Cri de coeur

[avevale_intelligencer]

So two of my friends, as case-hardened fan critics (if I may say so) as you could wish to meet, are in floods of happy tears over last night's episode and I'm thinking...

...I'm thinking the same thing I thought when I saw "Rose" and read comments saying how wonderful it was that Doctor Who was finally back. I'm thinking what's wrong with me?

Because it's got to be me, hasn't it? It must have been me all the time.

Don't you think I want to be enraptured? Do you honestly think my pride, or some twisted sense of superiority at being the only one marching in step, is more important to me than the magical feeling I still get watching old Troughton and Pertwee and Baker episodes I nearly know by heart? I'm asking because I don't know the answer myself any more. I don't know why, when everyone else is looking at this and seeing their childhood favourite triumphantly returned, all I see is...nuWho. The mixture as before. New boss same as the old boss.

I'm like the lame kid at the end of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin." It doesn't matter how often I tell myself that I'm the lucky one, I get to live in the real world. All I know is that all those other kids were going somewhere really wonderful, and I got left out.

And if I was right the first time, and this new series is really that much better, and the only reason I can't see it is because the first incarnation of nuWho broke my connection and I can't get it back...then it'll be a cold day in hell before I forgive Russell T Davies for doing that to me.

Comments

[the-changeling.livejournal.com]

I think it's the lack of serial, and the concentration on series.

If you took last night's episode, and played it out properly, over three and it may have made four, episodes... I think you'd be fine.

It would give the depth that's missing. It would allow the characterisation to be nuanced, delicate, and not brisk and shorthand.

It would allow all elements raised in the beginning, to be played out, and not suddenly dropped for the main storyline. For instance, the entire 'police state' sub-thread, which was the most satisfying one of the set up, completely disappeared, with no explanation - smoke and mirrors again.

But cramming it into beginning-middle-end in one go, pushes too much out for you, that you like. You prefer serials, I'd guess.

I prefer serials. Doctor Who used to be a serial.

In fact, if it had nay major faults, in the glory days, was that they took it too slow sometimes.

Now, it's a series. Single story episodes. That means it's missing a few essential elements.

Audiences have got better reading fast - and it reads fast. I've gone on about this at length. I can admire the high concept feel.

But it's not enough. We need serial, not series.

I don't read the reviews or interviews or stuff. Has any of the creators talked about the impact of syndication processes? How they are having to produce series for the USA market, for instance?

I think that may be key.

And, for what it's worth - you are right. It will never be what was the essence of old Who, as a series. It will always be too flashy, and too lightweight, if it's locked into series.

I'm just hoping there is hope, within current television finances, for someone to let Moffat run with a serials for a while... that would be something to see!

As long as he sticks to some discipline, and not do a Rusty. The concentrated essence is there, but it's nor being allowed out, or developed. Worse, it's being glimpsed, then disappears down the rabbit hole time and time and time again...

We are eternally awaiting the next episode, where they will GET IT RIGHT! So we're being suckered, really! ;-)

Unless they go to serial...