Spoilers The Story & the Engine grade and discussion thread

[jaime]

Having now watched it (I knew the earlier bit about the meaning of the barbershop to the Doctor from spoilers) I really enjoyed this. I also disagree with the comparison of Omo with the Brigadier since the Doctor never really had the "this is someone I can hang out with and feel safe" vibe with Alistair, even (or perhaps especially) during his exile - the closest we got was Battlefield. In fact, just hanging out with old friends for the hell of it is something the Doctor never does, until the bigeneration and Ten 3.0 having Sunday lunch with Clan Donna (at Fifteen's urging). This is new, and good - the Doctor SHOULD address their mental health, even if there's occasional backsliding. Mopey Ol' Time Git was getting a tad boring...

I just like the idea of the Doctor having friends he pops into. And ones that carry across regenerations. By Mawdryn Undead at the very least, that’s what the Brig is to the Doctor. Or the Paternoster Gang. Sort of… stationary long term companions.

 

[matthunter]

I just like the idea of the Doctor having friends he pops into. And ones that carry across regenerations. By Mawdryn Undead at the very least, that’s what the Brig is to the Doctor. Or the Paternoster Gang. Sort of… stationary long term companions.

Mawdryn Undead is a poor choice - the Brig is fucked up at that point BECAUSE the Doctor never visits! Battlefield is a better case (though I note even there the Doctor chooses the task that will keep him in the kitchen away from having to chat to the Brig and Ancelyn as they do their share of the chores - this is MY go-to for parties where I'm a wallflower so I know the move well).

Paternoster are a better case - though they seem locked into the "mental health support" role more obviously than the "mates chatting in the pub/football ground/gym/barbershop" way presented here. They're the mates you ask to crash with because you're having a mental health crisis. Omo's is the place you go to decompress to make sure the crisis doesn't happen (today).

 

[jaime]

Mawdryn Undead is a poor choice - the Brig is fucked up at that point BECAUSE the Doctor never visits! Battlefield is a better case (though I note even there the Doctor chooses the task that will keep him in the kitchen away from having to chat to the Brig and Ancelyn as they do their share of the chores - this is MY go-to for parties where I'm a wallflower so I know the move well).

Paternoster are a better case - though they seem locked into the "mental health support" role more obviously than the "mates chatting in the pub/football ground/gym/barbershop" way presented here. They're the mates you ask to crash with because you're having a mental health crisis. Omo's is the place you go to decompress to make sure the crisis doesn't happen (today).

Yeah, but Mawdryn Era is also Five Doctors era. Him and the Second on their Death Zone hike…

I like the idea of Omo being this. And it’s a shame they (a) don’t go into detail about the past Doctor or (b) leave it open for a return by a future Doctor. That alone is a powerful image, a Doctor, no longer black, maybe no longer even a man, coming to his mates for a haircut and dude just knows it’s him, gives haircut. It especially works well *because* it’s not an Afro hair specialist salon in Streatham, but Lagos. A bustling capital.

But, Omo threw him under a bus, got forgiveness, then retired and went back to his Mrs. A shame. Can you imagine a world where every new Doctor were not wondering about Cybermen or Daleks, or if they’re gonna hook up with the PMC Unit — but when they’re gonna go get their hair cut?

Omo’s actor could have been quids in too.

 

[matthunter]

Yeah, but Mawdryn Era is also Five Doctors era. Him and the Second on their Death Zone hike…

I like the idea of Omo being this. And it’s a shame they (a) don’t go into detail about the past Doctor or (b) leave it open for a return by a future Doctor. That alone is a powerful image, a Doctor, no longer black, maybe no longer even a man, coming to his mates for a haircut and dude just knows it’s him, gives haircut. It especially works well *because* it’s not an Afro hair specialist salon in Streatham, but Lagos. A bustling capital.

But, Omo threw him under a bus, got forgiveness, then retired and went back to his Mrs. A shame. Can you imagine a world where every new Doctor were not wondering about Cybermen or Daleks, or if they’re gonna hook up with the PMC Unit — but when they’re gonna go get their hair cut?

Omo’s actor could have been quids in too.

The Brig retired and still got adventures with the Doctor. Offscreen, but hey, stories don't care about the medium... we got a whole story about how trying to trap stories in ONE medium is a BAD thing.

 

[jaime]

The Brig retired and still got adventures with the Doctor. Offscreen, but hey, stories don't care about the medium... we got a whole story about how trying to trap stories in ONE medium is a BAD thing.

TV is sort of Who’s natural home though — even if I think it’s best era for stories was the wilderness era and the books — and the positivity of that idea just seems a shame to have missed out on. But hey. Maybe he decides not to retire, or him and his Mrs emigrate and set up a new barber shop somewhere the Beeb can afford the location shoot for. She can have a restaurant next door, and people wonder why only one delivery dude/dudette gets the food there hot and on time.

 

[matthunter]

It's worth noting that the "six word story" by Hemingway ("For sale: baby shoes. Never worn." is widely considered apocryphal (at least, that it was Hemingway who told it) - AKA just another story.

 

[jaime]

It's worth noting that the "six word story" by Hemingway ("For sale: baby shoes. Never worn." is widely considered apocryphal (at least, that it was Hemingway who told it) - AKA just another story.

Probably for the best if it is — otherwise the Doc just claimed to have been why he wrote it.