Doctor Who: Anticipation through spoilers, and a question...

[fajrdrako]

I was reading some Doctor Who spoilers on Digital Spy - and no, I don't usually do that, and yes, I'm sorry I did.

That being said, I was surprised to read this: They said the story included "Sarah Jane, together with son Luke and trusty computer Mr. Smith." I beg your pardon? Didn't the 'trusty computer Mr. Smith' turn out to be an enemy alien spy, who was destroyed?

Okay, maybe I missed something, or maybe he was just rebuilt in safe mode between then and now.

Comments

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it's one of those timeline issues - it seems like all the various versions of the show are actually running in slightly out-of-synch time (like DW is a year ahead, but what happened with the Giant Reset of last year?).

I've been reading spoilers almost in self-defense, I'm so frightened of the mess that the finale could be, what with this massive companionpalooza and all.

There's one spoiler I've heard that seems scarily plausible that will make me want to spork RTD to death very slowly, although parts of fandom will be all asquee. I'm somewhat hopeful that I'll be able to keep going with the promise of Moffat, but if we get That Ending, and/or James Nesbitt as Eleven, I think I will have to quit to keep my head from exploding...

And just when they gave us Donna!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I am curious about the plausible spoiler you've heard - could you email me at tzikeh @ thechicagoloop,net ?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was tempted to ask nina_ds too. But I am repeating to myself: I don't want to know, I don't want to know.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

You really don't. I wish I could unsee it. It was my worst nightmare. Just - don't think about it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Right. Nothing to know, nothing to think about.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it's one of those timeline issues

I wondered that. I think it's more likely the report is wrong - but then, you never can tell what they're going to do with the timeline anyway. This is one reason I don't read spoilers: not just because I prefer getting the material fresh when it's aired, but because spoilers are usually half erroneous and fully confusing.

I'm so frightened of the mess that the finale could be, what with this massive companionpalooza and all.

Me too. I live in terror. I loved "Last of the Time Lords" and "Doomsday". Didn't much like "End of Days" but I could bear it. Couldn't bear "Last of the Time Lords". "Exit Wounds" was... okay, but not as good as it should have been.

The final episode of Sarah Jane Adventures was good, but that show doesn't follow the same sort of pacing or structure as Doctor Who or Torchwood.

So I don't know what to fear or think. I think I'll forget what I've heard and take it as it comes.

There's one spoiler I've heard that seems scarily plausible that will make me want to spork RTD to death very slowly

For that reason, and with no idea what it is and no inclination to guess, I will say categorically that I am convinced then that it is not true and you have nothing to worry about. Because even though Davies likes doing the outrageous, even he has his limits.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

loved "Last of the Time Lords" and "Doomsday".

You mean POTW & DD?

I do think each successive finale has been weaker than the previous one on DW. POTW definitely felt like the only one that integrated the emotional part with the larger/epic battle part. In DD, we had both sides, but it felt like "one; and then the other". LOTTL is just kind of...inexcusable. RTD has a tendency to do "loud and bombastic" for endings, and I don't think that's his strength. My favourite finale he's done, other than POTW, was in The Second Coming, which was so utterly quiet and unremarkable that I didn't even realize it was happening until it already had. It was like driving down a highway, looking for the exit, then realizing, "Oops, that was it back there!" I did love that, even though it was disconcerting the first time.

I liked SJA the best last year, I have to say. I wonder if they'd consider taking SJS as a companion again. Though I do quite like her dynamic with Maria - more than Luke, actually. I thought "Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane" was an excellent episode, and I'm glad to see it fits into the overall story the way it has."

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You mean POTW & DD?

Yes, that's what I meant. Sigh. I can't type today and the thinking isn't optimum either...

I do think each successive finale has been weaker than the previous one on DW.

Yes.

LOTTL is just kind of...inexcusable.

I thought so.

RTD has a tendency to do "loud and bombastic" for endings, and I don't think that's his strength.

It is when he gets it right. When he gets it wrong, it's disaster. Colourful disaster, but horrific all the same.

I wonder if they'd consider taking SJS as a companion again.

Wouldn't that be great? Maybe in one of the specials, at least?

Though I do quite like her dynamic with Maria - more than Luke, actually.

Yes. I think they've written themselves a problem there - by making Luke unusual and different, they can't or don't give him normal interactions with Sarah Jane. They like to play up his strangeness. It's all right since Maria pretty much compensates, and I like the contrast of Maria's relationship with Sarah Jane and with her mother.

I must say: I'd like to see Maria get to see the TARDIS.

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

I thought Luke and/or Sarah Jane and/or Clyde (Maria seems to be computer illiterate most days, which is illogical but there you have it) repurposed Mr Smith so that now he is completely trustworthy. He said he exists to serve a purpose and once they'd eliminated his purpose he was available for a new purpose. So now his purpose is to protect Earth and help Sarah Jane. Or something along those lines.

I've heard lots of possible Big Possibilities for the end of this season but for the most part they're not likely. The one thing that I'm pretty sure of involves Donna, not Sarah Jane. And I am quite sure Sarah Jane will emerge unscathed, as will Luke, if only because there's a new season of SJA to come.

The rumor I like best is that the big "someone's gonna die" refers to Jack because it's like a cop-out. I'll have to cry foul on RTD if that's the case, but it's comforting to think it possible that the Big Death is only temporary...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I thought Luke and/or Sarah Jane and/or Clyde ... repurposed Mr Smith so that now he is completely trustworthy.

I'd forgotten that. Good excuse to watch the shows again! And it occurs to me that since I didn't want The Sarah Jane Adventures in the order they were aired, I might have misunderstood. I remember wondering at one point how they were gong to cope with Mr Smith, but - that might have been before it ended, anyway.

I am quite sure Sarah Jane will emerge unscathed, as will Luke, if only because there's a new season of SJA to come.

I can't see them launching a new series In Memoriam to the Late Sarah Jane. I don't feel any fear.

Someone might die, but I don't believe any of the predicitons I've heard so far.

And as you say, if it's Jack - who'd even blink? He dies once a week and twice on a bad day. Par for the course.

it's comforting to think it possible that the Big Death is only temporary...

Russell T. Davies finds his inspiration from Marvel comics and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where death is seldom permanent.

And these rumours keep us tense, and curious, and watching.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Re: SJA & Mr. Smith, you've forgotten how The Lost Boy ended:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Boy_(The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The robots battle and Sarah Jane inserts the virus, which makes Mr. Smith forget its purpose. As the Moon grows closer to the Earth, Sarah Jane tells Mr. Smith it has a new purpose: to safeguard planet Earth.

Yes! I'd forgotten that. I'm happy now.

And I really must watch that episode again.