JJ ABRAMS F I N A L LY S P E A K S S TA R WA R S E P I S O D E 7
THE ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN SCI-FI TELEVISION MAGAZINE
FIRST LOOK AT
www.xenomag.com.au
DEFIANCE
GAME AND SHOW
STAR TREK
GET GADGET SAVY
INTO DARKNESS MOVIE REVIEW
A great guide to the greatest sci-fi gadgets to own in your own home.
50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
DOCTOR WHO
ALL NEW INFORMATION ON GUEST STARS, PLOT AND MORE! PLUS, SEASON 7.5 - HOW WE RATED IT.
FIRST FOOTAGE FROM SPEILBERGS
UNDER THE DOME We discuss the adaption of the Stephen King novel to hit television series.
PLUS:
ISSUE 88 $8.95 WAREHOUSE 13 | CONTINUUM TOUCH | HAVEN | FALLING SKIES FUTURAMA | ORPHAN BLACK
10 REASONS out the b a d e it c x e e b w h y y o u s h o u ld l e p is o d e ia c e p s y r a s r e iv ann
D
octor Who turns 50 on November 23rd 2013 (at 5:15PM to be precise). Right now many fans are upset about how little is being done to mark the occasion. This article hopes to lift this shroud of sorrow that the upset Whovians live in so the light of Moffat’s genius can pour in and brighten things up. There’s plenty reason to be hyped about the occasion. Maybe people are unaware of the special events that are underway already to celebrate everything that is Who on his half-century? With this article I hope to help all that. Here’s ten reasons to be excited about the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who…
Russell T. Davies would never have handed the show over to Steven Moffat if he had just one tiny bit of doubt he couldn’t deliver. Yes, he’s made mistakes, I’ve only noticed because I have nothing better to do than sit and watch episodes over and over again, but to the untrained eye, they seem fine and essentially they are. Maybe the idea of splitting the series in two was a bad idea, but it wasn’t so hard to cope with the second time, was it? Probably because it never ended on a cliffhanger. Moffat’s a die-hard Whovian, always has been, and always will be. The evidence is all around us, he brought back the Silurians, The Ice Warriors, The Great Intelligence and even made us find a soft spot for a
Sontaron! How many people thought we’d ever see the day when a Sontaron could be a laughing matter – even more. There’s no doubt that come the 50th, he’ll do it again. Pack a story with fear, adventure, friendship, love and excitement With it being such a historic occasion, stress is inevitable. Matt Smith’s already admitted he’s barley slept since becoming Doctor Who in 2009, so think how the man behind the madness feels. As well as penning the milestone episode, he’s also got to work on Sherlock with Mark Gatiss. Without a doubt, his special episode will be just like all his others – fantastic.
h s i n i F g i B 9 # s r o t c o D g n i t Reuni We might not be getting The 11 Doctor’s or the 8 Doctor’s (at least the 2 Doctor’s) but Big Finish have things on top. They’ll be bringing out a special audiobook called Light At The End. It will feature all five surving Doctor’s – Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann. It’s suggested date of release is November to match up with the 50th. The official blurb follows;
November 23rd 1963 proves to be a significant day in the lives of all eight Doctors… It’s the day that Bob Dovie’s life is ripped apart… It’s also a day that sets in motion a catastrophic chain of events which forces the first eight incarnations of the Doctor to fight for their very existence. As a mysterious, insidious chaos unfolds within the TARDIS, the barriers of time break apart… From suburban England through war-torn alien landscapes and into a deadly, artificial dimension, all these Doctors and their companions must struggle against the power of an unfathomable, alien technology. From the very beginning, it is clear that the Master is somehow involved. By the end, for the Doctors, there may only be darkness.
s k o o B 1 1 , s r #8 11 Docto Penguin Books will be honnering the 50th by hand picking 11 award winning authors to pen 11 e-books for the 50th. A new book will be out each month leading up to November when it’s expected the names’ll get bigger and bigger. The top billed authors for 9, 10 and 11 are Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling. So far, we’ve had A Big Hand For The Doctor, written by the Artimus Fowl writer, Eoin Colfer. The e-book featured the first Doctor and Susan. In February, The Nameless City came out starring Patrick
Troughton and in March came the Spear of Destiny featuring Jon Pertwee. The most current, as of April, is The Roots of Evil featuring the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker and Romana. Who would you like to see pen a Doctor Who book? Be sure to check out the official Doctor Who facebook page each month to see who’ll be writing the next months. At present, there are no plans to bring them out in book form and they can be downloaded from any online bookstore.
