I have enjoyed Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, but wish that the writing had been better for her seasons — she has been saddled with some of the poorest writing since the return in 2005. Here’s hoping (perhaps beyond hope) that her swan-song season (plus specials) finally makes it up to her by having some good stories with good writing.
Pretty much agree completely…Whittaker has been very good as the Doctor, and even the companions have had bright spots even if they’ve been pretty uneven overall.
But I don’t like the whole “The Doctor is not really a Time Lord” direction at all. Going that route not only bollixes up the Master’s and the Doctor’s relationship, it rips a lot of the heart out of big chunks of the older stories. Unless the writers spend half of the final Whittaker run with angsty stories where she wonders why she should have even cared about locking the Time Lords back up in David Tennant’s farewell episode, or why she saved them from so many different races, it’s going to be a meaningless Shyamalan-like attempt at a twist. Couple that with the current writers’ propensity to write episodes that draw a lot of plot points out for no real reason for 40 out of the 50 minutes of runtime, only to have the climax be that the Doctor throws a switch with very little risk to herself or really anyone else, and it really boils down to needing new writers (and showrunner) more than a new Doctor. I mean heck, hokey though some of the old series might be, at least something was usually about to blow up or get sucked into a black hole or time well when the Doctor saved the day. :)
totaly agree jodie is great, writers meh. i grew up on the old series well 70 on and the budget was small with some sometimes laughable props but the writing was great really hooked you and drew you in….
I don’t understand why people are blaming Jodie Whittaker for the decline. Granted she isn’t who I would have chosen for the first female Doctor, I would have liked to see someone like Michelle Ryan. That would have worked perfectly off of Peter Capaldi’s bit of the Doctor sometimes using the faces of people he’s meet before. Jodie doesn’t make my top 5 or anything like that. However that being said I think she has done great with what she has been given. The REAL problem with Jodie’s three seasons (well two so far) is 100% Chris Chibnall…SO BAD!!! I hear he’s leaving when Jodie leaves after this upcoming season. And I couldn’t be happier!!
I agree with every word of that. Chibnall was always the problem. Bloke is an absolutely appalling writer and showrunner. The cast had nothing to work with at all. So glad that he’s leaving next year. Toby Whithouse would have been my choice after Moffat stepped down.
The Doctor is always supposed to be the smartest person in the room… regardless of the room. That’s not even remotely how this Doctor has been written and that’s really disappointing.
Well, apparently there was a whole shift in production/writing crew that came with Whittaker apparently on her team’s (not her) request. It’s been a politics s*%t storm as far as the Whovian universe is concerned and a lot of criticism has been thrown about because of said changes. None of it has been said to be good changes. This of course is rumor mill so take what is said with a grain of salt please.
I find the recent incarnation of the doctor to be a bit watered down. The companions aren’t doing it any favours. Too many of them to make any real connections or have any kind of chemistry with the doctor, and that’s when he/she is always at their best. Pick one and get rid of the other two. Thinking on it now, it might have been funny to have just the old man in a bit of a role reversal. Anyway, there’s my two cents, spend it wisely.
Dr. Who? More like Dr. POO, this show has turned into one big giant pile of steaming CRAP, not even up to the Caliber of the Syfy channel’s Writers that didnt cut it!!
I quit watching last season. I tried to watch S13 E1 but it was so terrible I didn’t make it 10 minutes. Not sure if this show has tanked in rating but I lost interest. Sad because I used to enjoy it so much. But this squealy squeaker doctor has got to go.
I always felt jenna coleman ruined Doctor Who for me her character seemed pointless and very annoying I don’t know I haven’t watched it since she was introduced into it can’t stand the voice or the smug disposition she was the same in Death Comes to Pemberley.
syndromezed1 points
3 years ago. (Contains Spoilers)
I liked her character a lot - I thought the writers did a good job making her important to the Doctor and to the rest of the universe in general as his partner in adventuring. And the ep where she dies - and the episodes related to the Doctor’s reaction (and her pleas for him to take care of himself and not let revenge destroy him) were some of the best characterization the show’s done IMHO.
I hope we get a new Doctor soon. It’s about that time isn’t it?
Supposedly December but more than likely January…
I concur 100%
It will be. It may get worse if we get another millenial doctor.
John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness meets the Doctor in Season 1 and has a total of 13 appearances through Season 4.
After Season 1, he goes back to Cardiff in the spin-off series Torchwood, for a darker, more intense set of adventures.
