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Old 13-03-2016, 21:38
Tom Tit
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I think any series should begin with good story ideas, which is why I think the essentially fannish responses you'll see in this kind of thread are somewhat wrong-headed (sorry).

These concepts should come from the writers ideally, not be farmed or shopped out ideas. To me saying 'a Cybermen episode', 'an Ood episode', 'an alien planet' episode is next to useless. It doesn't constitute an idea so much as a directive and you won't get a writer's best work that way. It's better they develop an idea than try to pound a directive into a story. If I was using freelance writers I would utilize their talent, not treat them as a glorified secretary, transcribing my story that I don't have the time to write. I think that all of the best guest episodes have come from pitches, not assignments (Vincent & the Doctor, The Doctor's Wife, The God Complex, Mummy on the Orient Express). So their episodes would be their episodes, with the only moderation being to fit them into the pattern of the season and to incorporate the necessary themes, memes, sub-plots, character development etc. After all, if I don't have faith in their writing why am I using them?

Personally, I want to reuse the old villains and tropes as little as possible so it wold take a very strong pitch for me to commission a story involving them.

When there are 12 strong episode concepts THEN should come the over-arching story and the trinkets and the fan service, in the way they best fit into those concepts.

The only exception is if there is a particularly epic overall series concept that is going to give very strong affiliation to each episode, in which case it needs to be constructed first and then disseminated through the episodes. You also need as few different writers as possible for this approach, or a group working very closely together, not working alone with the occasional directive. I don't expect to ever see this kind of approach on Doctor Who and i wouldn't use it either.

I prefer to see them go one way or the other: strongly inter-connected episodes or the typical 'light arc'. A bad format is Season 6 where the Moffat scripted episodes were strongly connected episodes and the rest were essentially filler, paying nothing but lip service to ongoing plot of the 'important' Moffat episodes.

Seasons 5 and Season 8 are good examples of a well-linked season where the guest written episodes felt as though they were integral to the story whilst still being essentially standalone. They would be my model.

So after that we come to my 5 or so episodes: what would I write? I've always wanted to do a pure historical episode featuring neanderthals, with the theme of their extinction. I'd like to do a time-twisting style of story but Moffat has done that with such verve that I would probably be best to leave that alone; nonetheless I'd like to at least do a story that handles the concept of time in a somewhat more scientific and stringent manner than Doctor Who typically has.

I have a very strong 'ghost story' idea that I would like to write for Doctor Who, which basically deals with the idea of 'what actually are ghosts' (purely fantasy of course, because ghosts don't exist in real life). It is of course very Science Fiction.

I'd like to do a futuristic story that actually deals quite thoroughly with future human history. I've seen too many episodes of Doctor Who where countless numbers of years into the future the human race still appears to stuck in the late 20th / early 21st Century culturally and physically, even after supposedly colonizing other planets. It's an extremely old Sci-Fi trope (going back at least to H.G Wells 'The Time Machine' and probably before) but it's surprisingly never been done in Doctor Who: the culture shock of seeing evolved human beings that no longer resemble us.

In fact, evolution would probably emerge as the dominant theme of the season, possibly leading up to a large, Gallifrey based finale, with a Time Lords storyline I've had quietly brewing in my mind for a number of years.

I wold like to do a strongly surreal episode, somewhat along the lines of 'The Mind Robber' or 'The Celestial Toymaker' (but not as boring as Hell like the latter), with the antagonist some kind of cosmically powered foe.

This is a bit left-field but I would quite like to approach Simon Guerrier to adapt his Big Finish story 'Home Truths', featuring Sara Kingdom, into an episode, as I thought it was truly excellent. That sounds a little contradictory to what I said above about 'concepts, not briefs' for freelance writers, but I think it's a slightly different situation when we're talking about adapting their own work (ie their own ideas). By the very nature of that story it would give quite a strong 'fan service' quotient to the series, which would otherwise be somewhat lacking under my direction, as I am disinclined to reuse or rehash previous material.

Some would dislike it maybe but I really would like the show to feel like a 'new era', not more of the same and so there would be little harking back.

