Thread: A new Doctor

For those who haven't heard yet, BBC has announced that Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who. You have seen his final season. He'll still be in the 50th anniversary special and the Christmas special, but then will undergo another regeneration. Apparently no one has been chosen yet to play the next Doctor.

Is this good or bad new in your opinion? While Smith is not my favorite Doctor, neither was he all that bad. I just hope they can find someone who can carry on the tradition properly.

If you had your choice, who would you pick to play the Doctor? Should they stay with a younger Doctor or go older, or maybe even possibly female? Should he/she finally be a ginger?

I preferred Tennant, but I thought Smith was really endearing.

My choice; Benedict Cumberbatch. He could make for a good, slightly darker, Doctor.

Also, what was up with the "New Doctor" at the end of the last season? That really confused me.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

I preferred Tennant, but I thought Smith was really endearing.

My choice; Benedict Cumberbatch. He could make for a good, slightly darker, Doctor.

Also, what was up with the "New Doctor" at the end of the last season? That really confused me.

My guess is that he is an earlier incarnation of the Doctor, from before we first meet him. (Nothing says that the man we call the "first Doctor" has to actually be the first Doctor.)

Some people have theorized that he is an incarnation that occurs between the "8th" and "9th" Doctor, and is actually the one who caused the end of the Time Lord's. I don't like this theory, As in the episode, the current Doctor calls him "his secret". Since the Doctor has made no bones about his role in this, how can this be his secret?

Others have put forward the idea that he is the Valeyard, an amalgamation of the Doctor made from future incarnations use by the high council as the court prosecutor in the 6th Doctor storyline "The Trail of a Time lord". But again, this is not a secret.

I would be disappointed if this "secret" turns out to something already revealed or known about the Doctor's past.

The scripts for the last series have been generally bland and uninspiring. A major improvement is required, or interest will start to fade. Mine is - and I've been a fan since the first episode.

Some of the papers are suggesting that Rory Kinnear is the front runner to be the new doctor, not sure whether that will work out or not.

How about a woman doctor for a change? Helena Bonham Carter? Emma Thomson?

Originally Posted by John Galt

The scripts for the last series have been generally bland and uninspiring. A major improvement is required, or interest will start to fade. Mine is - and I've been a fan since the first episode.

I agree completely.

Further more, I think they should suspend the programme without identifying the next doctor, and only re-start it after they have found a good lead scriptwriter.

RTD was not always good - but when he was, he was great.
Unfortunatey Steven Moffat has been a consistent disappointment.

There was an unspoken rule (kinda) that no-one on Doctor Who ever said "Doctor who?".
This has been going on since the beginning.
But since Moffat took over, ever character seems to try and say it as often as possible - to the point where groups of people are repeatedly shouting it out.
I read in to this Moffat's lack of interest in the history of DW.
It feels like he's just there for his own selfish reasons and cares little about any DW ethos.

On top of that, he can't seem to write a decent story.
His monsters can be good - but his stories have more plot-holes than Prometheus.
And don't get me started on his character development....

Anyway...rant over.

Originally Posted by RedPanda

There was an unspoken rule (kinda) that no-one on Doctor Who ever said "Doctor who?".
This has been going on since the beginning.

That question was asked in the very first episode - and it was planned that he would be referred to as "Doctor Who" throughout that series, though that idea was dropped.

Yeah that Dalek pic just reminded me, in case anyone's missed the announcement Peter Capaldi has been unveiled as the next and 12th Doctor Who.

BBC News - Doctor Who: Peter Capaldi revealed as 12th Doctor

Is it only me who thinks that if Boris Johnson could act....

Anyone similar to that? I haven't really gotten the Doctor I was hoping for from what I imagined from some of the books.

Originally Posted by KALSTER

Is it only me who thinks that if Boris Johnson could act....

He would make for a good comedy actor, and it's more likely than him becoming Prime Minister. I think he did some history documentries before becoming the Mayor of London, he's also done a few spots on comedy shows like "Have I got news for you".

Originally Posted by KALSTER

Anyone similar to that? I haven't really gotten the Doctor I was hoping for from what I imagined from some of the books.

I liked Christopher Eccleston, he seemed to fit the bill well but David Tennant and Matt Smith seemed to play him as almost slapstick at times.

I still haven't gotten over Tennant leaving.

Not being British, I don't know what is really going on behind the scenes of Doctor Who or who is more or less likely to be cast (I have never even heard of the new entrant), but I would certainly like to see a less put-together doctor. Having only seen Boris Johnson on Top Gear, I do like his on-screen personality. I'd love to see a sort of disheveled doctor for a change of pace.

Oh, and what you said about the writing was spot on. It's fallen off a bit. Some of the Tennant episodes were the best sci-fi I've seen in years. There was a lot of really good chemistry going on at that point.

