|
|
Post by dannybl on Sept 22, 2017 20:59:20 GMT
Hi there
This may be a difficult subject because Big Finish work across a dozen eras and more at any one moment, but I've divided the eras of Big Finish into 5:
1998-2003: The Early Years
After beginning with a spin-off from the books, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy start recording New Audio Adventures of Doctor Who, before the 'current' Doctor Paul McGann joins in. Daleks, Cybermen, many old companions as well as new ones and enemies expanding the worlds of Doctor Who. Big Finish produces two webcasts for the BBC Website. 40th Anniversary projects include Doctor Who Unbound, Zagreus and a trilogy with old enemies. Elements from book and comic iterations of Who are included as well as those from the TV Series. Spin offs are Dalek Empire, and Sarah Jane Smith. Also books including Short Trips and some scripts.
2004-2006: The Calm Before The Storm
There is a slight lull as the New Series is annnounced and McGann travels to a Divergent Universe, however during this period The Seventh Doctor's adventures are relaunched with a man called Hex, Gary Russell convinces Janet Fielding to do a 'one off' story as Tegan (however in a mere 5 years time Janet Fielding would begin recording regularly with her 80s colleagues!). The Eighth Doctor meets Davros before he gets an origin series and more spin-offs emerge including Gallifrey, UNIT and Cyberman.
2006-2011: The Experimental Period
Nicholas Briggs becoming Executive Producer refreshes the range somewhat, dividing the Main Range into 3 story seasons, experimenting with story lengths, The Eighth Doctor's companion leaves.... and joins The Sixth Doctor! The Virus Strand plus having more prominent sub-ranges. Tales for the first 4 Doctors come on Big Finsh Audio for the first time in the form of The Companion Chronicles, plus Big Finish steer away from original stories to adaptations in The Stageplays and The Lost Stories. BBC7 commissions The New Eighth Doctor Adventures which team Paul McGann with rising star Sheridan Smith. The universally acclaimed Jago & Litefoot range stems out of a Companion Chronicles
2012-2015: Back To Basics
Tom Baker finally returns as the Fourth Doctor alongside Leela, Romana and K9. Following their rising frequency box sets become pretty much the norm with more appearing. The Eighth Doctor's unofficial costume becomes official with the award-winning Dark Eyes. Virgin Books are revisited in The Novel Adaptations. Big Finish release several 50th anniversary projects including Destiny of the Doctor (an 11part collaboration with AudioGo), a Companion Chronicle detailing the TARDIS' first flight from Gallifrey and a special adventure with the first 8 Doctors. The Sixth Doctor gets a regeneration story. Controversially there are several main-cast recasts, including Ben, Barbara and the Third Doctor. Characters from Remembrance of the Daleks are spun-off into Counter-Measures.
2014-present: The New Series
Big Finish are finally granted a licence to use characters and ideas from the 2005+ era of Doctor Who. This is done mainly via new spin-off series however Doctors including Sir John Hurt, David Tennant and now David Bradley are added to their list of Doctors. Several ranges mix elements from Classic and NuWho, such as The Diary of River Song, Classic Doctors New Monsters and UNIT Assembled. The Time War is finally being explored in more depth. The classic ranges continue however, Matthew Waterhouse as Adric is featured on audio for the first time. In 2019 Tom Baker will be joined by a new companion.
Now obviously I have missed so much but this covers the essentials?
|
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Sept 23, 2017 0:34:43 GMT
I have a hard time thinking of Big Finish in those terms. My brain has trouble shifting out of the in-universe gear.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2017 1:45:33 GMT
I have a hard time thinking of Big Finish in those terms. My brain has trouble shifting out of the in-universe gear. I find it a bit easier with the Sixth Doctor because the bookends between Trial of a Time Lord and Time and the Rani seem so far apart. The original Evelyn stories and some lone adventures feel like one producer's tenure, appearances from Charley and Jamie feel like part of another, the stories with Flip, Constance and the older Peri another. |
|
|
|
Post by glutamodo on Sept 23, 2017 1:47:38 GMT
Wait a sec, I thought one of Nick's Big Things, after he ascended, was to get away from making odd-length Main Range stories.
|
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Sept 23, 2017 2:47:38 GMT
Wait a sec, I thought one of Nick's Big Things, after he ascended, was to get away from making odd-length Main Range stories. He put an end to stories running strange lengths -- ones that only ran 20 minutes, or as long as 35 or 40, etc. But if I remember right the 3+1 stories were playing around within those guidelines, under his rule. |
|
|
|
Post by levi3o4 on Sept 23, 2017 4:44:33 GMT
I like these. Out of curiosity, why do you call the 4th Era "Back to Basics"?
|
|
|
|
Post by dannybl on Sept 23, 2017 7:13:21 GMT
Because for the 1st to 7th Doctor ranged (bar 6th) they really pushed the mantra of 'soundtrack to a lost story
|
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Sept 23, 2017 9:06:48 GMT
Because for the 1st to 7th Doctor ranged (bar 6th) they really pushed the mantra of 'soundtrack to a lost story Not sure I agree, the first 100 MR and the 1st couple of CCs were quite varied from the TV Eras they depicted. The 5th Doc stories were more mature, as you already said 6th Doc stories were a vast improvement on the source material, the 7th Doc ones felt very similar to the Virgin New Adventures Novels (no bad thing as I became a DW fan in the Wilderness Years), and they actually created an Era for the 8th. (which went fine until the Divergent Arc IMO  ).
