Out with the Old, and in with the New …

Phew, what a big night … !

You probably know — or have realised, by now — that I’m something of a Doctor Who fan.

More fool you, if you haven’t!

So, as you can imagine, tonight’s second episode of The End of Time was something I was looking forward to.

As was Adrian, Kevin and Allison, who joined me to watch it, tonight.

Bit of a mini-movie-night, in point of fact … !!

And I think that we managed to watch Part Two of The End Of Time with a generally pleased reaction.

And, although Adrian seemed to have some reservations, he, too, was a glued as the rest of us.

With good reason, I think: while I’m thinking that <>The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End two-parter was a better written pair of episodes, The End Of Time, Parts One & Two hit exactly the right tone for David Tennant’s last hurrah.

Part Two picks up from last week’s Part one, with a flashback to the last Timelord High Council meeting, at the End of the Time War: they decide to break free of the Time Lock that prevents time travel into or away from it, by implanting the beat-beat rhythm that has tormented The Master — played by John Simm — since his childhood.

Actually, I’m thinking John Simm’s performance as The Master is one of the highlights of the new version of the series.

As is Bernard Cribbins’, as Wilfred Mott: beautifully played. If he doesn’t get some sort of gong for his performance, I’ll be very surprised.

Back to the plot, though …

The Doctor and Wilf are helped from the Master’s clutches by the Vinvocci salvage team; and, along with the Master, realise that the ‘something’ that has been predicted to return isn’t just the Timelords.

But the planet of Gallifrey, itself …

And, in a confrontation with the Lord President — revealed as Rassilon, himself — the Master and the Doctor have to cooperate to end the threat to the whole of creation, itself.

The Doctor shoots the white-point-diamond anchoring the Timelords and Gallifrey to Earth, while the Master kills the Timothy Dalton played Rassilon.

And vanishes.

Leaving the Doctor in the remains of the Naismith mansion.

And Wilf — literally locked away — banging on the door of his cell, to be let out.

Four time in a row …

I think we’ve guessed, after all this time, what that’s means …

The last ten minutes or so are the really emotional — or emotionally heavy-handed, perhaps — parts of the show, as we see the Tenth Doctor saying an individual ‘Farewell’ to the various companions of his years: Martha Jones and Mickey Smith, now freelance alien hunter’s: with Wilf, watching Donna’s wedding: and wishing Rose an anonymous Happy New Year, in January of 2005, a few months before he mets her.

Before staggering back to the TARDIS.

And whispering “I don’t want to go”.

Before the inevitable change happens …

•••••

Which was nicely done, although I think the actual swipe between David Tennant’s and Matt Smith’s faces was a touch rushed …

•••••

But those few minutes of Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor?

Now those were …

Intriguingly manic, I’m thinking …

But I’ll try and include some footage, if I get the chance.

I am thinking that the spring of this year — when the new series is due to start — looks like it could be interesting …

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But The End Of Time does, I think, raise a question or two: for me, at least.

Well …

One, at any rate.

Now, I know that the show — to date — hasn’t shown us much of the Timelords, or the events of the Time War.

So having something more added to the mythos is always appreciated.

I’m curious as to why Russell T. Davies picked Rassilon as the character to use as the Lord President.

I’m curious as to why.

After all, Rassilon was only ever seen once, in the original series, and that as a long-dead, electronic ghost.

Saying that, the name is already established in the Doctor Who universe, and a suitable character to bring into the mix.

And given that these two episodes tell us that both the Daleks and the Timelords have used time, itself as a weapon — and that the Daleks have already dragged Davros from the timelocked vaults he’d been trapped in — I’m going on the assumption that this is the same Rassilon of old, brought back by the Timelords to lead them.

I’m only hoping that the Doctor’s people re-occur in the Matt Smith/Stephen Moffat era.

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The other question is a lot simpler.

At various points across this episode, we see an older — and unidentified — woman in white, communicate various bits of helpful and sage advice to Wilf.

And I’m wondering who she is.

I know — from the hints I’ve picked up from various sites — that Alex Kingston is due to return in the next series, as Doctor River Song.

