Things to Come...

Marsha.. Marsha.. Marsha..

Or should it be Rose.. Rose.. Rose..

There is no denying that Martha Jones has put up with a lot over the course of the current season. Constantly having to walk in the shadow of "The Ex" has not been an easy task, as well as seeing the Doctor fall in love with a human other than her. While I agree that the Unrequited Love storyline is very interesting from a character point of view, there are times that I long for the Waifs and Strays from the Classic Series.

The new series has a new approach to storytelling. There is much more of an emotional depth and profile to the characters than ever before. I can say that the road that the Doctor has taken Martha down has been a slippery slope indeed. The truth is that she loves him but he doesn't feel the same way. One can only wonder how long she can put up with constantly being reminded that she is walking in Rose's shadow. But the winds of change are blowing and the answer is not long.

There is a new companion coming to Doctor Who next season. Male or Female is not known. Martha won't be in every episode, but will appear in the occasional episode for both Doctor Who and Torchwood.

What will Martha bring to the Torchwood team? Could it be that there will be a need for medical personnel?? If that is the case where would the lovely Dr. Owen Harper be?? And WHO will be the new addition to the Doctor Who Cast?? Winds of change are blowing, lets all hope Martha can weather out the storm.

December Novel Releases

Peacemaker by James Swallow
The peace and quiet of a remote homestead in the 1880s American West is shattered by the arrival of two shadowy outriders searching for 'the healer'. When the farmer refuses to help them, they raze the house to the ground using guns that shoot bolts of energy instead of bullets... In the town of Redwater, the Doctor and Martha learn of a snake-oil salesman who's patent medicines actually cure his patient. But when the Doctor and Martha investigate they discover the truth is stranger, and far more dangerous. Caught between the law of the gun and the deadly plans of intergalactic mercenaries, the Doctor and Martha are about to discover just how wild the West can become... This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

The Pirate Loop by Simon GuerrierThe Doctor's been everywhere and everywhen in the whole of the universe and seems to know all the answers. But ask him what happened to the Starship Brilliant and he hasn't the first idea. Did it fall into a sun or black hole? Was it shot down in the first moments of the galactic war? And what's this about a secret experimental drive? The Doctor is skittish. But if Martha is so keen to find out he'll land the TARDIS on the Brilliant, a few days before it vanishes. Then they can see for themselves... Soon the Doctor learns the awful truth. And Martha learns that you need to be careful what you wish for. She certainly wasn't hoping for mayhem, death, and badger-faced space pirates. This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

Wishing Well by Trevor Baxendale
The old village well is just a curiosity - something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish. Unless something alien and terrifying could be lurking inside the well. Something utterly monstrous that causes nothing but death and destruction. But who knows the real truth about the well? Who wishes to unleash the hideous force it contains? What terrible consequences will follow the search for a legendary treasure hidden at the bottom? No one wants to believe the Doctor's warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait - but soon they'll wish they had... This title features the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

The Last of the Time Lords

From the BBC Press Release:

Earth has been conquered and the Master rules supreme, with the Doctor a helpless prisoner, in the final episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who.The entire human race has been reduced to slavery, as the mighty warships of a new Time Lord Empire rise from the ashes. Only Martha Jones can save the world...

Journal to come

John Smith's A JOURNAL OF IMPOSSIBLE THINGS will be released as part of the DOCTOR WHO merchandise range later this year - as a limited edition hardback book.

A Closer Look: Ben Jackson

Ben first appears in the First Doctor serial, The War Machines, when he meets Polly and Dodo in a London nightclub called the Inferno. Ben is feeling depressed and angry because he has a six-month shore posting while his ship is going to the West Indies, but Polly and Dodo try to cheer him up. When Polly is accosted by another patron in the Inferno, Ben comes to her rescue. Eventually, Ben and Polly aid the Doctor in his fight against the rogue artificial intelligence known as WOTAN. They are bearers of the news of Dodo's decision to stay in 1966 to the Doctor, and accidentally get carried away in the TARDIS when they try to return Dodo's key to the time machine.

Ben is a salt-of-the-Earth kind of fellow, dependable, faithful, but prone to be suspicious when kept in the dark or not understanding what was going on. He is very attached to Polly, considering her posh, giving her the nickname of "Duchess" and appointing himself as both her protector and that of the Doctor's. He is present with Polly when the First Doctor regenerates into the Second, and continues to travel with the Second Doctor.

