Doctor Who Christmas Special Trailer

The lovely blonde is Katherine Jenkins, opera singer and rumored cocaine aficianado.

Formspring Question # 47--Contrarian Edition

Give me an unpopular opinion about LOST, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who.

Lost--I really liked the finale. Others have complained it did not give any answers to the series’ questions, but ultimately, faith won out over science. Faith does not require answers. I can accept that.

As a bonus, I did not mind Nikki and Paulo. Michelle Rodriguez as Ana-Lucia Cortez was a fine addition to the cast, too.

Battlestar Galactica--I am not sure I have an unpopular opinion about the show. Were a lot of fans really upset about the ’God did it” finale? If so, I liked it, so that will have to count.

Doctor Who--Christopher Eccleston made a better Doctor than David Tennant. Eccleston played the part of a melancholy loner racked with survivor’s guilt perfectly. Tennant often came across as a whiny emo. Maybe the problem is Tennant had to drag out the persona three years longer than Eccleston, but regardless, that is how I feel.

Lynch mobs of teenage girls are now forming all over the United Kingdom to come after me now…

Doctor Who Wins the Hugo for "The Waters of Mars"

the Doctor Who special 'The Waters of Mars" beat out two other Wholigan installments as well as episodes of Dollhouse and Flashforward to win the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation -Short Form.

"The Waters of Mars" was my favorite out of all the specials, though i all hoesty, the competition was not very fierce. "The Waters of Mars" was the only one that did not appear to be phoned in by Russell T. Davies. David Tennant was looking a little haggard in the roe, too.

My original review for "The Waters of Mars" can be found here.

Next Doctor Who Series to be Split in Two

I figured somethig like this was coming after the four specials experiment last year. The BBC was looking for a way to get around the budet constraints of making a thirteen episode season.

According to showrunner Steven Moffat, the sixth series is going to be split into two parts: seven episodes ending with a cliffhanger and then the final six. Less cynical fans say this is because Moffat is also working on the hit show Sherlock. That may very well be a factor, but I cannot help ut think the BBC wants to pull a Battlestar Galactica with DVD sales by selling two half season sets, then releasing an entire series set shortly thereafter.

The BBC had been talking about eight episode series for the show or alternating full, thirteen episode series with four or five holiday specials. The split solution sounds like a compromise, but I till bet is motivated by DVD sales. Doctor Who is the BBC’s most profitable show worldwide. They are going to milk the cow as much as possible.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 30--And in Conclusion...

“You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They both don’t alter their views to fit the facts. They alter facts to fit their views… Which can be very uncomfortable if you’re one of the facts that needs altering.”--Fourth Doctor

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 29--Who Should Be the Next Doctor?

I will go with James Callis.

He could play the Twelfth Doctor with a darker edge similar to how he played Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica. Callis has subsequently appeared I other science fiction genre shows like Flashforward and Eureka, so he might be willing to stick with it. Traveling in the TARDIS has to be more un than hanging out with Bridget Jones.

The only drawback I have is Callis might play a better Master than Doctor. But that is because most of my familiarity with him comes from his portrayal of Baltar who was far more like the master than the Doctor.

Chalk it up to my fondness of Deep Space Nine, but Alexander Siddig would be a ood choice, too. He has played characters in a couple of Big Finish audio dramas, but he has never played the Doctor himself. These days, Siddig bounces between character actor roles in the United States and the United Kingdom, with roles in 24, Syriana, Clash of the Titans, MI5, and Merlin. Who knows if he wats to be tied down on a long term series.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 28--Least Favorite Episode (New)

The worst episode of the revived Doctor Who is hands down “Fear Her” from the second season.

I understand the logistics of television production for the BBC requires the occasional small scale, budget saver episode. The trick of it is too see how well producers can disguise the fact a certain episode has a budget of $ 4.35. Sometimes, they do it stupendously well, such as with “Blink..” Other times, it isa dismal failure like “Fear Her.”