Regards
mark687
|
|
lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,819 
|
Post by lidar2 on Sept 23, 2017 9:48:17 GMT
In terms of the main range I would say the phases were:
Sirens of Time - Master: Generally good, as BF found its feet and gloried in the novelty of making original Who with the original actors
Zagreus - Absolution: More hit and miss, Gary Russell a bit who-ed out and it took a year or two for the main range to find its feet again after he left. Eight's stories in particular went downhill.
Mind's Eye - Prisoners of Fate: A Golden Age for the Main Range once the impact of Nick Briggs and David Richardson fully felt
Persuasion - Secret History: Went a bit off the boil at times, possibly due to being taken for granted and overlooked in favour of other ranges/ spin-offs.
We are the Daleks onwards: Back on form again
(The above is of course a generalisation as all eras had their good and bad stories)
|
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Sept 23, 2017 9:51:17 GMT
In terms of the main range I would say the phases were: Sirens of Time - Master: Generally good, as BF found its feet and gloeied in the nocelty of making original Who with the original actors Zagreus - Absolution: More hit and miss, Gary Russell a bit who-ed out and it took a year or two for the main range to find its feet again after he left. Eight's stories in particular went downhill. Mind's Eye - Prisoners of Fate: A Golden Age for the Main Range once the impact of Nick Briggs and David Richardson fully felt Persuasion - Secret History: Went a bit off the boil at times, possibly due to being taken for granted and overlooked in favour of other ranges/ spin-offs. We are the Daleks onwards: Back on form again (The above is of course a generalisation as all eras had their good and bad stories) Exactly my feelings as well.
Regards
mark687
|
|
|
|
Post by pawntake on Sept 23, 2017 10:06:14 GMT
Right!I will name just a few!! Nick Briggs obviously! Sue Cowley, Ian Atkins
"The eroes of Big Finish"
Okay! I am leaving!!
|
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Sept 23, 2017 10:11:00 GMT
In terms of the main range I would say the phases were: Sirens of Time - Master: Generally good, as BF found its feet and gloeied in the nocelty of making original Who with the original actors Zagreus - Absolution: More hit and miss, Gary Russell a bit who-ed out and it took a year or two for the main range to find its feet again after he left. Eight's stories in particular went downhill. Mind's Eye - Prisoners of Fate: A Golden Age for the Main Range once the impact of Nick Briggs and David Richardson fully felt Persuasion - Secret History: Went a bit off the boil at times, possibly due to being taken for granted and overlooked in favour of other ranges/ spin-offs. We are the Daleks onwards: Back on form again (The above is of course a generalisation as all eras had their good and bad stories) Exactly my feelings as well, although I'm not sure GR was Who'd out, more like a specific vision for 8th at the same time TV interest was being reignited, BF fan opinion on it and BFs 8 output was divided, and BF didn't adapt fast enough in response maybe?
