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24.7.10
23.7.10
22.7.10
A Fix with the Curse of Shalka
It’s the age old chestnut. The fan debate that will never end. Of all the Dr Who media we have seen over the years, what is canon and what isn’t? And, for that matter, why isn’t it? I like to think there are very few boundaries to canon... I’ll explain later…
For any newcomers I should first explain what the Dr Who hard-core mean when they talk of canon. I should also point out that there is no right or wrong answer in this debate. It’s really not worth getting steamed up about but I’ve engaged in hours of light hearted banter on topics as diverse as Dimensions in Time and Lolly Cards.
The definition of canon is;
material that is considered to be "genuine", "something that actually happened", or can be directly referenced as material produced by the original author or creator
Most Dr Who fans agree that the main TV show is 100% canon. But even here there are grey areas [to do with contradictions in continuity]. For example in The Time Monster [1972] viewers were treated to their 3rd interpretation of the destruction of Atlantis [The first was shown in The Underwater Menace [1966]. The second was a claim made by Azal in The Daemons [1971]]
So, how do fans square the circle? To a lot of people this is a pointless waste of time! After all it’s just a TV show for kids!! But we know better than that don’t we? However, although you can patiently explain to Joe Public that in actual fact it’s a family show, it will be a warm day on the ood sphere before anyone but a die-hard fan will debate canon with you.
Still Here? Then you, my Anethan friend, have entered the maze. You are as in love with Dr Who as me. Huzzah. So here’s where I stand on the contradictions. They are all canon. I, like most fans, can always find reasons how and why, contradictions occur. Sometimes there are clues on screen. Other times I have to join the dots in my head. For example in The Time Monster I have retrofitted the fact that the Doctor has landed in a parallel universe to the one he encountered in The Underwater Menace. Or alternatively, as The Vast Toffee MN, has explained, Timey Wimey can be unwritten.
Let’s face it; this is a show which features the McGuffin of a Trans dimensional Box that can travel in Time and Space and to Parallel Dimensions. The greatest storytelling devise ever conceived [or, at the very least, pretty darn close]. There is nowhere that the Tardis or The Doctor can’t go. The Doctor can even break the 4th wall and talk to the viewers at home [Feast of Steven [1965]] Was this 30 seconds canon or not? Could the Dr somehow see out into the real world for one lucid moment?
It’s time for me to nail my Colin Baker jacket to the mast. I believe ALL Dr Who media is canon!! My formula is set out below;
• Dimensions in Time – The Tardis is drawn off course into a bizarre parallel universe. When events are resolved The Doctor is returned to his time line. Possibly with memories of recent events and possibly not.
• The Dr Who Unbound Series [Big Finish] – see above
• Dr Who in comics and books including Fan Fiction – see above
• Scream of the Shalka – see above
• Curse of the Fatal Death – you get the idea..
I’m sure many will disagree and find this rather too simplistic [and I haven’t even mentioned, A Fix with the Sontarans]. But I like to try and keep things simple. I would be interested to hear what others think. What does canon mean to you? In this fictional world which we love, what are the events that "actually happened”? If something didn’t happen, why not?There is no right or wrong in this debate and it’s a debate that will never end.
All you really need is a teaspoon and an open mind.
Happy Debating Folks,
Chinn Chinn
For any newcomers I should first explain what the Dr Who hard-core mean when they talk of canon. I should also point out that there is no right or wrong answer in this debate. It’s really not worth getting steamed up about but I’ve engaged in hours of light hearted banter on topics as diverse as Dimensions in Time and Lolly Cards.
The definition of canon is;
material that is considered to be "genuine", "something that actually happened", or can be directly referenced as material produced by the original author or creator
Most Dr Who fans agree that the main TV show is 100% canon. But even here there are grey areas [to do with contradictions in continuity]. For example in The Time Monster [1972] viewers were treated to their 3rd interpretation of the destruction of Atlantis [The first was shown in The Underwater Menace [1966]. The second was a claim made by Azal in The Daemons [1971]]
So, how do fans square the circle? To a lot of people this is a pointless waste of time! After all it’s just a TV show for kids!! But we know better than that don’t we? However, although you can patiently explain to Joe Public that in actual fact it’s a family show, it will be a warm day on the ood sphere before anyone but a die-hard fan will debate canon with you.
Still Here? Then you, my Anethan friend, have entered the maze. You are as in love with Dr Who as me. Huzzah. So here’s where I stand on the contradictions. They are all canon. I, like most fans, can always find reasons how and why, contradictions occur. Sometimes there are clues on screen. Other times I have to join the dots in my head. For example in The Time Monster I have retrofitted the fact that the Doctor has landed in a parallel universe to the one he encountered in The Underwater Menace. Or alternatively, as The Vast Toffee MN, has explained, Timey Wimey can be unwritten.
Let’s face it; this is a show which features the McGuffin of a Trans dimensional Box that can travel in Time and Space and to Parallel Dimensions. The greatest storytelling devise ever conceived [or, at the very least, pretty darn close]. There is nowhere that the Tardis or The Doctor can’t go. The Doctor can even break the 4th wall and talk to the viewers at home [Feast of Steven [1965]] Was this 30 seconds canon or not? Could the Dr somehow see out into the real world for one lucid moment?
It’s time for me to nail my Colin Baker jacket to the mast. I believe ALL Dr Who media is canon!! My formula is set out below;
• Dimensions in Time – The Tardis is drawn off course into a bizarre parallel universe. When events are resolved The Doctor is returned to his time line. Possibly with memories of recent events and possibly not.
• The Dr Who Unbound Series [Big Finish] – see above
• Dr Who in comics and books including Fan Fiction – see above
• Scream of the Shalka – see above
• Curse of the Fatal Death – you get the idea..
I’m sure many will disagree and find this rather too simplistic [and I haven’t even mentioned, A Fix with the Sontarans]. But I like to try and keep things simple. I would be interested to hear what others think. What does canon mean to you? In this fictional world which we love, what are the events that "actually happened”? If something didn’t happen, why not?There is no right or wrong in this debate and it’s a debate that will never end.
All you really need is a teaspoon and an open mind.
Happy Debating Folks,
Chinn Chinn
21.7.10
17.7.10
The Time War!!!!
The Daleks are amassing for war. Their battle fleet encircles Gallifrey as the Time Lords face certain extinction. Only the Doctor is left to face the final & terrible conlusion of the conflict. It's War. The Time War. The Last Great Time War. Where everybody lost...
TMDWP - 042 - The Flashing Blade Picnic
Click on the title to go to the TMDWP YouTube Channel.where you will find all the Minute Doctor Who Podcasts and a cavalcade of other entertaining videos made by Luke Harrison. Other links can be found here http://www.tmdwp.co.uk/welcome/welcome.html
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