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Post by timegirl on Jul 7, 2020 21:56:43 GMT
This is just for fun, but if you were show runner of Doctor Who, who would play the Doctor and what would your era be like and why? This can be as realistic or as fanciful as you like! Anything goes!š
My Era: The first of my Doctors will be played by Matt King as a strange bum like eccentric Doctor who is stuck inside the attic with his TARDIS of an old mansion. He would pretty much dress and act like a highly intelligent version of his character Henry Mallet in Spirted. A single mother who is an eccentric inventor, sheās a widower/or so it seems, and her young sci-fi nerd son teenage son move into the house and they think the attic is haunted until they meet the strange man who lives there and calls himself the Doctor. He explains the TARDIS is broken so he is stuck there. They think he is crazy at first until he helps an alien who resembles a bedsheet ghost. The Doctor then takes her and her son on as companions and they help him fix the TARDIS. Their adventures are very fairytale and often have a Douglas Adams twist to them. The main story arch happens when we hear about the motherās disappeared husband who vanished during an experiment gone wrong and was sucked into an alternative dimension. The only problem is that they donāt know which one? So the Doctor and his companions have to go through multiple strange and surreal dimensions. The father would either be be revealed to be evil all along, dead, or mutated into a hideous creature. Along the way there would be slight romantic tension between the mother and the Doctor, and the Doctor would secretly try to figure out how to become human while still retaining his memories for her and her son. He does go through with it and they have bliss together for a month but then one day he wakes up to his new partner killed, and decides to become the Doctor again out of grief. The strain of the process to become the Doctor again causes him to regenerate though and....
This brings me the second half of my era where the Doctor regenerates into the body of a teenage girl played by a new up and comer, they would be a very cheerful but very odd with a morbid sense of humor. Sort of a cross between Luna Lovegood and Wednesday Adams. Their main companion would be the geeky teenage boy who previously regarded the Doctor as a Father figure. The boy and the Doctor would have to deal with grieving their partner/motherās death as well as some awkwardness and confused feelings that the boyās father figure now resembles a girl his age. The boy would be shipped of to a mysterious and sinister boarding school and the Doctor tags along with him out of empathy. The main antagonist of this arch would be a mysterious headmaster or headmistress that the Doctor would suspect is the Master. This is a misdirect the Master is there but as the schoolās alpha girl who has friendship/rivalry with the Doctor and her geeky companion. The Doctor would take students āfield tripsā in the TARDIS but the majority of the adventures would be at or around the boarding school. Meanwhile the Doctor would learn about the joys(not) of puberty (Timelord puberty has some interesting side effects), midnight pranks, sleepovers and school dances. Oh and did I mention students keep disappearing somewhere...
Anyways thatās what I would do if I were show runner, but what would you do? Be creative!š
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Post by polly on Jul 8, 2020 23:03:33 GMT
I don't really have anyone in mind who'd play the Doctor, but it would be a man again. I'd switch formats so that every story is a 2-parter, mirroring the 4 x 25 format that was the most successful length the classic series used. I would consider nixing long, Moffat-style arcs unless it was a really good idea.
I'd like to have one male and one female companion, because each gender gives a different dynamic with the Doctor. Neither of them would be tangled up in some cosmic mystery. They would be people who simply travel with the Doctor by choice or by circumstance. I'd open it up to characters of different ages and backgrounds to shake things up. Maybe have an alien companion again, or somebody middle-aged like Evelyn, or somebody from the past.
I'd prefer than any stories set in real history should handle it realistically - you don't have to be serious, but you also wouldn't be allowed to have lesbian lizard women running about Victorian London with very little comment. In general, I would like to tone down some of the more fairy-tale aspects and make sure each script is believable, and thought all the way through. I don't want to lose the show's whimsy, but I also want things to make sense, at least in context.
For writers, I'd be looking to hire some of the folks from Big Finish based on the strength of their work. I'd also take a page from the original Star Trek and Twilight Zone and reach out to acclaimed sci-fi novelists. Like, "Here's the characters, here's the rules of the show, bring me whatever you want within those parameters."
A basic idea for a first season would at first take cues from the beginnings of the classic series. Something like this:
1. Earth - pick up the the companions from whichever time period we've decided upon. Monster-of-the-Week.
2. Daleks - reel 'em in early. Very ruthless and efficient, small numbers. Something like Power or The Dalek Occupation of Winter. If Companion 2 is an alien, they join here.
3. France, 1910 - Time loop/anomaly episode. Steampunk.
4. Future dystopia - The rights of artificial beings in a cyperpunk metropolis, Blade Runner style.
5. Shogunate Japan - Something set in Nagasaki, where Dutch traders were allowed.
6. Rome - Second Punic War, Hannibal's elephants and so forth.
7. Daleks Again - Building off elements from story 2, large scale futuristic shoot 'em up against the Earth Empire to end the season with a bang.
