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News & ArtsTuesday, May 3, 2011
TV All Hail the New Time Lord!
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Tue, May 3, 2011 at 10:40 AM
I'm a Doctor Who neophyte but I'm catching up fast. That said, I know I'm shitting all over history—Tom Baker blah blah blah, David Tennant blah blah blah—but hot damn! The 11th doctor is the best. I'm calling it.
It's not just because he's young and good looking (Tennant is arguably better looking). This op-ed in Shadowlocked nails his charm:
Child-like himself, he's impetuous but without hint of malice or menace - in addition to the (welcome) new sense that he is not invulnerable himself, we feel safe with him. He's full of intellectual pyrotechnics, but they're all there not to impress or embroil, but just because he - in spite of knowing so much - has a thirst to know so much more than he already does.
And then there's the hipster haircut! And the bow tie! Hot damn, indeed.
1
I'm a Whovian from way back - and unless he does something really egregous, the 11th is proving to combine the best of the older Doctors as well as the best of the reboot of the franchise.
Well done, indeed.
Well done, indeed.
2
Don't like Matt Smith at all - but I LIKED the occasional frisson of "malice and menace" that Eccleston and Tennant brought to the role, so it's probably a matter of taste. To me, he comes off as young and dumb.
I think I am not alone in saying that the WRITING last season was, on average, poorer than it had been before. I did like the first two episodes of this new season - quality monsters always make a difference. So, maybe I'll turn around.
I think I am not alone in saying that the WRITING last season was, on average, poorer than it had been before. I did like the first two episodes of this new season - quality monsters always make a difference. So, maybe I'll turn around.
3
I love him. He's like an oversize version of the geeky awkward superbrain 9-year old who is Doctor Who's ideal viewer.
4
That scene still gives me goosebumps.
Matt Smith is indeed one of the best Doctors ever. Much due to his great performance, but mostly due to Steven Moffat's excellent writing.
Matt Smith is indeed one of the best Doctors ever. Much due to his great performance, but mostly due to Steven Moffat's excellent writing.
5
I'm not crazy about 11, I have to admit. I think Christopher Eccleston as 9 was my favorite, though I have a soft spot for Tom Baker (was he 4?) because he was my first Doctor.
Eccleston and Tennant were able to show the Doctor's dark side believably, and I liked seeing that darker side come out. I don't think I could buy Matt Smith showing the same thing.
I think it's the hair.
Eccleston and Tennant were able to show the Doctor's dark side believably, and I liked seeing that darker side come out. I don't think I could buy Matt Smith showing the same thing.
I think it's the hair.
6
I agree with Lioness (@2) wholeheartedly. My favorite of the new Doctors (I admit I haven't seen much older stuff) is Eccelston, but I think the -best- (subtle difference) has been Tennant. Matt Smith is funny looking; his face is blandly featureless, like he's a changeling (http://bit.ly/kRmo1M). His Doctor is too child-like for my tastes and the writing of his first season was pretty terrible. They even managed to make the Weeping Angels seem lame, and they were the most interesting villains of Tennant's episodes!
Saving grace of Smith's first season? Karen Gillam and short skirts. I couldn't not watch every episode...
Saving grace of Smith's first season? Karen Gillam and short skirts. I couldn't not watch every episode...
7
But not every Doctor NEEDS to show their Dark Side. Chris was Dark and Brooding due to his circumstance. Got over the brooding and David gave us slightly Dark and "Man of Action"
Matt is (like his 10 predecessors) giving us another facet of the Doctor.
Matt is (like his 10 predecessors) giving us another facet of the Doctor.
9
This last episode gave me nightmares. I know that those things are in my house, and I just can't remember seeing them. And is she pregnant or not?
10
I like most of the Time Lords. I also like the changes in personality that comes with a new Doctor. Matt Smith is cool. And so is his bow tie.
Emo hair cut? I don't think so.
Emo hair cut? I don't think so.
12
Fact: You tend to like the first Time Lord you follow regularly, but become more accepting of all of them as time goes by (see what I did there?)
13
Tennant was and remains for now my favorite Doctor--his manic charm and glee are insanely infectious, and when he diverted into his chilling "justice" it was fantastic--but Smith is taking it to a crazy level that no one has done since what, Baker?
