Changes: Death Comes to Time (webcast)

Revision as of 08:02, 26 February 2019

Death Comes to Time

Key crew

Writer:

Colin Meek

Director:

Dan Freedman

Producer:

Dan Freedman

Animator:

Lee Sullivan

Release details

Release number:

1

Premiere broadcast:

13 July 2001 - 3 May 2002

Format:

5 Episodes

Production code:

BBCI-1

BBCi animations
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Real Time

Death Comes to Time was a five-episode webcast animated adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor. It was available via the BBCI website in 2001 to 2002. However, unlike the other webcasts starring classic series Doctors that premiered, it is considered alternate to Doctor Who for depicting the (apparent) ultimate death of the Doctor, negating the timeline that led into the TV movie. Also, the portrayal of the Time Lords in this story seems different to the one seen in the usual series, giving them the abilities to revoke TARDISes and release forbidden powers that disrupt the universe.

The root of Death Comes to Time is that, before plans were announced to revive the series, an attempt was made to create a story that would act as the series finale for Doctor Who altogether. This ending would dovetail into a spin-off that would be the spiritual successor to Doctor Who, called The Minister of Chance. The would-be finale depicts the Doctor making a final sacrifice, and an implied downfall of the Time Lord society prior to the events of the story (as the few Time Lords seen in the story are stated to be the last alive). The Doctor's companion Ace also ends up on her own, solemnly telling Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart about the Doctor's demise. However, because the Doctor's body is never found, his final fate is unclear.

Publisher's summary

“Even Time Lords die...”

When a dissident Time Lord group inadvertently caused the destruction of an entire civilisation through interference, its members vowed to repent by serving the Universe not as gods of Time but as mere men. Many years later, this peaceful resolve is severely tested when two of their number are killed -- and the Doctor's seventh incarnation becomes embroiled in the struggle against the apparently unstoppable General Tannis.

Plagued by ominous portents, the Doctor and his companion Antimony must race across the Universe, taking in the Santine Republic, the Great Orion Nebula and the frozen heart of the Canisian Empire. Meanwhile, the mysterious Minister of Chance battles his own inner demons, and former TARDIS traveller Ace finds herself in training for a destiny she never dreamed possible. Matters reach a terrible climax when Tannis' next target for subjugation is identified. Exactly how much is the Doctor prepared to sacrifice in order to save Earth?

Plot

to be added

Cast

The Doctor — Sylvester McCoy
Ace — Sophie Aldred
Antimony — Kevin Eldon
Golcrum/Senator Hawk/President— Jon Culshaw
Admiral Mettna — Jacqueline Pearce
Casmus — Leonard Fenton
The Minister of Chance — Stephen Fry
Senator Sala — Britta Gartner
General Tannis — John Sessions
St Valentine — Anthony Stewart Head
Nessican — Dave Hill
Dr Cain — Charlotte Palmer
Speedwell — Stephen Brody
Campion — Gareth Jones
Captain Carne — Andrew McGibbon
Lieutenant Suneel — Michael Yale
The Kingmaker — Peggy Batchelor
Pilot— David Evans
Premier Bedloe — Robert Rietti
Computer — Julienne Davis
Megan — Emma Ferguson
Man - Richard Garaghty
President of Santiny — Huw Thomas
Mission Control - David Soul
Major Bander/Prime Minister— Nick Romero
The Brigadier — Nicholas Courtney

Crew

Writer - Colin Meek
Director - Dan Freedman
Producer - Dan Freedman
Executive Producer - Richard Fell
Online Producer - James Goss
Script Editor - Nev Fountain
Animator - Lee Sullivan
Composer - Nik Romero
Sound - Jon Taylor
Online Presentation - James Goss, Rob Francis
Technical Presentation - Wilfredo Acosta, Alec Hale Munro, Ann Kelly, Kim Plowright

References

Nessican is one of the Vampires and was imprisoned inside a phantom sun.
Two Policeman appear and question the Doctor.
Saint Professor Antenor is mentioned to have been killed.
Antinomy jokingly said his surname was TARDIS.
The Minister of Chance claims several times he is not a man.
Casmus has a companion Midus the Cat.
The planet Anamapercis is mentioned and seen, according to Tannis they were wiped out via chemical warfare. The only inhabitants were mutations and the spirits of the dead.
The species Annasaurus is mentioned.
Blue's Bar was mentioned, it was said to be near a university. A massacre took place there.

Story notes

DWM 306 Shrine Death Comes to Time — A preview of the story printed in DWM 306.

