Meta: Swift musings on the Moffat era

[elisi]

Cautiously opens the door to the meta café a tiny bit...

I have been saying for years now that Moffat has been re-booting the show… Here is how he did it.

Of course this was a sort of backwards re-boot, as it was RTD who brought the show back and in the process transformed it. He came up with the Time War, and we saw the fallout from that mostly in the Tenth Doctor.

However that was clearly not a sustainable way for the show to function – Ten was a hollow shell by the end of his run.

So Moffat began his reboot. It’s easier if we divide it up by Companions, than Doctors, because it’s in the Companions’ roles that we most clearly see how he has progressed things - this is a VERY quick run-through, but I thought it'd be helpful now we stand at the brink of the new:


Ponds (family)
The first project was to look after the Doctor himself. He was a lonely, volatile creature by the end of The End of Time, and the Ponds gave him an intensive course of family therapy. He (re-)learned to trust, and to love and to just be happy. It gave him ties to the world that he had not had since the loss of Gallifrey, and in River a wife with abilities very much like his own; and she had a lifespan long enough to become a genuine partner. The Doctor once more became the Trickster character/wizard he is supposed to be.

Rather than Time Lords, we had The Church of the Silence, and Eleven’s life revolved around a crack in a wall, at the other side of which was Gallifrey…


Clara (home)
Clara was the one who brought back Gallifrey, and was at the heart of the reboot (which is one reason why she was such a complex and highly capable character. She literally is the ur-Companion). This was a long project, and a complicated one, and from the first she was mirrored with the Doctor himself (and would of course in the end get her own TARDIS). She was also intimately tied up with the Time Lords and Gallifrey and the Time War. She was the one who was there when the Doctor saved Gallifrey in The Day of the Doctor and the one who in The Time of the Doctor answered the question, as well as demanding that the Time Lords save the Doctor.

And so Gallifrey was found, and the Doctor got a new lease of life. But these things don’t come cheap. Twelve was in many ways a reboot of the Doctor himself; grouchy and short tempered with humans. Clara – as predicted (see icon, and who she is mirrored with) – stepped into the granddaughter role, smoothing out and helping and becoming generally indispensable. Of course she was also Missy’s pawn; specifically chosen for the Doctor, and Missy heralded the proper return of Gallifrey (as well as being mirrored with Clara - Clara is All The Things). Clara’s death was the starting point for Gallifrey’s actual return, and the Doctor’s atonement. He spent 400 years thinking he had murdered his own kind, and then four and a half billion years punching a path back through to them (although of course he is doing it for Clara. Still. Atonement). Nevertheless, it’s a hard road and one that makes Gallifrey’s return ‘earned’ in a way that would otherwise be hard to justify.

And then – he dies. (Well, if we see a mindwipe as a kind of death.)


River (love)
After that comes the Singing Towers and a night that lasts 24 years… The Doctor emerges from this older, kinder, more melancholy and also exactly what the Doctor should be. River loves him unconditionally, whilst also seeing him clearly, and that kind of intense TLC is what his Ponds were there for, and he gets one last infusion before setting him on his path anew… ♥


Bill (new start)
All of which brings us up to Bill and The Pilot. The show has now been thoroughly, properly, re-booted. And is back exactly where it was in the beginning. The Doctor is a renegade, the Time Lords are mostly stuffy and pompous and the Doctor doesn’t get on with them. The Master/Missy is knocking about somewhere, brewing up something to attract the Doctor’s attention and the Doctor is inviting a new companion along, excited at the possibilities and ready for new adventures.

Comments

[kass]

Oooooh. I really like this way of looking at the Moffat era; thank you!

[elisi]

I could easily write thousands of words on the subject, but a) I don't have time and b) I have already written goodness know how much, so I figured a quick run-through would be better. :)

And it really helps to look at it all in perspective.

[maia]

Yes!!!

But he's not just re-booting, he's RHYMING.