Eventually, the TARDIS finds its way back to 1966 London in The Faceless Ones on the very day Ben and Polly had left (although about a year had passed for them). They decide to remain behind to resume their lives without disruption as the Doctor and Jamie travel on.

In the spin-off short story "Mondas Passing" by Paul Grice (in the anthology Short Trips) which takes place in 1986, it is revealed that Ben and Polly have gone their separate ways and married other people. Ben meets a divorced Polly again with the help of the Second Doctor in 1999 ("That Time I Nearly Destroyed The World Whilst Looking For a Dress" by Joseph Lidster, published in Short Trips: Past Tense), where the two admit their love for each other.

Hunting Them Weevils

Thanks to Braxiatel Caerdydd over at the OutpostGallifrey forums we have a neat little set report all about last night's filming in some mystery Cardiff street. It's not known which episode these scenes come from, but they sure as hell contain SPOILERS - so don't read on if you want to remain clean! If not, then read on...

"Just got back from this evening's filming which was great fun. Just two scenes were filmed the 90 minutes or so that I was there but there was also plenty of other entertainment.John Barrowman was very friendly coming over to say hello to the masses on a couple of ocassions while people were also invited to have photos taken with him and autographs.Before rehearsals, people were also able to have their photo taken with the impressive SUV (is that the correct initials?), black car anyway!!!

The first scene was done in one take. It involved Jack and Ianto looking at a young girl who was standing by a lamppost. Didn't hear the dialogue if there was any.The second scene involved Jack and Ianto hunting a weevil. The rough script is as follows...

Ianto: Weevil sighted in the sewers of _____ street.

Ianto then throws Jack the car keys which Jack catches (in every one of the dozen takes). Jack then looks like he's been startled and looks around.

Jack: Did you SEE that?

They both look for a second before Jack says: "Get in, I'll give you a lift." and they drive off.

Filming was interupted a few times, at one point by some young drunks who starting shouting "I love you Jack Barrowman" before asking him for oral sex. Well it is Torchwood after all!"

Torchwood Update

Ashley Way is to return to Torchwood in its second year - according to the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. Way is to direct the third block of Torchwood episodes, with Colin Teague ("Ghost Machine", "Last of the Time Lords") set to helm block two.

There's been a shake-up in the line up of season two writers. We can now expect to see scripts from Chris Chibnall, Helen Raynor, Catherine Tregenna, James Moran, Matt Jones ("The Satan Pit"), JC Wilsher and PJ Hammond. Both Chibnall and Tregenna are down for mulitple episodes. There's no word yet on whether Russell T Davies will still script an episode.

The magazine also reports on Torchwood's BAFTA Cymru wins. Executive producer Julie Gardner says, "It was such an exiting night, and such a boost for the Doctor Who and Torchwood teams." There's a lovely snap of David Tennant and Eve Myles stood next to one another, comparing awards. Together they were named "Best Actor" and "Best Actress".

Apparently John Barrowman's audio book signing at Oxford Street's Borders went very well. Says the magazine "...it was one of the most successful signings they'd hosted, and it could have gone on for much longer, had John not had to dash off to that evening's round of Any Dream Will Do!" Why, oh why, couldn't I have attended...?

The review section finally (!) gets round to revieiwng the three Torchwood novels that were published on New Years Day, and generally has kind words to say of all three. Andy Lane's "Slow Decay" is clearly the reviewer's favourite book of the series though.

James Moran??

And James Moran is writing his first episode for the series.

Hang on... James Who?

That's exactly what I thought, before I typed his name into Google and discovered that he wrote the British horror film Severance. He has his own blog too, "the pen is mightier than the spork", which I immediately read. And you're asking yourself where all this is leading right? Well, Moran's blog reveals something interesting...

He's writing an episode of Torchwood:

"...what about Secret TV Thing? Well, that is Torchwood, the spin-off of Who, which I'm also doing an episode of. Got the TW gig in December, and just handed in the latest draft, although there'll be more tweaks right up until filming, which starts this weekend sometime. I only got the Who gig 3 weeks ago, so it's all still shiny and new and not quite real yet. I've been doing TW for a few months now, so am more relaxed and calm about it. Until Friday, when the handsome actors will do a read-through and possibly look at me, making me feel all nervous and unattractive."James has been hinting for a couple of weeks now about this Torchwood script - so you'll find some cyrptic clues about his story by reading through his last few posts!You can catch up with James' blog by clicking here.

