Matt Smith's Departure Confirmed.

[MacLeod]

I'd love more pure sci-fi settings but the problem is I don't like the choices they make. Star Whales. Dystopia. More dystopia. A huge library planet but it's turned into a horror story. More horror and more dystopia. New Earth was first about zombies and then dystopian monsters that ate cars.

The Rings of Akhaten had a really cool setting though. More of that in the future, please.

But isn't the horror (or rather monsters) part of the show?

 

[Starkers]

Yes but they don't have to be in every episode. I'm not advocating mundante villains every week (not that they need to be mundane) but it'd be nice to see the occasional episode where aliens/monsters weren't the blame.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Not only that, but a historical is by definition a science-fiction story, since it involves time travel.

 

[Classic Fan]

Ubik, Smith isn't a child in a man's body he's an old man in a young man's body and for me he's played that perfectly, far better than Tennant who was not only more manic, but also more forced, he's so obviously trying too hard half the time. Good but Smith's been a far better Doctor for me

Can't agree with you more.

I fell for Smiths doctor in the first few moments of his 'Eleventh Doctor' confidential special. The way he talked with his hands and looked at the camera was just note perfect. Then the Eleventh Hour struck, and I was asking who RTD and Tennant were.

Smith just does it so well. The old man finds himself young again, what wouldn't you do? He balances humour, drama, tragedy and mad scientist so well, it's as if we're watching the actual guy and not an actor. Where as with Tennant he was just acting, smith is just natural and doesn't come of as if he's trying too hard or forced in the slightest.


I among everyone else assumed we had at least one more season with Smith, but Ill be sad to see Smith go, distraught is too weak a word. i feel like i am losing a close friend, and this abruptly just 6months after the announcement. But, I am excited to see the show evolve and change once more as it should.

 

[chelly]

I totally agree with the above poster. I was always amazed at how he can make himself look old and weary one moment and then young in the next.

 

[Mr Awe]

I never get the problem people would have with a true historical that didn't feature a monster? It is a bit silly to suggest that every era of human hisotry was filled with aliens, and I don't see why a pirate, or a king, or an Aztec priest or a 20's mobster couldn't be just as good a villain if he didn't have a Dalek hidden away directing his every move!

I'm a huge, very long-term Doctor Who fan. However, I have to say that I'm just fine with the lack of pure historicals. One of the reasons I love Doctor Who is because I enjoy SF. And, yeah, I know DW isn't pure or hard SF, but I do enjoy those elements.

Also, the pure historicals tend to be about simply getting away from a tough situation. I saw Reign of Terror and it was mostly about getting themselves free, reunited, and back to the TARDIS. They can't really change and fix things. They're also less rationale. If history is unfolding naturally, why would the Doctor interfere? He pretty much lets history unfold naturally unless there is outside interference.

So, they tend to have their hands tied storywise and they lack the SF elements that I personally enjoy.

That's my take in a nutshell!

Mr Awe

 

[Starkers]

Why on Earth are their hands tied? I'm not suggesting they actually fight Hitler, I'm suggesting that they could fight a human, but still dangerous, bad guy who happens to be set in the past (and actually I see no reason why you can't project this into the future. I'd count a futuristic story that still didn't have "monsters" in it the same.

I'm not advocating making the whole show like this, but maybe just one episode a year, or even one episode every couple of years.

 

[Squiggy]

Why do they always mention female doctors. If he has been regenerating 11 times as a male. I don't think he is going to all the sudden change his mind. Then again who knows.

I was saving this up for a massive rant on my blog but I'll vent here as I've seen it suggested everywhere today.

I'd fucking hate a female Doctor. New Who has routinely shown women live life as consequence-free bitches that treat men like total shit, while the guys eat it up like pussies. See Mickey and Rory. Captain Jack is the only strong male character we've seen, and this is likely due to his general lack of interest in women.

Having a female Doctor would just cement everything I hate about the gender politics in New Who. No doubt she'd be sexually aggressive in a way that any guy would be considered a rapist by society for behaving.

I look at River Song, and I see exactly how a female Doctor would be written. Fuck, fuck, fuck no. I bet a female Dotor would be able to slap the male companion with total impunity.

Please show us on the doll where the mean lady touched you.

 

[Lance]

The actor is hanging up his sonic screwdriver after four years and will appear in just two more episodes: the keenly awaited 50th anniversary special in November, and the Christmas Day edition.

Smith, 30, said it had been ‘an honour’ to play the Doctor but added: ‘When you gotta go, you’ve gotta go.’

So what Smith is really saying here is that he's quit Doctor Who because he really needs to go and take a dump, and he's just been holding it in for the last four years?

All the best to him for the future. He's been a great Doctor. Better than David Tennant by a considerable distance IMO.

 

[Neroon]

Why do they always mention female doctors. If he has been regenerating 11 times as a male. I don't think he is going to all the sudden change his mind. Then again who knows.

I was saving this up for a massive rant on my blog but I'll vent here as I've seen it suggested everywhere today.

I'd fucking hate a female Doctor. New Who has routinely shown women live life as consequence-free bitches that treat men like total shit, while the guys eat it up like pussies. See Mickey and Rory. Captain Jack is the only strong male character we've seen, and this is likely due to his general lack of interest in women.

Having a female Doctor would just cement everything I hate about the gender politics in New Who. No doubt she'd be sexually aggressive in a way that any guy would be considered a rapist by society for behaving.

