"I'm basically asking for jobs."
May 15, 2012 12:41 PM Subscribe
In a video uploaded by the BBC today, Karen Gillan, who recently wrapped up filming her final episodes of Doctor Who, asked the crew of Community to include her in an Inspector Spacetime episode.
You know it's only recently that I realized Donald Glover was the Bro Rape guy.
posted by ODiV at 12:50 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ODiV at 12:50 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
jbickers: ", Karen Gillan, who recently wrapped up filming her final episodes of Doctor Who"
Brilliant. Any other spoilers for the show you'd like to drop?
posted by zarq at 12:54 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Brilliant. Any other spoilers for the show you'd like to drop?
posted by zarq at 12:54 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Not that spoilery, since they announced a new companion a couple of months ago.
posted by hyperizer at 12:55 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by hyperizer at 12:55 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Considering the Ponds leaving and the announcement of the new companion are just-short-of-front-page news in the show's home country, I'm not sure casting news are necessarily spoilers.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:56 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:56 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Feh. Community has jumped the shark. I mean, a clip show? COME ON!
posted by bondcliff at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
And the new companion is on the cover of the magazine currently on newsstands. Yeah, I'm assuming zarq is being funny there. If not, apologies.
posted by jbickers at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by jbickers at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2012
Not that spoilery, since they announced a new companion a couple of months ago.
Exactly. Now if jbickers had said "...Karen Gillan, still wearing the 'fatal head injury' makeup from shooting her final Doctor Who episode...", it would have been quite a different matter.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:59 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Exactly. Now if jbickers had said "...Karen Gillan, still wearing the 'fatal head injury' makeup from shooting her final Doctor Who episode...", it would have been quite a different matter.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:59 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
They've been hinting at her departure from the show for awhile now. It's not like whole show is recast every couple of years anyway. I don't care if she is looking around for a job, Community NEEDS to do this.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I realized the other day that my sudden interest in Who was probably inspired by Inspector Spacetime.
I would watch the Inspector Spacetime ft. Karen Gillan episode like it was my job.
posted by gauche at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
I would watch the Inspector Spacetime ft. Karen Gillan episode like it was my job.
posted by gauche at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Feh. Community has jumped the shark. I mean, a clip show? COME ON!
Please be joking. Please.
(It was a fake clip show! Or, rather, a series of flashbacks, presented in the cliché "remember when..." clip show format, depicting prior events that had not occurred in previous episodes. That is the best kind of clip show!)
posted by Sys Rq at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [16 favorites]
Please be joking. Please.
(It was a fake clip show! Or, rather, a series of flashbacks, presented in the cliché "remember when..." clip show format, depicting prior events that had not occurred in previous episodes. That is the best kind of clip show!)
posted by Sys Rq at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [16 favorites]
oh god yes, BUT FIRST:
HELLO CATHERINE TATE. HOW ARE YOU? I SEE YOU ARE ON THE OFFICE. THAT IS LOVELY. WHILE YOU'RE OVER THERE AT NBC, COULD YOU DO ME A SOLID? THANKS. JUST HEAD ON OVER TO THE COMMUNITY STUDIO LOT AND POP IN AND SAY HI. THANKS A HEAP IN ADVANCE, LOVE shmegegge WHO THINKS YOU WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO AN INSPECTOR SPACETIME BIT BECAUSE DONNA IS STILL MY FAVORITE COMPANION AND BURN ALL THE SINNERS WHO SAY OTHERWISE.
posted by shmegegge at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [46 favorites]
HELLO CATHERINE TATE. HOW ARE YOU? I SEE YOU ARE ON THE OFFICE. THAT IS LOVELY. WHILE YOU'RE OVER THERE AT NBC, COULD YOU DO ME A SOLID? THANKS. JUST HEAD ON OVER TO THE COMMUNITY STUDIO LOT AND POP IN AND SAY HI. THANKS A HEAP IN ADVANCE, LOVE shmegegge WHO THINKS YOU WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO AN INSPECTOR SPACETIME BIT BECAUSE DONNA IS STILL MY FAVORITE COMPANION AND BURN ALL THE SINNERS WHO SAY OTHERWISE.
posted by shmegegge at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [46 favorites]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Please be joking. Please.
Of course I'm joking. Though since I didn't start watching until maybe mid way through Season 2, it took me a bit to figure it out.
posted by bondcliff at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2012
Of course I'm joking. Though since I didn't start watching until maybe mid way through Season 2, it took me a bit to figure it out.
posted by bondcliff at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2012
DONNA IS STILL MY FAVORITE COMPANION AND BURN ALL THE SINNERS WHO SAY OTHERWISE
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
In the season finale, the members of the study group take turns jumping over the dean in a shark costume.
Except for Chase. He claimed it wasn't funny and stormed off the set.
posted by Atreides at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
In the season finale, the members of the study group take turns jumping over the dean in a shark costume.
Except for Chase. He claimed it wasn't funny and stormed off the set.
posted by Atreides at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
"Welcome... to Ladders."
posted by mightygodking at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by mightygodking at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
An ocean, a motorboat and a couple of ramps, IIRC.
posted by bonehead at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
An ocean, a motorboat and a couple of ramps, IIRC.
posted by bonehead at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
The best companion was obviously Bernard Cribbens (either incarnation)
posted by dng at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by dng at 1:10 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
[uproarious applause]
posted by Navelgazer at 1:11 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 1:11 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
well dammit, that was supposed to come after mightydogking's thing
posted by Navelgazer at 1:11 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Navelgazer at 1:11 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
They could kill off one of the secondary characters like Magnitude or something.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
They could kill off one of the secondary characters like Magnitude or something.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
I want to go to there. And then.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
My hunger is fireman suspenders.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:13 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by shakespeherian at 1:13 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
They could kill off one of the secondary characters like Magnitude or something.
Starburns?
posted by zaelic at 1:14 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Starburns?
posted by zaelic at 1:14 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
HIS NAME WAS ALEX
posted by shakespeherian at 1:15 PM on May 15, 2012 [41 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 1:15 PM on May 15, 2012 [41 favorites]
I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
On the dock, by the banana stand.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
On the dock, by the banana stand.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
Second Romana isn't even the best Romana of all time.
posted by Rangeboy at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
Second Romana isn't even the best Romana of all time.
posted by Rangeboy at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
The best thing about his death was that it was a subtle homage to Law and Order.
posted by drezdn at 1:17 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 1:17 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
The best companion was obviously Bernard Cribbens (either incarnation)
the only thing that can make Donna Noble more awesome is being related to Wilfred Mott.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
the only thing that can make Donna Noble more awesome is being related to Wilfred Mott.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
And the new companion is on the cover of the magazine currently on newsstands.
I think there is a huge difference in visibility in Who between the UK and US. For instance, a new companion isn't mainstream news in the US. It's a lot easier to be spoiler-free in the US. Until someone posts stuff on Metafilter.
posted by smackfu at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012
I think there is a huge difference in visibility in Who between the UK and US. For instance, a new companion isn't mainstream news in the US. It's a lot easier to be spoiler-free in the US. Until someone posts stuff on Metafilter.
posted by smackfu at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
Another paintball game, this time set in a blanket fort.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Another paintball game, this time set in a blanket fort.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 1:18 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
The best thing about his death was that it was a subtle homage to Law and Order.
