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Confession #22: I’m Ready for the Ponds to Leave

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By now most of you reading will have heard that Amy and Rory are slated to leave the show in Series Seven. The initial announcement, on 15 Dec 2011, stated that their story would be coming to a “tragic” end. Much as I love Rory (and don’t actively hate Amy), I’m ready for them to go. Here’s why.

First, Amy’s tenure on the show is unprecedented in post-Hiatus Who. Until the arrival of Eleven and Amy, there was a change in either Doctor or Companion (or both) at least every series. Though I found it slightly galling at the time, longing for a bit more stability, it kept things “fresh,” and I find that now the TARDIS crew is getting slightly stale. Three series is quite a lot, actually, and that’s borne out by reviewing the pre-Hiatus TARDIS crews, too.

Look at the longest tenure record-holders. According to the TARDIS Index File, we can consider individual episodes (in which Jamie comes out on top, with 113), total stories (Rose, with 26, including the Children in Need special and two “substantial” cameos), or calendar time (Tegan, just shy of 3 years, with Sarah Jane only a couple of weeks behind). Amy is fast approaching these latter two marks.

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Confession #21: I Believe in the 13 Regeneration Limit

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Common fan knowledge puts a Time Lord’s Regeneration limit at 13. That is, a Time Lord can regenerate twelve times for a total of thirteen Regenerations (or incarnations). A couple of years ago, Russell T. Davies (RTD), the man greatly responsible for bringing Doctor Who back to our screens in 2005, once again added his own particular brand of fan-geekery to the mix, trying to show everyone in yet another way that he “knows better” than us.

In an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures called “The Death of the Doctor,” Eleven ends up visiting Sarah Jane and her gang again. SJS-Companion Clyde, who previously met Ten, is stunned to see this regeneration thing for himself. Whilst peppering the Doctor with questions (“Can you change color, or are you always white?” “No. I can be anything.”), he asks how often the Doctor can regenerate. The answer is a quick and flippant “five hundred and seven.”

Apparently, RTD thought that was a hoot. He could casually rewrite decades of “canon” (whatever that means) with a so-funny-he-makes-everyone-who’s-RTD-laugh line. Here’s what he has to say on the whole number-of-regenerations question:

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Confession #20: I Wish I Could Pay the BBC License Fee

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Given the recent furor over the proposed SOPA/PIPA legislation here in the US, it seems an appropriate time to talk about access to content. Now personally, I don’t actually watch a lot of television – other than, obviously, Doctor Who. What I do watch, though, is (perhaps a bit oddly) skewed strongly towards BBC product. There are only two US shows I follow regularly, and the rest (all four of them) all come from the opposite side of the Pond.

The stickler, then, becomes access. How do I get to watch my shows? Well, my options are actually pretty bleak. Depending on what I want to watch, different networks here in the US will be the providers. There’s BBC America, SyFy, even PBS. Note, though, that with the exception of PBS – which has its own issues that I’ll address in a moment – these are cable networks. In fact, if I want to get BBCA, I have to get at least the 2nd tier of cable package. Remember – I’m watching maybe four shows all year, something like 40 episodes all told, for those being broadcast on cable. That’s comes out to about $12 a pop, before taxes, various fees, etc. For a single episode of television.

At least PBS is free, network TV. But wait! That’s not as straightforward as it sounds, either. PBS is the network that gets Sherlock. Eventually. Although the second series aired in the first half of January this year (and was available on DVD and bluray in the UK before the end of that same month), those of us in the US have to wait until early May for it to be shown on PBS. That’s four extra months – a third of a year! How do these people expect me to stay spoiler-free for four freakin’ months?

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I Wish I Was Back at Gallifrey

Ever since I heard Paul McGann sing a verse of “I Wish I Was Back in Liverpool” at the interview panel at Gally (I believe this was Friday afternoon), I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. In case you haven’t seen/heard it, here’s a video of that moment, as uploaded to YouTube by nerdchik:

Just to be sure you’ve got all the lyrics sussed, here’s a transcription for you.

