One thought on “Doctor Who – Scream of the Shalka [DVD]”
“…it’s not a ‘lost classic’, it may just impress you…” Potential.Yes, that’s the word that ably describes the 2003 “webisodes” (I think that’s what the BBC titled them) from Paul Cornell and BBCi, DOCTOR WHO – SCREAM OF THE SHALKA released for the first time on DVD on 16 September 2013.If it wasn’t the for the pesky interference (yes, I’m joking, dear reader) of Russell T Davies and Jane Tranter in their audacity in thinking that DOCTOR WHO could be revived on television then the potential of an animated series of stories, with a revelatory Richard E Grant as the Ninth Doctor, could have been wholly explored and realised to a greater depth.Allison: What are you?The Doctor: Mildly annoyed.However, as we know too well, SCREAM OF THE SHALKA was an isolated project, mildly idiosyncratic yet highly entertaining, and, unfortunately, cannot even be regarded as “canon” and as such is archived on the same shelf as Peter Cushing’s two movie outings (but, then again, I’m sure Grant would not be too dismissive of such legendary company as they gather eons of dust together). If, like myself, you come to this animated six-parter fresh, having avoided it for a decade, then embrace it and, by the final episode, you’ll be enveloped by an enigmatically witty yet caustic Time Lord, a (and here’s that word again…) potentially substantial TARDIS travelling companion, Allison (played by Sophie Okonedo – Liz 10 from SERIES 5’s DOCTOR WHO – THE BEAST BELOW) and a traditional plot (Paul Cornell) that embodies the very DNA of the CLASSIC SERIES.Overall, DOCTOR WHO – SCREAM OF THE SHALKA is, surprisingly, engrossing and I’m ashamed, as fan of the series, that I had ignored it for far too long, and with this release `missing blanks’ can be appropriately filled in even though some (fans) may consider the production as “…putting kittens in a blender…”In CARRY ON SCREAMING, the production team discuss the sometimes fraught genesis of the animated series (yes, this project was envisaged as a three-story 12-episode animated series) as seemingly circuitous BBC meetings to gain finance and to discuss Licencing Rights options would challenge a Möbius Strip for incomprehensibility and longevity. As the story’s Executive Producers, James Goss states, “…we’d not have done it if they’d known if DOCTOR WHO was going to be brought back to TV (in 2005)” and Martin Trickey “…we asked everybody who we thought we had to ask…” and even then the production was plagued with disinterest from the Corporation’s Executives. One supportive voice was from its writer, Paul Cornell, who leapt (whilst remaining as cool as a frozen cucumber) at the opportunity to write for the broadcast series and to create a new version of the Doctor.Unsurprisingly, Goss describes the dependable Cornell as “…bomb-proof as a seaside donkey…” and he delivered in SCREAM OF THE SHALKA a timey-wimey-free linear adventure that gradually and unsuspectingly draws you in eventually assailing your senses. And you would not expect anything different from Cornell, would you? Long-time DOCTOR WHO author (including the 1995 DOCTOR WHO – HUMAN NATURE novel for Virgin New Adventures that was later developed for the NEW SERIES in 2007) not delivers an electrifying plot and a new alien menace but, in pre-dating Russell T Davies’ ROSE (2005), the most `everyday’ (and that a compliment not a criticism) setting & scripting for a DOCTOR WHO story to date. The relationship between Allison and hapless boyfriend, Joe mirrors that of Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith, whilst there is a just a frisson of dangerous sexuality between Allison and her Doctor that will be eventually explored by Rose and her Doctor.There are noticeable inclusion that have – or may have – influenced Russell T Davies in his own scripting of the NEW SERIES. Cornell deploys a “motor vehicle style central TARDIS locking `click-click’ scenario (see DOCTOR WHO – THE END OF TIME PART ONE) as well as his Doctor’s predilection for “Hush” (see DOCTOR WHO – FEAR HER).Furthermore, CARRY ON SCREAMING details how fans’ mixed appreciation SCREAM OF THE SHALKA and the BBC’s commitment to a `live-action’ new series effectively scuppered future endeavours but, graciously, the production team behind the first animated DOCTOR WHO story were resigned to the fact and, it would seem, were quite pleased not to pursue the project further.In SCREAMING SESSIONS, the cast and crew – sans Richard E Grant – discuss their roles, being turned into animation (“…you cannot polish a turd…” and “…bigger boobs and smaller feet…” were some of the statements from the actors to Cosgrove Hall Animation) and recording sessions. Whilst Okonedo describes Richard E Grant’s Doctor as “…a perfect Doctor…”, Craig Kelly describes him “…a quintessential Gentlemen…” which might leave some fans saying “Why wasn’t he cast as a television Doctor?”In INTERWEB OF FEAR, we…
