We Don't Want You to Go

Tenth Doctor Specials

It was the end of an era in "Doctor Who." When showrunner Russell T. Davies announced he would be stepping down from the revived show, fans were further rocked when David Tennant later stated he would be leaving the TARDIS too. So what was left to do? A series of specials that would take the Doctor to his next regeneration and end the Tennant Era. First-time "Who"-er Charlynn Schmiedt joins to share how she learned to say goodbye to 10. The trio also look at Clever Dick Films newest YouTube video exploring the Tennant era (link here). Which was your favorite Tenth Doctor special?

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to the Nerd Party, aDoctor Who podcast. I'm Jessica Nunn and

(00:32):
I'm our husband and co host PhilipGilphis. As we continue our journey in
the Tenant era, we're going tokind of close it out in some respects
here, and so to continue onthat journey with us, kind of to
the journey, if you will.I thought that several times. Is almost

(00:53):
almost the unofficial third co host ofthe show, Charlonne Schmidt Shara, welcome
back. Hello, thank you forhaving me back once again. We're going
to close out the David Tenant.Are you guys on the desk there?
Oh? Man, I should havebrought them. I swear I wasn't going

(01:15):
to cry. Well. I don'twant it to be over. I don't
want to go well before we getto these last specials. Because we had
Sharon previously talk about sort of theregular hand quote regular season series four,
because you know I'm guiding you throughyour doctor who experienced for better or for

(01:37):
worshar I said, well, youknow, since you have a doctor break,
it's always a good chance to takea respite, and so I suggested
that you indulge. In the nineteenninety six BBC Fox joint production of the
Doctor Who movie. Yes, andI did, and as the eighth Doctor.
Oh boy, I have thoughts.What was your A good? Bad

(02:00):
and ugly there? Okay, Thegood was that they tried something kind of
different. The bad was they triedsomething so different that it barely felt like
Doctor Who. Like I felt likeI was watching your average nineteen ninety six

(02:20):
American action slash, maybe attempt athorror film, complete with car chases and
a romantic kiss at the end.It had it all, but I wasn't
that impressed. M Yeah, thiswas a strange merging. I felt of
what I a little I know ofkind of classic Who, where you've got
a very kind of classic looking doctor, but trying to exist in a more

(02:46):
modern world, and in America noless, not in England. And I
just don't know for sure if itworked well. It obviously didn't because that
was all there was. So theDoctor goes on to have a long,
storied career in audiobooks and the bigfinish. Oh that's good. Yeah,

(03:07):
I'm glad for that, because Idid like the Doctor, but I was
not really a big fan of Graceor Lee. Those characters just really didn't
seem nailed down to me. Andnow you got your speaking of a new
doctor for you, you also gota new Master, Eric rob Yes,
okay, let's talk about this.This Master is much less manic and hungry

(03:32):
than other incarnations I have seen,so to see him so toned down compared
to what I'm used to. WHOA, that's fine. Where did you misplace
your uppers? What's going on?I think only in comparison can Eric Roberts
performance in this speak described as toneddown. But now that said, though,

(03:54):
I really appreciate that this is astory that's not the you know,
the Doctor against having to say,the universe against the Daleks or the Cyberman
or whatever massive enemy threat it is. You know, it's it's a man
on man battle mono emon and theheart of the tartist time lordo, Tom

(04:15):
lordo. Yes, and the Tartestlooks so much simpler than how we see
it now. But I'm sure innineteen ninety six it looked really good.
Like I really like the more classiclooking elements that are that look old timey
even by nineteen ninety six standards,that seem to just have a certain charm
to them. But the nice blueglowing centerpiece. That's cool. Yeah,

(04:35):
having it be sort of a sittingroom. I don't know what. I
might throw some people off, butit's because you know, in the classic
series, it's you know, threewalls and a console and that's about it.
But this is an actual we havea budget. We can actually make
it look bigger on the inside.Yeah, And it was fun how they
played with that in the actual adventurewhere I think it was Lee, he

(04:59):
goes into the artists and then hasto go back out and walks around trying
to figure out what in the worldhe just saw. That was really cool.
It's smaller on the out. Yeah, I think. Um, we
were watching a YouTube show I'm fromcollege humor the other day. I forget
the term they invented for Highlander aboutsomething that you could erase from the cannon.

(05:24):
You have the line in the DoctorWho movie that his mother or father
was half or he's half human.Oh right, yes, yeah, okay,
I had questions about this. Whatthe heck are they talking about it?
I think I think most people ignoreit, to tell you the truth,
Yeah, that part of it iscannon. Oh okay, so that

(05:46):
just didn't actually happen. I seebecause when they mentioned that more than once
in this movie, and I thought, am I missing some doctor who lure
here? I really don't know wherethis is coming from. What did I
miss? It? Turns out Ididn't. Huh Okay, I think it's
I mean, I don't know thisfor a fact, but one would assume
it's just the producer going, oh, we want to make him relatable,
so make him half few men,you know or something. So no,

(06:09):
we need him to be the timelord, crazy timey whimy guy. Yes,
and we're still wondering who keeps roomsof mirrors in a hospital, but
they do, so yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well I thought

(06:29):
you needed that experience to tick offthere since you had the time. So
yeah, well I do have togo back now and rewatch more of my
history that I do have with theMaster, because in this incarnation he gets
absorbed into the eye and then Ijust need to bridge that gap between then
and then when he does come back. Well, now this is pre time

(06:51):
war presumably, so oh yeah,oh okay, so fine, okay,
okay, okay, yeah yeah yeahnow that's right. Yet sometimes that I
still have more to watch. Wellyeah, and again because not to get
into it. We will get intoit when we talk about wrestle On and
Gallifrey that you know, I thinkthe brilliancy of when I was watching Doctor

(07:14):
Who and then Sam, you've watchedyou know, nine through ten, is
we hear so much about the Timelordyou feel like you've watched it, but
if you go back, there's noTime War episode. We've never seen it,
and ye know, in our headwe're like, well, we know
what happened, and he did this, and he did that, we did
that. We've never seen any ofthat. It's just by dropping little bits
from the Ninth Doctor, the TenthDoctor. It's completely in our head.
But we've never seen the Time War. But you know, like the Doctor

(07:36):
did something that killed all the time, but like, yeah, seen it,
you don't know exactly what he didand you know, so yeah,
what the heck? Guys? Although, to be fair, you started me.
The first episode I saw with youwas the fiftieth anniversary, so that
was the first. So yeah,we so one other foot what I have

(08:00):
on the whole nineteen ninety six movieis there's not one mention of the Y
two K bug. I know theydidn't see that coming, did they?
It was kind of funny given thatthey were doing the whole nineteen ninety nine
to two thousand things. Well that'sthe year everything changes, according to Torch.

