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Mark Donaldson-

Mark Donaldson

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Author Details

Mark Donaldson is a writer, podcaster, and freelance film programmer based in the North East of England, where he lives with his partner and greyhound. When not writing or podcasting about Star Trek or Doctor Who, Mark can be found talking about Star Trek or Doctor Who down the pub. He's also currently working on a documentary about Doctor Who fandom in the 1990s.

Industry Focus

Mark has been with Screen Rant since 2022, and recently became a full-time Core Features Writer, specializing in Star Trek and Doctor Who. Mark has podcasted about Doctor Who since 2014, co-hosting On the Time Lash, and regularly appearing on other Doctor Who podcasts to discuss all eras of the show.

Favorite Media

Mark grew up in the 1990s, which was a rich time for science-fiction on British TV. He was raised on a diet of Star Trek: the Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. These shows have left a profound effect on him, and he continues to enjoy them 30 years later. During the 90s, Mark also became a huge Doctor Who fan, which was difficult because the BBC had canceled it. The lack of new Doctor Who on TV allowed Mark to cultivate a broad knowledge of Doctor Who's entire history from 1963 to 1989, and the extensive spinoff media. It's an obsession that continued when the show returned in 2005.

Latest Articles

Kate Stewart, the Fifteenth Doctor, and Melanie Bush 1
Doctor Who (1963)
8 Ways Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary Has Set Up A Disney UNIT Spinoff

Doctor Who's final 60th anniversary special, "The Giggle" feels like a backdoor pilot for a UNIT spinoff starring Bonnie Langford and Jemma Redgrave.

David Tennant smiles as the TARDIS flies through the vortex behind him 1
Doctor Who (1963)
Doctor Who: What's Next For David Tennant After The 60th Anniversary Specials?

For the first time in Doctor Who history, two Doctors exist at once, and they both have a TARDIS! So what next for David Tennant's incarnation?

David Tennant regenerating into Ncuti Gatwa 1
Doctor Who (1963)
Doctor Who's Shocking New Bi-Generation Explained

David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa have made Doctor Who history with the Doctor's first ever bi-generation, but what does it mean for the future?

A composite image of Rene Auberjonois' Odo and the episodes he's directed 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Every Star Trek: DS9 Episode Directed By Rene Auberjonois

René Auberjonois worked with Hollywood director Robert Altman, do the Odo actor's directorial efforts on Star Trek: DS9 display Altman's influence?

Danny in For All Mankind season 3 and the bedraggled and bearded Danny in For All Mankind season 4 1
For All Mankind (2019)
Danny’s Fate In For All Mankind Is So Much Worse Than We Imagined

For All Mankind finally reveals what happened to Danny Stevens after season 3, and it's more brutal and tragic than anyone could have imagined.

Majel Barrett and John de Lancie as Lwaxana Troi and Q 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Troi's Mother Succeeded In Star Trek: DS9 Where Q Failed

TNG's two best-loved guest characters made appearances in Star Trek: DS9 season 1, but Lwaxana Troi fared much better than Q did. Why was this?

Danielle Poole and Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind season 4, episode 5 1
For All Mankind (2019)
For All Mankind Season 4 Episode 5 Recap: Ed's Future & 5 Other Major Reveals

Ed Baldwin and Danielle Poole continue to clash in For All Mankind, putting their future at risk. Meanwhile, Danny Stevens' tragic fate is revealed.

Casey W. Johnson as Danny Stevens in For All Mankind season 3 episode 1 1
For All Mankind (2019)
What Happened To Danny In For All Mankind

For All Mankind's showrunners previously confirmed Danny Stevens was written out of the series, but his fate has now been revealed in season 4.

TNG's Q, Worf, and Riker in DS9 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Every Star Trek: DS9 & TNG Crossover Ranked Worst To Best

Star Trek: DS9 had several TNG crossover episodes over the years, with everyone from Thomas Riker to Q passing through the station, but which is best?

A composite image of Star Trek's Odo and Picard  1
Star Trek
Captain Picard & DS9's Odo Had 2 Big Star Trek Things In Common

Despite their gulf in backgrounds, DS9's Odo and TNG's Captain Picard have two big Star Trek things in common when it comes to love and rivalry.

Armin Shimerman as Quark and the cast of Cheers 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
DS9’s Quark Actor Loves Hilarious Star Trek & Cheers Mashup

Deep Space Nine was always one of Star Trek's funniest shows, as proven by a Cheers mash-up shared on X by Quark actor Armin Shimerman.

star-trek-ds9-ferengi-dopterians-cousins-forgot_ 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Star Trek's Greediest Aliens Have Cousins The Franchise Forgot

Like the Vulcans and Andorians, Star Trek's Ferengi also have distant cousins elsewhere in the universe, first introduced in DS9 and then forgotten.

Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun and Salome Jens as the Female Changeling 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Star Trek: DS9’s Vorta & Dominion Role Explained

The Vorta were believed to be the leaders of the Dominion in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but they were merely puppets for their Changeling masters.

A young Scotty and Chief O'Brien 1
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
Strange New Worlds’ Scotty Should Be Star Trek’s New Chief O’Brien

Martin Quinn's Scotty is a perfect chance for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to shed new light on the character, much like DS9 did with Chief O'Brien.

Jadzia Dax and Worf kiss 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Star Trek: DS9's Jadzia Dax Changes Made Her Perfect For Worf

Dr. Bashir's idealized vision of Jadzia Dax in DS9 season 1 exposed some character flaws that were fixed for one of Star Trek's greatest love stories.

Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou and as Evelyn in Everything Everywhere All at Once 1
Michelle Yeoh Won An Oscar - Why Does She Still Love Star Trek?

With an incredible movie career and an Academy Award, Michelle Yeoh can do anything she wants, and what she wants to do is Star Trek: Section 31. Why?

Picard, the White Rabbit, and Dr. McCoy 1
Star Trek
9 Times Star Trek Made Dreams Come True

An alien force that can make dreams into reality has been a stock Star Trek story since 1966 and continues to feature in the modern franchise.

David Tennant and the TARDIS in danger 1
Doctor Who (1963)
Doctor Who: What Are The HADS, & Why Does The TARDIS Run Away?

The Hostile Action Displacement System gets triggered again in Doctor Who, but how does this feature work and why does it make the TARDIS run away?

Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien in front of an Irish flag 1
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
DS9's Chief O'Brien Called Out A Problematic Star Trek Blind Spot

Star Trek is all about inclusion and diversity, but it doesn't always get it right, as DS9's Chief O'Brien actor Colm Meaney once pointed out.

Miles on Mars and Margo in Russia 1
For All Mankind (2019)
For All Mankind Season 4 Episode 4 Recap: Margo's Role With Roscosmos & 4 Other Reveals

Margo discovers the high price for failure at Roscosmos as events on Mars threaten to restart the Cold War in For All Mankind season 4, episode 4.

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