Thankfully David R and NB come abroad as full producers and establish a closer relationship with the BBC with the EDAs
Regards
mark687
|
|
|
|
Post by Star Platinum on Sept 23, 2017 23:33:35 GMT
In terms of the main range I would say the phases were: Sirens of Time - Master: Generally good, as BF found its feet and gloried in the novelty of making original Who with the original actors Zagreus - Absolution: More hit and miss, Gary Russell a bit who-ed out and it took a year or two for the main range to find its feet again after he left. Eight's stories in particular went downhill. Mind's Eye - Prisoners of Fate: A Golden Age for the Main Range once the impact of Nick Briggs and David Richardson fully felt Persuasion - Secret History: Went a bit off the boil at times, possibly due to being taken for granted and overlooked in favour of other ranges/ spin-offs. We are the Daleks onwards: Back on form again (The above is of course a generalisation as all eras had their good and bad stories) I’d start your golden age at the girl who never was, the minds eye was terrible. |
|
|
|
Post by glutamodo on Sept 24, 2017 1:38:54 GMT
Wait a sec, I thought one of Nick's Big Things, after he ascended, was to get away from making odd-length Main Range stories. He put an end to stories running strange lengths -- ones that only ran 20 minutes, or as long as 35 or 40, etc. But if I remember right the 3+1 stories were playing around within those guidelines, under his rule. Yeah, I typed that in so fast that I didn't realize I used the wrong word. I did mean to say what you gave an example of: odd-length episodes. As for stories, I don't mind that not every story has to fit into 4 25 minute chunks and that BF does not always try to do so. |
|
|
|
Post by jasonward on Sept 24, 2017 11:29:39 GMT
He put an end to stories running strange lengths -- ones that only ran 20 minutes, or as long as 35 or 40, etc. But if I remember right the 3+1 stories were playing around within those guidelines, under his rule. Yeah, I typed that in so fast that I didn't realize I used the wrong word. I did mean to say what you gave an example of: odd-length episodes. As for stories, I don't mind that not every story has to fit into 4 25 minute chunks and that BF does not always try to do so. I actually find it somewhat odd that the audios largely stick to the TV timings, the TV timings were and are set by restrictions of TV, the time restrictions on BF are largely those of what can be placed on a CD. So perhaps keeping dramatic elements that episodic presentation gives is understandable, but episode lengths should surely be dictated by the needs of the story and the restrictions that the medium actually has. |
|
|
|
Post by coldlazarou on Sept 24, 2017 11:46:48 GMT
The only separate eras for the Main Range stories that i can think are "when they were allowed and/or inclined to do excellent stories that pushed the envelope like 'The Holy Terror', 'Natural History of Fear', 'Son of the Dragon' et al" and "recent years, which have seemed much 'safer', by-the-numbers and less exciting (for me, personally)".  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2017 13:43:32 GMT
The only separate eras for the Main Range stories that i can think are "when they were allowed and/or inclined to do excellent stories that pushed the envelope like 'The Holy Terror', 'Natural History of Fear', 'Son of the Dragon' et al" and "recent years, which have seemed much 'safer', by-the-numbers and less exciting (for me, personally)". Following the return of Doctor Who to the TV the BBC issued BF with new guidelines, which meant Big Finish could not do stories like The Holy Terror or push the envelope too much. Live 34 & Pier Pressure had to go through re-writes because of those new guidelines and their original content. So yes, Main Range stories did become a bit more 'safer' with less experimentation compared to some stories we got between 1999 - 2004, but that was more down to what the BBC wanted from Big Finish Doctor Who stories. |
|
|
|
Post by jasonward on Sept 24, 2017 14:14:01 GMT
The only separate eras for the Main Range stories that i can think are "when they were allowed and/or inclined to do excellent stories that pushed the envelope like 'The Holy Terror', 'Natural History of Fear', 'Son of the Dragon' et al" and "recent years, which have seemed much 'safer', by-the-numbers and less exciting (for me, personally)". Following the return of Doctor Who to the TV the BBC issued BF with new guidelines, which meant Big Finish could not do stories like The Holy Terror or push the envelope too much. Live 34 & Pier Pressure had to go through re-writes because of those new guidelines and their original content. So yes, Main Range stories did become a bit more 'safer' with less experimentation compared to some stories we got between 1999 a 2004, but that was more down to what the BBC wanted from Big Finish Doctor Who stories. The safe stuff continues though I would really love to hear some darker themes and stories in Who, this strand is a missing for me. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2017 15:46:13 GMT
Following the return of Doctor Who to the TV the BBC issued BF with new guidelines, which meant Big Finish could not do stories like The Holy Terror or push the envelope too much. Live 34 & Pier Pressure had to go through re-writes because of those new guidelines and their original content. So yes, Main Range stories did become a bit more 'safer' with less experimentation compared to some stories we got between 1999 a 2004, but that was more down to what the BBC wanted from Big Finish Doctor Who stories. I would really love to hear some darker themes and stories in Who, this strand is a missing for me. I agree, it is. Although it is probably still more a case of the BBC wanting Big Finish Doctor Who stories to be 'kiddie-friendly' [my term, not the BBC's] and accessible to any new fans coming on board via the new series on TV as opposeed to people at Big Finish not having the creativity for darker themes and stories. So if the BBC guidelines demand nothing too controversial - I think Gary Russell once said; no black magic, terrorism, gratuitous violence or religion - then Big Finish as licensees can't stray too far from the 'safe' path. What we do get from Big Finish is damn good, but yes I'd love to see a return to main range stories that pushed the boundaries a bit. |
|
|
|
Post by omega on Sept 24, 2017 23:27:01 GMT
2012/2013 definitely begins the box set era, as that was when we saw the launch of box sets over single issue seasons most of the time. 2009 experimented with it, with Cybermen and the second season of Iris Wildthyme, and Jago & Litefoot started out that way. You can see how this works better for the release schedule when you look at the first half of 2009, when there were at least half a dozen ranges on the go at the same time. I believe this is one of the reasons the Stargate, Robin Hood and Highlander ranges didn't prove successful, they had so much competition when they were released.
Indeed, Dark Eyes is what took the Eighth Doctor from single releases to box sets. UNIT Dominion may have influenced event box sets.
|
|
).
