TATE IN THE TARDIS: YES, I'M BOVVERED!
It's been 24-hours since the BBC announced Catherine Tate has become Doctor Who's latest companion, reprising her role from the 2006 Christmas Special, for next year's fourth season run of 13 episodes.
The announcement caused sidespread uproar, particularly with vocal online fans, who mostly hated Tate's Donna Noble character from The Runaway Bride; a brash, working class, screeching, unintelligent cockney.
I share the popular disdain for producer Russell T. Davies decision to bringing back an unpopular character in such an crucial role as The Doctor's companion. Donna wasn't a train-wreck onscreen, but she was certainly a duff note.
So why has RTD decided Tate and Tennant in the TARDIS is such a good idea? After all, RTD's nose for casting has been pretty good so far: Christopher Ecclestone, Billie Piper, David Tennant and Freema Agyeman have all proven successful in their roles.
Personally, I don't RTD will ever admit it to the press, but he thinks Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) was a mistake. After a great introduction and positive start to season 3, she quickly settled into being just a brainier version of Rose.
This isn't a criticism of Agyeman's performance, more RTD's own writing ability to craft a truly different character to bounce off The Doctor. Martha was similarly love-struck by The Doctor and the only unique slant to this was her jealousy of Rose being constantly mentioned.
And let's not forget the Jones family. Perhaps in response to concerns over the screentime given to the Tyler family beforehand, they were brushed under the carpet in season 3. Their introduction seemed buzzing with possibilities (nice-guy bro, working girl sis, doubting mum, mid-life crisis dad), but they barely figured into ANY of the plots! This oversight crippled the emotional impact when the Jones family WERE finally given things to do in the season finale.
Of course, it could just be that Torchwood is in such trouble that RTD genuinely thinks shoving ANOTHER Doctor Who character into that show will pull in bigger ratings. Yes, in case you didn't know, Freeman Agyeman is scheduled to appear in three Torchwood episodes later this year.
But let's not get too carried away. Agyeman hasn't been axed! She will return for the second half of Doctor Who's fourth season (probably around episode 6 or 7), to join Donna and create the revived show's first dual-companion dynamic.
If RTD really hated what he'd allowed Martha to become, he has the chance to improve her on Torchwood before returning her to Who with a fresher perspective. Let's just hope Agyeman's tenure on Torchwood won't involve lesbian snogs with Eve Myles or a quickie with Captain Jack. Er, hang on... that would actually be really good to see... but, no... it would dirty her character... forget that. Forget it. Take a cold shower...
So if RTD has a plan to reinvogorate Martha on Torchwood between seasons, why bring back Donna? Particularly after just her brief cameo at the end of season 2 ruined the emotional Doctor/Rose farewell in most peoples' eyes. Fans were against Catherine Tate's appearance in Doctor Who SIX MONTHS before her episode actually aired! When it did air, most peoples' opinion didn't even change that much.
As if we should be surprised. Donna was intended to be the worst possible companion for The Doctor. Someone totally out of their depth and alternatively flustered and snappy. At the time, RTD commented that Donna would make a bad regular companion...
It seems he's changes his mind though. Big time! Donna will be in all of season 4's episodes. On the positive side, it means a very different dynamic with The Doctor. Unlike Rose and Martha, Donna is older, bossier, doesn't fancy The Doctor and (let's be honest) isn't likely to be pinned-up on teenaged boy's bedroom walls like Billie and Freema.
Maybe RTD just fancied a change. Writing for Martha and Rose was just too similar and getting boring. Maybe he just enjoyed writing Donna and The Doctor in The Runaway Bride than any Martha episode.
Donna will, at the very least, provide a spiky, antagonistic energy in the TARDIS. Whether her sparring with The Doctor becomes irritating and annoying, or interesting and watchable, will be down to the writers. I actually think Tate is a decent actress if given good material. She played Donna well and it wasn't her fault the character was written as bossy and annoying.
But if RTD wanted a different energy in the TARDIS, why bring back an OLD character? Why not just invent another fresh face with similar qualities to Donna? Well, I think I genuinely know the answer to this one: repetition.
Season 1's opener introduced Rose and spent the year developing her character. Season 2's opener introduced Tennant's Doctor and spent the year fleshing him out. Season 3's opener introduced Martha and... oh, you get it.
Do we really want another season like that? Not really. I don't think I can stomach another succession of "it's bigger on the inside?", "you're a Time Lord?", "what's a Dalek?", "what happened to Gallifrey?", "Time War...?", etc, etc. I'm fed up watching characters play catch-up. It's easier if RTD has a head start on all that exposition by using an existing character.
But why Tate? She's unpopular with fans. And not just the nerdy internet spods who fixate over everything (who RTD takes great delight in ignoring anyway). The GENERAL public didn't like her on Doctor Who either! The BBC was hit by a wave of negative feedback when the news was announced yesterday. It's a bad sign when even casual viewers feel motivated enough to complain about TV casting!
We'll probably never know the reason behind Martha's "hiatus" and Donna's unwanted return -- unless RTD comes clean in a frank and honest interview. Which I seriously doubt. As always, I'll reserve judgment on Tate until season 4 starts. RTD was aware Donna would make a bad companion once, so I'm fairly confident he'll tone her down and strengthen her personality ready for her to assume regular tenancy in the TARDIS.
