Time Crash

Sorry for the delay- I got a little stuck trying to come up with anything positive to say about the Sixth Doctor's era.

So instead, let's talk about "Time Crash," the 8 minute long Children in Need special where the Tenth and Fifth Doctors meet. Let me preface by saying that as an American, I have no understanding of the whole Children in Need thing. I just know it's some kind of charity telethon that's been known to include Doctor Who mini-episodes (which definitely makes it more worth watching than any American telethon I've ever seen).

Anyway, "Time Crash" is a nice bit of fun, and it's great to see a classic series Doctor on the new series (sort of, anyway). And Peter Davison was the clear choice for the crossover, since he's still alive and while he's aged considerably, he doesn't have the Grandpa look that Tom Baker and Sylvester McCoy do these days (not to mention the "wow, you've really let yourself go" look of Colin Baker).

The Tenth Doctor's nostalgia is the main thing that makes the segment worthwhile. The way he gazes admiringly at his younger/older self with a big grin on his face just seems so right. Once he recognizes the Fifth Doctor, he's never worried about the situation, because he remembers how it turns out- he's just happy to see himself. This incident is a bit like a personal time capsule for the Doctor- for the last however many subjective years it's been for him since the early 80's, he's known he would get to see that version of himself again.

One thing that strikes an off note for me, on the other hand, is when he says that it was as the Fifth Doctor that he learned to take himself less seriously. This seems odd since the bohemian, jelly baby addicted, always on the lookout for the perfect cosmic vacation spot Fourth Doctor came first. Five's era was actually quite grave by comparison, what with Adric dying and Turlough trying to kill him and Tegan getting fed up and leaving. Ten does have a good point about the suit and sneakers, the glasses, and the squeaky voice, though. And I love the bit about "trying to be old and grumpy and important, like you do when you're young," which is the best explanation of the First Doctor I could imagine.

Also, when Five asks of the Master still has a beard, and Ten says, "Well... a wife," is there any way to interpret that other than the Doctor implying (confirming) that the Master is gay (for him)? I'm pretty sure there's not, which makes it an interesting little tidbit.

I'm not sure how I feel about the idea that the TARDIS has a "desktop theme." I suppose it's an amusing way to account for the control room's changing appearance over the years, but honestly I think the thing that bugs me is how Windows-y the phrase sounds. I hate to think that Microsoft has any stake in timelord technology.

Planet of the Dead

If you haven't already heard, info and a couple of photos have been released from the Easter special, "Planet of the Dead," and of course Planet Gallifrey has gathered everything you could possibly want to read on the subject. I don't really have anything substantial to add at this early stage. I haven't seen much of anything Michelle Ryan's done before, but I'm all about her Betty Page hair. I'm hoping she stays on as a companion through multiple specials, but really I'd just like to see someone do that, to give this year a sense of continuity (and having someone to stick around for the regeneration would be nice too).

a cartoon interlude

From Tom Tomorrow.