Ah. Also never heard of this guy before. Opinions? What kind of Doctor do you expect him to be?

So much for Boris. "Dishevelled"; just what I'm looking for.

PS: Really loving Jenna Coleman! Hope she stays for a while.

If you check out the video clip from post 9 you can see him in action, can't imagine him getting away with quite so much swearing though in Dr Who.

My suggested Doctors:

Nick Frost
Warwick Davis
Martin Clunes


or
Vinnie Jones

David walliams would have made a cool Dr Who if he could have played it reasonably straight without his usual level of comedy.

Warwick Davis as the Doctor. Now THAT could be interesting.

Karl Pilkington? (kidding)

Originally Posted by RedPanda

My suggested Doctors:

Nick Frost
Warwick Davis
Martin Clunes


or
Vinnie Jones

Love Nick Frost. Can't wait for the new Cornetto movie!

Warwick Davis - Will be something different. Sure he'll be able to pull it off.

Martin Clunes - Haven't seen him for a while. Would have been poetic for him to be a quirky Doctor of another sort, with Hugh Laurie doing the House thing.

Vinnie Jones - Hahaha, just imagine him slamming the baddies heads in the TARDIS' door!


Edit: How about Stephen Fry?

Steven Fry would be superb. Bring back Jack as his love interest.

Or is that too progressive for US viewers?

Originally Posted by KALSTER

Edit: How about Stephen Fry?

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Steven Fry would be superb.

He is in my top 10 suggested doctors also.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Bring back Jack as his love interest.
Or is that too progressive for US viewers?

LOL

As long as the writing is done well, whoever they get to play the doctor would be OK I think. It is the writing of the show that makes it what it is no matter who plays Who.

Would it be too weird to suggest Simon Pegg? I find him eminently likeable and genuinely funny. Or is he too Hollywood now?

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Would it be too weird to suggest Simon Pegg? I find him eminently likeable and genuinely funny. Or is he too Hollywood now?

When I thought of Nick Frost I (obviously) considered Simon Pegg as well - but I decided his 'character' is a bit too wishy-washy.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Would it be too weird to suggest Simon Pegg? I find him eminently likeable and genuinely funny. Or is he too Hollywood now?

As funny as he is, I tend to think he can do just about anything. I think he is a genuinely good actor as well. Pretty sure he'd nail it.

I had honestly never thought of Steven Fry as Doctor Who before. The more I think about it, the more I like the character. He's the perfect conflict of stuffy and mischievous all rolled into one. He would offer a refresher from the recent physical comedy of the Doctor, which I feel the writers have relied upon a bit too much.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

I had honestly never thought of Steven Fry as Doctor Who before. The more I think about it, the more I like the character. He's the perfect conflict of stuffy and mischievous all rolled into one. He would offer a refresher from the recent physical comedy of the Doctor, which I feel the writers have relied upon a bit too much.

Exactly. And more in line with how I imagined him before I started watching the show.

Well I watched the new Dr. Who last night and went to sleep whle doing so. That says allot about this new Dr. Who, to bad it wasn't written very well for the actors did their best to make the best of a bad thing.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

the actors did their best to make the best of a bad thing.

Which pretty much sums up Doctor Who since RTD relinquished the helm, imo.

Originally Posted by RedPanda

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

the actors did their best to make the best of a bad thing.

Which pretty much sums up Doctor Who since RTD relinquished the helm, imo.

I won't be watching it for it just isn't the same "feeling" as with the oldser Dr. Who shows were like at all. They simply destroyed the central core of the show to me.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Well I watched the new Dr. Who last night and went to sleep whle doing so. That says allot about this new Dr. Who, to bad it wasn't written very well for the actors did their best to make the best of a bad thing.

Which "new Doctor Who" did you watch?

I watched the #7 Dr. die on the operating table and #8 regenerate with the Master being introduced as a snake which takes over other people bodies.

That wasn't a new Dr., that was the 1996 Dr Who television movie, wasn't it?

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

I watched the #7 Dr. die on the operating table and #8 regenerate with the Master being introduced as a snake which takes over other people bodies.

Er, the 7th doctor's last episode was shown in 1996 - hardly new. (Colin Baker -and he died in the morgue, not on an operating table).
The 8th doctor (McGann) was the doctor for that FILM only, also '96.

"New" Dr. Who is from Ecclestone - 2005 - onwards.

In addition to what the last 2 posts said, the 1996 Doctor Who was a made for TV movie put out by the Fox network. It was meant to be the pilot for an American Doctor Who series( it didn't get high enough ratings). No one from the previous or present incarnation of the show was involved in it.

Oh, and to Dywyddyr, it was actually Sylvester McCoy who played the 7th Doctor, Collin Baker was the sixth.