(08:20):
All right, well so let's getinto it, um. So just
to set the scene, and thisis kind of what from the Clever Dick
films. It's not necessarily off myknowledge, but I assume at this point,
you know, it's been announced thatRussell T. Davies, the producer,
is going to be leaving Doctor Who. David Tennant has no analysis leaving
Doctor Who and following that, sonow we sort of have like, in

(08:43):
order to finish series four, we'rejust kind of do these specials and then
call it a day. So youalready talked about the next Doctor last episode
we were together, So we willbegin with the Planet of the Dead.
Okay, the Doctor Who mission andpossible crossover at least that's how it started
out. What program am I watchinghere with Lady Christina ak Michelle Ryan.

(09:09):
Yes, interesting character I wondered fora long time. Is she somehow connected
to time? Words? She hasthe otherworldly quality, but it seems perfectly
plausible that there can be other speciesout here in the universe that have superhuman
powers that aren't time lords, andapparently she's one of them. And really,

(09:30):
I mean I would love to seethe Doctor and Christina team up again.
You're an interesting duo she did getof course, I'm want to say
this, and honestly this is truefor every character that you'll ever like or
don't ever like. She has herown big finish series. Oh really,
Christina. Yeah, so I haven'tlisten because I liked Michelle Ryan and so
interested in what she would bring tothe table in her own series. But

(09:52):
yeah, and I really liked thestory here too, where the insect creatures
don't really mean to cause any hardarm or problems, but they do and
it creates this dilemma and it's gotto be solved. And that's it.
That's the simple story. It's afun adventure and sometimes that's all it needs
to be. Yeah, there's notagain not necessarily critiquing, not much of

(10:13):
this episode. You know, escapinga bus to the desert planet. Bugs
are going to eat the planet,got to figure out how to leave the
planet. I mean, that's there, you go, those are the steps.
Let's have some fun along the way. Would you think of the fan
stand in character Malcolm. Yes,Malcolm is all of us. He's just
this ultimate fanboy drooling over doctor who. I loved it. It was a

(10:39):
nice little nod I fault. Andthen what did you think while watching at
the end with I forget the younglady's name who turns to the doctor and
says he will knock four times?Yeah, that kind of sets this stage
of we know that the doctor isgoing to die slash regeneration. They couldn't

(11:01):
have nailed that in a little more, could they. So did you have
any any predictions hearing that line orwere you just like I don't know.
I had no idea what it meantknock four times. All I could think
of was that song it says knockthree times on the ceiling. So that's

(11:22):
what I was thinking. I wasn'tgoing too far with it, to be
honest. All right, Well,I figured they'll show me in time.
We've got some We've got more episodesto go here. Next we have the
Waters of Mars. What do youthink of flick? Oh man? Okay,
this was this was a really interestingepisode. There were times I loved

(11:45):
it and there were times that Ihated it, And now I kind of
love it. Because it got meto actually hate on the Doctor a little
bit there. I mean, hereaches a point where I think we saw
the Doctor a little bit I don'twant to say out of character, but
outside of his normal boundaries, Likehe does go too far and then he

(12:05):
recognizes it. I don't know ifit's just hubris or what, but he
makes a mistake. He gets alittle too arrogant, he gets a little
too cocky, and he has topay a price for that. That was
really interesting to say because that Ifelt he suddenly became the enemy of the
story rather than the hero. AndI don't think I've seen that in Doctor

(12:28):
Who yet, So wow, wayto flip the script on me. I
was baffled at what I was feeling. I went back a little bit watching
this episode. Okay, I amfollowing this correctly, right, he is
doing all of this, and Iwondered, what sort of weird, twisted
ending is going to happen here whereeverything is all right again? Because Doctor

(12:48):
Who doesn't have an anti hero,and yet the Doctor's actions here really had
me wondering what is up with hispsyche? What is what has changed exactly?
It reminds me again watching the documentarywould talk about of Doctor excuse me,

(13:11):
of Donna during the Christmas special thatshe did Runaway Bride, and you
know, she's like, you needto find soon. He's like, I
don't. He's like, no,you do, you really do? Yeah,
because in Waters of Mars, Imean, inasmuch as he had Lady
Christina last special, he really doesn'thave a companion. I mean, yes,
he has the cast of characters,but he doesn't really have a companion

(13:31):
per se in the special. Yeah, the closest thing maybe, and she's
not a companion, but he atleast has adelaide Brooke questioning him. Yeah,
but she stands up to him.It's an issue that keeps coming back.
I mean, River says the samething at some point that you don't
you shouldn't be alone, and thenlater on when things go a little bit

(13:56):
wonky with Clara, it's, youknow, the two of them together is
not a good idea. Ya.There's no sort of nobody to to put
on the brakes, so the Doctorneeds to be checked. And that's this
is sort of an example of whathappens when he's not Yeah, okay,
okay. Interesting That really helps putit into perspective, Yeah, because I

(14:20):
mean I want to ruin anything,but I feel like this is part of
the evolution, and you could criticizeit as it goes on through the ears
of you know, the powerful godthat is the Doctor, you know,
because the nine I don't know,you know, and then ten. But
now we're getting to the point oflike I can do anything. Um,
you know, and so does itever go too far? You'll have to

(14:41):
answer that the next series, Iguess. But anyway, um, I
mean the whole run of eleven,not just the next season, but um,
I see, yeah, the LonelyGod, you know, that's sort
of the um. But yeah,this is the time Lord victorious. So
yes, And with this whole relyingcurrent of knowing that the Doctor is going
to die, I did question justwatching this episode is something that happens here

