[GlasgowBoy @replies]

@thayne15 and @jimthefish

Like Thayne I am becoming bored with this but there is something I need to mention. Jimthefish appears to have made quite appalling assumptions about me. I mentioned the thesis, not as a way of bragging, but as a defence of those who would assume I was some sort of sexist moron. I made comment that those who disagree with the latest casting are made to feel that they need to prove they are not sexist before they can comment. You request that I post a link suggests that you think I am such a person and need to prove otherwise. Either that or I will be judged by you. I think I’ll pass on the link, thank you. Don’t want to let any lurking keyboard trolls into my professional or family life. I was annoyed with that, but that was ok. The bit that followed was not.

“It doesn’t mean you’re not operating under sexist assumptions now. Frankly, this statement of yours sounds like it falls suspiciously into the ‘but some of my best friends are black’ camp argument”.

That is offensive.  You are making a completely unsupported and incorrect suggestion that I am sexist. Then you’ve thrown in a little nod towards racism too. This is not acceptable. May I remind you of the etiquette of this forum – something you yourself posted about on this thread:

“Personal attacks on members of the forum are not welcome…..Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t mean doesn’t mean that they’re stupid or Hitler”.

I could add “or sexist”. Perhaps you’d like to withdraw your comment and apologise? Either that or change the wording about making personal attacks to include “except when it comes to me”.

You go on about the liberal values of Dr Who and this forum and yet show intolerance of anyone who disagrees with you. Do I need to remind you that the definition of tolerance is “the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with”.  Or perhaps you’d like to add “except when it comes to me ” on to that as well? I disagree with the casting of JW. Get over it.

Or is it a case of ‘all opinions are equal but some are more equal than others’?

@thayne15  I think we agree to disagree. Thank you for your comments, much appreciated.

Finally (for I have no intention of posting after this) does anyone know the answer to my question? How long has JW been contracted for? If it is only one series then it looks like the BBC are hedging their bets and do not have the courage of their convictions.

 

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

@thane15

You obviously missed the reference to the lump of putty under the arm (armpit). Ask your mother. You mention the contradictions in my post but neither highlight, explain them, or show any contradiction. Feel free to expand. I have not, at any point said what an alien can or cannot be, simply that I think this regeneration has been miscast. You mention some people as being moronic and racist. Kindly turn your ire on them, not me.  I do not agree on the shoehorning on gender change but then we are all allowed an opinion. I was referring to The Doctor, notthe supporting characters – perhaps you missed that. As for ‘onwards and upwards’, I would say that Dr Who has been circling the plughole for some time and is now headed downwards. Only time will tell. I am sure the same viewing trends will be seen on IPlayer, ITunes etc.

And I have no idea why you need to mention your age. Is it relevant – or are you suggesting mine is?

 

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

@drben  Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve been watching the show all these decades and didn’t notice that the Doctor regenerates – the very topic of my post. Anything else of interest that might have passed me unnoticed? The Beatles? Star Trek? The Falklands War? Oh, and wasn’t some chap shot the night of the first episode? Thanks for keeping me posted.

 

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

I read the interview and was struck by the comment about not being afraid of gender. I thought that was both pretentious and patronising. Does anyone on here really believe that those who object to this change have some sort of fear of the female gender? Since then (and go check) most of the comments attacking those who oppose this change have centred on gender. Those who oppose this casting have been labelled as misogynistic, bigoted, sexist, or just plain moronic. They have been made to feel that they must prove they are none of these things before they can make a comment. No. This concerns the changing of a character that has been formed over 50 years. A character that was hugely successful. Dr Who was (and still can be ) an excellent science fiction programme. At the moment it is nothing less than a column in the Guardian. Dr Who has been replaced by Doctor Right On. If you think I am wrong then go check over the previous pages. How much discussion is on Science Fiction/Dr Who, and how much is on gender issues.? Oh, and if anyone wants to fling the sexist, misogynist, bigoted card my way then I can direct them to some a very interesting thesis that deals with the subjugation of women and their celluloid representation and oppression on screen in a phallocentric society.  I know cos I wrote it.

