Q&A Session Series 7: Part 2 Hints

WARNING: WHILE THIS POST CONTAINS NO MAJOR SPOILERS, SPOILERPHOBES SHOULD READ AHEAD AT THEIR OWN RISK.

Matt Smith and Caroline Skinner took part in a Q&A session today where they talked about many topics with the majority about Series 7: Part 2. Below is a summary of the main points.

• The 50th anniversary wasn't touched on much with the only things said about it being: "it's cool and exciting" and there are big plans.

• Matt expressed his interest in his Doctor facing The Master and wondered if John Simm would play him (Rumours earlier this week said that Simm said he would love to return but he later downplayed the rumours saying they were 'taken out of context').

• Neil Gaiman's episode for Series 7: Part 2 was teased and it contains some "old classics".

• Skinner and Smith both said that they were interested in seeing the Ice Warriors and the Yeti, perhaps clues??

• Smith promised that next year's opener was going to be a classic and contains a great monster.

• Smith was asked about the 'Fall of the Eleventh' but he said there were many adventures to come before that.

• Both Skinner and Smith confirmed that River Song will return next year.

Hmm, sounds very interesting! All of the points that surround Series 7 will be available to see on our Series 7 page which can be found at the top of this page.

WARNING: THE SERIES 7 PAGE CONTAINS NEWS, RUMOURS AND SPOILERS ON UPCOMING EPISODES OF DOCTOR WHO.

Series 7: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT SERIES 7: PART 2.

According to many sources, Stephen Thompson's upcoming Series 7 episode is called Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

Also, interestingly, Matt Smith almost let this one slip in a Q&A session back in August. He said, "Can we talk about Journey to the-" before being cut off by Caroline Skinner.

Below is the article from The Sun with the rumour:

[Ashley Walters], who has a guest role in the episode Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS, said: “I almost got sacked on my first day as I tweeted a picture of me. I was lying on a sofa on set in Cardiff in my space outfit and put the picture out there with the caption ‘Space’. Five minutes later I heard a banging on the door and it was the executives telling me off as they have to keep everything a secret. I then saw all the signs on the doors telling people not to tweet photos.”

Ashley Walters is playing one of trio of brothers, who are an intergalactic salvage crew.

Series 7 Page Update: 19th October 2012

Our Series 7 page has once again been updated.

This update brings a tweaking of the Airdate and Aliens, Monsters and Villains section, while the Directors section has been massively updated with all the directors for Series 7 (except for Episode 13, which the director for the episode, has not been revealed yet).

Finally, I have updated many of the Series 7: Part 2 episode sections with writers, ordering and rumours.

So head on over there now to see all of the latest news, spoiler and rumours on Series 7. The page can be found at the top of the website in the link bar with the link to the Series 7 page surprisingly called Series 7!

WARNING: The Series 7 page contains spoilers and rumours on past and future episodes of Series 7.

Series 7: Part 2 Update

Here is an update on Series 7: Part 2 which does contain some spoilers and rumours.

Last Updated: 19th October 2012


Episode 6 - The Bells of Saint John (TBC) - By Steven Moffat

• Filming shows that episode takes place on Earth in the present day.

• One of the scenes they shot was the Doctor arriving in the TARDIS and going to find new companion Clara at the house she is working at. Some more interesting dialogue was overheard that perhaps offers more clues as to why Clara is now in present day:

The Doctor: "Clara! Clara! Ha! It’s me. Demonked! I’m wearing sensible clothes! Can I come in?"

Clara: "Where am I? Please tell me. I don’t know where I am. Where am I? Please tell me. I don’t know where I am… [she keeps repeating]"

• This picture shows the Doctor in his new outfit.

• A weird looking robot was also spotted on set.

• The plot of this episode seems to centre around 'something living in the wi-fi'.

• Here is a transcript of the scene which was shot outside a house. 

Doctor: I like your house!

Clara: It’s not mine -- I just work there.

Doctor: Oh, yes! You look after the children, you’re a governess! Just like -- Um. Just like…

Clara: Just like what?

