The Campaign For Travels To Other Planets

[Briareus Delta]

How many other fans were dismayed, like me, at the recent announcement that, in the next series, The Doctor will once again be mainly Earthbound? Apparently, there isn't sufficient budget to make other worlds seem realistic and filming in a quarry deemed to be unacceptable to today's viewers?

Don't get me wrong, I love the recent series and both Eccleston and Tennant have been excellent. But I'm heartily fed up with The Doctors constant returns to Earth and, personally, I'm yearning to see a quarry masquerading as an alien landscape. However much he loves us, the Doctor has a whole universe to choose from. I live in Cardiff and, believe me, it's not that fascinating.

[Mighty mouse]

Yep, also bemused by the BBC comments that offworld episodes are too expensive.
I mean you don't have to show a whole planet, you could even just set it in one room.
Are they saying it is beyond the wit of the writers? or is this just some b-liar type spin?
(or perhaps he's got the time lord equivalent of agoraphobia)

[Loner]

Originally Posted by Briareus Delta

Apparently, there isn't sufficient budget to make other worlds seem realistic and filming in a quarry deemed to be unacceptable to today's viewers?

Why the hell not?! It's good enough for Stargate! They frequently use a quarry for extra terrestrial scenes. And today's viewers still accept it.

[SmoothasSilk]

I am not that fussed actually, besides Russell said also that the times when the Doctor did visit other planets the viewer ratings were lower than the Earthbound ones.

Also I have to say this... he is first and foremost, a TIME Lord, not a INTERGALACTIC Lord. His main creedo is TIME, and as someone who prefers History to Science, I am rather pleased that they are travelling more through time than Space. So, for me, it's good news.

Oh by the way, I was born during an episode of Doctor Who, and I've met two Doctors. My brother was an extra in the Eccleston series as well.

[Briareus Delta]

Wow. And conceived during an episode .... or shouldn't I ask?

I appreciate your point of view and it's obviously working for you as you're a history buff. But, Time Lord or not, The Doctor does have the whole universe to choose from and I can't imagine anyone in that position spending such an inordinate amount of time on one planet. Loving the new series, as I said and it's a delight to have The Doctor back. But this is the one thing that's frustrating me.

Born during which episode, by the way. Or is that asking you to give your age away?

[Loner]

Originally Posted by SmoothasSilk

IAlso I have to say this... he is first and foremost, a TIME Lord, not a INTERGALACTIC Lord. His main creedo is TIME, and as someone who prefers History to Science, I am rather pleased that they are travelling more through time than Space. So, for me, it's good news.

PEDANT WARNING : Pedantry ensues

TARDIS : Time and relative dimensions in SPACE. So yes he is a Time Lord but also has the ability to go anyWHERE as well as anyWHEN. As witnessed in episodes where they go to wierd future places. What was the episode with the cat/nurse/nuns? That is one example. And The Girl in the Fireplace, as well as 18thC France, is set on a spaceship in the future. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Personally I'd like a nice balance. More stand alone episodes, less of the rickety story arcing.

[Dave]

But the Doctor has always had a soft spot for Earth. He likes it here (for some reason.) He has taken risks and broken Time Lord rules and codes to help and save Earth. He has been exiled and put on Trial for doing so. Most of his companions have been born on Earth. It stands to reason that most stories will be set on his favourite planet.

And apart from the cost of designing a really alien set, stories where the Earth is in danger (with actual landmark buildings), rather than the 'planet of the week', have much more tension.

[Briareus Delta]

Originally Posted by Dave

He likes it here

I like eating steak but I don't want to eat it every day. Especially when
I know that there are an almost limitless variety of other foods to try. It's the old 'familiarity breeds contempt' thing.

Or to put it another way 'If you were married to Marilyn Monroe, you'd go and have an affair with an ugly girl'. Ok, so the Doctor can visit any time period but he also has an extremely extended lifespan - surely the Earth would lose it's appeal eventually?

Anyway, I'm not really hypothesising that he might get bored with it. Just stating that I certainly will if the writers and producers don't change tack soon.

[Dave]

I'm not disagreeing with you that it would be nice to visit other planets. I will certainly sign your petition, but I only want them to do it if they do it right.

I've nothing personal against welsh slate quarries and limestone cave systems, but I think there must be more to the landscape of the universe than those. In the past, that is generally what alien planets looked like. In the 80's the BBC budget for Doctor Who could not provide for state of the art special effects and their models looked increasing naff compared to american TV shows such as Star Trek. One good thing is that it does seem that the CGI now being made by The Mill is both cheap and of a reasonable standard. I thought that 'New Earth' looked like an attempt to appease people calling for alien worlds.

But I would still say that aliens attacking the Earth still has a bigger dramatic impact that some distant planetoid. Jon Pertwee hardly ever left Earth, but that, and the early Tom Baker, was my favourite period. And earlier than that, the stories people still remember best were the Daleks, the Yeti and the Cybermen in London, not some far off place.

Compare that with Tom Baker getting stuck in N-Space. I couldn't have cared less if N-Space folded up and collapsed! Or all those stories set on dreary space freighters or mineral exploration machines, with their endless corridors, and their out of control androids. Please no more running up corridors.

I think there has been a good mix of stories. There have been many historical stories, which is what a show about a time-traveller should have. I would like them to leave Earth more often, but more importantly, I'd like them to leave Cardiff more often.

[Briareus Delta]

Originally Posted by Dave

more importantly, I'd like them to leave Cardiff more often.

Amen to that. I'd like to leave Cardiff more often.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Briareus Delta

Amen to that. I'd like to leave Cardiff more often.

LOL
I meant E-Space not N-Space, that is some other audio story.

[SmoothasSilk]

Originally Posted by Briareus Delta

Wow. And conceived during an episode .... or shouldn't I ask?

I appreciate your point of view and it's obviously working for you as you're a history buff. But, Time Lord or not, The Doctor does have the whole universe to choose from and I can't imagine anyone in that position spending such an inordinate amount of time on one planet. Loving the new series, as I said and it's a delight to have The Doctor back. But this is the one thing that's frustrating me.

Born during which episode, by the way. Or is that asking you to give your age away?

I don't think I was conceived during a Dr Who episode, I was born during the Tom Baker period, no one can tell me the exact episode. I might ask the BBC actually... it might get answered.

Like I said I will watch Dr Who WHEREVER, WHENEVER AND WHATEVER, as I am a life long fan.. being born during one I hope to die during one, it might be a nice circle to my life... though that is a morbid thought...

The only thing I want to come back from any forthcoming episodes of Dr Who is The Master. Easily my favourite TV Villain.

[taylorl3]

thats cool knowing you were conceived during an episode of the worlds greatest tv show. knowing my parents i was probably conceived during the news or some boring documentary.
and i too am a little sad about the earth bound stories. its would be terrible if stories were based more on budgets then creative thinking.

[Loner]

Originally Posted by Dave

Compare that with Tom Baker getting stuck in N-Space. I couldn't have cared less if N-Space folded up and collapsed! Or all those stories set on dreary space freighters or mineral exploration machines, with their endless corridors, and their out of control androids. Please no more running up corridors.

Aw! I loved those Tom Baker episodes and Leila was a nice change from previous companions. Bring back the jelly babies!

I do like the current episodes better than the old Dr Who.

And let's not ever mention Sylvester McCoy. Ever. *spits on ground*

[Briareus Delta]

Originally Posted by Loner

And let's not ever mention Sylvester McCoy. Ever. *spits on ground*

But YOU started the thread entitled 'The Worst Doctor'. Did you seriously think he wasn't going to get mentioned in that category!