I Wish I Was Back in Liverpool

I wish I was back in Liverpool
Liverpool town where I was born
Where there ain’t no trees, no scented breeze
No fields of waving corn
But there’s lots of girls with peroxide curls
And the black-and-tans flow free
And it’s six to a bed by the old pierhead
And it’s Liverpool town for me

Now I can’t remember how it first popped into my head, but somehow I started singing it to myself as “I wish I was back at Gallifrey.” From that moment on, it was only a matter of time till I came up with a full spoof version based upon our favorite con. I’m sharing with you here what I devised. I encourage you to add your own alternate versions – ones that you think scan better and/or relay the spirit of the con more completely – in the comments. So, without further ado, here it is.

I Wish I Was Back at Gallifrey

I wish I was back at Gallifrey
Gallifrey One where I had fun
Where there ain’t no pets, no Internets
No lovely LA sun
But there’s lots of girls from the Doctor’s worlds
And Daleks, guests, and geeks
And it all carries on at LobbyCon
And it’s Gallifrey One for me

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Gallifrey One’s Network 23: Lessons Learned

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This having been my first year to attend Gallifrey One (or, for that matter any con of any kind), it was a learning experience as much as a chance to rub shoulders with some whovian Names. Since there are still bunches of people out there who’ve never been (despite this year’s record attendance of 3183), I thought I’d pass along a few of the things I’d learned, in hopes that others might benefit. Or at least that I can come back and remind myself of them before I go next year…

  1. Plan far enough ahead that you can book a room at the Marriott itself. While the place I got was convenient enough (a 4-5 block walk, or about 5 minutes) and had free (if weak) breakfast – something I’m not sure the Marriott offers – it was an extra little hassle. I envied the con members who could just pop up to their rooms at the end of the day, stash most of their things in their rooms and just carry the basics, or not worry about still having to walk stably for several blocks at night after Lobbycon. And speaking of Lobbycon…
  2. Arrive early enough to enjoy Lobbycon on Thursday night. Although I in no way regret my Thursday this year – I got to see three distinct sets of friends, all of whom I’d last seen years earlier – it would have been nice to be able to socialize with other con members in that unique way.
  3. Stay till Monday morning. Note to self: redeyes suck; don’t do that again. Regardless of the fact that things officially end after the Closing Ceremonies around 7pm (unless you’re lucky enough to be able to go to the Volunteers’ Reception), there is still Lobbycon happening Sunday night. And really, who wants Gally to end? Stretching it out a few extra hours and not worrying about a flight till the next morning would be a nice way to finish off.
  4. Use a decent camera that’s good with long-distance shots. Although it’s possible to get super-good seats for many of the panels, let’s face it – not everyone gets the best spot, and sometimes you’re just going to be far away. If you have a simple point’n’shoot camera, it’s not going to get sharp, well-lit photos of all those folks up on stage in the ballroom. Find something that will.
    Also: don’t lose the camera you do have. ~sigh~

There are also a few things that I definitely want to do again or try out next time:

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Gallifrey One’s Network 23: Day Three

I’m so tired I can’t see straight.

Despite that fact, I can’t seem to stop grinning like a fool as I think back on my weekend. I do believe I’ve got myself a new annual tradition. Minus, of course, the timing on that return flight…

My pre-program time started with a bit more ribbon trading. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover how popular my “I ♥♥ Eight” ribbons were. Someone from the Fan Room (where the TARDIS console was on display; I’m so disappointed I can’t remember exactly who it was) came up to me and asked me for some of those ribbons for folks there who were asking. I only had about six left, but gladly handed them over. I’m almost positive I saw Nick Briggs wearing one later. Either he got it from that source or traded a fan for it, because I sadly never got to meet Nick to give him one myself (and thus, he doesn’t really know where it came from ~sigh~)!

Having collected all but my William Russell autograph on Saturday, I could devote Sunday to the programs. I chose to camp out in the ballroom all day. When you start early, you can get a really good seat in between panels, and keep ootching your way closer to front and center (without making yourself overly conspicuous, in case you need to duck out for more coffee or a bathroom break). By this time, you’ve probably found yourself a new con buddy to save your seat while you’re away, which is awesome. It’s how I slipped away for that last autograph.

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Gallifrey One’s Network 23: Day Two

I didn’t see much of Con Buddy on Saturday.

