Series 9 Set Reports Thread (SPOILERS)

[Ithekro]

Lalla Ward did do such a thing. I've not been able to get a plot description of what that is about, and am extremely doubtful if I can ever get to Wales to find out. Romana's fate is one of those things that is of interest to me. Romana II seems to be be the default dispite there being a Romana III in some audio books involving the leadup to the Time War (or a Time War, rather than the Last Great Time War).

 

[Captaindemotion]

I think the bottom line is that if the writers want to bring Romana back on board, they'll find some explanation for her having missed or survived the Time War. And if they don't want to, she won't be mentioned again, at least, not any more than in passing. If they do reintroduce her, it may or may not tie in with spin-off fiction but I don't think their hands will be tied one way or the other.

 

[chardman]

I kinda think that K-9's return might be part of a set up for a pseudo-reboot of the very popular "Sarah Jane Adventures", with Clara taking Sarah Jane's place.

Keep in mind that it was very popular show, and CBBC hasn't found anything nearly so popular to replace it. I'm sure they'd love to revive the show, particularly now that an appropriately respectful span of time has passed. The concept is still sound, they apparently had plenty of unused scripts already in the pipeline, the only thing missing up to this point, was finding a worthy replacement for Sladen. I think Coleman might be the one. The fact that she supposedly is extremely popular with younger DW viewers doesn't hurt either.

Of course, there'd have to be a whole new crop of kid assistants, with one of the now grown-up "kids" from the original series lending a hand, for continuity sake.

Jenna Coleman and Daniel Anthony are nearly the same age. (Perhaps Clyde will stick around to help out, and we'll eventually learn that his mum's maiden name is "Pink"?)

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I still want Clyde and Rani as the next round of companions.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I kinda think that K-9's return might be part of a set up for a pseudo-reboot of the very popular "Sarah Jane Adventures", with Clara taking Sarah Jane's place.

Keep in mind that it was very popular show, and CBBC hasn't found anything nearly so popular to replace it. I'm sure they'd love to revive the show, particularly now that an appropriately respectful span of time has passed. The concept is still sound, they apparently had plenty of unused scripts already in the pipeline, the only thing missing up to this point, was finding a worthy replacement for Sladen. I think Coleman might be the one. The fact that she supposedly is extremely popular with younger DW viewers doesn't hurt either.

Of course, there'd have to be a whole new crop of kid assistants, with one of the now grown-up "kids" from the original series lending a hand, for continuity sake.

Jenna Coleman and Daniel Anthony are nearly the same age. (Perhaps Clyde will stick around to help out, and we'll eventually learn that his mum's maiden name is "Pink"?)

I'm no mind-reader but I imagine if Jenna leaves DW, she'll want to establish herself away from it. I can't imagine that she'll want to go and reprise the role of Clara for a less-famous or high-profile spin-off. Certainly not for some years anyway.

 

[The Wormhole]

There is a bit of dialogue in Day that infers that the High Council plan seen in EOT had already happened and Gallifrey returned to the time lock/war, something like "Their plans have already failed" if I recall.

The intent was that the Council meeting in The End of Time was supposed to be happening simultaneously with the scene with the General and his buddy in Day of the Doctor. When the buddy walks in and says "the High Council is in session" that is meant to be a reference to the meeting seen in TEOT. When the General responds "to hell with the High Council, their plans have already failed us" I viewed it as more his own personal frustrations with the Council, perhaps viewing their previous failures were responsible for the current state of affairs.

Though, admittedly, things don't quite add up. The meeting in TEOT starts with Rassilon being informed the Doctor has disappeared and possesses the Moment, which he doesn't do until a minute or so into the scene in DOTD.

 

[chardman]

I'm no mind-reader but I imagine if Jenna leaves DW, she'll want to establish herself away from it.

On the other hand, she's just as likely to want to capitalize on it, and milk it for all it's worth.

I can't imagine that she'll want to go and reprise the role of Clara for a less-famous or high-profile spin-off. Certainly not for some years anyway.

With the acting trade having one of the highest rates of unemployment of any industry, I'd imagine that a staring role with a steady paycheck trumps a lot. She may be too young to realize this, but it's true. Also, it seems to me that moving directly from Doctor Who to one's own spin-off series (rather than reprising a role after many years) has a certain high profile aspect to it, in and of itself.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^But if that's how she feels, surely she'd just stay in, you know, Doctor Who, the prime-time, high profile show that lands her acres of media coverage? Why leave it to go to a lesser-known kid's show?

She'd have the worst of both worlds that way - remaining type cast without the blessings of a high-profile gig.

 

[chardman]

Maybe she wants to be the lead, rather than the lead's second banana? I'd imagine playing the title character of one's own show, probably pays about as well as playing a supporting role in someone else's.

CBBC doesn't air shows in primetime?!?

Also, maybe she loves the character, but would prefer a bit fewer acres of media coverage? Maybe she likes the gig itself, but is simply overwhelmed be the sheer volume of the attention she gets, and would like to tone it down a tad. She certainly wouldn't be the first to seek a slightly less lofty spot. (Comedian Dave Chappelle comes to mind.)

 

[The Wormhole]

CBBC doesn't air shows in primetime?!?

SJA didn't. If this show is really the "SJA replacement" you say it should be, than it wouldn't either.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^Nope, usually air on CBBC, a children's channel which only broadcasts until 7pm, in the mid/late afternoon.

There would be no comparison between the amount of attention or publicity she would get from DW and that she would get from a programme like SJA, even as the lead.

