Jeffrey Scott's - Best of His Blogs 2012

One of the things I love most about December 31st is the end of year countdowns and reviews. It's fun to read or watch the top 10 moments in sports, films of the year, songs of the year and celebrity news stories that people compile. So it's not surprising I like to do the same. If you are reading this, then you likely follow at least one of my blogs. Now you have the opportunity to see what else I typically write about. As you read and review the past year entries, take notice of the other articles. Maybe you'll find something else that interests you.

After reviewing this compiled list, I have to say I'm impressed. So much so, I wish I could time travel back one year and show myself what neat things I'll be writing about. Of course how awesome would it be to do that next year. But unless I see my future self in the next few minutes, I'll assume it's not going to happen...... Nope, I guess I'll have to wait for next year to see what cool things I write about in 2013.

Thanks once again to all my readers, subscribers, and supporters. I love writing, but you make it so much more enjoyable and what keeps me motivated.

 
January
Carrot Sticks - BL S13E01 - No Excuse Zone
Season 13 recap of Biggest Loser begins.
I'm excited for the new season!!!!
Tegan - This is the Game of Rassilon
Created a mini dice related game.
J.A.Scott (Music) - "Fools Fantasy"
Martha Berner CD Review

February
Carrot Sticks - Tweets of the Week
I was invited to guest blog TWOW
Carrot Sticks - The Ice Cream Parlor
Season 13 article of the Biggest Loser, describes how upset I am with the season!!!
Tegan - Fifth Doctor in Review
A brief review of the Peter Davison era.
J.A.Scott (Music) - "Hot Sauce"
Jessy J CD Review

March
Carrot Sticks - BL - Coming Home
Jillian has Bob on her blogcast - I speculate her possible return to Biggest Loser
Tegan - The Two Doctors
A review of the episode featuring Patrick Troughton & Colin Baker
J.A.Scott (Music) - "Sophistication"
Thisbe Vos CD Review
J.A.Scott (Photography) - "Streets & Stores"
A trip to Chicago
J.A.Scott (Poetry) -"The Smile"
What I love about the girl who doesn't love me.

April
Carrot Sticks - No new Biggest Loser recaps
Stopped having fun blogging this season.
Tegan - Blog Hiatus
Took a break from this blog to work on J.A.Scott
J.A.Scott (Poetry) - "Moonlit Walk"
Poetry month! One poem a day.

May
J.A.Scott (Photography) - "Fire House"
Visited Helenville Fire Station for a photo shoot.

June
J.A.Scott (Photography) - Dublin Day One
A trip to Europe with my friend Dan.
J.A.Scott (Poetry) - "Goodbye My Friend"
When a friend died, I wrote a poem for her.

July
Tegan - Who is Tardis Mechanic?
Wrote a spoof article involving my Rock Band group.
J.A.Scott (Music/Photography) - Diana Krall Concert
I was able to bring my camera in and take photos.
J.A.Scott (Poetry) - "Social Butterfly"
It can be hard to catch the eye of the one you adore.
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t.) - "Ant: Us vs Them"
I relaunched my r.a.n.t. topics.

August
Carrot Sticks - What Are Your Fitness Inspirations?
Tried writing a new inspiration series for weight loss.
Tegan - Sixth Doctor in Review
A brief review of the Colin Baker era.
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t.) - "♫Whistle While You Work♪"
Rage against whistle blowers
J.A.Scott (Music / Photography) - CD Case Restoration
How I acquire second hand CD's and spiff them up.
J.A.Scott (Poetry) -  Schrödinger's Cat
A whimsical look at Schrödinger's Theory

September
Tegan - Time and the Rani
First episode featuring Sylvester McCoy
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t.) - "It's Nothing Personal, It's Just Business"
What I hate about big business reasoning.
J.A.Scott (Photography) - "Picture Rock Cave Trail"
One set of photos from my Wyalusing Trip

October
Tegan - Survival
Final episode of the old Dr.Who serie
J.A.Scott (Photography) - "Muskego Park"
Enjoying an Autumn day.
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t.) - "The Newest Odd Couple"
In an update of the Odd Couple, I could play both parts.

