#is it because of david tennant's portrayal? yes

[consanguinitatum]

Theatre Deep Dive: David Tennant in Hurlyburly (1997)

In today's spotlight on David Tennant's theatre career, we'll feature 1997's production of Hurlyburly by David Rabe, and David's role as Mickey.

By 1997, David was coming off two years of successful theatre. In 1995 he'd been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the MENTA Awards and Best Actor at the British Regional Theatre Awards for his role as Kenny in An Experienced Woman Gives Advice.

In 1996 he'd completed four theatre roles: Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at the Dundee Rep, and Touchstone in As You Like It, Jack Lane in The Herbal Bed, and Alexander Hamilton in The General From America in Stratford and London for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He took a day off from The Glass Menagerie rehearsals to go to London to audition for Orlando in As You Like It, and while he didn't get that role, he did bag the role of Touchstone. Follow this link if you want to read most of an extensive essay he wrote about playing that part...while he was playing it!

David won rave reviews for all these roles, including a Theatre Management Award nomination for Best Actor for 'The Glass Menagerie.' His Royal Shakespeare Company performances were all sell-outs, and in particular, his portrayal of Touchstone was noted as a standout performance. And while David had played many previous theatre roles, up to that point Touchstone had been the longest he'd played any part. He inhabited the role of Touchstone for almost an entire year - from 18 April 1996 (his 25th birthday) to the run's close on 29 March 1997. During the run, he'd injured his ankle.

Also, keep in mind he was simultaneously doing his other roles in The Herbal Bed and The General From America! The General From America ran from July to October 1996 in Stratford and from February to April of 1997 in London; The Herbal Bed ran from May to September 1996 in Stratford, and from October 1996 to January 1997 in London.

He was a BUSY boy indeed!

His next role - as Mickey in David Rabe's blisteringly caustic play Hurlyburly, would take him for the first time to the West End's Queen's Theatre (now the Sondheim Theatre). A transfer of the Peter Hall Company's March to April 1997 production at the Old Vic, the Queen's production would run from August to November 1997.

There's a belief in the DT fandom that David played the role of Mickey in both runs - at the Old Vic and at the Queen's. That's false. The only three actors who transferred their roles from the Old Vic were Rupert Graves as Eddie, Andy Serkis as Phil, and Susannah Doyle as Bonnie. David replaced Daniel Craig (yes, THAT Daniel Craig!) as Mickey. At the Old Vic, Stephen Dillane had played Artie, Elizabeth McGovern had played Darlene, and Kelly MacDonald (yes, THAT Kelly MacDonald!) was Donna. At the Queen's, Mark Benton played Artie, Jenny Seagrove played Darlene, and Jessica Watson was Donna.

Photos of Hurlyburly from its Old Vic run

Weirdly, neither Graves nor Seagrove were supposed to star in the Queen's run. Ethan Hawke and Patsy Kensit were!

But Hawke - who would've made his London stage debut - walked out after a day's rehearsal and Kensit followed the next day. So Graves and Seagrove stepped in.

According to its programme, Hurlyburly was originally scheduled to begin previews on 14 August 1997. But because of its casting problems, it seems it began its run a week later, on 21 August? Yet newspapers give dates anywhere from 13 August to 28 August. So I'm really not certain of the exact date.

It was performed with American accents, too!

The director of Hurlyburly was Wilson Milam. Doctor Who fans will recognize the name, as Milam later went on to direct 2003's Scream of the Shalka - a well-known series, one where David featured in an uncredited cameo role as the Caretaker!

Hurlyburly ran for 2 hours and 40 minutes and began at 8pm on Mondays through Saturdays. There was one interval. Its weekday Wednesday matinee began at 3pm, and its Saturday matinee began at 4pm. Tickets ran anywhere from £7.50 to £24.

But what's Hurlyburly about? Set in the Hollywood Hills during the excesses of the 80s, it centers on divorced Hollywood casting directors Eddie and Mickey, and their associates Phil and Artie. In six scenes across the space of twelve months, they hurtle towards self-destruction.

These men hate everything: themselves, their friends, the movie industry, and especially women. Their language pours out in crude torrents of hostility and violence. They snort lines, drink, mistreat women, and shout at each other. A LOT. The women in their lives are just there to use and discard. Their girlfriends are annoying props, other women are sex objects or boring and pitiful, they've abandoned their children, and their ex-wives are the focus of undying and vicious disdain.

The production got rave reviews, and Rupert Graves was nominated for the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. David also got great reviews! His Mickey made an impression as a "mocking and maddeningly self-possessed," "self-controlled, empty" and "cynical outsider". He thought himself a charming God's gift to women type, but had a "detachment that becomes chilling."

Given the amount of photographs taken from the Old Vic run of Hurlyburly, you'd think there would be more photos taken from its Queen's run featuring David. But…no? There's only this one from the programme, and one of him in a blue shirt:

Now for some Trivia Time! During Hurlyburly's run, its assisant director, Charlotte ­Bond, asked David for a favor. She was going to be involved in a play later that year at the Edinburgh Festival called Tamagotchi Heaven and she wondered if he'd be willing to film a small cameo role for the piece.

He agreed, filmed it in about an hour, and promptly forgot about it - until a 2008 Chain Reaction radio interview he did with Catherine Tate reminded him of it. Because she'd SEEN it, and somehow recognized him from it....even though they hadn't yet met! Here's the interview where they speak of it (it's 2 minutes in):

And that, my friends, is what I know of the story of Hurlyburly. I hope you enjoyed it!

[ghostartistrandomness]

I’m getting back into Doctor Who again! And I just gotta scream into the void because I’m so excited for how the new series is going! Be warned, minor spoilers! And also opinions, so please don’t get mad at me for having them. Reply or not, even if this gets not a single note, I just can’t not post this somewhere. It is a loooong audhd-fueled 1am ramble so yeah don’t mind me lol.

I got into Doctor Who about a decade ago. I was in middle school. A friend convinced me to watch it. And WOW, I loved it like the little middle schooler I was. I loved (and still love) those first four seasons. Those are defining parts of my childhood. There’s something magical about them.

But then… season 5 came along. The writing team changed. I could tell the moment that first episode played that the vibes were off. Something was different. Matt Smith did an excellent job, don’t get me wrong. But just… the vibes, the storylines, they just lost me. I get why most people like them, but the show changed. Season 7 came and I actually do prefer it to 5 and 6. Please, don’t hate me. A bit of the magic came back by then, but that was really cause it lost that really weird vibe the entire early 2010s had. It still wasn’t perfect. I got to Season 8 and it continued improving a bit. By the time I watched it, season 9 was about to come out, and I liked it even more, especially watching it live. Season 9 less so.

I lost it at season 10, and completely stopped season 11. Stopped watching live. Tried catching up later on, but the writing team had changed again. The vibes were all wrong all over again, and even worse this time. I don’t have high standards. The stories themselves don’t have to be perfect, as long as the writing is consistent and keeps the vibes I like. It killed my motivation the first time in season 5, and destroyed it for season 11. I didn’t even get halfway through season 12.

Now, the 10th Doctor has always been my favorite. Back in the day, I’d be called a David Tennant loyalist. And I do love his portrayal of the Doctor, and I always thought that was that. But the thing is, I do also with we got more 9th Doctor in the show. I always thought I just wasn’t a fan of the newer actors. Maybe my disdain for change gave me too much bias against the new actors that played the character. Well… that was part of it. But it had nothing to do with the actors.

I watched the 3-part specials a couple nights ago.

The magic is back. I was struck by my childhood seeing the 10th (well, 14th) Doctor and Donna together again! Literally felt like I was back in season 4! The characters, the story, the emotion and soul of the show was all back. It was as if nothing changed.

It didn’t stop at the specials lol. Besides the ending being so incredible it was the best closure I have ever gotten out of every TV show I have ever watched (a ramble for another longpost), it carried onto the main series, which is now the *new* season 1. I’m only five episodes in… and I feel like I’m back there as a kid watching the first four seasons all over!

I discovered it’s not who is playing the Doctor. I’ll like the show either way. It is the writing that counts. And yes, while the 10th Doctor will still most likely remain my favorite (nostalgia helps with that), as long as the writing fits the *vibes* I’ll be happy with the show. And the vibes are all here! Russel T Davies is the head writer again. I get that way back in the day, the head writers were a topic of debate, and I hope I don’t give out that impression in my text. I genuinely believe it’s his writing direction that really puts those perfect *vibes* into the show, the vibes that I fell in love with, the vibes that really speak to me. IMDB ratings of the show are iffy, so I must reiterate that my storyline standards are low in case the real fans’ consensus is that the show is bad or something like that. It’s the vibes that I took issue with, and the vibes that are bringing me back in.

