Capaldi can't be The Doctor???

[Solariabsg25]

This is something that has started to really get me riled at the moment.

There seems to be three opinions in the anti-Capaldi camp at this time especially in social media:-

HE'S TOO OLD TO BE THE DOCTOR!!!!

Yeah of course. The Doctor should be played by hip young actors, like William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee. It makes me wonder sometimes if anyone's even aware of the Classic series, although how they can believe a series that "started" in 2005 could celebrate a 50th anniversary is beyond me!

HE APPEARED IN DOCTOR WHO BEFORE! THEY CAN'T RE-USE ACTORS LIKE THAT!

Of course, this is correct. I mean, it's not like Colin Baker appeared as Commander Maxill before he became the Doctor is it? And Jean Simmons had what three Doctor Who appearances? Lest we forget Freema Agyeman and Eve Myles from the recent shows, and the fact that Capaldi himself was in both Who and Torchwood.

I DON'T LIKE HIM, HE'S THE WORST DOCTOR EVA!!!!

Ah, something that has happened since The Tenth Planet. My ex's mother declared that Matt Smith was a terrible Doctor, before End of Time had even aired. She has also condemned Capaldi from the photo of his appearance in costume, never watching Matt Smith 'cos he was awful so not seeing the regeneration scene.

I know that these are silly gripes from people, but the problem is that as usual these are the gripes from those who shout the loudest. I hope that these cries do not drown out those who may watch and enjoy the show, I would hate for a talented actor to be cast aside prematurely.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Now that the actor playing the DR is older than me, i feel i have been given a regeneration myself.

 

[Starkers]

Ah there were gripes before Smith yet the viewing figures didn't implode or anything (yes they got a bit less but I think even if RTD and Tennant had stuck around the same thing would have happened.)

I firmly expect Capaldi to be popular, both with the kids and with the ladies (and gay men) in the same way his three (or even 4) immediate predecessors was.

You do have to wonder how a 55 year old man can be too old to play a 1200 (2000?) year old man

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Also worth noting David Tennant did some voice work for the licensed audio dramas by Big Finish before being cast as the Doctor.

Not sure what you mean by Jean Simmons-I think you mean Jean Marsh.

 

[The Wormhole]

Wait a minute, I need something cleared up here. There's an anti-Capaldi camp? First I've heard of it.

And besides, whatever. I'm sure every Doctor has gone through this when they were cast before their episodes started airing. Out of the modern day Doctors, I know Eccleston had his detractors prior to his season, as did Tennant and Smith. And they're all well regarded now as excellent Doctors. So I'm really not worried about the opinions of the few who want to pre-judge Capaldi at the moment.

 

[Christopher]

I know that these are silly gripes from people, but the problem is that as usual these are the gripes from those who shout the loudest. I hope that these cries do not drown out those who may watch and enjoy the show, I would hate for a talented actor to be cast aside prematurely.

Don't worry -- the same thing has happened with every new Doctor (or every new anything). It hasn't hurt the show yet. Doctors have been retired because of health issues, because they decided to move on with their careers, or even due to being fired by the executives in one case, but never because of audience criticism.

 

[zarkon]

You'll feel a lot better if you just ignore anything emanating from gallifrey base

 

[Sindatur]

You'll feel a lot better if you just ignore anything emanating from gallifrey base

Or IMDB Forum, or Twitter. That's all vitriolic Reactionism to pretty much anything new.

When Eccelston left, there was alot of General Audience issues with Tennant. Some of, I'm sure, what just being attached to Eccelston, and not wanting to loses him (That's gonna happen every single Regeneration to a degree). Then, there were some who were open to a new actor, but, thought Tennant was too spastic and took through most of his first Series to be accepted. But, by the end of Tennant's run, he rose to the Popularity of Tom Baker (Arguably the most popular of the Classic TV Doctors), and people didn't want Smith, because of their attachment to Tennant. Smith, from his photos had many, many people crying out things like "Oh, great, a 20 year old Emo Doctor? Who's gonna be next, a 12 year old". But, again, Smith became quite popular by the end of his run, to where we now have folks who don't want to accept a new Actor, because of their attachment to Smith.

Capaldi may be just as old as Hartnell in years, but, physically and Health-wise, he's a much younger man. And Capaldi already has his own fan base, unlike most of the Doctors when they have taken on the role. So, although some won't give him a chance, he'll probably bring more viewers from his previous Fandom, then he'll lose because of irrational knee jerk reaction thinking he's too old.

 

[Green Lantern]

This is something that has started to really get me riled at the moment.

There seems to be three opinions in the anti-Capaldi camp at this time especially in social media:-

HE'S TOO OLD TO BE THE DOCTOR!!!!

Yeah of course. The Doctor should be played by hip young actors, like William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee. It makes me wonder sometimes if anyone's even aware of the Classic series, although how they can believe a series that "started" in 2005 could celebrate a 50th anniversary is beyond me!

HE APPEARED IN DOCTOR WHO BEFORE! THEY CAN'T RE-USE ACTORS LIKE THAT!

Of course, this is correct. I mean, it's not like Colin Baker appeared as Commander Maxill before he became the Doctor is it? And Jean Simmons had what three Doctor Who appearances? Lest we forget Freema Agyeman and Eve Myles from the recent shows, and the fact that Capaldi himself was in both Who and Torchwood.

