The Sad and Exciting World of Doctor Who
I just wanted to take a moment to share some Doctor Who news. First, the sad news:
Mary Tamm (1950-2012)
Here’s the full story on Doctor Who News. And here’s a clip of Mary as Romana:
New Series 7 Round-Up
On the “exciting” news front, the various parties involved with the next series of Doctor Who have been sharing some information about what to expect. First, of the 14 planned episodes these are the titles announced so far:
- Asylum of the Daleks (written by Steven Moffat)
- Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (written by Chris Chibnall)
- A Town Called Mercy (written by Toby Whithouse)
- Cubed (written by Chris Chibnall)
- [Unannounced]
- [Unannounced Christmas Episode]
- [Unannounced]
- [Unannounced]
- [Unannounced]
- The Crimson Horror [Provisional Title]
- [Unannounced]
- Phantoms of the Hex [Provisional Title]
- [Unannounced]
- [Unannounced]
Episode 5 will be Amy and Rory’s last. This will be followed by the Christmas Special, which will introduce the new companion, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.
Among the special guests that will be in the next series are: Rupert Graves (Lestrade in Sherlock), David Warner, Liam Cunningham, Mark Williams (Mr. Weasley in the Potter movies, who will be playing Rory’s father), Diana Rigg (Emma Peel in the original Avengers series, Tracy–the Bond Girl–in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and a lot more), and Michael McShane.
Next year is, as fans know, the 50th anniversary of the show, so we are to expect special documentaries, and other “surprises” in celebration of this show, which has become in the UK a national institution. Here in the US, BBC America will be showing four documentaries in the run-up to the new series: The Science of Doctor Who (August 4th), The Women of Doctor Who (August 11th), The Timey-Wimey of Doctor Who (August 18th), and The Destinations of Doctor Who (August 25th). Does this mean the new series will start the following week (September 1st)? That might be implied, but nothing has been explicitly stated. I would say it’s possible, especially given that US TV schedules appear to be less flexible than BBC schedules. Announcements for when shows will run are given months in advance here in the US, whereas in the UK, the BBC may not announce a date and time until two weeks before! So, while there’s a good chance the new series will start in September, I wouldn’t mark the calendar until an official announcement has been made.
It’s been a sad year so far for Whovians, with the passing of beloved classic series actors, but it’s still an exciting time to be a Who fan. If you haven’t yet got into the show, there’s still time before the next series begins to catch up! The first of the new series starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, is available on DVD, and, I think, on NetFlix, Amazon Prime, and other services. And many classic series DVDs and episodes are also readily available from the same sources.
If you’re a Who fan, is there something in particular you’re looking forward to in the next series (or season for those in the US)?
“It’s been a sad year so far for Whovians, with the passing of beloved classic series actors, but it’s still an exciting time to be a Who fan.”
Exactly this. 🙂 We’ve gotta be excited for the future!
Absolutely. The classic show was great, and I am truly saddened with the passing of each actor, but I also know that each of those classic actors were 100% behind the new series. In a way, what we see today is an homage to the work of those that went before. So, yes, we should celebrate and be excited. 🙂
Wow, that’s really sad. She was still pretty young too.
From the original news article, it seems she had been battling cancer for a while. I had no idea, so this came as a particular shock. 🙁
Mr. Weasley is Rory’s dad? Love that! I am intensely nervous about Amy and Rory’s exit, and as lovely as I’m sure the new companion is, I can’t imagine that I will be able to begin liking her for a solid year or two ( about how long it took me to come around on Matt Smith.) I am not cut out for this kind of fandom, where the leads are constantly changing!
That said, your writeup of Romana makes me want to go back and check out her episodes…
Yes, I know–when I saw that I thought, wow, Rory’s a Weasley! But I think it’s pretty good casting. I can see him as Rory’s dad. I can’t say Amy has been a favorite of mine, so I’m ready for a change. I’m sure their parting scene will be sad. Most companion departures are sad, or at least bittersweet.
Lalla Ward was a good Second Romana, but I think her off-screen relationship with Tom Baker hindered their on-screen performances. If you want to catch up with First Romana, you’re looking for the Key to Time series (classic series 16).
🙁
I’m both excited for and terrified of the new series. This is the first time Steven Moffat’s writing a companion’s exit and it’s sure to be spectacular. I knew Mark Williams was going to be in this series but I didn’t know he was playing Rory’s father!
For me, the constant concern with every new series is, what next? Every year they try to up the ante, make it more exciting with more twists and turns that the last series. In the classic series, especially up to the mid-80s, it always seemed as if the emphasis was on having a good set of stories for the series. There was a sense that the show had its core audience, and so long as they put something out to satisfy the fans, they didn’t need to try to push the envelope too much. I think these days, there’s a lot more pressure to push the envelope, and keep it fresh and exciting. That’s certainly not a bad thing, but I’m always afraid they’ll go too far. Some of the series finales have bordered on that, for me–all bells, whistles, and flashes but not really for any good story reason. But I keep coming back to it because every series there are good stories–and usually one gleaming gem of a tale (Blink, Vincent and the Doctor, The Doctor’s Wife…). It’s so worth the anxiety! 😀
I think if it were any other show, I’d agree… But Doctor Who can be anything and do anything. I don’t think there is a limit that the ante can be pushed to.
I dont have concerns about the new series yet… I have not been all that crazy about Amy Pond (though i love Rory). She always seemed to be ignoring him or blowing him off and it got annoying. It also bothers me that the US intro presents it as if The Doctor is no more than Amys childhood imaginary friend. Maybe that was to bring new viewers in, but it bothered me. This sounds grumpier than i intend. I cant wait for thie new series.
I agree with you about Amy and Rory, for many of the same reasons, too! As for the US presentation of Doctor Who, yes, at times I sigh. Given the show was one of the pioneering TV sci fi shows–older than Star Trek–it sometimes feels as if the US treats it like its the new kid on the block, which is frustrating. It’s like the WW2 veteran being treated like a 6 yr-old. BUT, I remind myself, Doctor Who is growing a very strong fan base here thanks to the new series. Snagging the cover of Entertainment Weekly is a BIG deal. It’s an indicator of the popularity of the show in the US. It’s quickly becoming regarded less as “that quaint British show” and being recognized for the seriously good sci fi it is. So, be patient! For many in the US, Doctor Who has only been around since 2005–but the times are changing. 😀
I would think the show’s history will be unavoidable next year!