"Braxiatel is pathologically incapable of giving a straight answer to a straight question."

[lizbee]

Last night I continued with my Gallifrey catch up by listening to "Imperiatrix" and the "making-of" documentary that follows.  Mostly I was reminded of the extent to which Romana is a fail!President -- her response to a series of terrorist attacks on Gallifrey is to suspend the High Council and the chapters and declare herself dictator.  I suspect that the primary purpose of her presidency is to drive Narvin to drink.

Apparently, the only reason Brax was in the series at all was because Matthew Waterhouse had turned down a cameo in "Zagreus" and they decided to fill the gap with Brax.  Three cheers for Matthew Waterhouse.  May he continue to turn down roles forever.

Comments

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

Three cheers for Matthew Waterhouse. May he continue to turn down roles forever.

Oh shit, woman. I'm laughing so hard there are tears. And I strongly believe Peter Davison would support your position 100%.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It would practically be a service to humanity.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Isn't it canon, or at least well-established fanon, that anyone who holds the Gallifreyan presidency for long enough invariably begins to go insane? So, uh, yeah.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It's like being a Starfleet admiral. Power corrupts OMG!!!!!!

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Or a Roman emperor. "Tonight on I, Flavia..." And of course, any similarities between the [insert object here] of Rassilon and the One Ring are purely coincidental.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Occasionally, what I'm picturing as I listen to Gallifrey is essentially I, Claudius. Mob scene = Leela and Narvin looking towards the camera and saying, "Gosh, there's a lot of unhappy people."

I think it might be dangerous to expose impressionable young minds to 1970s BBC drama.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I've been saying since forever that the Master's head-drumming was lifted straight from the horses' hooves Caligula kept hearing in his head (and his relationship with Lucy lifted from Caligula's with Drusilla, minus the incest and fetus-eating lest Mary Whitehouse rise from her grave), with Derek Jacobi's presence the added nod and wink. CONSPIRACY.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It wasn't even very subtle thievery, no.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Then why, oh why, does nobody ever believe me? I can't be the only seven-year-old who was allowed to watch I, Claudius on the grounds that it was on public television and thus "educational" (though, actually, it sure as hell was).

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Hey, I, Claudius was the reason I did a totally useless Classics major/Latin minor. It was highly edumacational.

...Also, I believe you, because it's obvious, like saying "The Daleks" was a bit inspired by H. G. Wells.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

"I believe you, because it's obvious, like saying 'The Daleks' was a bit inspired by H. G. Wells."

You'd think, and yet. Of course, there are probably people who hear the Daleks screaming about a "final solution" in "Dalek Invasion of Earth" and never manage to make that salient Nazi connection, so...

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

There were people in HP fandom who thought it oppressive and hateful to suggest that the Death Eaters were maybe a bit Nazi-like in their worldview. I believe it was Jesus Christ who said, "The stupid will always be with you."

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Are those the same people who insist that "Mudblood" isn't meant to correlate to Untermensch or the N-word, even despite the fact that "mudblood" is actually used as a term of speech by actual real-world white supremacist groups? Yes, I know, Draco would never speak that way really because he's sweet and vulnerable and cute as kitten pie.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Yes. Exactly the same people. If I wasn't on my way to work, I'd dig up the old "Prejudism" essay, about how it is right and proper for pureblood wizards to mistrust Muggles and Muggle-borns.

[biichan.livejournal.com]

It isn't right, but it does make sense that purebloods would have issues with Muggles and Muggle-borns, considering that for a while the Muggles were actively trying to kill them. (Granted, that was a couple centuries ago but wizards have long life spans and hold long fucking grudges too.)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It makes sense in-text, but it's the same logic that Oswald Mosley was using to justify anti-Semitism when he was running the British Union of Fascists. So I found it disquieting to see fans jump on that bandwagon, and then simultaneously deny there might be something dodgy about the attitude.

[biichan.livejournal.com]

*nods, nods*

Most of those fans probably weren't thinking things through clearly. I know I didn't when I was a Potterfan, though of course I was at the height of my crazy then. (And that was pretty crazy at times.)

[airie-fairy.livejournal.com]

Add to RTD saying he wanted John Simm for the Master based on seeing his performance as Caligula.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

He played Caligula? *heads over to IMDB*

[biichan.livejournal.com]

Dude, I believe you. It's as good a theory as anything.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Powerful forces are arrayed against this information ever coming to light, you know. The Illuminati or some shit, or maybe the local Rotary Club.

[pimpmytardis.livejournal.com]

I think it might be dangerous to expose impressionable young minds to 1970s BBC drama.

That explains *so much* about my formative years. I was into The Pallisers when my classmates were into the Spice Girls. O___o

[biichan.livejournal.com]

IT'S THE CURSE OF RASSILON AND/OR OMEGA!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

OMG YES.

"Do you realise," said the Doctor, "this discovery means that every Time Lord who becomes president will inevitably ... go ... mad..."

He trailed off as it occurred to him that he'd been president at least twice.

"I'm sure there's a loophole," said Romana helpfully. "K9 will find one. He's quite good at things like that."

"Aren't you worried that we're going to end up spending our lives as megalomaniacal lunatics?"

Romana shrugged. "It's the rest of the universe that should be worried," she said, taking his hand. "I've often thought it would be rather better managed if you and I were in charge."

It was the best offer the Doctor had received all day.

[biichan.livejournal.com]

THIS IS AN AWESOME AND GREAT THING YES. AND EXPLAINS A LOT.

[garpu.livejournal.com]

I've been listening to the Gallifrey series again, trying to get a handle on Brax's character, and Romana sure does flub a lot of things. and I *liked* her in the shows...