November
Tegan - Doctor Who the movie
Review of the film featuring Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann
J.A.Scott - Chocolate Fest
I hosted a chocolate taste test with my sisters.
J.A.Scott (Poetry) - "You Will Never Read This"
Likely the one intended will never read this.
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t.) - "Too Shy, Shy"
Problems I have with trying to associate with others.

December
Tegan - Legacy of the Daleks
A book review which features Susan, the Master and Paul McGann
J.A.Scott (Poetry) - "Broken"
Pick me up and throw me away.
J.A.Scott (R.a.n.t. / Poetry) - "A Poets Football Game"
My imagination of what a football team comprised of poets would be like.

Top 10 Blog Articles of 2012 - (According to Web Hits)
1149 - J.A.Scott - Social Butterfly
545 - Carrot Sticks - Biggest Loser - Coming Home
516 - Carrot Sticks - Biggest Loser S13E05 - Listen & Keep Your Mouth Closed
462 - Tegan -Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 69 "The Sixth Doctor In Review"
398 - Tegan -Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 58 "The Five Doctors"
317 - Carrot Sticks - Biggest Loser S13E10 - I Could Lose One Pound Taking A Poop
298- J.A.Scott -Diana Krall - Milwaukee: 16, July 2012
294 - Carrot Sticks - Biggest Loser S13E09 - Going Home
131 - J.A.Scott -Vacation Day 10 - The Isle of Man TT Races
104 - Tegan -Doctor Who (TV Movie) - Part 76 "Doctor Who"

Top 10 Blog Searches
1078 - Carrot Sticks - creepy man
637 - Tegan - Carly Foulkes
405 - J.A.Scott - Butterfly
382 - Carrot Sticks - Kim Lyons
380 - J.A.Scott - Bond Band
316 - Carrot Sticks - Why did Rulon leave biggest loser
267 - Carrot Sticks - Anna Kournikova biggest loser
210 - J.A.Scott - Diana Krall
75 - Tegan - Simpsons tapped out
62 - Tegan - the war machines computer

Doctor Who (New Series) - Part 79 "Dalek"

The Doctor picks up a distress signal and is drawn back to Earth in the year 2012. The Tardis lands in an underground bunker in Utah, USA. Stepping out of the Tardis, the Doctor and Rose discover they are in a museum of alien artefacts. They find a Slitheen arm and one of the Doctor's old 'friends'; a Cybermen. But it's just a dormant helmet, and not the source of the distress call. When the Doctor touches the glass, alarms are sounded and the two are soon apprehended by armed security.

Henry van Statten is one of the richest, and most eccentric men in the world. He will acquire any alien artefact he can get his hands on, no matter the price. His orders are never challenged, if they are, the person is immediately dismissed, has his memory wiped, and dropped off in some random city. When he hears about the Doctor and Rose he tells Diana Goddard and the rest of his group they must have come "intruder" window. A joke no thinks is funny till he tells them it is.

Van Statten's most prized possession is a live alien specimen he calls the Metaltron. Though he knows it's capable of speech, the Metaltron has yet to talk to Henry, so he has one of his men torture it. When the Doctor boasts about his knowledge of alien technology, Henry offers to show him the Metaltron.

The Doctor is led into a darkened room. The door closes behind him by order of van Statten. A single light is illuminated and the Doctor reassures the creature he is there to help. But this alerts the Metaltron and the rooms lights are illuminated. This is when the Doctor first realizes the Metaltron is in fact a Dalek. The Dalek tries to exterminate the Doctor but it's gun in inoperable. The Doctor laughs and tells the Dalek how worthless he is, especially since he's the last Dalek in existence. We then learn the Doctor had to sacrifice his planet in order to destroy every Dalek in a "Time War".

When the Doctor tries to kill the Dalek, Henry takes him out of 'the cage' and confines him, excited he's got another alien to add to his collection. While that's taking place, Rose is spending time with Adam Mitchell, one of van Statten's artefact collectors. He shows her the room where he reviews and catalogues all the alien artefacts he buys on the internet. They each discover they've got an interest in each other. Adam is happy when he learns Rose and the Doctor are just friends.

Using his ingeniousness, Adam breaks into one of the security cameras in the 'cage' to show Rose the Metaltron. When she sees it's being tortured she asks to go see it. When Rose walks in, she feels sorry for the creature and gently touches it. The Dalek is then able to absorb the residual temporal energies from her and regenerate itself. It breaks the chains confining it.

