(no subject)

[shadowkat]

1. Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy this week's Who all that much and had issues with it.

I didn't hate it. But, I'm admittedly not quite as fannish about the series as others. But I did think it was rather clumsily written.

Hmmm, while hunting down the listing of this season's Doctor Who episodes (hard to do when you have no clue which season this is supposed to be), I stumbled upon an announcement of the NEW DOCTOR or rather who will be replacing Capadali and when it will happen.[ETA: Fake announcement. Just found out it was fake. So never mind.]

Looked up Peter Harness, who co-wrote Pyramid at the End of the World, and yep I don't like his writing. He'd also wrote the Zygon invasion episodes, which I also had issues with. In fact, I think I gave up on Doctor Who during that season in part because of those episodes.

2. Dinner was lovely with U last night. She's very wise. She refuses to discuss or talk about politics at all. With anyone. I'd bring it up. She'd say nothing. Or change the subject. (U voted for Clinton.) Avoids it completely in every way.

3. My crazy church friends on FB are still throwing cats at me. The latest is a poor cat who is depressed after just losing her owner of ten or twelve years. This is getting ridiculous. Although it is rather amusing. My friends on Dreamwidth are trying to talk me out of it, while my friends on FB are trying to guilt me into adopting a cat right this very second. Who knew adopting a cat was such a controversial subject? I blame all those cat videos.

Comments

[shadowkat]

Kris Marshall would have been perfectly acceptable. He tends to play slightly awkward, bumbling people who are very intelligent underneath, and that would have worked very well actually.

Okay, now I'm puzzled as to why the fandom considered this a horrible idea. I mean, he sounds similar to Matt Smith, but much better looking. It's why it looked real to me. What's the difference between Kris Marshall and Matt Smith? Smith had relatively little experience. I admittedly preferred 9 and 10's takes on the Doctor, which were more serious and less bumbling. But that just me.

I do however, think there is some truth to the claim that the BBC wants another David Tennant, because the ratings were highest during Tennant's period. Although I think there were other reasons for that, not just Tennant.

[ex_peasant441]

now I'm puzzled as to why the fandom considered this a horrible idea. I mean, he sounds similar to Matt Smith, but much better looking.

Absolutely! Maybe he was in something I haven't seen that condemns him. Or maybe people want their Doctor more competent than his usual characters. Also I think a large segment has set its heart on the next Doctor being either female or black.

I do however, think there is some truth to the claim that the BBC wants another David Tennant, because the ratings were highest during Tennant's period. Although I think there were other reasons for that, not just Tennant.

I think the BBC need to tread carefully and find a ratings winner for the next Doctor. Ratings have been slipping away gradually for a few years and they really cannot afford to waste any more ratings capital on catering to fanservice rather than the wider audience appeal. (A good writer should be able to do both but the writers are not always good.) Most importantly, they need to appeal to the kids - speaking to my 8 year old nephew, Doctor Who is clearly not as all-important in child culture as it needs to be to sustain its current place. Doctor Who needs to be like the best children's books - catering to kids first and then with a really good added layer that only the adults notice. I'm not sure that children's stuff has been much in evidence this year. I mean Pilot was dull as ditchwater from a kid POV. Smile was worse. Then they had an elephant on the ice and then did nothing with it, though that one did at least have some children in it. Knock Knock was probably okay for kids since it was basically a haunted house story. Oxygen had the attractive idea of zombies on a spaceship but none of the satisfactory splatting zombies normally bring. Extremis was beyond wonderful for adults but probably incomprehensible for kids. Pyramid could well have been the best for kids, given it had soldiers, a pyramid, creepy aliens and a submarine nose down in the desert - but six episodes is a long time to wait.

[shadowkat]

Also I think a large segment has set its heart on the next Doctor being either female or black.

While I'd personally love that, particularly Idris Elba, I don't see that happening. I agree in regards to the ratings -- they can't afford to waste ratings capital catering to a portion of the fanbase. So going outside the box, may well be too risky for the BBC.

Doctor Who needs to be like the best children's books - catering to kids first and then with a really good added layer that only the adults notice.

Doctor Who as a kids show has bewildered me. Because what I've seen to date, I wouldn't consider appealing to kids and in some cases is either too scary or too boring from their perspective. (Although I know 8 year olds watching The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Supernatural...so what do I know? )

Kids fare has changed a great deal since I was a child. And depends on their parents, apparently.

But I'd have to agree nothing I've seen this season would be that appealing to a kid. Adults maybe but not kids. Oxygen and possibly Thin Ice might appeal to them. Moffat and RT Davies aren't really good children's writers. But then again, there are kids watching The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. And I don't have kids, nor is my niece watching Doctor Who.

[ex_peasant441]

they can't afford to waste ratings capital catering to a portion of the fanbase

I think that excludes a woman. I am not sure it excludes a BME man providing he meets the other criteria for being the Doctor. It is very hard to guess how the public would react but that is my unscientific gut instinct. If they want someone like Tennant then there are plenty of classically trained actors who are good looking enough without being too alpha, and range-wise can switch between serious and silly. Adrian Lester is the one who springs immediately to my mind.

While I'd personally love that, particularly Idris Elba

Idris Elba must be the only person to be suggested for James Bond and the Doctor. It is sad because is too old for James Bond now. And for me he is wrong for the Doctor, both because his body type is too muscular and his character is too alpha dominant. Those things would have made a great James Bond to my mind, but are almost the opposite of how I see the Doctor. Also, could Elba do silly?

My 8 year old nephew has just started watching Doctor Who (and he certainly isn't allowed to watch Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead) he has only seen Pilot so far, which he said he quite liked but it clearly wasn't a life-changing experience. He asked me what the Doctor's real name was and said he thought the police 'car' was cool - that was about it. Back when the new show started I asked my brother-in-law (in the teaching profession) what the children were saying about it and he replied they didn't seem to be talking about it. I think that did change, but I suspect it has never become as much a stalwart for children as it was back in the day when there were so few alternatives.