(15:07):
a part of what makes the doctordie. It did help me. It
got me thinking, It made meraise those questions. So really, this
whole time I'm watching the specials,I just thought, well, what's going
to make the doctor die? Howis he going to die? The whole
time? Yeah, in some waysit's I think it's good or bad.
I don't know if there's a rhymeor reason. I'm trying to think down

(15:28):
to every doctor after this, likewhen should you and I mean if you
can sometimes you just can't help it. But if you can help it,
when should you time the announcement?Given that you're then saying, you know,
obviously you know there's gonna be aregeneration like X episodes, but like
something like this with all this,you know, having done the regular season,
the specials can are sort of likethat with the fan theory of what
what are we gonna do? Dripdrop, drip drop. So although I

(15:52):
think at least lightly, it's becomea little bit of a um an expected
three seasons and you're gone kind ofthing. So that's the standard, right
is three seasons and then that's it. Yeah. Yeah, I'm not really
looking forward to this coming season beingJody's last either, but we've mentioned that,

(16:15):
yeah, shortened if I remember correctly. But anyway, so let's get
into it. The End of Timeparts one and two. Oh, Grandpa
gets an adventure that may be sohappy. I mean, if there's anybody
and doctor who who deserved to goand have a little bit of fun,

(16:37):
it's him. He's so lovely,isn't he? I love him so much.
I want him to be my grandpa. What did you think? I
think this isn't necessarily my favorite,but I'm understand what you think. One
of the standout scenes from part oneat least, and it is kind of
dramatic, mel dramatic and because notto do with the story really is the

(17:02):
Doctor and Grandpa at the diner orwhere word as they are, and the
Doctor just looking at him like I'mgoing to die and talking about what it's
like to die and you know,and just having that moment there, that
little moment of catharsis. Yeah,and here we have Grandpa. I mean,
he's not young, he knows histime is limited. It was very

(17:26):
cool having that weird juxtaposition of thisvery young looking guy talking with an older
guy and they're both discussing the finalityof death. It's very cool. Yeah,
I loved seeing the Master one moretime. Did you expect him everywhere
to come back again? Well,you'd kind of dropped a hint that I

(17:51):
would probably see him an incarnation beforethirteenth Doctor met up with the Master,
so I didn't necessarily expected here.But then when he does show up,
Oh that's the Master. Okay,okay, and this Master is very extramatic
when he's hungry. Oh my gosh, it was crazy watching all that fast

(18:15):
forwarded footage. Just dang, howmany Big Max did that poor guy have
to eat? Yeah, of coursehe has the dragon ball z E powers
now. So yes, I thinkI do like the Master the most as
a nemesis to the Doctor right now, especially after watching this two parter or

(18:36):
like, this was really good.I really enjoyed it. But really,
so far, everything I've seen ofthe Master, I have enjoyed it.
I've enjoyed it more than the Cybermanor the Dolleks. Yeah. I feel
like this is a very fitting enemyof the Doctor. Yeah, if you
ever want to watch The Third Doctor, he's in every Bloomin episode. Yeah,

(18:57):
I very well might have to.I've got to know the whole intricate
story, right, these two haveit, yes, yes, yeah,
um, And then we sort ofhave the Doctor's crazy excusing the Doctor the
Master's crazy plan when you're talking aboutspecial effects that just have like the Obama
shaking Oh right, yes, PresidentObama. Scratch out Obama. It's the

(19:21):
Master that was that was creepy lookingI loved it, speaking of having to
have Johnson's having to do like herdress, now where this? Now where
this? And then now where this? Yeah, I wondered just exactly how
much work did that take or wasit all cgied crazy? Um? Yeah,

(19:42):
and sort of, I mean,what would you part one? I
don't know if you you necessarily segregatedin your head and or just watch the
whole thing in one sitting, butthen you know what you would you think
of? Sort of? You know, we get to see Donna the return
of Donna, right, but yeah, gosh, they really just want to
break my heart with that. Ithought Donna had her day and we weren't

(20:03):
going to go there again, butoh no, we do in it?
Yeah, oh for real though,Yeah, it's it was awesome. I
loved seeing her just because I lovethat character, and in fact, I
think I love her more and moreeach time we do see her, just

(20:23):
she is just such a unique companion. Yeah, and you know why it
helped the Philip the Philip Dick Philipsorry, the what is it the Clever
Dick review? Please edit that out. The review kind of told me why

(20:44):
I think I liked Donna so much. It's because they didn't necessarily go for
the romance angle, which I've largelymaybe ignored as far as like with Martha
and maybe even a little bit withRose, not considering just how prominent that
is in the Doctor Who lore,how how often he falls in love with

(21:06):
his companions, and she's just no, Donna's just there is a team player,
there's it doesn't seem like there's reallyromantic feelings. And I am okay
with that. Yeah, And justthe circle back, it's like, and
again this is generalized, you'll meet. Every fan has their opinion, but

(21:26):
like I think with the Eighth Doctor, I think British audiences were hungry for
the Doctor Who movie, and soI think they enjoyed it. Generally speaking.
I think Americans didn't as much.But of course the Doctor Who movies
the first time the Doctor kisses anyone, and so then that sort of opened
up the floodgates for when Russell came, Oh how interesting, how it's cannon

(21:49):
doctor. So I wondered how theBritish audience was well received or didn't receive
the Doctor Who movie, because Icould just see how the Brits would say,
what is this piece of trash?And I think it was again general
speaking, general speaking, I thinkthe Doctor Good fans were so thirsty because

(22:10):
it was canceled in eighty nine,this is okay, almost a decade,
and we'll take what you got?What do you got? What you got?
And yeah it didn't. It definitelydidn't bring any new fans in,
but people who were already hardcore DoctorWho or are you know sort of they
were into a psyche. Yeah,okay. It did feel sort of like

(22:32):
a failed pilot though, where theywere trying to bring more people in,
re establish a new audience, andwhere the two thousand and five reboot did
work, this failed, So theyobviously learned from some mistakes. I think
they were also trying too many things. They were trying to bring in new
audiences, both American and British,and so I don't think that was ever

