Strax Saves the Day (webcast): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story | ||
|image = Strax Saves the Day.jpg | |image = Strax Saves the Day.jpg | ||
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|setting = [[13 Paternoster Row]], [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[London]] | |setting = [[13 Paternoster Row]], [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[London]] | ||
|writer = [[Steven Moffat]] | |writer = [[Steven Moffat]] | ||
|director = [[Dan Starkey]] | |||
|producer = [[Emily Cook]] | |producer = [[Emily Cook]] | ||
|broadcast date = [[21 March (releases)|21 March]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]] | |broadcast date = [[21 March (releases)|21 March]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]] | ||
|series = | |network = [[YouTube]] | ||
|prev = | |format = Introductory scene | ||
|series = ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' introductions | |||
|prev = Cinema Introduction (The Day of the Doctor) | |||
|series2 = ''[[Doctor Who: Lockdown!]]'' originals | |||
|next2 = Things She Thought While Falling (short story) | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Strax Saves the Day''''' was a short webcast introduction to ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' produced by [[Emily Cook]] in [[2020 (releases)|2020]] to go along with a scheduled screening of | '''''Strax Saves the Day''''' was a short webcast introduction to ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' produced by [[Emily Cook]] in [[2020 (releases)|2020]] to go along with a scheduled screening of said story as part of the ''[[Doctor Who: Lockdown!]]'' [[self-isolation]] watch-along programme due to the outbreak of [[COVID-19]] worldwide. | ||
Conceived as a successor to the original [[Strax]]-focused portion of the original [[Cinema Introduction (The Day of the Doctor)|cinema introduction]] to ''The Day of the Doctor'', Cook reached out to [[Steven Moffat]] for pointers and permission to use Strax, and Moffat went as far as to write the story itself, which was then filmed in under twenty-four hours. Due to these contraints, [[Dan Starkey]] — Strax's actor — wasn't able to get into prosthetics, so an alternative was utilised; Strax would be represented by a unique prototype plushie created by [[BBC Worldwide]] that was never greenlit. Starkey later profused that his father had found it very odd that one of the props in the introduction — a punchbowl complete with a peace-lily which had belonged to his great-aunt — was now a [[canon]]ical part of the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]].<ref name="DWM551">[[DWM 551]] - Contact Has Been Made</ref> However, this Wiki does not treat it as part of the ''Doctor Who'' universe, as we deem this source [[T:VS|invalid]] as it ostensibly breaks the [[fourth wall]]. | |||
== Publisher's summary == | == Publisher's summary == | ||
Thank you Strax for introducing today's viewing of ''The Day of the Doctor''. | Thank you Strax for introducing today's viewing of ''The Day of the Doctor''. | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
A shrunken, doll-like [[Strax]] walks on-screen, greets the "human scum" in his audience, and explains that he has just come from "deadly combat" with {{Dhawan}}. He is confident that he escaped unscathed, but rather confused about why all the furniture in Vastra's house suddenly appears so much bigger. | A shrunken, doll-like [[Strax]] walks on-screen, greets the "human scum" in his audience, and explains that he has just come from "deadly combat" with {{Dhawan}}. He is confident that he escaped unscathed, but rather confused about why all the furniture in Vastra's house suddenly appears so much bigger. | ||
Strax moves on to explain that the version of ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' they are about to see has been "enhanced" from the original [[3D]] into | Strax moves on to explain that the version of ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' they are about to see has been "enhanced" from the original [[3D]] into "groundbreaking [[2D]]". If anyone wishes to experience the story in its original format, they are advised to "develop a mild headache whilst sticking their fingers in their eyes", he claims. | ||
The Sontaran butler explains that "as you know, all the original Doctors assembled to make this episode" before admitting that this is "except for [[ | The Sontaran butler explains that "as you know, all the original Doctors assembled to make this episode" before admitting that this is "except for [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|most of them]]", and advises viewers to look out for "[[John Hurt (Greeks Bearing Gifts)|John Hurt]]'s return to the role and [[Billie (The Gathering)|Billie Piper]]'s long-awaited return to [[The Moment|a completely ''different'' role]]" as well as [[Tom Baker (Bafflement and Devotion)|Tom Baker]], appearing as "[[The Curator|who was that supposed to be, ''anyway''?!]]". | ||
Finally, Strax expresses doubts as to whether history was actually changed by this story, but professes perhaps-unfounded faith in the fact that one thing is known for ''sure'': [[ | Finally, Strax expresses doubts as to whether history was actually changed by this story, but professes perhaps-unfounded faith in the fact that one thing is known for ''sure'': [[CyberMaster|the Time Lords are back for good…]] | ||
[[Vastra|Madame Vastra]] then calls from another room for Strax to put the [[kettle]] on, to which Strax hurries off. | [[Vastra|Madame Vastra]] then calls from another room for Strax to put the [[kettle]] on, to which Strax hurries off. | ||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
