Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Where is the Doctor? When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible.
It was every Christmas and birthday at once for Doctor Who fans tonight as their beloved hero finally returned to face enemies old and new in the long awaited Series 9 premiere…
Peter Capaldi was back in business to reprise his role as the Twelfth Doctor and the TARDIS reopened its doors to give viewers a first class ticket to the adventure of a lifetime, but what was the Doctor hiding from? It only feels like yesterday that we were accompanying him on his festive jaunt in the North Pole but it was just another day in the office for the Time Lord and his coveted companion, Clara Oswald, who kick started her final series in spectacular style. Missy was also back to continue her reign of malevolent madness and she wasn’t the only blast from the past as the Daleks graced our telly boxes once more.
So, that was The Magician’s Apprentice, everybody! Was it worth the wait or has this year’s opening episode left you feeling deflated? Did it live up to your expectations or were you hoping for more? Dissect tonight’s drama in the comments and let us know your views on all of the accompanying shenanigans. There’s lots to discuss and only one place to do it!
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NOTE: This discussion will NOT be spoiler monitored so please do not read the comments if you haven’t seen The Magician’s Apprentice. You have been warned!
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
This is a very exciting Christmas episode for me this year as it is my first Christmas since I became officially canon. My debut into the Whoniverse was in my beloved Doctor, Peter Capaldi’s first comic in Doctor Who Magazine. Thanks to pencil artist Martin Geraghty, in issue 479 I appear all superheroed up with a swish utility belt and my ubiquitous iPad in part three of The Eye of Torment. In Part four it may seem like I’ve become an alien but really I did a very clever thing with my well hidden Vortex Manipulator and deftly escaped to continue my exciting adventures as Madame H.
I shall be slightly off screen on Christmas Day but if you look very carefully in the corner of the TV you might just spot me eating a tangerine or two. I have rewatched all of the Christmas specials so I can write this article, I am able to be strong for Rose this time and not blub all over the place and I’m a lot more accepting of Donna but I did love the Doctor remembering Rose at the party.
*Twiddles with my Vortex Manipulator* Let’s take a trip together back through the vortex to the Christmas Invasion and my excitedness for A Song For Ten which is barn storming!!
To be totally honest I have post MOOC brain so my essay writing capabilities have gone on holiday as I used them all on my literature course.
(From this point on read my words as fast as you can for the full effect of a Tiggery me) So I am flying by the seat of my Christmas pants and jumping into Jackie Tyler’s front room with my love for David Tennant’s brilliant entrance and his beautiful sexy wink to darling Rose. Then I am jumping onto the roof of the taxi containing a runaway bride and hitching a lift on a spare Segway into an adventure with the very hissy spider lady with an extremely cool live action costume. Ooooh floating about in midair being half a spider.
Whoo it’s snowing and look it’s a woven and inflatable TARDIS, I saw how the basket part was made on How It’s Made, a very stylish programme. Having a Frozen sing song with the two Doctors, weellll one Doctor and someone who thinks he’s a Doctor. Well hello there hoody Master, I love your hoody and red dog collar combo and all these clone Masters in everybody else’s clothes. Nice bit of flirting between the Master and the Doctor and Wilf is way cool. But oh no here come the tears, awwww I don’t want you to go either Mr Tennant.
It’s Matt Smithmas!! Time for Carolly warollies and naughty and nice Amy and Rory having fun with their costumes and a Star Wars/Trekky typical scifi spaceship. AAAAwwwwweeesooommme Shark!! A fabulously acted performance of young Kazran and an unusual story of locking up a woman and only letting her out for you to play with but it’s twisted into some sort of romantic fairytale.
Where’s Aslan? Oh Aslan’s not in this one and the wardrobe’s a TARDIS and there is a cute little boy with adorable bottle top glasses and his pretty sister and a wonderful enchanted bedroom with the most best toys. A floating parcel in the snow looks so magical and it’s all enchanted and fairytale but then it’s a bit Stiltony with all the mum saves the day but squee it’s Xander as the Dad.
Ooooh now it’s Jenna and Victorian Clara who I wish we could have had more of. I love her most as the barmaid with her beautiful red outfit and she cheered up the Doctor. Heelarious Strax is Heelarious with the memory worm encounter and Punch snogged the Doctor. I adore Jenny and all the Paternoster Gang.
Now it’s time to say goodbye to Matt Smith as the Doctor but not before he gets a few more hundred years in with plenty of room for extra stories hiding in books and fanfics. Tasha Lem a very stylish lady with cool eye makeup and lovely sparkly purplyness and oh what a woman our beloved Clara is, persuading the Time Lords to continue the legend therefore enabling us to unwrap a brand new Doctor in the fantastic form of Peter Capaldi.
