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Post by shallacatop on Mar 29, 2021 16:04:29 GMT
Neither announcement really excites me, to be honest. I don’t think the Ninth Doctor is about any of that really; his series is so refreshingly tight knit and continuity free. This announcement, coupled with pre-Rose adventures and Eccleston’s performance in the trailer, feels like it goes against that. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, a lot of it is circumstantial and just the way his tenure panned out, but for me that unique time is something to take advantage of. Currently I’m getting a case of “we couldn’t get the TV cast in, and we don’t want to do anything immediately post-regeneration, so we’re just placing our stories here and forging an era” without anything long-term planned across the four sets or beyond. It’s not an announcement without merit, though. The Metropolis concept for the Cyberman story is novel, I always like the imagery of a lone Cyberman, and the Brigadier story has scope to tap into some post-War PTSD. Will just have to wait until they’re released to find out!
I had a similar reaction. One of the many joys of Series One was catching the allusions to the Classic Series (e.g., Gallifrey, Cybermen, Davros) without having them specifically named or even examined in any great detail. I suppose there's a line to straddle in terms of forging completely new ground and then appeasing a desire to tie him into continuity (a lot more "real" to hear Christopher Eccleston himself voicing lines in a scene with Cybermen as opposed to looking at drawings in a comic book story).
I'm beyond burned out on River Song but I know she has her fans. I'm selfishly hoping she doesn't pop up at some point in these boxsets, but after these announcements, wouldn't be surprised if she does.
Ha, see I’m the opposite with River. I’d happily have her encounter the Ninth Doctor. I think that might be because it’s established to have happened and she’s his husband, so inevitably will go to meet all of them. Ultimately, the beauty of River is that she’s the one that controls continuity, to the point where you could have her encounter Nine and she knows he can’t remember. You get an almost meta moment where it preserves the internal continuity of the show (no remembering before Ten), but more importantly it doesn’t detract from that feel you get from Eccleston’s series. Funny how opinions can differ, especially when on paper it all boils down to the same thing you might ordinarily be against.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Mar 29, 2021 16:07:15 GMT
I'm beyond burned out on River Song but I know she has her fans. I'm selfishly hoping she doesn't pop up at some point in these boxsets, but after these announcements, wouldn't be surprised if she does.
Oh no, I hadn't thought of that. They're gonna do it aren't they, River & 9.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Mar 29, 2021 16:12:20 GMT
Gonna be honest and say I'm a bit mixed about these returning elements. Especially the Cybermen - I was hoping we'd avoid them and the Daleks for these stories. I don't mind the Brigadier so much. But yeah, I was hoping that we'd have almost no returning elements in these adventures, but I guess that more sets with Eccleston aren't guaranteed so I can understand BF wanting to do these meetings while they've got the chance. Also a little disappointed that all of these sets are pretty much pre-Rose (at least, presumably, going by the comment in the article). I wasn't expecting Nine/Rose/Jack given the Barrowman stuff, but I would've liked to see Christopher and Billie reunite on audio. However, John Dorney and Roy Gill writing for Nine? That definitely gets me excited. Some more adventures with Rose would be good, but maybe she wasn't interested in reprising her role again. I'm more than happy though for some pre-Rose adventures.
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Post by xlozdob on Mar 29, 2021 16:37:45 GMT
Tbh, I'm just happy there's no sign of Rose so far. And that Cyberman story sounds amazing.
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Post by constonks on Mar 29, 2021 22:05:57 GMT
I'm beyond burned out on River Song but I know she has her fans. I'm selfishly hoping she doesn't pop up at some point in these boxsets, but after these announcements, wouldn't be surprised if she does.
Oh no, I hadn't thought of that. They're gonna do it aren't they, River & 9. I'm fine with River/Nine but I'd MUCH rather he was in River Vol. 9 than her showing up in his stories! (Especially if he's companionless - River's been good in the 8DAs because she's had Liv and Helen to interact with.)
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Post by grinch on Mar 29, 2021 23:08:28 GMT
Oh no, I hadn't thought of that. They're gonna do it aren't they, River & 9. I'm fine with River/Nine but I'd MUCH rather he was in River Vol. 9 than her showing up in his stories! (Especially if he's companionless - River's been good in the 8DAs because she's had Liv and Helen to interact with.) I concur. I do think it’s probably an inevitability that she’ll bump into Ninth at some point to be honest. For all we know, she might even make an appearance in a War Doctor set to get us closer to completing the full set as it were.
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Post by constonks on Mar 30, 2021 0:01:47 GMT
I'm fine with River/Nine but I'd MUCH rather he was in River Vol. 9 than her showing up in his stories! (Especially if he's companionless - River's been good in the 8DAs because she's had Liv and Helen to interact with.) I concur. I do think it’s probably an inevitability that she’ll bump into Ninth at some point to be honest. For all we know, she might even make an appearance in a War Doctor set to get us closer to completing the full set as it were. Actually, come to think of it, there was a line in The Legacy of Time where River says she needs the very-late-Eighth Doctor to remember her next time they meet. Now that could have been a throwaway with no intention of a follow-up, but that's a Young War or Ninth Doctor story waiting to happen!