Edited to add an extra story so we're up to an RTD-style 14 episodes
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Post by timegirl on Jul 8, 2020 23:34:33 GMT
I don't really have anyone in mind who'd play the Doctor, but it would be a man again. I'd switch formats so that every story is a 2-parter, mirroring the 4 x 25 format that was the most successful length the classic series used. I would consider nixing long, Moffat-style arcs unless it was a really good idea. I'd like to have one male and one female companion, because each gender gives a different dynamic with the Doctor. Neither of them would be tangled up in some cosmic mystery. They would be people who simply travel with the Doctor by choice or by circumstance. I'd open it up to characters of different ages and backgrounds to shake things up. Maybe have an alien companion again, or somebody middle-aged like Evelyn, or somebody from the past. I'd prefer than any stories set in real history should handle it realistically - you don't have to be serious, but you also wouldn't be allowed to have lesbian lizard women running about Victorian London with very little comment. In general, I would like to tone down some of the more fairy-tale aspects and make sure each script is believable, and thought all the way through. I don't want to lose the show's whimsy, but I also want things to make sense, at least in context. For writers, I'd be looking to hire some of the folks from Big Finish based on the strength of their work. I'd also take a page from the original Star Trek and Twilight Zone and reach out to acclaimed sci-fi novelists. Like, "Here's the characters, here's the rules of the show, bring me whatever you want within those parameters." A basic idea for a first season would at first take cues from the beginnings of the classic series. Something like this: 1. Earth - pick up the the companions from whichever time period we've decided upon. Monster-of-the-Week. 2. Daleks - reel 'em in early. Very ruthless and efficient, small numbers. Something like Power or The Dalek Occupation of Winter. If Companion 2 is an alien, they join here. 3. France, 1910 - Time loop/anomaly episode. Steampunk. 4. Future dystopia - The rights of artificial beings in a cyperpunk metropolis, Blade Runner style. 5. Shogunate Japan - Something set in Nagasaki, where Dutch traders were allowed. 6. Rome - Second Punic War, Hannibal's elephants and so forth. 7. Daleks Again - Building off elements from story 2, large scale futuristic shoot 'em up against the Earth Empire to end the season with a bang. Edited to add an extra story so we're up to an RTD-style 14 episodes Ooo I like your settings!š Particularly Steampunk 1910 France!š |
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Post by polly on Jul 9, 2020 1:23:11 GMT
Ooo I like your settings!š Particularly Steampunk 1910 France!š Thanks! That sort of very late 19th century/very early 20th century setting just lends itself incredibly well to Tesla-style mad science. And given the right Doctor - like McGann or Capaldi - I think the show fits right in with that sort of atmosphere. |
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Post by timegirl on Jul 9, 2020 1:34:18 GMT
Ooo I like your settings!š Particularly Steampunk 1910 France!š Thanks! That sort of very late 19th century/very early 20th century setting just lends itself incredibly well to Tesla-style mad science. And given the right Doctor - like McGann or Capaldi - I think the show fits right in with that sort of atmosphere. Definitely!š |
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Post by iainmclaughlin on Jul 9, 2020 2:48:44 GMT
In all honesty I know exactly what I'd do with the show. I know the tone I'd want, the companions I'd want, the style of story I'd want. In my heart I know who I'd want as the Doctor but in my head I have a short list and long list of potential Doctors and I know the first scene I'd show as a pre-titles. Because I've written that scene. I know the monsters and villains I'd want to use; I know the writers and directors I'd want and I know how I'd like to expand the show out beyond the 13 episodes and Christmas Special. But... I'm not saying any of it because some day I may be able to mine bits and pieces out of it for other stories, and... well, that would make them spoilers...
