By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
No, the producers behind Doctor Who is not remaking The Two Doctors. In 2017, Anglicon is bringing two actors from the classic years — Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy (the latter announced today) — to entertain! The Fifth incarnation is better known as Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small and the Seventh gained greater notoriety when he played Radagast in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. During this convention, the two might talk about their career after leaving the show/ was cancelled. Unlike the performers from the new series who have left to have a career in America, getting noticed back in the 90’s was a lot more difficult. Davison did appear in an episode of Magnum P.I. “Deja Vu” and McCoy reprised the iconic role in FOX TV’s Doctor Who Movie, but mostly stuck to performing in the U.K. Perhaps these two will have something to say about the changing scene.
Some may say McCoy gave a fun mystique back into the series; his quirkiness is what gave the seasons a breath of fresh air. Even though it was not enough to keep the series going, the 25th and 26th season was perhaps one of the best with Remembrance of the Daleks going back in time, bringing the series full circle, to explain why The Doctor and his granddaughter Susan Foreman came to Earth in the first place. They were in hiding, and although Susan lived a seemingly normal life, her high intellect gave her alien heritage away. Two inquisitive school teachers would soon find themselves in many adventures. In some ways, the team behind this season knew the series was living on borrowed time, and did the best of the situation. Battlefield established The Doctor as Merlin, a detail never explored when the series was successfully revived, and Survival was ironically perfect to close the past century.
As for why these two (along with Colin Baker) were not involved with the 50th Anniversary celebrations from some years ago, perhaps they will regale us with their insights. Anglicon 2015 had Baker bringing The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot to regale fans with in a spoof of how these three tried to get involved, and perhaps we may get a full story now that three incarnations will have visited the Emerald City.
Anglicon will be held December 8 to 10, 2017 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel. Memberships are $50 USD until April 18th.
