The Seventh Doctor is breaking my brain

[scarlettgirl]

Being a linear thinker in Doctor Who is akin to donning a raw sirloin bikini and jumping into piranha infested waters. It's madness! I've been mapping out my Seventh Doctor strategy (how adorable was Sylvester McCoy in the "Bringing Back the Doctor" Confidential?) and there are so many forks in the road. Do you watch the serials and then do the

Comments

[nostalgia_lj]

I say whatever puts the Ace eps together in broadcast order, because I am A Bit Batshit About Ace and believe her story to make sense in sequence. The audio I think there are TV!Ace ones and NA!Ace ones? Or something? I don't know I don't do BF so I am useless on that one. OH GOD S26 IS SO AWESOME ACE IS SUPERAMAZING.

[scarlettgirl]

I think keeping the Ace parts in broadcast order will make the most sense. I'm still not quite sure how the audio's or novels fit into the Ace timeline but I've gathered that in the novels she leaves for a while and then comes back as "Space Bitch Ace". At least that's what the Doctor Who Wiki says. I'm not sure how much of that is boy fandom interpretation or trufax.

I *think* you could consider the audios and NA's as two different paths taken post-"Survival", but I'm only guessing. It also may be how I choose to interpret them.

[nostalgia_lj]

I disown NA Ace D: But yeah as far as I know BF and the NAs are separate post-Survival continuities. Except some of the BFs have Benny so I am confused about how that works.

[penfold_x]

Agree with your plan re the Ace era stuff.

I think the BF people have made a nod toward the NA stuff but don't necessarily feel bound by it. I also choose to interpret the NAs and the audios as two possible versions of what might have happened to Seven and Ace after Survival. I'd read the NAs in order, but I don't think continuity is as important in the audios (at least, I listened out of order and a brief trip to the DWRG answered my small questions).

I'm still not quite sure how the audio's or novels fit into the Ace timeline but I've gathered that in the novels she leaves for a while and then comes back as "Space Bitch Ace". At least that's what the Doctor Who Wiki says. I'm not sure how much of that is boy fandom interpretation or trufax.

I've read many but not all of the NAs; I think this is relatively accurate.

[elisi]

Just out of curiosity, have you ever seen 'Red Dwarf'? (The UK version, obviously.) I swear this is relevant to... something.

[chloris]

Since you mention Red Dwarf, did you see the new episodes? Were they any good? I ask because Jay came down a little while ago singing the theme song and, when I told him that there were some new episodes, he was curious.

[elisi]

There's only three - a sort of end/possible set-up for new series. And... they're really rather neat. Not *quite* as good as the old ones (apparently that's down to one of the writers leaving), but all the meta almost makes up for it. :)

[scarlettgirl]

I think that is wise advice.

[livii]

I've not read any NAs, though I do tend to incorporate the Ace as Time's Vigilante thing into a lot of my fic. I like the idea, have no burning desire to read the NAs. I've always taken the different strands - TV, books, audios - as somewhat separate, anyway. It hurts my head too much to do otherwise. I found when I got into spin-off canon my definition of canon got a lot more flexible, and basically pick and choose what I enjoy best and leave it at that.

I'm so happy you're going to watch Mel. I think you'll like her. :)

[scarlettgirl]

It does hurt your head. I really need to let go of that linear thought. I managed to do it for the Eighth Doctor but for some reason I thought things might be a little more coherent with the Seventh. HA!

Mel intrigues me. Anyone that disliked by so many people has to be at the very least an interesting character.

:D

[chloris]

I didn't think that linear thinking was allowed in Doctor Who! Is it even possible especially once you add in the novels and audios? I'm just starting a classic Who watch myself, but I'm not even going to try go in any sort of order. A few bits I'll want in broadcast order, like The Key to Time or Seven and Ace, but the rest are going to depend on our mood and what's available for streaming.

[scarlettgirl]

I didn't think that linear thinking was allowed in Doctor Who!

I know. I thought I had learned this lesson way back in the beginning when I thought catching up with canon was just a matter of stepping backward from Nine to Eight. Foolish child I was.

I do like watching stories and arcs develop so watching random serials always makes me feel like I missing a connection. I think I'm just going to start at the beginning of the Seven eps and move forward THEN leap to the ephemera.