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Post by timegirl on Jul 9, 2020 3:07:13 GMT
In all honesty I know exactly what I'd do with the show. I know the tone I'd want, the companions I'd want, the style of story I'd want. In my heart I know who I'd want as the Doctor but in my head I have a short list and long list of potential Doctors and I know the first scene I'd show as a pre-titles. Because I've written that scene. I know the monsters and villains I'd want to use; I know the writers and directors I'd want and I know how I'd like to expand the show out beyond the 13 episodes and Christmas Special. But... I'm not saying any of it because some day I may be able to mine bits and pieces out of it for other stories, and... well, that would make them spoilers... Intruigingš |
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Post by constonks on Jul 9, 2020 3:22:52 GMT
In all honesty I know exactly what I'd do with the show. I know the tone I'd want, the companions I'd want, the style of story I'd want. In my heart I know who I'd want as the Doctor but in my head I have a short list and long list of potential Doctors and I know the first scene I'd show as a pre-titles. Because I've written that scene. I know the monsters and villains I'd want to use; I know the writers and directors I'd want and I know how I'd like to expand the show out beyond the 13 episodes and Christmas Special. But... I'm not saying any of it because some day I may be able to mine bits and pieces out of it for other stories, and... well, that would make them spoilers... In a word, ditto.  |
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Post by timegirl on Jul 9, 2020 3:25:25 GMT
In all honesty I know exactly what I'd do with the show. I know the tone I'd want, the companions I'd want, the style of story I'd want. In my heart I know who I'd want as the Doctor but in my head I have a short list and long list of potential Doctors and I know the first scene I'd show as a pre-titles. Because I've written that scene. I know the monsters and villains I'd want to use; I know the writers and directors I'd want and I know how I'd like to expand the show out beyond the 13 episodes and Christmas Special. But... I'm not saying any of it because some day I may be able to mine bits and pieces out of it for other stories, and... well, that would make them spoilers... In a word, ditto. Also intruigingš |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2020 22:53:37 GMT
I'd rather run Big Finish* than be showrunner of Doctor Who on TV, what sensible person really wants that job? It's a poisoned chalice.
(* And yes, I'd scrap box sets with overlong arcs and restore the main range... but I love Alex Kingston so she'd still have to appear in everything!)
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Jul 9, 2020 22:56:24 GMT
You are basically damned if u do and damned if u don't, damned if you will and damned if you won't (to quote a song lyric). You would have to be really thick skinned and have a full courage of your conviction in what you are doing.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2020 23:38:04 GMT
In all honesty I know exactly what I'd do with the show. I know the tone I'd want, the companions I'd want, the style of story I'd want. In my heart I know who I'd want as the Doctor but in my head I have a short list and long list of potential Doctors and I know the first scene I'd show as a pre-titles. Because I've written that scene. I know the monsters and villains I'd want to use; I know the writers and directors I'd want and I know how I'd like to expand the show out beyond the 13 episodes and Christmas Special. But... I'm not saying any of it because some day I may be able to mine bits and pieces out of it for other stories, and... well, that would make them spoilers... In a word, ditto. Yeah, likewise. It's one of those scenarios where ideas could be told... but it's far more engaging and enjoyable for anyone reading if I show it later.  I will say this, though. A showrunner for when? Because depending on where you place me down in the great timeline of our Earth, I'll have a very different set of answers.  |
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Post by mark687 on Jul 10, 2020 9:54:03 GMT
Lock Hinchcliffe, RTD, Moffatt, Chibnall, Dorney, Morris, Lidster, Robson, Llewelyn ,Fitton/Gattiss, Patel and McCormack in a room and produce whatever they write by consensus.
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Hire Scott Handcock as Assistant Producer
Barnaby Edwards as Casting
Ignore the public calls of "The Doctor should be this Race/Gender" pick the best audition (but in addition they must be totally convincing and it must be a unanimous decision)
Regards
mark687
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2020 10:44:25 GMT
Lock Hinchcliffe, RTD, Moffatt, Chibnall, Dorney, Morris, Lidster, Robson, Llewelyn ,Fitton/Gattiss, Patel and McCormack in a room and produce whatever they write by consensus. . Hire Scott Handcock as Assistant Producer Barnaby Edwards as Casting Ignore the public calls of "The Doctor should be this Race/Gender" pick the best audition (but in adduction they must be totally convincing and it must be a unanimous decision) Regards mark687 Sounds like a plan. I'd also commission Marc Platt and Matthew Sweet to get their heads together for one utterly bonkers two-parter every series. |
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Post by shallacatop on Jul 10, 2020 12:05:21 GMT
It's not something I've ever really thought about, except for one thing: I'd make the companions exclusive to TV.
I'd have a tight knit run of stories, whether that's one series, two, etc. with the TARDIS team and make most of the stories flow into each other. I'd probably leave a substantial gap at some point mid-to-late series to be exploited at a later date if needed, but the licencees - DWM, BBC Books, Titan, etc. - I'd let them make their own companion and let them craft their own era. Whether that is one or two characters across different mediums, or each one has their own I don't have a preference.
I think you get a greater bit of storytelling there, there's less constraints and it lets you get away with stuff that you might not be able to achieve on telly. I think it makes the comics and books a bit more of a landmark too. Personally, if Doctor Who merchandise has an original companion, then it piques my interest more on the whole. It's why I went for the Titan runs for Ten & Eleven, but didn't for Nine, Twelve and now Thirteen. I like those respective TARDIS teams on screen, love some of them in fact, but I feel that itch is scratched by watching their stories. One of my favourite Doctor Who memories is devouring the Tenth Doctor & Majenta arc in DWM, whilst he had his own separate era on TV.
