Doctor Who 50th Anniversary

[LawyerScumGhost]

I'm a huge Dr. Who fan (mostly of the old series). I pose a question to fellow Whovians: What story from the old series would you choose to remake with all the modern bells and whistles? I know, tough question. I would choose "The Pirate Planet" one of my favorite Tom Baker episodes penned by the great Douglas Adams. A very close second is "The Caves of Androzani" which is arguably the best Who story to date. So, which of the plethora of old Dr. Who stories would you choose to remake?

 

[Albino Boo]

City of Death. Another Douglas Adams written story, with the Dr writing this is a fake on the back of the Mona Lisa, John Cleese and Lalla Ward in schoolgirl outfit. What's not love.

 

[FalloutJack]

I'm a huge Dr. Who fan (mostly of the old series). I pose a question to fellow Whovians: What story from the old series would you choose to remake with all the modern bells and whistles? I know, tough question. I would choose "The Pirate Planet" one of my favorite Tom Baker episodes penned by the great Douglas Adams. A very close second is "The Caves of Androzani" which is arguably the best Who story to date. So, which of the plethora of old Dr. Who stories would you choose to remake?

The answer SHOULD BE 'every lost episode in which we've audio for but the film is long-gone', but if you want something a bit more...created...hmmmm. Oh hell, let me just choose an episode from every old-school Doctor!

1ST - The Tenth Planet: Debut of the Cybermen, regretted for its cheesiness AND the loss of the fourth episode's film. Remake it with better Cybermen and give us a proper view of Mondas, the cyber-planet WE NEVER SEE.

2ND - The War Games: No, it's a coincidence that I'm choosing the final episode of Doctors. The War Games just happened to be spectacular a story and first-involved the Timelords in the series. Update the villlains, the graphics, and certainly Gallifrey.

3RD - The Silurians: Episodes involving the Silurians until the new series are hit-or-miss, really, probably why they were given a makeover. Update these original homo reptilia and retell the first exploration into the species.

4TH - The Deadly Assassin: A showdown between the Master in his last and grotesque regeneration and the Doctor, featuring a great deal of intrigue, trickery, and a battle to the death in the Matrix... It's already very good, but we can stand to have this epic battle in updated Gallifrey with - Hell, why not? - John Simm voicing the Master.

5TH - The Arc of Infinity: Because it's Omega back from the dead. Really, all of the episodes with multiple Doctors need a remake, and therefore again...Omega.

6TH - TRIAL OF THE TIMELORD: I don't actually need to explain this, do I?

7TH - The Happiness Patrol: Lemme explain this one. In finding that a planet is being forced into mass and ludicrous happiness (the punishment for not being so is death), the Doctor and Ace go against the grain to ruin the horribly fake cheer being enforced. It's a different tone played with for Doctor Who, in which he fights to bring back the blues, the meloncholy, or even just the freedom to be annoyed by breaking the happy. A rare occasion where the Doctor essentially destroys to create.

 

[Quaxar]

City of Death. Another Douglas Adams written story, with the Dr writing this is a fake on the back of the Mona Lisa, John Cleese and Lalla Ward in schoolgirl outfit. What's not love.

Woah, hold it. City of Death Was a Douglas Adams episode? No wonder it was so brilliant!
So since my favourite has already been taken another one I'd also like to see is Bob Baker's Nightmare of Eden with costumes and jungle scenery that don't physically hurt to look at and... yeah, pretty much just that.
The episode that managed to condense the Doctor into a single sentence: "Interfere? Of course we should interfere. Always do what you're best at, that's what I say."
Three if you want to get technical but shutup!

 

[Albino Boo]

City of Death. Another Douglas Adams written story, with the Dr writing this is a fake on the back of the Mona Lisa, John Cleese and Lalla Ward in schoolgirl outfit. What's not love.

Woah, hold it. City of Death Was a Douglas Adams episode? No wonder it was so brilliant!

Technically speaking it was written by three people, whose names escape me right now, but from the style you would have to say Adams was the dominant voice.

7TH - The Happiness Patrol: Lemme explain this one. In finding that a planet is being forced into mass and ludicrous happiness (the punishment for not being so is death), the Doctor and Ace go against the grain to ruin the horribly fake cheer being enforced. It's a different tone played with for Doctor Who, in which he fights to bring back the blues, the meloncholy, or even just the freedom to be annoyed by breaking the happy. A rare occasion where the Doctor essentially destroys to create.