Each season since Eccleston has been either incrementally or significantly better than the one that came before. The solution to the problem of the Silence was inspired.
Each season since Eccleston has been either incrementally or significantly better than the one that came before. The solution to the problem of the Silence was inspired.
15
@12, I appreciate the sentiment and the humor of that. That's why I don't mind that as I grow older the Doctors grow younger. Eccleston may be the last to have had an adult gravitas to go with the fun stuff, but apparently he'd been around the block a few too many times to put up with the way cast and crew got treated during his first year, so he declined any more. I say, whoever keeps Moffat interested in continuing, as a fan that's all that matters - if he wants to put a seven-year-old who's unaware the set could run any easier, so be it.
17
@16
SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT SEEN IT:
Just because the little girl is seen going through a re-gen that DOES NOT MEAN she is neccisarily Time Lord by default.
SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT SEEN IT:
Just because the little girl is seen going through a re-gen that DOES NOT MEAN she is neccisarily Time Lord by default.
19
Smith is too young for the role--he's just miscast period. He doesn't have the legitimate, emotional gravitas for the part. Peter Davison did a much better job of conveying depth and maturity, and he was only a few years older than Smith when he took over the role in 1980. Tennant was too hyper--his constant Tazzing-out was tiresome and FSM help us, that man could chew the scenery clean off. Eccleston took it too far the other direction, with the moodiness and brooding.
Tom Baker had the best balance of all those qualities, plus the humor and intelligence to make the character relatable. He'll always be the best.
Tom Baker had the best balance of all those qualities, plus the humor and intelligence to make the character relatable. He'll always be the best.
20
Jon Pertwee's Doctor Who was pretty cool--he could put some martial arts woopass on the bad guys.
21
I still love that almost 50 years later, nerds are still arguing who is the best Doctor. I have always found it as simple as this: You either like one specific Doctor over all others, the "new" one is always the best or you like all Doctors for how they all bring something different to the same character.
Specifically to OriginalAndrew, I can't disagree more about Matt, and Steven Moffat agrees. He originally had NO plans to ever cast someone so young as the Doctor but after seeing Matt's audition he felt he brought a very unique perspective and gravitas to the role. I am glad he did. YMMV.
Specifically to OriginalAndrew, I can't disagree more about Matt, and Steven Moffat agrees. He originally had NO plans to ever cast someone so young as the Doctor but after seeing Matt's audition he felt he brought a very unique perspective and gravitas to the role. I am glad he did. YMMV.
22
Welcome to the party, Cienna! :3
For myself, I was more excited about the change of writers than the change of actors: Steven Moffat is far and away one of the best TV writers I've ever seen, and I expect great things from him.
For myself, I was more excited about the change of writers than the change of actors: Steven Moffat is far and away one of the best TV writers I've ever seen, and I expect great things from him.
23
Check out the line reading for, "Nobody human has anything to say to me today!" from the second episode of season 5. He's able to fit rage, disappointment, and self loathing into the above statement.
Matt Smith may not have the Shakespearian King playing to the back seats thing that Tennant had, but lacking gravitas? Also check out, his take-down of River in the first episode of this season when she asked him to trust her. I leaned back from my screen during, 'But trust you...Seriously.'
The Doctor has always been goofy looking so that's not a valid criticism. And he's could be anywhere from 900 to a few million years old. Everyone is too young to play him, but I think Matt Smith conveys that age really well. He also can turn from funny to terrified to enraged in the space of a few seconds which is a rare gift for an actor. It's just brilliant casting.
The great thing about this show is that it's an infinite sandbox for the writers, and the ability to change up the cast every few years keeps it fresh. You can never run out of Doctor Who stories. Every time you watch it, it can be a new show. Once in a while, the main character becomes a new character, and you enjoy watching the new character with the history your familiar with run around and take in all the weird stuff that's happening in the universe.
In my defense for being obsessive, I just watched the 5th season in a couple days because of a head cold so it's all fresh in my mind. I watched Doctor Who back when I was a kid, and just caught up on the new series to the exclusion of all other TV and Movies for the last couple weeks. It's the most purely fun show on television right now.
Matt Smith may not have the Shakespearian King playing to the back seats thing that Tennant had, but lacking gravitas? Also check out, his take-down of River in the first episode of this season when she asked him to trust her. I leaned back from my screen during, 'But trust you...Seriously.'
