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'''Captain Jack's Monster Files''' are an ongoing series of short, made-for-Internet videos in which [[John Barrowman]], as [[Jack Harkness]], narrates a brief history of various creatures and races encountered by [[the Doctor]]. The clips and videos are often depicted as being information acquired by the [[Torchwood Institute]] over the years, and live-action footage of Barrowman as Harkness is incorporated into the clips.
{{Infobox Story
|image = Adipose_monsterfiles.jpg
|main character = [[Jack Harkness]], [[River Song]]
|platform = Multi-part webcast
|network = [[Doctor Who website|''Doctor Who'' website]]
|release date = [[5 April (releases)|5 April]] [[2008 (releases)|2008]] - [[29 May (releases)|29 May]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]
|writer = [[Justin Richards]]
|director = [[Ian Smith]]
|producer = [[Ian Smith]]
|next = TARDIS Index Files
}}
'''''Monster Files''''' was an ongoing webcast series of webisodes created by the BBC for its official [[Doctor Who website|''Doctor Who'' website]] website beginning as a tie-in with [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]] in [[2008 (releases)|2008]]. These short films profile various monsters and alien races featured on ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


Produced and directed by [[Ian Smith]] [http://www.nrgsmith.com] in BBC Wales and written by Justin Richards [http://www.justinrichards.co.uk/], the videos are streamed via the BBC's official Doctor Who website; like virtually all videos on the site (as of 2008), the clips are "geolocked" due to licensing and are technically not allowed to be viewed outside of the UK. As of 2010 none of these clips have been released on DVD.
== Captain Jack's Monster Files ==
Initially, the series was presented as ''Captain Jack's Monster Files'', in which [[John Barrowman]], as [[Jack Harkness]], narrates a brief history of various creatures and races encountered by [[the Doctor]]. The clips and videos were often depicted as being information acquired by the [[Torchwood Institute]] over the years. Live-action footage of Barrowman as Harkness was incorporated into the clips.


The ''Monster Files'' were produced through to the end of Doctor Who's 4th season, and additional installments were also produced to tie in with the 2008 Christmas special, ''[[The Next Doctor]]'' and the 2009 Doctor Who Adventure Calendar.
Although Files instalments usually corresponded with the episode being shown that week, during some two-parters extra Files about old monsters were released for the first part. The [[Slitheen]] were used for the Files broadcast in conjunction with ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'', for example, and the [[Judoon]] were used for ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]''. A [[Christmas]]-themed Files episode was also created, in which Jack talked about the [[Sycorax]], the ''[[Titanic (spaceship)|Titanic]]'', the [[Empress of the Racnoss (The Runaway Bride)|Empress of the Racnoss]], the [[Roboform]]s, the [[Roboform Christmas tree]]s, the [[Graske]] and the [[Changeling]]s.


The Adventure Calendar installment was presented differently than the others. Focusing on the [[Weeping Angels]], the webisode was presented under the title ''[[A Ghost Story for Christmas]]'' (with no reference made to the ''Monster Files'' and no footage of Captain Jack although the character narrates the story) and featured a newly shot storyline in which a young woman has her own encounter with the Weeping Angels.
=== Episodes ===
{| {{prettytable}}
!colspan=6|Captain Jack's Monster Files
|-
!Episode related to
!Title
!Details
!Runtime
!Originally available
!File name
|-
|''[[Partners in Crime (TV story)|Partners in Crime]]''
|[[Monster File: Adipose (webcast)|Adipose]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Adipose.
|2'42"
|[[5 April (releases)|5 April]] [[2008 (releases)|2008]]
|s4_01_v_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]''
|[[Monster File: Pyrovile (webcast)|Pyrovile]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Pyrovile.
|2'53"
|[[12 April (releases)|12 April]] 2008
|s4_02_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Planet of the Ood (TV story)|Planet of the Ood]]''
|[[Monster File: Ood (webcast)|The Ood]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Ood.
|3'16"
|[[19 April (releases)|19 April]] 2008
|s4_03_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]''
|[[Monster File: Slitheen (webcast)|The Slitheen]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Slitheen.
|3'45"
|[[26 April (releases)|26 April]] 2008
|s4_01_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]''
|[[Monster File: Sontarans (webcast)|The Sontarans]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Sontarans.
|2'44"
|[[3 May (releases)|3 May]] 2008
|s4_05_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]''
|[[Monster File: Hath (webcast)|The Hath]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Hath.
|2'18"
|[[10 May (releases)|10 May]] 2008
|s4_06_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp (TV story)|The Unicorn and the Wasp]]''
|[[Monster File: Vespiform (webcast)|Vespiform]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Vespiform.
|3'13"
|[[17 May (releases)|17 May]] 2008
|s4_07_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]''
|[[Monster File: Judoon (webcast)|The Judoon]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Judoon.
|2'50"
|[[31 May (releases)|31 May]] 2008
|s4_08_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Forest of the Dead (TV story)|Forest of the Dead]]''
|[[Monster File: Vashta Nerada (webcast)|The Vashta Nerada]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Vashta Nerada.
|2'56"
|[[7 June (releases)|7 June]] 2008
|s4_09_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''
|[[Monster File: Midnight (webcast)|Midnight]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about Midnight.
|3'01"
|[[14 June (releases)|14 June]] 2008
|s4_10_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]''
|[[Monster File: The Trickster's Brigade (webcast)|The Trickster's Brigade]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Trickster's Brigade.
|3'22"
|[[21 June (releases)|21 June]] 2008
|s4_11_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]''
|[[Monster File: Daleks (webcast)|The Daleks]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Daleks.
|4'04"
|[[28 June (releases)|28 June]] 2008
|s4_12_mon_01.flv
|-
|''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''
|[[Monster File: Davros (webcast)|Davros]]
|Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about Davros.
|3'41"
|[[5 July (releases)|5 July]] 2008
|s4_13_mon_01.flv
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]''
|[[Monster File: Christmas (webcast)|Christmas]]
|Tales of Christmas past from Captain Jack.<br>([[Adventure Calendar]])
|4'37"
|[[9 December (releases)|9 December]] 2008
|xmas_mon_01.flv
|-
|[[Monster File: Cybermen (webcast)|The Cybermen]]
|Facts and figures from Captain Jack.
|3'44"
|[[25 December (releases)|25 December]] 2008
|s0_05_mon_01.flv
|}


