Thursday, May 11, 2006

Doctor Who the soap opera

There's been some speculation...

Doctor Who has turned into something of a soap opera. Although there are elements about this that make me uncomfortable, it is done well, and we see the characters with much more depth than we did with the classic series.

The downside is there's less time for geekery. Gritty soap operas can't really go through their normal motions when polarity of the neutron flow is being reversed, propulsion systems are being explained or the political welfare of a distant planet is falling to bits... But there is a good balance, only slightly more in favour of soap over sci-fi for my liking, but I don't really care. It means the show is getting good viewing figures and will stay on the air for a long time to come.

In the distant future (perhaps) - what will happen to the show when Russell T Davies jumps or is pushed?

I do like the fact, though, that we get to see inside people's heads.

At the end of School Reunion, Rose seemed quite willing to have Sarah Jane on board the TARDIS, though her reaction to Mickey staying with them was classic... Perhaps it was because Rose and Sarah Jane had bonded. There was some mutual understanding between them. Sarah Jane knew what Rose was going through now, and Rose knew what had become of Sarah Jane. Mickey just gets in the way between Rose and The Doctor.

Rose now knows that there have been countless companions before her and there will be many more after her.

Rose had that confirmed in The Girl In The Fireplace.

I don't think it will be Mickey's presence that inserts the final nail into the coffin of Rose and The Doctor's relationship. I think Rose will come to see The Doctor as fickle and bugger off. There will be no smooth parting of the ways this time. No-one ever leaves on good terms in a soap opera.

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Interesting links

Neutron Flow
Gaywhovians
Outpost Gallifrey
Official Doctor Who website

13 comments:

Brian Farrey said...

Hmmmm... I hadn't considered this. We certainly are less about the sci fi aspects and more about the interpersonal drama, that much is sure. I still think the show suffers from the 45 minute milieu. I think if they shot for more 90 minute complete stories (more like the classic series) they could then downgrade the interpersonal stuff a notch, up the geeky stuff, and everything would be fine.

I do feel like we get rushed through the plot when we're so often bagged down by character growth (and I'm a HUGE fan of the character growth). While I adored Tooth and Claw, it did feel a bit rushed in terms of story and maybe it could have been stretched out over to eps. I dunno.

All I know for sure is we've got TWO WEEKS OF THE FREAKIN' CYBERMEN! YAY!!!!

gab said...

i love dotor who

the girl in the fireplace was quite sad dont u think?

never seen the doctor that emotional

Minge said...

I just count my lucky stars that the show is on the telly at all.

But I've always dreamed of perfection.

Longer episodes would be better... And why can't character growth be shown over two stories? It only takes a little imagination.

Love your new pic, btw, Brian.

The Girl In The Fireplace was very sad. But sad in a good way. You'd never have got that in the classic series.

I just can't wait for the Cybermen! My only worry, though, is that RTD is playing with the canon. :(

Brian Farrey said...

Thank you. I put the new pic up to tantalize Alan. It's my brooding, "look at me, I'm a Serious Writer" pic.

Minge said...

It works. And I think you'll be tantalizing more men than Alan alone.

I love the word tantalize. In fact, it's one of my favourites.

Brian Farrey said...

I dunno. Adric's death was pretty sad in the classic series.

And as for RTD playing with canon....he's not. I hear this takes place on a parallel Earth so they can do whatever they want in terms of inventing the Cybermen.

Have you heard the Big Finish audio Spare Parts? It's brilliant.

Minge said...

Isn't it a wild coincidence, though, Cybermen being invented in a parallel universe where Cybermen already exist in another?

Perhaps I just need time to get my head around it.

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