I look at River Song, and I see exactly how a female Doctor would be written. Fuck, fuck, fuck no. I bet a female Dotor would be able to slap the male companion with total impunity.

Please show us on the doll where the mean lady touched you.

Please don't add any more fuel to the fire.

 

[Mr Awe]

Why on Earth are their hands tied? I'm not suggesting they actually fight Hitler, I'm suggesting that they could fight a human, but still dangerous, bad guy who happens to be set in the past (and actually I see no reason why you can't project this into the future. I'd count a futuristic story that still didn't have "monsters" in it the same.

I'm not advocating making the whole show like this, but maybe just one episode a year, or even one episode every couple of years.

Typically, the Doctor doesn't interfere in Earth's history when there wasn't outside interference. He didn't change the Aztecs, he didn't try to stop the Reign of Terror. That's how their hands are tied.

Besides, if I wanted a pure historical, I'd probably just read/see a story set in that time. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a far better story than Reign of Terror. But, I tend to prefer SF, which is one reason why I'm interested in DW.

I wouldn't be opposed to one every couple of years. I'm just glad that they dropped the pure historicals as a common story type long ago.

Mr Awe

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I've just realized that since I've heard about Matt Smith's departure, I find it hard to be excited about the anniversary special. It's as if it were starring two former Doctors, two actors who'd rather be somewhere else doing something else.

 

[The Doctor]

I've just realized that since I've heard about Matt Smith's departure, I find it hard to be excited about the anniversary special. It's as if it were starring two former Doctors, two actors who'd rather be somewhere else doing something else.

That's really not at all true, or neither one of them would have signed up at all. I'm sad that Smith is leaving at the end of the year, but he's never given the impression that he "didn't want to be there." The reality is that, as an actor, his earning potential is much higher in the US and he'd be a fool not to try and capitalize on his success in Who. I hope he does well.

 

[MacLeod]

I think doing an episode set in the past without a villian\monster isn't as easy. The Doctor knows Earth's history quite well so unless some outside for is trying to alter it what does he have to do?

As for episodes that have been set in the past (or scenes set in the past) from the current run of DW.

The Unquiet Dead
Father's Day
The Empty Child
The Doctor Dances


The Girl In The Fireplace
The Idiot's Lantern


The Shakespeare Code
Daleks In Manhatten
Evolution Of The Daleks
Human Nature
The Family Of Blood


The Fires Of Pompeii
The Unicorn And The Wasp


Victory Of The Daleks
The Vampires of Venice
Vincent And The Doctor


The Impossible Astronaut
Day Of The Moon
Let's Kill Hitler


A Town Called Mercy
The Angels Take Manhatten
Cold War
Hide
The Crimson Horror

 

[MacLeod]

I've just realized that since I've heard about Matt Smith's departure, I find it hard to be excited about the anniversary special. It's as if it were starring two former Doctors, two actors who'd rather be somewhere else doing something else.

The other way to look at it is, that we will be getting a regeneration (presumable in the Christmas specail). And regenreations can certainly spice things up.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

That's really not at all true, or neither one of them would have signed up at all. I'm sad that Smith is leaving at the end of the year, but he's never given the impression that he "didn't want to be there." The reality is that, as an actor, his earning potential is much higher in the US and he'd be a fool not to try and capitalize on his success in Who. I hope he does well.

I know, I know, and yes, you're right, but it's still how I feel, and hey, sue me, but Matt Smith leaving the show means that I'm no longer excited about the anniversary special.

 

[PorthosShadow]

That's really not at all true, or neither one of them would have signed up at all. I'm sad that Smith is leaving at the end of the year, but he's never given the impression that he "didn't want to be there." The reality is that, as an actor, his earning potential is much higher in the US and he'd be a fool not to try and capitalize on his success in Who. I hope he does well.

I know, I know, and yes, you're right, but it's still how I feel, and hey, sue me, but Matt Smith leaving the show means that I'm no longer excited about the anniversary special.

I feel the same way. It kind of feels like a dark cloud has moved over the proverbial sunny afternoon picnic. Sometimes there is a downside to serialized television and it's that you get used to seeing the same actor or actors week after week. So when something changes, it can be very unsettling. However, I felt the same way when Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant left the show. I have no doubt who ever follows Matt Smith will be just good if not better.

 

[Ghost Bones]

I totally agree with the above poster. I was always amazed at how he can make himself look old and weary one moment and then young in the next.

That's just because he's got a weird face. All this old man in a young man's body thing is nonsense. I have yet to see an old man flap around like a cretin the way Smudger mugs it up. Just because he'll occasionally go quiet and have a big weird face does not make an old man.

 

[beamMe]

...All this old man in a young man's body thing is nonsense. I have yet to see an old man flap around like a cretin... Just because he'll occasionally go quiet and have a big weird face does not make an old man.

Yes, Troughton in a nutshell.

 

[Samurai8472]

New actor for The Doctor could be announced next month

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013...ith-replacement-could-be-announced-next-month

The Twelfth Doctor is expected to first appear on screen at the end of the Christmas special, following the regeneration of Matt Smith’s Doctor.

It would be virtually impossible to keep the identity of the new doctor a secret even if the entire set went into lockdown during filming of the Christmas special, a BBC source told RadioTimes.com.

Moffat potentially staying

A BBC source also moved to squash speculation that showrunner Steven Moffat could also be calling it a day, insisting that he has signed up for at least another year.