Tales of Mary Tamm

I have a dear friend who went with me to the Gallifrey One convention in 2006. One of the main draws for him that year was getting to meet one of his favorite companions, Mary Tamm. During the weeks that led up to the convention, I was badgered by his excitement in meeting "the prettiest" companion. Time passed, and the convention was in full swing.

It is amazing how age can change people.

We were standing in life for autographs when we finally made it to Mary. I passed through, had my book signed and said my pleasantries. My friend made it up to Mary, as all watched how this meeting of the minds unfolded. He passed his book and pen over to her and said the phrase that will live in infamy came out of his mouth.

Shoulders back, he said proudly to her.. "Mary, you were the prettiest companion... until John Barrowman came along. now you aren't any more!!"

What have we learned... you never get a second chance to make a first impression........

Utopia and The Sound of Drums

I today have received the BBC Press Release for both Utopia and The Sound of Drums.

Utopia:

"Jack's back! As Captain Jack storms back into the Doctor's life, the Tardis is thrown out of control, to the end of the universe, in tonight's episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who. There, they find the savage Futurekind ruling the wilderness, while a lonely Professor tries in vain to save the last of the human race." Rene Zagger and Sir Derek Jacobi guest star - as does the Blue Peter competition winner!

The Sound of Drums:

"Harry Saxon becomes Prime Minister and his reign of terror begins – but that's only the start of his ambitions, as he announces mankind's first contact with an alien race, the Toclafane. An audacious plan spanning the whole of time and space begins to close around the Earth, in the penultimate episode of Russell T Davies's Doctor Who."

The Erimem Paradox

Erimim, erstwhile Pharoh and Companion to the Fifth Doctor, is at the center of a large debate in fan circles. Many people are debating the fact that if the Fifth Doctor and Peri had a Companion who traveled with them, became extreemly close to them, and they never spoke of her ever again. What could be the fate of our Lady Pharoh???

A Closer Look: Dr. Evelyn Smythe

Dr. Evelyn Smythe was fifty-five when she began her travels with the Doctor. She first appeared in the play The Marian Conspiracy (2000), when the Sixth Doctor found her while searching for a temporal nexus point. Travelling with the Doctor back to 1554, she became involved with the turmoil surrounding the reign of Queen Mary, which would soon give way to that of her half-sister Elizabeth. At the end of that adventure, she insisted on accompanying the Doctor further, because as an historian, the chance to travel in a time machine was irresistible.

Being more mature than most of the Doctor's other companions, she was more than a match for the more abrasive Sixth Doctor, often questioning his decisions and even counselling him on them. In turn, the Sixth Doctor recognized Evelyn's wisdom and ability and respected her advice.

Their relationship was not always smooth. Evelyn had a heart condition which she kept from the Doctor, fearing that he would return her home if he found out. She also blamed the Doctor for his inability to save a young woman named Cassie in Project: Lazarus (2003), something the Seventh Doctor said she never forgave him for, even when she parted ways with him.
While visiting the planet Világ and helping repel an alien invasion by an aggressive species known as the Killorans, Evelyn met and fell in love with Governor Rossiter, who eventually became the political head of the union of three nations (Arrangements for War, 2004).

When she and the Doctor returned a year later, Evelyn decided to stay and marry Rossiter. She subsequently became involved in the politics of Világ and underwent surgery for her heart. The surgery, however, did not actually correct her heart condition; without her knowledge, she was injected during the surgery with blood extracted from Killoran prisoners. The infusion disguised Evelyn's heart condition, but also caused her to suffer from headaches, increased aggressiveness and irritability.

Two years later, the Sixth Doctor brought his new companion Mel to visit Evelyn on Világ. During their visit, Evelyn was kidnapped by a political enemy, and during the ordeal she became seriously ill as a result of the Killoran blood in her system. With the aid of the Doctor's blood, Rossiter's daughter Sofia, a physician, corrected the effects of the Killoran blood. During her recovery, Evelyn was secretly paid a visit by the Seventh Doctor as well. The Seventh Doctor wanted to tell Evelyn that Cassie's son, Hex, was now travelling with him, and assured her that some good had come out of the tragedy after all.

