Doctor Who: Season 35 (1999)

Introduction

Season 35 of Doctor Who would be the very first season of a brand new era and for a brand new audience. But, before we can talk about that. Let's wind back to Mal Young becoming Head of Drama at the BBC.

Following Mal Young's appointment as Head of Drama at the BBC, he sought out to make Doctor Who be a franchise. More than just a BBC show. With this, he immediately sought out an American company to act as a co-production company and a permanent distribution company for the show in America. Young looked for a broad range of companies that could take Doctor Who and make it a rival to the diminishing Star Trek brand.

Young approached the four main networks. ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. All four passed on it with no meetings being made. Young then decided to approach some of the more minor networks. Mainly The WB, UPN (which had the Star Trek franchise) and the Sci-Fi network. UPN flat out denied the opportunity and both the WB and the Sci-Fi network both held early talks with Young. But, nothing planned out.

However, one network showed interest more than any other ones.

The Home Box Office (HBO for short) headed up by Jeff Bewkes decided to put the network on the map. With producing original content television content for the network. This included several television programs such as Oz (which debuted in 1997) and The Sopranos (this debuted a few months before Season 35 premiered). Bewkes thought that Doctor Who as apart of the catalog of programming would be a great way to establish HBO as a premium network.

In Early 1998, the BBC signed a deal with HBO with HBO to take 50% of the franchise. With HBO now taking over everything in the US for Doctor Who. This included distribution, promotion and even with the deal having HBO handling the filming in the US if the production wants to film in the US.

In 1998, the cast and crew all decided to step aside. Meaning for the new season, the first one to be co-produced with HBO. Young and Bewkes oversaw the formation of the production team, lead cast and new production location for the 1999 season.

For the crew. It was decided to add something new to the existing style of crew. Without World Productions now being involved. It was decided to add a new executive producer to the show who would also act as a writer. Not just a producer. Several names were in consideration for this role. Most notably, American writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski. But he declined and instead decided to work on the Babylon 5 spin-off Crusade. Young and Bewkes decided to choose Jed Mercurio. Who was the writer of the BBC One medical drama Cardiac Arrest. With Mercurio as executive producer from the get-go, the vision of everyone involved so far came into a clearer picture. Young, Bewkes and Mercurio hired Matthew Bird as the new producer and Paul Cornell, writer since 1992, as the new script editor.

For the cast. It was decided to make the Doctor a more appealable character to audiences. With the production team aiming for a different type of actor to play the role of the Tenth Doctor.

The character description took some inspiration of the Fifth Doctor in them being a very young man, who can run down corridors like there is no tomorrow, a man with charm galore and can be sell the idea of the Doctor being "a hero". Young and Bewkes did get actively involved with the casting of the new Doctor. With everyone involved, 25 year old actor, Andrew Lincoln was casted in the role of the Doctor.

For the new companion. To draw in American viewers. It was decided that they would be played by an American.

The new companion would be someone in their 40s to balance out a much younger Doctor than ever before. The new companion, who would be called Christina Farrell, a detective with the New York police department who meets the Doctor in the first serial of the season. A huge wave of casting rounds happen in America to find the right actress for the role. And in the end, Marg Helgenberger was casted in the role of Christina Farrell.

Along with the changes. A new production company would be chose to produce the show. With the BBC wanting to produce the show in-house again. The BBC decided to move the show off to one it's branches. And in the end, chose their Welsh department, BBC Wales to produce the show. With the show being filmed in a new production lot in the city of Cardiff.

With the show moving production from London to Cardiff, as well as the influx of cash from HBO, the production team decided to build a new TARDIS set and exterior.

The new console room was a massive room compared to all other TARDIS console rooms. With HBO now owning half of the brand and franchise. It was shown that the TARDIS was gonna eventually evolve overtime and become something new. With this new production designer, Richard Hudolin, had decided to take a look at the console rooms of old and make them bigger. This included white roundel walls, a console that goes up to the ceiling, and chairs to be placed in the console room.

The new exterior was made to be bigger and more bolder compared to previous TARDIS exteriors. This was a request by HBO to make the TARDIS more appealable on screen. Which was agreed by the BBC.

