Capaldi is an actor with authority and gravitas and he showed it.
Some people have got used to zany wacky younger doctors such as Tenant and Smith, but Capaldi's doctor is far more dangerous and alien. He seemed to me to be a mixture of Pertwee and Tom Baker, and I enjoyed the change.
I loved Matt from his first episode. I'm loving Peter, too.
I guess I'm just weird.
You're not the only one. I loved Matt from the first time I saw him, and Peter looks like he's going to be as good, though it may take a bit longer. He was amazing toniight though, would like him to have been in it more, could have done with less of Clara & the gang.
Matt' s Doctor asking Clara to recognise and help Peter' s gave me what I felt was missing from the regeneration, some closure for Clara and for us. I loved Matt' s portrayal and I have high hopes for Peter's.
I thought that was lovely. I adore the idea that the last thing we see 11 do is say goodbye to Clara. This is the man who hates goodbyes but he does it because he knows she'll be scared. This episode confirmed Clara had been travelling with him 3 years and so really cements that bond. It makes a lot of sense too that whilst she doesn't quite trust 12 she gives him a chance because 11 asks her and she trusts him.
I like Peter fine thus far, but no I don't agree with the thrust of the OP that it's "obviously" a massive step up. Matt Smith deserves enormous credit for overturning a pretty mixed response to his casting in his first episode and to wind up being acclaimed by the end of his first series.
The more I rewatch Matt, the more utterly superb he becomes. He's not only got the charisma but could display every facet of the Doctor. He utterly nailed the 'too old and seen too much, hiding behind a daft facade'.
The more I rewatch Matt, the more utterly superb he becomes. He's not only got the charisma but could display every facet of the Doctor. He utterly nailed the 'too old and seen too much, hiding behind a daft facade'.
It's all very subjective of course, but I disagree with you on this.
I liked Matt Smith, as I've liked all the actors who played the doctor. But I thought he was one of the more limited actors to play the Doctor. Like Slyvestor McCoy, I thought Smith struggled to do his 'angry' and 'emotional' scenes and at times was guilty of over-acting. Nothing I've re-watched changes that.
But I guess we all need to draw a line under Smith's tenure, regardless what we thought of it, and focus on the 12th Doctor.
And I failed to understand why she was uncertain about him - after all, we had been led to understand that she had known all the previous Doctors.
She knew about the previous incarnations of the Doctor, of course, having saved them all at one time or another, but she had never actually witnessed a regeneration before - and that left her a bit shocked, I think. Also the only Doctor she had really had any sort of relationship with was Matt Smith, and to find his replacement so different must have been disquieting.
Capaldi is an actor with authority and gravitas and he showed it.
Some people have got used to zany wacky younger doctors such as Tenant and Smith, but Capaldi's doctor is far more dangerous and alien. He seemed to me to be a mixture of Pertwee and Tom Baker, and I enjoyed the change.
Exactly the same mix for me as well. I like the colder edge to his char.
People forget that in Tennant's 1st ep he was hardly in it at all and with regards the regen manic/ confusion this is norm for us who have watched the old episodes... remember when Colin Bakers regen went tits up and he tried to strangle Peri?
Is it possible that because a lot of people had reservations about Matt Smith for being too young, that the fact that he was good really impressed everyone, but now the reverse is in effect for Capaldi?
In that because he's such a renowned actor who everyone expects to be amazing, and due to his performance being mostly either scattershot due to post regeneration or drastically more mellow than we expected, everyone isn't quite as wowed?
She knew about the previous incarnations of the Doctor, of course, having saved them all at one time or another, but she had never actually witnessed a regeneration before - and that left her a bit shocked, I think. Also the only Doctor she had really had any sort of relationship with was Matt Smith, and to find his replacement so different must have been disquieting.
Yet Sarah Jane Smith recognised different Doctors - so surely Clara should have done?
Exactly the same mix for me as well. I like the colder edge to his char.
