The Energon Pub

[Samsonator]

That was a VERY enjoyable Christmas special, and for once, an episode with River Song I actually enjoyed.

Fun story, great performance from Capaldi who was clearly having fun (and it was fun to see him be "blown away" by the interior of the Tardis).

All in all, great Christmas special. Now begins the long wait ...

Couldn't agree more. I was very concerned when I'd heard River was coming back for this, but the episode itself was just fun.

[Mkall]

I too enjoyed it most thoroughly. The Doctor's "bigger on the inside" rant was most enjoyable.

I got the feeling that this is the last we'll see of River?

[ZeroWolf]

In a way I'm surprised that river came back at all. I thought her story ended with the 11th doctor.

[RAR]

I guess who would work as a female Doctor would depend on who they cast.
But it does lead to some pretty unique problems... Like people thinking her "Male" companion is the one in charge in a number of historical situations where Woman's status is lower in that society.

At this point though it would seem like they were just copying Star Wars having a female lead - and if they'd done it a few years ago it would have seen like copying BattleStar Galactica where most of the main characters of any importance were female and aside from Adama the men were relegated to the roll of villains (Baltar), Himbos (Apollo) or sidekicks (billy or whatever that bloke from Knight Rider was called that worked for the President)..

But it's more of an emergency back up plan when they run out of normal ideas than it is a burning need to make The Doctor a time lady - and boy would Missy be pissed off - and what happens if the master is back to being a man and keeps hitting on them ?

What if the Doctor gets seduced by Captain Jack ?

I've never been against the idea as such even though it was played for laughs the Joanna Lumbley concept was a fine enough one.



In the Medium term though - I wonder about other muted ideas first though.

[Madeus Prime]

I enjoyed this last Christmas special, although, it was awfully pushing it that River didn't once question the Surgeon's identity.

[Stuartmaximus]

Moffat quits!(after season 10)

http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who/ ... showrunner

[Burn]

It's been on the cards for a while. Disappointing we only get the one special this year.

BBC's article

BBC announces Steven Moffat’s next series of Doctor Who will be his last and confirms Chris Chibnall as new Head Writer and Executive Producer.

After six incredible series at the helm, the multi-award winning Steven Moffat has decided to step down as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.

Steven took over the reins on Series 5 in 2010 and during his tenure the show has become a truly global success. He has been responsible for introducing the Eleventh and the Twelfth Doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi; as well as two companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and iconic characters and monsters including River Song (Alex Kingston), Missy (Michelle Gomez), Rory (Arthur Darvill) and the terrifying Weeping Angels. Plus, the smash hit 50th Anniversary special in 2013 which saw fans around the world celebrate the world’s longest running sci-fi series with the Doctors, Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt battling the deadly Daleks in a feature length episode. Steven’s final series will air on BBC One in Spring 2017 and there will be a Christmas Special in 2016.

Steven Moffat says : “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

Like Steven, Chris Chibnall is also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a multi-award winning writer and executive producer. He has most recently achieved huge success with the triple BAFTA winning hit ITV series Broadchurch. His other credits include BAFTA nominated The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life on Mars and Torchwood. Chris Chibnall’s debut series will launch in 2018.

Chris Chibnall, new Head Writer and Executive Producer : "Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it's a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who's creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult."

Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One says : “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 - I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

Polly Hill, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning says : “Like Charlotte I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”

Hopefully Capaldi sticks around through to the end of 2018 at least.

[ZeroWolf]

I wonder if from next year then we'll get new who series in the spring. ..again. It is annoying though that there is no series this year. Can't see that being good for this "worldwide phenomenon"

Oh well, got enough time to catch up

[Burn]

I wonder if from next year then we'll get new who series in the spring. ..again. It is annoying though that there is no series this year. Can't see that being good for this "worldwide phenomenon"

Oh well, got enough time to catch up

It survived with only four specials one year. And it survived a huge hiatus before 2005. I think it's safe.

[ZeroWolf]

I wonder if from next year then we'll get new who series in the spring. ..again. It is annoying though that there is no series this year. Can't see that being good for this "worldwide phenomenon"

Oh well, got enough time to catch up

It survived with only four specials one year. And it survived a huge hiatus before 2005. I think it's safe.

How true

Who knows? Maybe Sony will actually bring out that Dr Who movie they want to make though that reminds me, Peter Crushing made a good doctor didn't he?

[Burn]

Peter Crushing made a good doctor didn't he?

I've only watched part of one of his movies so can't comment.