DWM 319 DEATH COMES TO TIME — Art by Roger Langridge from DWM 319

Following the broadcast of Survival in 1989 and the show's subsequent placement on "indefinite hiatus" by the BBC, the idea of producing an animated series based upon Doctor Who and continuing the adventures of the Seventh Doctor and Ace was reported several times in the media; reportedly the Canadian animation house Nelvana was even interested at one point. This project never materialised, but the idea of producing animated Doctor Who adventures resurfaced with the coming of the Internet and the newly emerging format known as webcasting. Death Comes to Time was the first experiment of its kind; it would be followed soon after by Real Time (featuring the Sixth Doctor), Shada (featuring the Eighth Doctor) and culminating in Scream of the Shalka, which attempted to introduce a valid new incarnation of the Doctor.
A new Doctor Who logo was introduced for this story. Although it was never used again, the basic shape of the logo would be retained for the new logo designed for the return of the series in 2005.

Doctor Who logo used for Death Comes to Time

Voice actor Jon Culshaw is best known (in Doctor Who circles) for his uncanny impersonation of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor in BBC's Dead Ringers radio and TV series. He was also famous for his impression of George W Bush in the same show, hence the President's appearance.
The Minister of Chance was given his own spin off series in 2011 entitled The Minister of Chance. However this is generally considered non-canonical and is not covered by this wiki.
It is left ambiguous as to what the Kingmaker is. However it is implied she is a being with greater powers than even the Time Lords. This is yet to be explored on screen or in spin-off media.
The fate of the Doctor at the end of this story has been used by some factions of Doctor Who fandom ^[who?] ^{[source needed]} as a rationale to "de-canonise" the 1996 Doctor Who TV-movie and, in turn, the later 2005 TV series. However, Death Comes to Time -- or at least its ending -- is generally considered non-canonical. ^{[by whom?]} ^{[source needed]}
This reality was one of the realities seen by the Eighth Doctor during the Anti-Time infestation of the TARDIS. (AUDIO: Zagreus)
This reality had an ambiguous relationship with the continuity of the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures written by Lance Parkin. The Canisian invasion of this story is referenced in PROSE: Trading Futures. In PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles, Lady Larna asserts that Tannis is one of the threats Gallifrey would encounter before the enemy; the Minister of Chance is implied to be one of the four surviving elementals; the Santine Rift is mentioned; and the opening narration of Death Comes to Time's first episode is copied by Marnal in The Giants and said to be the first myth of the Time Lords.
"Allegretto: Allegretto" is played in the fourth episode. "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich" are played in the fifth episode.

Original website release/broadcast

"At the End of the 4th" - 13 July 2001
"Planet of Blood" (1) - 14 February 2002
"Planet of Blood" (2) - 22 February 2002
"Planet of Blood (3) - 1 March 2002
"The Child" (1) - 8 March 2002
"The Child" (2) - 15 March 2002
"The Child" (3) - 22 March 2002
"No Child of Earth" (1) - 29 March 2002
"No Child of Earth" (2) - 5 April 2002
"No Child of Earth" (3) - 12 April 2002
"Death Comes to Time" (1) - 19 April 2002
"Death Comes to Time" (2) - 26 April 2002
"Death Comes to Time" (3) - 3 May 2002

