DOCTOR WHO FIGURE: Regen 5th Doctor and the Master's TARDIS

In a surprise move, Forbidden Planet announced a new Classic Doctor Who Exclusive Figure set (pictured below). It features a new Regeneration Fifth Doctor, the Master's TARDIS in Column form, and a shrunken figure.

Some people are disappointed by the lack of Ainley figure. Personally, I am not one of them. While I would love an Ainley Master in his iconic penguin suit outfit, I actually like this new 5th Doctor figure. Yes, we already have a regeneration 5th Doctor (in full Season 18 outfit - picture below), this is the outfit he remained in for most of the Serial (until he changed into his new one.)

Also, it is not like we don't have an Anthony Ainley Master (OKAY technically we don't but still). We have one from the serial 'Planet of Fire'. That Ainley actually looks brilliant. The face is a brilliant likeness to the actor, and the suit is rather menacing. People will complain because they want him in his iconic look, but I don't mind either way. I'm sure sooner or later we shall get one.

The highlight of this set, for me, is the TARDIS. When I talk about the Master's iconic TARDIS, two come to mind. Delgado's Grandfather clock and Ainley's column TARDIS. Thanks to The Keeper of Traken set, we have the Grandfather clock, and now we have that Column. The Rani's TARDIS from Mark of the Rani would also be a nice addition to the growing collection, but for the time being I am happy with these.

I will definitely be buying this set!

So Say We All!

Caroline John (1940 - 2012)

Today, the news broke that Actress Caroline John had passed away. On Doctor Who, she played Elizabeth Shaw, scientist and the first Companion of the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee.

Liz Shaw came in at a changing point in Who's history. No longer did the Time Lord flutter about through Time. He was stranded on Earth and working for UNIT. Another major change was the fact it was filmed and broadcast in colour. 

She appeared alongside the Doctor in his premiere story 'Spearhead in Space', featuring the Autons. She stayed through The Ambassadors of Death, Doctor Who and the Silurians and Inferno. She was and still is, notable for being the first full time Companion who never travelled in the TARDIS. She was only on the series for one series, however. When Barry Letts took over the series, he choose not to renew her contract. That said, she was pregnant at the time so it is very possible that she would not have returned anyway.

Despite leaving Doctor Who, she reprised her role twice, once as a 'phantom' in The Five Doctors and once again in Dimensions in Time, as well as a four adventures under the title of PROBE. It is PROBE that I first truly came to appreciate Liz Shaw. I had seen any of her time on Who at the time, but because of PROBE,  

Like many actors, she returned for the Big Finish Audio adventures. Outside of Who, her only acting credit that I know of is a non speaking role in the highly successful Love Actually. She also read the majority of Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography on audio, with David Tennant, Brian and Sadie Miller reading their respective parts.

She was also married to Geoffrey Beaver, who played the Master in the classic serial The Keeper of Traken.

She actually died on the 5th of June. However, her family chose not to inform the BBC and Media of her death until after her funeral. This makes a lot of sense, since I doubt they wanted any fans turning up at a deeply personal affair.

She will be missed.

Rest in Peace

The Doctor Who Experience new Exclusive Figure

First off, let me just say this. Aside from rumours, I have no idea what this figure will be. I personally hope it will be a Rory figure. 

seriously, why hasn't one been released already?

Why do I hope it'll be a Rory? Well, aside from finally having a Rory figure, it would probably mean that we get a variant VERY quickly. 

Want me to explain it? Okay. Character Options & Underground Toys have a history of releasing tweaks of exclusive figures. Off the top of my head, I can think of three examples of this, including the previous Doctor Who Experience's Exclusive.

In 2010, one of the Classic Doctor Who Exclusive figures was a freshly regenerated Fifth Doctor, which meant he was still clad in the outfit the Fourth Doctor had worn in Season 18. A lot of fans bought two of this exclusive, and swapped the Fifth Doctor's out for one of the Fourth Doctor. Unlike them, I waited. Sure enough, within a month or so, a Season 18 Fourth Doctor was announced. I own both.

In 2011, again at the San Diego Comic Con, there was a River Song exclusive Figure. This one came with the inside of the Pandorica (to join up with the previously released Pandorica wave). Of course, this figure was well received, considering it was a new River Song (the previous wouldn't work for Doctor Who figure Adventures owning to being in an astronaut suit). 