I think that's the subjective part - I don't. I think it's overused and it's dull. I prefer the juxtaposition to this very old, very important, very big man who could understandably be too detached to care if his companion is afraid or not. But 11 did care and I liked that. It was interesting. The fact 12 didn't made him the Sherlock like detached 'hero' and it's a bit dull to me.
Is it possible that because a lot of people had reservations about Matt Smith for being too young, that the fact that he was good really impressed everyone, but now the reverse is in effect for Capaldi?
I definitely think there's been a bit of that. Capaldi was way over hyped and couldn't possibly live up to the expectations (not that he was bad at all!)
Yet Sarah Jane Smith recognised different Doctors - so surely Clara should have done?
She knows it's him. She's very aware. She's also just come out of that Christmas episode where an awful lot has happened to her in a very short time and she's grieving a man she was exceptionally close to. It was more shock that not understanding.
1) To reassure viewers as much as Clara, that Capaldi may be different but he is still the Doctor. He is SO different from Matt that I do actually think this was necessary. We didn't need any references back to David when Matt took over because he instantly fell into the role; he wasn't too dissimilar from David and by the end of the episode he made it clear, 'I AM THE DOCTOR.'
2) To give closure to Clara and Matt. Matt regenerated so quickly that they never had an opportunity to say goodbye. This was their time.
Yet Sarah Jane Smith recognised different Doctors - so surely Clara should have done?
That isn't what I meant. She does recognise different Doctors. She knows what has happened to him, but she has never witnessed a regeneration before and the experience shocked her, as did the fact that the man she now knows as the Doctor is so different from his predecessor. Hence Matt Smith's cameo to reassure her that he is still the same character at heart.
1) To reassure viewers as much as Clara, that Capaldi may be different but he is still the Doctor. He is SO different from Matt that I do actually think this was necessary. We didn't need any references back to David when Matt took over because he instantly fell into the role; he wasn't too dissimilar from David and by the end of the episode he made it clear, 'I AM THE DOCTOR.'
2) To give closure to Clara and Matt. Matt regenerated so quickly that they never had an opportunity to say goodbye. This was their time.
I think Capaldi will knock Matt of top spot as my favourite Doctor he IS the Doctor.
All incarnations, for me, have been The Doctor, yes, even John Hurt's portrayal so I didn't need any reassurance and wonder do viewers really need reassurance?
You're obviously talking rubbish. Peter (on limited evidence) seems great....and very different (as expected) from Matt. To be a 'step up' he'd have to be at least on a par with T. Baker and Troughton, the only other Doctor's at Matt's level....and it's far too early for a definitive judgement on that.
All apologies to Matt and his fans, but OP is right. Capaldi knocked it out of the park. His approach to the Doctor is much more to my taste than Matt's was, and I found him fully convincing throughout. I am completely in favour of his moresubdued performance -- the Doctor doesn't always need to be full of manic energy, and it gets exhausting and irritating when he is constantly like that. A subtler performance is often much more nuanced and captivating, and I think this is what Capaldi provides. Although I grew to like Matt a lot, he never became one of my favourites and I really think he struggled in his early episodes, whereas Capaldi instantly embodied the part, from the first glimpse of his eyes in Day of the Doctor.
Again, sorry Matt -- you did a great job, and will be missed, but Capaldi is pretty much my ideal Doctor.
A subtler performance is often much more nuanced and captivating, and I think this is what Capaldi provides.
I don't think he's subtler. I think he's quieter. I think 11 had a huge amount going on beneath that exuberant surface whereas 12 is more in your face with who and what he is. Possibly why I haven't found him as interesting from what I've seen so far - there are fewer layers to this version of the character as yet.
You're obviously talking rubbish. Peter (on limited evidence) seems great....and very different (as expected) from Matt. To be a 'step up' he'd have to be at least on a par with T. Baker and Troughton, the only other Doctor's at Matt's level....and it's far too early for a definitive judgement on that.
All incarnations, for me, have been The Doctor, yes, even John Hurt's portrayal so I didn't need any reassurance and wonder do viewers really need reassurance?
