Dr Who — Season 17, Serial 6: Shada

4th January, 2018.

You know, I’m having a mixed kind of day off, today.

I’d had a internal hard drive I’d wanted rid of.

I’d replaced a two terabyte internal drive — one used for storage in an extra drive bay — with a four terabyte one.

And initially tried selling the old one at the Brentwood branch of CeX.

They couldn’t take it.

The store’s external hard drive enclosure, the device they used to check hard drives people were selling to them?

Had failed.

Not exactly reassuring.

And not repaired or replaced, when I looked in there, yesterday.

Which got me thinking, this morning, that a different branch of the company would take a perfectly serviceable, second hand hard drive.

So … ?

With enough money in hand to get a train ticket to Romford?

I went to the Romford branch, and sold it to them.

That, twenty quid in my pocket and my first and only McDonalds in years?

Left me feeling a bit better about the whole experience.

~≈§≈~

That’s not why I’m writing, though.

No, I’ve had a night off.

And something else for Christmas.

You’ve realised, by now, that I’m a long time fan of the British TV show, Dr Who.

Like many fans?

I knew about the episodes the show has lost.

Those that — like many Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell stories — were junked after airing.

Or, in the case of one Tom Baker story?

One that filming had started on … 

But never completed, as a result of industrial action.

It’s that Tom Baker story I’m talking about.

I got a blu-ray copy of the famed, Douglas Adams penned, Shada, for Christmas.

Tonight?

Was my first chance to watch the serial that’s every fan’s been waiting to watch, for the past thirty-eight years.

~≈§≈~

The Day Of The Doctor: Geekboy Heaven … !

23rd November, 2013: The Day of the Doctor.

You know, there’s only so much bandwidth a boy can waste: especially as the aerial junction box in the block of flats I live in is knackered.

Given that … ?

Given that, I’ve been caning the limited amount of data I have: in a VERY unhelpful way, as well.

However … ?

I’ve just come away from seeing The Day Of The Doctor, via the BBC’s iPlayer service*.

And, while I think the 50th Anniversary episode isn’t perfect … ?

It’s a DAMN impressive piece of event drama: and something we won’t see for a few more years.

~≈Ï≈~

To try and briefly summarize … ?

The Day Of The Doctor sees Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor meeting Clara: just as the TARDIS is heli-napped by UNIT and taken UNIT’s HQ under the Tower of London.

And taken to view artwork that includes orders from an old flame: Elizabeth 1st.

Seemingly … ?

Seemingly the Virgin Queen needs her husband’s help with a rather awkward Zygon problem.

She ends up with not only the Tenth Doctor — David Tennant — but with the Eleventh Doctor — Matt Smith — but also the hither-to unseen War Doctor: played by John Hurt.

The War Doctor … ?   Has been sent through time to see what his future holds, by ‘The Moment’, the Time Lords’ last great weapon: sent so that the Moment — played by Billie Piper — can show him the consequences of destroying both Timelords and Daleks will be … 

~≈Ï≈~

Now … 

Not perfect … ?

Possibly not: although I’m damned if I could put a finger on how.

The Day Of The Doctor is a very entertaining watch, and one I, as a fan, can find no fault with.

I’m VERY aware it’s going to keep fans — and hopefully general viewers — happy for years: both in the amount of geeky references, and ‘guest appearences’ from every preceding Doctor.

And a brief view from Peter Capaldi’s 12th, as well.

AND from Tom Baker, as ‘The Curator’.

Nice touch, that … !

~≈Ï≈~

It’s ALSO done something else.

In one throwaway line from a character called The General, the episode mentions that we see all thirteen Doctors.

Now, I’m wondering if that means Capaldi’s Twelfth — I’m still not sure how to count Hurt’s War Doctor — will be the last.

But I DO know this: with the re-appearence of Gallifrey, the Time Lords are back.

I believe this means things could go in all sorts of directions.

*        My family’s recording the after-party on BBC for me: when I said I’ve been caning my broadband limits, I wasn’t kidding.

An Adventure In Space And Time: Wow!

22nd November, 2013: An Adventure in Time and Space.

