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Author Topic: leela and Dr who  (Read 1711 times)
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pedersencato

Poppler
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« on: 09-26-2006 22:53 »

Has anyone ever thought of a connection between Leela of Futurama and Leela, a companion of the Fourth Doctor on doctor who? First off there's the big boots and tanktop, then there's (obviously) the name... so I was just wondering if anyone else noticed this, I couldn't find anyting about it anywhere. Thanks.
Shiny

Professor
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« Reply #1 on: 09-27-2006 01:10 »
« Last Edit on: 09-27-2006 01:10 »

I have! But Leela of the Sevateem wore moccasin-kinda boots and a leather one-piece...more of a Xena-esque outfit than Turanga Leela's.

I think our Leela's tank top look was inspired by Sigourney Weaver/Ripley from Alien/s, and Linda Hamilton/Sarah Connor from Terminator 2, and other "science fiction action babes" from the movies & TV. 

As for the name, well..."Leela" seems (like "Sharra" and "Kira" ) to be one of those names that a LOT of people come up independently when inventing made-up names (at least English speakers), so a lot of writers & creators have used it in science fiction and fantasy.  I can't think of any others right now, but I know I've seen more "Leela's" in my life, most of them in works that are forgotten (even, obviously, by me!     :p ).

So although I don't think Futurama-Leela was consciously based on Dr. Who's Leela, (for one thing, I can't recall DW being mentioned on the Futurama commentaries, and I can't imagine David X. Cohen NOT mentioning it if he was a big fan     :laff: ) I can't think of a more appropriate resonance than having our Leela be DW Leela's namesake.  DW's Leela was one of the very early ass-kickin' heroines of television SF, and her popularity proved that fans LIKED "action babes," and therefore helped pave the way for Futurama's Leela and other ass-kickin' heroines of today.      :)

Shiny "Surrender or die!" J. Fangirl
SpaceCase

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #2 on: 09-27-2006 11:51 »

I know someone who has similar thoughts…  :rolleyes:
Shiny

Professor
*
« Reply #3 on: 09-27-2006 21:43 »

Huh.  A Dr. Who crossover I never knew was there. 

...however, after reading the first part, I'm not inclined to go much further.  I'm not fond of the "this takes place after Fry and Leela are married and have kids" subgenre, and the characterization doesn't seem quite right, either.  Particularly Leela...both Leelas.

Is that why you're doing the  :rolleyes: ?  Or am I just too demanding when it comes to fanfic?  ;)
SpaceCase

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #4 on: 09-28-2006 12:30 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Shiny:
... however, after reading the first part, I'm not inclined to go much further. I'm not fond of the "this takes place after Fry and Leela are married and have kids" subgenre, and the characterization doesn't seem quite right, either.  Particularly Leela...both Leelas.
Chalk it up to personal taste.  :hmpf:
Quote
Is that why you're doing the   :rolleyes: ?  Or am I just too demanding when it comes to fanfic?   ;)
No on both counts.  ;)
Shiny

Professor
*
« Reply #5 on: 09-28-2006 19:27 »
« Last Edit on: 09-28-2006 19:27 »

Ooops, sorry.

I did think the Doctor was in character, though.

  :hmpf: Edit to add: Oh, monkeytrumpets.  Are YOU the author of that story?
SpaceCase

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #6 on: 09-28-2006 23:34 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Shiny:
 :hmpf: Edit to add: Oh, monkeytrumpets.  Are YOU the author of that story?
  :confused:
If that was directed at me ,no.
My pathetic only attempt at the art of the fan fic is posted right here on P.E.E.L.
Shiny

Professor
*
« Reply #7 on: 09-29-2006 05:55 »

Well, that's a relief, anyway.  It would have been just my luck to unknowing dis an author's story to their face....

I'm sorry I dissed a story you liked, anyway.  I'm a little picky on characterization, especially in crossovers, 'cause I think their main attraction is in seeing the interaction between  characters who we never saw meet on screen...but it's trickier to balance two or more universes in one story, so any "offness" in the characterizations gets thrown into sharp relief and becomes more painful.  I always start crossovers cautiously, because, well, I've read so many really bad (or just mediocre ones) over the years that I (reasonably or not) fear a bad experience more than on a straight-up one-fandom story. 

This story does NOT suffer from the most frequent flaw of crossovers: the "Hi, Bob!" syndrome, where characters just drift across each other for no reason, say "Hi," and drift away.  I give it points for having an integrated plot.

