Gallifrey meets NY

So let's begin this story last year when it was announced that Paul McGann, and Daphne Ashbrook were going to be at Gally(Gallifrey One, the USA's Doctor Who Convention in LA, CA. And yes, I have been). Okay. The whole cast of 8th Doctor Movie was going to be at Gally in 2012. Eric Roberts included. Well, Paul McGann is one of my brother's favorite Doctors. But things didn't work out and we missed the 2012 Gally, which is the end of February. Cut to a few weeks ago when I get a text from my brother telling me to go to a website. That website was for I-Con. Where it said that two of the guests were going to be....Paul McGann and Daphne Ashbrook! And I-Con was only in Stonybrook, NY a mere 2 hour drive away, rather than a 5 hour plane ride! 

So Saturday, the long wait was over and we drove those two hours, just in time to get to the con to see The 8th Doctor and his movie companion talk about filming the movie. We sat and listened to the very entertaining pair speak about the movie and just general things. It was AWESOME! My brother even asked a question to Mr. McGann himself. The panel was only an hour, as they usually are, and then the rest of our Con adventure began.


We walked around the college campus where the con was set, going to the dealer's area. The same type of things were there as always, Steampunk Gear(oh if only I had the money), a  TON of Anime gear, swords, Chessex has a booth there and there were all sorts of pretty dice(again, if only I had the money/played more D&D), toys, artists, general....stuff. It's actually pretty overwhelming if your not used to it. I'm happy that this was my....4th con? So I knew sort of what to expect, and the fact it wasn't over crowded like NYCC was, made it a lot more easier to deal with. You know, actually being able to walk through the rows of booths without feeling like being in a school of fish.


After looking around and getting Whedonistas: A Celebration of Worlds of Joss Whedon by Women who love him, edited by Lynne M. Thomas who also wrote Chicks Dig Timelords and whom I met at Gally 2010(she's awesome and nice by the way) and Deborah Stanish at a Dr Who booth, we made our way for food and then to the Doctor Who: River Song panel. This panel was fan run and while entertaining, I made the discovery I like panels that are not fan run better. For one thing, when the actors, writers or creators are in the panel, you get more concrete answers to questions other than just other fan speculation. Now while I don't mind hearing others opinions, you can only hear, Moffatt Lies or, we don't know so many times. After that panel was the Big Finish Mega Panel with Paul McGann and Frazier Hines(Jamie, companion to the Second Doctor). We met him at Gally a few years ago and he was nice enough. The panel was hilarious. I got some of it on my phone, I honestly don't remember many details other than it was hilarious and awesome and the reason I go to Cons. Afterward my brother went up to Paul McGann and said, "Paul would you sign this for me?" as he had gotten a hand drawn picture on the Dealer floor of the 8th Dr. and Paul said "Of COURSE I would." Major inflection on the course. Not sure, not ok, not, I'm sorry the autograph signing was an hour ago try again tomorrow, but Of COURSE I would. That's what makes a cool guy that loves the fans. That you know he appreciates being there and doing this FOR THE FANS. Especially on a show like Who .It's weird, because I always saw Paul McGann as a little pretentious and not a likeable guy, but that has changed my mind. 

This is why I love going to cons. Getting things that you wouldn't be able to get elsewhere (Dr Who/Torchwood merch. And firefly merch although I didn't get any this time) Meeting the people that play your favorite characters or were in your favorite show at one time (Nana Vistior was also there, of Deep Space Nine fame and more recently on Torchwood: Miracle Day, yet I did not see her. I don't see her as a TW character even if she techniqually is.), hearing about the making of shows and stories of the cast. 

 Next con of the year is Wizard World Philly Con!!! Woot!!!! 


Emily 
(sorry about the weird font, it won't uninitialize)