Bye-Bye Ponds?

[StCoop]

It's not much of a surprise really but it looks pretty definite that the Ponds will be leaving at the end of this series.

As previously noted Karen Gillan is going to be playing Jean Shrimpton and then taking the lead in David Baddiel's "Romeo And Brittney" and now it turns out that Arthur Darvil will be playing Mephistophiles in Faustus from June to October in the Globe Theatre.

Fingers crossed that the series won't revolve entirely around whoever the next Companion is, again.

 

[Lonemagpie]

It's not much of a surprise really but it looks pretty definite that the Ponds will be leaving at the end of this series.

As previously noted Karen Gillan is going to be playing Jean Shrimpton and then taking the lead in David Baddiel's "Romeo And Brittney" and now it turns out that Arthur Darvil will be playing Mephistophiles in Faustus from June to October in the Globe Theatre.

Fingers crossed that the series won't revolve entirely around whoever the next Companion is, again.

Certainly suggests Rory will be gone, since they'll be filming from July...

 

[Jax]

I could see them appearing in several episodes at least with River as the main-ish companion of the 2012 season. I doubt they will leave outright this year.

 

[od0_ital]

Thanks for the spoiler warnin'.

 

[23skidoo]

This doesn't mean a thing.

It had previously been indicated that the split season thing is to become permanent (I forget where this was mentioned - one of the magazines like DWM) so that means the July to March production schedule of the past doesn't really apply. They only JUST completed filming Season 6, a full month or so after they normally called it quits for the season.

Just because someone signs up for a play and a movie doesn't mean they're leaving the series. And in the case of a play, that's easy to work around for a TV production schedule.

I look forward to seeing people's conniption fits if it's announced that Matt Smith is shooting a movie in September or something.

I do agree, though, with the sentiment above that a thread such as this really should be a) marked as a spoiler and b) not have a spoilery title, even if it's mere speculation.

Alex

 

[RoJoHen]

Thanks for the spoiler warnin'.

No kidding.

 

[StCoop]

Thanks for the spoiler warnin'.

How the fuck is discussing actors work commitments a spoiler? You need to screw that tin-foil hat on a bit tighter mate.

 

[RoJoHen]

If their work commitments mean that they're no longer going to be on the show, then yeah, it's a spoiler.

 

[Neroon]

If their work commitments mean that they're no longer going to be on the show, then yeah, it's a spoiler.

No, it is not. It's conjecture at most.

Let's move along from that sidebar, lest an unnecessary argument crops up.

 

[RoJoHen]

Fine. Let's call it a theoretical spoiler.

Either way, I'm getting tired of this constant rotation of people in the nuWho series. I don't know how the original series was, but I'd really like it if the same Doctor and the same companion could stay together for more than 2 years before something happens.

 

[PorthosShadow]

A lot of actors who have commitment to a TV series do little side projects at the same time. So I don't think this means anything regarding the character and actor and I agree with the above sentiment, I hope she and Rory stick around for a while.

 

[Neroon]

I always thought it seemed like the Doctors/Companions changed VERY frequently prior to the new generation. Then again I don't know anywhere nearly as much as most of you all out here.

 

[RoJoHen]

I am a huge sucker for goodbye/death scenes. The more emotional the better. I think it would be really awesome to have a Doctor and a Companion stay together for 4-5 years and THEN have something happen to one of them. It would make the hurt that much more intense.

They were close with 10 and Rose. The finale for Series 2 still breaks my heart.

 

[Skellington]

They film only 13 episodes a year plus a Christmas special. It would be surprising, given that fact and that they're young high-profile actors, if they didn't have other projects.

 

[RoJoHen]

They film only 13 episodes a year plus a Chjristmas special. It would be surprising, given that fact and that they're young high-profile actors, if they didn't have other projects.

That's another reason I wish the actors stayed on the show longer. They only have 13 episodes, and there are usually 2 or 3 two-parters in there. So really, each companion only gets a 9 or 10 adventures and then is put to pasture. Lame.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Generally either the Doctor changed or the Companion(s). The only Doctor/Companion starts where they are new to each other is Hartnel (obviously), Pertwee, McGann's film, Eccleston and finally Smith. It gave to classic series a nice sense of continuity. With NuWho's beginning, Tennent's many one off companions and Smith starting with a new companion the new series can have a feeling of lack of continuity that the classic series had, despite it mentioning previous companions and Doctors outright far less frequently.

 

[The Lensman]

While I have plenty of classic Who, I don't recall the length of time each companion actually stayed. I did like it, however, when they had companions that crossed over from one Doctor to the next. Like Sarah Jane, Tegan, Peri, etc. Long running companions are the exception tho.....

IIRC, Hartnell's run went like this:
Susan, Ian and Barbara
Ian, Barbara and Vicki
Vicki and Steven
Steven and Dodo
Ben and Polly (who crossed over to Troughton and had at least one adventure with Jamie)

So he had what I consider the ideal situation. Multiple overlapping companions. Would like to see that done again.

 

[Phily B]

God I hope so. I don't mind Rory, but Amy has to be one of the most irriating companions ever - Karen Gillian is just a bad actress imo. That, and I think changing up the companions every season or two is a good thing. Rose certainly started getting stale towards the end.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think what they really need to do is change companions or Doctors in the middle of a season to shock everybody. It's too predictable when it happens in the season finale. The problem with the internet these days is that it's so hard to keep stuff like that a secret.

 

[Skellington]

That's another reason I wish the actors stayed on the show longer. They only have 13 episodes, and there are usually 2 or 3 two-parters in there. So really, each companion only gets a 9 or 10 adventures and then is put to pasture. Lame.

Such is the show's blessing; such is its curse. It would be pleasantly surprising to see Gillen and Darvill stay on, as they make a great team with Smith (and Kingston). However, it looks like the current season will have a trajectory that takes them out of the show one way or another. Season 7 will no doubt have a different dynamic.