(22:59):
gonna work. The British folks whohad never seen Doctor Who were going to
look at that and be like,well, that's really American, and the
American people are going to look atit and go, I don't understand any
of this, And you know,if they'd maybe stuck with we're going to
try to reboot this just to bringin to see if there's new British interest
like they did with the Ninth Doctor. I think they would have would have

(23:22):
had better success, And it mightbe worth checking out the Clever Dick Films
Eighth Doctor documentary because it covers alot about Doctor Who not being on the
air and what that was like,sort of the you know that era.
Oh yeah, yeah, I'll haveto check that out, just to understand
how things felt for the audience atthe time. I love those reviews,

(23:47):
by the way, they're so good, aren't they fantastic? And would they
are so good? The end thePart one reveal about who the nargrator was
I'm sorry, the narrator of theof the Part one when it's revealed that
it's been wrestle On and the TimeLords and there maybe right, okay,

(24:11):
yeah, I at first I hadno idea, what the heck? What
what are these all Time Lords?What's going on? Yeah, because I
haven't really seen much of recognize Yeah, that's all very classic Time Lord.
Yeah. As soon as you saythe outfit, you're like, oh god,

(24:33):
I figured it out, but ittook me a lot longer than I'm
sure it did everybody else. You'relike, why is James Bond, Well,
what do you what do you thinkof the return of the Time lords
in part two and their plans?And you know, it created a really
interesting conundrum for the doctor, didn'tit. I love, loved the sequence

(24:57):
of the doctor refusing to take thegun it all costs until he learns that
the time words are involved. Thesequence yeah, well, and it's I
mean, yeah, the Doctor andguns is kind of a you know,
it's it's a mixed bag. Itotally understand why he doesn't want to do

(25:18):
that, and yet as soon ashe learns that, he's just like,
GIMMI, we're gonna do this.Yeah. And then Granddad goes on the
adventure of his life shooting away getthe Star Wars. Lots of pewing.
Yes, yeah, that that wasadorable. I mean he's just enjoying it

(25:42):
so much. How can't I notenjoy it too? Oh? Yeah,
you need to read his autobiographer orhis memoir. Uh Bernard Cribbins. Yeah,
treasure so delightful. And I thinkthat it was probably recorded. I

(26:06):
suspect that what he did was talkedinto a microphone and somebody turned it into
you know, somebody ghost wrote itbecause the entire book is just in his
voice. It's just amazing. It'sfantastic. Yeah, it's a good Oh
yeah, that sounds delightful. Goodmemoir. Yeah yeah, okay, And

(26:26):
I bet he has had a veryinteresting, adventurous life of his own,
yea from his time and World Wartwo. Yeah he fought in the war.
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, I'd love to know how he
got into acting. That's something healways wanted to do or what have.
You all have to check it out, you have to check it out.

(26:49):
Worth it definitely, okay cool.I was genuinely worried that Granddad was going
to be chernobyld in the chamber fromthe radio, and then of course we'd
get the the outburst right from DavidTennant. I can't believe this is how
it's going to end. Well,how how were you? You know,

(27:11):
when the time lords and the masshave been vanquished and you had that relief
and the tenth Doctor and then youjust heard I you know, I'd been
expecting this the whole time now,so I thought, okay, here we

(27:33):
go. I was I was ready. I knew it was going to happen
eventually, So I thought, okay, if this is happening now, it's
happening, okay, But for itto be Granddad, I know, I
know that was the real heartbreaker,was I don't want any harm on him.
No, don't make him suffer,don't don't give him radiation burns.

(27:56):
No, I can't. You haveto sacrifice your favorite doctor them, right,
Yeah. So honestly, when thedoctor is just screaming out so much
more, I'm thinking, yeah,dude, I want that too. Let's
do it, right. I mean, really, if there weren't this kind

(28:17):
of well, I don't know ifit was an established precedent yet at this
time for the three years. ButI didn't learn until I watched the review
of the timing why things happened theway they did, where David Tennant felt
like he'd done what he wanted todo. And then it was really though
Russell T. Davies, who hadto step down due to his health,

(28:37):
that it was actually a very smartidea to make a clean break with them
both at that point. So knowingthat, I feel a whole lot better
about saying goodbye to David and atenth doctor and Russell T. Davies.
I really like his stories. He'sprobably my favorite of the doctor who writers
that I've experienced so far. Buteven so, it sucks saying goodbye when

(29:02):
you really like the work that you'rewatching. Yes, yeah, how much
were you squealing during the reward farewells? And which one did you squeal?
You know? The thing is iswe already had a certain amount of medley
going through all of the favorites before, so to do it again felt a
little excessive, And yet I completelyunderstand why they're doing it. So if

(29:26):
I had not just finished the lastseason a few weeks ago, if it
had been a full year probably orwhat however long it was when this aired,
I probably would have been, Oh, by good, I can't believe
I'm going to see Captain Jack again. And then we're gonna go see Sarah
Jane and her son again, andoh my god, and there's Rose and
that particular point in time was justso freaking good. Yeah, just just

(29:52):
to go I can't remember the order, I just go one by one.
But like, well, you hadthe Sarah Jane one. I mean that
was fine. That's the Sarah Janeadventures with what's his face? The kid?
Yeah, you know that was thatwas fine. You just have that
stare and then, um, whatdid you think about who Martha ended up
with? You know, I didn'tthink too terribly much about it. Okay,
you never thought that she was forRicky Mickey getting married? Yeah,

(30:15):
I really, I don't know.I just never really got too invested in
all of that. M Okay,go live your life, Martha. That's
all I really want for her isto be happy. Yeah. And then
the one when I think when Ifirst watched, I was kind of like,
Okay, that's a throway. Idon't know why they chose that,
but I think going back to iton subsequent viewings, it now hits me

(30:36):
harder with um, the descendant yeafrom the family blood, you know,
with he was John Smith? Yeah, the book signing, and yeah,
I really love that one. Wasshe happy at the end? You know?
Yeah? Yeah yeah. So questionfor you is the longer veteran fans,

