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Post by thelonecenturion on Mar 1, 2021 12:16:45 GMT
Hi everyone,
As someone who is really looking forward to the box set format becoming standard from 2022 onwards, I thought it would be interesting to create a thread for others to give their thoughts, and speculate on what's to come.
Something I'm interested in is what does everyone think of format? So far, there are three clearly separate formats for boxsets, from this year and last:
1. Multi-boxset story arcs, e.g. Stranded, Dalek Universe, and the upcoming UNIT: Nemesis. 2. Single-boxset story arcs, e.g. the upcoming Ravagers, or last year's Wicked Sisters. 3. Anthology releases, e.g. The Tenth Doctor and River Song, The Sixth Doctor and Peri, and, even though it isn't a boxset, the Out of Time series.
Personally, I find the first two far more interesting than the lattermost, as they seem to me to make the most out of the boxset format.
Let me know what you think!
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Post by theillusiveman on Mar 1, 2021 13:07:16 GMT
Variety is the spice of life and Honestly 2 and 3 are the best approaches.
Multi-Box set Arc stories are unfortunately a mixed bag it can work if its just limited to a Trilogy (example: Dalek Universe is just 3 Boxsets a good way of not over staying the welcome) a bad example is what happened to The current run of 8th Doctor Adventures since 2013
Dont Like having your favorite doctor stuck in a 16 story arc that doesn't interest you- Too Bad Dont like the companion (or Companions) that your Fave Doctor is stuck with - Too Bad Dont like the overuse of the same writers - Too Bad Dont like the same tired formula for 9 Years- Too Bad
Single box set story releases like Dark Eyes 1. UNIT Dominion and Wicked Sisters are a welcoming relief as they have stories with a theme or an arc that doesn't drag on
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Mar 1, 2021 14:23:50 GMT
I prefer the anthology option. The problem with some of these boxsets is the big bad always wants to destroy time/the universe/etc. I prefer smaller scale threats, the end of everything plots just become meaningless to me the more often they're used. There is also sich a gap between them being released & they often have filler episodes.
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Post by relativetime on Mar 1, 2021 14:54:53 GMT
Personally I’d just like to see the MR Doctors’ box sets take on the Fourth Doctor Adventures style - two sets of two four part stories - and with the ability to purchase individual stories for download as well. But I’m also not opposed to seeing a collage of different styles going forward. It could be really fun to have a Doom Coalition style series for one of the MR Doctors! And if we get more New Adventures style box sets with Seven, I’m game as well.
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Post by shallacatop on Mar 1, 2021 15:40:39 GMT
I think the best thing it can do is be a bit of everything really. Have a variety of TARDIS teams, formats and connected stories. Just off the top of my head, here are three sets:
Fifth Doctor Story 1: 6 parts; Adric, Nyssa & Tegan Story 2: 4 parts; Tegan & Turlough Story 3: 2 parts; Peri
Sixth Doctor Story 1: 3x45 mins; Peri & Frobisher Story 2: 2 parts; Constance & Flip Story 3: 1 part; solo Story 4: 1 part; solo Story 5: 2 parts; Mel
Seventh Doctor Story 1: 3 parts; Mel Story 2: 3 parts; Ace Story 3: 4 parts; Klein Story 4: 2 parts; solo All four stories have the Doctor manipulating events before coming together towards the end of his life.
I think there's a lot of scope and ambition, but with that comes the varying costs of doing these things. I suspect part of the reason 3 parters have been avoided is that it's one and a half days in studio. Similarly, an anthology hasn't comprised of four different TARDIS teams. Maybe the recent emphasis on remote recording can help that out a bit with minimised travel, food, accommodation, etc. in the same way other workplaces are now looking towards increased working from home following the pandemic.
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Post by muckypup on Mar 1, 2021 19:01:16 GMT
Well we know that they going to be 3 disc boxes.......
And with nicks love of the three act format I suspect to begin with we will get 3eps 1 hour linked tales to begin with
But going forward I think we will find we get one tale over 3 parts.
