If you weren’t already pumped for the return of ‘Doctor Who’ this Saturday, here are even more goodies to whet your appetite. Needless to say, this article contains many reveals that could be considered SPOILERS so if you want to avoid them, turn back!
Basically you’re getting the DVD extras before the episodes even air! It’s all here, plot details, photos, interviews and set videos– for ALL 12 episodes of Series Nine, which kicks off this Saturday September 19. Check it all out below, courtesy of the BBC!
Episodes 1 and 2: ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ and ‘The Witch’s Familiar’
Series Nine kicks things off with a bang, with The Doctor MIA. (As was revealed in the previously released prequel clip, he is on the planet Karn.) Something dire befalls him as Missy a.k.a. The Master comes to possess his Confession Disc, which contains his last will and testament, and she uses it to taunt Clara (Jenna Coleman).
One highlight is obviously the return of Michelle Gomez as the newly female Master. Showrunner Steven Moffat happily announced, “Everybody hide – Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she’s straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener. But what brings her back into their lives is the last thing they’d expect…”
Here is a fun video in which Gomez herself announces her return:
Here is the description of ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’:
Where is the Doctor? When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible…
And here is the description of ‘The Witch’s Familiar’:
Trapped and alone in a terrifying Dalek city, the Doctor is at the heart of an evil Empire; no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?
Part of the second episode was filmed on location in Tenefire and here is another video that gives you a peak at that process:
And here is the real kicker, a gallery of photos from the first and second episodes:
But that’s not all!
Episodes 3 and 4 – ‘Under The Lake’ and ‘Before The Flood’
‘Game of Thrones’ actor Paul Kaye appears and enthusiastically exclaimed, “As a kid of the 1970s, the two shows you always watched were Top of the Pops and Doctor Who, they were unmissable… I got to present TOTP back in the mid ’90s and landing this role in Doctor Who completes the dream double.”
Moffat describes these episodes as “brilliantly creepy… one of our scariest adventures yet!”
Episode 5 – ‘The Girl Who Died’
The ‘Game of Thrones’ parade continues with Maisie Williams in a guest role. Moffat attempted to remain tight-lipped, but revealed, “It’s not possible to say too much about who or what she’s playing, but she is going to challenge the Doctor in very unexpected ways. This time he might just be out of his depth, and we know Maisie is going to give him exactly the right sort of hell.”
For her part, Williams declared, “I’m so excited to be working on Doctor Who as it’s such a big and important part of British culture.”
Episode 6 – ‘The Woman Who Lived’
Episode 6 was written by ‘Doctor Who’ first-timer Catherine Tregenna, who previously contributed four scripts for spinoff series ‘Torchwood, ‘Out of Time’, ‘Captain Jack Harkness’, ‘Meat’ and ‘Adam’.
Here is another fun video of the table reading for the episode, featuring guest star Sam Swift:
Episodes 7 and 8 – ‘The Zygon Invasion’ and ‘The Zygon Inversion’
This two-parter features the return of Ingrid Oliver as Osgood, who was killed last season by Missy. Said Oliver, “I was so sure Osgood was a goner after the last series! As every actor who’s worked on Doctor Who will tell you, there’s always the secret hope you’ll get the call asking you to come back. To actually receive that call is both unexpected and brilliant. The word ‘honour’ gets banded about a lot, but it really is, it’s an honour.”
Here are two fun videos of Oliver reacting to her return:
Osgood isn’t the only one returning in these two episodes. Kate is back as well, as her actress Jemma Regrave revealed:
Episode 9 – ‘Sleep No More’
A new addition is popular British TV actor Reece Shearsmith from the ‘League of Gentlemen’, who may be familiar to US audiences from his role as mark in ‘Shaun of the Dead’. Shearsmith expressed, “I am absolutely thrilled to be filming Doctor Who as Mark Gatiss has written a fantastic role for me in a very scary episode. It has been so exciting to be part of a very singular episode – which, I can say with authority will be unlike any previous episode of Doctor Who. It’s a joy to play a part in the show – certainly a badge of honour.”
Below, you can watch an interview with Shearsmith regarding his role on ‘Doctor Who’:
Episode 10 – ‘Fear The Raven’
In this episode, Joivan Wade returns as graffiti artist Rigsy. After shooting his part, Wade tweeted “I’ve had an amazing time! Can’t wait for the series!”
Here is a video of episode writer Sarah Dollard:
And finally, the season enders…
Episodes 11 and 12 – ‘Heaven Sent’ and ‘Hell Bent’
Obviously, Moffat is keeping the details on these two under wraps, but the episodes were directed by Rachel Talalalay who helmed last season’s ‘Dark Water’ and ‘Death in Heaven’. Said Talalalay, “These episodes are completely different to what I did last year… Episode 11 is one of the most complicated and different episodes I’ve ever done… It just has my head in spaghetti!’
Here is an interview in which she discusses the new season:
Whew! You should be good and primed for Series Nine now!
Tune in Saturday September 19th for ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ and get ready for a journey!
Source: BBC