http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/05_may/20/who.shtml
Steven Moffat is taking over Doctor Who. I may be the only one not turning cartwheels over this, but while I certainly love his individual episodes, I don't think he does such a great job of keeping track of continuity between episodes, or keeping characters consistent. He's undoubtedly a fantastic writer, but I don't understand why it's assumed that means that he will make a fantastic showrunner
I'll give him a chance anyway, and it will be good to get more episodes from him at least. Would he write the same amount that RTD does now?
Steven Moffat is taking over Doctor Who. I may be the only one not turning cartwheels over this, but while I certainly love his individual episodes, I don't think he does such a great job of keeping track of continuity between episodes, or keeping characters consistent. He's undoubtedly a fantastic writer, but I don't understand why it's assumed that means that he will make a fantastic showrunner
I'll give him a chance anyway, and it will be good to get more episodes from him at least. Would he write the same amount that RTD does now?
Tags:
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 04:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 04:14 pm (UTC)So I'm iffy about how the regulars will be treated under SM, and if there will be emotional continuity between episodes, or if it will just be a string of one-off adventures. But then I suppose that's what a lot of fans seem to be asking for, so perhaps SM really will be giving the audience what they want in that case...
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 04:23 pm (UTC)That said SM is a great writer and his episodes have been great. And Coupling is still one of my favorite shows and the continuity/character arcs were always really great in that so I think it'll be alright.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 04:32 pm (UTC)I like SM's episodes, I'm just iffy on his unproven abilities as showrunner I suppose. I don't want to outright think that he'll be no good, but with all the assumptions that he will automatically be amazing at it, just because of the strength of his one-off individual episodes, I'm not so sure. I'd say it's more 50/50 at this stage at this stage anyway
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 06:11 pm (UTC)But, it's just gonna have to be a wait and see situation. As it is, they'll be lucky if I'm still watching when he takes over.
(I can't really say anything negative about characterization in TEC/TDD as it gave us Nancy and I'll admit it, it's when I fell face first in love with Nine!)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 08:43 pm (UTC)I understand intellectually than TEC/TDD and Blink are considered episodes for fandom to rave over, but I would hate an entire season of "clever" episodes like Blink. Episodes like Blink are fine for a one-off, but if it's the writer of those episodes taking over as showrunner, I have my doubts y'know. Because I don't believe that his writing of the female lead in TEC/TDD and TGITF did Rose any favours, and Blink barely featured Martha (okay that one wasn't his fault granted :P )
I do think that Moffat comes up with interesting one-off characters for his episodes, but I've yet to be convinced that he can do a good job with existing characterisation, and integrating the regulars into the Doctor's world (something that GITF failed at IMO, as Rose and Mickey were both written more as a couple of silly kids, which didn't fit with Rose previously being seen more as the Doctor's equal and partner). SR ending not fitting with GITF may not have entirely been his fault, but from what I've heard the season 1 two-partar also missed the bad wolf plot, and RTD had to request something be added in to TDD at the last minute to cover that. When...the other writers that year seemed to manage it, so that did leave me (rightly or wrong) with the impression that maybe SM isn't much of a team player. He seems better suited to doing his own thing, and producing one-off episodes IMO
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:04 pm (UTC)Have you ever seen his series Jekyll? If he had anything to do with running that short series, but he wrote the whole thing and it was amazing.
I don't know if that'll be any indication of how he'll run DW, but it was tight and really well put together.
*sigh* Sadly, we'll have to wait and see.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:07 pm (UTC)Oh cool, how many episodes did it have?
And perhaps part of the fan excitement is because of hopes of SM writing more episodes if he's in charge, but it's not like he can write all of them, and his skills in making sure that other writers can follow a coherent story arc plan are as yet unproven I believe
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:14 pm (UTC)*icon from Jekyll*
Anywho, yeah, I think most of the excitement, unfortunately, is those cheering RTD leaving. Which, yeah, I'm not all thrilled with how he's done a few things, but he still brought the series back, so there is something to be grateful for. Although, this is coming from someone who's not really watching a lot of this season.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-21 06:58 pm (UTC)Do you think that DT and RTD will both leave together then, once the specials are finished? That's starting to make sense to me, and it would give SM the chance to really launch his era of the programe with a clean slate. Although I imagine it would also be a bit daunting to take the show on just as DT leaves *g*
Although, this is coming from someone who's not really watching a lot of this season.
The only episodes that I've *really* loved this season are the two historicals. It's been a consistently good year I'd say, but it hasn't grabbed me the way that season 1 (or parts of season 3) did as yet. Donna is working out fabulously as a companion for Ten though. She just works with him in the way that neither of the young female companions really did for me
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-21 07:30 pm (UTC)But in many ways, I think that's what they need.
I'm kinda upset that I'm not really getting into this season. Donna is getting some wonderful characterization and stories and I just don't feel that into it. I feel so dreadfully detached from the episodes. I got really into the three Martha episodes (which made me feel like a blooming hypocrite) and now, I'm just waiting to see what RTD does to the series with the end of this season.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 01:57 pm (UTC)Is he actually a possibility as the next Doctor? because he'd be really good, he's a very good actor with personality. And he's Irish.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 02:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 06:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 08:49 pm (UTC)And I don't know why people expect that romance will be dropped, SM has openly said that he sees women as on the desperate hunt for a husband, so I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't eye-fluttering aimed at the Doctor at the very least. I don't need romance to keep me happy, I just want the companion to be developed properly alongside the Doctor. Season 1 of the new series is still the perfect season for me, for the way it build up the Doctor and Rose's character journey's together
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 01:54 pm (UTC)He said what?! That sounds misogynist to me.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 02:01 pm (UTC)“Well, the world is vastly counted in favour of men at every level - except if you live in a civilised country and you’re sort of educated and middle-class, because then you’re almost certainly junior in your relationship and in a state of permanent, crippled apology. Your preferences are routinely mocked. There’s a huge, unfortunate lack of respect for anything male.”
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 07:12 pm (UTC)That said, I think it's best to reserve judgement until the actual episodes air. And I'm can't help being really happy for him. :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 08:53 pm (UTC)It's definitely an awesome opportunity for him though, and I do hope that he proves my doubts wrong :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:48 pm (UTC)Hearing of SM quotes on character development isn't important; you should just jump right in on the action, is making me nervous for an entire season based around that idea. Even while it might work fantastically well for the one-off episodes like Blink and TGITF
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:54 pm (UTC)As for the Character Development quote... Eh, that's not good... Hope someone can give him a good kick to remind him of it. We'll just have to hope for the best...
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-20 10:59 pm (UTC)But Moffat gave us the Beard, if I remember right. ;D They were in it together!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-21 06:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 01:51 pm (UTC)What about Torchwood? Who's going to be running that? If you ask me that show could use some cancellation or a total change in tone and mentality. Maybe killing off most of the characters and replacing them with new ones? They can keep Jack and Tosh, kill off the rest.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-22 02:10 pm (UTC)They both died in the finale, Jack, Gwen, and Ianto are the only ones left now. I *think* they might be making Martha a regular next season to replace Owen as Doctor :)