This casting strikes me as nothing more than vainglorious pontification masquerading as progress. “But The Doctor is an alien and can be any shape or form or gender”. The whole gender  was shoehorned in on the last series to justify its presentation. The Doctor can be anything. Any gender. Any sexual persuasion. Any race. So what if he was French, or a talking ape (Andy Serkis), or a lump of putty under an armpit?

There are those who say change is necessary and we must move on to survive. Sounds a bit like those experts who said Coca Cola had to change their recipe – and we know how that worked out. I will be happy – very happy – to be proven wrong on this, but I doubt it. I expect a surge in viewing figures at the start and then for numbers to tumble. Oh, and one question. Does anyone know how many series JW has been signed for? This is NOT a gender issue, it’s a miscasting issue. It’s the BBC thinking they need to make a statement when none is needed. Frankly, it’s a mess.

I hope you enjoy the show. I will not castigate those who continue to watch and accept/pretend this is the same character. Dr Who has changed forever. Some embrace the change and some do not. I am in the latter. Strange thing is, those very people who castigate those who don’t like the change , whom they call misogynists, bigots and sexists – those people are presenting themselves as the tolerant ones.

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

Both predictable and bad.

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

I watched the Lego Batman Movie straight after this and , honestly, it made more sense. I’m glad so many enjoyed it but I thought it was a poor finale, especially after last week’s episode which was excellent.

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

I thought that episode was excellent. The writing and the acting was top notch. I have no idea about next week but would hazard a guess that Bill will be saved by the Doctor and it is this act that causes his death/regeneration. As much as I will miss Capaldi’s Doctor, I will also miss Gomez’s Missy. She has been outstanding throughout. Question – Does anyone know if we will see the new Doctor next week or if it will end with the start of the regeneration?

 

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

I thought this started off very well but then went a bit twee. Definite echoes of the film ‘Outlander’. Didn’t really get the whole teenager survivor bit. Also, the beast kills thousands of Roman soldiers but is defeated by a bunch of kids in a hut? All a bit Scooby Doo. And the Romans just happen to have a secret tunnel in o the Picts hut? Bill falls down hole and lands in front of one of the main protagonists again

Still have a nagging feeling that Bill is a bit underwhelming. Well, not really underwhelming but nothing like the exceptional individual the Doctor tells us she is.  Nardol gets better every week.

Re Missy- how’s this for a bonkers theory? Missy has been slowly killing The Doctor all along  She kills him and he “goes out fighting” . Then she kills herself and regenerates into The Master – this way she is not ‘biologically locked out’ of The Tardis. Master steals Tardis.

 

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

Just watched this episode and found it very enjoyable. On the plus side – great fun. Liked the references to various films, both visual (First Men in the Moon, Zulu, Jason and the Argonauts) and spoken. Liked the whole  steam punk thing. On the negative side- some of the dialogue lazy and poor “Oi Queenie!” And the very naff sneaking round the back to steal the big gun when no-one is looking. Easy to forgive the plot holes though. A very enjoyable episode

Question – is it just me or are we getting some cheap cardboard cut out for some of the Tardis exterior shots?

[GlasgowBoy @replies]

‘Underwhelming’ would appear to be the general gist. Personally, I thought it was very poor. Perhaps I missed something but can someone explain the monk on the prison ship? If it was all a set up by the doctor, what was it doing there? Why wasn’t Bill imprisoned from the start? If she was the key to world domination (another very weak point) then why was she allowed to wander wherever she wanted?

The whole ‘Power of Love’ thing was very poor. Straight out of Peter Pan, but they’ve done that before.

And to end on a general whinge, the Doctor continually tells Bill (and us) how wonderful and exceptional she is. I’m still to be convinced.

Glad that some really enjoyed it. Can’t please everyone I suppose.

 

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