(30:59):
is this whole medley of him sayinggoodbye to the people he loves?
Was it heartwarming? Did you likeit? Was it excessive? I love
it. I like to see everybodyagain. And also I think possibly as
a as somebody in theater, Ijust love that they're able to get all
those people back every time. Yeah, that's cool. Every time I see

(31:22):
that, I'm like, oh mygod, these people must love what they've
done with this to come back somany times. Yeah, yeah, it's
true. That says something really specialabout the production as well. Yeah,
my first time when I watched thislive, because I remember watching it live,
well, I don't think it wasa little love. I think it

(31:42):
was um. I remember thinking becauseten is not my favorite, nothing against
him, but I don't love himas much as people who love him love
him. I just remember thinking,like, they are so milking but because
it's like, yeah, I don'twant to go, I'm like, yeah,
but you said you wanted to goas an actress, and I like
you're all pretending like I don't reallywant to. Yeah, are the one
choosing to go. But I meanI get it, I get it,
I get it, I get it. You know, Yeah, I don't

(32:05):
want to go. They're forcing me, They're firing me, basically like a
yeah, I mean really, Ithought this was David Tennant's last hurrah,
only to realize no, this wasRussell T Davies last hour. He's the
one who's really saying goodbye here.Yeah, that one final salute. That
was Oh, that was almost aspowerful as when the Doctor quivers his lip.

(32:30):
Verdy asks if he's happy. Man, that says so much with zero
words. I do love the thegift he gives, you know, he
saves the kids live, he savesh Martha, Rickie mckie's live. Um,
you know, he can touch hisbass with the descendant and he gets
got in Jack laid. Yeah,it's it's all the same, the same.
No, that's so good. Thelottery ticket, Yeah that's true.

(32:53):
There you go. Yeah. Ithought that was pretty cute, like the
doctor is not afraid of cheating,just still a little bit for those he
really loves, they're gonna be fine. Yeah. And it was kind of
cool seeing the wedding once again,like it's sort of brought it all home,

(33:13):
the one that it works out withthis time. Yeah, yeah,
yeah yeah. And then Matt Smith, oh high, and it looks like
he's gonna make one hell of anentrance on Earth. So more adventures to
look forward to. It's so funnyto always see him because's so young.
But yes, oh, and fromthe very first episode that you're gonna love

(33:36):
the first episode, it's just okay. The eleventh hour. Yeah yeah,
yeah, I mean again not tobuild it up, but I just feel
like he lands it because I think, um, yeah, hits the ground
running because both literally and on thetellent, I figured because there's not a
lot of compared to you, well, I mean like with the ninth Act,

(33:57):
there's no really first episodes. Imean, tim but you know the
Christmas special or Ina, it's notthe Christmas Invasion because that's the Ninth Doctor,
but you know what I'm talking about, or the Christmas episode with the
Tenth Doctor. You know, he'sin bed three fourths of the time like
that last ten minutes. And thenyou've seen the Thirteenth Doctor, which I
don't know, I think she waspretty much in it. But yeah,

(34:19):
yeah, but they have to findtheir footing a little bit, they're a
little disoriented, have to get theirbearings back a little bit. But you're
like, so with Matt Smith,it sounds like there's none of that.
He's ready to go. It kindof reminds me to translate it for you
as far as like Star Trek pilots, it's a very caretaker You're getting what
you're getting all right, right rightthere. Yeah, it's less about the

(34:40):
doctor being because they're still gonna bewibbly wobbly moments. But Matt Smith nails
it. He knows his character basicallyright out of the box. Okay,
all right, that's good because Ineed that energy after watching David Tennant and
just so impressive for somebody that young. Yeah, sicking, how old?

(35:05):
Twenty six? I want to say, yeah, okay, that's pretty young.
He's little. Yeah he's a baby. He was twenty eight something like
that, but he was middle latetwenties. Okay, yeah, well okay,
and Tenant was how old when heplayed the doctor because he looks pretty
young? Yeah, but maybe likeface, Yeah, I don't know how

(35:29):
old because um, Matt is theyoungest. The next youngest was the fifth
doctor. Peter Davison was pretty young. He was thirty. David Tennant's father
in law. Yes, yes,that whole dynamic. It still blows my
mind. So I don't I thinkwe looked the self once and I can't
remember, Like, I don't know. Tom Baker may have be in the

(35:50):
same age as David Tenant when hestarted, because you know, yeah,
oh really, because they look totallydifferent. Okay, but that's that's good
to know. Like for the record, for your listening audience, in case
you forgot. I don't look upany background information. I try to experience
this as raw as possible. Yeah, so what I learned is what you
tell me and what I see inthe reviews after the fact. Yeah,

(36:13):
but like I think you could tellthat the production team is leaving because they're
like, we're just going to destroythe set. Uh, you know what'll
let you see the tartest exploding,you know, during the regeneration. And
they're like, yeah, we're justyou know, you bring in your own
set. You're bringing your own dot. Wow. So we're going to redecorate.
I don't like it. Yes,yes, okay, So it's going

(36:35):
to be an all new doctor,all new companion, all new tartists.
Everything is brand new yea, allthe new showrunners. Yeah, because this
would be your your I mean,other than the Thirteenth Doctor. But you
weren't coming from anything, but thisis your first clean slate regeneration. Yes,
yes, it is, so mofet era here we come. Yeah,
basically the reset button. Then whyI always suggest it's a good starting

(37:00):
point, you know, depending onwho I'm talking to. Before the Thirteenth
Doctor, I would always say startat eleven because it's the most modern and
it's a clean slate, so youcan basically start from zero, because I
mean basically that's why I think thatgood thing about eleven is you're starting from
zero. Yeah, even if you'venever seen anything before, you know,
or if you have you know.But like, Okay, when I'm watching

(37:21):
it, I'm going to have tobe thinking about that. Where if this
had been my introduction, you know, how how would I like that compared
to thirteen? I'm so excited foryou. Well, I'll get started in
a few days. Thursday nights aremy doctor who nights? My husband places

