Season Four (2008) Pre-Season Chat - Assume SPOILERS

[PTeppic]

On the end of the Christmas Special we've had the first trailer for season four.

I'm starting the thread to allow discussion without cluttering up other threads...

 

[PTeppic]

I'm not going to bother spoiler-tagging the following, but these are the bits I could make out of the trailer. Some were clearly referred to more than once:

The Ood (the BBC site confirming the Doctor and Donna will visit the planet of the Ood)
A giant bee crashing through a window
Patricia Hodge? (Oops, sorry: too young for Patricia! Was more likely Fenella Woolgar, listed by the BBC site as playing Agatha Christie)
Alien soldiers, laser-type weapons (which from the BBC site photo look like [the confirmed reappearance of the] Sontarans)
3 witch type women (later about to kill someone with a knife, sacrifice style)
Romanesque group of men including Peter Capaldi (confirmed by the BBC site as being Pompeii on the eve of Vesuvius going pop)
Earth military and UNIT soldiers
Martha
Bernard Cribbins - unclear if reprising his London paper-seller role from "Voyage"
Sarah Lancashire (who the BBC site confirms is in Episode 4:01)
the Doctor focussed on "I want a mate"
chained up Ood
coffin/casket type chamber being opened
Sarah Lancashire with what looks like the Doctor's sonic screwdriver
the burnt-looking creature declaring itself the "pyrovire" (sp.?)(anyone watching with subtitles on???)
Felicity Kendall (confirmed by the BBC site as Lady Clemency Eddison in the Agatha Christie episode)
a bloke that could be Martha's dad
Tim McInnerny
full-face close-up of a (presumed) Sontaran (episode title "The Sontaran Stratagem" is confirmed by the BBC as episode four)
a priest concluding it had been an "entertaining evening" (the Agatha Christie episode, judging by period)

 

[PTeppic]

Not in order, I reckon that makes six episodes, i.e. the first half of the season...

Agatha Christie
Vesuvius
Ood
Sontarans (2 parter?)
witches ("pyrovire" in the same episode?)

 

[Lenny]

Here's the trailer, if anyone missed it:

YouTube - Doctor Who 2008

I wonder if the return of Martha will have any crossover with Torchwood, seeing as she joins them (rumours, and shown in the TW trailer)?

 

[Harpo]

Bernard Cribbins' hair was whiter in the trailer than as the paper-seller. Maybe he's reprising his Tom Campbell role from the 1966 film "Daleks - Invasion earth 2150 AD"

 

[Dave]

Your sobriety astounds me PTeppic. There is no was I could have copied all that down, never mind analyse it!

Any ideas who Tim McInnerny plays and which episode?

 

[PTeppic]

Now you mention it, I am a little sober: that needs addressing! (1). But I'm trying to have a "good" Christmas. (2) In fairness I watched the episode "live" (with only minor interrupts from Mrs P'T, a non-fan), then re-watched it this morning via VHS, followed by the Confidential. Then slow-mo'd the trailer for season 4, several times, adding the annotations whilst I typed the above piece.

1 - pint glass of cocktail urgently required (1 part each Amaretto, Baileys, Kahlua, vodka, with 4-5 parts cold milk; shaken, not stirred)
2 - I'm on an unjustified, illogical and insane plan to lose weight over Christmas! I even went jogging on Christmas morning for 4+ miles...

 

[Pyan]

How on earth do you reconcile point 1 with point 2, Pteppic?

And wasn't Tim McI in the Agatha Christie episode....?

 

[PTeppic]

To answer Dave's actual question, I don't think Tim spoke at all during his appearance in the trailer. At the moment the BBC sites only say his appearance is "later in the series", which I think excludes it being the Agatha Christie one, which seems to be episode 1 or 2.

To answer Pyan's, as per my personal title for the cocktail, "Mostly Milk" (c.f. Terry Pratchett's "scumble", which is "made from apples, well, mostly apples") is made, as per its name, mostly from milk and I use skimmed. So it's really healthy and good for you. And there's so little alcohol, in comparison (four shots-worth) that it doesn't count... And I've never, ever, had a hang-over from it.

 

[PTeppic]

Bernard Cribbins' hair was whiter in the trailer than as the paper-seller. Maybe he's reprising his Tom Campbell role from the 1966 film "Daleks - Invasion earth 2150 AD"

Somewhere else on the 'net, researching the links in my initial posting, I saw reference to Donna's character being quoted as saying "Grandad" at him...

 

[Pyan]

So it's really healthy and good for you. And there's so little alcohol, in comparison (four shots-worth) that it doesn't count... And I've never, ever, had a hang-over from it.

*goes straight onto my "must try this!" list*

 

[Ice fyre]

I will have to watch the trailer but I've not even watched the Crimble special yet.

I know the Sontarons are back but I have heard that there will be a pitched battle between them and Unit.

This season should be interesting with Catherene tate as the assistant. It could also be seriously awful, if it isnt handled well, but we will see. I remain hopeful actually.

 

[PTeppic]

The trailer does indeed show Sontarans in a pitched battle, and later members of UNIT in a pitched battle. Not sure if it's clear who each is fighting...

 

[Ice fyre]

Hmmm good point Teppic I have seen the Christmas special at last and the trailer for Torchwood as well as the new series of Doctor Who. Looks fascinating.

 

[PTeppic]

And wasn't Tim McI in the Agatha Christie episode....?

From what I could tell from the tape, freeze-framed, Tim McInnerny is in the episode with the Ood. Although his clip is maybe a half second to a second in length, it seems to show an Ood walking away to his left.

 

[Lenny]

Pre-season chat seems like the place to ask, so I shall.

Christmas Special, 2005, Tenant - spaceship over London, Torchwood blows it out of the sky.
Series 2, 2006, Tenant - finale in Torchwood 1.

Christmas Special, 2006, Tenant - spaceship over London, blown out of the sky by tanks on the orders of Saxon (just re-watched, and I picked up on it )
Series 3, 2007, Tenant - finale with Saxon.

Christmas Special, 2007, Tenant - spacecruiser over Earth, nearly brains the Queen.
Series 4, 2008, Tenant - finale?

I see a pattern emerging!! Quick question - was there a special with Eccleston at all?

The Christmas specials seem to hold clues to the theme behind the series to come. But what was the clue, or possible clues, in the 2007 Christmas special?

Come on Teppy, I know you've watched it through three or four times. If there's anyone who might pick up on it then it's you.

Don't make me have to Wikipedia it!

 

[PTeppic]

Only three...

There wasn't, strictly, a special with Tennant - he handed over seconds before the first in 2005.

My notes about next season were that the Master mentioned the Axons twice in his ramblings... coincidence? I think not.

As for this year's special... can't say I noticed anything, so time to watch it again, with your point well made and my mind receptive.

 

[Morganita]

this is like confirmed billie is coming back, so is martha so the Doc will have 3 companions on his hands at once... this should be interesting

 

[Lenny]

And possibly Captain Jack. And it's rumoured that Sarah Jane will make another appearance.

I reckon he'll be able to handle five with no problem.

 

[PTeppic]

It doesn't appear to, er, appear on the BBC Dr Who website yet but there is a new cinema trailer for Season Four. It's perhaps 50% of the post-Christmas Special material with 50% new material, mostly Donna (and her grand-father [which I'm sure is supposed to be a fond nod back to Hartnell and Susan]).