All I want, with regard to Doctor Who, is the end of season long story arcs. Do two or three episode stories, sure, the equivalent of a 4 or 6 part classic story, but enough with having it all mean something. And can we have a non-Human companion again? Please?

Yeah, but then you have a show with no female regulars (assuming they've shut the book on River.) Although Rory was so good that it's hard to argue with.

I have maintained and still do, that having another Time Lord as a companion, at least for a while, would be an interesting twist, especially given the fact that Gallifrey is still out there. It creates a bit of a different relationship between the Doctor and his home and the guilt he had felt over the Time War.

Regardless, I am interested in the way Capaldi handles being the Doctor and how jaded he can be. The Doctor can always be dark and each incarnation has had his dark moments; some more than others. I think a more jaded Doctor who tries to reconcile all the strife going on in the galaxy and his own personal pain would be interesting, but he can't stay jaded forever.

So if Matt Smith played...

If you want a show with tight plotting and clever construction, where every seemingly insignificant detail ties into the larger plot and is a setup for something that happens later on...you're better off watching any given episode of Arrested Development. That show does in 22 minutes what Doctor Who couldn't handle in a whole season. DW is goofy sci-fi fun, but its boundless creativity has never really extended to concluding larger arcs.

I would think that tight plotting and clever construction would be something we'd want from ALL shows.

Even pulling the bar down some, I think wanting plots that aren't totally non-nonsensical and cheap, over the top stakes-raising isn't asking too much.

I know it's possible. I even know it's possible in the modern run of Doctor Who. I know this, because they at least maintained some semblance of discipline & restraint before Smith's series.

My issues aren't rooted in continuity problems as it relates to the old Who, or even the other Modern Who, or even the other Smith Who (though let's not pretend that an utter disregard for show continuity isn't exactly a good thing). I'm comfortable with some continuity breaking in a show about time travel that's had 800 episodes, spanning over 50 years. Yeah, that fine.

My issues are with story. I'd argue that the Xmas episode and much of the over-arching plot(s) during Smith's run is simply a bad stories, with cheap storytelling, presented with extra bluster, a breakneck pace, and lots of self congratulation about how cool it was...all in hopes that the audience would never realize how flimsy everything about it actually was.

Maybe I'm being overly harsh? Maybe.

I'm just a little tired of seeing an amazing concept show, that I genuinely enjoy, jump the tracks and dive off into a ravine while everyone on board sits around telling me what a clever shortcut the conductor just found.

I'd argue that Matt Smith's run, as far as the Ponds are concerned, is very self-contained. I was shown the first two Eccleston episodes and thought it was weird and ridiculous, saw only tidbits of Tennant, but a friend of mine, knowing this and knowing me, made a wise move and sat me down to watch "Blink", and then started me on Smith's first episode.
I still don't really care for the older seasons, but Smith's run is so good and it makes perfect sense to me. Anything you need to know, Daleks, Time Lords, etc., is explained.

From the Doctor falling into Amy's life until the time she blinks out of his, that's a full, complete story. For me, that's Doctor Who.

If you're talking about a solid arc that exists within that series and also ties into everything that's come before, well. Good luck. I don't think anyone's ever pulled that off with anything.

Last edited by Vapes (2014-01-06 19:07:19)

Well, "Blink" is one of the best episodes, in my opinion, so I can't fault that. Also, gives the viewer a wonderful fear of statutes for days afterwards.

I think I see your point Vapes, and Smith might also be the exception (there are still hints of the Bad Wolf arc throughout Eccelston's run) but I am saying for the overall run of Who continuity has not been the priority. The only consistent themes are Regeneration, Daleks, and now The Time War.

I might have to try viewing it Teague's way now, though

As a friend of mine pointed out, "The pose is a bit much, but I like the outfit." 

I know this is just a promo shot, but it does make me curious what sort of adventures this Doctor has in store. What situation could inspire a person to stand in that position with that look on his face?

He could replace Woody Harrelson in Now You See Me with that pose.

Pertwee was an action Doctor, always doing hand to hand combat with aliens. Could be fun to return to that