The chief in charge of torturing the Dalek rushes in, excited yet uncertain of what the Dalek can do. He sees the Dalek plunger arm and scoffs, "What are you gonna do, sucker me to death?" The Dalek then uses the plunger arm to sucker the man to death. Alarms are sounded and Henry van Statten is forced to halt his examination of the Doctor. The Doctor tells Henry to let him go if he wants to live. Reluctantly Henry agrees as the Dalek begins to go on a killing rampage, exterminating all that get in it's way.

When the Dalek comes face to face with Rose, it's unable to exterminate her. It has a sense of pity for her and later spares the life of Henry when Rose pleads with it. The Doctor realizes that when Rose touched it, the Dalek also absorbed some of her DNA. So with the regeneration, it began to develop feelings. Realizing it truly is a worthless Dalek, it destroys itself. van Statten's right-hand girl Diana Goddard has finally had enough of Henry and orders him to be removed with his memory wiped. The remaining security are all too happy to oblige.

MINOR COMPANION: Adam Mitchell

ORIGIN: Earth, circa 2012

REASON FOR JOINING: The Doctor is reluctant, but Rose asks for Adam to join the Tardis crew, knowing he has nowhere else to go. Hesitantly, the Doctor agrees.

Doctor Who (New Series) - Part 78 "Rose"

In 2005, the Doctor Who series was once again relaunched. In the first episode we greet Rose who works for a department store. As she's delivering lottery money to Wilson, she's surprised to find mannequins walking about. What she takes as a college pranks turns out to be an invasion of the Autons. An old foe of the Doctor, who rescues here minutes before he blows up the department store to destroy an Auton relay, sitting on top of the building.

Not much is known this Doctor. There is no explanation what has transpired with him between his last incarnation and this one. We are only given a hint he has recently regenerated as he looks into a mirror to examine himself. He seems satisfied with his current looks, despite the ears. After Rose's encounter with the Doctor, he's forced to track her down as an arm from a disabled mannequin is still active. Using his sonic screwdriver, he deactivates it and tries to say goodbye, once again, to Rose.

As the Doctor leaves her apartment, Rose is intrigued by his actions and follows him. He explains to her about the situation at hand, the Autons are an alien invasion, but Rose continues to listen despite her inability to believe it. Once again the Doctor dismisses her, but when she hears the Tardis take off, she runs back and is surprised to see the 'Blue Box' is now gone. She stops by her boyfriends house to use his computer and finds an internet guy named Clive who seems to have some information regarding the Doctor. He explains to Rose he thinks the Doctor is an alien and dangerous. This information is too much for her and she leaves, believing he's a 'nutter'.

Unaware to rose, her boyfriend Mickey has been replaced with a plastic version. He takes her out for pizza, but suddenly he only wants to talk about the Doctor. Rose tells him she doesn't know anything but the Doctor suddenly appears and exposes Mickey as an imposter. He grabs his head and pulls it off, but the Auton goes berzerk and chases Rose and the Doctor out of the restaurant. The Doctor calmly walks into the Tardis, but Rose is apprehensive. With no where else to go, she follows the Doctor into the Tardis. He sets the Tardis in motion, using the Auton head to track down the lair of the Nestene, which is what controls the Autons.

Inside the Tardis, Rose is distraught her boyfriend is likely dead. Considering the Doctor dismisses him so quickly doesn't help the matter. Once the Tardis lands, the Doctor realizes the Nestene must be using a large dish smack dab in the middle of London to boost it's signal to so many Autons. He's perplexed to wonder what it might be when Rose indicates it's possibly the London Eye. The Doctor takes Rose with him to inspect and they indeed find the Nestene, as well as Mickey, who has been retained in case another copy of him might be needed.

The Doctor tries to reason with the Nestene but when they find a vial of anti-plastic, they assume his sole mission is to destroy them. He argues it was only insurance but the Autons retain him. The Doctor shouts for Rose to escape with Mickey, but instead she risks her life to save the Doctor. While doing so, the vial falls into the Nestene, which destroys it. After dropping Rose and Mickey back at home, the Doctor asks her to travel with him, impressed with her courage. Mickey is not invited, because of his snivelling attitude. Rose kisses Mickey goodbye and runs for the Tardis.

