Doctor Who Christmas Casting Spoiler

[rabid1st]

Yes, it is the one everyone but me has talked about already. But, since it is a spoiler, behind a cut we go...

I had definite mixed feelings about the news that Matt Smith is leaving at Christmas. While I have been very hard on Matt over the past few years, I don't lay the show's issues at his feet. I am not completely convinced that he is the actor others claim him to be, but I am more convinced now than at any other time in his tenure. And while I am more than ready to see Eleven go, that alone doesn't do much for me. If Moff stays on as showrunner, the show will continue to suck. Moff is the real issue at the core of what is wrong with Doctor Who these days. And heaven knows where his ego will lead us next. Will he make River the next Doctor? Who knows? I could just about tolerate Jenna, if he went that way. But, they always talk about female Doctors at regeneration and about regenerations not working. I would hope that the BBC is able to put the brakes on Moff carrying through on anything too radical. But I doubt they will be able to stop him giving us another child-figure Doctor to act on his behalf. Few head writers have been so insistant on using their characters as mouthpieces to vent their own psychological baggage as Moff has done during his run on Doctor Who.

If the rumors of his dictatorial behavior are true, I do sympathize with the BBC and feel that the best move they could make is simply sending the show on extended hiatus, until Moff can be shifted. I don't really believe he has given the show superior ratings. They now rate the show with the concurrent broadcast online and on BBC America. This gives them exaggerated numbers. And I feel the international appeal of the show was really down to David Tennant's run...where they clocked the highest rating figures to date. David had an international appeal...evident in how excited everyone is about his returning appearance in the Anniversary Special. You can bet those numbers will go up. My worry is that Moff will write something so self-serving and obscure that he will put the final nail in the show's international appeal. People will, in other words, get worked up for something special and be cast down to depression by the tripe they are asked to swallow. And the word will spread that Doctor Who is a waste of time...played out...pretty much over for now. Of course, as I said, that could give the BBC an easy way to shift Moff and still keep him working on Sherlock.

Comments

[susanb03.livejournal.com]

I hope they do move Moff to Sherlock permanently. However.... I think Who will be finished.... unfortunatly

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Yes! Things do not look good for Who, if any of the rumors are true. But, I wouldn't mind Moff full time on Sherlock. He's done a good job with that show, so far.

[wickedgillie.livejournal.com]

It's remarkable to me that Moff can make me love Sherlock and hate DW all at the same time. I don't know if it's the 90 minute episodes that gives him time to finish his plotting, or the tighter reins of canon, or team members that balance him better, or superior actors that transcend what's on the page, but to look at the two shows, one would be hard pressed to say they shared a creative team.

I do think Matt has finally become the Doctor. But it's perhaps too little too late, and I won't cry to see him go, particularly if he takes River with him, lol (I don't hate River per se, I just think her arc needs to be DONE)

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

As you know, I've always disliked the concept of River. I don't like predestination stories in any form. Basically, if a character has no room for growth, I don't see why I should bother watching that character. Of course, to Moff and his fans, the reason you watch a character is to figure out their mystery. But, that, in my view is so very limiting. I didn't like the Doctor River described in the Library episodes and I didn't like her, so I didn't want to see any of her predictions come to pass...never mind the "mystery" of who she was or if she was telling us the truth. Turned out her "mystery" was pretty straightforward, too, which is what I've been saying about Moff for years. He's generally going to tell us exactly what's about to happen, because he's such a meticulous plotter.

That meticulousness works in his favor with Sherlock. All of those little clues coming together into a solution. Also, yeah, he played with Sherlock as much as he could...setting it in another century...but I think everyone on that series keeps his ego in check. I only saw it out there in the Irene Adler episode when he has Sherlock save her when there is no logic in that...and also it diminishes the character of Irene. Still, I think the real thing that causes Sherlock to be better is Moff having respect for the character and the fans. He feels Sherlock fans are serious adults and he's trying to please them. He feels children, the supposed fanbase of Doctor Who, can be manipulated into believing anything. He's wrong about that. I would imagine children are already over Doctor Who.

Rae

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

The tone of every public statement is consistent with this:

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/77321072.html

Only the vaguest promises re an S8 are being made. I think Matt held on until the 50th Anniversary stuff was in place, like the pro he is, but he's going now before the show takes his career down the pan with it.

But it will be back. Yes, it will come back. Until then, go forward....

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

...in all your beliefs.

:snicker:

We are such nerds.

