Old Doctor Who

[biggytitbo]

In terms of Doctor Who, I'd say he was in the top 5, probbaly only behind Sarah Jane when you think of the suporting characters in the old series.

[mycroft]

I'd say he was the top non-villain recurring character, a perfect foil for all the Doctors he encountered, with his weary cynicism and fondness for shooting things, worrying about ministerial red-tape while aliens invaded country B-roads in groups of six. Always putting the welfare of his men first, with little hints of humour under the stern exterior, and always a crack-shot when everything's going all wrong. He was one of the quintessential TV soldiers, really. I'm hard-placed at the moment to think of another one (who was set in the modern day, anyway).

[biggytitbo]

I think you put your finger on why he was so great, he was that epitomy of 70s doctor who - the british establishment figure. That feel of britian, the buracracy, the instituions, the governemnt, the men from the ministries, is whats so charming about that whole era in which the Brig was one of the main men.

[Ambient Sheep]

Oh, what sad news.  Could see it coming though, he didn't look terribly well in SJA.

Does anyone know if his appearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures is worth catching?

Yes, it is.  Well I think so, anyway.

Chap with wings there, five rounds rapid

:-)

Let's hope he doesn't take the same approach with St. Peter...

[VegaLA]

I started watching 'Inferno' last night as I know he's got some decent screen time and he's pretty active in that story, but i'd like to know your fave Brig stories or moments.
I also have a few Davison stories he appears in that i've not seen since broadcast, as well as at least one McCoy story i've NEVER seen that I think the Brig appears in (battlefield?) to watch at some point.

[mycroft]

'Battlefield' is the McCoy story the Brig turns up in (and originally was going to be killed off in), but it's a real marmite story. Personally, I think it's utterly awful. The video reviewer in Doctor Who Magazine back in the day reckoned that someone at the Beeb took a look at Episode One and decided to cancel the programme there and then. I'd probably agree.

Is 'Mawdryn Undead' any good? I heard it was originally written to feature Ian Chesterton, hence the weird idea of the Brig teaching maths.

[The Roofdog]

I think the only Davison story he appears in is Mawdryn Undead, but there are at least

Spoiler alert

2 different versions of him wandering around

[close]

, and Battlefield is the only McCoy-Brig story yes.

I like the guy even more now I remember he had the good sense never to appear in a Colin Baker story.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

The Brig also features quite prominently in The Five Doctors (a story I've always enjoyed), in which he's partnered with Troughton for the most part.

[The Roofdog]

Is 'Mawdryn Undead' any good? I heard it was originally written to feature Ian Chesterton, hence the weird idea of the Brig teaching maths.

Despite not really liking the 5th Doctor, I am a big fan of that entire 'Black Guardian' trilogy and Mawdryn is probably the strongest story of the 3. Lots of flitting about between Earth and a big spaceship, some interesting Timelord/regeneration fanwank issues and David Collings is great in it. Have to say, no disrespect to the Brig, that it would've been perfect to have Ian back instead, the story does crowbar him in slightly.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Some Tory twat - who, judging from his byline photo, appears to be Declan Donnelly regenerating into Sandi Toksvig - has just noticed that early 70s Who boasted a disgraceful leftist bias.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100077475/doctor-who-the-brigadier-and-the-politics-of-the-bbc/

Viva Comrade Letts!

[VegaLA]

The Brig also features quite prominently in The Five Doctors (a story I've always enjoyed), in which he's partnered with Troughton for the most part.

Yeah, I thought about that last night but I've watched it in the past few years and 'Inferno' was due a re-watch since the first and last time I saw it was on UK Gold around 1993.

I'll have to see Battlefiend at some point no matter how bad it is. Was the Brig not in th Cyberman story (Silver Nemesis) around the same time?

[biggytitbo]

Mawdyn Undead is ace, one of the best Davisons, and of course the brig is great in it, giving his chatacrer a bit more depth than it had in the later UNIT stories.

In the five doctors, Iresume some of the companions are out of synch because of Baker decling to take part? Brig should really be with Pertwee and Sarah Jane with Baker, as it is it feels a bit mismatched.

[mycroft]

It was just a question of who was free when they were filming, as far as I know (because former companions are obviously drowning in work...). Trout was originally going to be accompanied by Victoria, P'twee with Jo, Tom with Sarah, and Richard Hurndall with Barbara.

I'll have to see Battlefiend at some point no matter how bad it is. Was the Brig not in th Cyberman story (Silver Nemesis) around the same time?

Nah, just 'Battlefield' with ol' Nick on board. 'Nemesis' does have a load of soldiers, but they're neo-Nazis (and about as much use as UNIT in a scrap) led by the Colonel off Where Eagles Dare.

[Jake Thingray]

Timelord/regeneration fanwank issues

So that's allowed, so is mycroft's sarky comment in the above post about former companions "drowning in work", but for saying it's silly, for kids and its fans read too much into it, you say I'm a moron and that everything I say is wrong?

Under the 'related articles' link in the Grauniad's obituary of Mr Courtney, there is a link to their obituary of Barry Letts. Don't forget who wrote that, if you please.

[Mister Six]

Jake.

Jake.

Jake.

Fuck off.

Ta.

[Jake Thingray]

How very open-minded and reasonable you fanboys are.