Doctor: Just like I thought you would be … ! But this isn’t exactly a career choice, why here?

Clara: Well, my Mum died, I had no ties, no plans, so why not?

Doctor: People always have plans.

Clara: What’s your plan?

Doctor: It’s the internet. Wifi. There’s wifi everywhere around us. We are living in a wifi soup. But, imagine. If there was something in it. Something living in the wifi. Harvesting human minds, copying them, editing them. A million souls, trapped like flies in the World Wide Web, all crying out.

Clara: Isn’t that basically Twitter?

Doctor: Yes. Sentient Twitter! Hold on… (inaudible) … And you just made a joke about Twitter?!

[Something happens behind them]

Clara: Is it the wifi? Is the wifi switching the lights on?

Doctor: No, the people are switching on the lights. The wifi is switching on the people!

Doctor: You and me -- in the box! Now!

Clara: What? Together? Why?

Doctor: You’ll understand once we’re inside.

Clara: I bet I will!

Doctor: [shocked] Clara! Please!

Clara: Why do you have a box anyway? What’s in there?

Doctor: Clara! … [whispers] Clara, look… behind you!

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. [Director shouts this, as The Doctor and Clara look to different areas. A shadowed man is standing in the distance.] 

 

Clara: What are they?

Doctor: A walking base station. You saw it earlier.

Clara: I saw a little girl.

Doctor: Of course! Active camouflage! They drew an image from your subconscious and bounced it right back at you! … In the box, now!

•  Recent filming in London shows the Doctor and Clara on a motorbike!

• As seen in the pictures above, the Doctor dons a fen again in this episode.

Episode 7 - TBC - By Neil Cross

Episode 8 - The Cold War (TBC) - By Mark Gatiss

• Ice Warriors might be returning.

• Possibly a deep sea adventure.

• Contains the words 'meat', 'klaxon' and 'Vienna'

Episode 9 - The Hider in the House (TBC) - By Neil Cross

• Possibly set in Victorian times.

• Also rumoured to be called Phantoms of the Hex.

Episode 10 - TBC - By Steve Thompson

• Rumoured to be TARDIS-heavy story.

• Features a trio of brothers, an intergalactic salvage crew.

Episode 11 - The Crimson Horror (TBC) - By Mark Gatiss

• Contains the words 'meat', 'klaxon' and 'Vienna'.

• The episode is set in a 19th century village called Sweetville.

• The Doctor investigates when people start to go missing from inside a factory run by the mysterious Winifred Gilliflower.

• Madame Vastra, Strax and Jenny all return for this episode.

• Pictures below show Sweetville and Madame Vastra.

Episode 12 - TBC - By Neil Gaiman

• Rumoured to feature re-invented Cybermen.

Episode 13 - TBC - By Steven Moffat

• Series finale.
• Likely to tie in to what the 50th anniversary has in stall as there will probably be no more Doctor Who until the 50th anniversary episodes begin.

This article will be updated regularly with the latest rumours and spoilers on Series 7: Part 2.

Poll: Favourite Series 7: Part 1 Episode

As Series 7: Part 1 has drawn to a close, I have put up a poll so you can decide what your favourite episode was.

We had five big blockbuster episodes, but which one was your favourite?

• Were the Daleks 'eggs'cellent enough to claim the top spot in Asylum of the Daleks?

• We had DINOSAURS in SPACE but were they on top form in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship?

• Did the Gunslinger, sling to the top of your list of favourite episodes in A Town Called Mercy?

• Were the cubes POWERful enough in The Power of Three to gain the top spot?

• Finally, we had a Pond Farewell in The Angels Take Manhattan but will the angels also TAKE the top spot in this poll?

So if you want to vote in our poll, it is on the top right of this page.

Voting closes on 23rd December 2012 and results will be revealed on Christmas Eve.

Series 7 Page Update: 14th October 2012

Our Series 7 page has been updated.

