I think I'd want to see a multiple Doctor episode of all four of the Doctors from the recent show (and maybe Doctor #8 too) - something like The Five Doctors but on Earth. Would also need K9 (or multiple K9s). Some of the older Doctors maybe as voice overs?
I'd like to see some of the older companions from the original series as their older selves, after they left the TARDIS and aged appropriately.
I think a scene with the Doctor by Sarah Jane's grave site would be a nice touch.
Needless to say, the Master, Daleks and Cybermen all need to make an appearance in some fashion.
A cameo with some of the Torchwood crowd would be good.
I really have no idea what they'll actually do though. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Nothing in particular that I don't want.
L
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What I'd like (bearing in mind this is entirely my opinion and I do not expect folks to agree with me):
Cameos of as many companions as possible from the beginning of the series to the present, and especially Carole Ann Ford and William Russell.
At least a mention of what happened to Susan, Leela, and Romana, with regard to the destruction of Gallifrey/the Time Lords.
Absolutely zero River "Mary Sue" Song (but if she has to be in it, as very little of her as possible).
A resolution of the "Woman in White" -- who is she and what she wants -- from Tennant's last story.
No Daleks. They're boring as hell and tremendously overused.
I'd actually like a new villain, strangely enough---I realize we expect all the Doctor's foes for an anniversary, but we've been using "all the Doctor's foes" so very much, as recently as a Good Man Goes to War, it doesn't seem special any more to have the old villains back. So I'd like to see a brand new villain, one who could become recurring in future seasons.
If we MUST have recurring villains, though... eh, I don't even know who I'd want. The EyePatch Woman (can't remember her name) was awesome, but I can't remember what happened to her. Cybermen, if they were scary, can be good, but they were used for the 25th anniversary and that didn't go so well. Return of the Rani could be interesting, she actually was an interesting villain. The Clockwork Androids were cool, from the Girl in the Fireplace. Maybe the Rutans. Since they're the historic adversaries of the Sontarans, newer fans would have a reference for their significance, and shapeshifters make for good enemies always.
I don't really care for the idea of a multiple Doctor story--I know it's what everyone wants but they've always been a bit silly. I'd love to see the previous living actors who've played the Doctor certainly get their due and get involved somehow, but I don't know if a multi-Doctor story is the best way (someone mentioned an animated short as one of several tributes, which might be an interesting way of doing it). I wouldn't be upset if they made one, of course, but I don't know if it's the best idea is all.
I'd also like a documentary that covers the history of the series.
And otherwise anything--even the opposite of what I say--as long as it comes out as a hell of a lot of fun and pays proper respect to the series and ALL who contributed to it, from 1963 to the present.
What they'll actually do:
Probably some trite b@#&&+!~ with River Song and the Daleks, and completely ignore the classic series and anyone who was part of it. But I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
One idea might be to have the current Doctor/companions with him having flashbacks to earlier events that show the older Doctors and their companions. So as it goes along we see each Doctor in his own mini story and it builds up the current primary plot and provides the background and answers to questions that come up.
I'd love a rich, well covered documentary that talked to both the characters and story as well as the actors, writers and other behind the scenes folks. Walk through each season at a high level. Talk about the stories. Discuss the impact and audience reaction to it. Have interviews with the cast and crew from that part.
Oh, and leading up to the 50th anniversary have some remastered versions of some of the best episodes of the old series.
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If Stephen Moffet where to come to you and ask you what you wanted for a 50th Anniversary, what would you ask for (assuming he would bow to your superior wisdom)?
I'd want some old companions doing cameos. In particular, Zoe because Wendy Padbury, as a talent agent got Matt Smith his first acting gig and Ace because I'd love to find out more detail on what happened to her. That would be two of say five I'd want to see.
If I had my ultimate druthers, the new companion would be the (grand?) daughter to a former companion.