The Doctor has always been goofy looking so that's not a valid criticism. And he's could be anywhere from 900 to a few million years old. Everyone is too young to play him, but I think Matt Smith conveys that age really well. He also can turn from funny to terrified to enraged in the space of a few seconds which is a rare gift for an actor. It's just brilliant casting.
The great thing about this show is that it's an infinite sandbox for the writers, and the ability to change up the cast every few years keeps it fresh. You can never run out of Doctor Who stories. Every time you watch it, it can be a new show. Once in a while, the main character becomes a new character, and you enjoy watching the new character with the history your familiar with run around and take in all the weird stuff that's happening in the universe.
In my defense for being obsessive, I just watched the 5th season in a couple days because of a head cold so it's all fresh in my mind. I watched Doctor Who back when I was a kid, and just caught up on the new series to the exclusion of all other TV and Movies for the last couple weeks. It's the most purely fun show on television right now.
25
I miss David Tennant. This new Doctor lacks the depth and complexity that Tennant brought. I liked the Doctor before Tennant, but that might only have been as a foil for Rose. Rose is still my favorite companion, even with the short skirts on the hot redhead. But, if they brought Captain Jack Harkness around for another go, I might give the coming season a chance.
27
Totally on your side, Cienna. David Tennant played the role well, but Matt Smith is much more fun to watch. Christopher Eccleston was good for the portion he played, but I'm glad that he only got one season. It would have gotten old after that. Hopefully Smith gets as much screentime - and eventually as much love - as Tennant did (he's stated that he'll be the Doctor at least until the 50th anniversary...).
28
I'm firmly in the I-Like-Them-All-Camp ( some more than others yes but that's usually more about the writing and budgets). It usually takes a few episodes to warm up to a new Doctor.....and remember, Peter Cushing is in there too (not TV, movies). All that said; I am really enjoying Matt Smith. Also getting both Sheppards (father and son) was a nice touch for the first episodes this season.
29
Matt Smith isn't my taste at all, but that's due to the fact I'm much older than him. Plus... I only fell in love with the series because Ten was my first Doctor (plus-plus... I fell in love with David Tennant, too - goddammit, he's a father now and he'll be a husband soon. Lucky Georgia Moffet, soon to be Mrs. McDonald!).
That said, I think Steven Moffat was... is... very eager to please us Doctor Who fans but he's completely overdoing this. Backwards, forwards, sidewards, spoilers, hints, timelines, songs, ponds, shots, escapes, kisses... and all the stuff is leading nowhere. Well, it will somewhere, sometime. Hopefully. But I like a self-contained story, I'm no fan of two-parters or cliffhangers or too many twists. My niece, she's almost 7 now, had many questions on The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon. I could only tell her she'll have to wait for what's to come and she went: "That's boring." I agreed.
That said, I think Steven Moffat was... is... very eager to please us Doctor Who fans but he's completely overdoing this. Backwards, forwards, sidewards, spoilers, hints, timelines, songs, ponds, shots, escapes, kisses... and all the stuff is leading nowhere. Well, it will somewhere, sometime. Hopefully. But I like a self-contained story, I'm no fan of two-parters or cliffhangers or too many twists. My niece, she's almost 7 now, had many questions on The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon. I could only tell her she'll have to wait for what's to come and she went: "That's boring." I agreed.
30
I hadn't thought of how hard the current season (so far) would be for a 7 year old to follow but there are literally decades of Doctor Who around more suitable for a 7 year old. Heck: "Christmas Carol" (the 2010 Christmas Special) might even be one of them, a nice twist with the ghosts.
Those that do like the last couple seasons may also enjoy "Sherlock" (Steven Moffat heavily involved there too) which is both a clever update (Doctor Watson was wounded in Afghanistan) and includes lots of referrals to the original (Doctor Watson was wounded in Afghanistan). Similar feel. Doctor Who is/was heavily influenced by Sherlock Holmes.
Those that do like the last couple seasons may also enjoy "Sherlock" (Steven Moffat heavily involved there too) which is both a clever update (Doctor Watson was wounded in Afghanistan) and includes lots of referrals to the original (Doctor Watson was wounded in Afghanistan). Similar feel. Doctor Who is/was heavily influenced by Sherlock Holmes.
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