Originally Posted by Janus

In addition to what the last 2 posts said, the 1996 Doctor Who was a made for TV movie put out by the Fox network. It was meant to be the pilot for an American Doctor Who series( it didn't get high enough ratings). No one from the previous or present incarnation of the show was involved in it.

But, for some reason, it is considered canon.
Why, I'll never know. Eric Roberts hammed it up horribly.

Oh, and to Dywyddyr, it was actually Sylvester McCoy who played the 7th Doctor, Collin Baker was the sixth.

Yup, my eye skipped one on the list.
Shoot me.

So then there's not going to be any more Dr. Who shows that anyone knows about that we will see here in America or anywhere for that matter?

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

So then there's not going to be any more Dr. Who shows that anyone knows about that we will see here in America or anywhere for that matter?

As far as I know BBC America shows the later ones - Ecclestone, Tennant, Smith.
And Smith returns this November (next month woohoo!) for the 50th anniversary special, then the Christmas special where he'll hand over to Capaldi.
There's no end in sight (or planned ¹) yet.

1 Lots of fan discussion on the sites about how theyy're going to get round the "13 incarnations" rule though. But note that ALL the talk is about how it's going to be done, not IF.

Yes, we FINALLY get up-to-date Doctor Who and Top Gear episodes here in America. Used to be they were aired a year late here, but we've caught up.

WHO is Dr. WHO?

Originally Posted by babe

WHO is Dr. WHO?

That is a secret.

Originally Posted by LuciDreaming

How about a woman doctor for a change? Helena Bonham Carter? Emma Thomson?

I concur with you. It is about time, pun intended, that a woman was given the chance to become the Dr.. My suggestion would be....

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

So then there's not going to be any more Dr. Who shows that anyone knows about that we will see here in America or anywhere for that matter?

In November there will be the 50th Anniversary special, followed in December by the Christmas special(in which the present Doctor will regenerate). Sometime after that will start the next season. There is also going to be a TV movie that will deal with the creation and filming of the show back in 1963. All of these will be available on BBC America.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Originally Posted by LuciDreaming

How about a woman doctor for a change? Helena Bonham Carter? Emma Thomson?

I concur with you. It is about time, pun intended, that a woman was given the chance to become the Dr..

While I agree that a woman Doctor could be interesting, I don't think that it is something that could be done for a long stretch. Being a time traveler, the Doctor does end up in the past on many occasions. Given that, sadly, women have not been held in high regard in much of our past, this would limit the Doctor's perceived authority in those eras.

While this might make for an intriguing twist at first, it would eventually become, if you'll excuse the pun, time-worn. As a result, I don't see a female Doctor lasting more than a season.

Even now there would be some people that would have trouble accepting a female Doctor.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Originally Posted by LuciDreaming

How about a woman doctor for a change? Helena Bonham Carter? Emma Thomson?

I concur with you. It is about time, pun intended, that a woman was given the chance to become the Dr.. My suggestion would be....*Angelina Jolie*

While I'd be open to a female Doctor at some point, Angelina Jolie would be among my least favourite options.

Emma Thompson on the other hand.....one of my favourite actresses. She can do quirky very well.

Alternatively, Eddie Izzard in drag.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Originally Posted by LuciDreaming

How about a woman doctor for a change? Helena Bonham Carter? Emma Thomson?

I concur with you. It is about time, pun intended, that a woman was given the chance to become the Dr.. My suggestion would be....

I'd guess that if that happened there'd be far more fans outraged by the introduction of a non-Brit actor to play the role than there would be over the fact that the Dr. is now female.
And I'd side with them.
Dr. Who is, was, and always should be, quintessentially British.

As an American, I must say I would be massively disappointed if the Doctor were a non-UK native.

Originally Posted by KALSTER

Originally Posted by babe

WHO is Dr. WHO?

That is a secret.

Brat!

The Doctor's name is never said, except by River Song, and no one could hear her when she said it.

Originally Posted by babe

WHO is Dr. WHO?

I know this makes me sound like a bit of a, to use a British word, anorak. But it's not Dr., it's Doctor.

And it's The Doctor.

Then you all need to be consistent!! Some have called it Dr. and other times Doctor, and other times the Doctor!

I need a little consistency here!

Originally Posted by Ascended

F**K! F***ING B***ARD C***ING BBC and their b***ard f***ing copyright claims.

I wanted some f***ing Malcolm f***ing Tucker!


*edit* I forgot why I was going to post here:

Apparently the son of guy who "invented" the TARDIS is grabbing all the money and attention he can get in time for the 50th, by claiming the BBC are now breaching "his" copyright.

Story here.

You know this guy's a patent troll because he's patently trolling.