Losing Interest

[poliphilo]

I didn't blog last week's Who for the adequate reason (as I told myself) that I was getting Ailz to hospital at the time it aired. I watched it later- on the BBC i-player- and, yes, I liked it.

But I'm afraid there's a deeper underlying reason- and it's this- that I'm gradually losing interest. Matt Smith is lovely- everybody's favourite fairy uncle- and Amy and Rory are a couple of bright, funny sitcom kids, but I don't care about them in the least- and if Amy never surfaces from her current imprisonment underground I'll be able to support it manfully. RTD, whatever his faults, turned the show into one that adults could watch with interest- and he did it by making the relationships matter. Smith's Doctor and his current companions are just room-mates. Nothing wrong with that, but if I'm to care for them- and so care about their adventures-  they've first got to demonstrate they care for one another. And, yes, they do go through the motions,  but there's no depth to it- no chemistry.

This weeks episode revived a Pertwee era monster. In fact the whole thing felt very Pertwee era. Here's another thing I crave from the show- surprises; and Pertwee era monsters are not surprising.  Neither, incidentally, are daleks or cybermen. Moffat's shows have been consistently entertaining,  but I'm still waiting for the killer episode that'll make me fall in love.

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

I actually think Matt Smith is the problem. I adore him, but he's clearly an introvert, and introverts don't NEED people, and the Doctor DOES need people...Matt needs to tap into that aspect, which is going to require some very good acting on his part. I think either he will, in time, or we'll see a new Doctor come next season or so.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think you've put your finger on something crucial here. Yes, this is a Doctor who would be happy to travel alone.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

He does give off the air that he's being put-upon, doesn't he?

[jenny_evergreen]

Occasionally, though mostly it's just that "I'm fine you're here, but I'd be fine if you weren't, too," kind of thing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The scripts say they care, but I'm not feeling it in the acting.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

I'm having a similar problem. I like them all well enough, but there's just that certain something missing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I didn't think I'd miss RTD, but he brought something important to the table.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I've missed three weeks now... I keep meaning to go back to it now but don't. What was the Pertwee monster?

If it was a Sea-Devil I'll be kicking myself. I'm very fond of Sea-Devils. Loved the episode with the Master under house arrest on Earth watching 'The Clangers' and nodding sagely as if he understood it...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No, not a Sea Devil- a Silurian. The Silurians are cross because this Welsh mining company has drilled down into their living space.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

I'm with the Silurians.

Isn't that kind of what happened in the Pertwee episode, too. It may have been 'Doctor Who & the Silurians...'

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the old episode, but from what I've read the new one tells a very similar story.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. Indeed, when Amy disappeared under the soil, I thought, "Ah, thank goodness. Now can we find someone new?"

(I rather liked the older miner woman! I think she would make a splendid companion.)

But yes. The performances aren't working for me. Matt Smith is not convincing me as the doctor. It's not that he looks young, as David Tennant was hardly a graybeard himself. He comes across as too young in spirit—callow—for someone who's supposed to be 900 years old. When he says lines like "I'm the last of my species, etc, etc, so don't insult me," I don't feel any frisson of fear. I am unconvinced.

Plus, he is extremely rude and rather cruel. I would have punched him several times merely in the course of this episode for his "SILENCE SILENCE!" (Mere mortals!) lines, and his way of talking over others as if they're bothering him. This is not the Doctor I grew to care about.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Meera Syal- who plays the miner- is a top British comedy actor. I agree, she'd be a splendid companion.

Tennant (and Eccleston before him) brought a lot more weight to the role. Tennant's very funny- but he's also- arguably- the greatest Hamlet of his generation. If Smith were up to play Hamlet I wouldn't be rushing to book tickets.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I think that's exactly it. There's no depth to his performance. I don't believe he cares about anything or anyone. I don't particularly like the new "roommates" (you pegged that one but good), and as a result I've found all the episodes this season... lightweight, forgettable and in some cases, painful. I am also irrationally irritated by writing moves like how they killed off the daughter of the Venetian man... why? To add artificial drama? It was unnecessary: I saw the writers at motion on the strings, murmuring to one another, "Come! Let's add some pathos! Pull that one!"

I can only hope they move on to a new doctor within a season.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Moffat was the best writer on RTD's team. His stories were intelligent, scary and moving. When he took over as supremo I was expecting the show to show more heart not less. I'm disappointed- and puzzled- by the way things have turned out.

I doubt if Smith is going to be leaving any time soon. I gather- from what I read- that he's extremely popular.

[jenny_evergreen]

That hearkens back to the earlier Doctors for me; if you watch old Who, even Tom Baker could be downright nasty at times. I think that may be deliberate on Moffat's part, and not necessarily a good call. Newer fans, in particular, will be alienated quite quickly.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I think the current audience won't like it much, no. The old Doctor Who didn't have legions of women flocking to Doctor-Who-specific conventions armed with fan art of David Tennant in the arms of his Companions, after all. They're not in it for the rudeness. :,

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Moffat is deliberately trying to return the show to what it was before RTD came along. I'm not sure that's altogether a good idea- after all, by the end of its run its viewing figures were lamentable.

[jenny_evergreen]

I agree!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I just watched last night's Dr Who. I'm still with the Silurians, though they're a bit mad...

Reminded me a bit of 'The Green Death' in that it was all about environmental pillaging etc.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's good- I suppose- to have an alien threat that isn't uncompromisingly evil.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Still prefer the Sea-Devils. They're cute...