There was nothing subtle about that homage. I loved that episode.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2012
I'll admit that the brief bit of noir in the most recent episode made me really sad that there hasn't been a noir episode.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Why does she persist in not looking at the camera in that video? Surprising how very disconcerting that is.
posted by smackfu at 1:20 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by smackfu at 1:20 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think there is a huge difference in visibility in Who between the UK and US. For instance, a new companion isn't mainstream news in the US.
I agree, but today at lunch I saw the issue with the new companion at Barnes & Noble. In Kentucky.
posted by jbickers at 1:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
I agree, but today at lunch I saw the issue with the new companion at Barnes & Noble. In Kentucky.
posted by jbickers at 1:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
Next year, they all take Intro to Oceanography.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Next year, they all take Intro to Oceanography.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
YOU ARE WRONG, SIR.
posted by shmegegge at 1:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
YOU ARE WRONG, SIR.
posted by shmegegge at 1:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Cast change is not a Dr. Who spoiler. Cast change is the entire Dr. Who premise.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012 [19 favorites]
posted by Parasite Unseen at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012 [19 favorites]
I'll admit that the brief bit of noir in the most recent episode made me really sad that there hasn't been a noir episode.
It was so.. forced!
posted by fight or flight at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012
It was so.. forced!
posted by fight or flight at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012
MCMikeNamara: "Considering the Ponds leaving and the announcement of the new companion are just-short-of-front-page news in the show's home country, I'm not sure casting news are necessarily spoilers."
The shows are airing simultaneously here in the US and in the UK. There has been very little coverage here regarding her departure on non-Who-related media. Some of us don't read fan sites or the Doctor Who magazine because we don't want our experience watching the show to be spoiled.
I get that this is not a spoiler-free zone and it's not the end of the world, but still found it annoying.
jbickers, it's fine. Nothing against you, mate. But no, I wasn't joking.
posted by zarq at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
The shows are airing simultaneously here in the US and in the UK. There has been very little coverage here regarding her departure on non-Who-related media. Some of us don't read fan sites or the Doctor Who magazine because we don't want our experience watching the show to be spoiled.
I get that this is not a spoiler-free zone and it's not the end of the world, but still found it annoying.
jbickers, it's fine. Nothing against you, mate. But no, I wasn't joking.
posted by zarq at 1:25 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
"Hi, I'm your new gym teacher, Ted McGinley."
posted by bondcliff at 1:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [10 favorites]
"Hi, I'm your new gym teacher, Ted McGinley."
posted by bondcliff at 1:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [10 favorites]
The death of a character off screen/ randomly revealing important character info at the end of an episode is classic L&O.
One of the things I love about Community about how it's about television itself and rewards television pop culture obsessives. Now please spoof How I Met Your Mother.
posted by drezdn at 1:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
One of the things I love about Community about how it's about television itself and rewards television pop culture obsessives. Now please spoof How I Met Your Mother.
posted by drezdn at 1:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Bondcliff, now Dan Harmon will do that as a personal challenge.
posted by drezdn at 1:27 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by drezdn at 1:27 PM on May 15, 2012
I need a Greasemonkey script that adds "(except, of course, for Sarah Jane)" to any instance of the words "best companion". Because otherwise, you people make no sense whatsoever.
posted by Etrigan at 1:27 PM on May 15, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 1:27 PM on May 15, 2012 [10 favorites]
For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark.
"Hi, I'm your new gym teacher, Ted McGinley."
You shut your mouth.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:35 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sarah Jane was at her best when she had companions, not when she was one.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
If David Algonquin pens the Gilliam Spacetime episode,the nerdiverse could collapse in on its self.
posted by drezdn at 1:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 1:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Rocket Surgeon: "For the life of me I can't think of a way Community could jump the shark."
The entire main cast gets fired, and is unironically replaced by the cast of Glee because most of the actors on that show are now old enough to plausibly have children that are older than the characters that they are portraying.
Or they could jump over an actual shark. Community would totally do this (presumably at the command of the Dean, whilst surrounded by a filmcrew), and I'd get a laugh out of it.
posted by schmod at 1:40 PM on May 15, 2012
The entire main cast gets fired, and is unironically replaced by the cast of Glee because most of the actors on that show are now old enough to plausibly have children that are older than the characters that they are portraying.
Or they could jump over an actual shark. Community would totally do this (presumably at the command of the Dean, whilst surrounded by a filmcrew), and I'd get a laugh out of it.
posted by schmod at 1:40 PM on May 15, 2012
I think Fringe took a turn for the better when they decided that they would take a page from the Dr Who playbook and decide that they could retcon the show whenever they feel like it.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
It's a lot easier to be spoiler-free in the US. Until someone posts stuff on Metafilter.
Pony request: Region locking
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012
Pony request: Region locking
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012
If David Algonquin pens the Gilliam Spacetime episode,the nerdiverse could collapse in on its self.
WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN
posted by The Whelk at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN
posted by The Whelk at 1:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
See the problem with all the jump shark premises are that they could just do them ironically. And get away with it.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:44 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 1:44 PM on May 15, 2012
I would still like a full explanation of how Alison Brie manages to be in Mad Men and Community without cheat codes.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
The shows are airing simultaneously here in the US and in the UK. There has been very little coverage here regarding her departure on non-Who-related media. Some of us don't read fan sites or the Doctor Who magazine because we don't want our experience watching the show to be spoiled.
I get that this is not a spoiler-free zone and it's not the end of the world, but still found it annoying.
So...wait, you've never ever been to the actual Doctor Who BBC website? Because while not exactly spoilery, any and all media interviews Moffat has given has made it very clear the Ponds are not going to be companions after this series. And of course, the new Companion is right there on the website.
(If you haven't been to the website, you should. It's my source for Who-related wallpapers and silly games.)
posted by Kitteh at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I get that this is not a spoiler-free zone and it's not the end of the world, but still found it annoying.
So...wait, you've never ever been to the actual Doctor Who BBC website? Because while not exactly spoilery, any and all media interviews Moffat has given has made it very clear the Ponds are not going to be companions after this series. And of course, the new Companion is right there on the website.
(If you haven't been to the website, you should. It's my source for Who-related wallpapers and silly games.)
posted by Kitteh at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Or they could jump over an actual shark. Community would totally do this (presumably at the command of the Dean, whilst surrounded by a filmcrew), and I'd get a laugh out of it.
Arrested Development did this exact joke if I recall correctly. I think Henry Winkler hopped over a dead shark on the sidewalk or something.
posted by Falconetti at 1:48 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Arrested Development did this exact joke if I recall correctly. I think Henry Winkler hopped over a dead shark on the sidewalk or something.
posted by Falconetti at 1:48 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
I could see them doing something with this, too. Inspector Spacetime as shown is obviously inspired by the old series. How does he react when he runs out of old series and discovered there's a currently running, sexier series?
posted by charred husk at 1:48 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by charred husk at 1:48 PM on May 15, 2012
Yes! There is no finer 'jumping the shark' joke to be had.
posted by Mister_A at 1:50 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by Mister_A at 1:50 PM on May 15, 2012
Arrested Development did this exact joke if I recall correctly.
