*sound of teeth chattering*

[icepixie]

Brrrr. I guess this sudden cold snap is nature's way of making up for the week of 80s we just had, huh? *shivers* Too bad it had to happen for Easter; people who bought new Easter dresses made out of skimpy material with short sleeves are going to be Put Out come Sunday, I think.

So...apparently the new Doctor Who season started? Hmmm. I'm not sure whether to watch. The idea of watching it all at the end is attractive. Mostly, I'm still a bit pissed off at how last season ended (misogyny for all!), and just not interested in seeing any more of it. The more Old Who I saw, the less I liked the new version, and "Doomsday" really did a number on my appreciation for anything connected with RTD.

I think I've become more monogamous (if serially so) over the years in regards to fandom as well. I used to be able to juggle a half a dozen different ones, even if they were all airing at the same time, and now I'm like, "Eh, Who. Hey, more due South fic!" Possibly this is compounded by actually being in the process of writing fic for that show... But yes, now it's like I can have one full-time fandom (watching/reading source, reading fic, writing fic), one or two where I just pay attention to the source and nothing else, and then maybe one more where I'm just casually reading fic. I suppose now that BSG's over for the season, Who could be my "just the source" fandom...

Apropos of nothing: alto2, I finally started A Passage to India this week. Mmmm, so good. Well, good through the first third, anyway. That's as far as I've gotten just reading it at lunch and for a few minutes before bed. I'm both glad and not glad that I read Orwell's Burmese Days last year for British Empire; glad because I have a more thorough understanding of certain words and concepts referenced here, and not so because I have a feeling I know how this one's going to end.

I'll probably finish it this weekend, because I have tomorrow off! Yay!

Comments

[alto2.livejournal.com]

God, I am FREEZING here. And it's not that bad, I'm just used to my house being at least 70 degrees, only now...it's not. And I don't want to turn the heat on, because then my house will reek like a gas furnace that's been off for a few weeks :-\

The more Old Who I saw, the less I liked the new version, and "Doomsday" really did a number on my appreciation for anything connected with RTD.

I find this such a fascinating phenomenon, not least because you're not the only person I know who's said the same thing. And it highlights what I was afraid of when Who came back--that having a budget would mean that effects would be the focus, and not good storytelling. Sure, there are plenty of goofy Old Who stories, but somehow they're more likeable.

I have to say that I did find the first ep an improvement over last year, if only because Ten's god complex was conspicuously (and welcomely!) absent. And Martha seems cool. But it's still a Goofy Silly RTD Script With No Discernable Point Or Logic, so...

I'm not sure I've read Passage since I was in high school, or shortly thereafter, so my memory is fuzzy and I should probably read it again, because your reaction is going to fly right over my head, my recollection is so fuzzy (it mostly consists of "OMG, love that book!"). I thought I had a copy, but I can't seem to find it. Dammit.

[icepixie]

And I don't want to turn the heat on, because then my house will reek like a gas furnace that's been off for a few weeks :-\

Ick. Sucky. That's another reason I'm glad to live in the land of electric heat pumps... (Although on those rare, dipping-into-the-teens days, ours is totally useless and we shiver through the day--but no smell.)

I find this such a fascinating phenomenon, not least because you're not the only person I know who's said the same thing. And it highlights what I was afraid of when Who came back--that having a budget would mean that effects would be the focus, and not good storytelling.

If Rusty just wouldn't write episodes...? *sigh* I think they really got off-track with the whole Lonely God thing. Bah.

Sure, there are plenty of goofy Old Who stories, but somehow they're more likeable.

YES! The goofiness was what made them likeable! Now they're trying to mix goofy with Buffy, and it's not going well.

I have to say that I did find the first ep an improvement over last year, if only because Ten's god complex was conspicuously (and welcomely!) absent. And Martha seems cool. But it's still a Goofy Silly RTD Script With No Discernable Point Or Logic, so...

