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@janetteb Pleased to see you’re a Pratchett fan too. For some reason, to me the other work that most resembled the Discworld is Doug Adams Hitch-hiker quintet. Notwithstanding that Discworld is explicitly fantasy and Hitchhiker is explicitly Science Fiction. But there’s just something about the situations and characters that make them ‘feel’…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent I am still working through my first read of Pratchett. I recently picked up more books so now have only three to go to complete the series. I am currently on Jingo. Pratchett has that english style of writing, a tradition that really seems unique to the U.K and certainly influences Dr Who, especially Moffat.

Cheers

Janette

@ps1l0v3y0u I really enjoyed The Other Bennet Sister too. there were some jarring modern lines and sensibilities and costumes were hit and miss but overall it was a delight.

I have only watched one series of Slow Horses as yet. The remainder is on my “too watch” list. I am not sure I will get around to Silo. too much to catch up on. I have the…[Read more]

@whohar
I’m reading through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, in order. This is a long-term project. I do love an author with a good turn of phrase, and Pratchett certainly has that. So does Steven Moffat (of which more in a moment).
In between that I’m reading [geek mode ON] Hamilton Ellis’s British Railway History, Part 1. Which is what it…[Read more]

@whohar   Thanks for that.   That article is actually excerpts from a video interview with Stephen Moffet, it very helpfully  gives a link to the interview, which is on Youtube here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T-wYCvusZ4

I know what I’ll be watching for the next hour and a half.    Moffat is always interesting to listen to.

@whohar @jeanetteb

Yes, I’ll be watching the new series of Ludwig. Gentle comedic mystery. The Other Bennett Sister was  dismissed as light-weight but that again was part off its charm: it actually worked.

Silo season 3 coming soon… in 2 minds about it, but I’ll watch it. Pluribus intrigued by I couldn’t stay with it; may go back to it. Also Slo…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb

That’s Entertainment! Well, Moff has no problems on that score. Could it even be a barb at another showmaker? Or an executive in drama?

But I would hope a new regime would also aspire to some kind intelligence. Like Moff. Cbeebies doesn’t fill me with confidence.

@janetteb

I’ve also seen all those, although did not finish How to get to Heaven… and I need to see the latest Derry Girls.

Small Prophets was excellent.

Re: Widows Bay: it’s a horror (not gory) with comedic elements. Would recommend.

thank you for the link @whohar I was just thinking earlier about how universally loved Dr Who is. I was in a shop yesterday when the s.o rang to find where I was and the assistant immediately smiled at the ring tone and we started talking about Dr Who. Prior to the reboot that would not have happened, not in Australia anyway.

cheers

Janette

@whohar Right now I am not watching anything because the laptop I watch stuff on in the mornings is out of order and at night I am too busy working, writing and editing podcasts. Earlier this year I caught up with Ludwig which I really enjoyed and Derry Girls which was entertaining. (Took a while I know.) followed by How to Get to Heaven from…[Read more]

Now that we have a, um, short (!) gap until any new Who, just wondered what else people are watching.

For me: The Boroughs (although Netflix are not renewing), Widows Bay (which Apple are renewing) and The Fades (an old BBC show written by Jack Thorne, which they really should have renewed) are my recent picks.

There you go @dentarthurdent

https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/moffat-doctor-who-must-entertain-107246.htm

@whohar   Care to give us a link to that interview?   Thanks.

Moffat’s views on writing, always worth listening to:

Earlier in the interview, Moffat also shared his view on what makes good writing, arguing that the first job of any television show, film or play is to entertain.

“They never mention the word entertainment, which is the minimum condition of anything you write,” Moffat said. “Not theme, which…

[Read more]

Paul McGann as The War Doctor would have been fascinating. We got John Hurt instead.

Otherwise…

I AM annoyed with The BBC:

Putting Grade and the first cancellation aside…

In my opinion they undermined Moffat.

They set an agenda for Chibnall. Who was pretty poor anyway.

They give every impression that they want to sell the show… you can call…[Read more]

@winston I love that sign! “Sorry” is firmly entrenched in the Canadian vocabulary.

@janetteb I definitely agree with you about the Paul McGann movie. I had no idea he was so good because … well, that movie didn’t offer a clue. But when I saw The Night of the Doctor, I was so impressed with him. As you say, what a difference a good script and good direction make!

@winston Yup, Mark Carney’s dance card is full … more than…[Read more]

@translatorcircuit Unfortunately, what you think ‘should’ happen to the rights carries little weight with those who actually have custody of them. In particular, if the BBC were wound up, it would probably be the duty of the receivers (or whatever their title was) to maximise the financial return.

As for ‘The Time Machine’ somehow invalidating…[Read more]

@janetteb I agree with you about the budget and special effects. First of all, the FX should support the script, not replace or outweigh it. I think there’s a certain quality of FX to properly support the story. Less, and you get things like the embarrassing unconvincing ‘guns’ in Blakes 7, or the gods in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy looking…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent @whohar

Doctor Who was created by the BBC in 1963. It soon became a success. However, not everyone at the BBC liked it. By the end of the Second Doctor’s era, there were a lot of Doctor Who haters at the BBC who were plotting to cancel it. Luckily, the Doctor Who lovers at the BBC managed to defeat them by creating a new format f…[Read more]