It has not yet been announced whether any future editions of ''Captain Jack's Monster Files'' will be produced in 2010 with the advent of a new ''Doctor Who'' production team (not to mention the events of [[TW]]: ''[[Children of Earth]]''). As of late April 2010 no such productions have appeared.
== 2009 Adventure Calendar ==
For the 2009 ''[[Adventure Calendar|Doctor Who Adventure Calendar]]'', a webisode focusing on the [[Weeping Angel]]s entitled ''[[A Ghost Story for Christmas]]'' was produced. Unlike earlier instalments, it was not identified as being part of the ''Monster Files'' series, and also told a brief story as opposed to being a straight documentary. Barrowman returned to narrate the piece as Captain Jack, however.


The [[canon]]icity of the ''Monster Files'' is uncertain, especially given that some installments feature monsters the Doctor encountered away from Earth or in the far future, out of Torchwood's reach. In the case of others, it's possible that Torchwood might have obtained details about, for example, the [[Hath]] from [[Martha Jones]] and the [[Trickster's Brigade]] from [[Sarah Jane Smith]], or indeed virtually any of the creatures from an unchronicled encounter with the Doctor. The context of the feature also implies that Harkness himself might have first-hand knowledge of many of these creatures from his own travels and adventures.
{| {{prettytable}}
!Episode related to
!Title
!Details
!Runtime
!Originally available
!File name
|-
|''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time, Part One]]''
|[[A Ghost Story for Christmas (webcast)|A Ghost Story for Christmas]]
|Christmas is a perfect time for scary stories that send a shiver down your spine and put a smile on your face! It's good to have a touch of terror in the tinsel and we've got a tale for you now that'll make you go brrrrrr! But a warning to the curious... it's about a strange and terrifying race known as the Weeping Angels. Enjoy their story but whatever you do, don't blink!<br>([[Adventure Calendar]])
|3'06"
|[[24 December (releases)|24 December]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|adventure_091224.flv
|}


==Notes==
== River Song's Monster Files ==
====Extra files====
The ''Monster Files'' series resumed during [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 5]]. Narrated by [[Alex Kingston]] as [[River Song]], and featuring specially shot introduction footage, the files now took the form of information taken from [[River Song's diary|her diary]]. Like at the end of Harkness' videos, she has survival tips, in this case called "Useful Spoilers".
Although Files installments usually correspond with the episode being shown that week, during some two-parters extra Files about old monsters are released for the first part if the monster's full story is kept secret until the complete story has been broadcast. The [[Slitheen]] were used for the Files broadcast in conjunction with [[DW]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'', for example, and the [[Judoon]] were used for ''[[Silence in the Library]]''. A [[Christmas]]-themed Files episode was also created, in which Jack talks about the [[Sycorax]], The ''[[Titanic (spaceship)|Titanic]]'', The [[Empress of the Racnoss]], the [[Roboform]]s, the [[Roboform Christmas Tree]]s, the [[Graske]] and the [[Changeling]]s.


