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Terry Pratchett criticises Doctor Who, accuses it of makeitupasyougoalongeum


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Old 04-05-2010, 17:09
teenagemartyr
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Terry Pratchett has claimed that Doctor Who has become "ludicrous".

The author, who said that he has always been a fan of the series, explained that it "breaks most of the laws of narrative".

Writing for SFX, he continued: "On planet Earth it's generally taken for granted that it's a bad thing to introduce into a narrative some last-minute solution that was totally unexpected and unheralded.

"The unexpected, unadvertised solution which kisses it all better is known as a deus ex machina - literally, a god from the machine. And a god from the machine is what the Doctor is now."

He went on: "A decent detective story provides you with enough tantalising information to allow you to make a stab at a solution before the famous detective struts his stuff in the library. Doctor Who replaces this with speed, fast talking, and what appears to be that wonderful element 'makeitupasyougoalongeum'."

Pratchett also dismissed the idea that Doctor Who is science fiction and claimed that the Doctor is starting to resemble God.

"The Doctor himself has in recent years been built up into an amalgam of Mother Teresa, Jesus Christ... and Tinkerbell," he said. "There is nothing he doesn't know and nothing he can't do... Perhaps they should start transmitting the programme on Sundays."

However, Pratchett admitted that he will continue to watch the series.

"After all, when you've had your moan you have to admit that it is very, very entertaining, with its heart in the right place, even if its head is often in orbit around Jupiter," he said. "I might shout at the screen again, but I will be watching on Saturday."

Doctor Who continues on Saturday at 6pm on BBC One.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/...ludicrous.html

I'm inclined to agree with much of what he says, to be honest...
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:11
alexjones
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who cares what he thinks, i'm still enjoying it and as long as the ratings keep up what one author thinks of the show dosen't matter.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:11
tingramretro
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I'd have agreed with him if he was talking about last year, but not this year. Bit baffled by his comments.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:14
CoalHillJanitor
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This was a published piece probably written a few weeks ago, so it may be slightly behind the times.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:16
Abomination
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I have to admit that he has a point- some plots do lack scientific credibility (not so much this year but certainly a few earlier on). But this isn't really a big deal- Doctor Who is just an entertainment show and if we are to believe a man can hurtle through space and time in a little blue box then I am open to the plot resolutions.

And at least good ol' Pratchett is big enough to still watch the show rather than blatantly label it as 'entirely rubbish' and refuse to watch.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:20
Webslark
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Full article here As usual DS is culling its news and leaving out some context

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/05/03/gues...on-doctor-who/

Terry Pratchett likes Torchwood?!?! Who would have thought THAT!
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:20
MiltonBlake
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Hello

Ask him again in a week.

He'll tell you it's half past three.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:20
meglosmurmurs
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I don't really agree with his point, but I like his use of the word 'makeitupasyougoalongeum'.
WTF!
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:20
tardis_cub
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Up until this year, I'd have a greed with him. Tennant was almost too close to God for comfort. A bit too brilliant, and that awful bit in The Last of the Time Lords.....(eugh, why can't the crack in the universe delete THAT from my memory!?)

This year though is different.

Spoiler


I'm liking the new run which is showing a vulnerable side to the Doctor that hasn't really been seen since the Peter Davison years.....

(I've spoilered those in case an overseas viewer wanders in...)
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:22
viewaskew
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*Stands*

*Applauds vigorously*

*Waits for the abuse that die-hard Who fans are bound to throw at Terry Pratchett merely for stating the absolute truth*

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Old 04-05-2010, 17:23
Webslark
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Hello

Ask him again in a week.

He'll tell you it's half past three.

