Doctor Who fandom prattlings
Sep. 26th, 2015 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scripsiI made the mistake of actually reading the comments on Facebook's Doctor Who-page. Just about every comment is something negative or mean. A lot of “Get rid of Clara, she’s the worst companion ever.” and “This and that has ruined the show.” (This and that can be Peter Capaldi, Steven Moffat, jenna Coleman or whatever.) I don’t get it.
I don’t think you have to swallow everything in a show and be positive about it no matter what- of course one isn’t. There will always be plotlines and casting choices or the way something is handled that one won’t like because it’s impossible to create something that everyone will always find perfect. I’m certainly critical to a few things I have seen in DW over the years. I don’t like the way Tegan and Peri were sexified, for example, or how Donnas was written out of the show. Sometimes I stop watching a show because too much happens in it that doesn’t sit well on me, but t it’s still a personal thing, not a general one. A show doesn’t get ruined for everyone just because someone doesn’t enjoy it anymore. When it comes to Doctor Who my love for the show and the things I like more than balance out the things I care less about.
We will always love certain Doctors and companions more than other ones, that’s only natural, but why this hatred? They make it sound like this is the worse show ever and it leaves me wondering why they bother to watch and make comments regarding a show the don’t seem to like at all. I must say it makes me very uncomfortable. And people are nasty to each other, like telling someone s/he is an idiot for loving Clara. We are all different and like different things. Personally I love Capaldi as I like his edginess and that he is more obviously an alien than the more approachable Ten and Eleven. But those reasons may be just what someone else not enjoying him. And I don’t think either of us is wrong, we just have a different approach.
Another example of what I don’t care much for is Simms!Master. He never gelled for me and now, after watching Michelle Gomez, I think I know why. I don’t much care for corpse!Master either and, I believe for much the same reasons. *
It’s no secret that I love Roger Delgado’s Master, he’s the best Master in my opinion. I like my evil affable and suave. Corpse!Master is, as far as I understand it, the same regeneration as Delgado, but there is nothing of his Master in the versions played by Pratt and Beavers. Understandably as they are different actors and of course the Master has gone through something terribly traumatic, but I would have loved to have something, a mannerism or way of words that would give a hint of similarity.
Ainley!Master, on the other hand, is often accused of trying to be too much like Delgado and to a degree I agree. Ainley was a very good actor and I think he would have made his Master even better if he had been allowed more of his own input. But for me, it works within the show’s narrative. Ainley!Master isn’t a true regenerations, he is the amalgamation of what is supposed to be Delgado!Master and Tremas of Traken. It’s not too strange, IMO, that this new Master would retain more of his previous self, both in looks and manner, than a Time Lord do after a normal regenerations.
Simms!Master goes too far in the other direction. Even if the Doctor gets a new personality after each regeneration, he is always essentially himself. His core values are the same, though he expressed differently. Simms!Master do that too, his world dominion scheme is perfectly in line with his previous self's. However, the Doctor always channels his previous self's. Some Doctors do it more than others, but there is always something that takes up a previous regenerations, be it a mannerism, a piece of clothing or just vocalizing a memory. Eleven's fez, for example, is an echo from an episode with Seven. But to me Simms!Master feels too detached from his other regenerations. You just can’t see them. He is crazy and so was Ainley!Master (well, all Master’s, really), but he is crazy in another way. And it gets more obvious after watching Gomez!Master who echoes Delgado, Ainley and even Simms, which makes her very recognizable as the Master, even if she is very much her own personality and very distinctive on her own.
Mind, I would never dream of thinking someone is wrong for loving Simms!Master. My views on him is how I perceive him and I think you are perfectly fine if you don’t agree with me. Just don’t get angry because we have different views. And I would love to hear what you think of the Master’s various generations. Which one is your favourite?
*You may ask why I don’t mention Roberts!Master and that is why I have yet to watch him. Eight is the only Doctor I don’t yet know. Mildly spolierish for Classics Master.
I don’t think you have to swallow everything in a show and be positive about it no matter what- of course one isn’t. There will always be plotlines and casting choices or the way something is handled that one won’t like because it’s impossible to create something that everyone will always find perfect. I’m certainly critical to a few things I have seen in DW over the years. I don’t like the way Tegan and Peri were sexified, for example, or how Donnas was written out of the show. Sometimes I stop watching a show because too much happens in it that doesn’t sit well on me, but t it’s still a personal thing, not a general one. A show doesn’t get ruined for everyone just because someone doesn’t enjoy it anymore. When it comes to Doctor Who my love for the show and the things I like more than balance out the things I care less about.
