updatey-ish rambles

[dbskyler]

-- So, I have seen "Eleventh Hour!" Not only that, but having seen it, I can say that I made it through successfully without being spoiled! (I had picked up a few things here and there, but nothing that turned out to be integral to the plot.) As for the next two episodes, so far I have heard nothing at all, which is great. Maybe this two-weeks-behind thing will work out!

-- Because I'm not as paranoid about casting spoilers, especially casting spoilers that are part of official BBC press releases, I have heard the news about the Eleventh Doctor and Jo Grant showing up on SJA. Strangely, though, while I'm excited about it, I wouldn't say I'm over-the-moon excited about it. I don't know if it's because I'm still getting to know the Eleventh Doctor, or because in my head Jo and Sarah don't really "go" together. It feels a little random -- why Jo as opposed to Ace, or Peri, or Tegan? I mean, at least Tegan has actually met Sarah in TV canon, or at least in TV it-used-to-be-canon-until-it-was-completely-ignored-in-"School Reunion." I guess you can equally ask "Why not Jo?" though. I do like Jo, and I'm in fact gaining new appreciation for her through some of my recent Three-era re-watches, plus I do realize that there are lots of plausible ways for Sarah and Jo to know each other (in fact, isn't it TV canon that Sarah's heard of Jo?), but it still feels extremely random. I guess I'd prefer to see the Doctor on the show by himself, and I'm worried that the addition of Jo will take up too much extra screen / story time. On the other hand, I do trust RTD to treat both Jo and Sarah well -- I think he has genuine love for both characters -- and he did do a great job of handling multiple characters in "Jouney's End," so I think that if anyone can pull it off, he can. Well, as long as someone keeps him away from a) Daleks, b) the Master, c) Time Lords, and d) big budget special effects, he can. So, hopefully we're good. At least I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to Sarah and Eleven meeting -- although I was planning to write that, damn it. Oh well, it should be interesting, and having Jo in the mix and seeing that reunion should be interesting, too. Also, I like what the high-profile casting says about the continued health of SJA and our chances for future high-profile casting on the show. Maybe we'll get Tom Baker in there yet!!! (I can't be the only one who thinks that would be The Most Awesome Thing Ever (TM), can I?)

-- I realize I didn't quite finish out my "10 favorite Tenth Doctor episodes" posts, but I got kind of tired of doing them, and I figured that if I was tired of doing them, everyone else was probably tired of reading them. Also, there's no point in doing a reaction post if you've lost the energy / excitement behind it. I might still post the last three later, but for the curious, the last three episodes are: "Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead," "Midnight," and "Waters of Mars."

-- Speaking of not quite being in the mood to do reaction posts, I don't feel like doing one for "Eleventh Hour" yet, but I will ask: What was up with that camera-zooming-around-to-show-off-the-Doctor's-powers-of-observation schtick? It is straight out of Psych (which, if you don't know, is an American television program about a detective who has amazing powers of observation and pretends to be psychic). And I mean, straight out of Psych, as in not only is that the exact same camera effect, but I think even the background sound for it was the same. It was really off-putting, and I hope they never do that again. (If they do, don't tell me; I'll just end up dreading it.)

-- I saw the Roger Delgado tribute on the bonus "Frontier in Space" DVD, and the first half was boring and made me fast-forward, and the second half made me cry. So overall I'd say it was disappointing, but if you happen to have it lying around, go ahead and watch. I do hope that his widow knows how many legions of fans Roger has, and how many new fans he makes every day as people like myself discover his work for the first time. He truly left a legacy.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I thought the camera-work there was both annoying (because it was zoomy) and clever (because it showed how fast the Doctor's brain works).

I'm glad you managed to watch it largely unspoiled.

I've mixed feelings about the SJA casting news. On the one hand, RTD is writing it - and the man is my LEAST favourite Whoniverse writer. Also, I'm more of a Liz fan than a Jo one, if they were going to bring back one of SJ's contemporaries, I'd rather it had been Liz. But, it should be fun to see how both SJ and Jo, AND the kids react to this much younger-looking yet older Doctor.

