Embracing the Geek

RE: Religious Orders in Doctor Who

    In most sci-fi shows, books, movies, etc. there is a battle between good and evil. (This isn’t just a theme in sci-fi, as I’m sure you know.) Religious orders are fantastic “bad guys” because they are strong, intimidating, and often have an extremely dedicated following. There is also this contradictory view where they actually think what they are doing is the right thing, despite the fact that the audience is viewing them as evil. Yet, are they really evil? What if there is something we have yet to discover and it turns out they are really in the right? It’s dynamic and intriguing and I think that is why a lot of writers go there.      

     Honestly, I hadn’t really thought too much into the meaning behind the religious orders. I can see your point. I think it could be construed that Steven Moffat is anti-religion by how these groups are portrayed in the show, but I would hesitate to jump to that assumption myself. Personally, I have written a few things that in no way portray my real life or beliefs, yet if someone were to read them they would most likely assume that I live a completely different life than I do. That’s the magic of being a fictional writer though; being able to create and say anything you want, regardless of what your personal beliefs and life hold. 

    On a similar, and possibly contradictory, note, I’ve also read articles that compare The Doctor to God, assume he is meant to portray Jesus Christ, and other different ways of analyzing the show and comparing it in religious realms. Personally, I have a really hard time believing it was all some sort of intentional behind-the-scenes agenda of the writers. I think certain themes were intentional, but wonder if sometimes people read too much into parts of the show. Check out this article for an interesting read on some religious outcry during the Tennant days. Keith Reich of Know Thyself is taking notes throughout each episode on how the show relates to religious ideas/imagery. It’s definitely an interesting read. Check it out and let me know what you think.

    All that being said, I could be totally wrong. Maybe it is all intentional, and as they write the shows they try to throw in as much religious imagery as they can. I wish we could sit down with Mr. Moffat and have a fantastic discussion with him on this very topic. It would be intriguing, to say the least.

-Skim

(this is a response post to TheHLB’s previous post found here.)

Religious Orders in Doctor Who

SKIM, What do you think about Doctor Who and religion?  Specifically in the Moffat era?  None of the religious orders in seasons 5 and 6 seem to be portrayed with any positivity.  The Silence, the Clerics, the Headless Monks, that Minotaur thingy…

Sci-fi in general tends to be a godless place, which doesn’t bother me, because after all the fi in sci-fi stands for fiction, and I don’t need my fiction lining up with my reality.  (Most people, certainly most sci-fi fans, would probably put religion in the fiction category anyway, though I am not one of them.) But I wonder if Moffat is sending a message about what he thinks about those who are religious?  Or does it just make for an interesting story?  After all, some of history’s biggest conflicts have had religion at the center of them.

In an era when open hostility towards those who are deeply religious seems to be acceptable, I just wonder. 

Bow Ties Are Cool

So, I started watching the new season of Food Network Star today.  (One of my summertime guilty pleasure shows.)  The show has 3 teams, coached by Food Network personalities, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, and Alton Brown.  At the beginning of the show the coaches all introduced their team members, and told a snippet about why they picked him/her.

When it gets to Alton’s team, a man named Judson Allen walks out of the elevator wearing a bow tie and Alton introduces him by saying, “I picked him because bow ties are cool.”  

Alton is the coolest!

TURNING FRIENDS INTO WHOVIANS; HOW?

the-11-doctor:

Make them do this and get used to it, simple :3.

(via doctorwho)

I need experience.

I just read this blog post and all I can say is, yes please! Now I just have to contact my friend that lives near London and plan my holiday.

Doctor Who Experience Announces Cardiff Opening

Courtesy of BBC Worldwide

Philip Murphy, Managing Director of BBC Worldwide Live Events said: “The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff is going to be just minutes away from where the BBC Wales television series is made which I’m incredibly excited about. The Experience sets out to engage visitors’ imaginations from the outset immersing them in the world of Doctor Who and what better place to do this than in Cardiff the home of the show.”

The content of the exhibition is updated constantly with new items from the television series to ensure it is ever changing offering fans the chance to get up close to the incredible sets, costumes and props that feature in their favourite show. New items to be shown to the public for the first time in Cardiff include the Doctor’s cradle seen in A Good Man Goes to War; the Silence spaceship and Matt Smith’s sonic cane from Let’s Kill Hitler with many more items being kept under wraps until the doors open on 20th July.

(Source: blogtorwho.blogspot.com)

Re: Davies vs. Moffat

While my fellow blogger, thehlb, noted a preference for the style of Mr. R.T. Davies’ writing for Doctor Who, I am going to politely disagree. Eccleston will forever and always be my favorite Doctor, and I did like Tennant, but I have to say, I prefer the writing style of Mr. Moffat. The “darker” episodes have always been more intriguing to me and are what keep me pining for more. I appreciate his story-arcs. When I watch sci-fi shows I don’t want it to be identifiable and real, I want action and “new-ness”. I want something that blows my mind. The most recent series’ that have been headed by Mr. Moffat have been my favorite. The comparison previously shared of Davies “Spielberg” to Moffat’s “Burton” is actually spot on if you ask me. Call me a freak, but I have always appreciated Tim Burton immensely.

The beauty of Doctor Who is that there is something for everyone to appreciate. It is well-written (regardless of which writer you prefer) and that, in my opinion, is indisputable.

In reference to Season 7, Steven Moffat said,

“I want big pictures and strap lines. The first episode I’m writing is called [Spoiler] of the [Spoilers]! And it feels a bit like Die Hard, that first episode. Everyone is expecting us to do another year like 2011. You’re not going to get that at all. You’re going to get the biggest, maddest set of episodes ever.” Steven Moffat

I truly cannot wait.

(Source: doctorwhotv.co.uk)

Not another Davies vs Moffat Debate

The Power of Ten

I dreamt last night that I was woken up in the morning, sleeping beauty style, by none other than David Tennant. I dream-opened my very squinty morning eyes to see him there in jeans and a red t-shirt and that adorable messy hair telling me it was time to get up because we had to leave soon.  

In 11 years, I think this is the first time I’ve dreamt of being kissed of someone other than my husband.  Such is the power of Tennant.