Doctor Who: Moffat the Magnificent...

[fajrdrako]

At long last the announcement: Steven Moffat is taking over from Russell T. Davies. I am, in fact, surprised. There have been rumours enough about Russell T. Davies leaving, for long enough, that I would have been surprised if he didn't. But Moffat taking over? As possibilities go, it seemed too good to be true. I half-expected some no-talent I'd never heard of. Or, worse, some of the half-talents I've seen associated with Doctor Who projects but in whom I have no faith.

But of course I have faith in Steven Moffat. He is one of the gods in my pantheon. One of the best writers in television, if not the best. I don't just love his writing style; and it isn't just that he has such a grasp of cinematic style; I like the way he thinks. His originality. His approach. I'm not sure he has Davies' sense of romance; we shall see.

So now, I'm really, really looking forward to series 5 of Doctor Who. It's going to be an excruciatingly long wait, the equivalent of waiting for Dorothy Dunnett's Checkmate to come out, or - say it ain't so - the apocryphal and much-awaited A Dance of Dragons by George R.R. Martin.

Here's the "Tv Scoop" story.

Comments

[liliaeth]

Now that is good news!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It is. It actually thrills my fannish heart. And makes me quite excited about the future.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7411177.stm).

Mind, I'm still peeved at the BBC pursuing the woman who knits the Whovian toys over copyright issues…

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I love the phrase "terrifying weeping angels". So right!

I'm still peeved at the BBC pursuing the woman who knits the Whovian toys

Yes, really. So petty. Under the circumstances.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

If they'd bring out their official cuddly Adipose quicker… How could they not realise those little blobs of fat would have people immediately wanting to take them home?!!!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. The whole point was their cuteness. They could at least release their own knitting patterns!

The marketing of these things is generally odd. Again, there's the sense that they can and do market things for kids - toys ,and bed sheets with Daleks on them, and action figures of monsters - but not so much for the adult women, who would be interested in things like knitting patterns.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

The response in the letters page of The Guardian was a woman writing in to say she wanted the knitting pattern for David Tennant… ;-D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL - I like her priorities!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Kinda wish he'd help out over at TW. It would make me feel easier about all the personnel changes.

*nervous nelly*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Kinda wish he'd help out over at TW.

Funny, I was thinking exactly the same thing. They really need to upgrade their quality of writing - it's still all over the place. And I think the big problem is not so much with individual scripts, but with overall structure and resolution.

I think Chibnall is good but not quite as good as I want him to be.

Too bad Steven Moffatt can't do both.

On the other hand... if Russell T. Davies has his time freed up to work on Torchwood, that would be a very good thing indeed.

I've no sense that he wants to do this, though.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Well, can't they clone his brain and keep the TW one in a jar on Jack's desk, where he'll dictate the scripts into a recorder? I'd be happy to transcribe. I have transcription experience, and I wouldn't even sneak in all that many stage directions for lovey-dovey glances between Jack and Ianto.

I WANT HIM ON TORCHWOOD.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I WANT HIM ON TORCHWOOD.

Oooooh yes.

Or someone as good. Except there's no one as good. But... they could at least find someone almost as good!

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

apocryphal LOL

I just caught up reading that series (ASOIAF), reading A Feast for Crows for the third time so it's third time all. Now for the next one, please!

I remember being very confused by the last lines of The Ringed Castle. What do you mean they didn't wait any longer???

Did I recommend Sherwood Smith's Inda (in paperback) and is sequel The Fox? Loved them both. The third book is coming out this summer, i think. And there will be another after that I believe, or two.

There's a game I like to play sometimes, about newly discovered 'lost books' where you add this: " as good as (such and such favorite by the same author)"

So, a lost book by Dickens, as good as Bleak House. A lost book of Renault as good as The last of the Wine. (differenet faves for different folks, of course)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

apocryphal LOL

Yes, well, what else can I call a book that is supposed to exist, but doesn't? That was supposed to have existed two years ago? That is still only a twinkle in Amazon.com's eye?

