Oh irony

[jedi_of_urth]

First off: for anyone who hasn't seen it (and watches Doctor Who) go and read shinyopals very academic discussion of why she (and I) dislike the idea of Moffat run Doctor Who so much. Much better put together than most anything I write on the subject because I haven't found it in my to present the calm rational reasons why I HATE IT SO MUCH.

Two: While reading that I was reminded of this gem of Moffat's:
"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.’”

Which I find vastly amusing while I'm working on NaNoWriMo. Because part of the reason I'm such a slow writer is that I spend so much time thinking of why the characters would act in such a way as to make the story I have in mind to happen. And you know what, I consider the part of em that goes "Oh screw it, just make stuff happen" is the lame writer part of me. And if things do just randomly happen, at least the effects of those things have to play a big factor.

I mean, random encounters in roleplaying are all well and good, but they should really tie into a larger plot, even if said plot/theme is just how chaotic the world is.

Steven Moffat everyone, making *me* look like a detail concerned writer.

Comments

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That was a pretty awesome post.

Two: While reading that I was reminded of this gem of Moffat's:
"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.’”

Oh, yes. Even if you discounted everything else he's said and done, that quote alone would make me intensely disinterested in watching anything he writes.

[jedi_of_urth]

It really is in many ways a summation of everything that's wrong with his writing. Of course his characterization is shoddy and his stories disconnected with other things, he doesn't think they're important. His characters look into the deep dark holes and he doesn't think about why, because apparently who cares for why, just do it.

And really, why I don't think I'd get over my issues by having him in charge. I have no problem with obsessively controlling executive producers or even making the plot super important, I still think JMS is the greatest TV writer ever. But Moffat doesn't take it seriously in any way.

[pncwho.livejournal.com]

He does not take characterization seriously, and that's why his stories, and his version of Doctor Who, fail. If you don't care about the characters -- if they're just a bunch of one-dimensional folks spouting lines to forward the story -- then you won't care to keep watching the show.

[pinksonia.livejournal.com]

I came late to the whole DW party and didn't really understand all the Moffat hate (I'll admit as an archaeologist I get a kick out for future archaeology). Now I get it. How could any writer seriously have this view:

"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.’”

Why would you even become a writer if you have that little respect for the craft?

[jedi_of_urth]

Why would you even become a writer if you have that little respect for the craft?

I know, this line just condesnsed half wrong with Moffar as a writer down to one sentence. The rest of stems from the clingy/needy comments or his personality. But why would you write if you don't want to deal with characters?