But the Tenth Doctor sees her — with Rassilon and the rest of the High Council — when he and The Master are fighting them.

There’s a look passed between them that seems to imply, if not actually say.

In an earlier conversation with Wilf, the woman says she’s someone who was lost for a long time.

And — significantly — will the Tenth Doctor and the unknown woman are exchanging glances, the incidental music usually used to indicate an emotional moment with either Rose, or another companion, plays.

Want to know what I think?

I’m thinking that may well turn out to be one of two people.

Either a returning Romana …

Or (possibly) Rose, herself.

I guess we’ll find out in the spring …

Oh, just in case that video doesn’t show up properly, you’ll need to watch it in Full Screen Mode … So you know …

The First Daily Teaser Of The Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And say hello to the first teaser of the the Year!

Well, yes, I know they’ve been going awhile, but … !

At any rate, yesterday’s Teaser — and the last of 2009 — saw Simon and Andrea both get very good scores, with Simon managing to get the Official First-In-Clap from Andrea.

Which sounds wrong, now I come to think of it, especially as it was New Year’s Eve …

Actually, I’m going to give Simon a meaningful look: the Torah’s the first five books, but that’s a nicely relevant quote.

At any rate, here’s today’s question’s, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) Who released the single, New Year’s Day, in January of 1983?

Q2) More to the point, who’s that band’s drummer?

Q3) New Year’s Day was celebrated for the first time in 45BC: when Julius Cæsar introduced a new … what?

Q4) New Year’s Day also see’s the Rose Parade: in which Californian town is this held?

Q5) When did New Year’s Day become the first day of the year, in the UK and its (then) colonies?

Q6) Twenty years’s later, 1^st January, 1772, saw the first what go on sale, in London?

Q7) Eleven years ago, 1^st January, 1999, saw what become official currency?

Q8) 1^st January, 1995, saw which serial killer found hanged in his cell?

Q9) January 1^st, 1804, saw the first black republic — and second country on the American continent, and only sovereign state founded after a successful slave revolt — officially declared, after the end of French rule. Which country is it?

Q10) 1^st January, 1959 saw which dictator driving out of Cuba?

Q11) And finally … New Year’s Day, 1818, saw the first publication of which iconic horror novel?

And here’s Yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Eve is the first woman and wife of Adam — or First Man, at least — in three of the world’s Holy Books: name any two of them.

A1) The Bible, the Qu’ran, or Hebrew Bible. (Or Tanakh, to use the correct term.)

Q2) In which 1991 film did Renée Soutendijk play Dr Eve Simmons?

A2) Eve of Destruction.

Q3) In which 2008 film is there a robot character called Eve?

A3) Wall E.

Q4) What’s the traditional term for New Year’sEve, in Scotland?

A4) Hogmanay.

Q5) More to the point, which day of Christmas is it, the 7^th, 8^th or 9^th?

A5) The 7^th. (We have five days left to take done any decorations. Or get eaten by goblins. Or wolves. Or bears. Or something … )

Q6) 31^st December, 1759, saw Arthur Guinness sign the lease on his by now famous brewery: how long was that for, 8000 years, 9000 years, or 10000 years?

A6) 9, 000 years.

Q7) 201 years later, 31^st December, 1960, saw which British coin cease to be legal tender?

A7) Farthing.

Q8) 31^st December, 1599, saw the original chartering of which British company?

A8) The British East India Company.

Q9) Today in 1857, saw Ottawa named as Canadian capitol; by which British political figure?

A9) Queen Victoria.

Q10) 31^st December, 1999, saw Boris Yeltsin resign as President of Russia: who tool over as acting Russian President?

A10) Vladimir Putin. (A neighbour of mine is Russian: and her most flattering term for Vladimir Putin is Cowboy. It doesn’t get better from there … )

Q11) And finally … 31^st december, 1999, saw the Panama Canal being handed by the USA to which country?

A11) Panama. Funnily …

Oh, and I’ve managed to do a ‘Review of 2009’, as today’s 60-question-set for struggling quiz masters; I hope they help!