==External links==
=== Parts ===
*''[[Partners in Crime]]'': [[Adipose]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_01?episode=S4_01&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_01/video/s4_01_v_01.xml&video=1&date Monster FIle]
{| {{prettytable}}
*''[[The Fires of Pompeii]]'': [[Pyrovile]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_02?episode=S4_02&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_02/video/s4_02_mon_01.xml&video=1&date Monster File]
!colspan=6|River Song's Monster Files
*''[[Planet of the Ood]]'': [[Ood]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_03&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_03/video/s4_03_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20the%20Ood.&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_03_mon_01 Monster File]
|-
*''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'': [[Slitheen]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/characters/slitheen?episode= Monster file] (extra)
!Episode related to
*''[[The Poison Sky]]'': [[Sontaran]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_05&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_05/video/s4_05_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20t| Monster File]
!Title
*''[[The Doctor's Daughter]]'': [[Hath]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_06&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_06/video/s4_06_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20the%20Hath.&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_06_mon_01 Monster file]
!Details
*''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp]]'': [[Vespiform]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_07&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_07/video/s4_07_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=& Monster file]
!Runtime
*''[[Silence in the Library]]'': [[Judoon]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/videos/?episode=S4_08&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_08/video/s4_08_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20the%20Judoon.&info=&info2 Monster file] (extra)
!Originally available
*''[[Forest of the Dead]]'': [[Vashta Nerada]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_09&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_09/video/s4_09_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=TAKE%20CARE!%20This%20is%20the%20scariest%20Monster%20File%20yet!%20Make%20sure%20you%20watch%20this%20one%20with%20the%20lights%20on!&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_09_mon_01 Monster file]
!BBC PID
*''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'': [[Midnight Entity]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_10?episode=S4_10&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_10/video/s4_10_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20Midnight.&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_10_mon_01 Monster file]
|-
*''[[Turn Left]]'': [[The Trickster's Brigade]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_11&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_11/video/s4_11_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary= Monster file]
|''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]''
*''[[The Stolen Earth]]'': [[Dalek]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=S4_12&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_12/video/s4_12_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20about%20the%20Daleks.&info=&inf Monster file]
|[[Monster File: Weeping Angels (webcast)|Weeping Angels]]
*''[[Journey's End]]'': [[Davros]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/characters/davros?episode=&character=davros&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_13/video/s4_13_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Captain%20Jack%20reveals%20facts,%20figures%20and%20top%20secret%20info%20 Monster file]
|River Song shares the secrets of the Weeping Angels.
*''Holiday Special'': [[Sycorax]], [[Empress of the Racnoss]], [[Max Capricorn]], [[Heavenly Host]]s, [[Roboform]]s, [[Roboform Christmas Tree]]s, [[Graske]] and [[Changeling]]s [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/misc/advent08/december_09 Monster File] (extra)
|3'36"
*''[[The Next Doctor]]'' [[Cybermen]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/videos/?episode=S0_05&character=&action=videostream&playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s0_05/video/s0_05_mon_01.xml&video=1&date=&summary=Facts%20and%20figures%20from%20Captain%20Jack.&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s0_05_mon_01 Monster file]
|[[1 May (releases)|1 May]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]
*2009 Adventure Calender, [[Weeping Angel]]s [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/features/videos/adventure_091224] - see ''[[A Ghost Story for Christmas]]''
|p007njk0
*http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/episodes/b00s971z/videos/p007njk0
|-
[[Category:BBC]]
|''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]''
[[Category:In-universe websites]]
|[[Monster File: Vampires (webcast)|Vampires]]
|River Song opens her famous journal and shares her knowledge of vampires and vampire-like creatures.
|3'43"
|[[8 May (releases)|8 May]] 2010
|p007rxmr
|-
|''[[Cold Blood (TV story)|Cold Blood]]''
|[[Monster File: Silurians (webcast)|Silurians]]
|River Song shares some Silurian secrets in this dramatic new Monster File.
|3'25"
|[[29 May (releases)|29 May]] 2010
|p0083k6d
|}
 
== Credits ==
These films were directed and produced by [[Ian Smith]] in BBC Wales, and written by [[Justin Richards]].
 
== Availability ==
The videos are streamed via the BBC's official Doctor Who website. Virtually all videos on the site are "geofenced" due to licensing and are technically not allowed to be viewed outside of the UK, though they are widely circulated anyway. None of these clips have been released on DVD or as any other form of media.
 
{{TitleSort}}
 
[[Category:Doctor Who spin-offs]]
[[Category:Web content]]
[[Category:Webcasts]]
[[Category:Webcasts]]
[[Category:The Return of Rose arc]]

Latest revision as of 19:43, 25 April 2024

RealWorld.png

Monster Files was an ongoing webcast series of webisodes created by the BBC for its official Doctor Who website website beginning as a tie-in with series 4 in 2008. These short films profile various monsters and alien races featured on Doctor Who.

