User:Doctorrayman/Doctor Who Wirral

Doctor Who Wirral is an amateur video branch of the Tricorums amateur video team used to describe their own series of the long running cult science fiction show Doctor Who. As the title suggests, the series is a version of the show produced, filmed, and sometimes set on the Wirral Peninsula on Merseyside, mostly Bebington and Storeton.

As of 23rd July 2009 two episodes are available on the website Youtube, with a third filmed and currently being edited. Five episodes are planned to form series 1, also known as the Morticus Saga, with two other series considered depending on the time available to the producers and the reception of the first five episodes.

Main Faces
Jake Saunders - The Doctor (1.1), General Stark (1.1), The Master (1.2, 1.3), the "camp minion" (1.3), chief editor, secondary writer, current series creator.

Jon Bowen - Phoenix Carstice (1.1), the Doctor (1.2, 1.3), chief writer, current series creator.

Mike Rhodes - Lord Morticus (1.2, 1.3), Alien shop keeper (1.3) chief effects creator, former series creator, chief cameraman.

Supporting Cast
Jennie Weaver - Natalie Roberts (1.2, 1.3)

Nick Saunders - Honest Mick (1.1), Tom Roberts (1.2, 1.3)

Matt Schofeild - Alan (1.2), several shop keepers (1.3), the "goofy minion" (1.3)

Tom Broughton - Al (1.2), the "smart minion" (1.3)

Angela Kay - Allan/Double L (1.2), woman with shop keepers (1.3)

History and creation
It was Mike who originally suggested to the group that they create their own Doctor Who, and started alongside Jake and Jon in summer 2008, originally creating a nine part series. When this series got nowhere, Jon and Jake revised the series and shortened it to five episodes, keeping some elements similar and dramatically altering others, in some cases erasing old stories and characters completely whilst creating new ones.

Major differences in series

The original series did feature Jon as the Doctor, Jake as the Master (although later Cameron Bennett, who has not been in the new series, and there is in fact only one scene with him as the Master ever filmed), and Mike as Lord Morticus. The three characters remain mostly unchanged, except for alterations in costume and appearance. Natalie and Tom Roberts were absent from the original series, although had a second series ever existed the character of Natalie was to be introduced then, also played by Jennie. Her name was Natalie Johnson in the original scripts, however, not Roberts.

There was no character called Tom Roberts, although the Doctor did have a male companion called Steve Johnson (the revelation was to be that Steve and Natalie were brother and sister (as with Natalie and Tom), had the series gone that far). Tom's story obviously replaces Steve's, as the two are very similar. In fact, when the series was rewritten the Tom character was originally to keep the name Steve, until Nick requested the name be changed. Like Tom, Steve was taken in by the Master to help open the gates of Morticus, and turned to the Doctor when he realized his mistake. Steve was later killed, and then returned as Ionis, whether Tom will share a similar fate remains to be seen. As Steve was also played by Mike, he was killed just before the release of Morticus and the two characters where never seen together.

The episode structure is dramatically different. The series would be nine episodes, not 5. The first was to be a "mini" episode to introduce the characters and scenario, and was the inspiration for the opening of episode 2 of the new series, only without the character of Natalie. Episode 2 was similar to the Dimensions of Morticus, although there was no explanation to how the Master found the key. Perhaps the most significant difference is that the Master would fail to free Lord Morticus at the end, and the Doctor and Steve would steal the key.

The next few episodes would be a chase through time as the Master tried to re-obtain the key. He took it back from an unconscious Doctor in the fifth episode, and episode 6 was an extended version of the "Master's office" section of The Dimensions of Morticus, where the revelation about how the Master got the key would take place. Episode seven saw Morticus's release, and Steve's death.

Episode 3 of the new series was based on episode 8 of the original one, and similarly featured the Doctor and the Master's attempt to stop Morticus, only to wind up captured. The story of the new series will apparently divert completely from the old one after episode 3.

The first and second episodes of the old series were uploaded to Youtube, but have now been removed. Episode 5 was completed but never published. Episodes 6, 8 and 9 were also filmed but not a lot else. If the new series is popular enough, the old episodes may one day be made available again, although the plot will no doubt prove confusing, as many major plot points such as the Master's regeneration, Steve's death, and Morticus's awakening were never filmed and only available on script.