I have re-arranged the Guest Stars section, added rumours to the Aliens, Monsters and Villains section, updated the writers section and added some slight spoilers on Episode 6.

So head on over there now to find out the latest news, spoilers and rumours about upcoming Series 7 episodes and also trailers, pictures and episode synopsis of previous Series 7 episodes.

Pond's Most Memorable Moments

So now that the Pond's have gone, I'm going to take a look at 5 of there most memorable moments. So lets begin...

5. Fish Fingers and Custard

Episode: The Eleventh Hour

This scene will be with us Whovians for a while as it is very bonkers but also very funny! It has been mentioned throughout the Pond era most recently in The Power of Three.

4. 'Where is my wife?'

Episode: A Good Man Goes To War

With Amy taken by Kovarian and the Silence, the Doctor and Rory go looking for her and this scene shows that Rory is no longer just the comical husband but can also be quite the hero!

3. 2000 Years

Episode: The Big Bang

This scene is very memorable as it is mentioned many times throughout the Pond era as Rory waits 2000 years to keep Amy safe and this starts of Rory's nickname as the Last Centurion.

2. The Girl Who Waited

Episode: The Girl Who Waited

The title says it all as in Episode 10 of Series 6, Rory's love for Amy is put to an almighty test.

1. A Pond Farwell

Episode: The Angels Take Manhattan

The exit scene of the Pond's was one of the most heartbreaking scenes in Doctor Who history and will stay with us forever.

So thats it for the Ponds and thats my most memorable Pond moments. I hope you agree with me and will remember the Ponds dearly.

Series 7: P.S. Clip

A fitting farewell to Brain has been released by the BBC where the much loved father finally finds out what happened to his son and his daughter-in-law.

Chris Chibnall wrote the heartbreaking scene which was sadly never filmed however thanks to storyboards and the voice of Arthur Darvill the scene can now be brought to life and seen in the player below.

Series 7: Behind the Scenes - The Angels Take Manhattan

A behind the scenes video has been made available by the BBC for The Angels Take Manhattan.

It includes interviews from Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.

The Angels Take Manhattan Review

With The Angels Take Manhattan came the finale of the 2012 run of Doctor Who. But what did I make of the mid-series finale? Time to find out...

Overview

Moffat's best episode yet with a great mix of sadness, horror and excitement. The return of the angels saw them at their best and most deadliest yet and also the return of River Song meant we got more great dialogue between her and the Doctor.

Continuity (and plot holes)

The Angels Take Manhattan was a mixed bag when it came to Continuity. Below are the continuity points.

• The Eleventh Hour was referenced as the final scene led back to the Pond's first episode
• The Series 6 arc was mentioned between the Doctor and River
• The episode happens in River's timeline somewhere between being pardoned from jail to The Library
• Companions aging while the Doctor doesn't is mentioned again twice, with the first being the Doctor noticing line's on Amy's forehead and also with the Pond's being sent back in time so by the Doctor's time they are dead

Now for the plot holes...

• With all the people that were trapped in Winter Quay, it seems hard to believe that in all that time nobody tried to escape/commited suicide
• Also in Winter Quay, how did the people stay alive? I doubt the angels came round and fed and gave them water every day
• The Statue of Liberty can't be a Weeping Angel as it's not made of stone but sheets of copper over a steel framework...
• It seems weird that River doesn't want to travel with the Doctor as she loves him!

Story Arc

Excellent use of Story Arc in this episode with the 'Doctor Who?' theme subtly yet wonderfully mentioned by River and obviously the big Pond exit arc came to a close in this episode with Rory getting zapped by an angel and Amy sacrificing herself to the Angels just so she can be with her husband

Story

Maybe not so simple but definitely wonderfully thought out. Basically Rory gets zapped back in time, the Doctor and Amy find out where he is using River's book which tells of the Angel story but they read ahead and Amy learns a vital lesson, her last from the Doctor... From there on, its basically a race against time to save Rory and in the end they do, only for him and Amy to be cruelly snatched away from the Doctor (and us!) by the angels. Beautiful, sad but brilliant!

