@thane16 @dentarthurdent

I observe these were criticisms made of Moffat. They are aren’t my accusations. But, yes, RTD was also quite up for all that. Personally, I don’t really understand the angst, other than it being the natural tension of a kiddult scifi show. To me it’s Hinchcliffe/Holmes vs Whitehouse or JNT/Seward vs Grade.

I went out a…[Read more]

@thane16 @dentesrthurdent @whohar

Thought I’d move over here…

Right! Neither I, nor Cardinals Fang or Biggles quite expected that!

Personally, I start off with the existential question ‘why should any right-minded Whovian be u fuly critical of Moff?’; and ‘how could the show written by Chib be both SO tedious AND incoherent.’ It shouldn’t b…[Read more]

@thane16 @dentarthurdent

The Test. I did kind of say Moff didn’t really care. Do I? Well, it’s there now. You would think it might be successfully extolled at some point. And yet examples are few. To the extent that Dan ended up giving Yaz the talk… I mean… ah???

But Moff (and Jamie Matthieson) did lock Clara and Maisie in the baggage car of…[Read more]

@thane16

Moff: you know where my sympathies lie. But there are those who cannot stand him, consider him ‘unwho’. He clearly wasn’t bothered what side of the Bechdel Test he landed. I am inclined to think an awareness of the principle of the Test should be enough. In the words of Arcade Fire: ‘I guess we’ll just have to adjust.’

BUT the plots did…[Read more]

@thane16

Hi!

I went off on one a bit. How could RTD speak so convincingly about the special that wasn’t? The BBC authorise the press releases don’t they?

But, what with the dire ratings, it was hard to see how there wouldn’t be a problem at some point. Murky business.

The furore over Billie Piper was really quite distressing. She’s an actor.…[Read more]

@janetteb

For All Mankind has been recommended to me. Not sure its on my package though. Anna Maxwell Martin ought to make an appearance in Line of Duty too.

Slow Horses entertains and annoys. It would seem to occupy a very ‘LeCarresque’ universe and I’m not sure that takes kindly to send up. The ex CIA mastermind was ludicrous.

Chris Packh…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent @whohar

TP… have I the patience to read the whole canon? I read Colour of Magic and Small Gods many years ago. Very enjoyable and intelligent. But that would be a big commitment.

There was a discussion online about whether anyone could make a satisfactory series from Aldiss’ Heliconia books. Having been quite unimpressed by wha…[Read more]

@dentarthurdent

Moffat… you would think Clara the Dalek was such a rich scene that the whole two parter was written around it… and indeed Clara can only save herself (apparently) by invoking a word which a Dalek shouldn’t be able to express. And so resolves the story. And leave many unanswered questions.

Adams… I still invoke the locked filing…[Read more]

@whohar @jeanetteb

Yes, I’ll be watching the new series of Ludwig. Gentle comedic mystery. The Other Bennett Sister was  dismissed as light-weight but that again was part off its charm: it actually worked.

Silo season 3 coming soon… in 2 minds about it, but I’ll watch it. Pluribus intrigued by I couldn’t stay with it; may go back to it. Also Slo…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb

That’s Entertainment! Well, Moff has no problems on that score. Could it even be a barb at another showmaker? Or an executive in drama?

But I would hope a new regime would also aspire to some kind intelligence. Like Moff. Cbeebies doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Paul McGann as The War Doctor would have been fascinating. We got John Hurt instead.

Otherwise…

I AM annoyed with The BBC:

Putting Grade and the first cancellation aside…

In my opinion they undermined Moffat.

They set an agenda for Chibnall. Who was pretty poor anyway.

They give every impression that they want to sell the show… you can call…[Read more]

@janetteb @nerys

I shall consider my response to all these parallels. Couldn’t give a two peeps on Bessie’s horn about Jimmie Bend-Sinster.

The rest is too raw.

Moffat’s recent response to the ongoing Whovian Torture sounded quite alarmed. The corporation is in charge, why are they asking a very ex show-runner?

Who has The Ming Vase??

Someone posted a clip of Star Beast on Meta with subtitles and there is Donna’s mum screaming to a hall full of 14, Donna, Rose and The Meep… ‘None of this is real!!’

Which is kind of what I’ve been saying.

@whohar

cbeebies… always look on the bright side of life. Or time for bed.

@dentarthurdent @janetteb
I’ve said enough. I think we agree that something peculiar happened with the show at some point, and this was manifested by the mess of Chibnall’s tenure and the unsatisfactory elements of the latest RTD run. I don’t think the BBC are interested. And they now seem happy to blame showrunners. Michael Grade all over again…[Read more]

@translatorcircuit @nerys @janetteb @whohar

the cbeebies thing is frankly an insult. Kid’s show.

I might say the bbc’s behaviour was inexplicable but you may well get your wish @translatorcircuit, the days of The Corporation as we know it could be numbered. They know it. They literally cannot afford a challenging exciting show.

This may exp…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translstorcircuit

The Big Spoof? As you say, surely not. The only explanation must be the slow motion car crash. This was coming since RTD finished series 4 with The Parting of The Ways.

At some point the special was planned and The BBC then decided they couldn’t back it. It’s not the same institution that brought the show bac…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translatorcircuit

The cliff-hanger, as Belam says, does seem to be the key, almost a taunt. ‘You want a show based on continuity but without continuity? Try THIS.’ This suggests both sides knew what was coming.

I am actually very annoyed, mainly with the BBC. I’m afraid for The Corporation too; it’s been in right wing’s…[Read more]

@whohar @jeanetteb

The bbc are not holding the purse strings without creative control. But if someone else holds the purse strings and annoys the telegraphed mailfist, that’s not our fault.

yours faithfully PW

Well, I did say I’d be quite annoyed.

The ratings were an insurmountable problem.

BBC funding issues and allergy to continuity writing win out.