It was a big change not in terms of looks or age but personality as well, we saw the Doctor become so human, John Hurt's Doctor made fun of that, and he gave up 800 years of his life to save the people of Christmas and this one seems to put that aside.
I felt sorry for the Doctor because of 11's call, it was for the audience more so than Clara...it's going to be different but it's still him.
Peter's acting was great but the script was shockingly bad, didn't like The Time of the Doctor either.
I thought that was lovely. I adore the idea that the last thing we see 11 do is say goodbye to Clara. This is the man who hates goodbyes but he does it because he knows she'll be scared. This episode confirmed Clara had been travelling with him 3 years and so really cements that bond. It makes a lot of sense too that whilst she doesn't quite trust 12 she gives him a chance because 11 asks her and she trusts him.
The more I rewatch Matt, the more utterly superb he becomes. He's not only got the charisma but could display every facet of the Doctor. He utterly nailed the 'too old and seen too much, hiding behind a daft facade'.
I have found that too. I've rewatched basically all his episodes and as much as I adored David from the instant he was on screen and still think for me, he is and will always be THE doctor. I've grown to love Matt just as much. He's charming and charismatic and his Doctor was so much fun. I loved everything about him. From his mannerisms to his cool bow tie. I loved how he made the doctor fun and how he made the doctor seem like he was having fun. It seemed that he was enjoying every second of being the doctor and as a fan I couldn't help buy enjoy but get caught up in that and enjoy every second of watching him be the doctor.
On first watch I have to say I didn't actually rate him much until his second second series and was close to giving up watching. The whole pandorica thing was IMHO just a ridiculous shambles. But now. I adore him. He was a cracking Doctor.
Capaldi has, in my opinion got some massive shoes to fill. And I'm positive he has the talent to do that. Whilst right now for me the jury is out. I fully expect my opinion (well, hope) to have changed by the end of the series by which time I hope I adore him just as I have the last two Doctors (I say two simple because Christ wasn't around long enough for me to form an opinion). But this Doctor is a man who has lost himself. He spent hundreds of years fighting a war and thinking he would die, at trenzalore fighting that war. He's a man who has lost who he is because centuries have been spent at war, not doing what the doctor does, travelling. Never staying in one place. Meeting people and seeing things. Saving worlds. That which made the essence of the doctor went, he finally stayed somewhere. Trying to save a town and his people. Only now he's got another chance. A chance to right the wrongs he feels he has done. He has a whole new chance to live another life he never thought he would have and obviously that is to be taken very seriously.
I loved Matt from his first episode. I'm loving Peter, too.
I guess I'm just weird.
I did too, and he was great in his first series. Unfortunately it all went downhill from series 6 onwards and I was sooo glad to see the back of him. When he appeared tonight I even said out loud 'oh, **** off, Matt!'
I have found that too. I've rewatched basically all his episodes and as much as I adored David from the instant he was on screen and still think for me, he is and will always be THE doctor. I've grown to love Matt just as much. He's charming and charismatic and his Doctor was so much fun. I loved everything about him. From his mannerisms to his cool bow tie. I loved how he made the doctor fun and how he made the doctor seem like he was having fun. It seemed that he was enjoying every second of being the doctor and as a fan I couldn't help buy enjoy but get caught up in that and enjoy every second of watching him be the doctor.
I just loved how he mixed fun and someone who was just looking to explore for the excitement with someone underneath who was very weary and very scared of loss. Matt has a lot of natural charm and that really exudes through his character on screen. When you pull apart the layers of his Doctor he's a fascinating and sympathetic character.
Personally I put the new Doctors in the order 11, 9, 10, 12. Mostly because 10 went a bit wrong during the specials and his departure imo. 12 is obviously only based on the first part of the series. Might change by the end but he really has grabbed me as the previous ones did.
