The Interesting Times

So, after one series, Christopher Eccleston has quit Doctor Who. (Having seen Rose - there's a review saved as a draft entry at home - I can confirm that Eccleston was brilliant.) On the bright side, the BBC have already commissioned a second series. Apparently they're talking to David Tennant about taking over. (I'd like to see the other leading contender at Eccleston's casting, Bill Nighy, but he decided he didn't want to do it so that's unlikely.)

But I'm thinking about the repercussions. First, Russell T Davies (RTD) seems to have definite ideas about the character and where to take him, but a regeneration should come with a different characterisation, which may disrupt all his plans. And then there's the issue that this incarnation has lasted less time than almost any other (I'm not counting Paul McGann, since despite his single television appearance the character has had a long run of adventures in both novels and audio serials), giving the Doctor only a couple left. And RTD wasn't keen on showing a regeneration to kick off the series, so who knows how he'll manage it this time?

Billie Piper is staying on as Rose, and thankfully so; she was refreshingly (and yes, dare I say it, surprisingly) good in the first episode, and we're going to need some continuity for series two. Hopefully the new series will kick off with a two-parter to give the Doctor's regeneration suitable gravitas I'm assuming they don't do it off-screen between seasons - and I hope not, because that's a cheap shot that makes it obviously a real-world convenience, instead of the traumatic sacrifice it should be. I can understand not doing it at the start of a new series, when viewers have enough to deal with in meeting the new character without suddenly having to meet him again...

I realise, by the way, that all of my posts have been about Doctor Who of late. I promise to start posting more personal updates, since I'm sure that's why most of you are reading this anyway...

What can possibly be wrong with a Universe in which there is a website dedicated to serious fan remixes of the Doctor Who theme?

It's interesting to note that Delia Derbyshire, who created the arrangement of the original theme that has always been one of the most enduring legacies of the programme, was more or less totally unknown until very recently. THe story goes that Ron Grainer, the composer, was so impressed with her utterly unearthly rendition of his music that he tried to get her an on-screen credit (as opposed to her being included as part of the Radiophonic Workshop), but to no avail; there's an excellent history of the theme (and Delia's contribution) on the site of late-80s (and possibly best known after Grainer) Who composer Mark Ayres.

So Warren Ellis has seen the new Doctor Who. I read the phrase "it's too damn British" and, wondering what he thought he was watching, stopped skimming it, though after reading ianmcin's comment below I realise my initial impression - that Ellis didn't like it - was wrong.

I'll read the review again once I've seen the show. For the record, I'm not downloading Rose, but in the end this is mainly because the episode available is a "slash print" (thanks evil_lord_zog et al), without some effects (or perhaps with none at all; details are sketchy) or scored music (stock music is in place, apparently).

I don't want to see it like that. Maybe as a special feature on the DVD. But Russell T Davies would seem to know what makes good television, and even if this was something official (as seems to be suggested by the news that the episode was leaked by someone who worked for a non-British network with access to the series), it's not what he wants me to see. Us to see.

Of course, should the ABC (or maybe SBS - I don't want to entertain the thought of one of our commerical networks mangling it in the same fashion as all those other "cult" shows) fail to announce an air date soon, I might crumble. And if no confirmation of an Australian broadcaster come through before the now-confirmed UK air date of March 26, I'll likely try and grab the real episodes. If there's anything I don't want spoiled, this is it.

I was just reminded today of this quote, from part three of the audio adventure Storm Warning featuring Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor:

"Breath in deep, Lieutenant Commander. You too, Charley. You feel that pounding in your heart, that tightness in the pit of your stomach, the blood rushing to your head? Do you know what that is? That's adventure. The thrill and the fear and the joy of stepping into the unknown. That's why we're all here and that's why we're alive!"

It harks back to the voiced-over dialogue that ended the original series back in 1989, a passage that still demonstrates the sense of wonder the series could inspire at its height:

"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace, we've got work to do."

The universe is out there, says the Doctor, and living life is what makes it worthwhile. He won't take life because it's precious, and he really appreciates just how precious it is. Some have said (usually in arguments about why the Doctor doesn't, or shouldn't, have relationships with his companions) that his is a big love, a love of all life and all the cosmos and that individuals are beneath his notice in this way. But I disagree. His is a big love, it's true, but a love of everything small - every detail, every life, every individual. He is fundamentally a lover, not a fighter.
( So why doesn't he, er...shag his companions? (Want to know more?) )

So I watched Episode One of the new BBC animated Doctor Who story, Scream of the Shalka, starring Richard E Grant as the Doctor. The plot is thickening nicely, and the new Doctor is a great character; he's arrogant, charming (his conversation with the homeless old woman is touching), enjoys a glass of wine and has a look that out-cools any wanna-be Victorian Age vampire. The companion-to-be and supporting cast were also good; I'm hanging out for part two.

