# Eccleston's Dr Who **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226 "2006-01-09T22:47:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/21 "2006-01-13T03:01:43Z")
> [@garius](#): > > For the pleasure of you yanks, and us misplaced Brits: > > [Sci-Fi Channel Picks Up Dr Who](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/) Great news, thanks for the update. 🙂🙂🙂 Love them Fireworks. > [@](#): > > Russell T Davies, Head Writer and Executive Producer told us: “The Doctor’s made all sorts of journeys in Time and Space, but this is one of his most exciting yet! I’m a huge fan of the SCI FI Channel, and I’m delighted that Doctor Who is appearing on a channel that supports and enhances the entire genre.” Jim ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/22 "2006-01-13T03:03:01Z")
Isn’t the Doctor nearing the end of his regenerations? The ten Doctors: 1. William Hartnell (1963–1966) 2. Patrick Troughton (1966–1969) 3. Jon Pertwee (1970–1974) 4. Tom Baker (1974–1981) 5. Peter Davison (1981–1984) 6. Colin Baker (1984–1986) 7. Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996) 8. Paul McGann (1996) 9. Christopher Eccleston (2005) 10. David Tennant (2005–present) Only two more left, unless he recharges or something. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/23 "2006-01-13T03:08:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Russell T Davies, Head Writer and Executive Producer told us: “The Doctor’s made all sorts of journeys in Time and Space, but this is one of his most exciting yet! I’m a huge fan of the SCI FI Channel, and I’m delighted that Doctor Who is appearing on a channel that supports and enhances the entire genre.” Why do all press releases use the word “delighted”. Every one of them does it. It makes it sound so false. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/24 "2006-01-13T03:09:33Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Isn’t the Doctor nearing the end of his regenerations? > > … > > Only two more left, unless he recharges or something. The thirteenth regeneration is the Valeyard. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/25 "2006-01-13T07:07:42Z")
Wow, I thought the Sci Fi channel hated Doctor Who. Anyway, the best part of this news is the fact that the DVDs for Season One are still coming out on February 14th in Canada. So I don’t have to wait until July. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/26 "2006-01-13T12:26:50Z")
I can see potential problems with this from the moral majority if it’s marketed the same way as the UK. _Who_ is indeed a kids programme enjoyed by adults but it is focused on kids. The first new season included same sex kissing and very obvious references to bi-sexuality and cross species sex. Interesting to see how this is handled in the States. I loved the first season and really enjoyed Tennant’s first outing over xmas. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/27 "2006-01-13T17:37:12Z")
I have been gradually buying up the old story lines avaliable on DVD. They are great (albeit a tad pricey if you have ambitions of owning them all). Lots of extra features, commentary, “making of” documentaries etc. And might I add, that they have all been digitally remastered for what is to me a really unexpected picture clarity. Growing up in the US seeing the episodes on shoddy video transfer, I had no idea what I had been missing. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/28 "2006-01-13T17:54:21Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > I can see potential problems with this from the moral majority if it’s marketed the same way as the UK. _Who_ is indeed a kids programme enjoyed by adults but it is focused on kids. The first new season included same sex kissing and very obvious references to bi-sexuality and cross species sex. Interesting to see how this is handled in the States. I doubt anyone will care, if they [mainstream arbiters of “moral” values] even notice. What worries me more is the cutting of episodes for commercials—it should work in terms of overall running time, but will probably play hell with the flow and pacing of the episodes. As far as the show finally getting picked up in the US: Woo-hoo!! Though I will still be buying the Canadian DVDs immediately they’re available. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/29 "2006-01-13T17:58:29Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > The first new season included same sex kissing Did that by any chance involve Billie Piper? _cough_ _touches self inappropriately_ ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/30 "2006-01-13T18:03:27Z")
Unfortunatly not. T’was the Doctor and other male characters. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/31 "2006-01-13T18:04:59Z")
