News...

[fajrdrako]

I am squirming. I am not sure whether to be excited, thrilled, or terrified. Can I be all three at once? I'll put this under a cut-tag for those who don't want Doctor Who casting spoilers.

Sharp-eyed raissad sent me the news, from an interview with John Barrowman, printed today, in which he said:

I'm not in the Doctor Who Christmas special, but I come back in Series Four, which starts filming after Christmas. Series Two of Torchwood also starts airing on BBC2 in January.

My first thought: a chance to redeem the Doctor. A chance to resolve or restore the Jack/Doctor relationship.

My second thought: suppose they make it worse?

Should I be living in fear or living in hope? Since "The Last of the Time Lords" I don't trust the show any more. After that episode, I thought they might just drop the Captain Jack theme on Doctor Who, leaving him in Torchwood alone.

And yet it's the first news yet that has really made me look forward to Doctor Who series 4. I'd watch anyway, of course. But the prospect of Donna Noble as Companion doesn't excite me. A partial return of Martha doesn't excite me, if her presence continues to be irrelevant to the Doctor. But Jack? More of Jack in Doctor Who?

I wonder if there's any hope that Steven Moffat might write another Captain Jack story. Or more than one.

My hopes in series 3 were totally dashed by the Doctor's apparently callous attitude to Jack. But that could change. Dare I hope?

Comments

[isagel.livejournal.com]

*hopes a lot*

I think that by choosing not to go with the Doctor on the Doctor's terms, Jack shifted the dynamic of the relationship quite a bit. I'm interested to see where that could lead them next time they meet.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Love your icon. Of course.

*hopes a lot*

Yes. I can't help it. It's got me smiling, just thinking about it. Looking at your icon helps, too. That relationship still has me all starry-eyed, despite 138 years of denial and separation. I'm a hopeless case.

I think that by choosing not to go with the Doctor on the Doctor's terms, Jack shifted the dynamic of the relationship quite a bit.

I think a lot has changed, and what I really like is that I don't know where it's going to go. I really don't. I love that uncertainty. And that, more than anything, gives me hope that what has changed once can change again. I also believe that, for all the hard times they've had emotionally, Jack and the Doctor are at their core two very loving people.

I don't even know what level of reparation would make me happy. A bit of friendly banter? A hug? A kiss? An apology from the Doctor? (Not likely, especially with Ten, but you never know.) A look of understanding? Shared memories?

Suddenly I can hardly wait for season 4, out of sheer curiosity, if nothing else.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

You can certainly hold onto all three emotional states at once. I've done it, for different reasons in different circumstances.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - particularly easy when you really don't know what the outcome will be!

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

What I would really love to see is his Aladdin: I mean, with Daleks???

As for living in hope or fear -- I think a good Doctor/Jack outcome would generate more interesting plots and would benefit the show more in the long term. So I think we should hope yes.

Isn't Martha supposed to be in both Torchwood and Dr. Who next season? It doesn't seem that would work without the Doctor getting along with Capt. Jack.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness yes. I wish I could just hop over to England for a performance... or two.

The costume alone would be worth it. And Daleks? Now, that's a panto.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think a good Doctor/Jack outcome would generate more interesting plots and would benefit the show more

Well, I think so, but I am wildly biased in the matter. That being said, I've always believed that Russell T. Davies was, too. And it's just like him to tease us with uncertainty.

Yes, Martha is supposed to be in both Torchwood and Doctor Who, despite former strong assertions that there would be no crossover characters except Jack. How the storyline will work, I don't know, but I think the omens are good.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Well, there were also strong assertions that the Master would never appear, weren't there?

I really, really hope there's some acknowledgment that the Doctor was Not Very Nice to Jack last season, although I'm not holding my breath. And if there is or not, I hope Jack will be treated a bit better.

But really? I'll just be happy to see More Jack. XD

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

there were also strong assertions that the Master would never appear, weren't there?

There certainly were. You can't trust anything that Russell T. Davies or his cohorts say. Whenever they say anything, it really needs a certain escape clause added to it: this is true only until we change our mind.

I really, really hope there's some acknowledgment that the Doctor was Not Very Nice to Jack last season

Yes. I would really, really, like a tearful and sincere apology on the Doctor's part. I'm not holding my breath. I would settle for significant lingering glances that I could interpret to mean the same.

I hope Jack will be treated a bit better

Or maybe a lot better? Really, if I'm honest, what I want is passionate embraces. Not expecting that, but if the Doctor is kind to him - or even civil - I'll be a happy viewer.

But really? I'll just be happy to see More Jack. XD

That too. Really, that's the bottom line.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

LOL I posted about it the other day. Me? I think my muse's optimism is infecting me. I live in HOPE!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So you did! Obviously I haven't been reading my flist lately!

I feel even more optimistic about Jack and the Doctor today. For no reason whatsoever!

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

LOL I was walking on clouds when I read it :D I guess I just have faith in the Tennant+Barrowman dynamics on screen, and will roll with what the writers give. *giggles* I so wonder how Ten will treat Jack now that he knows what he'll become... SO much opening for speculation!!!

Haha the morning's wiser than the evening?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I just have faith in the Tennant+Barrowman dynamics on screen, and will roll with what the writers give.

I felt that way till "The Last of the Time Lords" - now my heart aches for Jack.

I suppose what I want is for the Doctor's pain to be cured and for him to love those I love - including Jack and Martha. I want his primary characteristic to be compassion, not mercilessness - though it's okay for there to be an uneasy dichotomy there within him at the same time.

Anyway, the news has revived my hopes in what ought to be a beautiful friendship!

I guess a good night's sleep revived my courage.

Rose Returns

[raissad.livejournal.com]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7114699.stm

Re: Rose Returns

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Excuse me. I am picking myself up off the floor after fainting dead away in surprise.

I didn't think that would happen.

I am flabbergasted.

Not unhappy. Just... astounded.

Will Rose be in the same episodes as Jack?

Will things be resolved or futher complicated?

Will the Doctor become happier, or more emotionally messed up?

Will this be a Rose from the past, or will dimensions crash?

Eeeeeeeeeeee - !

Re: Rose Returns

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Whatever the story is, I hope the multiple companions are given sufficient individual screen time. My worst fear is that they'll end up narratively overburdened, and the pacing will suffer.

Re: Rose Returns

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My worst fear is that they'll end up narratively overburdened, and the pacing will suffer.

Yes - all the nicely balanced stories they've set up will implode and fall over.

In my opinion, this is (to some extent) what went wrong with "The Last of the Time Lords" - we ended up with Jack, Martha, the Master, the Doctor, and too much plot to handle them all.

This will have to be written very, very carefully. I'm not sure they can do it. I'm not sure anyone can do it.