Matt Smith leaving Doctor Who?

[The Romulan Republic]

Hey Romulan Republic, I don't know if you've heard of this show called Doctor DW Who, but it's about this guy who has fun adventures and constantly defeats the same guys doing increasingly stupid things with ever more contrived plot devices! It's just like in comic books!

There is some truth to that, but the show has introduced new villains recently and honestly, I doubt its all that much more silly than its always been, though I haven't seen that much of the old series.

When you overuse something, it gets boring. They've cut back on the tired old Daleks, but they're still a tempting cop-out for any lazy writer to inherit some pathos rather than having to actually create something. While Smiths period is pretty dodgy at least they're honestly trying something, instead of endlessly rehashing the same old fan service like RTD was wont to.

That just means they should be used less, and only by good writers. Not that they should never be used again.

If I said 'every Dalek story after Doomsday has been shit' you'd just get upset.

No, I wouldn't, because I haven't watched every Dalek story since Doomsday, and I honestly don't know one way or the other. I am not, as you seem to believe, a Dalek fanboy, nor do I have any real emotional investment in defending them. But I expect that won't stop you from making arrogant assumptions about me and my motives.

[Stark]

There is some truth to that, but the show has introduced new villains recently and honestly, I doubt its all that much more silly than its always been, though I haven't seen that much of the old series. [/qutoe]

Is there any content in this statement?

That just means they should be used less, and only by good writers. Not that they should never be used again.

Is this relevant to our ability to predict the quality of Dalek stories?

No, I wouldn't, because I haven't watched every Dalek story since Doomsday, and I honestly don't know one way or the other. I am not, as you seem to believe, a Dalek fanboy, nor do I have any real emotional investment in defending them. But I expect that won't stop you from making arrogant assumptions about me and my motives.

I guess it won't stop you making knee-jerk defensive strawmen like 'prove it is impossible to make a good Dalek story', eitther. It's not impossible they can break a five year drought - but it's worth remembering most of the OLD Dalek stories sucked shit too, especially post-Davros. They're just not very interesting villans, unless they're playing off the rest of the cast (like Dalek, Genesis, etc). When all they have going for them is pathos and high threat level, every time you use them in a stupid way it damages the whole idea of using them again. Yes, Virginia, fanservice DOES ruin plot elements.

[The Romulan Republic]

You fucked up your quotes Stark.

Anyway, how is that a strawman? You basically asserted that Dalek stories would always lack drama.

I do acknowledge its difficult to keep things fresh if they're overused, which is why the current break from the Daleks is one of the smarter things Moffat has done. But it should not be a permanent break. And considering they are basically the Doctor's arch enemy (or maybe Davros is, since he made them), it seems fitting to bring them back for the anniversary.

[Stark]

Fuuuuuuuu. I can't edit anymore, sorry. Goddamn.

And I expressed amazement that anyone would look forward to another Dalek-themed finale in the current show. Unless there are major changes between now and then, why would it suck any less than the last ones? What predominance of experience or evidence leads you to optimism on this issue?

[The Romulan Republic]

I could counter by asking what makes you think a non-Dalek finale will be any better. I personally liked The Big Bang, but The Wedding of River Song kind of sucked.

I don't particularly expect a Dalek finale to be good, but I think it has a chance of being good, just like a non-Dalek finale has a chance of sucking balls. And I think that Moffat has actually handled the Daleks fairly well (ie not overusing them and making them effective villains when they do appear). And most of the Dalek episodes you disliked were under prior management.

[Darth Fanboy]

They should make Dr. Who black, or asian. That would be interesting.

[The Romulan Republic]

Okay, first of all, the characters' name is "The Doctor". Not Doctor Who.

Second of all, I would have no problem with it, and there's no reason it couldn't happen given what we've heard about regeneration. On the other hand, a lot of fans would probably be pissed. Half the fan base would probably say they'd ruined the Doctor, and the other half would probably call the first half racist. It would be a cluster fuck.

[Crateria]

Okay, first of all, the characters' name is "The Doctor". Not Doctor Who.

Second of all, I would have no problem with it, and there's no reason it couldn't happen given what we've heard about regeneration. On the other hand, a lot of fans would probably be pissed. Half the fan base would probably say they'd ruined the Doctor, and the other half would probably call the first half racist. It would be a cluster fuck.

Pretty sure Fanboy is being sarcastic.

[The Romulan Republic]

Hard to tell some times.

[Hillary]

William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton each played the role for two years, however there were far more episodes produced in a given year in the 1960s than there would be in the '70s and onward. Jon Pertwee had five years, followed by Tom Baker's seven.

Peter Davison played the role for three years again, but by the time his third year was done he regretted handing in his resignation. Colin Baker played the role for two seasons spread out over three years (with a sizeable gap in between) and was then fired. Sylvester McCoy also played the role for three years, however the length of the seasons had been shortened again by this point and he would have continued for at least one more year if the show hadn't been cancelled.

The first two did over 3 years in the role each.

Hartnell - 1963-1966.
Troughton 1966-1969

[DaveJB]

Hartnell did pretty much exactly three years as the Doctor, but Troughton was nearer two-and-a-half if you want to be precise; he came in at the very end of 1966, and left in mid 1969.

As for casting a black Doctor, I think the (initial) fan disappointment about Matt Smith getting the role over Patterson Joseph proves that fandom probably wouldn't have much of a problem with a Doctor of a different race. Personally, I think it'd be one of those rare instances where the general audience got their knickers in a twist moreso than the hardcore fans.

[evilsoup]

Considering that racism is close to the worst thing you can accuse someone of at the moment, I don't think that most people would even risk commenting on it of we had a black (or whatever) Doctor. You'd get some comment in the gutter-press, but even they've seriously scaled back the racism recently (now, if they got a foreign actor for the Doctor, then you'd see complaints). It's a shame Lenny Henry's too old for the part (assuming the show keeps going with younger actors), he'd have made an awesome Doctor.

WAIT Patterson Joseph - that's the boss-guy from Peep Show, right? Oh G-d, he'd have been fantastic!

[open_sketchbook]

Yeah, I don't think there would really be too much outrage over a black Doctor. Sure, a few closet racists would try to find other reasons to declare him Worst Doctor Ever, but that's par for course whenever a new Doctor gets involved. The worst you'd get is people claiming tokenism.

Making the new Doctor a woman, however, would be an impressive move; casual sexism is still pretty widespread and generally more socially acceptable, so the shitstorm that would ensue would be biblical.

[The Romulan Republic]

Apparently Smith has now said that he is not planning to leave Doctor Who:

http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/smith-not-quit ... -27757.htm

Shockwaves spread across the net last week when Matt Smith possibly hinted that he may only have one year left on Doctor Who.

However, in a interview promoting the upcoming Series 6 DVD, Matt says he has no plans to give up role any time soon.

“We work very long hours every day for nine months. The schedule is pretty brutal, but I’d never complain about it. I love playing this role, and I don’t want to give it up anytime soon,” he said.

“I feel very lucky. In the current climate for actors, I’d never say, ‘This is too much’ – quite the opposite, in fact. I’d say, ‘Bring it on’.”

[Tsyroc]

They should make Dr. Who black, or asian. That would be interesting.

I think Dr. Who was already Asian in King Kong Escapes.