We will always love certain Doctors and companions more than other ones, that’s only natural, but why this hatred? They make it sound like this is the worse show ever and it leaves me wondering why they bother to watch and make comments regarding a show the don’t seem to like at all. I must say it makes me very uncomfortable. And people are nasty to each other, like telling someone s/he is an idiot for loving Clara. We are all different and like different things. Personally I love Capaldi as I like his edginess and that he is more obviously an alien than the more approachable Ten and Eleven. But those reasons may be just what someone else not enjoying him. And I don’t think either of us is wrong, we just have a different approach.
Another example of what I don’t care much for is Simms!Master. He never gelled for me and now, after watching Michelle Gomez, I think I know why. I don’t much care for corpse!Master either and, I believe for much the same reasons. *
It’s no secret that I love Roger Delgado’s Master, he’s the best Master in my opinion. I like my evil affable and suave. Corpse!Master is, as far as I understand it, the same regeneration as Delgado, but there is nothing of his Master in the versions played by Pratt and Beavers. Understandably as they are different actors and of course the Master has gone through something terribly traumatic, but I would have loved to have something, a mannerism or way of words that would give a hint of similarity.
Ainley!Master, on the other hand, is often accused of trying to be too much like Delgado and to a degree I agree. Ainley was a very good actor and I think he would have made his Master even better if he had been allowed more of his own input. But for me, it works within the show’s narrative. Ainley!Master isn’t a true regenerations, he is the amalgamation of what is supposed to be Delgado!Master and Tremas of Traken. It’s not too strange, IMO, that this new Master would retain more of his previous self, both in looks and manner, than a Time Lord do after a normal regenerations.
Simms!Master goes too far in the other direction. Even if the Doctor gets a new personality after each regeneration, he is always essentially himself. His core values are the same, though he expressed differently. Simms!Master do that too, his world dominion scheme is perfectly in line with his previous self's. However, the Doctor always channels his previous self's. Some Doctors do it more than others, but there is always something that takes up a previous regenerations, be it a mannerism, a piece of clothing or just vocalizing a memory. Eleven's fez, for example, is an echo from an episode with Seven. But to me Simms!Master feels too detached from his other regenerations. You just can’t see them. He is crazy and so was Ainley!Master (well, all Master’s, really), but he is crazy in another way. And it gets more obvious after watching Gomez!Master who echoes Delgado, Ainley and even Simms, which makes her very recognizable as the Master, even if she is very much her own personality and very distinctive on her own.
Mind, I would never dream of thinking someone is wrong for loving Simms!Master. My views on him is how I perceive him and I think you are perfectly fine if you don’t agree with me. Just don’t get angry because we have different views. And I would love to hear what you think of the Master’s various generations. Which one is your favourite?
*You may ask why I don’t mention Roberts!Master and that is why I have yet to watch him. Eight is the only Doctor I don’t yet know. Mildly spolierish for Classics Master.
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no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 08:57 am (UTC)But to comment on all the hate and negavtivity (and some of it is hate!) - I just do not understand this at all. If you do not enjoy and like something why watch and why use enegry writing about it afterwards? It is disheartening reading a lot of comments. I mean, there are ways to express dislike in a good manner. And of course everyone is free to dislike and disagree with things, but the venom which things are said is scary!
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 09:30 am (UTC)I agree. And I think one of the reasons Gomesz feels layered is because she draws on the Master's history. Even if one isn't familiar with the Classics, it creates a sub-text which anyone can feel. :)
Ainley did play his Master over the top at times, but Simms just do it too much for me. Like his relationship with Lucy. There are hinte in the Classics that at least Delgado!Master isn't averse to have some kind of relationship with humans, so yes, I can buy Simms!Master to marry because it's useful for him. And I'm sure he would be terrible, but the way it's portrayed in such a mundane way. Not that wife beating isn't horrible, but one would guess the Master would be a lot more subtle about it. Classic's Master is certainly a sadist, but he is very rarely hand on violent. So it felt very out of character for me to make Simm!Master just that.
And of course everyone is free to dislike and disagree with things, but the venom which things are said is scary!
Exactly!Discussions would become pretty boring if everyone always agreed, but one can think differently and be respectful at the same times. And there are never any need to be vitrolic and hateful, if you ask me.
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 03:32 pm (UTC)Aaaannnnnddd you just hit the nail on the head for what made me go 'ugh-whut?' about Simms!Master. He overplayed his hand, crowed about being clever but you could see everything he was doing and he was less intellectual and more violent. Oi.
I always loved the Master's endless patience and sleight-of-hand way of doing things. Simme has none of this, but Missy does...we never saw her during Eleven's reign, but she influenced a goodly portion of it and never once did we know who she was. THAT is classic Master. Set it in motion and wait for results!