COMPANION: Rose Tyler

ORIGIN: Earth, circa 2005

REASON FOR JOINING: Invited by the Doctor to travel with him. Declined at first, then learned the Tardis also travelled in time.

 

Bonus Photo

The Doctor in the Tardis

Doctor Who (Book Review) - Part 77 "Legacy of the Daleks"

SPOILER WARNING!!!

Synopsis: Years after the Dalek invasion, England is in recovery. But the land has splintered into various domains. If they were defeated, how are the Daleks still a threat, and what does the Master have to do with all this?

Events in this story take place:
For the Doctor - After the Doctor Who Movie / Before the Time War
For the Master - After Frontier in Space / Before The Deadly Assassin
For Susan - After The Dalek Invasion of Earth /  Before the Time War

The Doctor has had many adventures since leaving Grace on Earth in the year 2000. While searching for a current companion who has been lost in time, he lands on Earth sometime after the initial Dalek Invasion where he originally left Susan, his granddaughter. But Susan has gone missing. While searching for her, he becomes involved in various English districts fighting for control of the land. One side, Lord Haldoran, has begun to turn the tide of the war when he suddenly start utilizing Dalek weaponry. This forces the Doctor to reluctantly choose sides as he continues to search for his granddaughter and keep the Daleks from recovering.

Lord Haldoran is being helped by Estro, who has provided Dalek weaponry in exchange for power. Estro is actually a pseudonym of the Master. Shortly after escaping from the Doctor in Frontier in Space, he lands on Earth in order to gain Dalek technology which will give him ultimate power in the Galaxy. However, the Doctor is able to thwart his plans. But the Master gets his own revenge when he kills one of the Doctor's assistants and kidnaps Susan, though he is unaware of her relationship with the Doctor. This small victory for the Master, however, costs him dearly.

David Campbell has been married to Susan for almost 30 years. Their children are adopted and named Ian, Barbara and David Jr. His relationship with Susan has been shacky lately as Susan has not aged, while he has. When Susan goes missing, he ventures with the Doctor to help find her. When the Masters plans go awry, David is shot and killed.

Life with David has brought Susan much joy, but as he starts to age, she is more worried what other people will think considering she doesn't age at the same rate. When the two go out, she generally wears a disguise which makes her look much older. She discovers the Daleks are being reawakened and soon discovers the ultimate Master behind the plans are a renegade Time-Lord. The Master captures Susan and tries to use her as a pawn, but he's unaware she's the Doctor's granddaughter. After his plans are foiled, the Master kills her husband David and forces her into the Tardis. Susan then contacts his Tardis telepathically, which then attacks the Master. She maroons him on the planet Tersurus where she believes she has killed him. But the Master is not dead. His body is charred and decaying, but he's still alive. For the Master, this leads into the events of The Deadly Assassin.

Years after the Daleks are defeated by the Doctor, Susan, Ian & Barbara, they are reawakened by the Master. His goal is to steal Dalek technology which he'll be able to use to gain control of the entire universe. The Daleks are essentially pawns of the Master in the story. But if not for the intervention of the Doctor, they would have regained control of the Earth once the Master had left. Once the Doctor is finished on Earth, the Legacy of the Daleks on Earth seems to be done for at least a long while.

Doctor Who (TV Movie) - Part 76 "Doctor Who"

Seven years after Doctor Who went off the air in Britain, an attempt was made to revive the series. Though it was never picked up, we were still able to enjoy this TV movie. A voice over by Paul McGann in the beginning, informed us what had gone on with the Doctor while he was off the air.
"It was on the planet Skaro that my old enemy the Master was finally put on trial. They say he listened calmly as his list of evil crimes was read... and sentence passed. Then he made his last and I thought somewhat curious request. He demanded that I, the Doctor, a rival Timelord, should take his remains back to our home planet; Gallifrey. It was a request they should never have granted..."

