Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOILERS)

[Allyn Gibson]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

At least they had enough sense to shoot down the proposed Rose spinoff proposed a few years ago.

The problem with the Rose spin-off is that there wouldn't have been anything that unique about it. It would have been Torchwood (though without the sex and swearing), but with Rose instead of Jack, on an alternate Earth.

A spin-off really needs to establish its own identity. Frasier isn't "Cheers in Seattle," it's its own show, with its own identity. If I were doing a Rose spin-off, I'd change genres entirely; I'd do a "Rose goes to college" sitcom. Maybe she goes to St. Cedd's on that alternate Earth, and one of her professors is Professor Chronotis. (Okay, I admit it's unlikely; would Douglas Adams' estate allow that?)

I also think that the BBC and the Sci-Fi Channel in the US should put their heads together and create a Who spin-off designed for the American market. Something like an Abslom Daak, Dalek Killer series.

 

[Starkers]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

the problem I have with a non regeneration story, is it will lead to the theory that Matt Smith is not really the Doctor

By that logic, because we didn't have a regeneration from McGann to Eccleston, then Eccleston isn't really the Doctor? Or because we didn't have a regeneration from Chris Baker into William Hartnell then Hartnell isn't really the Doctor? But because we had a regeneration from, say, Rowan Atkinson into Richard E. Grant, then Grant is really the Doctor?

To be honest, I see a lot of appeal in starting Matt Smith's era like Eccleston's era. He's been in his body for a while, he's not dealing with the detritus of regeneration, and he's comfortable. There are advantages to starting with a clean break from the past.

The difference is that McGann was an actor who'd played the Doctor about 9 years before and who, fans aside, people didn't know in that role. It would also have been pretty daft to have him on screen for five minutes till he regenerates into Eccleston (how much of the TV movie was wasted in this fashion?) In contrast Tennant has been the Doctor for the last 3/4 years- to people he IS the Doctor, and I fear that if there isn't a definite clear break, then people will always wonder when he's coming back. Why can't we just move on to the next Doctor, are people so nervous about Smith that they wanna be able to bring Tennant back if he's not brilliant?

 

[The]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^I imagine similar discussion were had when Tom was leaving the role back in the early 80's. Just as Baker said in an interview, the show will go on and on. Not to mention, the advantage of Tennant being such a Who fan is that I doubt he would agree to corrupt the concept so much as to "come back" if Smith were to suddenly bomb, you know?

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

 

[Starkers]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^ Yup, but on the up side if you don't like the current Doctor you'll probably like the next one at least

 

[wamdue]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

 

[Messianni]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

You're not really being forced to do anything. This is how Doctor Who has worked for over 40 years; it's nothing new.

 

[Bacl]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^I imagine similar discussion were had when Tom was leaving the role back in the early 80's.

I'm curious where these discussions would have taken place, seeing as the internet wasn't even a gleam in Al Gore's eye.

 

[Messianni]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^I imagine similar discussion were had when Tom was leaving the role back in the early 80's.

I'm curious where these discussions would have taken place, seeing as the internet wasn't even a gleam in Al Gore's eye.

Fanzines, maybe. Mailing lists. Were there Who conventions back then at all?

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I really don't think we should panic. What I think will happen is that the tenth Doctor will meet the eleventh before regenerating into him. It's never really happened before and it means we could have something unique as well as a true passing of the torch moment.

 

[Bacl]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

I think the problem is that a lot of us have an overwhelming sense that they could have used Tennant longer, or produced more with him.

Everyone always refers to how long someone was "The Doctor" in terms of years, but I just look at Tennant and see three 12 episode seasons, and a handful of "specials". I look at that, and at the years between when Season 4 ended and Season 5 shall begin, and can't help but feel we could have gotten 12-24 more episodes with Tennant before it was time to replace him.

And to announce Matt Smith so long before he's to take over, make a big British hype out of it, and them let him hang in the air like this...well, it deflates both Tennant and Smith, and is no wonder some people aren't too jazzed about it.

