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“It features the return of an old friend from the Doctor’s past…”
The Doctor and Clara embark on one of their most dangerous adventures yet in this Saturday’s episode, Kill The Moon, and we were thrilled to get the chance to speak to the man behind it, Peter Harness!
Peter spoke exclusively to WhovianNet about his first foray into the Doctor Who universe, which will see our heroes get caught up in a suicide mission to the Moon. As he told us, there are plenty of surprises in store…
Q. Hi there, Peter! So, when did you first realise that you wanted to become a writer?
A. I don’t know, really. Probably before I knew that there was such a thing as being a writer, certainly long before I realised you could actually do that as a job. For as long as I can remember I’ve been writing stories and plays, and episodes of Doctor Who. But I guess I must have made some kind of decision to try and make a go of it, professionally speaking, sometime in my early twenties. For a while, I’d thought that I’d be an actor instead. I did a lot of acting at university and before, but when the time came, I just didn’t really bother pursuing that, and I guess that’s when I realised that my heart must be in writing.
Q. And are there any writers that have particularly inspired you, both in life and in your career?
A. Yes, lots of them. Probably too many to mention. Dennis Potter was one of my big inspirations, and remains so. I think I’ve always wanted to write for television, above and beyond anything else, and he was really the person who proved that you could do that and still be taken reasonably seriously. Terrance Dicks, of course. Like he did a lot of other people, he gave me a real love of books and of reading, which is one of the things that most writers need. Susanna Clarke, who wrote my favourite book, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and who is, in addition to that, a wonderful person who I’ve been very privileged to work with and gotten to know. And Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, without whose genius I wouldn’t be talking to you. But beyond that, if I started listing all of the writers that I love and who’ve inspired me, we’d be here all night!
Q. How and when did your involvement with the new series of Doctor Who come about?
A. I’ve been desperate to write for Doctor Who for years, but I’ve always been a bit shy about putting myself forward. However, I guess I’ve told so many people and gone on about it so much, that eventually the producers got to know and asked me to come and pitch some ideas. I was enormously nervous when I went to meet them, and had about five or six different ideas, none of which they particularly went for. And Kill The Moon, which had just suddenly popped into my head on the plane back to England the night before. Thankfully, they liked it, and I spent a little bit of time developing the idea for Matt Smith’s Doctor before I had to go and write something else. But they were still keen on the idea when I finally surfaced again, a couple of years later, so I got to write it for Peter Capaldi instead.
Q. So you were already a huge fan of the series?
A. I’ve always been a fan of Doctor Who, for as long as I can remember. In fact, I think some of my first memories are of watching Doctor Who. Davros’s big blue bulb lighting up in “Destiny of the Daleks”, and Julian Glover ripping his rubber face off in “City of Death”. It’s had a huge, pretty much immeasurable effect on me. I loved it when I was three years old and I’ve never stopped.
Q. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about your own episode, Kill The Moon?
A. I’ll tell you that it’s quite scary. At least, I hope so. And that I think it’ll polarise people to a degree. And that it features the return of an old friend from the Doctor’s past. And that there’s a throwback to “Blink”. If you can spot it.
Q. Each episode of Doctor Who is a blank slate in terms of its setting, themes and characters. As a writer, is this a prospect that is particularly exciting or daunting?
A. It’s very liberating. It means that it’s very easy to come up with potential ideas for Doctor Who stories, because basically any story or character can be given a Doctor Who twist, and is usually all the better for it. The most worrying thing about writing Doctor Who, first time round at least, is the anxiety about whether you can actually do it. Better writers than me have tried, and not managed to get their head around it. So I was very, very relieved that I found that I could actually do it, that I could write a Doctor Who story, with all the Who-ness, but which still felt like me, too. I was expecting them to turn round at any moment and tell me I wasn’t up to the job. I still can’t really believe that it’s actually been made. Maybe it hasn’t. Maybe they’ll just show the test-card instead.
Q. Are there any skills and experiences, both professional and personal, that you found yourself drawing upon whilst writing this episode?
