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Russell's New Earth
I had a Serious Debate about Who at home. This is something of a rarity, but there you go.
Basically, it was about New Who's Earth-centric approach. I don't actually have a problem with it, as such, in as much as I'm not of the OG-esque "Why No Alien Planets, Russell?" kind of ilk, I don't really mind the Earth bound nature of the show, but a debate with the Other Half did bring up an interesting point, and that is the question of whether Russell has actually by now Completely Ruined Earth as a point of reference. And by that I mean has the constant barrage of "earthbound" references to things like the BBC news and the Olympic Games and all that sort of thing actually altered Russell's Earth to such an extent that it no longer resembles IN ANY WAY our Earth, and therefore completely fails as a way of letting the viewer connect with events?
The Doctor actually mentioned both the Sycorax and the Cybermen to Donna in The Runaway Bride as being Events That Have Actually Happened, despite previous hints that they may have been explained away as a hoax and a mass hallucination, respectively (didn't they say that in Torchwood? or am I making that up?) We've had crash landings on Big Ben, that big Rachnos thing being blown out of the sky, hospitals disappearing to the moon, whole stadiums of people vanishing into thin air (OK that was in the future, but still), and God knows what else, all being emphasised as being Real Events by bringing in news reports and television crews and CNN and whoever else. This is an Earth that's had contact with aliens, worldwide. Surely, therefore it's not Our Planet anymore, but a fictional one? As such, how are we supposed to identify with it and the people on it?
It also makes me wonder why the hell Torchwood are so bothered about retconning people who have encountered one bloody Weevil, when the whole world saw Cybermen at the Taj Mahal? I mean, what's the point?
And sure, there have always been alien invasions in Who, but they were always on a smaller scale, but in New Who, they always seem to have to be huge and impressive big budget extravaganzas. Which ultimately have a lasting effect on the Earth as it's portrayed. Now I'm not saying an alien invasion should comprise one guy in a suit in a quarry, but surely there's a middle ground which wouldn't ruin the Whole Bloody Planet as a frame of reference? I mean, small scale works just fine and is just as bloody scary, if not scarier, isn't it? (*cough*BLINK*cough*). Does Russell just want too much Drama? Or am I being picky?
I've developed a severe dislike for the way Russell has handled the whole show recently, so I probably am just being picky, but I'd like to know what other people think.
Basically, it was about New Who's Earth-centric approach. I don't actually have a problem with it, as such, in as much as I'm not of the OG-esque "Why No Alien Planets, Russell?" kind of ilk, I don't really mind the Earth bound nature of the show, but a debate with the Other Half did bring up an interesting point, and that is the question of whether Russell has actually by now Completely Ruined Earth as a point of reference. And by that I mean has the constant barrage of "earthbound" references to things like the BBC news and the Olympic Games and all that sort of thing actually altered Russell's Earth to such an extent that it no longer resembles IN ANY WAY our Earth, and therefore completely fails as a way of letting the viewer connect with events?
The Doctor actually mentioned both the Sycorax and the Cybermen to Donna in The Runaway Bride as being Events That Have Actually Happened, despite previous hints that they may have been explained away as a hoax and a mass hallucination, respectively (didn't they say that in Torchwood? or am I making that up?) We've had crash landings on Big Ben, that big Rachnos thing being blown out of the sky, hospitals disappearing to the moon, whole stadiums of people vanishing into thin air (OK that was in the future, but still), and God knows what else, all being emphasised as being Real Events by bringing in news reports and television crews and CNN and whoever else. This is an Earth that's had contact with aliens, worldwide. Surely, therefore it's not Our Planet anymore, but a fictional one? As such, how are we supposed to identify with it and the people on it?
It also makes me wonder why the hell Torchwood are so bothered about retconning people who have encountered one bloody Weevil, when the whole world saw Cybermen at the Taj Mahal? I mean, what's the point?
And sure, there have always been alien invasions in Who, but they were always on a smaller scale, but in New Who, they always seem to have to be huge and impressive big budget extravaganzas. Which ultimately have a lasting effect on the Earth as it's portrayed. Now I'm not saying an alien invasion should comprise one guy in a suit in a quarry, but surely there's a middle ground which wouldn't ruin the Whole Bloody Planet as a frame of reference? I mean, small scale works just fine and is just as bloody scary, if not scarier, isn't it? (*cough*BLINK*cough*). Does Russell just want too much Drama? Or am I being picky?
I've developed a severe dislike for the way Russell has handled the whole show recently, so I probably am just being picky, but I'd like to know what other people think.
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It's the same sort of literary license that lets mystery writers get away with writing about cozy small towns where there's a murder every other week and no one seems especially alarmed by it.