Wiped Episode Discoveries

[Allyn Gibson]

Insane as it seems at this point I doubt anything will happen until after Moffat has left, which won't be until at least 2016 since he's already talked abut his plans for next year's series. (And that's assuming that the new Showrunner meets with his approval.)

I don't see any reason why Moffat's replacement needs to meet with his approval. Doctor Who isn't his property, and who produces it isn't his decision. He's the BBC's employee at the moment on Doctor Who, and the decision on who replaces him is one that will be made above his pay grade.

 

[StCoop]

But, the point is, he's not "ruining" Doctor Who in the eyes of the Decision Makers, since popularity isn't suffering. As is debated repeatedly on TrekBBS, Quality is subjective, not Objective

We're not in disagreement over this.

But Morris doesn't seem to be the sort of person that cares about any of that. He does seem to have been unhinged enough to think that he could use the missing episodes as a bargining chip to change things more to his liking.

 

[Christopher]

^ It does kind of fit.

It's very easy to make evidence "fit" any preconceived notion, which is why there are so many conspiracy theories and rumors out there in the first place. The fact that evidence can be made to fit an idea doesn't prove the idea is right, it just proves that the human brain is an effective pattern-generating engine. Real proof comes from facts, not fit.

 

[StCoop]

I don't see any reason why Moffat's replacement needs to meet with his approval. Doctor Who isn't his property, and who produces it isn't his decision. He's the BBC's employee at the moment on Doctor Who, and the decision on who replaces him is one that will be made above his pay grade.

Sorry. By "his" I meant Morris' "approval".

 

[Mr Awe]

^ It does kind of fit.

It's very easy to make evidence "fit" any preconceived notion, which is why there are so many conspiracy theories and rumors out there in the first place. The fact that evidence can be made to fit an idea doesn't prove the idea is right, it just proves that the human brain is an effective pattern-generating engine. Real proof comes from facts, not fit.

All I know is that the more I hear, the more it fits. Also, I know some people who work in video restoration and let's just say that it's strange how long Morris' company has taken to figure out what it has. We still haven't really heard any specifics.

While I'll agree with you that all of the numerous aspects of the case that have been reported is not proof, it's appropriate to be suspicious based on the available evidence.

Mr Awe

 

[StCoop]

He's deleted it all now (a thoroughly futile endevour) but Morris has spent the evening ripping everyone and anyone who posted anything in his direction a new a-hole.

He comes as a man with nothing to lose and not in a "I've returned dozens of episodes to the BBC and can now say what I really think" way...

 

[Nightowl1701]

I'll echo what someone on the Bleeding Cool forum said: No Star Trek fan worthy of the name would pull this shit with a lost clip from TOS or the first six movies. Not even in the darkest days of Berman & Braga, let alone now. Star Wars fans, they happily put raw unedited takes from the films online almost as soon as they themselves get them.

Yes, I get that this guy literally risked his life to get the missing episodes (and lost episodes of several other series besides). And yes the BBC could certainly have handled all this better, particularly since its' their fault the episodes were lost in the first place.
But Morris holding whatever he's got left up for ransom, or falsely implying that he's got more in order to shake the BBC down for cash in amounts the network currently either can't or won't provide, or for the ridiculous demand to fire the writer/producer who's brought the show to its all-time ratings & popularity zenith... I think even William Hartnell & Patrick Troughton themselves would say "Let him stew. We're not worth that."

We've got the novels, we've got the audio tracks, worst case scenario we've got the animators. Whatever Morris could salvage is no doubt already digitized and sitting in hard drives, safe from further decay.

We've waited fifty years. We can wait some more.

 

[DWF]

I don't quite understtand what Steven Moffat has to do with Morris and the BBC putting the missing eps, out on DVD. And really by this point I don't care, if Morris actually has what it's claimed he's got we'll learn about it eventually, but this back and forth is beyond tiring.

 

[Christopher]

But Morris holding whatever he's got left up for ransom, or falsely implying that he's got more in order to shake the BBC down for cash in amounts the network currently either can't or won't provide, or for the ridiculous demand to fire the writer/producer who's brought the show to its all-time ratings & popularity zenith...

I'm sorry, but again, has any of this actually been confirmed to be true, or is it just more rumors? No one should ever be condemned based on rumors.