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 30, 2021 1:16:43 GMT
The trailer for volume 1 didn't do much for me but I am very interested in this range and the return of both the Cybermen and the Brigadier has got me quite hooked. Have been wanting more 9th Doctor UNIT stories. We only got a brief glimpse of pre 10th doctor era UNIT. Also, do we think these Cybermen are the OG Mondasian ones?
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Mar 30, 2021 17:26:48 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2021 17:32:50 GMT
Fantastic news here Big Finish take a few more of my Lizzie Windsors.
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
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Post by ljwilson on Mar 30, 2021 19:04:37 GMT
Great b&w studio photo of Chris Eccleston.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Mar 30, 2021 23:57:09 GMT
Well well well. This is just getting better and better.
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Post by Kestrel on Mar 31, 2021 2:18:24 GMT
Tbh, I'm just happy there's no sign of Rose so far. And that Cyberman story sounds amazing. I got into Doctor Who with 10 and Rose, so I've never really thought about her critically, but in retrospect she was kind of a weak companion. I mean, she was very functional, and far from a bad companion (look, if I have an opportunity to whinge about Peri, I'm gonna whinge about Peri)--but she just didn't have great chemistry with 9 or (especially) 10. So, yeah, I'm also pleased that Rose isn't involved in the 9DAs (so far). Which isn't to say I'm against the idea--Billie Piper is great, and I think some of the issues I have with Rose stem more from RTD's writing and overall vision of the show--just that I welcome the opportunity to try out new companions with the 9th Doctor. I'm a firm believer in the idea that every Doctor has a perfect, ideal, definitive companion. It's just that they don't necessarily find them during the course of the TV show (Sixie and Evelyn, for example). Which is all a longwinded way of saying that I hope Big Finish can discover that perfect companion for the 9th Doctor... assuming, of course, that they try, and don't refer back to the same generic template that never fails to produce the least interesting of characters.
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Post by xlozdob on Mar 31, 2021 9:17:21 GMT
Tbh, I'm just happy there's no sign of Rose so far. And that Cyberman story sounds amazing. I got into Doctor Who with 10 and Rose, so I've never really thought about her critically, but in retrospect she was kind of a weak companion. I mean, she was very functional, and far from a bad companion (look, if I have an opportunity to whinge about Peri, I'm gonna whinge about Peri)--but she just didn't have great chemistry with 9 or (especially) 10. So, yeah, I'm also pleased that Rose isn't involved in the 9DAs (so far). Which isn't to say I'm against the idea--Billie Piper is great, and I think some of the issues I have with Rose stem more from RTD's writing and overall vision of the show--just that I welcome the opportunity to try out new companions with the 9th Doctor. I'm a firm believer in the idea that every Doctor has a perfect, ideal, definitive companion. It's just that they don't necessarily find them during the course of the TV show (Sixie and Evelyn, for example). Which is all a longwinded way of saying that I hope Big Finish can discover that perfect companion for the 9th Doctor... assuming, of course, that they try, and don't refer back to the same generic template that never fails to produce the least interesting of characters. Yeah, I feel kind of the same way. I have no problem with Billie, she's an amazing actress and, tbh, I loved her as the Moment. But I just don't like Rose as a character. Oh, well, whatcha gonna do?
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Post by theillusiveman on Mar 31, 2021 9:34:26 GMT
I wonder what type of Cybermen will be used for the Fritz Lang story? im actually hoping for an original cybermen design like The Flood had
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Post by theillusiveman on Mar 31, 2021 9:37:00 GMT
Tbh, I'm just happy there's no sign of Rose so far. And that Cyberman story sounds amazing. I got into Doctor Who with 10 and Rose, so I've never really thought about her critically, but in retrospect she was kind of a weak companion. I mean, she was very functional, and far from a bad companion (look, if I have an opportunity to whinge about Peri, I'm gonna whinge about Peri)--but she just didn't have great chemistry with 9 or (especially) 10. So, yeah, I'm also pleased that Rose isn't involved in the 9DAs (so far). Which isn't to say I'm against the idea--Billie Piper is great, and I think some of the issues I have with Rose stem more from RTD's writing and overall vision of the show--just that I welcome the opportunity to try out new companions with the 9th Doctor. I'm a firm believer in the idea that every Doctor has a perfect, ideal, definitive companion. It's just that they don't necessarily find them during the course of the TV show (Sixie and Evelyn, for example). Which is all a longwinded way of saying that I hope Big Finish can discover that perfect companion for the 9th Doctor... assuming, of course, that they try, and don't refer back to the same generic template that never fails to produce the least interesting of characters. So what are the ideal perfect definitve companions for each doctor?