A. God, that’s a difficult question! I suppose there were loads. But I’ve never been on the Moon or met any giant spider creatures, so I guess I had to imagine that bit.
Q. What was it like to write for a Doctor that had yet to appear properly on screen?
A. I didn’t start writing it entirely blind, because they’d just started shooting when I began writing my script. So as I was writing, I was seeing the odd scene from “Deep Breath”, and maybe “Listen”; and really, Peter Capaldi’s Doctor was already beginning to take shape. So I wrote with his take on it, and his voice, very much in mind; and as I went through the various drafts of my script, Peter’s Doctor was busily crystallising and coming into being down in Cardiff, and I was very much writing alongside of that.
Q. What would you say are the main factors that have contributed to Doctor Who’s ongoing success?
A. I think the incredible openness of the central conceit – that you can go anywhere in time and space, and tell a totally different genre of story every single week. The character of the Doctor himself, his benevolence, his twelve-sided uniqueness as a personality. The frequent changes of personnel both on and off screen, and the commitment and love that all of the people who have worked on it over the years have always brought to it. All of these things keep it fresh and alive and new.
Q. Finally, have you got any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
A. Yes. My next thing up is a seven-part series for BBC One, based on Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It’s a period drama, set in the 1800s, with lots of fantastic special effects, about the return of magic to England, and about the two magicians who bring it back. I’ve written the scripts, and the fantastic Toby Haynes (who directed The Pandorica Opens and the following run of stories) has directed it. And he’s done a magnificent, towering, inspired job. It’s been a huge project and a gargantuan effort to bring it to the screen, but it’s nearly done, and should, with any luck, be on some time in the new year. And I hope people will enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
August has special Doctor Who nostalgia to me personally. Not only is this the month where I will be watching my first ever Doctor Who series premiere, but August 3rd of last year is when I watched my first ever episode of Doctor Who, “Rose”. I would say that it’s a bit strange that I remember the exact date, but then again it’s safe to say that I’m officially obsessed with this show, and it’s no surprise that I remember petty details such as the exact date I watched my first episode.
Although I have only been a fan for a short while, I am still overcome with as much excitement for series eight as any other long time fan. My favorite series so far is definitely series two of the revived series, so I am looking forward to there being multiple companions again. Rose, Jack, and The Tenth Doctor were the perfect “Team TARDIS” in my opinion, and I’m looking forward to seeing if Danny, Clara, and The Twelfth Doctor will be just as amazing! (Or maybe better!) I was a bit late to the chase with series seven, but I did manage to catch the worldwide premier of “The Day of the Doctor” and the United States premier of “The Time of The Doctor”. I wouldn’t consider this a “tradition”, but with both premiers I put on my favorite TARDIS shirt and snuck away to the peace and silence of my basement. Being the only Whovian you know can lead to locking yourself in dark rooms in order to escape multiple questions you still aren’t entirely sure how to answer. (Such as any question having anything to do with “The Pandorica Opens”). The premier of “The Clock Strikes Twelve” may be a different experience for me though, as I have successfully gotten one of my closest friends obsessed with the show too. I having been getting midnight texts saying things such as “That did not just happen!” or “Did they really just die!”. Although I’m excited that I’m finally not alone in this amazing obsession, I’m afraid to see how they are going to handle “Journey’s End”. If they are anything like me then I’m going to feel awfully bad for inviting them onto this rollercoaster of emotions.
