Yes! I loved Donna so much, I think she was one of the best companions! I was NOT happy with how they ended her run. Not ok and just seemed like everything she did/experienced was just for nothing.
Actually I felt like her ending was perhaps one of the absolute best moments in television history. I was weeping hysterically as I was beginning to realize exactly what was happening to her and then that she could never know… and then the touching way he helped make her “normal” life happy at the end. It really was perhaps the absolute finest “love” story ever told, of course the love was just a love of friendship but it was so amazing. But yes it was very, very sad and it’s super frustrating on a level that she didn’t get to remember everything she had done and how much she had come to believe in herself… but just overall a fantastically emotional way to end her character.
But… if the writers somehow kajigered a way for her to come back, I wouldn’t complain! Haha.
I agree very, very much with two and three on that list. I didn’t mind it so much with Rose; I thought that felt…well, relatively natural, anyway. Then, with Jack Harkness. . .well. It’s Jack Harkness. I’m not gonna complain.
Then with Martha, they took this strong character and made her pine. Which was annoying, but fine. Donna was a nice change from that. Then. . .Amy Pond. I know these episodes are a few years old now, but I’ll put it in spoilers anyway.
[spoiler]She’s just a hard character for me to deal with, really. She’s self-possessed, gorgeous in an in-universe acknowledged sort of way, has a man utterly devoted to her, has the ability to change/save the world, is River Song’s mother, and is self-sacrificing as hell. In short, she seems very Mary Sue-ish.
All the other companions in the new Doctor Who had some pretty major flaws which were portrayed as such. For instance, Rose handled her relationship with Mickey extremely poorly, and while she’s never called out on it, I think the show did a good job of portraying it not entirely sympathetically. Martha was pining for someone she couldn’t have (which, though it annoyed me, was at least a flaw). Donna was insecure and shrewish. But Amy’s just…too good, too stubbornly determined.[/spoiler]
It’s a testament to the actress and the overall writing that I still cared about the character–having Rory around didn’t hurt, either :).
So, yeah. I’d love to see the next companion–after the new one, of course–be someone who isn’t special and in love with the Doctor.
Yes to 2,3 & 5. In fact, a “hell, yes!” to 2&3. Moreover, the show needs another overhaul in the writer’s room. I dearly loved Moffat’s early episodes, but the time has come to wrap up his loose ends with River, Clara, and Eleven, and do another semi-reboot like there was between Ten and Eleven. New doctor, new companion(s), new showrunner, and the rest will take care of itself.
Agreed; some stories with smaller stakes would be nice. Not everything needs to be aliens killing humans in a novel way. Dial back the peril Earth is constantly in.
Are you sure? I thought it was Ed O’Neill.
I’d rather see the sonic screwdriver stick around. Yes it has been overused before, but I think it works fine as a tool for the Doctor to use. People don’t complain when Batman uses his utility belt or Commander Riker to use his comm badge to get beamed out of somewhere – I think it’s fine for the Doctor to use as a general analyzing device and a locker/unlocker. They’ve written around it before with some locks being resistant to the screwdriver, so it’s not unstoppable. Plus it’s kind of odd and fits in with the Doctor’s general personality and non-weapons leanings.
- Make the TARDIS less reliable.
In the new stories, he can usually control exactly where he goes. This limits story possibilities. Many of the classic stories start with him arriving in a place by accident that he had no reason to want to visit. Now, he only goes where he wants to.
Companion asks “why don’t you use The TARDIS to solve the current problem” Old series, “I can’t control it accurately” answers the question. New series, “Timey-wimey fixed point” doesn’t really answer it.
Old series - companions joined the TARDIS more or less accidentally, wandered with him at random, and left when they found somewhere else they’d rather be.
New series, companions join by invitation, go where they want, and leave because some disaster forces the separation.
Basically, a reliable TARDIS changes the show a lot.
2) More 2-parterws, with a cliffhanger. The cliffhanger always was an integral part of the classic series. And some stories are rushed, trtying to fit them into 45 minutes. 90 minutes would give more time to develop the plot.
3) Depower the sonic screwdriver. Don’t lose it altogether, but it shouldn’t be a magic wand. It should only be able to move small objects, such as undo a screw, or lift the pins in a lock. Using it as a lock pick should require skill, and done at close quarters. No waving it at a door on the other side of the street, which then pops open. Nor should it be a medical tricorder.
I agree that it’s been far too reliable in Nu-Who but it occasionally wonks out on occasion and we even got an explanation:
Doctor: You didn’t always take me where I wanted to go.
Idris: No, but I always took you where you needed to go.
I really loved that episode. That’s what the show needs. More scripts from Neil Gaiman!
Probably not going to happen this series. Moffat, reacting to criticism of his series long arcs has said that this series (now more than half-way through) would be focusing on standalone stories. Except for the Clara mystery, I guess. I agree the two-parters are some of the best. A little bit more canvas for the story.
Agreed.
You’re in luck!
Yes!