Doctor Who Archives | Otaku No Culture

Can Doctor Who Build a LEGOpolis?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Fans should not get over-excited at the fact that LEGO Doctor Who is coming. The idea is great, but only one playset has won the attention of fans world-wide.

As long as more sets and mini-figures are being planned, then yes, it’s time to celebrate. And regeneration cannot be any easier in this universe where changing faces is as easy as popping a toy piece’s head off. That can lead to some amusing in-universe regenerations should more products and animated spin-offs get considered. The former is easy. Fans can build what they want. As for what will come from the LEGO company will depend on how much of a tight control BBC wants to hold over the property, but yes — the expansion of this particular franchise empire needs to happen.

No date is revealed as to when the Doctor Who playset will release. Andrew Clark from Firaxis Games pitched his idea of a TARDIS box, console and street-scene on the website, LEGO Ideas (formerly known as Cuusoo), and it received more than 10,000 votes required for the company to make the next step — to convince the British Broadcasting Corporation that fans want it.

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Have TARDIS will Travel; Emerald City Comicon Announces Jenna Coleman!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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March 12, 2015 Update: Sadly, her appearance was cancelled. No explanation was offered on the Emerald City Comiccon Facebook page.

Jenna Coleman is more than just the Impossible Girl in BBC’s Doctor Who. She’s the sweetheart of the series with her ability to challenge the Doctor much more than the previous companions in this modern version of the show.

On March 27 and 28th only, she will be gracing Emerald City Comicon to tell about tales beyond the TARDIS and interact with fans. This will be a busy time for this actress, but if she’s anything like her character of Clara Oswald, she will challenge it head on! It’s surprising that she didn’t charm Captain America: The First Avenger but her career was just beginning then. Oh how the times have treated her well!

But Doctor Who fans should take note: John Barrowman will also be gracing the halls of the Washington Convention Center. Whether as Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood) or Malcom Merlyn (Arrow). this performer will no doubt entertain the masses in hopefully a concert that many fans will wish the organizers of ECC will organize. No plans are set yet, but the clock is ticking near. Excitement is about as Seattle becomes a haven for pop culture at the end of Winter to cure the blues away.

March 20th Update: Sadly, ECCC announced that she is no longer able to attend. The reason looks obvious for those following Coleman’s Twitter feed: she’s doing a script reading for the next episode and that will no doubt go into production very soon. It should be noted that Fan Expo Vancouver has sometimes been able to invite celebs that have cancelled to appear at their show and vice-versa. At least fans from the Pacific Northwest can hope!

Want to Help bring Doctor Who to the Pacific Northwest?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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25 long years may well be a fitting time and reference to the last known Doctor Who star-studded event that happened in Vancouver, BC. The fine folks who once ran the clubs Telefantasy Appreciation Society of Canada and the Time Meddlers of Vancouver were most likely responsible for that event and now they are regrouping to hold a two or three-day event for possibly late 2015. But without the full support of Vancouver fandom at large, it may not happen.

Without these fan run events, corporate type shows could ruin the landscape. There’s nothing wrong with Creation Con Entertainment’s events since they are tailored for the uber-fan, but not everyone can afford their tickets. The more an individual pays, the more privileged offerings they can get. Many events/conventions include this option to stay competitive, and thankfully they are not banking on it to sell attendance.

Whatever the plan may be for a potential Doctor Who Convention, being able to attend and pay at the door will bring lots of fans. But before speculation can happen, if you’re from the Pacific Northwest and think we need more fan-run events aside from V-Con (which is growing strong), this particular convention may well provide the voice that a corporation does not need to be formed to run a show.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 12pm to 3pm.

Denman Room
West End Community Centre
870 Denman Street
Vancouver BC
V6G 2L8

Source: Glitter Guns & Laser Beams

A Commentary on “Deep Breath.” Is Doctor Who Alive Yet?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

doctor-who-1-460x683 The energy is not quite there in the Ben Wheatley directed premiere of Doctor Who featuring Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor. Either he is having trouble keeping up with the manic persona that Capaldi is playing up or he has no idea in what to do in a steampunk tale where robots are stealing human body organs to insure their survival. This director handles the drama and tension well, but the story just does not work.

The episode written by Steven Moffat is dull and muddled. It can not decide how much time should be spent between the two lead characters figuring out what’s going on or with the Paternoster Gang who does. This trio of characters — Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, and Strax — are always a hoot to watch, and to see them return as potential regulars is fantastic.

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Happy Birthday to Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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Words need not be repeated in what I wrote last year in a public letter to Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred wishing them a Happy Birthday!

Another 365 days have passed and I’d be remiss in not to wish the two performers another ’round of cheers. Time can only go backwards to what I fondly love of the old series that doesn’t quite appear in the new. Although I’ll watch anything Doctor Who related on the telly, it’s the classic series that I enjoyed the most. You two helped make that time in front of the television (even on reruns and rebroadcasts) always well spent.

Sometime today, I’ll be watching a best of the Seventh Doctor to fondly recall your time together on-screen. Remembrance of the Daleks and Survival are definitely on the list!

Cheers to another year!

[Editorial] First It Was Star Wars, and Now It’s Doctor Who Changing Ships …

Two grand comic book licenses are making a transition from one publishing company to another. On one side of the spectrum, most fans are lukewarm at the news of Star Wars moving from Dark Horse to Marvel Comics. On another front, most readers may well wonder about Doctor Who’s transition from IDW to Titan Comics.

In the business perspective, the publishers are cordially appreciative of the time they had to grow the licensed property into new territory. But as for what will happen next, with a different publisher, what will become of both relicensed products is anybody’s guess. Perhaps readers should consider the following:

In a galaxy far, far, away, in a saga that Marvel Comics ran from ’77 to ’86, long-time fans will recall that the comic book had a few bright moments, namely issue #52, “To Take the Tarkin.” If Marvel Comics can recreate some of that magic, then the transition is in capable hands. Sadly, with the fact that thirty years have passed and that tastes have changed, not everyone is enthused. There are three generations of fans to satisfy. Dark Horse Comics had a great start with Dark Empire (1991). Tales of the Jedi was even better when it segued to look at the history of the original Sith Lords. For later titles, fans had to invest a fair bit of money in order to keep up with all the multiple titles.

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