the next doctor. A bold and brash bit of speculation on their part.
This is getting ridiculous!
Next time: Rusell T. Davies latest project, more convention updates, sorting out the David Tennant Big Finish rumors!
The post Doctor Whooligan: Season 9 Continues, Arthur Darvill Interviewed, More Torchwood, McGann At Chicago TARDIS appeared first on Tardistopia.net.