It is a bit of a challenge to say exactly what I am expecting or hoping for in the upcoming series. Mostly because I am hoping to be surprised. It has been leaked that The Master will be returning, but the question is how is he returning? I am sincerely hoping that his return is completely unexpected like it was in “Utopia” when he turned out to be the scientist who was building the rocket all along. Although, if I am expecting the unexpected, then I will be expecting the unexpected to happen, then it won’t be unexpected. It looks like I’m having a real life paradox right now, but nevermind that. It also is no secret that The Daleks will be returning this series, since they did appear in an official series eight trailer with over one million views on Youtube. I would like to see some traditional Dalek episodes where they basically try to destroy Earth, but I would also like to see an episode where an unexpected turn of events takes place such as “Daleks In Manhattan/ Evolution of the Daleks” where the current leader of The Daleks, Dalek Sec, turned into a half Dalek, half Human hybrid and tried to change The Dalek race for the better! I also am hoping to see episodes with original storylines and new alien species. Almost everyone loves a good Dalek episode, but the reason why I personally love Doctor Who is because of the creativity and brilliance of the alien races and brand new worlds that the creators come up with. I honestly think that what I am hoping for in the upcoming series is what all whovians are hoping for. It is a well-known fact that current show-runner, Steven Moffat, has been a huge fan of the show since he was young, and I’m hoping that all of his ideas really reflect what fellow whovians want to see. Many whovians are not fans of some of the episodes that he has written such as “The Girl in the Fireplace” or “The Time of the Doctor”, but almost every Whovian who I know in real life and on the blogging website, Tumblr, loved the 50th Anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor”. All we can do is hope that all of series eight is just as great as that one episode.
It is becoming strange to think that after over half a year of not having any new episodes, a whole new series is quickly approaching. Since December I have been struggling to fill my craving for new episodes by trying to find new shows to watch, or by becoming a writer for a popular fan website. Although I have been managing to keep myself entertained during the hiatus, I can not even start to explain how excited I am to watch my first full series as it premiers to the rest of the world (Well, at least the United States premier. Those of you who live in the UK are lucky).
Basically what this new series means to me is that for the first time in a while I will be able to escape the stress of everyday life for just a small amount of time every week to watch my favorite show. I admit that my life isn’t all that stressful, but it feels good to be able to sit down and watch brilliant stories come to life on my television screen every once in a while. Although I do have a good amount of hopes and expectations for the upcoming series, whatever the show creators decide to do is fine by me. I am honestly just overcome with joy that my favorite show in this universe is finally returning. Hopefully this will be one of the best series so far, and every whovain young and old will enjoy watching exactly what they waited so long to see.
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Choosing a favorite episode of Doctor Who, in my mind, can only be compared to a parent deciding which of their children they love the most: Except there are literally hundreds of episodes to choose from so it makes the decision even more unthinkable. When the show returned in 2005, it was revitalized and given new life. Because of that, I will be focusing on a story from the “new who” era. And as difficult as it is to choose just one, I’d have to say that my favorite episode is the two-parter, “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang”.
The great thing about Doctor Who is that it spans all genres. It genuinely has something for everyone. Being such a fan of the Eleventh, my favorite episodes highlight humor/silliness, mixed in with drama and a skillful script. “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang” showcases these attributes perfectly.
At the risk of summarizing every little detail, let’s assume that we’ve all seen these episodes and are on the same page. And if you haven’t, then why are you reading a review of them?? Just kidding. But please, do watch them. To sum up as best I can…The Doctor and Amy travel to Stonehenge at the request of River Song to discover a box called the Pandorica, which is said to hold the most “dangerous” thing in the entire universe. The Doctor doesn’t know what’s in it but he does know that it should never be released. When his enemies come to presumably unleash what’s inside, the sad truth is revealed. The Doctor is the most dangerous thing in the universe and is locked inside the box. As if he’s not having a bad enough day, Rory shows up alive (yay!) only he is a nestene copy, shoots and kills Amy (no!), and River is trapped in the TARDIS as it explodes. But fear not! The Doctor escapes, saves Amy’s life, and flies what’s left of the original universe into the exploding TARDIS, fixing things to how they should be. Although everyone believes he could never make it out of that alive, Amy remembers him and is able to bring him back. The trio reunites. And they’re off for more adventures.
Whew. There is so much that goes on in this finale, it’s hard to get into the details. But let’s start off with the humor. One of my all time favorite sequences in any Doctor Who episode is the bootstrap paradox using River’s vortex manipulator. The Doctor gets out of the Pandorica because he did it in the future by going back in time to ensure that it happened. It cleverly explains what the paradox is while being funny. I can’t watch this scene without bursting out laughing every time. The Doctor popping back in time in a fez is quick, sharp, and it’s just like any old day to him, casually time traveling about. Amy’s encounter with her younger self is also humorous, partially due to our introduction to young Amelia in “The Eleventh Hour” and Karen Gillan acting opposite her real life cousin. The ensemble cast including River Song keeps the dynamic going and adds to the humor, even though the danger is serious.
