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BBC – Blogs – Doctor Who – Peter Capaldi begins filming on Doctor Who.
People who know me know I like the BBC sci-fi television show called Doctor Who, so I’ve been getting a lot of questions as to what I think of the Doctor’s newest regeneration from young actor Matt Smith into the older, more seasoned Peter Capaldi. To answer that question, let me go back a bit.
I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who since I was 12 years old.
For those of us living in America, that’s a pretty rare thing. There are a lot of us out there, but I didn’t actually meet another fan of the show until I was grown and teaching high school drama. The counselor at the school was chatting with me, and somehow, the subject came up. He was a huge fan himself. This conversation came a little before the new series of Doctor Who premiered on BBC in 2005. I was beside myself with excitement that the show was coming back, but no one around me had any clue what I was talking about. And that poster in my office with a big blue box floating in space…or the poster of a weird looking guy with crazy hair, a wickedly long scarf, and a metal dog….??? Yeah, no one got that at all.
My, how things have changed.
I will always adore the classic series, cheese and all. It’s no secret that my favorite Doctor is the very first one I ever encountered: Doctor #4, played so brilliantly and unforgettably by Tom Baker. With his quirky manner, amazing costumes, and clever humor, he captured my middle school heart. But this new series has been amazing in its own right. The new Doctor Who has exploded all over the world, and I credit Christopher Eccleston’s brief Doctor #9, David Tennett’s performance as Doctor #10…and most influentially…Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor with opening the show up to millions of younger American viewers.
That being said, a lot of newer viewers to Doctor Who have balked at the idea of this new, “old” Doctor about to take over the reins. Yes, Matt Smith was the youngest actor to ever play the Doctor. When he took over from David Tennett (and mind you, it took me a little while to warm up to David as 10), I had a really hard time at first. Why is the Doctor so young??? Why is there all this weird, relationship/sexual tension going on all the time with all his companions? Why the heck does he have a wife????
But it all grew on me. Sure, I’ve had problems with plots and characters. Who doesn’t on any show that runs so long? But Matt Smith did an excellent job, and I think most of us who were used to older, more removed and aloft Doctors fell in love with Doctor #11 just as much as the new fanboys/girls he created with his performance.
I was very sad to see him go.
But….
I am excited to see where the show will go with a much different Doctor on board the TARDIS. I’ve read all the interviews with Steven Moffat, and I know they are going to get rid of a lot of elements that fluffed up the show. I sense they are ready for a change in the Doctor’s character and relationships, and I am as well. Sure, I think it will take a little getting used to, having such a major change from Matt to Peter. And it may feel a little weird at first. But for those of us that are long-time fans of the show…that’s how it’s SUPPOSED to feel! So I say, take it away Peter Capaldi! I’m looking forward to series 8.