(Aaaaannnd breath!) When you have certain monsters in your head it can be hard to keep the door shut on the cynical creeptures but I am trying my very best to let my inner child escape and bounce round the house and flap my hands and enjoy the search for the best brand of mince pies. Since we got the Christmas Doctor Who tradition it makes Christmas extra special and I’m very exciting to see wonderful Mr Capaldi in his most sexy hoody and I adore dreams and anything about the psychology of dreams and Santa’s here and slimey wimey monster creatures. Exciting!!
Thank You Santas Davies and Moffat for bringing us a marvellous present to enjoy each year. Merry Christmas Everyone and Lots of Love and Sparkles for a truly fantabulous 2015.
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
It’s no secret that some of the earlier companions of the Doctor weren’t exactly pillars of feminism. Quite a few existed solely to be the damsel in distress and sometimes even just to attract viewers. The new series companions, on the other hand are well rounded characters with their own lives away from the Doctor. They exist to be characters and not to be saved by the Doctor. That is not to say that the Classic Series is without its strong female characters, such as Sarah Jane Smith and Liz Shaw and that the companions of the New Series are without their flaws. There is, however, a clear distinction as time has progressed throughout the series and the characters have become more and more three dimensional.
Early on in the show’s life, many of the Doctor’s female companions were the typical archetype of female characters of the time: they were dependent on the male protagonist(s) and while some characters were independent to a degree such as through their intelligence like Barbara and Susan, they still required one of the male protagonists to save them. Over the years the female companions have varied in their independence from the Doctor. Characters like Liz Shaw and Sarah Jane would challenge the Doctor and could take care of themselves most often (The Doctor did need to save them quite often but that was generally because you know, they were under attack from aliens that were probably scary enough to leave a Cyberman frozen with fear) because they were intelligent, strong willed and resourceful. Look at Ace for example, she regularly went against the Doctor’s wishes and did what she believed was right even if he disapproved…such as pretty much the whole time she was with the Doctor when she carried and used explosives. Much like time, the independence of the female companions was not a strict progression. Ace, who as I just pointed out was pretty damn awesome and did whatever she liked was also constantly manipulated by the Doctor. He would often use her for his own gains. This could just be a testament to the Doctor’s command over speech and everyone’s will, however. To be honest, I would probably do whatever Sylvester McCoy told me as well.
Companions such as Jo Grant and Peri Brown exemplify perfectly that the characterisation of female companions in Doctor Who hasn’t evolved over time steadily but rather has progressed and regressed to its former state. Don’t get me wrong, Jo and Peri were great characters and Katy Manning and Nicola Bryant are brilliant actors but both characters were originally brought in to attract male viewers and were more sexualised than other companions that had travelled with the Doctor.
The characterisation of the New Series companions is quite a bit more consistent than in the Classic Series. All of the female companions the Doctor has travelled with since 2005 have been smart, independent women who have families and are not dependent on the Doctor. Rose is an interesting character because she gives up her life for the Doctor but not because he is so brilliant and he is the Doctor but because she loves him. She’s not so much enamoured with him as was Martha for instance; she genuinely adores him and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. She doesn’t think she loves the Doctor because he came in and swept her off her feet and he takes her off to beautiful and dangerous places, she does actually love him as in any normal relationship. This becomes evident in ‘Journey’s End’ when Rose stays in Pete’s World with the Meta-Crisis Doctor. All of the things that Rose could have loved about the Doctor rather than the Doctor himself were removed from the character of the Meta-Crisis Doctor: he had no TARDIS, he couldn’t regenerate; he was pretty much human. The only similarity he shared with the Doctor was his memories, his face and his intelligence and Rose still stayed with him. While she might not have had the choice to stay with the real Doctor she did have the choice whether or not to be with the Meta-Crisis Doctor and she chose to be with him.
Donna is the perfect example of how the characterisation of female companions has changed from Classic to Nu-Who. For Donna, the Doctor is just a friend and nothing more. She’s no more interested in the Doctor than she is staying in her mother’s kitchen getting lectured about her lack of a sturdy career. While she wants to stay with the Doctor forever (‘Journey’s End’) she isn’t as impressed or charmed as the other companions that the Doctor has had.
