I confess: I have reservations about the new Doctor. For many people, Matt Smith’s performance as Doctor Who over the past few seasons is a high point in the series. And, before Matt Smith took over, David Tennant turned in some excellent performances as The Doctor. So now we have a much older and more alien Twelfth Doctor (played by Peter Capaldi). Will this work out? I’ll be turning in to tonight’s episode on BBC America to find out. The good thing is that the Doctor’s companion, the fetching Clara Oswald (played by Jenna Coleman), returns to give the series some much needed continuity. Obviously, for you Doctor Who newbies out there, this is the perfect time to give this wonderful series a try.
I didn’t watch the show growing up but when Matt Smith arrived I watched the show with my nieces, who were 7 at the time of his arrival for fish fingers and custard and I am became a massive enthusiast. For too long I felt like Tennant was the best thing about the show whereas Smith seemed part of a very integrated fairy tale vision for the series and I loved it for that (seeing it through the eye of my young nieces clearly had a lot to do with this). I am very excited to see what happens – I hope they succeed, especially as Capaldi is a fascinating actor – and at least, by being so different, it will make missing Smith a bit easier to do! Plus my nieces are now in far away Australia so they won’t be there to reassure me during the scary bits 🙂
Sergio, I get freaked out every time the WEEPING ANGELS show up!
I have no reservations of Capaldi. While I grew to like Matt Smith, I always thought he was to young for the role(same when Peter Davison had the role). Always preferred an older Doctor.
Tom Baker was my first and favorite, followed by Jon Pertwee, then David Tennant. The rest follow in different order(whatever my mood at the time.
Randy, like you I experienced Tom Baker as my First Doctor. I watched those episodes over and over. Then, DOCTOR WHO faded and I didn’t get back into it until Matt Smith showed up. I went back and watched the David Tennant episodes. I’m glad you’re confident about Capaldi. We’ll see what happens tonight!
Don’t get too attached to Coleman. I think I read recently that she is leaving after this series.
Sometimes Capaldi’s accent can get a little impenetrable to non-Scottish ears. I liked him as the short tempered, foul mouthed Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It.
Jeff, I always watch BBC America with CLOSED CAPTIONING on. You’re right: I read Coleman is leaving and a new Companion will be chosen.
I’m so old, I remember back in my English 1960s childhood watching the original Dr. Who on the BBC on Saturday afternoons (it was originally a kids’ show) and how shocked we all were when we tuned in one day and the old white-haired doctor had been replaced by another (I think that was when Patrick Thornton took over). Back then the daleks were made (quite obviously) from egg cartons. My favorite doctor is Peter Davison, although that may just be find memories from his role as Tristan on All Creatures Great and Small. One thing that never changes, though: no matter how old the doctor is, his female sidekick is always quite fetching and very young. Le sigh!
Deb, you’re right about DOCTOR WHO morphing from a kids’ show to something much more sophisticated. The cheesy special effects (love those egg cartons on the Daleks!) have been upgraded and the story arcs have been lengthened. And I like some of the new monsters like The Silence and the Weeping Angels.
Tom Baker or no one. This new guy looks evil. I don’t watch it anyway, haven’t in decades, so no reason to start now.
Rick, I agree with you on Tom Baker. But Matt Smith was great and Karen Gillian was the best Companion ever! You might be surprised at the sophistication of the DOCTOR WHO stories in this latest series.
Hey, I remember the Doctor Who movies from the mid-60s with Peter Cushing as The Doctor.
Jeff, that goes way back!
You think tut’s way back? I remember watching Kukla, Fran and Ollie on TV.
Rick, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie is Ancient History!
Excellent.
Randy, any episode with Madame Vastra and Jenny is excellent. I wish they would give Madame Vastra and Jenny their own series.
You want old, Miss Frances saw me and my sisters in her magic mirror on Romper Room. Probably around 1953.
Bob, you are really going way way back with Romper Room!
I go with Baker too. For some reason my mother was a big Dr Who fan.
Hey, I remember Your Show of Shows and Beanie and Cecil.
Stan, I was a BEANIE & CECIL fan, too!
I loved Kukla. Fran & Ollie, especially the latter of course. And I remember Miss Frances. Hey, my brother was in the Peanut Gallery on Howdy Doody.
Jeff, being in the Peanut Gallery was the dream of all little kids of that era!