DRW50

He was Rose's adoptive father. He popped up mostly in 2000 and 2001. At one time they also hinted about him with Nancy, but that went nowhere. I really liked him on Oz - that's where I most remember him from. And he had one of the grisliest deaths (he was fed bits of glass, day by day).

A lot of that Supernatural episode was a mess, but Kim had a ton of stuff to do, more than I'd expected. I hope this means they will use her more often, or that some other show will see her talent and book her.

I like Colin too. I think most people liked Colin, it's the writing that some of us didn't like. The special was put in some movie theaters in the UK, Australia, and the US, and seemed to do well. Here's the US taking. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/26/screenings-of-doctor-who-the-day-of-the-doctor-earn-4-77-million-at-the-u-s-box-office/218608/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Tvbythenumbers+%28TVbytheNumbers%29

The Doctor, no longer young and exuberant, now older and abrasive, being nasty to his young female companion. Moffat suggested he might go this route (not in those words) in an interview, I think.

The ratings started at a more inflated level this season, so going down doesn't surprise me. If they keep going down, that's another story.

I'm going to miss Matt a great deal, although the last year didn't quite work for me in writing (I felt like he became a sex pest and I didn't see a bond with Clara). Capaldi has the potential to be wonderful, as long as they avoid the Colin Baker route. Matt was also my favorite since Tom.

Ratings are in. 5.7 in the demo (6.0 last week), 11 million or so total viewers. I actually thought they'd drop more, since everyone knew this was going to be an all-Governor episode. They're probably going to get some viewers back next week, although the holiday travels and whatever else might impact it. I just hope if they do this again they might focus the episodes on other characters who are more connected to the narrative. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/26/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-wins-night-talking-dead-homeland-boardwalk-empire-witches-of-east-end-more-2/218115/#comment-1590276

There was an article - I think I might have posted it a few years ago - showing Eileen go through all the preparations in the makeup chair to play the decayed face.

I think they actually had quite a few ideas this season (perhaps a few too many), which is why grinding everything to a halt when they will soon be off the air for months confuses me.

Finally finished the episode. I get the idea of these last two episodes (the Governor can't be redeemed, just because he found a wife and daughter replacement doesn't mean he's suddenly a good person, he will always see goodness as weakness), but I just think they got way off the track of the prison group and add to an already overstuffed canvas (the prison has the virus story, you have Carol's absence - and if Carol returns, that means you have her POV, the Governor's, and now Rick's/the prison's). I'm also confused about the serial killing at the camp they went to. Is this person at the prison now? The image of poor Pete shackled underwater was visually stunning, but it made no sense, because anyone in the camp could go to that little dock or whatever and see him. Why would the Governor do that? (I don't know who played Pete, but he was just gorgeous - he should be in a superhero movie) I'm not sure why they didn't have flashbacks of the Governor and his brother, since it was such a major part of his psyche in this episode (and, looking back, probably of his hatred of Rick) There were some strong individual scenes, again, like Martinez's death, the walkers trapped on the road, the scene of floating Pete, the scene with the Governor and Kirk Acevedo after he killed Pete. I also know they needed to flesh out the characters with him since they're likely cannon fodder. Most of them still seem somewhat flat, and it's difficult to invest when I know they're probably dead meat. I hope the show didn't make a mistake diverting attention entirely away from the main characters for two whole episodes. That bald man on Talking Dead annoyed the !@#$%^&*] out of me.

Someone told me they thought she was Kate's daughter. I didn't hear that part. If so that's a nice touch, although I wish she'd had a better defined role. Given Tom's age I guess that's not a surprise, but I hope he's OK. I'm surprised, with John Hurt's schedule, he was able to come in just a few days before filming. That was very kind of him. He gave a great performance. I've never read RTD's book, but that's a fascinating excerpt. Rose's "happy" ending is one of those things that I have more and more issue with as time goes on, although maybe her fans liked it.

