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I have broken Jo Grant

  • Jul. 1st, 2006 at 2:33 AM
pontisbright: pontisbright (Default)
I hadn't watched any Three in literally a decade, not counting The Five Doctors, and reckoned I was slacking on the Jonlove. So I watched The Two Doctors, and continued to slack on the Jonlove because of all the Patlove that was going on (he so utterly steals the entire thing it's almost embarrassing, except no one could possibly complain what with him being Pat, and thus Brilliant). And lo, I was struck by how lovely Jo was with her knicker-flashing, and I didn't mind that she was a bit useless, because she had really good boots that I did envy very much.

I think my first ever encounter with Jo was on some retrospective, where Katy was talking about how she never had her specs on and thus never had a clue what was going on, and I thought, awww. That'd be me, stumbling around after the Doctor, not having my specs on. And she's all girly and perky and has Mick Ronson hair, and how could anyone not think she was cute as a button?

Only then I watched the dvd extras, and there was Katy Manning at some con and I WANTED TO STAB HER.

And now I'm trying to watch The Green Death, and all I can think is I WANT TO STAB YOU.

I think this is why I don't go to conventions. I'm not very good at the whole fiction/reality divide. She is spoilering it, though! I want to look at the maggots, and get hoity about the accents (Prof Clifford is from some suspicious northwesty place, very dodge), and all I can think of is how much I...wish to do something. With knives.

Also, I am not at all feeling the Jonlove. I'm just not getting it. What is the deal with Three? What am I meant to like? He is smug and sort of unconvincing. *cries at failure to be proper old school*

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Comments

[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 01:54 am (UTC)
I'm rather ambivilent about three. I mean, there are times that I really like him, and other times when I just don't really care. But then, I've seen so few of his stories that I don't feel like I can judge him fairly.

Why do you want to ... do things with knives? What did she do that made you realize you have a knife fettish when she's around?
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:07 am (UTC)
You know how some women are the kind of women that other women really really despise, quite instantly? She's one of them. Which is impressive, cos till then, as far as Jo was concerned, I was both fangirling and also quite wanting to go to the pub with her.

On a specific note, she was wearing a quite startling outfit with an amazingly short skirt, with little cutouts in it to emphasise that it was even shorter in places. And shit, the woman has great legs, don't get me wrong: she should work them. But there's that whole 'I'm a certain age yet I have great legs, AND I am at a convention full of sweating fanboys who will like that, woo!' that just smacks of...nasty. And she got into this whole 'toying with the audience' schtick, which involved her getting up out of her seat repeatedly, to show off the great legs, and it all started to feel a bit manipulative - especially as the whole thing she's peddling is the same 'kooky innocent wide-eyed gal' thing, and it just looked sort of, um, cheap. And then she did the same thing at some little 12 year old, and it looked just plain freaky.

She's exactly the same in Lust in Space. It's like she's stuck on Kooky Slutgirl setting, and Three never got round to switching itoff because he thought it would be funny.

I really haven't seen much of him - but none of it is setting me alight, and she is not helping, sadly.
[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:45 am (UTC)
Makes sense. I understand about having an instant dislike for someone. Although I think you're the first I've heard about disliking Katy. I enjoyed her in the audio "The Wormery" very much. She makes a great Iris. However, I can certainly understand how her as a person would turn you off of the character of the third Doctor.

Perhaps if you tried a story with Liz (Inferno perhaps) or one with Sarah (NOT Planet of Spiders). Perhaps without Rose Jo there you might actually like the Doctor!
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:56 am (UTC)
It's tricky, isn't it, knowing how much comes down to companions? I imagine a fair bit of my resistance to Six and Seven has a fairly obvious screechy source (and I have been trying to rehabilitate that one, but, eek, it ain't easy).

I must admit to never having seen a Liz story. I suspect she will reveal that actually, weird Katy-annoyance aside, I think Three is a bit of a santimonious arse. I keep being pleased when it's bits with the Brig being all fussy, and bored when the Doctor does the same thing. Even the Venusian aikido isn't doing it - although i did like the bit where he was trying to forage in some dirt, and you got a nice close-up of his frilly cuffs.

I should not be judgy, though. If I viewed Five purely though 'Four to Doomsday' that would be deeply harsh, after all.
[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 03:09 am (UTC)
I must admit to never having seen a Liz story.

Although she spends much of "Inferno" acting like a alternate version of herself, she's absolutely fab. Plus there's just a sweet hug at the end, that puts to shame any Three/Jo shipping. If I had to ship three with someone it would totally be Liz. Her first story is Spearhead From Space (naturally) and she's wonderful in that too. It's just a pity she was only around for one season. *sigh*

I think Three is a bit of a santimonious arse.

He is, he really is. But then I think that can be said for just about all of the Doctors.

I imagine a fair bit of my resistance to Six and Seven has a fairly obvious screechy source

See, I've always loved Peri, and I think Mel was simply mis-used. She had so much potential and it was totally wasted. But then, so did the character of the sixth Doctor, and any number of companions through the years.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:21 pm (UTC)
Ta for the tips - I shall make some additions to my dvd waitlist!