CD and other releases

Released on CD in October 2002.
Released on MP3-CD in June 2004

External links

Death Comes to Time Webcast at the Doctor Who Reference Guide

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 }}{{TV stub}}
 {{big toc}}
-'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a five-episode [[webcast]] animated adventure featuring the [[Seventh Doctor (Death Comes to Time)|Seventh Doctor]]. It was available via the BBCI website in 2001 to 2002. However, unlike the other webcasts starring classic series Doctors that premiered, it is considered alternate to ''[[Doctor Who]]'' for depicting the (apparent) ultimate death  of [[the Doctor]], negating the timeline that led into the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|TV movie]]. Also, the portrayal of the [[Time Lord]]s in this story seems different to the one seen in the usual series, giving them the abilities to revoke [[TARDIS]]es and release forbidden powers that disrupt the [[universe]].
+'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a five-episode [[webcast]] animated adventure featuring the [[Seventh Doctor (Death Comes to Time)|Seventh Doctor]]. It was available via the BBCI website in 2001 to 2002. However, unlike the other webcasts starring classic series Doctors that premiered, it is considered alternate to ''[[Doctor Who]]'' for depicting the (apparent) ultimate death of [[the Doctor]], negating the timeline that led into the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|TV movie]]. Also, the portrayal of the [[Time Lord]]s in this story seems different to the one seen in the usual series, giving them the abilities to revoke [[TARDIS]]es and release forbidden powers that disrupt the [[universe]].
 The root of ''Death Comes to Time'' is that, before plans were announced to revive the series, an attempt was made to create a story that would act as the series finale for ''Doctor Who'' altogether. This ending would dovetail into a spin-off that would be the spiritual successor to ''Doctor Who'', called ''The Minister of Chance''. The would-be finale depicts the Doctor making a final sacrifice, and an implied downfall of the Time Lord society prior to the events of the story (as the few Time Lords seen in the story are stated to be the last alive). The Doctor's [[companion]] [[Ace McShane|Ace]] also ends up on her own, solemnly telling [[Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart (Death Comes to Time)|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] about the Doctor's demise. However, because the Doctor's body is never found, his final fate is unclear.
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 == Crew ==
 * [[Writer]] - [[Colin Meek]]
 * [[Director]] - [[Dan Freedman]]
 * [[Producer]] - Dan Freedman
 * [[Executive producer|Executive Producer]] - [[Richard Fell]]
 * [[Producer|Online Producer]] - [[James Goss]]
 * [[Script editor|Script Editor]] - [[Nev Fountain]]
 * [[Animator]] - [[Lee Sullivan]]
 * [[Composer]] - [[Nik Romero]]
 * [[Sound department|Sound]] - [[Jon Taylor]]
 * Online Presentation - James Goss, [[Rob Francis]]
 * Technical Presentation - [[Wilfredo Acosta]], [[Alec Hale Munro]], [[Ann Kelly]], [[Kim Plowright]]
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 * [[Nessican]] is one of the [[Vampire]]s and was imprisoned inside a [[phantom sun]].
 * Two Policeman appear and question the Doctor.
 * Saint Professor [[Antenor]] is mentioned to have been killed.
 * Antinomy jokingly said his surname was TARDIS.
 * The Minister of Chance claims several times he is not a man.
 * Casmus has a companion [[Midas the Cat|Midus]] the Cat.
 * The planet [[Anamapercis]] is mentioned and seen, according to Tannis they were wiped out via chemical warfare. The only inhabitants were mutations and the spirits of the dead.
 * The species [[Annasaurus]] is mentioned.
 * [[Blue's Bar]] was mentioned, it was said to be near a university. A massacre took place there.
@@ Line 99: / Line 99: @@
 * The fate of the Doctor at the end of this story has been used by some factions of Doctor Who fandom {{who}} {{fact}} as a rationale to "de-canonise" the 1996 ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'' TV-movie and, in turn, the later 2005 TV series. However, ''Death Comes to Time'' -- or at least its ending -- is generally considered non-canonical. {{by whom}} {{fact}}
 * This reality was one of the realities seen by the Eighth Doctor during the Anti-Time infestation of the TARDIS. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'')
-* This reality had an ambiguous relationship with the continuity of the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] written by [[Lance Parkin]]. The [[Canisian |Canisian invasion]] of this story is referenced in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Trading Futures (novel)|Trading Futures]].'' In [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Gallifrey Chronicles (novel)|The Gallifrey Chronicles]]'', [[Larna|Lady Larna]] asserts that [[Tannis]] is one of the threats Gallifrey would encounter before [[the enemy]]; the Minister of Chance is implied to be one of the [[four surviving elementals]]; the [[Santine Rift]] is mentioned; and the opening narration of ''Death Comes to Time''{{'}}s first episode is copied by [[Marnal]] in ''[[The Giants]]'' and said to be the first myth of the Time Lords.
+* This reality had an ambiguous relationship with the continuity of the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] written by [[Lance Parkin]]. The [[Canisian|Canisian invasion]] of this story is referenced in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Trading Futures (novel)|Trading Futures]].'' In [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Gallifrey Chronicles (novel)|The Gallifrey Chronicles]]'', [[Larna|Lady Larna]] asserts that [[Tannis]] is one of the threats Gallifrey would encounter before [[the enemy]]; the Minister of Chance is implied to be one of the [[four surviving elementals]]; the [[Santine Rift]] is mentioned; and the opening narration of ''Death Comes to Time''{{'}}s first episode is copied by [[Marnal]] in ''[[The Giants]]'' and said to be the first myth of the Time Lords.
 * "[[Allegretto: Allegretto]]" is played in the fourth episode. "[[Night on Bald Mountain]]" and "[[Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich]]" are played in the fifth episode.
 === Original website release/broadcast ===
@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 {{WC}}
 {{TitleSort}}
 [[Category:Non-DWU webcasts]]
 [[Category:2002 webcasts]]

Tardis