s e c a F r a l i # 7 Fa m Who wouldn’t be excited to see The 10th Doctor and Rose make a come back for the 50th? What I’m not happy abut is all this talk that David Tennant will be the 12th Doctor, a bogus rumour that there’s a reverse regeneration in the works? Come on, the show’s losing viewers as it is, do you want to get it axed?! We can enjoy seeing them back for the 90 minute special, but taking back their parts in a full series is out of the question. It ruins what made their exits so tragic and good. It will be exciting to see how Rose and Clara get on, and 10 and 11. Not only are 10 and Rose back, but so is the old TARDIS! Scenes have been spotted filming with the 11th Doctor entering David Tennant’s TARDIS. These two are the only past characters confirmed to return but no doubt there’ll be more. Digitally or in the flesh, we’re still paying homage to the past and when it comes down to it, that’s really all it’s about. Remembering Doctor Who, and so far it looks like Moffat’s taken on board the fans suggestions and might even have a few more surprises up his sleeve, but that would be telling…
! s p m a t S o h #6 Doctor W The Royal Mail are bringing out a series of Doctor Who stamps to commemorate the 50th. These stamps are something to keep a hold of. Just like James Bond and The Queen, Doctor Who can’t be taken down. Send your parcles and letters in style with these wonderful stamps. The sets include;
Doctor Who Presteige Stamp Book – A collectors book of stamps with each of the Doctor’s stamp Doctor Who Presentation Pack - a sheet of all 11 stamps Doctor Who Minature Sheet – a sheet with a monster and a stamp in the middle Doctor Who Generic Sheet – speaks for itself 9th – 11th Doctor Set 5th – 8th Doctor Set 1st – 4th Doctor Set
11 Doctor’s Stamp Set – 11
First Stamp Cards
stamps with each of the Doc-
Signed Framed Sets of All 11
tor’s faces on it
Unsigned Framed Sets of All 11
? r e v e r o F . . . n O #5 50 Going
Doctor Who is heading for 50, not many shows can claim that, but when will it all end? If it can make it to 50, despite what the critics say, can it be the show that lasts forever? Could it actually never end? For it to continue another 50 years, it might need to change. Would these changes be for the good or for the worse? Certainly,
splitting the show in two is a sure fire way to prolong it and the amount of regenerations. Introducing major plot twists like River Song and Parallel Doctor’s is what keeps it going. For all some people are not keen on how dynamic its changes are becoming, how else can we reach 2063, the show’s 100th anniversary? How will it have progressed?
! D 3 n I , o h W #4 Doctor
Doctor Who will be broadcast for the first time ever in 3D for the 90 minute special episode. It’s not just a milestone for Doctor Who, but for TV. It’s the first show being broadcast in full 3D. Of course, you’ll need a long list of requirements such as a 3D TV, 3D Glasses, 3D Channels and lots more. Personally, I don’t think it’s wise, it seems a waste of money and time but if you have the requirements then go for it, but don’t go out of your way to see it in 3D.
s t n e v E f O g n i #3 Str
Throughout 2013, there’s a string of exciting events taking place. I’d love to say up and down the country, but it’s mostly London. The British Film Institute in London are screening an episode form each of the Doctor’s once a month leading up to November. As well as that, for the first time in New Zealand and Australia - in February a collection of HD episodes were screened.
In Edinburgh, the Filmhouse will be screening the two Dalek movies starring Peter Cushing in HD for the first time, ahead of their Blu-Ray releases later in the year. No doubt the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff will also be pulling out the stops to ensure the year is well marked and of course, who could forget the biggest of them all. No one knows what it is or who’s involved, but the weekend of the anniversary, something big is going down in London’s Excel that’s not to be missed. It’s assumed that there’ll be a screening of the 3D special and plenty of major gusts like Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna-Louise Coleman and Billie Piper to name a few. The DoctorWho.TV site are telling us to keep our eyes peeled.
e m i T d n a e c a p S n I e r u t n e v #2 An Ad What a treat. We’ll be seeing for the first time ever how Doctor Who as the show actually came to be. Mark Gatiss has wrapped up filming on An Adventure In Space And Time, a 90 minute docu-drama which will explore the show’s origins. Not only that, but it’s promising to reenact some of the most milestone episodes of the show’s first years. Episodes covered will include An Unearthly Child (or 10,000 BC), The Dalek Invasion Of Earth and The Tenth’ Planet. Actors have been cast to take on the roles of William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Susan Foreman, Mrs. Hartnell, Jacqueline Hill and William Russell. The Special will be in colour (obviously) and in HD. I’m just pointing those out because it’ll be so exciting to see the roots of the show in wonderful new light. Jessica Raine who last week guest starred as Emma Grayling in Hide will take on the part of Verity Lambert, executive producer.
#1 Doctor
l a i c e p S y r a s r e v i n n A h t 0 5 e h T : o h W
I’ll admit, I struggled with the title for this. No one really knows what it’ll be called but what we do know is that it’s big. It’s already big, and it’s not even here yet. Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna – Louise Coleman AND Billie Piper all in the one episode? As if that’s not enough, we’ll also be seeing the return of the Zygons and Brigidear Lethbridge Stewart’s daughter, Kate. It’s also confirmed for a 90 minute running time and will be broadcast in 3D. With all that in mind, a Cinematic version could indeed work, heck, any episode could work in the cinema. Everyday new information
is being fed to us by the bottle that is the BBC. There’s also some bad news about the special though, John Barrowman has confirmed to not be returning for it, as well as previous Doctor, Christopher Ecclestone. 20th Century Doctor’s (1 – 8) have all, well (4 – 8) expressed an interest in returning but simply haven’t been asked. Some are not even expecting to be. I don’t think Moffat will ever be able to please 100% of the fans. I’d say right now he’s managed 75%. There’s still more that can be done, but if this really is the line up for the episode, then guys – just be happy. •