Curiously, though, what sources are these? In any case, I hope she stays for a full series, at least.
800th Episode - 2014 Christmas Special (Rumour's/Poss. Spoilers)
- Thread starter MacLeod
- Start date
I guess it would make sense for Jenna/Clara to leave, since her story as "the impossible girl" is done and she was cast like 18 months ago, even if she's only been around for 12 stories or whatever it's been. I would like her to be around for the whole of series 8 too, but who knows what sort of wonky timeframe they have for filming. Jenna might think it's time to jump ship if they keep doing this split-series mess.
On the other hand, it would give the series a completely new start with a new Doctor and new companion.
On the other hand, it would give the series a completely new start with a new Doctor and new companion.
I think Capaldi will be around for more than a year and I don't think the fact that he's an in demand actor will make that much difference really. In fact I think the BBC and Moffat have played a bit a blinder.
Capaldi's already made it and he's a fan, he's done all the hard work and can now take the role of a lifetime. This is different from Eccleston, who you could argue had already made it but didn't have that connection with the franchise, Tennant, who had that connection, but was also young and with a desire to move on to other things, and Smith, who didn't have that connection with the show (even if he seems to have developed one over the years in a way) and again is at the start of his career.
By contrast Capaldi isn't going to decide he needs to crack Hollywood any time soon. He’s probably made enough money that he and his family are comfortably off so he doesn’t need to take every job going. No I think he’ll do the job for 3 or 4 years. I think he’ll have enough eventually, and by all accounts it is a punishing schedule so by the time he’s 60 he might have decided enough’s enough, but he seems in good health, he certainly doesn’t look like he’s mid-fifties, so this may not be an issue. Of course you can never predict these things, and the older you get the more likely you are to experience health problems, but that aside I’ll be amazed if he’s a one series wonder.
As for Clara. Well lovely as Jenna is I’ve never really bonded with Clara in the same way I have with other companions. Don’t get me wrong, she’s way better than Martha or Series 2 (onwards) Rose but I don’t think she’s ever going to trouble my top five. It would be good to have her do at least half a series with 12 though.
Capaldi's already made it and he's a fan, he's done all the hard work and can now take the role of a lifetime. This is different from Eccleston, who you could argue had already made it but didn't have that connection with the franchise, Tennant, who had that connection, but was also young and with a desire to move on to other things, and Smith, who didn't have that connection with the show (even if he seems to have developed one over the years in a way) and again is at the start of his career.
By contrast Capaldi isn't going to decide he needs to crack Hollywood any time soon. He’s probably made enough money that he and his family are comfortably off so he doesn’t need to take every job going. No I think he’ll do the job for 3 or 4 years. I think he’ll have enough eventually, and by all accounts it is a punishing schedule so by the time he’s 60 he might have decided enough’s enough, but he seems in good health, he certainly doesn’t look like he’s mid-fifties, so this may not be an issue. Of course you can never predict these things, and the older you get the more likely you are to experience health problems, but that aside I’ll be amazed if he’s a one series wonder.
As for Clara. Well lovely as Jenna is I’ve never really bonded with Clara in the same way I have with other companions. Don’t get me wrong, she’s way better than Martha or Series 2 (onwards) Rose but I don’t think she’s ever going to trouble my top five. It would be good to have her do at least half a series with 12 though.
Partly age, but mostly availability. He's very much in demand.
It was mentioned earlier that a Hiatus year after Series 8 might lead Capaldi to just do a single Series, but, I would think, a Hiatus year, might allow him to get some other stuff, and therefore, be able to stay longer than a single Series (if there's any issue with him being able to stay longer)
A "keep the options open" scenario could be possible. Don't end series 8 with a regeneration, do a gap year and let Capaldi take other work, and if he's free and wants to come back for another series after the gap year he can. If he's not free, he could come back for a regeneration episode. Or, worst case, they slap his costume on the other actor and fake it.
Frankly, I hope the rumors of a 2015 gap year aren't true. It's a horrible idea.
I'd be surprised if they chose to cast a new Doctor, knowing that they'd have to go through the whole rigmarole of another search a year later.
I tell you who would have made a great new doctor. Nigel Havers.
Nigel Havers, the man who could have been Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager!
Actually, yes, Havers probably would have been a good choice at one time.
Please, God, no gap year. It's been hard enough doing this half-season crap.
Nigel Havers, the man who could have been Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager!
Actually, yes, Havers probably would have been a good choice at one time.
And of course he almost married Sarah Jane in SJA.
Whhhhhat??????
Nigel Havers, the man who could have been Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager!
Actually, yes, Havers probably would have been a good choice at one time.
Yep, he's a rare breed. Older, but handsome. Would play a Jon Pertwee like doctor I imagine. Maybe a bit feistier and flirty though.
Nigel Havers, the man who could have been Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager!
Actually, yes, Havers probably would have been a good choice at one time.
And of course he almost married Sarah Jane in SJA.
And Capaldi killed his children in Torchwood, was a main character in Pompeii and even held the tenth doctors hand, oh and Colin Baker played Maxil who even shot the fifth doctor.
Indeed, I haven't felt we've had a proper doctor who season since 2008 with series 4. First that other year gap in 2009. In fact, there were only three episodes in 2009, with the Next Doctor in 2008 and the second End of Time on 2010.
Then there was series 5 in 2010. While that was a complete series, it never really concluded, and we had to wait until 2011 until we get and episode which feels more like a finale.
Oh yes, then there's series 6. A series which had two amazing first episodes, then we had a bunch of shit episodes and a great big fucking wait until the second half of the series, so we never got our fix. And that didn't particularly conclude well either. Plus only one classic villain in an underwhelming episode.
Series 7 part 1. Asylum of the Daleks was probably my biggest disappointment in my doctor who life as I thought it was definitely going to be of Smiths best. Classic Daleks returning, and they're all batshit bonkers in an asylum. Sounds great right? WRONG! Instead, we just got a very short episode which should have been two or even three parts, instead of every dalek ever, we just got a bunch of RTD daleks with a bit of rust, a few Moffat Daleks, and very brief cameos of older daleks. Plus this random planet that we never knew about. Then a few other underwhelming episodes later (accept Angels Take Manhattan), a half year gap! Or maybe even longer, I can't remember.
Then we got series 7 part 2 which lasted five seconds and had mainly bad episodes also with a very few exceptions.
Then we get two specials and then we have to wait about 8 fucking months to see the new doctor. Then there's talk of another year gap? They might as well just go and fucking cancel it as it feels a bit like it already has been. I want a series to feel full again. None of these "you'll have to wait until next year" shit, give us a series which starts it's own story and ends it. Fucks sake.
I don't think Capaldi will leave after just one season; it wouldn't be very fannish, and nor would it really be fair to existing viewers. No real idea what his Doctor will be like, but I think he'll want to give younger viewers fond memories of a "Capaldi era" rather than just being an interim Doctor who essentially lasts just three months. I'm thinking three, maybe four seasons.
Fuckin' oath!
All this time between season murders the momentum of the series. Worse is that the majority of episodes we end up waiting for are dreck!