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Post by project37 on Mar 31, 2021 18:25:36 GMT
DWM interview preview! Is it May yet?
Discussing his return to the character, Christopher Eccleston says…
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Post by Kestrel on Mar 31, 2021 19:09:05 GMT
So what are the ideal perfect definitve companions for each doctor? I haven't consumed enough media to necessarily assign definitive companions to every Doctor definitively, but based on what I have seen--and heard, and read, and all other applicable verbs--I'd say: - 1st Doctor: None so far. (very tempted to say Chesterfield).
- 2nd Doctor: Jaime McCrimmon..
- 3rd Doctor: None so far.
- 4th Doctor: Sarah Jane Smith.
- 5th Doctor: None so far, or maybe Turlough? Didn't think much of him on TV, but really love the his dynamic with the Doctor in the audios I've listened to.
- 6th Doctor: Evelyn Smythe.
- 7th Doctor: N/A (I think Ace kinda has this position by default, and I love Sophie Aldred, but I honestly think the 7th Doctor works best solo).
- 8th Doctor: Liv Chenka.
- War Doctor: N/A (yes, I know about Cinder--cool name, generic character)
- 9th Doctor: None so far.
- 10th Doctor: Donna Noble.
- 11th Doctor: Amy Pond & Rory Williams (they're a package deal).
- 12th Doctor: Bill Potts.
- 13th Doctor: None so far.
- Unbound Doctor: Bernice Summerfield.
IMO, obviously.
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Post by constonks on Apr 1, 2021 3:08:18 GMT
So what are the ideal perfect definitve companions for each doctor? I haven't consumed enough media to necessarily assign definitive companions to every Doctor definitively, but based on what I have seen--and heard, and read, and all other applicable verbs--I'd say: (snip)This is a fun game we've probably all played on the forum before, but here's the "definitive companions" for me - ie. usually the first one I think of, in relation to that Doctor - and the one I think brings out the most in them: {Spoiler}1. Ian and Barbara 2. Jamie - I'd be shocked if anyone disagreed with that one! 3. Jo 4. It might be a three-way tie between Sarah, Leela and Romana, honestly! Based on TV alone, probably Sarah. 5. Tegan 6. Evelyn 7. Ace (I agree that Seven's very interesting on his own, but he's so guarded usually - with Ace, he's all over the place, every facet on display) 8. Charley, probably, but Lucie is close second. W. N/A - I wish we'd had more of John Hurt and Leela as there's such potential there, but the side character that defines the Wardoc to me is Ollistra! 9. Rose (but more on this below...) 10. Donna 11. Amy & Rory, as you say, a package deal. 12. Bill, but another very close one. 13. No idea. Graham? I would say Rose is Eccleston's definitive companion... but that I'd love to see Nine become his own definitive companion. It's so different from what we usually see... and so different from Series 1, which felt like a quintessential "companion's journey." Plus if anyone can carry it, I think it's Eccleston as an actor and the Ninth Doctor as a character.
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Post by project37 on Apr 1, 2021 10:36:04 GMT
The new DWM interview with Eccleston is a joy and worth the cover price alone, plus there are some tantalizing hints about Ravagers as well. I won't quote anything directly, but here are a few things that stood out to me. Putting in spoiler tags in case you want to read for yourself or don't want to know anything about Ravagers (but I kept it even vaguer than DWM did): {DWM 563 highlights} - Eccleston is not interested in revisiting his television era on audio. For him, those 13 episodes stand on their own. He doesn't specify if that includes Rose, Mickey, Jack, etc. His DW series with Big Finish is about doing something new, including a lighter approach to his Doctor.
- He LOVES audio drama. He wants to do Macbeth with Big Finish and thinks The A Word would translate very well to audio.
- He's approaching this with genuine enthusiasm and (as with all his projects) deep, deep appreciation and respect for the writers.
- Big Finish has been tactfully asking him to return since 2014. The original pitch was three stories, but Eccleston was all in, which is how things expanded to 12.
- Ravagers opens in the middle of an adventure. The first 22 pages of the script were sent to Eccleston's agent and convinced him to take the gig.
- There won't be any long-term companions, so as not to detract from the arc of Series One.
- Eccleston didn't want the stories or his Doctor to be downbeat or too introspective. The vibe sounds like going to be about positivity and a heroic Doctor.
- Ravagers is a connected story; remaining volumes will have standalone stories.
- Eccleston's DWM interview will be continued in the next issue.
There's so much more, but I'll say that I came away with a greater understanding of just how meaningful this series is to Eccleston on a personal level. I'm thrilled to know that it's set to take his Doctor in new directions (which is what I enjoy most about Big Finish DW) and he's genuinely invested in and excited about it. Hurry up, May!!!!
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