I can't say you're wrong to skip it, although I'm about halfway through the episode and it's OK. I know Martinez was a bad guy but I liked the actor, he was talented, and gorgeous. I was sorry to see him go. At least he had a memorable death, even if he was an idiot. (don't drink in the Zombie Apocalypse)

I watched the 50th a few days ago. I had no expectations, so that worked out for me. Good: - I'm happy Gallifrey is back. No, it wasn't a happy home for the Doctor - it was often a hellhole for him. However, it was an identity, and it defined him. He was never the same without it. I understand why some fans feel the last eight years are now pointless, but the Doctors still has plenty of angst, and besides, RTD long ago undercut most of the Gallifrey angst by turning the Doctor's pain into emo woe over Rose. Plus, this means Leela and Romana are still alive!! - Kate Stewart. She may not have the same twinkle with the Doctor that the Brigadier had, but times have changed. She's a very worthy successor to his legacy, and I'm really happy to see her back. - Hurt, Tennant, and Smith. While the invention of the War Doctor is something else I have mixed feelings over (I didn't want to believe the Doctor would ever be this huge warrior, but it also feels a little like stunt casting and confusing insertion into an already confusing backstory), Hurt worked very well with David and Matt, especially when they got serious in the Tower and began talking about the genocide of the TIme War. - I grew to absolutely despise Ten by the time he left, and I can't look at him now without feeling nauseous. Frankly, it takes a little effort for me to even separate Tennant from him, which is sad. This episode, while it showed me that Ten is very played out (they had nothing to do for him but recycling the old Elizabeth I gag), also showed Tennant's charisma and talent, and his easy chemistry with everyone. By the time he left, with that little, polite nudge toward Ten's terrible exit line, I had made peace with Ten, and can now try to put those last few years of Ten behind me and look at him in another light. - Tom Baker! That booming voice made me emotional in a way I hadn't anticipated. I'm so happy he got to return and got to have closure. Even all these years later, so many years, he commands the screen. Yet he didn't ham it up, as he could have done. He had a genuine connection with Matt Smith and the scene felt like he was both passing the torch and reminding Eleven that things always change, and someone will always be there watching. I'd like to believe he was playing The Watcher, from Logopolis. - The idea of all of the Doctors fighting to save Gallifrey. A beautiful moment, with a thrilling and surprising cameo from Peter Capaldi. - The Zygons. Considering how strong Terror of the Zygons is, it's always felt wrong that they never came back. This episode showed the real potential they have as villains in the Whoniverse. The scene of Kate revealing herself as a Zygon surprised me. and was also a very effective gory moment, which we don't get on the show too often. Mixed - The fangirl with the scarf. She seemed like something from RTD's era. She also seemed very dated and out of place. I guess she was supposed to represent the average fan. I did like that after realizing the Doctor couldn't save her, she saved herself. Nice idea, and it was a surprise from Moffat. - Billie Piper. I thought she did a good job as "The Moment", and I'm glad the show didn't go the route of having Rose return to charm yet more Doctors, as many fans seemed to want. Yet I sort of feel like - and I say this as someone who hated Rose/Doctor - they should have had a real scene with Ten and "The Moment," just so that their fans could have been acknowledged a little more. This is a minor complaint, as overall, I did think this worked out decently and I was happy that the show acknowledged Piper's importance without delving into a story that has already been combed to bits. - Clara. As always, I see no personality or purpose for Clara. I felt the same way about Amy for most of her first season, so there's still a shot, but as someone who is a fan of JLC's from her soap work and enjoyed her in other roles (as Oswin, as herself in that Peter Davison comedy special), I keep waiting for more from Clara. I just can't see a connection with Smith. She had a little with Tennant, and her scene with Hurt was strong and moving, one of my favorite parts of the episode. I hope they can salvage her. Not so good - Sluggish pacing. The first hour or hour and a half seemed disjointed and lacking in energy. I was surprised, because Moffat's "big" episodes generally have some energy, even when the writing isn't there. - Elizabeth I. Everything about this was just way off, IMO. I understand the joke, but I think it only worked the first time around (the Shakespeare episode with Martha). I just couldn't really laugh at Ten calling her ugly and disgusting and avoiding her at all turns. It felt mean-spirited. - I realize that RTD's era was in large part about the importance of the companion, and Moffat's run has also put companions in the role of "so and so who will save the Doctor/save the world/etc.", but I was surprised at how meaningless the companion role, and voice, seemed in this. It's not new for anniversary episodes (the companions were also decoration in the 10th and 20th anniversary episodes), but, given the show's rich history, I wanted a little more. I wish they'd included Susan, as she was the first companion, and the most important. All in all, I'd give it a B, and I am looking forward to seeing where we're going. The preview looked exciting. As always, Matt Smith says so much with a single look.

