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auroracloudI haven't yet posted about the new Doctor Who because I've waited for a time when I felt like doing a proper structured post about all my thoughts and feelings... And well, that doesn't happen, so instead you get this post, which is rambling on all the things that happen to occur to me in the order they occur to me! At least there's some logic to that order, but I'm not necessarily giving everything the proper attention or explaining everything I say. This was going to be a short post, but oh, you know me and short posts. Doesn't happen that often.
In a nutshell, I really really like it. And I've got my favourite New Who Doctor. (There are decent chances for all time favourite Doctor, but I need to see more before I decide if I love her even more than Troughton or "only" equally much.) I really hope that also people who've been doubtful give her, and all of the new series, a chance.
I loved Jodie Whittaker's Doctor right from her first minute on that train, first seconds even. She's the Doctor, no question of that, and she's such a bloody amazing Doctor. She's got this wonderful, brilliant energy and enthusiasm, lots of hope and light, and she's also actually nice, responsible and likes people and her companions, and treats them well. I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed some of the pricklier Doctors as well, but I also do have to say my absolute favourite Doctors do seem to be the ones who would be genuinely good friends and fun to travel with. Meaning her, Two, and Five. And currently I'm in an emotional place where I really, really need this. Need her, need the way she is towards her friends, need the team feel of this. And she can still give a heck of a dressing down to anyone who needs it, in an instant.
Also, it took me by surprise to see how amazing it felt to see a woman in this role, and in a way that doesn't make her gender into a big deal. (I love how it's treated in the first episode! "Really? Does it suit me?" (Hell yes it does.) And then just going on about the business as usual, only sometimes remarking about practical effects, like needing to buy women's clothing for a change. But anyway. I didn't realize how much I needed to see someone like her in a leading role, as the one who takes action and decides. Women like this - intelligent, quirky, with strong moral compass and a lot of stubborn determination, and who rely on those characteristics rather than either the violent masculine model or the traditional female role - tend to be supporting characters, not the heroes. Seeing one like her in the center, taking the action and calling the shots - it felt like goddamn continents shifting.
And she's funny and has had some great lines already. And her coat flaps heroically when she runs, and her outfit is totally bonkers and she loves it! (I get annoyed when people whine that her outfit isn't more gorgeous. Most of the time the Doctor has dressed kind of daft. And those clothes are practical. You can run in them and stay on your feet all day in them and put things in your pockets. Lots of things.)
I like the new companions/friends so far. I'm still waiting for a more Yaz-centred episode because I adore her and she's awesome. The first two have put Ryan and Graham more in the action, but I trust her turn will come. Ryan's lovely and stubborn and I like him lots, and I'm fine with Graham. I do wish Grace had lived, though, she was so amazing and we don't get enough characters like her anywhere. And there wasn't a real need for her to die. At the same time I don't really hope for a magical resurrection because we've had a lot of those and overall, in story-telling, I prefer deaths that stick (unless you do it like with Captain Jack, where the death not sticking becomes a proper character point and has not-so-great repercussions for him). But I just want her not to have died. I understand people being upset about the racial or gender optics of that, too, though so far I'm giving Chibnall the benefit of the doubt with diversity and inclusion because it's otherwise been pretty great.
And when it comes to Chibnall - so far I really like what I see from him as a showrunner. Character and emotion are on the forefront, and we've got an ensemble cast and a crowded TARDIS and people working together. All my favourite time periods of Doctor Who have been ones with more than one companion, except for most of the Ten & Donna time. I'm so happy about this. And I just love how this Doctor wants friends/companions because teamwork is good and because she likes them. Not because they're mystery boxes to solve or because someone else needs to do the emotional labour and Keep the Doctor Good. Both of those got a bit old during the previous showrunners, as much as I liked some aspects of each of their eras.
I feel like this calls back to a lot of what I love about Classic Who but with modern storytelling and way more diversity and a freaking awesome Doctor, did I say that already?
I'm wondering how much I should avoid wider fandom discussions, because Bash the Current Showrunner is still the fandom's favourite sport, and I actually like Chibnall. I know his plots aren't perfect and his science sometimes has holes you can drive a truck through, but come on, this is Doctor Who. If you're looking for watertight plots and perfect hard science, you've got the wrong show. He can do character and emotion and he can do teams, and that's what I love the most. And I've generally enjoyed the heck out of both of these two episodes. Of course there are some things to pick at, but I've never seen an episode of Doctor Who that didn't have some things to pick at. It's a part of the fun.
I do wish he wrote his anti-gun messages more subtle, though. They lose some power like this, and I just got irked at the line about only idiots carrying knives, because some Classic companions might have something to say to that. And besides, knives can be plenty pragmatic for non-violent reasons - look at Angstrom saving Epzo with the aid of her knife in the latest episode.
Angstrom was totally awesome, by the way.
