New companion craziness

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

As you've probably heard, the new companion has been announced. The details are here (along with hints about Amy and Rory's exit). Fandom seems to have done its usual thing with this news, so rather than create another pointless thread asking what we all think of a companion we haven't seen in action yet (hint: the correct answer is "nothing because I haven't seen her in action yet"), I thought I would ask what your current favourite crazy comment has been about the casting of Jenna Louise Coleman.

NOTE: Please do not link to people's blogs or posts or mention their names directly. Feel free to directly quote them though.

Comments

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

"wow, another typical white girl" has to be my favorite reaction so far. Because, on further investigation, I don't think JLC is a "typical white" anyone.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Gotta love the racist assumption that skin color makes someone interesting or boring.

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping she'll be a blue alien or something, so her skin tone is irrelevant on the show anyway. Like it should be relevant in the first place, but I hope that made sense.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Yeah... makes sense. I find the political correctness that is in fact racism (and racism against anyone -- just as offensive to say a black person is interesting because she's black as it is to say a white person is boring because she's white, in my opinion) VERY irritating...

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

Seems like "White" = "typical, boring companion" with certain sects of DW fandom. Which is sad. At this point, I just want the character's history to make sense and not leave me confused half the time, like Amy's did. Don't get me wrong, really enjoy Amy but the wibbly wobbly aggravated me more often than not. Don't get me started on River Song's mess of a timeline!

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had thought she was mixed-race, although I can't remember where I read that or even if I imagined it. Not that it matters in the slightest.

Also (tactless-expression-of-opinion warning) - like Martha was so fucking fascinating.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

(I was sooooooooo thinking that re: Martha...)

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

The people on "Oh No They Didn't" (I won't link it as it will make your blood boil) are OUTRAGED she is white (although we don't know that she definitely is, but whatever).

Also: "Rory slowly became Moffat's Gary Stu and that was no bueno for me." Yeah, remember that time Steven Moffat got wiped from reality and came back as a plastic centurion and saved a woman from a cybernetic headless alien?

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

*snrk* Yeah... Moffat's always doing things like that! :-P

Rory is definitely a flawed individual... He's growing a LOT, which is great, but he really isn't a Gary Stu...

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

When I began searching for my own pictures, I was surprised to find out she had a more Mediterranean look to her. I have no idea what her parents heritage is. I did discover her family has a shop-fitting company in Blackpool, Coleman & Son, so she's the only one who is in show business.

But you're right - it shouldn't matter if she's mixed or not. Which is why I'd really love it if she were in a role which required her to be another skin color or in some level of prosthetics, masking her real self. Then it'd be, "Well, why the hell does it matter what color the actress is? The Googoogaga aliens are purple anyways." Since Moffat won't even give her name, it seems like it would be a huge clue to her character's identity, and it very well could be something alien. Or she's playing a historical figure, like Eight's traveling with Mary Shelley in the BFAs now.

Also (tactless-expression-of-opinion warning) - like Martha was so fucking fascinating.

Martha had the potential to be fascinating. I suspect if Freema'd been white, she would've been in the same short-changed boat, though. RTD didn't seem to care enough about her to write her as anything but the Rebound Girl. Except the Doctor wasn't quite aware she was the Rebound Girl. I didn't dislike her, but she was never given the opportunity to reach any potential she may've had.

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

Not sure about the idea of her being an alien. I do think prosthetics and heavy alien make-up and stuff like that tend to distract the audience and make it harder for the actor to do their job. Someone on a message board somewhere said they'd like her to be like "Chan-tho," to which I thought "good god, please no." I think the job she has ahead of her is difficult enough, making her an alien might complicate it somewhat. Historical figure sounds good, though.

Martha had the potential to be fascinating. I suspect if Freema'd been white, she would've been in the same short-changed boat, though.

I don't dislike Martha either, the problem is I don't really feel anything towards her whatsoever. There's virtually nothing to distinguish her from Rose (or any other companion, for that matter). There's nothing wrong with her, she's just not particularly interesting. She's a good example, I think, of how casting someone of a different race, gender or background than the usual doesn't guarantee the character will be any more interesting. It all ultimately comes down to the writing and the acting, Freema Agyeman being black and Jenna Louise Coleman being (possibly) white has nothing to do with anything.