What are vibes, you ask? Well… I can’t explain. They’re called vibes for a reason lol. They’re the general feel of the show. And it’s back. The vibes are back. The writing of all the characters has the right vibes. The stories have the right vibes. There’s a certain magic in the show again! Aaaaaagh it’s so good! It’s all so good!

[swpoliticsandmemes]

Ahsoka thoughts so spoilers

It's only been two episodes so I don't want to go too deep. Mostly it's fine (which is not super great for this subject matters) Pros: -Huyang is fun. The common snooty droid but he's also voiced by David Tennant -Sabine feels in character, with the chase scene at the beginning doing well to show her off. -I like the whole girlboss energy going on with Ahsoka and Hera -The Lothcat is adorable -I like the sequence where they're inspecting the Correllian factory. Concerns over the personnel vs needing to keep the industry operational. Plus "I'm a businessman, I'm loyal to my investors. I'll leave politics to you" was a pretty good line -Huyang and Sabine's conversation in episode 2 was good -Baylan's line about "it's a pity, there are so few Jedi left" was a nice touch. They've not really done much with him as a villain yet but I think that stakes him out a little more character wise. Potentially a sith with a begrudging respect for his enemies? Cons: -Similar to her portrayal in Mando, while not completely off, Ahsoka doesn't really feel true to how she was in either Clone Wars or Rebels. Yes she's older, so less impetuous, but overall Dawson's Ahsoka seems rather cold, brusque and distant. And while I understand those may be natural flaws due to her nomadic lifestyle, they should still be counterbalanced by her typical personality, which is often warm and sassy. -Little's been done to establish emotional context. Sabine looking at the hologram of Ezra has done the most, but I don't think the show's done enough to invite us into Ahsoka's POV, what she cares about, how her experience being a Jedi and then leaving the order has affected her. Coupled with the personality thing, it leaves us without the sense of continuity to make it feel like the same character across the adapatation. -This is too early to call two episodes in, but I have my doubts whether this plotline works for a show focused on Ahsoka. Maybe a sequel to Rebels with Sabine as the main character would have made more sense for this whole "we need to find Ezra and stop Thrawn" prompt, but I'm not sure if it suits Ahsoka's narrative arc (this probably speaks to a wider problem that post-Twilight of the Apprentice, there's not really a obvious place for Ahsoka to go. Vader's dead so she can't get any closure that way....) -This might be more nitpicky, but I find the dialogue rather stilted. A lot of lines are very short, revealing very little and having a lot of dead space within conversations. Many scenes feel frustrating because characters talk *around* the subject but never really dig into them

I'll keep watching, and I hope we get more character exploration as we go along. I'm interested to see what they do with Thrawn of course.

[jamesisasimp]

Well if the good omens bartylus brainrot can't be stopped then it must be encouraged

Can you share any interaction or dialogue you can't stop thinking about?

(also, good whatever-time-it-is-in-your-timezone!)

Helloooo Ary, my dear

I hope you know what floodgates you just opened. I'm going to try to make this sound even a little bit concise and not just like a lengthy ramble, but no promises

It's going to be a mix of me gushing over Good Omens and how perfectly bartylus translates to it, so strap in ♡

First of all, Crowley. Barty. Need I say more?

Fanart credit: twosidedstarr on Instagram and Pinterest

Look at them! They're two of the same, swagalicious, out of pocket, impulsive idiots, and, I'm sorry, but Barty as the snake in the Garden of Eden?

In God's universe, Bartemius, now affectionately referred to as Barty, along with the rest of his human name, Crouch Jr. (not to be confused with Crouch Sr., who was also him, just a couple hundred years ago to be realistic), has been dealt a losing, rather shit hand. Course he is a demon, that's sort with the territory, but he was an angel once too. Doesn't really get what all the fuss was about, it was awful up there, all the white and the glass, gave him a headache.

He was never cut out for Heaven, and Hell is just depressing, and in either he's a miserable excuse for a being, either occult or ethereal, and that is why Barty, formerly Bartemius, Crouch Jr., formerly Sr., is so in love with Earth.

And then there's Aziraphale and Regulus, which is, I think, more of a reach but definitely still completely valid

Fanart credit: twosidedstarr on Instagram and Pinterest

It's important to note that Azzie here is softboi core to the bone, and Regulus is absolutely not. While I think they have a lot of the same fundamentals ideologies, like fierce loyalty, they are very different. Aziraphale wants to believe in the good will of angels only to, slowly, over time, realise how corrupt it is, and I think this parallels amazingly with Regulus's experience with Death Eaters and the Dark Side - BUT Regulus is NOT a softboi, I will not reduce him to this

Consider this analogy for further explanation

Aziraphale and Crowley:

Barty and Regulus:

Regulus can't just abandon Armageddon all together. Not because he particularly fancies being at war, but because of the opposite. He's not the coward Barty seems to think he is - he's not the one trying to run away from this. He's the one trying to fucking stop it from happening entirely, if not for his own sake then for all those innocent humans that aren't ready to be judged yet. That never asked for any of this. That are caught in the crossfire just so good and evil, whatever the fuck those even mean anymore, can figure out who's best.

Regulus has to try. If Sirius taught him anything it's that hope is worth the plunge, no matter what's waiting on the other side.

NOW why am I currently obsessed with this, may you ask? Does it have to do with David Tennant's David Tennant-ness? Yes, a lot actually. Because through him and his portrayal of Crowley, I was able to understand a version of Barty that I could see in Crowley, because I actually relate to him. Probably more than one should relate to a demon but that's the whole point of the show!

The glory and freedom, allure of humanity

It's the story of a demon and an angel that have fallen in love with humanity (and each other) and are willing to give everything up to stay together. Because, if they lose humanity, they lose the bridge over which they can be together, and when the end of the world threatens it's destruction what do they do?

Stop the end of the world, obviously

They go against everything they've been taught, everything they've been told is right and wrong and devine and instead of doing what they should they do what they want to do, which I just think is so beautiful. And opens up a lot for Regulus's character. I mean, Barty's a fallen angel soaked in corruption, he's not blind to it and escapes it in humanity, fueled by spite, whereas Regulus wants to believe he's doing the right thing, that's he's on the right side, and has only really a matter of days to understand that he's not - that there is no right side, only a wrong one. And, instead of fighting for the greater good, do you know what he fights for?

Barty. A demon. A demon that was never evil and never cruel to him, a good person deep deep down

It just suits them SO WELL in my mind

But that's not enough for Barty, of course it's not. To him, he's still just a stubborn coward that still believes in God's Plan. To Barty, he's given up on them, and he can't tell him that he'd never do that, not in another six thousand years, not in eternity if they ever even make it there.

I've written out their version of the bandstand breakup, and I WANT more than ANYTHING to write Barty saying the words "you're so clever, how can somebody as clever as you be so stupid" right to Regulus's face (for those of you that haven't seen the show, don't worry, he absolutely deserves it in the moment). I want to write Barty's collapse, his last few hours on Earth, saying goodbye to the life he loves and his best friend, his partner, his Angel, who he'll never get to be with again. His desperation to find an out, to keep his little Regulus shaped slice of heaven that he knows he doesn't deserve

I want to see Barty when he believes Regulus has gone back to heaven, just hours before the end of the world, and that he never even got to say goodbye

Skip to 2:20

Also, come on, Barty driving through hellfire while blasting queen just to make sure he gets to the end of the world in time to stop it from, well... ending

Then of course there's the holy water scene, Regulus breaking the rules to get Barty a thermos of it so he doesn't end up risking own life to get it in less legal ways. Giving him LITERALLY the means of his own destruction, because Regulus is the only one how can

Because, you see, the trouble with loving someone is that, in doing so, you give them a step my step guide on how to destroy you. Not with holy water or hell fire, but deep deep within. You don't even realize it, Barty certainly didn't, at least not until right now.

I also really want to explore their dynamic! Barty shares Crowley's impulsivity and energy, and he's a bit of a gambler in my mind, getting more of a thrill out of just winning for once than the actual game

"It's not like you need human money," Regulus reminds him.

"Nah," he just shrugs, shoving his hands into his British pound lined pockets. "I just enjoy the game, really. It's fun, you should try it sometime."

"Definitely not."

"And the atmosphere. Can't get that kind of an atmosphere anywhere else."

"Think a nightclub might be similar? Perhaps a pub?"

"Eh. Too much lust, not enough greed, and I get enough of that downstairs," Barty corrects and gets out his keys. "Dinner?"