Captain Jack's Monster Files[[edit] | [edit source]]

Initially, the series was presented as Captain Jack's Monster Files, in which John Barrowman, as Jack Harkness, narrates a brief history of various creatures and races encountered by the Doctor. The clips and videos were often depicted as being information acquired by the Torchwood Institute over the years. Live-action footage of Barrowman as Harkness was incorporated into the clips.

Although Files instalments usually corresponded with the episode being shown that week, during some two-parters extra Files about old monsters were released for the first part. The Slitheen were used for the Files broadcast in conjunction with The Sontaran Stratagem, for example, and the Judoon were used for Silence in the Library. A Christmas-themed Files episode was also created, in which Jack talked about the Sycorax, the Titanic, the Empress of the Racnoss, the Roboforms, the Roboform Christmas trees, the Graske and the Changelings.

Episodes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Captain Jack's Monster Files
Episode related to Title Details Runtime Originally available File name
Partners in Crime Adipose Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Adipose. 2'42" 5 April 2008 s4_01_v_01.flv
The Fires of Pompeii Pyrovile Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Pyrovile. 2'53" 12 April 2008 s4_02_mon_01.flv
Planet of the Ood The Ood Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Ood. 3'16" 19 April 2008 s4_03_mon_01.flv
The Sontaran Stratagem The Slitheen Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Slitheen. 3'45" 26 April 2008 s4_01_mon_01.flv
The Poison Sky The Sontarans Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Sontarans. 2'44" 3 May 2008 s4_05_mon_01.flv
The Doctor's Daughter The Hath Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Hath. 2'18" 10 May 2008 s4_06_mon_01.flv
The Unicorn and the Wasp Vespiform Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Vespiform. 3'13" 17 May 2008 s4_07_mon_01.flv
Silence in the Library The Judoon Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Judoon. 2'50" 31 May 2008 s4_08_mon_01.flv
Forest of the Dead The Vashta Nerada Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Vashta Nerada. 2'56" 7 June 2008 s4_09_mon_01.flv
Midnight Midnight Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about Midnight. 3'01" 14 June 2008 s4_10_mon_01.flv
Turn Left The Trickster's Brigade Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Trickster's Brigade. 3'22" 21 June 2008 s4_11_mon_01.flv
The Stolen Earth The Daleks Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about the Daleks. 4'04" 28 June 2008 s4_12_mon_01.flv
Journey's End Davros Captain Jack reveals facts, figures and top secret info about Davros. 3'41" 5 July 2008 s4_13_mon_01.flv
The Next Doctor Christmas Tales of Christmas past from Captain Jack.
(Adventure Calendar) 		4'37" 9 December 2008 xmas_mon_01.flv
The Cybermen Facts and figures from Captain Jack. 3'44" 25 December 2008 s0_05_mon_01.flv

2009 Adventure Calendar[[edit] | [edit source]]

For the 2009 Doctor Who Adventure Calendar, a webisode focusing on the Weeping Angels entitled A Ghost Story for Christmas was produced. Unlike earlier instalments, it was not identified as being part of the Monster Files series, and also told a brief story as opposed to being a straight documentary. Barrowman returned to narrate the piece as Captain Jack, however.

Episode related to Title Details Runtime Originally available File name
The End of Time, Part One A Ghost Story for Christmas Christmas is a perfect time for scary stories that send a shiver down your spine and put a smile on your face! It's good to have a touch of terror in the tinsel and we've got a tale for you now that'll make you go brrrrrr! But a warning to the curious... it's about a strange and terrifying race known as the Weeping Angels. Enjoy their story but whatever you do, don't blink!
(Adventure Calendar) 		3'06" 24 December 2009 adventure_091224.flv

River Song's Monster Files[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Monster Files series resumed during series 5. Narrated by Alex Kingston as River Song, and featuring specially shot introduction footage, the files now took the form of information taken from her diary. Like at the end of Harkness' videos, she has survival tips, in this case called "Useful Spoilers".

Parts[[edit] | [edit source]]

River Song's Monster Files
Episode related to Title Details Runtime Originally available BBC PID
Flesh and Stone Weeping Angels River Song shares the secrets of the Weeping Angels. 3'36" 1 May 2010 p007njk0
The Vampires of Venice Vampires River Song opens her famous journal and shares her knowledge of vampires and vampire-like creatures. 3'43" 8 May 2010 p007rxmr
Cold Blood Silurians River Song shares some Silurian secrets in this dramatic new Monster File. 3'25" 29 May 2010 p0083k6d

Credits[[edit] | [edit source]]

These films were directed and produced by Ian Smith in BBC Wales, and written by Justin Richards.

Availability[[edit] | [edit source]]

The videos are streamed via the BBC's official Doctor Who website. Virtually all videos on the site are "geofenced" due to licensing and are technically not allowed to be viewed outside of the UK, though they are widely circulated anyway. None of these clips have been released on DVD or as any other form of media.

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