Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Shaw: A Woman Who Wants to Do More Than Pass Test Tubes

[atraphoenix]

Title: Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Shaw: A Woman Who Wants to Do More Than Pass Test Tubes
Author: atraphoenix
Character: Elizabeth 'Liz' Shaw
Fandom: Doctor Who
Spoilers: Series Seven of Doctor Who
Author's Note: A huge thank you to eponymous_rose for being a wonderfully thorough and extremely encouraging beta.

Armed Thug: Don’t you try anything!
Liz: It’s all right, I won’t hurt

Comments

[cosmic_llin]

Yay!! This is fab. Go Liz!!

[elyssadc]

I could not possibly love you more for writing this. Liz was, no IS, a tremendously fantastic character that worked magnificently with both Pertwee and Courtney and has been criminally overlooked. I am slightly in awe of your ability to write such a stunningly accurate and moving meta on just WHY she is so awesome. Bravo.

In fact, the only reason she didn’t end up pot-holing in a miniskirt was because Jon Pertwee put his foot down.

I desperately want to know more about this. Where did you come across this story?! I am utterly fascinated by the politics and relationships in early Who. Tell me more, please?

The point is that the companions have never, ever been there just to look pretty and scream a lot when something dangerous happens.Does anyone who has actually watched the show really BELIEVE this?! I am afraid to know the answer to that question as it will probably make me want to rip my hair out or throttle someone. Not even VICTORIA was that useless and she was really just a sheltered child thrown into dangerous and

[atraphoenix]

It was actually something Caroline John said. I'm not sure if it was in an extra on the Spearhead from Space DVD, or on the commentary for that serial. Either way, she mentioned that, in The Silurians, the wardrobe people wanted her to go pot-holing in her miniskirt. It was her first TV job, and she was too nervous to protest. Jon, thankfully, had no such qualms, called them out on it, and she got her boiler suit.

That amazes me, too. People who think that clearly don't pay attention to the characters they criticise.

[elyssadc]

It was her first TV job, and she was too nervous to protest. Jon, thankfully, had no such qualms, called them out on it, and she got her boiler suit.

That is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO fabulous. And it makes me love Pertwee even more. Kick ass.

[runtling]

What a fantastic post! You've captured Liz perfectly. :3
I finished watching S7 yesterday, and I'm not going to lie, I'm going to miss Liz terribly. I liked having a companion that was made of win and had amazing legs. XD

contrary to popular belief, Sarah Jane Smith was not the first grrrl power companion. Neither was Liz (Barbara Wright, anyone?).
:D :D :D
Barbara is so terribly underrated, so thank you for this as well! ^_^

[melengro]

I am applauding on the inside, because this post is made of awesome. Much like Liz.

I especially liked the struckthrough (and parenthetical) remarks about her supreme shippiness with the Brigadier and femmeslashiness. And the tacit comparison to Romana doesn't hurt.

Plus, I'm a guy, and I can't deny that Liz has very nice legs. Mary Tamm was originally supposed to wear a miniskirt in The Ribos Operation and having seen The Odessa File I can only say that Liz nearly atones for that lost opportunity.

I'll shut up now.

[atraphoenix]

I couldn't resist getting something about Romana in there. And I had no idea Mary was supposed to wear a miniskirt. As wonderful as her legs are, though (I've only ever seen screencaps), nothing can compare to that dress and that entrance.

[melengro]

The original intent was actually to have the entrance as it was, and then have her hack off the dress from the mid-thigh down when the Doctor admonishes her about how impractical it is to wear a long dress. When they decided that Ribos should be a cold planet, this idea was scrapped. Here.

I am generally happy that our species has produced somebody so hot, but then I remember that it's unlikely such pinnacles will be reached again in the near future, and that makes me very sad.

[shinyjenni]

Fabulous essay.

One of a companion’s primary functions is to translate the Doctor’s scientific jargon for the viewer. As the Doctor could talk to Liz as an equal, she simply wasn’t fulfilling this crucial requirement.

I liked the way they got round this in The Silurians - by having the Brigadier ask what the Van Allen Belt is, and having Liz do the explanation. Which ties into your point about Liz and the Doctor discussing things as equals while everyone else watches in bafflement!

[atraphoenix]

Yes, that was an excellent moment. It also proves that the Brig is utterly bemused no matter who tries to explain it.