Maybe a Time Crash style mini episode w/ either Tom Baker or Sylvester Mccoy. Not Peter Davidson because it was done or Colin Baker because....he wasn't very good or Paul Mcgann because he only kinda sorta counts as a doctor in my book
What do you think will happen IRL for the 50th Anniversary? Cameos and a few indirect references.
What wouldn't you want?
A 3+ doctor episode or anything with the 9th or 10th doctor.
I'd like an adventure involving former companions say the doctor is missing and they're trying to get help to figure out what happened perhaps involve a "surprise" party as part of the story but that during the preparations they discover a supposed threat and try to figure out what to do in an attempt to prevent it ruining the planned celebration.
I'd involve a shadowy figure who has sent a group of the doctor's enemies to interfere with something else going on that could be used as part of the next season revealing some of the Timelord's did escape the Moment and are trying to rebuild their society and don't want the doctor involved due to what he did during the Time War and are unaware he wasn't the bad guy.
I'd use them as a basis of explaining what happened in the last couple of seasons since many wondered if Omega was behind what happened to the TARDIS nobody wondered if other Timelords' survived and they were trying to limit the doctor's interference the fact it almost destroyed creation well.. Rassilon wouldn't have argued against it!
Might as well wish for the presence of the Black and White Guardians' whilst I'm at it but someone established the Time Agency in the 51st century and it was folded for quite possibly other good reasons that might play into this ploy on the doctor's name...
Still having the companions' take to the stage as primary protagonists rather than the doctor would make it alot more interesting as that bit about the doctor visiting sarah jane's grave would make it doubly important to keep the doctor's mind off of the loss of some of his companion's and the planned party would make a good end to the story with it ending by showing the shadowy figure watching them from a safe distance before disappearing using say the special effect for the Time Ring used during the 4th doctor era to provide a teaser to who is behind this.
Personally?
I'd want to see something that hadn't been done before. Something that called to mind all of the grand scheming, high adventure and relentless excitement that has always captured me about Doctor Who, since I was very little and watched it every night on PBS.
I'd want to see The Doctor at his cerebral best, philosophizing and theorizing with the best of them; grappling with moral and ethical dilemmas and forcing us - the viewers - to realize that one man's galactic despot is another man's religious icon.
I'd want to see a story that stood on its own and didn't require calling back to previous adventures to prop it up. I'd request - no, demand - a strong, powerful plot with an emotional and understated urgency to it. Something that, when it was over, made you sad for reasons you couldn't understand, but also made you want to reach out to everyone you've ever known and remind them that you love them.
We could go on for days and days about this companion or that bad guy or those Doctors we'd like to see again. But me? I'd want something that did what Doctor Who has always done, and looked toward the future with an eye for adventure.
But then, I've frequently been called crazy. ;)
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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Multiple Doctor story featuring all living actors willing to participate. Old age and inevitable baldness/fatness can be written off as "timey-wimey" effects a la Time Crash.
Have them fight the John Sim Master in league with the Daleks in a special 2-hour movie event.
Selected companions of the participating Doctors also get to come along for the ride.
Alternatively, set it during the Time War. No Master involved, but we can see the death of Paul McGann and the regeneration into Christopher Eccletson. With multiple other Doctors and companions along for the ride.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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What they'll actually do:
Probably some trite b!+*$~~# with River Song and the Daleks, and completely ignore the classic series and anyone who was part of it. But I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I think that's pretty cynical for a franchise that has brought back:
• Daleks
• Cybermen
• Sarah Jane Smith
• K9
• The Brigadier
• U.N.I.T.
• Peter Davison's Doctor
• Jo Grant
• The Ice Warriors (obliquely)
• The Sensorites (obliquely)
• The Macra
• The Master
• Gallifrey
• Rassilon
• Etc.
There was a time, in the first season or so, when it seemed like the franchise might be running away from its past.
That was a long time ago, and was never really true anyway.
