Billie vs. David

[rabid1st]

Come on...? Let's not go there.

My recent comment about David annoying me with his comments about the Doctor's mindset in Runaway Bride...prompted someone else to say that Billie had also made annoying comments. Which I'm sure she has. And if one of her annoying comments inspires ranting in you...rant on. I will try to defend Billie...as someone else tried to defend David (and indeed...as I myself defended David) for his remark. I will look for the good behind what she/he said. For example: Billie is feeling pain, regret and loss over her decision to leave Dr. Who...and she knows her fans are feeling the same thing. So, she's going to express those feelings and be quoted.

But I would rather not let one annoying comment escalate into who is more annoying...person A or person B. Especially, when I adore BOTH A & B and they appear to be quite fond of each other. Overall, I think Billie and David are handling this transition amazingly well. Both of them come across as lovely people who care very much about what they do and continue to wish one another the best. But they are at the center of a media blitz and the media has a vested interest in stirring up trouble to sell papers or magazines. As fans, we should remember that. Everyone is going to be quoted for the most impact.

This loss of Rose and moving on to Martha isn't about Billie vs. David. Both of them should enjoy the most success they can have as people and actors. I want Billie to be a shining star. I want to watch Dr. Who for David's sake...and Russell's. I want to adore Freema as Martha Jones.

I want a Rose/Ten reunion movie...not just for me but because I think Dr. Who deserves a really good film after all these years and NOW they have something people will pay to see. The time has never been riper to bring a great Dr. Who film into being than right now. Young, appealing stars. A reunion fans will talk about online to start buzz. Spiderman and the X-men leading the way. Dr. Who is the next logical step...and David and Billie are the logical stars.

Every comment I make is designed to get my reasons for watching/not watching OUT THERE...so the people in charge can make informed decisions. Not that I think anyone is remotely interested in my little live journal...but the PTB are aware of the fanbase...and I want to represent. I'm sure everyone who is THRILLED with some new comment will also be expressing themselves (as I just did about Russell's comment...simply because it gave me a reason to go on watching a show I've always enjoyed). My Christmas wish for the New Who fandom is we all represent the best in fandom and that none of us express ourselves via fandom wars.

Rae

Comments

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

I don't find anything they've said RUDE, either. I think they've both been wonderful and warm and lovely. I found David's comment annoying because it undermined all the work Russell had done trying to convince people TRB wasn't a romantic comedy. Russell was trying to entice me (and others like me) back to the storyline. And it was working, with me, until David spoke up.

I am always going to side with the writer (or producer) over anyone else's interpretation of a storyline. RTD knows what he's trying to convey...his success is measured in how well he conveys what he means to the audience. In the BSG fandom...I disagree with Ron Moore about what will sell tickets (keep the ratings up)...and I seem to have called that one dead on...he's lost 1/2 his audience to his 'vision' and insistence on ignoring his show's strengths.

For what it's worth...I totally agree with you about TV...I watch for my own enjoyment...period. And I think the actors are paid to provide me with my enjoyment and I seldom listen to their interviews. But the Dr. Who set is so closed...and really...I'm so torn about watching...I look for tidbits.

Also, part of MY enjoyment in a work is tied up in the quality of the storytelling. Russell is my little squishy puppy right now...I love how he's orchestrated all of this...dealt with the difficulties...and I was happy to see him appear with David and set things right after David went down the "Romantic-Comedy" path for a minute there. I just don't know who to believe...but my money is on RTD. As for Billie, David and Russell...they are all, in my opinion, showing remarkable sensitivity to the fanbase.

Rae

[halfrek2.livejournal.com]

i am not up on all the interviews and whatnot. can you explain what you meant by

dealt with the difficulties...and I was happy to see him appear with David and set things right after David went down the "Romantic-Comedy" path for a minute there.

thank you.

Sure...I'll try

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Russell was interviewed by Doctor Who Magazine and they tried to get him to say that The Runaway Bride is a romantic-comedy because it follows a particular story-format.

That format is...two people meet...hate each other on sight...have to work together...quibble and bicker and fall in love.

Russell repeatedly denies Runaway Bride is any sort of Rom-Com because "there is no suggestion of romance...that would be very insensitive" and lots of other stories follow the format of two people who don't particularly get along learning to appreciate each other by the end of an adventure. He names the movie "The 39 Steps" and says nobody would call that a romantic comedy.

So...I'm breathing easy as a Rose/Doctor shipper who has a broken heart but still wants to watch Doctor Who. Fans often forget that there must be LOTS of Rose/Doctor shippers out there at the moment feeling bereft and not really wanting to go on watching. But Russell and David need our ratings points to keep the show afloat. Russell remembers that...and so I say he's handling this difficult transition very intelligently. Gently easing us into New Who without Rose...so that people like myself don't bail on the show.

David then comes along and says...Donna and the Doctor "fall for each other by the end" of TRB. This plays directly into the Romantic Comedy format...and suggests there IS a romance after all. So, now we have TWO people (a DWM interviewer and David) suggesting to me that TRB is not a sensitive piece of fan-handling but is instead a romantic comedy. Who do I believe? Maybe I'd do better to just not watch, I think. I don't want to have my heart stomped on after it's already broken.

