So Long, 2013 ...

 

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”

― Zora Neale Hurston (1903 - 1960), Their Eyes Were Watching God 

Mama Called the Doctor, and the Doctor Said:

Fantastic?  Allons-y?  Geronimo?

While I feel a 50th anniversary special without Christopher Eccleston is no anniversary special at all (okay, I originally said: wasn't worth watching!), I'll still be tuning in to see what all the fuss is about, and if Billie Piper still mumbles everything she says.

We'll be missin' ya, Chris!  But really, you've already given us the gift of air from your lungs...

What more could we possibly want?

Happy anniversary, Doctor Who!

Edited to add: Yep & yep!  I was right on both accounts ... although, seeing John Hurt in a faux-hawk made it strangely worthwhile.   

 

Edited, edited to add: I've since heard interviews with Billie that mention cold weather being to blame for her tightened lips, possibly causing her to lisp or mumble off and on throughout the series, since they often filmed in cold weather, and she was very obviously never costumed for it, and I just— it makes me even more disenchanted with the film and television industry.  I know, I know here I go blowing something out of proportion, but how could this not speak to a much larger problem?  How is this not an evident symptom of a more encompassing dysfunction?  I strongly believe that neither the crew, nor "the talent" should ever be abused or victims of negligence, period, but especially to the point of damaging a performance, or (on a possibly more disturbing note) achieving the "right" performance, according to ... whomever (think: the treatment of Shelley Duvall in The Shining, or the more recent waterboarding incident shared by actresses Hannah Waddingham and Lena Headley on the Game of Thrones set, or the even more recent shooting, and killing of Halyna Hutchins on Rust).  Running around the streets of South Wales in the middle of the night in a mini skirt, and thin jacket isn't exactly the same thing as literally being killed at work, I'll grant you, but the problems share the same roots as far as I'm concerned.  It does not break-the-bank to value human beings.  Let me say that again: It does not break-the-bank to value human beings, whether that's providing a secure environment on set, or giving a girl a damn parka.  I mean, it can't tremendously affect the suspension of disbelief to see actors wearing seasonally appropriate clothing, can it??  I have thought for decades that this woman was, if not a terrible actress, at the very least subconsciously taking on David Tennent's clenched jaw delivery, when she was really just cold?!  I am livid. 

 

Happy New Year!