Bye-Bye Ponds?

[RoJoHen]

^Some of those shows have changed cast members over time, sure, but it's not built in to the premise of the show. Nobody watches "Law and Order" thinking, "Man, this character has been around for two years. He's worn out his welcome. Time to replace him!" And shows like ER have such huge ensemble casts that when a character or two goes missing, it doesn't change the whole dynamic of the series.

Cast changes don't bother me. What bothers me is that, with a series like Doctor Who, people come to expect the cast to change every couple years. It takes some of the emotional impact away when you know it's coming.

 

[Admiral_Young]

The thing is though even though we know it's coming we don't know how they'll be written out. We watch of course to find that out This announcement is really no different than a press release about an American show cast member leaving or joining. It's just on a larger scale due to how popular Doctor Who is.

 

[RoJoHen]

I guess I just miss the days when character deaths/departures weren't such public knowledge beforehand. I blame the internet.

 

[DWF]

I guess I just miss the days when character deaths/departures weren't such public knowledge beforehand. I blame the internet.

Why blame the internet in the old days it was months and sometimes years bewteen the news of a coming or going or people on the show.

 

[RoJoHen]

I guess I just miss the days when character deaths/departures weren't such public knowledge beforehand. I blame the internet.

Why blame the internet in the old days it was months and sometimes years bewteen the news of a coming or going or people on the show.

I have no idea what this sentence is supposed to mean.

In the old days, I was completely unaware of anything that happened off-screen. I didn't pay attention to what actors or writers or producers were doing. I sat in front of my TV, and whatever happened would be brand new to me.

The internet just makes it way too easy to find this stuff out.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I know that for myself the only times where I paid any attention to Entertainment news here in North America was watching on occasion Entertainment Tonight. I also read TV Guide which would mention stuff if it was major. Entertainment Weekly as well. The internet has become huge for this kind of stuff.

 

[Captain Crow]

I hope the next companion is non-contemporary and possibly not from Earth.

 

[Mr Awe]

I'll miss Amy and Rory but I think it is time for them to move on. I hope neither dies though. For the next companion, I'd prefer either a non-human, or at the very at least, a human that's not from the present!

Mr Awe

 

[Photoman15]

I think the next companion should be a human. The companion is supposed to represent us, the audience. Most viewers will not identify with an Ood or a even a Sulurian. Plus logistically, it's better if the lead(s) did not need extensive makeup each shooting day. The way to keep this in check is to make them human (or humanoid looking).

 

[RoJoHen]

I think the next companion should be a human. The companion is supposed to represent us, the audience. Most viewers will not identify with an Ood or a even a Sulurian. Plus logistically, it's better if the lead(s) did not need extensive makeup each shooting day. The way to keep this in check is to make them human (or humanoid looking).

It could always been a future human from another planet or something.

 

[Captain Crow]

Plus logistically, it's better if the lead(s) did not need extensive makeup each shooting day.

Nyssa, Turlough, and Adric were alien and didn't require make up.

 

[Captaindemotion]

They can be alien in the way that Deanna Troi, Kira Nerys, Jadzia Dax or whoever are alien. Alien but basically humanoid looking.

 

[Zeppster]

Plus logistically, it's better if the lead(s) did not need extensive makeup each shooting day.

Nyssa, Turlough, and Adric were alien and didn't require make up.

Don't forget Zoe who was basically a calculator.

 

[DWF]

I guess I just miss the days when character deaths/departures weren't such public knowledge beforehand. I blame the internet.

Why blame the internet in the old days it was months and sometimes years bewteen the news of a coming or going or people on the show.

I have no idea what this sentence is supposed to mean.

In the old days, I was completely unaware of anything that happened off-screen. I didn't pay attention to what actors or writers or producers were doing. I sat in front of my TV, and whatever happened would be brand new to me.

The internet just makes it way too easy to find this stuff out.

What you didn't read Starlog or Famous Monster Of Filmland? There were news outlets before the internet, but you're here now and casting news is be expected.

 

[MacLeod]

^Some of those shows have changed cast members over time, sure, but it's not built in to the premise of the show. Nobody watches "Law and Order" thinking, "Man, this character has been around for two years. He's worn out his welcome. Time to replace him!" And shows like ER have such huge ensemble casts that when a character or two goes missing, it doesn't change the whole dynamic of the series.

Cast changes don't bother me. What bothers me is that, with a series like Doctor Who, people come to expect the cast to change every couple years. It takes some of the emotional impact away when you know it's coming.

Cast changes are part and parcel of the show, have been since what 1965. So given that it is part of the show why shouldn't it be expected that there is a new companion(s) every 2-3 years?

 

[RoJoHen]

^Some of those shows have changed cast members over time, sure, but it's not built in to the premise of the show. Nobody watches "Law and Order" thinking, "Man, this character has been around for two years. He's worn out his welcome. Time to replace him!" And shows like ER have such huge ensemble casts that when a character or two goes missing, it doesn't change the whole dynamic of the series.

Cast changes don't bother me. What bothers me is that, with a series like Doctor Who, people come to expect the cast to change every couple years. It takes some of the emotional impact away when you know it's coming.

Cast changes are part and parcel of the show, have been since what 1965. So given that it is part of the show why shouldn't it be expected that there is a new companion(s) every 2-3 years?

That's exactly my point. It's expected...and that kind of makes it boring. Why not try something a little different and keep the same companion around for a longer time?

 

[Admiral_Young]

What if the actors are getting too busy to stay around though? It would seem this is the case with both Karen and Arthur.

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, again, I'm used to American TV. If you're a star on a show, you probably don't have time to get busy with other things.

 

[Takeru]

Thank god Amy's finally leaving, I was sick of her halfway through series 5. I'm gonna miss Rory but it's time for him to leave, two years is enough even for a great companion.

 

[MacLeod]

Well, again, I'm used to American TV. If you're a star on a show, you probably don't have time to get busy with other things.

Just out of interest are you American?

As this difference in viewpoint might be down to something like, growing up on DW as you did if you grew up as a child during it's orginal run 63-89, you accepted the cast changes as being part of the show. After all the approximatley length of an actor to play the Doctor is 3 years. So what's the big deal about changing the Companion(s) after they've been on the show for 3 years?

Plus it can keep the show Fresh,

Some like Rose, others didn't
Some liked Martha, others didn't etc..