“…it’s not a ‘lost classic’, it may just impress you…” Potential.Yes, that’s the word that ably describes the 2003 “webisodes” (I think that’s what the BBC titled them) from Paul Cornell and BBCi, DOCTOR WHO – SCREAM OF THE SHALKA released for the first time on DVD on 16 September 2013.If it wasn’t the for the pesky interference (yes, I’m joking, dear reader) of Russell T Davies and Jane Tranter in their audacity in thinking that DOCTOR WHO could be revived on television then the potential of an animated series of stories, with a revelatory Richard E Grant as the Ninth Doctor, could have been wholly explored and realised to a greater depth.Allison: What are you?The Doctor: Mildly annoyed.However, as we know too well, SCREAM OF THE SHALKA was an isolated project, mildly idiosyncratic yet highly entertaining, and, unfortunately, cannot even be regarded as “canon” and as such is archived on the same shelf as Peter Cushing’s two movie outings (but, then again, I’m sure Grant would not be too dismissive of such legendary company as they gather eons of dust together). If, like myself, you come to this animated six-parter fresh, having avoided it for a decade, then embrace it and, by the final episode, you’ll be enveloped by an enigmatically witty yet caustic Time Lord, a (and here’s that word again…) potentially substantial TARDIS travelling companion, Allison (played by Sophie Okonedo – Liz 10 from SERIES 5’s DOCTOR WHO – THE BEAST BELOW) and a traditional plot (Paul Cornell) that embodies the very DNA of the CLASSIC SERIES.Overall, DOCTOR WHO – SCREAM OF THE SHALKA is, surprisingly, engrossing and I’m ashamed, as fan of the series, that I had ignored it for far too long, and with this release `missing blanks’ can be appropriately filled in even though some (fans) may consider the production as “…putting kittens in a blender…”In CARRY ON SCREAMING, the production team discuss the sometimes fraught genesis of the animated series (yes, this project was envisaged as a three-story 12-episode animated series) as seemingly circuitous BBC meetings to gain finance and to discuss Licencing Rights options would challenge a Möbius Strip for incomprehensibility and longevity. As the story’s Executive Producers, James Goss states, “…we’d not have done it if they’d known if DOCTOR WHO was going to be brought back to TV (in 2005)” and Martin Trickey “…we asked everybody who we thought we had to ask…” and even then the production was plagued with disinterest from the Corporation’s Executives. One supportive voice was from its writer, Paul Cornell, who leapt (whilst remaining as cool as a frozen cucumber) at the opportunity to write for the broadcast series and to create a new version of the Doctor.Unsurprisingly, Goss describes the dependable Cornell as “…bomb-proof as a seaside donkey…” and he delivered in SCREAM OF THE SHALKA a timey-wimey-free linear adventure that gradually and unsuspectingly draws you in eventually assailing your senses. And you would not expect anything different from Cornell, would you? Long-time DOCTOR WHO author (including the 1995 DOCTOR WHO – HUMAN NATURE novel for Virgin New Adventures that was later developed for the NEW SERIES in 2007) not delivers an electrifying plot and a new alien menace but, in pre-dating Russell T Davies’ ROSE (2005), the most `everyday’ (and that a compliment not a criticism) setting & scripting for a DOCTOR WHO story to date. The relationship between Allison and hapless boyfriend, Joe mirrors that of Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith, whilst there is a just a frisson of dangerous sexuality between Allison and her Doctor that will be eventually explored by Rose and her Doctor.There are noticeable inclusion that have – or may have – influenced Russell T Davies in his own scripting of the NEW SERIES. Cornell deploys a “motor vehicle style central TARDIS locking `click-click’ scenario (see DOCTOR WHO – THE END OF TIME PART ONE) as well as his Doctor’s predilection for “Hush” (see DOCTOR WHO – FEAR HER).Furthermore, CARRY ON SCREAMING details how fans’ mixed appreciation SCREAM OF THE SHALKA and the BBC’s commitment to a `live-action’ new series effectively scuppered future endeavours but, graciously, the production team behind the first animated DOCTOR WHO story were resigned to the fact and, it would seem, were quite pleased not to pursue the project further.In SCREAMING SESSIONS, the cast and crew – sans Richard E Grant – discuss their roles, being turned into animation (“…you cannot polish a turd…” and “…bigger boobs and smaller feet…” were some of the statements from the actors to Cosgrove Hall Animation) and recording sessions. Whilst Okonedo describes Richard E Grant’s Doctor as “…a perfect Doctor…”, Craig Kelly describes him “…a quintessential Gentlemen…” which might leave some fans saying “Why wasn’t he cast as a television Doctor?”In INTERWEB OF FEAR, we…