Typically however, the Master is far from dead. His remains coalesce into an oozy form within the container holding him and he breaks out of the locked container and slides into the Tardis, causing a timing malfunction. The Doctor reacts quickly and lands the Tardis. Instead of checking the surroundings before stepping out, he walks into a spray of bullets. The bullets were intended for a youth named Change Lee, who ignores his dead friends and calls the Doctor an ambulance. While in the hospital, there is some confusion and the medical doctor working on him, Grace Holloway, accidentally "kills" him.

While the Doctor is in the hospital, the Master escapes from the Tardis and is now in a snake-like form. He hides in the jacket of the EMT who helped take the Doctor to the hospital.As Bruce is sleeping, the Master slithers into the man's open mouth and bonds with him, granting the Master a new body at last. Bruce's wife is just happy he is no longer snoring. He gets up and begins his search for the Doctor.

After he's killed on the operating table, the Doctor is taken to the morgue. Because of the amount of anaesthesia used on the Doctor, it has delayed his regeneration process. Post-Regeneration trauma sets in and he's forgotten who he is. Wrapped in a sheet, he wanders off in search of who he is. Soon after, he finds some clothes in a few open lockers and puts them on.

Chang Lee rode along with the Doctor on the way to the hospital. When Grace has to inform him 'John Smith' has passed away, he shrugs it off and grabs for the Doctor's things. Grace suddenly realizes he doesn't know the Doctor after all, but he grabs the bag and runs off. Looking at the unusual items found in the bag, he heads back to the Tardis. But the Master has also gone to the Tardis hoping to find the Doctor. He lies to Chang Lee and informs him the Doctor is evil and has stolen his things. Chang Lee, somewhat reluctantly, agrees to help the Master.

While in the Tardis, the Master takes Chang Lee to the 'Eye of Harmony'. Using Chang Lee's eyes, he opens it up and discovers the Doctor has indeed regenerated. The Master formulates a plan to capture and take over the Doctor's body. He again reassures Chang Lee the Doctor is evil and must be stopped. While the 'eye' is open, the Master is able to spy on the Doctor and sees the companion who's helping him. Chang Lee recognizes her from the hospital.

While still at the hospital, the Doctor runs into Grace, but doesn't recall why she's so familiar. He follows her to her car. Thinking he's possibly psychotic and mad, Grace honks her car horn to try and get attention until she sees him pull out the medical probe which was lost inside of him. He tells her to drive and get out of the place that killed him. She takes him home where he begins to remember who he is. Sensing the 'eye' is open and the Earth in danger, he enlists her help in finding some beryllium, which he needs for his Tardis. Once they accomplish the task, they set off for the Tardis so the Doctor can close the eye of harmony.

Making it back to the Tardis, Grace helps the Doctor repair the Tardis and close the eye of harmony. However, before they are able to 'jump start' the Tardis, the Master is able to suddenly control Grace and she knock out the Doctor. After being placed in the Masters trap, the Doctor is able to convince Chang Lee the Master lied to him. Now knowing the truth, the Master breaks his neck, killing him. The Doctor then implores Grace to run back to the console room and jump start the Tardis as they were attempting to do before.

With the Master distracted, Grace runs back to the console room and restarts the Tardis. She then quickly runs back and begins releasing the Doctor, but The Master is now upset his plans have been foiled and attacks Grace, killing her. The Doctor is able to free himself the rest of the way and goes on the defensive with the Master. In the struggle, the Master falls into the eye of harmony, despite the Doctor trying to save his life. With the Tardis reset and the eye closing, Grace and Chang Lee are brought back to life.

The Doctor takes the Tardis out of it's temporal orbit and lands back on Earth. Chang Lee offers to give the Doctor back a sack of gold dust the Master gave him earlier as payment, but the Doctor allows him to keep it. He runs off happily. Before leaving the Tardis for good, Grace is offered to travel with the Doctor. Having had too much adventure already, Grace turns him down. Once again alone, the Doctor returns to reading "The Time Machine" by H.G.Wells.

