On the contrary, it makes Eccleston look bad for being the only surviving Doctor to not participate. Fans who bitch on this board represent one tiny corner of the internet and one tiny corner of Who fandom.
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
- Thread starter Chris3123
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He's not obligated to participate in anything just because he played the Doctor at one point.
Sigh
Eccleston was an awesome Doctor and I would have loved to see him involved in the 50th. But he was in no way required to be, he chose not to, that's his choice and he has the right to make that choice. He does not owe the franchise, its fans or anyone anything.
Hell, he largely contributed to it being the success it has become. He essentially introduced the Doctor to a new audience. Tennant and Smith have rised to the challenge of keeping audiences invested in the Doctor, and not to slight their work because what they have achieved is considerable, but when they took on the roles the Doctor was already known to the audience and they were building on what had been done. Eccleston practically had a blank slate. Yes, he had eight predecessors, but they weren't really well known to the millions of new viewers who watched their first episode of Doctor Who in 2005. He reintroduced the world to the Doctor, brought in tons of new fans and appealed to the Old Guard in fandom. He has done a service to the franchise few could match or outdo. If anyone has earned the right to say no to being involved with the show, it's him and no one has a right asking something of him he doesn't want to do.
I can understand being disappointed he wasn't involved with the 50th, if I'm honest I'm disappointed as I think it could have been awesome to see him on screen with Tennant, Smith and Hurt. But I'm okay with that. And frankly, I don't care if he ever returns to Doctor Who again. Christopher Eccleston starred in 13 great episodes and was one of the best actors to play the Doctor. That's good enough for me and should be good enough for any fan.
Fans say he should get over whatever it was that went on during his time that made him leave. But really, perhaps said fans should just get over him and move on? Constantly slandering the man for doing what he has every right to do is just as insulting as they claim he is being to his fans.
Eccleston was an awesome Doctor and I would have loved to see him involved in the 50th. But he was in no way required to be, he chose not to, that's his choice and he has the right to make that choice. He does not owe the franchise, its fans or anyone anything.
Hell, he largely contributed to it being the success it has become. He essentially introduced the Doctor to a new audience. Tennant and Smith have rised to the challenge of keeping audiences invested in the Doctor, and not to slight their work because what they have achieved is considerable, but when they took on the roles the Doctor was already known to the audience and they were building on what had been done. Eccleston practically had a blank slate. Yes, he had eight predecessors, but they weren't really well known to the millions of new viewers who watched their first episode of Doctor Who in 2005. He reintroduced the world to the Doctor, brought in tons of new fans and appealed to the Old Guard in fandom. He has done a service to the franchise few could match or outdo. If anyone has earned the right to say no to being involved with the show, it's him and no one has a right asking something of him he doesn't want to do.
I can understand being disappointed he wasn't involved with the 50th, if I'm honest I'm disappointed as I think it could have been awesome to see him on screen with Tennant, Smith and Hurt. But I'm okay with that. And frankly, I don't care if he ever returns to Doctor Who again. Christopher Eccleston starred in 13 great episodes and was one of the best actors to play the Doctor. That's good enough for me and should be good enough for any fan.
Fans say he should get over whatever it was that went on during his time that made him leave. But really, perhaps said fans should just get over him and move on? Constantly slandering the man for doing what he has every right to do is just as insulting as they claim he is being to his fans.
Eccleston can do whatever he wants, I think we all agree about that. That he couldn't find a couple of hours to joke about the whole thing in "The Five-ish Doctors Reboot", (if he was asked to participate), inevitably leads me to form an opinion about his character, though.
You have no idea if he was asked so you really have no right to judge him for it. I've been in environments that I didn't like and I wouldn't want to return to them "to joke around." I don't want to return to them at all. Doctor Who was Eccleston's job and he hated the atmosphere; I can't understand why people think he'd want to return to that. It's easy for a viewer to say Doctor Who is a ton of fun, but the fact is that for Eccleston it clearly wasn't.
He took 2 meetings. He was obviously considering it. If he hated it that much he would've said no outright and not taken a meeting with Moffat at all.
