#mikelpen

[tillthenexttimedoctor]

Rosa and Demons of the Punjab really underline the strengths of this series of Doctor Who. Chris Chibnall is obviously very talented at bringing a set of diverse and interesting new voices to the show - and the quality of those stories shows there’s a real pay-off from that. Neither Malorie Blackman nor Vinay Patel would have fit the mold of a Doctor Who writer under RTD or Moffat. It’s difficult to imagine their episodes in another era. That’s a pretty big deal.

[thenotoriousscuttlecliff]

Yeah, Series 11 is, so far, fairly bland. Watching it feels like when I first started watching the Fifth Doctor after years of the Fourth; going from vibrant and energetic and chaotic to... kind of beige. Which isn’t to say that there’s not a lot to like about it (I’m actually loving a LOT about it), but if Moffat’s Who hit all your buttons in a deeply satisfying way, Chibnall’s can definitely feel a bit dissatisfying.

The Moffat era definitely hit all my buttons (if not always in a satisfying way), but even I think it was past time for a changing of the guard. As glad as I am that he stuck around long enough to write such a beautiful farewell for Twelve, it was obvious during S10 that Moffat was just going through the motions. I was ready for something new and exciting, but from what I’e seen so far there seems to be little that is either new or exciting about the Chibnall era. There is nothing the show is doing now that it or other shows haven’t done a million times before and better. Under Chibs leadership, Doctor Who seems to have become an unimaginative sci-fi procedural, full of unoriginal villains and plots. 

[teh-nos]

I was really curious to see what your response would have been to that "the Doctor leaving Gallifrey out of boredom is sacred" confession.

It’s an odd one, because I - somehow - never actually thought people were really into that explanation or that they even believed it in the first place. But I suppose the real point is, what’s sacred and who decides what that should be? We all have different ideas of what is/isn’t essential to the mythology, which would arguably leave any producer/writer unable to change or add anything because OH NO THIS BIT IS SCARED. “Why did X have to change Y” is understandable but it doesn’t allow for new ideas. 

Example: I hated “Clara told the Doctor to pick that TARDIS” because I loved the explanation in The Doctor’s Wife. I mostly just pretend the later bit didn’t happen, though, and I can understand why a writer might want to change it for their own version of the story. Besides, how do I know it won’t change back later on anyway?

[bardqueenofgallifrey]

Your recent Moffat write up is fantastically comprehensive, and really gets to the many reasons why so many of us love his time on DW. Thank you!

Thank you so much! I put a lot of effort into it so I’m glad it made you happy. 

[malicenthightower]

rebeltimedork replied to your post “what have i honestly got to live for seriously, why the fuck should...”

Michelle! Take care of yourself, you've got all your life ahead of you, keep going please stay safe i love your face <3

mikelpen replied to your post “what have i honestly got to live for seriously, why the fuck should...”

Please be safe. I would miss your blog terribly.

lyricwritesprose replied to your post “what have i honestly got to live for seriously, why the fuck should...”

Please take care of yourself as much as you can. I'll be thinking of you. As for things to live for, I'd pick a short-term goal—"See the next episode of X,"—then keep doing it. That's easier to work with than, "Things won't suck next year."

Thank you guys <3 

Sorry for making you worry about me, I’m a good deal calmer today than I have been. And yes, I know, short term goals are easier to work with. I just had a critical mass of loneliness, depression and dysphoria. It happens.  

[malicenthightower]

Seriously, try to ease up on yourself if you can (I know that's one of those things that's so easily said but crazy hard to accomplish). Most of us know what it's like to misstep, overreach, put our foot in it, say something hurtful with good intentions, or just generally fuck up. You owned your mistake and apologized, which is better than what a lot of people do.

Yeah, that’s going to be easier said than done. I have a long history of internalised guilt and self hatred. My anxiety tends to take that and intensify it. I mean, I do try to fight against it, but I’ve never had proper therapy (I’m currently trying to get it, as I’ve detailed elsewhere). Add this in into a penchant for self-deprecating humour and it means that even I often don’t know when the joke ends and the seriousness begins. Perhaps I’m the joke. (See, an example and an explanation)

I would like to be able to focus on the fact that I owned my mistake, but my brain more often than not views things relating to me in an ‘accentuate the negative’ way, so I’m not able to at this stage.      

[iandsharman]

I followed you for your excellent opinions on Doctor Who and Star Wars. I kept following for that and for everything else.

You know, my basic position with both Star Wars and Doctor Who is that even at their worst they’re Star Wars and Doctor Who and so are pretty damn awesome.

A thought I had the other day: Star Wars hit its nadir with pretty much the second thing it released - The Holiday Special. If the franchise could survive that, it can survive anything.

[tillthenexttimedoctor]

Replies

mikelpen replied to your post: Read More →Read More Now!

I’d just let it go. Some things definitely aren’t worth spending your energy on. And the original post you reacted to was dismissive and insulting anyway, so… And you already apologized, so give yourself permission to move on.

officialstephencolbert replied to your post: Read More →Read More Now!

honestly, sometimes it’s better to just not engage after a point. it’s perfectly fine to ignore anything more to do with that post. :)

Thank you (no honestly, both for the sentiment and for responding)... I will follow that advice :).