Visit the official Doctor Who website

Visit the official Doctor Who website
Look to the future

Asylum seekers...

Asylum seekers...
Refuge of the Daleks

Doctor Who picture resource

Doctor Who picture resource
Roam the space lanes!

Explore the Doctor Who classic series website

Explore the Doctor Who classic series website
Step back in time

Infiltrate The Hub of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood

Infiltrate The Hub of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood
Armed and extremely dangerous

Investigate The Sarah Jane Adventures

Investigate The Sarah Jane Adventures
Fearless in the face of adversity

Call on Dani’s House

Call on Dani’s House
Harmer’s a charmer

Intercept the UFO fabsite

Intercept the UFO fabsite
Defending the Earth against alien invaders!

Uncover the secrets of the Dollhouse

Uncover the secrets of the Dollhouse
Programmable agent Echo exposed!

Hell’s belles

Hell’s belles
Naughty but nice

Love Exposure

Love Exposure
Flash photography!

Primeval portal

Primeval portal
Dressed to kill or damsels in distress?

Charmed, to be sure!

Charmed, to be sure!
The witches of San Francisco

Take on t.A.T.u.

Take on t.A.T.u.
All the way from Moscow

Proceed to the Luther website

Proceed to the Luther website
John and Jenny discuss their next move

DCI Banks is on the case

DCI Banks is on the case
You can bet on it!

On The Grid with Spooks

On The Grid with Spooks
Secret agents of Section D

Bridge to Hustle

Bridge to Hustle
Shady characters

Life on Ashes To Ashes

Life on Ashes To Ashes
Coppers with a chequered past

Claire’s no Exile

Claire’s no Exile
Goose steps

Vexed is back on the beat!

Vexed is back on the beat!
Mismatched DI Armstrong and bright fast-tracker Georgina Dixon

Medium, both super and natural

Medium, both super and natural
Open the door to your dreams

Who’s that girl? (350-picture Slideshow)

Sunday 29 July 2007

Pistols at Dawn!


I don’t believe this… Where’s Freema?!! Why isn’t she on the cover of the “Doctor Who” series three DVD box set with David? I was quite surprised to see how prominently John Simm features on the series three volume four DVD cover, out next month, but at least there’s a glimpse of Martha between John and David’s ears! She’s nowhere to be seen on the front of the complete series and yet she is in all thirteen episodes. John was in but three, two and a bit if you’re feeling generous! This really takes the biscuit!! I can clearly remember an interview in which an excited Freema exclaimed how cool it was that she would be appearing on the cover of a “Doctor Who” box set and now, after all her hard work, she has been denied the privilege. I feel disappointed for her so goodness only knows how she feels about it? I suppose it’s a case of don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. She’s still working for RTD… She began recording her three episodes of “Torchwood” last Tuesday and will, of course, be returning to “Doctor Who”, albeit in a diminished capacity. Ain’t this girl miffed or is she just gonna take the money and run? I don’t think anybody’s been treated this poorly on the programme since Colin Baker was sacked!

I suppose the reasoning behind the box set cover is that Simm is a better known face than Freema’s and thus likely to sell more copies. But, that theory doesn’t really hold water when you consider Freema has just featured heavily on TV every Saturday evening for thirteen weeks. And, more people watch “Doctor Who” than “Life on Mars”! Billie featured on the cover of two box sets and so I think Freema has been cheated out of something rightfully hers. There’s something slightly insidious about new “Doctor Who”. You can bet your bottom dollar Russell Tiberius Davies had plenty of input regarding the sleeve pictures! It makes no difference to whether or not I’ll be buying the set though. I’d already decided not to. I bought the recent Dalek episodes (don’t laugh!) because I love the Daleks, am a fan of Miranda Raison, and didn’t object to “42” as much as some, despite the gaping plot contrivances. First time I purchased one of the vanilla releases! I’m also going to get the current release as, to be honest, “Human Nature”, “The Family of Blood”, and “Blink” are pretty much all the discerning fan needs! These two discs avoid all episodes written by Russell, avoids Catherine Tate and the needless violence of Simm’s Master, but, unfortunately, it also means going without the second of Graeme Harper’s episodes featuring the wonderful Sir Derek Jacobi. I bought the Eccleston series, probably only because it came with extra discount, and was given series two for Christmas but, regarding series three, I would prefer to spend the money on “The Key to Time”. Even though it isn’t my favourite Tom Baker series, I still think it is better value for money and, more importantly, immensely more entertaining. I don’t own any of classic series sixteen, in any format, whereas I recorded every episode of the recent run. I guess we ought to be grateful Catherine Tate doesn’t feature on the front cover of the series three box set. They’re keeping that back for next year!

