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Post by glossie on Jul 15, 2017 15:14:01 GMT
Am I the only person in the world who doesn't get all the accolades for Pearl Mackie? I don't dislike her, she just hasn't made any impression on me at all as a companion. Hmmmm...must be just me then...
I adore Peter Capaldi and have done for some time and I'm really sorry to see him go, he's been fabulous. I don't even mind Matt Lucas and Michelle Gomez has been brilliant. My only hope is that whoever it is brings something special and unexpected to the role.
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Post by d'James on Jul 15, 2017 15:16:04 GMT
Pearl Mackie is my favourite companion since it came back in 2005.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:22:34 GMT
I feel obliged to support Pearl as she's a West End alumni, she's one of very few TV stars to be plucked directly from the West End, I mean there was even a period of a few weeks between her being announced as the new companion and her finishing her contract in Curious Incident where Doctor Who fans would turn up to stage door every night in increasingly large droves.
She was quite a good companion I thought, she didn't have that much room to shine as she was only around for one series and she kept taking backseat to others, especially in the monk 3-parter and the finale, but I enjoyed her time on the show a lot, far more than I did Jenna Coleman's excruciatingly long tenure in which Steven Moffat waited until her final 3 episodes to bother to give her a personality.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:27:27 GMT
I adored Pearl. Though frankly I'd have adored a mop on a stick instead of another season of Clara (no disrespect to Coleman who I loved from back in her Emmerdale days I just was SO SICK of Clara by the end)
But Pearl had an awkward season filler and as much as I loved him sharing companion duties with Matt Lucas didn't help her establish herself. But I thought she did a great job and I hope they bring her back one day.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:29:06 GMT
Not-quite side note. I went back (inspired by John Simm's return) to watch 'Utopia/The Sound of Drums' last week, and my God, for me nothing will ever top the Russell T Davies/Tennant era for writing and performance brilliance. I know it's so subjective, and that's when I properly became a Who fan but it's just all beautiful.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:33:56 GMT
Not-quite side note. I went back (inspired by John Simm's return) to watch 'Utopia/The Sound of Drums' last week, and my God, for me nothing will ever top the Russell T Davies/Tennant era for writing and performance brilliance. I know it's so subjective, and that's when I properly became a Who fan but it's just all beautiful. I completely agree. Russell is my favourite TV writer of all time, and I honestly think around Series 3/4 the show was at its best. At the end of both of those series they managed to have 6 iconic episodes in a row, Human Nature 2-parter, Blink, the 3 part finale and then Silence in the Library 2-parter, Midnight, Turn Left and the 2 part finale, we've never had anything quite like that since.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:38:14 GMT
Not-quite side note. I went back (inspired by John Simm's return) to watch 'Utopia/The Sound of Drums' last week, and my God, for me nothing will ever top the Russell T Davies/Tennant era for writing and performance brilliance. I know it's so subjective, and that's when I properly became a Who fan but it's just all beautiful. I completely agree. Russell is my favourite TV writer of all time, and I honestly think around Series 3/4 the show was at its best. At the end of both of those series they managed to have 6 iconic episodes in a row, Human Nature 2-parter, Blink, the 3 part finale and then Silence in the Library 2-parter, Midnight, Turn Left and the 2 part finale, we've never had anything quite like that since. Oh now that list is just like Dr Who Porn to me. (not THAT kind, that's elsewhere online). I adore RTD, since Bob and Rose and later finding Queer as Folk. He's also probably the most influential on me as a writer. I just adore that big ole' Welshman. But not just the writing the team he assembled around him seemed so tight and everyone he picked was just so on the money. And I know Moffat is a Whovian of old too but there was just something gleefully childish in the best way about Russell's love for the show that shone through. Funny enough I was tweeting about discovering that Andrew Garfield was in Who back in the RTD day and he aparently said at the time 'one day people won't believe Andrew Garfield was in Doctor Who'. How right he was, and how smart he is as a showrunner casting actors like that.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 15, 2017 15:42:38 GMT
Funny enough I was tweeting about discovering that Andrew Garfield was in Who back in the RTD day and he aparently said at the time 'one day people won't believe Andrew Garfield was in Doctor Who'. How right he was, and how smart he is as a showrunner casting actors like that. Ditto Billie Piper!