* [[Strax]] - [[Dan Starkey|Himself]] | * [[Strax]] - [[Dan Starkey|Himself]] | ||
* [[Vastra]] - [[Neve McIntosh]] | * [[Vastra]] - [[Neve McIntosh]] | ||
* [[Dan Starkey (Strax Saves the Day)|Dan Starkey]] - [[Dan Starkey]] (uncredited) | |||
== Crew == | == Crew == | ||
* [[Writer]] - [[Steven Moffat]] | * [[Writer]] - [[Steven Moffat]] | ||
* [[Producer]] - [[Emily Cook]] | * [[Producer]] - [[Emily Cook]] | ||
* Assistant to Mr. Strax - [[Dan Starkey]] | * [[Director|Assistant to Mr. Strax]] - [[Dan Starkey]] | ||
* With Thanks To — [[Brian Minchin]], [[Peter Ware (editor)|Peter Ware]], ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' | * With Thanks To — [[Brian Minchin]], [[Peter Ware (editor)|Peter Ware]], ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' | ||
== Worldbuilding == | |||
* Strax has ostensibly experienced [[Tissue Compression Eliminator|tissue compression]] following his face-off with {{Dhawan}}. | |||
* Strax refers to the Master as [[the Doctor]]'s [[archenemy]]. | |||
* The [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|"Morbius" Doctors]] appear on screen when Strax mentions that "most" of the Doctor's faces are missing from the special. | |||
== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* Strax's point that in the end, only a small fraction of all the past Doctors appeared in ''The Day of the Doctor'' (a point illustrated by photographs of [[ | * This webcast's title is a play on the hashtag "#SaveTheDay" that became trending around the original 2013 broadcast of ''The Day of the Doctor'', as well as the ''[[Doctor Who: Lockdown!]]'' watch-along of the story in 2020. | ||
* For the sake of comedy, images of [[John Hurt]] and [[Billie Piper]] from other roles entirely than ''Day of the Doctor'' are used when Strax mentions them. The picture of | * Strax's point that in the end, only a small fraction of all the past Doctors appeared in ''The Day of the Doctor'' (a point illustrated by photographs of [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|the "Morbius" Doctors]]) rode the wave of the controversial reinstatement in the then-latest televised ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'' story, ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'', that [[The Doctor's early life|the Doctor had lives]] before being the [[First Doctor]] and that the faces seen in ''[[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|The Brain of Morbius]]'' were indeed the Doctor's. | ||
* For the sake of comedy, images of [[John Hurt]] and [[Billie Piper]] from other roles entirely than ''The Day of the Doctor'' are used when Strax mentions them. The picture of [[the Curator]] is, meanwhile, one of an action figure rather than of [[Tom Baker]] in costume. | |||
= | * A brief gag is played around the Coronavirus panic hoarding of [[toilet paper]], as seen when 3 rolls of toilet paper are stacked next to Strax. | ||
* On top of being [[Steven Moffat]]'s first '' | * The Radio Times article covering the short (written by Huw Fullerton) suggested that the fiendish device which transformed Strax into the living doll seen in the film was not the regular [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]], but a "Plushie Compression Eliminator".<ref>''[https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-03-21/doctor-who-new-moffat-scene/?fbclid=IwAR0fwWcp-5Mb1GIwrsdcpb50cGsKTKCCNUmojMQUaAbzpaQHaPgIEOJjBvw Doctor Who: Watch Steven Moffat’s new self-isolation introduction to the Day of the Doctor]''</ref> This was mainly due to the TCE rendering people into immobile "porcelain"-like figurines of their former selves, whereas this Strax doll was given mobility and voice, and appearing to be a plushie-toy. | ||
* | * On top of being [[Steven Moffat]]'s first ''Doctor Who'' television script since 2017's ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' and his first ''Doctor Who'' material altogether since 2018's ''[[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' [[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|novelisation]], the introduction was also the first time since ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'' in 2014 that [[Dan Starkey]] and [[Neve McIntosh]] appeared as [[Strax]] and [[Vastra|Madame Vastra]] in an audiovisual production, although the first only appears as a miniaturised doll, and the latter is only heard from outside the frame. | ||
* The prototype plushie was given to Dan Starkey by [[Julie Holmes]], who used to work for [[BBC Worldwide]].<ref name="DWM551"/> | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{elx|page url= https://twitter.com/DoctorWho_BBCA/status/1241433306023026688|page name=''Strax Saves the Day''|website url=https://twitter.com|website name=the official BBC America Twitter account}} | |||
{{lockx}} | |||
== Footnotes == | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
{{DWU Doctor Who stories}} | |||
{{WC}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[Category:Non-DWU webcasts]] | [[Category:Non-DWU webcasts]] | ||
[[Category:2020 webcasts]] | [[Category:2020 webcasts]] | ||
[[Category:Webcasts set on Earth]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | |||
[[Category:Sontaran webcasts]] | |||
[[Category:Doctor Who mini-episodes]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:31, 26 July 2024
Strax Saves the Day was a short webcast introduction to The Day of the Doctor produced by Emily Cook in 2020 to go along with a scheduled screening of said story as part of the Doctor Who: Lockdown! self-isolation watch-along programme due to the outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide.