(I still harbour hopes of seeing Martha in SJA - after all, she's a freelance alien hunter, too, now so it's ridiculous to suppose they wouldn't cross paths, esp since Martha and SJS met in TSE/JE.)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I don't know if the camera-work annoyed me because it was what they've been doing on Psych for years (and I can't believe the DW crew thought it up independently, although I suppose it's possible), or if it annoyed me because I've always found the effect annoying. Probably a little of both.

I agree with you about the RTD-fear, but I'm on the optimistic side because I think it could potentially play to his strengths. He does have an unparalleled ability to screw up stories, though.

I still haven't seen much of Liz, but yes, Liz isn't any less logical of a choice than Jo. In some ways, she would be more logical, given that she's probably still working as a scientist.

I still harbour hopes of seeing Martha in SJA

Oh, that would be wonderful! And I agree, it makes so much sense for her to make an appearance on the show. And if Mickey came with her, I wouldn't exactly complain. : )

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the RTD-fear, but I'm on the optimistic side because I think it could potentially play to his strengths. He does have an unparalleled ability to screw up stories, though.

I'm hoping Moffat'll have some input (since Eleven is HIS creation) so that it doesn't turn into an angst!fest!

I still haven't seen much of Liz, but yes, Liz isn't any less logical of a choice than Jo. In some ways, she would be more logical, given that she's probably still working as a scientist.

I swear Martha's partly modelled on Liz - they're both scientists, awesome, and walk out on the Doctor when it's obvious that they're not the person he needs.

Oh, that would be wonderful! And I agree, it makes so much sense for her to make an appearance on the show. And if Mickey came with her, I wouldn't exactly complain. : )

I would love Noel to bring Mickey back to the Whoniverse for SJA, but I'm not sure if he would (he's been pretty adamant, since TEoTII aired, that that's his last appearance).

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard that about Noel -- that's too bad, but I understand that he's on to bigger and better things.

We can still hope for Martha, though . . . :D

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I follow Noel on Twitter, and he does a Q&A thing every so often, and he's been asked more than once about playing Mickey again, but said no every time. He's got two new films coming out in the next month (here) - Centurion (in which he stars) and 4.3.2.1 (which he wrote and in which he stars). He's a *very* busy guy!

And yes, we can still hope for Martha, if Freema's not too busy with Law & Order: UK.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

I'm just horribly excited at the prospect of Jo. I've never properly appreciated her until recently, but she's just wonderful. She's up there with Sarah Jane and Romana I as my favourite old school companions now. Well, and the Brig. :)

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Ach, stupid Pitry is stupid and presses enter too soon.

Also wanted to add about that
Well, as long as someone keeps him away from a) Daleks, b) the Master, c) Time Lords, and d) big budget special effects, he can.

I'm pretty sure you're safe :) SJA has a terribly low budget (Honestly, I think the most expensive thing in The Wedding of Sarah Jane was David Tennant's paycheck!), and the chances of having the Master or the Time Lords are I would say none - and as the Daleks are very iconic and important to the Doctor, I don't think they'll have any interaction between these two on the spin off., so slim on that too. :)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I like Jo, but I don't feel a particular need to see her again. Of course, I haven't even finished going through all her Classic Who stories yet, so I have yet to feel deprived. ; )

RTD frustrates me, because he's written some of my absolute favorite episodes, and also some of my absolute most-hated. I think he and I tend to part ways when he goes for the over-the-top blockbuster, so I am grateful for SJA's small budget! If we get something like "The Wedding of SJS" again, I would be thrilled.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

While I'm having fun with his big blockbusters, I can see the problem - especially with episodes like Journey's End. There does seem to be a need to make everything bigger BIGGER BIGGER!!!! with each finale (and if you promise not to repeat this to anyone I'll be willing to admit that as much as I enjoyed seeing everyone's cameo, the end of End of Time is OMG HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO CONTINUE FOR THIS IS WORSE THAN LORD OF THE RINGS END END END DIEEEEEEE for every view after the first time (I really didn't mind the first time but I think there were other reasons for that).

But yeah, give him a budget that barely covers the actors' paychecks and a couple of crayons and you see a genius in action for a solid 45 minutes (like Midnight).

