Anyone complaining about an older Doctor?

[Mark_Nguyen]

I've easily warmed to Capaldi in the role, though the general consensus from the masses here seems to vary as it generally does with a new Doctor. However, one thing I haven't seen much of is people thinking he's too OLD for the role.

A more mature take on the role has long been desired from the fandom so I'm not surprised this is being read from our community. However, I'm wondering what the more casual fan has thought. Is there much evidence of people thinking that the Doctor is too old now?

I remember some of the response from the casual (and generally younger female) fans were surprised that the Doctor would go a full quarter century up in age... Thoughts?

Mark

 

[arch101]

I'm just thrilled that the Doc is older than me once again. That won't be the case forever.

 

[Velocity]

the Doctor is a couple thousand years old; i'm glad he doesn't really look his age.

 

[Aldo]

I'm just thrilled that the Doc is older than me once again. That won't be the case forever.

Same here! Matt Smith was two years younger than me.

 

[Guy Gardener]

the Doctor is a couple thousand years old; i'm glad he doesn't really look his age.

What I found unusual is that he shrank with age.

If he got that short after just a 900 years, does that mean that he'd have halved in height again after another 11 hundred years?

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Capaldi and Hartnell were the same age when they took the role of the Doctor. Capaldi looks great for his age by comparison.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

the Doctor is a couple thousand years old; i'm glad he doesn't really look his age.

What I found unusual is that he shrank with age.

If he got that short after just a 900 years, does that mean that he'd have halved in height again after another 11 hundred years?

Yes, and he will look like a house elf in a couple of centuries, if memory serves.

 

[Relayer1]

I have no problem with The Doctor being older, I just didn't like him in the first two or three episodes.

Being as he's certainly improved as the episodes got better, I think it's more of a writing problem than an acting one...

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Being as he's certainly improved as the episodes got better, I think it's more of a writing problem than an acting one...

Or a directing problem, or an editing problem, or a writing, directing and editing problem, or it just took you a couple of episodes to get used to him.

I don't know why writing is always singled out like that, as if television was just as simple as illustrated scripts.

 

[Starkers]

Being as he's certainly improved as the episodes got better, I think it's more of a writing problem than an acting one...

Or a directing problem, or an editing problem, or a writing, directing and editing problem, or it just took you a couple of episodes to get used to him.

I don't know why writing is always singled out like that, as if television was just as simple as illustrated scripts.

For me at least I think this is the reason. I just had to get used to him. He hasn't blasted his way into my heart with the speed that Matt did, but I'd probably say he's impressed me quicker than Tennant did.

 

[Mr Awe]

Personally, I've just really loved Capaldi's portrayal from his first episode on. Didn't need any time to get used to him. I'm loving this season so far!

Mr Awe

 

[Sindatur]

It certainly was predicted that the young Tennant/Smith Fangirlz would have an issue with his age, but, several girls I know in real life (Though not necessarily "teeny-bopper young") that were major fans of how dreamy Tennant and/or Smith are, that I thought might have an issue, are loving him.

In fact, there were a couple of them, who couldn't get over losing Tennant, and therefore didn't take to Smith, that have welcomed Capaldi with open arms.

So, annecdotally, I would say the concern was unfounded.

Maintaining "Live eyes" Ratings, was always going to be an issue, since live viewership continues declining across the board, due to so many ways to time shift viewing, I believe the final "Live+3 or Live+7" ratings are being maintained. I believe here in the USA, BBCA Ratings have actually continued to increase.

 

[Relayer1]

Being as he's certainly improved as the episodes got better, I think it's more of a writing problem than an acting one...

Or a directing problem, or an editing problem, or a writing, directing and editing problem, or it just took you a couple of episodes to get used to him.

I don't know why writing is always singled out like that, as if television was just as simple as illustrated scripts.

Well, thinking the plot of the first episode stank and dialogue was no better was an issue. I didn't find the second episode much better either.

I was happy with the choice of Capaldi until the series started, but then I became concerned for a while...

 

[Green Lantern]

There's one or two girls in our class who think he's too old, but me and my friend jokingly said "oh no, looks like we have a fangirl on our hands" or something like that. I think my mother doesn't approve either (although she's older than him) but she doesn't really enjoy many of the episodes much anymore.

But yeah I've warmed to him, in fact I warmed to him within an episode as more than I did to Smith in his entire tenure.

 

[marillion]

Wouldn't the true answer be in the ratings? Has anyone seen how they've been both in the US and the UK?

We like to snicker about the teen fan girls' reaction to an older Doctor, but they count as a big part of the demographic that was reached during Smith's tenure.

 

[MacLeod]

I've easily warmed to Capaldi in the role, though the general consensus from the masses here seems to vary as it generally does with a new Doctor. However, one thing I haven't seen much of is people thinking he's too OLD for the role.

A more mature take on the role has long been desired from the fandom so I'm not surprised this is being read from our community. However, I'm wondering what the more casual fan has thought. Is there much evidence of people thinking that the Doctor is too old now?

I remember some of the response from the casual (and generally younger female) fans were surprised that the Doctor would go a full quarter century up in age... Thoughts?

Mark

Remember the Doctor started out looking like an old man. And what age he has looked has fluctaute with each regneration The fifth looked younger than the fourth, but the sixth looked older than the fifth.

I might be wrong but some of these complaints might come from those new to DW ie. from the 2005- era, rather than those that grew up with DW in the classic era.

 

[Sindatur]

I've easily warmed to Capaldi in the role, though the general consensus from the masses here seems to vary as it generally does with a new Doctor. However, one thing I haven't seen much of is people thinking he's too OLD for the role.

A more mature take on the role has long been desired from the fandom so I'm not surprised this is being read from our community. However, I'm wondering what the more casual fan has thought. Is there much evidence of people thinking that the Doctor is too old now?

I remember some of the response from the casual (and generally younger female) fans were surprised that the Doctor would go a full quarter century up in age... Thoughts?

Mark

Remember the Doctor started out looking like an old man. And what age he has looked has fluctaute with each regneration The fifth looked younger than the fourth, but the sixth looked older than the fifth.

I might be wrong but some of these complaints might come from those new to DW ie. from the 2005- era, rather than those that grew up with DW in the classic era.

Yes, Popular belief is that it NuWho fans, who don't know Classic Who, and more specifically young female fans who thought Matt Smith and David Tennant were "Dreamy"

As far as Ratings, Ratings are down all across the board for Live Viewership, for almost every show, in every Country with multiple Viewing Options (DVR, Iplayer, etc) (The Walking Dead on AMC in USA being an exception). So, some who want to take any swipe at Moffat they can, will point at the lower Live Ratings as a way to take a swipe at Moffat. But, when the Time Shifted Ratings are added in, I believe BBC is still getting similar Ratings. BBCA, I believe, is still increasing Audience.

 

[Green Lantern]

I think now after seeing Capaldi, once they cast the 13th doctor I think it'll be more likely that I moan about the doctor being too young than too old.

 

[Australis]

Capaldi's my age, so I'm fine with that. My 18 year old niece, noit so much.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Patrick Stewart, 74, has been dubbed the "Sexiest Man Alive" by Glamour magazine two years in a row. Aging actors such as Mark Harmon, Hugh Laurie, Denzel Washington and Pierce Brosnan, to name a few, are considered quite attractive by many women all around the world. Clooney is 53, Pitt is 50, Depp is 51.

In this day and age, I don't think that an older Doctor automatically means that female audience members will turn off their TV.