Six, seven, eight, nine, ten: then I let it go again.

[strange_complex]

Only yesterday, someone was assuring me that Christopher Ecclestone wasn't going to quit as the Doctor after all, but that it was all a publicity stunt to get people excited. Guess not...

I'm sure this David Tennant guy will be fine, although I didn't watch any of Casanova, so I can't really comment myself. But it just annoys me that a whole incarnation has been used up on only one series, especially given the previous one was wasted on only a one-and-a-half-hour film. There are only 12 to play with, and the remainder need to be conserved! *mutters things about responsibility in the general direction of Christopher Ecclestone*

Also, if this must happen, I'd ideally like to see an older Doctor follow Ecclestone, just to keep a bit of variety in the role. Sure, there's a fine tradition of younger Doctors to follow - especially Peter Davidson. But I'd like to see an actor who can tap into those aspects of the Doctor's character so splendidly explored by people like Jon Pertwee.

Comments

[aletharch.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if there isn't a plus side to the rapid turnover - having a regeneration so early on in the new series will be another good way of introducing the mythology to a new audience. Of course, doubtless kids' parents will have explained to them what Doctor Who is, but given how most of the emphasis of the series so far has been on leaking gradual bits of information about a largely mysterious 9th Doctor to the audience via Rose (the "Time War", the destruction of Gallifrey, the Daleks) then a regeneration at Christmas would be perfect.

Someone wrote something rather interesting that I hadn't thought of before. If Gallifrey has been destroyed and the Doctor is the last surviving Time Lord, then Susan, Romana and possibly Leela are all dead. While I'm not too rabid about fan continuity, I would be rather disappointed if Eccleston doesn't get a single line lamenting the death of his grand-daughter.

Ooh, this is terribly exciting, isn't it? I can't wait for tonight's episode!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, you make a good point about the rapid turnover, given the tone of the series so far.

As for the stuff about Gallifrey, I'm probably not quite an avid enough fan to follow you properly there. I know Romana(etc.) was a Time Lord (Lady?), and I understand that Susan was the first assistant, and is referred to as the Doctor's grand-daughter: but does that automatically make her a Time Lord? I mean, is it genetic and automatic, or is it something some people on Gallifrey can choose to become, but others don't?

And I definitely don't know enough about Leela. I mean, I know she's basically prehistoric, but is she from prehistoric Gallifrey, then?

Sadly, I shan't be able to watch it tonight, as it clashes with a Christopher Lee programme I want to tape on another channel, and I can't tape one thing and watch another on my set-up. Since Doctor Who is repeated (the next night on BBC 3) and the Christopher Lee programme isn't, Mr. Lee has to win out, and I'll just have to wait.

[aletharch.livejournal.com]

I'm not an avid fan, but I've read enough about the show - I tend to live things vicariously rather than experience them directly. I don't know whether or not Susan is actually a Time Lord, and it would also depend on whether one accepts the awful America-friendly line in the Paul McGann movie about the Doctor being half-human (ouch). As for Leela, she's human, but (in a story I haven't seen) she leaves the Doctor to stay on Gallifrey with her newly-acquired Time Lord boyfriend. Given that she's human, however, she's probably dead by Eccleston's time anyway.

Ack - it is unwise to attempt serious analysis of a series that was written on an ad hoc basis!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Ack - it is unwise to attempt serious analysis of a series that was written on an ad hoc basis!

What??? You mean to say that dedicated Whovians might actually be woefully misguided after all?

Surely no-one would go so far!