Regulus, on the other hand, is more reserved and to the point. I did come up with this particular distinction between them that, if someone were talking to them and they didn't really want to talk, Regulus would stay and listen though making it clear he wasn't interested, and Barty would just say "yeah, sorry, don't really care" and be on his merry way. I also think Regulus is a bit of a foodie, in that he loves the different types of human meals and flavors and how each reflect a different culture and background. It's just the little things for Regulus, food and books. Books that allow him to travel to different worlds in which God doesn't exist and he can be anything he wants to be, not just an angel bound to the Greater Good

Also Barty is an ABSOLUTE simp

Regulus, much the same and far less likely to admit it, is in love with the fascinating world of humans too. Most particularly the food. Technically they don't need to eat, it's not a requirement, Barty only ever does it when he feels it's neccessary for appearances or when Regulus insists that he just can't go on living without at least trying a bite. Regulus, however, is a connoisseur. When he acquired his townhome in central London back in 1979, his main concern was the size and capabilities of the kitchen. For comparison, Barty doesn't think he's ever once touched the kitchen in his flat, aside from the one time Regulus asked him to store a cake in his refrigerator. He's thinking of having it refinished into another plant room.

His all time favorite is French food, after a particular excursion during the French Revolution filled with temptation, miracles, crepes, and a near mountain of baguettes. He learned quiche, creampuffs, and croque in Paris, fell in love with garlic in Italy. Spain got him hooked on chocolate and olives, and the shrimp came about from one confusing trip to Japan that Barty isn't fully certain actually happened. He also likes waffles, but that's far too American for him to admit.

So Barty takes them to Le Gavroche, which he is aware is secretly Regulus's favorite, not because the food is good, but because the restaurant itself is so flashy and sought after it takes an angelic miracle to secure them a table. He, as a higher, or technically lower being, is not limited by human languages, well versed and able to communicate in any one he chooses, but there is an unspoken agreement in which he allows Regulus to translate the menu into English for him and does not remind him that he, too, knows French.

So, in conclusion, it's not really a concrete thing it's just the entirety of them. The story of Good Omens is so good and through the lense of Barty and Regulus, who are both very different and very similar to Crowley and Aziraphale, would be just *chefs kiss*. They're two idiots choosing each other over a war and how can you not fall on your knees as to how tooth achingly sweet it is?? "Aww, Reg. You were willing to kill the antichrist for me? Little ol' me?" "Shut up."

Ary, this was very long and hardly made any sense, so I apologize, but I had the time of my life writing all of this down for you. Did I actually answer your question? I have no idea! But I definitely did something, so... tada!!

Brainrot successfully encouraged, this going to be all I can think about for the rest of the day...

[adamwatchesmovies]

Mary, Queen of Scots (2018)

Yes, it’d be nice if Mary, Queen of Scots was a completely accurate portrayal of history but is that what audiences want? Personally, I'll take an entertaining movie over a faithful one any day. When we look at the film's performances and sumptuous costumes, when we consider the drama and the engaging story, this film is undeniably succesful.

In 1561, Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan), the Catholic Queen of Scotland, returns to her home country to claim her late husband's throne, currently held by her half-brother, the Earl of Moray (James McArdle). Her cousin, Elizabeth (Margot Robbie), is the Protestant Queen of England. This makes them - at least in the eyes of every man in their respective courts - enemies. As Elizabeth is unmarried and childless, Mary is the one who would replace her as Queen of England should she pass. This prompts conspirators on both sides to begin making their moves.

Something about these costume dramas makes for great villains. David Tennant plays John Knox, a Protestant cleric so fanatic about his hatred you can’t wait for him to get thrown in an oubliette or better yet, beheaded. But at least he’s got the courtesy of being openly hostile towards Mary. Nearly everyone surrounding the young queen is conspiring to raise an army against her, trying to weasel their way into marrying her to gain power, scheming up a way to knock down her allies to undermine her position or a greasy troll. You want Mary to find a way to navigate the complex maze of politics and egos set before her. In a time when women had no power or authority, she’s someone with a voice. The sooner she adapts to this nest of vipers, the better. Of course, once she begins getting her hands dirty, she's likely to get stuck in the mud, unable to escape...

There’s a unique sort of relationship between Mary and Elizabeth that develops. It’s one of the film’s most compelling elements. As women of authority, they have a lot in common but the circumstances of the time have forced them into antagonism. They have sympathy for each other but only to an extent. It’s an amusing fantasy. The real-life queens never saw each other this way. In fact, they never met face to face. The film finds a way to sort of but not really tiptoe around this fact. Historians will disagree but I say writer Beau Willimon made the right choice because it hightens the engaging story and drama. I have more mixed feelings about the casting of Adrian Lester as Lord Thomas Randolph and of Gemma Chan as Elizabeth Hardwick. They’re fine in their roles. Randolph is an amusing character with much to do but the two of them stand out like sore thumbs because… well… they were white in real life. I’m not a director. I don't know anything about making movies but since Josie Rourke told the world “I was really clear, I would not direct an all-white period drama” maybe she should’ve selected a different project?

Mary, Queen of Scots isn’t quite explosive enough to make you forgive its looser-than-needed interpretation of history. As a movie, however, there’s a lot to like here. It looks good, the drama is consistently intriguing and the characters are compelling. I'm sure there's another adaptation of this story out there that's better. If there isn't yet, there will be some day. Until then, I recommend Mary Queen of Scots. (June 7, 2019)

[nyarlathotep-thecrawlingchaos]

Hi everyone yes I am a whovian I just refrain from talking about it because I could write entire BOOKS about it but I cannot resist this time so apologies in advance but

I absolutely get the erotic undertones perceived here, I have perceived them too, but

BUT—

please let me apologize for my disorganized psychological rant in advance but this scene has stuck with me since I first saw it when I was a wee teenager and seeing it again now I have to get this out

I always saw this scene as so, so superbly acted in a different way. It's one of my favorite scenes in the entire series.

The centuries-old alien that thinks he's seen everything, talking with a living personification of infinity.

He admits to both being somewhat offended by Jack's existence while also being incredibly fascinated by it.

Admits to it, yes, but he truly shows it. Tennant plays that so, so well. Cautious but intrigued. Disapproving yet charmed. Jack is still human, with all the lovely quirks and flaws that come with it, despite being a "fixed point in time." There's a degree or pity coming from Ten in regards to Jack's predicament, but also a degree of envy. Because Ten knows that he'll die one day. Even though he'll regenerate, the person he is now will become a memory, while Jack, to his knowledge at this point, will continue to exist indefinitely.

Ten doesn't like it. At least, he doesn't want to like it. But at the same time, even if he isn't aware of it, he wants that for himself, and he can't help but like it. He can't help but acknowledge and admire Jack's resilience—a human, a creature that should be mortal and understand his own mortality, who has been presented with the conundrum of infinity, something that should make any mortal being go insane—but in that silly way humans always do, Jack managed to find a way to adapt to it, simply living in the moment.

Countless beings have stared into the abyss, into the face of infinity, and gone mad. But Jack Harkness, a simple human, just learned to shrug it off and casually accept it.

Jack Harkness has an intimate understanding and acceptance of the concept of infinity that even the Doctor can't quite fathom, and seeing a being as simple as a human able to accept and embrace it is both annoying and enlightening. He loves it and he hates it and he admires it and he abhors it.

And FUCK if Tennant doesn't manage to show absolutely ALL of that emotion in this ONE single scene in the span of only a few minutes.

I remember this specific scene every time I see the scene where Ten says he's not ready to go right before his regeneration.

He was the first Doctor to say that. When his life as Ten flashed before his eyes, I'm sure he saw Jack several times. I'm sure he thought about the human who didn't have to go. Who didn't have the option to go. And in that moment, his envy outweighed his pity and disapproval and his "prejudice," and it humbled him more than anything in his entire ten lifetimes ever had before.

This one scene between him and Jack, coupled with that moment before his regeneration, just emotionally destroys me. I've seen David Tennant in so many other things at this point, but his portrayal of Ten is fucking ART and I will ALWAYS adore him for it.

david tennant's acting choices in utopia haunt me

[cyan-casasbuenas]

Analysis of Hamlet: Act 3, Scene 4

Act 3, Scene 4 - The Closet Scene

For this assignment, I have chosen Act 3, Scene 4, the "Closet Scene" from Shakespeare's Hamlet. This scene is crucial because it shows a heated argument between Hamlet and his mother, Queen Gertrude. I picked this scene because it's dramatic and reveals much about their relationship. It’s less famous than the "to be or not to be" soliloquy, but it offers rich material for analysis due to its emotional intensity and character development.

Hamlet talks to Gertrude in her room in this scene. He is very upset about her marriage to Claudius, his uncle. Shakespeare uses powerful language here. For example, Hamlet says, "You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife, / And (would it were not so) you are my mother" (Act 3, Scene 4). This shows Hamlet's anger and disappointment. The language creates a tense mood, with Hamlet showing his frustration and Gertrude feeling defensive and confused. The scene becomes more chaotic when Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius.