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Chief Technical Officer
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It should be in 3D, and the main villain should be the Rani, along with an assortment of whatever random monsters they happen to have the costumes for at the time. It needs as many Doctors and companions as can possibly be jammed in to the shooting schedule, even if it doesn't really make sense in the story. (Don't forget Bessie!) And if there are any Doctors who can't make the shoot for reasons such as, let's say, death, they should just make wax likenesses of their heads and squeeze them into the story in some way anyway. It should jump between the past, present, and future a whole lot, just because. And it should also feature the cast of EastEnders.
Do all that, and no matter how bad it is, it will have the second highest number of viewers of any Doctor Who story in history!
Make the story as told by a bunch of roleplayers playing the Cubicle Seven or old FASA version of the Doctor Who RPG.
Oh, and I want to see the TARDIS control room redesigned again. Maybe with another round of glitches for the chameleon circuit too, but naturally she ends up looking like a police box again at the end.
I think that's pretty cynical for a franchise that has brought back:What they'll actually do:
Probably some trite b!+*$~~# with River Song and the Daleks, and completely ignore the classic series and anyone who was part of it. But I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I was referring more to episodes like "Stolen Earth/Journey's End" -- where they say they are gathering "all who know the Doctor" and then only contact people from the current series. Sure, there's obvious logistical reasons for that, but it could have been phrased another way so it didn't sound like the only companions who "counted" were the ones currently in the program.
It also refers to quotes from showrunners like Russel T saying things like (paraphrased), "Before Rose Tyler, we never met the companions' family members before." (Which is not true. It didn't happen often, and maybe not often as it should sometimes, but certainly happened and fairly early on, like Victoria's father.)
The cynicism comes less from acknowledging their willingness to work with both classic and new continuity and more with a general sense that when they try really hard to make some kind of blowout spectacle, it just ends up being fanwanky in a way that I don't enjoy. E.g., Stolen Earth/Journey's End, which in my opinion are amongst the worst episodes of Doctor Who ever made. I know that many disagree, but the whole point of this thread was to ask our personal opinions, and that's what mine is.
I didn't mean to suggest they've left the past behind--yes, I know that's how it came out, and that was clumsy of me. Just that they sometimes emphasize the wrong things when they try too hard.
I will say again, I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and leave it at that.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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It also refers to quotes from showrunners like Russel T saying things like (paraphrased), "Before Rose Tyler, we never met the companions' family members before." (Which is not true. It didn't happen often, and maybe not often as it should sometimes, but certainly happened and fairly early on, like Victoria's father.)
In an episode that no longer exists.
Of course, we DID get to meet Teagan's aunt...
Davies also said that they wouldn't bring back the Master and that multiple-Doctor stories were rubbish. We ended up getting both, after a fashion. He and all people in his position is good at playing the fans like a fiddle. It's part of their job.
I didn't mean to suggest they've left the past behind--yes, I know that's how it came out, and that was clumsy of me. Just that they sometimes emphasize the wrong things when they try too hard.I will say again, I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and leave it at that.
Fair enough. I had a similar response in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode with the Doctor's funeral, but I was pleased enough just to see Jo Grant that I decided I didn't care.
They're going to spend more money on the 50th anniversary special than they are on a random episode of Sarah Jane Adventures, I suspect.
Have them fight the John Sim Master in league with the Daleks in a special 2-hour movie event.
...only if the Master is augmented by Dalek technology with 'Dalek bumps'. Because you never know when you need to locate an etheric beam. And they're extremely firm.
In an episode that no longer exists.
It also refers to quotes from showrunners like Russel T saying things like (paraphrased), "Before Rose Tyler, we never met the companions' family members before." (Which is not true. It didn't happen often, and maybe not often as it should sometimes, but certainly happened and fairly early on, like Victoria's father.)
The Target novelization is quite good though. ;p
Well, the first relative of a companion we meet is Susan's grandfather. We eventually do learn some stuff about HIM at least... ;)
Of course, we DID get to meet Teagan's aunt...
We also meet Tegan's cousin (Arc of Infinity) and grandfather (the Awakening).