Characters and story
Similar to the proper Doctor Who series, Doctor Who Wirral revolves around the antics of renegade Timelord The Doctor and his various companions and enemies. The current casts stars Jon as the Doctor and Jennie and Nick as his companions Natalie and Tom Roberts respectively. His enemies contain The Master played by Jake Saunders and Lord Morticus played by Mike Rhodes. The series revolves around the main trio's efforts to prevent the Master from releasing Morticus from his otherworldly prison The Dimensions of Morticus.

The first episode featured a similar cast in different roles. Whilst Jennie and Mike did not appear in it, Jake, Jon and Nick still featured strongly. The episode landed Jake in the part of the Timelord, whilst Jon played Phoenix Carstice, a smooth talking intergalactic officer intent on capturing the Doctor and imprisoning him for "interfering" with the flow of time and space. Nick played Honest Mick, another prisoner of Carstice who held both hostage for a short time during the episode. At the end of the episode, Jake's Doctor realized that Carstice would never forget what he looked like, and forced himself to regenerate into Jon's Doctor in order to escape his pursuer. As stated at the start of episode 2, there is a two year gap between the two installments. Although it is still considered episode 1 of the first series, it does not count as part of the Morticus saga, that will make up the majority of the first series. The plan is to continue the story of Adapt or Die if a second series is made, therefore Adapt or Die would gain the title of episode one of a new saga (possibly the Carstice Saga).

List of main characters:

The Doctor - Two versions of the Timelord have featured so far, Jake's and Jon's. Jake's was forced to regenerate to escape Phoenix Carstice, whilst Jon's is currently on a mission to defeat Lord Morticus, along with Natalie and Tom Roberts.

Natalie Roberts (Jennie Weaver) - The Doctor's main companion. Although Natalie was never seen joining the Tardis, the Doctor mentions in episode 2 that she joined after he blew up the Tesco she worked at. His reasons being that there was a Dalek inside, suggesting that Natalie has met the creatures. (First appearance - The Dimensions of Morticus)

Tom Roberts (Nick Saunders) - Natalie's brother. Tom first met the Master in episode 2 and was tricked by him into believing that the Doctor had kidnapped his sister. After helping the Master release Lord Morticus, he realized his mistake and joined the Tardis crew. (First appearance - The Dimensions of Morticus)

The Master (Jake Saunders) - The Doctor's all-time nemesis. The Master initially tricked Tom into opening the Gates of Morticus, hoping to obtain the legendary power said to lie within. When the power turned out to be Lord Morticus, the Master was knocked unconscious by the creature, which then escaped. (First appearance - The Dimensions of Morticus)

Lord Morticus (Mike Rhodes) - Defeated by the powerful warrior Ionis many centuries ago, Morticus was imprisoned in the Gates of Morticus and had his followers spread a false rumor about him obeying anyone who opened the gates. He was released by the Master, and immediately betrayed him. (First appearance - The Dimensions of Morticus)

Former main characters

Phoenix Carstice (Jon Bowen) - A smooth talking police officer who captured Jake's Doctor for breaking "Rule 65 of time and space". He eventually let the Doctor go in order to pursue Honest Mick, but swore he would return to get him one day, as he "never forgets a face". There are plans to take the character further if the team create a second series. (First appearance - Adapt or Die)

Honest Mick (Nick Saunders) - An escapee encountered by Jake's Doctor whilst escaping from Carstice. Mick betrayed the Doctor and attempted to steal the Tardis, but is inadvertently stopped by Carstice. He escaped, with Carstice hot on his heals. (First appearance - Adapt or Die)

Episodes
Adapt or die - Jake's Doctor arrives on the planet "Bad Wolf 7" and is captured by Phoenix Carstice. He quickly escapes, and is confronted by Honest Mick. Mick betrays the Doctor and attempts to steal the Tardis but Carstice turns up, and after a brief battle, leaves to chase Mick, promising the Doctor that he will return to get him once Mick is brought to justice. Realizing that he has no choice, the Doctor returns to the Tardis and regenerates into Jon's Doctor, so that Carstice can not chase him.