I have enjoyed Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, but wish that the writing had been better for her seasons — she has been saddled with some of the poorest writing since the return in 2005. Here’s hoping (perhaps beyond hope) that her swan-song season (plus specials) finally makes it up to her by having some good stories with good writing.
Pretty much agree completely…Whittaker has been very good as the Doctor, and even the companions have had bright spots even if they’ve been pretty uneven overall.
But I don’t like the whole “The Doctor is not really a Time Lord” direction at all. Going that route not only bollixes up the Master’s and the Doctor’s relationship, it rips a lot of the heart out of big chunks of the older stories. Unless the writers spend half of the final Whittaker run with angsty stories where she wonders why she should have even cared about locking the Time Lords back up in David Tennant’s farewell episode, or why she saved them from so many different races, it’s going to be a meaningless Shyamalan-like attempt at a twist.
Couple that with the current writers’ propensity to write episodes that draw a lot of plot points out for no real reason for 40 out of the 50 minutes of runtime, only to have the climax be that the Doctor throws a switch with very little risk to herself or really anyone else, and it really boils down to needing new writers (and showrunner) more than a new Doctor. I mean heck, hokey though some of the old series might be, at least something was usually about to blow up or get sucked into a black hole or time well when the Doctor saved the day. :)
totaly agree jodie is great, writers meh. i grew up on the old series well 70 on and the budget was small with some sometimes laughable props but the writing was great really hooked you and drew you in….
I don’t understand why people are blaming Jodie Whittaker for the decline. Granted she isn’t who I would have chosen for the first female Doctor, I would have liked to see someone like Michelle Ryan. That would have worked perfectly off of Peter Capaldi’s bit of the Doctor sometimes using the faces of people he’s meet before. Jodie doesn’t make my top 5 or anything like that. However that being said I think she has done great with what she has been given. The REAL problem with Jodie’s three seasons (well two so far) is 100% Chris Chibnall…SO BAD!!! I hear he’s leaving when Jodie leaves after this upcoming season. And I couldn’t be happier!!
I agree with every word of that. Chibnall was always the problem. Bloke is an absolutely appalling writer and showrunner. The cast had nothing to work with at all. So glad that he’s leaving next year. Toby Whithouse would have been my choice after Moffat stepped down.
The Doctor is always supposed to be the smartest person in the room… regardless of the room. That’s not even remotely how this Doctor has been written and that’s really disappointing.
Well, apparently there was a whole shift in production/writing crew that came with Whittaker apparently on her team’s (not her) request. It’s been a politics s*%t storm as far as the Whovian universe is concerned and a lot of criticism has been thrown about because of said changes.
None of it has been said to be good changes. This of course is rumor mill so take what is said with a grain of salt please.
I find the recent incarnation of the doctor to be a bit watered down. The companions aren’t doing it any favours. Too many of them to make any real connections or have any kind of chemistry with the doctor, and that’s when he/she is always at their best. Pick one and get rid of the other two. Thinking on it now, it might have been funny to have just the old man in a bit of a role reversal. Anyway, there’s my two cents, spend it wisely.
Doctor Who is awesome!
I changed my mind, quit watching after season 5. It didn’t have the same kind of feeling after season 5.
Dr. Who? More like Dr. POO, this show has turned into one big giant pile of steaming CRAP, not even up to the Caliber of the Syfy channel’s Writers that didnt cut it!!
One more season to go
From futures past and present DW Christmas special’s added enjoy ;)
I quit watching last season. I tried to watch S13 E1 but it was so terrible I didn’t make it 10 minutes. Not sure if this show has tanked in rating but I lost interest. Sad because I used to enjoy it so much. But this squealy squeaker doctor has got to go.
I like the multiple companions. It’s like they’re creating a sense of family for the doctor.
and it’s not the first time the doctor has had multiple companions in the original series it happened a lot.
Where can you watch all the special episodes? There aren’t links for any of them but they are listed
I always felt jenna coleman ruined Doctor Who for me her character seemed pointless and very annoying I don’t know I haven’t watched it since she was introduced into it can’t stand the voice or the smug disposition she was the same in Death Comes to Pemberley.
I liked her character a lot - I thought the writers did a good job making her important to the Doctor and to the rest of the universe in general as his partner in adventuring. And the ep where she dies - and the episodes related to the Doctor’s reaction (and her pleas for him to take care of himself and not let revenge destroy him) were some of the best characterization the show’s done IMHO.