We also meet Jamie's family in the Highlanders, I think. Zoe was very specifically taken from her family at a young age. We at least hear of Jo's uncle. Sarah Jane has her aunt Lavinia, though I can't remember if we get to meet her in person in Doctor Who or that was only in K9 and Company (where we also meet her cousin). We meet Leela's father. Adric has a brother. We meet Nyssa's poor ill-fated father and stepmother. We meet Peri's jerkass of a stepfather. And we meet Ace's grandmother (and mother, though she was preverbal at the time).
Now, a lot of the companions' family members tend to get killed (Leela's father, Adric's brother, Nyssa's family, Tegan's aunt and cousin). But that do a degree also let itself to why these companions were free to adventure or saw making a family with the Doctor and TARDIS crew. Interestingly Leela and Adric are both stowaways--both perhaps seeking a father/older male family figure in the Doctor after losing their own relatives. Many of the companions--though not all of course--traveled with the Doctor because their family ties had been severed, with nothing tying them down, which I think was intentional on the writers' part. I think it's interesting that many of the companions now have real active lives and families that they have specifically chosen to leave to travel with the Doctor, and is a bit of a change in theme. Often in the old series, if someone had a life they were leading, if they left it it was against their will (e.g., Ian, Barbara, Tegan). Exceptions are probably... really, probably Jo and Sarah Jane, that I can think of off the top of my head. Ostensibly Peri, but they make it clear her home life isn't good so she has a reason for wanting to stick with the Doctor. Anyway, I don't think this is a good or bad thing but there's a difference and I think it's interesting.
(Of course Mel's never given any sort of motivation or background which I really think is part of why a lot of people don't like her--she is truly a cipher, just a body that screams and converses with the Doctor.)
Davies also said that they wouldn't bring back the Master and that multiple-Doctor stories were rubbish. We ended up getting both, after a fashion. He and all people in his position is good at playing the fans like a fiddle. It's part of their job.
I wish he had stuck to his guns with the Master, but ah well. Time Crash was for Red Nose Day mind, though it is canon, so.
I didn't mean to suggest they've left the past behind--yes, I know that's how it came out, and that was clumsy of me. Just that they sometimes emphasize the wrong things when they try too hard.I will say again, I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and leave it at that.
Fair enough. I had a similar response in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode with the Doctor's funeral, but I was pleased enough just to see Jo Grant that I decided I didn't care.
They're going to spend more money on the 50th anniversary special than they are on a random episode of Sarah Jane Adventures, I suspect.
I'm sure this is true, re the budget. But there's also the writing. But they are probably working on it already--hopefully taking a lot of time to get it right.
As far as Companion families. We have seen the families of other companions in the Classic series but the Doctor never really integrated with them as much as he has with the Tylers, the Nobles, and now the Ponds, with whom he has an actual "in-law" relationship.
It's also a different relationship with the Companions as well. For the most part once it was off the TARDIS, it was pretty much goodbye forever. Simmilarly while they were on, their background was pretty much that. Now, the Doctor's Companions even call their families on a supercellphone every now and then.
That goes in line with what I've spoken of earlier. There's a change in attitude about separating the characters from their old lives (and their eventually wanting to go back to them or not). Honestly, I kind of like the Doctor having less interaction personally, and more focus on the TARDIS crew as its own surrogate family (although that seems to be more the case with Rory and Amy and may suggest a shift in how companions are dealt with from Davies to Moffat). But I don't think there's a "right" way to do it, either--the differences are just interesting to me.
ETA: And it occurs to me, though it was rare, the Doctor did sometimes specifically go to try to take companions back to visit companion families or mutual friends. The Awakening starts with specifically the Doctor taking Tegan to visit her grandfather, for example. Didn't happen very often through the 26 years but there was a precedent for it.
And the Doctor never wants to visit old companions much, even in the new series--with notable exceptions like what Ten did before he regenerated, of course. He may run into them and be happy to see them, but he doesn't often seek it out (even in "Stolen Earth" it's Harriet who gets everyone together, not the Doctor). Likewise, old run ins with the Brigadier (the one "companion" who did come back through several Doctors) throughout the classic series were seldom planned.