Personally I’m not sure how interested I am going to be, I like the Reliable 4 part tales over 2+ hours......and hate the 1 hour ones, glad they moved the 4th doc to them
For me this move is a sad day, I’ve subscribed since the 8th doc joined n enjoyed many adventures that I would not have picked up with out it..... To me this seems like such a backward step, it will now be like when iTunes ( well it was the coca-cola music first) arrived and I could just buy a track and not an album but maybe that’s progress....... I’ve never bought an album since same will happen here for me I think......
So long monthly range.......you will be missed
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Mar 1, 2021 19:12:52 GMT
The thing is there is so much freedom. I've said in other posts you have the potential for 3CD sets, 4CD sets and collections like the latest Fourth Doctor seasons, depending on the teams and stories being used; the trick, as ever with Doctor Who, is not to fall into a rut of the same old, same old. The trilogies were refreshing when they replaced the random releases but then fell into a similar trap. Also there is still the potential for individual releases as well. The Monthly Range may be over but they could still have a Main Range release every so often; something that doesn't quite fit the bill anywhere else. I'm kind of hoping the Marc stories may continue in this tradition but it all remains to be seen.
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Post by thelonecenturion on Mar 1, 2021 22:47:38 GMT
The thing is there is so much freedom. I've said in other posts you have the potential for 3CD sets, 4CD sets and collections like the latest Fourth Doctor seasons, depending on the teams and stories being used; the trick, as ever with Doctor Who, is not to fall into a rut of the same old, same old. The trilogies were refreshing when they replaced the random releases but then fell into a similar trap. Also there is still the potential for individual releases as well. The Monthly Range may be over but they could still have a Main Range release every so often; something that doesn't quite fit the bill anywhere else. I'm kind of hoping the Marc stories may continue in this tradition but it all remains to be seen. Exactly. We've already got Out of Time (i.e. 1-disc releases) and the upcoming Dalek Protocol (2-disc releases). They also said that with a three-disc box set, they can do either one 6-part story; a 4-part story and a 2-part story; three 2-part stories; or, most intriguingly, two 3-part stories. Added to that the four-disc boxsets and the single three-hour stories, this is going to allow for much more variety.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2021 0:10:44 GMT
While all formats are good in different ways, I personally prefer single arc-driven boxsets that have a serialised structure running throughout each episode - such as UNIT: Cyber-Reality. Makes the narratives less complicated than spreading across multiple volumes, unlike Doom Coalition and Ravenous which have outstanding results. That could actually work as a boxset containing three interlinking two-parters, written by three different writers, like what they did for Warzone/Conversion etc.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2021 0:43:41 GMT
Something I noticed while doing an inventory of Main Range stories I've downloaded (it's... I'll say, the folders are less of a mess than they were before): In addition to how the serials are structured, how Big Finish does individual episode lengths has subtly changed as well. The classic series was beholden (with one or two exceptions) to the 25-minute timeslot of a BBC1 family slot. However, if you look at something released recently like Plight of the Pimpernel or Chase the Night, we're listening to stories that are a goodly bit longer than that. Usually in the 30-35 minute duration.
A three-part story wouldn't be 75-minutes, as on television, but much closer to 90-minutes (or 1.5 hours). Not a bad counterpoint to the 2.25 hours we've gotten with four-parters.
(Personally, I'm kind of hoping that the change will give us the opportunity to put the Sixth Doctor in a Hinchcliffe-style six-parter like The Ghosts of Gralstead or a wandering NA!Seventh Doctor in an interlinked anthology.)
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Post by theillusiveman on Mar 2, 2021 5:49:51 GMT
I'm kind of hoping that the change will give us the opportunity to put the Sixth Doctor in a Hinchcliffe-style six-parter like The Ghosts of Gralstead or a wandering NA!Seventh Doctor in an interlinked anthology.) The sixth doctor in a talons like story would be amazing Especially with a new costume too
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Post by pawntake on Mar 2, 2021 10:58:57 GMT
Seems like all tastes will be catered for.Which only means one thing,a big hole in my Bank-Balance! We just can't resist can we!?
