Big Finish has produced some Doctor Who radio dramas, including some 'what-if' ones that look very promising. Paul McGann, as Doctor #8 is featured in many of them. My hunch is that the best of the radio dramas will be better than the new series, because they will be closer to "classic" Who; the new series just has too much of the handprint of Russell T. Davies all over it. (Or whoever is in creative control.) There certainly is plenty to dislike in the new series, even if some think that because of the changes/updates, it's more hip, the Doctor is easier to relate to, etc.
Then again, there is at least one radio drama, "The Council of Nicaea" that may be anti-Christian; certainly it denigrates a great saint, Saint Athanasius.
I don't mind a Doctor with a dark past, or who has moral flaws, is manipulative, or has even done bad things in the past. The radio dramas (not officially 'canonical) do try to explore these other facets of the character. Doctor #9 may have tried to be a bada$$, but it was mostly a front, as we see in his last 2 episodes. Much of his 'courage' was really anger against the Daleks for the Time War and the death and destruction they caused. Doctor #10 has said he is less merciful and will only give one chance--will he mean it? He is more the 'man of action' but how long before the scripts begin to shape the character in a different and disappointing direction? Fortunately, so far they have managed to keep away any suspicion of hanky-panky from him, despite turning Sarah Jane into a smitten girl. I suppose it's too unrealistic for us to see a platonic friendship develop between an older man and a young woman. It'd much easier if the Doctor looks old, like William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, or Jon Pertwee.
Maybe it's just time to put Who aside and to move on to something better...
Some reviews of everything Who.
No comments:
Post a Comment