4 comments:

Paul said...

How funny. That was my first thought too on seeing the box set.
Can't say I'm surprised anymore though.

One of my friends said something terrifying the other day. He said "If Russell does leave at the end of series 4, what's the betting he contrives some way to get Rose back for the last episodes? You know, have all the companions together, get her family and Jack in for one final blast."

I laughed. Then thought about it.
I stopped laughing.

Oh, God...

Old Cheeser said...

Yes indeed, that is very bizarre that Freema doesn't appear on the front cover (perhaps there's a tiny pic of her squished onto the back??!)Seems very unfair seeing as Rose featured on both the previosu boxsets.

I watched "Sound of Drums" again the other day and I think I am revising my opinion of John Simm yet again (I'm so bloody changeable!) There were just too many aspects of his performance that I found annoying. Of course we have to blame RTD's script as well. But the point I'm trying to get to is that he doesn't deserve to be given such a Masterly status on the boxset! Okay, they could have stuck him on the back and Freema on the front - just as the Cybermen and Daleks were on the back for the Season Two boxset...

I too am looking forward to the Key To Time series. I agree, Season Sixteen isn't the highpoint of Tom Baker's tenure, but there's good stuff in there nevertheless. Mary Tamm was deliciously aloof and I loved her rapport with the Doc. Ribos Operation and Pirate Planet were very entertaining. Let's NOT mention Power of Kroll. And the extras on the new boxset look brilliant - very comprehensive - a Whovian's wet dream come true!

I hope to God that Paul's theory doesn't come true! It's more likely set to happen in 2013 when we celebrate the show's 50th anniversary eh? (!!)

Karen said...

It's a bit harsh leaving Freema out. I didn't like her character all that much but I don't think that was Freema's fault and more to do with the writing. I would be peeved if I was her.

I probably will get series 3. I was given both series 1 and 2 as Christmas presents. If the third doesn't arrive from Santa I will buy it myself. I can't help it. It's like having a collection and having to add to it. I did like most episodes though. There were only one or two I didn't enjoy (including the end episodes).

TimeWarden said...

I've always thought Russell would, more than likely, bring Rose back, Paul, considering she is meant to be him! I have a sneaking feeling this is why he didn't want Martha to become as prominent in "Doctor Who" as the new series' original companion. RTD doesn't like multiple Doctor stories so he's writing one called "The Twenty-five Companions" even as we speak!!

You're right, Simon, John Simm doesn't deserve to feature on the front of the box. On the back, no problem! I've nothing against him as an actor, just didn't like his and, more importantly, RTD's take on a much-cherished character. The cover is also misleading to John Simm fans who might believe he features throughout! Don't forget the 45th anniversary is next year... the show will probably be cancelled before the 50th!!

If Freema is upset, she's very good at disguising the fact, Karen. I didn't mind her character probably because she didn't snivel at every available opportunity, unlike Rose, even though she was love struck. She conveyed it with a glance or a line which is a little less self-indulgent than say the "I've lost him, Mum" scene in "The Christmas Invasion"! I didn't like "Last of the Time Lords" either, for the same reasons as you!!