An overdue thank you to Russell T Davies

AMONG many sci-fi gifts this Christmas (Wrath of Khan and Search for Spock, Cory Doctorow's latest, Doctor Who s4) one present stands out - Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale.

In case you don't know, journalist Benjamin Cook asked Russell T Davies if he could follow the creative process for one episode of Doctor Who - from first thoughts to screen - and ended up getting a whole year's worth of fascinating information, following the whole series.

The duo exchange a series of tremendously frank e-mails about ... everything it seems, filled with insights into the making of the series and every little creative nuance along the way - with some funny cartoons drawn by RTD himself.

First of all, I must say kudos to fellow journalist Mr Cook, who had a genius idea and followed it through to its absolute ultimate conclusion.

But the main point of this post is to say thank you to Russell, for pouring his heart and soul into making the good Doctor so fantastic.

As regular readers of this blog will know, I'm not exactly open-minded when it comes to the Doctor. From the moment it returned I have been transfixed at the passion, verve and imagination in almost every episode. (Love and Monsters and Fear Her, I don't mean you, sorry Russell).

Other writers have been praised for the show's success and rightly so - Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell stand out in my mind for the quality of their work - and yes, there was an enormous group of talented individuals behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

But through it all has been RTD - overseeing everything.

Looking back, he seems to have come in for an incredible amount of criticism over the years across the net, but the haters should remember that without him, there would be nothing but audio books and a magazine (great as they are).

No Blink, no the Doctor Dances, no Midnight, no Turn Left and so on and so on - even no Torchwood or the Sarah Jane Adventures.

And as reading even the first few pages of the Writer's Tale shows, the demands the programme placed on him (and that he placed on himself) were enormous.

You know how sometimes something plays on your mind and you can't stop thinking about it and it drives you mad? Well that is RTD all the time as every story idea is mulled over in the Maybe - what he calls his endless, turbulent thought process - again and again.

This goes on with the added caveat that what he thinks about will be watched and dissected by millions of people (like me, now!) and even directly affect the mood of the nation. A bit much? Just remember how bat shit crazy everyone went when they thought David Tennant was regenerating at the end of the Stolen Earth!

But despite the almost constant demands and level of pressure the show's continued success placed him under, he was spot on in almost everything he did, and virtually every decision he made about an incredible array of things - an incredible achievement. I mean, how many people would have gone with Catherine Tate?

Not only has his ability to make the right call again and again led to some fantastic event television, in an age when that is not supposed to exist, it has also led to many involved conversations and internet scouring for me and my friends, workmates and eight-year-old son Izaak over what each episode meant and what the future may hold. (while Pam shakes her head in bewilderment at her geek of a husband)

I have loved every minute of it and can't wait for Planet of the Dead and the other specials next year, and all the series after that.

And in years to come, I can't wait for the excited feeling in my stomach on Saturdays, or the anticipation that builds through the week, or the conversations still to be held, or finding a rumour on the net, or introducing Izaak's kids to the Doctor (while their then grandma looks on shaking her head again).

That is all down to Russell T Davies and for that, I thank you sir for going through the mill for us, and would like to buy you a huge drink in return if we ever meet.

Enjoy your time away from the hotseat - you have earned it - good luck for the rest of your career and I'm glad you will be able to join the rest of us with a seat on the wonderful rollercoaster ride you helped create.

Things of beauty: The Empire Strikes Back

A WHILE back now, I blogged on my colleague Howard, and his magnificent sci-fi models. (Have a look here and here if you like.)

I think I have now discovered Howard's blood brother - Brickplumber - thanks to a random link I happened across on the interweb.

While you have to worry about this guy's social life (unless the Lego people are his friends. Then again I just checked his Flickr profile and it says he is taken) what a fantastic thing he has made.

The attention to detail, the sheer scale, the craftsmanship - and all using Lego. If you look at the photostream (link below) you can even see little Lego footprints in the Lego snow.

I think my awe is magnified by the fact that he took FOUR YEARS to build it, whereas when I was a kid I had no patience for Lego, and would inevitably end up throwing whatever I was building across the room in frustration after 10 minutes.

Brickplumber - I salute you, you are a true genius.

And Mrs Brickplumber, I salute you too, for having the patience and understanding to allow your partner to indulge in an obsession which makes the world a little bit better for the rest of us.

Check out his Flickr photostream.

Sarah Connor terminates Heroes

AFTER hammering Heroes, it seems only right that I spread some sci-fi love and the recipient is the excellent Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

This has been shown on satellite in the UK and has had a checkered past, with the first series truncated by the writers' strike and the second only getting the agreement for a full run halfway through production.

Even now the chances for a third series look shaky at best, but I am bamboozled why that should be the case because it is great science fiction television.

For those who don't know, it is set after the events of Terminator two in the mid 1990s, with a teenage John Connor gathering experience to become the leader in the battle with the machines. He is helped by his mum Sarah, a female terminator called Cameron and his uncle, Derek Reece, sent back from the future. On their heels are various terminators and also FBI Agent Ellison, investigating Sarah.

However - for reasons too complicated to explain - they time-travelled into their future and now battle against Skynet's schemes in the present day.

From the start it has been almost perfect sci-fi with great characters, good production values, a solid storyline and consistency with the films.

The cast is note perfect too, from Lena Headey's tough but tender Sarah Connor to Summer Glau's Cameron - building on the otherworldly weirdness she brought to Firefly. Even Brian Austin Green - last seen in wanky teen show Beverly Hills 90210 - brings charisma and grit to Reece.

The biggest compliment I can give it is that it stands alongside any of its predecessors, some achievement given the first two films were classics, and even the third was quite good. A cameo by Ah-nold is probably out of their budget, but he is not missed.

Will we be able to say the same about the new film? Well, Christian Bale is a big plus, but McG (shudder)?

Given the standard they have to live up to, I await the results with interest, but T:TSCC definitely means they have definitely had to raise their game.

No more Heroes anymore

WHEN The Stranglers sang those words, I doubt they ever expected them to refer to a once great sci-fi show now on its uppers.

But - and it pains me to say it - I finally cut my link to Heroes this week.

Oh, it was tough - after all, we've had such good times. Sylar being evil, Hiro loving his powers, HRG, George Takai's top guest spot - it all seemed so right, so frickin cool.

Then came the second series, which I defended on here but many people hated - too boring, Syler-lite, too many loose ends. No, no, I said, it is good to make it different as the show evolves, and just imagine how cool it will be when Sylar returns to full power.

Yeah, just imagine.

This time around, I've been working such mad hours that I have fallen out of watching it regularly, but I still had about five shows lined up on Sky Plus. But ...

When I sat down last week, I just couldn't be bothered. And then I deleted them all.

The reason? Lots really, but mainly because the show is now a pale imitation of what it was and certainly what it should have evolved into by now.

Whereas the first series had tight plotting and a defined story arc, this time around all that control seemed lost - replaced by confusing twists and turns that just pissed me off in the first episodes I watched and seemed thrown in for no real purpose.

Like Suresh becoming desperate for a power - where did that come from? The model of responsibility and honour becomes a psycho?

And Nathan being dead and then alive - if anyone can come back from the dead, then how does anything in the show matter?

All in all it has descended into an obtuse mess, confusing and aimless for the sake of it, while hinting at a larger plan or purpose that is never revealed. Lost 2.0 anyone?

But to hear the people in it, you'd think they were making Citizen Kane (super power? Mastery of sledges).

Sorry guys - it's crap. Hi-production crap, but still crap.

Throw it in, before it's too late.