(37:42):
poker? All right? Well,any any thoughts about the end of time
before we get to the behind thescenes of it all? Well, I
mean, if you're gonna go out, go big, and they did.
I mean really, all of thesespecials they fell like little movies that production
values were high, the acting wassuperb. Of course you've got big,

(38:07):
grand stories. They did a lotwith it, and it really felt like
just a massive farewell though, whichwas both good and heartwrenching at the same
time. As a fan. Yeah, yeah, I'm glad I got to
binge them in quick succession. Yeah, no time to more no, And

(38:29):
I'm okay with that because I've lovedthe David Tenant era, I really have.
I mean, learning that he wasa lifelong fan of the show,
it really shows just how much thismeans to him. The energy he brings
to the Doctor. Yeah, youcan't ask for a whole lot better.
And really as as the especially withthe Doctor, with Doctor Who reaching such

(38:52):
an apex and popularity, you kindof think, well, what could they
possibly do to keep this momentum going? And then I'm about to find out.
So the bar is high? Itis? It is. I think
it was hard. I mean,you're if you're Matt going after Tenant,
I mean that's that's that's that's noteasy. A lot of pressure. As
much as David Tennant fell pressure.Yeah, you know, I feel like

(39:15):
if the stakes are even higher forMatt Smith. Yeah all right, Well
with that, let's go into thetardest library. Who who who? When
you close your eyes, I goto the library. Go to the library.
Now we're going to be continuing talkingabout our Clever Dick Films review,

(39:36):
and he is, finally, aftermuch hard work, released his review of
the Tenant Era. So um,I think we've spent most of it watching
Jessica just um falling over the pictureof young David. Oh with those little
NHS glasses. Oh so cute.He's adorable. He's such a little nerd

(40:01):
boy, and I love him forus. Saw it's a little nerd boy
with the sus that is nanas Yes, and I too remember the days of
closeted nerd dum. It really wasn'tfun being a fan of quote unquote geeky
shows like this back in that day. I get it. I suspect you

(40:24):
were there too. I want tosee David's a Doctor Who fanfic collection?
Me too, me too? Wellwhat any uh? I don't know particularly
order we want to go. Butany what struck you, Jessica about any
anything that you learned new? Oh? That I learned new? And we

(40:45):
sort of got David's a little bitof his sort of history acting history from
Scotland to the BBC. And uh, I didn't. I don't think I
realized that he was what doing Hamletwhile he was doing these specials? Is

(41:05):
that right? Was it? Ithink? I don't know, I don't
know. I remember it's struck methat he was doing um, uh,
Blackpool, and that's when he finallybecause I when I'm watching these past things
of David because I don't watch himorder and so like, what when you're
watching Blackpool, which we've watched,is musical, actually slightly musical David Tennant.
He's lip syncing musical David Tennant withDavid Morrissey from the Next Doctor.

(41:27):
It's the weirdest shit. However,it's so bizarre. It's so weird.
Yeah. The American version is um, what was it called, not Viva
Las Vegas, but something close tothat with um Wolverine. I really yeah,
Huge Jackson, Hugh Jackson. Basicallyit's an americanization of that with Hugh
jack and doing that. I can'tremember. Yeah, So but hey,

(41:49):
if you get a chance, wewatched it on YouTube on YouTube, so
yeah, check out at least oneepisode of Blackpool. Yeah. Maybe when
you're doing some California fun stuff,UM put on black cool and on YouTube
and okay, oh your mind blow? All right, you know occasionally I
need my mind blown, so I'lldo that. Yeah. But yeah,

(42:10):
it was just interesting because I've knownthat Cassanova. That's when he met Russell,
or wouldn't Russell casting. And likeI said, if you haven't watched
Casanova yet, I forget what wewatched on a Prime or Netflix. I
mean, I'm watching Cassanova and I'mlike, it's the tenth Doctor Like he's
like, I think he has foundthat character. I mean there's you know,
it's Cassanova stuff too. But ofcourse you could argue the sex geniesst

(42:30):
question as far as bringing that toDoctor M. But like, I just
see like he has found the character. So I just see when Russell's like
has his plan B, He's like, I got a guy. Nice.
Yeah. I didn't realize that therewas such a quick turnaround with between eccleston
and then Tenant, realizing just howtight that had to all happen, you

(42:53):
know, not experiencing it in realtime. Yeah, yeah, you have
a hit show with no lead anymore. Yeah. Yeah, problem well,
And I mean that was it wasset up that way to an extent.
Eccleston had a year contrary or youknow, a one season contract, and

(43:15):
so being a jobbing actor, hewas going out getting the next gig of
course, and so yeah, asyou did, it was a success.
He was like, I got Igot other things. Sorry, trying to
piece out. Yeah. My joke, of course, I had to take
a drink when we heard the wordworking class during the documentary. Yeah,

(43:37):
my joke is that, like,okay, well you know Chris was was
northern. Let's go more north.Yeah we have in Scotland anyway. Um
right, Yeah, when you toldme way back when that, I mean
I didn't know a thing about DavidTennant. You told me that he was
Scottish. I didn't believe it becauseI'd only heard him with his doctor who

(43:59):
accent would think about hearing seventeen yearold or however all he was David Tennant.
I loved that clip. I needto watch that show, the one
where he's the mentally yes, yeah, yeah, it was it bipolar disorder
or something like that. That looksreally good. I want to watch that.
I just want to be a radioguy. Yeah, I love that.