There's a clip of her at WLS. Or there was. I'm not sure there is now, but here's a link to a Vimeo clip. http://vimeo.com/64524301

How Dial-H for Superheroes.

She was a soap actress. They acknowledged not all soap actors are minor by writing it the way they day.

The last few seasons were not great but I watched to the end. I think the show was a little too much for some people - it always annoyed me that they never got more acting awards. My favorites were Shirley Bellinger (her friendship with Richie was one of my favorite stories of the whole show), Vern (mostly because of JK Simmons - not because of the character), Sister Pete (more in the first 3-4 seasons), Poet, Keller (mostly his first few seasons), Morales (the actor did a lot for the character), Miguel, Ryan, Gloria, McManus (he was pathetic but expertly played by Terry Kinney and I couldn't imagine the show without him - one of my favorite scenes was him singing Camptown Races as he had a mental breakdown at someone's memorial), Diane, Murphy, Adebisi, Nikolai, and I always had a soft spot for Nino Schibetta. Honorable mention to Brian Bloom, who pretty much defined the term "brutally hot" in his one or two episodes.

They just had Kirk Acevedo in one episode? That's kind of a waste. Kirk's another of those actors who, thanks to Oz, I always remember in part for what a nice ass they had.

I'm not sure if this aired on BBC America, but it's available to watch on the iPlayer, unlike most of the BBC material, which is blocked to people in the US. It's a comedy special put together by Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, about their efforts to get into the anniversary episode. There are a number of cameos from previous companions, and a very funny reason given for why Tom Baker isn't there. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01m3kfy

I liked JLC on Emmerdale and I liked her as Oswin so I'm hoping for more with Clara once they've moved further away from her being a plot point - that's what happened with Amy. Once you move away from the "special girl" stuff the smugness starts to fade. My favorite of the new companions was Donna, and I liked Martha a lot too. I was lucky because I wasn't reading DW boards when Martha was in her main season so I didn't realize how hated she was. I'm also glad they've brought back the Doctor's friendly relationship with UNIT. I'm sorry that Nicholas Courtney isn't here now but I think Kate is just about the best replacement for him.

Darn, you don't like Rose either? Yay I haven't seen it yet, but I always had some big issues with destroying Gallifrey. While most of the show's last years did not treat Gallifrey kindly (mostly just a stuffy place full of pretentious and easily manipulated idiots), the potential for the place was huge. I get the angst factor of destroying it but I don't mind seeing them bring it back. I've heard people say this undoes all the pain of Nine and Ten, and so on, but I'm up to my back teeth in pain and angst for the Doctor. And those two Doctors would get angsty over not eating the last cashew. This also means Romana and Leela are still alive, doesn't it? Anyway, I will try to watch this soon. In the meanntime, anyone who hasn't seen An Adventure in Space and Time, please watch it! It made me cry. It's a real tribute, a letter of love, that also feels relevant and honest. No fake nostalgia to be found. Mark Gatiss talks about the idea he had for Sara Kingdom and Jean Marsh, which he fought for, but was finally cut. http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/an-adventure-in-space-and-time/231098/mark-gatiss-on-an-adventure-in-space-and-time

This particular soap is a sham in that respect. They will "tackle tough subjects" and make sure there's no followup or exploration. Someone is bullied into nearly killing themselves, and they just go offcamera for a while, and when they return, they're BFF with the people who nearly killed them and then taunted them from their hospital beds. Someone is beaten up by their boyfriend, over and over, and it's true love, it's the most special love ever.