An Appreciation of The Weeping Angels by @Zeiton_7

"Fascinating race, The Weeping Angels. The only psychopaths in the universe to kill you nicely"

When I was younger, so much younger than today (sorry couldn't resist the shameless Beatles lyric) I used to walk passed an old church. On one of the outside walls of this church, on the corner, was a statue. I can't honestly tell you what the statue was of but it was old. Old and covered in moss and dirt. The statue stared at me, I stared back, then the statue moved. Next time I didn't walk passed the statue I ran. Because in my child mind that statue would hurt me if it caught me.

Obviously the statue didn't really move and you are probably wondering why I just wasted your time with such a mundane, pointless anecdote from my childhood. Well, I believe that is exactly why The Weeping Angels are so terrifying. They trigger something base, something almost primeval within us. The fear of everyday common place items becoming sinister and taking on a life of their own. Doctor Who is littered with examples of this effective way of making us "watch from behind the sofa" (The Autons are another great example)

So, what do we know about The Weeping Angels, or Lonely Assassins? According to The Doctor (Blink) they are "as old as the universe (or very nearly), but no one really knows where they come from". They kill their victims with no mess or fuss, simply sending them back in time and feeding off the resulting energy displacement or "potential energy". What a fascinating idea! What makes this more sinister is that all they have to do is touch you. One touch from a Weeping Angel and you are plucked from your time stream and dumped unceremoniously in the past. Nasty!

The other characteristic of The Weeping Angels is their unsuppressable "quantum locking" or turning to stone as soon as another living creature looks at them. This is both their curse and their strength. Simply freezing and turning to stone as soon as they are spotted means that they cannot be killed. Weeping Angels are indestructible! The downside of this is that they cant move when they are being looked at. So provided you don't... blink you are perfectly safe!

This of course is where the good old paranoia kicks in. This is clearly seen both in the episode Blink and The Time of Angels. "Is that an Angel or a statue?" "Whose looking at that one?" you get the idea. In addition to this, Weeping Angels will communicate by snapping a victims neck and using the poor unfortunate soul to talk through (step forward Bob) So not everyone that falls prey to a Weeping Angel is killed "nicely"

We know that Weeping Angels feature in the Ponds final ever episode, The Angels Take Manhattan (I'm assuming Jason Vorhees gave it back then?) If the rumours are to be believed we are in for a jumpy and bumpy ride. It seems that they come in all shapes and sizes!

And is this majestic and iconic lady the biggest Weeping Angel of them all? Only timey wimey will tell.

Oh just one more thing. We are told that anything containing the image of an Angel becomes, itself, an Angel. By this logic this very article is a Weeping Angel so....

"Don't blink, Blink and you're dead. They are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back. Don't look away and don't blink. Good luck"

The Power of Three- reviewed by @zeiton_7

Interesting episode this one, we didn't know much about it beforehand. There are some mysterious cubes and it has been dubbed "the year of the silent invasion". We knew it would involve the return of UNIT (always welcome in my view) and as its the last episode before the Ponds leave it would be fair to expect some build up to next weeks "The Angels Take Manhattan" (still no word from Mr Vorhees by the way but I'll keep you posted!)

According to Chris Chibnall, "Power's" writer, Moffat had asked for a story that traced "A year in the life of the Ponds". No small task as we know all Series 7 episodes are pretty much self contained, how do you compress a years worth of activity into just 45 minutes and make it feel like a cohesive story? If this is done badly it will just feel like exerts from their diaries with The Doctor popping in and out and like an time travelling meddler. Do it right and we have a fascinating story which will feature in many a Who fans top ten all time best stories.

Before settling down to watch tonight's episode I was sincerely hoping that Chibnall would atone for his mistakes with "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" and gift us with a story that would grip and enthral as well as highlight the pain and anguish of Amy and Rory who are clearly feeling a distance with The Doctor. Here was a chance to shine and truly show a new dimension to The Doctor/Companion relationship, perhaps in a way that had never been done before.