Unneccessary and decidedly unfunny
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:23
Solamenn
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Full article here As usual DS is culling its news and leaving out some context

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/05/03/gues...on-doctor-who/

Terry Pratchett likes Torchwood?!?! Who would have thought THAT!
Yes, it would be much better to read the full article. Because those snippets focus on Sir Terry criticizing when in fact if you read it all you can see that yes there is criticism, but there is also a lot of love. Because what he is saying basically is : it's a bit silly but gosh I love it... And I can't fault him because I think the same
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:26
Muttley76
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As per usual DS put a bit of an unfair spin on the article, he wasn't wholly critical of the show, indeed he is a regular viewer of it, as they later state, but he, as a writer of sci-fi himself is surely entitled, not to mention more than qualified, to make constructive critical comments of the show?

I do feel that DS have at least in part taking his comments out of context to make a more dramatic headline as the so often the case these days.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:27
lach doch mal
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Hello

Ask him again in a week.

He'll tell you it's half past three.
I must admit I'm a bit disappointed with that (although I know you are joking). Alzheimer is horrible, devestating and terminal, and not something I would joke about.

I don't necessarily agree with him (Terry), but he is entitled to his opinion.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:27
Omega70
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TP pretty much sums up how I have increasingly felt about DW from 05-09. Especially the messianic portrayal of The Doctor. Though, apart from the season opener, that side of him has been largely absent so far...
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:28
WelshNige
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As per usual DS put a bit of an unfair spin on the article, he wasn't wholly critical of the show, indeed he is a regular viewer of it, as they later state, but he, as a writer of sci-fi himself is surely entitled, not to mention more than qualified, to make constructive critical comments of the show?

I do feel that DS have at least in part taking his comments out of context to make a more dramatic headline as the so often the case these days.
Do you think they're connected to the Daily Fail at all, certainly many similarities....
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:29
Muttley76
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Hello

Ask him again in a week.

He'll tell you it's half past three.
You know what, my Grandmother died of Alzheimer's disease, and let me tell you it was no laughing matter in spite of what some people seem to think. Let's hope you don't have to see a person you love losing all sense of who they are and effectively dying mentally years before their physical body does.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:36
scumcat
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never really liked his stuff so really dont care what he thinks, i only care what we in our house like and we doctor who
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:36
The_Red_Avenger
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Yes, read the full article - he's still a fan - which the DS headline misconstrues.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:39
Analysethis
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I'd have agreed with him if he was talking about last year, but not this year. Bit baffled by his comments.
This. It certainly applies to the past few series, but so far this year we've yet to have a Deus-Ex-Machina resolution. I wonder if has has bothered to watch the latest series like he said he would...
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:41
mousy
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I think he is spot on
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:44
MiltonBlake
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Hello

@lach doch mal/@Muttley76/@Webslark

I think my humour, in this instance, could be seen as a little noir'ish.

But I'm sure I'm only reflecting Pratchett's own tone, when he considers his predicament.

He has already given speeches where he exhibits the same 'gallows humour'.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and what does kill us, should be mocked.

That's the human way.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:44
John Dough
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He's right DW is childish tripe.:sleep:
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:46
aardvark85
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I have to admit that he has a point- some plots do lack scientific credibility.
You think?

However that's not his point. What he is saying is that the viewer should be able to anticipate the solution, and that you should have some degree of continuity between stories.

For instance, Blink does this quite well (ignoring the whole paradox thing) - and while you expect the solution will be based on Sally and/or Larry getting into the tardis and then the Dr does X, the ACTUAL solution is applying something that we've already been told, which is that angels can't move when observed. That's 'fair'.

However, take Last of the Timelords - again there is an apparent solution, and an actual one, but the actual one is pure Deus ex machina (almost literally) - and there has been nothing to hint at this being the solution (leaving aside it's absurdity, that isn't relevant).

Look at most episodes of the new series - a lot of them do not let you work out the answer. So far Moffatt is the exception, but changing the rules of weeping angels doesn't bode well.
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Old 04-05-2010, 17:50
John Dough
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This was a published piece probably written a few weeks ago, so it may be slightly behind the times.
It's ALWAYS been rubbish.
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