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Post by theillusiveman on Mar 2, 2021 13:08:24 GMT
I think the best thing it can do is be a bit of everything really. Have a variety of TARDIS teams, formats and connected stories. Just off the top of my head, here are three sets: Fifth DoctorStory 1: 6 parts; Adric, Nyssa & Tegan Story 2: 4 parts; Tegan & Turlough Story 3: 2 parts; Peri Sixth DoctorStory 1: 3x45 mins; Peri & Frobisher Story 2: 2 parts; Constance & Flip Story 3: 1 part; solo Story 4: 1 part; solo Story 5: 2 parts; Mel Seventh DoctorStory 1: 3 parts; Mel Story 2: 3 parts; Ace Story 3: 4 parts; Klein Story 4: 2 parts; solo All four stories have the Doctor manipulating events before coming together towards the end of his life.I think there's a lot of scope and ambition, but with that comes the varying costs of doing these things. I suspect part of the reason 3 parters have been avoided is that it's one and a half days in studio. Similarly, an anthology hasn't comprised of four different TARDIS teams. Maybe the recent emphasis on remote recording can help that out a bit with minimised travel, food, accommodation, etc. in the same way other workplaces are now looking towards increased working from home following the pandemic. Sad Part is There wont be any 5th Doctor/Peri Stories due to Briggs not wanting to extend the gap (a pity as i thought 5/Peri compliment each other quite well and sad that we couldnt get more stories of the two of them)
Its unsure if we will ever get Frobisher stories though suprised its been 20 years and he hasnt had even a short trip so its either Rights issues or The Voice actor isnt interested
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Post by slithe on Mar 3, 2021 19:27:09 GMT
Would be good to see the 5-Tegan-Nyssa-Marc arc developed in a box set - this is a storyline that has been interrupted by recent events. Perhaps even a 'phantom' Adric could make an appearance - bit like Timeflight.
Similarly, 5-Tegan-Nyssa-Adric box-set would be welcomed - I though the two trilogy runs with that TARDIS crew were pretty good and some of the best stories with Davison.
Ironically, I think Sixie is pretty well served already. I would like the Static arc resolved at some point - I felt a bit letdown by that.
Seven - more solo I think. Would also be good to welcome back Chris/Roz - the NA boxset was pretty good.
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Post by whiskeybrewer on Mar 3, 2021 23:50:28 GMT
Would be good to see the 5-Tegan-Nyssa-Marc arc developed in a box set - this is a storyline that has been interrupted by recent events. Perhaps even a 'phantom' Adric could make an appearance - bit like Timeflight. Similarly, 5-Tegan-Nyssa-Adric box-set would be welcomed - I though the two trilogy runs with that TARDIS crew were pretty good and some of the best stories with Davison. Ironically, I think Sixie is pretty well served already. I would like the Static arc resolved at some point - I felt a bit letdown by that. Seven - more solo I think. Would also be good to welcome back Chris/Roz - the NA boxset was pretty good. Definitely more of that Solo Seven and Late NA Seven with Chris and Roz
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Post by chrism1999 on Mar 4, 2021 2:54:21 GMT
Personally I’m not sure how interested I am going to be, I like the Reliable 4 part tales over 2+ hours......and hate the 1 hour ones, glad they moved the 4th doc to them It's noticeable for me that there's been a very pronounced jump in quality for the last two seasons of the 4DAs, coinciding with the move to 4 part stories, just as they start to (inevitably) get binned off for other doctors. Ho hum.
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Post by thelonecenturion on Mar 4, 2021 8:13:14 GMT
Personally I’m not sure how interested I am going to be, I like the Reliable 4 part tales over 2+ hours......and hate the 1 hour ones, glad they moved the 4th doc to them It's noticeable for me that there's been a very pronounced jump in quality for the last two seasons of the 4DAs, coinciding with the move to 4 part stories, just as they start to (inevitably) get binned off for other doctors. Ho hum. There will still be four-part stories. This was confirmed in Vortex, DWM, and the BF Podcast. In three disc sets, they'll be paired with a two-parter, and in the rarer four disc sets, there'll be two four-parters. There will also be sets of one-hour stories. The point of ditching the MR is to allow for more variety.