You Are INSANE Davros- An appreciation of Genesis of the Daleks by @zeiton_7

"We are entombed, but we live on. This is only the beginning. We will prepare. We will go stronger. When the time is right, we will emerge and take our rightful place as the supreme power of the UNIVERSE!"

Sometimes on Twitter people ask me what my favourite Doctor Who story is. This is always a tough question to answer as I find it can depend so much on what mood you are in at the time. However some stories you can watch over and over and at any time. Genesis of the Daleks tops my list.
It is a story I recommend to fans who are new to the show as an excellent one to watch to truly understand the origins of the Daleks and their insane creator Davros.

In my mind, it is a story with no faults and no negatives. It also a story I know well as I have watched it, read the Target book and listened to the audio version many many times. I still feel horrified when the Daleks turn on their creator and I still sympathise with The Doctors internal anxiety over whether to commit genocide.

So to the beginning then! The Doctor, Sarah and Harry find themselves on a strange, war scarred planet where they have mysteriously been transported. The Doctor is not impressed, "Don't you realise how dangerous it is to intercept a transmat beam?" he shouts at a mysterious figure. The figure? Its a Timelord! you can tell by the ridiculous head wear. At this point all Who fans sit up as, when the Timelords interfere with The Doctors travel arrangements, you know that you are in for one heck of a
story.

This time is no different! The Timelords are a bit bothered by the Daleks lust for power and foresee things are only going to get worse. They convince, well ok coerce, The Doctor into trying to adjust or destroy them before they have a chance to develop. The planet he's standing on? well, its Skaro, the birth place of the Daleks. No opportunity to say no then!

What follows is a six part story full of double crossing, intrigue and above all Daleks. We learn about how they were created as a travel machine for the KALEDS (anagram of Dalek, I've always liked that) and how Davros genetically mutated them into the little green balls of hate that we love so much. We also learn and witness first hand the bloody and desperate war that has raged between the Thals and Kaleds for generations. Both have desperate plans on how to win the war and double agents abound. This story represents Doctor Who at its scintillating best!

There are so many stand out moments, the first time we view the incubation room of the Daleks or the first view of the that first generation Dalek are all poignant. But for me the character of Nider is chilling and wonderfully portrayed by Peter Miles. Dedicated fans will remember Miles portrayal of Professor Whittaker in the Pertwee adventure, Invasion of the Dinosaurs. There are certainly similarities as both characters you wouldn't trust as far as you can comfortably spit out a Dalek.

The cliffhangers at the end of each episode are also top notch and worth waiting for. The only dubious but hilarious exception being the amusing creatures discovered within the cave scenes. Still thats why we like classic Doctor Who- clam chowder anyone?

It is the character of The Doctor himself that I find so brilliantly portrayed. Tom Baker does an especially good job here as he portrays a Timelord aware of the awful events to come yet still in two minds as to what to do. Complete destruction or try and reason with Davros to introduce a less aggressive strain of Dalek. The interrogation scene with Davros trying to gain every last drop of knowledge whilst torturing poor Sarah Jane and Harry is still, to this day, chilling.

Ahhh Davros, how we love you. Badly scarred and mutated into a half Dalek himself. It is easy to see where the Daleks received their drive and blood lust. His bitter betrayal of his own people really does clearly show that he himself has no remorse or compulsion above protection of the "supreme beings" the Daleks! Yet its hard not to have sympathy for the deluded chap when the Daleks finally turn on him.



Every Doctor Who fan should watch this story at least once, but hopefully you will fall in love with it as many have before. It was voted the most popular Doctor Who story ever in a recent poll.

A Town Called Mercy- reviewed by @zeiton_7

Well, we already know Matt looks cool in a Stetson don't we? So when this episode was announced I was really very excited. Last time we had a full blown Doctor Who does a Western was with the very first Doctor (William Hartnell) in "The Gunfighters". To be honest, the story has never been one of my favourites. The less said about the "ballad" the better in my opinion, but this I had high hopes for.