This season would have also seen a television format aspect ratio change. Instead of being filmed and aired in a 4:3 aspect ratio. It was decided to move towards the emerging and more favorited 16:9 aspect ratio. With this, Doctor Who had made this move to the better aspect ratio and better picture quality than Star Trek did.

One notable difference between how the show is portrayed in both the UK and the US. In the UK, the season would be called "Season 35", but in the US, the season would be called "Season 1".

With a bigger budget, new production staff, new production location and a brand new cast all being made for two audiences now... Let's dive into Season 35 of Doctor Who.

Serial One (Ep. 1-3): CRIMES OF THE SONTARANS

Written by Jed Mercurio
Directed by Tim Van Patten
Air Dates: 10-24 April 1999

This serial would act as a brand new pilot for the series. Like with An Unearthly Child and Spearhead from Space. The serial would introduce everything, as it is doing to a bigger American audiences.

The serial is told from Christina's view. With her investigating some odd murders in New York City 1999. With the Doctor showing up at the halfway of part one. However, unlike previous post-regeneration serials. The Doctor is not suffering from post regeneration trauma and is in his own outfit already. He does come off as a young charming man who knows more than he lets on.

At the halfway point of the serial. The Doctor sees Christina as a good person and lets her in on his secret and the TARDIS. She seeing that he is a good man and is out to protect people. Especially against an extraterrestrial threat. Which is a returning villain. But, done in a new way.

For those who didn't read the title of the serial. The main villains of the serial are the Sontarans. Who are written in two specific ways. One, they are written as a brand new villain (which is done for the next few seasons with returning monsters and villains for American audiences). And they are written in a more comedic way than they were previously. With some Sontarans taking pleasure in some human activities as they try to invade the Earth.

At the end of the serial, when the Sontarans are defeated. The Doctor offers Christina an opportunity to travel in the TARDIS. Which, she is hesitant as she feels she is not right for it. But, the Doctor assures her that she is worthy. And in the end, she agrees to travel with him.

Serial Two (Ep. 4): THE END OF THE WORLD

Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by Joe Ahearne
Air Dates: 1 May 1999

For her first adventure in the TARDIS, the Doctor takes Christina to the year 5,000,000,000 and watch the sun consume the Earth. Which is watched from a space station that watches over both the sun and the planet.

While they are waiting for the death of the Earth. Several crew members on the station start getting killed off one by one. With it playing out as a whodunnit with the Doctor and Christina trying to find out the killer. Which was one of the guests on the station who claimed to be, "The Last Surviving Human".

After the mystery is solved and the Earth is consumed. The Doctor takes Christina back to her home planet in her time. As he talks about how everything ends and to enjoy life while you can.

Serial Three (Ep. 5-6): SPARE PARTS

Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
Air Dates: 8-15 May 1999

This serial reintroduces the Cybermen after an absence since 1993. This was done as it was seen as the Cybermen being overused in the late 80s and early 90s. And because of them reintroducing the Cybermen, Paul Cornell commissioned a new script where the origins of the Cybermen would be explored. This could was seen as a nice way to introduce them to American audiences.

The serial sees the Doctor and Christina land on Mondas during the time that the Cybermen are being created. With the Cybermen being a way to be created so that the Mondasians could survive the changes to Mondas.

This serial would explore the horrors of the Cybermen. Showing how awful conversion is to a human being. With this, it would be one of the more popular serials of the season. And considered one of the greatest stories from Doctor Who.

Serial Four (Ep. 7): THE DAY OF MOURNING

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Joe Ahearne
Air Dates: 22 May 1999

The serial begins with Christina recounting a childhood memory to the Doctor about her mother telling her about her father's death. She adds on that he died alone with no one around to comfort him. She asks if they can go back in time... just so that he isn't alone when he dies. The Doctor, cautiously, agrees to do it.

When they go back in time, Christina's father is killed, but Christina freezes and does not go to him after his accident. So, the Doctor and Christina go back in time once more to give Christina a second chance. However, she runs out to her father and saves him from his accident.

The serial continues playing out on the drama of the Doctor and Christina, with the Doctor feeling betrayed by Christina and flat out threatening to leave her in the year 1960. However, a race called the Reapers start appearing and consuming people, trying to fix the timeline. The Reapers end up eating the Doctor to try and fix the timeline.

