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icepixieAh, Doctor Who night. We snared ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
laserhead, pezprez, and Meg for "Dalek." Hee. Then we blew each other up with Nintendo. Ahhh, fun times in the flat.
*
In other Wholiganisms, I've been listening to a few of the Big Finish Eighth Doctor audios (namely Scherzo, The Chimes of Midnight, Storm Warning, and Neverland; why yes, I am going in a very erratic order).
I'm truly amazed at how well-done these are. I've tried listening to radio drama before on two occasions, and it never took. One was some forgettable contemporary sitcom I ran into on iTunes radio when I was bored. The other was the original War of the Worlds. I figured if that classic didn't take, then audio drama wasn't for me. These are, though. They're fantastic. Maybe it's due to seeing DW in some version on TV--although I haven't seen the McGann movie, and obviously Charley was created just for the audio plays--but it's more likely because Paul McGann and India Fisher play their characters, and play off each other, so very well, and the guest actors are quite good, too. Plus those sound effects guys are amazing. Okay, so there does of necessity have to be a certain amount of spoken description of the surroundings that can, in the wrong hands, get a bit grating; the Doctor having two long spells of doing such in "Storm Warning" got kind of old, even if he did make a joke about talking to oneself being the first sign of madness. But. Generally they don't have to resort to that, though; it's rather amazing how much of an environment you can convey through sound alone.
Charley is fast becoming one of my most favorite characters ever, in any medium. She's like a cross between Rose and Cassandra Mortmain (of I Capture the Castle, a book which, if you haven't read, you should check out RIGHT NOW) with something else uniquely her own. I think I may like her more than I like Rose, in fact. And of course India Fisher is fabulous. She's so exuberant and eager and lively, she just sucks you right into the story even if it's only audio and you have to make up the visuals yourself. Plus, she's adorable. I want a little version of her I can keep in my closet and pull out when I'm sad; she'd cheer anyone right up.
There's something about Paul McGann's voice or accent that bugs me just a little, but he's certainly very good at this voice acting thing. In Scherzo, "Of course I loved you! ...Of course I love you," may in fact be the best delivery of any line ever. I was just sort of sitting there with my jaw on the floor after it. Charley's earlier "But I love you!" is nothing to sneer at either.
Scherzo is really quite amazing itself. Great idea, having them in a situation where every sense but hearing is cut off. Heh. Not to mention there were definitely some freaky moments here and there. *shudder* Plus, dude. SHIP, OMG.
It's interesting that both Scherzo and Chimes, there's an evil alien entity that considers Charley and the Doctor its parents. While I imagine no one meant this in the slightest, it does amuse me that it ties in nicely to a theory I've seen bandied about on the 'Net (I think it may actually have been in a Five/Tegan fic where I saw it first) and which I've adopted as a pet. The idea is that Susan's mother or father, whichever was the Doctor's child, is actually the progeny of one of his later regenerations, but Susan ended up traveling with the First Doctor because of strange time travel doings. You can, of course, see where I'm going with this. *g* It would certainly be interesting, anyway...
So, yeah. Audio = good. It's been quite nice for the hours I've been stuffing envelopes at the Kenyon Review this week; something to keep my from going crazy while I do a monotonous task, and a monotonous task to keep my hands occupied while I listen to the plays.
*
I'm thisclose to finishing my story for Fiction. I need another three scenes, basically, and then I can give it an edit and have it be done, at least in this version of it. It's really either a short story or a novella trapped in novelette form (currently ~7,000 words; will probably be ~8,500 when I'm done), and I'm not sure whether I need to cut it down or expand it. I'm leaning towards the latter, but...that's for after I turn it in on Tuesday. Because whoa, there are some revisions that need more than a weekend.
Anyway, because I'm not using it for my final piece, that means I didn't have to turn it in today, and it can be turned in on Tuesday, as I said.elflore, when I send it to you (it will be by tomorrow evening--er, this evening--because I really have other work I have to get to, and THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE, OMG), take as long as you like reading it.
*
Ooof. Bed. Or shower, at any rate...
laserhead, pezprez, and Meg for "Dalek." Hee. Then we blew each other up with Nintendo. Ahhh, fun times in the flat.*
In other Wholiganisms, I've been listening to a few of the Big Finish Eighth Doctor audios (namely Scherzo, The Chimes of Midnight, Storm Warning, and Neverland; why yes, I am going in a very erratic order).
