The Oncoming Storm: Doctor Who (UK Pace)

OK, so I just have to say this, after having heard a little too much whining out there over people losing "their" Doctor. Although I haven't seen the Matt Smith version of the doctor yet, I absolutely love the fact that the Doctor changes. Yes, I loved DT's doctor. I loved CE's. I loved Four and Five, (Not so much Colin Baker's Six, I'll admit) and I've loved what I've seen of other versions as well. I'd be hard pressed to pick my favorite Doctor out of all of them. So maybe it's because I've been accustomed to the fact since I first started watching Who, in the early 80s, that the Doctor changes. In fact, I'd say that the changing makes the Doctor special. Because the Doctor is always in flux, he becomes a state of consciousness -- a set of beliefs or a core state of being -- rather than a specific being in and of itself. I love the idea that the Doctor could be anyone, at any time. He is the human consciousness (so to speak) made manifest. While each one of the actors have brought their own take and own personality quirks to the Doctor, the real "Doctor" is bigger than any of them. Do I think that the original show runners thought about tapping into the human condition as a state of consciousness when they first changed from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton? No, I think they were just trying to find their way around their star's aging. But in the process, I think they've really come up with something that has been vital to keeping the show and the concept of the Doctor alive well beyond the confines of any one person or TV show. (There. Glad I got that off my chest.)

I tend to liken it to the James Bond series. If you're a fan of the movies, you'll watch them all and you'll appreciate each of them and each of the Bonds on their own merit. Very often, though, fans will have a favorite Bond actor for whatever reason, and it's normal to say, "Well, he's no Sean Connery/Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan/Bond of your choice, but..." when reviewing the new movie to friends. I think it's a perfectly valid way of looking at that series, and I think it's an equally valid way of looking at Doctor Who. Everyone has their own preferences and everyone has their own way of looking at this character. However, I am inclined to agree with you, Namaste, about accepting the fact that the Doctor changes. I thought it was fascinating to watch how CE and DT approached the same situation as the same character from two different angles, and after having seen MS's first episode, I thought it was just as fascinating to have this third angle. I think that David left at just the right time, not only for his own career, but also for the growth of this character.

I guess I shouldn't phrase it as not having a "my Doctor," necessarily, or that people shouldn't have a favorite (though I can't possibly pick just one that represents all of them). It's just that I see it that each one adds some new element to the whole. The character becomes bigger because of what each actor brings -- rather than being limited by only one official definition of the Doctor.

I'm with you, Namaste. The very nature of the Doctor is change. I've been watching Doctor Who since the 1970s. If I had given up after, say, Tom Baker, it would have been sad and I would have missed so many good stories. I'm also a Sean Connery Bond fan, but I LOVE what Daniel Craig has brought to the role (and some of the others in between, others not so much). In terms of the reboot, I had a bit of a hard time post-Christopher Eccleston at first because Tennant's take on the role was so different. I was soon converted though and absolutely loved him. I thought Matt Smith did a great job last night. I think it will be fine. I'm totally loving Amy as well. I've grown very weary with all the hysterical mourning of DT on the interwebz. The dude didn't die, he just left his job. People who obsessively watch him over and over and can talk of nothing else. HE'S MOVED ON. YOU NEED TO AS WELL. AND IF YOU CAN'T, PLEASE DON'T BANG ON ABOUT IT ENDLESSLY EVERYWHERE I TURN. I'm literally about to unfriend people on Twitter, LJ, Facebook, etc. because they seem to only talk of one or two subjects. It's deeply boring and it makes me worry about their mental health. Of course, they can be as upset as they want, but I don't really need to hear about it daily. Does nothing else happen worth talking about in their lives? I'm sure something must, at least I hope so! /end of rant I know that sounds rude and cruel, but damn, it's a tv show. I'd rather have a Doctor Who that changes rather than no Doctor Who at all. David Tennant probably is my fave doctor of all time now, but I'm interested to see what comes next for the show.