Speaking of serious, although the mood is kept light throughout the episode, it has its share of dramatic moments. The Doctor’s monologue to a young, sleeping Amelia is one of my favorites Smith has ever done. He completely embodies the soul of an ancient warrior accepting his fate. “We’re all stories in the end,” he says. But everyone has a piece in the game. Amy and Rory fought to find their way back to one another. River mourns losing her lover before he ever truly knew her. Amy loses her best friend. And though he is content with what’s happening to him, The Doctor willingly sacrifices himself in hopes that Amy will remember him. There are many touching moments in this story that really tugs at your heartstrings and everything is for good measure.
One of the coolest things in this series finale is the inclusion of little things seen in earlier episodes. The callbacks featuring characters introduced earlier like Vincent Van Gogh, Winston Churchill, and Liz 10 all contribute to the unfolding of the mystery. Plus Rory returns after “dying” in “Cold Blood”, which is confusing, exciting, and sad all within a few minutes. A new story is being told while wrapping up pieces of another and the journey ends in a satisfying conclusion.
Many have described the cracks-in-the-universe arc in Series 5 as a fairytale and because this program is a science fiction show, the notion could be graded as slightly childish. But maybe that’s why I like it so much. It’s a fresh take on the direction of the show and was a much-needed change of pace and tone. The end of Series 5 in “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang” is an excellent indicator of what this show does so well. It’s funny, it’s smart, and it’s emotional. And that is why it will forever be one of my favorites.
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So far in our #TopTenOfEleven countdown we’ve seen the funny, the heartbreaking and the downright silly but in at #3 is a moment that truly is as epic as they come.
In The Pandorica Opens (2010) the Eleventh Doctor faced his darkest day yet as a menagerie of monsters gathered to finish him off once and for all..
He wasn’t going to go down without a fight as he took to Stonehenge to deliver a message to his alien adversaries.
Although ultimately being imprisoned forevermore inside the Pandorica (he has his good days and his bad days…), the showdown paved the way for one of his most epic scenes to date which is sure to go down in history as one of Matt Smith’s iconic Who moments. See the speech in question below and keep ‘em peeled for the reveal of our runner-up…
Follow the latest #TopTenOfEleven developments here and on our Twitter @WhovianNet.
It’s finally Friday, hurrah! What better way to bring in the weekend than with a visit from our favourite Time Lord!?
A repeat visit it may be, but it is a fantastic one nonetheless – as the time and space defying Series 5 finale gets another airing on BBC Three! Firstly, in The Pandorica Opens, the Doctor’s friends unite to send him a terrible warning, before Matt Smith’s first series arrives at its dramatic conclusion in The Big Bang, in which the only hope for reality lies with a little girl who still believes in the stars.
Relive all the drama, action and suspense from 7pm tonight (Friday) on BBC Three, and join us on Twitter @WhovianNet as you watch. We’ll be toasting the happy couple with the hashtag #ThePandoricaReopens. Make sure you all get involved and tweet along!
Toby Haynes is the latest name to be added to next month’s Doctor Who Convention guest line up!
The director’s helmed many of the Eleventh Doctor’s stories, including The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang two parter and A Christmas Carol, and commented: “I love the idea of a Convention with a difference, bringing together people who make the show and letting fans see the script to screen process. When I meet fans I am blown away by their Doctor Who knowledge and their enthusiasm to find out more.”
The “unmissable” event will take place on 24th and 25th March at the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff. Matt Smith, Steven Moffat and Arthur Darvill will all be in attendance.
Please let us know if you have got tickets for the Convention in the comments section…
Back in April, we told you that Doctor Who was included in the nominations for the 2011 Hugo Awards, and today we’re delighted to bring you the news that it won!
The Series 5 finale, The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang, won the award for ‘Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form’, so a huge congratulations to both the writer of the episodes, Steven Moffat, and their director, Toby Haynes, as well as everybody else (be it cast, crew or Dalek!) involved in them. So there’s another award to add to the collection!