The Dimensions of Morticus - Jake's Master appears in the Tardis, much to the surprise of Jon's Doctor and companion Natalie Roberts. He introduces his new plan to open the Gates of Morticus and release an ancient power imprisoned by a powerful warrior Ionis centuries ago. To do this he requires the Key of Ionis, which he fortunately possesses. The Doctor and Natalie trace him back to a new planet to discover how he found it, only to arrive to early and end up telling the Master the location of the key, thus causing a time loop and starting what they had tried to prevent. Meanwhile, the Master has discovered that pure human DNA is required to enter the dimensions, and thus obtains the help of Natalie's brother Tom, twisting the story to make it seem like the Doctor is the villain. The Master and Tom enter the Dimensions of Morticus, only to be confronted by the Doctor, who attempts to convince Tom of the truth. The Master quickly disposes of the Doctor and continues. At the gates of Morticus, the Doctor and Natalie appear again, this time successfully convincing Tom of the truth. The Master continues with his plan to unleash the power, releasing a mysterious creature who attacks him and knocks him unconscious. The creature then dissapears to pursue an unknown goal.

Redemption - The Doctor, Natalie and Tom set out to find the creature, Lord Morticus, but when the Master turns up in the Tardis have their problems just doubled? And who is Lord Morticus really, and what are his aims?

Setting
As with the proper Doctor Who show, the series setting varies between the different planets and times visited by the characters, all of which have been portrayed by areas on the Wirral, excluding Bad Wolf 7 in episode 1, which was a caravan site in Conway. These scenes are also the only so far to be filmed off the peninsula. Most indoor scenes are filmed at a house of one of the group, in Bebington. The Tardis interior, so far present in every episode, is the garage of the aforementioned house. Other scenes filmed in that house include Phoenix Carstice's prison pod, Tom Roberts's bedroom and the Krop Tor shop. The street scenes with Tom and the Master in episode 2 where filmed outside that house, whilst the post box from the same episode stands at the top of that road. All of the outdoor Krop Tor scenes where the garden of that house. The Dimensions of Morticus were the local woodland reserve Storeton woods. Future plans for filming include Eastham country park and Arrowe Park.

In fictional terms, the series has so far been set on three different planets, one per episode, Bad Wolf 7 (Adapt or Die), Present Day Earth (The Dimensions of Morticus) and Krop Tor (Redemption - not yet uploaded) as well as the Doctor's Tardis.

Cultural references
Although there are many references to other media and cultures throughout the show, here are some of the more notable ones:

The character of Honest Mick from Adapt or Die is based on the character Honest Tom from the Playstation 2 game Gun. Both have similar personalities, and the two are made closer by Nick playing the character with a "Texan" accent. When Mick betrays the Doctor, he says "So much for Honest Mick" although the script originally reads "So much for your name", an exact parallel of Colton White's reaction when Honest Tom betrayed him in the game.

The book the Doctor is reading at the beginning of Adapt or Die is The Clockwise Man, a book based on the first series of the recent Doctor Who staring Christopher Eccleston's 9th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose Tyler.

In all the episodes so far there is a repeated gag that runs roughly as "There it is" "Where? Behind the ______?" "It is the ______!". This is based on a gag from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The part in Redemption when Morticus asks his Minions to guard his lair and prevent anyone entry except himself is also adapted from the aforementioned film.

When drinking water to sober himself up in The Dimensions of Morticus the Doctor yells "It's over 9000!!!" a line from the anime Dragonball Z.

After unwittingly telling the Master where the key of Ionis is in The Dimensions of Morticus, the Doctor states that he and Natalie have created "A most ingenious paradox", a quote from a song in The Pirates of Penzance. Coincidentally, a program for a performance of the comic opera that Jon was in shortly before filming can be seen at certain points during the Commander Stark scenes in Adapt or Die.

In The Dimensions of Morticus the Doctor at one point refers to the Master as "Master of the house" (although Jon messes up the accent and it sounds more like "Master of the arse"), in reference to the song of the same name from the musical Les Miserables.

When the Doctor confronts the Master and Tom a second time in The Dimensions of Morticus, he yells "Stop that now, thank you very much" a quote from the S Club 7 song.

In The Dimensions of Morticus Natalie calls Lord Morticus "Ozzie Osbourne"