Hmmm. I like the absence of the god complex, but the lack of point troubles me. Although I can deal with lack of logic, after weeks of dS... ;)

I'm not sure I've read Passage since I was in high school, or shortly thereafter, so my memory is fuzzy and I should probably read it again, because your reaction is going to fly right over my head, my recollection is so fuzzy (it mostly consists of "OMG, love that book!").

It strikes me as something that would be mostly lost on high schoolers, but maybe not. Beautiful descriptions, though.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

If Rusty just wouldn't write episodes...? *sigh* I think they really got off-track with the whole Lonely God thing. Bah.

I agree. Though you probably don't need me to pontificate on the 600,001 reasons that whole thing annoyed the hell out of me last year, having lived through it already ;)

Did you look at the quiz I posted yesterday? There was a question about which of four writers had done the most harm to the show, and Rusty was on the list. I laughed so hard!

You're absolutely right about the Buffy influence--I think that's the thing I dislike the most about the Reign of Terror Rusty. Especially when things are as obvious as they were with "The Satan Pit," for instance. Jeez. I'm relieved that the god complex seems to be gone (though am crossing my fingers against jinxing myself!).

It strikes me as something that would be mostly lost on high schoolers, but maybe not. Beautiful descriptions, though.

I'm wondering now just how much I missed when I read it that year. Granted, I read it with an awesome teacher--when we read Brave New World and Darkness at Noon we spent a lot of time talking about totalitarianism, and I know we read Cry, the Beloved Country that year as well (possibly around the same time as Passage) so it may be that he went into the stuff we'd otherwise miss. I really don't remember. It'd be really interesting for me to read it again and see how much I recognize and how much seems totally new.

[icepixie]

I agree. Though you probably don't need me to pontificate on the 600,001 reasons that whole thing annoyed the hell out of me last year, having lived through it already ;)

Heh. I think I have a good idea of at least 500,002 of the reasons it annoyed you, yes... ;)

Did you look at the quiz I posted yesterday?

Totally missed it, sorry. Now that I actually have a job (OMG), I think I'm going to have to cut some communities so that I can continue to keep up with my flist.

There was a question about which of four writers had done the most harm to the show, and Rusty was on the list. I laughed so hard!

BWAH!

Buffyspeak is good on teenagers in California. Not so much on 900-year-old Time Lords who choose to adopt a British accent. Y'know?

It'd be really interesting for me to read it again and see how much I recognize and how much seems totally new.

I'm really glad I took that British Empire course before reading this, or any other book involving Anglo-India. It helped a lot to contextualize things.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Aw, you should watch Who! It's cracktastic, and I think you'd like Martha - she's competent, and she's already called the Doctor out for being a pompous git, so... good signs? And her dad is alive and kicking, and showing no symptoms of giving her giant Issues! But mostly you should watch it so you can make fun of it with me. And for... DT's hair? Bwahah: http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9520/vlcsnap327079cw3.jpg

[icepixie]

(Now with better HTML!)

DT's hair is frightening. (Though not as frightening as Paul Gross's.)

I do get the feeling I would like Martha. I just worry about what RTD will do to her. Once upon a time, after all, I also liked Rose.

But mostly you should watch it so you can make fun of it with me.

That's probably my biggest incentive to watch it...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Heh, I did see the PG screencaps. Oooooh my. Computers with white-on-black screens! And he looks SO young! And SO pretty! And I bet if you lit a match within ten feet of him, all that hairspray would make his head spontaneously combust...

I've been hearing vague rumors that RTD is thinking about leaving Who in a year or two, maybe? Could it be? Please?

I'll be watching through to the bitter end (of this season, at least, to see how they do the TW tie-in), and I need company! Come mock with me!

[icepixie]

I didn't even notice the computers, I was so fixated on PG's hair.

And I bet if you lit a match within ten feet of him, all that hairspray would make his head spontaneously combust...

Well, this is perhaps not an uncommon situation for him...

I've been hearing vague rumors that RTD is thinking about leaving Who in a year or two, maybe? Could it be? Please?

