|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 17, 2016 1:49:52 GMT -5
I'm thinking of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. They had their own continuity. It was part of the appeal of the stories. And TV has embraced telling a season long story instead of "done in ones". Today's TV shows have a tighter continuity than TV shows did when I was a kid. Doctor Who, which has had a couple of hundred writers, has a continuity stretching back 53 years, and it mostly makes sense. The first few years of the show back in the sixties were basically one long ongoing serial, with most adventures leading directly into the next. Never watched Doctor Who so I have no opinion on the scripts. However, hasn't there been about a dozen different actors who played Doctor Who? Kind of disturbs the continuity a bit. |
|
|
|
Post by tingramretro on Aug 17, 2016 1:58:44 GMT -5
Doctor Who, which has had a couple of hundred writers, has a continuity stretching back 53 years, and it mostly makes sense. The first few years of the show back in the sixties were basically one long ongoing serial, with most adventures leading directly into the next. Never watched Doctor Who so I have no opinion on the scripts. However, hasn't there been about a dozen different actors who played Doctor Who? Kind of disturbs the continuity a bit. Uh, no, it doesn't. In fact, the fact that the Doctor ("Doctor Who" is just the name of the show, it's a question rather than a name) is an alien who periodically regenerates into a new man is actually a major part of the ongoing continuity. Do you really not know this? I thought everyone knew the Doctor regenerates, the same way everyone knows Spock is a Vulcan or that Superman has problems with Kryptonite! |
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 17, 2016 2:03:11 GMT -5
Never watched Doctor Who so I have no opinion on the scripts. However, hasn't there been about a dozen different actors who played Doctor Who? Kind of disturbs the continuity a bit. Uh, no, it doesn't. In fact, the fact that the Doctor ("Doctor Who" is just the name of the show, it's a question rather than a name) is an alien who periodically regenerates into a new man is actually a major part of the ongoing continuity. Do you really not know this? I thought everyone knew the Doctor regenerates, the same way everyone knows Spock is a Vulcan or that Superman has problems with Kryptonite! Why act surprised when I told you up front I never watched it? I would think the majority of the world's population doesn't know Doctor Who regenerates |
|
|
|
Post by tingramretro on Aug 17, 2016 2:06:36 GMT -5
Uh, no, it doesn't. In fact, the fact that the Doctor ("Doctor Who" is just the name of the show, it's a question rather than a name) is an alien who periodically regenerates into a new man is actually a major part of the ongoing continuity. Do you really not know this? I thought everyone knew the Doctor regenerates, the same way everyone knows Spock is a Vulcan or that Superman has problems with Kryptonite! Why act surprised when I told you up front I never watched it? I would think the majority of the world's population doesn't know Doctor Who regenerates I think you're probably wrong, there. Doctor Who has been popular all over the world for decades, now. Things like regeneration, the TARDIS and the Daleks are as much a part of the public consciousness in many countries as the other examples I gave relating to Star Trek or Superman. And as I said, his name isn't actually "Doctor Who". |
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 17, 2016 2:09:11 GMT -5
Why act surprised when I told you up front I never watched it? I would think the majority of the world's population doesn't know Doctor Who regenerates I think you're probably wrong, there. Doctor Who has been popular all over the world for decades, now. Things like regeneration, the TARDIS and the Daleks are as much a part of the public consciousness in many countries as the other exampes I gave relating to Star Trek or Superman. And as I said, his name isn't actually "Doctor Who". I'll bow to your expertise on the world knowing about Doctor Who's regeneration. I must have missed the memo |
|
|
|
Post by tingramretro on Aug 17, 2016 2:18:48 GMT -5
I think you're probably wrong, there. Doctor Who has been popular all over the world for decades, now. Things like regeneration, the TARDIS and the Daleks are as much a part of the public consciousness in many countries as the other exampes I gave relating to Star Trek or Superman. And as I said, his name isn't actually "Doctor Who". I'll bow to your expertise on the world knowing about Doctor Who's regeneration. I must have missed the memo Well, it's the world's longest running science fiction series and has been shown in numerous countries since 1964 (it's currently broadcast regularly in well over 50, and the 50th anniversary special in 2013 was broadcast simultaneously in 94 countries across six continents, the largest simulcast in TV history according to Guinness World Records) so I think it may be a bit better known than you imagine. |