Of Mel stories, I've only seen Paradise Towers recently, but I really struggle to find redeeming features from her. Bonnie just plays to the back row all the time, and while I understand how that might have worked with the campy panto of the show at the time, it just grates. She's acting in a completely different genre from everyone else. I know that she's meant to be relentlessly eager and perky, but at some point we should sort of like her, shouldn't we? Or at least sympathise with her a bit. And I can't get round her 'performer' approach enough to see her as a rounded character.

But then, as you say, she's hardly the first to have wasted potential.
[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:30 pm (UTC)
I think if the writers had actually taken advantage of the fact that she had a near-photographic memory and that she was a wiz when it came to computers, she might have been a good companion. Alas she just wasn't written well.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:39 pm (UTC)
See, I had no idea of any of that. All I was getting was annoying health freak with a fashion sense which is, quite distressingly, not that dissimilar to what is in Topshop at the moment, and a tendency to be ear-piercingly loud. *sigh* They really did bugger up quite badly with Six and Seven.
[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 03:06 pm (UTC)
See, I had no idea of any of that.

She's really used well in the BBC book "Business Unusual."

All I was getting was annoying health freak with a fashion sense which is, quite distressingly, not that dissimilar to what is in Topshop at the moment,

Which is why I think [livejournal.com profile] samantha2074 requested a Mel fic in which she doesn't scream and there's no mention of carrot juice and exercise for [livejournal.com profile] whofest.

Hopefully, I'll get it finished this weekend. Yay!
[identity profile] frightened.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 4th, 2006 12:27 am (UTC)
Paradise Towers... sure I saw that on UKTV Gold the other month. Isn't that the one where Mel's all "all hell's breaking loose, so I think I'll just randomly go for a swim in the basement accompanied only by the freaky dude who speaks in the third person, because that's not a cliched set-up for carnage and disaster at all ever"?
[identity profile] anne-asta.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:20 am (UTC)
Ahaha, Jo Grant! Love her! Well, love her wardrobe. I'm still lusting after that leather jacket with the belts.

There was a bit of Three on when I was in college. A friend and I used to talk about the episodes, and I pointed out that Katy is something of a two-face: In certain lighting, she's achingly hot, but three seconds later, it's "Oh my God, it's my grandmother!"

Turlough has a run-in with her in "It Really Ties the Universe Together". One wonders how they'd get along ...
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:27 am (UTC)
I was head-over-heels for her in the blue knitted dress and the silver space boots. Shit, the girl knew how to dress. And I still think she is purty: she has a bit of a Sarah Michelle Gellar thing going on: brown eyed and rabbitty and a bit daft. But I can't get my Katy-loathing out of my head enough to just see her as Jo again, grr.

OMG you cannot say things like tat without posting more! I WANT MY CRACKFIC!
[identity profile] taleya.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:43 am (UTC)
Katy Manning is a fucking scary-arse woman. Completely over the top. And third always had this authority figure I'm-better-than-you vibe that shat me up the wall.

I think you're only unforgivable if you don't like Pat & Frazier :)
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:50 am (UTC)
Glad I'm not alone. The woman gave me the Vibes O' Fear. But it isn't just that: Three is in need of a slight kicking too. (Though I am getting narky despite dipping in, and really that is a bit naughty.)

Frazier = Jamie, you mean? (I hope so, or am v confused. Fraser Hines, none of yer fancy foreign 'z' business:P ) I can't fathom anyone not loving the Two 'n' Jamie thing. They are just great. I'm happy to state it isn't even just down to the easy-access boy-in-skirt option, either - cos they're fab whether you think them slashy or not. And even in the absence of Jamie, Two is fabulous. I want ot be that craggy of face when I get old, seriously. He looks great.
[identity profile] taleya.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:54 am (UTC)
They're just great mates offscreen and it really shows onscreen. Plus they randomly adlibbed a lot of their lines (like the "everyone move away...no, not you Jamie" from Tomb) and it really just gave a fantastic chemistry to the whole thing.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:22 pm (UTC)
*nods*

Must watch them more, yes. They are adorable together. 'I'VE LOST HIS FAAAAAAAACE!'
[identity profile] taleya.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 03:12 pm (UTC)
On reflectin, perhaps Turlough ate it.
[identity profile] wishfulaces.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 03:12 am (UTC)
I haven't watched much Three, and I've watched even less in the past ten years, but I actually quite enjoyed him in "Spearhead from Space." He was sheepish, he sang opera in the shower, he stole clothing, and it was actually rather enjoyable.