Well, this is very long so I'll leave it there with my musings.
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Old 13-03-2016, 22:29
Lord Smexy
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This topic's cropped up again a few times, and I've been a little bored. :3

Peter Capaldi is the Doctor, obviously, but if not it would be Robert Carlyle.

Episodes 1 & 2
Lily always dreamed of exploring the stars with her grandfather, but he died a long time ago and she was forced to move with her father to a Russia that is now on the verge of a Napoleonic invasion. One day she meets the eccentric owner of a clock store who calls himself the Doctor, and finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient rivalry between him and a race of alien Vampires. Meanwhile, the Doctor himself, recovering from an attempted assassination upon him, undertakes the help of the White Guardian to remind himself of who he is.

Episodes 3 & 4
The trading planet of Rylos Gren VII, where the Doctor takes Lily to see the wonders of an alien life. But it is a time of peril and distrust, as a Draconian terrorist group plots to cleanse the planet of Ice Warriors, and a dangerous drug that numbs the feeling of terror is becoming increasingly popular. While Lily assists a Draconian reject to keep his family hidden from danger, the Doctor investigates the doings of a powerful drug lord who could be behind it all and finds himself forced to work with a hopeless mercenary named Donald and his corroding robot butler.

Episodes 5 & 6
In usual fashion, the Doctors misses the mark of a vacation on the Planet of 10,000 Lovely Hotels and “mistakenly” lands Lily and Donald in an England caught in the grip of the Black Plague. Strangely, the plague is the least of everyone’s worries… at night, the Plague Doctors lurk the shadows of the streets: and their touch means a gruesome death. As the Doctor slaves in a laboratory to find out who these creatures are, Lily and Donald find their morals challenged and struggle with the laws of time travel: Lily helps a sick and elderly man spend his dying days finishing his research, while Donald becomes attached to a farming lady whose mother has caught the plague.

Episodes 7 & 8
The Doctor is forced into a reunion with U.N.I.T. when people all over the world begin to feel terrified by mirrors. Something strange is happening on Earth: the mirrors are a gateway into a twisted, mechanical parallel of our world: Mondas. But why can’t some people tell the difference? Amidst his inability to get along with the militaristic U.N.I.T., the Doctor is forced to investigate what makes a human in a world that is oblivious to itself becoming increasingly cybernetic, and Lily and Donald are his test subjects. But the Cybermen have their own Doctor…

Episodes 9 & 10
The Doctor, Lily and Donald land in the middle of the Salem Witch Trials… or so they think. Widespread paranoia feeds the hunger of a family of parasitic creatures, hiding in an old abandoned house of which took place the murder of a little boy. Somehow, it all fits, and the TARDIS crew must face their worst nightmares amongst the twisted corridors and fading rooms of the house. Clowns, scarecrows and spiders prowl the halls, decaying arms grow from the ceiling, a beloved old man dies over and over again and a little child wanders across the sand, a screwdriver in hand.

Episodes 11 & 12
U.N.I.T. has been compromised, Rylos Gren VII has marked him as a criminal, Donald has taken on a mission to kill the Doctor and the Time Lord’s Celestial Intervention Agency has called for the Doctor’s imprisonment in Shada. The Doctor and Lily take the advice of the White Guardian and flee to the planet Archetryx in search of the elusive Lady Fred, the only one who knows who is out for the Doctor. A desperate runaway turns into a galactic game of chess, and in the face of all danger the Doctor realizes how much he cares for Lily, the girl he would be proud to call granddaughter.
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Old 13-03-2016, 23:19
Sam_Gee1
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I'm bored as well. This will be similar to the Hinchcliffe era in tone. Seasonal arc is the Shadow Proclomation want the Doctor dead for certain actions he made (which the Master in Deadly Assasin fashion, set up The Doctor) Companion for the season is Lucy, she is a bit of a badass. Season rarely ventures into Earth.

