Spotted last weekend in the middle of a farmer's market in Austin, TX. Daleks drawn by a four year old girl.
Merrick here...
This weekend brings us "Closing Time" - the final episode before the show's Sixth Season/Series finale.
"Closing Time" is scripted by Gareth Roberts (who previously wrote DW eps like "The Shakespeare Code" and "The Unicorn and the Wasp") and revisits Craig (James Corden) - a character introduced last last Season/Series in "The Lodger" (also scripted by Roberts). Steve Hughes, helmer of numerous "Doctors" and "Land Girls" episodes, is directing.
I've come across a fair number of people who trash talk "The Lodger" and Craig, but I've always been a complete sucker for both that episode and the simple truth of Corden's character. I deeply enjoyed seeing The Doctor spinning about in such an atypical circumstance, appreciated the glee with which he seemed to embrace the mundane, and feel there's much more fun to be had in exploring The Doctor in similar fish-out-of-water situations. Hopefully, we'll get at least a little of this in "Closing Time" - I'm quite eager to see what they've come up with.
While we wait, if you need a refresher on "The Lodger", it's streamable HERE in HD, HERE in standard def, and it's also streaming through Netflix (search for "Doctor Who" ---> find the "DOCTOR WHO 2005" entry ---> select season 5 ---> it's episode 11).
A FEW MORE THOUGHTS ON "SPECIAL EDITIONS" OF OLD DOCTOR WHO EPISODES
A few weeks back I mentioned how excited I was by the "Special Edition" of "Day of the Daleks." The term "Special Edition" is, itself, a tad confusing because it can (and often does) refer, simply, to a DVD or Blu-Ray which carries a whole lotta extras. In this case, however, "Special Edition" is more akin the the STAR WARS SEs, or the magnificent STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE SE/restoration from a few years ago. I.e. new sound work, rejiggered effects, some editorial tweaks, etc.
When I first mentioned it, I said we'd be revisiting the DOTD SE in the near future. At the time, my hope and intent was to bring you some special media which illustrated the befores and afters of the changes that were made to the episode, in conjunction with BBC. Subsequently, for reasons still unknown, everything went horribly wrong regarding our interaction with BBC - and said media will almost certainly not be forthcoming at this point.
Despite this setback, and as I noted a few Docback posts heralding the DOTD SE last week, I wanted to once more to strongly encourage anyone who owns the recently released DOTD DVD to check out the newly enhanced version of the episode. I think it's a rather remarkable accomplishment, and pulls a very interesting question to the forefront: I know BBC has previously issued SEs/revised versions of selected DOCTOR WHO episodes, but to what extent should this be done in the future? And, to which stories? Provided, of course, that the original versions would always be treated with the deference and respect they're now receiving.
Personally, I think The Powers That Be should seriously consider presenting DW SEs with more regularity. My sense of the matter is that folks who might be hedging on 'getting into" retroWHO could be coaxed into the fold if the shoddy production values of some important stories were smartly smoothed over. As I wrote in my initial piece eon the matter...
...my wife was laughing at the closing battle/invasion of "Day of the Daleks" as I watched the original version. She saw the Special Edition enhancements - and she wasn't laughing anymore. The newly embiggened climax worked /felt that much better. That's quite meaningful, and potentially a very significant weapon in helping DW reach new or skeptical audiences. And this...is important.
We've touched on these ponderings a bit already, but now that you're able to see the badassness of the excellent DOTD SE for yourselves, what are your thoughts on the issues?
Slightly off-topic, but I have to say it; DOTD brings us what may be the best disentigrations/vaporizations I've ever seen. Those guns..are wicked.
WATCH EPISODES FROM THE CURRENT SEASON/SERIES
See DOCTOR WHO Season/Series Six Episode 1 - "The Impossible Astronaut" - in HD HERE and standard def HERE.
See "Day of The Moon" - the second installment of the season premiere linked above - in HD HERE and standard def HERE.
Episode 3 - "The Curse Of The Black Spot" - can be found in HD HERE or standard def HERE.
Episode 4 - "The Doctor's Wife" - is available HERE in HD, while standard def is availabe HERE.
Episode 5 - "The Rebel Flesh" - can be seen HERE in HD, or viewed in standard def HERE.
Episode 6 - "The Almost People" - can be found HERE in HD and HERE in standard def.
Episode 7 - "A Good Man Goes To War" is HERE in HD and is in standard def HERE.
Episode 8 - "Let's Kill Hitler" - in HD HERE and standard def HERE.
Episode 9 - "Night Terrors" - HD HERE, standard def HERE.
Episode 10 - "The Girl Who Waited" - HD HERE, standard def HERE.
Episode 11 - "The God Complex" is in HD, or standard def is HERE.
Episode 12 - "Closing Time" - HD HERE, standard def HERE.
PREVIOUS DOCBACKS
[S6 (1) DOCBACKS]
"The Impossible Astronaut"
"Day of the Moon"
"The Curse of the Black Spot"
"The Doctor's Wife"
"The Rebel Flesh"
"The Almost People"
[S6 (2) DOCBACKS]
[RETRO-WHO DOCBACKS]
"Time and the Rani"
"Merrick's Personal Journey With The Doctor / "Frontios"
"An Unearthly Child"
DOCTOR WHO Title Sequences & DW At Comic-Con 2011
"The Daleks," "The Awakening," "The Crash of the Elysium"
"The Gunfighters" / "The Edge Of Destruction"
Why Eccleston Left, Here Comes Caroline Skinner, And Season/Series Six Part 1 on Blu-Ray And DVD
"Paradise Towers" / New WHOvian Documentary / Newsbits
New Trailer For Season/Series Six Part 2
AN IMPORTANT WARNING ABOUT SPOILERS
The AICN DOCTOR WHO Talkback below - aka "Docback" - is comprised of, and warmly welcomes, participants from across the globe.
Alas, please remember that DOCTOR WHO airs in the U.K. a few hours before it's seen on BBC America here in the States, for example.
While the Docback Code of Conduct (posted below) strongly encourages SPOILER SENSITIVITY at all times, it is quite likely that this Docback will become a SPOILER INTENSIVE ZONE late tomorrow morning U.S. time (Saturday September 10) - when "Closing Time" airs in the U.K.
If you wish to remain free and clear of "Closing Time" spoilers until after you've seen the show for yourself, you should tread cautiously if visiting this page after late tomorrow morning U.S. time.
U.S. VIEWERS (AND VIEWERS FROM OTHER REGIONS): please consider this ample notice and fair warning.
2) matters of SPOILAGE should be handled with thoughtful consideration and sensitivity. Posts containing SPOILERS should clearly state that a SPOILER exists in its topic/headline and should never state the spoiler itself . "** SPOILER ** Regarding Rory" is OK, for example. "** SPOILER ** Battle of Zarathustra" is fine as well. "**SPOILER** Why did everyone die?" Is NOT good.
And, above all...
3) converse, agree, disagree, and question as much as you want - but the freedom to do so is NOT a license to be rude, crass, disrespectful, or uncivilized in any way. Not remaining courteous and civil, as well as TROLLING or undertaking sensational efforts to ignite controversy, will result in banning. Lack of courtesy may receive one (1) warning before a ban is instigated. Obvious Trolling or Spamming will result in summary banning with no warning.