[Mister Six]

How very tedious you trolls are.

[Lookalike Mark Chapman]

Why would you come into this thread, Jake? You don't like Doctor Who cropping in other threads, but you can guarantee it'll be in this one. In other words, stop hitting yourself.

[Jake Thingray]

Why would you come into this thread, Jake? You don't like Doctor Who cropping in other threads, but you can guarantee it'll be in this one. In other words, stop hitting yourself.

It's to point out the small-mindedness and hypocrisy of you lot. Had I the inclination, I could ask those of you who sneer at my distress and imply I'm a moron, how many articles you've ever had published in the national press. And on subjects other than "the show"?

[mycroft]

Christ's sake. I'd suggest you go and top yourself, but the tunnel of light apparently viewed at the point of death would resemble the Tom Baker titles so much you'd scream the universe apart.

[Mister Six]

It's to point out the small-mindedness and hypocrisy of you lot. Had I the inclination, I could ask those of you who sneer at my distress and imply I'm a moron, how many articles you've ever had published in the national press. And on subjects other than "the show"?

I notice that you haven't fucked off yet.

But while I'm here:

A - There is no hypocrisy. You're quoting out of context. Mycroft and Roofdog both made wry remarks while good-naturedly chatting about other topics. You, on the other hand, roll into a thread (any thread, it seems) ranting like a pissed-up tramp in a bus shelter about how Doctor Who is a shit kids' show and the fans are idiots for liking it and blah blah blah. You have nothing but bile and venom, and that's not remotely interesting. Someone who likes parts of a show and hates other parts can create an interesting discussion. Someone who just loathes the whole thing, on the other hand, cannot contribute anything of value to a thread.
B - I have had many articles published in both the British national press and abroad, on account of being a professional journalist and editor. This doesn't mean I'm better than everyone else.[nb]My inherent greatness means I'm better than everyone else.[/nb]
C - Nobody fucking cares about your opinions any more. You blame Doctor Who for your own failings. We get it. You think it's a stupid kids' show. We get it. You think it's irredeemably awful. We get it. We got it. We've had it for years now. And we just don't care.
D - Fuck off already.
E to Z - Seriously.


EDIT: Fucking Mycroft, doing it all in one line and being funnier than me.

[mycroft]

EDIT: Fucking Mycroft, doing it all in one line and being funnier than me.

Sorry, I'll stick it in the National Press in future.

[The Boston Crab]

It's to point out the small-mindedness and hypocrisy of you lot. Had I the inclination, I could ask those of you who sneer at my distress and imply I'm a moron, how many articles you've ever had published in the national press. And on subjects other than "the show"?

I've been published in the Washington Post and Le Monde, and I don't even have any interest in writing professionally. It means nothing. Don't judge yourself by this stuff. It won't do you any good.

You're a solid dude, let this shit go. Get on with the good stuff.

xx

[SavageHedgehog]

I'm also one of the poseters who (to paraphrase one of the only Who lines I know) doesn't want you to go. A lot of your posts are great. I don't know whether some of the higher powers would appreciate this suggestion, but I actually think it might be a good idea for you to do a thread where you rant about you seething hatred for Who and related matters, a little corner of the site where you can get it out of your system when need be. You wanted Nelson to start one and he's not interested, so why not go for it yourself?

[Mr Merlin]

You're a solid dude, let this shit go. Get on with the good stuff.

That's a hell of a lot nicer than what I was going to say. I'll go with your comment instead.

[Mister Six]

Addendum: I don't necessarily want Jake to leave CaB - although obviously I wouldn't be bothered if he did - I just want him to shush about Doctor Who. I'm entirely in favour of a 'Jake Thingray's "I Hate Doctor Who" Thread' thread, but I don't want to endure his particular brand of bilious bellowing every time someone mentions The Show. Especially when the words 'Doctor' and 'Who' are in the bloody thread title!

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

I still think he should write a cathartic "How Doctor Who Ruined My Life" article for DArkSky/Lookalike Mark Chapman's fanzine.

Anyway, how about them Rolling Stones?

[mycroft]

<tag>Bill Wyberman</tag>

[Jake Thingray]

I'm also one of the poseters who (to paraphrase one of the only Who lines I know) doesn't want you to go. A lot of your posts are great. I don't know whether some of the higher powers would appreciate this suggestion, but I actually think it might be a good idea for you to do a thread where you rant about you seething hatred for Who and related matters, a little corner of the site where you can get it out of your system when need be. You wanted Nelson to start one and he's not interested, so why not go for it yourself?

Interesting, but I'd rather do what I should have done for a while now, namely focus my attentions on this forum towards Just one more thread, as I genuinely love COLUMBO and it would make for less negativity all round. Also (unlike THE AVENGERS, sadly), it is practically impossible to make connections between that series and "the show" (when Jemble Fred slagged off COLUMBO, he compared it to QUINCY and other American series, as far removed from low-budget British sci-fi as you can get), anyone trying to do so would simply be "trolling" themselves.

[The Boston Crab]

Man, you got much more offer than specialised obsessions. Look at me, AnCo-obsessed bore, just about managing to get involved elsewhere. Don't sulk, don't worry. You're all right, Jack. Just don't do your head in.

x