"Everything has its time and everything dies"

"Everything rhymes"


Rhyme = continuous change = continuity

[elisi]

But he's not just re-booting, he's RHYMING.
Ooooh yes! <3333

(Also see my user info quote!)

[st_aurafina]

kass linked this post - I really like this as an overview of the Moffat era. Makes me wonder where he's planning to leave the series when he hands it on.

[elisi]

kass linked this post - I really like this as an overview of the Moffat era.
Thank you! I've seen so many 'I like/dislike a, b or c' that I wanted to get a wider perspective on the whole thing.

Makes me wonder where he's planning to leave the series when he hands it on.
What struck me specifically (and I should have added it) is that someone could come straight from the Classic Show and start with The Pilot and it'd fit seamlessly. (Well, the photo of River would probably be a clue that ~other stuff~ had happened, but overall - same show.)

[nuraicha]

This is a brilliant post, one that makes me nod repeatedly until my head falls off. This is exactly what I like the most about Moffat's era, and why I have almost screamed from the rooftops how classic his Doctors are/start getting. The Pilot made me feel all the wonder that only Classic Who has provided me, and it makes me so excited for this last run. I foresee the most classic series of all the New Who!

PS: would you allow me to quote/reference this on a blog post? Sometimes I write for a Spanish Whovian blog and, well, I'm generally the only one who likes Moffat there. I have been meaning to analyse his run for ages and I think linking and mentioning this would be useful for my argumentation. Thanks in advance!

[elisi]

This is a brilliant post, one that makes me nod repeatedly until my head falls off. This is exactly what I like the most about Moffat's era, and why I have almost screamed from the rooftops how classic his Doctors are/start getting.
:D I have spent years writing about how he's rebooting things (follow the tags), but it's great to see it all coming together properly. Even if I'll be very very sad to see him go. (And it's a funny thing, but I watched from 'Rose' onwards, but when Eleven appeared it was like something clicked. So this is who the Doctor is supposed to be...)

The Pilot made me feel all the wonder that only Classic Who has provided me, and it makes me so excited for this last run. I foresee the most classic series of all the New Who!
I think you are right! *crosses fingers* If my hunch is right (and it's an early one) but it'll be examining what the show is.

PS: would you allow me to quote/reference this on a blog post?
Of course, I would be honoured. Help yourself. :) You might also like this about how Moffat Who *works* (please follow the link to the original post if you want the bigger picture) and this post of mine about the Layers in Moffat Who.

Best show.

[promethia_tenk]

Lol, so remember when people were complaining about how insular the Pond era was and we defended it by saying, well, he needs the therapy and Clara's era will be about opening back up? Hahahah, oops.

Well, ok, I don't think that's wrong. The Twelve/Clara years were a lot more focused on the 'big picture' and the impact on the wider universe with more episodes like the Zygon ones with broader societal implications and then the big question of Gallifrey and its place in the universe.

But these seasons were also even more insular than the Pond ones, I think because the depth and breadth of Clara's mirroring means that in some ways they are a lengthy conversation of the Doctor within himself. So the Pond era is an exploration of who the Doctor is in relation to others and the Twelve era an exploration of his relationship to himself and his past with all the questions of why did he leave Gallifrey? Why does he do what he does? Is he a good man? What does it mean to be the Doctor? Etc., etc.

[elisi]

So the Pond era is an exploration of who the Doctor is in relation to others and the Twelve era an exploration of his relationship to himself and his past with all the questions of why did he leave Gallifrey? Why does he do what he does? Is he a good man? What does it mean to be the Doctor? Etc., etc.
Hmmm. Yes, I like that.

And the Bill era will be about how he relates to his genre?

[promethia_tenk]

And the Bill era will be about how he relates to his genre?
We've had that season. It was called 'Rick and Morty' ; )

[sea_thoughts]

Clara was consistently associated with a bird (as you often pointed out) from her first appearance and I just realised that this reaches its culmination in Heaven Sent with the Doctor telling the story of the bird and the mountain: "Every hundred years a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on the diamond mountain. And when the entire mountain is chiseled away, the first second of eternity will have passed.’ You may think that’s a hell of a long time. Personally, I think that’s a hell of a bird.” Clara only has one second of eternity but she will take it and live in it, like a bird in a cage. But she also graduates to a different, infinite cage, her own TARDIS.