I think it had to do with our different approaches to getting photos and autographs. He’d done a lot of that on Friday, and had a stronger interest in the programming being offered Saturday. Not that this stuff didn’t interest me – there’s stuff I’m pretty sad I missed – but my priorities were different.

So I spent most of my day standing in lines. I started with some autographs. I got them from Eric Roberts, Daphne Ashbrook, Maureen O’Brien, and Richard Franklin. I also stopped by to give Caitlin Blackwood one of each of my ribbons, since I’d heard she was collecting them, and get a picture of her with her mum. Of course, I’ve since lost my camera… (Here’s hoping it’s at the lost and found this morning.)

Con Buddy actually beat me into the next line by about five people. I got to chat with a lovely woman who was there in her wheelchair with her service dog Wiggles (who was wearing a K-9 vest signed by John Leeson) before going in to have my picture taken with the TARDIS console from The Movie. Then I headed strraight to the next room to stand in line to have my picture taken with Paul McGann. (I ended up looking a bit manic. While a bit irritating, I suppose it’s not completely surprising.) Right behind me in line were a lovely young couple with whom I’d struck up a conversation over lunch on Friday. It almost felt like chatting with old friends.

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Gallifrey One’s Network 23: Day One

I’m in heaven.

Let me back up for a moment. Thursday was a long one. It was full of alternating chunks of travel, waiting, and socialization. Plane ride. Wait at airport. Drive with friend. Eat brunch. Bus ride. Wait at station. Train ride. Visit/light snack with friends. Wait at coffee shop. Visit/dinner/overnight with friends.

Friday was all sorts of different. My friend with whom I’d stayed the night drove me to the Marriott, the con’s hotel, in plenty of time to pick up my badge and take care of some other business before the first of the programming. At first it was a bit uncomfortable, because I’d not managed to find my con-going friend (hereafter Con Buddy) yet, and as a n00b, really didn’t have any idea what to expect, or where to find anything of interest. The first stop was thus “Gallifrey 101,” the panel for con neophytes.

Here we got our first taste of a theme that continued throughout the day (and, I imagine, will continue throughout the con): there are a LOT of us here this year! The room in which Gallifrey 101 was held was standing room only, and there were very few, if any, con members in that room who didn’t raise their hands when asked if we were first-timers. It’s growing.

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Confession #19: I Love the B&W Era

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In honor of today’s 48th anniversary of the first broadcast of Doctor Who (that would be An Unearthly Child, in 1963), I thought I’d talk a bit more about the early years of Who and why they’re worth your time to seek out if you’ve never had the opportunity to see them before.

For a general sense of what they’re all about, check out my recent posts on the First and Second Doctors’ eras, where I give a broad overview. Let me express a bit more love for that whole black-and-white era, though. There’s a special something – maybe you could think of it as an innocence – that doesn’t necessarily carry over into the color/modern era. The show is so earnest and new and takes itself so seriously, even though it also clearly knows it’s a bit rubbish in places.

Admittedly, it took me a while to warm to all that. Coming as I did straight off Series Four with Ten and Donna, I was taken aback at first, even though I knew I was stepping into the Wayback Machine when I sat down with An Unearthly Child that first time. Forty-five years’ worth of technological advances are nothing to sneeze at, especially where television is concerned. So even though I’d steeled myself for bad (by modern standards) effects – having grown up with Star Trek, I thought I had an idea of what it was likely to look like – and the black-and-white view, I wasn’t truly prepared.

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Confession #18: I’m a Bigger Geek Than I’d Realized

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As if the previous Confession wasn’t evidence enough, I’ve realized that my geek cred is perhaps higher than I’d thought it was. Here’s how I got the wake-up call.

One of my friends – the one who introduced me to Who, as matter of fact – recently went to an estate sale where he happened across a couple of Who-related books. They weren’t fantastically popular titles or anything, but each had some autographs in it. As such things often are, a few of them were hard to read. Here’s how he transcribed some of them, trying to figure them out.

  • carole amy ford?
  • S—–ke Wills?
  • wendy cadbury (zoe?)
  • nicholas c—–squiggle
  • john …very squiggly…_eu/vene?
  • very sqiggly but first name looks like neel/ro

Now I don’t know about the “average” fan (or the “average neowhovian,” for that matter), but I found I was able to identify these as fast as he was able to type them to me via chat. See how well you did.

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