Comments on: The Who we never knew

The Who we never knew

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:39:46 -0800

The Russell T. Davis papers – As he prepares to leave the role of Doctor Who show runner (previously) he's releasing a book of email exchanges with Doctor Who Magazine writer Benjamin Cook about his time on the longstanding British SF series, revealing the younger face of Who he's like to see, and plans for a Doctor Who/Harry Potter crossover which never materialized.

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:42:57 -0800

These days I actually kind of secretly prefer Primeval.

By: East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:47:11 -0800

Surprisingly influential for a runner :)

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:52:40 -0800

*cough*

By: Shepherd

Shepherd — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:53:43 -0800

I still think Tilda Swinton was one of the best ideas I've ever heard.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:54:41 -0800

Doctor Who/Harry Potter crossover It's the Velveteen Rabbit of fanfic - loved so much it becomes real. Except no one loved it so it's not real.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:55:04 -0800

I don't think that Potter and Davis' the Doctor could really exist in the same universe easily. Whenever "magic" is introduced into the current series, it always ends up being some sort of high technology, and that would really undercut the storyline to the Potter world. I could think of ways that it could be done, but I'm glad it wasn't. Davis' book sounds interesting; I'm always a fan of learning about the process that go into the shows that I enjoy. I'd been hearing rumors that Eddie Izzard had expressed an interest in the role of the next Doctor, and while I ultimately think that he's too big and well known to really be an appropriate choice, I was loving the idea of having him, at some point in one of his episodes, walk out onto a planet, stick a flag into the ground, and then get back in the TARDIS and never explain why he did it.

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:04:06 -0800

I still think Tilda Swinton was one of the best ideas I've ever heard. Me too. Pretty much the only thing vaguely interesting about Constantine.

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:17:45 -0800

Steven Moffat on writing Whenever "magic" is introduced into the current series, it always ends up being some sort of high technology, and that would really undercut the storyline to the Potter world. I dunno, sufficiently hand-wavy technology is indistinguishable from magic, and the RTD Who has always been based more on the idea that glowing lights have magical properties than any actual hard science.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:20:10 -0800

Yeah, sadly Primeval is what (with the possible exception of the odd Moffat ep and a few others) I really hoped new Who would have been like. Fun, half-decent effects, not taking itself too serious, 'dad companions', but actually character development and plots that aren't resolved by magic pixy dust. That said it feels kind of weird to be heading into Autumn with no Who to watch. Merlin looks a poor substitute. Oh the Rowling idea was clearly bonkers... they should have got Pretty much the only thing vaguely interesting about Constantine. Satan, wasnt bad... though year Tilda would rock in Who

By: panboi

panboi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:43:00 -0800

I didn't read the JK Rowling idea as a Harry Potter crossover as such. It was Rowling as a guest star, which is a big difference. I can see it as a logical progression from the likes of Shakespeare, Dickens and Agatha Christie as "guest" stars, but I can also see it as being a little too clever for its own good. The problem with Dr Who is that they keep raising the bar and every subsequent series has to top the last. A few non-starters of episodes aside, I think they're doing pretty good so far but those end-of-series spectaculars are going to really have to work for their money now.

By: kittens for breakfast

kittens for breakfast — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:07:52 -0800

I didn't read the JK Rowling idea as a Harry Potter crossover as such. It was Rowling as a guest star, which is a big difference. I started the article fully expecting to finish it and then open up this thread and find myself defending Davies, who seems to catch more flack than anything else. But then I read the part about J.K. fucking Rowling, and I was all like, "Jesus, fuck off, Russell Davies. What the hell." Seriously, for the first time, I think I really get the hate. I think Davies has done much more good than bad for this show, but...damn, obviously Moffat's not taking over a minute too soon.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:20:32 -0800

I think I really get the hate. Welcome, brother! Welcome!

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:25:49 -0800

Yeah, Davies seems like one of these people that has a fuckton of ideas but can't separate the good ones from the bad. A lot of things he did right but every once in a while he'd write something incredibly stupid and I would get all cringy.

By: bettafish

bettafish — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:56:16 -0800

I would love to see a Doctor who isn't white, personally.