ROUND ONE: — GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) 2009 saw an ongoing parliamentary scandal about MP’s what?

A1) Expenses.

Q2) While we’re being vaguely political, which Judiciary institution open in October of 2009?

Q2) The Supreme Court.

Q3) 2009 saw the release of 1980’s MoD files about what; – UFO’s, American airbases, or planes colliding with flocks of seagulls?

A3) UFO’s.

Q4) The Very Reverend Vincent Nichol was named as leader of Britain’s Catholic community in 2009; – which means he’s the new Archbishop of where?

A4) Westminster.

Q5) How many bulk emails about flu medicine were sent out, per day, in 2009: 5 billion a day, five billion a week, or five billion a month?

A5) 5 billion per day.

Q6) Carole Anne Duffy got named as the UK’s first ever Woman what in 2009?

A6) Poet Laureate.

Q7) Who did FHM Magazine name as the World’s sexiest woman in 2009?

A7) Cheryl Cole.

Q8) Who got named as the eleventh Doctor Who in 2009?

A8) Matt Smith.

Q9) Which rock star did an editorial column for the New York Times, in 2009?

A9) Bono.

Q10) This year, the US National Security Agency has put together a list of 25 of the world’s most dangerous what: programming errors, shipping routes or war-zones?

A10) Programming errors.

ROUND TWO: – THE GONG SHOW.

Q11) Who got the John Peel Outstanding Contribution To Music Award, from the Performing Rights Society in 2009?

A11) Sir Terry Wogan.

Q12) Penelope Cruz won the 2009 Best Supporting Actress Oscar: for which film?

A12) Vicky Christina Barcelona.

Q13) Who banned bets on 2010 Brit Awards, after a lot of iffy bets on Paul Weller, in 2009?

A13) William Hill. (A lot of last minute bets were placed on Paul Weller to win the Best Male Award.)

Q14) How many nominations did The Story of Benjamin Button, at the 2009 Oscars?

A14) 13; — with an additional 11 BAFTAs

Q15) Sir Nick Faldo became the second British golfer to be knighted, in 2009; what was the name of the first?

A15) Sir Henry Cotton. (Back in 1987)

Q16) Kate Winslet finally won an Oscar, for Best Actress, in “The Reader”. Name any of the other nominees.

A16) Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Leo, and Meryl Streep

Q17) Which British director got made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in 2009?

A17) Ridley Scott.

Q18) Departures won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, in 2009: in which language is Departures?

A18) Japanese.

Q19) Which Lord of the Rings actor was awarded a CBE in the Queens Birthday Honours list in 2009?

A19) Christopher Lee.

Q20) Heath Leadger got the Best Supporting Actor, in 2009, for his performance as the Joker, in “Dark Knight”; name any of the other nominees.

A20) Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr, Philip Seymour Hoffman or Michael Shannon.

ROUND THREE: – HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DARLING!

Q21) Which computer saw its 25th anniversary in 2009?

A21) The Macintosh. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist that … )

Q22) 2009 saw the 100th anniversary of which state payment?

A22) The old age pension

Q23) 2009 saw the five hundredth anniversary of whose accession to the throne of England?

A23) Henry the 8th.

Q24) 2009 saw the 20th anniversary of which Footballing tragedy?

A24) Hillsborough.

Q25) NATO had its 60th birthday in 2009; name any of the original members.

A25) The USA, Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Luxenbourg, Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Portugal.

Q26) Which doll saw her fiftieth birthday in 2009?

A26) Barbie.

Q27) 2009 saw the fiftieth anniversary of the flight of which spiritual leader from his homeland?

A27) The Dalai Lama.

Q28) The Commonwealth saw its fiftieth anniversary in 2009; – how many member states has it got? 53

A28)

Q29) 2009 saw the fortieth anniversary of which rather historical landing?

A29) The Apollo 9 Moon Landings.

Q30) 2009 also sees the one hundredth anniversary of which Kitchen appliance?

A30) The toaster.