EP 1 & 2 Actrinoba
The Doctor feels like going on a holiday, but in typical TARDIS fashion, problems occur and he materialises on a spaceship about to crash on the planet Actrinoba. The spaceship crashes, there is a crew of about 15 people, including soon to be companion Lucy. But everyone is terrified, because they have just landed into the middle of the Sontaran and Ruton war, where the Doctor learns a scheme which will cause destruction of this area of the universe. Lucy, realising that The Doctor is wanted by the Shadow Proclomation and quickly escapes with him becoming the new companion. They formed a bond this episode.

EP 3 & 4 Watch your Back
After travelling around the universe, seeing some sights, in the year 5400 arrive at a planet discussing the rights of the Ood, and how they shouldn't be slaves. This place containing the highest ranked human officials and those of other species are all present. But what was unkown, is this a trap set up by the Cyberman, to try and take control of the Earth, and similar to Earthshock, want all the leaders dead. No one knows this is a Cyberman story, and when Lucy ventures off to steal something from the Vault, when it opens she sees a Cyberman, waiting and that is the cliffhanger. The 2nd part involves the cybermats, poison and a clever scheme by the Cyberman, this is definitely a scary 2nd part of the story. In which after the Doctor outwits the Cyberman is arrested.

EP 5 & 6 Don't Trust Her
After The Doctor and Lucy are transferred to the Shadow Proclomation prison camp for interrogation. When none other than Missy disguising as a guard, is seen and there to gloat and harm The Doctor. This is where The Doctor realises she made a plan with The Daleks, who are now in control of his TARDIS, all in a plot to control the universe. While the Doctor is being escorted he runs into an old friend in Psi. The Doctor compromises Missy's cover and now another person has been captured. Lucy, Psi, Missy and The Doctor come up with a plan to escape, and now there has been an order to kill them. The Doctor learns about what he has supposedly done, before Missy tricks them all and leaves in her TARDIS, without the others leaving them trapped in this time. The Doctor is in serious trouble now.

That is the first half of the season, what do you think of it? Psi is now a companion for the rest of this season too.
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Old 14-03-2016, 03:04
Sam_Gee1
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Second half of the season

EP 7 & 8 Old Friends, New Enemies
After teleporting away from the prison, the new crew arrive at an alien bar, where The Doctor runs into an old friend, Captain Jack. Just what The Doctor needs, a vortex manipulator, and as they are about to leave via the vortex manipulator, there is interference stopping them from leaving. A new foe known as the Balis, whom are incorporeal are causing mayhem, and trying to force themselves into this world. Can The Doctor figure out a way to stop a monster you can't touch, and save everyone in the space bar on an island?

EP 9 & 10 Right Back to the Beginning and Mistakes
The Doctor, Lucy, Psi and Captain Jack go to the place and the time where The Doctor was accused of his crime. The Planet of the Sykorax, known as Sykir in the year 2726. They arrive on Sykir, explore around and end up in the middle of a trap. They all are taken to the tower in Sykir, to discover Missy had tipped them off about their arrival and in exchange for the Doctor, she received a very powerful weapon, to help her quest of domination. The Doctor figures out Missy's plan, and realises this was a set up, as she planned to test this weapon, and use her army of Ogrons to destroy the planet, and destroy The Doctor's reputation. The Doctor, now has been successfully framed, unable to save the planet, and wanted for genocide. Psi dies in this episode.

EP 11 & 12 Choices and Weight of the World
The Daleks, make there presence felt across the universe, while Missy is threatening the universe to obey her commands or she will obliterate planets. The universe is on the brink of disaster and the shadow proclamation exonerate The Doctor after he is proven innocent by these events and work together. The Doctor and crew outwit Missy and take her, her TARDIS and weapon right into Skaro to stop The Daleks once and for all. Missy gets exterminated and regenerates, The Doctor destroys Skaro for the second time and is psychologically broken, Lucy then departs due to the death and destruction.

