Music of the Spheres (TV story)

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Revision as of 11:56, 25 August 2008 by 86.132.225.209 (talk) (Replaced with TBA as we don't know the title yet.)

Music of the Spheres was a short episode which first broadcast on 27 July 2008 as part of the BBC proms season. Prior to broadcast it was variously known as Proms Special and Proms Cutaway, with episode writer Russell T. Davies using this as the title when promoting the episode in Doctor Who Magazine.


Plot

The Graske is teleported to the other side of the Universe

Alone in the TARDIS, the Doctor is busy composing his own piece of music, when an alert sounds. Investigating, he realizes that there is a teleport breach due to the TARDIS's shields being down for just a few minutes. At that moment, a Graske suddenly appears, much to the Doctor's annoyance. Before the Doctor can do anything, the Graske inquires to what the harmonious sound echoing through the TARDIS is. The Doctor claims that this is the Music of the Spheres, which is the sound of planets orbiting stars and stars orbiting the galaxy and galaxies orbiting each other making up the universe, the gravity patterns of which are fed through the TARDIS' harmonic filter. The Graske claims that he is here to warn the Doctor of a hole in space, which manifests itself near the entrance of the TARDIS. Looking through the hole, the Doctor realizes the hole has appeared in the Royal Albert Hall in London, during the Proms. Seizing his chance, the Doctor passes his sheets of music through the hole to the Albert Hall, and asks if the orchestra would play it. He also asks the conductor to step down, as he will conduct the orchestra himself using his Sonic Screwdriver, which he does, rather flamboyantly. He calls the piece "Ode to the Universe", and thanks the orchestra for playing it, where he realizes that the Graske has traveled through the hole, arriving in London. Coming to the conclusion that the Graske was lying to him in order to reach Earth, he stops him from creating any more trouble by reversing the polarity of the neutron flow, which sends the Graske back to the TARDIS. The Doctor then sends him to the end of the galaxy using his screwdriver. He then says farewell to the audience, but not before informing them that everyone is a musician, and that they can hear the Music of the Spheres by closing their eyes, and listening to the universe.

Cast

Production credits

to be added

References

  • The Tenth Doctor uses the full phrase "reverse the polarity of the neutron flow", commonly associated with the Third Doctor. He had previously commented that it had taken him an unexpectedly long time to "reverse the polarity" of Richard Lazarus' genetic manipulator, but this is the first time we have heard him, or any intervening incarnation say the full phrase since on Gallifrey during the Game of Rassilon.

Story notes

  • According to Doctor Who Magazine, production of this mini-episode officially concluded production of Series 4 on May 3, 2008. Davies told DWM that he had to write the episode in a special way as it is scheduled to be broadcast both on television and on radio. This makes this special the first such hybrid episode ever produced for the series.
  • This special aired on Sunday 27th July between 11A.M. and 1P.M. on BBC Radio 3. It will be shown on BBC4 in a couple of weeks. It was also be available on the Doctor Who website at 11.40 A.M, however due to rights, the clip was only be made available for a short period of time.
  • For the first time since 1966 the original closing theme arrangement by Delia Derbyshire, as introduced in 1963's An Unearthly Child, is used in lieu of Murray Gold's work. The specific reason for including this version of the theme was not readily apparent to those who watched the mini-episode in isolation from the Proms event. As explained to the audience in the Royal Albert Hall by Proms host Freema Agyeman, it was employed as a way to feature a piece of music which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. (Some have erroneously identified the version played as the arrangement featured up until the late 1970s, but the lack of echo identifies it as the original version.
  • This is an unusual example of the BBC Wales version of Doctor Who crediting only one actor above the titles. It had only previously happened with Attack of the Graske.

Ratings

to be added

Myths and Rumours

  • Russell T. Davies, in promoting the mini-episode, indicated it would feature a returning guest star. Fan speculation included virtually every major companion or guest star since the series returned, and also extended to include classic series companions and Doctor.

Filming Locations

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

The Doctor is wearing his blue suit which the clone Doctor (Journey's End) was wearing; How did he get it back? He is not exactly short of clothing and he probably has a spare in the wardrobe.

Continuity

  • Graskes previously appeared in the interactive episode Attack of the Graske and one also appeared during SJA: Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?.
  • The Doctor says (upon looking at the screen) "What, What, What?!" in quick succession, he has previous intoned these lines at the beginning of DW: The Runaway Bride, Last of the Time Lords and Time Crash. He also says "What" when he finds the Graske has escaped through the Time portal.
  • The Doctor says the TARDIS defences were down, as they were in DW: Time Crash. They were down so the TARDIS could hear the universe.
  • The Doctor comments off hand 'And he's stolen my water pistol.' He used his water pistol in DW: The Fires of Pompeii.
  • The canonicity of this mini-episode is unclear. Unlike the previous mini-episodes, it has no connection to ongoing storylines, and it is also interactive, though with an in-universe reason (i.e. the portal to the Royal Albert Hall).
  • The Doctor breaks the fourth wall in the course of this episode by directly addressing the audience in the Royal Albert Hall. The First Doctor, also broke the fourth wall by wishing the audience a "Merry Christmas" in "The Feast of Steven"(DW:The Daleks' Master Plan). The Tenth Doctor also addressed the viewer directly throughout "Attack of the Graske".

DVD and Other releases

To be added

See also

Instances of music in other stories

External links

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

Template:Series 4

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