Revelations & the Coming of the Ninth Fanger

Everything Old's New Again

One interesting element which occurred at the Turn of the Century, was the regeneration of old classics.  Or should I say re-invention of the classics, such as sitcoms, dramas and even--believe it or not--films themselves.  The difficulty in doing this practice is, as the great Yogi Berra once claimed, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'  Meaning you'll usually procure more of a hit-and-miss prospect when one does 'revive' or 'reinvent' a classic.

For instance, although Battlestar Galactica's revision obtained great acclaims from the SciFi (I refuse using their current nom de plume, simply on the fact, it's just completely lame upon all levels, but hey, that's just me), shows like The Munsters Today and The New Addams Family have become instantly forgettable.

When Doctor Who vanished in 1989, there were many attempts keeping the series alive, including literature and audio broadcasts, leading to the inevitable 1996 film.  However, when the film failed attracting audiences and producing a series, many were skeptical when rumours started floating about the BBC's plan on officially reviving it in 2005.

Mainly because the BBC had also been busy attempting their revisions of classic television which had apparently had not panned out so well as intended.  Especially since most of these revisions had usually gotten away from the classic norm they were actually based on.

Revelations & the New Who

First off, whenever I talk about the New Doctor Who, people constantly make allusions to the Nth Doctor by Jean-Marc Lofficier.  Essentially because in the second episode, The End of the World, the Ninth Doctor reveals to Rose an Earth-shattering (sorry, no pun intended) realization:  Gallifrey has been destroyed within the Last of the Time Wars (or ChronoWar) as the Tombeurian Clanstribes and Paranormals have denoted it.

Similar to the film concept, Doctor Who:  Last of the Time Lords, Gallifrey was also destroyed within a devastating war (the concept never really attributed the cause) where The Doctor finds himself being pursued by the ones responsible.

However, Russel T. Davies probably chose the destruction of The Doctor's (and Fanger's) Homeworld as an 
aesthetic means for preventing High Council schticks.  Nevertheless, I had done something rarely with FANGARIUS when it came to Doctor Who:  I waited for the new series to conclude its run.

One of the problems you have when you make an extension from another series is, maintain a proper sense of continuity, but not being ridiculously anal about it.  Also you have the problem of whether or not the series--when revived--will go over well or not with the fans.  In short, you basically must decide if you complement the new series or remain true to the classic.

Taking this into account, along with the fact you must acquire some knowledge about the current series, if you want your series in being effectively credible.

Although Ecceleston only hung round for one season (apparently it was presumed the BBC would not pick up the series beyond its first), the series did become an instant hit, especially later with David Tennant at the helm as the Tenth Doctor.  Not to mention, later with Matt Smith taking over the role in 2009.

Nonetheless, RTD did leave me with an incredible challenge upon my hands:  if Gallifrey was destroyed how did Fanger survive, and if so, how could Fanger exist if The Doctor was known as the Last of the Time Lords?

Ironically, it was some former members, a past tale, and a TV Movie providing me with an unusual solution.

One day when I having lunch with some of my past members, we started talking about the New Who in relation to FANGARIUS.  Bringing up the Gallifreyan Destruction dilemma, my friends began bringing up some forgotten elements from the series which could alleviate these obstacles.  Now I know what you're thinking: How on Earth could you forget your character's background within just nine years?  My reply: regrettably life intervenes, and at the time, due to many personal changes in my living quarters, some data about Fanger had either been misplaced or lost.

Nonetheless, here are the elements which helped FANGARIUS enter into this new realm:

1. In order to save his life at birth, Washu had merged Fanger's soul with the captured ChronoSpirit, ChronoTempest aka TimeStorm. 
2. In Project FANGARIUS, Salerion cryptically admits Gallifrey will eventually be destroyed.  However, it won't be by his hands, as the Seventh Fanger suspects, and the Eighth Fanger admits he senses a major battle brewing amongst the Daleks, F-Clones and Time Lords which will not end well for Gallifrey.
3. I had penned a forgotten tale using Paul McGann--the Eighth Doctor--and Fanger where it stopped at a curious cliffhanger where The Doctor drugs Fanger and places the Paranormal Time Lord into a SuspensChamber.