All of the photos and clips from the story show that it should be a cinematic treat and the cyborg bad guy looks like a cross between Kryten from Red Dwarf fame and a Borg from Star Trek. It promises some tremendous performances and eye catching set pieces and scenery. I would say that if you had to pick any regeneration to star in a Western themed Who episode Matt Smith would be top of any ones list. The right amount of silliness and boyish excitement mixed with a seriously dark and gritty edge. So would it be "High Noon" or "Blazing Saddles"? I, for one, couldn't wait to find out.

The Happiness Patrol- Review by @Zeiton_7

"Happiness WILL prevail"
  


Oh but how this story gets ridiculed! You can sort of see why as well! A troop of marauding, pink uniformed women folk terrorise a civilisation and force them to be .... er happy under pain of death.
Sounds insanely far fetched doesn't it? This is Sylvester McCoy's era after all, expect strangeness!

Then there's the Kandy Man. Yes the one that looks like Bertie Bassett! Insane, murderous but oh so tasty!

The Happiness Patrol is the story that, above all others, confirmed to those who really didn't like the McCoy tenure that the program was going down the pan (or perhaps being drowned in Fondant Surprese!) Dark, brooding with a touch of the insane are terms that sum up both the story and McCoy's Doctor himself. Yet look at this story again and perhaps a little deeper and you might start to admire and like it a little. Oh go on, try!



TARDIS Pink??? It Will Never Catch On

Actually, the reasons I mention above are precisely the reason I like this story and also the others that the Seventh Doctor embarked on. You can't tell me that Tom Baker didn't have his share of silliness! Who can forget the immortal line "I wouldn't even say no to a salami sandwich"? Somehow he gets away with his brand of insanity yet McCoy is permanently and unfairly branded as "the actor that destroyed Who"

When The Happiness Patrol was broadcast, back in the 80's, it had been shunted to a Monday night slot and was up against Coronation Street. That, coupled with Michael Grade's hatred of the show meant that it would fail. Fail it did as by the end of Survival the show had been put on hiatus and one that would last for SIXTEEN YEARS!!

No Comment Required!

It is this movement from the programs traditional Saturday tea time slot and Grade's hatred of the show that put paid to Doctor Who and not the acting of the brilliant McCoy. Yet even die hard fans like my own father still look back and recall that "he wasn't much good was he"? I put forward the theory that this opinion is largely down to the fact that people just weren't able to watch as they were either coming in from work or lost out to the thousands that tune into Coronation Street every week (shudder)

Anyway, back to The Happiness Patrol! The Doctor and Ace visit a human colony on the planet Terra Alpha and are disturbed by just how darn happy the place seems to be. It's all so forced with the cheerful lift music and fake painted grins. Soon they uncover the sinister forces that are at work and seek to put things right.

What follows is a dark and entertaining story which has its roots firmly in the Thatcher led Tory government England that was er ruining things at the time. Indeed, the lead villain (played excellently by Sheila Hancock) was modelled on Thatcher herself. The music accompanying the story is some of the best offered and features a wonderful harmonica blues riff. Yes there is The Kandy Man but come on this is Who. We are well used to, slightly unbelievable, monsters running around.

The Marvellous Sheila Hancock as Helen A

If you've never seen The Happiness Patrol before I would strongly recommend you give it a try. If you haven't seen it for a while then give yourself a treat. Dig out a packet of Liquorish Allsorts and sit back and enjoy!

A review of "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" by @zeiton_7

When the title for Episode 2 was announced I didn't like it. At all. I was worried that it was going to a shocking episode that would just amount to an excuse to put CGI dinosaurs into a Doctor Who story. However, like all Doctor Who fans, I was willing to admit if I was wrong and say so very clearly when I came to write this review. As the time to sit down and watch "Dinosaurs" crept nearer and nearer my feelings of unease mounted. Not helped by the clips and dubious first scene "spoiler" either I might add. Why must every female (with the exception of Donna) want to get into The Doctors pants. Its getting boring!

"Asylum" last week may have set the bar impossibly high, was my thought. Historically, almost every Doctor Who season has at least one real shocking episode in it (I really didn't enjoy "The God Complex" last year and the less said about "Fear Her" the better) So it was with much trepidation that I sat down to watch "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" praying that I'd be proved wrong, indeed, hoping that I would be writing a different review.