(44:22):
That was fantastic seeing a little babyDavid. Yeah, with his spiky
hair, I mean, just wow, he has amazing hair. He always
has, although again Matt Smith's gotgood hair, just way not a girl.
I thought, you know, Iwas a little taken aback by that
line. I just thought, now, wait a minute, sir, what

(44:45):
would be so wrong about being agirl. I just love the fact that
his voice cracks on that line,that little yeah, now, I was
not. I was a little surpchrist more than anything that Tenant didn't readily
accept the role when it was offereduntil we got a little bit more background,

(45:08):
because the explanation makes perfect sense.I mean, he understood the gravity
of what he was getting into,and it was wise of him not to
take it lightly whatsoever. And yetI'm so glad he took the opportunity because
hello, if he would have passedit up, one, he would have
regretted it for the rest of hislife. But then two, well what

(45:29):
would have happened to the show?Who would have stepped in? I mean,
it just wouldn't have been the same, and he wouldn't be married.
No, oh no. So Imean I really do believe and it's such
a cliche that things happen for areason, but they totally do, even
if you don't understand why they're comingfull circle at the time. Yeah,

(45:50):
yeah, it's yeah, it's it'sinteresting. I mean, I wonder I've
never heard his thoughts about, like, you know, as a big fan.
You know, did he ever askRussell for anything, like can I
have a Cyberman episode? You know, like what what you know? What
what is he asking or bringing hers? I mean, or is he just
enjoying every moment? Of course,but like you know, is there any
part of him that's like could weother than I mean, he got to

(46:14):
do his costume. They all getto do the costume, which but I
always think that's funny. I mean, to me, that's funny in Doctor
Who, because I just don't everthink of that in any American show where
you're like you're building the show,he cast the parson, the person's like,
let's work together. It's like,no, you tell the person what
they're gonna wear. But like allevery Doctor Who classic and knew, the
actor gets to be like this iswhat I would like. I absolutely loved

(46:37):
the detail about the shoes and whyDavid Tennant picked the Converse sneakers for easier
cosplay. That's genious. And forPaul McCartney, yeah yeah, I won't
say the specifics, but there's gonnabe a future doctor who will change the
sonic into something that's an everyday itembecause he's like than any one can do

(47:00):
it. Who's also a big doctorwho is it just a regular old screwdriver,
because if it is, I'm gonnalaugh. But yeah, and there's
that that element of wanting to haveeven though if it is or is not
a kid So we can argue thatall day, but the kids should be
able to play it, you know, in the backyard with not much So

(47:21):
yeah, I mean that really isgenius, and that can come from only
someone who had been there himself,who probably tried to put together some costumes
in his day, and then themore everyday things that you can have,
the easier it is for an averagefan to put that together. Just that
was genius though, Yeah, no, cool. What do you think because
I know you haven't watched them,but what'd you think about this sort of

(47:43):
the spinoff discussion of Torchwood and SarahOh well, okay, the whole Canine
and Company eighties. Wow. Youknow, even though I haven't seen it,
I think it's a good thing thatSarah Jane Adventures is the one that
took off. I'll just say thatyou're not a big fan of the side

(48:06):
Pony Yeah, oh man, yeah, wow, that was something. Yeah.
I mean just think having to runthree shows at the same time.
I think Chris Chipnell was doing alot of torchwood work, I mean,
as far as some of the writings, I mean, but still to oversee

(48:27):
it, to be the executive producer, I mean three shows at the same
time. I mean sort of likewhen Aaron Sorkin was doing West Swing and
Sports at the same time. Likeyou're gonna kill yourself basically, I mean,
yeah, one way or the other. How are you sleeping at all?
I mean, is it any wonderthat cocaine was involved for Aaron Sorkind
that's the only way you're getting throughthat? Yeah, every episode? But

(48:50):
yeah, yeah. So really,I'm very grateful that Russell T. Davies
stepped down when he did, knowingthat this was not good, This was
not healthy. Yeah, this wasoverwork in its highest level. And as
much as it was sad to seehim go, boy, I'm glad he
didn't work himself to death. Thatwould have been much sadder. Um.
So, what you sort of thinkof the discussion of how each of the

(49:14):
companions were introduced and the storylines,Um, you know, Richard, we
love you. There's a lot duringthis one that I was like, I
don't know about that, Richard.I've been I disagree with you there,
So okay, you at a lotof hot takes on Richard's part. Yeah,
um okay, well I don't youknow this is open for all.
I mean, the romance doesn't botherbother me. I could like, if

(49:36):
you're a classic person and I mean, well, I'm stereotyping, So excuse
me, listeners. I don't meanto stereotype, but the classic lover of
the classic actor of lover, youknow, asexual no snogging in the chartists
like and full stop. And Ican get that if you're like that,
and then you get rose, youget you know, you're like okay,

(49:57):
okay, okay, okay, youknow, not my doctor here. I
mean not saying that, but it'sjust like it's a whole new look at
this. Like you know how Ifeel about like cursing in Star Trek.
I don't like it. Um Umwhat about double dumb ass on you?
You're not using it correctly? Um. But anyway, So I mean I
can get that. Um. Sothat was one of his critiques. Another

(50:20):
like he didn't like the Doctor Whoor the tenth Doctor Farewell, and I'm
like, I love it. Iliked it. I told him to shut
his filthy mouth. That's what Iwas yelling at the television. Yeah,
honestly, I found what he calleda tantrum very cathartic in that we were
all like, we all knew DavidTennant was leaving, and it had been
announced, and it just it hurtman. And so to just have him

(50:43):
yelling for a little while, isit a little childish? Yeah? Sure,
but we're all kind of inwardly feelingthat a little bit low. I
don't want you to go, dude. Yeah, yeah, I'm sad,
I'm angry. I'm gonna kick andscream too. Let's just all have that
moment. You know. It waskind of nice to have that on some
old jump but sure, okay,yeah, yeah it was. I think
they could get away with it,you know, beloved as David Tennant was

(51:07):
up to the show. And Ithink that might just be twenty first century
storytelling, especially in Doctor Who WhereAnd again this is general statement. In
classic Who, you don't get alot of arcs for the doctor. You
know, they all have personalities,don't get me wrong. I mean they're
not just the same character. Theyall bring something. But in twenty first
century storytelling, you're going to getthe internal dynamics a lot more coming out,

(51:30):
sure, you know, not sure. Acting inside, you're gonna it's
gonna come outside. Now, inthe twenty first century, we want to
Audiences are more writers are more likelyto give you know what's he thinking?
He's gonna be angry, he's gonnabe sad, he's gonna be you know
where. Yeah, it's like he'salmost like audibly reading his internal monologue if

(51:52):
it means he's reading his comments sectionallowed for us. I love the whole
thing where poor David Tennant read thecomments on the words what have you,
and how it started so positively atfirst and then it was like oooh and
he's just hey, and I'm like, David, don't ever read the comments,
Scottish doctor, that's number one?Yeah right, Oh my god.