Now for the next one, please!

Yes! Soon! Absolutely! I want to know where Tyrion is and what Dani is doing, dammit.

I remember being very confused by the last lines of The Ringed Castle. What do you mean they didn't wait any longer???

The Tsar and Guzel waited for Lymond to come back, because they both wanted him to return. Then they each realized that Lymond was not coming back to Russia as he had planned and wanted to, and they went on with things - Ivan to be terrible and Guzel to meet her fate.

Thanks for the Sherwood Smith recommendation!

So, a lost book by Dickens, as good as Bleak House. A lost book of Renault as good as The last of the Wine. (differenet faves for different folks, of course)

I'll go with either of those examples!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

This is brilliant news!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Let's just hope Moffat isn't hit by a truck next Tuesday....

No. Fate could not be so unkind.

This is wonderful news for those of us who love the show, and who love good writing on television.

[lilithilien.livejournal.com]

Your post about this is much more coherent ... mine consisted of a series of OMGs!

But I'm absolutely over the moon. I was like you, afraid we'd get a no-name who'd struggle to fill RTD's shoes. Instead we got someone who I think can (to stretch a really bad metaphor) stand in his own shoes and make the show even better. Who doesn't see Doctor Who as a series of field trips to exotic locales, but who writes about space-time and its intricacies! Moffat invented the Time Agency, after all! Not to mention Jack Harkness!

Yup. I have high, high hopes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Your post about this is much more coherent ... mine consisted of a series of OMGs!

Big LOL. Well, if ever a BBC announcement deserved a series of OMGs, this is it!

I was like you, afraid we'd get a no-name who'd struggle to fill RTD's shoes.

Yes. Difficult shoes to fill. And how often does a writer like that get followed by someone as good as he was, or better? Not often. Perhaps, in the past, never. But there's a new attitude, I think - an appreciation of good writing and concepts, a sense that it matters.

Instead we got someone who I think can (to stretch a really bad metaphor) stand in his own shoes and make the show even better.

it may be a mixed metaphor but it's well said because it gets to the heart of the matter: someone who is able to copy Russell T. Davies' style competently isn't what the show needs. It needs that spark of originality and unpredictabily and creativity that makes it stand out.

Moffat invented the Time Agency, after all! Not to mention Jack Harkness!

The man is brilliant. He can scare me and make me laugh at the same time, and he's done it on several occasions. How can I not admire that?

And he's written some of the best Doctor Who dialogue ever.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

So, I wonder what RTD will be doing next?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wonder!

Aside from my hope/fantasy that he might want to work on Torchwood - perhaps another commentary-on-life series like Queer as Folk? I don't mean a copy, but something quirky and humanistic...

Squeeeeeeee!!!!!

[littleblueghost.livejournal.com]

This is such awesome news. I am a fangirl when it comes to Steven Moffat - and have collected as many of the series he has written as are available here so far :) Plus I love the eps he has written for Dr Who! So good all 'round!

Re: Squeeeeeeee!!!!!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - Moffat is the perfect successor.

[catslash.livejournal.com]

I am SO excited. This is awesome. It makes me want to break out my Coupling DVDs and have a marathon in celebration. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A Coupling marathon - what fun. Bring it on!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Since I am unfamiliar with his work, I'll have to take your word about Moffat. (I doubt I would describe him as "one of the gods in my pantheon," which seems to me to be just a bit over the top, but YMMV, I suspect.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I doubt I would describe him as "one of the gods in my pantheon," which seems to me to be just a bit over the top

That's one of the joys of being a pantheist: I can worship anything and anyone I like. Writers - well, good writers - generally rate very high on the list of "people I particularly value".

