Doctor Who Series 8 (SPOILERS)

I have given this matter very serious and lengthy thought, and I have come to the conclusion that Moffat cannot possibly have realized the full implications of having Santa Claus show up within the show and announce his intention to write a "fix-fic".

Anyway, I'd say my favorites were "Listen", the mummy episode, the Robin Hood episode, the one where the Doctor serves as a janitor, and the 2D episode. "Kill the Moon" and the trees episode were the duddest of the duds.

Discussion question: Supposing that Clara does not return as a companion, what would you like to see in a new companion?

I was rooting for Asthma Girl but...le sigh

Anyway, latest rumor has it Jenna has decided to stay on for at least half a season more

By the way, I was watching "Forever" last night and I've revised my view of who should follow Capaldi if/as/when ...unless there's a complete madcap guy like Tom Baker floating around


ETA: I still think Mison would be wonderful, but there's something about Ion as a direct sucessor to PC that kinda works for me - though some will find him to bland for the Doctor I suppose)

Oh, very much this.

Really? That's great!!

Asthma Girl would have been perfect.

The "Caretaker's" taking Courtney on outings when Clara's not around was rather odd. Yes, I can see him grooming her as a potential Companion candidate, but her age made it more than a little creepy. So will he wait for her to grow up, or will we have another "I'll be right back" that turned into years a la Amy Pond where Today Courtney is replaced by an older actress (or the actress herself - who is probably older than she's playing) "aged" to a Future Courtney to make it slightly less creepy?

I hate Moffat that fucking asshole...

Perhaps because he knew that being with Danny made Clara happy, and he didn't want her unhappy. Though he never mentions them, I do believe the Doctor remembers Rose, Amy, Sarah Jane......

well, if they want to spread the demographics around, I guess he'd need an Asian girl next, eh?

Anyway, the only other woman appearing in S8 that might be a candidate is Journey Blue - otherwise it will be some one we haven't seen yet.

From your perspective, sure. From the perspective of the Doctor, who doesn't seem like a child?

I don't think the age of the person taking the little kid on a trip across time and space is the issue here...

What's the issue?

The viewer knows the Doctor's above that sort of thing, but Funny Uncle and Underage Kid has some unsavory implications in society at large.

Although he did go back and take Little Kid Amy Pond on excursions, IIRC. But was that because he'd seen her future? Maybe the same thing would work with Courtney, although unless Courtney gets over being such a smartass (one per Tardis is enough, IMO), I'd much rather see him choose Blue.

Meh. "What will society at large say?" is how we ended up with Susan being the Doctor's granddaughter in the first place. Also, fuck society at large, on general principle.

How old is Courtney supposed to be, anyway? Because Ace was 16 when she was introduced, and Victoria was supposed to be 14 or 15. The actors were clearly older, though.

If you are letting the concept of "funny uncle", as you put it, influence you that that says more about the extent to which you let society influence your thinking than it ever will about the script for that episode.

Can I just say I hope it's not her because I find the character annoying?

I was thinking more along the lines of how the producers let society - i.e., ratings - influence them. Maybe it's different in the UK.

I prefer the Osgood character, but I feel like I would prefer Courtney's likely character arc to Osgood's. This incarnation of the Doctor was already disillusioning for Clara, who's seen his crankier versions in person already, imagine putting Osgood through that as a regular character.

No question that killing Osgood off wasn't worth the payoff, though. It did take me a few days to realize that the Doctor probably doomed her when he gave her that invitation within the Master's hearing. Hell hath no fury.

theoretically, the Doctor could go ahead and ignore the "rules" and go back and save someone from death. Osgood would be tricky though, because of the circumstances of her death. They are known for doing "timy-wimy" hand waving when it suits their purposes.

Also, my guess is that the last ep will signify a moving away from the "grumpy grand dad" person a little bit. I expect much less grump next season.

Speaking of saving someone from death, does S8 rewrite The Impossible Girl's future as seen in "Asylum of the Daleks"?

Why should it, that was just one of the many Clara's on his timeline.

I actually like the grump-osity. It's very reminiscent of the First Doctor, and that makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? The Twelfth Doctor is, in a sense, a new First Doctor. First of a whole new set of regenerations. I don't know if the writers have made his personality a callback to the "first" First Doctor intentionally or not, but that's the read I get from the character.

I'm still convinced Hugh Laurie should be in the running for the role.

It's always funny listening to him in his real accent.

I hope not, it's been a wonderful antidote to the lovey-dovey crap. The more intimate Doctor was done very well with Ecclestone's ménage a troi with Jack and Rose looking like a joyful thing, after that it started getting a little Mills and Boon.

Grumpy Doctor has been a breath of fresh air.

I was one of the Yanks who was familiar with his real accent for 15+ years before I ever heard his American accent. That, to me, is what's funny.

I did say "a little bit"

I thing there will be kind of a crusty grandpa with a twinkle in his eye thing - which we saw some of in his deadpan ribbing of Clara. I just am presuming it will be more towards that and a little less of the am-I-a-good-man/I-hate-soldiers stuff

Kinda of a guy who gets a kick out of affecting a grumpy persona without actually being grumpy