Really? Wouldn't that be nice!

I'll be watching through to the bitter end (of this season, at least, to see how they do the TW tie-in), and I need company! Come mock with me!

Oh, I forgot about the TW tie-in. Eeek. That ought to be good for some mockage...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Well, this is perhaps not an uncommon situation for him...

His head spontaneously combusting? Yeah, I'm sure he gets that all the time.

Really? Wouldn't that be nice!

Wouldn't it? I didn't look very closely (I was trying to avoid S3 spoilers at the time), but I think he did an interview somewhere where he implied that New Who would be going on without him eventually, and that he was thinking about moving on himself. No concrete statements yet, of course. (DT seems to be confirmed for S4, though.)

Oh, I forgot about the TW tie-in. Eeek. That ought to be good for some mockage...

Oh yes! A Tale of Two Emoes! Should be swashbuckling. And tomorrow is Shakespeare! If you miss it they'll cancel your English degree! And cut up your nerd card! And then you.... won't be able to get into... nerd bars? WATCH IT.

[icepixie]

His head spontaneously combusting? Yeah, I'm sure he gets that all the time.

Oh, totally. It's all that hairspray he's always wearing.

Wouldn't it? I didn't look very closely (I was trying to avoid S3 spoilers at the time), but I think he did an interview somewhere where he implied that New Who would be going on without him eventually, and that he was thinking about moving on himself. No concrete statements yet, of course.

OMG YAY! I seem to vaguely remember this as well...something like he was thinking of moving on after the fourth season, or maybe the third...

(DT seems to be confirmed for S4, though.)

Hmmm. Perhaps with a different writer/director, he'd be a better Doctor. He's certainly not bad, but...I know he can do better. I've seen Casanova. He's not living up to his potential.

Oh yes! A Tale of Two Emoes! Should be swashbuckling.

Two lonely god figures! Fighting over who's lonelier! Knowing RTD, they'll fall into bed together after the big fight.

And tomorrow is Shakespeare! If you miss it they'll cancel your English degree! And cut up your nerd card! And then you.... won't be able to get into... nerd bars? WATCH IT.

Oh, all right, all right...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Oh, totally. It's all that hairspray he's always wearing.

Was it just me, or did he bear an uncanny resemblance to David Hasselhoff in Wilby Wonderful? (I fell asleep halfway through it when Sarah and I tried to watch it, and I'm gradually making a second attempt...)

I seem to vaguely remember this as well...something like he was thinking of moving on after the fourth season, or maybe the third...

Probably not the third, alas, or we'd've heard something more concrete by now. But fourth? Maybe? Dude can go play with TW - it's already hopelessly ridiculous.

Perhaps with a different writer/director, he'd be a better Doctor. He's certainly not bad, but...I know he can do better. I've seen Casanova. He's not living up to his potential.

Hrm. Yeah, there are definitely some opportunities for depth that they're sailing right past.. Maybe once they move beyond the "OMG MUST MAKE EXCITEMENT TO DRAW NEW VIEWERS!!!1!1!" stage of the season, they'll get some more grown-up storylines?

Two lonely god figures! Fighting over who's lonelier! Knowing RTD, they'll fall into bed together after the big fight.

GAH. If there's one fanfic theme that squicks me out more than Nine/Rose, it's Doctor/Jack. Flirting is fine, flirting is canon, but No. Pr0n. It's Just. Wrong. And hasn't the BBC sworn that the Doctor will never ever ever ever make an appearance on TW, for the sake of Shielding The Kiddies? So I think we're safe there.

I *am* hoping for a big confrontation over the whole "Um, left me on a station full of corpses and never mentioned me again for a whole season?" thing. Plus a "You kept my hand in a jar? Ew." The only spoilers I've seen for the finale so far are The Boys Have Majestic Swirling Coattails Of Awesome. And that's about enough for me at this point.

Oh, all right, all right...

MUAHAHAHAH!

