Doctor Who - Series 6

[monsta]

From Bleeding Cool:

At the Edinburgh TV Festival today, Steven Moffat announced that the transmission of the next series of Doctor Who, in 2011, will be split into two blocks, one transmitting in the spring and the other in autumn. Moffat said

What this show needs is a big event in the middle. We do 13 episodes, which is two series worth, so this year we’re going to make it two series. It will come back for seven episodes at Easter, build to an Earth-shattering climax” and that this is “honestly, a gamechanging event for Amy, The Doctor and Rory”

In a subsequent BBC press release timed to coicide with the panel, Moffat is quotes as saying;

The split series is hugely exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!

And the upcoming teaser for the Doctor Who Christmas Special sees Amy saying “time can be re-written” and the Doctor saying he’s “the ghost of Christmas past”.

[TurnerPrize]

HMMMM, i think that's probably a good thing, as long as they can keep Who out of the way of X Factor at all costs during the autumn. Maybe Sunday nights after the results would work best. Saturdays are busy enough with Strictly and Merlin (which gets messed around ridiculously, time wise).

Now just make your series 2 PROPER AMAZING please moffat.

[Johnkm]

I suppose if it means we get more episodes with the level of effort put into the series finale's previously it can only be a good thing.

[Gavin]

I was pleased to hear this. I think it will be good for the show and i like that this allows a creative release from the 13 episode arcs. They have worked brilliantly thus far, but would have felt awfully forumulaic without sufficient imagination through the writing. By splitting the series in two it feels like anything could happen at any time, and that is very exciting. Plus, haven't we all found ourselves saying 'oh, well that's was the disappointing second episode out the way', 'there goes the mid season weak two-parter' or 'here comes the cheapo episode 10/11' etc etc. We can dispense with all that predictability too.

What is all this about X Factor moving to November next year? If that is true then even better for Who.

[TurnerPrize]

Ooh yes of course, is that true? i heard it might be delayed so simon could do American X Factor, and that the single would therefore not be in competition for christmas number 1. HOORAH

Although that only needs to happen if X Factor USA is on a weekend night, since Simon could easily fly between the two like the Strictly judges do.

[Slave]

I know this is REALLY premature but I've split the thread from the existing one because more details about the next series are emerging including this MAJOR rumoured spoiler which is apparently being run in The Sun (I didn't see it in todays edition, so much be tomorrow?) - in fact I'm a bit at the prospect that they might ruin it for people:

Spoiler: RUMOURED SPOILER: 

Doctor Who bosses are planning to kill off Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) mid-way through the next series, according to reports.

The Sun suggests that the companion will die as part of a "devastating plot twist".

Who showrunner Steven Moffat previously revealed that the next series of the show would be split in two, suggesting that the first half would conclude with "one of the most exciting... cliffhangers and plot twists ever".

An unnamed source has allegedly confirmed that Karen Gillan will depart the show after the initial batch of episodes.

The BBC has yet to comment on the report.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One this Christmas for a one-off special.

[TurnerPrize]

Oh my, i'd LOVE IT if they did. She was the absolute weak link for me this series (well her and the lack of kick/danger to a lot of the scripts).

However i doubt that'll be the cliffhanger, since that exact same thing ended the first part of this year's finale, didn't it? And we all knew she wasn't dead anyway. In fact once you've killed both companions off and brought them back to life again the death of a companion is no longer a threat. Which in a high peril show like Doctor Who, is a major flaw. So ACTUALLY killing one definitely forever would reverse it I SUPPOSE. I'll stop talking now.

Oh and -

[Gavin]

By the way folks, if you haven't already done so get over to BBC iplayer and watch 'Doctor Who at the Proms'. It is the most magical event you'll see all year.

I've watched it over about 14 times now and still nowhere near tired of it.

I love Murray Gold beyond all description.

[Madison]

It is the most magical event you'll see all year.

More so than the season finale of Merlin?

[Peekaboo]

The Proms experience is ruined by poor presenting and those tacky monsters turning up constantly - if they'd let the music do the talking it would have been much better. As it is, it's more a Who Circus than a Proms concert.