I don’t ask much of life, I really don’t.

The occasional night out is nice: along with the occasional film.

Possibly even a concert.

All depending on the money situation, of course.

On the very limited budget I have … ?

I’ll happily rent a movie or two from iTunes.

And happily watch tv, if I think there’s something worth watching.

That’s been difficult, over the space of the past week.

Given that the communal aerial for the block of flats I live in has been damaged: and won’t be repaired until Monday at the earliest.

I’m fuming: as are my neighbours.

What makes things frustrating — for me — is the fact that I finds myself forced to use the BBC iPlayer’s ‘Live’ service to watch the few things I do want to watch: including tomorrow’s fiftieth anniversary Dr Who special, The Day Of The Doctor.

The service is good, especially with downloaded content: but it’s live streaming, even on the faster broadband my ISP provides, isn’t perfect.

So, I’m understandably not a completely happy bunny.

Far from it, in fact.

However … ?

However, I did manage to catch the Mark Gatiss penned commemoration of the show’s early days, An Adventure In Space And Time.

And, my LORD, was that good … !

~≈Ï≈~

Starring David Bradley as Wiiliam Hartnell, the docu-drama shows us Sydney Newman — Brian Cox — appointing Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine) to be the new producer of an outré teatime TV show.

Over what turns out to be something of a trying three years:  with sexist designers, patronising bosses, an increasingly exhausting crew … 

And a leading man who’s, initially, very sceptical … !

~≈Ï≈~

Now, I’ve got to admit, I’m very biased, here.

I’m a fan, watching a fan made drama — Mark Gatiss, as Moffat, Tennant, Gaiman, Davies et al are all fanbois — about our favourite show.

But … ?

Well, frankly, I’m thinking that was also a wonderfully made piece of work: with excellent performances from it’s cast, including its two central actors, Bradley and Raine, as Hartnell and Lambert.

Equally as frankly … ?   If this were a movie IN were writing about … ?

It’s would certainly deserve four stars.

An Adventure In Space And Time.★★★★

The Daily Teaser — 11-10-2013: The Mary Rose

Wowsa … !

The Beeb has officially made the announcement about the rumoured missing episodes: it seems they’ve found eleven episodes of Dr Who.

Enough to plug some serious holes in two Patrick Troughton stories, The Web Of Fear and the Enemy Of The World.

Plug holes … 

And see them released on iTunes … 

I have to admit to starting today’s post a touch late.

Where I was frantically looking the episodes up on iTunes … 

Let’s move on, shall we?   BEFORE I get really overexcited … 

~≈Å≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi* and Trevor† putting in their answers: with Trevor offering this information about World Mental Health Day and Debbi telling us older episodes of Dr Who could be fun, both scored five out of five.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s nautical questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 11th October, 1982, saw the raising of the Mary Rose: a ship of which English king’s navy … ?

Q2) The Mary Rose had been sunk in which year of the 1540s … ?

Q3) Which strait had the Mary Rose sunk in … ?

Q4) That strait is between the coast of England: and which isle … ?

Q5) What sort of ship was the Mary Rose: a caravel, carrack or hoy … ?

Q6) Finally … the Mary Rose is on display at which English port … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th October can be written as 10-10.   What — in CB slang — does 10-10 mean … ?

A1) Transmission Over.

Q2) 10th October, 1999, saw what was then called the Millennium Wheel put into place.   What’s that wheel now known as … ?

A2) London Eye.

Q3) 10th October, 1971, saw the sold and dismantled what reassembled in Arizona … ?

A3) London Bridge.

Q4) 10th October, 1957, saw Britain’s worst nuclear disaster take place: at what was then the Windscale reactors.   What’s Windscale now called … ?

A4) Sellafield.

Q5) Finally … 10th October is World Mental Health Day.   Who, in the UK, is responsible for mental health care provision?

A5) The various branches of the National Health Services.

I’ll leave you with this observation …

“Once the angle of heel was sufficient for water to enter the gunports the fate of the ship was sealed.”

From The Anne Boleyn Files.

And this music … 

Have a good day.

*        Actually, Debbi‡ … ?   The missing episodes are on iTunes: or, at least, the UK branch.   Might be worth having a look.

