The New Companion

[HoopyFrood]

No, I certainly didn't hate it and I actually quite like Catherine Tate. I really didn't expect her to be picked as his next companion though!

I enjoyed how Tate was sarcastic and tetchy towards The Doctor, it was a nice change. But I agree that if she's going to be around for thirteen weeks, there will definitely have to be much character development and less constant sniping and screeching

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by Briareus Delta

I can't understand all the vehement anti-Catherine Tate sentiment i've read today on this thread and others. Surely, there's no denying her acting talent. I agree that RTD & co. will need to develop the character somewhat but i imagine they'll do that anyway. And the Christmas episode wasn't that bad, was it? Was it? *tumbleweed blows across The Chrons*. Ok, it's just me that thought it was ok, then.

It's not so much Tate herself (although I have to admit I find her actual comedy show about as funny as a DIY finger amputation) it's more Donna the character she plays that I cannot stand. Shouty, screechy, stupid, selfish, whiny, aggressive and sarcastic in an oh-so-unfunny way. She ruined the Xmas special for me, and I simply don't think I can take 13 more episodes of her. Donna is like fingernails down a chalk board, and combined with the awful nature of this season's final ep I'm seriously losing interest in whatever RTD serves up next year.

[Adasunshine]

I'm in two minds with this, on the one hand I do absolutely love Catherine Tate as a comedian/comedy actress, on the other, I'm not sure I could do 13 weeks of Donna.

Saying that, Donna was a good character and she too, seemed to understand the Doctor and what he was about, in one episode she got him and managed to bring his temper under control and she was painfully honest with him, I think she'll be good for him and it'll be interesting to watch the sparks fly with her and Martha...

xx

[Gav]

Originally Posted by Adasunshine

Saying that, Donna was a good character and she too, seemed to understand the Doctor and what he was about, in one episode she got him and managed to bring his temper under control and she was painfully honest with him, I think she'll be good for him and it'll be interesting to watch the sparks fly with her and Martha...

xx

Donna was in only in 1 episode.... The Christmas Special

Although I take your point. Watching too women catfighting (probably in mud or baked beans) is the sort of thing Dr Who's new-improved target audience can watch and applaud. I expect it will win a BAFTA next year as well.

[pyan]

To be fair, I think it's a case of "wait and see." You never know, she may surprise everybody.

Originally Posted by Sattrega

The sooner RTD is far away from anything to do with the future of Dr Who, the better IMO

What, you don't like what he's done to drag a moribund, cancelled show back to the point where over nine million people watched it last week? And now you want rid of him because of a decision that we won't even be able to evaluate until next year!
Seems a bit premature ........

[Alienweirdo]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

It's not so much Tate herself (although I have to admit I find her actual comedy show about as funny as a DIY finger amputation) it's more Donna the character she plays that I cannot stand. Shouty, screechy, stupid, selfish, whiny, aggressive and sarcastic in an oh-so-unfunny way. She ruined the Xmas special for me, and I simply don't think I can take 13 more episodes of her. Donna is like fingernails down a chalk board, and combined with the awful nature of this season's final ep I'm seriously losing interest in whatever RTD serves up next year.

Exactly, its the problem that Catherine Tate can only play dim and unpleasant characters, which glorifies this whole uneducated society in which the UK is currently in. Rose was a Chav, but not a stereotypical chav. She was a strong yet unselfish character right from the beginning, and Martha was(/is) intelligent and determined through to the end of the last series. They are nothing like the loud and ignorant Donna.

If the character (and Catherine Tate's acting) developes into a half-decent character with a personallity, then thats fine. Now i've calmed down a bit i intend to start watching the new series with those hopes. If the character dies, even better.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Alienweirdo

If the character (and Catherine Tate's acting) developes into a half-decent character with a personallity, then thats fine.....If the character dies, even better.

So you think it's unlikely, then?

Originally Posted by AW

Exactly, its the problem that Catherine Tate can only play dim and unpleasant characters, which glorifies this whole uneducated society in which the UK is currently in.

Slight correction - that's what she does play - because that's how the scripts are written for her previous roles.

Don't forget the character has already met the Doctor, and, presumably, remembers him. So we won't have to go though all that unbelieving, oh my god the TARDIS is bigger inside than out, I think you're a nutter, time-travel? impossible! stuff that a new companion usually goes through. Plus she won't be under the stress of an abandoned marriage, a lying fiance, and her whole life in apparent ruins this time.

[Lenny]

Now I think this will be quite interesting.

I thought she did well as the guest-companion in the Christmas Special, and methinks it'll be nice to have a companion who isn't head over heels for the Doctor from the word "Go". We might even see her slap him again for going off on one.

T'will be interesting, also, to see how Martha takes it when she rejoins.

