Dead Giveaway

Beginning on Saturday March 15 and running to Thursday March 20, as a daily freebie with The Sun and News of the World tabloids, earthlings may collect six prize episodes of “Doctor Who” on DVD from the last two series. This follows a similar publicity incentive two years ago but, whereas, on that occasion, the episodes were culled from a selection of past Doctors, together with Christopher Eccleston’s début in “Rose”, this promotion’s six segments of the key to time are all from the David Tennant era. Pictured above, from Series Two, are “School Reunion”, the two-parter “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”, and, from Series Three, “Smith and Jones”, “Blink” and “Utopia”; although, contrary to popular belief, “Blink” doesn’t really star David Tennant!

The Sun’s irresistible offer is masterly news, not least for this victim, because it’ll give me a chance to be hypnotised by Derek Jacobi’s brief-but-brilliant contribution to “Doctor Who” all over again without having to invest in the disastrously dire dénouement of last year’s season. Similarly, I can also delicately place my surgeon’s hands on a pristine copy of Freema’s medicinal début, in order to check up on yet another bloody call to a Rusty hospital and revisit the exquisite craftsmanship of Roy Marsden’s consultant Mr. Stoker. Being of totally logical disposition, though temporarily illiterate inclination, I ain’t afraid of no ghosts except when I fear they’ll haunt me for the rest of my life! The best of the bunch is “Blink” which, did I mention, doesn’t really star David Tennant!!

Master Class

Sir Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of, initially, Professor Yana and, latterly, the Master in the latest episode of “Doctor Who”, “Utopia”, was quite simply exemplary. I don’t think it an exaggeration to say that his is the finest performance the series has seen since its return a little over two years ago. I’ve already read accusations of hamminess levelled at the moment Sir Derek is revealed to be the Doctor’s arch enemy but, for me, he executed the transition from good to evil with consummate ease. Just for one episode, Jacobi gave back dignity to “Doctor Who”! Which is more than can be said for successor John Simm!! Post regeneration, the Master had undergone a complete character transplant, which I know is often the case with Gallifreyans, and started to act like a total buffoon in order to fit in perfectly with the RTD vision of the “Doctor Who” universe!!! I suppose I don’t blame Simm. He can only work with what Russell writes. But, he was out-acted by the boy who won the “Blue Peter” competition! And, in a way, the “Life on Mars” actor undermined the good work the Knight of the Realm had put in hitherto. Just as David Tennant undercut much that transpired in “The Parting of the Ways”, with his first few words at the end of that episode, and as Catherine Tate’s supposedly humorous appearance at the end of “Doomsday” detracted from Rose’s emotional departure, so, too, did John Simm diminish what had gone before.

There were some very strange time anomalies in “Utopia”! The Doctor had never seen equipment of this type before even though the Professor was using regular jack plugs! Then, there was the 21st Century lorry that delivered the retrieved TARDIS!! But, best of all, was the black phone the Doctor used which is already out-of-date even by today’s standards!!! It was supposed to be the furthest forward the TARDIS had ever been. Are these artefacts included so the general populace can relate to the story? If so, science fiction really isn’t for them. The rest of us might like to enjoy some material which doesn’t anachronistically reference life as it is in the present day but actually employs the imagination to wonder what it might really be like in the far-flung future! And, what of Futurekind itself? This sabre-toothed clan looked like bikers or wasters you see hanging around city centres with nothing better to do than marvel over each other’s multiple piercings and tattoos! “Utopia”, if nothing else, certainly helped to demonise them!! Aside from their appearance, I thought they were one plot idea too many. It is a tradition, in the programme, to feature outlanders of one sort-or-another but their inclusion only added clutter to what little narrative drive the episode had already. The one little spark of imagination in the yarn came in the concept and design of Chantho, and in her portrayal by Chipo Chung. I warmed to her and, like Captain Jack, wasn’t put off by her speech impediment! Imagine Sir Derek as the Doctor with her as his companion!! It would work for me for a season!!!

When Two Worlds Collide…

This trailer takes us right up to the end of the latest third series of “Doctor Who” including brief clips of Sir Derek Jacobi as the Professor in episode eleven, toasting “Utopia”, and the appearance of “Life on Mars” actor John Simm, as “Mr Saxon”, in the final two episodes. John doesn’t say anything but appears to be on a television monitor presumably partaking in a spot of political campaigning! I think that’s what they call it when power-mad peeps try to suppress the rights of the individual!!

Also featured are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, returning to the show only to find it severely changed, personnel wise! How on Earth is he going to recognise anyone? Will he like Martha as much as he did Rose? Will he wanna kiss Davey-boy as much as he did Chris?!! All pertinent questions! Me, I wonder how Rose feels knowing she will never learn the secret the Face of Boe is waiting to impart in episode three!!

Mark Gatiss looks on fine form in episode six as Dr Lazarus. Interesting that he’s acting in the series this year, having narrated “Confidential” last year, whereas Tony Head, having acted in the show last year, is narrating “Confidential” this year! Simon Pegg managed both in the first year appearing as the Editor in “The Long Game” whilst also narrating “Confidential”!! Enough plugs for the BBC THREE documentary series!!!

Best of all, the 82-second trailer, which is available on loop to Sky and Virgin subscribers but not Freeview users, includes brief footage of delectable “Spooks” actress Miranda Raison as a showgirl in the Dalek episodes, who seem to be whizzing about all over the place exterminating everything in sight. Regular readers of my blog will know I’m rather partial to naughty Miranda! I demand to be transported back to 1930s New York this minute!! I don’t mind fending off the Pig Men to save her!!!

More curiously, the Doctor seems to be with someone in a wedding dress… again! It’s not Donna. Her name’s Joan and she’s played by Jessica Stevenson, who’s just tied the knot for real herself, in the two-part story by Paul Cornell. Could the Time Lord really be considering taking a wife, getting married, a mortgage, settling down and all that?!! He did mention something of the sort in “The Impossible Planet”. Even more curiously, he tells Martha he’s not the Doctor! Who is he then, Tony Blair? Watch and enjoy!!!