_stops touching self_ ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/32 "2006-01-13T18:26:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Isn’t the Doctor nearing the end of his regenerations? If i remember my Who correctly (but i may be completely wrong on this - I’m very rusty) the limitation is not a physical one, its just the number that Timelords are “allowed” so to speak. Since the Doctor has been President of Gallifrey and has been pretty useful for the Timelords as a kind of unofficial agent of change, i doubt they’d begrudge him a few more. Its also been hinted in the past that he’s a helluvah lot older and more mysterious than we think anyway. Even that Rassilon and Omega weren’t part of a duo, but in fact part of a trio… ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/33 "2006-01-13T19:07:02Z")
New DVD release date July 4: [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=4885](http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=4885) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/34 "2006-01-13T19:09:08Z")
Woooo! Woooo! It’s about time. Although I wish I didn’t have to wait until March. Also, [here](http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=34141) is the news from the Sci Fi channel’s site. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/35 "2006-01-13T19:10:50Z")
> [@hazel-rah](#): > > Wow, I thought the Sci Fi channel hated Doctor Who. The Sci-Fi Channel reportedly were offered the series even before it debuted in the U.K., and turned their noses up at it. They stated that, in their opinion, the show was not up to their “high standards of quality” (cough **Lexx** cough **Crossing Over** cough\*\*Fact or Fiction?\*\*cough), but likely had to do with the fact that the Sci-Fi Channel really doesn’t want to run any show they don’t own the rights to, hence reems of home-produced garbage shows (“Battlestar Galactica” excluded) get preferential treatment over interesting imports. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/36 "2006-01-13T19:27:09Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Unfortunatly not. T’was the Doctor and other male characters. _starts touching self_ ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/37 "2006-01-13T19:50:47Z")
> [@garius](#): > > If i remember my Who correctly (but i may be completely wrong on this - I’m very rusty) the limitation is not a physical one, its just the number that Timelords are “allowed” so to speak. > > Since the Doctor has been President of Gallifrey and has been pretty useful for the Timelords as a kind of unofficial agent of change, i doubt they’d begrudge him a few more. If exile has meant you’ve missed the new series: IIRC, it’s mentioned in it that all the other Timelords had been killed in something called the “Time Wars” and Gallifrey destroyed, so there may be none of them left to object anyway. But, of course, the Daleks were also supposed to be extinct as part of the same backstory to the new series and … ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/38 "2006-01-14T02:04:51Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The thirteenth regeneration is the Valeyard. Well, not quite. IIRC, the Valeyard is some kind of potential future, a distillation of the doctor’s darker side, who appears between his 12th and 13th incarnations, (much like the Watcher appeared between the 4th and 5th Doctors), who had somehow gained independent existence. Weren’t the Time Lords going to give the Doctor’s future regenerations to the Valeyard if he managed to defeat the Doctor? (Makes you wonder how the heck they’d do this. Is there some kind of Regeneration Transfer form you need to fill out? Is there a regeneration bank? I’m sorry sir, your regeneration request has been declined due to insufficient balance. Please die again later.) In the novels (again IIRC), the unstable 6th doctor is so worried by his own behaviour and the possibility his darkness is going to make the Valeyard become a reality that his subconscious makes a deal with Time to regenerate and become it’s agent, and avoid this fate. So he (subconsciously) sends himself rushing headfirst into the Rani’s tractor beam, and regenerates into the Seventh Doctor. He then proceeds to faff about playing the spoons until he unexpectedly runs into one of the Wolves of Fenric on the planet of Icefall, realises that he’s on a mission, and becomes Time’s Champion. As to going beyond his twelve regenerations… well, even if the Time Lords aren’t in a position to be handing out new life cycles (as they stated they are able to do, in _The Five Doctors_), the Master managed to go beyond his thirteen lives without any help from them, so I’m sure the Doctor will be able to figure out a way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/39 "2006-01-14T03:36:06Z")
The Master’s attempts to extend hisd lifespan resulted in the destruction of a large part of the Universe. I doubt The Doctor will follow suit. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226/40 "2006-01-14T06:53:13Z")
We’ve seen Eccleston’s Who in Australia. I have to say I was not impressed, but then I am old, hardcore and have been tut-tutting the decline of about Dr Who since Jon Pertwee left. However opinion around me has me definitley in the minority. Most folks seem to like the new Who very much. Just not me. mm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ecclestons-dr-who/339226.md?page=3)