Spoilers Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[Starkers]

I didn’t go back on anything.

You really did.

At first you said "At least Moffat let other people write episodes." When pointed out that of course RTD lets other people write episodes you countered with "ah but RTD wrote half of them and one of the others was just a shopping list" When I pointed out that in Series 5 Moff wrote practically half the episodes, and one of the others was a shopping list episode you roll back and say you never claimed RTD didn't let others write episodes, but surely the inference from "At least Moffat let other people write episodes" is that RTD didn't, which is of course a complete fallacy.

I get it, I think everyone here is cognisant of how much you hate Russell, you rarely if ever have anything positive to say about him and never miss an opportunity to take a dig.

 

[Rich Watson]

Just a reminder that 'The Deadly Assassin' was hated back in 1976 for changing the way Time Lords were portrayed, with some members of the DWAS demanding Hinchcliffe be fired.

 

[Rich Watson]

I see people are reacting sanely and rationally to the news that the "Sea Devils" will be called Homo Aqua in TWB, because the former is a 'racist' term coined by humans for them.

Now if you want to argue that "Homo" is wrong as they are reptilian, go for it.

 

[Daedalus]

Aqua Sapiens seems a bit better. I dont know, I don't really care about that sort of thing. It's just the Sea Devils.

It's the Silurians being called Eocenes thing again. It'll pass.

 

[Set Harth]

Just a reminder that 'The Deadly Assassin' was hated back in 1976 for changing the way Time Lords were portrayed, with some members of the DWAS demanding Hinchcliffe be fired.

I did not know that.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Anita Dobson told Radio Times that she is open to returning whenever the show returns, especially if Davies asked her.

She also mentioned that she had no idea she was playing The Rani during her first season as the mysterious Mrs. Flood:

“For the first series, I was oblivious and just really enjoyed all the little character things and mannerisms that Russell [T Davies] was throwing at me,” she says. “Then, when he asked me back for another series, my curiosity was piqued as to who she was… But it wasn’t until I read the last few scripts of that series that I found out, and I was completely shocked.”​

 

[jaime]

You really did.

At first you said "At least Moffat let other people write episodes." When pointed out that of course RTD lets other people write episodes you countered with "ah but RTD wrote half of them and one of the others was just a shopping list" When I pointed out that in Series 5 Moff wrote practically half the episodes, and one of the others was a shopping list episode you roll back and say you never claimed RTD didn't let others write episodes, but surely the inference from "At least Moffat let other people write episodes" is that RTD didn't, which is of course a complete fallacy.

I get it, I think everyone here is cognisant of how much you hate Russell, you rarely if ever have anything positive to say about him and never miss an opportunity to take a dig.

There was only *one* episode of ‘Season One’ not written by RTD was there not? The terrible ao3 fanfic (and not the good kind) level story.
I personally think the main reason he ending up writing so many was not only down to his own approach, but down to who the beeb will let write for Who.
Of the last what… 18 stories, only 5 maybe 6 were not RTD were they not? (I’m going by memory here)
Whether RTD is a GodEngine of a writer or not is somewhat immaterial, that’s just too many for a series like Who.

All of which is an aside because my whole point that more of a move towards auteur Who would be be bad.
I have not *as yet* declared that RTD runs the show auteur fashion. I have pointed out that it heads that way at times. (Including a start in the Moffat era insofar as writing most of the episodes goes. Though since we know that *sometimes* that was caused by other episodes falling through, or behind the scenes pressures. I would not in any way be surprised if the same turned out to be true for this second RTD era — there are lots of signs of behind the scenes chaos, and that means there’s really only RTD or the Emergency Moff who could do a quick job.)
Not that it is already there.

And yeah, I will criticise the dude who manages my team poorly.. I mean produces the show I’m a lifelong fan of poorly.
That’s part of fandom.
As is learning tons about the way things work.
It’s not just turning up on a Saturday and wearing the scarf.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

There was only *one* episode of ‘Season One’ not written by RTD was there not?