Today my understanding of popular protest (among other things) was expanded and challenged, and I also had one of the best afternoons of conversation I can remember. Those of you involved - thank you.

I have a new job. If you use CityLink, I may be your friendly customer service representative in a week's time. Wheee!

Good night to all, and to all a good night.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be a doctor and be unable to help people?"
"Oh, so many answers to that; but no, no desire to give any."

Looking up schoolfriends.com.au again, and it suddenly struck me how many ex-schoolmates have ended up in the Armed Forces. And how many try to get around the rules of the site and include their email address in their description. People do this on dating sites too, which actually strikes me as stupid; on schoolfriends.com.au you're pretty safe, I mean how many people you knew in school actually still care enough to send you offensive email? But on a dating service...I wouldn't put my email address on there where anyone could find it.

But on to the meat. Doctor Who: it's often good. I know it. Maybe you know it. But will people in general know it, now it's on the ABC four times a week? I don't know. I know we're in for some rocky times; William Hartnell, the first Doctor, is famous for forgetting his lines (you can see notes scribbled on the TARDIS console in some episodes), but in amongst the flummery some truly inspiring storytelling and some great performances can be seen. The introduction to the series, An Unearthly Child, is great; the Daleks show up next week for the first time, and they're pretty menacing in the early days. (In later days too, come to think of it.) Watch out for the historical stories, which alternated with the fantastic ones in the first season; The Aztecs is a personal favourite, and is only a month or so away. I would love to know what they'll do with deleted episodes, though; will they just skip incomplete stories altogether, or do some wacky telesnaps fill-in?

Ah...it's all so exciting! If only I had a VCR and/or watchable ABC reception... Still, the rest of you should get into it, so you know what I've been going on about all these years. It really is wonderful, even after forty years.

Some people might know what rhubarb is, but me, well I think of Roobarb. And why not? Life is good. You know, since I was last here I've been working, sleeping, eating, rehearsing, drinking, listening to music (mostly Andy Gaunt, a guy I know, the Beatles, Barenaked Ladies, TISM, some Tori Amos, a group I took a punt on when I found their CD cheap called Antediluvian Rocking Horse (they're experimental, and weird), and best of all Jewel, who I'd forgotten was so awesome, though her new CD sounds like it's all dancey and she's lost her edges - I mean, this is the girl who wrote Pieces of You, Adrian and Who Will Save Your Soul, and now she has songs called things like Run 2 U and You & Me = Love...) You know, all the good stuff that human beings do. I have two new housemates, one of whom I already know (she's awesome) and another who seems really cool. I have found a job I really want, and all I need to do is convince the nice people of Darebin to let me help run their libraries. I think this is something within my mighty powers of persuasion. I have recently finished reading Ian Stewart's pretty good Flatterland and JK Rowling's meringue-like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I've been playing Tropico 2: Pirate Cove, which is like plugging a cable into my head which is labelled "Give Ben Pirates" and flipping a big switch marked "On." Tomorrow is the first meeting of my next show, and rehearsals continue for the Hartwell Players season of short plays, which opens at the start of August. My friends are doing really well in theatre too, with Theatre In Decay rocking everyone's socks off with All of Which are American Dreams, and Ben Ellis continues his usual high standard of work on Falling Petals, which is also getting rave reviews. Next week is Eddie Izzard week - I'm ready, Julian! - and any week now, the best film ever made will come to meet my face in glorious colour: Pirates of the Caribbean. I could pretty much only be happier if I was making love right now, but hey, I'll get some of that in when the right girl comes along.

Oh, and I wrote some answers to those questions from Xian, but I spent about three hours editing and revising the bastard things and then saved them somewhere at work, so they'll be posted when I find them. Plus a big hello to the nice girl who added me as a friend, you seem to know the Morgatron (Hi Morgatron!) and Kate (Hi Kate!), so you must be cool. This post is dedicated to you.

Oh right, I almost forgot: there's this cool guy, maybe you've heard of him, he's named Richard E. Grant and he's the star of Withnail & I and he's the fucking new Doctor Who baby! Yeah. I almost forgot.

PS I decided you could all be lazy and looked up links for all the most interesting things I mentioned above, that's what the underlined bits are.

"I say, that when a thing completely surpasses my comprehension, I am accustomed not to dwell on that thing, but to pass to another. Is supper ready, Signor Pastrini?"