I'm truly amazed at how well-done these are. I've tried listening to radio drama before on two occasions, and it never took. One was some forgettable contemporary sitcom I ran into on iTunes radio when I was bored. The other was the original War of the Worlds. I figured if that classic didn't take, then audio drama wasn't for me. These are, though. They're fantastic. Maybe it's due to seeing DW in some version on TV--although I haven't seen the McGann movie, and obviously Charley was created just for the audio plays--but it's more likely because Paul McGann and India Fisher play their characters, and play off each other, so very well, and the guest actors are quite good, too. Plus those sound effects guys are amazing. Okay, so there does of necessity have to be a certain amount of spoken description of the surroundings that can, in the wrong hands, get a bit grating; the Doctor having two long spells of doing such in "Storm Warning" got kind of old, even if he did make a joke about talking to oneself being the first sign of madness. But. Generally they don't have to resort to that, though; it's rather amazing how much of an environment you can convey through sound alone.
Charley is fast becoming one of my most favorite characters ever, in any medium. She's like a cross between Rose and Cassandra Mortmain (of I Capture the Castle, a book which, if you haven't read, you should check out RIGHT NOW) with something else uniquely her own. I think I may like her more than I like Rose, in fact. And of course India Fisher is fabulous. She's so exuberant and eager and lively, she just sucks you right into the story even if it's only audio and you have to make up the visuals yourself. Plus, she's adorable. I want a little version of her I can keep in my closet and pull out when I'm sad; she'd cheer anyone right up.
There's something about Paul McGann's voice or accent that bugs me just a little, but he's certainly very good at this voice acting thing. In Scherzo, "Of course I loved you! ...Of course I love you," may in fact be the best delivery of any line ever. I was just sort of sitting there with my jaw on the floor after it. Charley's earlier "But I love you!" is nothing to sneer at either.
Scherzo is really quite amazing itself. Great idea, having them in a situation where every sense but hearing is cut off. Heh. Not to mention there were definitely some freaky moments here and there. *shudder* Plus, dude. SHIP, OMG.
It's interesting that both Scherzo and Chimes, there's an evil alien entity that considers Charley and the Doctor its parents. While I imagine no one meant this in the slightest, it does amuse me that it ties in nicely to a theory I've seen bandied about on the 'Net (I think it may actually have been in a Five/Tegan fic where I saw it first) and which I've adopted as a pet. The idea is that Susan's mother or father, whichever was the Doctor's child, is actually the progeny of one of his later regenerations, but Susan ended up traveling with the First Doctor because of strange time travel doings. You can, of course, see where I'm going with this. *g* It would certainly be interesting, anyway...
So, yeah. Audio = good. It's been quite nice for the hours I've been stuffing envelopes at the Kenyon Review this week; something to keep my from going crazy while I do a monotonous task, and a monotonous task to keep my hands occupied while I listen to the plays.
*
I'm thisclose to finishing my story for Fiction. I need another three scenes, basically, and then I can give it an edit and have it be done, at least in this version of it. It's really either a short story or a novella trapped in novelette form (currently ~7,000 words; will probably be ~8,500 when I'm done), and I'm not sure whether I need to cut it down or expand it. I'm leaning towards the latter, but...that's for after I turn it in on Tuesday. Because whoa, there are some revisions that need more than a weekend.
Anyway, because I'm not using it for my final piece, that means I didn't have to turn it in today, and it can be turned in on Tuesday, as I said.
elflore, when I send it to you (it will be by tomorrow evening--er, this evening--because I really have other work I have to get to, and THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE, OMG), take as long as you like reading it.*
Ooof. Bed. Or shower, at any rate...
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Date: 2006-04-15 05:37 am (UTC)Cassandra Mortmain: I really should read that book. I liked the movie quite a bit.
Charley: I looooooooooove that girl. And India. *Thuds* for the Charley icon.
Susan theory: Fascinating. I still have my own vision of the Doctor's tragic past (complete with soundtrack), but...fascinating nonetheless. :?P
Sherzo/Chimes Connection: There's a very simple explanation, of course...those two are both by Robert Shearman. (The same guy who write 'Dalek', in fact.) He does tend to repeat some pieces and themes in his stories quite a bit--but he writes so gorgeously most of us keep letting him get away with it. *g* (And the Jubilee--Dalek connection isn't his fault; RTD asked him to rework that audio for his episode.)
The story: I should still be able to get it read for you by tuesday. I've got it pencilled in for sunday. :?)
