Doctor Who

Coles seems to just kinda hang around the BBC and be an all around quite interesting fella, though I think the Co E has a habit of getting vicars who've lead interesting lives, my old vicar was a former teacher and my current one spent some time in Iran before the revolution.

Stephen Fry also pretty much plays himself in the V for Vendetta film, oh and he was a massive early mover on Twitter and recently quit because Twitter is now full of people looking to get offended on behalf of others even if that person isn't offended (I belive the most recent incident was Fry poking fun at a friend at the BAFT As and Twitter launching a witch hunt against him).

edited 15th Feb '16 10:57:38 PM by Silasw

Now I know why I can't recognize Johnathan Pryce as the Master in Curse of Fatal Death. Seeing him with and without the false beard, I can see that his most distinctive feature is his chin.

"Trying to get into the franchise. David Tennant is the best thing about it."

I agree!

I'm sure he's a lovely person and he's a pretty good actor. I've enjoyed many of his roles.

It's just. I dunno that I want "Kilgrave but worse" as the Doctor?

Which, in all honesty, isn't even entirely his fault. He didn't write the scripts.

edited 17th Feb '16 5:48:59 PM by unnoun

Just how good is Tennant in "Jennifer Jones"? I've heard conflicting reports.

I don't know if that's necessarily a fair summary of his character.

That said, I'll agree with you that things could have been handled better.

edited 17th Feb '16 8:02:07 PM by KarkatTheDalek

Tennant's performance is bog-standard for him, but the material elevates it.

Tennant is also really well cast in the role. He actually plays Kilgrave quite similar to his doctor, though more vain and prone to tantrums. It works in JJ, because the narrative understands just how vile he is.

Agreed.

Tennant isn't better in JJ, the script just knows how to get the absolute most out of the demure Tennant often employs.

Which leaves me wondering what on earth Tennant could do next with his career.

He was really good in the Hamlet play I went to see, so I think with DW it was just muddled writing than his performance.

Having only seen Tennant in three things, I have to wonder—does he display more range in things that aren't Who and Fright Night, and Jones just wanted him to use that particular mode for effect? Or is that legit the only way he knows how to act?

I'd say he has more verity in hamlet, mostly because he went for such an understated take on the character.

I haven't seen him as Hamlet, but.

I mean, as the Doctor there's a sort of "romantic protagonist" edge to him? That broad sort of style? The Manic Pixie Dream Guy thing. Like Edward Cullen or Christian Gray. Who takes the humdrum life of girls and brings adventure and stuff if you go along with them and do what they want and help them with all the pain inside. That broad archtype.

The thing is that the character type is kinda really fucked up in a lot of ways? And what I love about what I've seen of Kilgrave (I don't have netflix and can only watch JJ when I'm hanging out with someone that does) is the way some of his mannerisms are quite clearly a critique of that? Like, he's clearly someone that's seen Fifty Shades or Twilight or whatever and internalized that sort of possessiveness and abuse as what love is and should be.

What I've seen was really cathartic. Like, there's a few mannerisms and things that are a little similar to the Tenth Doctor.

What I always wanted with Ten was for the narrative to recognize him for what he is and what he does.

edited 18th Feb '16 9:30:27 AM by unnoun

I've heard people say that his acting is better in things that aren't Doctor Who, because his Doctor is "Fanboy David in the TARDIS" and other roles he actually works to create a character.

...I mean, yeah, I can see that a bit with Ten also.

Sarah Dollard interview!

What about that character type seems fucked up to you?

edited 18th Feb '16 9:30:02 AM by KarkatTheDalek

...Besides the fact that it tends to be a massive reduction of agency and normalizes abuse?

I mean, yes, with your Edwards and your Grays and what have you.

It's just that...I was just wondering, is the abuse inherent in the broader archetype? Could you theoretically write such a character without the problematic bits?

I'm not sure why I'm asking - it's not like I'm planning on writing one.

I mean.

...I'm given to understand part of it is the idea that you can "change" or "fix" or "heal" your partner, and that's fucked up. And tends to result in abusive relationships.

I mean. I don't get romantic relationships in general, and my main issue with characters of the type is that they creep me the fuck out. There's an extent to which I don't quite understand it and don't know how to articulate? Like, maybe I've got some objectivity, but that might make me condescending and.

I mean. I'm not specifically talking about Ten, but the Doctor under Davies in general, including Nine, but in Journey's End he specifically says Rose should "fix" Handyman the way she "fixed" him.

edited 18th Feb '16 9:46:29 AM by unnoun

I mean, part of me wants to say that I don't really see a problem with someone helping their romantic partner through their issues, but I don't think that's what you mean?

I don't know what I mean.

Well, you mentioned "fixing" or "healing" someone, so I suppose that's where my mind jumped?

Would you prefer if we talked about something else? Because I'd be fine with that.

edited 18th Feb '16 10:39:32 AM by KarkatTheDalek

No.

I'm not actually sure I know what I'm talking about? I'm repeating concepts I've heard and that make sense but that I have little experience with and don't quite understand.

The manic pixie dream guy archetype is a major red flag for me personally. I used to fill that archetype and I can tell you that perceptions of gender are such that while a manic pixie dream girl will be romanticised but infantalised, the manic pixie dream guy will be remantasized and have a society very eager to take his side on any issue.

So while a woman who does what she likes will have autonomy taken from her, a man who does what he wants will be supported in getting away with anything he wishes, because it's "Audacious"

Speaking first hand when I was young and manic I was given way too much power, people were all to eager to defend me for things they should have Damned me for, all meanwhile my female presenting friends who were going through much the same personality turmoil were treated to the opposite.