I have another friend who I think liked it and is concerned about saying so in public (even public under flock) because so many of her friends are upset about it.
I've been aware of it because my flist has very upset people on it. As I just mentioned in my own journal, I have some real issues with the level of fannish engagement/entitlement in the new Whoniverse, but a lot of that comes down to my problem with RTD's mediation of canon through his fannish experience, which I disagree with in a lot of places. I'm less bothered by him whacking Ianto, who is at least his own character, than I am by him implying Sarah Jane had a romantic fixation on the Doctor back in the day and her life was RUINED by him abandoning her.
Having read the spoilers but not seen the episodes, I must admit hearing about the last episode and Jack leaving (which, yes, totally IC) makes me feel much less like the decision to whack Ianto was fan(dis)service, which was how it came off as related to me. Of course, as an old skool Whovian, I think Torchwood makes no sense in a canon with UNIT, so closing TW down is like fixing a temporal anomaly anyhow.
I know I say this again and again, but I came into fandom through Stargate and survived the Daniel/Jack/Sam shipper wars by, well, being on neither side. I also learned to mostly avoid fandom except for the "sane" corner because of it.
I've only seen old school Who sporadically, I started watching with Nine, tho I'd seen some old eps before that but yeah, I never got the impression that any of the companions were supposed to be fixated before Rose. But again, having not seen much of it, that could be qualified as an "unqualified opinion" LOL.
I also have real problems with fan entitlement in many areas (see: Stargate). Actually, I just have issues with entitlement in general but that's a completely different discussion.
Yeah, I pretty much don't engage in fandom proper other than as a lurker. When I write about meta in my own journal, it's mostly for a non-fannish audience. We're crazy, just in a different way. :)
I was a big Four fan when I was wee, and Sarah Jane was my first companion, so the nonromantic relationship is standard/default for me. The only companion I think of the Doctor as potentially getting it on with is Romana. Rose, in particular, is so immature that I have real problems with the Doctor being interested in her. It's not child molestation, but it does have a skeevy vibe to me because of the age/power/maturity differences.
And, yes, generally to issues of fannish entitlement. There are reasons why I was comparing it to comic books, which have pretty much destroyed their sales appeal to kids by getting into bad engagement with fans who insist on continuity and resolving things their way. At least now they have alternate universes for kid books, many of which I'm told are better written than the mainstream universe books.
I'm interested in the new doctor and companion because there was such a continuum through Rose -> Donna. The college kid --> the professional --> Mistress of Life of Hard Knocks. I think each appealed to a different part of fandom.
My favourite companion in the new series was Donna because she wasn't in love with the Doctor...she was in love with the adventure and in love with being best friends with the Doctor...but him...it was kinda "Ew no that would be like dating my cousin!" flavour to it that I loved!
I've been aware of it because my flist has very upset people on it. As I just mentioned in my own journal, I have some real issues with the level of fannish engagement/entitlement in the new Whoniverse, but a lot of that comes down to my problem with RTD's mediation of canon through his fannish experience, which I disagree with in a lot of places. I'm less bothered by him whacking Ianto, who is at least his own character, than I am by him implying Sarah Jane had a romantic fixation on the Doctor back in the day and her life was RUINED by him abandoning her.
Having read the spoilers but not seen the episodes, I must admit hearing about the last episode and Jack leaving (which, yes, totally IC) makes me feel much less like the decision to whack Ianto was fan(dis)service, which was how it came off as related to me. Of course, as an old skool Whovian, I think Torchwood makes no sense in a canon with UNIT, so closing TW down is like fixing a temporal anomaly anyhow.
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I've only seen old school Who sporadically, I started watching with Nine, tho I'd seen some old eps before that but yeah, I never got the impression that any of the companions were supposed to be fixated before Rose. But again, having not seen much of it, that could be qualified as an "unqualified opinion" LOL.
I also have real problems with fan entitlement in many areas (see: Stargate). Actually, I just have issues with entitlement in general but that's a completely different discussion.
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I was a big Four fan when I was wee, and Sarah Jane was my first companion, so the nonromantic relationship is standard/default for me. The only companion I think of the Doctor as potentially getting it on with is Romana. Rose, in particular, is so immature that I have real problems with the Doctor being interested in her. It's not child molestation, but it does have a skeevy vibe to me because of the age/power/maturity differences.
And, yes, generally to issues of fannish entitlement. There are reasons why I was comparing it to comic books, which have pretty much destroyed their sales appeal to kids by getting into bad engagement with fans who insist on continuity and resolving things their way. At least now they have alternate universes for kid books, many of which I'm told are better written than the mainstream universe books.
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