FIRST CONTACT YOUR LETTERS
What you want from the future of Doctor Who – and more.
Medium Atomic Weight, email A story where the Daleks are actually, genuinely, pants-wettingly scary like they used to be in the “good old days”. SFX Jumpers for goalposts, little green blobs in polycarbide armour…
Holly Melissa Frost, Facebook The biggest issue I have with what it’s like now is that the arcs – and most of the stories in-between – seem to be more about the relationship between the Doctor and his companions. More often than not the monster is like an afterthought, simply there caught up in the ride. I miss the Doctor and co getting caught up reluctantly in an adventure, rather than them being the adventure.
Neil McNally, Facebook Simpler storylines and more fun in the vein of the Tom Baker and Tennant eras.
Keith Tudor, Romsey I’ve enjoyed the first two series of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. He’s been similar to Hartnell in many ways; beginning as a grumpy and unpredictable character, and then gradually warming as the series progresses. A highlight for me is the anti-war speech he delivers in “The Zygon Inversion”. I’m looking forward to seeing the new dynamic with a new companion, and hope this next series ends on a high for Peter Capaldi, as I’ve found him a pleasure to watch in the lead role. SFX Me too, Keith. He’s going way too soon.
Jim Taylor, email What troubles me is the venom that seems to be being slung about by various people in regards to casting choices. If you have an idea of a female or minority actor for the role (I reckon Rahul Kohli from iZombie would make a brilliant Time Lord) you’re a leftist member of the PC brigade and if you have the notion of a white male actor for the part (I think Sam Riley would be a wonderful choice, incidentally) you’re a racist right-wing thug! I love the speculation and I love the anticipation but the hatred that seems to be creeping into the arguments... not so much.
Stephen Trumble, email I want the Doctor to finally – barring the brief reunion in “The Five Doctors” – fulfil his promise and return to see his granddaughter Susan one last time. Get Carole Ann Ford to reprise the role, if only for one scene. Maybe even, given respectful writing and circumstances, allow her to regenerate and become a regular character for a season. It would be great to see a familial
It needs more adventure and less smugly clever plotting arcs
dynamic with a companion again. SFX That’s a terrific idea – and would have worked well with the older, sterner Capaldi, echoing how the show began…
David Stephens, Facebook I’m kind of done with “modern” Who now. It needs some real overhauling. More adventure, and less smugly clever plotting arcs. If there was a female incarnation, for some reason I’m obsessed with it being Diane Morgan in her Philomena Cunk persona. Just the thought of that casting makes me smile. Actually, Charlie Brooker in the TARDIS would be awesome as well. Won’t happen, but the thought amuses me.
Karl Whitmore, Facebook The last couple of series have been pretty darn perfect and so much better than other shows that are generally seen as being much cooler. People’s perceptions need to be changed, not the programme.
Stephen Saul, Facebook I’d like to see an episode where the Doctor is challenged to waterski over a shark. SFX Pertwee would have done that in a heartbeat. #OSCARS – THE GROUCH
Jane Lee, email I know someone mentions this every year, but I feel it’s worth saying again – where was all the genre love in the Oscar nominations? Arrival was rightly up for best movie, best screenplay and some technical categories (no love for Amy Adams, though), but beyond that it was slim pickings aside from the animated categories and the usual effects prizes. Rogue One, Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool made it into many critics’ “best of the year” lists, but yet again genuinely brilliant films are overlooked by the Academy. I found myself rooting for Viggo Mortensen in Captain Fantastic because it sounds like it should be a superhero movie. SFX I’m pretty much bored senseless by the Oscars – and awards ceremonies in general. Sure, it’s nice to see good work acknowledged, but no movie needs a gong to be any more entertaining or loved by an audience. Alright, so I’m still bitter that Moonraker was snubbed in favour of Kramer Vs Kramer…
#EXPANSE ACCOUNT
Sam Webb, email Where the hell is The Expanse? I keep seeing stories online about the second season that’s currently airing in the US, but every time I look on Netflix, there’s still only one season. This is the best space-set drama I’ve seen in years – believable characters, a great plot, cool spaceship stuff – and I can’t stand the wait for my next fix. So hurry up, Netflix, or I’ll have to banish someone to the Belt. SFX We’ve checked in with Netflix UK, and there’s no confirmation of an air date yet. We share your pain – we’re desperate to watch it too!
#GO WEST!
Tonia Small, email Why isn’t Gotham the most popular show in the world right now? I mean, it’s amazing! The stuff they’ve been doing in season three is just brilliant, with Jim Gordon being all moody and nowhere near the same boring goodie he was in the show’s first year, and as for Penguin becoming Mayor... how Trump-like is that? I’d love to know if that was a coincidence or not. If you don’t watch Gotham, you’re really missing out. Also, wouldn’t it be great if Adam West could show up? SFX Adam West would be a treat for sure. Especially if he gave young Bruce such hard-won wisdom as “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb…”
#CLASS DISMISSED?