You want to remake the storyline that was major factor in killing off old Who? When it was first broadcast it caused me and a large chunk of the audience to stop watching the series. It also nearly caused a massive lawsuit with bassets over the candyman and the BBC agreed never to use the character again

 

[thenumberthirteen]

City of Death. Another Douglas Adams written story, with the Dr writing this is a fake on the back of the Mona Lisa, John Cleese and Lalla Ward in schoolgirl outfit. What's not love.

Woah, hold it. City of Death Was a Douglas Adams episode? No wonder it was so brilliant!

Technically speaking it was written by three people, whose names escape me right now, but from the style you would have to say Adams was the dominant voice.

7TH - The Happiness Patrol: Lemme explain this one. In finding that a planet is being forced into mass and ludicrous happiness (the punishment for not being so is death), the Doctor and Ace go against the grain to ruin the horribly fake cheer being enforced. It's a different tone played with for Doctor Who, in which he fights to bring back the blues, the meloncholy, or even just the freedom to be annoyed by breaking the happy. A rare occasion where the Doctor essentially destroys to create.

You want to remake the storyline that was major factor in killing off old Who? When it was first broadcast it caused me and a large chunk of the audience to stop watching the series. It also nearly caused a massive lawsuit with bassets over the candyman and the BBC agreed never to use the character again

To be fair the Candyman was really really stupid. Even for doctor who. A killer robot made out of sweets?! I do agree that the happiness patrol could make a good story, but it'd have to be reworked from the ground up.

OT: I'm not sure really. Probably any of the Colin Baker stuff, but go back in time and do it well (Colin isn't really in any shape to play the Doctor again). For the 50th I just want to see Paul McGann again. Poor guy was really good and never got a chance.

I am pumped that the Zygons are confirmed for the 50th Anniversary though

<img height=500>https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BG2rxCBCUAIhSGk.jpg

 

[DalekJaas]

If it could be done I would LOVE a modern version of the 5 Doctors. But you would need a huge film budget for the CGi required in recreating the first 5 Doctors, to make them look a little legit.

 

[Albino Boo]

To be fair the Candyman was really really stupid. Even for doctor who. A killer robot made out of sweets?! I do agree that the happiness patrol could make a good story, but it'd have to be reworked from the ground up.

Perhaps you are unaware but the that story was blatant attack on the then government of Margaret Thatcher. The villain, whose name I can't remember, was voiced by a Margaret Thatcher impersonator. Sylvester McCoy has gone on the record stating that he and writers of the show were trying to bring the government. Therein lies the problem with late period old Who, the writers were too busy being political to write interesting and entertaining stories. That was one of the major reason why Michael Grade closed down the show.

Given that Moffat is labour party supporter anything from that period is no go zone and that story in particular, unless they make the baddy George Galloway or something.

 

[Thaluikhain]

3RD - The Silurians: Episodes involving the Silurians until the new series are hit-or-miss, really, probably why they were given a makeover. Update these original homo reptilia and retell the first exploration into the species.

Hey? There were all of 2 stories with the Silurians in the Old Doctor who.

The new series brought them back, trying to do exactly what the Silurians did the first time, and doing a terrible job.

 

[FalloutJack]

SNIP

You're mistaking me for someone who looks into company history.

SNIP

Three, and that's a matter of opinion.

To whit, I'm not interested in arguing what people think of what episodes. I was asked a question and gave a very thorough answer.

 

[Albino Boo]

SNIP

You're mistaking me for someone who looks into company history.

SNIP

Three, and that's a matter of opinion.

To whit, I'm not interested in arguing what people think of what episodes. I was asked a question and gave a very thorough answer.

Thanks, its nice to know things that happened when I was 15 is history.

 

[FalloutJack]

...

Company history = Jargon for happenings within the company, not ancient history. Sheesh...

 

[j0frenzy]

For just a remake? Probably any of the lost episodes. That and I wouldn't mind Trial of Time Lord getting punched up. That mess really needed more work before being put to film.
For continuation or expansion though? There was a 5th Doctor serial whose name escapes me right now where the Daleks try to clone the Doctor. I still really want to see the Doctor have to try and fight a Dalek made clone.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Three, and that's a matter of opinion.

Two, "The Silurians" and "Warriors of the Deep". "The Sea Devils" didn't have Silurians in it, if that's what you mean, it had Sea Devils in it.

