Though The Doctor has been through a number of incarnations since the television show debuted 50 years ago, the announcement that Matt Smith is stepping down, once again has the Intardwebz in a kerfuffle. But the prospect of the How and Why and What Happens Next should be a bigger draw than that bemoan the fact that change is occurring…right?
Stephen Schleicher
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
19 Comments
Not really, I was finally warming up to Matt Smith as the new Doctor, plus John Hurt will forever be the evil Prime Minister from V from Vendetta in my eyes…
I really think casting a well known actor as the Doctor is a bad move, I feel it’s detrimental to the character.
Scholar Question (Mathew?)
The first Doctor – is he in the body he was born in or is he the first regeneration?
Unless there’s been a retcon I wasn’t aware of (or, if you interpret “The Brain Of Morbius” a certain way), the First Doctor is the FIRST Doctor. But, they could change that, easily, given the impetus.
I believe in ‘Nightmare in Silver’ the Cyber Planner notes that the Doctor is the eleventh incarnation, as well, seemingly re-affirming the numbering.
And i am totally exited!
Not really, since I’m afraid they’ll have to reboot something else I enjoyed about Classic Who and find some ridiculous work-around for the regeneration limit or drop it altogether. Either way, it’ll feel like another “we’re fixing this lame thing from the old show” occasion that misses the point of what made the old show so good. So even if they hire a great actor & use a great hook, it’ll still feel blech.
@ Praion
It was the first incarnation of The Doctor, prior to his first regeneration. (source BBC profile of the Doctor)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009x51p/profiles/the-first-doctor
I said yes, but I just want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Smith’s tenure, just as I enjoyed Tennant’s and Eccleston’s tenures. I am always curious about what a new actor can bring to the table.
Not at all. I tried to get into Dr. Who, watching a season and a half (Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant) and it just wasn’t for me.
I’m just a casual Dr. Who fan, so not really.
Yeah, a new Doctor is always interesting, and offers a chance to re-invent the show, take it in new directions, slough off certain bits of baggage, and make certain clean breaks.
The twelve regeneration limit was never going to stand as a piece of canon once the show successfully relaunched and the relaunch Doctor only lasted a single season.
Seems like you’re jumping to the conclusion that John Hurt is going to be the ongoing new Doctor. I think he’s going to be explained in the 50th anniversary show aa a one-shot. The Matt Smith Doctor seems to refer to him someone out of his past, not his future self. My vote would be for Chris O’Dowd or Summer Glau.
Could be, anyone else want the new Doctor to be ginger girl then?
Just for the joke of when we got Matt Smith :)
What makes you think that?
There have also been a few articles with interviews with John Hurt where he kinda slips that he isn’t a future incarnation, but is rather the Doctor from the Time War.
They also said it in the show, Smith said he was a past version of himself who did not earn the right to go by the name The Doctor.
I’ll miss the hell out of Matt Smith, but I’m excited for a new Doctor. Part of me wants them to tell me who the new guy (or gal) is NOW and part wants them to keep it a secret until the Christmas special.
As much as I enjoy Matt Smith as the Doctor it is one of the best parts of the show is meeting the new personality.
I’m not really excited, but I’m not disappointed either. 3 or 4 seasons seems to be an average run of a Doctor actor.
But I am a little excited for what will come next. Every incarnation of the Doctor is a little different, and that extends to how they react to situations during their adventures.