Now is the time for all of you who haven't seen the episode to stop reading as I will now give my honest review of what I have just viewed.

When Tweeting Goes Wrong by @zeiton_7

The recent furore regarding certain articles and tweets directed at Steven Moffat (specifically it seems about his portrayal of ladies within Doctor Who being sexist) Has got me thinking about the whole issue of what makes a tweeter into a hater. Indeed, what "crosses the line" from fair critical blog or comments to hate filled bullying or "trolling"

It's not an easy area. A recent article by @cluemark discusses this very point. I would suggest the line is drawn at different points depending on the users own individual morals and state of mind. But clearly there are certain areas (such as personal abuse) that are always out of order.

Interesting to me as, after my less than glowing personal review of "Dinosaurs on a spaceship" and tweets stating I hated it, that I recieved some less than constructive comments. My approach has always been to welcome and listen to opinions that dont always agree with my own but to still reserve the right to hold my own opinion.

Twitter can be an odd place to spend any amount of time, especially when Doctor Who fans, and I include myself, are very clear on what they do and don't like and will say so very loudly. As showrunner and experienced writer Moffat is well used to criticism and has in the past been on the end of some very nasty hate campaigns. He has also got a huge amount of support from fans and always seems to take the "idiots" with a pinch of salt. 

I seriously dont believe for a second that his decision to suspend his account on Twitter had anything to do with "the lunatic fringe" who hate all that he does without exception. More likely that he is a very busy man and feels duty bound to defend his work if it comes under attack. If Twitter, as his wife, Sue Vertue, tweeted earlier, has become "too much of a distraction" then it is just a break or hyatus he is taking and the tweets in support of him while well meant are probably pointless.

I, like all bloggers, reserve the right to review any episode fairly and honestly. Hopefully, stating my opinion in a clear and  concise manner without fear of personal reprisal. Moffat, and any other artiste or writer should have the same rights. 

An example, if you like coffee you have a great deal of choice as to where you get your fix from. Is it Costas? Starbucks or one of the other brands that gets your money. I opt for Costas, it's my choice my taste and my money. To argue that this choice is wrong and that I should change is not a right that anyone has. Nor would I wish to "convert" a Starbucks fan to Costas. This may seem an odd example but isn't that what you do when you reply to someones tweet of an opinion on an episode and ridicule what they have to say?

The beauty of the program we love so much is that all opinions are valid. Some people absolutely raved about last nights story. While others expressed disappointment and hatred of it. It is the passion that Doctor Who garners in all of us that brings forth this voice. If we feel let down by an episode the feelings will be negative if we love it then the opposite.

Lets all remember we dont have to like the same thing. How boring would that be?
But lets be as supportive to those who arent as famous as Moffat and have a zero tollerance to people that tweet abuse at ANYONE we converse with. It has no place in Doctor Who fandom.

Some of the comments that I have read in support of Moffat and angry at his apparent abuse have, ironically, ended up being just as offensive as those they complain about

The Peter Cushing- Doctor Who Films- Review by @Zeiton_7

IT'S A DOCTOR WHO REBOOT ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!!!

Cue Twitter meltdown, Doctor Who fans taking arms and storming the production offices and general public unrest.!

Actually that is not what happened at all because Twitter didn't exist back in 1965 and the first Doctor Who film starring Peter Cushing stormed the box office to much critical acclaim. It did so well, in fact, that they did it again the following year and Doctor Who Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150 AD hit the screens. Both films are retellings,  oh ok vertically identical, of their television counterparts (the television versions starred William Hartnell as The Doctor). The plots are the same but yet there are enough differences to make the two films watchable alongside the original versions.

Firstly, the title sequences and theme music. The BBC would not allow the films to use the anthemic television music so an alternative had to be composed. Barry Gray (and Malcolm Lockyer) came up with a fabulous, rousing score that is far removed from the Doctor Who theme we all know and love.