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 15, 2017 15:44:21 GMT
Matthew Baynton's twitter has had all tweets featuring swearing deleted since last night Not sure what that tweeter is on about, still loads of tweets containing swearing on Baynton's Twitter.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:46:13 GMT
Funny enough I was tweeting about discovering that Andrew Garfield was in Who back in the RTD day and he aparently said at the time 'one day people won't believe Andrew Garfield was in Doctor Who'. How right he was, and how smart he is as a showrunner casting actors like that. Ditto Billie Piper! Indeed! And how sceptical people were! Also actually Freema who may not be 'superstar' status but is having a steadily good and varied career. And then there's Barrowman. But we're all entitled to a little indulgence aren't we?* * I bloody love Barrowman, I cannot lie.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 15:47:16 GMT
Matthew Baynton's twitter has had all tweets featuring swearing deleted since last night Not sure what that tweeter is on about, still loads of tweets containing swearing on Baynton's Twitter. Um I'm no detective-of- Moffat-fame but I think 'that tweeter' 's identity is fairly clear
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Post by Jon on Jul 15, 2017 15:49:23 GMT
Oh now that list is just like Dr Who Porn to me. (not THAT kind, that's elsewhere online). I adore RTD, since Bob and Rose and later finding Queer as Folk. He's also probably the most influential on me as a writer. I just adore that big ole' Welshman. But not just the writing the team he assembled around him seemed so tight and everyone he picked was just so on the money. And I know Moffat is a Whovian of old too but there was just something gleefully childish in the best way about Russell's love for the show that shone through. Funny enough I was tweeting about discovering that Andrew Garfield was in Who back in the RTD day and he aparently said at the time 'one day people won't believe Andrew Garfield was in Doctor Who'. How right he was, and how smart he is as a showrunner casting actors like that. RTD is a great writer, i did like his cameo in The Fiveish Doctor Reboot taking the piss out of himself. I think RTD had a strong producing team around him with Julie Gardner and Phil Collison and I think although he was a fan, he understood he had to make it more mainstream and I think Moffat got a bit too self indulgent.
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Post by glossie on Jul 15, 2017 15:49:48 GMT
To be fair to Pearl, I think it's more the character I haven't taken to rather than the actor. I take the point that she hasn't had much of a chance to shine.
And I have to admit, it did pop into my mind during a certain scene in the final episode that the Doctor was going to regenerate into Bill...but dismissed it as being too 'out there'!!
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 15, 2017 15:53:23 GMT
I've preferred the more recent companions to the earlier reboot ones, Mackie, Gillan and Coleman more than Piper, Agyeman and Tate. It was a shame that Eccleston didn't carry on (anyone watching him in The Leftovers can see what they missed), Tennant was a bit too emotional for me so I liked Smith's more cerebral take. Capaldi has been very good, too. Overall I preferred Moffatt to Davies but both were fine.
My childhood Doctor was Pertwee, after Baker (Tom, that is) the original never seemed the same and quality went downhill until it got canned. I don't understand those who pine for the original, the production was shoddy (even for then) and it was often difficult to see the connection with the times it was broadcast in, in the way that the best science fiction does.
Favourite adversary? Davros, both from the earlier version and the reboot (terrific performance from Julian Bleach who some might remember as being terrifying in Shockheaded Peter).
P.S. I miss Torchwood....
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 15, 2017 16:00:34 GMT
I haven't watched Matt Smith or Peter Capaldi (except for the start of each of their first episodes) and am highly unlikely to return unless it's Eddie Ladd.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 15, 2017 16:03:35 GMT
Favourite adversary? Davros, both from the earlier version and the reboot (terrific performance from Julian Bleach who some might remember as being terrifying in Shockheaded Peter). And much more recently in new musical The Grinning Man last autumn.
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Post by crowblack on Jul 15, 2017 16:54:52 GMT
I just adore that big ole' Welshman. Another reason why I loved the play Wish List so much was that during the post-show discussion in Manchester (at the Studio space at the Royal Exchange) I heard a booming voice behind me and lo it was RTD declaring that a scene in it (I presume Meatloaf) was one of the best things he'd ever seen on stage. It's lovely that he's supporting new young writers and presumably came along that night specifically to listen to the talk as well (something I see David Mamet wants to ban from his plays!) - he's now a Bruntwood Prize judge and is getting back into playwriting himself.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 15, 2017 16:56:46 GMT
For what it's worth, the betting markets appear to have been suspended for the last hour or so.
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Post by d'James on Jul 15, 2017 17:22:00 GMT
For what it's worth, the betting markets appear to have been suspended for the last hour or so. What does that mean? (No idea about gambling!)
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 15, 2017 17:34:53 GMT
For what it's worth, the betting markets appear to have been suspended for the last hour or so. What does that mean? (No idea about gambling!) Either to change the odds to reflect new information or because they've noticed a lot of money going on the same person, suggesting that someone kniws something. Or someone pressed the wrong button.
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Post by d'James on Jul 16, 2017 10:36:10 GMT
Some people are going to be very disappointed later. Some if it's a man, and some if it's a woman.
I personally don't mind and will give anyone a chance. Jodie Whitaker isn't an obvious choice but I trust they know what they're doing, whoever they pick.
If they do go with a woman I wonder how much it will change the dynamic of the show. Some people seem to think it will affect it a lot, but I don't really see why it would that much. Another thing would be how interesting the viewership changes.
