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In Our Opinion

Q: WHO IS THE MOST INTERESTING DOCTOR ON TELEVISION? PT. 2

By • Sep 20th, 2011 •

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Not any more.

Since my last article on this subject the venerated Doctor has regenerated twice, firstly in the form of actor David Tennant and now the even younger Matt Smith. The series has recently resumed on the UK’s BBC1 channel in its regular Saturday night slot.

I’m a great Doctor Who fan. I grew up with it, but I find now the subtlety has gone out of it. I’m glad the series is continuing but I feel they are heading toward killing the golden goose. The Doctor as a young action hero may pander to a lower common denominator but long time fans deserve something better than the current fare.

The Doctor running about, shouting and being overly eccentric is no longer charming, just annoying. And his continual justification of ‘Trust me, I’m the Doctor’ with a wink, a smile and a flourish of his sonic screwdriver and a rush of Murray Gold’s music doesn’t work any more. He should stick to L’Oreal hair product commercials – ‘Because I’m worth it…’

The score by Murray Gold and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (I wonder where that funding came from? Not from Wales I’ll bet, they’re skint) is heavy handed also – This isn’t Harry Potter, but they seem to think it is.

Even the pathos is flogged to death, and though I am loathe to admit it, though you still struggle with irony, you Americans DO do pathos best and more subtly – look at series like M*A*S*H, Frasier or Monk, all of which I love. They can bring a tear to your eye. Doctor Who just beats you over the head with it, and with ridiculously over the top sumptuous music to reinforce the fact in case you didn’t get it.

I remember a quote from Christopher Plummer on the set of THE SOUND OF MUSIC where he said working with Julie Andrews was like going to work with a greetings card every day. It’s a bit like that. Sorry, a LOT like that.

There’s also been an overly long story arc about River Song/Melody Pond. And I’m not even going to go there.

Doctor Who has become demographic fodder for idiots. And sadly they all lap it up.

In 1975 Harlan Ellison had these words to say at a Sci Fi convention after being introduced to the series by writer Michael Moorcock:

‘STAR WARS is adolescent nonsense! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is obscurantist drivel! STAR TREK can turn your brains to purée of bat guano! The greatest science fiction series of all time is Doctor Who! And I’ll take you all on, one by one, or all in a bunch, to back it up!’

I think his view may have changed by now. Mine has.

Hey, BBC – Note to self – Nobody cares anymore. No wonder Eccleston left.

Good man.

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