Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Shaw: A Woman Who Wants to Do More Than Pass Test Tubes

[atraphoenix]

Title: Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Shaw: A Woman Who Wants to Do More Than Pass Test Tubes
Author: atraphoenix
Character: Elizabeth 'Liz' Shaw
Fandom: Doctor Who
Spoilers: Series Seven of Doctor Who
Author's Note: A huge thank you to eponymous_rose for being a wonderfully thorough and extremely encouraging beta.

Armed Thug: Don’t you try anything!
Liz: It’s all right, I won’t hurt

Comments

[sleepy_sheep683]

Love the essay; Liz is definitely one of my favourite companions (love "Don't worry; I shan't hurt you..."), and the interactions between the Doctor, the Brig and Liz are one of many things that made Series 7 my favourite Doctor Who series ever (that and the fact every single story is a bit of a gem). when I was thirteen, Liz is who I wanted to be when I grew up, only I didn't know it.

I have nothing more intelligent to add, given you've covered the whole topic so thoroughly, so I'm just going to quote and comment a bit; hope you don't mind.

"I could analyse this change in depth, and work out how it relates to Liz’s character, but... was only granted an audition... after she... sent out a photograph of her self up a ladder in a bikini, it was probably just the BBC costume department appealing to the Dads."

ROTFLMAO! I think you've hit the nail on the head there... However, I could go on at length about her sudden need to appear softer and more feminine as a result of... oh, wait- you've linked my Liz/Brig ramblings already. No need. *Whistles*

"In fact, the only reason she didn’t end up pot-holing in a miniskirt was because Jon Pertwee put his foot down."

On the '...The Silurians' DVD Commentary/info notes, the claim is that the wardrobe department decided that Liz wore her miniskirt and boots because she simply wouldn't have packed anything suitable for potholing, as she wouldn't be expecting to. I still think this is shaky logic, as Liz would have surely borrowed some gear instead (which is what it looked like in the end, so great!).

"Apparently loyalty towards the Doctor is built into Liz’s biology..."

Which is ironic, given the first chance the Doctor gets, he screws her over. I think there's a metaphor in this about women being dazzled by roguish suaves. Poor Brigadier; he couldn't be if he tried.

"In the 1970s, it was extremely difficult for a woman to make a name for herself in scientific circles... it can’t have been easy for Liz to gain a position at Cambridge and make a name for herself."

Very true; and it is precisely this that makes me laugh whenever the Brig is described by Liz as a chauvinist- he obviously has no qualms about her credentials or gender. He's more respectful of her intelligence than the Doctor, too. On a serious note, I often assume she reacts that way because she expects it of him.

"He is a blustering military martinet, with rather old-fashioned ideals which never fail to infuriate Liz, the forward-thinking and thoroughly modern scientist."

Together... They fight crime! (Sorry, couldn't resist).

"They’re hardly a match made in heaven, but try telling that to the multitude of Liz/Brig ‘shippers’ across the internet..."

*Looks around* I think there might only be about seven of us. It just means we have to shout louder- because we all know shouting louder makes you more right :).

"In ‘The Ambassadors of Death’, it is the Brigadier who panics about Liz’s kidnapping, not the Doctor (and, I might add, he then does a lot of shooting and running around to rescue her)"

Yes, although they're both a bit too nonchalant about the whole thing for my liking- seems a bit out of character. Oh, I love the 'Operation bust Liz out' section- although I laughed a lot at the Brig's scrap with a henchman. If you watch carefully, you'll see them both help each other up. On a less shippy note, I thought the Brigadier's concern for Liz was because he was entirely responsible for getting her involved in UNIT (plus, we see in 'the Invasion' he really isn't up for letting the ladies go off and get themselves killed to save the world).

"It would have been interesting to see how their relationship would have developed if Liz had chosen to stay with UNIT but, hey, that’s what fanfiction is for."

Say it with me: Proto. X. Files.
Or: Moonlighting. With. Aliens.

And whenever I watch the stories with Jo Grant, I often imagine the Brigadier sitting at his desk thinking, 'You'll never be her!' every time she is silly and serendipitous.

Okay, that's me done, except to add you've almost convinced me to watch those P.R.O.B.E episodes I have sitting on my computer (I watched 'The Airzone Solution' and it didn't inspire me to continue).

[atraphoenix]

Of course I don't mind! And naturally I linked your post. It is one of the must reads of UNIT era fandom!

'The Silurians' DVD Commentary/info notes, the claim is that the wardrobe department decided that Liz wore her miniskirt and boots because she simply wouldn't have packed anything suitable for potholing, as she wouldn't be expecting to.

Well, I've heard worse attempts to justify things, I suppose. I haven't been able to get a copy of the DVD yet, but I always love the commentaries. Such a mine of useless, but enjoyable, information.

I think there might only be about seven of us. It just means we have to shout louder- because we all know shouting louder makes you more right :).

I've stumbled across quite a few Liz/Brig shippers. It's active Liz/Brig shippers that are lacking. But we can always work on that.

Oh, I love the 'Operation bust Liz out' section- although I laughed a lot at the Brig's scrap with a henchman. If you watch carefully, you'll see them both help each other up.

I like to think that they know she can look after herself, even if the Brig isn't necessarily happy about it. Perhaps they can imagine the expression on her face if they mess things up rescuing her too soon.

I've never noticed that before! Brilliant!

I often imagine the Brigadier sitting at his desk thinking, 'You'll never be her!' every time she is silly and serendipitous.

And now, so will I XD

[sleepy_sheep683]

"Of course I don't mind! And naturally I linked your post. It is one of the must reads of UNIT era fandom!"

LOL- thanks. I am flattered. Although I am going to have to go and update it because I rewatched 'Mawdryn Undead' today, and what actually happens in that pre-flashback moment, is the Doctor says to Lethbridge-Stewart, "You'll remember Liz Shaw, of course," after mentioning Jo and Sarah-Jane. That's a loaded statement if you want it to be...

[curuchamion]

Oh, there are Liz/Brig 'shippers aplenty.

Three/Liz UST fic on the other hand is practically nonexistent. Which I think is absurd. *does not scream "Can't you see the invisible fireworks?" at the world in general*

[atraphoenix]

I don't think I've seen any, actually. (Scream away, I see them. Especially when they first meet and she steals the TARDIS key for him.)

[curuchamion]

Oh, yeah. And the bit in Inferno ep 1 where he's asking her to understand why he's so keen to fix the TARDIS, and he takes her shoulders... whoo boy!

(Some days I really wish I could write UST and/or 'shippiness - because I would totally have a Three/Liz ficverse by now if I could.)