(52:16):
I hope Jody doesn't read the commentseither. Yeah. Um, what about
you, Darling? Any other thingsthat were covered the documentary that popped out
at you again? I think youknow, whether it's hot takes or his
perspective. And it may be hisperspective as someone who grew up on the

(52:38):
classic Who, but his his problemswith the romance is unrequited or requited.
I have almost the opposite problem.Like I was not crazy about the doctor
or part of the doctor going offto be with Rose because I didn't see

(53:00):
it as a romance really, andso it felt a little abrupt to me.
And again I think that is quitepossibly just because I ignored it.
You know, I think if Iwere looking for that, then I would
see it. And same thing withMartha's unrequited. You know, she says

(53:22):
at some point fairly early on,and then it drops out of my brain.
I'm not looking for romance. I'mnot looking for her pining for him,
and so I don't see it asmuch. And so yeah, I
think I'm in the same boat asyou where I'm not needing that in my
story. Yeah. And also butalso like you know, Richard clearly didn't

(53:45):
need it either, but he wasvery antagonistic towards it, whereas I was
just like, I don't know,it didn't really happen, and then just
ignoring it. And I think it'sit's prime only the tenth doctor. Um,
they'll snug everyone. I mean,that's valid, Um, but you

(54:05):
know much you don't. I'm gonnasay this and I believe this is true.
You can correct me. He's thedoctor that has the most, if
at all, romance stories. Imean, I know you're gonna say,
but that's yeah, oh yeah,and even that yeah, sorry, yeah,
we're talking a couple speaking out ornot to spoil for you, but
we'll say the eleventh Doctors person blahblah blah blah. It is a romance,

(54:30):
but at no point does it feelromantic or maybe it's the opposite.
Yeah, yeah, it's romantic,but at no point does it feel like
a romance, don't I'm not sure? Yeah, yeah, but we know,
Okay, that can be interesting becausethat's how I feel really with the
Doctor and Rose, where it isa romance, like there's love, but

(54:53):
that's kind of where it starts andends. Yeah, like they're not going
to have necessarily like if we don't, we're not going to see them having
a sexual, long term partner typeof relationship. No, we don't ever
need to see that. Yeah,because, like I say, an episode
like I forgot what it's actually called, the Girl behind the Fireplace, whatever
it's actually called. You know,that's that's a romance story for the Doctor,

(55:15):
which I don't actually like. It'sa very nice episode tomorrow, but
I could get the people are period. I feel like it's romance because of
the period it takes place in,and so it should be swashbuckling and heaving
bosoms and horses and yeah it shouldbe. Yeah. So that again,

(55:39):
that doesn't I don't go, oh, he had a fling with the fireplace
girl. I'm like, yeah,that's this track. I guess if you
get to kiss Kylie. I mean, I guess, I mean, you
kiss Kylie the opportunity presents itself,if the opportunity presents to kiss Kyl You
know. So, are you sayingPhilip the David Tennant is sort of like

(56:02):
the Captain Kirk. Yes, yeaof the doctors. Yeah, he's gonna
get a little snog whenever he can. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I
think he. I mean, I'mnot saying it's personally, but I'm saying
the way the character's done acted isthe sexy doctor compared to the rest of
them. Yeah, well, Imean it does fit in line though with
his personality. He has a littlemore spunk. He is a little more

(56:22):
I guess, willing to go outthere and be a little more unpredictable,
and it's a little more rough andtumble whereas I feel like other doctors that
I've seen so far, they're alittle more reserved. Yeah, I can't
wait to get your impression or excited. But definitely had a lot of work

(56:45):
went into because I don't even knowhow long. This documentary was very long.
And that's why I don't say thatin a bad way. I remember
because it's like we're talking about David'scareer. I'm like, we haven't even
started talking about doctor who he had. Yeah, it was like a full
length documentary. I mean, thequality is that of what you would expect
out of a network. It's sowell done. Oh yeah, yeah,

(57:07):
he's a Richard's brilliant. Yeah,he's really freaking good. I hope he's
getting some kind of perk out ofall of this, either some financial reward
or something, because this is beyonda labor of love. Yeah, and
it's just it's just so thoughtful andinteresting, you know, it trips along

(57:28):
really nicely. It's just yeah,it's just yeah, he checks all the
boxes. It's entertaining, it's thoughtprovoking, it's informative, it's well produced.
He's got it all. Yeah.All right, Well, now char's
your final, final, Final,Final, moment of saying goodbye to the
tenant era. No, I knewthis was coming. It had to happen.

(57:59):
Yeah, twelve things, there mustbe an ending. Yes, by
the way, I did spot acertain someone in the special thanks section for
the documentary. Yes, yes,that was good. And you know what's
really cool is with these being onYouTube, I'm going to go back when
I'm looking for a little bit ofnostalgia. I'm probably going to watch the

(58:22):
recaps, the reviews over necessarily restartinga whole season when i'd watch just a
bite. Yeah, yeah, justto remind me, will be like I'll
you know, you'll see the episodeclip watch that episode. It kind of
gives you sort of like flipping throughit. You just watch the whole documulent.
Yeah. Although I've reached a pointlike there's enough time now where I

(58:44):
really want to go back and Iwant to revisit the ninth Doctor now that
I've seen some of the eighth Doctor, and then go back and do it
all again. I want to catchup, though, get up to speed
to see the eleventh and twelfth doctors, and then probably start going through it
again because I know I've missed thingsand knowing now the big plot points of
these stories. I want to lookfor the small things that I couldn't have

(59:05):
even looked to know in the firsttime through. You need to start sending
her children in need clip yes,yes, yes, oh goodness yeah.
Or if anyone wants any of yourhot takes from the Tenth Doctor era,
where can they find you? Oh? If you're not sick of them yet,
you can go on Twitter and youcan add me at oh the profanity

(59:30):
awesome? Well, darling, that'smy love. Until next time, continue
enjoying The Doctor's many adventures throughout timeand space. This is BBC Television.