According to my top-secret sources, Pulitzer Prize winning author Eudora Welty had two television shows she regularly watched. One was The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour and the other?
Doctor Who.
I kid not! According to my source, who heard it from a friend of Welty’s, the friend’s son enjoyed the show and she often discussed it with him and enjoyed it as well.
So the answer to the question, “What Would Eudora Welty Watch?” is “Doctor Who“.
Now, I’m not saying that watching this show will turn you into a renowned author. I think that it’s fair to say that the influence of Dcotor Who is somewhat downplayed in her work. Lost in time like tears in rain are answers to questions such as, “Who was Welty’s favorite companion?” “Did she hate Adric too?” “Did she prefer the zany Tom Baker, the vulnerable Peter Davison, or the craptacular Colin Baker?” “Could she, with her writer’s mind, think of any way to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality?”
And, what would she think of the new series?
I like to think that Eudora Welty would have liked the new series. In fact, here’s an imaginary conversation between me and her about the first two episodes this season. Warning, there may be spoilers. I’ll try not to reveal too much but you can’t tell Eudora anything. Also I will try and keep her from cussing a blue streak.
Me: Okay so first, there was “New Earth”. Not a great story, was it?
Eudora Welty: No. It kind of reminded me of a Peter Davison story in a lot of ways.
Me: Yeah, like, “Terminus” maybe, which it totally ripped off material from?
EW: Exactly. Also, like the stories from that era, it had a lot of different things mish-mashed together. And the ending was quite a deus ex machina. Still, like the rest of the new series, any weakness in the story is more than made up for by the dialogue and characters.
Me: I agree. The body-switching bit was a lot of fun, Cassandra was made a little less two-dimensional (har har), and Rose was great as usual. Honestly, David Tennant slipped into the role so seamlessly that I didn’t even think of it as his first “real” story, which it was.
EW: Yes, he fit into the role nicely and yet without just aping Eccleston.
Me: Indeed. What did you think of all the jazz about the “lonely wanderer” and all this basically messianic talk about the Doctor?
EW: I can take or leave it.
Me: I really don’t like that. And not for the reasons you might think. I just like the Doctor better as nothing more than a guy who tries to do the right thing because he can’t not do the right thing. I mean yeah, he’s an alien and has a time machine and all, but I like it when those things are secondary and it’s really mainly his smarts and goodwill that triumph. I don’t want him to be any more superhuman than necessary; I think that defeats the whole point.
EW: I can see that.
Me: Now, the second episode, “Tooth and Claw”.
EW: Excellent stand-alone episode. Kung fu, werewolves, clockwork lasers. Damn, that was some good stuff.
Me: Yeah, I really dug it too. Liked the characters as well. I liked the scene with Fiona, the maid. I appreciate how Davies doesn’t let most characters just be “Screaming Bystander #4″ and actually gives them moments and things to do.
EW: I thought the wolf was well done.
Me: Indeed. The special effects are still pretty damn special. In fact, my only real beef with this episode is when the Doctor talks about what the wolf has planned for the British Empire. “Starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam.” Uh, yes, please! I’m supposed to be against the idea of the wolf making the world more awesome?
EW: Well, you might get your wish. And hey, what’s the deal with “Torchwood”?
Me: I only know a little about it, as I haven’t been digging for info for fear of spoilers. All I know is, spinoff show, I think it stars Captain Jack Harkness –
EW: Ooh!
Me: –and it’s a sort of X-Files-ish thing, I suppose. I don’t know much more than that.
EW: Interesting. And next week we not only get the return of Sarah Jane and K-9, but an intense looking fellow as the bad guy.
Me: Oh yeah, that’s Anthony Stewart Head, who played Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. By act of Parliament you’re not allowed to have a drama on BBC without him getting a guest spot. I think there’s an episode of Cash in the Attic where he deliberately outbids other buyers for his own nefarious purposes.
EW: Okay, so one more question.
Me: Shoot.
EW: You’ve read how many of my books or stories?
Me: Hey look, a zeppelin! (points, runs)