[icepixie]

Was it just me, or did he bear an uncanny resemblance to David Hasselhoff in Wilby Wonderful?

Um, I dont' really know what Hasselhoff looks like, so I can't compare. The hair wasn't one of his better styles, though.

(I fell asleep halfway through it when Sarah and I tried to watch it, and I'm gradually making a second attempt...)

What is it with you two and the lack of WW love? It's the best movie I've seen in years!

Probably not the third, alas, or we'd've heard something more concrete by now. But fourth? Maybe? Dude can go play with TW - it's already hopelessly ridiculous.

He can do whatever he wants to TW. Just stay the hell away from DW.

Hrm. Yeah, there are definitely some opportunities for depth that they're sailing right past.. Maybe once they move beyond the "OMG MUST MAKE EXCITEMENT TO DRAW NEW VIEWERS!!!1!1!" stage of the season, they'll get some more grown-up storylines?

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. You're funny. RTD's idea of "grown up" is the companion wailing on a beach, remember?

GAH. If there's one fanfic theme that squicks me out more than Nine/Rose, it's Doctor/Jack. Flirting is fine, flirting is canon, but No. Pr0n. It's Just. Wrong.

Awww. I like Doctor/Jack, if only because I think Jack is mature enough to understand that it could never last.

And hasn't the BBC sworn that the Doctor will never ever ever ever make an appearance on TW, for the sake of Shielding The Kiddies? So I think we're safe there.

Oh, yeah. Darn.

I *am* hoping for a big confrontation over the whole "Um, left me on a station full of corpses and never mentioned me again for a whole season?" thing. Plus a "You kept my hand in a jar? Ew."

YES.

The only spoilers I've seen for the finale so far are The Boys Have Majestic Swirling Coattails Of Awesome. And that's about enough for me at this point.

Oh, my.

MUAHAHAHAH!

Evil person...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. You're funny. RTD's idea of "grown up" is the companion wailing on a beach, remember?

I can see a whole generation of anti-Rusty Whovians, uniting under a battle cry of "NORRRRRWAAAAAAAY!!!!!"

Except, wait, that would require Who fans to *agree* on something....

Awww. I like Doctor/Jack, if only because I think Jack is mature enough to understand that it could never last.

Eh, DW!Jack could maaaaaybe manage that. But TW!Jack would be all, "EMOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *cough* I mean, uh, "temporary," yes. Observe my adult maturity. [pause] EMOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Evil person...

You know you needed more gun-toting space rhinos in your life.

[icepixie]

I can see a whole generation of anti-Rusty Whovians, uniting under a battle cry of "NORRRRRWAAAAAAAY!!!!!"

Heh heh heh. Although...whoever comes after him could be worse.

*quails*

Except, wait, that would require Who fans to *agree* on something....

True...

Eh, DW!Jack could maaaaaybe manage that. But TW!Jack would be all, "EMOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *cough* I mean, uh, "temporary," yes. Observe my adult maturity. [pause] EMOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Oh, I'd forgotten about his personality change. Darn.

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

It is cooold. :(

I've seen the new episode of DW and quite liked it. Martha's interesting in a good way and Ten prattling on about ...things... is amusing.

Hey, I'm debating between Forever Knight or due South DVDs (season 1) when school ends. Suggestions, thoughts?

Enjoy your long weekend!

[icepixie]

Brrr.

Still debating over DW. I'm mostly feeling a big, fat "eh" over it.

Hey, I'm debating between Forever Knight or due South DVDs (season 1) when school ends. Suggestions, thoughts?

*brain explodes* How can you choose? *g* Hmmm. I think dS is the better-quality program, although FK has some seriously funny camp in parts, and ship that actually goes places. Sort of.

Um, dS is more intentionally funny, if that helps. And the season sets are definitely cheaper. I think I'm leaning towards dS. (I think the second season is my favorite, though. Given that the sets are so incredibly cheap--$15 and $12, respectively--you could buy both for the less than the price of a season of FK.)

Enjoy your long weekend!

Thanks!