Let us face it, the whole episode is corny. A profoundly lonely alien child plans to kidnap the entire planet by drawing a picture of Earth. The Tenth Doctor save the day by using the 2012 London Olympic torch to start the alien spaceship up again. Then he takes it upon himself to light the torch so the games can begin.

This all starts with a gag about landing the TARDIS too close to a dumpster for the door to be opened.

So we have the have the entire planet threatened with the backdrop of the 2012Olympics, but the story mostly takes place on a council estate. It produces a cheap, tiny atmosphere that ruins the scope. When the time comes for the big moment, the lighting of the torch has the appearance of an elementary school play.

Yes, it is all bad.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 27--Least Favorite Episode (Classic)

“The Twin Dilemma’ is bar none the worst episode of Doctor Who ever.

The serial would be a cellar dweller for no other reason than featuring a crazed Sixth Doctor, wonky from regenerating, nearly choking the life out of dear, sweet Peri. But there is so much more to dislike.

The Sixth Doctor is a complete jerk from beginning to end. That was part of the plan. There was a misbegotten idea to make the Sixth Doctor completely likeable first, then slowly have him adjust to a more amicable demeanor. It turned fans off. While colin Baker did eventually warm up to me, his interpretation of the Doctor never recovered for many fans. You could argue the forced hiatus for the series was as a direct result of the bad Sixth Doctor introduction here.

The plot of aliens named Romulus ad Remus concocting a B-movie plot to take over the galaxy did not help anyway, either.

Dishonorable mention goes to “The Happiness Patrol.” The Sylvester McCoy Seventh Doctor years were consistently bad with few exceptions, but this serial sticks out in my mid because of the silly Kandy Man villain.

The Kandy Man kan't, folks!

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 26--Favorite Actress

I am going to go with Alex Kingston.

My knowledge of British television an cinema is probably not broad enough to make a really good choice. I am probably overlooking some fine actresses who have been in roles outside of Doctor Who I would enjoy immensely if I was aware of them.

Alas, I have to choose from actresses who have made the across the pond jump. Alex Kingston portrayal of Dr. Elizabeth Corday on ER is one of the best acting roles of the long running series, so she gets the nod.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 25--Favorite Actor

I am going to cheat here and say Peter Cushing.

Cushing starred in Doctor Who and the Daleks, a 1965 movie based loosely o the second Doctor Who serial “The Daleks.” Cushing is essentially playing the First Doctor for the big screen, so the story is not officially canon. Nor I it any good, but that is another matter.

Aside of his brief stint as the Doctor, Cushing has played all sorts of memorable roles. I am a big fan of Hammer Horror films, for which he was a regular player, but Cushing has also done everything from star with the Marx Brothers in A Chump at Oxford, to portray Sherlock Holmes, and oder Darth Vader around as Grand Moff Tarkin.

You cannot beat a career like that.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 24--A Villain You Would Like to See Return

I would like to see the Celestial Toy Maker again.

Perhaps he has not shown up again on the series because his motif of being a madman who amuses himself by making other play deadly games is similarly to a lot of other characters--Mr. Myxzptlk in DC Comics, the Grandmaster and Arcade in Marvel Comics, and Trek’s Q, among others--but I think something original could be done with im.

He would play off well (no pun intended) Matt Smith’s more lighthearted Eleventh Doctor.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 23--A Doctor Who Related YouTube Video

It is an awfully maudlin tribute to the Ninth Doctor, but when I first saw it four years ago, it hit me right between the eyes with the shape I was in.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 22-Favorite Master Episode

At the risk of having a barrage of sharp objects thrown in my general direction, I do not like the Master. I understand he is supposed to be the Prof. Moriarty to the Doctor’s Sherlock Holmes, but he jut does not do it for me.

I am not even a big fan of Jon Simm’s turn as the Master even when he took on more of the doctor’s traits, such as a wicked sense of humor in the face of adversity, to make him even more the mirror opposite of the Doctor. There is probably not going to be away to present the character that will resonate with me.

But I have to choose, so I am going to go with “The Daemons.” Roger Delgado played along with the Satanic/demonic theme to make the mater eem like more than just an evil Time Lord, but the epitome of evil himself. I have forever linked Delgado’s appearance with my idea of what Satan in human form might look like. The notion is reinforced by my comic book collecting days. Delgado is pretty much what Old Scratch looked like in virtually every one o his four color appearances.