Shakespeare’s use of language in this scene is masterful. Hamlet’s dialogue is filled with vivid imagery and intense emotion. He uses solid metaphors and sharp words to express his disapproval and pain. For example, when Hamlet speaks about his father’s death and his mother’s quick remarriage, he uses words like “frailty” to describe Gertrude’s actions, showing his deep sense of betrayal. This scene also reveals Hamlet’s complex feelings towards his mother – a mix of love, disappointment, and anger.

I watched the Royal Shakespeare Company's production with David Tennant as Hamlet. Tennant's Hamlet is intense and emotional. In this version, the scene is theatrical. The close-up shots and lighting make Gertrude's room feel small and tense. Tennant's movements and facial expressions clearly show Hamlet's anger and desperation. Penny Downie's Gertrude shows fear and confusion, adding depth to her character.

Yes, the interpretation agrees with my reading of the scene. Tennant’s portrayal of Hamlet as emotionally intense and deeply troubled matches my understanding of Hamlet's character from the text. His physicality and expressions convey the turmoil and desperation I imagined while reading.

The staging revealed additional layers to the scene. The use of lighting and close-up shots enhances the intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere of Gertrude's chambers. Tennant's physicality, including sudden movements and intense expressions, highlights Hamlet's emotional volatility and desperation. The portrayal of Gertrude's fear and confusion adds depth to her character, making her more than just a passive recipient of Hamlet's wrath. The staging also brings out the underlying tension and the dramatic stakes of the scene.

Tennant’s Hamlet is portrayed with anger, frustration, and desperation. His physical movements, facial expressions, and vocal intensity bring Hamlet’s emotional state to life. Penny Downie's Gertrude is initially defensive but gradually more fearful and confused, adding layers to her character.

The stage effectively creates a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere. The close-up shots and lighting focus on the characters' faces, emphasizing their emotions. The set design of Gertrude's chambers, with its opulent yet confining decor, reflects the entrapment both characters feel.

This interpretation portrays Hamlet as intensely emotional and deeply troubled. Tennant's Hamlet is a mix of anger, frustration, and desperation, showing his intellectual depth and emotional vulnerability. This portrayal aligns with Hamlet's indecisive and moody character but hints at his cleverness and profound internal conflict.

This scene shows Hamlet's complicated feelings and troubled relationship with his mother. Reading and watching the scene helped me understand it better. The performance added new layers to the text, making the emotions and conflicts more vivid. This assignment shows that experiencing theater through reading and watching can provide a deeper appreciation of its artistry.

[denimbex1986]

'...Russell T. Davies, who revived the series in 2005, returns as showrunner with four specials before the fourteenth season officially kicks off next year. David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprised their roles as The Doctor and Donna Nobel, with Ncuti Gatwa becoming the Fifteenth Doctor at the end of the 60th Anniversary Special. The Christmas Special, "The Church on Ruby Road," will introduce his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.

Screen Rant interviewed Ncuti Gatwa about playing the Fifteenth Doctor in the Doctor Who specials "The Giggle" and "The Church on Ruby Road." He explained how he emulated certain mannerisms of Tennant while making The Doctor his own by focusing on his more mischievous side....

You got to work with David Tennant in "The Giggle". Did you want to incorporate any aspects of his performance or any other past Doctors into your portrayal of the character?

Ncuti Gatwa: Yes, all of them. And then I realized that my brain was going to explode, but I tried to do that. I had this whole theory of being like, Right, I'm going to take something from every single Doctor, and I'll find my own thing, and it'll all match. But I was like, you just have to do you Ncuti, you just have to do you. But with David, yes, there were a little aspect of his performance and the intricacies of his physicality. I wanted to try just the tiniest, tiniest percentage, try and emulate.

Because 15 has literally just popped out his shoulder. So he's being birthed from this Doctor in a way that we haven't seen before. And so there were little things that I wanted to continue on with, certainly just for Christmas, certainly. And then he'll find a bit more of his own physicality as he goes on. Because he has to get used to that body very quickly. He doesn't have that classic episode where he's trying to figure out his new body and is slightly like half-drunk sort of thing.

He arrives, and there's a God villain, a villain God in front of him and, also 14 is still here. People are [here], also this bi-generation. Lots of things are going on at the moment, so he has to find his feet very, very quickly. And so yeah, to help me with that, I was like, I'm going to steal a little bit of what David's doing. I feel like it'll makes sense.

When you were working with David Tennant, did he kind of pass on any words of wisdom to you about playing the Doctor or any of the other past Doctors, did they kind of give you any advice on taking on this role?

Ncuti Gatwa: Certainly not with playing the role, but they told me to enjoy it. To enjoy it. This is the maddest time of my life. It's going to be the maddest time of my life. It's going to be the biggest rollercoaster of my life, but it's going to be the best time as well. And so, throughout all the madness, all the chaos, and the peak in the interest in you and all that kind of stuff.

Just remember, at the core of it, it's fun. This is a very fun show, and it's important to have fun with it. And I now learning to take that advice on board. Season one I couldn't quite because I just felt I needed to get it right. I was like, I have to get this right, and I have to be perfect! But now those nerves are settled, and now I just enjoy it.'

[talltree-writes]

I Didn’t Mean to Fall // Ineffable Husbands

Gabriel and Beelzebub try to pit Aziraphale and Crowley against each other by revealing some old information. 

Genre: fluff, a little angst, f2l, 

Pairing: Aziraphale/Crowley (Ineffable Husbands) 

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2.2k

Author’s Note: This has been sitting in my docs since a few months after the show came out. I think I was going to try to write it all out in a formal style, but I like this better, honestly. There are most certainly many fics with some of these same tropes, but I just really like them. I have not read the book (yet!!), so if something is wrong in regards to the written canon, I’m very sorry. 

-Basically Gabriel has seen what’s going on  and he’s here to sow discord for C/A

-Aziraphale is in his bookshop organizing his shelf of first edition poetry books

-In comes gabriel, smug little grin on his face

-Obviously he startles Zira because baby boy is no longer under Heaven’s thumb and doesn’t expect a visit from the archangel 

-“Aziraphale! So good to see you.”

-Zira just frowns at him because he knows the opposite to be true

-Gabriel just goes on

-He’s here to stir up trouble

-“Listen, why don’t we talk in the back, we have some private things to discuss”

-He grips Zira’s shoulder a little to hard in order to tell him it’s non-negotiable

-They get to the back and the smirk becomes a hard grin

-“I hear you and the demon Crowley have been getting pretty cozy”

-Zira, stunned, can only think ‘We successfully hid our friendship for 6000 years and they only find out once we no longer work for them?’

-But he says

-“Crowley is a friend, yes” 

-There’s no point in hiding it, after all, both Gabe and Beezlebub saw them at that air base

-Gabriel’s smile falters for a split second

-He wasn’t expecting that

-But he can work with it

-“A friend, really?” 

-He levels a gaze at the other angel 

-Zira’s not about to admit it right then and there,

-So he looks at Gabe likes he’s lost it and says yes

-“There have been whispers, Aziraphale, that there is much more between you and the Fallen… that, perhaps, you’re even in love with Crowley” 

-Aziraphale’s heart drops into his stomach

-‘How could he know? He hadn’t told anyone, had never written it down, had never even expressed anything to Crowley?’

-“I am not in love with Crowley.”

-Gabe raises an eyebrow

-“If you say so.”

-He shrugs and starts for the door. 

-But then turns around to look at the barely-concealing-his-shock angel

-“You know, She always intended for you two to be together.”

-Aziraphale became confused. Very few angels had intended mates, it was one of the few things She allowed them to choose for themselves. 

-She usually only had intended mates for...archangels  

-Gabriel took advantage of the moment of confusion 

-“Oh? He hasn’t told you who he was before the fall?” 

-Aziraphale’s mind flashed through all of the times he had brought the subject of the Fall up, and Crowley had gotten a distant look and changed the subject, or said “I didn’t mean to fall” or brushed it off

-Then he thought of the few clues that Crowley had given him over the years. One in particular stook out. Alpha Centauri.

-He hadn’t made the connection when Crowley was screaming it at him (to be fair, they were in quite the stressful situation, and were both focussing on the Antichrist) 

-She wouldn’t have entrusted the creation of an entire system to just any angel 

-Only an archangel would hold that power

-There were only two archangels who fell

-Lucifer, obviously, and…

-Raphael

-Raphael, who was never mentioned again after the fall

-Raphael, who’s loss hurt almost as much as Lucifer’s 

-Raphael, who had never spoken out against Her

-‘I didn’t mean to fall’... 