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 17, 2016 2:29:45 GMT -5
I'll bow to your expertise on the world knowing about Doctor Who's regeneration. I must have missed the memo Well, it's the world's longest running science fiction series and has been shown in numerous countries since 1964 (it's currently broadcast regularly in well over 50, and the 50th anniversary special in 2013 was broadcast simultaneously in 94 countries across six continents, the largest simulcast in TV history according to Guinness World Records) so I think it may be a bit better known than you imagine. In the States, it is much, much less popular than your part of the world Getting back to continuity, since you say Doctor Who regenerates and has done so a dozen times, then it has a built-in gimmick not to have continuity |
|
|
|
Post by tingramretro on Aug 17, 2016 2:45:41 GMT -5
Well, it's the world's longest running science fiction series and has been shown in numerous countries since 1964 (it's currently broadcast regularly in well over 50, and the 50th anniversary special in 2013 was broadcast simultaneously in 94 countries across six continents, the largest simulcast in TV history according to Guinness World Records) so I think it may be a bit better known than you imagine. In the States, it is much, much less popular than your part of the world Getting back to continuity, since you say Doctor Who regenerates and has done so a dozen times, then it has a built-in gimmick not to have continuity My "part of the world" being pretty much everywhere outside the States, it seems. For some reason, it took America a long time to catch up where Doctor Who is concerned. And no, the concept of regeneration does not mean there's no continuity-just the opposite, in fact. Every Doctor is the same character, with all the memories and experience of all the previous incarnations, just a different outward appearance and surface personality traits. Many of the other characters in the show, several of whom have been recurring for years, are fully aware of this. And because the Doctor is able to travel through time as well as space, in certain circumstances (most of which coincidentally happen around the time of the show's significant anniverseries) he can even run into previous versions of himself. How is that not having continuity? |
|
|
|
Post by Nowhere Man on Aug 17, 2016 6:37:15 GMT -5
Continuity is something that I like when it's used properly and maintained. That said, I wouldn't have a problem if Marvel and DC ditched it given how poorly they maintain it nowadays. I'd be fine with one Batman ongoing being set in the 40's, one in the modern day, one in the future, etc, with no continuity between said titles whatsoever. What I don't like is when Marvel and DC give the pretense of a shared universe, but allow certain creators to ignore it. Remember when Hickman started his Avengers run around the same time Waid started his Hulk run? For reasons that I don't think have ever been explained in universe, Hickman was writing the movie version/Savage Hulk while Waid was writing his smarter, darker version with the ridiculous armor. To my knowledge, the movie Hulk just appeared for no other reason than to reflect...the movie. This is absurd given the fact that the current status quo (current personality, persona, physical form, etc.) should be the most basic thing that should be kept the same across the line.
I've heard it said that the only thing really important, continuity wise, is that Superman is Clark Kent and wears glasses from month to month. It's not even a given that something that simple will be reflected anymore!
|
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 17, 2016 8:13:18 GMT -5
Well, it's the world's longest running science fiction series and has been shown in numerous countries since 1964 (it's currently broadcast regularly in well over 50, and the 50th anniversary special in 2013 was broadcast simultaneously in 94 countries across six continents, the largest simulcast in TV history according to Guinness World Records) so I think it may be a bit better known than you imagine. In the States, it is much, much less popular than your part of the world No, it really isn't. Dr. Who is huge here. My friends love it, my students love it, social media loves it, and there's tons of Dr. Who merchandise in the stores. I generally don't watch TV, but I've absorbed more about Dr. Who from casual chatter than, say, Walking Dead. It really is ubiquitously out there. Which is not to say you're expected to know about it, but I certainly did know the regeneration thing. No. Not at all. The new doctors recall everything from their past lives, and characters from those past lives often catch up with them again. |
|
|
|
Post by DubipR on Aug 17, 2016 11:18:17 GMT -5
Back in my youth and 20s, it was important to me as I wanted natural progression. These days, I don't give a hang.
Only continuity I care about is Love & Rockets and Stray Bullets' history.
