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I was surprised to see a discussion about Doctor Who starting up, but it didn't develop quite how I expected
. Apologies for going off topic but I'd like to offer my take on the series.
After banality said it "sucks" it was very interesting to learn that he, like me, had been a (mainly) classic series fan. I sympathise with him on what he says here:
Looking at the two further opinions here: –
– it's fascinating to see that there are some viewers out there who don't appreciate the direction Moffat has taken the show in and that it can actually be called bad in several respects. It's notable also to me to see a criticism of the appearance of the show – even now with a supposedly decent budget.
My feeling is that the flaw in Steven Moffat's approach to Doctor Who is that he grew up. Russell T Davies apparently called him a writer "driven by sex" and I believe that aspect of his writing has been detrimental. In fact one of the changes banality may be referring to, which is certainly one of the reasons I effectively stopped being a fan, is his decision to make Time Lords able to change sex during regeneration, and to repeatedly promote the idea during his time until he opted to cast a woman as the Master (note, not the Doctor). I couldn't see that as a creative decision, so that was me finished. Actually to say that he's made it more realistic is a bit of a double edged sword, because the increase in references to sexuality, to me at least, has become too real and as far as the Doctor's concerned, make him a very ordinary and earthly character which he traditionally isn't.
On the subject of the writing I don't rate Steven Moffat as a writer like I would many classic era or even Big Finish writers, some of whom have also written for the TV series. He isn't the calibre of David Whitaker, Brian Hayles, Robert Holmes, Chris Boucher, Marc Platt, Robert Shearman or significant other talented people that the series has been fortunate to have. What he has done is to cast one excellent Doctor, Matt Smith, and create some memorable monsters like the Weeping Angels.
I was delighted to hear that he would be stepping down and it would be nice to think that Chris Chibnall can do something more palatable in the future. I particularly liked his story Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Personally I was hoping for a new team completely unconnected to the past regime but the chances of my returning to the fold are slim.
. Apologies for going off topic but I'd like to offer my take on the series.After banality said it "sucks" it was very interesting to learn that he, like me, had been a (mainly) classic series fan. I sympathise with him on what he says here:
He turned a pretty neat kids show into a stupid 'can be and should be anything' show that shakes off the 50 year established continuity which has never before needed to cast off everything it's done. Still a kids show tho
Tell me, what has Moffat done that has ruined the continuity in any major way? And I disagree with your statement, I think Moffat took the show in a more realistic direction that relied more on smart writing, great actors, better effects and a cinematic feel to make a great show. That's a huge step forward from the cheesy but fun classic episodes and even some of the early revival episodes.
Bad sets, bad writing, bad acting.
Even the newest episodes are filmed in the BBC car park and in the stairwells of Pebble Mill. It's just awful to watch. Cringeworthy comes to mind as well tbh.[/
Even the newest episodes are filmed in the BBC car park and in the stairwells of Pebble Mill. It's just awful to watch. Cringeworthy comes to mind as well tbh.[/
My feeling is that the flaw in Steven Moffat's approach to Doctor Who is that he grew up. Russell T Davies apparently called him a writer "driven by sex" and I believe that aspect of his writing has been detrimental. In fact one of the changes banality may be referring to, which is certainly one of the reasons I effectively stopped being a fan, is his decision to make Time Lords able to change sex during regeneration, and to repeatedly promote the idea during his time until he opted to cast a woman as the Master (note, not the Doctor). I couldn't see that as a creative decision, so that was me finished. Actually to say that he's made it more realistic is a bit of a double edged sword, because the increase in references to sexuality, to me at least, has become too real and as far as the Doctor's concerned, make him a very ordinary and earthly character which he traditionally isn't.
On the subject of the writing I don't rate Steven Moffat as a writer like I would many classic era or even Big Finish writers, some of whom have also written for the TV series. He isn't the calibre of David Whitaker, Brian Hayles, Robert Holmes, Chris Boucher, Marc Platt, Robert Shearman or significant other talented people that the series has been fortunate to have. What he has done is to cast one excellent Doctor, Matt Smith, and create some memorable monsters like the Weeping Angels.
I was delighted to hear that he would be stepping down and it would be nice to think that Chris Chibnall can do something more palatable in the future. I particularly liked his story Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Personally I was hoping for a new team completely unconnected to the past regime but the chances of my returning to the fold are slim.
.