And again, one way or the other I'm not saying is bad or good or better or worse. Just noting a series of shifts and returns.
Another idea - the Doctor has to go back to where his previous selves were in order to capture information or something from the TARDIS back then. So they integrate his visits to earlier selves by showing him finding his way back with he and his current companions intentionally try to avoid contact with the older group, although naturally some interaction occurs. Kind of like the Deep Space Nine episode with the original series Tribbles episode. They could do that using older footage for the original series along with newer original footage featuring the new series Doctors and companions. If they took this approach I'd like to see the encounter with the 8th Doctor feature original material and his companions, maybe based off the novelizations and comics, to possibly include as was mentioned showing Doctor #8 regenerate into Doctor #9.
L
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Multiple Doctor story featuring all living actors willing to participate.
That's a pretty short list. All the ones before Eight are pretty much too old to do it, with the possible exception of Peter Davison. Eccleston has been actively distancing himself from the role, and one of the reasons that David Tennant left, was the departure of Russel T. Davies as producer.
Not even sure that BBC has much of an interest in even noticing the anniversary.
Slyvester Mccoy looks like he could play the role if you dyed his hair black. Colin Baker is fat and probably the least favorite doctor (Mccoy, or rather Mccoy/Aldred has a fan base. I'm yet to see anyone defend Colin Baker other than to say Jonathan Nathan Turner insisted on a horrible costume and horrible scripts). Tom Baker might also be able to play the role with a dye job.
Worst possible idea, the Tom Baker/Lalla Ward reunion!
I'm yet to see anyone defend Colin Baker other than to say Jonathan Nathan Turner insisted on a horrible costume and horrible scripts).
I liked Colin Baker. He acted in an strange, alien way, as the Doctor should. It was a tremendous relief to me, after Peter Davidson, who acted WAAAY to down-to-Earth to be the Doctor! Davidson also LOOKED too normal. And too young - he said so himself! I could never accept Davidson as the Doctor, but I have no gripes with C. Baker. That the sixth Doctor infuriated Peri so much only made him more interesting.
I'm yet to see anyone defend Colin Baker other than to say Jonathan Nathan Turner insisted on a horrible costume and horrible scripts).I liked Colin Baker. He acted in an strange, alien way, as the Doctor should. It was a tremendous relief to me, after Peter Davidson, who acted WAAAY to down-to-Earth to be the Doctor! Davidson also LOOKED too normal. And too young - he said so himself! I could never accept Davidson as the Doctor, but I have no gripes with C. Baker. That the sixth Doctor infuriated Peri so much only made him more interesting.
Not to mention Colin Baker redeemed himself a lot with the Big Finish stories. While generally Big Finish stories tend to be hit or miss with me (and even often miss at that) -- they are generally better written than Colin Baker's filmed episodes were. Yes, this goes with the horrible scripts defense, but seeing--or rather hearing--what Colin Baker does with a good Doctor Who script shows he is a good actor and was/could be a good Doctor. The Big Finish stories sadly underline the sad fact that the episodes from his era just weren't very good and going downhill fast (with some notable exceptions, like "Vengeance on Varos"), and he was merely doing the best with what he had. I don't blame the poor quality of the Colin Baker era on Colin Baker--anything but.
Besides, the Colin Baker era produced the Doctor Who Cookbook and that thing is AWESOME.
Now, I also loved Peter Davison (and have no problem with younger Doctors, and I never considered the stripey Edwardian cricketer outfit "normal"), but appreciate that Colin Baker was very different from him--I liked his more aloof and alien Doctor as contrast (and hearkened back to HartnellDoc a bit). And I've certainly seen a lot of Colin Baker fans -- there are fans for EVERY character (even Mel :) ), so claiming no one's defended so-and-so is a bit far reaching. :)
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Chief Technical Officer
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I'm yet to see anyone defend Colin Baker other than to say Jonathan Nathan Turner insisted on a horrible costume and horrible scripts).
