So I finally thought of what would have made HN/FoB work for me

[arabian]

I've commented on how great I do think that Doctor Who's "Human Nature/Family of Blood" is, but yet, I can't love it because I don't like Joan, and I put that all down to the actress playing her. She's just too cold and aloof and I just don't like her. Anyhoo, it struck me the other day that if Sarah Parrish had been playing Joan, it would have been perfect. She has the looks, attitude, talent and chemistry with David already to have made the character work magnificently for me.

Comments

[melnay13.livejournal.com]

You know, I didn't have a problem with the actress, but now that you've suggested Sarah?

That would have been excellent. She has those warm eyes that would be perfect for the role. Too bad.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she has those warm, twinkling eyes, so that even when Joan was being slightly judgmental and looking down upon Martha, it wouldn't have come across as so, I dunno, superior, I guess.

[tazza-di-jo.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. And instead they stuck her in the Empress of the Racnoss suit... Fail, DW. FAIL!

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Well, she still could have been the Empress (cuz we wouldn't know any better), but yeah, she would have been sooooooooooo much better as Joan!!!

[trustme1013.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they did the same thing with the chick who played Chantho and the fortune teller in Turn Left...

[faith5by5-1013.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of that before, but I agree completely. I didn't like the actress playing Joan. The idea behind her was interesting, so I think I'd have really liked her if she were played by someone different. And Sarah Parrish would have been amazing as Joan.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I love the story, love the idea behind it, David is brilliant and it has some of Freema's best work, but I just don't like Joan ... at all. I'd thought before Eve Myles (because I love her so), but she's too flashy/young? I dunno, for it. Too dynamic. That's the word I'm looking for. Not to say that Sarah Parrish isn't fabulous, because she is. She just has an understated quality that I think was needed for Joan. And then it hit me the other night when I was thinking on (again) about how frustrating it is that I can't adore that two-parter like so many others because I don't like the actress playing Joan and I was, like, 'oh, man, Sarah Parrish! She would have been PERFECT!'

[faith5by5-1013.livejournal.com]

It is some of Freema's best work. She's always painful for me to watch, but it's less painful.

I can still enjoy it. I just have to ignore the actress playing Joan. Just like I can still enjoy some season 3 episodes by ignoring Freema's acting. It's horrible, but true.

[madeelly.livejournal.com]

*pouts* I love Jessica Stevenson. But that's probably only because of "Spaced." I guess you're right.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Never saw "Spaced," so I only know her from HN/FoB and I was so unimpressed, I didn't even know her name. I just know that her characterization of the character just turned me off of Joan and I didn't want John Smith with her because I liked him a helluva lot more than her. He had a warmth and an easygoing nature that she just didn't have. And in the end when the Doctor suggested she could come with him, I was like "Why?!" It's bad enough, I'm expected to believe that side of the Doctor (John Smith) wanted to spend time with such a dour, holier-than-thou frump, but now I'm supposed to believe THE DOCTOR would too?! Yeah, just did not work for me.

[madeelly.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I sort of think it was the way the character was written, though. And I really sort of hated John Smith, actually.

You should definitely watch "Spaced." It's so amazing.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

I do think it didn't help with how the character was written, and maybe I'm wrong, and no actress could have made her work, but I just could so see Sarah Parrish in the role now. Aww, I liked John. He had his crappy moments (yelling at Martha, but product of his "time") and he was a bit o' a wimp, but I did like him.

[bubbles234.livejournal.com]

Sarah would have been so PERFECT for that role.

(She still could have been the creepy spider, too, right? XD)

[arabian.livejournal.com]

She so would have been. (And, yeah, she could have been the Queen of the Racnoss too.)

[trustme1013.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's part of it -- I struggled with her character completely because she was a clear and blatant replacement for Rose. She was blonde, and apparently for this Doctor, that's enough.

I think, in part, we were SUPPOSED to hate her -- I mean, why would we want the Doctor to stay as John Smith?

I didn't quite like her until I realized she was also in Shaun of the Dead, best zombie movie of all time. Did you also know she played Mafalda Hopkirk in HP OotP?

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't think she was supposed to be a replacement for Rose at all. In fact, she was quite different from Rose. Staid, unadventurous, the kind of woman who was content to just stay where she was comfortable. And it wasn't The Doctor who fell for her, it was *John Smith.* And, honestly, I don't think that Rose would have fallen in love with John Smith, not adventurous and exciting enough for her. Yes, a part of the Doctor IS John Smith, but just a part. And it was that part that asked Joan to travel with him, but if she had, she and the Doctor never would have been like they were as Joan and John Smith. Even if she had gone with him, she wouldn't have lasted long because she would have disapproved of him and his way of things.

I think, in part, we were SUPPOSED to hate her -- I mean, why would we want the Doctor to stay as John Smith?

I don't think we were supposed to hate her, I think we were supposed to be sad about the Doctor as John Smith losing out on having a family.