It was all about the cosplay on Saturday.

There was a group of us that had been planning for months to do a group cosplay (that is, we’d all dress up in related costumes) we’d dubbed “the TARDISpod.” Originally, we were all supposed to be a TARDIS representing a different decade. Since we love seeing other people’s TARDIS costumes, we also spent much of Friday telling others to come to our designated photo op on Saturday morning next to the second TARDIS (that is, the one not on stage). As a result, there were probably a couple dozen TARDISes (including a male TARDIS bathrobe). It was brilliant.

Despite the fact that there were several panels I wanted to see throughout the day, the only ones I managed were “Tooth and Claw,” about carving your own niche in fandom, whether it be podcasting, filmmaking, blogging, costuming, or whatever; and my own “Invasion of the Dinosaurs” panel. I was pleased at how well-received our panel about the differences between pre- and post-Hiatus Who seemed to be. I hope to see some reviews of it elsewhere online (if I do, I’ll post links). The basic take-away from the whole thing, as one of my fellow panelists put it: There is no wrong way to watch (or love) Doctor Who.

Later we managed to get eight of our TARDISes (or, as the man himself declared the correct plural: TARDII) together for a photo with Sylvester McCoy. He was a wonderful gentleman, and was quite gracious about us fangirling all over him (though we did try to keep it down to a dull roar).

My high opinion of McCoy was not dulled by his panel. The ballroom was standing room only, and he delighted us all by actually coming down off the stage and roaming the crowd with his mic to take questions from fans. I love that he didn’t treat any of the questions terribly seriously unless it was by a child, in which case he played it completely straight. What a wonderful, class act of a man.

I was also pleased to see Freema Agyeman give her interview. Martha has never been my favorite character, but I do think she’s a strong one, and I was favorably impressed with Freema herself. It was nice to hear her perspective on playing Martha and being part of the franchise as a whole, and I have to say she’s both fun and classy.

To end the evening, friends and I attended the Masquerade of Mandragora, the sort of marquis event of Gally’s Saturday night. As usual, there were some kick-ass costumes and skits. Some of the highlights for me were the Eleventh Doctor/Idris who did a set of little dances together (before a big dip and kiss at the end), the Abigail and shark from A Christmas Carol, the Zygon, the crossplay Third Doctor, the Sixth Doctor frock coat (those last three all being entered in the Master class, and thus over-the-top excellently constructed), and the little final adventure of Sarah Jane Smith vignette that I don’t think left a dry eye in the house.

For the “halftime show” while the judges were deliberating, several of the guests came on for Gally’s very own version of “Just a Minute,” a British game show in which contestants are challenged to talk for 60 seconds about a topic of the moderator’s choosing “without hesitation, deviation, or repetition.” Moderating was Tony Lee, with Barnaby Edwards (the one from NY, not the Dalek Extraordinaire) being timekeeper/scorekeeper/rules judge. Guests were Anjli Mohindra, Neve McIntosh, Nicholas Pegg, Scott Handcock, Dan Starkey, and Charlie Ross. Much was made of latex, Scotland, “Yes, Jamie, it is a big one, isn’t it?” and – oddly enough – otters. All I can say is, I’m super glad I went, and I certainly won’t miss the Masquerade next year, either.