|
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 17, 2016 12:16:40 GMT -5
In the States, it is much, much less popular than your part of the world No, it really isn't. Dr. Who is huge here. My friends love it, my students love it, social media loves it, and there's tons of Dr. Who merchandise in the stores. I generally don't watch TV, but I've absorbed more about Dr. Who from casual chatter than, say, Walking Dead. It really is ubiquitously out there. Which is not to say you're expected to know about it, but I certainly did know the regeneration thing. No. Not at all. The new doctors recall everything from their past lives, and characters from those past lives often catch up with them again. That's a very new phenomenon based on the new series which debuted in 2005. The prior Who, at least in the U.S. was largely relegated to playing on local PBS stations. I'm a pretty big SF fan. And have been since the late 70s. I'd never seen an episode of Dr. Who until maybe 7-8 years ago and before that all I could have told you about him is that Tom Baker had a really long scarf. Dr. Who has only entered the U.S. consciousness in any significant way in the last decade or so. Before that he was more fringe than comic books. Which is really what Ish is saying, I believe. There are 7.4 billion people on earth. 1.4 billion of whom live in China. Saying the majority of the world doesn't know Dr. Who regenerates is a pretty damn safe bet. Given the huge numbers of people in the world who are under age 10 it's almost a sure bet. |
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 17, 2016 12:27:45 GMT -5
No, it really isn't. Dr. Who is huge here. My friends love it, my students love it, social media loves it, and there's tons of Dr. Who merchandise in the stores. I generally don't watch TV, but I've absorbed more about Dr. Who from casual chatter than, say, Walking Dead. It really is ubiquitously out there. Which is not to say you're expected to know about it, but I certainly did know the regeneration thing. No. Not at all. The new doctors recall everything from their past lives, and characters from those past lives often catch up with them again. That's a very new phenomenon based on the new series which debuted in 2005. The prior Who, at least in the U.S. was largely relegated to playing on local PBS stations. I'm a pretty big SF fan. And have been since the late 70s. I'd never seen an episode of Dr. Who until maybe 7-8 years ago and before that all I could have told you about him is that Tom Baker had a really long scarf. Dr. Who has only entered the U.S. consciousness in any significant way in the last decade or so. Before that he was more fringe than comic books. Which is really what Ish is saying, I believe. There are 7.4 billion people on earth. 1.4 billion of whom live in China. Saying the majority of the world doesn't know Dr. Who regenerates is a pretty damn safe bet. Given the huge numbers of people in the world who are under age 10 it's almost a sure bet. In the case of this argument, all we have to work on are two testimonials. Ish said he lives in America, and Dr. Who isn't big here. I said I do too, and yes he is (which you also verify). |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 17, 2016 12:48:37 GMT -5
That's a very new phenomenon based on the new series which debuted in 2005. The prior Who, at least in the U.S. was largely relegated to playing on local PBS stations. I'm a pretty big SF fan. And have been since the late 70s. I'd never seen an episode of Dr. Who until maybe 7-8 years ago and before that all I could have told you about him is that Tom Baker had a really long scarf. Dr. Who has only entered the U.S. consciousness in any significant way in the last decade or so. Before that he was more fringe than comic books. Which is really what Ish is saying, I believe. There are 7.4 billion people on earth. 1.4 billion of whom live in China. Saying the majority of the world doesn't know Dr. Who regenerates is a pretty damn safe bet. Given the huge numbers of people in the world who are under age 10 it's almost a sure bet. In the case of this argument, all we have to work on are two testimonials. Ish said he lives in America, and Dr. Who isn't big here. I said I do too, and yes he is (which you also verify). But there are a few things working here. One is...is Dr. Who popular in the U.S.? If you look at Hot Topic and Spencers and you talk to teens and young adults, then the answer is yes. But it's also pretty damn easy to miss it if you aren't looking for it or you don't come in contact with a lot of people under 30. And the popularity is of recent vintage, because I don't think anyone could rationally argue that Who was big in the U.S. prior to the new series starting. The second is...do the majority of the people in the world know that Dr. Who regenerates. Barring some polling, I guess we don't know. But I really don't think it's remotely reasonable to assume the answer is anything but no. |
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 17, 2016 12:53:36 GMT -5
In the case of this argument, all we have to work on are two testimonials. Ish said he lives in America, and Dr. Who isn't big here. I said I do too, and yes he is (which you also verify). But there are a few things working here. One is...is Dr. Who popular in the U.S.? If you look at Hot Topic and Spencers and you talk to teens and young adults, then the answer is yes. But it's also pretty damn easy to miss it if you aren't looking for it or you don't come in contact with a lot of people under 30. And the popularity is of recent vintage, because I don't think anyone could rationally argue that Who was big in the U.S. prior to the new series starting. The second is...do the majority of the people in the world know that Dr. Who regenerates. Barring some polling, I guess we don't know. But I really don't think it's remotely reasonable to assume the answer is anything but no. So the purpose of my testimony is to say that I don't watch Dr. Who and I did know he regenerates. Not claiming everyone necessary does; I'm disputing Ish's implication that everyone doesn't. |
|