Fine, fine. I'll stop fangirling RTD now and go back to Mongolian! :P

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

the end of End of Time is OMG HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO CONTINUE FOR THIS IS WORSE THAN LORD OF THE RINGS END END END DIEEEEEEE

Yeah, you do get the urge to start yelling "Die already!" at the screen, don't you? Well, I do, anyway. Although my issues with End of Time start way, way, way before that. Like, um, at the beginning, basically. The plot just didn't make a lick of sense right from the start.

give him a budget that barely covers the actors' paychecks and a couple of crayons and you see a genius in action for a solid 45 minutes (like Midnight)

"Midnight" is brilliant. I wish he would write like that every time.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Although my issues with End of Time start way, way, way before that. Like, um, at the beginning, basically. The plot just didn't make a lick of sense right from the start.

What, you mean you have a problem with the Master being resurrected by the Secret Potions of Life taken from the Secret Book of Saxon by the Secret Disciples of Saxon and countered by the Secret Potions of Death back-engineered by Lucy Saxon?!

I can't see why you can't see the sense there!!! ;)

"Midnight" is brilliant. I wish he would write like that every time.

Well, I wouldn't want to see Midnight every time... but I do love these episodes.

[thisbluespirit]

Well, there's no point in writing things purely for fun, if they're not fun! I was enjoying your posts. I usually do enjoy your posts. :-) I just don't always have a lot to say about New Who. I'm a slider out of controversies, and dangerous fandom waters, even in the safe shallows, you see. ;-)

Well, I suppose Sarah and Jo have the UNIT connection - they may not know each other, but they do both know not only the Doctor but the Brigadier, Benton and Yates. Other than that: they are both on the same planet in the same time period? Heh.

Glad you liked 11 so far, or more or less. I very much like Eleven and Amy already (there's something of Two, One and Seven - most of my favourite Doctors!) about him, and I like them together, too.

Tom Baker? I really can't... he would NEVER behave... how would you explain it? Even with the Time Crash excuse. :lol: But of course you want it. Obviously. ;-D Maybe he'll do an audio now for BF with her.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Well, there's no point in writing things purely for fun, if they're not fun!

Exactly! Part of me was feeling guilty, and "I better hurry up and do these last three posts," but it was just feeling like a chore, and there's no point at all to that. It had nothing to do with how many comments I was getting, either, so don't worry about that. Stay in the safe shallows! I don't like to get too embroiled in controversy either.

Yep, Jo and Sarah have the UNIT connection, and they both traveled with the Third Doctor so there's that, too. Still feels random to me, though. I'm curious as to whether the episode will have them knowing each other already or not -- it really is plausible either way.

I do like Eleven, a lot, although I also feel that I don't really know him yet -- which just makes me excited to see more. Two, One and Seven, huh? Hmmm . . .

Tom Baker? I really can't... he would NEVER behave... how would you explain it?

Explain it? It's Doctor Who! It doesn't have to be explained! ; ) And anyway, they pulled it off for Patrick Troughton in "The Two Doctors," and that turned out fine. Seriously, stick Tom in a wig and I promise not to notice anything different about him at all. I'll be way too busy squeeing. :D

[thisbluespirit]

:loL: Aww. I would want explanations, though! Heh.

I just so hope that Jo is not all "And I divorced Cliff thirty years ago halfway up the Amazon..." because I have been trying to claim that Jo can work out her random romance if anyone can, with happy optimism in defiance of angsty spin-offs. I might need someone to watch it first for me. :-( (I like her random romance with Prf Jones! Even if I am the only one... :lol: "You silly young goat, you've contaminated my spores!")

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

What can I say, I just really want to see Tom Baker play the Doctor again, and I think he's far more likely to agree to do SJA than he is to agree to show up in a multi-Doctor episode on DW (if they would ever even do another one).

And, well, I wouldn't exactly be sorry to see him play against Lis Sladen again, either. I suspect I might still have lingering issues from "Hand of Fear."

I have been trying to claim that Jo can work out her random romance if anyone can

I think Jo had the least random romance out of all the exit-stage-left-with-a-sudden-husband companions. There was a foundation for it right from the beginning, and it realistically progressed throughout the episode. Now Leela, on the other hand . . . but no, I have to give the "random" award to the after-the-fact reveal of Peri/Yrcanos. Not even Martha/Mickey is as out-of-left-field as that one.