vivdunstan

Was a bit shocked the other night to find I didn't have a Ninth Doctor icon already here. Added one, based on Alice X. Zhang's fabulous comic art. And now just added a Tenth Doctor one, ditto. Which given he's my favourite Doctor ever - even beating the mighty Tom - I should have good use for! Not least because I plan to rewatch Ten's Doctor Who stories. I've recently been rewatching Eleven and Twelve, and expect to go on to Thirteen. Should give Nine and Ten another look too.

Just finished watching this tonight, the Matt Smith story that sees Amy separated from the Doctor and Rory, and time shenanigans mean that Amy ends up spending a very very long time trapped ...

This was my favourite episode of that year on first watch. It even beat Neil Gaiman's "The Doctor's Wife" for me. And I think I voted in the Hugos that year, when both stories were on the Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) shortlist. And I knew which I preferred, though the Gaiman story won the Hugo award in the end.

It's still powerful to rewatch today. The opening third is standard scifi setup, but when you meet the older version of Amy the emotional level escalates rapidly. I think I probably related to that more this time, because I'm closer in age to that version of Amy than I was when this first aired.

The direction is a joy, and one scene in particular stands out for me, when the two Amys - young and old - are able to talk to each other across time. Originally an older actress was intended to play older Amy, but Karen Gillan wanted to give it a go. And with the aid of prosthetic makeup does a fantastic job. By far her best acting in Doctor Who ever.

It's also remarkable as a low budget and Doctor lite episode. Matt Smith is very much in it, but the story is carried by Amy (both versions) and Rory, and both act superbly. I should also praise the writer Tom MacRae. I wasn't that keen on his Cybermen two-parter with David Tennant, but this - his other story - is stellar.

The ending is inevitable, but how you get there is in turns moving and shocking. And throughout so brilliantly acted.

This remains an absolute highlight for me of the Matt Smith era. There were some gems, even if there were some clunkers too.

Today's new Radio Times magazine has some marvellous Doctor Who interviews, celebrating the 60th anniversary. Lengthy chats with David Tennant and Tom Baker, as well as pair up chats of various companions (including the upcoming one) and a great chat with Russell T Davies and original 1963 director Waris Hussein. Recommended reading for any fans of the show.

Was just checking my profile on Doctor Who fan forum Gallifrey Base. And thought it might be worth sharing some of my answers here too.

Favorite Doctor: David Tennant
Favorite Companion: Sarah Jane Smith
Favorite Master: Derek Jacobi
Favorite Classic Doctor Who Story: City of Death
Favorite New Doctor Who Episode: The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
Favorite Television Shows: Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Danger Mouse, The Avengers, Babylon 5, Robin of Sherwood
Favorite Films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fellowship of the Ring, Back to the Future
Favorite Musicians/Bands: ABBA, Runrig
Favorite Books: Lord of the Rings, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Discworld series
Year You Became a Doctor Who Fan: 1978

Over the last few weeks we have been rewatching the BBC’s 1999 TV version of Elizabeth Gaskell’s unfinished novel Wives and Daughters. Really good book, well adapted. Martin is watching it as if for the first time - he can’t remember anything of the 1999 previous watch. Michael Gambon was incredibly strong in tonight’s episode. I was also amusing myself by spotting actors who’d been in Doctor Who too.

Next up on our rewatch is probably going to be the 2005 David Tennant / RTD version of Casanova. Well I say rewatch. It will be for me. Martin hasn’t seen it! We have it in digital form from iTunes which is 2 x 90 ish minute episodes. I think I can probably manage those this weekend and next, before my 7th Covid vaccine triggers probably a terrible neurological flare, wiping me out again. I remember Murray Gold’s music being gorgeous in it. But never released separately I think. Like Doctor Who New Series 10 still - grumble grumble.

We've just rewatched "The Christmas Invasion" again from 2005. And for the first time I spotted that one of David Tennant's Casanova costumes appears in the outfit choosing scene. I watched Casanova just around the time David Tennant was being announced as the 10th Doctor. But only just noticed this! We may be watching Casanova over the coming weeks. Martin has never seen it, and I bought it at low cost on iTunes so we can watch it. Looking forward to it. And I will be pointing out costumes. I remember a conversation with my Dad who was very concerned that David Tennant might not be good in the role. This was before the Christmas special aired. I had seen Casanova, and said no need to worry, he would be fab.