TomH1138
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I'm glad you got to see "Downtime"! Unfortunately, it's better for the things it does for the history of the show (bringing back Sarah Jane, the Brig, and Victoria; introducing Kate) than it is for the actual story itself, which is a bit confusing and unfocused. I'd love to do a fan edit of it one day!
Both RTD and Moffat have made statements indicating that, to them, there is no canon (which, I suppose in another sense, means that everything is equally canon). I've never heard him comment on "Downtime" specifically, but I bet he does consider it part of the story.
As for whether or not the inclusion of Kate in the new series was intentional, Shannon Sullivan (a Doctor Who online historian who's been detailing the behind-the-scenes aspects of the show online -- since 1995!) had this to say:
"Now, Chibnall wished to pay tribute to Courtney -- who had passed away in February -- by introducing the Brigadier's daughter, Kate, as the new leader of UNIT. As a twist, Kate Stewart would not be a soldier like her father, but rather the Head of Scientific Research. Effectively, then, she would inherit the roles of both the Brigadier and the Doctor within UNIT. Coincidentally, Doctor Who spin-off media had already introduced a daughter named Kate for the Brigadier (created by Marc Platt for the video Downtime), but Chibnall was unaware of this character."
I haven't looked it up myself to verify this, but Sullivan seems to be very reliable, even citing his sources at the bottom of the page. Link below:
http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/2012d.html
Still, the similarities are staggering. How much better would the odds be that Downtime would mention a son named Harry or something, and then that character would never get mentioned again? Or that the Brig would have a daughter named Susan, and then the new series would say that he only ever had one daughter? Instead, both characters share the same name and the same blond hair even though their father had dark hair! It seems like it was meant to be.
I definitely consider this movie canon, even though the story isn't great. I mean, the story in Battlefield isn't great either, but that's undeniably still canon too!
bionicbob said:Not clear if the BBC or Dr Who show runners view this story as canon? This is the first introduction of the Brigadier's daughter Kate, and while played by a different actress, I could believe she is the same character who evolved in the future leader of UNIT as seen in The Day of the Doctor. Has Moffat ever commented on this? We know of his passion for classic Who canon.
Both RTD and Moffat have made statements indicating that, to them, there is no canon (which, I suppose in another sense, means that everything is equally canon). I've never heard him comment on "Downtime" specifically, but I bet he does consider it part of the story.
As for whether or not the inclusion of Kate in the new series was intentional, Shannon Sullivan (a Doctor Who online historian who's been detailing the behind-the-scenes aspects of the show online -- since 1995!) had this to say:
"Now, Chibnall wished to pay tribute to Courtney -- who had passed away in February -- by introducing the Brigadier's daughter, Kate, as the new leader of UNIT. As a twist, Kate Stewart would not be a soldier like her father, but rather the Head of Scientific Research. Effectively, then, she would inherit the roles of both the Brigadier and the Doctor within UNIT. Coincidentally, Doctor Who spin-off media had already introduced a daughter named Kate for the Brigadier (created by Marc Platt for the video Downtime), but Chibnall was unaware of this character."
I haven't looked it up myself to verify this, but Sullivan seems to be very reliable, even citing his sources at the bottom of the page. Link below:
http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/2012d.html
Still, the similarities are staggering. How much better would the odds be that Downtime would mention a son named Harry or something, and then that character would never get mentioned again? Or that the Brig would have a daughter named Susan, and then the new series would say that he only ever had one daughter? Instead, both characters share the same name and the same blond hair even though their father had dark hair! It seems like it was meant to be.
I definitely consider this movie canon, even though the story isn't great. I mean, the story in Battlefield isn't great either, but that's undeniably still canon too!