Sure enough, within a month, a new wave of figures was announced, including River Song. The difference: This one wasn't wearing the woolly jacket the previous release (and obviously, no Pandorica chair.) I own both. 

And finally, in May 2011, the Doctor Who Experience announced an exclusive figure: Amelia Pond (kid version of Amy). This figure has a hat, a coat and a suitcase, and is based on her appearance in 'The Eleventh Hour'. 

Sure enough, another version of this was announced. Amelia Pond in nightgown (sans coat, hat and suitcase) appeared alongside Nephew (from 'The Doctor's Wife') The Doctor in Stetson (actually the Teselecta from 'The Impossible Astronaut') and two Silent variants (from Series 6). Naturally I own both (of the Amelia figures, I mean - although I own four Silents.)

So yeah. I think we'll probably get a variant of whatever the Doctor Who Experience Exclusive. If it is a Rory figure, I think the DWE will be a Roman Rory.

SWISH!

And the one released in a wave will be the 'normal' (IE the one Fans have wanted since Series 5 started and he became a main character) variant.

That's just my thoughts on the subject. What do you think?

So Say We All

WHO MYSTERY: Whatever happened to Ace?

I'm nicking an idea from one of my Doctor Who Sites, and exploring several of the mysteries of the Series. This entry will discuss what happened to the Seventh Doctor's Companion, Ace.

Ace was introduced in the Serial Dragonfire, the final serial of Season 24, replacing Bonnie Langford's Mel. Unlike Mel, Ace's response to a situation wasn't to scream, but to throw a tin of Nitro-9 at it. She was plucky, couragous and above all, loyal, even during their encounter with Fenric. The Seventh Doctor was lucky to have her. 

In the season finale 'Survival', after defeating the Master, she and the Doctor walked off into the Sunset for new adventures. But what happened next? Who knows? All we do now is that in 1996, when the Seventh Doctor returned in the Television movie, he was alone.

and sporting a new look

Ace's fate was left a mystery, since very soon after landing the TARDIS in a back alley in San Francisco, the Doctor was shot. He might've survived these wounds had he not been taken to a nearby Hospital and 'treated' by local heart surgeon Grace Halloway. Despite what many people may believe, it was this and not the gun shots that killed him. 

Differing Fates

Ace's fate has been addressed in numerous non-canon sources. According to the series' original plan, had a season 27 occurred, Ace would've left the Doctor and enrolled in the Academy of Gallifrey to become a Time Lord herself. In the New Virigin Adventures Series, she left the Doctor and became a sort of mini-Doctor herself, protecting a particular section of History.

Also sporting a new look!

And finally, within the pages of the official Doctor magazine, Ace died in an explosion she set to kill something called a Lorbi

Also sporting a new look! 

Ultimately, however, she appears to have survived this fate, and been returned to Earth at some point. In an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Sarah revealed the fate of several Companions. While not specifically named as such, 'Dorothy something' had raised billions with her charity "A Charitable Earth" (look at the initials). Apparently Russell T Davis had a plan to include Ace in a later episode, but sadly, Elisabeth Sladen's death put an end to those plans.

Conclusion

Ace's fate has been left in Limbo for the time being, left for each of us to make our own minds up. Personally, I choose to believe that she was returned to Earth, and is still giving lip to anyone who annoys her. 

So Say We All

Today's the day...

Okay, so Underground Toys is supposed to be announced their SDCC Doctor Who Exclusive today. And I am excited! Why? Because there's been a draught of Doctor Who figures recently. Apparently the BBC has asked UT and CO to hold off on until the new series of Who starts.

So it's been a fair while since a new figure was announced.

However, Keith from WhoNA has stated that we will be disappointed with the new announcement. It apparently won't be a new Doctor or a Companion. Hopefully, this won't be a case of 'The Time Monster'. Also there is no word on a Classic exclusive. 

Although, I do think that they will be showing some new sets off at the Convention, similar to what they did with Leela last year.

However, I refuse to be completely disappointed until I see the actual announcement.

So Say We All

UPDATE: because of a miscommunication between WhoNA and Underground Toys, the announcements were solely for retailers and stores. However it was apparently leaked on another forum. But I'm not going to tell you in case this person is wrong :P

How would I like to be remembered...

Personally, I want everyone to remember me honestly.

It's human nature. We remember the best aspects of people. I'm no different.

So I want to be remembered for everything I did. The time I accidentally pushed the Cat into the bath, the idiotic things I did while drunk, and most of all, all the times I was an arse. Plain and simple.