The topic that never dies

[scarfman]

On doctorwho it was asked what you'd do differently if you were the present producer.

What I'd do differently? I'd cast older actors in the lead, wearing long hair and long coats. I wouldn't have done the companion-crush-and-inlaws arc, but certainly now that it's been done once I'd never do it again. Even when a companion is a three-dimensional character she needs to contrast with the Doctor, so more actiony Leelas and Jamies and no brainy Romanas and Lizzes. I'd bring back the Master, sparingly, and always as a part-one cliffhanger: pulling off a mask, or "But that name is Rigellian for 'Master'!" I'd stop having the Daleks in every season finale. And I'd do whole-episode flashbacks to previous incarnations.

Oh, and fifty percent or more off-Earth stories.

Comments

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

More depth, more character development, more off earth, but when on earth better plot!, DIFFERENT monster of week - only bring in the old standbys every now and then (for heven sake there's an ENTIRE UNIVERSE out there!)

and yes.. flash backs to previous incarnation (although whole episode ones for new viewer could be off putting)

*few other ideas flitting about.. *

[drake57.livejournal.com]

Yes,ok this is what i'd like to see...so when are you becoming Producer? :)

[scarfman]

Take it up with Julie Gardner.

[drake57.livejournal.com]

She won't return my calls, just because i keep bugging her about bringing back the "chumblies" :)

[abates.livejournal.com]

I would avoid writing scripts myself, because I'd have enough to do already. :)

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

What about long scarves?

[scarfman]

That comes well under the heading of Been Done.

[blinovitch.livejournal.com]

I suspect the series' focus on Earth is as much budgetary as it is the producer's vision. It's cheaper to build a set out of existing pieces than it is to build, for example, a Century base or Satellite 5 from scratch.

How would do you a flashback episode, in terms of who plays the Doctor?

[scarfman]

I suspect the series' focus on Earth is as much budgetary as it is the producer's vision.

Perhaps, but that's not what he says when he's asked. He says he's trying to make it easy for the audience to identify with the characters/events.

How would do you a flashback episode, in terms of who plays the Doctor?

If it were the McCoy or McGann incarnations I'd ask them to come back. If it weren't, or I asked but they couldn't or wouldn't do it, I'd recast.

[blinovitch.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, but that's not what he says when he's asked. He says he's trying to make it easy for the audience to identify with the characters/events.

Sounds like humbug to cover up a deficiency, to me.

If it were the McCoy or McGann incarnations I'd ask them to come back. If it weren't, or I asked but they couldn't or wouldn't do it, I'd recast.

Really. That's really interesting.

There seems to be a prevailing attitude in the fandom that the actors' performances are sacrosanct, and not to meddled with, fudged, or recast. Big Finish, for one, takes that stance.

When you mentioned flashback episodes, I immediately pictured doing it with the current Doctor. Sort of like Quantum Leap, where the television audience sees Scott Bakula, but the characters in the episode see whomever Sam has replaced.

[scarfman]

There seems to be a prevailing attitude in the fandom that the actors' performances are ... not to meddled with, fudged, or recast.

It's more'n twenty three years since it was first done.

[pedanther]

In the interview I remember, toward the end of the first season, he said that he didn't want alien planets that looked just like Earth, and he didn't want alien planets that looked just like quarries or soundstages or CGI, and he hadn't found a workable third way yet.