And then – he dies. (Well, if we see a mindwipe as a kind of death.)

It was explicitly equated with death in Donna's case so I certainly think it counts here. I see this as the final part of dealing with Ten's legacy. I've said before that Moff's immediate reaction to Donna's mindwipe was to write a companion who was obviously damaged by having her memory altered and whose ultimate power was to remember the Doctor and the TARDIS back to life. The gaps in Amy's memory were treated as a serious problem that affected her life and her ability to relate to people.

That helped but it wasn't enough. So Moff created the Silence, monsters whose most frightening characteristic was their ability to wipe themselves from people's memories and to alter memory itself. The Silence were eventually defeated (and even became allies) but Donna Noble's 'death' still left a shadow. And so Moffat made the Doctor face what he had done and Clara Oswald stood up to him and said "no, this is my life and I will not let you take away my life" and the Doctor lost Clara instead.

This is why the moment where Bill said "just imagine what it would feel life if someone did this to you" was so powerful. Not only because it had been done to him but because he had done it to a friend and maybe this was the first time he put those two things together. So this is a new beginning because he realises he can't behave in that way any more. He can't ever put someone through that kind of pain because he knows what it's like.

[elisi]

Clara was consistently associated with a bird (as you often pointed out) from her first appearance
'Love is a rebellious bird...'

I just realised that this reaches its culmination in Heaven Sent with the Doctor telling the story of the bird and the mountain
Mmm yes. He even writes 'bird'. (I went back & looked at my review, but I didn't bring it up because that post ended up more like poetry...)

Clara only has one second of eternity but she will take it and live in it, like a bird in a cage. But she also graduates to a different, infinite cage, her own TARDIS.
This is genius!

It was explicitly equated with death in Donna's case so I certainly think it counts here.
IKR? And since Davros keeps going on about how 'one of them will die' clearly it's accurate. After all, what are we without our memories?

I see this as the final part of dealing with Ten's legacy. I've said before that Moff's immediate reaction to Donna's mindwipe was to write a companion who was obviously damaged by having her memory altered and whose ultimate power was to remember the Doctor and the TARDIS back to life. The gaps in Amy's memory were treated as a serious problem that affected her life and her ability to relate to people.
*nods a lot* And I don't think we ever see Eleven do mind wipes? I can't recall any.

That helped but it wasn't enough. So Moff created the Silence, monsters whose most frightening characteristic was their ability to wipe themselves from people's memories and to alter memory itself.
Good point.

And so Moffat made the Doctor face what he had done and Clara Oswald stood up to him and said "no, this is my life and I will not let you take away my life" and the Doctor lost Clara instead.
Still love it SO MUCH!! >:)

So this is a new beginning because he realises he can't behave in that way any more. He can't ever put someone through that kind of pain because he knows what it's like.
And he gets so ANGRY. I love that scene to *pieces*.

ETA: All this is why I kept it so short. Because delving down, just a little, uncovers so much. I could literally write forever. Oh show. <3

(Also apologies for the three million edits.)

[sea_thoughts]

'Love is a rebellious bird...'

Exactly! And also "Be on your guard!"

And since Davros keeps going on about how 'one of them will die' clearly it's accurate. After all, what are we without our memories?

Different, which is what makes Alzheimer's so cruel. And also why River found it so hard to deal with Ten as he had no memories of her or their relationship. No memories means no context; no context means no understanding

"You know when you see a photograph of someone you know, but it's from years before you knew them. It's like they're not quite finished; they're not done yet. Well, yes, the Doctor's here. He came when I called, just like he always does, but not my Doctor..."

"I am the Doctor!"

"Yeah." *looks down* "Someday."

and also

"God, you're hard work when you're young!"

And I don't think we ever see Eleven do mind wipes? I can't recall any.