Bonus Photo 1 - Tardis Interior

Bonus Photo 2 - The Doctor's Kiss

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 75 "The Seventh Doctor in Review"

Notes:Because of the machinations of a rival Timelord (The Rani), the Doctor is violently jolted in the Tardis which causes a regeneration [Expanded Universe stories describe this differently]. In reality, Colin Baker refused to return for a "regeneration scene" after getting sacked. The Rani then broke into his Tardis before he could recover and heightened his post regeneration amnesia. Before he came to his senses, the Rani masqueraded as his companion to get the Doctor to help her diabolitcal plans. When the Doctor met his real companion, Mel, he realized he had been duped. With her help, he stopped the Rani. A few adventures later, the Doctor ran into an old acquaintance of his, Sabalm Glitz. In his earlier incarnation, Glitz helped him defeat the Master and the Valeyard, when he was on trial. During the same adventure he met Dorothy, thought she was going by the name of Ace. Once this adventure had been concluded, Mel decided to travel with Glitz, so the Doctor took Ace on as a travelling companion. Despite his insistence, she continues to call him 'Professor'. Ace continues on with the Doctor through the rest of the original series. The final episode does not show the Doctor regenerate. Instead he has defeated the Master and, along with Ace, heads off toward further adventures. During his tenure, the Doctor once again became a mysterious figure. More questions about the Doctor are asked, and we once again began to ask, Doctor who?

Name: The Doctor
Actor: Sylvester McCoy
August 20, 1943 -
Occupation: Timelord
First Seen: Tardis, arriving to the planet Lakertya
First Episode: Time & The Rani (Season 24)
Last Seen: Planet Earth, circa 1989
Last Episode: Survival (Season 26)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993), Doctor Who - TV Movie (1996)

Notes:After having helped the Doctor during his trial, it's assumed she is dropped off from where the Master plucked her out of time so the Doctor can properly meet her for his first time. She is travelling with the Doctor when the Tardis is hijacked. Breaking into the Tardis, the Rani takes the Doctor and leaves Mel for dead, or assumes she's no trouble. After acquiring help on the planet, Mel meets up with the Doctor, but he's completely different. Having been unconscious when he regenerated, she was unaware he had done so. After a bit of persuading, the two convince each other of who they truly are. Just a couple episodes later, Mel runs into Glitz again After she helps the Doctor on the Ice World, she decides it's time for her and the Doctor to part company. Instead she opts to travel with Glitz, and possible change him into a better man. Though the Doctor is visibly distressed with her departure, he welcomes the news Ace is looking for a place to go. Not a fan favourite, Mel's character is best described as a screamer. Another problem with her character is her background is never developed and though she was originally intended to be a smart (she's a computer programmer), sassy companion. Unfortunatley, the program had matured enough to not need a screaming companion. In years past, there were many companions who were screamers, but generally had interesting back stories. Confusion of her history with the Doctor likely didn't help matter much either.
Name: Melanie Bush
Actor: Bonnie Langford
July 22, 1964 -
Occupation: Computer Programmer
First Seen: Inside the Tardis, arriving to the planet Lakertya
First Episode: Time & The Rani (Season 24)
Last Seen: Leaving Iceworld with Sabalom Glitz
Last Episode: Dragonfire (Season 24)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)

Notes:The story of Ace is quite an interesting one, as she begins travelling with the Doctor as a young adult and matures into a woman. Before meeting with the Doctor, she is whisked away from Planet Earth to the far future on the Ice World where she eventually runs into the Doctor. Through a series of adventures, the Doctor helps her to come to terms with the Mother she has grown to hate and other aspects of her youth she has never truly dealt with. One adventure she helps a young lady with a baby and Ace falls in love with the child. Later, the Doctor informs her the baby will one day be her mother. Things get even more complicated when it's revealed Ace was never accidentally transported to the Ice World via a time storm, but sent there by a creature known as Fenric. Fenric, being an old foe of the Doctor, was using Ace to hopefully destroy the Doctor. Having Fenric's curse, Ace almost did exactly that. Fortunately the Doctor was able to thwart Fenric's plans anyway and free Ace from his curse. However, to do so the Doctor had to make her lose her faith in him, a ploy which almost destroyed their friendship. Ace continued to travel with the Doctor though future exploits with the Doctor are untelevised. Unlike Mel, Ace was giving an interesting background and her character was fully developed. And how cool is it to see a companion attack a Dalek with a baseball bat. I don't recall Ian Chesterton ever doing that.
Name: Dorothy "Ace" McShane
Actor: Sophie Aldred
August 20, 1962 -
Occupation: Waitress
First Seen: Ice World in the far future
First Episode: Dragonfire (Season 24)
Last Seen: Planet Earth, circa 1989
Last Episode: Survival (Season 26)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 74 - "Survival"

When Ace offhandedly tells the Doctor she's curious what her old mates are up to, he takes the opportunity to bring her home to Perivale. Ace is less than thrilled at the prospect of returning to the dreary, boring suburb. But once there, she eagerly sets off to find her friends. Initially she can't anyone, even in the normal places they generally used to hang out. When she finally finds one of her friends, she's informed some have gone on to other, less exciting, things and the rest have mysteriously gone missing. 