 

[chardman]

CaptainD: And as I said, (perhaps you missed the edit) maybe a bit less attention and publicity is what she seeks, even if it means less cash too?

Wormhole: I didn't mean to imply it would air in the very same time-slot that SJA did. Merely that it's fill the same basic niche in their overall lineup.

 

[Photoman15]

Maybe she wants to be the lead, rather than the lead's second banana? I'd imagine playing the title character of one's own show, probably pays about as well as playing a supporting role in someone else's.

CBBC doesn't air shows in primetime?!?

Also, maybe she loves the character, but would prefer a bit fewer acres of media coverage? Maybe she likes the gig itself, but is simply overwhelmed be the sheer volume of the attention she gets, and would like to tone it down a tad. She certainly wouldn't be the first to seek a slightly less lofty spot. (Comedian Dave Chappelle comes to mind.)

Have you watched Moffat's Who? In his Who/mind, the companion is the lead. He's as much as said so.

 

[Captaindemotion]

CaptainD: And as I said, (perhaps you missed the edit) maybe a bit less attention and publicity is what she seeks, even if it means less cash too?

Sorry, I did miss that (multi-tasking this afternoon ).

She may well want to do so but I just can't think of a single case in recent years (if ever) of an actor or actress choosing such an idiosyncratic route as leaving an established show to reprise the same role on a less-famous programme on a smaller channel. Anything's possible and I don't claim to have any insight into Jenna's mind but usually if an actors wants less attention and publicity they'll go do something entirely different. If she wants less publicity and cash, I imagine that there are numerous ways of doing so but which would allow her to play new roles, not to just get type-cast as Clara Oswald.

They may leave to go do theatre, films or the like but most of the DW companions have gone on to go do their own thing. Liz Sladen returned to the role of Sarah Jane years later in her career. I would say that if JC leaves the show, she's more likely to follow the path of Billie, Karen etc. But I can only speculate, obviously.

 

[chardman]

She may well want to do so but I just can't think of a single case in recent years (if ever) of an actor or actress choosing such an idiosyncratic route as leaving an established show to reprise the same role on a less-famous programme on a smaller channel.

Aren't all new shows less well known programmes than the already established shows they've spun off from? Thus, doesn't that describe virtually every spin off built around a character/characters from another show? And there are LOTS of those.

Most spin-off (at least on US networks) center on a main character who was only a supporting/recurring character on another program. (Off the top of my head "Joanie Loves Chachi" from "Happy Days"; "A Different World" from "The Cosby Show"; "Angel" from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; and currently "Better Call Saul" from "Breaking Bad". Oh... and let's not forget "Torchwood".)

And as for being on a smaller channel? The best way to grow that channel, would be to program it with shows that bring a built-in following from outside that tiny channel, say a spin-off of one of your most popular already-established shows from one of your most popular flagship channel.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ I think you're failing to understand what CCBC is about. It stands for Children's BBC. It's by definition a minority channel for children and young adolescents. Programmes there will develop at best a cult viewing amongst adults. SJA hasn't really made any major difference to its audience.

No programme she stars in there is going to turn into a sort of UK Frazier or Star Trek Deep Space 9, if that's what you're thinking.

 

[StCoop]

^ I think you're failing to understand what CCBC is about. It stands for Children's BBC. It's by definition a minority channel for children and young adolescents. Programmes there will develop at best a cult viewing amongst adults. SJA hasn't really made any major difference to its audience.

I'd be surprised if her post-Who career doesn't follow the much same path as Karen Gillan's, though hopefully without the failed sitcom along the way. (Actually, she beat Karen to the 'appearing in a Marvel movie' bit of that )

 

[Mr Awe]

^But if that's how she feels, surely she'd just stay in, you know, Doctor Who, the prime-time, high profile show that lands her acres of media coverage? Why leave it to go to a lesser-known kid's show?

She'd have the worst of both worlds that way - remaining type cast without the blessings of a high-profile gig.

^ Definitely this.

 

[chardman]

^ I think you're failing to understand what CCBC is about. It stands for Children's BBC. It's by definition a minority channel for children and young adolescents. Programmes there will develop at best a cult viewing amongst adults. SJA hasn't really made any major difference to its audience.

As for cult following of adults? Who cares? It is (as you said) a kid's channel. But that doesn't mean you don't want to draw as large an audience as possible of your target demographic.

As for SJA not making a difference in the chanel's audience? Demographically, I agree it made little imapct. In overall numbers within their target demographic, however, I was under the impression that it had been the channel's biggest draw, with a much larger following than other programmes.

No programme she stars in there is going to turn into a sort of UK Frazier or Star Trek Deep Space 9, if that's what you're thinking.

No... and I didn't mean to suggest that it would. I'm suggesting that this unnamed, wholly hypothetical show might do a bit better for CBBC than SJA did, because more of the kids know who the hell Clara is. Unlike Sarah Jane, who most of these kids knew only from her one guest spot on DW, Clara is someone they know as a regular on the modern Doctor Who that's aired in their lifetimes. Therefore is likely to draw a larger child audience to the child-niche channel.

 

[JoeZhang]

You still don't seem understand what CBBC is and what it represents in a UK context - no current prime-time star is going to see moving to star in a show on CBBC aimed at 7-12 year olds as anything but a step backwards or downwards - it a place where careers start and careers wind-down*. Jenna's previous role before Doctor Who was bigger than that...


* outside guest appearances in things like Horrible histories, voiceovers and other things like that.