I like what you say, Namaste, it makes sense. It's indeed a happy circumstance that the idea of regeneration worked out and the way it allows for new actors to play the same character. But for me personally, there's some essence of the character of the Doctor that follows through them all, and the best, deepest, most joyous representation of what I see as the Doctor was Tennant's. For my money, he nailed it and he's by far the best actor that's tackled the character: he brought tremendous range, humor and depth. His Doctor was even unlikeable and nearly mad as his hubris came to the forefront and then snapped back as he approached his end. Viewing the regeneration as an approaching, inevitable and real death was a new thing in the series and a very compelling character darkness we hadn't seen like that before. I wish we'd had a year of Tennant-Moffat, because Moffat is such an interesting writer. He's the best sci-fi writer in the Dr. Who group, his plots are ingenious and resolve more completely, more logically than RTD's. But, professionally, it was probably right for Tennant to move on when he did. I am a bit surprised by the backlash now after he was so lionized after the series ended. People seem to be liking Smith's debut but along with that there's a lot of disparaging of Tennant. Sigh. Anyway, it's Moffat's participation in the latest series that gets my interest most. I like Matt Smith so far, but his interpretation seems based on his personal, exaggerated quirkiness more than the Doctor's character, though I expect that will fit together much better as the series go on. Anyway, I liked him and enjoyed the series much more than I thought I would. Like the Ood said, one song is over but the story continues. ETA: fffaw, I think that the ending of the Tennant series was written to be very involving, to be experienced as the character's real death, so I know I got way invested in looking at it as such. And so there was a bit of a grieving process to go through. Of course, he is a fictional character, and now he's back with a new persona, so the grieving is long over and Tennant has long since moved on. Just have a soft spot for that character and those shows. *sniff*

but along with that there's a lot of disparaging of Tennant. Sigh. Really? That sucks. I can't imagine why anyone would do that - he was terrific in the role. I have absolutely no problem with him. My issue is with the fans who act like Tennant moving on is the equivalent of a global disaster. I haven't seen any DT backlash but its definitely not deserved.

I've grown very weary with all the hysterical mourning of DT on the interwebz. The dude didn't die, he just left his job. People who obsessively watch him over and over and can talk of nothing else. HE'S MOVED ON. YOU NEED TO AS WELL. AND IF YOU CAN'T, PLEASE DON'T BANG ON ABOUT IT ENDLESSLY EVERYWHERE I TURN. And he didn't just leave his job; he left it of his own accord on his own schedule in the way that he wanted. David was not forced out, and yet some people react as though he was fired and Moffat and Smith orchestrated some master coup. I understand a mourning period because, as others have said, the end of Ten's time was very involved and emotional and Ten was so well-loved, but the character himself did not die. He lives on in Eleven. And as for David, he's, well, everywhere (Hamlet, PBS, 28 April, check your local listings :wink: ). I, personally, may not ever NOT cry when Ten utters, "I don't want to go," and I'll follow Tennant's career rabidly, but it's certainly time we accepted Eleven as the Doctor.

the best, deepest, most joyous representation of what I see as the Doctor was Tennant's. I liked a lot about Tennant's approach, but for me the best, single moment in the series was the whole "everybody lives!" scene with CE's Doctor in "The Doctor Dances." (Not coincidentally written by Moffat, which is one reason why I'm so looking forward to his take on the character.) Having seen the Doctor in various incarnations witness death and destruction continually, the sheer joy of that moment -- brought together with the weight of CE's Doctor and what he'd witnesses in the Time Wars, the place he was at in the immediate aftermath of that and just beginning to live again himself -- that was the character in its essence, to me. Not just joy, but joy combined with "just this once." The knowledge that it's so infrequent.

I cheered during "everybody lives" and bawled my eyes out during "I don't want to go" With Moffat at the helm, I feel its pretty safe that Matt Smith will grow into the role and have his own defining moment. Boff - I'm sure you're seen DT in Casanova, right? He's a delight in that. :-) Does anyone know definitively if "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer" was picked up or not?

Loved "The Doctor Dances" and CE's "And so was I" at the end. He was lovely and very different from any other doctor. But then DT had me at "Barcelona" and got the whole character so completely. A Tennant-Moffat season would have been brilliant, but who knows, maybe there will be a movie someday. I'd like a bit of McGann to start with the regeneration to CE then a bit of CE's Time War that connects to The End of Time, jumping ahead to DT that we didn't see, and along the wasy guests Davison and Baker. Dreams!!! Oh and yes, I loved Casanova, Blackpool, Recovery, his bit in Harry Potter and lots of other parts he has done. DT is a total delight. Rex is still on the shelf. Who knows what NBC will do! In the meantime, DT is signed up for a 4-part BBC series called Single Father and something else, I think. Can't wait to see what he does next. CE is playing John Lennon in a new project.

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