LOL Class

[Starkers]

I am of course referring to someone other than the leads of those shows being from Doctor Who.

But that's the point, you didn't need the Doctor to show up in SJA or TW because the hook was the lead characters, in particular with Torchwood, many people tuned in because they loved Captain Jack. Class has no such luxury, it might have a better cast than than either show (doubtful on the SJA front but you never know) but that may take time. Having the Doctor show up in the first episode at least gets people in the door, even if its then down to the Class cast to make those people want to keep coming back.

 

[Ithekro]

If Class had Clara, there'd be no need for the Doctor to show, as it be her adventures when not running around in the TARDIS...but Clara's gone (as far as Earth knows) so they need another hook aside from the school.

Now if they could pull a fast one on us, like maybe a regenerated Susan Foreman, than they may have something for us.

 

[Starkers]

Why would a regenerated Susan be any more of a hook than some sarky sixth former or nerdy newly qualified teacher? "Hey kids, tune in to see a character nobody's seen in nearly 40 years, played by a new actress/actor!"

 

[The Wormhole]

But that's the point, you didn't need the Doctor to show up in SJA or TW because the hook was the lead characters, in particular with Torchwood, many people tuned in because they loved Captain Jack. Class has no such luxury, it might have a better cast than than either show (doubtful on the SJA front but you never know) but that may take time. Having the Doctor show up in the first episode at least gets people in the door, even if its then down to the Class cast to make those people want to keep coming back.

Yeah, I get that. And I know this sort of thing is common with spin-offs. I'm just saying that as a fan, I prefer crossovers happen when the cast is established and developed as opposed to when the characters are introduced and we know nothing about them. But then, I suppose the point to a spin-off is to bring in a new audience, not cater to existing fans.

 

[Ithekro]

Didn't basically all the Star Trek spin-off series have at least one cameo crossover for their pilot episodes?

TNG had McCoy.
DS9 had Picard (and O'Brian on permanently)...later Worf
VOY had Quark and then leaving from DS9
ENT had Cochrane giving the traditional "Where no man has gone before" speech.
ST09 has Spock.
No telling what they might try in 2017.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

...And if you think about it, TOS had Pike show up in the first season as well.

Still, SJA and Torchwood managed well enough in their first seasons paying only lip service to the parent show; and it's not like immutable continuity is a huge thing in the franchise to begin with. I'd be game for something able to counter the tone of the current Doctor Who show without being too kiddified or (groan) Disney-esque.

Mark

 

[Ithekro]

Well the main series has opened the possibility of other Time Lords entering the picture via Gallifrey.

 

[StCoop]

For those who are interested (and with only one episode of DW between now and April/May next year we may as well be) details on the Series will be announced next week.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Well....I'm interested, but only slightly. I'll watch if it's on a channel or streaming service I have.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The BBC announced the cast this morning.

"Time has looked at your faces now. And time never forgets…”
What if your planet was massacred and you were the sole survivor?
What if a legendary figure out of space and time found you a place to hide?
But what if the things that want to kill you have tracked you down?
And worst of all, what if you haven't studied for your A-Levels…?

On the first day of term, BBC Three today announce the stars of the Doctor Who spin-off series Class -- exciting young new talents Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah. They will be joined by Katherine Kelly, as she takes the role of a teacher and powerful new presence at Coal Hill School.

Like all sixth formers, these four Coal Hill School students have hidden secrets and desires. They are facing their own worst fears, navigating a life of friends, parents, school work, sex, sorrow - and possibly the end of existence.

Coal Hill School has been a part of the Doctor Who Universe since the very beginning, but that has come at a price. All the time travelling over the years has caused the very walls of space and time to become thin. There’s something pressing in on the other side, something waiting for its chance to kill everyone and everything, to bring us all into Shadow.

Fear is coming, tragedy is coming, war is coming. Prepare yourselves, Class is coming.

Moffat compares Class to Buffy further down in the announcement.

 

[StCoop]

The BBC announced the cast this morning.

To quote that great philosopher Cat Grant; "You look like the attractive yet non-threatening, racially diverse cast of a CW show."

 

[Starkers]

The inclusion of Katherine Kelly certainly raises my interest a little!

So looks like the Doctor will hide the last survivor of another race at Coal Hill School? At the moment there's still nothing that stands out as particularly new about it, but it might be all down to the execution I guess.

 

[Guy Gardener]

It's the historical celebrity that pique's my interest.

So, two wierdos, and two obnoxious (21st century) humans who have to explain how humans are superior?

Joan of Arc or Winston Churchill?

 

[Starkers]

I'm guessing the legendary figure out of space and time is the Doctor!
So three obnoxious 21st Century humes

 

[The Wormhole]

Kind of meh sounding, but then it's also exactly what I expected it to be. My interest hasn't been further piqued, but I haven't been turned off the show either.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I'm assuming it's targeting at the 6 yrs old to 12 years old audience, just like the Sarah Jane Adventures was.

Did you like SJA?

 

[The Wormhole]

Actually, yes, I quite enjoyed SJA. Which is mostly why I haven't yet been turned off by Class. Still doesn't mean lightning can strike twice, however.

Although, I get the impression Class is more targeted at the teenage crowd than SJA was.

 

[StCoop]

I'm assuming it's targeting at the 6 yrs old to 12 years old audience, just like the Sarah Jane Adventures was.

Given the mention of sex and directly comparing it to Buffy I'd say not. (According to this BBC3's Target Audience is 16-34.)

 

[Guy Gardener]

Even with such claims, I'm thinking that it's going to be closer to SJA than Skins.

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[StCoop]

Even with such claims, I'm thinking that it's going to be closer to SJA than Skins.

I'd say the best indication are probably Ness' own books which presumably got him the job in the first place; which definitely aren't for little kids.