[Gavin]

The Proms experience is ruined by poor presenting and those tacky monsters turning up constantly - if they'd let the music do the talking it would have been much better. As it is, it's more a Who Circus than a Proms concert.

Oh, i don't agree at all.

The monsters don't detract from the music one bit. And anyway, 'the Proms experience' should never be a uniform one. I was at several Proms this year (including the Doctor Who one) and each had its own identity and charm.

The DW Prom was an absolute triumph. I've rarely felt so exhilerated by the sight of such a massive and diverse audience so romanced by the spirit of a concert and so captivated by the MUSIC. It was perfection, and the look of the kids faces was the most joyous thing of all. The monsters and theatre of it contributed a sense of ownership and narrative to proceedings - which is absolutely correct as a context for the performance of a body of music from a TV show of this nature AND as a treat to Doctor Who fans.

Nothing wrong with the presentation either. Matt, Karen and Arthur were charming. The Proms are a celebration of music. And this was that in every sense.

[Erri]

Thanks for pointing this out as it slipped under my radar. I watched it and thought it was superb.

[Peekaboo]

The way the monsters were edited into the film was clumsy and the noises distracted from the music, specially aggravating when they started playing the revamped theme tune and all you could hear was Cybersteps I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, I much preferred the previous years, just as well because I think the music in general for the new series hasn't been as good as in the previous ones, they've overused the Doctor's leitmotif so much it seems it's their only trick up their sleeve. Also, Karen was very shakey as a presenter, clearly nervous due to handling most of the gig - I'm not DISSING her as she is TWENTY FOUR or something, but the show could have done with someone a bit more experienced in this kind of events.

[Diddy]

but the show could have done with someone a bit more experienced in this kind of events.

Barrowman!

[Gavin]

I have to say, i didn't find the occasional overdubbing of cybersteps objectionable at all. But i can see why some may, so fair dos.

It was a more musically ambitious DW Prom than the previous one. The orchestrations were more expansive, imaginative and intricately woven - something which was beautifully complimented by the craft dedicated to the accompanying clips. I absolutely love the music from Series 5 and the revisiting of the leitmotif in several of the peices is a narrative gesture more than an indication of scant source material. The concert felt richly expressive and brimming with creativity - which i found hugely enjoyable. The previous DW Prom was excellent - but this had more musical clout.

Yes, Karen was giddy and nervous, but her character felt perfectly in tune with the spirit of the show. She had the crowd with her every step of the way. Plus, she had more stage presence than Freema did on the last one.

[Lee]

I have to agree with Gavin. Monsters were good, had no problems with any 'noise' and I thought Karen was fine!

[COB]

I'm mainly just bumping this up so I can remember to nominate River Song as Moopy's QoL of APRIL From the trailer it certainly looks like she'll have a good chance :

[Gavin]

I can't believe we are only 8 weeks or so away from DW returning. I'm really rather excited.

Which reminds me, my Doctor Who magazine should be arriving in the morning. *squeals*

[COB]

I've heard April 30th thrown around as a possible start date, which seems quite late but might make sense in terms of keeping the gap between the two halves of the series as small as possible (I'm guessing the second half will be on in September or so?).

Oh yeah, guest stars this series include Surranne Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Lily Cole, Daniel Mays and David Walliams

[TurnerPrize]

I'm LOVING the Lily Cole and Suranna Jones casting. Mays and Walliams could go either way for me. I'm also liking that i'm finally getting my wish of a Pirate episode this year, yaaargh.

Did everyone see this? I liked it -


(despite what that title says that's all there was)

I love Matt Smith's Doctor so so much. I've been watching bits of the DVD recently and it struck me how it wasn't until the end that he fully hit his stride as the doctor. I thought he was nigh on perfect in the Christmas ep, which definitely bodes well for this year.

[Tetris-Rock]

I for one can't wait for the return of my favourite COLD MESS Karen Gillan to my screens. The daft bitch is HILARIOUS.

