We definitely disagree on River. I think she's awesome. Such shades of grey there that I'm intrigued by. Honestly the bright spot of this series for me.
The one thing I'll disagree with here is Matt & Karen. I don't know that it's fair to say they're not capable of the parts. I don't think they're being given much to work with here. It's true that an actor can make a small part into a scene-stealer, but I don't know how possible that is when you're already the main characters.
Not to say that you're completely wrong on this - hell, they might not be up to the roles. But I'm feeling like the deck is stacked strongly against them on this with poor writing.
Yes, and that's the one point I wish I'd addressed now that I think about it! The writing is just...like bits of rehashed stuff from the era that Steve M supposedly wants to shy away from. THE HUNGRY EARTH had elements we've already seen from a series 2 two-parter; and another crack in the universe? Haven't we had enough of that?
I agree that the writing has been poor, but these actors also have a substantial amount of screen-time in the majority of episodes each series because they are playing the main characters. On the other hand, as an actor, all you have is the script, and if the scripts are poorly written or the direction is bad or the pacing in the script is badly structured, then you have a whole host of problems. It's all been very disappointing.
Definitely rehashed in many ways (although it could be argued that much of TV/Movies are... take Dances With Wolves vs. Avatar, for example).
The Hungry Earth, on its own, may be one of the dullest episode I've seen - it could have been retitled "And Now for a Period of Time in which Absolutely Nothing Happens."
I mean, hell - The Long Game is not exactly a shining example of great DW - but there's an okay story there, and it definitely sets up portions of the series finale. When I first watched it, I thought it was a pretty good romp.
But the two-parter I just saw - I basically saw 90 minutes of setup for a crack eating a character that had nothing to do with the rest of the episode (in which Nothing Really Happened).
I think you've hit the nail on the head here. I was thinking about this the other day, and was feeling meh. I spaced on watching Amy's Choice, and was so meh over it, I still haven't watched it.
It's definitely the writing, not the acting. I wish there was more of the Karen/Matt bantering you see in the Confidentials brought over to the episodes themselves, it's obvious those two have a good rapport and can hold their own.
Rory, poor underused Rory. I presume he was introduced to create tension/bantering, but he just fell flat. I was relieved when he disappeared - he wound up being a fifth wheel.
I'll be honest - I've been so meh on the episodes that I haven't watched the Confidentials this year. Watched the first one, and just haven't bothered with the rest. They're waiting for a rainy day at this point.
Rory did fall oddly flat. I'm presuming at this point there's more than we're seeing, given all of the hints toward the ring.
Jack seriously needs to come break up the dull cobwebs in this series right now.
*laughs* I can picture Amy going all gooey eyed over Jack, but she'd have to top Donna's "evaluation" of Jack.
I'm dreading the reset button that's been hinted at with Rory. The ring? Huge sign, but with the way things have been going, it just doesn't make sense for Rory to be sitting on the sidelines next season (ala Mickey) while Amy is off with the Doctor.
The Confidentials have gone in a different direction this season, but the little snippets of banter make them worthwhile. Watching Matt and Karen talk about "smoochie smoochie time"? Priceless.
I find it hard to believe that anyone would be able to really resist Jack. ;) He has a +10 in charm.
Agree on the sidelined Rory idea. I could see him coming back to the TARDIS - I would not mind a Team Tardis 2.0 going on. But the whole "yeah, my financée is off flyin around with this guy in a time machine" doesn't wash. Again - we've been there, done that. The way it was written with Mickey was well-done. He was angry and tried moving on with his life. (that conversation between Rose and Mickey in Boom Town overlooking the not-yet-Torchwood dock is one of the snippets I love for its realism).
I started out the series wary, both of Moffat and the very young doctor. After I watched the first ep, I decided I loved Amy and was not very impressed with the Doctor. As the season progressed, I liked the Doctor more and was less impressed with Amy. Rory is/was? okay to borderline good.
But that might be the problem right there. The show seems to be just okay. First ep was great, but that was pretty much the high point. I like the occasional crankiness/rudeness from the Doctor, but the way he's written makes it hard to be very emotionally invested in him. He's written as being more of a distance from it all. Very old school, in a way. Smith is not handsome to me, so he pulls off the asexual act well and makes me forget that he's so young. So yeah, Smith can act.
River was better than I expected, but then I disliked her last season. I like the mistrustful relationship she and the Doctor have.
However, I've heard a number of folks echoing your sentiments. Maybe it'll come together in awesomeness during the finale.
I hope it will come together in awesomeness. I am concerned that such an overt, huge setup is just asking for major fail, though. IMHO, if the setup is so huge, I need to care about the characters for it to be emotionally rewarding.
Maybe it'll come together in awesomeness during the finale.
I'm hoping the same, as are a lot of us - but we've got to want to make it through the twelve weeks prior to that in the first place! I want to enjoy the show each week, rather than sit here thinking, "oh well, I'm sure I'll enjoy it more when I know what's been going on." Don't get me wrong - there are things I've liked and thought worked really well, but I feel less "pulled in" this season than I did before, if that makes sense. I'm not sure whether it's writing, acting, casting... probably a mixture of all three. While Matt Smith is certainly not a bad actor, he doesn't have the charisma and screen presence of his two predecessors, and the Doctor needs, above all, to be the person you can't stop looking at (okay, yeah, David had a HUGE advantage there, but you get what I mean!). We seem to be getting plot (which is as full of holes as one of Rusty's epics as far as I can see at this point) at the expense of good characterisation.