He didn't write "Boom" (Moffatt) and "Rogue" (Kate Herron and Briony Redman).

 

[Rich Watson]

The Rest Is Entertainment just did a segment on the Disney deal which covered it a measured and reasonable way, worth a listen.

What was interesting was Marina, who definitely has the contacts to know, saying that Ncuti hadn't been happy with the idea of all the extra requirements that come with the job beyond just showing up on set.

 

[jaime]

He didn't write "Boom" (Moffatt) and "Rogue" (Kate Herron and Briony Redman).

I forgot Boom. Ironic.

 

[jaime]

The Rest Is Entertainment just did a segment on the Disney deal which covered it a measured and reasonable way, worth a listen.

What was interesting was Marina, who definitely has the contacts to know, saying that Ncuti hadn't been happy with the idea of all the extra requirements that come with the job beyond just showing up on set.

Interesting. There’s been leaks and rumours a while, but am wondering if there’s more out there.

If the case, it seems a bit odd — like complaining about having to do more than a sermon on Sundays after getting the Archbishop of Canterbury gig.

 

[Starkers]

The Rest Is Entertainment just did a segment on the Disney deal which covered it a measured and reasonable way, worth a listen.

What was interesting was Marina, who definitely has the contacts to know, saying that Ncuti hadn't been happy with the idea of all the extra requirements that come with the job beyond just showing up on set.

FFS!

I've said it before but the only modern actor I'll give a pass to on this is Eccleston, and maybe Tennant in the very beginning, but certainly from Matt onwards I don't see how any actor can take on this job while being blind to the wider expectations of the role.

I've never been a huge fan of Whittaker's Doctor, but I have huge respect for her as an ambassador for the show. She understood the responsibility that came with the paycheck.

Assuming this is true it suggests Ncuti was willfully ignorant, mammothly miscalculated the extra work this would entail or, worst of all, somehow thought once he was in the job this wouldn't apply to him.

 

[Rich Watson]

Assuming this is true it suggests Ncuti was willfully ignorant, mammothly miscalculated the extra work this would entail or, worst of all, somehow thought once he was in the job this wouldn't apply to him.

You only have to look at how much of the S15 promotion was handled solely by Varada, and the stuff he was in was mostly done during the shooting of the series.

 

[Samurai8472]

I remember there was an unsupported claim RTD had to chastise Ncuti for also cursing too much.

Sounds like there was too much diva drama going on

 

[Rich Watson]

I remember there was an unsupported claim RTD had to chastise Ncuti for also cursing too much.

Sounds like there was too much diva drama going on

He was told he couldn't be seen smoking in public while in costume, which seems fair to me.

 

[jaime]

He was told he couldn't be seen smoking in public while in costume, which seems fair to me.

Tom Baker famously managed that in the 1970s, when I am pretty sure it would be harder to do.

Maybe Ncuti’s Sonic should have been built around a vape…

 

[Daedalus]

I don't think Ncuti will be wanting to sample the famous Big Finish lunches anytime soon.

FFS!

I've said it before but the only modern actor I'll give a pass to on this is Eccleston, and maybe Tennant in the very beginning, but certainly from Matt onwards I don't see how any actor can take on this job while being blind to the wider expectations of the role.

I've never been a huge fan of Whittaker's Doctor, but I have huge respect for her as an ambassador for the show. She understood the responsibility that came with the paycheck.

Assuming this is true it suggests Ncuti was willfully ignorant, mammothly miscalculated the extra work this would entail or, worst of all, somehow thought once he was in the job this wouldn't apply to him.

She was wonderful. It was great to see her doing something for the fans during Covid, that was above and beyond.

(I'll also say it was delightful to see her in Reality War.)

 

[Rich Watson]

(I'll also say it was delightful to see her in Reality War.)

She got the biggest reaction from the cinema audience I was in for anything in the finale.

Seconded only by how noticeably uncomfortable people got during the scene where the Doctor glibly dismisses Ruby pointing out reality has changed.