[Slave]

"DOCTRRRRRR"

[TurnerPrize]

Oh SHUSH IT YOU TWO.

Let's just try and forget that she's in it until we're presented with her wooden sassy schtick once more.

[Johnkm]

I don't mind Karen, I know I'm in the minority with that on here, but she's perfectly fine for what I'm looking for in a companion after having ever possible wish fulfilled with Catherine/Donna.

Anyway this is clearly the Matt Smith show now, which I am all for, as he is genuinely brilliant in a way David Tennant only ocassionally touched upon in the early days of his time.

[Tetris-Rock]

Oh SHUSH IT YOU TWO.

Let's just try and forget that she's in it until we're presented with her wooden sassy schtick once more.

I'm not even being sarcastic. Karen Gillan seems like a massive dipshit in real life. I want to be her best friend. CASE AND POINT:


(Yes, I know i've posted this about 4000 times.)

[TurnerPrize]

She seems so much better in real life

[Tetris-Rock]

She seems so much better in real life

If by that you mean she is a huge spaz, YES.

[TurnerPrize]

YEP

Huge spazzes > unconvincingly 'sassy' people who continually try to cheat on their fiances and can't believably convey the correct emotions at the right times

She's very pretty though. I doubt Russell T Davies would have hired her.

[Gavin]

I've really warmed to Amy Pond watching the series 5 episodes back recently. Perhaps I'm less demanding of her character acting as the emotions and narrative responses are already programmed into my brain after so many views, but i think she and Matt are a wicked duo.

And yes, Karen herself is charmingly wonky and astonishingly striking and TALL in the flesh.

My DW mag didn't arrive today. Will just have to put up with YOU GUYS tonight then.

[COB]

I really liked Amy, she worked better on my second run through the series though - then again I worshipped MARTHA JONES so what do I know

[Johnkm]

Oh I will never ever understand how anyone could like Martha Jones, truly one of the worst characters to have ever graced my fair TV screen.

[COB]

I just thought she seemed really nice

If you ever want a laugh, head over to Gallifrey Base and get a 'companion war' going - they can be surprisingly BRUTAL for what is essentially a bunch of grown men arguing about liking certain women over others.

[Mugatu]

I'm a Martha fan too! She did seem genuinely LOVELY

[COB]

Her mum's eyebrows were EVERYTHNG, too

[Diddy]

I'm horrified to realise that I'm not that FUSSED about this series what went wrong?

Merlin is COMING UP ON THE INSIDE () track

[Johnkm]

You say lovely, I say insipid. Although that's probably not strictly true as that would imply I found it hard to have any feeling regarding her and I do, that of UTTER UTTER HATE. The whole ''I love him but he won't love me, oh woe me'' shtick was so tedious.

[Gavin]

The whole ''I love him but he won't love me, oh woe me'' shtick was so tedious.

Aww.

True enough, but her '....so this is me....GETTING OUT....' farewell speech in the Tardis was fantastically life affirming from a girl who'd clearly never wet a tampon in her life. It really appealed to the perennially dry knickered teenage girl in me.

[monsta]

There is so much wrong with this article:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/02/...re-doctor-who/

Last year was the year I fell in love with Doctor Who, some 30-odd years later than you might expect. Despite some pretty poor episodes, the series actually hit amazing new highs, particularly with its premiere and finale episodes. Along the way were plenty of other impressive moments, not least of which was The Doctor’s relationship with Craig Owens in the episode called The Lodger.

Craig was played by James Corden, the under appreciated co-writer of Gavin and Stacey, who sadly appears to have alienated audiences somewhat with his gossip column hijinks and a few less discerning career moves. Nonetheless, I’m very happy to see him back on Who.

[TurnerPrize]

It's very upsetting news. Both HIM and David Walliams in the same series does seem a bit much.

They need to announce the returns of Sophie Okonedo and big buff Geoff IMMEDIATELY, just to balance things out.

[COB]

I thought Corden was quite good in that episode, I must admit - he's getting ludicrous levels of worship from a few (mostly American) loons over on GB though, I've even seen the phrase "the male Donna" getting thrown around