-Aziraphale’s face lights up with recognition 

-Gabriel sees this

-“I could never figure out why he Fell. Perhaps it was all apart of your beloved ineffable plan”

-Shoots a final grin

-And leaves Zira to his thoughts 

-Meanwhile 

-Unbeknownst to Crowley or Zira, Gabriel had gone to Beezlebub, who was also salty about being shown up by Crowley, and colluded together to throw them off and pit them against each other

-Crowley has a recording of Much Ado about Nothing playing as he reads along

-(He’s trying to surprise Zira with some knowledge and quotes and the last time he’d seen/heard anything pertaining to it was when the bard himself was alive)

-The recording scratches to a stop

-“Crowley…”

-Crowley froze, he hadn’t heard that voice since the Apocalypse that wasn’t

-Feigns nonchalance 

-“Beelzebub! To what do I owe the displeasure?”

-He doesn’t work for Hell anymore-- he doesn’t have to refer to anyone as Lord -unless he wants to 

-“I have heard rumors of you… consorting… with the Angel” 

-Crowley knows exactly what angel they’re talking about 

-(obviously, it’s his angel)

-“Which angel would that be exactly? I’m told Heaven has a whole host of them.”

-“The angel Aziraphale, of course.”

-“Oh that angel! No, I’m afraid we see each other as little as possible. Really only meet to discuss our mutual operative”

-“Are you denying that you see each other every day?” 

-Crowley didn’t know how or why they kept an eye on them. He thought that they would keep even less surveillance on them as they were no longer agents of Heaven or Hell. Apparently he was wrong

-“Our mutual operative has been having issues lately. We’ve been discussing, at length, whether or not the operative is worth keeping on either side. The goody-two shoes, of course, thinks we should, since the guy is such an imbecile that he maintains a perfect level of good and evil. I, obviously, no longer see the point in it, as we no longer work for either side. The sooner we dismiss him, the sooner we can go our separate ways.” 

-It hurts to refer to his angel as anything other than absolutely wonderful or to even pretend that every moment he spends with Zira wasn’t the most fulfilling thing in his life since… well, since he became a demon. 

-Beelzebub, knowing the truth, doesn’t buy it. 

-“Drop the act, traitor. Both sides know of your little friendship. I just thought you should know that the angel is being informed of your… former self as we speak.” 

-Crowley’s brain, and therefore, his mouth, stopped working

-He had spent so long attempting to keep his former identity concealed for so long. 

-He had never met his intended mate, and even though he knew he loved Aziraphale, he didn’t know whether or not his meeting Zira was apart of the Ineffable Plan, or just superb luck

-Then, he realized something Beelzebub said

-“Have you been in contact with the other side?”

-Beelzebub goes silent. Crowley is afraid he had disconnected the conversation

-He forged on anyway 

-“You have, haven’t you? I’d wager you’ve been in contact with the head halo himself. Tell me, have you told Gabriel of your former identity? I’m sure he’d love to hear that his intended is not only fallen, but, in fact, the prince of hell, themself.”

-When there was no response, instead the voices from the play filtering through his speakers, he knew the other demon had heard him. And he was definitely scared.

-Nonetheless, Crowley was also terrified. If Aziraphale knew, it could change how the angel thinks of him. An archangel? Fallen? It was practically unheard of. Sure, Lucifer himself had fallen, but no other Archangel had uttered any kind of alliance to their brother.

-His own falling had been a separate, private affair. He had approached God Herself (back when God still held audiences with her children instead of sending them straight to the Metatron), and innocently brought his questions before her. When he could bring himself to think about the occasion, he thought he recalled an air of regret and sadness in Her throne room. Almost as if She didn’t want to make him fall. Though, he supposed She’d be loathe to see any  of her creations become her enemies.

-Truth be told, he’d never understood why he fell. His questions had never been drastic, and not nearly to the extent She allowed Lucifer’s to get to. But perhaps any questions were grounds to fall after Lucifer’s rebellion

-At any rate, he had to get to the bookshop to explain everything to Aziraphale. His musings on Her decisions could wait until his next drunken pity party 

-He grabbed his jacket and miracles himself into the Bentley

-He speeds his way through London to the Soho-based bookshop. The lights on the first floor were dark, and for a second, he thought that Zira was out and about. 

-He parks around the corner anyway and got out to walk to the front door. He had no idea if Gabriel was still there

-He got his answer when he spotted the front door open. He went back around the corner and peeked to see a smug looking Gabriel step out of the shop

-Figuring both sides already knew, and they therefore had nothing to lose, he approached his former brother

-“Gabe! What a coincidence to run into you! I assume you’ve just come from telling Aziraphale my former identity. I’m sure you can imagine how grateful I am for sharing an incredibly personal piece of information with someone else without my permission. But how could I return the favor? Hmm… Did you ever meet your intended?”

-Gabriel froze

-Crowley continues

-“No, I suppose you didn’t. After all, your ceremony came after the Fall. Suppose they had to cancel it, then. Must have sucked, knowing your mate fell, but not knowing who they were. Almost as much as never knowing who your mate was in the first place. I, of course, knew, because I told them. But you already know this, y’know, since you were supposed to tell mine. Now that you’ve revealed information that was truly none of your business, I shall return the favor. I assume neither Michael, nor Uriel, have been ballsy enough to tell you who your mate is.”

-He didn’t receive an answer, but continued anyway.

-“You are familiar, of course, with our mutual companion, Beelzebub.”

-Silence

-“I’m sure you’ll be pleased to finally know who your mate is. Now if you would please fuck off and stay out of our lives, we won’t meddle in the matters of heaven and hell- especially your love lives.” 

-He pushes past his former brother into the shop. 

-“Angel?”

-No response 

-He heads into the back 

-“Angel?”

-He finds Aziraphale sitting, pensively staring at the wall 

-“...Angel…?”

-“Is it true?”

-Crowley knew what he was talking about, there was no use beating around the bush 

-“Yes”

-“Why wouldn’t you tell me? Things could have been so much different. Were you ever going to tell me?”

-Aziraphale looks up with a pained look 

-Crowley takes a deep breath 

-“Eventually… when I accepted what happened.”

-“It’s been 6000 years! Didn’t you think I deserved to know I was your intended?!”

-That stopped Crowley in his tracks. 

-“You- you’re my intended?” 

-His eyes are blown wide with shock

-Now Zira is confused

-“Yes… I thought that’s what we were talking about. You didn’t know either?”

-“Angel… I thought we were talking about me. I never found out who my intended was. I mean, I had hoped it was you, but I was never sure.” 

-“How did Gabriel know?”

-“He was assigned to tell you.”

-Zira’s face scrunched up.

-“I can’t imagine Gabriel being the deliverer of such happy news.”

-“He wasn’t always such an emotionless prick. I’m afraid losing one’s intended in the Fall is rather jarring to an angel. And a demon, to be honest. Beelzebub hasn’t been the same since they fell.”

-“Were they someone’s intended?” 

-“Believe it or not, they were Gabriel’s. Obviously, their name wasn’t Beelzebub, but Anabiel and Gabriel were supposed to be very happy together, in fact every archangel was very happy with their intended until they fell. Only Lucifer, Gabriel and myself were left to have our intended ceremonies.”

-Aziraphale got a thoughtful look 

-“Don’t you think it’s odd that half of every intended couple fell?”

-Crowley shrugged

-“I’ve been thinking about it for years, and I can’t come up with anything concrete.” 

-Zira muses for a second. 

-“It’s not worth thinking about, Angel. It all depends on several hypotheticals of what was happening in Her brain this whole time. Something neither of us are privy to.”

-“No, I suppose you’re right, my dear. Besides, I think other matters are slightly more pressing.” 

-Crowley raised an eyebrow at his angel

-Who rose 

-“What matters, Angel?”

-“The matter of our relationship, my dear, and how it progresses from here.”

-“...Oh”

-Soft BoiTM becomes super anxious 

-“Of course, if you would like to remain friends, that is okay. I do vaguely remember some archangels who kept their relationships platonic, and if that is what you wish, I will gladly-”

-Crowley stands up quite quickly and hugs his angel 

-“Aziraphale, I would like nothing more than to create a life with you, together as mates. Romantic mates.” 

-When Aziraphale’s smile lit up the entire room (literally, he was allowing some of his ethereal form to slip through the veil), Crowley had to shield his eyes

-But when the light dimmed (with a sheepish look from the still very excited Aziraphale), Crowley allowed a genuine smile to alight onto his face

-Now, here’s the thing about Crowley and smiling

-Aziraphale can count on two hands the amount of times he has seen a genuine smile when Crowley was sober

-He smirked, or scowled, sometimes he would let a grin pass

-But rarely would he truly, genuinely, smile

-But this was the best one Zira had ever seen in all of his 6000+ years

[shakespearean-fish]

I finished watching last night and I have...thoughts

Kevin Kline was 43 here (the other two Hamlets I've seen in full so far are David Tennant, 38, and Kenneth Branagh, 36), but his characterization actually feels very youthful to me. the impulsiveness is mixed with diffidence, the anger and suspicion with open-heartedness. it's easy to see this Hamlet as the quieter son of a forceful father whom he idolized but doesn't much resemble.

also, he's very visibly in tears at multiple points throughout the play, and I think this is an interesting choice. let the man cry! he's having a hard time!

