jhat@druxi.UUCP (Jim Hatfield) (04/10/85)
I take personal objection to Mr. Kupperman's assertion that
"Nyssa wasn't a companion".
She was in 13 stories spanning 3 seasons and 2 doctors
("Keeper of Traken" to "Terminus").
Just because there were other companions in the same period
does not detract from her importance and her contribution !
Nyssa combined intelligence, level-headed rationality, and great beauty (!!!)
to be one of the few 'companions' that could understand the Doctor
and even the operation of the Tardis itself.
Let's not diminish the contributions of any other 'companions'.
Each person/entity/being that appeared in "DR. WHO" hadho something unique
to contribute.
---
Jim Hatfield AT&T Information Systems Laboratories - Denver
UUCP: {ihnp4}!druxi!jhat demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo) (04/12/85)
Here we go with the "Nyssa" bit again. I know I started it last time, and I shouldn't be responding to this article for the sake of not rehashing old ground...but you know how it is, you see something that just HAS to make you respond...for instance: Jim Hatfield writes: > I take personal objection to Mr. Kupperman's assertion that > "Nyssa wasn't a companion". > > She was in 13 stories spanning 3 seasons and 2 doctors > ("Keeper of Traken" to "Terminus"). > > Just because there were other companions in the same period > does not detract from her importance and her contribution ! Um, Jim, I don't think that's what Mr. Kupperman was referring to... > > Nyssa combined intelligence, level-headed rationality, and great beauty (!!!) > to be one of the few 'companions' that could understand the Doctor > and even the operation of the Tardis itself. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... hehehehe... ...I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself... Doctor: "Stay in the TARDIS Nyssa" Nyssa: "Well,OK..." Monster: "Boo!" Nyssa: "Shreak!" etc etc etc > > Let's not diminish the contributions of any other 'companions'. > Each person/entity/being that appeared in "DR. WHO" hadho something unique > to contribute. Well, a good deal of them... > --- > Jim Hatfield AT&T Information Systems Laboratories - Denver > UUCP: {ihnp4}!druxi!jhat Sorry, I usually try to be more diplomatic when taking an opposing viewpoint with someone, but the whole "Nyssa" thing is, and always will be, an annoying target. I STILL maintain, that the only reason she was liked was for her cute bod...she was a ridiculous character that totally demeaned women in a poorly acted fashion... ...there! I had my say again, again.... -- --- Rob DeMillo Madison Academic Computer Center ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo / =|-- = \ = [][][] "...I don't know what this thing does, but it's pointing in your direction."
nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken) (04/12/85)
It is nice to hear such flattery! :-) It is sad, but during the early Davison years, when there were three companions, often one or two was reduced to complete insignificance. During the Hartnell & Troughton three companion stories, the stories were longer, allowing more action for companions, the Doctor wasn't as major a character, and actors/resses would on occasions take an episode off. (A good example would be the fourth episode of the Dalek Invasion of Earth, in which Wm Hartnell took the week off.) In Castrovalva, the Doctor's role was minor. In Four to Doomsday, Nyssa was minor. In Kinda, Nyssa was absent. In the Visitation, Adric was minor. In Black Orchid, both Tegan and Adric were minor. In Earthshock, Nyssa was minor. In Mawdryn Undead, Nyssa was minor. In Terminus, Tegan was minor. The frequency of Nyssa's appearance on this list is difficult to explain. I suspect that it is because Teagn is comparatively easy to write for, just a loud mouthed Earthling. Nyssa was alien, and should have had alien reactions. That is harder to write. The companion is really just a plot device, something for the Doctor to explain to what he is doing. One is really all that is necessary. The companion's own personality is subject to the whims of the author, and are much less fixed. Nyssa'a personality swung wildly from extremes, and she suffered from that. -- Nyssa of Traken, now employed at Terminus Hospital, Inc. ihnp4!abnji!nyssa The cameras are still on, let the show begin! I want to hear them scream, until I'm deaf with pleasure! I want to see their limbs twist in excruciating pain! Ultimately, their blood must gush and flow through all the gutters of Varos!
percus@acf4.UUCP (Allon G. Percus) (04/12/85)
Well, last time around, I stayed out of the argument, but this time I have to agree with Rob's view. It would be nice not to get into a flame argument about the actress herself (whom I thought was nothing special), though I have to agree also with the views that she was much mis-scripted. All in all, I wasn't too sad to see her go in Terminus. (Actually, I was rather happy :-) As to Jim Hatfield's comment: > Each person/entity/being that appeared in "DR. WHO" hadho something unique > to contribute I surely don't deny that Nyssa had something UNIQUE. Well...Enough said on the subject. A. G. Percus (ARPA) percus@acf4 (NYU) percus.acf4 (UUCP) ...!ihnp4!cmcl2!acf4!percus
ckuppe@spock.UUCP (Charles A. Kupperman '87 ) (04/15/85)
Oh dear. That wasn't what I meant at all. I was referring to the fact that in the early planning stages of the series, Nyssa was not intended to be a companion, and thus by the time she was determined as a companion, Adric's character was already settled. That is to say, she was not supposed to return after "Keeper of Traken," but such was her popularity that she returned anyway. I am a big fan of Nyssa, especially her scenes in "Logopolis." Charles Kupperman... "I'm not wild about computers myself, but they are a tool, and when you have a tool you should use it."
acsgjjp@sunybcs.UUCP (Skywise the Elf) (04/20/85)
[Michael Grade is an imbecile!] Granted, Sarah Sutton is no Joan Collins or Katherine Helmond (two famous British actresses). She would have been a more convincing Nyssa if she had taken some courses in physics. Now that I have taken a basic acting class, I'll have to take another look at the 19th season, with "good acting" in mind. Perhaps Robb's right. Nyssa is cute (at least I think so); maybe we're "blinded" by it. (Personally, I'd rather see her dance.) > Well...Enough said on the subject. > A. G. Percus Ditto. -- "The sorority girls around here think the BBC is a bar." [Well, there is a bar here called the BBC, but it stands for "Buffalo's Best Club". Tells you how much they know about Doctor Who.] Jim Poltrone ...![decvax,rocksvax,watmath]!sunybcs!acsgjjp (CSnet, ARPA) acsgjjp%buffalo@CSNET-RELAY (BITNET) ACSGJJP@SUNYABVA