Spacehamster’s Blog

Got back a fortnight ago from a trip to Perth - still busy with that write up. In the meanwhile…

Wil Wheaton is one of my favourite writers - he has that witty and humorous touch that I thoroughly enjoy reading. And I think this passage from his latest article pretty much sums up my viewpoint on geekdom in general -

Sci-Fi geeks are rather critical of the things we profess to love so much, and we will set our phasers from “mock” to “kill” pretty quickly if a director or studio makes us unhappy. We want to see our favorite novels adapted into films, but if the filmmakers deviate even the slightest bit from some minute detail that occupied one paragraph in the original work, you can bet we’ll be unleashing a 15,000 word polemic on the Internet faster than you can say “Han shoots first.”

It’s one of the reasons why I stopped reading the ‘New Series’ section of the Outpost Gallifrey forums. I enjoy constructive criticism of the show - after all, New Who isn’t perfect and it does have it’s faults. But ever since the show was reborn in 2005, criticism from some fans of the show crossed the line into abuse of the writers, the production team, and the actors as well. It’s that type of negative unconstructive carping that put me off Who fandom altogether.

For instance, I’m not too happy with certain aspects of Torchwood. Such as the occasional unprofessional behaviour of members of the team (Cyberwoman/Girlfriend in the basement, an illicit love affair?), and would prefer more explanation on how Torchwood interfaces with other Government Agencies. But the acting is just great, and the premises are very good. It’s just the execution I occasionally have difficulties with. But I wouldn’t go so far as other Who fans to say I’m ‘disillusioned’ or that I hate the show. Maybe my measured response is just another aspect of adult maturity.

I still love Doctor Who - I always will. But I don’t hold have any great affection for Who fandom anymore. Doctor Who is going through a Golden Age at the moment that hasn’t been seen since the end of the Seventies. Instead of appreciating it, most hardcore Who fans are discontent because the show wasn’t brought back the way they wanted it.