[Madeus Prime]

Well, Steven Moffat is stepping down, about time too, though I'm not hugely confidant in his successor, as he did some of my least favorite episodes of the Smith era... But it's cool because Moffat needs to focus on Sherlock more than Doctor Who these days.

[Shadowman]

After six incredible series at the helm

Erm...which seasons were these?

[ZeroWolf]

After six incredible series at the helm

Erm...which seasons were these?

Hmm I didn't think anything of that when I first read through it. Maybe we're getting two seasons next year or more likely they've counted as though they released a new season every year.

Though I'm guessing you're talking more quality wise

[Whifflefire]

Too bad Moffat's leaving, but it will be interesting to see someone new at the helm. But no new series this year? Dangit... The last special left me hoping it wouldn't be too long before a new series...

After six incredible series at the helm

Erm...which seasons were these?

Hmm I didn't think anything of that when I first read through it. Maybe we're getting two seasons next year or more likely they've counted as though they released a new season every year.

Series 5,6,7,8,9, and 10 will be his last. that's six, only problem is that the tenth hasn't come out, so it's rather pretentious to call it incredible yet.
Or maybe they counted six or seven as two, both were split into two parts.

[ZeroWolf]

See I counted 7 + 8 as one season since they were short compared to the longer seasons we get.

[Whifflefire]

See I counted 7 + 8 as one season since they were short compared to the longer seasons we get.

Was 8 shorter? I thought it was the same length as the others...

[Shadowman]

Too bad Moffat's leaving, but it will be interesting to see someone new at the helm. But no new series this year? Dangit... The last special left me hoping it wouldn't be too long before a new series...

After six incredible series at the helm

Erm...which seasons were these?

Hmm I didn't think anything of that when I first read through it. Maybe we're getting two seasons next year or more likely they've counted as though they released a new season every year.

Series 5,6,7,8,9, and 10 will be his last. that's six, only problem is that the tenth hasn't come out, so it's rather pretentious to call it incredible yet.
Or maybe they counted six or seven as two, both were split into two parts.

I was making a reference to how these seasons have been anything but "incredible." Especially once it started veering into "The Clara Oswald Show, featuring the Doctor."

[Stuartmaximus]

first Moffat! & now there's a chance that Capaldi may be leaving too!

http://screenrant.com/doctor-who-peter- ... gn=SR-FB-P


hmmmm....time for a female doctor.....maybe?

[ZeroWolf]

I think I may stop watching if that happens. There's some gender swaps that work (like in marvel comics with female thor as she has the title of thor, the original thor is still there) but something like this, it just seems to because they have either ran out of ideas or because of quotas with diversity. Now if they made another show about a female time traveller then i would check that out as it's some thing new.

[Burn]

I would hope Capaldi sticks around for at least one season with the new guy (to help the transition).

As for a female Doctor, NO.

[Jeen0808]

A female Doctor? Didn't we just get rid of Clara?

[Whifflefire]

I think, if Capaldi leaves after series 10, then it will be like when Moffat became showrunner after Russel T. Davies left, starting off totally clean with a new Doctor and a new story, and giving the old one a definitive ending (The end of time parts 1&2, my favorite episodes). The first four series of the revamp felt like it was telling one story. Even between Doctors, it still felt the same because it was all under the same run. The Moffat series, so far as a whole, has a different feel to it, but retains that tone between both Doctors' times during his run. A new showrunner would bring another new tone to the show, but any carryovers from the previous series, I feel, like if Capaldi were to stay for even one series with Chibnall, would rob Moffat's era of that finale. So I'm kind of torn between wanting him to stay longer, and looking forward to a new opportunity to have another 'End of time'-esque scenario- A finale not just to a Doctor, but to a whole era.

As to a female Doctor, not too crazy for the idea, but wouldn't stop watching the show if it did happen. As long as the episodes are well-written. I want them to bring back the type of foreshadowing from the earlier series, where something was teased throughout an arc before you even realized something was being teased. ('Bad Wolf', and such).

[ZeroWolf]

See I thought end of time was Davies stroking his ego and was an overlong goodbye which wasn't needed. As for the overarching theme, while its very common in these shows (I think shows like X files and buffy really made it famous), but the first seasons of new who made it too obvious.

To cut it short, I want capaldi to stay for another few years yet, despite the efforts of Clara, I think he's got great potential and given the right stories, he could be the best.

[Burn]

To cut it short, I want capaldi to stay for another few years yet, despite the efforts of Clara, I think he's got great potential and given the right stories, he could be the best.

Absolutely. I think he did a great job this last season, but it could have been better without all the Clara crap.