A lot of people on Twitter saying they hope it's a woman don't really seem to care about the show at all, and just want to make it a political argument. They yell and call people names who want the Doctor to remain male without listening to their arguments (some of which are probably nonsense). Calling people name's like 'snowflake' etc. is something I really hate though because it is an attempt to shut down and stifle discussion which pushes the feelings underground - and we all know how that can end up. As soon as people resort to that, I feel they lose credibility. By all means debate your point until the cows come home but avoid name calling.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2017 10:47:15 GMT
I've seen both sides of the argument. On the one hand there are people saying they'll never watch the show again if the Doctor is a woman, which smacks of bitterness and entitlement over a TV show, plus a little misogyny.
Conversely I've seen people, mainly on the Doctor Who forum Gallifrey Base, being very loudly and viciously anti-male, or anti-white male. Things like "if it's another STRAIGHT WHITE MALE it'll just show that systematic misogyny and racism has got the better of Doctor Who just like the rest of the world, please ANYONE BUT A WHITE MALE" which frankly I find to be abhorrent. I know it's socially acceptable to slate an entire social group provided it's one of the pre-approved ones, but the words "anyone but a black female" would get gasps of horror so I don't see why we're all piling on the white guy because we know there won't be a backlash. Well, maybe there's my answer.
At the end of the day, it's a TV show. It's not a reflection on the "state of TV" or the world, that there hasn't been a female Doctor. It's a TV show. Doctor Who could cast entirely people called Fred with pointy noses if they wanted to, the show operates in its own bubble and therefore they have no obligation to fulfil any self imposed quotas (although far flung future stories where everyone is of exactly the same ethnicity are a tad implausible). I think Jodie Whittaker would make a great Doctor, as would many of the other female names being thrown about. Above all, I hope that they cast the best person for the role. I have this awful feeling that 5 years from now Chris Chibnall will do an interview where he proudly boasts about how in casting this Doctor they deliberately ignored a specific group (whites/males etc.) and looks for appreciation of how tolerant he is. The best Doctor should be the best Doctor. Jodie Whittaker would be infinitely better than Kris Marshall, but female would not be infinitely better than male, just because we haven't had one yet.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 16, 2017 11:06:34 GMT
The places that I checked out on this sadly exhibit the bigoted minority in all their spittle flecked glory, vowing to do harm if there is a woman doctor, I'm talking of your reddits and chans here, a safe haven for the poisonous side of masculinity. Twitter is a relatively female positive space (and that's saying something, knowing just how badly women politicians, for example, are hounded!).
A good writer will want to bring a different dynamic; we've had the change from emotional to cerebral, from young to old recently, so one of Chibnall's best options is the change from male to female, otherwise he'll be going over old ground.
One male, not mentioned much, if at all, that I'd thought of was Johnny Flynn but I couldn't see what he might bring to the table that would be different. I wasn't sold on Olivia Colman or Phoebe Waller Bridge but Whittaker has a warmth and empathetic style that I think would work well, she can also do quirky, which is pretty much a given for the role.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jul 16, 2017 11:33:02 GMT
Here's the most prominent sweary Baynton tweet that was deleted since Friday
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 16, 2017 11:39:51 GMT
One male, not mentioned much, if at all, that I'd thought of was Johnny Flynn but I couldn't see what he might bring to the table that would be different. Perhaps a guitar?
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 16, 2017 11:45:45 GMT
Here's the most prominent sweary Baynton tweet that was deleted since Friday How was it most prominent? Pinned to the top of the page?
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 16, 2017 11:54:39 GMT
One male, not mentioned much, if at all, that I'd thought of was Johnny Flynn but I couldn't see what he might bring to the table that would be different. Perhaps a guitar? You really haven't been watching have you? Acoustic guitar, maybe.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 16, 2017 11:56:57 GMT
You really haven't been watching have you? No, I'm a grown-up now.
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Post by d'James on Jul 16, 2017 12:04:09 GMT
Cardinal Pirelli what have you seen Jodie Whitaker in that you know she can do quirky? I'm not doubting you, I've checked and I can't see that I've seen her in anything but Broadchurch.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 16, 2017 12:06:50 GMT
Not sure what that tweeter is on about, still loads of tweets containing swearing on Baynton's Twitter. Um I'm no detective-of- Moffat-fame but I think 'that tweeter' 's identity is fairly clear God sorry! I really didn't notice. Going back to GallifreyBase, that forum is notoriously 'old fashioned.' The handful of posts calling sexism are in response to a lot of very impassioned "THE DOCTOR MUST ALWAYS HAVE A PENIS" arguing (and some of the anti-female Doctor posts have been extremely misogynistic, eg claiming that sexism does not exist, sexism in the entertainment industry couldn't possibly exist, it's all bloody feminists whinging, etc. etc. etc.).
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