Doctor Who: RTD is a hack

[mental]

From SFX Magazine:

...And there’s also a very interesting entry where Davies discusses the way he writes Doctor Who, which answers a recurring criticism. Discussing rewatching a repeat of “The Sound Of Drums”, he ponders the fact that you suddenly learn about things like the Archangel network, the Valiant, and the TARDIS becoming a Paradox Machine out of nowhere, with no advance seeding or foreshadowing in the script. It’s a fascinating passage, worth quoting at length:

“I can see how annoying that looks. I can see how maddening it must be, for some people. Especially if you’re imposing really classical script structures and templates on that episode, even unconsciously. I must look like a vandal, a kid or an amateur… The simple fact is, all those things were planned. All of them were my choice. They’re not lazy, clumsy or desperate. They’re chosen. I can see more traditional ways of telling those stories, but I’m not interested. I think the stuff that you gain from writing in this way – the shock, the whirlwind, the freedom, the exhilaration – is worth the world. I’ve got this sort of tumbling, freewheeling style that somersaults along, with everything happening now - not later, not before, but now, now, now. I’ve made a Doctor Who that exists in the present tense. It’s happening now, right in front of your eyes! If you don’t like it, if you don’t join in with it then… blimey, these episodes must be nonsensical. But those classical structures can be seen in Primeval, in Demons, in Merlin, in all of them – and yet we stand with millions more viewers. And I think that’s partly why.”

[Crab Helmet]

...which just goes to show how out of touch he is, considering episodes like Blink, the Doctor Dances, the Girl in the Fireplace are among the most highly lauded episodes in the series, and in all of them things are very slow to develop, but that build up of suspense means the finale is fantastic. In comparison, around 80% of RTD's episodes Jump The Shark around halfway through and are simply boring from that point on.

[mental]

...which just goes to show how out of touch he is, considering episodes like Blink, the Doctor Dances, the Girl in the Fireplace are among the most highly lauded episodes in the series

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the guy who wrote those episodes is getting RTD's job.

[Crab Helmet]

I know, it is fantastic news for the series. I always found Moffat and Cornell to be the best writers. The only shame is that Tennant couldn't have stuck it out one more year and left the series with a Moffat episode (aka: a high note).

[IcePotash]

RTD is quite a fan of his own creations and likes to massage his own ego, maybe because no one else will.

[Lazarius]

Well, I just saw the first episode of the new series. I am pleased with it. Matt Smith is a great Doctor, I think he has the right mix of funny, bad ass and scary.

[IMB706]

Doctor Who is dry and boring, and way too cheesy. British Television is just weird.

Doctor Who is dry and boring, and way too cheesy. British Television is just weird.

American television has flaws of its own. I just gave up on V.

Also, as you've been told by myself and others, there are really great Dr. Who episodes and really bad ones. Given how little of it you've seen, its quite possible you just had bad luck.

[Redwing]

Doctor Who is dry and boring, and way too cheesy. British Television is just weird.

American television has flaws of its own. I just gave up on V.

Also, as you've been told by myself and others, there are really great Dr. Who episodes and really bad ones. Given how little of it you've seen, its quite possible you just had bad luck.

As I'm catching up with the previous seasons, I just saw episode 10 of Season 2. Now that's an awful episode.

The fact of the matter is, when you've got multiple writers and all, sometimes things just don't work. Luckily, there's always nice stuff mixed in.

I think some people misunderstand Doctor Who. Yeah, it's corny, but it's the one of the most hopeful and substantial shows on modern television.

[IMB706]

American television has flaws of its own. I just gave up on V.

I'm not a big TV fan, but I don't think I've ever seen any british fictional tv show I liked. Of course I've only see a few shows, so theres a 99.9 percent chance there's a british show I like.

Also, as you've been told by myself and others, there are really great Dr. Who episodes and really bad ones. Given how little of it you've seen, its quite possible you just had bad luck.

Maybe. I did see a few seasons with my brother, and it was so mind numbingly bad, it was unbelievable. Of course, it could have just been bad lack, but I doubt I'll try it out again. I'm much nicer to it than my brother though.

the one of the most hopeful and substantial shows on modern television.

What do you mean by hopeful?

http://rotten.com/library/culture/doctor-who/

http://rotten.com/library/culture/doctor-who/

Nice source you've got there.

And even the rotten guy agrees that from a British standpoint, its a perfectly decent show.

[IMB706]

Source for what?

However, it does illustrate something I didn't notice until now about the show. All those villains are the same.

However, it does illustrate something I didn't notice until now about the show. All those villains are the same.

And you're taking that guy's word for it even though you've never seen these creatures in the show yourself?

Okay, you got me. I actually raged a little before I managed to snap out of it and see the obvious. You're a troll. Good job, 8/10, keep practicing.

[IMB706]

You raged over a TV show? And yes, honestly you're taking this way too seriously. It was a funny link related to the show, not meant to be taken seriously. D'uh.

You raged over a TV show? .

Indeed. A testament to your prowess.

To get back on topic, what did you guys all think of the new season premier? I must say, I love Amy Pond's backstory, and the new doctor is awesome (kind of a cross between 10 and 4). I do wish he'd drop the pop culture stuff, though.