†        Actually, Trevor‡ … ?   The missing episodes are on the UK iTunes.   Might be worth having a look.

‡        Folks, why am I getting a spooky sense of deja vu … ?

The Daily Teaser — 9-10-2013: The Life Of Brian

Looks like its officially official.  They’ve found some.

I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

If you’re a fan of shows like Dr Who — ones that have been in production foe some time — you’ll be aware that, back in the 1960s and early 1970s, the BBC would wipe old episode from shows it then considered unimportant, from valuable, expensive, but very re-usable, video tape.

Which, obviously, means there’s a lot of episodes missing.

It’s also been rumoured — for some time — that some have been found.

Something that the BBC have confirmed: saying, in a press conference, yesterday, that “A number of early episodes of Doctor Who … have been returned to the BBC.”

Seemingly, the BBC is to confirm the find, later this week.

Keep your fingers crossed, folks: this could be good.

~≈Í≈~

Moving on, yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi*, and a much welcomed back Trevor†, putting in their answers: with both telling us they’re train fans, the day ALSO say both scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s teaser, shall we … ?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 9th October, 1936, saw the birth of actor, Brian Blessed.   He played the Duke of Exeter in the Kenneth Branagh version of which of Shakespeare’s plays … ?

Q2) Brian is also the oldest man to reach the magnetic … what … ?

Q3) Additionally, he’s climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.   In which African country is Mount Kilimanjaro … ?

Q4) In which TV series did Brian first come to attention, playing PC Fancy Smith … ?

Q5) Name either of the character’s Brian played, in the original West End run of Cats.

Q6) Finally … In which science fiction film did Brian use the phrase, ‘Gordon’s ALIVE’ … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 8th October saw The Rocket win the Rainhill Trials, held by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.   What was The Rocket … ?

A1) A steam powered locomotive.

Q2) More to the point, name its designer.

A2) George Stephenson, along with his son Robert.

Q3) The company owned by that designer’s son built The Rocket: who was the son … ?

A3) Robert Stephenson.

Q4) Name any of The Rocket’s rivals, at the Trials.

A4) Cycloped, Novelty, Perseverance and the Sans Pareil.

Q5) Finally … the railway gauge used by The Rocket is named for the Rocket’s — and the gauge’s — designer.   How wide IS that gauge, in feet and inches … ?

A5) 4’ 8½”.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this fact from Brian Blessed …

“I’m a fully trained cosmonaut… №1 reserve for the International Space Station”

Brian Blessed.

And his appearance on Stars In Their Eyes … 

I’ll wish every who isn’t Brian Blessed a good day.

And everyone who is, a Happy Birthday.

*        You’re right, Debbi‡, it’s a fantastic way to travel … !

†        One of these days, Trevor‡, we’ll have to persuade you to post up some photos.

‡        Actually, folks, did you see the news about the missing Dr Who episodes … ?   Could be interesting to see, especially if ANY of the found ones are from Evil Of The Daleks.

The Daily Teaser — 7-10-2013: The Jewish Calendar

Blimey, the march of technology, eh … ?

One thing I saw floating past me, on my Facebook timeline, is the news, from the Radio Times, that a couple of (unnamed) episodes of Dr Who — vintage ones, potentially from the Patrick Troughton era — have been discovered in Africa.

And are to be released via digital platforms, before anything else.

Like I say, technology, eh … ?   It’s only a few years ago that releasing them onto a domestic videotape format would’ve been a radical move … !

Fascinating thing, the march of progress … 

Let’s move on … 

~≈◊≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: AND bagging five out of five.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s Teaser’s, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How to,’ License and video … 

Q1) 7th October, 3761 BC, is the accepted first day of the Hebrew calendar: what’s the first day of the Jewish week … ?

Q2) More to the point, what’s the Hebrew name for the first day of the week … ?

Q3) The Jewish New Year’s Day is Rosh … what … ?

Q4) The day’s also called Yom Teruah: or Day of what: whispers, shouting or talking … ?

Q5) What’s traditionally blown on the Jewish New Year’s Day … ?