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Date: 2006-04-15 06:36 pm (UTC)Who is such good crack. It's really sad.
Cassandra Mortmain: I really should read that book. I liked the movie quite a bit.
Oh, you definitely need to read that book! It has you written all over it. The movie's good, then? I was wondering how it could be...it's a book that depends so much on, well, being a book that I couldn't quite see it as a film...
Charley: I looooooooooove that girl. And India. *Thuds* for the Charley icon.
I think I like Charley better than I like Rose. Maybe. She is awfully nifty. And ZOMG, I love India. She's so! cute! *squees*
Susan theory: Fascinating. I still have my own vision of the Doctor's tragic past (complete with soundtrack), but...fascinating nonetheless. :?P
Soundtrack? Do tell. ...I like that theory because it really uses this whole time travel thing to its fullest extent, which is always fun. Plus, it would blow the minds of everyone who's adamantly against the Doctor ever being anything but asexual. *eg*
Shearman: That would explain things. I can see why he wouldn't want to bother with new material...he's so good at execution that it hardly matters.
The story: I should still be able to get it read for you by tuesday. I've got it pencilled in for sunday. :?)
You're rather awesome. *g* I just need to finish these two rather important scenes that are kicking my ass like whoa before I call it quits and mail it off. Grrr, stupid scenes...
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Date: 2006-04-16 02:31 pm (UTC)(Actually, that reminds me of a really rather neat conversation I just read in a Spider-Man comic. Spider-Man is discussing science and magic with Iron Man, and both heroes are themselves scientists. Yet Iron Man suggests maybe magic should have the benefit of the doubt. 'Science' once thought that the universe revolved around the Earth, until people like Galileo came along. Newton redefined the world of physics...and then Newtonian laws were discovered to fail on a subatomic level, and Quantum Mechanics was born, and a lot of that seemed like magic. Perhaps magic and science aren't so different, he suggests, just systems trying to describe the workings of the universe...all of which goes to show you, who knows, maybe there are calcium-based monsters in the universe who explode in the face of a little vinegar! *Snerk*)
I Capture the Castle, the movie: Yeah, it's pretty good. The ending felt a little jarring...mom and I watched it, and afterwards had quite a discussion about whether or not the fairy tale and more realistic aspects of the story jarred too much...though there's actually an alternate ending on the DVD we thought better. It'll be interesting to see which version is closer to the book. But still, overall it's pretty cool, and has an awesome cast. At least if you're as much of an anglophile as we are. *snerk* Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald (if you don't know who that is, then you need to go hunt down the movie "Brassed Off" right now. *g*)...Romola Garai (think that's how you spell her name), Rose Byrne who was in Troy...plus it was funny for me, because one of the Americans is a guy who was in Buffy for a while.
Charley/India: Hehehehehe. Have you read any interviews with her yet? She so rocks. She's into Star Wars and Lord of the Rings...she's just a gorgeous geek!
Doctor's Past Theory: Yeah, I've got a whole sort of classical tragedy in my head, and it's become sort of anchored by the Coldplay songs "The Scientist" and "Clocks". I see the Doctor as having been a somewhat distant husband, always distracted by his scientific studies...and then something terrible happened, his wife and quite possibly his son or daughter were killed. I see this as when and why he took Susan with him and stole his TARDIS, breaking one of the ultimate Time Lord rules, and one of the few we've never seen him break in the show--going back into his and Gallifrey's own past. Yet he was unable to save his family, and instead ended up on the run from the Time Lords...and we know how that goes, of course. There's a First Doctor episode where one of his companions is trying to change something in history, and the Doctor makes this really impassioned speech, kind of a classic among Whovians. "You cannot rewrite history, not one line! Believe me, I know...I KNOW!" And the way he says it, you really can't help but think he's been there, and it was deeply personal. I also see it as part of the essential tragedy of the Doctor (and Susan), part of his being an exile...home isn't just a place he can't go back to, it's a *time* he'll always yearn to get back, knowing he never can.
Okay, that's enough long-windedness outta me for one post! And I got your story, thanks! :?)
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Date: 2006-04-17 05:27 am (UTC)I think it's so great that you have that kind of feeling for this show, even if it means I totally disagree with you on some points (i.e., AOL/WWII). I had that once for Star Trek...and then I think I grew up and started demanding everything make sense. Oops. *g*
I Capture the Castle: "Fairy tale"? I don't remember anything like that being in the book. Um. Perhaps my memory is faulty, but...hmmm... Brassed Off sounds familiar, but I don't think I've ever seen it. And if you didn't know, Rose Byrne is in the David Tennant version of Casanova, because the British film and TV industry is incestuous like that. *g*
I've read an interview with India that the Beeb has up at their site, but I haven't seen any others. She sounds so adorable, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if she was a sci-fi geek.
