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Post by mrperson on Oct 14, 2020 15:37:45 GMT
Hrmmm...
Knowing myself, I'll probably end up getting them. But John Hurt is a hell of an actor to recast. I suppose they're going with young war because they have a little more wiggle room with impersonation. I'd imagine it would be far harder to imitate older hurt; a unique, time-worn voice.
That said, my main reason for enjoying the War sets was Hurt. There really wasn't much of anything to distinguish them from any other Who other than that everything was Time War related. He behaved the same way. He wasn't fighting any more than McGann is doing, so.... eh...
We'll see.
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Post by SG. on Oct 14, 2020 15:39:02 GMT
I actually don't have even the slightest bit of apprehension to this recast. As others have said, this is a younger version of the one incarnation where that (at least visually) actually differs, so it doesn't feel like a straight-up recast. Digi put it best with the Obi-Wan comparison.
Also, I feel like the mystery of the War Doctor's era is still kinda preserved in a sense - the Doctor as portrayed by John Hurt specifically appears in a multi-Doc special and 12 Big Finish stories. For me, this doesn't really affect that.
Personally, I would've loved more stories with Hurt, but alas it was not meant to be. I'm not a big fan of the acted/narrated hybrid format of the Chronicles, so doing War Doctor Chronicles wouldn't have appealed to me too much. For me at least, this is the best option. I'm looking forward to it.
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Post by agentten on Oct 14, 2020 17:39:09 GMT
This was inevitable, of course. It did happen a little sooner than I imagined it would, but Big Finish take such care with their recasts that I have no problem with Carley joining Trelor, Bradley, and Hines as a recast Doctor. He'll be in good company.
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Post by J.A. Prentice on Oct 14, 2020 18:35:32 GMT
I’m interested to see how this differentiates itself from all the other Time War series. I like that it’s a young War Doctor.. All the previous stories have shown him as a worn-out old man, so this is a nicely unexplored (outside of charity anthologies) area of the Doctor’s life.
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Post by cwm on Oct 14, 2020 19:09:28 GMT
I'm not opposed to the idea of this in principle, but I'm going to hold off pre-ordering until there's more information available.
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Post by shallacatop on Oct 14, 2020 19:21:17 GMT
My lasting impression of this announce is that it’s nice to get some more War Doctor content at last. I did worry that they we’d heard the last of him, with no new stories since Casualties of War, Big Finish or otherwise, and him seemingly coming under a different licence.
Interested to hear more. I’m not of the opinion that the War Doctor was an evil bastard or anything like that, but I think it’s logical to assume that he was morally grey and he wasn’t afraid or hesitated to do what he felt was necessary. I don’t think the Hurt audios we got were as Doctor-like as some others think, but I feel there’s scope for something a little darker.
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Post by pazzer on Oct 14, 2020 19:29:06 GMT
Know this has been talked about for a while but still surprised is actually happening. Trailer sounds fine and added to wishlist.
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Oct 14, 2020 20:03:00 GMT
It will be an interesting new angle I guess. I'm one of those who has gone from 'oh no, not the Time War to someone who thinks the Time War has lots of potential, with the scope for a wide, wide range of stories. Recasting is always a risk no matter who is the recast and I don't doubt for a moment it's always harder on the fans then it is on the actors, as I don't suppose many actors get the roles they want to begin with. I just hope the writers are inspired and it's not just a case of repeated 'exterminate's and 'oh for heaven's sake's! Please keep Nick to a minimum. That said his finale to the Hurt run was pretty decent!
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Post by project37 on Oct 14, 2020 20:36:20 GMT
Some great context from Nick:
Okay, I'm softening on this a bit. It's clear that a lot of love went into it. I look forward to finding out what you all think of it, and if it speaks to me, checking it out for myself.
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Post by tuigirl on Oct 14, 2020 20:51:45 GMT
Some great context from Nick:
Okay, I'm softening on this a bit. It's clear that a lot of love went into it. I look forward to finding out what you all think of it, and if it speaks to me, checking it out for myself. Ditto
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Post by grinch on Oct 14, 2020 20:53:51 GMT
I think Mr Briggs’s’ enthusiasm for the series really speaks volumes.
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Post by xlozdob on Oct 14, 2020 21:45:21 GMT
I’m interested to see how this differentiates itself from all the other Time War series. I hope Nick is only directing these and isn't writing any. I'm not in the Briggs-haters brigade, but his conception of what a Time War story is is a little too formulaic. Too much focus on the war aspect and not enough on the time part. Although the Time War stories have been getting more and more experimental (Dorney's Palindrome, the Shadow of the Daleks anthology), I hope there's a little more experimentation with the storytelling. Less Dark Eyes and more Doom Coalition. So, apart from the usual heavy-hitters (Dorney, Fitton, McMullin...) and the newer additions to the roster (like Kettle), it would be nice to we get some new blood. Si Spurrier and Rob Williams handled the Time War brilliantly in the Titan Comics, and George Mann would also be a great addition to the Time War range. Some cross-pollination with the Faction Paradox writers would be interesting too. I hope they handle this potential well and don't make another batch of mostly formulaic, good as they were, Doctor Who stories. It's an era where anything goes. It should feel as interesting and exciting and conceptual as the BBC EDAs and how RTD described it on the show.
