Yes, yes, and yes ... how is your Silly Season going? Before you know it, why, the big holiday itself will be here, and then we'll all be turning our attention toward the impending New Year, am I right? Where, oh where did all of 2023 go? How (oh how) did it vanish so quickly? When (oh when) might all of this ever slow down so that each of us can experience each and every moment with the time and clarity it deserves? As they say, time flies -- and it does, indeed, fly, so you young whippersnappers had better take note before you're as old and your back hurts as much as me -- and I do very much encourage each of you to find something special to fill up a small piece of every day you're given on this Big Blue Marble. Eventually, it'll all be gone ... and where's the fun in that?
Ok, ok, and ok ... enough with that, and let's get down to the business of the Daily Grindhouse, shall we?
Look: those of you slipping me messages to prompt some commentary on the wide, wide world of Doctor Who and it's apparent descent into some (cough cough) political storytelling? In short, I'm not sure I'll really have much to say on that topic. Over the tenure of Jodie Whittaker, it became reasonably clear that the BBC and the showrunner(s) were far more interested in taking Who in a direction wherein it appeared as if we'd be getting political commentary all of the time. When agendas become so openly invasion, I've almost always tuned out; so I kinda/sorta made the conscious decision to avoid Russell T. Davies' return to the franchise as I kinda/sorta figured that's why he was coming back ... namely to begin the official indoctrination efforts that have corroded a good deal of what constitutes BBC programming these days. When I followed a bit of the discussion online just after the first of these three special dropped, I knew right away that this kind of storytelling just didn't interest me ... so I haven't watched them at all. As I said (or as I implied), such efforts don't interest me. Not at all. Not in the slightest. Not even remotely.
So in fairness to the show, how can I comment on it if I'm not watching?
Oh, I might make the occasional observation -- some of which might even be fueled by things I've read and/or heard and/or decided all on my own -- but I've never sought to become one of those voices who is read by others merely because I write something and post it in this space. (Granted, I'm thrilled to have readers, so don't get me wrong.) I just feel like if I'm not watching it then I cannot effectively analyze what it's doing on any substantive level, so I'll leave that to those who are in the midst of what appears to be some death struggle. If I change mind and watch an episode or two -- and this would likely only be to effective comment on the controversies of the day -- then you'll all know. I post it LOUD AND PROUD as they say (snicker snicker), but -- for now -- I'll leave it at that.
Now ... of course, it saddens me any time an Intellectual Property appears to be reaching Who's present state. The exodus of viewers, however, even at this point comes as no surprise as its audience has been dwindling for quite awhile now. Unlike others, I suspect that there may be a good number of reasons -- not just the introduction of some social themes -- and some of them are probably related to the age of the franchise. If we're approaching the end or -- far more likely -- some kind of hiatus (just look at how much time has elapsed between production of the last few seasons, and you'll see what I mean), then hopefully whatever emerges with its return might represent the best and brightest storytelling possible ... not just some intellectual cash grab hoping to win 'brownie points' with Generation Z. (Erm ... are they even watching?)
So after that mini-diatribe, let's agree to leave it at that, ok? LGBTWho is what it is.
But that's not why the great majority of you are here today. Many of you are hoping to be cast on an all-new voyage into genre-specific trivia, and -- as always -- I am to please! Here's the link you're looking for ...
As always, thanks for reading ... thanks for sharing ... thanks for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