I'm going to go get a refill. You know you can get a refill on any drink you want?
posted by bondcliff at 1:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
I'm going to go get a refill. You know you can get a refill on any drink you want?
posted by bondcliff at 1:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
I would still like a full explanation of how Alison Brie manages to be in Mad Men and Community without cheat codes.
posted by shakespeherian at 4:45 PM on May 15 [+] [!]
Simple: The brief callback ("Cigarettes.") to the scene where Abed's "Mad Men" scene where nearly seduces Annie by doing a Don Draper impersonation is a bit of foreshadowing to a future episode where we finally get a glimpse into Annie's troubled past: A tale of depression, heartache, and sexual repression glossed over with excessive ebullience and poise, An Edison family trait that dates back to her Grandma Trudy and the Grandfather she never met: a baby-faced big city Ad Man from New York...
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 1:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 4:45 PM on May 15 [+] [!]
Simple: The brief callback ("Cigarettes.") to the scene where Abed's "Mad Men" scene where nearly seduces Annie by doing a Don Draper impersonation is a bit of foreshadowing to a future episode where we finally get a glimpse into Annie's troubled past: A tale of depression, heartache, and sexual repression glossed over with excessive ebullience and poise, An Edison family trait that dates back to her Grandma Trudy and the Grandfather she never met: a baby-faced big city Ad Man from New York...
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 1:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
(to the scene where the scene? MAN did I Britta that sentence.)
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 1:52 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 1:52 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm going to go get a refill. You know you can get a refill on any drink you want?
It's a wonderful restaurant!
posted by Navelgazer at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's a wonderful restaurant!
posted by Navelgazer at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
After listening to Gillian Jacobs on Comedy Bang-Bang this week, I hope she gets cast in the inevitable sitcom based off of Hyperbole and a Half.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 1:57 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 1:57 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Yes! There is no finer 'jumping the shark' joke to be had.
They could have Henry Winkler wear a shark suit. ...
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 1:58 PM on May 15, 2012
They could have Henry Winkler wear a shark suit. ...
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 1:58 PM on May 15, 2012
(to the scene where the scene? MAN did I Britta that sentence.)
Are you using 'Britta' to mean a tiny mistake?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Are you using 'Britta' to mean a tiny mistake?
posted by shakespeherian at 2:00 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Kitteh: "So...wait, you've never ever been to the actual Doctor Who BBC website?"
Nope. I really do like avoiding spoilers where possible.
posted by zarq at 2:02 PM on May 15, 2012
Nope. I really do like avoiding spoilers where possible.
posted by zarq at 2:02 PM on May 15, 2012
(If you haven't been to the website, you should. It's my source for Who-related wallpapers and silly games.)
Heh, sounds like it is full of spoilers.
posted by smackfu at 2:02 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Heh, sounds like it is full of spoilers.
posted by smackfu at 2:02 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
well dammit, that was supposed to come after mightydogking's thing
mightydogking? mightydogking?
PISTOLS AT DAWN, SIRRAH
posted by mightygodking at 2:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
mightydogking? mightydogking?
PISTOLS AT DAWN, SIRRAH
posted by mightygodking at 2:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
I lie awake nights wondering about that.
posted by steambadger at 2:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by steambadger at 2:08 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
golly I sure hope this happens because Inspector Spacetime definitely needs a lot more attention paid to it
posted by Legomancer at 2:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Legomancer at 2:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Are you using 'Britta' to mean a tiny mistake?
Using `Britta` in that way is streets ahead.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 2:32 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Using `Britta` in that way is streets ahead.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 2:32 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Lord. The idea of Amy and Rory leaving is already killing me and HOW LONG UNTIL THE DAMN PREMIERE?!
posted by Space Kitty at 2:37 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by Space Kitty at 2:37 PM on May 15, 2012
mightydogking? mightydogking?
PISTOLS AT DAWN, SIRRAH
now worries, he was referring to Rex The Motherfucking Wonder Dog.
posted by shmegegge at 2:39 PM on May 15, 2012
PISTOLS AT DAWN, SIRRAH
now worries, he was referring to Rex The Motherfucking Wonder Dog.
posted by shmegegge at 2:39 PM on May 15, 2012
golly I sure hope this happens because Inspector Spacetime definitely needs a lot more attention paid to it
posted by Legomancer at 11:26 AM on May 15 [+] [!]
yes it certainly is hilarious and there are many ways the 'real' dr who could be incorporated that would not be immensely lame
posted by Sebmojo at 2:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Legomancer at 11:26 AM on May 15 [+] [!]
yes it certainly is hilarious and there are many ways the 'real' dr who could be incorporated that would not be immensely lame
posted by Sebmojo at 2:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
there are many ways the 'real' dr who could be incorporated that would not be immensely lame
Yes, like having Rory show up with no explanation. Karen's great and all but Arthur Darvill is the magic.
posted by orrnyereg at 2:41 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Yes, like having Rory show up with no explanation. Karen's great and all but Arthur Darvill is the magic.
posted by orrnyereg at 2:41 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
now worries, he was referring to Rex The Motherfucking Wonder Dog.
Indeed I was, and now that Rex is all riled, the pistols shall truly be interesting. Now worries! Now worries indeed!
posted by Navelgazer at 2:43 PM on May 15, 2012
Indeed I was, and now that Rex is all riled, the pistols shall truly be interesting. Now worries! Now worries indeed!
posted by Navelgazer at 2:43 PM on May 15, 2012
Do you meow how fast you were going, sir?
posted by zombieflanders at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 2:45 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Colin Baker could play a magnificent British Pierce Hawthorne.
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:49 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:49 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
There's a theory that when Pierce ranks his ex-wives in a recent episode, he's actually ranking the classic-era Doctors.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:50 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 2:50 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
There's a theory that when Pierce ranks his ex-wives in a recent episode, he's actually ranking the classic-era Doctors.
Mind: blown.
posted by gauche at 2:55 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Mind: blown.
posted by gauche at 2:55 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Since this has become the catch-all community thread, I'm going to use this opportunity to point out my favorite moment of this season. In episode 13, the part where Pierce and Shirley are listening to the tape of Britta and Subway... pay attention to that scene. Look at the set. Look at the "warehouse" background, the inexplicable indoor fence, the vintage reel-to-reel.... remind you of anything?
It's a spot-on homage to The Conversation, one of the best movies ever made. I was so thrilled when I flashed on that.
(when I get home, I'll see if I can find a clip to link to)
posted by Afroblanco at 2:58 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
It's a spot-on homage to The Conversation, one of the best movies ever made. I was so thrilled when I flashed on that.
(when I get home, I'll see if I can find a clip to link to)
posted by Afroblanco at 2:58 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
He'd kill us if he got the chance.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 3:03 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
DONNA IS STILL MY FAVORITE COMPANION AND BURN ALL THE SINNERS WHO SAY OTHERWISE
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
I think you both misspelled "Leela", the actual best companion.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:04 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yo, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but I just got to say that 2nd Romana was the best companion of all time (and space).