And the TARDIS is back and she's pretty! I like the warmer colour scheme again, and all kinds of shiny things on the console, and it gives her biscuits! You got me sold on the biscuits. And their reunion was just so sweet, wasn't it?
Lastly, I'd like to say that oh my stars, I love Segun Akinola's work as the composer. The theme tune! I love, love, love that it goes back to the classic 1960s Delia Derbyshire version of the theme tune but remixed in a more modern way. After I fell in love with Classic Who starting from the first week of the Twitch maraton, I've basically spent all of the past five months with the 1960s theme tune, either through watching the episodes or through listening to Big Finish audios. So hearing this version instantly brings me to my happy place. And I love his score, it's a lot more subtle than we've had in the Murray Gold era, which, while there were some gorgeous tunes, much of it was a bit blatant and in-your-face. This score is seamlessly intertwined with the story, and often you don't even specifically notice it, but in the right moments you get a beautiful swelling tune that transports you somewhere. I really like what I think is probably the Thirteenth Doctor's theme. And there was some lovely music we heard when the TARDIS came back.
I look forward to the new episodes!
In a nutshell, I really really like it. And I've got my favourite New Who Doctor. (There are decent chances for all time favourite Doctor, but I need to see more before I decide if I love her even more than Troughton or "only" equally much.) I really hope that also people who've been doubtful give her, and all of the new series, a chance.
I loved Jodie Whittaker's Doctor right from her first minute on that train, first seconds even. She's the Doctor, no question of that, and she's such a bloody amazing Doctor. She's got this wonderful, brilliant energy and enthusiasm, lots of hope and light, and she's also actually nice, responsible and likes people and her companions, and treats them well. I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed some of the pricklier Doctors as well, but I also do have to say my absolute favourite Doctors do seem to be the ones who would be genuinely good friends and fun to travel with. Meaning her, Two, and Five. And currently I'm in an emotional place where I really, really need this. Need her, need the way she is towards her friends, need the team feel of this. And she can still give a heck of a dressing down to anyone who needs it, in an instant.
Also, it took me by surprise to see how amazing it felt to see a woman in this role, and in a way that doesn't make her gender into a big deal. (I love how it's treated in the first episode! "Really? Does it suit me?" (Hell yes it does.) And then just going on about the business as usual, only sometimes remarking about practical effects, like needing to buy women's clothing for a change. But anyway. I didn't realize how much I needed to see someone like her in a leading role, as the one who takes action and decides. Women like this - intelligent, quirky, with strong moral compass and a lot of stubborn determination, and who rely on those characteristics rather than either the violent masculine model or the traditional female role - tend to be supporting characters, not the heroes. Seeing one like her in the center, taking the action and calling the shots - it felt like goddamn continents shifting.
And she's funny and has had some great lines already. And her coat flaps heroically when she runs, and her outfit is totally bonkers and she loves it! (I get annoyed when people whine that her outfit isn't more gorgeous. Most of the time the Doctor has dressed kind of daft. And those clothes are practical. You can run in them and stay on your feet all day in them and put things in your pockets. Lots of things.)
I like the new companions/friends so far. I'm still waiting for a more Yaz-centred episode because I adore her and she's awesome. The first two have put Ryan and Graham more in the action, but I trust her turn will come. Ryan's lovely and stubborn and I like him lots, and I'm fine with Graham. I do wish Grace had lived, though, she was so amazing and we don't get enough characters like her anywhere. And there wasn't a real need for her to die. At the same time I don't really hope for a magical resurrection because we've had a lot of those and overall, in story-telling, I prefer deaths that stick (unless you do it like with Captain Jack, where the death not sticking becomes a proper character point and has not-so-great repercussions for him). But I just want her not to have died. I understand people being upset about the racial or gender optics of that, too, though so far I'm giving Chibnall the benefit of the doubt with diversity and inclusion because it's otherwise been pretty great.
And when it comes to Chibnall - so far I really like what I see from him as a showrunner. Character and emotion are on the forefront, and we've got an ensemble cast and a crowded TARDIS and people working together. All my favourite time periods of Doctor Who have been ones with more than one companion, except for most of the Ten & Donna time. I'm so happy about this. And I just love how this Doctor wants friends/companions because teamwork is good and because she likes them. Not because they're mystery boxes to solve or because someone else needs to do the emotional labour and Keep the Doctor Good. Both of those got a bit old during the previous showrunners, as much as I liked some aspects of each of their eras.
I feel like this calls back to a lot of what I love about Classic Who but with modern storytelling and way more diversity and a freaking awesome Doctor, did I say that already?
I'm wondering how much I should avoid wider fandom discussions, because Bash the Current Showrunner is still the fandom's favourite sport, and I actually like Chibnall. I know his plots aren't perfect and his science sometimes has holes you can drive a truck through, but come on, this is Doctor Who. If you're looking for watertight plots and perfect hard science, you've got the wrong show. He can do character and emotion and he can do teams, and that's what I love the most. And I've generally enjoyed the heck out of both of these two episodes. Of course there are some things to pick at, but I've never seen an episode of Doctor Who that didn't have some things to pick at. It's a part of the fun.