Your theory sounds quite nifty. I hope they never really explain it, so we can all have our pet theories and they can all maybe be true. *g*
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Date: 2006-04-17 06:08 am (UTC)Brassed Off: Brilliant, brilliant movie, about a colliery (coal mine) brass band in 1980s Britain, when they were closing down the mines and guys were losing their jobs. Ewan McGregor's in it, Pete Postlethwaite, the priest from Ballykissangel, Inspector Japp from the Poirot mysteries...it's just full of great British actors. And it's got a brilliant script...a real ensemble story with a lot of depth, and AWESOME music. It's on the list of movies I see and go, "I want my writing to work like THAT, to make people feel like I feel watching this". (Ewan McGregor is, oddly enough, in 3 of these films--his other two being Moulin Rouge and Big Fish.)
The Doctor's backstory: Yeah, I highly doubt they'll more than hint at it. The mystery has become essential to the character over the years. One or two of the books took a stab at giving more concrete clues, but...the less said about those the better, really. :?P
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Date: 2006-04-19 02:56 pm (UTC)I thought you meant that the filmmakers had added some crap "fairy tale" weirdness to the movie. Okay, yeah, that's in the book, with Rose ending up with Neil the cowboy and Cassandra and Simon sort of-almost-but not really getting together for a moment, then...not.
Re: Lungbarrow (because that has to be what you're referring to)...ow. Yeah.
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Date: 2006-04-19 04:16 pm (UTC)Lungbarrow: Yup, exactly. It's funny...the guy who wrote that book is actually quite brilliant. He wrote an episode of the series which I really liked a lot (Ghostlight). He's written some excellent audios, including the one upon which a couple of episodes in this new Who season are actually based (Spare Parts). He just had some really weird fannish theories (looms, the Doctor's backstory, etc.) which they really shouldn't have let him establish in a book. He doesn't seem to be completely married to the ideas, though, because ironically he's written a couple of audios for the Doctor Who Unbound series (a sort of 'What If?' series with alternate Doctors including David Warner and Sir Derek Jacobi!) based around the idea of 'What If the Doctor had never left Gallifrey, and stayed home and become a writer instead?' And the alternate first Doctor he features here lives on a very different, Loomless Gallifrey, with a Susan (played by the original actress!) who is very much his own granddaughter. Woo hoo. *g* I definitely plan on checking those out at some point, when I'm caught up on more of the regular audios.
Also interestingly...Marc Platt was supposed to be the guy who wrote Ace out of the series if it had not been cancelled. There was an interview where he described in pretty good detail the plans for that season, and it was so perfect it hurts, especially in light of the way the books completely mishandled Ace and her Doctor. (Though the audios are thankfully going their own way, and it's fantastic. *g*) In my head, the way he described is the only way for Ace to go--in fact, I wrote a couple of short stories about it years back.
And sorry--seem to be a bit rambly today. :?P
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Date: 2006-04-15 02:01 pm (UTC)That's illegal in most states.
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Date: 2006-04-15 06:36 pm (UTC)But worth it!
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Date: 2006-04-15 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-16 09:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-17 04:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-16 12:26 am (UTC)Also, I absolutely love the theory of some other Doctor being Susan's grandfather. I tried to fic it once and it got very very bad, but I live in hope of someone doing it well.
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Date: 2006-04-16 02:02 am (UTC)Hee! In my oh-so-expert opinion (after...four...of these things), Storm Warning is a bit less than stellar. The others I've listened to are better, particularly Scherzo (so much love for that one, OMG).
But even so, I have to admit to loving and adoring Eight's accent, because of the lovely, occasional lapses into Scouse. We're overdue a Scouse Doctor!
I could identify that he had lapses into something regional, but I wasn't sure what it was. Are there specific markers for Scouse accents? *is a bit of a Linguistics geek*
Also, I absolutely love the theory of some other Doctor being Susan's grandfather. I tried to fic it once and it got very very bad, but I live in hope of someone doing it well.
Isn't it a wonderful theory? It's such a great example of how mindbendy time travel can be. And yeah, I'd fic it, except I would never, ever be able to execute it at all well.