 

[wamdue]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

You're not really being forced to do anything. This is how Doctor Who has worked for over 40 years; it's nothing new.

this is true, I did always know this day would come, but as it gets closer, I am less & less "ok" about it.

I really don't think we should panic. What I think will happen is that the tenth Doctor will meet the eleventh before regenerating into him. It's never really happened before and it means we could have something unique as well as a true passing of the torch moment.

I would like to see that.

I think the problem is that a lot of us have an overwhelming sense that they could have used Tennant longer, or produced more with him.

And to announce Matt Smith so long before he's to take over, make a big British hype out of it, and them let him hang in the air like this...well, it deflates both Tennant and Smith, and is no wonder some people aren't too jazzed about it.

oh I totally agree, we cold have gotten more out of Tennant, and yeah the Matt Smith announcement was very early, and in such a dramatic way.

 

[Brendan Moody]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think the problem is that a lot of us have an overwhelming sense that they could have used Tennant longer, or produced more with him.

Since he was the one who chose to quit when he did, the only sense in which they could have used him longer is if the BBC Charter has provisions for slave labor.

I look at that, and at the years between when Season 4 ended and Season 5 shall begin, and can't help but feel we could have gotten 12-24 more episodes with Tennant before it was time to replace him.

Even if Tennant had done another series instead of the specials, that would be eight or nine more episodes, not 12-24. And he didn't want to do another full series, so again, there's a roadblock there.

And to announce Matt Smith so long before he's to take over, make a big British hype out of it, and them let him hang in the air like this...well, it deflates both Tennant and Smith

To a couple dozen people on the Internet, maybe. The continuing press coverage of both Doctors and rumored plans for them indicates that public interest is continuing just fine. And the reality is that the media would have found out about Smith and spoiled his casting before too much longer anyway, so it was the BBC's best bet to announce it on their own terms.

 

[The]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^ Yup, but on the up side if you don't like the current Doctor you'll probably like the next one at least

Totally. Thus the inherently simple beauty that lies within the concept we know as "Doctor Who" : Something. For. Everyone.

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

And I feel for you, sincerely. I remember watching Tom fall from the Pharos Project when I was just a child. To be honest, that entire moment is what cemented my love and allegiance to this show. The idea that the main character could, indeed, "die". It was unheard of! Never looked back. You should embrace that idea. While in the modern age we'll know long before it happens, we won't have the incumbent to immediately comfort us. Tom dies and Peter Davison instantly comes along and says "I'm The Doctor". Nowadays, we'll find out our Doctor is "terminally ill", and have to endure the long, excruciating term knowing when the moment is coming. So, you'll need to find a level of comfort in looking forward to something new, or you'll never survive this show post-Tennant.

^I imagine similar discussion were had when Tom was leaving the role back in the early 80's.

I'm curious where these discussions would have taken place, seeing as the internet wasn't even a gleam in Al Gore's eye.

Fanzines, maybe. Mailing lists. Were there Who conventions back then at all?

Oh totally. Understand, I was just a kid back in those days, and haven't been to a Doctor Who convention or anything in my entire life. But, even I knew and read the odd fanzine. Not to mention, I still have the clippings of the USA TODAY newspaper article showcasing the US Doctor Who Tour with Peter Davison, JNT, etc. So, if nothing else, news, gossip, and discussion was out there.

I really don't think we should panic. What I think will happen is that the tenth Doctor will meet the eleventh before regenerating into him. It's never really happened before and it means we could have something unique as well as a true passing of the torch moment.

I've been thinking the same thing, and that would be something very smart of them to do...

 

[Candlelight]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

Oh, I hope he gets shot by a gang in san francisco or something.

 

[Starkers]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think what we're seeing now is something of a reaction of all the new fans realizing the reality behind the concept: enjoy your Doctor while you've got him. He's replaceable within the confines of the show, and will be replaced at some point. It's inevitable...

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

I think the problem is that a lot of us have an overwhelming sense that they could have used Tennant longer, or produced more with him.

Everyone always refers to how long someone was "The Doctor" in terms of years, but I just look at Tennant and see three 12 episode seasons, and a handful of "specials". I look at that, and at the years between when Season 4 ended and Season 5 shall begin, and can't help but feel we could have gotten 12-24 more episodes with Tennant before it was time to replace him.