I DON'T LIKE HIM, HE'S THE WORST DOCTOR EVA!!!!

Ah, something that has happened since The Tenth Planet. My ex's mother declared that Matt Smith was a terrible Doctor, before End of Time had even aired. She has also condemned Capaldi from the photo of his appearance in costume, never watching Matt Smith 'cos he was awful so not seeing the regeneration scene.

I know that these are silly gripes from people, but the problem is that as usual these are the gripes from those who shout the loudest. I hope that these cries do not drown out those who may watch and enjoy the show, I would hate for a talented actor to be cast aside prematurely.

1) To be honest, I think Hartnel himself was too old. He's probably the least popular doctor of the classic series save for Colin Baker, heck maybe even out of all of Doctor Who. There are a lot of fans of Hartnel, but there are a lot of people (especially younger viewers) who really don't like Hartnel with me included (although I love Colin Baker but that's another story). Pertwee was considerably younger really, he was around 40ish. It was mainly the fact that he went grey early and dressed in an elderly manner that aged him. He was alright but not exactly my personal favourite.
2) I can't really argue against the second reason. Not at all.
3) He doesn't look the part and has a dreadful accent. When I say he doesn't look the part, what I mean is he doesn't seem to have that Doctorly quirk the majority of the others had. I can see it slowly developing, but it's not one I'm overly keen on, but I could end up being very wrong. I remember when Matt Smith was cast, I thought he was going to be awesome and the best doctor ever. I thought he was perfectly cast, perfect to take over Tennant and when I saw him in The End of Time, I thought he'd become my favourite doctor with ease. Jesus how wrong I was, Matt Smith's era was among the worst ever (to be fair it's Moffat's fault though) and Smith currently resides in the position of second least favourite doctor ever (with Hartnel in space number one). So I could be wrong about Capaldi, he could end up being the best ever doctor. Only time will tell.

But right now until convinced otherwise, I will at least stick to the opinion that his casting was somewhat questionable. I just sometimes fly off he handle.

 

[Pindar]

3) He doesn't look the part and has a dreadful accent.

What's wrong with his accent?

 

[Admiral2]

I know that these are silly gripes from people, but the problem is that as usual these are the gripes from those who shout the loudest. I hope that these cries do not drown out those who may watch and enjoy the show, I would hate for a talented actor to be cast aside prematurely.

No complaints from me. I'll take an old guy over Matt Smith (aka Doctor ADHD) every day of the week.

 

[Tom]

You do have to wonder how a 55 year old man can be too old to play a 1200 (2000?) year old man

Try 2100 if there going to count the 900 years spent in ToTD. LOL

When 2 centuries old you reach, look as good you will not!

 

[Blamo]

Anyone read the reactions to Troughton becoming the Doctor? It's utterly hilarious with around 45 years of hindsight.

It gets even funnier when you read the reactions to his departure.

 

[Christopher]

Anyone read the reactions to Troughton becoming the Doctor? It's utterly hilarious with around 45 years of hindsight.

It gets even funnier when you read the reactions to his departure.

Can you provide links? Quotes? Where can we read these?

 

[MacLeod]

I know that these are silly gripes from people, but the problem is that as usual these are the gripes from those who shout the loudest. I hope that these cries do not drown out those who may watch and enjoy the show, I would hate for a talented actor to be cast aside prematurely.

Don't worry -- the same thing has happened with every new Doctor (or every new anything). It hasn't hurt the show yet. Doctors have been retired because of health issues, because they decided to move on with their careers, or even due to being fired by the executives in one case, but never because of audience criticism.

As Christopher and others have said this is as about as old as the show, every time a new Doctor is cast they get these comments.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I don't think people should hate on him before we even get to see him on the show! And yeah as for kiddies not liking him because he's older, they obviously haven't watched (or maybe just not liked) the Classic DW.

Whatever, I will refrain from making judgement until after I see the next season's episodes.

People have different tastes though. I really love Tom Baker and David Tennant the most. Some people really adore Matt Smith, but I wasn't too taken with him. People will never agree on this stuff lol.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Pertwee was actually in his early fifties, not forties, when he started in the role. 51 actually.

I think a lot rides on the strength of the scripts/stories. I think Matt Smith's a good Doctor but the writing was uneven for a lot of his last two seasons.

 

[Blamo]

Anyone read the reactions to Troughton becoming the Doctor? It's utterly hilarious with around 45 years of hindsight.

It gets even funnier when you read the reactions to his departure.

Can you provide links? Quotes? Where can we read these?

Sure, here you go.

Reaction to his arrival - http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/powerdaleks/detail.shtml

Mrs Estelle Hawken of Wadebridge in Cornwall, on the other hand, was distinctly unimpressed:
'What have you done to BBC1's Doctor Who? Of all the stupid nonsense! Why turn a wonderful series into what looked like Coco the Clown?

Reaction to his departure (my memory played tricks on this, there are no quotes in here, just a mention that people were sad at his departure) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/wargames/detail.shtml

 

[Captain Kathryn]

The only thing I will say about Capaldi is that I don't quite get why he is allowed to use his natural Scottish accent, while David Tennant I believe was asked not to use his. Also just for continuity I guess. But then again I don't care much about continuity when it comes to this show.

 

[Tom]

Don't make fun of the guy just because he does not like the color of his kidneys! LOL