Maybe next time you're over, I can show you a Steven Moffat episode of "Doctor Who". They've been winning Hugo Awards over the past couple of years. There's another one coming up in a couple of weeks.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Hey! Just found you! It's been way too many years... And I can see we are once again sharing interests these days! I am just catching up with Torchwood and Doctor Who. Lovely, lovely, lovely stuff. *g*

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi, and thanks for the information!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hey! Just found you!

YAY! I missed you! I was going to try to contact you by other means but then I saw one of your stories on the Pros community, and there you were. I was rereading some of your wonderful stories, and some of our collaborations, thinking, "Ahhh, those were the days!" or some such sentimental thought. And wondering how you were doing.

I can see we are once again sharing interests these days! I am just catching up with Torchwood and Doctor Who. Lovely, lovely, lovely stuff. *g*

How, that's a nice surprise! Though I still love Pros... just not writing it much these days. Not writing much these days. Hoping to change that.

Lovely, lovely, lovely stuff.

I think so. I'm having a wonderful fannish time. Do you love Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor as much as I do? (I love Ten too, of course.)

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

This is excellent--at least we can keep in touch this way. *g* I think about those collaborations as well--I still want to finish the French one someday. *g* But mostly I wonder about you--how you're doing and what you're up to. I hear you may be going to Con.Txt, which has me all envious.

Not writing much these days.
Ooh, not good. You need to write! Well, okay, I'd lke to read what you write. *g* I enjoyed your Pros story in the zine Never Far Apart last year. And surely you're inspired by TW? I know I have an idea....

I've been writing tons in the last year or two. You can find it all up at The Hatstand. Mostly Pros. I'm still as obsessed as ever.

Do you love Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor as much as I do?
Yes! Absolutely. I had no idea...I only watched those for the first time a month or so ago. Oh, that was a lovely time. I've adjusted to the Tenth Doctor, and I do like him, but...oh, I love the Ninth.

If you feel like chatting sometime, email me--msmoat-at-gmail-dot-com. But I shall certainly be keeping track of your LJ! *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

at least we can keep in touch this way.

Wonderful!

I think about those collaborations as well--I still want to finish the French one someday.

Just yesterday I was talking about that with maaseru; we were talking about "Families" and I was saying I'd like to finish the French Revolution one, and wondered if you'd want to, too. And was thinking of getting in touch.... Did you psychically pick up the conversational vibes?

I hear you may be going to Con.Txt, which has me all envious.

Yeah. I'm not sure. I really can't afford it - but really want to go. The old dilemma!

You need to write!

I do.

Well, okay, I'd lke to read what you write. *g*

I'm so glad to hear it! And I feel the same about your writing.

I enjoyed your Pros story in the zine Never Far Apart last year.

Thank you! That was fun to write. And yes, I love Bodie and Doyle as much as ever.

surely you're inspired by TW?

Oh, very much so!

I had no idea...I only watched those for the first time a month or so ago.

I discovered them - well, was persuaded by friends to watch them - a few months after series 2 had started in England. Got quickly intrigued, got my hands on series 1 thanks to a fannish friend, and fell in love with the Doctor. And the situations. And the stories. And, of course, Captain Jack.

I've adjusted to the Tenth Doctor, and I do like him, but...oh, I love the Ninth.

That's how I feel. Ten is adorable, but Nine is extraordinary on so many more levels.

If you feel like chatting sometime, email me--msmoat-at-gmail-dot-com.</i. I will! My email has been erratic lately mostly because of energy problems (and the broken ankle) but stand by, I'll send you email. Today, even.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Have you seen "Silence In The Library" yet. It's the most recent ep, posted in 3 parts, here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/breched

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm just about to watch it! I can hardly wait.

Moffat Interview From Comic-Con

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Check it out:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=47147

Re: Moffat Interview From Comic-Con

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think I love that man. So far I've liked what he had to say in every interview, and I find him more straightforward than Russell T Davies - he doesn't tease the public in the same way.

And his ideas seem such a great combination of sensible and imaginative.