Enter RTD again...this time WITH David...to say...no, hang on...it's light and fun but it's not insensitive to the fans in mourning. Not a romantic comedy...and I breath a sigh of relief as I shoot a pointed glare toward David for scaring me like that so close to Christmas. ;->

Rae

Re: Sure...I'll try

[halfrek2.livejournal.com]

thank you very much for that explanation. it makes sense now.

as one of those "heartbroken" Rose/Dr shippers, i have to say that S3 will be bittersweet. i want to watch the Dr. but i am not ready for "light" fun. i am still not over Rose. not sure i am over losing CE at Nine either. :P dont get me wrong, i adore DT and i like him as the Dr.

i do hope that TRB will be an okay transition. i also hope that at some point Rose will be addressed by the Dr. i have a lot of hope. ;) do note that this is not the first time that my little fangirl heart was ripped out and stomped on. def. not my first by any means.

thanks again for the thorough explanation. it makes me look forward to new Who.

Re: Sure...I'll try

[marcella-riddle.livejournal.com]

Well, for what it's worth, I don't think he meant fall in the chocolate and roses sense. But he must like Donna to some degree, otherwise why would he ask her to travel with him? She's his rebound.

I imagine you are correct

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

David probably didn't mean to underscore TRB as romantic-comedy...but he might believe that because another person saw it that way, too. The comment isn't that important in the scheme of things...it is just hard for me to get up my nerve to watch sans Billie and David's remark didn't help matters. From what I've seen of the Runaway Bride ads and clips on YouTube...I like Donna, too. She looks like she would have made a great new companion...so I can't blame the Doctor for offering her a ride.

Also, there is a sort of symmetry to his drawing Rose away from Mickey and her mum. A sort of Peter Pan sense of himself...that he can take someone along on adventures and then drop them back into their lives again without harming them. Even though...historically...his track record on happy companions isn't very good. Elton had that right.

Rae

Re: I imagine you are correct

[firefaery2.livejournal.com]

I agree that I didn't view David's comment as a suggestion of any romantic involvment between the Doctor and Donna. I took it simply as a throw-away comment about the basic structure of the christmas special- they become fond of eachother by the end.
David may not have thought through the way in which he worded his comment, which has resulted in it causing a stir amoung Rose/Doctor shippers. Then again, I can't say it doesn't irritate me quite how seriously his comment has been taken, the extent to which it has been pulled apart to suggest something that I'm sure he never intended. We should allow for a little error and understand that it would be highly impractical for him to pause before answering every single question to work out all the ways in which we may be alienated by what he says. He meant no harm.
Personally, I watch Doctor Who for the story and, although I am an enormous Rose/Doctor shipper, there was never any question as to whether I would carry on watching the show or not. RTD is a fantastic writer and I think that is reason enough to stay tuned-in. I admit that this next series will be bittersweet, in my eyes at least, because of Rose's absence, and I will be very dissapointed in there is no acknowledgement of the Doctor's grief. However, I trust RTD not to allow the Doctor to move on too quickly for the sake of his story and his audience.
From what I've seen of Donna, I have full faith in her as a decent character and temporary companion. I'm simply extremely interested in seeing where the world of Doctor Who ventures next and, although all the while I'll be missing Rose, the nature of the show is to move on. David, Billie and RTD have, without fail, been fantastic throughout.

Pat...Pat...Pat

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Then again, I can't say it doesn't irritate me quite how seriously his comment has been taken, the extent to which it has been pulled apart to suggest something that I'm sure he never intended.

See how easy it is to get irritated? I'm sorry if people, other than myself, have been casting the gimlet eye at David. I'm sure most people aren't going to go off on him even if he publically states that Martha is better for the Doctor than Rose or whatever. But some people will. Other people might stand up and say "amen"...the problem for me is when they start bickering back and forth like vultures over an antelope carcass.

I adore David...he's talented, sexy and I find his voice very soothing. I often listen to him just to relax (he's like the saxophone). And I think RTD is a fantastic writer, too. But I'm not happy Billie is gone (I don't blame her...I'm just not happy) and I'm not sure about staying tuned...I'm not sure I'll enjoy myself...not like I've enjoyed myself the last two season.

I'll have to think it over. Everyone watches for a different reason and as I said above...in the midst of shipper wars we seem to forget that nobody is under any obligation to watch a television show. Saying you like a show...or dislike it...or are upset by something...doesn't really harm anyone. But it sets off fans in the opposition camp. And that's really not very helpful to producers and other executives. If lots of people agree that a show has tanked, even if those people never speak up...the ratings go down...and the show gets switched to another night...maybe even another network*.

But it's not like I set off on a crusade to shut the show down. And I'm not out to ruin David's career because things aren't going my way or because he said something thoughtless (or with full intent, even). If I ceaselessly mocked people who disagree with me...I could understand people being upset by my taking a stand against no Rose on Doctor Who but as it is...if the show is meant to go on...it will go on without me.

Of course, by the time S3 gets to America...late in 2007, I imagine...I could well be over my Rose-heartbreak and be ready to watch.

Rae
*sorry...a bit of BSG ranting there.

Re: Sure...I'll try

[immiinthetardis.livejournal.com]

Thanks for summing it up for me. I had read all these things, I just hadn't linked them together in my head - I've been a bit stressed lately.

But I have to thank our fandom once again, because for any silly people that go over the top with things and don't consider them carefully, we have people who make something seem rational and not as bad as it looks on first glance and then I feel happier.

Thank you. =]