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Joss & RTD.
Some thoughts that have been in my mind recently, partly inspired by this interview with RTD. (MAJOR spoilers for Day 4 of CoE!!!!)
Now there is that famous quote of Joss', about giving fans what they need, not what they want. Does anyone actually know where that comes from? I mean, he *did* actually say that, right?
I think the problem with that quote is that it's very superior, very paternal. 'I know what's best for you, even though it hurts' kinda thing, and (because of various similarities in their story telling styles I suppose) I think that this attitude has, in the fandom hive mind, been transferred to RTD. But I'm not sure that's actually accurate. From this interview (spoilers for CoE), these quotes stood out for me:
"No, to be honest, we don't take fan thinking into consideration. Certainly not with casting, certainly not with script. That's never an issue and never will be, I think."
"As writers the story dictates we go in a certain direction, so we have to follow that direction. We don't sit there deciding how light or how dark something should be. I don't even understand these terms -- literally. When we're talking about the script, the editing, or we're talking about the story, we don't talk about that for a second. We're just honest with the story. "
I said to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hexyhex yesterday that what RTD cares about is telling stories. If people like it - fantastic. If not... well, tough luck. As he says:
"But if you can’t handle drama you shouldn’t watch it. Find something else. Go look at poetry. Poetry’s wonderful."
Yes it's very dismissive, but I have to respect his artistic integrity. It's his story, and he'll stand by it.
ETA: I should maybe point out that I'm perfectly aware that RTD has his limitations as a writer, esp his tendency to go the 'Everything can be fixed by reversing the polarity of the neutron flow' route. The fact that he *didn't* do that in CoE is one of the reasons I like it so much.
ETA: Spoilers in comments.
Now there is that famous quote of Joss', about giving fans what they need, not what they want. Does anyone actually know where that comes from? I mean, he *did* actually say that, right?
I think the problem with that quote is that it's very superior, very paternal. 'I know what's best for you, even though it hurts' kinda thing, and (because of various similarities in their story telling styles I suppose) I think that this attitude has, in the fandom hive mind, been transferred to RTD. But I'm not sure that's actually accurate. From this interview (spoilers for CoE), these quotes stood out for me:
"No, to be honest, we don't take fan thinking into consideration. Certainly not with casting, certainly not with script. That's never an issue and never will be, I think."
"As writers the story dictates we go in a certain direction, so we have to follow that direction. We don't sit there deciding how light or how dark something should be. I don't even understand these terms -- literally. When we're talking about the script, the editing, or we're talking about the story, we don't talk about that for a second. We're just honest with the story. "
I said to
hexyhex yesterday that what RTD cares about is telling stories. If people like it - fantastic. If not... well, tough luck. As he says:"But if you can’t handle drama you shouldn’t watch it. Find something else. Go look at poetry. Poetry’s wonderful."
Yes it's very dismissive, but I have to respect his artistic integrity. It's his story, and he'll stand by it.
ETA: I should maybe point out that I'm perfectly aware that RTD has his limitations as a writer, esp his tendency to go the 'Everything can be fixed by reversing the polarity of the neutron flow' route. The fact that he *didn't* do that in CoE is one of the reasons I like it so much.
ETA: Spoilers in comments.