That is not to say that the female companions in Nu-Who are perfectly characterised. There are many aspects of the companions that could be seen as going against general modern values of equality between the sexes such as the fact that River Song devoted her entire life to finding and being with the Doctor which implies that she is dependent on the Doctor but most of the time in the New Series the bad qualities of a character are balanced or outweighed by other qualities such as River Song’s strong willed personality and the fact that she is essentially in charge of the Doctor.
The characterisation could also be explained by the time periods in which the Doctor meets the companions. Most often, he meets his friends in a time period respective to the broadcast date and thus the values of the time have reflected the way the characters have been portrayed.
In conclusion, there are many different aspects to the female companions of the Classic and New Series. To group them into two distinct groups is disadvantaging many good characters from both groups. Both the Classic and New Series have many fantastic characters and regardless of how they have been portrayed, help to influence and further the mythology of the show.
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Although today’s a day full of huge excitement as we wait for tonight’s finale, there’s also a touch of great sadness about proceedings, as its accompanying Confidential will be the last ever.
The BBC has decided to cancel the programme as a “cost-cutting measure”, and it will come as a great loss to the Doctor Who universe. We’d like to thank all the Confidential team for their hard work and for documenting the making of our favourite show since its revival. You’ll be missed!
Above – Karen Gillan gets busted sneaking a quick jump on the trampoline.
Above – We get a unique insight from Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston about what it’s like to be part of the family Pond.
In tonight’s final episode, When Time Froze, the cast unravel the series climax, there’s a timeline of River’s life with the Doctor, plus the premiere of the brand new adventure, Death is the Only Answer, featuring Einstein, so tune in from 8:35pm on BBC Three!
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
We’ve almost made it, everyone! This year’s rollercoaster of a series will reach its jaw-dropping conclusion tonight, as we all gather for The Wedding of River Song.
All the way back in April, the Doctor returned to our screens and was shot dead by an impossible astronaut by the shores of Lake Silencio in Utah. Today, time finally catches up with him as he faces his destiny, and there’s plenty of mysteries to be resolved, so it promises to be an absolute humdinger! The whole series has been building up to this!
Last year’s series ended with a wedding, and this one looks set to go the same way, but something tells us things won’t be as simple as they were for Amy and Rory (Big Bang Two and resetting the universe aside…). One thing’s for sure though, tonight’s finale will be a mad, confusing and mind-bendingly exciting ride, so we had all better buckle up…
The Wedding of River Song takes place tonight from 7:05pm on BBC One, and you’ll be able to join us straight after for the reception party as we rate and debate all the action!
Meanwhile, from 8:35pm, the last ever episode of Confidential will be screened on BBC Three. When Time Froze features interviews with the cast, a look back at River Song’s timeline, and the premiere of Death is the Only Answer, a mini-adventure written by the winners of the Script to Screen competition in which the Doctor meets… Einstein!
Share all your last minute theories in our Series 6 discussion before time runs out…
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
Tomorrow night it’s double the excitement for fans! Not only will we finally get to see the Series 6 finale, but we’ll also be treated to a brand new mini-adventure with the Doctor!
It has been confirmed today that this weekend’s Doctor Who Confidential will be the last ever episode of the series.
The behind the scenes programme, which has aired alongside the main series since 2005, has been axed as a “cost-cutting measure” reports the Guardian, who explain: “With the BBC facing budget cuts of up to 20% across its output as part of its Delivering Quality First initiative BBC controller Zai Bennett has chosen to axe the show at the end of its current series”. The final episode, When Time Froze, airs on Saturday.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “Doctor Who Confidential has been a great show for BBC3 over the years but our priority is to build on original British commissions unique to the channel.”
A very, very sad day for indeed! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments…
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
BBC Books have released the covers for the forthcoming Torchwood: Miracle Day prequel books which were revealed back in March!
We’ll be able to purchase First Born from 21st July, while the releases of Long Time Dead and The Men Who Sold the World will follow on 4th August and 18th August. Each book has a RRP of £6.99. Will you be getting them?
Keep reading for all the covers, plot and author details!
Rhys was hoping this meant a windswept cottage on a cliff top, but he’s had to settle for a miserable caravan in the isolated village of Rawbone. With the locals taking an unhealthy interest in their daughter, Gwen and Rhys start to realise that something is very wrong – something with echoes of a life they thought they’d left behind.
As they uncover the village’s terrible past, Gwen discovers that Torchwood will never leave them behind, and now she and Rhys stand alone in defence of the Earth. And the children of Rawbone can only bring her closer to the secret forces that want her out of the way.
Long Time Dead by Sarah Pinborough To be released 4th August
Cardiff Bay.