Hamlet appears to be genuinely rather delighted by the gravedigger and enjoying the opportunity to banter with him, which I found endearing.

Ophelia becomes annoying, but I think that unfortunately is an easy trap for Ophelias to fall into. I liked the seeming portrayal of Laertes as a "big man on campus" jock and a foil to Hamlet the nerd.

the film ends with six guys carrying away Hamlet's body; the last shot is of them walking on toward the vanishing point. this is another interesting choice. it is also somewhat accidentally funny, because Hamlet's arms are awkwardly hanging down limp and I just kept thinking that it would be difficult for an actor in that position not to start corpsing.

in the interest of full disclosure. yes. I did come out of this with a crush on 43-year-old Kevin Kline. I Just Think He's Neat

you can watch the whole thing on the Internet Archive.

I'm watching the 1990 Kevin Kline Hamlet and in the bit where Hamlet is with Gertrude in the bedroom and he's comparing her two husbands, his example for Claudius is a locket she's wearing and his example for Old Hamlet is a locket that he turns out to have been wearing underneath his shirt and takes off. I've never seen it done that way before and it's making me slightly insane

[twistedtummies2]

Ele-May-ntary - Number 6

Welcome to Ele-May-ntary! All throughout the month of May, I’ve been counting down my Top 31 Favorite Portrayals of Sherlock Holmes, from movies, television, radio, and even video games! Last time, we spoke of the Russian actor, Vasily Livanov, who’s portrayal of Holmes crossed international boundaries to become a success. Today, we’ll be discussing a Holmes a little closer to home and current sensibilities. Number 6 is…Robert Downey, Jr.

“I…Am…Iron Holmes! DADA-DADA-DADA-DA-DADA-DA!” Sorry. Couldn’t resist. XD ANYWAY…to many people Robert Downey, Jr. will forever be known as perhaps the most definitive portrayal of the Marvel superhero Iron Man, but – even as he was tackling such enemies as the God of Mischief and…um…Jeff Bridges and Mickey Rourke, I guess - Downey Jr. was also cracking cases in a steampunk-inspired rough-and-tumble Victorian London. Directed by Guy Ritchie, Downey Jr.’s Holmes films seem to be slightly polarizing. MOST people seem to like them, but I know a few people that don’t: some dislike them for their more action-adventure orientation, some dislike them because of the choice of popular actors for the roles, some dislike them because of the way it fiddles with the “classic” Holmes style, and some dislike them because of the humor they feature. Oh, yes. Because…(points to ALL THE HOLMES TAKES I’VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE)…absolutely NONE of that has ever been attempted in the past. :P Personally, not only do I like the Guy Ritchie films, I LOVE them. I’d actually say that the twin pictures make for either my second or third favorite take on the Holmes universe, as a whole, ever made. Having said that, you’re probably wondering now why he’s only at sixth place, if that is so. Well, I’ll get to that in a minute: first, let’s focus on the positives. As I said before, both of these movies are more geared towards action-adventure than clue-sniffing crime-busting: in both cases, we know who the villains are, and it’s not long till we know what they want and why. The real mystery is figuring out how they plan to achieve their aims. Still, both films give Holmes plenty of time to use his whole arsenal of tricks: he fights plenty, sure, but he also uses his deductive reasoning to pick out details others would miss, and wears a variety of honestly often pretty good disguises. Holmes’ disguises in many versions are pretty transparent, but MOST of Sherlock Stark’s outfits are actually pretty convincing. (Most of them, lest we forget his drag outfit in “Game of Shadows.”) This is almost ironic, because Downey Jr. is one of the funniest takes on Holmes out there: half-insane, obsessive, quirky, and going to extreme lengths just to stave off boredom. He’s so reclusive he’ll lock himself away in total darkness for days at a time, and he’s always looking for something to occupy his mind. With his Bohemian sense of apparel and insufferably arrogant demeanor, he infuriates almost everybody around him – Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Inspector Lestrade, the list goes on – but you know that, at the end of the day, he’ll get the job done, and his heart is still in the right place. Downey Jr. is helped immensely by his supporting cast: Jude Law is my favorite Watson, Jared Harris my favorite Moriarty, Paul Anderson my favorite Sebastian Moran, and various other characters are all among my favorite takes as well. Even some of the original characters featured, such as the main antagonist of the first movie, Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong in my favorite of his performances), are really fun and interesting figures. I love the style of these movies, I love Hans Zimmer’s musical score, I love their sense of humor and tension…so how come, again, this Holmes doesn’t at least make my Top 5? Well, to put it simply…as much as I adore Downey Jr. as Holmes, I’m always kind of aware of the actor behind the character. True, I suppose there are other characters who have a similar issue – I certainly can’t miss Matt Frewer, Tom Baker, John Barrymore, and several others I’ve mentioned in the past when I see them in the role – but with Downey Jr., the issue is a bit different. It’s a bit like whenever I see, for example, David Tennant or Daniel Radcliffe in something: to me, David Tennant simply IS the 10th Doctor from “Doctor Who.” And Radcliffe simply IS Harry Potter. Anytime I see them in (almost) ANYTHING else, all I can see is the 10th Doctor or Harry Potter, and it’s incredibly distracting. It’s one thing to be distracted by the actor, but it’s a whole other issue to be distracted by an actor’s CHARACTER, if that makes sense. That’s the kind of relationship I have with Downey Jr. a lot of the time: I just so identify him as Iron Man now that it’s hard for me to get that out of my head, no matter HOW good his performance is. And it IS a great performance – heck, alongside Iron Man, Holmes is the next character I think of with the man, and he’s equally grand in both roles. But something about the performance he gives, mixed with that familiar face, just leads to me seeing Iron Man as Holmes, rather than seeing Sherlock Holmes or even RDJ as Sherlock Holmes. It’s just a weird quirk of my own mind, and it sadly does keep Downey Jr. out of the top five…but only just. On that note, tomorrow we move into the Top 5! Who will be next? Check in and find out!

[bewareofchris]

Nostalgia and the Doctor

I’m not particularly well known for being a bit Doctor Who fan so lets get a few base Doctor Who judgements out of the way so that anyone who might not agree with these Christopher Truths can leave now:

- Doctor Who is by far not nearly as awe-inspiring as the fans might try to sell it.  I love it and I try to get everyone to watch it with me but I’m also very honest and very upfront about it.  Most of the solutions to the issues are silly.  Most of the problems are a little silly.  In fact, for the first 3/4 episodes you watch, regardless of where you start, there’s a good deal of silliness but you will find yourself, absolutely with no warning, unable to stop because you love the Doctor so stupidly you have no control over it.

- I started with David Tennant/the 10th Doctor and I loved him violently and remembered him with utmost fondness and considered him my favorite and would have killed a man for him.  I judged the success and failures of all other Doctors by him until I rewatched the New Who.

- 10′s like 4-part victory lap at the end of his tenure had moments that broke my heart so deeply I still haven’t ever rewatched them.  So fuck you David Tennant and your saddest face.

- I’ve never seen Christopher Eccelston’s Doctor and don’t have any plans to.  I don’t particularly care for that actor and I’ll take no criticism.

- Rose is my least favorite companion out of the seasons I’ve watched except maybe 13′s.

- 11 is probably my favorite story/Doctor/Companions and that’s got a lot to do with how bright and sweet and idiotic he was as the Doctor.  I found his boundless, unrestrained enthusiasm for everything good and bad to be absolutely beautiful.  Also, I adore River Song.

- I absolutely adore River Song

- I unashamedly love how horny on main everyone was for 11 and how horrified he always seemed to be by it (unless he wasn’t)

- Peter Capaldi/12 was too good for this world and doesn’t get enough credit.  Also he got fucked by the storylines they gave him really limiting his ability to be his own thing.  Did anyone in the world want that many two part episodes?  No.  No we didn’t.  Sometimes we just want to travel into a little boy’s cupboard to fight nightmares ok.

- Listen, the episode with the thing that may or may not be a monster, was an amazing fucking episode and I loved every minute.

- Donna was 10′s best Companion.

- Bill deserved better.

- Chris Chibnall was hands down the worst possible person to have been selected to run the show.  Based solely off of viewing Broadchurch with it’s meandering pacing and it’s beautifully morose tone, there was 0 chance he could have pulled off the vibe required to captain a campy sci-fi family show.