I what is likely a rebellion against the Bob Jones University influence of my young education, I have a fascination with the flirtation with Satanism that was prominent in the entertainment industry, particularly music and movies, in the late ’60’s an early ’70’s. “The Daemons’ is a fine example of how disturbing the influence could be. Someday, I am going to have to get back to my Symphony of the Night project and explore the phenomenon some more.

Until then, be careful...You never know who you might conjure up.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 21--Favorite One-Time Villain

Sutekh the Destroyer from "Pyramids of Mars."

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 20--A Photo of a Companion

Rose Tyler about to be dissected by a Clockwork Droid in "The Girl in the Fireplace."

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 19--A Behind the Scenes Photo

I like this photo of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan meeting young Doctor Who fans. They appear to be enjoying themselves. It is always cool when actors who star in science fiction series have an appreciation for their fans, particularly considering how obsessive such fans can be.

As a bonus, this is a nifty shot of David Tennant hanging out with a Dalek:

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 17--Favorite Cybermen Episode

My favorite Cybermen story is “Attack of the Cybermen.” Because of all its references to Wholigan lore, it is one only the most hardcore like. I am not saying I am some special, hardcore fan, but the story does appeal to me the most.

The Cybermen attempt to crash Halley’s Comet into Earth in order to alter history in their favor. It is jut a coincidence that I reviewed Deep Space Nine seventh season episode “Covenant,” which serves as an homage to the Heaven’s Gate cult which committed mass suicide I order to allegedly reach a space ship flying behind the Hale-Bopp comet. Weird how that works out.

I only have vague memories of Halley’s Comet mania from 1985-86. I did not geta chance to see “Attack of the Cybermen” until four or five years ago, so it is not a nostalgia piece for me, anyway.

What do I like about it…I am a fan of the Sixth Doctor. Colin Baker should have been given more time in the role. He might have been right up there with the not related Tom Baker in my eyes. “Attack of the Cybermen” was his best serial. Peri is a good companion, even if she did not wear her bikini in this one. The references to past adventures were cool, particularly the mercenary Lytton. He had appeared previously in a past story as a henchman of the Daleks.

Lytton’s dilemma is what makes the story. We do not realize until the end he is going to be converted into one of the Cybermen himself and needs the Doctor to save him. Tragically, it does not happen for him. What a terrible fate.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 16--Favorite Spin Off

My favorite spin off is Torchwood. I got more enjoyment out of the second season of Torchwood than I did the third season of Doctor Who which ran before it. That is not so much a knock on the Martha Jones as companion, The return of the Master plot that ra through that year as much as it is a compliment to Torchwood.

Some have compared the series to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am more inclined to think of it as The X-Files if the Consortium had been considered the good guys.

An additional season will air sometime in 2011 on Starz. The series will still feature John Barrowman as Jack Harkness and eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, but the pair will travel to the United States to work with an American branch of the team. My anticipation outweighs my anxiety over the pending changes.

Eve Myles is really hot, too:

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 15--One Companion or Multiple?

I do not have a preference. It all depends on the dynamics.

Some characters, like Sarah Jane Smith, Romana, Peri brown, and Donna Noble, worked well as lone companions with their respective Doctors. Adric and Ace did not click well during their solo turns.

Other times, I have enjoyed a larger TARDIS crew. The Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Jack did well together. As did Ten, Martha, and Jack. The ’Journey’s End’ crew pictured above was one of the highlights of the fourth season. I prefer the Eleven/Amy/Rory dynamic currently going now as opposed to just Amy and Eleven.

But I never could really get into the Fifth Doctor’s large entourage, nor did I think Mickey Smith fit in well util his last go around in the TARDIS.

It has to be taken on a case by case basis.

Thirty Days of Doctor Who # 13--Favorite Piece of Music

My favorite score is "The Dream of a Normal Death," written by Murray Gold for the fourth season finale, "Journey's End."