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Simon Fisher-Becker has given us an insight into the world of Dorium Maldovar in an exclusive chat with WhovianNet!
The actor has appeared in The Pandorica Opens and A Good Man Goes to War, as well as the online prequel to the latter, and told us all about how his role came about, his time spent filming, attending conventions and some of his own theories about his character.
You can read our full interview with Simon below!
We’d like to say a huge thanks to Simon for taking the time out to answer our questions!
Q. You first appeared in Doctor Who in Series 5 in The Pandorica Opens. How did your role in the series come about, and were you a fan before you joined the cast?
A. The first I knew about Dorium was when I was invited to a casting. Seven very large actors were seen and I thank Steven Moffat and other decision makers for choosing me. I have been a follower of Doctor Who from the days of William Hartnell. Born in 1961, I was very young when William Hartnell turned into Patrick Troughton. But the memories are still with me – just added to the mystery and facination.
Q) How would you describe Dorium Maldovar in a nutshell?
A. Multi-layered.
Q) At the time, did you know that there would be more to come for Dorium?
A) Although I hoped there would be more for Dorium, I had no idea at the time of Pandorica.
Q) What was it like working with Alex Kingston, and then coming back and sharing scenes with Matt Smith and the other series regulars?
A) Initially I was very nervous, but Alex is such a flirt and tease I soon calmed down. She was delightful and I thank her for being considerate. It was absolutely delightful working with the entire production team. The series regulars and Matt Smith in particular welcomed me back with open arms which was so wonderful. Everyone works extremely hard and deserve all the plaudits they receive.
Q) What was your reaction when you found out that you’d be returning?
A) Total amazement. Was boucing around like Tigger for days. Once I received the script and realised how much more Dorium was to do, there was momentary panic, hysterical laughter and then more bouncing around like Tigger.
Q) What do you enjoy most about the part? Has Steven Moffat given you any of Dorium’s back story to help with your portrayal, or have you maybe come up with your own?
A) The fact Dorium is so multi-layered. I have not had any discussions with Steven Moffat about the development of Dorium, so I picked things up within the scripts. Talking to fans at conventions, they have picked up on things which I had not considered. What is Dorium’s debt to the Doctor? Some fans have noticed the way the Doctor rests is hands on Dorium’s shoulders in Demon’s Run Control Room. To them this is highly significant and shows a degree of trust and care/respect the Doctor has for Dorium. My personal back story for Dorium is as multi-layered as Steven Moffat’s scripts so I think it best to wait and see!
Q) How long does it take to transform into Dorium (costume, make up)?
A) We allow 2 hours but it does not usually take that long.
Q) Have you had any experiences of being recognised by Doctor Who fans?
A) Fans who have met me at conventions recognise me, otherwise there has only been one child. As she was walking along she said to her mother, pointing at me – ‘look mum, that man looks like The Blue Man from Doctor Who…’. Her mother pulled her away and told her not to be so silly – then looked at me and apologised for her ‘rude’ child. The child looked at me again – I winked, and nothing more was said…
Q) Dorium met a rather sticky end in A Good Man Goes to War, but we’ve heard that he’ll be back later on in the series. Is there anything you can tell us about that?
A) Dorium returns eh?
Q) Are there any returns for Dorium on the cards beyond the current series?
A) I very much hope so, but it’s up to Steven Moffat and Doctor Who Productions.
Q) Finally, do you have any particular favourite memories or moments from your time filming?
A) Being a follower of Doctor Who, I was like an 8 year old again. When I first saw the TARDIS police box, I was quite emotional and found I had to touch it. Although I was not in a scene, Matt Smith arranged for me to see the TARDIS inside – another 8 year old moment. The experience has been wonderful, the whole team delightful and being treated as a member of the Doctor Who family is fantastic. And long may it continue!
WhovianNet is an unofficial Doctor Who fansite. We are not endorsed by or affiliated with the BBC or any other companies connected with Doctor Who and its spin-offs. The official site can be found at bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.
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(4.92 out of 5)