Well, he'd better.
It's been 24-hours since the BBC announced Catherine Tate has become Doctor Who's latest companion, reprising her role from the 2006 Christmas Special, for next year's fourth season run of 13 episodes.
The announcement caused sidespread uproar, particularly with vocal online fans, who mostly hated Tate's Donna Noble character from The Runaway Bride; a brash, working class, screeching, unintelligent cockney.
I share the popular disdain for producer Russell T. Davies decision to bringing back an unpopular character in such an crucial role as The Doctor's companion. Donna wasn't a train-wreck onscreen, but she was certainly a duff note.
So why has RTD decided Tate and Tennant in the TARDIS is such a good idea? After all, RTD's nose for casting has been pretty good so far: Christopher Ecclestone, Billie Piper, David Tennant and Freema Agyeman have all proven successful in their roles.
Personally, I don't RTD will ever admit it to the press, but he thinks Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) was a mistake. After a great introduction and positive start to season 3, she quickly settled into being just a brainier version of Rose.
This isn't a criticism of Agyeman's performance, more RTD's own writing ability to craft a truly different character to bounce off The Doctor. Martha was similarly love-struck by The Doctor and the only unique slant to this was her jealousy of Rose being constantly mentioned.
And let's not forget the Jones family. Perhaps in response to concerns over the screentime given to the Tyler family beforehand, they were brushed under the carpet in season 3. Their introduction seemed buzzing with possibilities (nice-guy bro, working girl sis, doubting mum, mid-life crisis dad), but they barely figured into ANY of the plots! This oversight crippled the emotional impact when the Jones family WERE finally given things to do in the season finale.
Of course, it could just be that Torchwood is in such trouble that RTD genuinely thinks shoving ANOTHER Doctor Who character into that show will pull in bigger ratings. Yes, in case you didn't know, Freeman Agyeman is scheduled to appear in three Torchwood episodes later this year.
But let's not get too carried away. Agyeman hasn't been axed! She will return for the second half of Doctor Who's fourth season (probably around episode 6 or 7), to join Donna and create the revived show's first dual-companion dynamic.
If RTD really hated what he'd allowed Martha to become, he has the chance to improve her on Torchwood before returning her to Who with a fresher perspective. Let's just hope Agyeman's tenure on Torchwood won't involve lesbian snogs with Eve Myles or a quickie with Captain Jack. Er, hang on... that would actually be really good to see... but, no... it would dirty her character... forget that. Forget it. Take a cold shower...
So if RTD has a plan to reinvogorate Martha on Torchwood between seasons, why bring back Donna? Particularly after just her brief cameo at the end of season 2 ruined the emotional Doctor/Rose farewell in most peoples' eyes. Fans were against Catherine Tate's appearance in Doctor Who SIX MONTHS before her episode actually aired! When it did air, most peoples' opinion didn't even change that much.
As if we should be surprised. Donna was intended to be the worst possible companion for The Doctor. Someone totally out of their depth and alternatively flustered and snappy. At the time, RTD commented that Donna would make a bad regular companion...
It seems he's changes his mind though. Big time! Donna will be in all of season 4's episodes. On the positive side, it means a very different dynamic with The Doctor. Unlike Rose and Martha, Donna is older, bossier, doesn't fancy The Doctor and (let's be honest) isn't likely to be pinned-up on teenaged boy's bedroom walls like Billie and Freema.
Maybe RTD just fancied a change. Writing for Martha and Rose was just too similar and getting boring. Maybe he just enjoyed writing Donna and The Doctor in The Runaway Bride than any Martha episode.
Donna will, at the very least, provide a spiky, antagonistic energy in the TARDIS. Whether her sparring with The Doctor becomes irritating and annoying, or interesting and watchable, will be down to the writers. I actually think Tate is a decent actress if given good material. She played Donna well and it wasn't her fault the character was written as bossy and annoying.
But if RTD wanted a different energy in the TARDIS, why bring back an OLD character? Why not just invent another fresh face with similar qualities to Donna? Well, I think I genuinely know the answer to this one: repetition.
Season 1's opener introduced Rose and spent the year developing her character. Season 2's opener introduced Tennant's Doctor and spent the year fleshing him out. Season 3's opener introduced Martha and... oh, you get it.
Do we really want another season like that? Not really. I don't think I can stomach another succession of "it's bigger on the inside?", "you're a Time Lord?", "what's a Dalek?", "what happened to Gallifrey?", "Time War...?", etc, etc. I'm fed up watching characters play catch-up. It's easier if RTD has a head start on all that exposition by using an existing character.
But why Tate? She's unpopular with fans. And not just the nerdy internet spods who fixate over everything (who RTD takes great delight in ignoring anyway). The GENERAL public didn't like her on Doctor Who either! The BBC was hit by a wave of negative feedback when the news was announced yesterday. It's a bad sign when even casual viewers feel motivated enough to complain about TV casting!
We'll probably never know the reason behind Martha's "hiatus" and Donna's unwanted return -- unless RTD comes clean in a frank and honest interview. Which I seriously doubt. As always, I'll reserve judgment on Tate until season 4 starts. RTD was aware Donna would make a bad companion once, so I'm fairly confident he'll tone her down and strengthen her personality ready for her to assume regular tenancy in the TARDIS.
Well, he'd better.