Q6) Finally, the New Year’s holiday leads up to Yom Kippur: or Day of what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 6th Of October City is a satellite city of the capital city of Egypt.   What’s the name of that capital … ?

A1) Cairo.

Q2) 6th October, 1981, also saw the assassination of Egypt’s then president.   Who was he … ?

A2) Anwar Sadat.

Q3) If you were born today, what’s your star-sign … ?

A3) Libra.

Q4) 6th October, 1927, saw the debut of The Jazz Singer: who played the main character in the 1980 version of The Jazz Singer … ?

A4) Neil Diamond.

Q5) Finally … 6th October, 1683, saw German immigrants found which Pennsylvanian city … ?

A5) Germantown.   Obviously …

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this proverb …

“Don’t boast of tomorrow, for you know not what a day will bring.”

From the Dictionary of 1000 Jewish Proverbs, David C. Gross, 1997.

And this tune.

Shabbat Shalom and Hevenu Shalom  Aleichem... by SPARTANsenator7

Have a good day.

*        I haven’t seen her for a while, Debbi: I will be asking, for you, as and when I do … !

Classic Dr Who. The Talons Of Weng Chiang: At the House of The Dragon.

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar, on 30 May 2011 21:46:00)

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, Grub, bless him, usually know’s what I’m talking about.

Usually.

Well …

Occasionally.

Well …

OK, nine times out of ten.

Ok, call it seven.

Ok, sevenish times out of ten.

I think …

At any rate, I do know he got my point that the Moffat helmed run of the show does has something of a Robert Holmes feel to it.

Not necessarily in every respect.

But certainly in its taste for the Grand Guignol.

Bless him …

He managed to hand me his recently purchased copy of vintage Tom Baker story, The Talons of Weng-Chiang, yesterday, just to make the point he got mine.

Oh …

And because I’d happened ask him, of course …

My memory’s touch iffy: way too much beer, over the years’, combined with WAY too much nicotine gum, at the moment, I think.

At ANY rate … ?

I borrowed Grub’s copy of The Talons Of Weng Chiang, yesterday.

And I’ll be honest … ?

I think he’s spent some of his precious cash — Grub, bless him, tend to budget a lot better than I do, but is still on fairly limited means — on quite a buy.

Because he managed to bag the Special Edition version from Brentwood’s local Sainsburys, at what he tells me was a very good price.

Very good, indeed … !

»»•««

Bless him … !

And I’ll happily admit — very happily, in fact — that this version of The Talons Of Weng-Chiang is rather special indeed.

Now, I’ll happily confess, I’ve written about the story, before now. After all, The Talons Of Weng-Chiang is possibly one of the best loved of all the classic era Dr Who stories ever made.

But what caught my attention with the special edition version of the story … ?

Was the extra disc: complete with a quite a nice chunk of extra features.

Including a fascinating potted history of the Limehouse district of London, where so many Chinese sailors lived in the Victorian era.

Actually … ?

Not that many …

Seemingly … ?

Limehouse only ever had a Chinese population of about 200 or so, at it’s peak.

Amazing what you find out, watching this things, isn’t it … ?

At any rate … ?

Next time he’s around, I’ll see if I can persuade Grub to let us all know what he’s thinking of the Special Edition.

But for now … ?

I’ll leave you with what appear’s to be Robert Holmes First Law for Deranged 51st Century Villains: “Never Give a Simple Order when you get the chance for a full-on Rant … ”

Oh …

And leave you to have some dinner …

In the House Of The Dragon

OK, I’ll admit, I’m a fan of “Doctor Who”; notoriously so, in fact.

I’m not the worst I’ve met, though; but I’m enough of a fan to — if I’ve a quiet afternoon, and a lot of ironing to do — to put on something of a classic in the DVD player.

And that ‘House of the Dragon’ title is taken from one of the classics of the Tom Baker era, “The Talons of Weng-Chiang”.

One that was first shown in February of 1976 and written by then “Doctor Who” script editor, Robert Holmes; generally agreed to be one of the powerhouse writers for the original series. And that’s in spite of the formulaic of some his stories could follow; a hideously deformed scheming madman in an underground lair, uses villainous servants to regain their former power.