With these elements at fore, I had promptly began a brief special episode called Revelations.  Aptly named because the new episode brought about some explanations dealing with Fanger's extended absence as well as some revamped elements for the upcoming FANGARIUS episodes.

Revelations begins where Fanger enters the DreamRealm, leading into the Great Beyond--not a dimension of the Afterlife--but one existing beyond the confines of the Universe and Multiverse as well.  Fanger meets up with Rassilon, the High Council and the Higher Evolutionaries who have claimed the Locanshites managed to save them moments before Gallifrey's demise.  Secretly they reside within this dimension so no one--not even the Daleks--can locate the remnants of Gallifrey.

Here we learn Fanger had already learned of Gallifrey's destruction at the moment he was revived from his SuspensChamber.  Apparently he and his son, Fanstar, had gotten into an angered discussion.  Fanstar had participated in the ChronoWar, much to the Paranormal Time Lord's chagrin.  Afterwards, Fanstar bitterly reveals to his father about Gallifrey's fate, in which, this doesn't bode too well with Fanger.

Essentially we learn the reason behind the Eighth Doctor placing Fanger within the SuspensChamber was, the Time Lord had discovered the elements leading up towards the infamous Time War between the Daleks and Time Lords.  Realizing his godchild might be endangered, and recalling a sacred promise to Fanger's parents, Harrison and Diane, The Doctor had done so, in order to keep Fanger out of the fray.

Nonetheless, because of this news, Fanger has lately become withdrawn.  Even while he works undercover at the Hollywood Video/GameCrazy (where his TARDIS 2 has become merged with) in Baytown, Fanger has undergone a deep meditative state for about several months.  Thus, explaining how he has entered the Great Beyond, where he learns about how during the infamous battle, the APC Net has gone missing and unless recovered, the Multiverse itself is in great danger.

Because the tale was penned in 2006, Jerry O'Connell was appearing a little older than how he looked during his Sliders Days, I cleverly came up with the means upon how the Eighth Fanger 'aged.' Since technically, Time Lords don't age like normal Tellurians do--let alone Paranormal Time Lords--I claimed Fanger had the ability to modify his current incarnate slightly.

Rather than go into an expediently-long exposition about Revelations, I'll just cut to a brief summary of what the tale was about.

Basically, Fanger discovers Jidai Sakugo was present at the last throes of Gallifrey, as well as a displaced F-Clone Armada ship. Strange since, according to the Daleks, the F-Clones did not get themselves involved with the ChronoWar.  After almost being ambushed by Sentron (in his new humanised form as Seth Entron) and an updated Adam Mitchell (from the episodes Daleks and The Long Game), Fanger discovers the F-Clone Empire has now been transformed into the F-Clone Acquisition.  And it seems Sentron wants the Paranormal Time Lord not only to help the F-Clones reconstruct their new Empire, but also divulge the whereabouts of the displaced APC Net.

As for Jidai, he admits he did have the APC Net within his possession, but inexplicably transferred it to parts unknown, since he feels the knowledge and essence are beyond anyone's comprehension.  Meanwhile, the Tenth Doctor  (at the time the one I selected, since I preferred him over the Ninth, sorry, Mr. Ecceleston) discovers his godchild is in danger.

After some investigations, Fanger and Jidai uncover the revelation the ChronoWar was far more than just an unyielding dispute between the Time Lords and Daleks. 

Since a greater political agenda indicates something, or someone, has gone to incredible lengths for manipulating The Doctor's Timeline and force the Time Lord into his current Regeneration.

But for now, The Doctor insists Fanger cease his investigations and simply accept the fact Gallifrey is gone.

Yet, unknown forces within the shadows has other plans for the Paranormal Time Lord, one which will ultimately change his entire outlook.

Though the tale was rather straightforward, it was one of the first FANGARIUS episodes which not only made several allusions to both Classic and New Who, but also left on a suspicious cliffhanger.  Because at the time, I felt if The Doctor had undergone a change, it was only fitting Fanger would do as well.

Little did I suspect the Ninth Fanger would come from an unlikely place... a show about the Seventies.. due to a strange Butterfly Effect no one had ever anticipated.