As Ace is out looking for her friends, the Doctor has taken to cat hunting. A strange black cat seems to be following him around. Visiting a local shop for cans of cat food, the Doctor tries in vain to capture the animal. As he continues to do this he's running through peoples lawns and yards which draws the attention of the local neighbourhood watch. The Doctor manages to lose Sergeant Paterson, the persistent SAS survivalist, and is about to catch the black cat when he hears Ace shouting for help.

The Doctor discovers the missing people are being transported off planet by cheetah people. As he's once again confronted by Paterson, they are both transported to an alien planet. It's then the Doctor discovers the Master is responsible. The Master is marooned on the alien planet, which is slowly turning him into a cheetah person. While struggling to retain his Timelord attributes, he laid this trap for the Doctor hoping the Doctor will be able to find a way off the planet.

On the cheetah world, Ace finds a few of her friends. She learns eventually the planet bonds with and transforms people into the cheetah's. Her attempts to capture one fail until she meets up with the Doctor. During another attack, she manages to wound one by hitting it with a rock. Instead of trying to kill it, she helps it. The cheetah, Karra, accepts Ace's help and begins calling her 'sister'. Ace has now begun to transform into one of the cheetah people and Karra invites Ace to hunt with her.

Once the Doctor realizes the cheetah people can teleport off the planet to bring back their prey, the Master captures one of the youths who has started to be transformed by the planet. He tells the youth to go home, and when he does the Master goes with him. But once back on Earth, the Master is horrified to realize the transformation the cheetah world has on him may have progressed too far. He's unable to restore his full Timelord persona.

Still trapped on the planet, the Doctor and Ace have to wait for another person to begin changing into one of the cheetah persons. But Ace has already had this happen to her, though she's showing some restraint. The Doctor informs her she can help bring everyone back home, but it may cost her her humanity; as has happened to the Master. Ace is not afraid and agrees to help the Doctor and the rest of the people still alive from Perivale. Back on Earth, the Master indirectly attacks Ace, but she's saved by Karra who has followed her to Earth. The Master promptly stabs Karra and she begins reverting back to her human form. Ace sadly watches Karra die.

The Master then attempts to break into the Doctor's Tardis, though what's become of his Tardis is unclear. When the Doctor stops him, the Master transports the Doctor back to the alien world that is destroying itself. As the planet breaks up, the cheetah people disappear and the Master tries to provoke the Doctor into fighting. The Master seems to have gone crazy and exclaims he does not want to live as an animal. He's willing to die with the planet, and take the Doctor with him. As the planet is about to break up, the Doctor is transported back to Earth. If the Master was transported back elsewhere, it's not shown.

This was the final episode of the classic Doctor Who series. The final shot is the Doctor and Ace walking off towards their next adventure.

"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke, and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea's getting cold! Come on Ace, we've got work to do!" - The Doctor

Bonus Photo

Lisa Bowerman (Who plays Karra), later goes on to play Bernice Summerfield in the Big Finish Audios

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 73 "Battlefield"

In a darkened Tardis, the Doctor is trying to pinpoint a distress signal. Once landed, the Doctor and Ace discover they are on Earth near a small town called Carbury. As they begin their investigations, they find a nuclear missile convey escorted by UNIT troops, but they have been stopped near Lake Vortigern. Using older UNIT ID's of the third Doctor and Liz Shaw, the Doctor tries to find out more information from the most recently appointed Brigadier, Bambera. She angrily scolds her first officer for letting the Doctor in using such "false" identification.