I do wish he wrote his anti-gun messages more subtle, though. They lose some power like this, and I just got irked at the line about only idiots carrying knives, because some Classic companions might have something to say to that. And besides, knives can be plenty pragmatic for non-violent reasons - look at Angstrom saving Epzo with the aid of her knife in the latest episode.
Angstrom was totally awesome, by the way.
And the TARDIS is back and she's pretty! I like the warmer colour scheme again, and all kinds of shiny things on the console, and it gives her biscuits! You got me sold on the biscuits. And their reunion was just so sweet, wasn't it?
Lastly, I'd like to say that oh my stars, I love Segun Akinola's work as the composer. The theme tune! I love, love, love that it goes back to the classic 1960s Delia Derbyshire version of the theme tune but remixed in a more modern way. After I fell in love with Classic Who starting from the first week of the Twitch maraton, I've basically spent all of the past five months with the 1960s theme tune, either through watching the episodes or through listening to Big Finish audios. So hearing this version instantly brings me to my happy place. And I love his score, it's a lot more subtle than we've had in the Murray Gold era, which, while there were some gorgeous tunes, much of it was a bit blatant and in-your-face. This score is seamlessly intertwined with the story, and often you don't even specifically notice it, but in the right moments you get a beautiful swelling tune that transports you somewhere. I really like what I think is probably the Thirteenth Doctor's theme. And there was some lovely music we heard when the TARDIS came back.
I look forward to the new episodes!
no subject
Date: 2018-10-18 10:13 pm (UTC)You know I'm not a Doctor Who fan as such, and am still only advanced as far as to the late Tenth Doctor, or perhaps already early Eleventh (difficult to tell, as once again Doctor Who became unavailable for over a year, and I have yet to find the last episode I watched), but reading your comment here makes me wish it'd be available also in Germany already (legally, and without having to pay extra for one of the services I'm already paying). Ah well, but at least I can catch up a bit again. :o)
no subject
Date: 2018-10-18 11:52 pm (UTC)I know The Ghost Monument wasn't perfect but I thought it was a decent second episode, plus: The Doctor and TARDIS reunion scene, that was just perfect in every way!
no subject
Date: 2018-10-19 02:01 pm (UTC)But I definitely recommend giving the new series a try when you get the chance! It's designed to be a good jumping point for new viewers or people who've dropped off at one point or another, and doesn't require any background at all. With the Moffat seasons you'd get kind of confused if you jumped to it in the middle - well, you get confused even when you watch it in order. I really loved early Eleventh Doctor, though, and for the Twelfth Doctor, Series 10 ie. his final series, is reasonably self-contained.
We're really lucky that we get the new episodes the very next day after they're aired in the UK! Basically there's just enough time to do the Finnish subtitles and then they're dropped onto our public broadcasting company's website (the proper air date is on Thursday, but I really appreciate not having to avoid the internet for four days!). You can kind of tell the subtitles have been done in a hurry, though, I need to see if I could just switch them off. I don't know how our TV got such a good deal with the BBC, but I'm glad of it! Maybe it's some kind of public broadcasting company solidarity.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-19 02:16 pm (UTC)I suppose people may also be suspicious of Chibnall, because his past Doctor Who episodes haven't been stellar - but in fact, I've enjoyed them all, even though there have been issues with the science and general sense-making and such. But hey, we're talking about the show that gave us the green bubble wrap monster and Vague Pixel Blobs of Doom and whose iconic villains are constructed from kitchen appliances. And people love to bring up Cyberwoman, from Torchwood, to criticism Chibnall, and it drives me mad. That episode isn't great, but most of its problems aren't in the script. Just purely writing-wise it's no worse than the majority of S1, IMHO (which admittedly is mostly a train wreck). Later on, Chibnall wrote nearly all of my favourite Torchwood episodes, and he was the only one who I felt steadily got the characters and bothered to make all five of them three-dimensional and consistently have real emotional punch.
It's still early in the series, and second episodes have rarely been all that stellar. I thought this one served its purpose well. I liked that it wasn't packing too much into its 50 minutes, and by keeping the plot fairly simple and the cast of characters small, we could focus more on the Doctor and her companions and their growing relationships, and of course, the Doctor and the TARDIS. Oh, their love is so written in the stars. :-D
no subject
Date: 2018-10-20 08:46 am (UTC)I have listened to the latest Verity! I am glad they went on about the Doctor/TARDIS reunion!
I'm as frustrated with you about the criticisms to Chibnall, this is only the second episode! Meawhile, I just enjoyed the episode. I thought it was fun and also the first five minutes was intense and I love how they shot the Doctor with Yaz and Epzo in one continous shot. I love scenes like that!
I also feel like Chibnall's layering in some very clever world building.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-25 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-10-26 03:51 pm (UTC)