Tag: bbc

Hey doc I don’t see you writing about Doctor Who much anymore. Are you still watching? Any guesses for the next Doctor?

I will always be a Whovian, it’s just in my blood – but I can’t say that I’m much more than a casual viewer these days. It just doesn’t hold my interest anymore.  I don’t know why, really.  I love the new companion, but I’m sort of weary of the sameness of the look of the show, of the stories, so many of which are just ‘meh.’   When the series returned in 2005, I’d hoped that there might be some focus on solving old mysteries, visiting old companions – and aside from Sarah Jane Smith, that never panned out.  We’ve visited plenty of old villains, too many times, really, at this point, and too many of the new ones aren’t terribly interesting or make a lasting impact.  

I would love for the show to revisit classic episodes and see them from a new angle: I’d love to know what happened to Nyssa after she left.  I’d love to know what became of Tegan and Ace or Romana – beyond the odd mention.  Let’s have an episode with them. 

And world-building. I’ve been so disappointed since the ‘return’ of Gallifrey. There was no attempt at anything new or interesting there. Gallifrey should be a place of rich contrasts, something truly ‘different.’  With everyone dressed like they’re out of an American Western, it’s hard to take seriously.  

Where is the science fiction?  I miss whip-smart exchanges and ideas, even outrageous ones (The Pirate Planet, anyone?).  So many missed opportunities. 

The look of the show is starting to grow stale, as well. The BBC has always been crap about a budget for it, but Doctor Who is, arguably, the BBC flagship, seen everywhere. It deserves better.  

As for the new Doctor, I’ve no interest in any of the actors so far mentioned for the role. I’d love for a woman to get a go, shake it up, but my hope on that is waning.  None of the actresses mentioned (and I once thought someone like Tilda Swinton would be interesting) trip anything, I hope it is someone reasonably unknown, someone truly out of the blue.  Another white male – just boring.  No interest.  

I’m sad about all of that, would love to ‘feel’ something big for the show again, but it just isn’t there right now.  I love Capaldi and Mackie and hope the rest of this season builds to something bigger.  I’m so disappointed at the return of John Simm’s Master, I seriously hope it doesn’t undermine Michelle Gomez, who has been a breath of fresh air (though she’s only been given a couple of good moments, the rest have been ‘meh.’ Not her fault, of course.  Moffat can’t leave too soon for my taste – the Old Boys Club should be long over by now).  

So, sorry for a rambly, depressing response.  I will always be a Whovian, I love bits and pieces, but it really needs regenerating.  

I’m a bit worried about Bill Potts.

Not that Moffat will kill the lesbian, just that…it’s Moffat and he’s written some blatantly sexist stuff in his time, has not been big on racial diversity during his tenure for both Who and Sherlock, and he brings us a companion who is a queer woman of colour.  

And, just so we know she’s a queer woman, she wears a rainbow-striped tank and her name is Bill.  

Also: she isn’t the first openly queer companion the Doctor has had (Captain Jack, Clara). You think the BBC would know the show they’ve produced for the past 54 years.  

I want to be wrong about all the things that worry me here, and hope yet another generation of Whovians, who have been craving representation on this show, aren’t let down.  *Fingers crossed*

lesbianbatgirl:

i hate writers with a violent passion who justify their shitty writing decisions by saying “it’s good that people are upset/hurt/angry about this, it means we’ve done our jobs as storytellers”

like fuck you, your writing doesn’t exist in a vacuum and you can’t just create any emotional response and call it successful. there’s a type of pain that comes with a really satisfying character death or heart-breaking plot twist, and then there’s the type of pain that comes from storytelling that is disturbing in a real world context. one means you’ve written something well, the other should be apologizing for and learning from. and it’s not that hard to tell the difference between the two if you take your head out of your ass for a few seconds.

“you can’t just create any emotional response and call it successful.”

This should be posted in enormous print on the walls of every writer’s room.