Secondly, the BBC would not allow the films to feature the TARDIS interior so a new funky disco like one was used. I think it works and is certainly more colourful than its counterpart, although this may be due to the fact the films were shot in colour and the original Hartnell led stories are black and white. More on that later though

Thirdly, and very significantly, Cushing's Doctor is referred to as Doctor Who (this is my only gripe with the films as it's just wrong) he is also entirely human and built the TARDIS in his spare time. How precisely he achieves this amazing feat is not explained and, to be honest, who cares!

The Daleks also received a little alteration. They are slightly taller and have a larger "bumper" base to make them more imposing. There was talk of giving them flame throwers but it was felt this was probably not a great idea! They speak the same, they act the same and, for the first time, they are featured in colour. This was so exciting for me as a child. To see my favourite Doctor Who monsters in glorious colour was the best thing I'd ever seen.

Cushing himself portrays The Doctor as a fantastic, brilliantly minded Grandfather who is everything The Doctor should be. His relationship with Barbara (Jennie Linded) Susan (Roberta Tovey) and Ian (Roy Castle) is identical to that of the TV series. Interesting to note that Cushing famously turned down the role of the Second Doctor and would have taken over from Troughton had work commitments allowed. It is interesting to think of how different the series would have been had he taken the role and not Pertwee.

The inclusion of humour, step forward the wonderful Roy Castle and Bernard Cribbins, is a much welcome addition. Who can forget the scene on the Dalek ship where Cribbins pretends to be a Roboman. Both add a "Saturday matinee" lightness to proceedings without ruining the film and lowering it to farce.

I find that if either film is scheduled for a viewing at a weekend there is nothing quite like sitting down and watching them. Bag of M and M's optional!

In Memory of Geoffrey Hughes by @Zeiton_7

"But the Junior Mr Popplewick isnt allowed to expect anyone"


In the same week that we lost Mary Tamm we also lost Geoffrey Hughes. This was a particularly sad moment for me as I had  been a long admirer of his work. Trial of a Timelord, for me remains one of the true great stories and Hughes portryal of Mr Popplewick was screen stealing

To Doctor Who fans, Geoffrey will be known as the marvellously over the top character of Mr Popplewick. Appearing in the final story of the Sixth Doctor's Trial of a Timelord. Popplewick was a pencil pusher with more than a hint of malevolence about him. Put it this way, do not ever get into a waiting room anywhere near him!

Geoffrey Hughes was born on the 2nd February 1944 and started his acting career in repertory in Stoke on Trent. He starred in many on and off West End productions, most notably in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Television viewers came to love him as the slobbish Eddie Yeats, Stan Ogden's best friend, in Coronation Street and the equally slobbish but loveable Onslow in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. Hughes made a number of film appearances including, Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall, Carry On at Your Convenience and provided the voice for Paul McCartney in the Beatles cartoon film Yellow Submarine

 My personal recollections started at an early age when my mum, an avid Coronation Street fan used to tune in every week. I remember being strangely drawn to the character of Eddie and, although he was a bit of a scallywag, there was something endearing about him. Later on I laughed like countless others at Onslow and even more at the character of Twiggy portrayed in the show The Royal Family

The common strand with all these characters is "larger than life" they were all so real but yet so eccentric. Hughes had a way of portraying the loveable layabout in a way that you never really questioned why his particular onscreen wife put up with him.

In later years Hughes could be seen regularly in Pantomime where audiences would again enjoy his manic over the top acting. It was something that delighted both television and stage audiences alike.

The death of Geoffrey Hughes is a tragic loss to us all. Trial of a Timelord is my favourite Colin Baker story and the character of Mr Popplewick is unforgettable like Hughes himself.

Rest in peace Geoffrey Hughes 2nd February 1944- 27th July 2012

Roger Delgado- The Master Remembered. By @Zeiton_7

On the 18th June 1973 the chauffeur driven car that Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto was travelling plunged over a ravine. At the time he was filming  in Turkey and sadly all that were travelling in the car died.  Roger Delgado was the first actor to portray The Master and did so to perfection in eight stories. Tragically he was to feature in one final story with Jon Pertwee's Doctor and Roger's death has often been quoted as one of the reasons Jon decided to leave the series.