By: droplet

droplet — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:10:33 -0800

What I'd like to see in 2010: No romance, unrequited or otherwise! Please! Rose and Martha going pie-eyed for the Doctor was naff. Besides, it's more fun if the actors have obvious chemistry, like Tom and Lalla, and the script does absolutely nothing with it. It's like no one learns! Every TV serial writer needs to be assigned to watch the last few seasons of Moonlighting as an object lesson of what NOT to do. Yeesh. I prefer cheeky-chappie-but-I'll-kill-you-if-I-have-to Tennant to the "*sniff-sob* I'm in love with a shopgirl, but one day she'll die!" Tennant, and I'm a woman who finds him extremely attractive. Anyway, it's the Doctor, and Earth is a Level 5 planet. There's nothing for him here, if I may paraphrase another show. Older Doctor (at least none younger than 35)! I think the 40-ish Mark Heap, which someone suggested in the comments after the Guardian article, would be an interesting idea. Attractive, funny, but with an edge to him. No bloody Rufus Sewell! Celebrity stunt casting in cameos only! I know she used to be an actress, but now she's KYLIE! and giving her such a big part took a lot away from Voyage of the Damned for me. John Cleese's and Eleanor Bron's brief appearances in City of Death were note-perfect. Might I suggest Bill Bailey? 15-20 seconds of him doing something would be fun. So, Steve! Good luck! Can you get Neil Gaiman to do an episode? Thanks!

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:51:14 -0800

droplet: Might I suggest Bill Bailey? 15-20 seconds of him doing something would be fun. DUDE! BILL BAILEY SHOULD BE THE NEXT DOCTOR! Or Dylan Moran. Then I might just have to switch sexualities. OR! OMG!OMG!OMG! TAMSIN GRIEG AS THE DOCTOR!!!1111!!!oneoneoneone!!!111! I sincerely wish that I was joking more than I actually am

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:01:39 -0800

Bill Baily does Who.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:02:15 -0800

I love Is It Bill Bailey? so much, what a brilliant show.

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:32:41 -0800

I would love to see a Doctor who isn't white, personally. Well, for a black british actor with sci-fi cred (and gay freindly too) there's really one choice. From the roles he's picking up these days I suspect he may have priced himself out of it though. OMG!OMG!OMG! TAMSIN GRIEG AS THE DOCTOR!!! That... would work. She'd be a pretty good Master too.

By: Spatch

Spatch — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:40:52 -0800

Timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly, wandy-wavy... Ugh. Thank you, Stephen Moffat, for saving us from that fate. Granted, in five years' time we'll probably be shoving you out the door as well for some new runner, but right now, WELCOME ABOARD O SAVIOR OF WHO.

By: threeturtles

threeturtles — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:53:54 -0800

Am I the only person who read RTD's description of the JK Rowling episode and thought it sounded kinda awesome? Total crack, obviously, but the kind of crack that Davies could make work? Maybe I've just become addicted to RTD's particular brand of crack. I'm afraid I'm headed into withdrawals.

By: mogget

mogget — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:21:12 -0800

Ooh, artw, he would indeed be an excellent choice.

By: johnasdf

johnasdf — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:18:08 -0800

Moffat wrote BLINK and TIME CRASH, the two episodes that use the phrase "Timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly"...

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:48:46 -0800

Moffat wrote BLINK and TIME CRASH, the two episodes that use the phrase "Timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly"... I'm betting Davis subbed it in...

By: Artw

Artw — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:48:13 -0800

RTD "would do movie"

By: feelinglistless

feelinglistless — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:43:31 -0800

I'm betting Davis subbed it in... Nope, Davies touched narry a word of Moffat's scripts. He didn't even know about River Song until he got the script through. He even admitted in a an interview that he'd happily sit around rewriting the work of every other writer, but Moffat's work is sacred and gold. There's a discussion to be had here about what the scripts looked like before Russell made his 'final pass' but its to be had once Amazon decide to send me The Writer's Take. Incidentally, if you have a log-in, another section's been posted here. It's about the fan reaction and having to council Helen Raynor after she'd read what they thought of her Dalek story: http://www.doctorwhoforum.com/showthread.php?t=201384

By: Artw

Artw — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:45:02 -0800

Interesting - would that make Captain Jack 100% a Moffat creation?

By: Artw

Artw — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:12:37 -0800

Also the doctor who forum stuff is behind a sign in,and IIRC their new user process is horrible and requires the blood fo your firstborn (that could be Outpost Gallifrey I'm thinking of though) – any chance you could do a cut and paste of the relevant bits?

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:22:26 -0800

>He didn't even know about River Song until he got the script through. Be interesting to know if he wrote that before or after he knew he got RTD's gig as that was such a 'future developments' character

By: Artw

Artw — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:16:53 -0800

Lying In The Gutters is predicting Paterson Joseph as the new Who.