The first crime was JN-T's idea that the sixth Doctor should deliberately be written and played as unlikable for his first several stories. Colin didn't stand a chance.
I'm yet to see anyone defend Colin Baker other than to say Jonathan Nathan Turner insisted on a horrible costume and horrible scripts).
Not to mention Colin Baker redeemed himself a lot with the Big Finish stories.
I have to say that, while not all Big Finish audios are great, they generally know how to utilize the Doctors. Colin Baker and Paul McGann both have some excellent stories which show what they could have been like in the role with better direction.
I really enjoy the 6th Doctor with Evelyn as a companion. Some memorable stories include Jubilee and Arrangements for War.
If you want to see at least four of the Doctors together again, check out "The Airzone Solution" from 1993. It included Colin Baker, Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy. Nicola Bryant (Peri) and Michael Wisher (Davros) also were part of the cast. IIRC, they asked Tom Baker to join in but he declined.
The low-budget film was written by Nicholas Briggs, who provides the voice of many of the monsters in the new series, including the Daleks and the Cybermen. He also directed many of the Big Finished Productions audio plays for Doctor Who.
As for the 50th anniversary, I'm sure it will be played up as a big deal. They already moved the series to make sure the 2012 Olympics didn't overshadow this season. I'm sure they are capable of reading a calendar and planning accordingly.
I imagine that Omega will return as the power behind the religious organization The Silence. Since he no longer has a body, he'll probably either take over someone else's body or assume their forms to trick people and allow for easy cameos.
I could see him making a new Timelord race out of people who agree to obey him since that's pretty close to his original story arc.
As for what I want, give me a good story with interesting characters that remembers the past while blazing a new path to the future.
Also, I'd like it not to be a veiled retread of a children's story, but that might be asking too much. I like how most of them have been done, but I don't know that it's needed for the 50th anniversary.
If you want to see at least four of the Doctors together again, check out "The Airzone Solution" from 1993. It included Colin Baker, Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy. Nicola Bryant (Peri) and Michael Wisher (Davros) also were part of the cast. IIRC, they asked Tom Baker to join in but he declined.
I remember that! I think Louise Jameson was in it too.
Of course, I think around the same time, the "official" last massive-multi-Doctor story happened, which did include Tom Baker...
...the dreaded "Dimensions in Time"...
Look up on Youtube at your own risk.
"Pickled in time, like gherkins in a jar...."
I try not to think about "Dimensions in Time."
*shudders*
DeathQuaker, I found this image on the new Doctor Who companions that you may or may not like.
DeathQuaker, I found this image on the new Doctor Who companions that you may or may not like.
Wow, that's actually phenomenal! I love it. It makes a lot of sense.
This makes Martha the second Dorothy to come along, though...
Multiple Doctor story featuring all living actors willing to participate. Old age and inevitable baldness/fatness can be written off as "timey-wimey" effects a la Time Crash.
Have them fight the John Sim Master in league with the Daleks in a special 2-hour movie event.
Selected companions of the participating Doctors also get to come along for the ride.
Alternatively, set it during the Time War. No Master involved, but we can see the death of Paul McGann and the regeneration into Christopher Eccletson. With multiple other Doctors and companions along for the ride.
Even better multiple Doctors vs. multiple masters.
Get any of the actors who played either the Doctor or the Master for a mutli-time threat throwdown.
Even better multiple Doctors vs. multiple masters.Get any of the actors who played either the Doctor or the Master for a mutli-time threat throwdown.
Unfortunately Roger Delgado and Anthony Ainley have long since passed away, which pretty much leaves John Simms and... Eric Roberts I guess. Unless you include "Yana" as well, then you also have Derek Jacobi.
Peter Pratt played icky burn victim Master, but he was still technically Delgado!Master just all burned up. ETA: And I just found that he also passed some time ago.