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Post by Ian McArdell on Oct 14, 2020 21:47:18 GMT
Well, I'm game. But I want to see the soldier - the great military genius for whom soldiers would turn their backs on Rassilon. The one who's a right royal pain in the whatsits, but ultimately who Ken Bones' General would trust with the fate of Gallifrey when all seems lost on the last day of the Time War. Show me that not-Doctor please. (Don't want much, do I!)
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Post by mark687 on Oct 14, 2020 21:55:45 GMT
Well, I'm game. But I want to see the soldier - the great military genius for whom soldiers would turn their backs on Rassilon. The one who's a right royal pain in the whatsits, but ultimately who Ken Bones' General would trust with the fate of Gallifrey when all seems lost on the last day of the Time War. Show me that not-Doctor please. (Don't want much, do I!) Exactly want I'd like to hear as well. Regards mark687
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Post by tuigirl on Oct 14, 2020 22:54:17 GMT
Well, I'm game. But I want to see the soldier - the great military genius for whom soldiers would turn their backs on Rassilon. The one who's a right royal pain in the whatsits, but ultimately who Ken Bones' General would trust with the fate of Gallifrey when all seems lost on the last day of the Time War. Show me that not-Doctor please. (Don't want much, do I!) Have Dan Abnett write some stories. Please. If someone can do great military science fiction, it is Dan.
Would be an instant buy for me.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Oct 14, 2020 23:13:23 GMT
I just happened to wake up at 4am Australia time to get a drink, saw an email pop up on my phone as it was announced..thought I was dreaming still- then read the BF newsletter email.. I am sold, but will wait till next year before putting my $$ down.
So it looks like 3 stories per boxset..
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Post by Timelord007 on Oct 15, 2020 8:23:59 GMT
I'll definitely be getting these, i don't understand the hate about recasting as how is this any different to Tim Treloar voicing the Third Doctor?
I've always said you either purchase or don't purchase you have a choice i just hope these stories showcase how different this incarnation is & give listeners some shocks & surprises on the choices the War Doctor makes for the greater good.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Oct 15, 2020 8:33:24 GMT
I'll definitely be getting these, i don't understand the hate about recasting as how is this any different to Tim Treloar voicing the Third Doctor? I've alays said either purchase or don't purchase you have a choice i just hope these stories showcase how different this incarnation is & give listeners some shocks & surprises on the choices the War Doctor makes for the greater good. The Ewan Mcgregor/Obi Wan Kenobi scenario is the perfect metaphor..
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Post by project37 on Oct 15, 2020 8:44:07 GMT
It's all subjective. I get the Ewan/Obi Wan comparison but perhaps it would be a little different if Hurt hadn't already voiced the character's first moments. That said, there's no denying Carley's talent after hearing his performance in that clip. I'm genuinely wishing him and the rest of the creative team the best.
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Post by shallacatop on Oct 15, 2020 9:17:44 GMT
I think you could go on and on with comparisons and other examples. Ultimately, different people will have different views. If you're against recasts, then your stance won't change. I think this particular case probably runs the best chance of having a warmer reception and being "justified" in that there's a substantial gap between where we see the War Doctor as played by John Hurt and his earlier days. That's a little more akin to getting another actor in to play a younger version than a recast of someone who's deceased.
I do think if John Hurt was still with us and Big Finish were wanting to explore the very beginning of the War Doctor's tenure, then they'd have used him. No question about that; it'd be no different to Tom, Peter, Colin, Sylv, etc. reprising their roles now. So I do see the stance on it being a recast.
Personally, and I've said this on the first page and several times elsewhere, I think getting another actor in to play the role is the least imaginative thing that could have been done with the character. The Time War and its sheer scope and variety presents the opportunity to try different things. Stories in the eyes of random characters and how they perceive the War Doctor to be. Chronicles with established Doctor Who characters. Audiobooks of the unrecorded War Doctor scripts. With some of those you could probably get away with something a little darker without the need for the Doctor justifying the decision or having a mental fight with himself.
I do appreciate that Big Finish will want some consistency with the range and actually saying they've got the War Doctor in full cast stories. So I completely understand the decision. Whilst they do the Chronicles sets, they're either with an impersonation or with era authentic characters, which I suppose you wouldn't necessarily get for the War Doctor; not long-term anyway. I suppose if they wanted to go down that route they'd have done it late 2017 with established characters who'd worked with John Hurt and capped off his run nicely. Much like Jago & Litefoot Forever really.
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