The Doctor has the means and the desire to see the countless wonders of the Universe, from the epicenter of the Big Bang, to the outermost edges. With virtually infinite possible destinations, he certainly spends a lot of time on Earth, doesn’t he? Perhaps that’s just because we’re only privy to those adventures that brush upon our short, planetary-bound lives. Focus the lens a little further, and many of those Terran travels are right within the United Kingdom — again, for obvious “eye of the beholder” reasons. So is there something to be said for the rising frequency of instances where the Galavanting Gallifreyan steps across the pond to the land of baseball, cheeseburger doughnuts, and ten-gallon hats?
This week, on the heels of Independence Day in the United States, we look at the scenes, episodes, and complete stories where the Doctor has visited America in person. We discuss the rationale behind the infrequency of these occurrences in “classic” Doctor Who, the relative increase since the 2005 series revival, the choices of those locations and times used in both, and what this may imply regarding the producers’ intent to capture audience. (Oh, and we crack wise a bit about Southern accents, because it’s easy to pick on Jay.)
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I was going to ask another podcast (RFS) this question but I will ask you guys because you mentioned it. There have been more than a fair share of actors who have come and mastered an “American accent”. For example Hugh Laurie in House. And we have had “American” companions, Captain Jack & Peri. In your cast this week, the three of you, wholeheartedly agreed that the Doctor had to be British. I get that, but what if the producers found an American actor (would have to be an unknown, obviously) that, like Laurie, and others, mastered a British accent? Would that be “allowable”?
I’m not saying they should, but just thinking out loud.
It’s certainly feasible, in my opinion, but there would be something notably amiss with taking an actor from outside the “home turf”, and asking them to portray the role as if they were native. The talent they chose in such a case, whomever they might be, would have to be nothing short of exceptional for the current demands of the role (remember, the “right actor for the story” at that moment), in order to justify looking past who knows how many Brit actors to tap a non-Brit, playing a Brit.
Well, an alien with Brit tendencies.
So confusing.
Excellent question, though. We’ll discuss in a future ep!