ROUND FOUR: – 2009 SPORTING CHANCES.

Q31) Mon Mome was the horse that won the 2009 Grand National: but is the Grand Nation a National Hunt or flat race?

A31) A National Hunt: a steeplechase, in other words.

Q32) More to the point, name Mon Mome’s jockey.

A32) Liam Treadwell.

Q33) Claire Taylor got named as one of five of 2009’s Cricketer’s of the Year; – by which cricketing institution?

A33) Wisden’s Cricketing Almanac.

Q34) Who won the 2009 University Boat race?

A34) Oxford.

Q35) Who won the 2009 Australian Grand Prix?

A35) Jensen Button.

Q36) Who won the Snooker Masters Championship in 2009?

A36) Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Q37) Name the winner of the 2009 US Master’s golf tournament?

A37) Angél Cabrera.

Q38) Which team won the F1 Constructor’s Championships in 2009: Brawn GP, McLaren Mercades, or Williams?

A38) Brawn GP.

Q39) Which of the Williams sisters lost the 2009 Wimbledon Women’s Final?

A39) Venus Williams. (Who lost to her sister, Serena.)

Q40) Who got named as Newcastle FC’s new manager in 2009?

A40) Alan Shearer.

ROUND FIVE: – I SEE DEAD PEOPLE … !

Q41) Which sports presenter died at the age 0f 73 in 2009?

A41) David Vine.

Q42) Songwriter Vincent Ford died, in January of 2009; — which Bob Marley classic is he credited with writing?

A42) No Woman No Cry.

Q43) Bernie Hamilton died in 2009; — his best remembered role was as Police Captain Harold Dobey; — the character was the boss of which TV detectives?

A43) Starsky and Hutch.

Q44) 2009 saw the death of musical manager, Tam Paton; which very Scottish boy band did he manage?

A44) The Bay City Rollers.

Q45) Duke D’mond died in 2009: which comedy band was he the lead singer of?

A45) The Barron Knights.

Q46) The author of controversial novel, Crash, died in 2009; what was his name?

A46) JG Ballard.

Q47) Producer Peter Rogers died in 2009: which series of comedy films did he produce?

A47) The Carry Ons

Q48) Jade Goody died of cervical cancer, in 2009: in which TV series did she first come to prominence?

A48) Big Brother

Q49) Which former England Manger died in 2009?

A49) Sir Bobby Robson.

Q50) Which star of Life on Earth died in 2009?

A50) Titus, the Silverback Gorilla.

ROUND SIX: – GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Suits owned by which famous gangsters were auctioned in 2009?

A51) The Kray twins.

Q52) The last ever Woolworth’s bag of what, went for £14, 500•10p on eBay, in 2009?

A52) Woolworth’s Pick and Mix sweets.

Q53) Which website saw its fifth birthday in 2009?

A53) Facebook.

Q54) What is the full name (christian and surname) of the heroic pilot that managed to safely ditch Flight 1549 into the Hudson river, New York?

A54) (Captain) Chesley B ‘Sully’ Sullenberger III. (I don’t know if President Obama’s hired him, but I know I’d want him driving Airforce One!)

Q55) Who had a photo-shoot for Esquire magazine in 2009?

A55) Morph.

Q56) Prince Phillip became Britain’s longest serving Royal what in 2009?

A56) Royal Consort.

Q57) Who won 2009’s Strictly Come Dancing?

A57) Sports reporter, Chris Hollins.

Q58) Who did Forbes name as Hollywood’s Most Overpaid Actor, in 2009?

A58) Will Ferrell.

Q59) October, 2009, saw the funeral of Milvina Dean, the last survivor of which disaster?

A59) The Titanic

Q60) Which country won the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2009?

A60) Norway. (The Norwegian entry was Alexander Rybet, with Fairytale)

Enjoy those, everyone.

I hope you have a good New Year, and 2010 brings you what you need.

Oh, just as a pointless piece of complete trivia, you do know that Michæl Eavis, the man behind the Glastonbury Festival, has been named as ‘Beard of the Decade’? Just thought I’d mention it …