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 03:59 pm (UTC)Thank you!
I always loved the Master's endless patience and sleight-of-hand way of doing things. Simme has none of this, but Missy does...we never saw her during Eleven's reign, but she influenced a goodly portion of it and never once did we know who she was.
Exactly. She choose Clara and then just let that part play out without trying to hurry up. Very classy!
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 02:40 pm (UTC)I do like a bit of suave villainy in the morning. I don't think I would be so swayed in real life (I hope).
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 03:52 pm (UTC)I do like a bit of suave villainy in the morning. I don't think I would be so swayed in real life (I hope).
Oh, I adore villains! But only as a fantasy. When it comes to real life I want nice men. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 02:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 03:25 pm (UTC)Simms didn't really do it for me, either (I prefered Jacobi, the 'Master' he was before regenerating). If anything, his Master mildly repulsed me. Too wildly different (even in some motives) - and he was just...nuts. He seemed too scattered to me - but I love the actor. I love how he tried to make the Master his own...
But Gomez has brought back everything I love about the Master. Crazy, yes - but intensely focused. Clever, prone to narcisstic outbursts, dresses smartly and yet she has her own twist 'Say something nice' with a touch of Simms even thrown in, but smoother 'Oh Missy you so fine'.
You cannot make everyone happy 100 percent of the time. We will all have our issues with DW, but really, they can all be hand-waved can't they? Time is ever changing - and nothing is truly set in stone.
*HUGS*
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 03:57 pm (UTC)You must! I'm sure you will adore him. He's sarcastic, he a snappy dress sense. He tortures the Doctor until he almost dies and then go to pieces and saves him. He has hand cuffs permanently attached to his TARDIS console. (Why does no one write fanfic over the fact that he has handcuffs permanently attached to his TARDIS console?)
Too wildly different (even in some motives) - and he was just...nuts. He seemed too scattered to me - but I love the actor. I love how he tried to make the Master his own...
I really like Simms as an actor- he was great in Life on Mars and I really wanted to love him as the Master. But, well, I didn't. I just read that Robson Green said no to play the Master and I can't help thinking he would have pulled it off a bit better.
But Gomez has brought back everything I love about the Master. Crazy, yes - but intensely focused. Clever, prone to narcisstic outbursts, dresses smartly and yet she has her own twist 'Say something nice' with a touch of Simms even thrown in, but smoother
Precisely!
We will all have our issues with DW, but really, they can all be hand-waved can't they?
They can. I love teh show and I think I always will, the bad bits with the great. And most of it IS great! :D
no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 08:26 pm (UTC)... seriously? :lol: (I was going to say I hadn't noticed that, and then tried to think if I've yet seen an ep with Delgado's Master in his own TARDIS, and I don't think I have. Yet!)
I'm going to put this next bit under a spoiler cut (though it's a very minor one) as it relates to tonight's ep:
Missy has obviously kept them around! Missy/Delgado handcuffs fest here?
And the hate is a mystery to me too. But it is the law of the internet. I first got into DW fandom via newsnet and while alt.drwho.creative was mostly a small oasis of nice people writing fanfic at each other, rec.arts.drwho was scary and there were people there who hated Six and Seven (soooo many of those back in the 90s), people who loved the TVM, people who loathed it, people who recognised no Doctors after William Hartnell, people who only ever watched Jon Pertwee, random trolls and... basically, it's the internet. People forget much too easily that we're all still human beings interacting here. *shrugs* (Mind, it was also scary because you'd accidentally find yourself in a thread with New Adventures authors or DWM staff in a way that doesn't happen now the internet has grown.)
no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 06:31 am (UTC)Seriously. :D Check Time Monster. It's almsot casual, like he finds it perfectly natural piece of console Equipment. Which it is for the Master, I suppose...
Thanks for the cut as I won't be able to Watch the epsiode until tonight. :)
And the hate is a mystery to me too. But it is the law of the internet
I suppose so. Almost all my fandom experience has been very positive, for which I'm thankful. I will endavour to not read comments on FB again. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 07:17 am (UTC)Almost all my fandom experience has been very positive, for which I'm thankful. I will endavour to not read comments on FB again.
*nods* I've always found fandom and the net works best if you find your own relatively safe corner and work from there - avoid the obvious hazards - Facebook, the big forums, anon-memes, YouTube comments, all that kind of thing! :-)
no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 09:35 am (UTC)I've always found fandom and the net works best if you find your own relatively safe corner and work from there -
Very good thinking!
no subject
Date: 2015-09-29 09:17 am (UTC)Obviously! :D And oh, yes, please!
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Date: 2015-09-27 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 04:37 pm (UTC)