[HoopyFrood]

Yeah, she'll certainly be unlike the others...Hear that, RTD, she will not fall in bloody love with him! She won't be afraid to put him in his place when he starts getting all 'Doctory'. And like Pyan says, she won't be under as much stress with her own life this time, I mean I think I'd be quite hysterical and sarcastic if I'd been transported out of my wedding and then faced with a giant spider!

[Jon George]

While I’ll concede that Billie Piper was berated before she took on the role, and then surpassed expectations, Catherine Tate has already demonstrated her limitations in the Christmas episode. The real clue to her inner workings can be found in her dull, cynical eyes. In her so-called comedy show, I gave it a go when it started – I lasted about six minutes without even smiling, and I have a very broad sense of humour – I tried her second series, and lasted about sixty seconds. I shall not be watching the beginning of the next Dr Who series, and will only attempt it if ever recommended by some hard-core fans. If anyone has a spare Tardis that I can use to fast-forward to when she has been expelled from the programme, please get in touch.

Two great stories, Human Nature and Blink, one fantastic possible candidate for companion in Sally Sparrow, and Russell T Davies ruins it all with a spoonful too much of Tate & Spoil.

Besides that, I’m having a rather splendid day …

[PTeppic]

Fundamentally, Catherine appears to want to be taken seriously as an actress, as well as a comedienne. Which means she will hopefully work hard with the material that she's given in the role of Companion. I'm quite willing to give her a chance. Just no whining, Donna, please. (Good observations about her character starting at full speed though.)

So: sweepstake time. How will he find her and get to ask again about whether she wants to join him. End of the Christmas special? The first episode of next a "current Earth" one? Starts already on board with exposition or flash-back for how?

[Dr.Jackson]

I had hoped that there would be a male companion for a change, instead of pandering to the eye-candy brigade (although I don't find Tate that attractive). I don't see why the companions in this day and age need to be female. However, with a bloke in the TARDIS, RTD would probably have cooked up a love interest with that as well! Unconventional and controversial, eh!

I can't understand why, when so many people said that they found Catherine Tate annoying in the Christmas episode, have they gone and brought her back for the whole run of series 4?
I found the character annoying, but had to say that her acting is far better than her comedy. In saying that, most things IMO are better than her comedy.

We can only hope that she becomes less whiny, selfish, etc.... during the run. Either that or Martha comes back, tries to put up with her, gives up and boots her into a supernova!

Knowing what RTD is like with his pop culture references, who wants to start a bet on how long into the series before one of her catchphrases pops up?

[Gav]

However, with a bloke in the TARDIS, RTD would probably have cooked up a love interest with that as well! Unconventional and controversial, eh!

I don't find the concept of a gay chatacter all that unconventional OR controversial. I also have no problem with gay characters at all (I actually like the concept of Capt Jack even if I think the execution is downright stupid), however inserting a gay character for no real reason, if they don't contribute to the story or whatever, is also downright daft.
I also find the idea that female companions are falling in love Dr to be actually quite lazy writing. RTD appears to think that it's somehow adds to the tension I just think he tried it once with Rose (somewhat successfully) and then it fell flat with Martha (am I the only who thinks she is more wooden than a plank?).

This is one of my main problems with RTD. He had good vision but cannot write decent SF for Toffee. He makes an excellent producer as a result but his self-written shows are without a doubt the weakest.

And this is also one of the reasons why I think people are not reacting well to Tate. They see her, they see her previous work (I didn't think the xmas special was any good), they are familiar with RTD's work on Who and they put their head in their hands.

[Alienweirdo]

Originally Posted by Dr.Jackson

Knowing what RTD is like with his pop culture references, who wants to start a bet on how long into the series before one of her catchphrases pops up?

i swear TO GOD that i will [cry/scream/eat my hat/write an angry letter] if that happens...

Originally Posted by pyan

So you think it's unlikely, then?

Yeah, she won't die. TBH, i like the idea of a companion that isnt in love with the Doctor, and can cause some friction.

Originally Posted by pyan

Slight correction - that's what she does play - because that's how the scripts are written for her previous roles.

Noted, i just Don't like her work. As i said, i find her annoying and insulting. i sincerely hope she does prove me wrong, and surpass all expectations like Billie Piper did. i hope Mrs Tate developes into an excellent actress, and therefor restore my interest in the series.

i assume we all do.

[Ice fyre]

Ok Ok joking aside, you may be correct.

Donna was not as bad as Catherene Tates TV show which I just couldnt be bothered with, (I did watch it a fair few times to check but never got into it), she was actually somewhat more subtle than any of her previous comedy.

A lot of folk were horrified when Billie was chosen as the first new assistant so maybe if the script's are of the quality that this season (IMO) lets hope she can surprise us all.

I find her comedy very uncomfortable to watch, myself so I suspect she wont be doing any writing.....I hope.