Alternate ending if Capaldi decides to leave. The blast of the WOMD, causes The Doctor's body to deteriorate, sends Lucy back to her home, and regenerates alone in his TARDIS which he got back.
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Old 26-03-2016, 15:05
Shawn_Lunn
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Christmas 2016: Twelve/Kate/Osgoods and Eight/Lucie versus Cybermen in a modern day London Christmas adventure.
10x01: New companion introduction, let's call her Priya and the action is in 1927. Creepy house and a new monster.
10x02: Birth of a new planet, the Doctor/Priya are amazed by discovery but it's a world doomed and they cannot prevent it.
10x03: Lighter episode, historical one - DaVinci and a race looking for a genius mind.
10x04: The Doctor and Priya work with Psi and Saibra aboard a luxury space liner, a priceless artefact being sought out by someone, mystery element.
10x05/10x06: Two parter, taking in the past, present and elements of the future as the Doctor/Priya's loyalties/friendships are tested by the Trickster.
10x07: Secondary male companion introduced call him Josh, the Paternoster Gang return as do Missy and a creature that she's using to cause chaos.
10x08: Victor Hugo themed episode in 19th century Paris, musical element to it but not overtly.
10x09: Urban thriller set in Tokyo and a dangerous cult of trapped aliens willing to use any means to escape the planet.
10x10: The Doctor and companions are separated on a desolate planet. This episode delves into what it means to be a companion to the Doctor. Dream Lord return.
10x11/10x12: The Weeping Angels launch their biggest assault and the Doctor, Priya and Josh team up with River to stop them.
Christmas 2017: Gallifrey based, Rassilon's revenge on the Doctor and Missy (they're forced to work together), not to mention Davros/Daleks attempts to restart the Time War. Sacrifices are made and the Doctor is forced to regenerate alone as he prevents another Time War. Cameos from Clara/Ashildr, Paternoster Gang, UNIT and Psi/Saibra.
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Old 27-03-2016, 09:07
jxbrenna
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So my idea for Series 10.

EP 1 - Rise of the Doctor - New Doctor and new companion - Jess Reynolds. - Episode is a Doctor who take on the film Mirrors minus the blood and gore. people are being kidnapped by Galactic Pirates known as The Vaxus. - Jess Joins.
Ep 2 - Power Trip - Future adventures.

Ep 3 - a present day adventure - enemy takes over earth - Jess' little brother Robbie is introduced who instantly takes a shine to The Doctor and vice versa

Ep 4 - The French Revolution - Doctor/Jess vs Joan of Arc and Cybermen who she believes will help her conquer England.

Ep 5 - Story set in various points in time - The Doctor chasing down a alien warlord who is wrecking havoc through all of time - The Doctor surprises Jess with a trip to the Planet of the Unicorns and gets her a unicorn called Bob who she keeps in the TARDIS .

Ep 6/7 - Breath of Life/Gasp - Weeping Angels story

Ep 8 - Atlantis - Jess is out when The Doctor pops round and finds Robbie doing a history report on Atlantis so The Doctor decides to take Robbie off on an adventure to the real Atlantis to set the record straight chaos obviously ensures!

Ep 9 - Serenity - Jack/Gwen and new Torchwood Team appear to help the Doctor and Jess combat the Vaxus once again who want revenge on the Doctor. Jess and Jack Flirt like crazy.

Ep 10 - Ghosts of Skaro - Doctor and Jess vs Davros and Time war Daleks vs Paradigm Daleks - Three way fight - Jess' first encounter with Daleks.

Ep 11 - Toy Story - Redux of The Nightmare Fair - The Doctor/Jess/Robbie all go off to Blackpool. - Toymaker returns and kidnaps Jess and Robbie - The Doctor vows to stop the Toymaker! Jess and Robbie Parents finally learn of The Doctors true identity and that he isn't just "Some bloke Jess met in the pub"

Ep 12 - Chaos Theory - The Doctor assembles an army to assualt The Toyroom and bring back Jess and Robbie. - Cameos from Jack and Torchwood/ Vasta Strax and Jenny. The Toymaker is trapped in the Toyroom. at the end of the story Jess disobeys her mums orders to stay away from The Doctor who she believes even though is a good man and has good intentions, Jess is not safe with him. and Jess and The Doctor go off again to meddle in Time and Space!
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