Series 7 of Doctor Who commissioned

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SUPPORT - IT'S NOT JUST A GROUPING OF ATs
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More Than a Game
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Some people just loved David Tennant. It's a standard "This is not my Doctor" reaction which happens when things move along.

I used to have it in the 80s but I got over it (mind you the move from kindly, empathic, cricket-loving Doctor to arrogant, semi-psychopathic, mid-life-crisis Doctor was pretty traumatic).

My daughter has kinda missed the Tennant era totally (she's 4) so I'm going to have a hell of a job explaining to her what's going on when Matt goes (it'll be the Little Amy / Big Amy fiasco all over again).

It should be noted that the BBC made this anouncement in a scramble after Smith announced her was heading to LA to feel out some movie possibilities for next year. That started some speculation he was done with Who well ahead of schedule. Stack on top of that some insiders grumbling about Moffat in public the week before plus the show losing another set of top brass and the rumor mills were cranking up for a "the BBC is getting rid of Moffat and Smith" run.

However, it is intersting to note that the BBC originally included the words "next year" in this announcement and within short order (an hour or two) removed those words. It appears that the BBC is possibly planning a set of specials next year in preparation for Smith being a bit troublesome on the scheduling, which is, again, backed by statements made by insiders at conventions.

Under Moff Who it's become difficult to tell which is grousing and which is informed speculation from people working on the show. Moff's ego is legendary and his attitude is well known. Both lead people who work with him to dislike him personaly and professionally. Because of that a lot of people working on the show both above and below Moffet tend to be a bit bitter about him when they're away from close observation by the BBC, which makes it hard to tell how much is standard "Moff's a rat bastage" venting and how much is "given what I know bad thing X is going to happen" speculation.

Funny, the way I hear it is that both are inept and can't schedule or budget for anything, meaning Moff had to cover them with a "split season" idea.

I think it's best if we all are very careful about accepting rumours as fact.

At the end of the day it's the result that counts and this first half-season has been some of the best Doctor Who of all time.

I think you've missunderstood the line in question: "Under Moff Who it's become difficult to tell which is grousing and which is informed speculation from people working on the show. Moff's ego is legendary and his attitude is well known. Both lead people who work with him to dislike him personaly and professionally."

"Both (his known ego and attitude) lead people who work with him...."

Not

"Two people who are show leads...."

As to your rumors about why the season was split, the BBC set this season for a split last year to stretch the show farther (BBC Wales was on the record years ago stating the idea that following a USA Television -the channel not the country- model as being a good idea or the show). It was filmed in exactly the same way as every other season (in a set of long runs), which would do exactly nothing for budget or scheduling troubles. Additionally the two producers who left immedietly moved to other high profile jobs, not something one would do if they were inept. Add to that this is the second set of brass that's left in two years.

These are not "rumors" these are statements in various mediums (especialy cons, but not limited to them, facebook and twitter are often places where venting gets done) directly from people who work with him that they dislike him for those reasons (some even made directly to ME and an associate at Chicago TARDIS this year). Add to that that if you plug yourself into the writers (not to difficult if you have facebook and twitter and a bit of charisma though having done some writing definately helps), they're even more likely to slag him for those same reasons and a few extras specific to them.

Now that's "okay." Moff isn't there to be liked, he's there to get a show made, but not being liked can make that task a bit more difficult and makes it especially dificult to differentiate between "Person X is merely venting" and "Person X has a line on a serious problem happening internally."

Now, to expand on that, the Beeb has ordered 14 new show in the future with Smith and Moff. However, they themseves say that they do not know how many will air in 2012. Again, this is evidence that my statement on the matter are accurate, that there is some internal business that's effecting the show on a very deep level, to the point where even the people comissioning and paying for it cannot say with certianty if they'll have a full run next year.

So you are correct, we should be mindful of what rumors we listen to, especially when they do not line up with the known facts.

As to your closing line. That is a subjective evaluation that you are entitled to. Not everyone shares it and some have precisely the opposite take; that this was the worst half season of Doctor Who ever. I fall into a third camp, that is was stunningly average overall. If results do matter, then you need an objective result and audience figures aren't objective either, they're merely a reflection of a large group of opinions (and are easily countered by the rating generated by trash/reality TV). Opinion is not results, it's merely opinion and you know what they say about those.

There is only one Doctor



The others no matter how talented are only pretenders.

(And in some cases, get over.)

(That seems like an awful lot of sitcom writers and very few science fiction ones.)

Ah, my mistake.

Also, you do not need need to refute "my" rumours, I never said I believed them. I'm only saying that there's so much stuff out there it's impossible to know what is and isn't true.
Especially since not all of us have the fortune to speak directly to people involved in the show (and not even what they say can be taken as fact).

These are not "rumors" these are statements in various mediums (especialy cons, but not limited to them, facebook and twitter are often places where venting gets done) directly from people who work with him that they dislike him for those reasons (some even made directly to ME and an associate at Chicago TARDIS this year). Add to that that if you plug yourself into the writers (not to difficult if you have facebook and twitter and a bit of charisma though having done some writing definately helps), they're even more likely to slag him for those same reasons and a few extras specific to them.

Of course, the Beeb said back when Tennent had his special that they were thinking of continuing that trend, have a few series then a break with just specials and so on. If next year is just a few specials with a full series returning in 2013 then that will be in line with what they've already said.

No, no you don't.
Results are: Lots of viewers. Critical praise. Viewer appreciation. Money.
Results do not mean something is good, but then I never said that. Moff just needs results and he's getting them.

"Oh dear, dear, dear. How very disturbing."

I like all the Doctors to some degree, though I certainly like some more than others. For me, Doctors 3 and 4 are my favourites. I'm still not keen on Matt Smith, but I like him more this season than I have in the past. Peter Davison is the Doctor I like least, to the point where I have actually disliked him from time to time.

Originally Posted by VoodooGirl [*]Watching out for the Spinning Disco Portal of D00M!*

Actually, he's basing a lot of his quirks off of the Second Doctor, Troughton. If you ever watch the Second Doctor you'll notice quite a few similarities, including some of the costume, like suspenders and bow tie. The cosmic hobo, the clown, the trickster.

That's funny, because that's what I get from Smith, and in fact one of THE major reasons I like him so much, he's playing an old man, the way he talks and walks and the way he looks at people all tell me this guy is old.

A matter of personal preference. I find Matt Smith (And by extension Smith!Doctor) to be rather alluring.

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SUPPORT - IT'S NOT JUST A GROUPING OF ATs
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More Than a Game
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BRACES man, braces! That difference between US and UK language has now provoked images in my head I did not want!

Davison was awfully bland, but I have to admit his era had some great stories. Colin Baker was probably my least favorite, but it's hard to blame him with all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that were going on at the time. I pretty much like all the others, with 3 and 4 being special favorites. Smith is great so far.

It's a subtle distinction, but I think Smith plays the Doctor's manic, childlike side much more genuinely. When Tennant was being goofy, it always felt like a put-on...as if he were deliberately playing the fool to distract his opponents or hide his true feelings (cf. Tom Baker). With Smith, it feels like that giddy quality is just the way he is (as someone else pointed out, very Troughton-like).

I wouldn't call him ugly, but I'd say his slightly unconventional looks are a point in his favor. A "pretty" Doctor just feels wrong to me. He's supposed to be an oddball, visually as well as in personality.

I blame my years of frequenting US boards!