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BlogtorWho has delivered the delicious news that the new series of Doctor Who will begin in the US on April 17th, a mere two weeks after the UK airing (seems the Beeb has learned a bit about the futility of making the Yanks wait forever for new episodes…..)

Here is the trailer for the upcoming series, which is a sure-cure for any geek suffering from erectile dysfunction

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• The New Doctor Who Has A Start Date (cinemablend.com)

The sun rose brightly today in the Doctor Whoniverse, as Lalla Ward appeared on this morning’s BBC Radio 4 program Midweek with Libby Purves.

The honorable Lady Ward appears to discuss her current exhibit of wildlife thread paintings in London, but she also gives us nerds some deliciously dorky anecdotes. To wit: Patrick Stewart’s admonition not to waste her time doing television (least of all science fiction!), how Douglas Adams introduced her to current hubby Richard Dawkins, and how she still enjoys “seeing old friends” when she does Doctor Who audio dramas.

You can listen to the show by following this link to the Midweek show and podcast. Get there quickly, as the Beeb has a tendency to restrict access to their shows after a short shelf life.

It doesn’t get any better than this. To promote Russell T. Davies‘ book Doctor Who: The Writer’s Tale, BBC Books is making several Doctor Who scripts available for download online.

Among the scripts available are both parts of The End of Time, The Waters of Mars, and one of my favorites, The Next Doctor. Follow this link to the download site.

[Major hat-tip to io9.com]

David Tennant’s turn as the tenth Doctor in Doctor Who came to a slightly maudlin end last night as BBC America aired the final episode starring the most popular actor to inhabit the role. The show — second of a two-parter called The End of Time — was gripping due to this important event, but ultimately came across as something of an overwrought disappointment. It was too “aware” of its own significance to let itself be a taut Doctor Who adventure.

I suppose a sense of disappointment was inevitable, given the lengthy build-up that spanned the previous three episodes. But I had high hopes after enjoying The End of Time Part 1, which laid the groundwork nicely. In it, we saw the resurrection of the Doctor’s nemesis the Master, who overlaid his image and consciousness onto every human being on earth. Throughout we heard the narration of the Time Lord President, who at the end of the episode announces his intentions to restore the Time Lords. The Doctor and kindly old Wilf had been subdued by the Master, leaving us with a good old fashioned cliff-hanger.

Part Two picks up with the Time Lords, in-council and trapped in the last day of the Time War — an event locked in history from which they know they can’t escape. Led by the bellicose President and informed by the eccentric Prophet, they scheme to prevent their destruction. Only two Time Lords are known to have survived the War — the Doctor and the Master. They decide to use the Master as a lifeline, embedding the maddening four-beat “sound of drums” into his psyche to use as a signal to broadcast beyond the confines of the “time lock” that contains the War.

The Doctor, of course, figures out this plan, and we learn that the Time Lords are not as benevolent as the Doctor’s misty recollections have made them out to be. Indeed, the prospect of their return prompts the pacifist Doctor to pick up a gun, something he has sworn “never” to do.

Without going into too much detail, I can confirm that the Doctor does indeed hear the dreaded “four knocks” that were prophesied to precede his death. They come in a surprising manner, as well, in a clever twist that I hadn’t seen coming.

Unfortunately, this is where the episode became lachrymose, even for this psychic-paper-carrying Who fan. It could have ended pretty tightly right then — but instead the Doctor launched into an uncharacteristic, Garden of Gethsemane rant — Why me? Why now? I had so much more to do!!, etc. We have seen the Doctor face his own demise with cool nobility many times before, so this scenery-chewing spasm seemed very out-of-step. (Contrast this with the demise of the 9th Doctor [Christopher Eccleston], for instance.) And the fact that this may be his true death — not just the prelude to regeneration — doesn’t get him off the hook. The Doctor — even Tennant’s Doctor — has often been willing to march to his annihilation.

The interim between the Doctor’s fatal blows and his regeneration also went against the show’s mythology and continuity. In this instance, regeneration is a lazy, relaxed process that allows the Doctor to mozy around spacetime to “get his reward”… which involves going back and seeing (and saving) a few characters “one last time.” Honestly, it all felt more like an office-party farewell to David Tennant than a proper story. Very self-indulgent and very insensitive to the fourth wall. The time would have been better spent tying up some loose-ish ends, like the identity of “The Woman” or the fate of Donna Noble (though they might be one and the same?)…

The regeneration finally comes, after subjecting us to a painful case of blue-(box)-balls. Matt Smith bursts into the role, and with just a few moments of youthful hyperactivity he rescues the Doctor from the “stations of the cross” treatment we just had to endure. It got me psyched for the new series — I think this will be an energetic shot in the arm for Doctor Who, just as the the J.J. Abrams film was for Star Trek.

Don’t get me wrong — I loved the Tennant years as much as anyone — I just think the farewell could have been handled with a bit more dignified restraint. The Doctor is dead, long live the Doctor!

Now that John Barrowman has confirmed that Torchwood will be returning for another run (see previous post), I thought I’d present my fantasy picks for a newly reassembled Torchwood team. Torchwood: Children of Earth [SPOILER ALERT] killed off Ianto Jones, leaving a skeleton crew of just Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper. Their former headquarters were blown up, and the encounter with the 456 left a bad taste in Captain Jack’s mouth, prompting him to go on an intergalatic walkabout.

I’ve got some ideas about which characters in the Whoniverse ought to be called up for duty in rebuilding Torchwood. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke). The last time we saw Mickey — the long-suffering, sometimes boyfriend of Rose Tyler — he was leaving the TARDIS, opting to return to his native universe after having spent time in the alternate one containing Rose and his grandma. His experiences have matured him from a goofy slacker to a sharp warrior. As he walks away, Captain Jack runs after him, saying he needs to talk. Perfect segueway to bringing Mickey on board.

The only hitch I can anticipate is that actor/director Noel Clarke is very busy with his own successful projects, including the upcoming 4.3.2.1.

2. Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman). The Doctor’s former traveling companion was walking off with Mickey when Captain Jack ran after them. He wanted to talk to them both. This one seems an easy pick: Martha is already adored by Captain Jack, is a physician, has worked with Torchwood before, and has single-handedly saved the world. No-brainer.

3. Lois Habiba (Cush Jumbo) The sweet, conscientious and courageous junior assistant to the Eichmann-like bureaucrat John Frobisher is a stand-out fan favorite. Appearing in all five episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth, she proved her mettle with her brave civil disobedience, helping to bring down the wicked 456 collaborators in the government.

4. PC Andy Davidson (Tom Price). PC Andy was Gwen Cooper’s partner back when she was a police officer, and he is always loyal to Gwen’s sense of justice — even when he is kept in the dark about Torchwood and its “spooky dos”. He traditionally appears as a bit of comic relief, but he is extraordinarily noble and tough when he needs to be.

5. Rhys Williams (Kai Owen). Gwen’s lovable husband is already a de facto member of the team, having helped them out of several scrapes. Perhaps Captain Jack should make it official and put him on the payroll.

6. Captain John Hart (James Marsters). My long-shot pick. Captain Jack’s former colleague at the Time Agency — and former boyfriend — is a bit of a crazy mercenary; it might not be wise to give him the keys to the store. He has certainly caused a lot of trouble, but he was hoodwinked into behaving badly the last time we saw him. He really does seem to love Captain Jack, though; maybe if he’s kept on a short leash? It would make for good TV, in any case.

What are your picks? Tell me in the comments.