Like anything it depends on the strength of the writing. If it’s just “Arrrgh! Iron bird!” then yeah, I’ll pass. On the other hand, a non-21st century British companion could be given a more compelling backstory, motivations or attitudes than the usual “I was just a store clerk, and then the Doctor showed me all these wonders” thing. For example, I was excited about Ishildir when it looked like she was in line to be his next companion.
More fundamentally, though, I just don’t like the series being so anchored to the present day. I’m a weird fiction guy—I want to go all in and immerse myself in the strangeness of time and the universe. If it were up to me, he’d be hanging out with the Ood.
They could have had the Doctor get killed for real in that last episode, and then just have Missy start calling herself the Doctor after that. Michelle Gomez as the Doctor! They had it all set up. He was even training her to take over. :sigh:
if we assume that all actors who play Time Lords are their characters first and foremost, then that makes Broadchurch an ongoing “paradox” series where a Time Lord tries to help their future selves solve the mystery of what happened to the child they had on Earth.
John Barrowman. There’s a guy who really needs to come out of his shell. /s
Anyway, my first set of “SJWS ARE RAPING MUH CHILDHOOD!” babymen video rants have started to appear on the YouTubes for me. I’m glad they’re announcing themselves beforehand in their thumbnails so I know to dismiss them on sight.
And I have officially lost respect for Davison. After Colin Baker’s lovely “it’s about time”, Davison is going on the “what about the boooyyyss” tack.
Seriously, guys. You’ve got 12 Doctors to choose from. NONE OF THAT IS BEING TAKEN AWAY. Now, stop throwing all your toys out of the pram, just because a new one is different.
To be generous, he fully admits that he’s “a dinosaur” and that he sees the need for the show to evolve. I figure he’ll eventually come around since he seems to be surrounded by good people.
Colin Baker coming out swinging? Good on him. If you haven’t listened to any of his DW radio dramas, you should. They’re far better than any of his episodes were. I always felt he got handed a raw deal.
Given that the average modern politician seems to understand modern technology and social issues about as well as someone from the 12th century, I’m not so sure. It might just look like a Senator trying to explain the Internet.
Mind you, someone like Pope Sylvester II…10th century perhaps but a possible candidate for Doctor. Or Roger Bacon, he’s 12th century. Both of them would probably listen to the explanations (in Latin of course) and then say “Yes, just as I expected…how long did you say it took for this to happen?”
Even someone from a more recent era could be interesting – and do double duty by reminding viewers not all changes in all areas have been that rapid.
There’s that van Gogh episode I loved, where the Doctor briefly takes Vincent to the present day so he can see his paintings will be appreciated and honoured in due course. They played it well – he’s a bit distracted by the automobiles outside the museum, but once inside he’s completely focused on the art on the walls and what people have to say about them.
They did a nice job with his costuming, too. It’s always a bit shocking how little men’s clothing has changed since the advent of mechanisation. Nobody’s looking at him twice.
Someone like Leopold from the film Kate and Leopold would work well. He knows what electricity is and knows the inventions from his era will change the world, and there’s been enough early feminism in his time that women wearing slacks won’t freak him out (or make her a she and she could say she wants to explore Rational Dress). Electronics wouldn’t be so hard to explain at a high level.
A point of conflict could be they always want to see Earth times future to their own era, never the past. The Doctor could take them to meet Leeuwenhoek or somebody, which could lead to a nice meditation on the path of progress.