Not really, we don't have any context for his decision. Even if he were asked and said no, there could be a whole host of reasons for it which have nothing to do with his opinion of the show or his time on it. Maybe he's filming a movie, TV show or performing a play and couldn't spare the time. Maybe something is going on in his personal life. Maybe he's had a hectic and grueling time lately, finally has some free time and doesn't want to sacrifice it at all, even for five minutes of goofing off for a camera or audio recorder. There's nothing to judge about his character. And really, unless someone has actually met Eccleston and had a bad experience with him, I don't get why anyone would be as upset with him as some seem to be.
I don't see why anyone would expect Eccleston to have been in Five(ish). This was for the "classic" Doctors, and Eccleston was the first modern Doctor. "The Day of the Doctor" was where he would've shown up if he'd been willing.
Barrowman and Tennant were in it, as were Moffat, Jenna, Matt, etc. All modern era.
Smith, Coleman, and Moffat are all incumbents (incumbent Doctor, companion and showrunner). Tennant is Peter Davison's son-in-law. Although good point about Barrowman, and RTD too for that matter.
I admire your fairness. Me, I'm old and grumpy, and I know enough about Eccleston to form an opinion about him after all these years.
"What's the use of a good quote if you can't change it?"
I loved the part where they were in the Dalek casings... solemnly nodding their eyepieces to indicate that yes, they did indeed understand what an important historical event they were taking part in, so they shouldn't be late to the set.
I’d have loved an X-Men First Class moment. CE is sitting in a pub, Davison, McCoy and Baker walk in and without even turning round CE says “No!” and the other three just turn around and wander out.
I don’t hate Eccleston, and I understand he has his reasons, but being the only surviving Doctor not to even show his face for a couple of seconds is a shame.
Anyhoo, watched this again last night, and I still seem to be missing half the cameos. I can’t believe I didn’t see Louise Jameson, where is she!!
I don’t hate Eccleston, and I understand he has his reasons, but being the only surviving Doctor not to even show his face for a couple of seconds is a shame.
Anyhoo, watched this again last night, and I still seem to be missing half the cameos. I can’t believe I didn’t see Louise Jameson, where is she!!
"Quel dommage, Davros!"
Now I wish that could be a real catchphrase.
Don't we all. That scene with Russell "The" Davis (ha funny) really made me miss him and his enthusiasm for the show.
Good god. Why does it matter so much to you? It's his career and it doesn't seem to have effected it so far. Would it have been nice to see him again? Sure but he didn't appear in new footage and still got the biggest cheer. And by the way, what ever happened to "leave them wanting more"?
There are. Everything from the obsession all of the Doctors had with the show to the music cues changing when they walk in from their lives to the production offices. The jokes everyone had at their own expense, and Moffat showing us how he really plots his stories, "we're not to be disturbed for the rest of the day."
As far as I'm concerned, the reason it matters so much to me is because I have a petty feeling of entitlement, think it's a wasted opportunity and have the - probably misguided - opinion that Eccleston is not a very pleasant fellow. Even though I know I shouldn't, I still resent that he didn't appear in any of the 50th anniversary specials. I guess I'm just a stupid ape.
That being said, the whole thing does leave me wanting more Doctor Who, but I can't say I'm looking forward to seeing Christopher Eccleston in other projects.
Because even I, as a fan, recognize that this was something bigger than him and he should've done it. William Hartnell was hardly able to do anything for The Three Doctors, but he still showed up despite ailing health. Tom Baker could've stayed home with his feet up and everyone would've understood. But he showed up.
Guess I just don't like selfish people. Or I'm entitled. Whatever, eh? I just know what I would've done in CE's position.
For god's sake, let go of it. Doctor Who was a job, nothing more. Eccleston didn't want to do anymore Doctor Who when he left and still doesn't. So what? He doesn't owe anyone anything towards the show, and it is ludicrous for anyone to expect he does. At this point http://www.myvideo.de/watch/127096/Star_Trek_TOS_William_Shatner_SNL_Get_A_Life
She was amongst the plethora of companions whispering Steven Moffat's name a la The Caves of Androzani while he was napping.