- Its absolutely criminal what they did Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor

And most importantly, the thing that has brought me to making this post, Russell T Davies belongs in the past.  The entire New Who fandom/success can certainly extend it’s heartfelt thanks to the man and his successful reinvigoration of the show.  We can forever be grateful that he brought together something that was truly captivating, that drew in audiences and allowed us to have these many years of adventures with the various incarnations of the Doctor.

What we should not do is get caught in the trap of thinking that resurrecting this out of date dinosaur is going to save the show now.  Russel T Davies’ Who and Torchwood are both a product of their time and are best viewed through the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia.  

We were all younger then, all of us captivated by this thing that was new and vibrant (well, I mean, Davies’ who had quality issues because of its limited budget but you get my drift).  We were taken in by 10′s severity, his grandiosity, his arrogance, his curiosity and most importantly that scene when he fell through the open window like a partially cooked spaghetti noodle.  (Or maybe that was just me.)  

David Tennant has something about his acting and his portrayal of the Doctor (and really anyone) that just draws you in.  His charm undercuts everything he does so that even when you really kind of shouldn’t like him, you’re still kind of rooting for him and that might have been the most important factor of 10/New Who’s success.

That does not mean, however, that if we take the same set up and the same vibe and the same stories and the same writers and the same showrunner that we had then and ask them to fix the dreary, over-serious, righteous nonsense of Chibnall’s joyless time as showrunner that it will work out how we want.

Every article I’ve seen is praising this choice to call Davies back, like he’s the one that’s going to finally get us back to where we were all happy and excited to see new episodes instead of turning off the holiday special 5 times and still not having finished it (yes, i’m talking about me) but I don’t buy it.  Davies belongs in the past, where we can go and watch his episodes and think about how much simpler life was then because that’s how nostalgia works.

If Who is going to succeed, and it’s going to really resonate with the current audience and pull in younger fans, it has to do so by moving forward.  By finding someone who loves Who, and understands that TV shows (especially ones involving Time Lords who regenerate into new faces every so often) have to move forward with the present time.  You need a show runner that is younger, that has new ideas, that has the energy and the drive to make something truly imaginative and truly great.

Nostalgia is cheap, and it never lasts.  

[alaffy]

Rating the Doctors – Pt. 2

6.  3rd Doctor.  The reason why the 3rd Doctor is so high is not just because of Pertwee’s performance (although it is quite good).  It’s also because so much of the Doctor who mythos is either introduced or, at least, solidified in his era.  Strong stories, strong characters really helped bolster this character.

5.  11th Doctor.  I think that Matt Smith had a really big challenge following in David Tennant’s footsteps.  I could see people dislike him just because he was the “replacement.”  I think he knocked it out of the park during his first episode.  With most Doctors, it takes me a couple episodes (or more) to get used to them.  That was not the case with Matt Smith.  By the end of his first episode, I could totally see him as the Doctor.  I can’t even say that about Tennant (although that may have something to do with him being unconscious for half his debut).

4.  12th Doctor.  Peter Capaldi is the only person that I knew would be a great Doctor even before I even saw him in a single scene.  And there are so many moments that show just how much this man deserved to be the Doctor. But the one scene for me that stands out for me is the speech from the Zygon Inversion.  Capaldi deserved an Emmy for that performance.

3.  10th Doctor.  My favorite Doctor of the modern era.  And I think he set the standard for New Who.  I think what I liked about Tennant’s performance is that it was, to me, a performance in a performance.  Yes, the Doctor acted like a hyper puppy…until he didn’t.  Until something so serious happens and suddenly you are faced with the Time Lord.  And you realize, the puppy thing?  All an act.  The true 10th Doctor is tired, unforgiving, and for feels no remorse if you die (if you’re the villain).  Honestly, looking at his actions, he is probably the most dangerous of all the Doctors.

2.  2nd Doctor.  So, here’s the thing.  William Hartnell is the 1st Doctor.  If not for his performance, I don’t think the show would’ve lasted.  That being said, I think it’s with Patrick Troughton’s portrayal that we truly got The Doctor.  I think that the role of the Doctor changed throughout the 1st Doctor’s time and I think there are things about the Doctor we never saw in the 1st Doctor.  I guess the best way to put it is that, while Hartnell’s time set up a lot of the characteristics of the Doctor, it was Troughton who finished it.  And I think it is the 2nd Doctor that has been the template since.

1.  4th Doctor.  A lot of times a person’s favorite Doctor is the one you grew up with. It’s true for me as well (although he had already left the part by the time I started watching).  He had good stories, good companions, and Tom Baker was great in this role.  And I do think there is something about Tom Baker’s Doctor that made him worth watching for seven seasons.  As much as I like all the incarnations of the Doctors, or can at least find something good about all of them, I don’t know if I could do seven seasons with some of them. It’s hard to put in words, there’s just something about this Doctor that makes him stand out.  

[alatabouleau]

Ok, I think I blew this one out of proportion a bit. Though I still stand behind this metaphor, it should be mentioned that queer folks are not the only ones who experience this and not even the ones who get the least. And you also see this in good Omens: In the script book for the first season, Neil Gaiman only wrote in two places suggestions for the cast: He wrote "I would not make Adam and Eve white" and that the angels and demons should be casted through all ethnicities and gender. Well, we got the "Adam and Eve" bit. But for the angels? We've got four angels beside Aziraphale in season 1 from which two are played by women and one is black. Congratulations. Also, casting the only Asian person as the embodiment of pollution, Idk...? This was also something I hoped for season 2, that they'd follow Gaiman's vision here a bit more. And yet, beside Uriel, every other Angels is still white, though props for casting a disabled person. And with the new cast of Beelzebub, we now have someone with Asian background (beside other) in a leading role. Yet it still feels... icky to me that Eric, the "disposable demon" and only other not-white-demon beside Beelzebub this season, is the punching ball of everyone around him. Like, watching all the white demons constantly bullying that one brown demon, it's... unfortunate. But at least in the human world, it gets more diverse with Nina Sosanya in a leading role and the shop-owners's meeting being the hot pot of ethnic and gender diversity with a Chinese woman, an Armenian woman, a black man and one nonbinary person. And still, I'm happy for what we have and yet, they could do better in this department regarding leading roles imo. And I hope it now becomes unarguably clear that all of this is a problem I have with AMAZON not with the writers of the show, who were probably not responsible for casting and all of that. Because Amazon has those really weird diversity-rules (and for anyone who's able to speak German, I'd highly recommend Wolfgang Schmitt's video regarding the topic) and they don't exist because Amazon cares so much. No, they exist so that they can appear inclusive and use this for their profit. They don't care about the quality, only about the quantity, yet have rules about how you are supposed to present certain topics that feel quite restrictive for the arts. Yet somewhow, Good Omens already managed to sneak past them since Michael Sheen and David Tennant get to kiss each other without one of them being openly queer. Lots of actors get to portray, as angels and demons, rather genderless entities without identifying as such themselves. And yes, I think that's a good thing, because being an actor means that portray something you are not. So many gay actors successfully portrayed straight people and Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal made a heartbreaking portrayal of two men in love in still one of my favourite movies. So, that's something that makes Good Omens pretty queer since the fundamental idea of being queer is that identity is fluid. It's not written in stone. It's about playing with presentation. And well, that's something Good Omens manages at least to some degree despite Amazon's policy.

(4): (SPOILERS) And now you’re going to say “Oh, it makes sense for their arcs, you just have to be patient, in season 3, we’ll get all this.” and that’s my point. We want there to be a good reason for it in-universe. Because we want this representation, and we want it to be good because that’s all we have and from what we get so little. We thank and praise production teams continuously for doing the bare minimum because we are used of getting crumbs. We are the unfavoured children working at a factory. Because of something that sets us apart, we watch the other kids getting wholesome meals three times a day while we are used to search under the table for their scraps. We are conditioned to think that this is normal, it’s how it’s always been and we’re already grateful that we haven’t been kicked out of the house yet. But some children didn’t accept this. Some stood up and demanded better which gave us all the courage to follow their example. This was when the factory owner realised something… so, they changed the plan. They started to give us our own meal. And we were so happy of finally being fed, cried tears of joy over our first portion, that we didn’t understand that they still haven’t given us the same as the other children. Our meals contain roughly everything you need to survive. Nothing more. And they didn’t give it to us because they cared about us. Maybe the cooks of the meals do, but the owner allows this because like this, we get more productive. More food means more strength which means more workforce, more profit in their factory. And when the parents of the other children, sponsors of the factory complain about us getting food, he can show them that there’s still a difference. In this perfidious scheme of them, we’ll never know how little they give us unless someone else comes along, another cook who takes up the courage to give us the same meal as the others. Until that moment, we never would have known how it feels to have a full stomach for once. But once you do, it’s hard, almost unbearable to go back getting fed the bare minimum. And this is where the revolution would begin, or at least an uproar. Not against the cooks, not against the other children at the factory, but the owner. Because for a moment, think about what this season could have been. You don’t have to go long, you just have to look up fan-media working with what we had in the spoilers. There is no written-in-stone need for Crowley to live in his car and not with Aziraphale. There is no logical reason why they must still dance around each other and not being an item. This season’s story doesn’t follow up with what the season 1 finale implied.

