A_M_Swallow
Regular
8 June 2005
Russell Davies is co-executive producer and head writer.
{quote}
Russell T Davies talks about sci fi, Saturdays, and season two.
In the latest issue of SFX Magazine, Davies talks about the tone of the series, and making it fit the Saturday line-up.
"I can't yet see us doing a hard sci-fi episode. The essence of [an early Saturday slot] is to keep it simple. Which doesn't mean dumb. Look at [Dalek] – it's completely pure and simple, and because of that, massively strong, and then underneath that simplicity is a whole storm of complex emotions and ideas. But the important thing on Saturdays is to shout the headline. Dalek! Dickens! Blitz! Big Brother! A headline shouting 'Interesting Exploration of Temporal Physics!' isn't gonna work the same way.
"We need to hold on to that new audience and not take them for granted. Let's face it, if ITV introduce a Saturday episode of Coronation Street, and that's not such a mad idea, then we're in trouble. So we've got to keep it strong and clean, emphasise the drama above the sci fi. Feel free to disagree, of course. Feel free to disagree and yet get these viewing figures, ha ha!"
He also talks about season two, and what we can expect.
"Expect the 'same old mix' of stories for Series 2, some darker, some lighter. Some traditional – although if anything, the traditional stories are BBC Drama's least favourite, but I love them, so I'm gonna keep them in there. We're keeping the same mix of singles and two-parters, that seems to work. To be blunt, this show is a success, and it's our job to maintain that success, not wander away from it.
"Fans might study each episode 20 times, and therefore demand something different, but ordinary viewers are still getting used to this concept – not just the show, but its slot, its feel, its place in their viewing habits – and there is a genuine strength in consolidating that...[there's one story in Series 2] that could be pure horror....and there's one episode which could be very, very funny. And a brand new Doctor will automatically make it a brand new show."
But what of the new Doctor? "David Tennant can do anything! And he will! This is the wonderful legacy of Chris Ecclestion, he's made the part available for and desirable to our finest actors....the clothes will be different, because it'll be David's preferences."
SFX is on sale now.
{quote}
Russell Davies is co-executive producer and head writer.
{quote}
Russell T Davies talks about sci fi, Saturdays, and season two.
In the latest issue of SFX Magazine, Davies talks about the tone of the series, and making it fit the Saturday line-up.
"I can't yet see us doing a hard sci-fi episode. The essence of [an early Saturday slot] is to keep it simple. Which doesn't mean dumb. Look at [Dalek] – it's completely pure and simple, and because of that, massively strong, and then underneath that simplicity is a whole storm of complex emotions and ideas. But the important thing on Saturdays is to shout the headline. Dalek! Dickens! Blitz! Big Brother! A headline shouting 'Interesting Exploration of Temporal Physics!' isn't gonna work the same way.
"We need to hold on to that new audience and not take them for granted. Let's face it, if ITV introduce a Saturday episode of Coronation Street, and that's not such a mad idea, then we're in trouble. So we've got to keep it strong and clean, emphasise the drama above the sci fi. Feel free to disagree, of course. Feel free to disagree and yet get these viewing figures, ha ha!"
He also talks about season two, and what we can expect.
"Expect the 'same old mix' of stories for Series 2, some darker, some lighter. Some traditional – although if anything, the traditional stories are BBC Drama's least favourite, but I love them, so I'm gonna keep them in there. We're keeping the same mix of singles and two-parters, that seems to work. To be blunt, this show is a success, and it's our job to maintain that success, not wander away from it.
"Fans might study each episode 20 times, and therefore demand something different, but ordinary viewers are still getting used to this concept – not just the show, but its slot, its feel, its place in their viewing habits – and there is a genuine strength in consolidating that...[there's one story in Series 2] that could be pure horror....and there's one episode which could be very, very funny. And a brand new Doctor will automatically make it a brand new show."
But what of the new Doctor? "David Tennant can do anything! And he will! This is the wonderful legacy of Chris Ecclestion, he's made the part available for and desirable to our finest actors....the clothes will be different, because it'll be David's preferences."
SFX is on sale now.
{quote}
I guess that means we can't expect it to get better. I like it now, but had hoped that with time, it would develop and be much better. I guess not.
