It’s kind of strange that you have to go outside of the comics industry to find people who see the power of comics in the 21st century. For example, the Boise, Idaho zoning board just put out an online comic discussing the zoning code. I have had a chance to read it yet, but if you want me to review it, just say so. The article goes over why they chose a comic as an alternate guide (the usual guide is also available through the comic hosting page). There’s also a physical copy available. Obviously this means more to someone putting up buildings in Boise, Idaho than the rest of us, but it’s still an interesting little curiosity.
So Russell T. Davies, joining the list of people who won’t stop defending the indefensible to the fans who will never be convinced crap is made of gold, gave a teaser to his planned Doctor Who Christmas special. Given his history with Christmas episodes I’m satisfied with him never making it. I’d rather get the Star Wars that Lucas offered to Bob Iger, and there are reasons the prequels only get credit for not being the sequel trilogy.
Davies’ comments comes from an excerpt in The Guardian from his upcoming memoirs, The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television, a reference to his popular gay sex show. I’m assuming because I have zero interest in watching that show. You can read the full article if you want, but even considering nitpicking every dumb thing he said just from a skim was giving me Seduction Of The Innocent flashbacks and that’s already a summer I’m never getting back.
Instead, I’m going with the relevant details given in a summary by Digital Spyof the article. That gives us the part I really want to comment on, and that’s enough to make an article when I’m having one of those weeks where my time has been cut down to do pretty much everything.
I rage quit the fourth movie (I can’t even be bothered to look up the title), and only came back for Bumblebee because of the reviews, plus he’s my favorite Autobot in classic continuities so I had to do my own. Rise Of The Beastswas okay but not that great. I was lucky enough to have access to it long enough to do a review. I just ask one thing:
DO NOT BREAK OUT THE “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE” LINE AGAIN! THEY DID IT EVERY MOVIE AND I’M SICK OF IT! YOU’VE RUINED THE TAGLINE BY SHOVING IT IN WITHOUT THOUGHT AND BEAT THE HORSE TO DEATH!!!!
Yes, I’m that sick of them forcing it in. Also, no more Optimus deaths or being forced out of the picture for dumb reasons. You want Optimus gone? Having him send Autobots out on a mission and stay at HQ until he’s needed. There’s more than one way to sideline Optimus but we have to do the die-and-return in every continuity because the first movie did it once. That’s what the apology tour should have been about. Not that they did it, but that they won’t stop doing it!
Sure, we all knew the BBC wasn’t going to go with MY idea to use the Rose Doctor to fix Doctor Who‘s recent failings. For one thing I’m an obscure blogger they probably never heard of. I’ve also heard that some of the rules for the tender include things that didn’t exactly make fans happy before with the past three Doctors. The idea was a last-minute addition because Davies didn’t want it to look like an ending, which the planned open regeneration apparently appeared to be while editing. I still like making it the Doctor trying to finally put everything behind him and return to the Doctor he was would be better than just ignoring it.
However, Fansided contributor Daniel Bibby posted the possibility of them doing just that. In an article for the “Winter Is Coming” section (odd to stick the Doctor into a blog I thought was based on Game Of Thrones–maybe they were confused by Matt Smith showing up in one of the spinoffs?), Bibby suggests a time jump is the better option.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed who the BBC will be partnering with when Doctor Who returns, it has at least been made known that 2028 is the general target date for the long-running British sci-fi series’ comeback. The BBC recently revealed what’s being asked of whoever wins the competitive tender process. In short, it’s more of the same, which proves the BBC’s confidence in Doctor Who‘s timeless (if you’ll pardon the pun) formula.
However, there’s been no real information about what the show will look like when it returns. It’s all but a given at this point that the off-the-wall Billie Piper twist will be all but ignored, or at least swept under the rug if not retconned entirely. As such, it stands to reason that the show’s next era will introduce the actual Sixteenth Doctor and go from there. Exactly how much time will have passed for the franchise’s main character hasn’t been announced, but a behind-the-scenes reveal suggests the Doctor will have had quite a few adventures that will remain unaccounted for.
Call me bias towards my own solution if you want, but I’m not so convinced this is the right move. It beats a reboot, but that doesn’t mean I’m on board.
Earlier this week an article popped up on Cord Cutters News that ratings on both Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon were down over the past decade.
Industry figures show that combined ratings for the two networks have fallen more than 85 percent since 2016. Both channels once dominated after-school and weekend viewing for millions of children. Today they compete with streaming services, short-form video on YouTube and TikTok, and a steady decline in traditional cable subscriptions. Advertising revenue tied to linear kids programming has softened as brands shift spending toward digital platforms that offer more precise targeting. The drop has left both networks with thinner schedules, reduced production budgets, and growing questions about how long they can operate as separate linear businesses.
Just out of curiosity I decided to check on what their programming is. Even since we dropped cable and satellite and went almost fully ad-sponsored free sites (HBO Max and Frndly being the exceptions for different reasons) and digital antenna, which is about to come with its own issues thanks to DRM, and the home video library I’ve made over the years, I haven’t kept up with either network. And when I did I could immediately tell you why both stations are doing so badly: the scheduling.
I’m going to go over those two specifically, but it’s not like the livestreaming kids channels do any better. Luke Bouma, owner and contributor for Cord Cutters News, also reports that the new Skydance conglomerate is hoping the upcoming Warner Brothers and Paramount merger will benefit both channels. If this is how they plan to compete, they’re already in trouble because they’re both making the same mistake. Let’s look at the schedule:
Could Doctor Who Time Jump Past The Rose Doctor?
Sure, we all knew the BBC wasn’t going to go with MY idea to use the Rose Doctor to fix Doctor Who‘s recent failings. For one thing I’m an obscure blogger they probably never heard of. I’ve also heard that some of the rules for the tender include things that didn’t exactly make fans happy before with the past three Doctors. The idea was a last-minute addition because Davies didn’t want it to look like an ending, which the planned open regeneration apparently appeared to be while editing. I still like making it the Doctor trying to finally put everything behind him and return to the Doctor he was would be better than just ignoring it.
However, Fansided contributor Daniel Bibby posted the possibility of them doing just that. In an article for the “Winter Is Coming” section (odd to stick the Doctor into a blog I thought was based on Game Of Thrones–maybe they were confused by Matt Smith showing up in one of the spinoffs?), Bibby suggests a time jump is the better option.
Call me bias towards my own solution if you want, but I’m not so convinced this is the right move. It beats a reboot, but that doesn’t mean I’m on board.
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Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on October 8, 2026 in Television Spotlight and tagged commentary, Doctor Who, theorizing, time jump.
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