Linda Scholefield, email I have just finished watching the DVD of season one of Class and I have just three words to say – I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me cry (well, sniffle) and was 100% exciting. You could really engage with the characters, the special effects were fantastic and it was everything you would expect from a Doctor Who spin-off. I have been watching Doctor Who for nearly 47 years and I think season one of
Class was far better than seasons eight and nine of Doctor Who. Patrick Ness, you are a fantastic writer, and my thanks to everyone involved with this stunning new show. If you haven’t watched Class already you need to watch it now, you will not be disappointed. Please tell me there is going to be a season two. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
SFX There’s no official word on the future of Class but I did think the words “Series One” on the DVD packaging were rather optimistic.
#HURT’S SO GOOD
Edward O’Reilly, email For me, the late John Hurt will always be the definitive Aragorn. His voice work in the animated Lord Of The Rings was magnificent, perfectly in sync with the onscreen character. The famed chest burster scene in Alien would never have worked without his brilliant, intensely physical performance. Ditto the harrowing torture scenes in 1984. No actor ever suffered more for his art. And who could forget the sight of Paul McGann’s dying Doctor Who regenerating into Hurt’s youthful , haunted visage? “The Doctor no more…” And now John Hurt no more. Hard as it is to write those words, there is some consolation to be had in the many great performances of his career. Kane, John Merrick, Winston Smith, the Storyteller, Mr Ollivander. He played them all and he was the best. Rest in peace, Sir John.
SFX Lovely tribute, Edward. You’ve reminded me just how many soulful, charismatic, frequently wounded performances he gave. There was a depth of reality to everyone he played. I wish we could have had so much more of his Doctor.
#REVIEWS REVIEWED
Damon Moore, email In response to Pradeep’s thoughts (SFX 283) about book reviews: reviews of novels are a main reason I started reading SFX. My preference is fantasy rather than sci-fi or real world settings. If I did have one wish it would be for more “traditional” fantasy reviewed (please?). Pardeep does make a fair point about trilogies or longer series... but think about Amazon reader reviews. Looking at average star ratings they always seem to get better and better as a series progresses. Not because the author suddenly becomes guru-like with their writing style, but because by book seven only the fans are placing feedback. So no more neutrality. I do much prefer the focus on new books, new authors, as trying to find fresh authors myself has resulted in the purchase of many duds. If I could offer one other suggestion – it’d be nice to hear more about authors writing with cultural influences alternative to US or the EU.
SFX Reviews Ed Ian writes: I like you Damon, because you basically agree with me. Bluntly, there’s a practical consideration here too: when you decide to review book eight of a series, it gets much harder to find someone genned-up enough to write about it!
YOU’RE A BRICK!
Chris Wilkes, email Loved the Lego Batman movie – why exactly did it take a children’s parody to actually capture some enthusiasm and joy in the DC universe? Obviously comics – and comic-book movies – don’t have to be for kids, but the difference between last year’s Batman/Superman film that was actually unsuitable for young children, and a movie that my eight-year-old declared “the best Batman film ever!” (though he’d have liked to see more of the Joker) was striking. Plus it felt like all the geeky points you make with your friends (if Gotham’s still so crime-ridden after decades of Batman, can he really be doing that good a job?) written out wittily, given to your favourite characters and put up on screen. What’s not to love?
And Robin was adorable. More of him please.
SFX Chris McKay, the director, is making a Nightwing movie (see Development Hell, p28), so hopefully he’ll inject a little feelgood into the live action DCU.
#LOVE WITCH LOVE
Kiki Rodgers, email I’m so happy that feminist film group The Final Girls have been promoting Anna Biller’s film The Love Witch over the last couple of months. They’ve organised screenings across the country, with discussions, Q&As with the director and even themed tea parties. I think illuminating
The Love Witch is very important, not just because of its gorgeous 1960s visual style but because of how empowering it is. Female directors can easily be seen as novelty acts, especially when it comes to genre filmmaking, but Biller (along with Alice Lowe and Cat Davies) prove that women can create films that are just as fierce
If you haven’t watched Class you need to
and formative. I especially love how Biller celebrates femininity and portrays women as dangerous and seductive femmes fatales. They’re never accessories or set dressing, and we need more characters like this. SFX Note to self: add The Love Witch to your tottering to-see pile, Setch.
#WE ALSO HEARD FROM
Homerhub, email How can I thank you enough! Thanks to your reviews and features you pointed me towards two great TV programmes. iBoy was a great watch as long as you can accept that a boy gets super powers after having a smartphone embedded in his brain (but then, when a boy gets bitten by a radioactive spider…) Then I saw your interview with Timothy Olyphant and decided to check out Santa Clarita Diet. Each episode just gets funnier. Great cast and a superb script (“Tetris him in!”). I always knew Drew Barrymore liked strange, but she excels in this. Thanks again. SFX Our pleasure. I loved Santa Clarita Diet too. It was so more-ish. Like a bowlful of your dead neighbour’s fingers, drizzled with vinaigrette. Oh damn, the craving’s kicking in again…
Mike Garner, email So a friend showed me the pilot episode of Legion. Either that or I had a fever dream of some kind. I can’t even say if I liked it or not. Couldn’t even explain to someone what happened on it. I guess that’s kinda the point, really – the schizophrenic mental health aspect being a way of telling the story rather than it being the story itself. Well, it made me think. SFX We’ll continue to monitor you, Mike, if that’s alright. Purely in the name of psychiatric research. No, don’t struggle…