http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/smiths-...ants-56788.htm

I breathed a sigh of relief when I read that. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of a writer really exploring regeneration as being more than just ''Ooh, look at me, I've tripped over and got a new face! What am I like'' But I think RTD wen't slightly the wrong way about it, although the doctor finally treats regeneration as a big deal, which is a good thing, he implies he's being replaced, which is not a good thing, and as such the regeneration had a slightly overly depressing tone to it.

I actually enjoyed the Tennant regeneration until the terrible final line but RTD really pushed it to the limits of that sort of regeneration. Twenty ish minutes of it. Can't be repeated anytime soon so Moffat had to go in a different direction. And probably for the best. Of course Tennants regeneration had alot of subtext to it as well which made it more of a full stop before the rebirth. Matt Smith to Capaldi is less of a Year Zero moment and so should be about continuation not the end of something.

Oh no doubt, I'd actually have had no issue with DT's last line like if it was something like, ''I don't want to change'' or something that doesn't imply that he's actually being replaced.

Or in that infamous cafe scene with Wilf, something like, ''I become some new man, who goes sauntering away''. With both those alteration, the ep Still has that emotional subtext, without it seemingly breaking the fourth wall, or rewriting what goes on when the Doctor regenerates.

I'm thankful that the Doctor's upcoming regeneration won't be like his previous one, but not because I disliked anything about the last one. I think it's perfectly reasonable for David Tennant's Doctor (or any, for that matter) to not want to experience regeneration. After all, when it's over there's a new man in the old one's place, and while he may have all the memories, it's still a different person with a new personality and a different way of doing things.

That being said, his departure was emotionally exhausting, with sadness on top of sadness on top of sadness. Can anyone claim to have a dry eye watching Sarah Jane or Wilf look on as the Doctor left? I'll be plenty sad when Matt Smith's Doctor meets his end, and I certainly expect to see some reaction from Clara, but I don't want it to be quite so melodramatic.

I think those scenes and the final line actually reflect the tenths worst character flaw (and I mean an intentional flaw put there by RTD not bad writing) and that was his arrogance, he loved himself and those scenes, the waters of mars and the way he shouted at Wilf when he realised he was going to die all show that flaw off.

There was always a kindness and always the Doctor underneath but it was there and I think he struggled to control it and it was interesting to watch as he kept it under check…just

I agree, fwiw.

RTD had a love-in with the whole Tennant doc, and it seems like he wanted to do a Big Soap Story-line to sing that song (as the Ood might have it).

I'm not even complaining, in a way. It was what it was. And it was very emotional; you only need to look at some YT reaction vids to see that (and I like those, they are pure fan-love).

From that stuff the show has really pulled in an international audience. Some folks gripe about that, but it really should be a reason to celebrate.

I personally think that DT's regeneration scene(s) played it's part in some of the (continued) complaints from DTfangirls.

That said and done, on reflection, it was grand as a one off, as it was the new era's first regeneration. Excluding Eccleston's, as Doctor Who was still new in the eyes of the new generation to Who and they never really had a chance to connect with Eccleston's in that period.

Either way, I hated the final line too.

Why would anyone assume he'd repeat it to begin with?

A rather odd thing to have to clarify.

Although I enjoy his explanation of the type of ending Tennant had, gives some explanation to those who couldn't understand why the Doctor would be so sad about regeneration. He might not be dying in the basic sense, but he dies in many other ways.

It would be awful to explore that depressing side to it with every regeneration so it makes sense to make this one more humorous and casual. Especially because the show itself isn't going through such a drastic change as it did when Tennant left.

Well, good. Because I absolutely LOATHED that regeneration. I think the only one worse was the 'Bewigged McCoy to Unbewigged McCoy' of 1987.

Judging from your name, I think we know each other in another franchise... but then you only live twice

For the record, I loved Tennant's last line in the regeneration. It was perfect dramatically and emotionally.

I'm looking forward to it. Mr Smith is a good actor, just not as Doctor Who. Instead of carrying forward that air of gravitas that both Eccelestone and Tennant had invested in the character, he tossed it out and went for being light and silly.

I have great hopes for Peter Capaldi, who like Ecclestone, can 'do' that serious side, and make us believe that he's a man who has lived many life times, and fought in the Time War.

Tennant's departure was great from one particular perspective - we generally only get the Doctor's thoughts on regeneration as it happens, or after it happens ("oh, look at this new body, how different it is!") We never explored what it would be like to know that the body and personality you've come to be comfortable with is going to be ripped away from you.

To use a trivial analogy, people get attached to their cars, and are upset when they're damaged and have to be replaced, even though they themselves don't change.

He was silly because that's the way he was told to play it plus a major point behind his character was he finally put the Time War behind him so no matter how Capaldi plays it he won't be moping around about it

He was told? Interesting. I'd read interviews with Matt Smith where he stated that he thought the show was for 10 year-olds, and intended to gauge his perfromance accordingly.

I find it hard to understand why, if what you say is correct, the producers couldn't have continued the good thing they had going, with a sprinkling of silliness when a story allowed.

But he's a different Doctor a different personality and compared to some of the classic Doctors he is serious I'd put Troughton-Tom Baker and the first year or so of McCoy as much more silly than Matt's ever been

Yes, I'd agree that the above Doctors were much sillier, but that was then and this is now. What I mean is, Doctor Who after it returned from the wilderness that the awful Grade cast it into, was a different beast. Beginning with Ecclestone, it was a show that recognised there was a vast adult audience, who appreciated extra depth. Didn't mean there was no time for any fun, Ecclestone and Billy Piper gave us that too, and after a wobly start, so did Tennant. With Matt Smith, the Doctor seemed to revert to an earlier style, with far less depth, which was a pity. I believe that giving the role to Peter Capaldi signals that the producers now realise their error.

Personally, I think whilst Matt has been great at portraying the sillier, more eccentric side of the Doctor (The Lodger is currently my favourite 'comedic' performance by an actor in the role, overtaking Tom on charisma overload, and probably, allegedly, some, er, stronger stuff in City of Death.)

Can't agree with people who say he lacks 'gravitas', though. It's the fact that he can effortlessly switch from light-hearted to deadly serious or positively sinister that's made him such a superb Doctor.

(A few examples that spring to mind; The "Trust You? Really?" scene with River in 'The Impossible Astronaut'; The "Colonel Runaway" scene; The "Nobody HUMAN...." scene as far back as 'The Beast Below'; The "SIT DOWN!!!" scene in 'A Town Called Mercy.' The confrontation with Soloman in 'Dinosaurs...' Heck, the "Basically...run" scene in his debut.

Could go on...would argue there are such moments in the majority of his stories. IMHO anyway. Gravitas a-plenty for me.