Line #18 Series/BBVProbe


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/probe_logo.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Does the [[FunWithAcronyms acronym]] work? Not even remotely. Is it a [[RuleOfCool really cool logo]] anyway? Hell yeah.]]Creator/BBVProductions' ''[[https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/P.R.O.B.E._(series) P.R.O.B.E.]]'' is a ''Series/DoctorWho'' spinoff started in 1994, at the height of the show's wilderness years. It focuses on a [[Characters/DoctorWhoUNITStaff UNIT]] or [[Series/{{Torchwood}} Torchwood]]-esque organization, the titular Preternatural Research Bureau, or PROBE.
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4	PROBE is a poorly-funded and badly-thought-of governmental association, originally formed formed around Third Doctor companion [[Characters/DoctorWhoClassicSeriesCompanions Liz Shaw]], with Creator/CarolineJohn reprising her role in the original 1994-1996 run of the series. Though geared more towards supernatural threats than [[AliensInCardiff alien ones]], the P.R.O.B.E. team has also taken on its fair share of non-magical, purely sci-fi-based baddies, such as the rogue immortal soldier Paul Reynish.
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6	In 2015, the series was brought back from the dead with one final direct-to-video episode, ''When to Die'', where, due to Creator/CarolineJohn's death, English actress Hazel Burrows [[TheOtherDarrin stepped in]] as Liz for one final adventure which ended with Liz quitting, and going off to her queer HappilyEverAfter with her long-time associate Patsy Haggard (originally played by Leela actor Creator/LouiseJameson). The film also introduced two new members of the P.R.O.B.E. team, however: [[ADogNamedDog Box]], a sentient, talking box gifted to Liz by [[LawyerFriendlyCameo a certain Dr. Smith]]; and Giles, the laid-back, but secretly sensitive technician of the team.
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8	In 2020, the series was [[https://www.arcbeatlepress.com/probe.html revived]] in a primarily prose medium by U.S.-based publishing house Arcbeatle Press, focusing on a restructured, larger PROBE team now centered on Giles. Bill Baggs, who played Giles in ''When to Die'', returned for a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7XtJqKRoXE short live-action minisode]] establishing the new status quo, ahead of the release of the first short story anthology, ''Out of the Shadows'', slated for late 2020 but delayed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. This transitioned into a full-on series of ''PROBE Online'' Case File shorts formatted as short vlogs from Giles.
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10	Has nothing whatsoever to do with Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Series/{{Probe}}'' series.
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12	!!''BBV's PROBE'' contains examples of:
13	* AscendedExtra: Giles has only a bit part in ''When to Die'', but becomes the leader of the new team, and ''de facto'' main character, in the 2020 revival.
14	* BackupTwin: In "The Devil of Winterborne", the character of Barbara Taploe, played by Charmian May, is killed. When they came to do a sequel, "Ghosts of Winterborne", producer Bill Baggs chose to make the new headmistress Margaret Wyndham her twin sister, so they could use the actress again.
15	* CreatorCameo: Bill Baggs as Giles in ''When to Die,'' prior to the character taking on a greater importance.
16	* ADogNamedDog: Box, a box-shaped talking computer.
17	* FunWithAcronyms: "P.R.O.B.E." stands for "Preternatural Research Bureau", a definite case of "somebody really wanted our initials to spell out a meaningful word".
18	* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: The live-action 1990's episodes featured guest appearances by Doctor Who actors in addition to Creator/CarolineJohn — including, rather confusingly, Caroline John's own co-star Creator/JonPertwee in a completely different role in "The Zero Imperative". And, of course, Creator/LouiseJameson, who plays Liz's coworker and girlfriend Patsy Haggard, played one of Liz's successors as companions of the Doctor, the fierce Leela.
19	* LawyerFriendlyCameo: Any and all mentions of Liz's old associate "Dr Smith", who seems to have helped her set up PROBE back when, is clearly understood to be mentions of [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]], as confirmed by "Doctor John Smith" being his official designation in UNIT paperwork in the Pertwee era.
20	* TalkingApplianceSidekick: [[ADogNamedDog Box]], a talking, sentient, box-shaped minicomputer rigged up by [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Dr Smith]] for his old companion Liz Shaw.
21	* [[VlogSeries Vlog Episode]]: ''Shadow of Doubts'' is presented as one of main character's Giles video logs.

Context Series / BBVProbe