“Caves of Androzani” — possibly Peter Davison’s finest, as well as his last outing — does it, as one or two others. Including “The Brain of Morbius”, originally penned by Terrance Dicks, but given something of an extensive going over by Holmes …

Pretty much that same recipe … but with very different spices and toppings.

One of his hallmarks was introducing an ‘odd couple’; Dibber and Glitz cropped up in “The Mysterious Planet”, Chessene and Shockeye, in “The Two Doctors” …

And Litefoot and Jago, in “Talons of Weng-Chiang”; quite possibly two of the more memorable examples, I think; I know a few of my fellow fans agree.

Both are integral to the plot, as well. The opening scenes of the first episodes see the Doctor intent on taking new companion, Leela — played by Louise Jameson, probably better known as “EastEnders” character, Rosa di Marco — on a theatre trip. In Victorian England, I should add. On their way, they’re attacked by members of what is later revealed to be members of something called The Tong of The Black Scorpion.

Professor Litefoot — Trevor Baxter — is introduced to the Doctor and Leela as a result of this; he’s the police pathologist who examines the one Tong member arrested as a result; who died in police custody as a result of scorpion venom, administered by one of the story’s villains, stage magician, and scheming scoundrel, Li H’sen Chang.

Rather than police brutality, I hasten to point out; not that British police ever indulge, of course.

Back to the plot, though, that brings me to the other half of the Litefoot/Jago partnership; Li H’sen Chang is, as I’ve already mentioned, a stage magician, working at, and using as cover, the Palace Theatre.

Managed by Mr Henry Gordon Jago; played with blustering Victorian brilliance by Christopher Benjamin.

And that’s where Robert Holmes managed to pull out of his hat, to turn “Talons of Weng Chiang” from what could have bee a formula, into the second most frequently named fan favourite.

Eminently quotable lines …

And the references that Holmes liked putting into his scripts.

And in the latter case, there’s a lot …

The simple fact the two main villains of the piece — Li H’sen Chang, and his boss, Weng Chiang, revealed, at the last, to be 51st* Century war criminal, Magnus Greel — and the Tong Of the Black Scorpion itself, are indirect references to every “Fu Manchu” story written. The Palace Theatre setting, and Greel’s usage of the cellar — the CELLAR … ! — homage’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” Even “Pygmalion” manages to get a look in, with the the “Doctor Who” production office intention — never followed though, alas — of developing a Professor Higgins/ Eliza Doolittle relationship between the Doctor and Leela.

~≈∂≈~

Now this isn’t the best classic “Doctor Who” that got made.

Not compared to “Genesis of the Daleks”, it isn’t.

But — in spite of the understandable objections raised by TVOntario’s Chinese viewers about racial stereotyping — the combination of rock-solid acting on the part of the cast, the — for the original series — very high production values, and Robert Holmes eminently quotable writing and plotting, make this story the second most popular in the show’s history.

I also know that it’s a screaming tragedy that Robert Holmes died in 1983; I, personally, would have loved to have seen how a contribution from him would’ve shaped up, in the new series.

Mind you, having seen most of Stephen Moffat’s contributions, so far, I think there’s a suitable replacement, coming along …

~≈∂≈~

The net result?

Well …

I’m going to leave you with a couple of YouTube clips from “Talons of Weng Chiang”; here, and here.

And urge you to have a look, for yourself.

Cast
The Doctor	Tom Baker
Leela	Louise Jameson
Jago	Christopher Benjamin
Li H'sen Chang	John Bennett
Mr. Sin	Deep Roy
Professor Litefoot	Trevor Baxter
Weng-Chiang	Michael Spice

Crew
Director	David Maloney
Producer	Philip Hinchcliffe
Writer	Robert Holmes
Script Editor	Robert Holmes
Title Music	Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Delia Derbyshire
Incidental music	Dudley Simpson

* I’m not to sure, here, if it’s intended, but there’s references in “Talons of Weng-Chiang”, to Time Agents. Whether that’s the same Agency that a certain Captain Jack Harkness later belongs to, is debatable. But …