I had not read this letter before last night. However, I can easily see most of this being true. As you know, I've labeled Moff a meticulous narcissist based solely on his work. And, after the S7 finale, I stand by that assessment of him. This letter is consistent with my beliefs about his ego.

I had expected Matt to leave soon. My hope was that he and Moff would leave together. This business about the ratings is puzzling to me, because the ratings on Doctor Who continue to fall...even with overnight numbers being discounted. For example:

1 Parting of the Ways 6,910,000 17th
2 Doomsday 8,220,000 8th
3 Last of the Time Lords 8,610,000 7th
4 Journey's End 10,567,000 1st
5 The Big Bang 6,696,000 10th
6 The Wedding of River Song 7,670,000 16th
7 The Name of The Doctor 7,453,000 8th

Interestingly, these numbers are consistent with my own watching figures. I stopped watching in S5, came back in S6...and was quite interested in the finale of S7. Of course, just like with JE...once the audience shows up and is deeply disappointed you can count on a ratings lull. Though, perhaps, the anniversary will bring us in. I know I'm coming back for it. But I think I am leaving after, just like Matt...:grin:

I think that Who has become an international phenomenon under Moff, coincidentally, and that is largely because of the simulcasting. It is David and Billie reuniting that holds the ratings title for Stolen Earth and JE. And we need to remember that Doomsday was NOT simulcast to get extra numbers. I feel David brought the show to international attention, before he left. And he is the most recognizable of the Doctors now.

Matt has done more international publicity, for sure. And Moff has pushed the show to America...but I don't believe the international popularity is down to them. Still, your idea for an American spin-off might come to pass one day. I sort of hope not. I would rather we had some sort of cooperative arrangement. I like the Doctor's British core, it gives him some authority. :grin:

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Thought this might interest you...given your thoughts on the future of Doctor Who...

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/mtvs-teen-wolf-marketing-strategy-revealed-first-look-161106493.html

Are you a Teen Wolf fan? I found I enjoyed it very much once I was halfway through S1. I'm not interactive online with it. But I sort of regret not writing out my fanfic idea for them, since it appears everyone else has done something. 10,000 fanfics...WOW!

Rae

[astitchintime-9.livejournal.com]

'Yes' and 'me, too' to almost every point in your post & the followup discussion comments. Moffat needs to go do Sherlock, Smith needs to move on.

We are in general agreement. However, I did not watch River's arc (Pond season2), with the single exception of Souffle Girl's episode, for reference. As concerns River, she either needs to be rescued or let R.I.P.

I am braced (I hope!) for the Anniversary, but I'm not especially looking forward to it.

[develish1]

I'm far less worried about who Twelve will be (although I admit I'm expecting a pretty boy) than I am about the fact that Moff is staying on. In fact, given how much tripe he asked Matt to attempt to act his way through, I feel rather sorry for whoever has been cast to replace him.

And yes, I said cast, because although there's been no actual info released yet, I'm certain they've already hired someone and just aren't telling yet

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Right there with you. Moff is the core problem. And, yeah, I'm sure they have recast already. Though, the special hasn't gone into production, yet. Still, they generally know well in advance who they are looking at. They could bridge the gap this time with John Hurt...if he is Twelve. Have him stay on for an episode or something, but I imagine they knew about Matt way before we knew. So...yeah...

Anyway, as we have both noted, Matt is not the issue. Even if, like me, you don't credit Matt with great acting ability, he's still been quite a trooper with the tripe, as you mention. So, I feel no sense of relief about this news, only dread about what Moff is going to do next to my beloved Doctor.

Rae

[develish1]

hmmm, you still haven't added me back? *pouts* not that I post much of any import really, but the odd DT pic must surely appeal, no? I'm joking by the way. Humour just doesn't translate to text does it? lol

Anyway, If I remember correctly, they offered DT the job when they were only about half way through filming on season 1, so I doubt very much they've gotten as close as they are now to the start of filming the Christmas ep without having already cast Matt's replacement.

Even Moffat isn't that stupid that he'd chance leaving himself without a leading man (or having to settle at the last minute) when he knows he needs him for those final scenes. Like you I'm sure they've known for far longer than anyone is admitting that Matt wasn't staying beyond the end of the year.

I've only seen Matt in a couple of things outside DW, and I'm not that impressed with him in general really, I certainly don't think he's the "awesome" actor some seem to think he is, but I was starting to warm to him as Eleven, finally.

I dunno, I'm still more worried about what crap Moff's going to pull with the 50th to get too worked up about Christmas I think