[stimuliandthelike]

much ado about nothing (2011)

or i guess in other words, the one with tennant and tate. this is for future reference but also for u @jules1144​. 

a shakespeare play set up like Mamma Mia with a low budget... i am in love

apparently the way to make me fall in love with you is by being beatrice

our first impression of beatrice is witty-wine-aunt and our first impression of benedick is crazy-area-man-makes-dramatic-entrance-in-a-poorly-decorated-golf-cart and i think thats very cash money of them

“my deeeaarrR Lady Disdain... *high pitched voice* are yoU YET LIVING?” he looks so SMUG and she looks so UNBOTHERED this is such a PERFECT PORTRAYAL OF THEIR CHARACTERS

beatrice: i had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he LOoOooOOVes mE

benedick: :DDDDD

(oh u poor unaware souls)

theyre having so much FUN insulting each other i fucking love them so MUCH 7th grade me did not appreciate the absolute GOLD MINE this play was

don john: im not of many words- benedick: and yet he never shuts the fuck up!!!!!!

claudio: no i pray thee speak in sober judgement  benedick: ....why...?

benedick is me everytime one of my friends talk to me about someone theyre falling for. just: “i noTeD HeR nOT BuT i LoOKeD At HEr”. tbt when i thought i was ace

bro... bro let me... get real close to your face bro.... let me be centimeters away from your neck and talk about my evil plans bro... bro... i cannot hide what i am bro... whats that bro?... im gay bro...

BEATRICE IN A SUIT!!!!! BEATRICE IN A SUIT!!! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD BEATRICE IN A SUIT!!!!! look i had so much respect for this woman already but it increases by the second i am in awe. if i had any doubts about being gay before they have been erased. also. the correct way to communicate with your family members is definitely 100% to swing your leg over a chair and rant about marriage and mock love when really you are scared nobody will ever love u. the sunglasses,,,,, the tie,,,, the quality

okay i know the costume design is absolutely fucking brilliant here and that david tennant dressed as a slutty peppa pig is absolutely a Topic of Interest but everytime they insult each other i gain a year in my life. google how do you cope when the love of your life tears you apart with her wit and her ability to destroy people with it. 

also shes dancing AND roasting the fuck out of him. the power she has.

benedick.exe has stopped working

look. LOOK. claudio has no rights. but. BUT. the earrings and the necklace and the shirt are *chefs kiss*. yet another genius move by the costume department.

mr tennant he is moping. mr tennant u r breaking him.

therapy with Dad. 

benedick: beatrice insulted me!!! she called me a JESTER :((( don pedro externally: uhh... what would give her that idea... done pedro internally: beatrice... will she be my wife? if she will not be my wife.. i will set her up with the man she claims to loathe.. ah...yes.. perfect.. i am cupid

also i knew hes a good actor but shit he portrays benedick so well. like. im in awe of ur acting sir. i’ve never laughed so much in my life while also simultaneously feeling so sad

just talking about the woman you definitely arent falling in love with with your dad friend... just talkin about how the woman you are definitely not in love with is so poisonous and horrible.... just talking about how much you despise the woman you are falling in love with...

JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DESPISE THE WOMAN YOU ARE FALLING IN LOVE WITH AS THE WOMAN YOU DEFINITELY DESPISE (NOT LOVE!!!!) CATCHES YOU IN THE ACT

side note: he yelp

therapy with Dad part 2

just talking to your dad friend about how you are definitely not in love with aforementioned man who is definitely not in love with you either. beatrice marry me

oh fuck dad friend has asked to marry me. abort abort abort abort abort..eat glass??

the best way to deal with the fact that beatrice wont marry you is to start pairing her up with the man she doesnt know she loves yet. deal with rejection by spreading love!!!! what a dude

oh how ~dramatic~ i wonder what will happen-

I DEFINITELY DIDN’T WONDER THIS WILL HAPPEN

the Vibes. the absolute vibes. a shakespeare character in shorts and a superman (thankyou @deathly-shipper​) t shirt and sunglasses pining and monologuing away on the floor as he sips some beer from a funky straw... ingenious

benedick dissing claudio and talking about how much hes changed after falling in love but really its also foreshadowing how much benedick will change after he falls in love so hes dissing HIMSELF too... poetic cinema

the sheer chaoticness of this scene is so iconic where do i begin. three friends of benedick get together to try to get him with beatrice and spend the whole scene pretending they cannot see him while benedick blatantly runs around the place tripping over his feet as claudio waxes poetic about how much pain beatrice is going through because of her love... and how perfeCt poor benedick is for her.. how ingenious.. how despicable... i love them.

IS HE GOING TO DANCE

YES HE ABSOLUTELY IS

he will TWIRL 

he will also CRASH INTO TRAYS OF FOOD 

the piNinG

beATRICE LOVES ME??? mE??? she..loves.. ME???

beatrice: :| benedick: :DDDD

A Series of Unfortunate Events (catherine tate i am in love with you)

the fact that they shoot this like some 80s diner scene... cinematic... maybe i am gay. catherine tate playing beatrice is my gay awakening

what is even going on in this one. i have nothing but respect for all the actors involved. mayhaps when i am not afraid of tumblr crashing i will do a part 2

[coffee-stained-brain]

I don’t know if it was intentional or not (and frankly, I really don’t care), but David Tennant’s portrayal of Crowley is such a beautiful, honest reflection of what it is like to have adhd. He managed to capture the good parts and the hard parts and all the ways the good parts and the hard parts overlap, and I am just really thankful for it. 

Some of the ways, in no particular order, that I recognized little bits of my own experience through his performance:

Given the choice between self-preservation and showing the tiniest amount of affection to someone he loves, self-preservation loses every time. 

For the most part, he is way toned down when anyone other than Aziraphale is around. When he’s with Aziraphale, he doesn’t have to work quite so hard at manually willing his brain to function “normally”. He trusts Aziraphale. He is comfortable around Aziraphale. 

The few notable exceptions the the above are when he is overwhelmed and caught off guard. In those moments, his symptoms come through a little more, regardless of who is around. 

He has a huge, impending deadline with literal life or death stakes. He is stressed and overwhelmed trying to come up with a plan. The next time we see him, he is watching a movie. 

He fell for asking questions. I cannot adequately convey how deeply, how viscerally, I relate to that. 

He loves so fiercely that he tends to push those very same people away. He knows that he has this tendency. He has no idea how to control it. 

He doesn’t like the damp. 

He is sensitive to bright lights. (Okay, I know the sunglasses really have so much more significance than that, but the first time I saw the series, I didn’t catch any of the deeper significance because I just thought, yep, he wants some semblance of control over the brightness of his environment, that checks out. Yeah, Hell is dark, but it is also filled with florescent lights, and those things hurt!)

He talks to himself all the time. He argues with himself. He questions himself. He is often not particularly kind to himself. 

His brain moves faster than his mouth. 

He either does not sleep at all, or he sleeps for the better part of a century. There is very little in between. 

He appears to survive solely on coffee and alcohol. 

He is overly imaginative. 

He is overly compassionate. 

He uses analogies to make sense of the world, but he isn’t always great at communicating those analogies. 

He arrives at the church, yes, but he arrives late and apologizing. 

He has 2 functional items in his apartment, plus a smattering of things that make him happy. He literally does not bother with anything else-- like paint for the walls, or a second place to sit.

He often zeroes in on a seemingly inconsequential background detail and can’t let it go. 

He is often overwhelmed by a sudden flood of emotion, and he’s not great at hiding it. When he is happy, he is so happy. When he is grumpy, everyone knows. When he is hurting, the hurt is right there at the surface, whether he wants it there or not. 

Despite his stress and inability to plan adequately, he’s actually really great in a crisis. 

His signature move is pausing time. 

He is what you might call an out-of-the-box thinker, except he doesn’t mean to be, he just can’t see the box and so he doesn’t really understand how everyone else knows where the lines are. 

He very often toes the line of what humanity tolerates as socially acceptable. He is just far enough away from socially acceptable for people to be aware that he’s different, but just close enough that nobody can really put their finger on why. 

Despite everything, he seems to have a tiny inkling of faith.