I would probably try and turn the festive specials into their own era of sorts too and have a companion exclusive to them. That way you'd potentially be able to attract a big name (perhaps even get them to film their stuff back-to-back, a la the final Only Fools and Horses trilogy) and you get your own piece of continuity if you're just the additional Christmas viewers. Whether those episodes would be a tight knit run of adventures or spaced out is another thing; probably dependent on whether or not you know your incumbent Doctor is staying around!
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Post by iainmclaughlin on Jul 11, 2020 1:26:52 GMT
In a word, ditto. Yeah, likewise. It's one of those scenarios where ideas could be told... but it's far more engaging and enjoyable for anyone reading if I show it later. I will say this, though. A showrunner for when? Because depending on where you place me down in the great timeline of our Earth, I'll have a very different set of answers. I have wondered what I'd have done at various stages in the past. What I'd have done in, say, 2000 and what I'd do now are very different, but what I have planned out in my noggin is for taking it on now or in the next few years and would absolutely require my Doctor to stay for a run of three seasons. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2020 8:44:43 GMT
Yeah, likewise. It's one of those scenarios where ideas could be told... but it's far more engaging and enjoyable for anyone reading if I show it later. I will say this, though. A showrunner for when? Because depending on where you place me down in the great timeline of our Earth, I'll have a very different set of answers. I have wondered what I'd have done at various stages in the past. What I'd have done in, say, 2000 and what I'd do now are very different, but what I have planned out in my noggin is for taking it on now or in the next few years and would absolutely require my Doctor to stay for a run of three seasons. Sounds like it's nicely plotted out. I can say, from the 1990s onwards, I really like having the Sharpe/Poirot telemovie model where it's 100-120-minute stories at three/four a year, but each one would be plotted out for episodic syndication. The original version being a full film, but if it were chopped into 25/50-minute segments for different time slots, you'd still get some well-to-do cliffhangers. |
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Post by pawntake on Jul 12, 2020 10:55:59 GMT
Would make an 8th Doctor seperate series Paul Mcgann can still pull it off!!!And should have continued in the role when the series returned to tv in 2005!!
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Post by iainmclaughlin on Jul 12, 2020 22:37:27 GMT
I have wondered what I'd have done at various stages in the past. What I'd have done in, say, 2000 and what I'd do now are very different, but what I have planned out in my noggin is for taking it on now or in the next few years and would absolutely require my Doctor to stay for a run of three seasons. Sounds like it's nicely plotted out. I can say, from the 1990s onwards, I really like having the Sharpe/Poirot telemovie model where it's 100-120-minute stories at three/four a year, but each one would be plotted out for episodic syndication. The original version being a full film, but if it were chopped into 25/50-minute segments for different time slots, you'd still get some well-to-do cliffhangers. I have some cliffhangers but I've stuck with episodic 45-50 minute episodes... but if I could sweet-talk the BBC into it, two extra 90 minute arc episodes featuring... well, that would be telling. I'd also try to get... well, that would be telling, too. And it would give away bits of my arc. Similarly to pawntake I'd be interested in doing a Paul McGann spin-off, though I would be seeing if we could talk to Netflix about it, do it as a limited episode run, and I'd like it to be linked tangentionally to the arc. But I'd want it to have a different look and feel to myregular seasons.
ANd I'd need my Doctor to stay for 3 years because the last scene of the last episode of the arc is also the first scene of the first episode of the arc.
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Post by timegirl on Jul 13, 2020 0:33:00 GMT
Sounds like it's nicely plotted out. I can say, from the 1990s onwards, I really like having the Sharpe/PoirotĀ telemovie model where it's 100-120-minute stories at three/four a year, but each one would be plotted out for episodic syndication. The original version being a full film, but if it were chopped into 25/50-minute segments for different time slots, you'd still get some well-to-do cliffhangers. I have some cliffhangers but I've stuck with episodic 45-50 minute episodes... but if I could sweet-talk the BBC into it, two extra 90 minute arc episodes featuring... well, that would be telling. I'd also try to get... well, that would be telling, too. And it would give away bits of my arc. Similarly to pawntake I'd be interested in doing a Paul McGann spin-off, though I would be seeing if we could talk to Netflix about it, do it as a limited episode run, and I'd like it to be linked tangentionally to the arc. But I'd want it to have a different look and feel to myregular seasons.
ANd I'd need my Doctor to stay for 3 years because the last scene of the last episode of the arc is also the first scene of the first episode of the arc.
Iām intrigued!š |
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