And I really must rewatch "Inferno" as I recall liking it way back when...
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:24 pm (UTC)
I'm now another two episodes in and am warming to him considerably. I think it was the drag that did it ;)

Inferno sounds like a riot. And that's two recommendations for Spearhead from Space. Bring on the Autons!
[identity profile] wishfulaces.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 2nd, 2006 04:55 am (UTC)
Drag?! Dude! I need to see this one! I have a deep and abiding respect for drag in television. Ahem.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 2nd, 2006 01:13 pm (UTC)
It's a particularly fine example: Jon does make a rather fetching old lady. The best bit is, in close-up you can see he's committed enough to the task to have gone for a nice pink lippy, too.
[identity profile] wishfulaces.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 4th, 2006 03:36 am (UTC)
Finest kind! Sometimes Jon just doesn't get the credit he deserves.
[identity profile] tessavance.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 03:15 am (UTC)
Thank god it's not just me! The character annoyed the hell out of me when I was 4 or 5, but having met her a couple of things here in Australia I'm also getting the stabby pointy-things urge.

I think it's the coy 5-year-old act that really puts me off. It's really unbecoming on anyone over the age of 6.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:26 pm (UTC)
That's it exactly: the little girly thing. La la la I'm so pretty don't ask me any difficult questions please Mr Handsome Man ooh can I sit on your knee? Blech.
[identity profile] gingerelanor.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 08:07 am (UTC)
I really don't like Three very much either. I think it's the voice and the patronising and the silly car that looks like it should be in a musical... and the hair and the patronising, and the upper-class-superiority thing. You can like "old" Who and not like Three.

I LOVE Two. He's almost my favourite.

I quite like Jo. The Green Death was a great story. Gotta love the giant maggots and the Welsh chappy.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:29 pm (UTC)
I quite like Bessie the silly car. It's a bit like the clothes: so ridiculous it sort of moves into a whole new world of ridiculousness and thus gets away with it, somehow. But he is a bit smug, I think, and not in a fun 'hee, I'm so clever, get me!' kind of way.

Two = LOVE.

Green Death is much improved now I'm four episodes in. Maggots, boyo! Fetch Jones the Mop, isn't it!
[identity profile] gingerelanor.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:32 pm (UTC)
I think Three is my least favourite Doctor - despite that though, there are some very touching moments at the very end of Green Death. I won't spoil it for you.

Have they been dive bombed by the giant plastic flies yet? That's funny.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:42 pm (UTC)
Giant flies? Ooh, so much to look forward to! And no panic: I know how it ends. But the hinting bits about that so far have been quite lovely (Katy-hate aside).
[identity profile] gingerelanor.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:44 pm (UTC)
Thinking about it almost makes me want to watch it again now! And maybe fast forward through the Doctor bits.
[identity profile] snowgrouse.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 08:51 am (UTC)
I don't get that much smug off Three for some reason. It's the hippie stuff and taking the piss out of UNIT one's supposed to like, mostly. At least he's got the hippiest stories, surprisingly, in comparison to other Doctors. I quite like The Green Death, don't kill me... *squeaks*

Also, I've come to the conclusion that Knowing About Actors In RL nearly always leads to annoyance and h8. Which is poo. So most of the time I just don't want to know. How I'm going to reconcile this with knowing Colin is lovely and not being able to stand Six is a bit tricky, though.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:32 pm (UTC)
No killing required: am eating my words now I've watched some more. Plus the whole pissing contest the boys are having over Jo is quite hilarious. And maggots! And Welshness! And computers which are made entirely of tape spools!

I think the Colin thing is tricky, because it makes me feel much more sympathetic towards his era, just because it is all quite shit, but not his fault. But yeah, I suspect as a blanket policy avoidance is the way to go. (Except when there are things like commentaries where they all bitch about Waterhouse each other and it's hilarious.)
[identity profile] steph-emu.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 11:30 am (UTC)
I've only seen one Three story (The Claws of Axos) apart from The Five Doctors and I wasn't exactly enthralled. The Master was the best bit of the whole thing, if you ask me. I like Three's frilly cuffs and so forth, but his actual personality's a bit irritating, in my opinion. There was too much sitting around thinking, tapping his thumb on his chin, muttering about something in a superior way every now and then. Nothing wrong with the Doctor being superior, but when Three does it... I just get annoyed. Jo I just found plain annoying too. All legs and no... well, anything else, really. Apart from flashes of underpants. The bits on the DVD with Katy Manning lead me to believe I would also dislike her, as opposed to her character. Still, after only one story it's awefully unfair of me really.

Of course, being irritated by DW companions isn't exactly unusual for me. There are some (or many? Oh, I lose count) I haven't seen, but as a wild generalisation, I prefer the male companions. You get too much shrieking, flaunting and whimpering with females. There are exceptions of course (of whom I have seen less than I've seen of the annoying ones... oh the pain of it all), but in general the males are less annoying to me. Oh, I've just remembered Adric. Well... at least he won't pierce anyone's eardrums.

*Sigh* It's about time we had another male companion.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Jul. 1st, 2006 02:37 pm (UTC)
Well, we have clocked up Jack, Mickey and (arguably) Adam in the space of two seasons, after no male companions since Turlough, so we aren't doing too badly! The girls get characterised a bit randomly sometimes, I think: even hardcore women like Leela and Ace have to 'be in peril and need rescuing' because that's the nature of the show, and some writers are better at keeping that in character than others. If the companions are too capable, there's not enough left for the Doctor to do.

The Master is always the best thing about anything :)