For continuation or expansion though? There was a 5th Doctor serial whose name escapes me right now where the Daleks try to clone the Doctor. I still really want to see the Doctor have to try and fight a Dalek made clone.

Resurrection of the Daleks. The Daleks made a robot copy of the Doctor in the first Doctor story, "The Chase". And, I disagree, you don't want to see that. The Chase was...not one of the better stories.

 

[FalloutJack]

Snip

You're nit-picking. They're a species of the same race based in water areas and they even sell the episodes together.

 

[Gennaroc]

Could I be really boring and say a two-parter remake of the original Dalek story? Just for the ability to rework the story to be post-davros era compliant. Also I love the dichotomy of the petrified forest and the dalek city, and seeing that big budget would be fantastic. Also, totally need the thals back in the series again in general....

-

Not strictly a remake but I'd love a really dark origin story detailing the birth of the Modasian Cybermen. The general backstory for them is quite sad and way more refined than the awkwardness of the cybus counterparts.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

To be fair the Candyman was really really stupid. Even for doctor who. A killer robot made out of sweets?! I do agree that the happiness patrol could make a good story, but it'd have to be reworked from the ground up.

Perhaps you are unaware but the that story was blatant attack on the then government of Margaret Thatcher. The villain, whose name I can't remember, was voiced by a Margaret Thatcher impersonator. Sylvester McCoy has gone on the record stating that he and writers of the show were trying to bring the government. Therein lies the problem with late period old Who, the writers were too busy being political to write interesting and entertaining stories. That was one of the major reason why Michael Grade closed down the show.

Given that Moffat is labour party supporter anything from that period is no go zone and that story in particular, unless they make the baddy George Galloway or something.

I don't think you can see that episode and NOT be aware of that

 

[j0frenzy]

Three, and that's a matter of opinion.

Two, "The Silurians" and "Warriors of the Deep". "The Sea Devils" didn't have Silurians in it, if that's what you mean, it had Sea Devils in it.

For continuation or expansion though? There was a 5th Doctor serial whose name escapes me right now where the Daleks try to clone the Doctor. I still really want to see the Doctor have to try and fight a Dalek made clone.

Resurrection of the Daleks. The Daleks made a robot copy of the Doctor in the first Doctor story, "The Chase". And, I disagree, you don't want to see that. The Chase was...not one of the better stories.

I didn't know The Chase existed. Thanks for the heads up. I'd still like to see it happen at some point, but I don't think I want to see the current writers tackle. Given what I've seen of new Who, I figure there's a fair chance that the solution would be that the cloned Doctor is somehow inherently good and stop being evil and then sacrifice himself stopping the Daleks.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Perhaps you are unaware but the that story was blatant attack on the then government of Margaret Thatcher. The villain, whose name I can't remember, was voiced by a Margaret Thatcher impersonator. Sylvester McCoy has gone on the record stating that he and writers of the show were trying to bring the government. Therein lies the problem with late period old Who, the writers were too busy being political to write interesting and entertaining stories. That was one of the major reason why Michael Grade closed down the show.

It was Cartmel that said he wanted to bring down the government, not McCoy, which was big news...in 2010, I think. Yeah, odd that.

Anyway, Helen A as Margaret Thatcher...well, you don't have a far-right woman in power in fiction when you have a far-right woman in power in reality without there being a connection, but what she was actually doing was a lot closer to Pinochet. Whom Thatcher supported, though.

I disagree that the politics were what killed Doctor Who, they'd been there on and off more or less the whole way through.

It's a shame, because (The Happiness Patrol notwithstanding), there was a massive jump in quality about that time. They'd got everything consistently wrong with the 6th Doctor, started off badly with the 7th, but it got better just in time to be cancelled.

Not strictly a remake but I'd love a really dark origin story detailing the birth of the Modasian Cybermen. The general backstory for them is quite sad and way more refined than the awkwardness of the cybus counterparts.

Well, what happened was that Terry Nation had the rights to the Daleks, and didn't want the BBC to keep using them (wanted to go off and make it big in the US). So they took the Cybermen, and used them more like Daleks.

The original Cybermen from "The Tenth Planet" were very different from Cybermen because of that. Likewise, the original Daleks in "The Daleks", and for that matter, the original Doctor. Not the first Doctor as such, just him in his first few stories before they'd decided what they wanted the show to be. By the time the second Dalek story, "The Dalek Invasion of Earth" came round, though, he was very much the Doctor and they were very much the Daleks.