News Carole Ann Ford wants to say "Hello, grandma!"

[Awesome Possum]

Question.. And maybe this has been answered elsewhere, but it just came to me. Do we know that Susan is an actual Timelord/lady? Wasn't it established that rank and file Gallifreans don't regenerate, because that is something reserved for the Timelords and ladies? So even though the Doctor is her grandfather, does that automatically mean she can regenerate simply due to her being of noble kin?

When she left the show, the concept of regeneration hadn't been invented yet. River was able to regenerate and that was because she was conceived while the Tardis was in the flight, implying it has something to do with the way they travel through time. She likely could, especially if a writer wanted her to.

 

[Blamo]

It would be nice to get Ford back for a guest appearance... but imagine if it ended with Susan regenerating into an actress (or actor?) who'd become the Doctor's regular companion. It'd bring things full circle.

I'd love that to happen. Also with the better quality of writing you could expect for the character, it would shake up the dynamic considerably.

 

[Marc]

She likely could, especially if a writer wanted her to.

Could really make the heads explodes - Susan gets a "hello grandmother" just before she regenerates and becomes the Doctor's grandson

 

[The Wormhole]

Wasn't it established that rank and file Gallifreans don't regenerate, because that is something reserved for the Timelords and ladies?

That's established in the tie-in material, but the show has never said anything one way or the other on the matter.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I'd like Jenny to come back too, maybe she could have regenerated at some point if Georgia doesn't want to come back. Then the Doctor, her daughter and granddaughter could travel together. Three generations of awesome women traveling through time and space, fighting monsters and helping people.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Well, that's one oversight corrected! Carole is joining David Bradley's One in the third volume of his Big Finish adventures, it was just announced. Claudia Grant's still playing young Susan in this, so...

 

[Professor Zoom]

Not everyone sees it that way. I for instance think the agenda and politics behind the presentation and the way the casting went was based on identity politics and virtue signalling, and a mellenial ploy, coupled with my disdain for the acting style of Whitaker is why I think the casting of her was a big mistake. Would they have cast a different woman, and left all the divisive preachy political stuff behind, I would think better of the new season coming in Oct. But for now, no..I see this as a disaster and a continuation of dogmatic ideological memes forced into the series, which will continue to drive many hangers on from the traditionalist wing of the fandom away. Same as had been done in the Capaldi era, and really started by season 8 in Matt Smith's reign. There are other legit reasons for being skeptical of the new series that has nothing to do with Jodie Whittaker's gender.

This regardless of how one feels, percieves, and suspiciously suspects that the reason is sexism. It's hard to know what's in a person's heart, even trying to link their comments to something with no real proof. I feel it's better to leave labels behind in that instance, and debate on substance.

“mellenial” ploy.... lol

Look out for those millennials! They are dispatching their ploys! You will be ployed! You will all be ployed!

 

[Awesome Possum]

Virtue signaling is the bizarre belief that human decency is a cynical attempt to manipulate people. It’s not a coincidence that the people who truly believe it to exist are lacking empathy and cannot comprehend why others would do the right thing for no other reason that it was the right thing to do.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Well, that's one oversight corrected! Carole is joining David Bradley's One in the third volume of his Big Finish adventures, it was just announced. Claudia Grant's still playing young Susan in this, so...

UPDATE: Here's the details. Carole's role is being referred to as simply 'The Woman'... which, come to think of it, was the name of Claire Bloom's white-clad character in 'The End of Time.'

Coincidence?

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Maybe Big Finish is trying to weasel a connection there... will be interesting to see, or hear, rather.

 

[Mr Awe]

UPDATE: Here's the details. Carole's role is being referred to as simply 'The Woman'... which, come to think of it, was the name of Claire Bloom's white-clad character in 'The End of Time.'

Coincidence?

Ah geeze, if she's supposed to be Susan, they should just call her Susan!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ah geeze, if she's supposed to be Susan, they should just call her Susan!

Maybe there's a legal reason why they can't?

 

[Mr Awe]

Maybe there's a legal reason why they can't?

They brought her back in the 20th Anniversary special, The Five Doctors. They usually don't have legal issues bringing back the companions as they are created for the show rather than the creation of a writer for a specific episode. But, I'm not an expert and maybe something is different with the character of Susan.

 

[starsuperion]

They brought her back in the 20th Anniversary special, The Five Doctors. They usually don't have legal issues bringing back the companions as they are created for the show rather than the creation of a writer for a specific episode. But, I'm not an expert and maybe something is different with the character of Susan.

I always thought the name Susan was a cover name taken by her when her grandfather left Gallifrey, maybe she's got a Gallifreyan name as yet to be determined? I wonder how badass Susan was in the Time War..she's got experience traveling with her Grandfather, and Sarah Jane Adventures cameos. Who exactly is Susan really? Is she an agent of the time Lord's? The CIA? She's always been a mystery for me. I've often toyed with the ideas that Susan had much more knowledge about Gallifreyan secrets then she let on. Interesting to see what is done with her character.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ The very early stories had the idea that they were on the run from something, and I think there were early plans that she was a princess or something but those were scrapped. But, nothing onscreen ever indicated she was anything other than his granddaughter.

 

[Redfern]

In the so-called "unaired pilot" Ms. Ford acted a tad more "regal" once everyone was in the TARDIS and when she sat upon a chair, she did so with a kind of royal "poise". I'm not sure, as I'm at work and can't access the DVD, but I think she even stated she was royalty.

Of course, those elements were dropped from the final broadcast version, but it certainly suggested a very different background.

 

[Jinn]

"unaired pilot"

I wish they'd put "Unaired Pilot" into the title if it is ever aired.

 

[Mr Awe]

In the so-called "unaired pilot" Ms. Ford acted a tad more "regal" once everyone was in the TARDIS and when she sat upon a chair, she did so with a kind of royal "poise". I'm not sure, as I'm at work and can't access the DVD, but I think she even stated she was royalty.

Of course, those elements were dropped from the final broadcast version, but it certainly suggested a very different background.

I believe there are also unused scripts around from the early days that play that up too. Maybe the one that fell through and caused them to use The Daleks. I'm just going by memory here so don't quote me.

 

[Jinn]

don't quote me.

Sorry, I just had to.

 

[Spot261]

Not everyone sees it that way. I for instance think the agenda and politics behind the presentation and the way the casting went was based on identity politics and virtue signalling, and a mellenial ploy, coupled with my disdain for the acting style of Whitaker is why I think the casting of her was a big mistake. Would they have cast a different woman, and left all the divisive preachy political stuff behind, I would think better of the new season coming in Oct. But for now, no..I see this as a disaster and a continuation of dogmatic ideological memes forced into the series, which will continue to drive many hangers on from the traditionalist wing of the fandom away. Same as had been done in the Capaldi era, and really started by season 8 in Matt Smith's reign. There are other legit reasons for being skeptical of the new series that has nothing to do with Jodie Whittaker's gender.

This regardless of how one feels, percieves, and suspiciously suspects that the reason is sexism. It's hard to know what's in a person's heart, even trying to link their comments to something with no real proof. I feel it's better to leave labels behind in that instance, and debate on substance.

You seem to have a distinct habit of finding convoluted and obscure reasons other than sexism to object whenever a sci fi franchise is given a female lead....