In this affectionate and loving tribute to the archest of The Doctors enemies, I will talk about why I believe Delgado's portrayal was the original and best. It set the standard, high, for all those to come after him. Roger's on screen presence was tangible right from the first scene in Terror of the Autons. He seemed to exude evil and malevolence without uttering a word. His planning was much more subtle yet still formidable, however the aim was always the same. Complete and total obedience to him and absolute destruction of The Doctor, normally after humiliating him first!

Delgado's Master had impeccable dress sense, normally opting for sharp black suits. His, literally, hypnotic eyes seem to bore into the poor unfortunate souls who crossed him and they soon were under his influence. Even when he seemed to be defeated it was never wise to let down your guard as he could always be relied on to pull another little twist and escape.

Delgado's relationship with Pertwee both onscreen and off was close. This may be one of the reasons that Delgado is so effective as The Doctors adversary. Their performances together show complete trust in each others acting abilities and this just adds to the delight in watching any stories they feature in.

I am sad to say that my recollections and affection for Roger Delgado only began some 15 years after his death. As I was born in 1975 my first encounters were in watching repeats of those classic stories and also with the brilliant writing within the Target books. Even so, I was totally amazed and in admiration of this actor who could deliver such an intense and powerful performance. Here, surely was a match for The Doctor's intellect and someone to be feared. I always felt that when The Master was around The Doctor was always in more danger than with any other foe (something which was ably proven during Logopolis)

Roger Delgado's legacy is obvious. He provided such a fantastically strong foundation for The Master that Doctor Who has been able to continue the characters development through 7 incarnations. Each new actor that portrays The Master, like those who play The Doctor, add something different. But all owe a great debt to the original, and in my opinion, the best.

The Master attends a Black Sabbath Concert.

Live Tweeting and Doctor Who by @zeiton_7

It occurred to me the other day that tweeting along to Doctor Who was a really strange thing to do! As many of you know I have been involved in this odd practice for over a year now. It has been a fun and enjoyable experience and one which I don't intend to give up anytime soon.

However, when I tell my, non Who fanatical friends about this past time they tend to raise an eyebrow and ready the padded cell! So I thought I would take this opportunity to jot down a few thoughts I have on this subject. This may even encourage some of you to try it!

Before I start I will be very honest and say that I am part of the administration team for @Tardis_Tweet and would obviously recommend you check out the schedule of tweet views on the website (see link to the right) However other groups do exist and, again as many you know, I was involved in The Doctor Who Bar until recently. Indeed, I am indebted to the team at the bar for introducing me to this idea!

Anyway, back to the subject in hand. When someone suggested to me that I attempted to watch Doctor Who episodes and tweeted along in a kind of group type experience I thought the idea was weird. I mean really really weird! We Who fans have long given into the nerd title labelling us and some of us have come to love it! But tweeting along to Doctor Who? In a group? That's just too geeky even for me! These were some of my thoughts initially, but like a good Doctor Who fan I decided to give it a go.

I can't honestly remember what the first story was but I do remember it was a lot of fun. Sharing common thoughts and, sometimes, opposite opinions, whilst watching whichever Doctor do his stuff was brilliant. You see, being a Doctor Who fan/obsessive is sometimes a lonely existence. Lets face it everyone else just thinks its a television program and as we know its so much more than that, right? Ever since that first dip into live tweeting I have been a regular participator and have now upgraded (see what I did there Cyber fans?) to being part of a team of like minded lunatics who lead Tardis Tweets.

It really is a lot of fun as its a great way of interacting with other fans across the world. You get a true idea of the appeal of our beloved Doctor Who just by listening and reading what people put. Sometimes you learn things you didn't know about the story in question. But always, always a good time is had!

However, a more poignant and sad dimension to this past time is, of course, when a beloved Actor or Actress dies. This gives us, at Tardis Tweets, an opportunity to change our schedule and put in its place a story that celebrates the life of the person we have lost. This, on so many occasions, has been a real focal point and has allowed many to share personal recollections in a truly moving way.

So, what are you waiting for? Try it? It doesn't have to be with Tardis Tweets. Find a group that has a story you'd like to watch and turn up. You never know you might enjoy it!