 

[Candlelight]

But Morris holding whatever he's got left up for ransom, or falsely implying that he's got more in order to shake the BBC down for cash in amounts the network currently either can't or won't provide, or for the ridiculous demand to fire the writer/producer who's brought the show to its all-time ratings & popularity zenith... I think even William Hartnell & Patrick Troughton themselves would say "Let him stew. We're not worth that."

You're joining the dots where none exist. He's simply venting that he doesn't like the way the show is run and would like Moffat to move on.

It's only simpletons who frequent Outpost Skaro et al who believe there's a conspiracy would say Morris is doing this before he returns more episodes.

Bleeding Cool shouldn't have posted the article. It was just Morris having a rant on Facebook, nothing more.

 

[Nightowl1701]

But Morris holding whatever he's got left up for ransom, or falsely implying that he's got more in order to shake the BBC down for cash in amounts the network currently either can't or won't provide, or for the ridiculous demand to fire the writer/producer who's brought the show to its all-time ratings & popularity zenith...

I'm sorry, but again, has any of this actually been confirmed to be true, or is it just more rumors? No one should ever be condemned based on rumors.

Absolutely true, and if that's all it is I gladly apologize and retract my statement. In fact I very much hope it's proven wrong. Either way, all this sniping and cryptic nonsense has got to stop.

 

[Christopher]

Honestly, I think Moffat did better work as an episode writer than a showrunner. RTD, on the other hand, did better as a showrunner than an episode writer. Both of them have brought an often frustrating mix of sheer brilliance and self-indulgent silliness, albeit with different flavors; but I think they balanced each other out somewhat, and Moffat alone doesn't have that balance. I think I'd like to see a new showrunner defining the arc and the characters, yet still have Moffat contribute episodes from time to time.

 

[NightJim]

Hear Hear! Exactly how I feel about Moffat too. He's a great writer, not so sure about his steering of the ship.

I've got the vague feeling, with absolutely no facts or grounding for it, that he's staying for Capaldi's first season. Didn't want to leave the ship at the same time as a Doctor, especially one that was such a gamble as the Smith/Capaldi one was seen as. Makes sure everything's on course before he jumps.


I'm not sure where all the nautical references came from there.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I suspect the reason Bleeding Cool ran the "article" is because they thought they could link it to the other rumour that Moffat will write Gareth Edwards' Star Wars movie. Which I doubt, really - if Moffat goes from Who soon, I reckon it'll be to concentrate on Sherlock 4 and 5.

 

[diankra]

Or possibly to renew the working partnership with Jackson/Spielberg which was cut short when he dropped out of Tintin to take over Who (and let's face it, it's doubtful that Sherlock will carry on much beyond season five, partly because Cumberbatch and Freeman are only going to get more difficult to book, and partly because the gems of Conan Doyle have already been raided and reinterpreted, and I don't see either of the main writers being keen on carrying on without that fannish first 'spark' to work from).

 

[StCoop]

And another night of Morris acting like that drunk guy in the alley you run past to avoid him shouting at you is well underway.

I get the feeling that if he does have any missing episodes he might end up chucking them on a bonfire soon.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

...let's face it, it's doubtful that Sherlock will carry on much beyond season five, partly because Cumberbatch and Freeman are only going to get more difficult to book, and partly because the gems of Conan Doyle have already been raided and reinterpreted, and I don't see either of the main writers being keen on carrying on without that fannish first 'spark' to work from.

The "a couple of episodes every couple of years" model hasn't really hurt Jonathan Creek. Heck, that series has even withstood some significant cast changes over its decade-long run. It's not impossible for a BBC series to sustain itself with occasional runs.

That said, I don't know that Sherlock could survive that. Wait, I should clarify that. I don't know that Sherlock fandom could survive that -- a more sporadic schedule than biannually and a Watson replacement.

 

[Sindatur]

And another night of Morris acting like that drunk guy in the alley you run past to avoid him shouting at you is well underway.

I get the feeling that if he does have any missing episodes he might end up chucking them on a bonfire soon.

So, what was it again, that set off this specific round of communication from Morris? I know, generally, it's Ian Levine Shrieking at him with Rumors that he claims are Facts, but, Ian didn't even start dictating his responses, until after Morris made the first move this time, right?

 

[StCoop]

So, what was it again, that set off this specific round of communication from Morris?

The prevailing theory is that the BBC got tired of him dicking them around and told him to sod off.

An adendum to the theory (though not one I subscribe to) is that the Horowitz to replace Moffat news is true and Morris leaked it as a "rumour" in order to spite them.

 

[Candlelight]

I think he was just drunk and wanted to vent.