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Doctor Who's top five episodes this series
Sob! Another series of Doctor Who is over (the last full-blown series, in fact, for two years). But what a series it's been. An evil genius was resurrected, the Earth was stolen from its orbit, a gazillion companions returned and the Doctor had a near-miss regeneration after being "exterminated" by a Dalek.
So many good episodes, but which were the best? Here are Tube Talk's favourite five from series four:
What would have happened if Donna had never met the Doctor? This episode explored how events would have differed in such a parallel world. Rose returned to help guide Donna back on the right path, but it entailed Donna making the ultimate sacrifice - her own life.
This Donna-lite episode, set on board a tourist spaceship, took paranoia to new heights. The Doctor was almost turned to spacedust after an unknown parasitic creature boarded the craft, possessed guest star Lesley Sharp and then began imitating his speech.
Companions, assistants and acquaintances united in the first part of the series finale after the Earth was planet-napped and relocated to the Medusa Cascade by dastardly Dalek creator Davros. Former prime minister Harriet Jones was cruelly exterminated, having given her life to help summon the Doctor.
A very touching episode that revealed the history of servant race The Ood. Catherine Tate proved her worth as a serious actress as Donna cried over the plight of the enslaved creatures.
Alex Kingston guest starred as Dr. River Song in a two-part story penned by exec-producer-in-waiting Steven Moffat. Claiming to know The Doctor very well at some point in the future, Song also revealed that she knew his real name. In a stunning conclusion, Song sacrificed her life to save others, meaning that the Doctor will always have known how she died, before they even met.
Do you agree with our choices? What were your favourite five episodes? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry!
| Posted Tuesday, July 8 at 07:30 by Neil | Click to see and add comments (36) |
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| Updated today at 08:55 |
Hustle: The Movie is on!
After a long period of waiting for confirmation, last month it was announced that a fifth series was going into production for transmission later this year. Now I can reveal an added bonus... Hustle: The Movie!
That's right, a big screen version of the con artist drama is currently in the works. Details are patchy, but Fox is thought to be behind the project, which is being penned by Tony Jordan.
Cast member Jaime Murray confirmed the news to me at the weekend, saying that the script had already been written and she was "definitely" on board.
Murray - currently starring in FX's Dexter, which began its second season at the weekend - will not be part of the lineup for series five, however. "I'm so sad," she said. "I'm going to miss those guys so much. I love the production team, the producers and the actors. It just wasn't going to work, schedule-wise. Fingers crossed at some time in the future, we all get reunited."
How does Hustle: The Movie sound to you? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry!
Additional reporting by Kris Green
| Posted Monday, July 7 at 10:43 by Neil | Click to see and add comments (9) |
That 'Doctor Who' finale
So, we've seen it. The finale has aired and the truth is out. Are we satisifed?
Here's ten things that were great about the Doctor Who finale:
1. The Doctor not regenerating after all.
2. The Daleks speaking German. "Exterminieren! Exterminieren!"
3. Martha Jones being able to speak German too. "Ich heisse Martha Jones" is probably the best line of the series.
4. Doctor Number Two imitating Donna. Donna imitating the Doctor.
5. The surprise appearance of Gita from EastEnders.
6. Julian Bleach as the frighteningly maniacal Davros.
7. The touching reference to Tosh, who posthumously saves the lives of her Torchwood colleagues.
8. Doolally Dalek Caan stitching up Davros and the Daleks. He was actually a nice bloke!
9. A surprise reference to Gwen's ancestor Gwyneth ('The Uniquet Dead'). Has no stone been left unturned?
10. Bernard Cribbins, whose guest appearance as Donna's granddad Wilf this series has been genuine and moving.
Wherever there are positives, negatives are normally always close behind - and I don't think I'd be giving a fair appraisal if I didn't also mention what wasn't quite as good about the finale.
In a nutshell? There was simply too much happening - too much fanw***ery crammed in - to do any individual story strand justice. The thing we were looking forward to the most all series long was the return of Rose, but when it finally happened, it was undeniably underwhelming (let's overlook Billie Piper's unfortunate dental trauma). It felt like a wasted opportunity.
There is an argument to be made that, had she been given more of a role, Rose could have overshadowed the finale and the other characters, but so what? Why not make the finale all about Rose? Forget bringing in Martha, Sarah Jane, Captain Jack, et al - they can wait. Rose-Doctor interaction is what we wanted, and we were slightly cheated.
Taken in a wider context, however, these episodes cap a magnificent run of episodes. Series four has been sometimes epic, sometimes moving, sometimes funny and sometimes upsetting. The quality of the show has never been greater. Bring on those Cybermen!