But this Doctor is a man who has lost himself. He spent hundreds of years fighting a war and thinking he would die, at trenzalore fighting that war. He's a man who has lost who he is because centuries have been spent at war. Trying to save a town and his people. Only now he's got another chance. A chance to right the wrongs he feels he has done. He had a whole new chance and obviously that will be something to be taken very seriously.
I really hope they play up on that because it would make sense and it would certainly be interesting (although so far any aspect of that is absent from what I've read). 12 is a vastly different character from the last 3 and not in a good way much of the time. I actually feel from what I've read and seen so far that he's a lesser man particularly when it comes to caring about individuals. I hope he comes to realise that his mistake was allowing himself to become so cold.
Comments
Capaldi is an actor with authority and gravitas and he showed it.
Some people have got used to zany wacky younger doctors such as Tenant and Smith, but Capaldi's doctor is far more dangerous and alien. He seemed to me to be a mixture of Pertwee and Tom Baker, and I enjoyed the change.
You're not the only one. I loved Matt from the first time I saw him, and Peter looks like he's going to be as good, though it may take a bit longer. He was amazing toniight though, would like him to have been in it more, could have done with less of Clara & the gang.
Take that back! Clara's Theme is beautiful!
I thought that was lovely. I adore the idea that the last thing we see 11 do is say goodbye to Clara. This is the man who hates goodbyes but he does it because he knows she'll be scared. This episode confirmed Clara had been travelling with him 3 years and so really cements that bond. It makes a lot of sense too that whilst she doesn't quite trust 12 she gives him a chance because 11 asks her and she trusts him.
The more I rewatch Matt, the more utterly superb he becomes. He's not only got the charisma but could display every facet of the Doctor. He utterly nailed the 'too old and seen too much, hiding behind a daft facade'.
Me too.
It's all very subjective of course, but I disagree with you on this.
I liked Matt Smith, as I've liked all the actors who played the doctor. But I thought he was one of the more limited actors to play the Doctor. Like Slyvestor McCoy, I thought Smith struggled to do his 'angry' and 'emotional' scenes and at times was guilty of over-acting. Nothing I've re-watched changes that.
But I guess we all need to draw a line under Smith's tenure, regardless what we thought of it, and focus on the 12th Doctor.
She knew about the previous incarnations of the Doctor, of course, having saved them all at one time or another, but she had never actually witnessed a regeneration before - and that left her a bit shocked, I think. Also the only Doctor she had really had any sort of relationship with was Matt Smith, and to find his replacement so different must have been disquieting.
Exactly the same mix for me as well. I like the colder edge to his char.
People forget that in Tennant's 1st ep he was hardly in it at all and with regards the regen manic/ confusion this is norm for us who have watched the old episodes... remember when Colin Bakers regen went tits up and he tried to strangle Peri?
In that because he's such a renowned actor who everyone expects to be amazing, and due to his performance being mostly either scattershot due to post regeneration or drastically more mellow than we expected, everyone isn't quite as wowed?
Yet Sarah Jane Smith recognised different Doctors - so surely Clara should have done?
I think that's the subjective part - I don't. I think it's overused and it's dull. I prefer the juxtaposition to this very old, very important, very big man who could understandably be too detached to care if his companion is afraid or not. But 11 did care and I liked that. It was interesting. The fact 12 didn't made him the Sherlock like detached 'hero' and it's a bit dull to me.
I definitely think there's been a bit of that. Capaldi was way over hyped and couldn't possibly live up to the expectations (not that he was bad at all!)
She knows it's him. She's very aware. She's also just come out of that Christmas episode where an awful lot has happened to her in a very short time and she's grieving a man she was exceptionally close to. It was more shock that not understanding.
1) To reassure viewers as much as Clara, that Capaldi may be different but he is still the Doctor. He is SO different from Matt that I do actually think this was necessary. We didn't need any references back to David when Matt took over because he instantly fell into the role; he wasn't too dissimilar from David and by the end of the episode he made it clear, 'I AM THE DOCTOR.'
2) To give closure to Clara and Matt. Matt regenerated so quickly that they never had an opportunity to say goodbye. This was their time.