I think this is mostly how I feel. I'm still enjoying the show, but I just don't love it like I did before. I have no emotions for the characters when Amy was being sucked under the Earth I should have felt something, but their was nothing, not even for the Doctor, and I hate that because I love the Doctor. The only character I've loved was Rory and if you don't know how that turned out you will soon.
I've seen the most recent episode - and yeah, not really happy on Rory's fate.
I agree - I felt nothing about Amy. She just felt like a plot device - nothing more. In fact, I'd argue that Eleven, Amy and Rory have all just been plot devices. I can't find sympathy for a plot device.
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also: River still annoys me.
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Not to say that you're completely wrong on this - hell, they might not be up to the roles. But I'm feeling like the deck is stacked strongly against them on this with poor writing.
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Yes, and that's the one point I wish I'd addressed now that I think about it! The writing is just...like bits of rehashed stuff from the era that Steve M supposedly wants to shy away from. THE HUNGRY EARTH had elements we've already seen from a series 2 two-parter; and another crack in the universe? Haven't we had enough of that?
I agree that the writing has been poor, but these actors also have a substantial amount of screen-time in the majority of episodes each series because they are playing the main characters. On the other hand, as an actor, all you have is the script, and if the scripts are poorly written or the direction is bad or the pacing in the script is badly structured, then you have a whole host of problems. It's all been very disappointing.
luv jackie
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The Hungry Earth, on its own, may be one of the dullest episode I've seen - it could have been retitled "And Now for a Period of Time in which Absolutely Nothing Happens."
I mean, hell - The Long Game is not exactly a shining example of great DW - but there's an okay story there, and it definitely sets up portions of the series finale. When I first watched it, I thought it was a pretty good romp.
But the two-parter I just saw - I basically saw 90 minutes of setup for a crack eating a character that had nothing to do with the rest of the episode (in which Nothing Really Happened).
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It's definitely the writing, not the acting. I wish there was more of the Karen/Matt bantering you see in the Confidentials brought over to the episodes themselves, it's obvious those two have a good rapport and can hold their own.
Rory, poor underused Rory. I presume he was introduced to create tension/bantering, but he just fell flat. I was relieved when he disappeared - he wound up being a fifth wheel.
I, too, hope this is just growing pains.
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Rory did fall oddly flat. I'm presuming at this point there's more than we're seeing, given all of the hints toward the ring.
Jack seriously needs to come break up the dull cobwebs in this series right now.
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I'm dreading the reset button that's been hinted at with Rory. The ring? Huge sign, but with the way things have been going, it just doesn't make sense for Rory to be sitting on the sidelines next season (ala Mickey) while Amy is off with the Doctor.
The Confidentials have gone in a different direction this season, but the little snippets of banter make them worthwhile. Watching Matt and Karen talk about "smoochie smoochie time"? Priceless.
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Agree on the sidelined Rory idea. I could see him coming back to the TARDIS - I would not mind a Team Tardis 2.0 going on. But the whole "yeah, my financée is off flyin around with this guy in a time machine" doesn't wash. Again - we've been there, done that. The way it was written with Mickey was well-done. He was angry and tried moving on with his life. (that conversation between Rose and Mickey in Boom Town overlooking the not-yet-Torchwood dock is one of the snippets I love for its realism).
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But that might be the problem right there. The show seems to be just okay. First ep was great, but that was pretty much the high point. I like the occasional crankiness/rudeness from the Doctor, but the way he's written makes it hard to be very emotionally invested in him. He's written as being more of a distance from it all. Very old school, in a way. Smith is not handsome to me, so he pulls off the asexual act well and makes me forget that he's so young. So yeah, Smith can act.
River was better than I expected, but then I disliked her last season. I like the mistrustful relationship she and the Doctor have.
However, I've heard a number of folks echoing your sentiments. Maybe it'll come together in awesomeness during the finale.
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And well... I just don't.
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I'm hoping the same, as are a lot of us - but we've got to want to make it through the twelve weeks prior to that in the first place! I want to enjoy the show each week, rather than sit here thinking, "oh well, I'm sure I'll enjoy it more when I know what's been going on."
Don't get me wrong - there are things I've liked and thought worked really well, but I feel less "pulled in" this season than I did before, if that makes sense. I'm not sure whether it's writing, acting, casting... probably a mixture of all three. While Matt Smith is certainly not a bad actor, he doesn't have the charisma and screen presence of his two predecessors, and the Doctor needs, above all, to be the person you can't stop looking at (okay, yeah, David had a HUGE advantage there, but you get what I mean!).
We seem to be getting plot (which is as full of holes as one of Rusty's epics as far as I can see at this point) at the expense of good characterisation.
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I agree - I felt nothing about Amy. She just felt like a plot device - nothing more. In fact, I'd argue that Eleven, Amy and Rory have all just been plot devices. I can't find sympathy for a plot device.
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