No, although he does spend the first Christmas special substantially altering Kazran's memories as Kazran watches which isn't exactly a good thing. But no mind wipes. Not with the Silence there to show him how awful it was. *cough*

Still love it SO MUCH!! >:)

I almost cried because I was so anxious about having Donna's fate brought up again. Seeing it happen once was bad enough but to think it would happen AGAIN... and to then have Moff through Clara clearly and explicitly state that mindwiping someone was WRONG, that it was cruel and unacceptable and should never be an option... what a gift. *sigh* Even if Moff had given me nothing else (and he's given me a lot), that would have been enough.

And he gets so ANGRY.

The privileged don't like to be reminded of their privilege. It was a bit like Danny saluting the Doctor and calling him "sir", it was guaranteed to push his buttons because it reminded him of everything he wanted to forget.

(Also apologies for the three million edits.)

No apology necessary. :)

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[elisi]

Woo! Hurrah for the meta café! :D

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

This whole post was very compelling, and it's given me a lot to think about.

[elisi]

Glad to hear it. :)

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

it was RTD who brought the show back and in the process transformed it. He came up with the Time War

Remember when fandom was outraged about Moffat’s ret-conning on the grounds that not committing genocide made the Doctor less heroic… Good times.

She literally is the ur-Companion

S;LJDFL;DSJFLDSKJF legends only.

Intriguing ideas in this post and comments therein! I anticipate having more to say about the structure as the season shapes up. ;D

[elisi]

Remember when fandom was outraged about Moffat’s ret-conning on the grounds that not committing genocide made the Doctor less heroic… Good times.
Pft. He's committed genocide LOTS of times, they are all fools!

S;LJDFL;DSJFLDSKJF legends only.
Q: Why is Clara so special?
A: Because she is!!

Intriguing ideas in this post and comments therein! I anticipate having more to say about the structure as the season shapes up. ;D
Yes, it's very interesting to see where it goes. Because it could go ANYWHERE.

[verdande-mi.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful ♥♥ Thank you sharing. I don't have anything to add, but I echo all of this.

[elisi]

Thank you!

I may delve deeper at a later stage, but I wanted something just for reference. :)

Still though, fuck the Time Lords

[(Anonymous)]

I had forgiven them! I had forgiven the bastards! Forget the Time War and all that. Those sons of bitches destroyed the Tiny Tardis Trio and killed Two, the cutest, most harmless creature in the universe! Whatever did he do to you?!? And I *forgave* them, because they helped Eleven. Oh, I never had any illusions that their motives were purely selfless. But I forgave them, and then they go and do that to Twelve. Screw them.
(end of rant)

Still though, awesome. But the era isn’t over yet! Yes, Time(Lords) can be rewritten, totally rebooting it. But this is Moffat we are talking about, and Twelve is still alive, we can’t know his endgame yet. Even if he’s back to basics (“Pilot”), there’s a whole series left here.
What I’m trying to say is, I think this will also find its own way to be spectacular and IMPORTANT in how the mythos is reshaped and perceived. So even though I agree with your points, I think we will be able to really judge the Moffat era and its intentions only when it’s *over *–not that you shouldn’t write meta in the meantime of course, it’s often prophetic– which is only natural.

Re: Still though, fuck the Time Lords

[(Anonymous)]

I also wanted to add –and I’ve touched on this before, “Small Steps Hero” becomes the focus and all that– that one of the most positive aspects of the era is its weird but brilliant take on epicness. What I mean to say is that even though traditionally epic things do happen often (Rebooting the universe), they rarely feel forced. And there are also many variations and subversions that nonetheless still manage to be interesting –which is not as easy as it sounds:

We have “personalization” of the epic: The grand finale of a series-long arc concerning the deconstruction of the character, a battle across time, and the Doctor’s death, solves the problem of his impending doom very early on, and mostly accomplices and focuses on what poor 11 really needs: get across his stupid brain the simple message of “Stop hating yourself, you idiot. Yes, you are really loved. No, you are not a bad person. You are allowed to have family, you don’t have to be alone”. And he keeps in touch with the Ponds and gets married and everyone is happier than they would have been otherwise.
We have reversal of the epic: We'd been teased for a year with how Clara was special and strange and extraordinary and then in the end, she was a perfectly ordinary girl who *chose* to step forward, be brave, and save her friend. No fate, the choice is hers.
We have defiance against the epic: Just this once, screw the grand tragedy and the horrific decisions and the whole last-of-its-kind mythos: we are saving Gallifrey. Happiness!
We have “offstage” epic: 11 spends 900 years defending a planet for quite epic reasons and it’s his last stand. But most of the focus is given to small moments between characters, not the massive Dalek assaults (see the incredibly moving review by Philip Sandifer)
We have dissection and deconstruction of the epic to the point that it doesn’t really feel so anymore with “Death in Heaven”. And then immediately, a story that by all means should be silly and not really work becomes quite epic with “Last Christmas” (because the universe takes pity, “so it begins”, and it’s beautiful anyway).
We have the epic brought to the real world: Sounds cool, yes, but this is what being immortal would *really* be like.
We have in-and out- of-universe, *conscious* disregard of the epic even when it is *tremendously*epic: “Heaven Sent”/ “Hell Bent”. Gallifrey returns and the Doctor spends 4 billion years refusing to confess and dying and Clara is the centre. But what many people still miss, is that interestingly, under the surface this is still very *traditionally* serious and epic:
The Doctor genuinely believes that the Hybrid is Ashildr/Me, that’s his theory by that point, by Heaven Sent (and he does tell it to her in person in the end). He is not gonna confess it while he’s in the Dial of course, but that has tremendous potential of even more importance.
Because who knows who is asking and what they could use the nearly immortal and ageless, “superb”, and morally dubious woman to do if he is right? What many people overlook, in light of the events of the next episode, is that it really is objectively a dangerous secret; he does after all confess *truthfully* to the Veil that the knowledge of the Hybrid’s reality and the general situation make him afraid, even though he has ulterior motives at the time and totally lacks fucks to give, given his position.
But while this definitely *is* a thing –after all, 12 has no other reason to try and be cryptic about the Hybrid and just say enough to not get killed *before* he remembers the time loop and Cloning Gambit every time- both the narrative and the Doctor mostly ignore this –while it would be so much *easier* to focus on that and !Gallifrey! instead of the whole idea!-impossible-plan-to-save-Clara, everything else becomes a means to an end whether I like it or not.
And I guess we also have “surprise!” –but in a completely fitting way given the story and character arcs– epic: The universe appreciates the sublime Hell 12 endured, your strength and moral integrity, his repentance, the symbolism, and your mutual sacrifices. Have a TARDIS, Clara, go be the Doctor too.

And okay, I’m never saying “epic” ever again.

Re: Still though, fuck the Time Lords

[elisi]

I had forgiven them! I had forgiven the bastards! Forget the Time War and all that. Those sons of bitches destroyed the Tiny Tardis Trio and killed Two, the cutest, most harmless creature in the universe! Whatever did he do to you?!? And I *forgave* them, because they helped Eleven. Oh, I never had any illusions that their motives were purely selfless. But I forgave them, and then they go and do that to Twelve. Screw them.
From Common answers to seemingly simple questions asked about Doctor Who: 'Because Rassilon is a dick.' It sort of covers all of it, really.

What I’m trying to say is, I think this will also find its own way to be spectacular and IMPORTANT in how the mythos is reshaped and perceived. So even though I agree with your points, I think we will be able to really judge the Moffat era and its intentions only when it’s *over *–not that you shouldn’t write meta in the meantime of course, it’s often prophetic– which is only natural.
Oh of course. It ain't over till it's over. But you can step from Seven or Eight and straight to The Pilot and be none the wiser. I have a feeling that whatever happens this season it'll be more in line with plots of old. Gallifrey is back, there is a higher authority. (For better or worse...)