That isn't what I meant. She does recognise different Doctors. She knows what has happened to him, but she has never witnessed a regeneration before and the experience shocked her, as did the fact that the man she now knows as the Doctor is so different from his predecessor. Hence Matt Smith's cameo to reassure her that he is still the same character at heart.
All incarnations, for me, have been The Doctor, yes, even John Hurt's portrayal so I didn't need any reassurance and wonder do viewers really need reassurance?
Again, sorry Matt -- you did a great job, and will be missed, but Capaldi is pretty much my ideal Doctor.
The Matt phone call was quite emotional, really great touch.
I don't think he's subtler. I think he's quieter. I think 11 had a huge amount going on beneath that exuberant surface whereas 12 is more in your face with who and what he is. Possibly why I haven't found him as interesting from what I've seen so far - there are fewer layers to this version of the character as yet.
Um no I am stating my opinion so get over it.
Matt was terrible imo
It was a big change not in terms of looks or age but personality as well, we saw the Doctor become so human, John Hurt's Doctor made fun of that, and he gave up 800 years of his life to save the people of Christmas and this one seems to put that aside.
I felt sorry for the Doctor because of 11's call, it was for the audience more so than Clara...it's going to be different but it's still him.
Peter's acting was great but the script was shockingly bad, didn't like The Time of the Doctor either.
I have found that too. I've rewatched basically all his episodes and as much as I adored David from the instant he was on screen and still think for me, he is and will always be THE doctor. I've grown to love Matt just as much. He's charming and charismatic and his Doctor was so much fun. I loved everything about him. From his mannerisms to his cool bow tie. I loved how he made the doctor fun and how he made the doctor seem like he was having fun. It seemed that he was enjoying every second of being the doctor and as a fan I couldn't help buy enjoy but get caught up in that and enjoy every second of watching him be the doctor.
On first watch I have to say I didn't actually rate him much until his second second series and was close to giving up watching. The whole pandorica thing was IMHO just a ridiculous shambles. But now. I adore him. He was a cracking Doctor.
Capaldi has, in my opinion got some massive shoes to fill. And I'm positive he has the talent to do that. Whilst right now for me the jury is out. I fully expect my opinion (well, hope) to have changed by the end of the series by which time I hope I adore him just as I have the last two Doctors (I say two simple because Christ wasn't around long enough for me to form an opinion). But this Doctor is a man who has lost himself. He spent hundreds of years fighting a war and thinking he would die, at trenzalore fighting that war. He's a man who has lost who he is because centuries have been spent at war, not doing what the doctor does, travelling. Never staying in one place. Meeting people and seeing things. Saving worlds. That which made the essence of the doctor went, he finally stayed somewhere. Trying to save a town and his people. Only now he's got another chance. A chance to right the wrongs he feels he has done. He has a whole new chance to live another life he never thought he would have and obviously that is to be taken very seriously.
I'm off for a rewatch of Deep breath now.
I did too, and he was great in his first series. Unfortunately it all went downhill from series 6 onwards and I was sooo glad to see the back of him. When he appeared tonight I even said out loud 'oh, **** off, Matt!'
I just loved how he mixed fun and someone who was just looking to explore for the excitement with someone underneath who was very weary and very scared of loss. Matt has a lot of natural charm and that really exudes through his character on screen. When you pull apart the layers of his Doctor he's a fascinating and sympathetic character.
Personally I put the new Doctors in the order 11, 9, 10, 12. Mostly because 10 went a bit wrong during the specials and his departure imo. 12 is obviously only based on the first part of the series. Might change by the end but he really has grabbed me as the previous ones did.
I really hope they play up on that because it would make sense and it would certainly be interesting (although so far any aspect of that is absent from what I've read). 12 is a vastly different character from the last 3 and not in a good way much of the time. I actually feel from what I've read and seen so far that he's a lesser man particularly when it comes to caring about individuals. I hope he comes to realise that his mistake was allowing himself to become so cold.