2MTL #9: The Highwayfan Considers the Time War

I understand the reasons for arguing that we recently completed the 30th series of Doctor Who (or 31st if you count the 1996 movie as one), but I have to admit that I don't see it the same way. There's a universal reboot in between the program launched in 1963 and the 2005 version.

That reboot, of course, is the Last Great Time War, which erased two great civilizations including the linchpin of time travel itself. Herewith, my on-the-road musing about the Time War, and why it was not only a cool idea, but also an important ingredient in the success of RTD's Who.

(The audio improves after the first few seconds of in-car recording. The Two-minute Time Lord Podcast needs gear.)

By the way — please follow me on Twitter!

2MTL #8: The Highwayfan Considers Kasterborous

"Highwayfan" episodes of the Two-minute Time Lord podcast are my chance to ramble about more fannish, geeky, or just plain fun topics about the mythology of Doctor Who. After all, what else can you do in the middle of a commute? And speaking of mythology….

The "Constellation of Kasterborous" — the spatial location of The Doctor's homeworld Gallifrey — has always struck me as one of those kitschy aspects of classic Doctor Who that reminds one that there are hazards to taking it too seriously. As Paul Cornell put it in the Discontinuity Guide, "constellations are arbitrary divisions of stars in a planet's sky." He then goes on to provide a simple, clear explanation of why The Doctor uses that name.

But I'm not much for simple. Let's go for an odder explanation of what Kasterborous is. Something dimensionally transcendent.

Note: Because I'm driving down I-40 as I record this, my IQ's down about 20 points. When I say "geographic" replace that with "astrometry", when I say "Neil Gaimany" I mean "mythological," and when I say "follow 2minutetimelord on Twitter" I mean "visit twominutetimelord.com to leave comments".

2MTL #7: "Shipping" Doctor Who

"No hanky-panky in the TARDIS." Well, sure, this is family television after all. But in sharp contrast to the old series, since 2005 the relationships between the characters have been just as important to the show as the Monster of the Week. This has introduced a new subculture to Doctor Who fandom: "Shipping."

(Of note: There's a fantastic interchange between new series producer Phil Collinson and Eighth Doctor companion Daphne Ashbrook on the subject toward the end of Doctor Who: Podshock 141 [live at Gallifrey 20].)

2MTL #6: Last of the Doctor Who Shows?

OK, so this isn't about "shipping" after all. You've been spared for one episode. Instead, here's something prompted by Cory Doctorow's appearance on This Week in Tech 183. Doctorow has some strong opinions on digital freedom and its impact on Big Media — and let's face it, Doctor Who isn't exactly an actor, a guy with a camcorder, and a YouTube account. Internet-sapped attention spans, legal-and-otherwise free acquisition of TV shows and other media, and this little global economic meltdown have taken their toll on an evolving BBC, and not even Top Gear is immune.

What's it mean for Doctor Who? My two minutes' thoughts are in the podcast; what're yours?

2MTL #5: Fandom and Trust

So I was reading Rich Johnston's comics gossip column a while back and I saw that he'd created this website.

wetrustinmoffat.com

And I said to myself, "Self, there's something that just feels weird about that." So here are 120 seconds of thoughts about trust, expectations, fandom and word choice as we look to the coming Steven Moffat Era of Doctor Who.

Next time, shipping: a topic that has nothing to do with big brown trucks.

Thanks to the Antipypr

Rock-and-roll bagpiper Neil Anderson very graciously allowed me the use of his old song, "Fletcher Mountain Blues," for background music in my new podcast promo. Many thanks to Neil, a musician whom I've only had the chance to hear live a few times but whose pipes,whistles and voice are on a lot of my CDs. He's had a long history of rocking the house with Rathkeltair, Seven Nations, and other projects (when he wasn't busy serving his country overseas).

Cheers, Neil!

2MTL #4: A Teachable Regeneration

If I were Russell T. Davies — I'd be taller. But I'd also have my own ideas about how to pull off one of the most anticipated regenerations in Doctor Who's history. Here's my take with a twist: using the regeneration as a teachable and painless moment to help kids and not a few adults prepare for experiencing grief.

During Marty's interview in DWO WhoCast 106, Sylvester McCoy said something very apt about Doctor Who's ability to teach its viewers. Many thanks to Trevor and Marty for sharing that excerpt with me.

My inspiration for this subject was Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who turned his battle with pancreatic cancer into a series of teachable moments. His book about his famous "Last Lecture" is a field manual to not only leaving a legacy, but also living life to the fullest.

2MTL #3: Review of Doctor Who: The Forgotten

Tony Lee wrote it. Pia Guerra drew a good chunk of it. (If only she could have done more!) IDW published it. And Chip read this six-issue comic book miniseries, and pronounced it good in roughly-120-seconds-not-counting-the-theme.

(Radio Free Skaro interviewed Pia Guerra, only they didn't use a radio. Strange.)

2MTL #2: The Power of Spite (Last of the Time Lords)

After a host of technical difficulties, we're making another go at the Two-minute Time Lord podcast with a look at the conclusion of Series 3 of Doctor Who, "Last of the Time Lords." There's a reason the Master made his final choice, and it's reflected in a behavioral economist's study of how powerful a motivator spite can be in the real world.

(A transcript and mp3 of Kai Ryssdal's October 1, 2008, interview with Dan Ariely is at Marketplace.)

2MTL #1: Doctor Who Indeed

David Tennant's departure is more than a year away, but in true Doctor Who fashion we'll be talking about his successor, Matt Smith, every step of the way. In 120 seconds (not counting the theme), we look at what the Doctor Who Confidential announcement told us while shedding a tear for Paterson Joseph.