And to announce Matt Smith so long before he's to take over, make a big British hype out of it, and them let him hang in the air like this...well, it deflates both Tennant and Smith, and is no wonder some people aren't too jazzed about it.

I do agree that the timing was lousy, but as The says it was probably unavoidable...although they could have timed it better if RTD/Tennant's decisions had been delayed maybe? I dunno, but for me Tennant is a dead man walking right now, like a guy on a ventilator which we all know the Doctors are gonna shut off but they aren't going to for ages.

I think it would have been very interesting to see Tennant do one season under Moffat, but frankly another season of Tennant and RTD...I dunno.

I do wish that rather than the "specials" they'd just done a truncated season that would be airing now, leading to a regeneration at the end and smith taking over as from Chritmas. Not perfect and a bit too much like the 9 to 10 transition but it would work a lot better than the current situation.

I have to stress, I loved Tennant's Doctor, but if I'm honest I wish we could just skip to Smith now.

 

[wamdue]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

And I feel for you, sincerely. I remember watching Tom fall from the Pharos Project when I was just a child. To be honest, that entire moment is what cemented my love and allegiance to this show. The idea that the main character could, indeed, "die". It was unheard of! Never looked back. You should embrace that idea. While in the modern age we'll know long before it happens, we won't have the incumbent to immediately comfort us. Tom dies and Peter Davison instantly comes along and says "I'm The Doctor". Nowadays, we'll find out our Doctor is "terminally ill", and have to endure the long, excruciating term knowing when the moment is coming. So, you'll need to find a level of comfort in looking forward to something new, or you'll never survive this show post-Tennant.

its funny, this is obviously not my first regeneration, but it just does not feel the same this time around, its possible that, that is due to the fact I consider Tennant to be "My Doctor" (as the fans say) but I like to hope I will accpet Smith when he appears, but until the regeneration actual happens, I dont think I will be ready to accpet him. Hence why I say the regeneration should be on screen.

 

[jbny67]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

^ Yup, but on the up side if you don't like the current Doctor you'll probably like the next one at least

Unless, of course, it's a situation like the one involving the only actor I've ever truly disliked in the role.

I remember when McCoy took over in the role. I couldn't wait for the next regeneration.
Little did I know that the show would be canceled before that happened.
It was a long wait for the Fox movie and the next regeneration and than a long period of nothing until the new show.

 

[BenRoethig]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

I think a clean break would be best. Have the 10th Doctor have a nice long life and pick up somewhere during the 11th. Wouldn't be the first time they skipped a few centuries.

 

[Starkers]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

The trouble is that skipping a few centuries makes something of a mokery of the Ood prophesy (reiterated by the lady in Planet of the Dead) that his song was coming to an end. That didn't seem to imply a few hundred more years of adventures. Not to me anyway.

 

[Jim Steele]

Re: Tennant is done filming, Smith to start in a month and more (SPOIL

yeah I dont like that im being forced to realise that.

And I feel for you, sincerely. I remember watching Tom fall from the Pharos Project when I was just a child. To be honest, that entire moment is what cemented my love and allegiance to this show. The idea that the main character could, indeed, "die". It was unheard of! Never looked back. You should embrace that idea. While in the modern age we'll know long before it happens, we won't have the incumbent to immediately comfort us. Tom dies and Peter Davison instantly comes along and says "I'm The Doctor". Nowadays, we'll find out our Doctor is "terminally ill", and have to endure the long, excruciating term knowing when the moment is coming. So, you'll need to find a level of comfort in looking forward to something new, or you'll never survive this show post-Tennant.

its funny, this is obviously not my first regeneration, but it just does not feel the same this time around, its possible that, that is due to the fact I consider Tennant to be "My Doctor" (as the fans say) but I like to hope I will accpet Smith when he appears, but until the regeneration actual happens, I dont think I will be ready to accpet him. Hence why I say the regeneration should be on screen.

"Change, my dear. And it seems not a moment too soon."