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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?

Current Mood: nervous

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I'm glad I'm not the only one. He's a great storyteller on the episode level, but doesn't appear that concerned about character continuity over the long run. Kind of essential for a showrunner, I would think.

I loved The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, but Steven Moffat did tend to write Rose as a generic female companion at times around Captain Jack, what with the rescue and the swooning. Really the focus was more on building up Captain Jack (who was being introduced as an original character at the time), then on the regular companion. And TGITF is one of my favourite episodes ever, but the lack of continuity with Rose and Mickey was blatant, and both characters felt shoved aside for SM's new character again. And of course Blink didn't really involve the regulars much at all, but was all about Sally Sparrow.

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...

I really will miss RTD. I know people think that he's the devil or whatever but I don't like those people anyway. :P I thought he was doing a great job with the show (last season aside) so I'll miss him.

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.

I will too!

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

I've had those concerns as well, but I feel they weren't really his fault. It's been admitted that there really is not much discussion between writers, so Moffat wasn't informed about the end of "School Reunion". Maybe it was his fault, maybe the showrunner's, since he should have been the one to say "Writers, get together and talk" and he didn't seem to.

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!)

I watch for the characters and the story arcs, not the FX and running gags, so honesty my favourite writer of DW is Paul Cornell. Fathers Day and Human Nature/Family Of Blood were wonderfully thought-provoking and layered, and featured terrific characterization. FD is my favourite episode for Rose, and I thought that Martha came out of HN/FOB really strongly

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

Edited Date: 2008-05-20 08:43 pm (UTC)

Yeah, I know what you mean. I said a while ago that just because Moffat writes good episodes doesn't mean he'll make a good showrunner.

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.

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.

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

OH, it was only 6 episodes and it was just so...great. It's why I would totally be behind James Nesbitt as the next Doctor. Not because he was frakking terrifying, but the way he was able to flip and he was just perfect and I think he'd be good as the Doctor.

*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.

That sets my mind at ease a little, thanks!

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

Edited Date: 2008-05-21 06:59 pm (UTC)

It would make sense for them both to go, but on the other hand, it would feel too much like a relaunch when it returns and that may not be what they want. It'll be really interesting to see what they really do. I wouldn't really mind a "relaunch", but that might be too much for some viewers.

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.

["It's why I would totally be behind James Nesbitt as the next Doctor."]

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.

There were rumours about James Nesbitt as the next Doctor at around the same time that there were rumours of Steven Moffot taking over, and now the rumours about SM have come true, so it's a possibility I guess

Eh, I'm right there with you. I don't even know if I'll keep watching beyond s4.

Oh I'll still watch, but I have my concerns about how SM will deal with the female companion, I don't want some whingy generic screamer along.

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

["SM has openly said that he sees women as on the desperate hunt for a husband"]

He said what?! That sounds misogynist to me.

“There’s this issue you’re not allowed to discuss: that women are needy. Men can go for longer, more happily, without women. That’s the truth. We don’t, as little boys, play at being married - we try to avoid it for as long as possible. Meanwhile women are out there hunting for husbands.”

“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.”

I have a few misgivings too. He's wonderfully witty but I worry that the show might take on a sitcom quality.

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. :-)

Yep, I don't want to give a definitive opinion one way or the other at the moment. It's all the fandom celebration that has me wondering why SM is just being granted fandom worship as if the roles of writer/showrunner co-exist. He is still unproven as showrunner at the moment after all

It's definitely an awesome opportunity for him though, and I do hope that he proves my doubts wrong :)

After Tinkerbell Jesus and the angstfest that is every other episode, I'm willing to give Moffat a chance. XD I've liked all his episodes so far so I'm going to stay positive until he starts sucking. ^^

I was just reading the DW comm actually, and someone else summed up my thoughts exactly. Moffat seems the most interested in SF/Horror. Whereas Cornell is more interested in taking characters apart and seeing what makes them tick. FD was an amazing episode for Rose, and FOB looks at how vengeful and lonely the Doctor can be, has made that two-parter my alltime favourite DW story. Those sorts of character moments and thought-provoking quotes are what I really would adore a season being based around, if it comes to choosing between that and the type of time-travel concepts that Blink gave us. Honestly I er like the angst and the emotion more *g*

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

True, I like angst too but it's getting a bit much now, with no continuity with the angst...

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...

That's partly why I didn't like The Doctor's Daughter, it felt a little much. But I was totally engaged in season 3 with the Doctor/Master angst. RTD might have given us the floating Doctor, but he also gave us that phone call! :D

He is good for the Gayness. :D

But Moffat gave us the Beard, if I remember right. ;D They were in it together!

Aww yeah, if Moffat manages to make the series even slashier than RTD did (is that even possible hee), then that would be a definite tick in the plus colum for Moffat *g*

I wonder if he'll save the show from its decline or ruin it further? RTD did inspired work originally, before things went all to crap.

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.

Erm they did kill off Tosh :/ And Owen

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 :)

Edited Date: 2008-05-22 02:11 pm (UTC)

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