I think you both misspelled "Leela", the actual best companion.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:04 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
DONNA IS STILL MY FAVORITE COMPANION AND BURN ALL THE SINNERS WHO SAY OTHERWISE
Unfortunately, the link you used to try & prove your point wasn't Donna, but Doctordonna.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:09 PM on May 15, 2012
Unfortunately, the link you used to try & prove your point wasn't Donna, but Doctordonna.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:09 PM on May 15, 2012
I like it when Leela wants to hurt people, but the Doctor won't let her.
posted by Artw at 3:13 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 3:13 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Rocket Surgeon: "I think Fringe took a turn for the better when they decided that they would take a page from the Dr Who playbook and decide that they could retcon the show whenever they feel like it."
Yeah, I'm still a bit amazed that they managed to pull that off as well as they did.
Seems to be a new trick in JJ Abrams' playbook, considering he also invented a plausible way to do the same thing for Star Trek. Sadly, he was never able to prevent Lost from turning into a convoluted mess.
I'm glad the show's getting closure (it was just renewed for a final half-season), but I really wish that shows like Fringe and Lost knew about their end dates far in advance.
Dollhouse turned from a decent show (that was beginning to fall into a rut) into an absolutely fantastic show, once the showrunners knew that the show would last exactly two seasons (before the first season concluded). They gave the show a cohesive arc with a distinct and satisfying beginning, middle, and end. Very few shows can make that claim.
posted by schmod at 3:18 PM on May 15, 2012
Yeah, I'm still a bit amazed that they managed to pull that off as well as they did.
Seems to be a new trick in JJ Abrams' playbook, considering he also invented a plausible way to do the same thing for Star Trek. Sadly, he was never able to prevent Lost from turning into a convoluted mess.
I'm glad the show's getting closure (it was just renewed for a final half-season), but I really wish that shows like Fringe and Lost knew about their end dates far in advance.
Dollhouse turned from a decent show (that was beginning to fall into a rut) into an absolutely fantastic show, once the showrunners knew that the show would last exactly two seasons (before the first season concluded). They gave the show a cohesive arc with a distinct and satisfying beginning, middle, and end. Very few shows can make that claim.
posted by schmod at 3:18 PM on May 15, 2012
The Doctor-Donna is just proof of Catherine Tate's amazingness.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 3:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 3:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Peri was definitely the best oneforthedadstastic companion evah. Though Leela comes close.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:19 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I get the impression they are not pulling Fringe out of the asses nearly as much as Lost - the discussion at the start of Lost was almost literally "We should have a hatch!" "why?" "who cares, figure it out next season."
posted by Artw at 3:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 3:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, the link you used to try & prove your point wasn't Donna, but Doctordonna.
Then how about this clip, excusing the crappy quality?
posted by Lucinda at 3:28 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Then how about this clip, excusing the crappy quality?
posted by Lucinda at 3:28 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Whoever said this, wayyyyyy up there -- I don't think she's reading off a cue card? I think that she was reading a question off a computer screen.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:33 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:33 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sadly, he was never able to prevent Lost from turning into a convoluted mess.
Y'know, I never watched Lost when it was on, and last weekend finished watching the whole series in less than three months in a kind of crazed orgy fuelled by Canadian Netflix.
While I can kind of get the criticism if I try to imagine what it would be like to watch it week by week, as a quickly consumed whole, it pretty much hangs together. Yes, there's a lot of weird stuff that flies off around the edges, never to be resolved, but it actually worked for me in this context.
Messy? Sure, but ambitious as hell and again -- if you look at it as a 128-hour movie with an oddball twist in the last act -- it ain't so bad.
posted by Shepherd at 4:05 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
Y'know, I never watched Lost when it was on, and last weekend finished watching the whole series in less than three months in a kind of crazed orgy fuelled by Canadian Netflix.
While I can kind of get the criticism if I try to imagine what it would be like to watch it week by week, as a quickly consumed whole, it pretty much hangs together. Yes, there's a lot of weird stuff that flies off around the edges, never to be resolved, but it actually worked for me in this context.
Messy? Sure, but ambitious as hell and again -- if you look at it as a 128-hour movie with an oddball twist in the last act -- it ain't so bad.
posted by Shepherd at 4:05 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]
I hear the new girl is a former reporter who's assigned to UNIT by the Brigadier to help the Doctor fight space monsters.
We're not that many serials away, in our tour of classic Who, from the introduction of Sarah Jane Smith. What's that you say, a new series coming up? With Tom Baker as the Doctor? I can't even imagine how that will work, he'll never catch on.
posted by JHarris at 4:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
We're not that many serials away, in our tour of classic Who, from the introduction of Sarah Jane Smith. What's that you say, a new series coming up? With Tom Baker as the Doctor? I can't even imagine how that will work, he'll never catch on.
posted by JHarris at 4:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think you both misspelled "Leela", the actual best companion.
I've now seen every classic Who episode up to the Colin Baker years, and a bit of him and Silvester McCoy as well. My favorites, maybe surprisingly, are Ian, Barbara, and poor forgotten Susan, the original three. The Doctor was a lot more of a jerk in the old days, as someone else here said, and by gum he was right, he largely absorbed his concern over the fate of others from Ian and Barbera. And I'm still hoping Susan comes back some day. Her reunion with her grandfather is long overdue.
But the Brig (one of the few companion-like characters who could stand up to the Doctor), Jamie (TIME-TRAVELING SPACE SCOTSMAN), K9 ("Who's a little tin doggie then?" "YOUR SILLINESS HAS BEEN NOTED."), Liz (could almost hold her own with the Doctor scientifically), Sarah Jane (longevity), Leela (rowr!), Romana (the Doctor's equal in many ways, and fun), and Tegan (the underdog) are also interesting. (Lights candles for Adric and Dodo.)
posted by JHarris at 4:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
I've now seen every classic Who episode up to the Colin Baker years, and a bit of him and Silvester McCoy as well. My favorites, maybe surprisingly, are Ian, Barbara, and poor forgotten Susan, the original three. The Doctor was a lot more of a jerk in the old days, as someone else here said, and by gum he was right, he largely absorbed his concern over the fate of others from Ian and Barbera. And I'm still hoping Susan comes back some day. Her reunion with her grandfather is long overdue.
But the Brig (one of the few companion-like characters who could stand up to the Doctor), Jamie (TIME-TRAVELING SPACE SCOTSMAN), K9 ("Who's a little tin doggie then?" "YOUR SILLINESS HAS BEEN NOTED."), Liz (could almost hold her own with the Doctor scientifically), Sarah Jane (longevity), Leela (rowr!), Romana (the Doctor's equal in many ways, and fun), and Tegan (the underdog) are also interesting. (Lights candles for Adric and Dodo.)
posted by JHarris at 4:26 PM on May 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
(Every SURVIVING episode, I should say. Many don't survive. Which is a shame because Patrick Troughton is great.)
posted by JHarris at 4:29 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 4:29 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think we can all agree that Turlough was the worst companion.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:33 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:33 PM on May 15, 2012
I think we can all agree that Turlough was the worst companion.
