Wiped Episode Discoveries

[Relayer1]

I'm loathe to contribute to a new round of unsubstantiated wish fulfilment rumours - this isn't from anywhere but my own head, but why would they hold back announcing one of three recovered stories ? To me it would seem like they are drip-feeding them to us, in which case it looks like there may well be some more.

By the way - the word was that there was more than one complete copy of Marco Polo recovered. Does that indicate a bigger find ?

 

[Brendan Moody]

One can easily reverse that argument, though: why would they plan a drip feed, knowing that after about the third announcement the novelty would wear off, people would get tired of being strung along, and the general media would stop paying much attention? But maybe that is what they're planning. It's obvious that the decision-making about this recovery was guided by some logic people outside the process can't see. That being the case, I don't see much point in drawing conclusion based on our own judgments of what makes sense.

 

[Relayer1]

I'm loathe to contribute to a new round of unsubstantiated wish fulfilment rumours - this isn't from anywhere but my own head, but why would they hold back announcing one of three recovered stories ? To me it would seem like they are drip-feeding them to us, in which case it looks like there may well be some more.

By the way - the word was that there was more than one complete copy of Marco Polo recovered. Does that indicate a bigger find ?

One can easily reverse that argument, though: why would they plan a drip feed, knowing that after about the third announcement the novelty would wear off, people would get tired of being strung along, and the general media would stop paying much attention? But maybe that is what they're planning. It's obvious that the decision-making about this recovery was guided by some logic people outside the process can't see. That being the case, I don't see much point in drawing conclusion based on our own judgments of what makes sense.

Fair comment.

We will just have to wait and see...

 

[Sindatur]

One can easily reverse that argument, though: why would they plan a drip feed, knowing that after about the third announcement the novelty would wear off, people would get tired of being strung along, and the general media would stop paying much attention? But maybe that is what they're planning. It's obvious that the decision-making about this recovery was guided by some logic people outside the process can't see. That being the case, I don't see much point in drawing conclusion based on our own judgments of what makes sense.

Yea, it would be no different than the release of the existing episode on DVD, which were "Drip Fed". In 2000 (Or whenever), they didn't announce every single story for the next 12 years, they just announced a certain number at a time.

 

[Brendan Moody]

There's a pretty obvious difference between announcing DVD schedules and announcing archive recoveries. After you state an intention to release all Doctor Who on DVD, it's just a question of what comes out when, whereas they haven't given any sign whether more recovery announcements are forthcoming. More to the point, one is a routine process of interest only to fans and fansites, and one is, as this month's coverage indicates, potentially an attention-getting news story in and of itself... unless you dilute it needlessly into a routine process.

 

[Mr Awe]

It's obvious that the decision-making about this recovery was guided by some logic people outside the process can't see.

You're assuming that there is a logic, and perhaps there is. Personally it just seems like mismanagement/bad planning to me.

The BBC may also not even realize what a big deal this is to fans. And, I'm sure it's fairly small potatoes for the BBC. It sounds like the classic DW DVDs aren't great sellers and they may figure this is just like two more low sales DVDs. Maybe.

That being the case, I don't see much point in drawing conclusion based on our own judgments of what makes sense.

Agreed. I'm just going to assume it's only these 2 stories that were recovered, and if that assumption turns out to be incorrect, it's a pleasant surprise!

Mr Awe

 

[Brendan Moody]

There's a logic in play. Whether it's a good logic is another question. Personally, I'm less eager than some to judge business decisions involving parties and factors of which I have no knowledge and in which I have no substantive personal stake.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ Is bad logic, logic? A debate for another time. But, yeah, I'm assuming it's a mismanagement type of thing which would fall under "bad logic".

I also think it's just not a very high priority for the BBC if they figure these won't sell well. And, that might be good logic from their point of view by putting more resources into higher priorities.

Mr Awe

 

[Sindatur]

Agreed. I'm just going to assume it's only these 2 stories that were recovered, and if that assumption turns out to be incorrect, it's a pleasant surprise!