How was the finale for you? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry!
| Posted Sunday, July 6 at 10:09 by Neil | Click to see and add comments (95) |
Q&A: 'Gilmore Girls' fans, rejoice!
Hi Neil, just wondered if you knew if A Town Called Eureka has been renewed, cheers.
Neil Mandam
Neil: It has! In fact the third season begins in the US in a few weeks' time.
Hi great column! Do you know when cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model will be back on livingTV? I don't think I can stand another week of the dire British version!!
Jamie
Neil: The next cycle kicks off on Living in September. The current British run is actually the first ever Top Model incarnation I've followed (I will freely admit this, without fear of ridicule). Which is the best international version and which "cycles" are the ones to watch? Drop me a line to recommend which I should hunt down next. The final of Britain's Next Top Model airs this Monday on Living, by the way.
Hey Neil, can you tell me if FX is ever going to show the final season of Third Watch, or are they just going to repeat the last 5 seasons again and again and again?
sarah
Neil: FX has been unable to show season six because the rights are currently locked up by C4. This will change soon, though; head on over to The PLP to find out exactly when the final season will premiere!
I remember you saying a few months ago that the UK premieres of the first season of Private Practice and the second season of The Riches would be in July. Are there any confirmed dates now we're getting closer?
Dan
Neil: Private Practice airs Tuesdays at 10pm on Living from the 15th. There's a slightly longer wait for the new season of The Riches, which plays out on Virgin 1 from the Autumn.
I see Kyle XY has disappeared from the BBC2 schedules. It was supposed to return after the Wimbledon break on Sat. 5 July. Where has it gone??
Ron mcDowell
Neil: Kyle's gone into hiding for the summer, it seems. The final four eps of season one will air from September 6.
Hi Neil,
I've just returned from a trip to Melbourne and a friend recommned an Aussie series called Underbelly. Unfortunately it was banned in melbourne due to ongoing court cases so I was unable to make a purchase on DVD. Do you know if any UK channels are screening this show?
Christian Scott
Neil: FX has snapped up the rights to this controversial series, based on the spate of gangland killings in Melbourne in the late nineties. Expect to see it from September.
Hi there, how's it going?!
Could you please tell me when Out of the Blue will return to the BBC?? I watched and loved it from the very start and you can imagine my disappointment when I sat down for my regular Saturday afternoon Sky+ Session and found that no episodes had been aired that week due to Tennis. Now one assumes it will resume after Wimbledon, but you can never be too sure with the BBC as they moved it to BBC2 after only a couple of weeks on BBC1 without giving it a chance to blossom! Please tell me it's coming back!
Brett Cove
Neil: It's back on Monday at 1pm, but its days are numbered. An audience of just 125,000 viewers means the show's not even good enough for Channel 5! The final episode will air at the end of October.
Do you know whether they are going to film the rest of Tru Calling Season 2 or do a Season 3??
Laura
Neil: Umm... does anyone have the heart to give Laura the bad news?
So far on the pilots for 08/09 season I've not seen too many. Really want to see Dollhouse but I'd have had to settle for the AWFUL Raising The Bar. Thoughts on these or any upcoming shows you've seen?
Chris Brannigan
Neil: My previews of next season's new shows begin next week. First off the block is the new series from JJ Abrams, Fringe. Here's a tease: a bit underwhelming :-(
Hey Neil.
Now that E4 is airing Gilmore Girls, is there any chance that they are going to get the final 2 seasons? I've been waiting for AGES to see them and Hallmark never got them.
Tilly
Neil: Hurrah! A long-standing Tube Talk mystery has been solved. The final two seasons of Gilmore Girls will finally be seen in the UK, for I am told that E4 has picked up the rights to all seven seasons of the show. By my reckoning, at current rate that means the sixth season will air from November 6 and the final season from December 8. All happy?
| Posted Saturday, July 5 at 18:22 by Neil | Click to see and add comments (4) |
Has 'Shipwrecked' lost its mojo?
Is it me or has Shipwrecked lost a certain something this year?
I'm still a loyal viewer, of course, but the new cast just isn't as compelling as those Sharkies and Tigers of old.
Meanwhile, the new format has meant a shorter run - fifteen weeks this year, as opposed to 22 previously - and the introduction of a spinoff show, Shipwrecked: The Third Island. This adds up to 90 minutes of Shipwrecked a week. Too much of a good thing?
A seventh series has just been confirmed, by the way, but what lessons should the producers learn from this year's run? Click the link below to leave your thoughts!
| Posted Thursday, July 3 at 10:22 by Neil | Click to see and add comments (23) |