What!? Adric is THE worse companion... I cheered when he died. Cheered!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:42 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
What!? Adric is THE worse companion... I cheered when he died. Cheered!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:42 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but he took some Cybermen with him. That's got to be worth something, right?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:43 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:43 PM on May 15, 2012
Turlough, the Joffery of companions.
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on May 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
i think i first learned of her leaving on craig ferguson. i take in a lot of british media, so i've heard a lot about it there (i mean, she brought it up back in january on graham norton - if anything, it's old news), but it's been pretty heavily mentioned in the US as well.
posted by nadawi at 5:14 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by nadawi at 5:14 PM on May 15, 2012
Am I the only one who has Karen Gillian / Amy Pond on that short list of "oh yes, that actor playing that character = swoon, rawr....but that same actor out of character, in an interview = erm, nothanks gottagobyenowmydogsonfire"?
Don't get me wrong, as a Companion she's brilliant (and dead sexy, especially when she's flirting with alternate versions of herself); but whenever I see interview footage I can't help thinking that if I met her IRL I'd end up asking her if she's lost her caregiver or something.
Which, come to think of it, if they were going to put her up against Abed at an Inspector Spacetime convention......
posted by bartleby at 5:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Don't get me wrong, as a Companion she's brilliant (and dead sexy, especially when she's flirting with alternate versions of herself); but whenever I see interview footage I can't help thinking that if I met her IRL I'd end up asking her if she's lost her caregiver or something.
Which, come to think of it, if they were going to put her up against Abed at an Inspector Spacetime convention......
posted by bartleby at 5:16 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
SPOILER ALERT
Matt Smith's character, the Doctor, will be "killed" and then a new actor will take his place as the Doctor. It happens every few years, so be on the lookout for that one.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 5:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [9 favorites]
Matt Smith's character, the Doctor, will be "killed" and then a new actor will take his place as the Doctor. It happens every few years, so be on the lookout for that one.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 5:21 PM on May 15, 2012 [9 favorites]
Keiron Gillen is the new Master.
posted by Artw at 5:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 5:24 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would still like a full explanation of how Alison Brie manages to be in Mad Men and Community without cheat codes.
Here.
posted by St. Sorryass at 6:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Here.
posted by St. Sorryass at 6:12 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think we can all agree that Turlough was the worst companion.
I'd go with Rose.
I'll be excited when they jettison all the writers again in hopes that the series will be good again. I can't believe how horrible Moffat has become. His last Sherlocks were terrible too. I look forward to his last episode.
posted by juiceCake at 6:37 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'd go with Rose.
I'll be excited when they jettison all the writers again in hopes that the series will be good again. I can't believe how horrible Moffat has become. His last Sherlocks were terrible too. I look forward to his last episode.
posted by juiceCake at 6:37 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
I thought Rose was alright, but she did retroactively suck due to Ghost of Rose stinking up the place.
"Shall we go have a fun adventure, Doctor?"
"Did I ever tell you about Rose, Martha? Rose... Oh, Rose... Rose, Rose, Rose. *Blubber*"
posted by Artw at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
"Shall we go have a fun adventure, Doctor?"
"Did I ever tell you about Rose, Martha? Rose... Oh, Rose... Rose, Rose, Rose. *Blubber*"
posted by Artw at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
Also: come on people, Bonnie fucking Langford.
posted by Artw at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Double come on people, Adam from those two season 1 episodes. Annnnnd SPIKE.
posted by greenland at 7:16 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by greenland at 7:16 PM on May 15, 2012
I will put in my humble vote that the best companion ever (okay fine not ever but at least in the new series) is Rory Williams.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:29 PM on May 15, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 7:29 PM on May 15, 2012 [11 favorites]
shakespeherian: "I would still like a full explanation of how Alison Brie manages to be in Mad Men and Community without cheat codes."
Harmon Harmon, Weiner Weiner, Winger Winger, Campbell Campbell, Pudi, Glover
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:52 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Harmon Harmon, Weiner Weiner, Winger Winger, Campbell Campbell, Pudi, Glover
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:52 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Am I the only one who really dislikes Amy as a companion? Little Amelia was fantastic but Amy is a (very pretty) shrieking harridan 95% of the time. I don't blame the actress, just Moffatt for that, mind you.
posted by peppermind at 8:05 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 8:05 PM on May 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Harmon Harmon, Weiner Weiner, Winger Winger, Campbell, Pudi, Glover
Basic bitches wear that shit so I don't even botha
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:17 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Basic bitches wear that shit so I don't even botha
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:17 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
To make myself clearer, Rory starts off much like Mickey - the tin dog. He's an obstacle in the path of Amy and The Doctor having fun throughout all space and time together. By the end of what we've seen, Rory is the only companion (in the new series) whose trust and friendship The Doctor has had to fight for and win the Hard Way.
Because he's not there for The Doctor. Because he doubts The Doctor. Because, while he might not be as smart as The Doctor, he has in fact lived twice as long and is much wiser and kinder. Because, in short, he is the better man.
Many companions have been morally better than The Doctor, of course, but Rory cuts short the sexual tension which plays in that normal dynamic. As such, he provides a mirror in which The Doctor sees his own failings, and becomes the only companion The Doctor tries to live up to, rather than the other way around, in my opinion.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:35 PM on May 15, 2012 [19 favorites]
Because he's not there for The Doctor. Because he doubts The Doctor. Because, while he might not be as smart as The Doctor, he has in fact lived twice as long and is much wiser and kinder. Because, in short, he is the better man.
Many companions have been morally better than The Doctor, of course, but Rory cuts short the sexual tension which plays in that normal dynamic. As such, he provides a mirror in which The Doctor sees his own failings, and becomes the only companion The Doctor tries to live up to, rather than the other way around, in my opinion.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:35 PM on May 15, 2012 [19 favorites]
Poor old Mickey. I'm actually quite fond of him.
posted by Artw at 8:37 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:37 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
The best companion will be whatever companion the first lady Doctor has.
Oh, this was such a tease. (Link should go to 17:00.) What might have been.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, this was such a tease. (Link should go to 17:00.) What might have been.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:39 PM on May 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
(Rather, 18:00. The embedded version appears to start at the beginning)
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:41 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:41 PM on May 15, 2012
JHarris: Barbara is definitely another of my favorite companions (probably number two on my list). She quickly grew accustomed to dangerous situations, was comfortable creating and going through with plans without the Doctor's assistance, and proved herself a very good negotiator in a few episodes. She and Ian were much more independent than most of the later companions.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:01 PM on May 15, 2012
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:01 PM on May 15, 2012
Captain Jack Harkness made a couple of trips with the Doctor, so my vote is for him.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 12:54 AM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 12:54 AM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Another thing about Ian and Barbera is they had a more realistic reason for travelling with the Doctor than most of the other companions -- they didn't have a choice, the Doctor kidnapped them to maintain his and Susan's secret. How many people choose to be put in frequent mortal danger time after time? Soldiers, sure, but they're at least getting paid for it, and they have a much less tremendous variety of danger that they're exposted to. The Doctor's companions frequently get locked up, knocked out, kidnapped, hypnotised, not to mention belittled.