Problems

Despite the plot holes above, I loved this episode to the core and it has to be one of my favourite episodes of Doctor Who ever with it tying with Asylum of the Daleks (which coincidently is from Series 7 also plus also penned by Moffat!). So basically can't think of any problems apart from the few plot holes which are forgiven for a fantastic story and brilliant send off for the Ponds.

A Pond Farewell

The departure of the Pond's was heartbreaking yet I didn't shed a tear which was what I was expecting, maybe because they died twice in the space of five minutes... I'm still making my mind up about whether I think they should have died from the jump of the roof or the Graveyard snatch, but Amy's final scene was brilliant and a great performance from Karen. Finally, people say they are upset that Rory didn't get a farewell with the Doctor scene, but when the angels took him away so unexpectedly, I think that added to the shock.

River's Return

The return of River Song saw great scenes between her and the Doctor including another one of Moffat's great quotes:

The Doctor: “How’s prison?” 

River Song: “Oh, I was pardoned ages ago, and it’s ‘Professor Song’ to you now.”The Doctor: “’Pardoned‘?” 

River Song: “Turns out the person I killed never existed in the first place. Apparently there’s no record of him. It’s almost as if someone’s gone around deleting himself from every database in the universe.” 

The Doctor: "You said I got ‘too big.'"

River Song: “And now, no one’s ever heard of you. Didn’t you used to be somebody?” 

The Doctor: “Weren’t you the woman who killed the Doctor?” 

River Song: “‘Doctor’ who?”

Conclusion

Monsters - 5/5 - The Weeping Angels really do scare!

Story - 5/5 - Slightly complicated but what can you expect from an exit/Weeping Angel story. Still, absolutely fantastic!

Doctor - 5/5 - Another faultless performance from Matt Smith showing the pain of letting go of his best friends

Companion - 5/5 - Karen Gillan's greatest performance EVER with her final scene a stroke of acting genius! Arthur Darvill pulling of another great performance still managing to pull of comedy moments when he knows he's about to die!

Arc - 5/5 - A great reference to 'Doctor Who?' as mentioned above and also the finale to the Pond's tenure on Doctor Who wrote/directed/acted beautifully

Continuity - 4.5/5 - The continuity can't be faulted it's just the few plot holes that let this episode down a little

The Angels Take Manhattan (overall) - 29.5/30 - Fantastic

So with Series 7: Part 1 over, there will no more reviews from me until the final week of 2012, with the 2012 Christmas Special coming under the spotlight. So will it fare well with past Christmas Specials and also companion introduction stories (sort of, if you count Jenna's appearance in Asylum of the Daleks)? Only time will tell...

Next Time - 2012 Christmas Special

Overall Mark Comments

30 - Outstanding

25 - 29.5 - Fantastic

20 - 24.5 - Great

15 - 19.5 - OK, nothing special

10 - 14.5 - Bad, very poor

5 - 9.5 - Shocking, turned off after 10 minutes

1.5 - 4.5 - Worst thing to be shown on TV ever

0 - 1 - Doctor Who is over

Series 7: Part 1 DVD Official Details

With Series 7 over, are you ready to relive it all over again? Well if the answer is yes, then it's good news as Series 7: Part 1 is due to be released at the end of the month on DVD.

Official Description:

The Doctor, Amy and Rory are back for the first five blockbuster episodes of series seven. The trio encounter the Daleks, Weeping Angels and even Dinosaurs on a Spaceship as the series builds to the departure of The Ponds in one of the most heartbreaking episodes in the history of Doctor Who.

Special Features:

• The Science of Doctor Who

• Doctor Who at Comic Con

• Pond Life

• Asylum of the Daleks Prequel

• The Making of The Gunslinger Prequel

Potential buyers should take note that the DVD is rated '12'.

There will also be a Limited Weeping Angels Edition that comes with a poster, featured below.

The Series 7: Part 1 DVD is due to be released in the UK on 29th October 2012.