I think the problem I had was that both sets of characters had been taken a few steps away from where I was familar with them...Fry and Leela married and less Groening-esque, and Leela of the Sevateem having lived on Gallifrey for years and years and seeming all civilized.  Also, I haven't seen the new Dr. Who series much yet...are the glasses and the changing-eye-colors thing from there? 

And has Leela reappeared on it?  I'd love to see her again, though I would miss it slightly if she was all Time Ladyish and no longer the knife-weilding tribeswoman who talked easily about aiming for the heart by going under the breastbone...  ;)
SpaceCase

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #8 on: 09-29-2006 12:55 »

    Quote
    Originally posted by Shiny:
    Well, that's a relief, anyway. It would have been just my luck to unknowing dis an author's story to their face...
    • I thought I was the only person that things like this happen to.
    • It’s no worse than some of the things I’ve done.
      Quote
      I'm sorry I dissed a story you liked, anyway.
      I have no opinion of it. I pointed it out because it was appropriate to the thread tiopic.
      Quote
      I'm a little picky on characterization, especially in crossovers, 'cause I think their main attraction is in seeing the interaction between characters who we never saw meet on screen... but it's trickier to balance two or more universes in one story, so any "offness" in the characterizations gets thrown into sharp relief and becomes more painful.
    • You’re allowed an opinion.  ;)
    • I agree that in crossovers, characterization is ‘the thing’: Otherwise, why bother?
    Quote
    ... I think the problem I had was that both sets of characters had been taken a few steps away from where I was familar with them...
    It may be that the author took them a step or two closer to his or her comfort level of writing for them, or to fit the goals of the plot.
    But I’m a fine one to be discussing Doctor Who: The last incarnation of Doctor who I saw was the 1996 TV movie with Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann in the title role. Before that, the last time I had even a passing familiarity with the show, TOM BAKER was playing the good Doctor!  ;)
    Shiny

    Professor
    *
    « Reply #9 on: 09-29-2006 20:40 »

    Really?  I got up to Colin Baker, right before the whole Key to Time thing.  Saw a few of Sylvester at conventions here and (individual episodes, not whole stories... ) I think Patrick Troughton is my favorite (what few are left of him  :( )  but I saw the most of Tom Baker because that's all they played in my area for many years.  ;)

    PCC Fred

    Space Pope
    ****
    « Reply #10 on: 10-11-2006 06:28 »

    Actually the Key to Time's from Tom Baker's era.  Sure you're not thinking of "Trial of a Time Lord"?
    Shiny

    Professor
    *
    « Reply #11 on: 10-11-2006 19:19 »

    Yeah, that's the one.  My bad.
    PCC Fred

    Space Pope
    ****
    « Reply #12 on: 10-12-2006 05:57 »

    Don't worry.  I can quite understand someone wanting to mentally block out that particular slice of Who history...
    Chug a Bug

    Bending Unit
    ***
    « Reply #13 on: 10-12-2006 17:21 »

     
    Quote
    Originally posted by pedersencato:
    Has anyone ever thought of a connection between Leela of Futurama and Leela, a companion of the Fourth Doctor on doctor who? First off there's the big boots and tanktop, then there's (obviously) the name... so I was just wondering if anyone else noticed this, I couldn't find anyting about it anywhere. Thanks.

    I think it's a coincidence. As Shiny pointed out DXC would have mentioned it in the commentaries for sure. As I'm sure has been mentioned before her name is a parody of Oliver Messiaen's "Turangalila Symphonie" - Matt Groening is a big fan of his music.

     
    Quote
    Originally posted by Shiny:
    And has Leela reappeared on it?  I'd love to see her again, though I would miss it slightly if she was all Time Ladyish and no longer the knife-weilding tribeswoman who talked easily about aiming for the heart by going under the breastbone... 

    No she hasn't, at least not yet. They havn't really revisted old Who unless you count the Daleks and the (new) Cybermen. There is one previous companion who did make a guest appearance though.  ;)

    KurtPikachu2001

    Urban Legend
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    « Reply #14 on: 11-06-2006 12:39 »

    So, the idea of Leela came from Dr. Who? 
    SpaceCase

    Liquid Emperor
    **
    « Reply #15 on: 11-06-2006 13:01 »

    No.
    It's a coincidence, but a fun one.
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