However, the officer knows something Bambera doesn't. Having worked with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart in the past, he recalls the scientific advisor they once had. A scientific advisor named the Doctor who was able to change his persona, appearance and his mannerisms. The Doctor was also well known for the danger he seemed to attract. Bambera puts in a call to Geneva to get what info she can regarding this "Doctor". Meanwhile, at home, the Brigadier is enjoying his retirement with his wife Doris. When she receives a call asking for the Brigadier's assistance, he reminds her he's retired, and as such, not interested. But when he hears the Doctor is involved, he immediately decides he must, much to his wife's reluctance.

Doing his investigation work at a local pub, the Doctor and Ace find an armour clad medieval soldier who goes by the name Ancelyn and identifies the Doctor as Merlin. The Doctor finds out Ancelyn is battling Mordred and his mother Morgaine. The rivalry is actually from a parallel Earth, but when the Doctor meets Mordred, he also identifies the Doctor as Merlin. The Doctor uses this to his advantage and causes Mordred into a retreat. Now somewhat convinced of the Doctor's identity, an unsteady alliance is formed between Bambera and the Doctor, but she's still waiting for the Brigadier to arrive for help.Despite the outward rivalry between Bambera and Ancelyn, it seems they  have begun to fancy each other.

With Ancelyn having "Merlin" on his side, Mordred calls upon his mother Morgaine, who crosses a bridge into our universe. She vows this will be the last stand between her and Arthur. As this is going on, the Doctor and Ace have discovered a space ship under the lake with what appears to be Arthur in suspended animation. The Doctor was able to gain entry when he realized the entrance was keyed to his voice pattern. He then realizes he is most likely "Merlin", but from his own future, most likely a future incarnation of himself.

The Brigadier finally arrives on the scene via helicopter, but Morgaine witnesses his arrival and shoots the 'machine' down. It's then she realizes her son has been fighting on a cemetery of fallen war heroes and claims he has disgraced them and sends him away. Having survived the crash, the Brigadier finds Morgaine but she has called a truce. In her warped sense of honour she refuses to fight on the 'sacred' ground of the dead. She allows the Brigadier to escape, but warns him the next time they meet, she'll kill him. The Brigadier agrees to return the favour and sets off to find Bamera and the Doctor.
[Interesting side note: Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier) and Jean Marsh (Morgaine) played brother and sister, Bret Vyon and Sara Kingdom, in a first Doctor episode "The Dalek Master Plan"]

As the Doctor and Ace are exploring the underwater spaceship, Ace grabs what is identified as Excalibur. Unfortunately, this triggers a defence mechanism which almost causes her to drown and the Doctor attacked. As Ace is sectioned off from the Doctor, she's ejected from the spaceship and into the lake. She swims to the surface and worried about the Doctor, but the Brigadier has arrived and heads into the underground spaceship and rescues the Doctor. Though not having seen his current incarnation before, the Brigadier immediately identifies the Doctor. Both are glad to see each other once again.

The battle between Ancelyn and Mordred are heating up, casualties on both sides. But when Morgaine stops by the local pub to collect her son, she sees he has had his fill of drinks from the establishment. Her code of honour causes her to pay the 'bar tab' by restoring the sight of the proprietors wife. But thinking "Merlin" could ultimately win, she calls upon "The Destroyer" for leverage. She knows Merlin will withdraw rather than see the Earth destroyed by the "Eater of Worlds". The Doctor tries to convince her though, that Arthur is already dead. In disbelief, she still craves Excalibur and the power it holds.

With the Destroyers help, Morgaine takes Excalibur from Ace. Ace is depressed she let the Doctor down, but he admits he'd rather have her alive, than dead with the sword. The Brigadier then surprises the Doctor with the advancement of UNIT's weaponry to deal with all sorts of invasions. Having silver bullets in stock, the Brigadier kills the destroyer, almost at the cost of his life. Morgaine then decides she's going to use the nuclear missile to destroy the world. But the Doctor calls upon her sense of honour and at the last second she calls the attack off. She's then taken prisoner by UNIT.

Bonus Photo!

The Brigadier surprises the Doctor by bringing with him, Bessie. The car he once drove in his third incarnation when he was UNIT's scientific advisor.

Story Note: This is the final appearance of the Brigadier in Doctor Who, though he is mentioned a few times in the new series.