It took Ian and Barbera a few serials to warm up to the old coot too. The first serial had the Doctor almost murder a caveman in cold blood to remove a hinderance to their leaving prehistoric Earth. In the second, such is his zeal to explore the "dead" alien city that he pretends the TARDIS is broken so they'll have to go there to find mercury for the "fluid link." I wonder if there's any mercury behind this door? OH, HELLO MISTER DALEK. He's not shy about wanting to abandon Barbera, either.
But then, I actually liked the historical serials, so what do I know.
posted by JHarris at 1:07 AM on May 16, 2012 [4 favorites]
It took Ian and Barbera a few serials to warm up to the old coot too. The first serial had the Doctor almost murder a caveman in cold blood to remove a hinderance to their leaving prehistoric Earth. In the second, such is his zeal to explore the "dead" alien city that he pretends the TARDIS is broken so they'll have to go there to find mercury for the "fluid link." I wonder if there's any mercury behind this door? OH, HELLO MISTER DALEK. He's not shy about wanting to abandon Barbera, either.
But then, I actually liked the historical serials, so what do I know.
posted by JHarris at 1:07 AM on May 16, 2012 [4 favorites]
but got distracted by Hollywood and just wound up trying to be wacky in clever ways
I think it got distracted by twitter and the fans. I mean, Community is certainly not doing stuff that the network is suggesting nowadays. Sometimes direct contact between the creator and the fans is not a good thing, since fans fucking love in-jokes way more than they should.
posted by smackfu at 6:15 AM on May 16, 2012
I think it got distracted by twitter and the fans. I mean, Community is certainly not doing stuff that the network is suggesting nowadays. Sometimes direct contact between the creator and the fans is not a good thing, since fans fucking love in-jokes way more than they should.
posted by smackfu at 6:15 AM on May 16, 2012
I think they should bring back Ian, while William Russell is still alive.
It's my dream.
Also: come on people, Bonnie fucking Langford.
Who turned out to be okay. In the audios. The One Doctor is a fave.
Which doesn't erase "carrot juice" from anyone's ears.
posted by Mezentian at 6:46 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's my dream.
Also: come on people, Bonnie fucking Langford.
Who turned out to be okay. In the audios. The One Doctor is a fave.
Which doesn't erase "carrot juice" from anyone's ears.
posted by Mezentian at 6:46 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Captain Jack Harkness made a couple of trips with the Doctor, so my vote is for him
The Who version of him was certainly a lot more fun than the dour Torchwood one.
posted by Artw at 7:05 AM on May 16, 2012
The Who version of him was certainly a lot more fun than the dour Torchwood one.
posted by Artw at 7:05 AM on May 16, 2012
This just in: Moffat actively tries to frustrate his audience.
posted by jbickers at 7:12 AM on May 16, 2012
posted by jbickers at 7:12 AM on May 16, 2012
See also: River.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:15 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:15 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
This just in: Moffat actively tries to frustrate his audience.
If there's not already a term in showbiz or in management-speak for promising what you've already delivered, can I nominate "Moffatting"?
posted by gauche at 7:16 AM on May 16, 2012
If there's not already a term in showbiz or in management-speak for promising what you've already delivered, can I nominate "Moffatting"?
posted by gauche at 7:16 AM on May 16, 2012
See also: River.
See, I like what Moffat has been doing with Sherlock, where each series ends with an inscrutable cliffhanger. The cliffhangers aren't even that frustrating. At the end of Series One, you know that Sherlock has the upper hand, you're just not sure how, and the same goes for the end of Series Two. It's a canny way to always keep the show fresh. No matter which season is the final one, there will always seem like more to the story.
River, on the other hand, was ultimately a case of taking a fun, mysterious character and flattening her out with too much overexplanation and oversaturation. They never should have resolved River's story within Moffat's tenure. The result felt inorganic and forced, like Michael Scott doing improv.
The worst part is that River's story ultimately took away her agency as a character. It had been intriguingly bad-ass that she had gone to prison for having killed "the best man" she ever knew, especially since it perfectly suited their topsy-turvy romance. What a great story card to keep in your deck, up your sleeve! You could keep that one simmering for years! There were so many different ways, and reasons, to have River kill that "best man." You could even have River kill the Doctor for all the best reasons.
But, no. Instead, we get River having been brainwashed as a little kid into killing the Doctor, plus the suit is controlling her actions besides, and then River tries to even get around that, but that just screws up the universe, so then she "kills" the Doctor, but it turns out to have been a trick all along.
Thhbbbt. Not only did she not actually kill the Doctor, she lacked even the motive and the mens rea to have done so. So, why did she keep herself in prison? Just because she had thought for years that she actually had killed the Doctor, even though she hadn't?
River should have just kept on regenerating, letting successive plotlines define her in a piecemeal and purposefully incomplete way. You know - like what they've been doing with the Doctor over the past few decades.
(Sidenote: I've just started reading Lord Jim, and in the outlines of that story, I think there's a better way to have dealt with River's crime. What if she really had killed the Doctor, not through act, but through cowardly and/or craven omission? What if, in prison and beyond, she had spent years and years trying to atone for this crime, only to have that process turn her from a coward into a hero? So then, much later, as a hero, she winds up crossing paths with the Doctor again, and they fall in love with one another...the irony being that the only reason that she's a larger-than-life hero who would attract the Doctor's attention is because she both already has, and in a sense inevitably will, betray him?)
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:32 AM on May 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
See, I like what Moffat has been doing with Sherlock, where each series ends with an inscrutable cliffhanger. The cliffhangers aren't even that frustrating. At the end of Series One, you know that Sherlock has the upper hand, you're just not sure how, and the same goes for the end of Series Two. It's a canny way to always keep the show fresh. No matter which season is the final one, there will always seem like more to the story.
River, on the other hand, was ultimately a case of taking a fun, mysterious character and flattening her out with too much overexplanation and oversaturation. They never should have resolved River's story within Moffat's tenure. The result felt inorganic and forced, like Michael Scott doing improv.
The worst part is that River's story ultimately took away her agency as a character. It had been intriguingly bad-ass that she had gone to prison for having killed "the best man" she ever knew, especially since it perfectly suited their topsy-turvy romance. What a great story card to keep in your deck, up your sleeve! You could keep that one simmering for years! There were so many different ways, and reasons, to have River kill that "best man." You could even have River kill the Doctor for all the best reasons.
But, no. Instead, we get River having been brainwashed as a little kid into killing the Doctor, plus the suit is controlling her actions besides, and then River tries to even get around that, but that just screws up the universe, so then she "kills" the Doctor, but it turns out to have been a trick all along.
Thhbbbt. Not only did she not actually kill the Doctor, she lacked even the motive and the mens rea to have done so. So, why did she keep herself in prison? Just because she had thought for years that she actually had killed the Doctor, even though she hadn't?
River should have just kept on regenerating, letting successive plotlines define her in a piecemeal and purposefully incomplete way. You know - like what they've been doing with the Doctor over the past few decades.