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Mar 4, 2021 8:55:32 GMT
Personally I’m not sure how interested I am going to be, I like the Reliable 4 part tales over 2+ hours......and hate the 1 hour ones, glad they moved the 4th doc to them It's noticeable for me that there's been a very pronounced jump in quality for the last two seasons of the 4DAs, coinciding with the move to 4 part stories, just as they start to (inevitably) get binned off for other doctors. Ho hum. It's also interesting to note that neither season relied on a 'gimmick' to base the stories on either. If I have a doubt about the new format is that we will get the return of 'so and so' as a premise for the sets. Not that that is a barrier in itself - I enjoyed Wicked Sisters - but it is a barrier that is keeping the Third Doctor adventures in a bit of a cul-de-sac for instance. It would be nice to have epic stories that give us new characters of depth and quality to get to know and love.
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Post by chrism1999 on Mar 4, 2021 13:22:56 GMT
It's noticeable for me that there's been a very pronounced jump in quality for the last two seasons of the 4DAs, coinciding with the move to 4 part stories, just as they start to (inevitably) get binned off for other doctors. Ho hum. There will still be four-part stories. This was confirmed in Vortex, DWM, and the BF Podcast. In three disc sets, they'll be paired with a two-parter, and in the rarer four disc sets, there'll be two four-parters. There will also be sets of one-hour stories. The point of ditching the MR is to allow for more variety. I suspect, given Nick's noted antipathy for them/preference for one parters, the initial burst of variety will slowly but surely lead to them dieing off.
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Post by thelonecenturion on Mar 14, 2021 10:24:33 GMT
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR AS-YET-UNANNOUNCED RELEASES So, with the latest podcast revealing that The End of the Beginning is out this week, with news of the new ranges coming very soon, I think it's time for some speculation!
Here are my predictions for what each of the Doctor's ranges will include, starting from 2022 (some of these are just based on small announced details):
First Doctor: A new actor will be revealed in the role of 1, with new stories featuring Dodo and Steven Taylor, as well as boxsets with Ian, Barbara and Susan. In addition, there will be more Bradley stories as well. Second Doctor: A new actor will be revealed in the role of 2 (not Frazer Hines), and there will be development of Season 6B. There'll be new companions, and we'll find out what happened between The War Games and Spearhead From Space. Third Doctor: Potentially more 'Volumes' of the 3DAs, but there will also be standalone three-disc boxset arcs. Fourth Doctor: As with 3, continuation of the 4DAs but more boxset arcs as well. Fifth Doctor: More stories with Turlough and Tegan, and possibly some storylines about him as Lord President of Gallifrey. Sixth Doctor: Longer story arcs (possibly multi-boxset), with the return of his TV and audio companions (sadly minus Evelyn), and the return of Frobisher. Seventh Doctor: An exploration of what led up to the events of the TV movie. No Lungbarrow adaptation, but possibly some similar Gallifrey-lore based epics. Eighth Doctor: Continuation of the Dark Eyes/Doom Coalition/Ravenous/Stranded storylines, but with smaller standalone boxsets as well. War Doctor: The War Doctor Begins, and possibly some other smaller-scale releases as well. Ninth Doctor: If Chris decides to do more, some stories with Rose, but sticking to the three-disc arcs. Tenth Doctor: Some smaller-scale arcs, but focusing more on doing interesting things with 10 rather than emulating the TV show. Possibly some meta-crisis Pete's World 10. One or two more Doctor Chronicles to be announced. Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith will be announced as having recorded some stories, as well as one or two more Doctor Chronicles releases. Twelfth Doctor: Doubt they'll touch 12 for now. The initial announcement for the '22 ranges said "the first twelve incarnations of the Doctor", and since we know that there's more War Doctor stuff, I don't think there'll be anything for 12 yet.
Other releases: More Lost Stories, and Audio Novels. In addition, there'll probably be some more special releases to come.
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