At the end, Christina's father, who has learned who Christina is, sacrifices himself to save Christina and Christina, with some encouragement from the Doctor, goes to her father as he dies from his injuries. With the story being repeated from the beginning. But, it adds in Christina. But nobody knowing who she was.

Serial Five (Ep. 8-9): INVADERS FROM MARS

Written by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Mark Mylod
Air Dates: 29 May-5 June 1999

This serial shows the Doctor and Christina landing in New York, 1938. Christina comes up with the idea to investigate the infamous 1938 broadcast The War of the Worlds, which was broadcasted on the 31st of October, 1938. And asks the question, "What if aliens were actually trying to invade the Earth?".

In the serial, a race called the Laiderpacker are attempting to invade the Earth. However, the Doctor stops them in an interesting way. By using the broadcast of The War of the Worlds to make them think that their is a bigger invasion happening. And forces the Laiderpacker to retreat.

This serial would be seen as the weakest of the season due to the camp factor in it. As well as a tone not as serious as the rest of the season.

Serial Six (Ep. 10): THE KENNEDY CONSPIRACY

Written by Doris Egan
Directed by Tim Van Patten
Air Dates: 12 June 1999

This serial would take place in Dallas, Texas, 22nd of November 1963. The Doctor and Christina immediately realize that they day they are at. Is the day that US President John F. Kennedy is gonna be assassinated.

However, before they can leave. A device in the Doctor's pocket vibrates and the Doctor tells Christina that someone is trying to change history. And the two of them immediately come to the conclusion that someone is trying to prevent Kennedy's assassination.

However, despite how many changes they make to make sure Kennedy is assassinated. The timeline still has Kennedy not being assassinated. And Christina is forced to take matters into her own hands. And shoots Kennedy from the Grassy Knoll. Something that causes clear heartache in her. Killing someone.

This serial would be one of the more popular ones of the season. Which made HBO glad. As the writer who wrote the serial, Doris Egan, was in fact an American writer.

Serial Seven (Ep. 11-13): SCREAM OF THE SHALKA

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Jed Mercurio
Air Dates: 19 June-3 July 1999

The final serial of the season shows the Doctor and Christina landing in modern day Lancaster, England. While they wonder for for a minute. Christina is kidnapped by an unknown entity. The Doctor panics and explore the town looking for her. While exploring, he meets a woman, Alison Cheney (played by Angela Griffin). The Doctor and Alison bond quickly and she agrees to help him with the search for Christina.

While doing some investigating, the Doctor comes across a returning UNIT and Brigadier Bambera (however, for American audiences, she is treated as a brand new recurring character). And with the help of UNIT, the Doctor and Alison are able to rescue Christina from a race calling themselves the Shalka. Which can kill you by simply screaming at you.

The rest of the serial would play out as an alien invasion serial. With the Doctor, Christina, Alison and UNIT trying to defeat the Shalka. And in the end, the Doctor offers Alison to join him and Christina aboard the TARDIS. And in a gleeful smile, she accepts as we cut to the end credits.

Season Conclusion

That was Season 35 of Doctor Who. The season was immediately seen as a step-up to the previous era of the show in the UK. Notable praise was given to Andrew Lincoln's portrayal of the Doctor. With him receiving praise from general audiences, fandom and critics. With the several members of the fandom claiming Lincoln being one of the best Doctors. Some even went as far as to compare him to being as good as Tom Baker was.

In the US, HBO received praise from audiences and critics across the board. Claiming that the show had made a clear good first impression in their first season for American audiences.

In the following year, With the big success that came with the show. HBO announced plans to release all previous seasons of Doctor Who onto DVD boxsets. But, made for American audiences specifically. This included cutting down serials into fitting a 1-3x45 minute format. As well as remastering a lot of the serials. Including colorizing all of the 1960s serials and the early 1970s serials that do not have colorized copies within the BBC's archives.

But, that is not all. As in January 2000. To go along with their new successful programme... came the first official spin-off of Doctor Who.

Come Back Next Time for Gallifrey: Series One