Conceived as a successor to the original Strax-focused portion of the original cinema introduction to The Day of the Doctor, Cook reached out to Steven Moffat for pointers and permission to use Strax, and Moffat went as far as to write the story itself, which was then filmed in under twenty-four hours. Due to these contraints, Dan Starkey — Strax's actor — wasn't able to get into prosthetics, so an alternative was utilised; Strax would be represented by a unique prototype plushie created by BBC Worldwide that was never greenlit. Starkey later profused that his father had found it very odd that one of the props in the introduction — a punchbowl complete with a peace-lily which had belonged to his great-aunt — was now a canonical part of the Doctor Who universe.[1] However, this Wiki does not treat it as part of the Doctor Who universe, as we deem this source invalid as it ostensibly breaks the fourth wall.
Publisher's summary[[edit]]
Thank you Strax for introducing today's viewing of The Day of the Doctor.
Plot[[edit]]
A shrunken, doll-like Strax walks on-screen, greets the "human scum" in his audience, and explains that he has just come from "deadly combat" with the Spy Master. He is confident that he escaped unscathed, but rather confused about why all the furniture in Vastra's house suddenly appears so much bigger.
Strax moves on to explain that the version of The Day of the Doctor they are about to see has been "enhanced" from the original 3D into "groundbreaking 2D". If anyone wishes to experience the story in its original format, they are advised to "develop a mild headache whilst sticking their fingers in their eyes", he claims.
The Sontaran butler explains that "as you know, all the original Doctors assembled to make this episode" before admitting that this is "except for most of them", and advises viewers to look out for "John Hurt's return to the role and Billie Piper's long-awaited return to a completely different role" as well as Tom Baker, appearing as "who was that supposed to be, anyway?!".
Finally, Strax expresses doubts as to whether history was actually changed by this story, but professes perhaps-unfounded faith in the fact that one thing is known for sure: the Time Lords are back for good…
Madame Vastra then calls from another room for Strax to put the kettle on, to which Strax hurries off.
Cast[[edit]]
- Strax - Himself
- Vastra - Neve McIntosh
- Dan Starkey - Dan Starkey (uncredited)
Crew[[edit]]
- Writer - Steven Moffat
- Producer - Emily Cook
- Assistant to Mr. Strax - Dan Starkey
- With Thanks To — Brian Minchin, Peter Ware, Doctor Who Magazine
Worldbuilding[[edit]]
- Strax has ostensibly experienced tissue compression following his face-off with the Spy Master.
- Strax refers to the Master as the Doctor's archenemy.
- The "Morbius" Doctors appear on screen when Strax mentions that "most" of the Doctor's faces are missing from the special.
Story notes[[edit]]
- This webcast's title is a play on the hashtag "#SaveTheDay" that became trending around the original 2013 broadcast of The Day of the Doctor, as well as the Doctor Who: Lockdown! watch-along of the story in 2020.
- Strax's point that in the end, only a small fraction of all the past Doctors appeared in The Day of the Doctor (a point illustrated by photographs of the "Morbius" Doctors) rode the wave of the controversial reinstatement in the then-latest televised Doctor Who story, The Timeless Children, that the Doctor had lives before being the First Doctor and that the faces seen in The Brain of Morbius were indeed the Doctor's.
- For the sake of comedy, images of John Hurt and Billie Piper from other roles entirely than The Day of the Doctor are used when Strax mentions them. The picture of the Curator is, meanwhile, one of an action figure rather than of Tom Baker in costume.
- A brief gag is played around the Coronavirus panic hoarding of toilet paper, as seen when 3 rolls of toilet paper are stacked next to Strax.
- The Radio Times article covering the short (written by Huw Fullerton) suggested that the fiendish device which transformed Strax into the living doll seen in the film was not the regular Tissue Compression Eliminator, but a "Plushie Compression Eliminator".[2] This was mainly due to the TCE rendering people into immobile "porcelain"-like figurines of their former selves, whereas this Strax doll was given mobility and voice, and appearing to be a plushie-toy.
- On top of being Steven Moffat's first Doctor Who television script since 2017's Twice Upon a Time and his first Doctor Who material altogether since 2018's The Day of the Doctor novelisation, the introduction was also the first time since Deep Breath in 2014 that Dan Starkey and Neve McIntosh appeared as Strax and Madame Vastra in an audiovisual production, although the first only appears as a miniaturised doll, and the latter is only heard from outside the frame.
- The prototype plushie was given to Dan Starkey by Julie Holmes, who used to work for BBC Worldwide.[1]
External links[[edit]]
- Strax Saves the Day at the official BBC America Twitter account
- Strax Saves the Day at the Doctor Who: Lockdown! wiki
Footnotes[[edit]]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 DWM 551 - Contact Has Been Made
- ↑ Doctor Who: Watch Steven Moffat’s new self-isolation introduction to the Day of the Doctor
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