I've been thinking (a post for very sad sadtradfans of the *Doctor Who* persuasion)...

[capri0mni]

We could be burning through regenerations pretty quicky, here, folks. I mean, they pulled up a name for Eccleston's replacement with surprising speed (even speedier than their announcement of a second season), even if, officially, it's not official.

I can't help but wonder if this is on purpose... maybe they aren't really planning to do one regen every season, but perhaps they are sekritly hoping for more C. Baker and McCoy-like runs and fewer T. Baker-like ones. I mean, do you really envision the Beeb of today sustaining any series for another 26 years? Or even 10? The faster they move through lead actors, the sooner the series can reach its natural conclusion with Doctor 13, and the sooner the Beeb is off the hook.

But that conspiracy theory isn't what's really running 'round my head like a fluffly-bunny on a sugar rush... oh, no, it's not!

What's really running 'round my head like a fluffy-bunny on a sugar rush is this: Will we get to see the Doctor turn into the Valeyard? Will we see what drives him to that? Or will Trial of a Timelord simply be erased from continuity, as if it never happened (as, no doubt, some would wish it to be)?

just a thought....

(x-posted to welovenewdrwho)

Comments

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

I don't think they'd want to be 'off the hook'. The longer it's there to dip into, the better. The BBC currently owns a piece of modern mythology. If I were them, I wouldn't want to run out. I'd either try to keep from blazing through regenerations too fast, or toss that particular bit of continuity (since some fans like it, some don't, and most can't agree on what it actually meant, as I understand it).

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

When did that particular bit of continuity actually begin, anyway -- which story?

(I'm still surprised at the speed with which everyone seems to be agreeing on Eccleston's replacement, though, considering the general nature of our fandom...'course, we all could be proven astounndingly wrong).

And whether it comes sooner or later, I'd still be fascinated to see the evolultion of the Doctor into the Valeyard ... maybe through it and out the other side.

I'd prefer it to happen later, myself, as well. but I assume nothing about the combined intelligence of tv execs (which seems to be inversely proportional to the number of people around the meeting table).

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

I think it was Trial of a Time Lord, which I have on unwatchable VHS taped from public television. I haven't seen it. I've just read spoilers.

This is such a ficcy fandom. If the BBC ends it, I have faith that fans will take him through #13 and beyond, Valeyard or no Valeyard.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Yes, we are a "ficcy" fandom. I think it's built into the very premise of the show.

I am of the confirmed opinion that the TARDIS is a metaphor for the mind, and the imagination -- much bigger on the inside than you could ever tell by looking at the outer shell, and able to go anywhere in space and time -- even though it doesn't always take you where you were planning to, when you set out.

Combine that with the fact that the cast of characters must include ordinary people who don't expect to travel this way, and you can't help but get the fans involved in participating in the creation of it. ... Which is a point that alryssa made recently.

Finally.

[(Anonymous)]

I searched the internet and only found maybe two others besides the writer of this short post from nearly a decade ago that confirms my idea of the TARDIS as a metaphor for the mind.

Re: Finally.

[capri0mni]

Hello, there (Who are you, "Anonymous"? We clearly think alike in at least some ways)!

Yeah... I even made a journal icon inspired by/for this post: "Transdimensional Mind: It's bigger on the inside." You've reminded me that it's probably time to make an updated version...

[gordon-r-d.livejournal.com]

Off the top of my head, the limit on regenerations was introduced in The Deadly Asassin (so about halfway through the show's run) and has been adhered to ever since, up until that point all we knew was a line from the second Doctor about Time Lords living forever barring accidents.

If it came to it, I think they'd just sidestep around the whole Valeyard thing, after all, in all honesty the new show isn't being made for us fans, it's being made for the huge Saturday night family audience, so I'd expect them not to bother revisiting the idea.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Putting it in "Deadly Assassin" makes sense, I suppose, so that having an assassin running around among the Time Lords would seem more like an actual threat.

Though if being assassinated doesn't count as an "accident," I don't know what does.

[drox.livejournal.com]

The faster they move through lead actors, the sooner the series can reach its natural conclusion with Doctor 13, and the sooner the Beeb is off the hook.

If the series is going well, and they need another Doctor after version 13, I expect they'll happily ignore past continuity and give us one. It sure won't be the first time that continuity has been ignored (for better or for worse). Sure, some fans will be shocked at this blatant disregard for the past, but probably not *too* upset, considering the alternative.

If the series does poorly, they might never make it to version 13. That would be far, far more upsetting.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

If the series does poorly, they might never make it to version 13. That would be far, far more upsetting.

Indeed it would.

As my mother often said: "Consider the alternative."

Upset that Eccleston's leaving after one season? Consider either of these alternatives: a) that we don't get a second season for him to return to, or b) he's terrible in the role, and we all wish he would leave.