(Sidenote: I've just started reading Lord Jim, and in the outlines of that story, I think there's a better way to have dealt with River's crime. What if she really had killed the Doctor, not through act, but through cowardly and/or craven omission? What if, in prison and beyond, she had spent years and years trying to atone for this crime, only to have that process turn her from a coward into a hero? So then, much later, as a hero, she winds up crossing paths with the Doctor again, and they fall in love with one another...the irony being that the only reason that she's a larger-than-life hero who would attract the Doctor's attention is because she both already has, and in a sense inevitably will, betray him?)
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:32 AM on May 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
Also: come on people, Bonnie fucking Langford.
Boonie was a trooper! 'voice that could strip glass' Tegan was much much worse
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:09 AM on May 16, 2012
Boonie was a trooper! 'voice that could strip glass' Tegan was much much worse
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:09 AM on May 16, 2012
Rocket Surgeon: "Captain Jack Harkness made a couple of trips with the Doctor, so my vote is for him."
They missed a golden opportunity to have the greatest opening credits sequence ever in that episode where he travels to the end of the universe on the outside of the Tardis.
posted by zarq at 9:23 AM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
They missed a golden opportunity to have the greatest opening credits sequence ever in that episode where he travels to the end of the universe on the outside of the Tardis.
posted by zarq at 9:23 AM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
I was hoping for quite a while that the "best man" River killed was actually Rory. And I'm not a huge Rory fan, but still.
posted by jeather at 9:37 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jeather at 9:37 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
While we're on the subject of Doctor Who, I should mention that I saw John Simm as the Master before seeing Life On Mars.
I can't see those episodes now without hearing Gene Hunt yelling "TYLER! Stop poncin' about with that Gallifreyan poof and get in the car!"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:21 AM on May 16, 2012
I can't see those episodes now without hearing Gene Hunt yelling "TYLER! Stop poncin' about with that Gallifreyan poof and get in the car!"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:21 AM on May 16, 2012
This just in: Moffat actively tries to frustrate his audience.
I'd prefer if he concentrated on good stories. Of the second series I really only liked Belgravia; the others don't really come off. And by continuing to try to top himself he seems to be going down the Russell T. Davies path.
But my annoyance with him really started when he fucked up his own "Blink" legacy by screwing up the angels. God damn it, four thousand angels aren't nearly as scary as four were in the original -- call this the "Aliens vs. Alien effect" -- and they can fucking see each other all the time!
Normally when you shout at the screen during a scary TV show it's to say "no, don't go in there!" to the characters, not "what the fuck did you just do??" to the writer and showrunner.
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:39 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'd prefer if he concentrated on good stories. Of the second series I really only liked Belgravia; the others don't really come off. And by continuing to try to top himself he seems to be going down the Russell T. Davies path.
But my annoyance with him really started when he fucked up his own "Blink" legacy by screwing up the angels. God damn it, four thousand angels aren't nearly as scary as four were in the original -- call this the "Aliens vs. Alien effect" -- and they can fucking see each other all the time!
Normally when you shout at the screen during a scary TV show it's to say "no, don't go in there!" to the characters, not "what the fuck did you just do??" to the writer and showrunner.
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:39 AM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Double come on people, Adam from those two season 1 episodes. Annnnnd SPIKE.
If we can stretch that much to people who have adventures with the Doctor from time to time then the worst for me is absolutely River Song.
... by continuing to try to top himself he seems to be going down the Russell T. Davies path.
He's already solidly on it and running along it no less. I had hoped he'd not go down that road since it is such an awful road and his earlier stories when RTD was the lead stood out as far superior in terms of writing. It's the road of awful stories and big, biG, bIG, BIG!!!! It reminds me of potential lost. That he's winning awards for it will only reinforce it. It's as if RTD never left.
posted by juiceCake at 1:15 PM on May 16, 2012
If we can stretch that much to people who have adventures with the Doctor from time to time then the worst for me is absolutely River Song.
... by continuing to try to top himself he seems to be going down the Russell T. Davies path.
He's already solidly on it and running along it no less. I had hoped he'd not go down that road since it is such an awful road and his earlier stories when RTD was the lead stood out as far superior in terms of writing. It's the road of awful stories and big, biG, bIG, BIG!!!! It reminds me of potential lost. That he's winning awards for it will only reinforce it. It's as if RTD never left.
posted by juiceCake at 1:15 PM on May 16, 2012
Heh.
Thoroughly enjoyed the last season of Who, though having a season-long story defiantly ran into the common problem of shows that rely on arcs - episodes that do not feed into it ending up feeling out of place.
RTD never ran into that of because because "there is an anagram!" is not a story.
That said, the last Christmas one was super weak and a compilation of Moffat cliches to boot.
posted by Artw at 1:23 PM on May 16, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed the last season of Who, though having a season-long story defiantly ran into the common problem of shows that rely on arcs - episodes that do not feed into it ending up feeling out of place.
RTD never ran into that of because because "there is an anagram!" is not a story.
That said, the last Christmas one was super weak and a compilation of Moffat cliches to boot.
posted by Artw at 1:23 PM on May 16, 2012
I stopped watching the last season at the break. Didn't really work as intended, did it BBC?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:34 PM on May 16, 2012
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:34 PM on May 16, 2012
That said, the last Christmas one was super weak and a compilation of Moffat cliches to boot.
I wonder if there are starting to regret doing Christmassy themed Christmas episodes as they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel now. Though I liked a friends suggestion of 'Morecome and Wise... in space!'... they should do a Bond film*
Moffat has his problems but I think he's a better writer than RTD esp for those big end of season eps. I wa
*Reference for Brits of a certain age, all others move on, nothing to see
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:57 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wonder if there are starting to regret doing Christmassy themed Christmas episodes as they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel now. Though I liked a friends suggestion of 'Morecome and Wise... in space!'... they should do a Bond film*
Moffat has his problems but I think he's a better writer than RTD esp for those big end of season eps. I wa
*Reference for Brits of a certain age, all others move on, nothing to see
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:57 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Moffat has his problems but I think he's a better writer than RTD esp for those big end of season eps. I wa
Damn, hit post by accident... anyway: I was close to quitting during the end of RTD's era (though that was particaly down to the indulgent Timmy Malletisms of Tennant)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:00 PM on May 16, 2012
Damn, hit post by accident... anyway: I was close to quitting during the end of RTD's era (though that was particaly down to the indulgent Timmy Malletisms of Tennant)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:00 PM on May 16, 2012
Well, I loved the Dickens one, Narnia one should in theory have been fun but didn't work, but a Bond one would be great. I'm going to start lobbying for New Years or Easter specials themed on 20000 Leagues Under The Sea or 2001 A Space Odessey.
posted by Artw at 4:17 PM on May 16, 2012
posted by Artw at 4:17 PM on May 16, 2012
Also they could do with rotating out some of the, um, less good non-Moffat writers for folk outside of the usual talent pool - making a Gaiman episode a regular occurrence would be great.
posted by Artw at 4:21 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 4:21 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
If they did a Grant Morrison episode, I'd do backflips.
It'd be interesting to adapt some of the better audio adventures, but there might be a rule, formal or informal, that it wouldn't be good form to treat audio adventures like Doctor Who Minor Leagues.