The government has ordered the excavation of the wreckage of a secret underground base.
DCI Tom Cutler is watching from a distance, fascinated by the process. There are people in his dreams. People he feels he should know.
The disbanded Torchwood Institute spent a century accumulating non-terrestrial artefacts and catching aliens. Who knows what – or who – might still be intact down there.
But by the time they find the first body, Suzie Costello is long gone.
The Men Who Sold the World by Guy Adams To be released 18th August
When Oscar Lupe appears 20,000 feet up in the air, his body is frozen solid and free-falling to earth. It shatters on impact. Soon after, a CIA Special Activities Division squad goes rogue with a cargo marked ‘Torchwood’ that they’ve been escorting from somewhere called Cardiff. A very special shipment the British government is keen to offload at almost any price. The Agency puts Rex Matheson on the case. As the strange deaths pile up, Rex realises there must be experimental tech out there, but someone is obstructing him at every turn – each time he seems to be catching up with the rogue unit, something puts him off the trail. Rex is the CIA’s golden boy – but has he met his match in the evasive Mr Wynter?
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Amazon are now listing three new Torchwood paperback novels which are to be released throughout the year!
First up is First Born by James Goss, which will be published on 21st July. Meanwhile, Long Time Dead by Sarah Pinborough will follow on 20th September, and you’ll be able to buy The Men Who Sold the World by Guy Adams from 4th October. The novels are prequels to the new series, Miracle Day, which begins in July. You can read the plot details for each of the paperbacks below!
First Born by James Goss (Available in the US from 6th September) Gwen and Rhys are on the run. Rhys was hoping this meant a windswept cottage on a cliff top, but he’s had to settle for a miserable caravan in the isolated village of Rawbone. With the locals taking an unhealthy interest in their daughter, Gwen and Rhys start to realise that something is very wrong – something with echoes of a life they thought they’d left behind. As they uncover the village’s terrible past, Gwen discovers that Torchwood will never leave them behind, and now she and Rhys stand alone in defence of the Earth. And the children of Rawbone can only bring her closer to the secret forces that want her out of the way.
Long Time Dead by Sarah Pinborough Cardiff Bay. The government has ordered the excavation of the wreckage of a secret underground base. DCI Tom Cutler is watching from a distance, fascinated by the process. There are people in his dreams. People he feels he should know. The disbanded Torchwood Institute spent a century accumulating non-terrestrial artefacts and catching aliens. Who knows what – or who – might still be intact down there. But by the time they find the first body, Suzie Costello is long gone.
The Men Who Sold the World by Guy Adams When Oscar Lupe appears 20,000 feet up in the air, his body is frozen solid and free-falling to earth. It shatters on impact. Soon after, a CIA Special Activities Division squad goes rogue with a cargo marked ‘Torchwood’ that they’ve been escorting from somewhere called Cardiff. A very special shipment the British government is keen to offload at almost any price. The Agency puts Rex Matheson on the case. As the strange deaths pile up, Rex realises there must be experimental tech out there, but someone is obstructing him at every turn – each time he seems to be catching up with the rogue unit, something puts him off the trail. Rex is the CIA’s golden boy – but has he met his match in the evasive Mr Wynter?
Freema Agyeman has firmly fended off rumours that she’ll be reprising her role of Martha Jones for David Tennant’s last episode.
“There has been some speculation but nothing has been confirmed,” she told Scotland on Sunday. “Talk to anyone in the world of Who and they’ll say you never feel like you’ve left. Ask Billie Piper. David Tennant bounds on to set every day and says, ‘Right people, what are we doing today? Am I getting strung up, frozen, flung about a room?’”
She added: ”It goes beyond a day job. Of course, I would resurrect her when the time is right, whether in 10 years or one.”
Rumours of a possible comeback were sparked in The Sun last month. It’s been claimed that Agyeman was offered the return after filming commitments meant it was impossible for her to shoot her previously planned guest stint in the next series of Torchwood.
But the actress knows she will always be renowned for her role as the Doctor’s fiesty companion, but has revealed that she has no worries about being remembered for it.
“The Who fans are the best,” she said. “The more, the better. Even after the Law & Order launch, there were a group of them waiting for me. That absolutely warms my heart.”
She continued: “In the early days, at award ceremonies I would get out of the car on to the red carpet, hear all the screaming, see all the lights flashing, and look for the Who fans. I’d go straight over and just stay with them.”
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The Men Who Sold the World by Guy Adams
Freema Agyeman has firmly fended off rumours that she’ll be reprising her role of Martha Jones for David Tennant’s last episode.