While not an example of the stereotypical companion, Evelyn made her way into the hearts of fans around the world. She has even broken into the novel range in Instruments of Darkness by Gary Russell. Her travels with the Doctor continue to this day in the Big Finish audio range.

Series Four Writers

We now know who the writers are for Season 4 of Doctor Who. Helen Raynor and Stephen Moffatt are both back, each penning a two part story for the season. Joining them are returning writers Gareth Roberts, Tom Macrae, and Stephen Greenhorn. Writing their first episodes for Doctor Who are James Moran and Keith Temple. Russell T Davies will be writing 4 episodes plus the Christmas Special. Preliminary statements claim that Roberts script will be directly tied to the Series 3 Finale.

Trek Invasion

Star Trek Author Keith R.A. DeCandido has enlisted the help of some of his fellow Star Trek authors on his upcoming Short Trips volume, The Qualities of Leadership. Diane Duane and Peter David, both huge Trek fan favorites, are currently on-board to write stories for this volume.

From the Big Finish website: "The Quality of Leadership is about leadership from throughout history. The stories will each focus on the Doctor's encounters with dukes and despots, prime ministers and presidents, kings and queens, tribal shamans and galactic emperors. "

Regenerated Fans

I heard a phrase today that was new to me. "Regerated" Fans are fans that were fans of the 'classic' series, but left fandom once the show went off the air; but came back to fandom with the start of the 'new' series. Now we have the 'Wilderness Years', and 'Regenerated Fans', I guess it is only a matter of time before we divide into 'Loyalists' and 'Communists'.

Blink

The BBC have released the synopsis for Blink, the upcoming episode written by Steven Moffatt. Following on from the success of The Girl in the Fireplace and The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, this episode is highly anticipated.

"In an old, abandoned house, the Weeping Angels wait, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues. However, when people start disappearing, a young woman called Sally finds cryptic messages bleeding through from 1969 – messages from a mysterious stranger called the Doctor. But can she decipher them before the Angels claim their prize? "

Oh No It Isn't!

This week I went back and listened to the Bernice Summerfield audio play Oh No It Isn't!, the first in the Bernice Summerfield range at Big Finish Productions. This was a re-working of the novel by the same name that was the start of the Benny New Adventures from Virgin Publishing. I must admit that I understood and appreciated the humor in the plot more in the audio medium than I ever did as a novel. There is just something about trying to capture Panto in the written word that just doesn't jive well.

It is also interesting to note that the 'Spot the Nick Briggs voice' game can be played this far back as well. Both he and Mark Gatiss join the cast. Which leads me to the lady herself, Lisa Bowerman. I always have a problem seeing characters on the screen that I first met in print. One of the major issues I have is the voice. It never quite fits.. this is something that bothered me in the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter films also. It does seem though that Lisa is quite possibly the perfect person to play Bernice. In fact whenever I re-read a New Adventure, I can hear her voice along with Sylvester and Sophie taking me on this journey. I also have Alfre Woodard playing Roz, but that's just me.

All in all I give this version props over the original, though I feel as a season opener it lacks something. Though exactly what that something is I wont know for a while now.

Reflections on a Human Nature

This week sees the airing of Human Nature on BBC1. Written by Paul Cornell, this episode is an adaptation of his highly acclaimed novel. I remember those many moons ago when I first read the novel. It was highly compelling and really hit home, especially since it followed up the heart wrenching Sanctuary. One wonders what will be the reason to compell the Doctor to live the life of a human. In the novel, it was a want for understanding of the trauma Bernice was experiencing the loss of Guy. Martha has not experienced such a loss recently, the closest thing that she has had is a fling in an escape pod... which resulted in a quick peck.

It is amazing that so many elements from the original story have carried over onto the screen. Everything from character names to occupations are the same, which leaves one to wonder if the Tardis is going to leave this story with a new feline crew member.

Welcome to Good Companions

Greetings all!! And Welcome to the first installment of the Good Companions Doctor Who blog. This blog celebrates all things Doctor Who.. from the hit TV series now on BBC1 to the audio ranges from Big Finish Productions. Here we will discuss and debate the trials and tribulations of our favorite Time Lord. So sit back, grab your sonic screwdriver, and get ready as we look back on 40 years in time and space.