Mr Awe

Exactly. I actually, have upgraded some Hartnell and Troughton that I've been collecting up (The Aztecs Special Edition with Galaxy 4 Episode, The Reign of Terror with the Animation, The Ice Warriors with Animation, Enemy of the World, Web of Fear, Power of the Daleks with the 2 episodes of Talking Animated Telesnaps...) So, I just started a rewatch from the beginning. Watched Marco Polo Recon last night for the first time, and it seems it might be as good as The Aztecs (One of my favorite Hartnells), so, I would definitely welcome it back, but, for now, I'll just settle for the Recon and not stress on it. If it does come back, great, if not, oh well.

 

[diankra]

Surely the logic currently in p;lay is that they announce the recovery on the day it's released to iTunes, thus getting a lot of instant purchases from excited fans which push Doctor Who to the top of the iTunes chart. Given the way the press conference a fortnight back played out, I could well believe that more has been found, but is still being restored, and will be announced ont he dsay it goes up for purchase.
Or alternatively, there isn't anything else, at least not yet, if at all. Either could be true.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ That could well be. However, I'd suggest that an advance announcement about what they found would both build excitement AND squash any unfounded rumors. It's this sneakiness that is keeping the rumors going. Also, an advance announcement wouldn't reduce the rush iTune sales when they are released. If anything, the extra hype would make them higher.

No one is going to say, dang, you announced it in advance so I'm not going to buy it from iTunes like I would've otherwise!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

No, but if they announce and it's there for immediate purchase some may impulse buy before they have chance to think twice.

 

[Candlelight]

There was a strong indication that when the BBC announced Capaldi as the Doctor there might also be a missing episode announcement, but someone pointed out that it would take the shine away from Capaldi's moment.

IF Marco has been found then this might also fall under the same reasoning; Enemy and Web are Troughton's stories, so you devote most of October to letting fans bathe in his awesomeness.

Then in November, the anniversary begins with Hartnell taking centre stage, with the AAISAT movie and AUC repeat. What better way to capitalise on Hartnell's moment than with releasing one of his missing stories? If it came out with Enemy and Web - which are more action based, monsters and not historical - Marco would stick out like a sore thumb.

There may be method in the madness yet...

 

[Christopher]

^That reasoning is somewhat convoluted, but I hope you're right. Of all the missing serials, I think "Marco Polo" is the one I'd most want to see recovered.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I'm curious, but why, exactly? And I am not being sarcastic, I'm honestly curious.

 

[Christopher]

Well, the half-hour reconstruction I saw looked really cool. Plus it's the first historical -- I don't think "An Unearthly Child" really counts.

 

[Mr Awe]

There may be method in the madness yet...

Perhaps you're right. That combined with the impulse buys, and maybe there is. But, we'll have to see if they have recovered any more. Here's hoping!

Mr Awe

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Well, the half-hour reconstruction I saw looked really cool. Plus it's the first historical -- I don't think "An Unearthly Child" really counts.

I suppose it should, but I no one counts it as an historical that I know of.

 

[Candlelight]

Marco Polo was an epic story when I first listened to it. Rather than Hartnell leading the charge he's simply swept along by history. At seven episodes it's long but rather than drag it's heels by repeating the same formula of escaping and being captured, etc, the journey from the roof of the world to Peking literally keeps the story moving.

My only gripe is the almost pantomime-esque of Marco's blindness to see what's really going on with Tegana's deceit, even right up until the final scene in the throne room.

 

[Christopher]

Plus it's the first historical -- I don't think "An Unearthly Child" really counts.

I suppose it should, but I no one counts it as an historical that I know of.

And they're right. History doesn't mean the whole past, it means what's documented about the past. "An Unearthly Child" (or "The Tribe of Gum" or "10,000 BC" or whatever) is set before the dawn of recorded history. So it's not a historical -- it's a prehistorical. "Marco" is the first story set during actual historical (i.e. documented) events.