Doctor Who (1963 - present)

I really only ever liked Tom Baker (no homo, as the kids say) but this could make Doc Who watchable for me.

Yeah. Classic Dr Who will be when Sir Malcolm invites Jenna Coleman to sit in his lap.

Hilarious to read Tennant/Smith fangirls declaring their dismay on Facebook yesterday evening ... if the Doctor isn't young and 'pretty' and his relationship with the companion isn't still going to be flirtatious, the show's not worth a damn doncha know. If they saw some Tom Baker, they'd likely shit themselves.

Nothing against 10 and 11 at all (quite the opposite, in fact ... Tennant and Smith were superb), but it's great to see Capaldi taking on the role (terrific actor), and pretty ballsy casting on Moffat's part.

I am a big fan of Capaldi's, even back to Local Hero, though I confess I never considered him as a candidate for the central role so it was a genuine surprise.

I am looking forward to seeing an older Doctor again, hopefully it will see an end to some of the more laboured emo trends and inferred romances of late. Although the build up show and self importance surrounding the announcement is another aspect that I feel drives the show away from the things that originally made it so great. The show has been in danger of disappearing up its own backside since Tennant's second season and a bit of detachment and humility would go a long way imho.

I think it's definitely the end of the 'inferred romances' ... Capaldi's old enough to be Coleman's father, so it would be deeply creepy (something that didn't seem to occur to those working on Moore's last couple of Bond movies).

I might actually start watching NuWho again.

I wonder if River will snog his face off? ;)

New series trailer leaked.

Largo's Shark wrote:

New series trailer leaked.

I'll be there with bells on if that was how it pans out. Just the stuff Berkoff would watch maybe.

I've only gotten through about 5 hours of DR WHO (and that's counting the US tvmovie), but NOW I will watch.

Largo's Shark wrote:

New series trailer leaked.

Check out the YouTube comments. Half think that trailer's official.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-08-06/doctor-who-writer-neil-gaiman-a-black-actor-has-already-turned-down-the-role-of-the-doctor

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a503989/steven-moffat-on-female-doctor-who-rumours-it-didnt-feel-right.html

Interesting ... these little 'wrinkles' aren't things that occur to the 'change for change's sake' brigade, I guess.

Oh yes we had this great opportunity to yet again place political correctness as the prime agenda and we missed it twice!

:roll: 

There are some self righteous toss pots out there! It's an entertainment show and the casting is about picking the right actor for the role, not some crusading opportunity to educate the populace in social evolution. Ironically there are few shows that already labour the political correct approach to gender and ethnicity (even across the planets), in RTD's case often to distracting and condescending effect.

Paterson Joseph is a very good actor. Those who've only seen him in Peep Show should check out his turn as an assassin in The Fixer.

Gaiman doesn't actually name names in that article, but I think him also saying that Joseph would've been his choice for 12th Doctor is him heavily hinting that he's the actor in question.

An interview with William Hartnell about Doctor Who has been discovered in the vaults after 40 years!

It is the only known interview with Hartnell (visual, not audio) to survive. It lasts about 3 minutes and was recorded shortly after he finished filming his final serial, The Tenth Planet. It is going to be released as an extra on the DVD release of The Tenth Planet.

50th anniversary special poster.

I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned anywhere but I'm not keen on Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor, he's OLD.

Will still give him a go with his first few episodes...

bitchcraft wrote:

I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned anywhere but I'm not keen on Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor, he's OLD.

"Youth is no guarantee of innovation."

I am looking forward to the next Doctor, I do enjoy this series since my early childhood when I first came into contact with him through Tom Baker and those Zygons.

I am glad that I was able to infect my daughters with the same bug and it has helped them with their English as well.

Largo's Shark wrote:

bitchcraft wrote:

I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned anywhere but I'm not keen on Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor, he's OLD.

"Youth is no guarantee of innovation."

Indeed ... older was really the only way to go, the Doctor had been getting progressively 'younger' with each regeneration since the series returned (Eccleston was 41, Tennant 34, Smith 26) ... if they'd kept that up, we'd have ended up with a spotty teen. I think that as well as being a fantastic actor, one of the reasons the 55 year old Capaldi was cast was a deliberate nod to the anniversary (it's the same age William Hartnell was when the show started).

Personally, if Capaldi's casting means the show loses the sort of 'fans' who were only watching because they fancied Tennant/Smith ... gotta say I'm not that bothered.

One problem I find increasingly intrusive is that the Doctors innate quirkiness and eccentricity has become heavily scripted and deliberate, it lacks the natural fluidity that the first 4 or so doctors offered and is perhaps a symptom of casting a younger lead. I am hoping that Capaldi's age and statue will enable a return to a more organic character delivery, one where the actor is bringing more than just a reading to the screen.

I am also delighted that they are allowing Capaldi to retain his real accent, I always felt Tennant came across less than sincere with his affected cockneyisms and was instantly more engaging on the 'Who Confidentials' where he spoke with his native Scot's twang.

I wonder will they bother with any sort of 'explanation' for it along the lines of the Rose/Ninth Doctor exchange -

'If you're an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?'

'All planets have a North ... '.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

I wonder will they bother with any sort of 'explanation' for it along the lines of the Rose/Ninth Doctor exchange -

'If you're an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?'

'All planets have a North ... '.  

I always love the scene where the Merovingian tells Neo why he speaks with the French accent in Matrix Reloaded -

"I have sampled every language, French is my favourite. Fantastic language. Especially to curse with...{curses in French}...... It's like wiping your arse with silk. I love it!"

These are sentiments Capaldi in particular might sympathise with ^^

Of course the interesting factor here is what does the Doctor really speak, is all we hear the Tardis telepathic circuits having a bit of fun - now what can I make him sound like this time?