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:23 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
It'd be interesting to adapt some of the better audio adventures, but there might be a rule, formal or informal, that it wouldn't be good form to treat audio adventures like Doctor Who Minor Leagues.
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:23 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well there's definatly prescrdents - a number of the better episodes come from prose stories, and on even comes from a DWM comic - licensing might be different though.
As I've said before Spare Parts is much better than anything they've actually done with cybermen in the new show, but might be a little too close and/or conflict with the alt. Earth cybermen story in that it's an origin story.
posted by Artw at 4:54 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
As I've said before Spare Parts is much better than anything they've actually done with cybermen in the new show, but might be a little too close and/or conflict with the alt. Earth cybermen story in that it's an origin story.
posted by Artw at 4:54 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, and come to think of it, Dalek is a remake of the audio story Jubilee.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:16 PM on May 16, 2012
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:16 PM on May 16, 2012
Sticherbeast: "If they did a Grant Morrison episode, I'd do backflips."
If they did a Grant Morrison episode, I'd smoke a brick first to prepare.
posted by charred husk at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2012
If they did a Grant Morrison episode, I'd smoke a brick first to prepare.
posted by charred husk at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2012
FYI, folks, Community wraps up Season 3 with three episodes tonight! (One at regular time, two following 30 Rock).
posted by Atreides at 2:55 PM on May 17, 2012
posted by Atreides at 2:55 PM on May 17, 2012
they could do with rotating out some of the, um, less good non-Moffat writers
I'm assuming Chris Chibnall has incriminating evidence on someone important at the BBC, as it's the only way to explain his persistent hiring.
This isn't the sort of thing I normally say, but they could do with hiring someone who didn't come from the white-middle-aged-man demographic - I don't have a problem with that demographic, it's my demographic, I feel at home there, but it would be interesting to get a more diverse pool going, even if the demands of the series mean they can't do any more than join the dots stylishly. Damned if I can think of anyone appropriate (British, I assume, with at least a sympathy for the classic series) outside that demo, though.
posted by Grangousier at 3:39 PM on May 17, 2012
I'm assuming Chris Chibnall has incriminating evidence on someone important at the BBC, as it's the only way to explain his persistent hiring.
This isn't the sort of thing I normally say, but they could do with hiring someone who didn't come from the white-middle-aged-man demographic - I don't have a problem with that demographic, it's my demographic, I feel at home there, but it would be interesting to get a more diverse pool going, even if the demands of the series mean they can't do any more than join the dots stylishly. Damned if I can think of anyone appropriate (British, I assume, with at least a sympathy for the classic series) outside that demo, though.
posted by Grangousier at 3:39 PM on May 17, 2012
More Dr Who Crossover brilliance from Community.
posted by Talez at 12:31 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Talez at 12:31 AM on May 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Grant Morrison?
What, does Pat Mills get no love here?
Pat. Mills.
Can you imagine it?
(You can, sorta, imagine it if you hunt out Song Of The Space Whale).
And, if anyone is interested (and I know you are if you're still here), rumour has it that a Doctor Who mini-episode will reportedly air around the time of the Olympics. (I did see a date of May 24 but I doubt that).
The episode will reportedly be Olympics-themed. I hope they do a Fear Her cross-over.
That would be awesome.
posted by Mezentian at 3:13 AM on May 18, 2012
What, does Pat Mills get no love here?
Pat. Mills.
Can you imagine it?
(You can, sorta, imagine it if you hunt out Song Of The Space Whale).
And, if anyone is interested (and I know you are if you're still here), rumour has it that a Doctor Who mini-episode will reportedly air around the time of the Olympics. (I did see a date of May 24 but I doubt that).
The episode will reportedly be Olympics-themed. I hope they do a Fear Her cross-over.
That would be awesome.
posted by Mezentian at 3:13 AM on May 18, 2012
Of the 6 new episodes airing in 2012 there will be 2 by Chibnall...
Oh, and the guy who did the awful pirates episode is coming back.
On the plus side Gatiss and Toby Whithouse both have episodes.
posted by Artw at 5:56 AM on May 18, 2012
Oh, and the guy who did the awful pirates episode is coming back.
On the plus side Gatiss and Toby Whithouse both have episodes.
posted by Artw at 5:56 AM on May 18, 2012
First episode of the new series will premier* at the Edinburgh TV Festival (23-25 August). The same thing happened last year and they showed the ep on TV the next day... don't know if that is going to happen again
*Don't click on the link if you don't want to know what the staring monster will be
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:19 AM on May 18, 2012
*Don't click on the link if you don't want to know what the staring monster will be
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:19 AM on May 18, 2012
More Dr Who Crossover brilliance from Community.
I dunno if that was entirely meant to be a Dr. Who nod of the head. My first reaction to it was the closing scene in Lost in Translation. Indeed, Troy tells the study group that Abed "hated it when they did that in movies."
posted by Atreides at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2012
I dunno if that was entirely meant to be a Dr. Who nod of the head. My first reaction to it was the closing scene in Lost in Translation. Indeed, Troy tells the study group that Abed "hated it when they did that in movies."
posted by Atreides at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2012
adios dan harmon. Maybe they will get Stephen Moffat to replace him?
posted by rebent at 8:39 PM on May 18, 2012
posted by rebent at 8:39 PM on May 18, 2012
Adios dan harmon?
Way to ruin my day, man.
Chibnall's not awful. '42' was brisk if not one of the best episodes, but his Torchwood efforts were some of the better ones (and some of the worst -- but I liked Countrycide).
In DW The Hungry Earth was just full of padding.
posted by Mezentian at 12:48 AM on May 19, 2012
Way to ruin my day, man.
Chibnall's not awful. '42' was brisk if not one of the best episodes, but his Torchwood efforts were some of the better ones (and some of the worst -- but I liked Countrycide).
In DW The Hungry Earth was just full of padding.
posted by Mezentian at 12:48 AM on May 19, 2012
Dan Harmon responds - HEY, DID I MISS ANYTHING?
posted by the_artificer at 1:09 AM on May 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by the_artificer at 1:09 AM on May 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is a Changtasrophe!
We need a Deanonstation!
It was the best I could do.
But if they're going to turn it into a sorta Big Bang Theory lite, I figure they'll lean heavily on reused jokes.
(But, seriously, if we can save a show can we not save a single job?)
posted by Mezentian at 2:17 AM on May 19, 2012
We need a Deanonstation!
It was the best I could do.
But if they're going to turn it into a sorta Big Bang Theory lite, I figure they'll lean heavily on reused jokes.
(But, seriously, if we can save a show can we not save a single job?)
posted by Mezentian at 2:17 AM on May 19, 2012
With both Dan Harmon and Chris McKenna leaving the show I really hope Megan Ganz sticks around.
posted by the_artificer at 2:46 AM on May 19, 2012
posted by the_artificer at 2:46 AM on May 19, 2012
Blarg. Evil Abed won.
posted by Atreides at 11:05 AM on May 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 11:05 AM on May 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by Talez at 12:49 PM on May 15, 2012 [7 favorites]